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51% Of Women Still Struggle With Ongoing Health Issues | GOQii Women’s Health Report

Women's Health Report

Women’s health is of paramount importance. Women need to ensure that they take the time to look after their physical and mental well-being. They need to put their health first and make sure that they are doing all they can to stay healthy and strong. 

In the aftermath of the pandemic, just how extensive was the effect on Women’s Health? To find out, GOQii conducted a focused group study with around 3000 women with questions pertaining to menstrual patterns, PCOD, Thyroid, fertility, conception and pregnancy. 

Women’s Health Issues Continue To Persist 

In the report, we found that 51% of women in India continue to struggle with ongoing health issues such as menstrual irregularities, polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS), hypothyroidism, UTI and fibroids, diabetes, and infertility.

Nearly 41.7% of women have PCOS for more than five years, and a similar number of women have had the diagnosis within the past 12 months. Also, 63.3% of those polled experience irregular or infrequent menstrual cycles as a result of PCOS, and 41.7% of the female respondents were unaware that changing one’s lifestyle can help manage PCOS.

Endometriosis Emerges As A Silent Menace

Endometriosis has emerged as a new health issue, affecting one in every 10 women of reproductive age. The survey found that 57.1% of women have had endometriosis for one to five years. Endometriosis is a condition in which tissue similar to the lining of the uterus (endometrium) is found outside of the uterus, usually on the ovaries, fallopian tubes, or other organs in the pelvis. It can cause painful periods, pain during or after sex, and infertility. 

Research has indicated that genetic, hormonal and environmental factors may play a role in the onset of endometriosis, though the exact cause of the condition is still unknown. The survey also indicates that 16.5% of women have menstrual issues, and 1.2% have infertility issues, with 21.7% of the women agreeing that their advanced age was indeed a factor contributing to infertility issues.

A woman’s age is a critical determinant in her chances of becoming pregnant and having a healthy child. In India, the childbearing age of women has been steadily increasing over the past decade. This can be attributed to factors such as an increasing number of women in the workforce, rising levels of education, improved access to contraception and changing social norms.

Can Lifestyle Changes Help? 

The report concludes that lifestyle modifications can help manage various women’s health issues. Our Founder and CEO Vishal Gondal said in the report that due to the demands of daily life and the juggling of work, family and home commitments, women frequently overlook their health, and emphasized incorporating lifestyle changes into everyday life.

Women need to make sure that they are eating well, exercising regularly, getting enough sleep, and managing their stress levels. Women also need to make time for self-care activities such as yoga & meditation. Women’s health is a priority, women need to remember that their health is their greatest asset, and they must look after it accordingly.

To read the detailed report, click here. For more on improving women’s health issues through lifestyle, click here.

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The Neurotransmitter Impacts Of Sharing Healthy Behavior On GOQii Arena

GOQii ArenaOn GOQii Arena, we share our food, activity, moments, posts, and other health-related daily routine activities. Many players use the Arena as a platform to showcase their healthy habits and inspire others to adopt similar behaviors. But have you ever wondered why sharing these healthy habits in the GOQii Arena can be so rewarding? In this article, we’ll explore the neurotransmitter impacts of sharing healthy behavior and how it can impact our health and well-being.

How Sharing Healthy Habits Impacts Well-being

When we engage in arena activities such as sharing, liking, and commenting on health-related content, our brains release neurotransmitters that can impact our mood and behavior. For example, sharing health-related content can trigger the release of oxytocin, a neurotransmitter that is associated with bonding and trust. This can create a sense of community and support among individuals who share similar health goals.

Similarly, when we receive positive feedback, such as likes or comments, our brains release dopamine, a neurotransmitter associated with pleasure and reward. This can create a positive feedback loop that encourages us to continue sharing our healthy habits and receiving positive feedback from others.

Commenting on a post can stimulate the release of serotonin, which is associated with feelings of happiness and well-being. Clapping or reacting to a post can trigger the release of endorphins, which can create a sense of euphoria and pain relief. Sharing a post can stimulate the release of oxytocin, which is associated with bonding and trust.

Accountability & Motivation Through The GOQii Arena 

Sharing healthy habits in the arena can have several positive impacts on our health and well-being. When we share our healthy routine with others, we can feel a sense of accountability and motivation to maintain that routine. Additionally, receiving positive feedback from others can boost our confidence and self-esteem, which can have a positive impact on our overall well-being.

Furthermore, sharing health-related content in the arena can inspire others to adopt similar behaviors, which can have a ripple effect on our healthy communities. By sharing our healthy habits, we can encourage others to prioritize their health and well-being, which can lead to a more health-conscious society. Overall, these neurotransmitters can create a sense of community, support, and positivity on social media, promoting our mental and emotional well-being.

By understanding the neurotransmitter impacts of the GOQii Arena engagement, we can make more informed decisions about how we engage with others on these platforms and use them to promote positive health behaviors. By sharing our healthy habits and receiving positive feedback from our communities, we can create a virtuous cycle that supports our health and well-being.

So what are you waiting for? If you haven’t already, download the GOQii App and start engaging in the Arena! Found this article useful? Read more from GOQii here.

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Does Lifting Weights Build Mental Strength?

build mental strength

Exercise helps maintain healthy weight, control sugar levels, strengthen muscles and bones, and most importantly, it improves fitness and keeps you healthy! It also has an effect on our mental strength as it improves mood, helps in relaxation and lowers depression. This happens because the brain releases neurotransmitters called endorphins which regulate positive feelings and keeps the mood up. 

What Is Good Mental Strength? 

Having good mental strength means to have logical and realistic thinking patterns, decision making power and this helps manage your emotions and behaviour. Many studies have proven that people suffering with anxiety, mood disorders and depression benefit from including exercise in their routine. Hence, following a regular exercise pattern is essential to maintain mental health and improve mental strength.

Mental strength is as important as physical strength and the good news is that both can be improved with exercise. Hitting the gym or going for a run helps people suffering from heartbreak, loss of a loved one, less self confidence, as after training they report feeling good and positive by investing their energy in a positive place. 

How Does Exercise Help? 

Aerobic exercises like running, cycling, swimming are well known to reduce symptoms related to mental disturbances like stress and anxiety. Regular aerobic exercise improves blood flow to the brain and helps to strengthen brain health and memory. The increase in core temperature during aerobic exercise results in calmer mood after the activity. Aerobic activity even for 20mins a day results in positive mood and thoughts throughout the day. 

How Does Weightlifting Help Build Mental Strength? 

Weight training uses weights or external resistance for exercising. It is used to train and strengthen muscles, improve posture and bone structure, boost metabolism and help in better sleep. Lesser known benefits about lifting weights includes improvement in mind-muscle coordination which is an essential part of exercise. This coordination is associated with cognitive function of executive functioning which manages our command and control skills. Lifting weights also improves memory and cognition related tasks. It results in a realistic pattern of thinking, taking smart decisions and regulating behaviour. It also provides a sense of self efficacy and boosts confidence. 

Resistance training is a highly effective way to manage symptoms of anxiety and depression. Because what benefits the body, benefits the brain. Just like lifting weights causes muscle gain, the brain has the capacity to change itself in response to internal as well as external influences, which is known as neuroplasticity. In the presence of weight lifting, the brain becomes active, hormone production and neuron production increases. All of this together improves mental strength and helps the individual recover from anxiety or depression along with the therapy. 

Weight lifting teaches you to live in the present and be more mindful as lifting requires a lot of concentration and attention in the moment. Setting up the correct posture, controlling the body and performing the movement requires a lot of focus and concentration. Make sure to club weight training in your routine for a strong body and stronger mental health.

How To Get Started With Weight Lifting

  • Aim to weight train for 30-45 mins, 3 times a week
  • Start with low weights and focus on posture and consistency
  • Train at low to moderate intensity for maximum benefit from weight training
  • Do not miss out on 7-8 hours of sleep, meditation and a balanced diet which contributes majorly to staying fit

Even if you’re currently not depressed or anxious or have any goals of muscle building, I would urge you to consider weight training for all of it’s added benefit. We hope this article on lifting weights to build mental strength helps you. You can read more fitness related articles here. For tips from experts, subscribe for GOQii’s Personalised Health Coaching. 

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From Terminal Illness To Complete Wellness! Ananda Mukherjee Health Story

Ananda Mukherjee Health Story

We’ve always advocated that lifestyle diseases can be managed with a balanced, healthy and holistic lifestyle but can they also help you manage a terminal condition? Our Player Ananda Mukherjee, with help from his GOQii Coach, was able to battle such a condition. Here’s how his inspirational Health Story unfolded.

Going From Slender To Overweight 

Ananda Mukherjee had a very poor work-life balance. This coupled with bad eating habits such as drinking several cups of coffee, eating unhealthy and sleeping less really took a toll on his body. “I could never sleep, so I was on sleeping pills,” says Ananda. 

Not being able to sustain such a lifestyle, Ananda Mukherjee quit his job in 2018 but didn’t do much for his health. When COVID struck, he couldn’t exercise or go out – which made his life pretty sedentary. The only positive outcome he says was that he was able to add certificates to the hobbies he indulged in such as Interior Design and Gardening & Landscaping.

In the course of time, before he realized, his weight had increased from 56kg to 83kg. “I was asked by people, what has happened to you?” Ananda says that he was slender from the age of 15 till 45 and his weight had remained the same. So when he gained weight, it was noticed by everyone. 

More Bad News…

In 2021, he was diagnosed with a terminal medical condition that affected his intestine  (Adenocarcinoma in the small intestine i.e. Cancer of the Intestine). The first thing his doctor told him was to quit smoking and get active. His food habits also needed to change. He had to bring some discipline in his life. 

As his medication and radiation treatment began, the side-effects such as weight loss, loss of appetite, digestion issues like gas, bloating, etc. began to show. All of this also affected him mentally and emotionally. He was on antidepressant pills for his anxiety issues as well. 

During this time, he was introduced to GOQii by a friend and from social media. When he did his research, he realized that it’s not just a fitness tracker but a service that offers personalized health coaching as well. He says, “Without any hesitation I decided to get a GOQii and try it”. 

Getting Back On Track With GOQii 

Ananda Mukherjee joined GOQii in September 2021. At the time he joined, he weighed 70kg, his HRA was 43 and his BMI was 25.71. His health goal was to lose fat, gain muscle, improve sleep, get rid of stress and anxiety and control his BP. 

Since he was under radiation therapy, after each radiation session, his health goal would change as per the side effects he faced. He had lost 5kg due to the radiation therapy. His health goals fluctuated between improving oxygen levels, heart rate, getting rid of GI issues like gas, bloating, indigestion, nausea as well as respiratory problems like cough, cold, chest congestion, etc. Along with help from his GOQii Coach Vaishali, he had to manage lifestyle changes accordingly.

Coach Vaishali suggested simple healthy changes in his lifestyle which included eating fruits, drinking lukewarm lemon water in the morning, including lemon zest, and having wheatgrass and aloe vera juice to boost immunity. For protein and omega 3, she suggested dry fruits.

During the course of their journey, she got him away from sugar and smoking. Ananda was asked to engage in his hobbies and meditation to improve his mental and emotional wellbeing as well as remain stress-free. 

Ananda also shared his journey with us in detail as he spoke to our Founder & CEO Vishal Gondal

What Changes Did Ananda Mukherjee Experience? 

When asked about his journey so far, Ananda said, “GOQii has played a huge role. It brought about positivity in my life. My Coach Vaishali just created new habits based on my health goals and helped me follow those habits.” 

His radiation treatment is now complete and he is happy that he is able to sleep without taking any pills. His neighbors and friends are surprised at how fresh and healthy he looks now and his wife has also complimented him.

“I blindly follow what my coach suggests and that has given me results. She has been a mom at times, an elder sister at times and has been able to get me to do things. I am totally off smoking and alcohol and my diet is simple,” he says. 

Ananda has been getting all his exercise lessons and nutrition tidbits from GOQii Play classes. He loves the recipe classes on GOQii Play and has been able to make quite a few dishes at home to avoid eating out.

He jokes with his friends saying, I am just chilling and losing weight and has been advocating GOQii to all of them. He says, “This current life is a tectonic shift in my life.” He is able to get back to his medium sized clothes from having gone upto XL size. 

He says, “A coach is necessary to achieve your goals especially when it is about health. There has to be someone to motivate you to do the right things. I have always believed in mentors and with a coach or a mentor your journey only becomes that much more interesting and easier”. 

Ever since being on GOQii, in almost 9 months’ time, Ananda has been able to get into the Elite category. He is following a healthy lifestyle, enjoying his life and is now a landscape designer and also loves gardening. He walks daily for physical fitness and meditates for mental and emotional wellbeing.

Currently his HRA is 81. He has stopped taking antidepressant and sleeping pills as well. His current weight stands at 67kg.

What Does Coach Vaishali Vibhute Have To Say About Her Player?

Ananda started his journey on Sept 20, 2021. The day he joined as a player, he was very depressed, stressed, feeling low both mentally and physically, emotionally disturbed and overweight. He smoked a lot. When I started coaching, he weighed 70kg, HRA was 43 and BMI was 25.71.

Despite being a fitness freak and having a gym at home, he had stopped exercising when he had quit his banking job, which led to a lot of weight gain. To get him back on track, I gave him a target of completing 3k steps and gradually increased it to 5k. I also gave him a few challenges like doing light weight exercises, and following pre and post workout meals. He completed all these tasks diligently. 

When GOQii launched the SAFE (Sedentary, Active, Fit and Elite) model, I told him I would like to see him in the ELITE category, as he was in the sedentary category. He accepted the challenge as he had a burning desire to achieve his health goals.

It is never easy to achieve a health goal. It requires some sacrifices, discipline, consistency and determination. If you are able to handle these 4 aspects well, nothing can stop you and Ananda has proven this fact! Though it was challenging for him to maintain his weight due to his medical condition, his endless efforts and discipline helped him achieve what he aimed for.

We’re wishing Ananda Mukherjee well on his journey of being healthy and fit! Does his Health Story inspire you? Do you want to make a radical lifestyle shift as well? Subscribe for GOQii’s personalized health coaching and start now: https://goqiiapp.page.link/bsr

For more inspiring Health Stories, check out Healthy Reads.

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