Search Results for: disease

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

Beyond the Force: A GOQii Newsletter Edition 1

1. India Defies Stanford University Report 2017 and Becomes Active!

On 22nd February 2019, GOQii launched the India Steps Challenge in partnership with Network18. The challenge was conceptualized after we came across a 2017 study by Stanford University which deemed Indians as the laziest in the world, clocking in an average of only 4297 steps per day.

This step count was further challenged in 2018, when our GOQii IndiaFit Report stated that the average step count had increased to 6783 steps per day.

The India Steps Challenge ended on 1st June 2019 with most prizes being claimed fully. After witnessing stunning participation of over 2 million people across 35 states including Union Territories in the country, we are proud to announce that the national average has now increased to 9391 steps per day, beating Stanford’s research by 118%.

The challenge saw people from all walks of life participate and even received support from noted personalities. Read more here!

Winner Gives All!

Rajneesh Sharma from Pathankot in Punjab won the grand prize of Rs. 5 lakh. He managed to clock in an average of 39,657 steps daily! Rajneesh was able to achieve this by being active for 5-6 hours a day. Apart from him, there were 3 other players who clocked a daily average of 36,000 steps a day.

“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 Hadsar and Gauri Kund area. 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.”

Rajneesh Sharma (left) with his friends

For some, what started as a challenge to earn rewards later become a start towards a healthy life. We had multiple reports of participants who continued walking 6000 steps or more once the challenge was over. There were some who lost weight, were happier and healthier than before as well!

2. Get Upto 90% Discounts on the GOQii Health Store

Have you been keeping a keen eye on the app? There are some amazing discounts on the GOQii Health Store that go up to 90% using GOQii Cash. The timings are:

11 AM to 1 PM
5 PM to 7 PM
7 PM to 9 PM

3. Soulfull Now Available in the GOQii Health Store

Are you game for something tasty and delicious? Soulfull, our newest addition on the GOQii Health Store offers a range of healthy breakfast cereals which include Original Ragi Flakes, Flavoured Flakes, Vanilla and Choco-filled Ragi Bites, Millet Muesli, and Oat Millet Meal. Treat yourself to awesomeness right now!

In the next few months, you will want to pay close attention to GOQii Play as something big is coming your way! Now, you get 50 GOQii Cash for attending a class on GOQii Play. To add to it, all the knowledge you can get through these classes will help you in the next challenge we have planned with even more exciting prizes. You worked your body during the India Steps Challenge, now get ready to work your mind!

Stay Tuned for More Details!

4. Latest Buzz From the World of Health & Fitness

WHO Recognizes Burn-Out as an “Occupational Phenomenon”: Burn-out is now included in the 11th Revision of the International Classification of Diseases (ICD-11) as an occupational phenomenon. It is not classified as a medical condition.
International Day of Yoga: This year, International Day of Yoga will be held at Ranchi on the 21st of June. The day will witness over 30,000 people participation led by Hon. Prime Minister Narendra Modi.
Nipah Virus Resurfaces in Kerala: The virus that claimed 17 lives last year has resurfaced in Kerala but the State Health Minister KK Shylaja says do not panic as they are well-equipped to deal with the issue. Union Health Minister Harsh Vardhan said that no new case of Nipah Virus infection has been reported in Kerala.

June 4, 2019 By Vishal Gondal Leave a Comment

The Urgent Need For Healthy Eating

Ever wondered what constitutes healthy eating? I found my answer in creating new habits by adding beneficial foods and fostering a sense of responsibility to improve my quality of life! I am not talking about fad diets that make short term promises but making the right food choices and building a good relationship with them! Basically, embracing permanent and lasting changes.

Eat Real Food!

Scientific evidence has shown that what you eat can reduce your risk of developing heart disease and diabetes. It can ward off some forms of cancer, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, osteoporosis and obesity. Healthy eating and making the right food choices now is more important than ever.

Lifestyle Diseases on the Rise

Why so? Increasing members of our society are falling prey to lifestyle diseases due to wrong eating habits. Data collected from our very own GOQii IndiaFit Report 2019 indicates that there has been a rise in lifestyle diseases among people below the age of 45 since last year. High blood pressure has increased from 9% to 12%. Users affected by Cholesterol have increased from 10.1% to 14.1%.

Prioritize Your Health

If you prioritize your health, you’ll develop a “wellness state of mind”. The first thing you will begin with is making the healthiest choice when it comes to food and physical activity. Before you begin to make changes in your lifestyle, knowing where you are in your journey towards health and wellness is important. As a preventive healthcare company, we are striving to get people to be active and disease free. Our coaches promote balanced nutrition and healthy eating.

The IndiaFit Report indicates that there are key concerns in the nutrition area. Research indicates that 35% of the users have concerns around acidity and indigestion. 14% of the users are plagued by constipation. Bloating has increased from 8.5% last year to 10%. More than 25% have delayed meal patterns. All of these issues are due to bad eating habits.

Ask yourself the following question: Am I eating a balanced diet that comprises of all food groups to sustain health, energy, and well-being?

Healthy Eating is Not Complicated

While eating right is paramount, eating safe is equally important. We all know ingestion of pesticides can cause some serious issues including diseases like cancer over a period of time. From food grains to vegetables to fruits, everything is grown and ripened with the help of chemicals. Moreover, the concept of organic food is not well understood and most find it expensive.

But, having said that things are changing slowly and steadily. People are getting used to buying organic products from places like Farmer’s Market and few other health and wellness stores. In fact, the GOQii Health Store within the GOQii App offers curated products at a discount. These products are tested by our nutritionists and experts before being available for sale.

Remember eating right is not at all complicated. You don’t need to count calories all day long just eat the right foods and you will automatically start feeling healthy!

April 6, 2019 By GOQii 2 Comments

Overcoming the Odds! Aliya Imran’s Journey to Fitness

How many times have we come across movies or a television drama series where the protagonist defies all the odds, overcomes challenges and despite all the insurmountable hurdles, wins? We can’t ignore the obvious catharsis we feel and the emotional bonds we form with a protagonist’s journey. We can’t deny the overwhelming sense of joy we experience at their eventual success.

While we all love rooting for a beloved fictional character, we need to remember that there are real heroes out there who face their own struggles head on and emerge victorious. One such hero is none other than our GOQii Play Coach Aliya Imran.

Born in Mumbai, Aliya Imran spent some years in the city and then shifted to Vadodara. Although her schooling was normal, she did not experience a peaceful childhood. Despite her emotionally challenging circumstances, she was a healthy child. At the age of 13, Aliya was diagnosed with jaundice. It was so severe that no doctor was willing to admit her in their hospital. Stress coupled with a weak immune system triggered Vitiligo (A disease that causes the loss of skin colour in blotches) which became a permanent feature. Her Vitiligo increased and decreased with her stress levels.

She married at the age of 19, moved to Gurugram and completed her graduation. The trauma from a miscarriage at the age of 22 further aggravated her Vitiligo, causing it to spread all over her hands and face. She delivered her first child in 2009. Her weight had then increased to 79 kg. After being blessed with a second child in 2011, her weight further increased to 85 kg. Her Vitiligo issue hadn’t gotten any better.

She faced discrimination due to her Vitiligo issue. One such instance was during a pilgrimage with her family, a woman serving herself some food beside her threw the plate and walked away in disgust after looking at Aliya’s Vitiligo patches. By the end of 2013, she returned to Mumbai. At this point in time, Aliya felt completely hopeless about her weight gain issue as well as her skin condition. Something had to be done!

Becoming the Change

One fine day, she decided that she had enough! She thought to herself, “If I can’t fix Vitiligo, let me at least fix my weight!” She immediately joined a gym nearby. Not wasting a moment, she sat on the Spinning Bike and started spinning with vengeance! She didn’t have a clue about exercise or fitness and there was no one to guide her either. She just went with whatever caught her attention.

Soon enough, she began running along with working out. She performed high intensity cardio with a day’s rest, never skipped a single gym day for 3 months and managed to reduce 9 kg. Later, she returned to Gurugram, joined a college and completed an Interior Designing course. She joined a gym there as well. Obsessed with fitness, she used to do stair exercises before hitting the gym. Her family members and friends thought she had gone crazy but that didn’t stop her.

She slowly began weight training. She used to have only one meal a day without realizing that it was a fasting method. After attending one of GOQii Master Coach Luke Coutinho’s sessions, she found out that what she had been doing was Intermittent Fasting. This further encouraged her to fine tune her eating habits. She strictly avoided junk and outside foods and sought a high protein diet.

By the end of 2014, she weighed only 50 kg. She had lost 25 kg in a year without going on any crash diet. She achieved this through mindful eating and intense physical activity only. This gave a tremendous boost to her self-confidence, especially when her college and neighborhood acquaintances commented on her physique and unbelievable age.

One such instance of the boost in her confidence was when she was discriminated again for her skin condition. It was at a spa when an attendant refused to touch her. This was a similar situation as before but only this time, Aliya stood up for herself. Her confidence was sky high, never to be deterred again.

Passion, Determination and Success

Around this time, gym instructors suggested that she take up fitness as a profession. They were convinced that she would be a success considering her dedication and hunger for fitness. Taking their advice, she completed her Zumba certification in 2016 and also got a spinning license. Between 2015-2016, she achieved professional success, accolades and was sought by leading gyms in Gurugram to join them as an instructor.

Aliya Imran shifted to Mumbai in 2017. She completed a few more certifications which included Pilates Training License and Reebok Training. Aliya also completed a certification in Personal Training and Nutrition from Dubai. She opened a home studio and began taking in clients, both from India and abroad.

In 2018, she acquired a Master Functional Training certification by ACE. Later that year, in September, she came to GOQii. She identified with the GOQii ideology that thrives on guiding and motivating people to lead a healthier lifestyle. The rest is history! Since joining GOQii Play as a coach, Aliya has had 1,734.3k views, 1,231k likes and has 183,347 players who have enrolled for her class! If that’s not amazing, then what is?

It wasn’t an easy journey to have come this far. She had to constantly maintain her weight from 2014 to 2019, improvise on her own fitness and at the same time bring variety and content to her clients. Aliya Imran attributes her success to her persistent efforts, her never-say-die attitude and the will to change without getting bogged down by limitations. She also thanks God for the tremendous support she has received from her family and her husband for motivating her.

We all face hurdles from time to time. If you have faced similar issues, know that there is always a way you can beat your circumstances and emerge as the best version of yourself!

Does this story inspire you? Are you motivated to move? Join Aliya Imran’s fun-fueled, energy-driven classes exclusively on GOQii Play. Download the app now: www.goqii.com/app