28-year-old Rohin Khanna had a sedentary lifestyle and unhealthy eating habits. But when the needle on the weighing scale hit 108 kg, he knew it was time to go on a diet. Read his account.
I grew up as a fat kid, because of my poor eating habits and sedentary lifestyle. My weight mounted, as I had no interest in sports or any physical activity.
When I was in class 12, I realized I needed to correct my lifestyle, so I joined a gym.
Couldn’t sustain my weight loss
After I started working out, I lost a significant amount of weight and was in good shape. But, I couldn’t sustain my weight loss.
My unhealthy eating habits, combined with a sedentary job led to a weight gain of 25 kg in the last 4 years.
Being fat is frustrating
Being fat leads to feelings of utter helplessness. When you are overweight, you are always low on energy and your efficiency level drops. My obesity made it a struggle to do everything: I couldn’t even find good clothes that fit me.
One particular incident clearly stands out in my mind. Last year, I went to buy myself a new pair of jeans at the Levis store. But even the largest size didn’t fit. I was devastated, and took it as a wake-up call.
Chose a Keto diet to kick-start weight loss
Due to my busy schedule, it’s hard to be a regular gym goer. So, I decided I needed to focus on a weight loss diet. Of all the plans, I chose a keto diet, which I believe was guaranteed to help me slim down.
Since my only exercise was a brisk walk, I needed a foolproof diet, to lose weight.
Changed my attitude to eating
I used to eat junk all the time, and had no control over my eating habits. But once I began following a keto diet, I had to restrict my eating.
So, I stopped eating carbs, as most of my diet has to consist of healthy fats and proteins. Since I began two months back, I haven’t eaten any sweets, junk food or consumed alcohol.
Not as easy adjustment
The first 4-5 days of being on keto diet were the toughest. Suddenly giving up almost all carbs is a real shocker. So, my body reacted adversely to the sudden change in my diet, leading to headaches, cramps and mood swings.
But once I got used to my new eating plan, the results were rapid. Since I began the ketogenic diet two months back, I have lost 18 kg!
High protein diet is my mainstay
Being on such a restricted diet seemed almost impossible at first. But I’ve discovered that the ketogenic plan makes me feel full and satisfied most of the time.
Generally, I eat eggs for breakfast, roasted or grilled chicken for lunch, and clear soups for dinner. All of this is cooked in either ghee or unsalted butter. Whenever I felt the urge to eat something that’s not allowed on my diet, I eat a cube of cheese.
At the end of the day, I am thankful to my mother and fiancé, who helped me stay on course. I can never thank them enough for cooking keto friendly meals for me. My advise to others is: though its hard to completely change your eating habits, your discipline will pay off in the end. So, stick to it!