Archives for April 2019

April 27, 2019 By GOQii 1 Comment

“I Am Addicted to GOQii” | Darshpreet Gulati User Journey

Have you ever casually browsed through products and then stumbled upon something that changed your life forever? You might not have been looking for it, but somehow you found it and it transformed you into a better version of yourself. Our player Darshpreet Gulati, had a similar experience.

In 2016, Darshpreet Gulati was looking for new gadgets. He stumbled upon GOQii but wasn’t specifically interested in fitness at the time. After going through the features, he concluded that it was value for money. He was particularly attracted to the personalized coaching feature and thought that the device was a cool gadget.

Before Joining GOQii

Like most people, Darshpreet Gulati led a very sedentary lifestyle with little to no physical activity. He indulged in sweets quite often and ate out frequently. He weighed around 85kg.

Enter GOQii

One of Darshpreet’s key goals was to lose weight, get fit and active. At first, he was not convinced with what his GOQii Coach suggested as it seemed to be contradicting what he already knew about diets i.e. counting calories, skipping meals, etc. He then happened to read a well-known celebrity Nutritionist’s book. This encouraged him to take his GOQii Coach seriously.

He began following the habits introduced by his coach.

Embracing the Change

Darshpreet’s Coach had asked him to cut down on junk food, eating out at restaurants, drinking aerated drinks and most importantly his indulgence in sweets. He used to eat a lot of chocolates before but significantly cut them down after realizing what sweets can do to his body. He restrains himself even if his fridge is stuffed with chocolates. As he began getting more conscious about what he eats, he started exercising portion control.

His current dietary habits include starting his day with detox water and nuts. He then eats a paratha and eggs for breakfast. He keeps his dinner light and eats around 7 PM. Before GOQii, his dinner used to be rich and high in calories as dinner was family time and everyone would sit together to eat and relax.

On the exercise front, he performs light exercises accompanied with stretching. Last year, he trained rigorously for the GOQii Trail Challenge and walked daily with high-intensity exercises.

Currently, Darshpreet weighs around 64 kg, having lost 21 kg and is a healthier and more active version of his former self. He is a GOQii Champion and leads the Active Sunday sessions in the city of Gondia, Maharashtra.

6 months back, he was diagnosed with some back issue. This condition aggravated during the GOQii Trail Challenge. Due to his current condition, he has only been able to manage 4-5 sessions. However, this Sunday, he is charged to lead participants towards a healthier lifestyle and get more players to attend GOQii Active Sunday.

Darshpreet spends his time by joining live classes on GOQii Play. He religiously follows Aliya Imran, Shweta Kariya and Vishakha Sodha as he finds their sessions interesting and informative. He enjoys Divya Thampi’s class as her topics have helped him strengthen his emotional state of mind.

After his experience in the GOQii Trail Challenge, he says that he has grown even more confident. Along with a healthy lifestyle, he has begun to place more focus on his personal goals as well.

What did Darshpreet’s Coach Have to Say About Him?

“If I would have to describe Darshpreet Gulati in just one word then it would be a “FIGHTER”. He joined GOQii with a goal to reduce weight and for that he worked on his diet, exercises and most importantly, managed stress. Darshpreet believed in me and I tried my best to keep him motivated. The turning point in our journey came when he registered for GTC 2018. He was determined and worked extremely hard for that. Since the time he has joined GOQii, he has lost around 20 kg and has been maintaining it quite well through our healthy habits. He is indeed a FIGHTER!”

April 24, 2019 By Madhu Soni 2 Comments

The Power of the Indian Gooseberry

In a fast-paced world that rapidly drains us of energy, it is extremely important to be in the best of shape! In that pursuit, we are constantly searching for an elixir that will give us good health with least efforts.

What if we told you that you can have more energy, focus and overall good health? What if that magic elixir exists? Moreso, what if it is a fruit that you already know?

If you haven’t guessed it already, we are talking about the Indian Gooseberry or as it is popularly known – “Amla”. Since ancient times, it is used to cure various ailments, even if it is something as simple as aiding digestion to something as complex as fighting diabetes and heart disease.

The Indian Gooseberry (Emblica officinalis or phyllanthus emblica) derives its name from the Sanskrit word “Amalaki”. This tree is a native of India and the neighboring South East Asian countries. The fruit is sour in taste but leaves a sweet aftertaste.

Let’s take a look at how it impacts health!

Boost Immunity: The Indian Gooseberry is a powerhouse of Vitamin C and A. It greatly increases white blood cells in our body and is an excellent antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-carcinogenic .It is like a powerful soldier that shields our body against various foreign toxins.
Fights Cancer: It has the potential to restrict the growth of cancer cells by keeping harmful free radicals at bay. The Indian Gooseberry also counter-attacks the side effects of anti-cancer drugs, radiation and chemotherapy.
Keeps Diabetes in Check: It helps regulate blood sugar levels in many ways. The chromium present in it is responsible for the pancreas to produce sufficient insulin and the polyphenol keeps the oxidative stress low, thus making the body more responsive to insulin.
Good for the Heart: The cardioprotective properties of the Indian Gooseberry due to the presence of Vitamin A and C, the chromium and iron help reduce cholesterol, increase HDL (Good cholesterol) and reduce LDL (bad cholesterol) and strengthen the heart muscles.
Protects the Eyes: Regular use of the Indian Gooseberry can protect our eyes from cataract and short-sightedness. The impressive carotene content in it can keep night blindness away.
Promotes a Healthy Liver: It is diuretic in nature, which means that it increases the volume and frequency of urine and fosters regular bowel movement. It also helps in eliminating toxic metals and the ill effects of excessive medication. Thus, it protects the liver. It also provides relief in the case of urinary tract infection.
Fountain of Youth: The Indian Gooseberry supports longevity, helps smoothen wrinkles, fortifies the skin, prevents hair loss and greying and provides lustrous hair. Besides beauty, it is also a brain tonic which promotes clarity of thought and boosts memory.

The Not So Good Part of the Indian Gooseberry!

Since it is high in ascorbic acid, taking excessive quantities at night may erode the enamel in the teeth just like any other citrus fruit. Since it reduces diabetes, sugar levels may drop, so keep your doctor informed about it. He may change your medication. Being diuretic, excess amla consumption may cause constipation to a few.

How to Eat the Indian Gooseberry

The best way to have it would be raw. You can add rock salt and pepper to kill the sourness
Powder and tablets are a convenient way to have it, but to be taken under medical supervision
Indian Gooseberry juice either freshly made at home or store bought are great options
Chawanprash: a healthy way to include it. 1-2 tsp can be taken daily
Amla Murabba: Since it has a good amount of sugar, which acts as a preservative, you can wash off the excess sugar syrup just before eating
Eat it as a chutney, pickle or you can even opt for Amla Candies

To put it all in a nutshell, taken in any form, it is a simple yet effective way to good health. It is worth its weight in gold and this information shouldn’t be ignored but passed on to the next generation!

Want to know more about the Indian Gooseberry? Let us know in the comments below!

#BeTheForce

April 23, 2019 By GOQii 1 Comment

Top 4 Causes of Body Aches & Pains

Experiencing aches and pains in your body is normal. But when these aches and pains persist for longer periods of time and make it difficult for you to move, you have to start asking a few questions.

What is causing this pain? Should I seek help?

Aches and pains are common for a body that is unhealthy and unfit. By the time the unease of these aches and pains set in, it is too late to do any activity in order to get healthier. Based on the research of our IndiaFit Report, we’ve identified the top 4 causes of body aches and pains.

What Causes Aches and Pain?

Additional Weight Strain: When you’re overweight, the additional pounds place immense strain on your joints and bones. This continued strain causes long term issues in the body which result in body aches and pains.
Lack of Movement: One of the major causes of body aches is a sedentary lifestyle. Sitting in one place for longer periods of time, incorrect or bad posture and lack of exercise, all contribute to body pain.
Incorrect Posture While Exercising: Incorrect form or posture when lifting weights, performing an exercise or not giving your body enough cause strain and further aches and pains.
Vitamin D Deficiency: Vitamin D is essential for bone health. Lack of it can cause body aches. This deficiency may be due to lack of exposure to sunlight, not getting enough Vitamin D from food, not being able to absorb Vitamin D from food, etc.

How Can You Tackle Body Aches and Pains?

The easiest way to deal with this issue is to get enough of Vitamin D. Right from its basic function of increasing calcium absorption to promoting bone health, it can also elevate mood, reduce depression and build immunity.

Some of the other ways to deal with aches include:

Losing excess weight
Fix Vitamin D3, Magnesium, and Calcium Levels
Develop muscles around the bone
Invest in rest and recovery after a workout
Avoid acidity causing foods

Have we missed out on anything? Do you have any queries? Write them down in the comments below!

#BeTheForce

April 20, 2019 By GOQii 1 Comment

Patience is a Virtue Which Produces Excellence | Santosh Krishnan User Journey

Santosh Krishnan, a type 2 diabetic decided to rise above his excuses to lead by example. Santosh had an HBA1C reading of 8.4 which was alarming for a diabetic. In August 2017, Santosh with the help of a personal coach decided to turn his life around, setting a long-term goal of reversing diabetes which was holding him back from his desired quality of life. Initially his levels were (Fasting: 176, Post Prandial: 204, Weight: 77kgs ) and results didn’t come easy or instantly but with a great level of patience and determination tethered with a supervised diet and exercises, he brought down his levels to ( Fasting: 95, Post Prandial: 139, Weight: 69.8 kgs ). Today, he has an HBA1C reading of 6.8 which is completely normal. When asked, Santosh had much to say about his achievement and he was immensely proud of himself. Presenting his story in his own words.

Santosh Krishnan
Before (Left) After (Right)

“My journey with GOQii started in the month of April 2017. Being a follower of Luke Coutinho on Facebook, I wasn’t new to the world of health and fitness. One day I happened to come across a fitness band called GOQii on my friend’s wrist and immediately ordered one for myself.

Ever since I came on board the GOQii Platform, there has been no turning back. However, it was not a smooth journey. Later, I got to know that Luke was the Master Coach at GOQii. My journey with GOQii has had its ups and downs and I remember at one point I was corresponding directly with Vishal Gondal, the Founder, and CEO of GOQii because things didn’t go my way. I recall the time when I had changed three coaches in a span of four months, ultimately realizing that it was me who needed a makeover on my attitude, but as you will understand, it is easier to blame someone else than take it upon oneself.

My current coach has played a crucial rule in my health. I’m a type 2 diabetic and there was a time when my sugar readings were extremely high. Over the past 6 to 8 months we have made small changes to my lifestyle by introducing new elements like the consumption of ACV, actively keeping a track of all my required activities, which by the way has helped me immensely by giving me an understanding of where I stand and what I should do.

Regular workouts, optimum intake of water, cutting down on junk were the few steps I took combined with my coach’s presence and motivation which was irreplaceable. We know there’s a long way to go and my goal is to totally go off pills. It might be a farfetched goal but with self-belief and my coach’s constant presence, I definitely think it’s possible.”

What did his GOQii Coach have to say?

Santosh’s GOQii Coach was very enthusiastic to talk about her client and was very proud of his achievements. Here is what she had to say: “Santosh’s goal was to reverse diabetes and become healthy again. After my initial call with him, I understood that he’s focused and knows what he wants for himself. We began with basic exercises gradually including cardio and body exercises to the regime. We worked on a schedule per his convenience, I also advised him about the importance of frequent meals, pre-workout and post work out meals, water etc, which he followed religiously. It was a pleasure to see his data on the dashboard, which motivated me to concentrate more on his progress”.

“He seems to have taken charge of his health and his recent reports show that his sugar levels have come down drastically. He lost around three kgs and reduced a few inches on the waist as well. Santosh is super happy with his progress and so am I. It feels great to be a part of his amazing journey,” she adds.

Santosh has left no space for self-doubt in his endeavours and has been patient, constantly pushing his limits to further improve his glittering morale and a healthier lifestyle.