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A Game Developer’s New Game: Aditya Gaikwad’s Journey to Wellness

For years, he grappled with the burden of being overweight and the subsequent aches and pains. Owing to his hectic work schedule, he never focused on his health or did anything that was healthy. Unhealthy eating, drinking, and stress became the norm. Due to the persisting pain, he decided to turn his life around. Aditya Gaikwad, 39, is based in Pune and is a game developer, who defied the odds and took charge of his health before it was too late. Here is his inspiring story of perseverance and resilience. Discover the secrets behind his incredible transformation.

Life Before GOQii

Two and a half years ago, prior to joining GOQii, Aditya weighed 140 kgs. He led an absolutely bad lifestyle that consisted of an unhealthy diet, and drinking alcohol, both of which were coupled with mental stress, leading to aches and pains. So much so that he had to take painkillers daily. Although he was exercising, the results were not being achieved.

In March 2020, during the lockdown, he had chest pain, and that turned things around for Aditya. With COVID already looming over everyone’s heads, the lockdown was enough for Aditya to improve his health before it got out of hand. “The chest pain was a trigger enough for me to realize that I had to do something about my health,” said Aditya.

Introduction to GOQii & Making Lifestyle Changes 

In August 2020, he was gifted a GOQii watch by his brother. Aditya joined GOQii in February 2021 and started coaching in June 2021. At that point in time, Aditya weighed 133 kilograms. “As I started wearing the watch, I could see my step count. I figured one day I had walked 2 KM inside the house, and I did not even realize it. I did not do anything else other than walk. I was following the Happy Walk- exercise on YouTube, and my step counts were increasing, and I also started losing weight. My weight had decreased to 125 kgs.

He is thankful to his coach “She taught me the importance of a proper diet, says Aditya”. Aditya felt that if he had to improve his health, he had to listen to and take the coach seriously.

The coach slowly and steadily brought in the habits to follow and slowly and steadily cut down on certain foods. She added raagi and nachni to the food as alternative grains.

Having followed the coach’s advice has helped Aditya maintain a disciplined and less stressful lifestyle. He has completely stopped drinking alcohol and says he is very happy about it.

His family and friends are surprised at his dramatic change. He is now able to wear his favourite brand, Levis. The waist has reduced from 53’ to 40”. He has also taken to running now.

“For 35 years of my life I did nothing constructive to maintain my health and lifestyle. I am glad I am doing it now,” says Aditya.

What Are Coach Kinjal Lodaya Thoughts About Aditya Gaikwad’s Journey? 

Now he has come down to 103 kgs, he wakes up with high levels of refreshment daily, given up alcohol, hardly takes on any stress, meditates regularly, cooks for himself and family, and is able to manage time for hobbies, daily run, and exercise. He recovered from COVID pretty quickly and he was able to stay in ELITE even when he could not go for run and exercise for almost a month due to a small hairline fracture.

He is enjoying the healthy lifestyle habits he follows and the new self he has become. He confirms that he will never go back to his old lazy routines.

He takes part in all the challenges on GOQii be it healthy eating, 2022 km in 2022, etc.

Aditya’s inspiring journey is a testament to the incredible potential that lies within each of us to rewrite our health narratives. It demonstrates the power of dedication, resilience, and the guidance of a supportive community. If you or someone you know is on a similar health journey, share this article. Consider subscribing to GOQii’s Personalised Health Coaching here for guidance and support.

For more motivating health stories, explore our collection here.

#BeTheForce

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Healthy Eating Tips for Women at 40

Healthy-eating-tips-for-women-at-40

“Lordy, lordy, look who’s forty!” The big 40—it’s a milestone for sure, signalling a time of transition from young adulthood to middle-age.

This is an important decade for preventing lifestyle diseases such as diabetes, heart disease and many cancers later in life. So, if you’ve been making healthy lifestyle choices, keep it up in your 40s, and if you haven’t, now’s the time to start!

Healthy habits like eating right, exercising regularly, getting enough sleep, and not smoking can help reduce your risk for a number of chronic medical conditions.

Age 40 is a milestone when the risk of many health conditions increases. This makes the 40th birthday a perfect time for taking stock of your health. Today, Forty is considered the new twenty. So if you want to feel young and healthy now is a good time to take stock of the situation. Though there might be other things out there more important, do take a deep breath and feel good and healthy.

Adopting a healthy eating plan is the best preventive measure against disease. It involves both avoiding certain foods and incorporating others in varying proportions, making the transition gradual yet effective.

Good nutrition starts with the basics: a well-rounded diet consisting of whole grains, fresh fruits and vegetables, healthy fats, and lean sources of protein. These kinds of foods provide women with plenty of energy, the means for lifelong weight control, and the key ingredients for looking and feeling great at any age. Our diet has a major effect on our food cravings, stress levels and energy throughout the day.

Applying some simple rules will assist our bodies in maintaining hormonal balance and promoting long-term well-being.

Focus on whole, plant-based foods. Fill most of your plate with fruits and leafy green vegetables. Also include a variety of whole grains, beans, and other legumes to give a filling fiber.

Bone up on calcium. Women are at a greater risk than men of developing osteoporosis, so it’s important to get plenty of calcium to support your bone health. While dairy products are high in calcium, their animal fat and protein can accelerate bone loss. So also consider plant-based sources of calcium like beans, broccoli, kale, brussels sprouts, and collard greens.

Make sure you get enough iron. Many women don’t get enough iron in their diet. On top of that, women lose a lot of this important mineral during menstruation. Boost your intake by eating iron-rich foods such as lean red meat, dark poultry, lentils, spinach, almonds, and iron-fortified cereals.

Cut back on alcohol and caffeine. Women who consume more than two alcoholic drinks a day are at a higher risk of osteoporosis. Caffeine consumption interferes with hormone levels and also increases the loss of calcium. Try to limit alcohol consumption to one glass once in a while and caffeine to one cup a day.

Eat the right type of protein. Protein is an essential part of any healthy diet. Protein at this point in your life will help maximise your current metabolic rate and also prevent the loss of lean muscle mass. Eating too much animal protein can cause calcium loss and lead to a decrease in bone density and osteoporosis. Instead of red meat and processed meat, such as hot dogs, bacon, and salami, opt for fish, skinless chicken and turkey, low-fat dairy, and plant-based protein sources, such as beans, nuts, seeds, peas, tofu.

Some of the healthy tips to be focused on:

Avoid

– Ready made meals and microwaving your food in plastics and cling film.

– Genetically modified foods

– Sugar as much as possible

– Food additives such as MSG (monosodium glutamate or better known as Ajinomoto), Fructose, Glucose-Fructose-Syrup, Corn Syrup, Aspartame, Colourings, and E numbers.

– Cut down on sodium

– Eating any food that is burnt

– Carbonated beverages, especially ‘diet’ varieties

– Margarine and other ‘fake’ butter

All foods labelled ‘diet’ or ‘low calorie’ or ‘fat-free

Highly processed foods

Refined grains (white).

Options that can be included in the meal platter:

Eat plenty of raw organic fruit and vegetables

Eat complex carbohydrates

Eat Essential Fats – oily fish, nuts, & seeds (avoid nuts in cases of acne and allergies)

Include healthy fats such as coconut oil, olive oil and butter

Increase your fiber intake

Drink sufficient clean water every day

Eat good, clean sources of proteins.

Eat vegetarian at least once each day

Thoroughly wash all fruits and vegetables before eating.

Feed your body high-quality fuel, monitor its intake and routinely push your engine’s limits to keep it running smoothly. Remember, you are the captain of your plane. Just reach out and take the controls.

We hope this article equips you with valuable insights for maintaining a healthy and balanced life. If you found this information helpful, we’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments below. Find more articles on Women’s Health here. For further information or guidance, reach out to our certified experts by subscribing to GOQii’s Personalised Health Coaching here.

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5 Interesting Ways To Include Citrus Fruits In Your Diet

citrus fruitsThe moment one imagines citrus fruits, you get the image of yellow-orange coloured tangy fruits which can instantly add taste to a dish. Citrus fruits mainly include lemon, sweet lime, orange, grapefruit and tangerine. They are packed with nutrients like Vitamin C, antioxidants, flavonoids, potassium and citric acid which have many health benefits like maintaining electrolyte balance, regulate acid-alkaline balance in the body, prevent heart disease, manage acidity and improve digestion also prevent constipation, build good immunity, etc. 

While lemon is widely used in beauty products for its immense benefits on hair and skin, including it in your diet adds to its taste and nutrients. Citrus fruits can be included in your diet easily to make your meals more appetizing and tasty. All this while also giving you the much required health benefits. 

How To Add Citrus Fruits To Your Diet 

  1. Breakfast: Include vegetable and citrus fruit smoothies like tomato and orange juice or celery, sweet lime and spinach juice or whole fruits to your breakfast. It is an easy and quick way to add nutrients to your meal especially if you’re running late for work. You can replace your morning coffee with orange juice or add lemon juice to your green tea instead of drinking milk tea with breakfast. 
  2. Sprinkle Lemon Juice: on your sprouts or peanut salad or include lemon slices as a salad. You can have this as your mid-morning or evening snack. This may help you reduce stress eating and also aid weight loss as well as manage acidity as these snacks are low on fat and loaded with a good amount of micronutrients.
  3. Make a Dessert: using citrus fruits or citrus fruit juices. You can also add lemon zest to your cakes and puddings or add orange juice to your nutrition bars instead of sugar. This will enhance the taste and up the nutrient content, making your dish more flavorful.
  4. Pickling: citrus foods is the oldest and most widely known method of preserving them. It can be stored for the whole year and can be had during seasons when we do not get foods rich in Vitamin C. These fruits can also be used in making jams which can be stored for quite some time.
  5. Detox Water: Add lemon, orange or grapefruit slices to your water. This helps clean your system by removing toxins from your body. It also improves energy levels, keeps the skin clear and healthy, improves sleep quality and also your mood with its potassium levels! It also supports weight loss.  

We hope this article helps you. Is there an interesting way you add citrus fruits to your diet? Let us know in the comments below. For more interesting tips on diet and nutrition, check out Healthy Reads or speak to a certified expert by subscribing to GOQii’s Personalised Health Coaching here.

#BeTheForce 

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How To Prevent Heart Disease At Any Age

How to prevent heart disease at any age

Heart disease is a generic term used to describe diseases that affect the heart and supporting arteries. In these diseases, the blood flow to the brain, heart or any other body part is reduced due to the thickening of arteries due to fat deposition, or due to a circulating clot in the bloodstream. It may lead to chest pain, stroke, heart failure, or arrhythmia.

All age groups can benefit from following a healthy, clean eating pattern. Lifestyle habits are formed slowly, over the years, and changing them can be overwhelming. Understanding what foods are good or bad and taking small steps to include or avoid different foods can be a game changer. Let’s read on to learn more about foods and habits that are essential for a healthy heart:

1. Controlling portions: Your foods’ estimated calories are the easiest way to avoid overeating and over consumption of calories. Even healthy foods like nuts, when taken in excess, are harmful! Always choose low-calorie and high-fibre foods to fill yourself, like raw fruits and vegetables. Take smaller portions of calorie-dense and high-salt foods for a healthy heart. Another tip is to choose a smaller plate when eating.

2. Choosing raw vegetables: Having at least 3-4 servings of fresh and local vegetables is very essential to get a good supply of heart-healthy antioxidants. Choose bright-coloured vegetables to get maximum benefit. Fiber which is present in vegetables helps in controlling high BP, and fat deposition in arteries and also eases digestion.

3. Including whole grains, millets: Grains are naturally high in fiber and nutrients. Avoid refined and processed cereals like all-purpose flour, bread, and bakery products. Instead, choose locally available native millets like barley, ragi, bajra, quinoa, and farro.

4. Consume salt mindfully: Having too much salt can worsen cardiac health and cause hypertension. Adding no-table salt and reducing salt while you cook is the first step. Reducing hidden salt from foods like cornflakes, muesli, bread, biscuits, sauces, and pickles is the next step. Choose less refined salts like Rock salt, and Himalayan salt. Be wary if you also have thyroid you might need regular iodized salt. Flavour your dishes using dill, coriander, mint, lemon, and oregano instead!

5. Choosing low-fat high protein sources: Cut short on high-fat animal products like full-fat milk, processed cheese etc. Go for low-fat/ toned milk, choose leaner cuts, fish, and eggs to meet your protein requirement. Certain types of fish are rich in omega-3 fatty acids, which can lower blood fats called triglycerides. Products like soy granules, sprouts, and powdered pulses are good, low-fat sources of protein and contain no cholesterol. They can be easily added to the diet to increase protein intake.

6. Engaging in cardio activities: As the name suggests, any type of physical activity that affects the heart’s activity is considered good for cardiovascular health. If you cannot go to the gym, ensure that you at least go for a walk. A quick 30-minute fast walk can help you get good cardio activity to reduce cholesterol levels, and blood pressure and improve energy levels, plus it can fight weight gain to improve overall cardiac health. If you are still unable to find time for dedicated exercise, make it a habit to walk for 10 minutes after every meal. Finding small pockets of time for cardiovascular fitness in the form of walking can really be helpful. Choose any activity like jogging, running, cycling, swimming, Zumba, aerobics etc.

7. Say no to smoking and alcohol: Limit your alcohol intake. Smoking is a major risk factor for heart disease. The chemicals you inhale when you smoke cause damage to your heart and blood vessels.

GOQii wishes the best for all of you on this World Heart Day! We hope this article has shed light on the essential habits for a healthy heart. If you found this information valuable, share your thoughts in the comments below. You can browse more articles like this here. To get more tips and guidance, speak to a GOQii Coach for lifestyle modifications suited to your health goals. You can subscribe for Personalised Health Coaching here.

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