WEIGHT LOSS STORY: THIS WOMAN SHED 36 KILOS POSTPARTUM; WALKS 10K STEPS DAILY, EATS MORE PROTEIN
Being overweight comes with a host of health issues. And it is when you start having trouble in doing your daily chores that you are forced to take stock of your health and weight, says Bhavika Bhatt. Bhavika’s journey is truly inspiring, because she not only lost 36 kgs, but also became a fitness coach.
On her weight loss journey
“Once I lost weight, I started seeing so many positive changes in my overall health. All my health markers improved substantially. I had so much energy and I felt so positive about my body. Confidence surged through me once I lost weight,” says Bhavika. She shares how she pinches herself sometimes when she sees her before and after pictures.
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What prompted her to lose weight?
“Postpartum I gained a lot of weight. I weighed around 85 kg and because of it I started having knee pain too,” shares Bhavika. Besides, due to her husband’s posting in a high-altitude area, she also started experiencing breathlessness. Being a new mom and coping with so many health issues became all too overwhelming for her and that’s when she started researching more on nutrition and holistic living. She enrolled herself on an app and decided to lose weight. Bhavika was clear that she wanted to lose weight in a sustainable fashion. “This is why I took many fitness courses to ensure my approach was balanced and sustainable,” says Bhavika.
How did she overcome the weight-loss plateau?
Everyone who’s on a weight loss journey reaches a point beyond which it is difficult to lose weight and that’s when one needs to be extremely patient with the results. Bhavika too had a moment when her weight would refuse to come down. “I increased my protein intake and started having more rigorous workouts. I also increased my step count from 10,000 to 15,000,” says Bhavika.
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Things she avoided during her weight loss journey
Bhavika always believed in having a balanced approach when it came to her diet. “I avoided having sugar and replaced it with substitutes like stevia and jaggery. I also avoided having junk and processed food,” shares Bhavika. She also shares how she completely eliminated alcohol and how that helped her too in her weight loss journey.
Went into calorie deficit
Bhavika also shares how she went into a calorie deficit. She would have around 1800 gm of calories every day. She also made sure she took her protein, fat and carbohydrate every day in a calculated and measured way.
On her workouts
Bhavika shares how she loves resistance training a lot. “I enjoy doing strength training, as it has helped tone my body and also improved my muscle mass. The other thing I am particular about is making sure I walk 10,000 steps everyday without fail,” says Bhavika.
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Difficulties she faced during her weight loss journey
Bhavika’s son was 11-month-old when she decided to take the plunge to get fitter and healthier. “I wanted to ensure that in no way the supply of breastmilk to my child fell short,” says Bhavika. So, for Bhavika, having a nutritious diet was of key importance. She didn’t miss out on any food group and had her protein, carbs, and fat in healthy quantities. “When you’re 35 years of age and are trying to lose postpartum weight gain, it can get a tad challenging,” says Bhavika.
High point of her weight loss journey
Bhavika is truly grateful for having been on this weight loss journey, as it helped her make more patient, consistent and disciplined. “It’s amazing to see how much your body can transform itself. I started with 2kg dumbbells and now I deadlift with 80kg,” shares Bhavika with glee in her voice.
Experienced fit-shaming post her weight loss
“When I was fit-shamed post my weight loss, that’s when I understood not to take the opinion of people to one’s heart. No matter what you do and how you look, there will always be people ready to ridicule you and greet you with snide remarks,” shares Bhavika. Comments like ‘Why have you gotten so slim? Do you intend to marry again?’, ‘You should look like a mom and of your age’ always drew a blank reaction out of Bhavika who found it both bizarre and bemusing.
Approach to fitness
Bhavika doesn’t believe in going the extreme way. “I always tell my clients how the concept of yo-yo dieting, or counting calories in parties is the wrong way to approach fitness. One needs to have a balanced approach and eat nutritious food to lose weight in a sustainable manner,” says Bhavika.
Word of advice to people who want to lose weight
Bhavika recommends not to become too obsessed with the number on the weighing scale. She also says how people must know that losing weight is not something they can do one time and then go back to their old patterns. “One needs to be consistent and patient when it comes to following a diet and doing workouts. Only sustained efforts will keep one in good shape. It took me 2 to 2.5 years to lose weight and become a fitness coach. I guess what worked for me was my passion that I developed for fitness,” says Bhavika.