User Stories Archives

November 21, 2020 By GOQii Leave a Comment

Nalin Talwar Goes From Couch Potato To Fitness Freak!

Can you make a positive lifestyle change in just 3 months? Is it even possible? After completing 3 months with GOQii, our player, Nalin Talwar decided that it’s a good time to share his experience. He did face some unfavourable experience with the hardware but for most of it, his overall experience has been good. Let’s read his experience, in his own words.

Introducing Nalin Talwar

I am 56 years old, but after three months with GOQii, I feel like I’m 6 again. That’s the transformation my GOQii Coach and fellow Players have brought in me – bringing out the child in me who is always ready to compete without fear or peer pressure.

I served the Indian Air Force for 23 years and took retirement in 2008. Post retirement, I worked with many organisations in the private sector, but what I gained working in these private organisations was a monotonous and sedentary lifestyle. The same routine of getting up early, running for the metro, reaching office by 9 am, working till 6 (officially) and returning back home for 6 days a week while on Sunday, I was only completing my backlog of lost sleep. Imagine being glued to the desktop and only your fingers getting a workout – that was me!

Being a soldier myself, I joined hands with associations working for the betterment of retired Jawans and here as well, I was caught in the same web, lying on the bed making posts, videos, passing on latest information on government orders on pensions, etc. I had literally become a couch potato – my day began and ended on the bed with my laptop on 24×7 and whenever I was awake, I was online. It began showing on my body as my waist was 43 inches and my weight might have been 90kg or more but I always thought it was just 70kg.

Towards the end of August, after 40 days of joining GOQii and following the intense exercise regime and diet control on intake (no dieting), when for the first time I stood on a weighing machine (due to pandemic I could not find a weighing machine with doctors as well so I had to buy one), it was 79kg. My blood sugar levels in fasting and PP have always been in normal limits. Then I got to know of the HBA1C test, which records the quarterly levels, and mine was 6.5 in July 2020. When I checked my previous reports, I found I was diabetic since 2016 when it was 7.2 and in 2018 it was 6.3. I am a patient of Primary Hypertension since 1996 and on medication, cholesterol levels have been high ever since, I am diagnosed with less than 3 Vit D3 in 2016 and while I take Calcium and Vit D3, my levels have been better but much below the normal limits. My Vit B12 levels are below the minimum levels required. This sedentary lifestyle had brought in many more complications in my life, not limited to weight gain or blood sugar but lethargy, unwillingness to step out, etc. My life was my laptop, mobile and other equipment.

I was on a look out for a smart tracker, not for any fitness routine but as I am very interested in Info Tech Gizmo’s, I had heard a lot about it and wanted to have one for me to test and find out how accurate it is. I had decided to go for another tracker but settled for the GOQii Vital 3.

How Difficult Was It To Talk To My Coach?

Once I purchased the band and registered with GOQii, I started getting messages and calls from my coach or a better name now, Guru Deepali Sharma. I did not pickup incoming calls from GOQii for 2 or 3 days, but calls from the coach did not stop and at the end I had to pick up. It was the first call and a lot of cobwebs in my brain were cleared and today I can proudly say she is my GURU who has turned my train to tracks.

Who Else Motivated Me On GOQii Arena?

My GOQii Sister, Jhumi Bhattacharjee, said, “Have you seen Anil Kapoor? At the age of 60, he’s doing weights and so is Amitabh Bachchan. No age is a restricted age to start a workout”.

Coach Sunita Sharma, when I said its better for me to watch her strenuous exercises than do it along with her, her response was, “Ha ha ha 56 is not old, you can do it!”

Ruta Pandya said, “Yaha Coach bahut achhe hain, aapko jo online Coach kahe waisa karo, benefit hoga.”

There is a long list of friends who motivated me through these three months with GOQii. Having said a lot about myself and my coach and those who motivated me, now is the time to count my blessings which I received in these three months. You will be amazed, you may say I am lying because one of them is a chamatkar and I am also confused.

What I Achieved Through GOQii

In October 2020, my HBA1C level has come down to non-diabetic state i.e. 4.7. So I am sugar free now, but I have to continue this exercise and food regime to remain sugar-free.
Had high cholesterol levels and was taking medicine for controlling them, they are now just marginally high and Cardiologist has stopped my medication for cholesterol.
I walk very fast and in the 2 KM walking circuit only few people are there who walk faster than me.
I run 2 KMs at a stretch every alternate day.
I had a very bad sleeping habit and now I am sleeping around 6 hours at a stretch in the night and I rarely sleep during the day. I wake up fresh every day and am ready to hit the circuit immediately.
During the recent Fit India Freedom Run, though I had very severe medical condition, even after several requests from my coach to take bed rest (this was the only time I have disobeyed her orders), on a daily basis, I hit the circuit and completed 30k steps in the month of Sep 2020. I stood first in Noida, 5^th in Uttar Pradesh and 134 all over India. I was at No. 3 in Sep and Oct challenge in the GOQii Arena.
Now some details about my physical appearance, my waist was 43” when I joined GOQii and after three months it is now below 36”, my target is 34”. Weight was 90+ and now I am at 70kg and I have achieved my target weight.
The other miracle (Chamatkar) has been that before I joined GOQii, I had 90% grey hair on my head and was bald at the top with a few grey hair on top, but after three months of this fitness regime which also includes diet control, I have new growth of jet black hair all over my head and beard. The bald area is getting covered. It’s a miracle

Now I believe when God wants things to happen and joining GOQii is a blessing from God to me. Coming in contact with my Guru on GOQii is all done by the grace of the almighty. I don’t think I would have ever met my Guru Deepali Sharma ever if I was not on GOQii. I salute GOQii for becoming the intermediary between me and my Guru.

In Hindi there is a Doha by Kabirdas, which I would surely like to state here and you will come to know what my Coach is for me.

गुरु गोविंद दोऊ खड़े, काके लागू पाय ।

बलिहारी गुरु आपनो, जिन गोविंद दियो बताय ।।

Coach Deepali Sharma, has transformed me from being a couch potato to a person now motivating people around me to wake up and start taking care of their body as this is the only thing which they truly own, rest all their possessions are transferable.

What Does Coach Deepali Sharma Have To Say About Nalin Talwar’s Journey?

‘Where there is a will, there is a way’ holds absolutely true for Nalin Talwar. We connected for an intro call and then our journey started, which is still going on. He came up with the goal to reduce weight and manage diabetes. And as you’ve read above, he achieved his target with flying colours as his weight, diabetes and sugar levels are absolutely in control now.

He used to feel digestive issues, lethargy and increase in heart beat but now he is super active, doing 20k counts on an average and even small runs within normal heart beat range. Digestive issues are no more. His thighs and calf muscles are getting toned up and he can clearly feel the strength in them. Credit goes to his hard work. The best part was that he started getting black hair on head, which was again a happy moment for us.

We started with balancing every meal. We worked on adding healthy snacks, good fibres, protein and reducing carbs. Pre-workout and post workout meal played a very important role in boosting his endurance and stamina. We started from walking and then later on added strength exercises gradually as per his comfortability. His honesty towards healthy habits have made this possible. He did an outstanding job throughout the journey and he knows health is the best investment!

We hope this story motivates you to make a positive lifestyle change! For more inspiring stories, check out Healthy Reads. To be a part of GOQii’s preventive healthcare ecosystem, visit our website now!

#BeTheForce

October 24, 2020 By GOQii 7 Comments

“Don’t Ignore Your Health!” – Nirmal Bhatt Shares a Message For All Womenfolk

As a working woman, managing a professional life and a personal life can be quite challenging given the status quo that exists in our society. Sometimes, so much effort goes into looking after a household as well as crushing it in the professional field that one easily forgets to take care of themselves. Nirmal Bhatt, a 42 year old working professional from Noida faced similar challenges as she tried her best to maintain the delicate balance between her work as an Academic Coordinator at Amity University and her household.

Before Being a Part of GOQii

Since 2012, Nirmal Bhatt has been suffering from hypothyroid and hypertension. Over the years, her weight had been increasing consistently. In 2019, she weighed almost 82kg. Her TSH was 10 and her BP was 150/110. Her diet was loaded with ghee and oil, zero physical activity and every weekend involved eating out. She always felt lethargic and given her routine, she lacked any motivation to do anything for herself. But all that was about to change!

Making a Lifestyle Change With GOQii

As a part of the deal with Star Health Insurance, she got a GOQii subscription as well. Living in a joint family with her husband and 2 grown-up kids, she says one can only imagine how hectic her life was. She had avoided talking to her GOQii Coach fearing that she’d be asked to make drastic changes in her routine which would be near to impossible to achieve.

She had heard from her friends how dieting works and she undoubtedly wouldn’t be able to do any of it. Upon the brink of giving up, Nirmal decided to give GOQii a try after relentless calls from her GOQii Coach who refused to give up on her. Since taking that decision to move forward, Nirmal didn’t have to look back ever again.

Her coach explained to her how she can bring about small changes to her lifestyle and still achieve her goals. She stressed on 3 major changes which have contributed the most to her weight loss – reduced tea consumption, avoiding junk and sweets. Nirmal confessed to being a tea addict, consuming almost 7-8 cups of tea a day. Now, she has reduced to just 2 cups a day. In addition, she has also stopped consuming fried food and sweets – both of which she couldn’t resist before.

Physical activities were something she would never try before but has now become a part of her daily routine. During the 2 initial months of lockdown, she wholeheartedly gave herself up to an active lifestyle and worked out for an hour every day. Since May, when she resumed work from home, she still tries to complete her 10k steps on most days. Her secret, she says, is never sitting idle. She constantly tries to be on the move, walking, stretching as and when she can.

The other changes which were implemented by her coach include:

Intermittent fasting
Including salads in meals
Early dinner
Fixed meal time irrespective of other family members

Thanks to all the changes which she accepted, her weight has reduced to 67.5kg and her waist size has gone from 38 inches to 34 inches.

What Does Nirmal Bhatt Have To Say About Her Coach?

Nirmal Bhatt says that she can’t thank her GOQii Coach Meenakshi enough for all the cooperation, guidance and motivation she provided. During the early days, when Nirmal would get frustrated about preparing all the delicious snacks for her family and not get to eat any, Coach Meenakshi used to keep her morale high by reminding her that she has to fit into that lehenga while attending the next wedding. She used to keep nudging and pushing her constantly, giving her tips and ways to stay healthy even on days when she would absolutely want to do nothing. Owing to her positive outcome and the bond she and her coach have formed, Nirmal has renewed her subscription for a year.

“I want to tell this to all the womenfolk”, Nirmal says as she adds that, “It’s very easy to lose track of yourself while tending to your family and household responsibilities. Don’t ignore your health! You can only take care of your loved ones if you are fit. Don’t bother what others have to say about your appearance. Lose weight because you want to look and feel good. Not because your relatives or friends want you to. It’s not at all easy but it is definitely worth the effort. You can’t stop beaming when you get compliments on your transformation from friends and colleagues.”

What Does Coach Meenakshi Have to Say About Her Player?

Nirmal Bhatt was very determined,dedicated with the health goal to reduce weight and waist size when she came on board .She was suffering from thyroid, BP, bloating, emotional stress, less energetic and disturbed sleep. She wasn’t able to spare time for her health because of her busy schedule

We began with small changes like reduced tea, sweets, biscuits and added salads and early dinner along with 15 minutes of Pranayam. She lost 4.5 kg. weight with 1 inch loss in a month. We worked on stress and sleep by adding deep breathing and meditation to her routine. We followed 10 minute abs exercises along with some cardio like jumping jacks, skipping, spot jogging, plank. For dinner, we added proteins, beetroot juice, chia seeds – post which she lost 10 kg. and 2 inch loss in 4 months. Then we accepted challenges like reduced sugar, intermittent fasting and added flax seeds, green tea and virgin coconut oil in her diet – all of this with consistent 10,000 steps with strengthening exercises. She further lost 14.5kg and 4 inch loss. Her TSH level is now 6.5 which was 10.2 in 2019. BP is also under control but she takes medicines sometimes, not regularly. Nirmal is very honest about whatever she eats. The best part of Nirmal is trying to be active throughout the day to complete 10,000 steps challenge daily with any exercises.

#BeTheForce

October 10, 2020 By GOQii Leave a Comment

Sugan Sabre of Nashik City Police Levels Up With Positivity!

There’s no denying that it takes bravery and guts to perform the tasks undertaken by our Police Force. It is also evident how this job can take a toll on your overall health, mental & emotional wellbeing if one is not mindful enough. Believe it or not, being an active member of the police force is a challenging affair and sometimes, you need a positive outlook to pull through. Let’s see how Office Sugan Sabre leveled up his positivity with GOQii.

Sugan Sabre has been posted at Nashik City for the past 29 years. He always had a lean and athletic body. He actively participated in various athletic events in school and college. He has also played cricket at the district level during his college days. However, an injury forced him to quit cricket and athletics completely around 25 years back.

Before joining GOQii, he used to visit the gym and go for frequent runs. On an average, he would cover 7km a day. He always preferred home-cooked meals and eating out was a rare affair.

Joining GOQii and Leveling Up!

A GOQii tracker along with a subscription was handed over to the Nashik Police Force by their Commissioner, Shri. Vishwas Nangare in May 2020. Since then, completing 30k steps and staying active throughout the day have been 2 key things that he has been doing. There is a healthy competition among all the police personnel at the station to complete as many steps as possible.

Nowadays, his routine is to wake up at 5:30 in the morning, go for a run and walk around 12km apart from some bodyweight exercises. In addition to this, he has added warm-ups and stretching to his routine which he never did before. His GOQii Coach explained to him why a warm-up is extremely important before any physical activity.

While his meals continue to be the same, the timings have changed. Earlier, he would skip breakfast and eat an early lunch around 10:30 AM. Now, he eats his breakfast after his morning workout. His coach has also advised him to limit his dinner intake to just 2 rotis along with any curry. Thanks to these minor changes, his weight has reduced from 83kg to 79kg since May. He is able to complete almost 25km a day by staying active throughout. He has added yoga and meditation to his routine to remain calm and relaxed.

What Does Officer Sugan Sabre Have To Say?

Officer Sugan Sabre says that being physically active has helped him stay more positive especially during these uncertain times. If you are physically and mentally active, your immunity is automatically higher and there is no illness that can attack you. People should not fear the coronavirus, rather be strong and confront it head-on.

Along with his police duties, he is also actively involved in training a group of people in a park nearby. He takes them through various exercises every day. In fact, he looks forward to this time of the day when he is able to motivate and help others get active. He says it’s important to pass onto others whatever you know.

His energy and positivity have rubbed off on his family members too as they’ve started waking up early in the morning to join him in his routine. He says GOQii has contributed a lot to his positivity and the band is a constant reminder that he needs to be on the move and not sit idle.

We salute the efforts of Officer Sugan Sabre from the Nashik City Police Force for his dedication to serve the country as well as remain active! To read more successful and inspiring user stories, check out Healthy Reads within the GOQii App.

#BeTheForce

September 26, 2020 By GOQii 2 Comments

Lose Weight The Right Way – Neetu Choudhary’s Weight Loss Journey!

Do you struggle with losing weight? Are the odds always stacked against you and despite your best efforts, the number on the weighing scale doesn’t budge? Well, you might have a lot in common with our player Neetu Choudhary who faced similar challenges. But with the right guidance from her GOQii Coach, she was able to make a positive lifestyle change!

Before Joining GOQii

Neetu Choudhary always had a medium build. She dabbled with yoga and the gym to stay active and fit before marriage. However, post-marriage, due to the new home, work and the stress which came with the responsibilities of managing both, her fit and active lifestyle headed towards a downward spiral. She also had a miscarriage which further impacted her stress levels and led to weight gain. After a successful delivery, her weight had touched 82kg. She had reached a stage where she was ready to try anything to lose weight.

Neetu Choudhary Makes The Shift!

Neetu Choudhary was introduced to GOQii through a friend. Let’s read her story in her own words:

“1 year ago, my weight was more than 80kg. My BMI was hovering around the obese category. Because of a C section delivery and hormonal imbalance, my weight was increasing day by day. Despite working out and dieting, I was not able to reduce my weight. I worked out 3 hours a day at the gym and my diet was only liquid without chapati or rice and I often skipped meals.

I still remember the first call with my GOQii Coach where she told me that I am torturing my body and experimenting with it the wrong way – that’s why my metabolic rate is very low. I told her that I don’t eat anything and I’m still unable to lose weight. To this, she said that’s what the problem is! If we don’t eat right, it will affect weight. Those words hit home and from that day on, my life took a big u-turn.

The changes that my coach introduced included:

Reducing my workout time from 3 hours to 1 hour
Have 3 meals a day – breakfast, lunch and dinner
Include yoga and meditation for better sleep and to reduce stress levels

Additionally, she also suggested that I don’t avoid anything but only restrict the quantity for the initial stage.

After following these changes, I began realizing that my energy levels increased and I don’t feel tired all the time. My anger levels reduced. My GOQii Coach Unnati helped me a lot during my journey and kept motivating me. She also helped me stop a few bad habits such as:

Reducing my milk tea from 5 cups to just 1
Doing away with processed and instant food. Now, I don’t even have biscuits in my kitchen

Staying Fit During Lockdown

When the world went into lockdown, I was worried about how I’ll keep my routine up but my GOQii Coach motivated and guided me to utilize this time in an effective manner. I switched to home workouts which include stair workouts, skipping, HIIT and running. I lost nearly 8kg in the lockdown itself.

I now believe that even without a gym or skipping meals, we can still reduce weight. All you need is determination and a positive attitude. My coach said – STOP MAKING EXCUSES and this has been my motto ever since in my personal as well as professional life!”

What Does Neetu’s Coach Have To Say About Her?

Coach Unnati says that, “Neetu was very determined towards her health goals, which was to lose weight, lose inches (especially belly fat). Her health concern was PCOD because of which she had gained weight and was finding it too difficult to lose.

After learning about her daily routine, we decided to reduce the workout from 3 hours to 1 hour & in addition introduced a half an hour post dinner light walk. Workout would include variations of HIIT, Stair Climbing, Skipping Rope, Strength Training and of course a small session of Pranayama & Meditation. For food habits, we decided not to skip or eat less for any meals instead, follow intermittent fasting starting with 12/12 hours and at present following 16/8 hours very smoothly. During the eating window, we made sure her diet was rich in fiber, protein, good fats & moderate amount of carbs. Water intake was also improved by incorporating detox water.

Changes Observed:

Weight loss – 12 Kgs (from 82 Kgs to 70 Kgs)
Inch Loss – 4”
Belly Fat – 6”
Arms – 2”
Improved on Sleep Quality,
Reduced Stress Levels
Good Energy levels throughout the day.

Neetu’s Sincerity, Determination, Dedication & Consistency helped her achieve her health goals. Seeing her so motivated, motivates me too!”

Well, does this story motivate you? Remember, it is never too late to make a change. With determination, motivation and the right habits, you can reach your health goals too! For more inspiring stories, check out Healthy Reads. To subscribe to GOQii, head over to our Website or Download the App Now!

#BeTheForce