User Stories Archives

June 22, 2019 By GOQii 1 Comment

Aspire! Achieve! Inspire! Harit Panchal User Journey

Being healthy is not a race, it is a marathon. As we all know, running a marathon is no easy task. If you’re not prepared or willing to learn, it can get extremely difficult. More often than not, when you want to push your game to the next level, you will need help. Harit Panchal knew this and decided to take a step on to the next level with GOQii.

Living Healthy From Day One

Weighing around 85 kg, Harit Panchal had always been mindful about his eating habits and fitness. Walking and/or jogging have been a part of his routine forever! His family is also mindful about their diet. They do not eat junk food or takeaways, use very little oil and sugar. Thanks to this habit, no one from his family suffers from health issues.

Taking It Up a Notch!

In March 2017, Harit Panchal was introduced to GOQii by a friend, since he was always interested in fitness. Harit wanted to run marathons as well and shared this determination with his new GOQii Coach.

His GOQii Coach introduced him to healthy habits that he had to follow. He woke up every morning and was asked to drink warm water with lemon, honey and turmeric powder. Before he began with Pranayama, he was asked to consume soaked nuts. He performs breathing exercises for around 40 minutes everyday.

His breakfast was a traditional one, consisting of upma, poha, idli and thepla, etc. Lunch was a traditional affair as well, consisting of Dal, Rice, Roti and Vegetables. He began including fruits as mid meal snacks. His dinner was similar to his lunch but was light.

Biscuits were his weakness earlier. He stopped consuming them completely. As of today, he completes more than 10k steps. Has begun with planks and can hold it for 1 minute, 20 seconds.

Thanks to the change in his habits, he was able to reduce 11kg in the past 2 years. How he weighs on 74kg and is quite healthier and fitter than before. He has also participated in 2 marathons since joining GOQii – a 21km and 10km in 2018. For his mental health and to maintain a hobby after his retirement last year, Harit Panchal took up watercolor painting – an activity he was passionate about since childhood.

Being the Change

Harit is quite regular with blood donations. On his 50th birthday, he had completed 50 blood donations. At the age of 59 today, he has donated blood for the 74th time. He did so on World Blood Donation Day.

Harit Panchal is a volunteer for an NGO which serves subsidised food to the relatives of patients admitted in KEM Hospital, Parel. He easily spends around 30-45 min every thursday distributing food. Apart from this, he also volunteers for a charitable cause for juvenile prisoners. Volunteering here involves inculcating good habits in juvenile prisoners, creating cultural awareness, prayers and other fun activities.

Earlier this year, he participated in the India Steps Challenge and claimed a backpack and shopping bags as gifts. He was among the top 1000 players of ISC.

When asked about GOQii, he said that he appreciates the contribution of his coaches towards his increased awareness about health and fitness, the guidance he received for marathon training as well as the constant follow up through calls and chats. His endeavour is to stay fit, participate in a marathon every year and live disease-free with the help and guidance from his GOQii Coach!

To know more about Harit Panchal’s story, join him LIVE on GOQii Play this Sunday at 11 AM!

#BeTheForce

June 15, 2019 By GOQii Leave a Comment

Good Health & Good Karma! How Rajneesh Sharma won the India Steps Challenge!

What if you had a chance to win Rs. 5 lakh? How far would you go? What if the odds weren’t completely in your favor? Would you still keep going? When the GOQii India Steps Challenge presented our players with an opportunity to earn rewards for walking, many individuals stepped up to the challenge. But, there were only a few that rose to the top! One of those challengers was Rajneesh Sharma.

Before the GOQii India Steps Challenge

Hailing from a small town in the Pathankot District of Punjab, Rajneesh Sharma works for Ranjit Sagar Dam. His job is sedentary and involves a lot of desk time. He is married with two children.

Apart from his job, he is also associated with an NGO by the name of Shiv Bhole Langar Samiti that engages in providing food and other facilities to the Manimahesh Pilgrims. Manimahesh is situated at an altitude of 12,956 ft and is difficult even for seasoned trekkers. Due to his eagerness to serve people through this NGO, Rajneesh began taking an interest in fitness and physical activities.

Before joining GOQii, he was moderately active, walking sometimes. However, there was no consistency as his job didn’t leave him with much time to walk or indulge in any activity. He considered his diet to be normal as well.

Becoming the Force

In December 2018, his elder brother motivated him to join GOQii and work towards his health and fitness. As he came on to the platform, the first run that he actively participated in was the GOQii Resolution Run 2019.

Once he had successfully completed the run in January, he got introduced to the GOQii India Steps Challenge in February. When he heard of the Rs. 5 lakh cash reward, he had made up his mind to win it and donate the money to his NGO. Rajneesh Sharma began walking 2 hours in the morning, 2 hours in the evening and even in between as and when time permitted. Thus, he was active for almost 5-6 hours a day during the challenge and was clocking in an average of 39,657 steps daily.

To keep up his stamina, he turned to balance his meals more. As a vegetarian, he had to completely rely on plant protein. He began eating soaked almonds, sunflower and pumpkin seeds and at times sprouts as well before his workout. After his workout, he drank a glass of milk. He mostly ate home-cooked meals for lunch and dinner.

During the course of participating in the challenge, he experienced knee pain. He tackled this issue by doing knee-strengthening exercises and his condition improved.

To walk his way towards the grand prize, Rajneesh sacrificed time with his family for a period of 100 days. He could barely afford any time at all for his wife and children as his entire routine revolved only around walking and work. Although, he had their support. He even found support in 4 of his friends who joined him in his journey and won prizes as well.

Embracing the Change

By the time the challenge had ended, Rajneesh Sharma noticed that he had lost 4-5kg. His stamina improved tremendously. Before, he used to feel breathless, but now, he can easily walk for hours together without any effort. He says that walking has become an obsession now.

He doesn’t miss his walks under any circumstances. Rajneesh says that the India Steps Challenge has made him more passionate about staying fit and being healthy. His four friends have continued to join him for walks even after the Challenge. They do their best to motivate each other.

Apart from physical fitness, he has also noticed changes in his mental and emotional wellness. He feels really positive throughout the day. There isn’t an ounce of tiredness or stress that chain him down. He has more energy than before which keeps him cheerful and happy.

Hard work Pays Off! Winning India Steps Challenge

After putting in so much hard work and dedication, Rajneesh Sharma, his family and friends were all looking forward to see if he had won the challenge. When the grand prize was announced, he got to know that someone else had claimed the first prize.

Everyone who supported Rajneesh and knew his struggles were extremely disappointed. In the spirit of fairness, when an audit was performed, Rajneesh was declared the true winner of the India Steps Challenge. He was happy that his ardent efforts had paid off.

He said, “I am very happy to have won this challenge as I have decided to give this money to an NGO – ‘Shiv Bhole Langar Samiti’ with whom I volunteer. This NGO feeds people in Himachal Pradesh’s Manimahesh pilgrims. I participated and started walking to keep myself fit only to be able to climb up 13 km to feed people as part of the NGO work. Then my friends joined me and that kept me motivated.”

What began as a challenge, became an inspiring story of hard work, dedication and good karma. An initial quest for a reward gave Rajneesh so much more than just Rs. 5 lakh. He was able to discover true wealth in the form of fitness and good health.

We wish him the best in his journey towards being fitter and healthier!

#BeTheForce

June 8, 2019 By GOQii 2 Comments

Are you really healthy? Ask Jitendra Tyagi

If you never faced any health issues, would you consider yourself healthy? When you’re unaware of the right nutrition and the correct forms of exercise, can you still maintain good health? If you consider your lifestyle to be normal, is it really normal? If you answered yes to any of these, the story of our player Jitendra Tyagi will be quite an eye-opener for you!

Life Before Joining GOQii

Jitendra Tyagi is a 45 year old working professional from Ghaziabad who works for 8 hours a day and leads a hectic routine like many of us. He wasn’t alien to a sedentary lifestyle. He weighed around 84kg and didn’t particularly enjoy the extra weight and fat. Due to a disc problem, he suffered from lower back pain but never had any other health concerns in general.

Although he was conscious about eating, he consumed a lot of sweets and was quite unsure as to what is healthy and what is not. He was under the impression that he was leading a normal, healthy lifestyle as he didn’t have any major health concerns and was completely unaware about what he was doing wrong. He used to perform a few exercises but was very irregular, his eating and sleeping time was erratic as well.

Life After Joining GOQii

In 2017, a friend who was employed with Axis Bank got him a tracker. Jitendra Tyagi was already clear about what he wanted. His key goals were to lose weight, feel more energetic and look fit.

The first step in his health journey was to break the myth that his lifestyle was normal and healthy. The GOQii Coach explained that just because he doesn’t have any health concerns doesn’t mean he is healthy. A healthy lifestyle constitutes of eating healthy, sleeping on time, eating the right food at the right time, adequate hydration and exercise. He found the Coach’s explanation to be convincing and began following instructions diligently.

Jitendra Tyagi found that his GOQii Coach’s attitude was friendly. The information shared was detailed as well, which motivated him to follow them. Tips shared by his Coach from time to time were always effective.

His GOQii Coach introduced him to portion control and requested that he add salads in both his meals. He was asked to drink Apple Cider Vinegar before meals and detox water as and when required. His fat and oil consumption was reduced as well. He was completely off junk food and was asked to consume fewer sweets.

On the exercise front, he began brisk walking and was then introduced to interval walking and Tabata. Now, he performs HIIT along with a little strength training as well. He follows YouTube links shared by his Coach for exercise. Thanks to this, he didn’t need to join a gym.

On the GOQii App, he watches Coach Tufail Qureshi and Coach Arooshi Garg’s videos almost regularly. He finds their videos to be quite useful and explanatory. Jitendra also follows Coach Jeet Selal. He has even purchased Protein Supplements, BCAA, and Energy Bars from the GOQii Health Store within the app.

Results of Dedication Towards a Healthy Life

At present, Jitendra has lost approximately 14kg and weighs 70kg. He has successfully maintained this weight for the past 7-8 months. The lower back pain due to his disc problem is completely gone, thanks to his exercise routine.

His dedication to getting healthy, active and fit even inspired his brother, wife and a couple of his friends to subscribe to GOQii. Now, they are all active players and are as satisfied with GOQii as he is!

Here’s What His Coach Had to Say About His Journey

Jitendra Tyagi came onboard GOQii with the goal of losing weight and belly fat. He had no medical issue but was facing back pain.

He wanted to quit smoking. Despite his busy schedule, he always updated me about his meals, water intake and activity. I would help him analyse them and guide him on a daily basis. He took my suggestions on his meals and exercise seriously and began implementing them.

He did face an issue while quitting smoking but with a little push and regular motivation, his willpower helped him overcome the urge to smoke. Even his alcohol intake has reduced significantly.

He exercises regularly and thanks to his healthy meals and lifestyle, he reached his weight loss and inch loss target as well! His fitness and energy levels are quite amazing now! I am so happy with his progress!

We hope Jitendra’s journey helps motivate you to take a step towards living a healthier lifestyle!

#BeTheForce

June 1, 2019 By GOQii 1 Comment

Motivation and Determination go Hand-in-Hand | Kalpana Sharma User Journey

Household chores can be quite healthy for you as they help you stay active! But like any journey towards good health, you have to support your activity with proper nutrition, sleep and manage stress as well. In most cases, individuals find it difficult to do so. This may be due to fatigue, lack of motivation or proper guidance. So what happens when you get the motivation you need with proper guidance? Let’s look at how they helped Kalpana Sharma!

Lifestyle Before GOQii

Kalpana Sharma, a 36-year-old housewife residing in Pune is married with 2 children, aged 9 and 3 years respectively. Prior to joining GOQii, she had no time or inclination to workout or manage her diet. She was too occupied with household chores and taking care of her family.

Apart from being inactive, she suffered from high acidity for almost 4 years due to unhealthy eating habits. She also had breathing problems due to weight issues. The meals prepared in her household were cooked in ghee and oil. The consumption of sweets was high as well.

Determination to Start a Healthier Lifestyle

During her second pregnancy, Kalpana Sharma weighed around 96kg. This was a frightening experience for her as she did not want to cross the 100kg mark. She knew she needed a drastic change. After her delivery in 2018, her husband gave her a GOQii tracker with a 3 month subscription as an anniversary gift.

Her husband motivated her to lose weight and get fit. Her health goal was to lose weight and get rid of acidity. Her GOQii Coach suggested she eats Fenugreek seeds that were soaked overnight, first thing the next morning. She had to include salads before lunch in order to reduce the portion size of her meal.

For dinner, she avoided carbs and switched to paneer and salads. She was asked to avoid sugar in her tea and coffee and eat sweets occasionally. On the exercise front, Kalpana began cardio for 30 minutes for 5 days a week. She also began walking after dinner. Her GOQii Coach shared some workout videos with her which she used to follow.

Embracing the Change

Under her 3 month subscription, Kalpana Sharma lost 3kg. This motivated her to extend her membership to 12 months. She weighed 88kg then and further reduced her weight to 71kg. Seeing the speed of her results, she wishes to lose another 3-4kg.

As per her GOQii Coach, she has been as consistent as possible with her habits. She switched to healthier alternatives while cooking. For instance, she began using jaggery instead of sugar. Any cakes or cookies she baked were made of whole wheat flour and jaggery.

Due to her healthy cooking methods, Kalpana has been able to improve the health of her entire family! She has even begun innovating her own cooking methods by opting for low fat alternatives.

In addition to all of this, she has also started strength training as suggested by her GOQii Coach. She now does cardio, abs and weights on alternate days. Kalpana ensures that she sets aside time for exercise no matter how hectic her routine is. She is dedicated to the extent that sometimes she is called ‘crazy’ by her family members!

3 months back, she was diagnosed with varicose veins and her doctor advised her to not stand for long periods of time and to ensure that she doesn’t gain weight. Instead of being defeated, this has only strengthened her motivation to exercise and lose more weight!

For her daily dose of inspiration, she regularly watches Coach Tufail Qureshi’s LIVE videos on GOQii Play and follows his instructions religiously. She also follows Coach Arooshi Garg’s Cooking Show.

Kalpana is quite active on the GOQii App and has explored a few snacking options from the GOQii Health Store. She finds them very tasty and healthy. When asked what she felt about GOQii, she said that it has transformed her and she is completely satisfied with GOQii and wishes to continue for many more years!

We wish Kalpana Sharma the best in her ongoing journey towards a healthier life. Did you find Kalpana Sharma’s story of determination inspiring? Drop a comment below and let us know what you feel!

#BeTheForce