GOQii

Blog

  • HOME
  • HEALTHY LIVING
  • FITNESS
  • HEALTHY RECIPES
  • USER STORIES
  • KARMA
  • BUY GOQii

Search Results for: muscle

June 29, 2019 By GOQii Leave a Comment

Change Begins With a Single Step – Aniruddha Bhave User Journey

Motivation is always the key to achieving your health goals but what happens when you don’t have a health goal to begin with? What happens when there is nothing there to push you towards a healthier lifestyle? Where do you begin? For Aniruddha Bhave, the push came from the consequences of a sedentary lifestyle.

“It’s true that motivation has to come from within. However, you always need someone to lend a helping hand. This was fulfilled exceptionally well by GOQii,” says Aniruddha Bhave after his transformation with GOQii.

Sedentary Lifestyle and the Desire to Change 

Before joining GOQii, Aniruddha Bhave, a banker from Mumbai, led a very sedentary lifestyle. His day included long hours of sitting in the office and extensive travelling for work. He travelled by car wherever he went and his eating timings were quite off.

His weight had increased to 79kg, he had been smoking for almost 10 years and drank alcohol occasionally. All of these habits took a steep toll on his health. He had suffered from spondylitis at the age of 32 and was diagnosed as pre-diabetic at the age of 40.

Around this time, he had no idea of what constitutes a healthy lifestyle. He was oblivious about fitness, about what comprises of a healthy and an unhealthy diet. His doctor had asked him to either start with medication or healthy lifestyle modification. As exercise seemed liked a far cry to him back then, he chose medication.

He was on medication for 2 years before joining GOQii.

Making the Change! 

In September 2017, one of Anirudhha Bhave’s friends introduced him to GOQii. Initially, he was extremely sceptical whether it will help or not or if it was going to be worth the time and effort. He decided to go ahead because he was looking for a tracker to track his activities.

When Aniruddha Bhave began his journey with GOQii, his primary goal was weight loss. The initial habits that his GOQii Coach set was basic walking as exercise, mindful eating and better sleep – all of which were missing from his life. He was asked to consume raw garlic on an empty stomach in the morning along with a concoction made of lemon, honey and cinnamon with warm water.

As he progressed, Aniruddha slowly switched from walking to jogging and later, he began running. His GOQii Coach was very persistent and ensured that he followed all the habits given to him diligently. When he began running in December 2017, he knew there was no turning back now!

Complete Change, Weight Loss and More 

“Running has become my passion,” is what Aniruddha Bhave told GOQii. In fact, he had suffered muscle loss because he was running too much. His GOQii Coach then asked him to perform strength training and increase his protein intake. He began consuming Whey Protein and even tried protein bars, both of which he bought from the GOQii Health Store.

He stopped with medication 3 months after joining GOQii. Aniruddha Bhave even took the 21 Days Challenge and completed it. His current habits include running for two days – one for 15km and the other for 7-8km. On other days, he performs strength training. He has even set up a  mini gym at his home for weight training as suggested by his GOQii Coach.

Within 8 months of joining GOQii, Aniruddha lost 12kg. He further reduced his weight to 64.5kg. His HbA1c level has come down from 6.5 to a normal 5.5. Whereas walking even half a km used to be a task, he can now run 10km easily.

Aniruddha now is quite active on GOQii Play. He attributes his increased motivation to coach Aliya Imran. Apart from Aliya’s classes, he also attends Marathon Expert Parwage Alam’s classes for tips on running, Mayuri Dongre’s classes for reviews on products available in the GOQii Health Store as well as Fitness Expert Shweta Kariya’s classes functional training and fitness. He even attends Medical Classes conducted by doctors for medical awareness.

Being the Force 

Looking at his amazing transformation, a lot of his friends have taken a keen interest in health and fitness. His wife has also lost weight and brought her thyroid under control with help from GOQii. Aniruddha Bhave is their source of constant motivation and inspiration.

Overall, he considers GOQii to be a blessing for him. He has proven that although the first step is often difficult, but once you take it, with the right guidance and motivation, it can transform your life in unimaginable ways. Any and all change begins with a single step and when you do, there’s no turning back!

#BeTheForce 

June 28, 2019 By Gitanjali Bahl Leave a Comment

5 Common Mistakes Women Make

women health

We have always heard that women are more prone to most diseases but have you ever wondered why? Before we discuss the common mistakes that women make, take a look at this scenario…

Let’s go over the case of an average 32 year old female who has two kids, one being 5 and the other 1.5 years in age. She starts her day at 6 AM and begins preparing meals for the family. She gets her oldest child ready for school, does other chores and by the time she is free, it is 11 AM and she eats her first meal. Till her oldest child arrives back from school and till she finishes her remaining chores, she has delayed her meals, hasn’t gotten adequate rest and is fatigued.

This results in increased weight, pain in muscles, poor mental health and lack of interest in any task. This busy routine is what plagues most women in India today. It is even tougher for working women as the burden of managing work and household chores can place tremendous stress on them.

In some cases, poor health arises out of genetic composition but not always. It is also because of stress and negligence towards health.

Here Are Some of the Most Common Mistakes Women Make

1. Missing Meals, Especially Breakfast

It doesn’t matter if you’re a homemaker or an office goer, you need adequate nutrition. Most of us skip breakfast which is considered to be the most important meal of the day. Either that, or we eat late which is equally harmful. Starving the body may lead to overeating and can cause a number of problems.

2. Inadequate Nutrition

If the quantity of the meal is less, most women starve themselves and offer the meal to others or opt for the most convenient option available, despite the fact that it has no nutritional value. Both of these lead to deficiency. This is also a reason for low haemoglobin, calcium, Vitamin D and Vitamin B levels in women nowadays. Ensure that you have at least two servings of fruits and green vegetables a day.

3. Budget Management

Sometimes due to financial constraints or just to prove that they are good finance managers at home, some women deprive themselves of good and quality food, which is again wrong. Managing budget is good but depriving yourself of essential nutrients isn’t. Plan in a way that you can accommodate everything. For instance, make sprouts, paneer, curd at home which will be healthy and economical too!

4. Being Over-Organized

Some women are so busy with their schedule and are so organised, they want to finish their work first and focus on themselves later. As a result, by the end of the day, they are so exhausted that they get no time for themselves. Working is good but not at the cost of your meals and/or exercise. Fix a time for your exercise and meals and stick to it!

5. Sleep Deprivation

Due to family responsibilities, women tend to compromise sleep. Whenever there are guests over or there’s additional work, women take on the responsibility and lose out on much-needed rest. Avoid doing so at all cost! Compensate the next day. Remember that even a machine needs a break or else its efficiency gets affected.

Remember that health is wealth. To take care of the household, you first need to be healthy and fit yourself. Learn from these common mistakes women make and take a positive u-turn towards a healthier lifestyle!

#BeTheForce

June 19, 2019 By Dr. Viral Thakkar 1 Comment

Pleasuring Yourself: Is it Good and Healthy? Part I

masturbation myths and benefits

Kanika is studying in college. In her biology class, she read that stimulation of the clitoris leads to pleasure. While many of her friends studied and forgot about it, Kanika decided to try it out… and it worked! In fact, it worked wonderfully well! Gradually, she started doing it whenever she felt the urge and it felt blissful!

Kanika masturbates and it is perfectly normal and healthy. Masturbation is the sexual stimulation of one’s own genitals for sexual arousal or other sexual pleasure, usually to the point of orgasm. The stimulation may involve hands, fingers, everyday objects, sex toys or combinations of these. It is frequent and common among both sexes and all ages and for many, it is the first sexual encounter.

Here is What Happens in the Body When You Masturbate

1. The Genital Area: When you start becoming aroused, several physical responses occur, including an increased heart rate, faster breathing, and increased blood flow through the body, including the skin. Muscles contract, and with the increased blood flow, genital organs such as the clitoris get bigger, in a male, the penis is enlarged. In a woman, the vaginal wall becomes more lubricated and the uterus even moves position to create space for penetration.

2. The Brain: It is said that the orgasm happens in the brain and physiology is a small part! The prefrontal cortex of the brain in women appears to be more active during masturbation than sex, which appears to happen when touches are imagined rather than felt. This is seen much more in women. As stimulation continues, the nerves in that area also become more responsive. Touching the erogenous parts of the body initiates the physiological responses described above. If sustained, usually leads to orgasm in most people.

Within the brain there is an increase in hormones, including dopamine, serotonin and oxytocin as you start masturbating. These are ‘feel good’ hormones, which reduce feelings of stress, and increase feelings of bonding between individuals. During masturbation, it is just you!

3. Blood: There is an increase in blood cells that help fight infections. In one small study, sexually active women had higher immunoglobulin G (IgG) at ovulation than sexually abstinent women. IgG is an antibody response and is the most common antibody expressed in blood. It acts directly on pathogens by either paralysing target cells or by immobilising them and marking them for disposal.

Why is it good for Health?

  1. It’s good for you! Literally! It is FINE to masturbate and release that pent up energy. An excessive of it is not! Read more in the next article. The hormones dopamine, serotonin and oxytocin are released during masturbation. These are ‘feel good’ hormones, which reduce feelings of stress, and increase feelings of bonding between individuals. During masturbation, it makes you feel fulfilled. (Not undermining your partner here but this feeling comes up in many!). A study found a 74.6% increase in pain tolerance with masturbation, and pain detection ability increased by 106.7% due to the release of related hormones.
  2. It is an exercise since the increased blood flow and muscle contractions during masturbation helps to exercise the pelvic floor effectively.
  3. Cleaner vagina: Since the secretions from the vagina during and post orgasm keep it clean and at a normal acid-base level, thus decreasing the risk of infections, and the increased lubrication.
  4. A beautiful fire lights up the brain: The hippocampus, amygdala, cerebellum and hypothalamus combine to get you to your peak. In a female, during masturbation, the brain’s prefrontal cortex, an area of the brain heavily associated with creative thinking turns up the volume. In the case of partner sex, it seemed that certain elements of it are actually turned off, specifically the part that seems responsible for self-control, overtime for you.
  5. Becoming sexually aware: Masturbation also helps you figure out what you like sexually. Where do you like to be touched, stimulated. This can help you guide your partner if any.
  6. There are speculations of reduced prostate cancer with frequent ejaculation.
  7. It might help some men to practice solo and then with a partner. It might help you to understand how long it takes you to orgasm.

Well, coming back to Kanika, she read this article, and had the following questions. And we are here to help her

Kanika: Will my partner know that I masturbate? Is it correct to masturbate even though I have a partner?

Me: Your partner will never know unless you tell and pleasuring yourself is fine! Don’t be guilty, just enjoy!

Kanika: Will I lose my sex drive in the long run?

Me: There is nothing scientific about losing your sex drive because of masturbation. But yes, since you release the energy, many people report that the urge to be physical with the partner reduces. But for many, the physical act is equally important.

Kanika: Is it okay for women to masturbate?

Me: Yes. Yes. Yes.

Kanika: My friend seems to be addicted to masturbation. How do I know if I am addicted? How much masturbation is good or bad?

Me: That’s tricky.  Let us look at it in detail.

Stay tuned for the next article!

#BeTheForce

May 4, 2019 By GOQii 1 Comment

Nothing Is Difficult If You Try Wholeheartedly! Lijo Paul User Journey

Lijo Paul User Journey

Do you remember your early childhood? All the fun times playing with your friends, running around during recess or participating in sports activities? Childhood, for most of us, is a memorable experience where we recall fun, carefreeness and other fond experiences. On the contrary, for a few of us, childhood might not be the fondest of places in our memory. It was the same for Lijo Paul.

If you’re active on GOQii Play, there is absolutely no way you’ve not come across our player Lijo Paul. A few of you might have interacted with him at some point as well. Recently, we had a chance to speak to him and we’re about to share his story with you!

Early Childhood and Facing the Odds

At the age of 2, Lijo Paul was affected by Seizures. Although he was cured through medication, it wasn’t an easy road ahead. At 6, he was diagnosed with Asthma due to dust and cold. Due to this issue, he was unable to have a normal childhood.

He was unable to walk or run a mile. Climbing stairs was difficult and participating in sports was out of the question. He couldn’t play any games that required physical activity and had to follow a strict diet. In his words, “No kid would love to lead a life where he is unable to play sports or eat the food he likes.” Lijo was affected by sleeplessness as well due to Asthma.

Every doctor and specialist that Lijo visited suggested that he exercise but for him, it meant experiencing breathlessness the next day. He had to spend his childhood with medicines and inhalers. He was also affected by Typhoid twice and vomited blood for which he was on medication again.

After college, he took up a job that consumed 16 hours of his day. Due to this sedentary lifestyle, he developed belly fat and back pain. To combat this, he finally joined a gym but quit within 6 months after not being able to see any results.

Enter GOQii

After much turmoil, Lijo Paul came across GOQii through Axis Bank. Although he was apprehensive at first, he decided to give it a go and subscribed to GOQii in September 2018.

Lijo believed in a myth that healthy food is bland and you need to raw fruits and veggies to stay healthy. This myth was broken by his GOQii Coach who made him realize that losing fat and body weight isn’t about eating boring food but it is about eating the right things at the right time.

In his own words, Lijo said that, “I always troubled my coach with lots of doubts and questions but she ensured that I received proper and adequate knowledge on the topics. She also made sure that I don’t waste money on useless products and kept a frequent track of my food intake.”

His GOQii Coach kept a track of his water intake and began including a lot of fruits and vegetables to his diet. He consumes Apple Cider Vinegar in the morning and gyms for an hour. Green gram sprouts are his post-workout meal.

Since he initially found healthy food boring, his GOQii Coach suggested recipes to make his food more interesting. His initial notion of healthy food has changed drastically. He performs a mix of cardio and weight training, hitting 1 muscle group twice a week and has increased his protein intake as well.

While on GOQii, he tuned in to GOQii Play and followed it diligently. He began following Coach Aliya Imran and her 25-day challenge to lose belly fat.

Witnessing the Change

Within a period of 7 months, he has reduced his weight from 65kg to 60kg. Lijo has seen a drop of body fats from 25% to 12-15%. He can now perform any workout he likes. There has been much improvement in his breathing problem as well.

His confidence levels have sky-rocketed! Due to his awareness about fitness, he guides his friends, colleagues and family as well. In fact, he helped a colleague with PCOS, regularizing her periods and reducing her weight from 85kg to 76kg.

Along with his GOQii Coach, Lijo Paul credits his transformation to our GOQii Play coaches like Aliya Imran, Vishakha Sodha, Tufail Qureshi, Heena Bhimani, Suparna Mukherjee and others. The changes he has experienced from being unfit to fit have made him curious. In the future, he plans on doing a certification course and build a career in fitness.

Lijo Paul believes that it is all about the mindset; nothing is difficult if you do it wholeheartedly. Has Lijo’s story inspired you? Let us know in the comments below!

#BeTheForce

 

  • « Previous Page
  • 1
  • …
  • 71
  • 72
  • 73
  • 74
  • 75
  • …
  • 113
  • Next Page »

Search

Recent Posts

  • Water Intake Pre, During and Post Workout
  • India Leads in Longevity: GOQii Sanjeevini Named Top 40 in $101M XPRIZE
  • The Importance Of Knowing If You’re Thirsty Or Hungry
  • Best Foods To Alleviate Irritable Bowel Syndrome
  • ALL ABOUT VERTIGO!

Stay Updated

Archives

  • December 2025 (9)
  • November 2025 (15)
  • October 2025 (20)
  • September 2025 (6)
  • August 2025 (6)
  • July 2025 (12)
  • June 2025 (18)
  • May 2025 (16)
  • April 2025 (23)
  • March 2025 (23)
  • February 2025 (22)
  • January 2025 (26)
  • December 2024 (26)
  • November 2024 (25)
  • October 2024 (22)
  • September 2024 (24)
  • August 2024 (31)
  • July 2024 (21)
  • June 2024 (26)
  • May 2024 (31)
  • April 2024 (27)
  • March 2024 (29)
  • February 2024 (26)
  • January 2024 (25)
  • December 2023 (15)
  • November 2023 (11)
  • October 2023 (20)
  • September 2023 (22)
  • August 2023 (20)
  • July 2023 (22)
  • June 2023 (24)
  • May 2023 (24)
  • April 2023 (24)
  • March 2023 (23)
  • February 2023 (20)
  • January 2023 (16)
  • December 2022 (12)
  • November 2022 (15)
  • October 2022 (15)
  • September 2022 (12)
  • August 2022 (10)
  • July 2022 (17)
  • June 2022 (11)
  • May 2022 (10)
  • April 2022 (6)
  • March 2022 (6)
  • February 2022 (13)
  • January 2022 (12)
  • December 2021 (7)
  • November 2021 (3)
  • October 2021 (6)
  • September 2021 (3)
  • August 2021 (8)
  • July 2021 (7)
  • June 2021 (15)
  • May 2021 (16)
  • April 2021 (10)
  • March 2021 (7)
  • February 2021 (4)
  • January 2021 (4)
  • December 2020 (3)
  • November 2020 (4)
  • October 2020 (10)
  • September 2020 (3)
  • August 2020 (3)
  • July 2020 (2)
  • June 2020 (4)
  • May 2020 (10)
  • April 2020 (12)
  • March 2020 (10)
  • February 2020 (4)
  • January 2020 (4)
  • December 2019 (3)
  • November 2019 (7)
  • October 2019 (5)
  • September 2019 (4)
  • August 2019 (9)
  • July 2019 (9)
  • June 2019 (11)
  • May 2019 (4)
  • April 2019 (9)
  • March 2019 (8)
  • February 2019 (9)
  • January 2019 (8)
  • December 2018 (9)
  • November 2018 (3)
  • October 2018 (3)
  • September 2018 (5)
  • August 2018 (10)
  • July 2018 (6)
  • June 2018 (13)
  • May 2018 (8)
  • April 2018 (18)
  • March 2018 (9)
  • February 2018 (8)
  • January 2018 (15)
  • December 2017 (12)
  • November 2017 (19)
  • October 2017 (13)
  • September 2017 (15)
  • August 2017 (4)
  • July 2017 (8)
  • June 2017 (7)
  • May 2017 (6)
  • April 2017 (8)
  • March 2017 (6)
  • February 2017 (7)
  • January 2017 (9)
  • December 2016 (10)
  • November 2016 (7)
  • October 2016 (7)
  • September 2016 (7)
  • August 2016 (11)
  • July 2016 (9)
  • June 2016 (9)
  • May 2016 (12)
  • April 2016 (17)
  • March 2016 (17)
  • February 2016 (8)
  • January 2016 (6)
  • December 2015 (2)
  • November 2015 (9)
  • October 2015 (7)
  • September 2015 (9)
  • August 2015 (11)
  • July 2015 (9)
  • June 2015 (12)
  • May 2015 (9)
  • April 2015 (13)
  • March 2015 (8)
  • February 2015 (5)
  • January 2015 (12)
  • December 2014 (14)
  • November 2014 (11)
  • October 2014 (6)
  • September 2014 (13)
  • August 2014 (12)
  • July 2014 (6)
  • June 2014 (2)
  • May 2014 (7)
  • April 2014 (5)

From “Laddu Nawin” to Fit and Fierce: How a 25-Year-Old Insurance Advisor Shed 20 Kilos and Gained His Life Back

When 25-year-old Nawin Yadav from Hyderabad walked into his office every morning, he carried more than just his files and policy papers. He had the weight of fatigue, sluggish energy, and an ever-growing belly that was becoming the butt of jokes. “People … [Read More...]

“I’ve Challenged Myself to Live 100 Years” – The Story of Chandubhai Savani’s Second Chance at Life

At 67, most people start slowing down. Not Chandubhai Savani. A resident of Surat, Chandubhai, thought life was on track. “My life was going well till I had my bypass surgery,” he says. That surgery, back in 2021, was a wake-up call.  Medication was routine, but exercise wasn’t. His diet? What he calls ‘normal.’ “I […]

From Shimla’s Slopes to Chandigarh’s Sidewalks: Surinder Kaur Bhalla’s Journey from Chaos to Control

Some journeys start with a plan. Others begin with a stumble literally. Surinder Bhalla, a government professional, born and raised in the scenic hill town of Shimla, had always lived a life of movement. “In Shimla, you walked everywhere,” she reflects. “Walking was never an exercise. It was just life.” But after shifting to Chandigarh, […]

Ananda Mukherjee Health Story

From Terminal Illness To Complete Wellness! Ananda Mukherjee Health Story

As we observe World Cancer Day under the powerful theme ‘United by Unique’ (2025-2027)**, we are reminded that every individual’s journey with cancer is distinct, yet united by shared resilience, hope, and the collective fight against this disease. This theme places people at the centre of care and their stories at the heart of the […]

  • HOME
  • HEALTHY LIVING
  • FITNESS
  • HEALTHY RECIPES
  • USER STORIES
  • KARMA
  • BUY GOQii

Copyright ©2016 GOQii