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Losing 12kg & Overcoming A Sedentary Lifestyle – J Ravichandran Writes His Health Story!

J Ravichandran

Does being sedentary after retirement sound familiar to you? Could be you, a loved one or someone you know. J Ravichandran, a 63 year old retired CA from Chennai, experienced the same. As a CA, his work involved a lot of traveling – which kept him active. While he did not have any major illnesses, he was on the heavier side, having reached a stage of being overweight. 

“I have always been on the heavier side. My parents have also been on the heavy side. But, after retirement I started gaining more weight,” says Ravichandran. His weight reached 86kg in June 2020 at 5.3 inches of height. Apart from gaining weight, he also developed other health issues such as aches and pains.

While things seemed grim, J Ravichandran was able to turn his life around. How? Let’s find out! 

Life Before GOQii 

Retirement and a sedentary lifestyle went hand in hand for J Ravichandran. Furthermore, with the COVID-19 Lockdown in March 2020, he was unable to go out, which meant that he had stopped walking. He put on more weight during this time. He also suffered from constipation and arthritis. 

He had no control on his eating habits, he used to drink socially and as a result of being sedentary, he suffered from improper and poor quality sleep. 

Getting Onboard The GOQii Ecosystem 

His main goal was to lose weight and he also wanted to manage his indigestion problem, arthritis pain and constipation. He had problems while walking due to being overweight. He even had problems sitting and getting up. That’s when he decided something needs to be done or else living like this would get quite difficult for him. 

He joined a local gym but that didn’t help him much. He tried walking inside the confines of his home but again, it did not give him any result. Then, the lockdown hit and everything stopped. All this collectively took a toll on him. 

In July 2020, he came across GOQii and its fitness tracker from one of his friends and without much thought, he purchased it. He got a 3 month personal health coaching subscription free with his device. He wanted a coach who could understand the South Indian diet and he was assigned to coach Jannath. He was able to build a very good rapport with the coach as they shared the same regional language.  

Initially, he thought that the coach would help only with his diet but he was quite impressed with the holistic approach that entailed diet, workout, stress and sleep management. He followed all the changes that the coach brought in for his betterment. 

These changes included: 

  • Morning start with detox water
  • Drinking Apple Cider Vinegar 
  • Consuming Methi seeds soaked in water as well as lime water
  • Introduction of mid meal snacks 
  • Portion control 

His GOQii Coach also suggested intermittent fasting. 

When he started in July 2020, he was 84.8kg and by October 2021, he had lost 12kg. Since then, his weight has remained at 73. He has reduced inches on his waist as well.

J Ravichandran has been regularly updating his logs on the app and keeps his coach informed. He credits changes in his lifestyle to GOQii and his GOQii Coach. He regularly completes 10K steps and thanks to being active, with weight reduction, his knee pain has also reduced.

Overall Benefits

“I am now more disciplined and log all details everyday. These logs are continuously monitored and I get regular feedback from the coach. That helps as it gives you an idea of where you stand in terms of your health,” says Ravichandran. Ravinchaindran has now introduced his wife to GOQii as well. 

“Consistency is key to good health”, Ravichandran concludes.

What Does Coach Jannath Have To Say About J Ravichandran? 

Mr. J Ravichandran came on board in July 2020. When he joined GOQii he was 84.8kg and he had constipation and arthritis too. He also had sleep disturbance to some extent. 

From the first intro call itself, Ravichandran was eagerly waiting to start his journey. This made my work a little easier. After understating his lifestyle, I made some healthy changes like introducing detox water, salads and fruits in his diet along with some knee workouts for arthritis. 

When I made these changes in his diet and workout, he was able to manage his constipation and digestion problems too. He also was able to manage his knee pain with exercise. 

I got Mr. J Ravichandran started with intermittent fasting twice weekly, and it worked very well. He reached 81.1kg on September 1, 2020. Slowly, we introduced breathing exercises and other techniques to improve his sleep quality. It definitely worked well with his sleep quality improving by 70 to 80%. 

I made a few healthy changes in his diet as per his food logs in the app. Finally, he reached 72.5kg in the month of October 2021. In total, he lost 12.5kg in one year. Mr. J Ravichandran’s journey proves that small changes in lifestyle can yield the best results! 

Does this story inspire you to make a change? Do you want to shift to a healthier lifestyle? Then subscribe for GOQii’s personalized health coaching and start your #HealthStory now: https://goqiiapp.page.link/bsr

For more inspiring stories, check out Healthy Reads. 

#BeTheForce  

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6 Magical Foods That Could Help Boost Your Immunity

boost your immunity

The winter flu coupled with the ongoing pandemic isn’t a very desirable combination. If you’re too worried about that cough or cold being a symptom of COVID-19, you need to boost your immunity this season! Being we get to the foods which can boost your immunity, let’s understand what immunity is all about! 

What Is Immunity? 

It is a condition of being able to resist a particular disease, especially by preventing the development of pathogenic microorganisms or by counteracting the effects of its products. The Immune system consists of organs, cells, tissues and proteins – together they carry out bodily processes that fight off pathogens (viruses, bacteria and foreign bodies that cause infection or disease). When our immune system comes into contact with a pathogen, it triggers an immune response. The immune system releases antibodies which attach to the antigen or pathogen and kill them.

In simple terms, immunity is the strength to fight and ward off viruses and bacteria which make us weak and ill. It’s the 1st line of defence. To build immunity, we have to choose a healthy lifestyle with: 

  • Regular exercise 
  • Healthy and nutritious food
  • Staying well hydrated
  • Good quality sleep
  • Stress management
  • Avoid smoking and alcohol
  • Avoid processed, canned, preserved and refined food

Magical Foods That Can Help Boost Your Immunity 

While the above certainly help you boost your immunity, here are a few magical foods that can help you as well. 

  1. Fruits: are packed with vitamins and minerals. They are a rich source of Vitamin C and Vitamin A which play a very important role in building immunity. They are packed with antioxidants. Citrus fruits like Orange, grapefruit, Sweet Lime, lemon as well as kiwi, papaya and all types of berries are the best. To get the best of fruits, we should always consume seasonal and locally grown fruits. 2-3 serving of fruits are recommended per day if there is no restriction.
  2. Vegetables: like green leafy veg, broccoli, red bell pepper are packed with vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Green leafy vegetables are packed with fiber and water. They are loaded with Vitamin A, C and K. Calcium, iron, magnesium, potassium are the minerals which we can get from them. They are also good sources of phytochemicals like litein, zeaxanthin and beta-carotene which revitalize our health. In fact, Broccoli is supercharged with vitamins A, C and E. It has sulforaphane which is an antioxidant. It has good amounts of fiber which supports the immune system. Red bell pepper has good amounts of Vitamin C which can be compared to Citrus fruits. If anyone wants a good amount of Vitamin C with fruit sugar (Fructose), bell peppers are the best option. It is also a good source of Beta carotene (which gets converted into Vitamin A). Along with helping boost your immunity, it also improves your skin and eye health.
  3. Nuts and Seeds: are good sources of good fat/omega 3 fatty acids and have protein and antioxidants in it along with Vitamin E minerals. In nuts and seeds, almonds and sunflower seeds help you boost your immunity. Vitamin E is fat soluble and almonds have plenty of it! Sunflower seeds are great sources of phosphorus, magnesium, selenium, Vitamin B-6 and E. Vitamin E is very important in regulating and maintaining the immune system.
  4. Roots like Ginger and Garlic: Ginger is anti-inflammatory and antioxidative in nature, hence it helps in preventing illnesses. Certain chemical compounds in ginger helps our body ward off germs. Both fresh and dried ginger are good to build immunity. Garlic is used in home remedies for common cough and cold and other illnesses. It has allicin in it which helps to lower down the blood pressure, cholesterol and helps in heart health.
  5. Green Tea: is packed with flavonoids and epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) which are antioxidants. In studies, it’s shown that ECGC helps boost your immunity. Green tea also contains L-theanine which is an amino acid that helps in the production of germ fighting compounds called T-cells, which reduce inflammation in the body and helps fight infections.
  6. Dark Chocolate: The Cocoa found in dark chocolate can strengthen the defence of our immune system. Dark chocolate may help fight a stubborn cough. It contains an antioxidant called theobromine, which may help boost your immunity by protecting the body’s cells from free radicals. But dark chocolate is high in calories and saturated fat, so it is important to maintain portion control.

These are the few foods which help boost your immunity. With these, there are many more foods that help us, such as amla, haridra, neem, tulsi and ashwagandha. They are known to strengthen the immune function. As with all foods, you need to maintain portion control. Before you try any of the above foods, check with your doctor, dietitian or nutritionist. 

For more on immunity, check out Healthy Reads or ask a GOQii Coach by subscribing for personalized coaching here: https://goqiiapp.page.link/bsr

#BeTheForce 

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Recover and Reclaim Your Health – Yashas Ranganath User Journey

Yashas Ranganath

More often than not, we find ourselves moving passively through the world revelling in all it has to offer and more. Wading way beyond moderation in the beauty of excesses till the consequences of our actions pile up. Lifestyle diseases are caused because of indulgence in unhealthy habits, something that one of our players Yashas Ranganath found out first hand. How did he manage? How did he recover? Let’s find out!

Life Before GOQii

Yashas Ranganath, an IT professional from Bangalore led quite a normal life. He used to eat, drink and do whatever he pleased, paying no attention to health and fitness. His physical activity was almost nil and he paid no attention to his lifestyle to even make a change.

In 2016, he was diagnosed with hypertension and diabetes. He was also admitted to the hospital for a severe migraine attack and put under medication for both. His health only got worse with time. In September 2018, he was hit by a stroke due to a cyst in his left brain. This left the right side of his body completely paralyzed.

Enter GOQii

Initially, Yashas Ranganath had joined GOQii in 2015 when he was exploring the market for a good fitness tracker. He chose GOQii as he was intrigued by the personal coaching feature. However, he says he completely wasted that subscription and did not take it seriously at all.

In December 2018, after 50% recovery from the paralysis, he began thinking about making lifestyle changes. He turned to GOQii and renewed his subscription. He says that his life took a complete positive turn after that!

Making a Positive Lifestyle Change

Yashas’ goal was to get all his vitals under control and completely recover from paralysis. His GOQii Coach advised him to completely stop the consumption of oil, sweets, salt, junk food and all types of processed food. He was also asked to stop eating maida and consumed bottled beverages. From a foodie, he had turned into a monk – eating to live and not living to eat. But his sole focus was recovery and he was ready to give up on everything.

His daily routine became structured in terms of eating habits, activity and sleep:

  • He wakes up at 4 in the morning to leave for work at 6:30 AM. He eats his breakfast and lunch at work – both are customized to his requirement.
  • His breakfast consists of upma, poha or idli. For Lunch, he eats 2 cups of rice with salads and vegetable curry.
  • Dinner consists of chapatti with a curry.
  • His coffee intake is limited to 1 in the evening and he eat fruits as mid meal snacks.
  • Under the rare occasion when he eats out, he manages to customize his food.
  • He exercises for 2 hours a day, doing what his physiotherapist suggests along with numerous stretches recommended by his GOQii Coach. He concludes this with 15 minutes of meditation.
  • He has also started cycling and performs Yog Nidra at night.

After following this routine, Yashas says that he feels no cravings at all and doesn’t even get tempted after seeing other enjoy different delicacies. He enjoys his current lifestyle modifications.

What Changes Did Yashas Ranganath Experience?

When he joined GOQii in 2018, his weight was 75kg, HBA1C was above 8 and blood pressure was 200/170. He now weighs 63kg. His vitals improved drastically too with his HBA1C at 5.4, blood sugar – fasting at 80-90 mg/dl and postprandial at 80-100 mg/dl. Blood Pressure is 130/80. He is on minimal medication, feels more active physically and positive mentally. He has also made a 90% recovery from his stroke.

“You have to get hit before your eyes are opened and then you change in ways you never thought you could,” says Yashas.

His wife and parents are overwhelmed with his recovery. He attributes the change in his lifestyle to his GOQii Coach and says her contribution has been 100%, constantly guiding him on what to eat and what not to eat. Yashas has also explored the features on the app like Play and watches videos as and when he finds time.

Recently, Yashas Ranganath spoke to our Founder & CEO Vishal Gondal about his recovery and journey with GOQii. You can watch the entire episode of GOQii Health Talks here:

What Did His GOQii Coach Have to Say About Him?

“Yashas is one of the most disciplined player I have ever seen. He has been very regular in following
all the habits formulated for him. After the treatment of his stroke and during recovery, he used to suffer from episodes of hypoglycaemia in between. He used to feel dizzy and uncomfortable. Slowly, we started making him have small and frequent meals with portion control. We started millet based meals for better glycaemic index and on the side, he was doing his physiotherapy as well. All of which contributed to his lifestyle change.”

Yashas Ranganath made a positive lifestyle change, what about you? Subscribe to personalized coaching now to get healthier with GOQii: https://goqiiapp.page.link/bsr

Do check out more inspiring stories on Healthy Reads and #BeTheForce 

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Sandeep Vasant Shares The Secret To His Transformation

Sandeep VasantDoes your work revolve around traveling and leaves you with little time to focus on your health? Sandeep Vasant, a marketing professional from Bengaluru had the exact same issue till he decided that it was time to change. 

In 2016, Sandeep Vasant weighed around 89kg, his BMI was hovering around the overweight to obese category and he knew he had to change. His opportunity came when he won a GOQii band as a part of a contest. 

Making the Shift 

The concept of personalized coaching, a band to track his daily step count and an integrated app –  all of this intrigued him and he decided to invest his time in the GOQii model. His coach guided him on how they would go about his goal to lose weight. These changes included: 

  • Correcting food habits: Consuming fruits and vegetables while reducing junk food, tea and coffee in take. Stop late dinners 
  • Begin basic cardio and strength training at a gym 
  • Correct sleep pattern and avoid using the cellphone late at night 

Within the first 10 days itself, Sandeep Vasant began seeing changes in himself which motivated him to be more consistent. 

The challenge came when he had to incorporate these changes to his frequent traveling. His coach recommended that he pack his workout gear even while traveling so he can go for runs and workout in his hotel room as well. For food, he had to settle with what was available albeit, he had to choose healthy and maintain portion control. If he got bored with gym workouts, he switched his attention to GOQii Play coaches in the morning. 

Small Changes. Big Rewards! 

At the start of 2018, he had already dropped 10 kgs. If 2017 was about changing food patterns and beginning exercises, 2018 became more about his interest in marathons. He started participating in 5k runs which initially took him 45 mins to complete. He wanted to improve his timing and start training more for marathons. He decided to participate in at least one marathon each month. Turns out, he won a few medals in the course of his journey as well. He draws his inspiration to workout everyday looking at the medals he won at those events. 

Staying Fit During Lockdown 

When the country went into lockdown, like others, he was worried how he’d keep up with his exercise routine. He did not want to squander all the hard work he had put in till now. He decided to increase his workout time and started participating in evening Zumba sessions on GOQii Play. 

He began practicing yoga – something which never interested him before but was the need of the hour. Now, he is a regular at Ronak Gajjar’s meditation sessions on GOQii Play. He says, “Meditating along with Ronak has actually helped me think positively, keeping all the negativity around the coronavirus and the economic situation at bay. I feel more grounded and peaceful even while sitting at home.” 

During the past 3 months, he has not gained weight but in fact, he has lost 4kg more and now weighs 75kg. His goal is to further drop 2kg which will bring him in the normal BMI range. 

What Does Sandeep Vasant Think About GOQii? 

Sandeep says his coaches have constantly motivated him to be consistent, shared inputs from time to time on what he should and should not eat. Most importantly, they have structured his routine for the days he travels. He is thankful to GOQii for helping him achieve his goal. 

He says that the 3 secrets to his transformation were consistency, discipline and dedication! As of now, Sandeep is making great progress. What about you? Subscribe to GOQii now and make a positive lifestyle change!

For more stories on transformation and lifestyle change, check out user stories on Healthy Reads.

#BeTheForce 

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 […]