Goa Trip: Some Pictures

Today's Swimming Session: 31 Laps

Last couple of days were not good. I missed most of the activities as I was unwell. Was feeling weak and also had some gastrointestinal issues. It was quite severe. As we also suspected that sugar level may have come down, I had fruits and proper food in past two days. I did have some junk food as well :(

Last evening, the situation was pretty bad as on multiple occasions, I felt that I would lose consciousness. May be I stretched myself a little too much.

Have got tests done to check the sugar level. Also trying some home remedies. Feeling better today. I did my gym session this morning and also went for a swim. Would complete my 10K steps walk in the evening. 

Hopefully the test results would be normal.

Swimming Trends

 

Plan of Action for Tomorrow

Here is the plan for tomorrow...

• 1 hour swim in the morning
• 10K steps
• 30-45 minutes of weight training
• Day 1 of 3-day egg-fast

Will stick to the process. Results are not in my control but efforts are.

A kick in the guts

Today was a bad day. And this blog is going to be exact opposite of my previous blog.

I got up at 5:10AM today to get ready for the workout session from 6-7AM. Though I had decided not to check the weight and concentrate on the process, I felt this sudden urge to check the weight today. I last checked the weight 5 days back and since then I have been doing everything 'right' and hence I hoped that the weighing scale would boost my morale. I was in for a rude shock. My weight has marginally increased in the last 5 days! All those strenuous exercises, hours of walking, weight training, eating light and hours of swimming meant nothing? 

It was truly a kick in the guts.

I felt so disheartened that I asked the trainer to cancel today's session. I did not go for a swim. I did not walk in the evening. And I had lots of unhealthy food today.

I am feeling DISAPPOINTED due to the weight gain. I am feeling CONFUSED as I do not why this happened. And now, I am feeling GUILTY for doing what I did today and not doing what I should have done today.

I would bounce back tomorrow.

(Pic Source/Courtesy: FriendlyStock)

Happy with the process

Good workout sessions in the past few days....

• Strenuous workout: 1 hour
• Swimming: 45 mins to 1 hour (25-30 Laps)
• Walk and/or Weight Training: ~1 hour in evening
• Also following healthy diet (low carb and moderate protein)

Not looking at the weighing scale but am happy with the process.

Today's Swimming Session: 28 Laps

Why do pools remain closed on Mondays in Hyderabad??!!??

I checked 5 pools and none of them are open on Mondays. 

Another reason why Mondays suck!!

Daily Steps Count: Trends

Almost 1 month of Mission Health: Report Card

It has been almost a month since I started my journey towards regaining fitness and it has been a TOUGH month....physically and emotionally. 

From Saturday, 12th March, I started checking what I eat. Exercise (walk) started from 13th March. However, the week of 14th March was not a great week. My sister was here; we celebrated Holi and like all Indian festivals, there was lot of good food involved. Though I tried to check things, I cannot say it was a good/successful week.

Activities

Activities started in real terms from 23rd March 2022. That is when I hired a personal trainer. The guy comes to my place everyday and I workout with him for 1 hour every morning from 6-7AM. Saturdays and Sundays are 'rest days' but I workout [without him] even on weekends. He tries to mix things. My workouts are not same on any day of the week. It involves cardio, weight training and even boxing [I love the days on which we do boxing!!]. It has been working pretty well so far as it does not get monotonous. 

In addition, I try to walk 10,000 steps everyday. And from 2nd April, I started swimming. I go for a swim right after my morning workouts and this happens everyday except Monday [the pool remains closed for weekly cleaning and/or maintenance].

Diet/Food

Food plays 70-80% role and I have been trying to check what I eat. I am following a 'Low Carb - Medium Protein' diet. There is no sugar, rice, roti, bread, milk, butter etc. Animal protein (chicken) is limited to 150 grams per day but I do not have it every day. (Note: I have been posting some pics of my meals on this blog). I have also tried to reduce the quantity but I ensure that I do not starve myself as that would only be counter-productive. 

I have also been trying some detox and plateau-breaking diets. These involve either [mostly] liquid diet or other diets like egg-fast. In fact, I am doing an egg-fast right now [its Day 2] and I would do it for at least 1 more day. In this diet, I have eggs [minimum 6 a day], cheese cubes [3 per day] and soda [3 per day] only. I have tried egg-fast in the past and it helps in quick weight-loss. However, it is important to do a proper transition and continue to workout or I stand a risk of regaining all the weight lost during the egg-fast. These are things that I am attempting to see what works and also to keep things interesting. We will see how it goes. Its a long journey...

Results

I have indeed lost weight but not at the rate I was expecting/hoping. In the past, similar diet but fewer activities have given better results in terms of weight-loss. However, this time around, things are very different. Since 12th March, I have lost 6 kgs but weight-loss has been quite erratic. There were days on which I did not do much [comparatively] but lost weight and then... there were days on which I almost 'moved a mountain' but I ended up gaining few hundred grams!!! 

So now, I am no longer focusing on weight-loss and am concentrating on the process. If the process is right, the results would definitely come...sooner or later. At least, that is what I keep telling myself. 

I do feel inch-loss and also, I feel more energetic these days. So, definitely some positive developments.

Challenges

Aches, pain, hunger are some of the challenges but they are manageable ones and do not bother me. What does bother is uncertainty regarding future. I have taken a big step and it could back-fire irrespective of what I do or do not achieve from health point of view. But when results do not show [discussed above] then the negative feelings get much stronger. I always knew that this journey would be draining....physically, emotionally and financially but I also knew that it is important and must be given top priority. Yet, the demons of negativity and uncertainty trouble me quite often. That is the challenge. I have never been in this situation and it is proving to be difficult. So difficult that on most days, I try to avoid speaking to my 'friends'. 

But ya, no matter how depressed I get [it happens usually in the evenings], I do not allow that to impact the physical activities and diet. So far, so good....lets see how things  [ and I] shape up in future...

Next Steps

I would continue to do what I am doing in terms of food intake as well as physical activities. My trainer has been increasing the intensity and the activity would increase in coming days. I have been trying to increase the laps in swimming but that may not be possible. Summer vacations have started in most school out here and the pool remains chaotic. So, not sure if I would be able to increase the laps and the time but I would try to increase the speed and ensure that I complete at least 20 laps everyday. I have been working out and swimming in the morning and walking in the evenings. I will try to include one more activity in the day. Would love to play squash but probably not the best idea due to the weight I am carrying. Will find something.

Wish me luck!!! 

Ananya 'Tyson' Ajay

 

It has been 18 days since I started my mission to regain fitness. I have been checking what and how much I eat. I have increased water consumption. I have been walking regularly. And I have recently started working out as well. However, the results so far have not been satisfactory. The weight has not come down much. :(

Yes, I do feel more energetic these days and that is a clear plus.

Hope to get positive messages from the weighing scale in coming days...

Steps Tracking

 

Today's Report Card

 

Today's Step Count

Dinner

Today's Dinner:

• 3 Pieces of Achaari Soya Chaap
• Omelette of 2 Whole Eggs (Mom made it and it was delicious!!)
• Glass of Fresh Lime Soda (Sugarfree)

Heartbreaking News

Life is so busy and everyone has their share of problems. Where is the time to feel the pain of others? I often hear that from people and I do not blame/question them at all. That is because it makes sense.

But then, I do get moved by pain of others and get the strong urge of doing something for them. It could be financial support or just putting an arm around them and hearing them out.

Just now, I read the news regarding a man in Chhattisgarh, who walked 10 KMs carrying the dead body of his 7 year old daughter. The child was suffering from high fever and extremely low oxygen levels. She succumbed to her conditions in the morning. When questioned, the authorities said that the man was told that a 'hearse' (a vehicle that is used for transporting a dead body to funeral) would be provided but the man left with the body. It does not sound convincing but that is not the point.

What must be going through the father's mind during the 10 KM walk? He must have been dying inside as his daughter was no more. Did he feel the weight? Did he speak to his daughter's body during the walk? Did he want to walk with his daughter as he would have got the chance to hug her all through the long walk? Was it difficult for him to put down his daughter at the end of journey? 

I called Ananya, hugged her and cried. She kept asking the reason but I could not say anything. I just hugged her for several minutes and kept crying.

I looked for the details of the man on internet....I do not know why...

May be its because of my love for my daughter, a father-daughter story especially moves me. I still cannot get over the incident in Kuala Lumpur involving a little girl and her Syrian refugee father.

Dil ka haal...

 

From steps point of view, past few days have been quite disappointing.

From food intake point of view as well, past few days have been a mixed bag and quite average.

My sister had come down for few days for Holi celebrations and it became difficult to maintain the same schedule.

Will try to change all that in the coming days.

Holi Celebration @ Home

Day 6: Healthy Breakfast

Day 5: Food Diary

 

Day 5: Step Count

Day 5: Lunch

Day 4: Report Card

Not a good day. Could not complete the step target due to pain in the legs. But more importantly, it was not a good day from food intake point of view as well. Did not have anything unhealthy but had several small meals. Overall intake was high. Did not sleep on time as well. Will try and correct things today.

Day 4: Healthy Breakfast