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“I am now more focused and there is the much-needed clarity in my health”

SWAROOP AND HIS MOM AT BKC run 10k

SWAROOP AND HIS MOM AT BKC run 10k

From being lazy and waking up at 10.30 am in the morning to crushing finish lines at various runs across the city for the last two years, he has surpassed his goals-beyond what he even thought possible! He is today a GOQii Champion and leads the Powai Chapter of GOQii Active Sunday. His mother accompanies him on Active Sundays. Here is Swarup Choghale success story, in his own words.

I was very active till I was in college. I was into a lot of adventure activities and Taekwondo. I wanted to join the army. I applied and got through the test but I failed in medical. They said I had a defective nose that was not suitable for high altitudes. But, I went and got my nose operated and tried again but, I still did not make it as they said this problem could not be rectified through a surgery. I gave up the idea of joining the army. I went ahead to do my CA and after passing out got a regular job. Once into a regular job, everything took a back seat and it only worked and work.

I seemed to have reached a personally unacceptable plateau, which I couldn’t improve on without devoting too much time to fitness in an already hectic lifestyle.

I currently am a fund accountant with a Mumbai based Hedge Fund. I work in shifts and due to this hectic work schedule my sleep and food habits were completely haywire and had taken a toll on me. I had no form of activity as I would wake up not before 10.30 am in the morning and I used to be so tired that I would laze around for a bit and then have a brunch and again leave for work. This routine continued for few years.

I was aware that I had to get back to a fitness regime to turn things around for myself and see some positive results. Unfortunately, how to achieve the necessary levels of fitness in a structured and progressive manner was something I was struggling to understand. I naturally presumed this would require a personal trainer, lots of time and money.

Then one day sometime last year, I was browsing news channels and I happened to watch Vishal Gondal’s interview on NDTV where he was talking about himself and how GOQii started.

After seeing that interview I could relate to Vishal’s story as I was also in the same state where I had a regular job, bad food habits-I ate whatever and whenever and I had no form of exercise and I was putting on weight. I didn’t realize how much my overall fitness had steadily and declined over the past few years. Then I went on the net and read more about GOQii and tried to understand what is GOQii and how it works?

After reading the introductory material, it was apparent to me that this was exactly what I needed. I needed a band to track my fitness also a personal coach or trainer who could help me keep track of my fitness at all levels. It was also clearly obvious that this was not only radically different approach from anything I had come across before.

Soon after I came across an advertisement that said if you spend Rs 1.5 lakh on your SBI Credit Card you can get a free 6 months GOQii subscription. I was quite taken by GOQii and the benefits it could provide. So I got all my family and friends and told them if they wanted to buy anything they could give me cash and I would buy it on my SBI credit card and I managed to shop for Rs 1.5 lakh in a month and I got a free 6-month subscription in May 2015. My coach is Heta Kothari and my health goal when I signed was to get into better shape. Get better waistline and hips.

I went for my first GOQii Active Sunday to Sion Fort and really liked what we did and I completely got hooked on to it. I decided I will never miss an active Sunday. I also met many similar people like me at this event who in their middle age (mid-30s and early 40s and 50s) were trying to get into fitness.

Sundays have never been better Swarup training with Goqii at Active Sunday

Sundays have never been better Swarup training with Goqii at Active Sunday

Thereafter my first big event was to enrol for the 100 km Oxfam trail walk in November 2015.  I completed the trail walk successfully. Soon after the trail walk I took to running and was consecutively running marathons. I took part in every run that came my way. I did my first 21 km than Half Marathon and prior to that the Powai Marathon 10 km run, followed by IFS BKC run.

Since getting on the GOQii platform the results have been nothing short of outstanding. Today, my day to day routine has drastically changed. I am part of a group called ‘you2can run’ so on alternate days I go for a run (6-7 km) and other days I go to the gym to work out. My workout lasts for about an hour daily. My coach has been guiding me very well.

On an average, I clock 10000 steps daily and on weekends I would easily do over 20,000 steps.  I also have a trekking group with whom I go trekking on weekends.

Besides getting active, the biggest benefit that has come through because of GOQii is the impact it has had on my mental wellbeing. Today, I can handle any stressful situation very well. I am mentally better prepared now. For me, it has been a paradigm shift in my approach to fitness, nutrition, sleep etc. It’s something revolutionary that it completely changed my understanding of the subject.

On the nutrition front, I have been health conscious but did not know a whole lot of things. I did not know that breakfast was the most important meal of the day. I used to never have breakfast as I would always get up late. Now I make it a point to have breakfast daily. I got to know when to eat fruits and when not to. Have frequent but small meals. Never had salads but, now in mid-afternoon meals, I have salads.

Earlier, I would not have proper sleep because of which I would feel drowsy at work. Now that does not happen as I get at least 7 hours of sleep daily. Over the last one year of using GOQii, I have achieved my goals and also learnt a lot in the process. This year my goal is to run 21 km consistently and after that do a full marathon (42Km) and I am working towards that.

My journey has not been for too long, but certainly, GOQii has changed my attitude towards life. I have started enjoying this stage of middle age. With all the activities that I am doing, I am excited and positive. The change and the positive attitude is reflecting in my work and at home

The one person who has been happy and also inspired by me is my Mother. She is 65 years of age and she runs along with me. She has been participating in the 5 km runs and has also started going to the gym to work out.

What does coach Heta Kothari have to say about Swarup? 

Swarup has been my player since May 2015. Right from the intro call I learnt that he is someone who loves exercising and the outdoors. On and off he had been into gym workouts, taekwondo and earlier was with NCC as well. His long-term goal is to run a full marathon and improve his fitness levels. We started with working on regularizing his exercise, making it smarter (interval training) rather than extensive and then graduated to a gym routine.

Alongside, his diet needed a few tweaks which we worked on one after the other; small changes like 1) Replacing proprietary drinks with healthier nuts 2) Regular breakfast (earlier he would skip this important meals, at times) 3) Portion control (cutting down on fried stuff particularly) 4) Trying to make him eat more variety 5) Clarifying his concepts of carbs (there were myths he associated with) 6) Adding a Pre workout meal to his schedule 7) Adequately increasing his protein intake 8) Adding fibre to his meals, multigrain, veggies, salads and fruits 9) Adding 2 healthy snacks to his meal schedule All these changes he has beautifully adapted to. With regards to workouts my challenge right from the beginning was never to push him towards exercising, rather it was (and still remains) to get him into a structured and a dedicated schedule. From the first week that he came on board, he has always made it to the ACTIVE SUNDAY events.

2 months ago he wrote to me, ”Sundays never felt better, a good workout, better breakfast and best sleep!”. Treks, outdoor camping, river rafting, waterfall rappelling….he has done it all while on board with GOQii. Several months later one Sunday I messaged him “Did you make it to the Active Sunday event today?” he wrote back “ It’s ingrained in my system now, thanks for the push”…that’s when I knew we have made a lifestyle change here. Post this he has been a part of The Powai Marathon 10 Km run, The Oxfam Trailwalker Event, and he has completed The Thane Hiranandani HALF MARATHON!!!

In his own words, “I am now more focused and there is the much-needed clarity in my health.

training with Goqii2

 

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Ways to become “mindful”

meditation

Learning to focus the mind can be a powerful antidote to the stress and strains of our fast-paced on-the-go lives. The ability to pay attention to what you’re experiencing from moment to moment — without drifting into thoughts of the past or concerns about the future, or getting caught up in opinions about what is going on — is called ‘Mindfulness’.


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This basic mindfulness meditation exercise is easy to learn and practice.

  1. Firstly, sit on a straight-backed chair, or cross-legged on the floor.
  2. Focus on an aspect of your breathing, such as the sensations of air flowing into your nostrils and out of your mouth, or your belly rising and falling as you inhale and exhale.
  3. Once you’ve narrowed your concentration in this way, begin to widen your focus. Become aware of sounds, sensations, and ideas.
  4. Embrace and consider each thought or sensation without judging it as good or bad. If your mind starts to race, return your focus to your breathing. Then expand your awareness again.

The effects of mindfulness meditation tend to be dose-related — the more you practice it, the more benefits you usually experience.

A less formal approach can also help you stay in the present and fully engage in your life. You can practice mindfulness at any time or during any task, whether you are eating, showering, walking, touching a partner, or playing with a child. Here’s how:

  • Start by bringing your attention to the sensations in your body.
  • Breathe in through your nose, allowing the air to move downward into your lower belly. Let your abdomen expand fully. Then breathe out through your mouth. Notice the sensations of each inhalation and exhalation.
  • Proceed with the task at hand slowly and with full deliberation.
  • Engage your senses fully. Notice each sight, touch, and sound so that you savour every sensation.
  • When you notice that your mind has wandered from the task at hand, gently bring your attention back to the sensations of the moment.

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Know all about Yoghurt and its benefits

yoghurt 1

The summer heat is killing! Wish I could eat something that’s chilling and soothing for the stomach, is the thought process that most of us go through. There are lots of summer foods and coolants available but nothing as handy as yoghurt and yes it is also one of the best foods for weight watchers.

Let me share some facts about it!

Personally, Yoghurt has always been a part of my diet. The reason it was added to your meals is to have a healthy gut. As a child, I never understood these nutritional nitty-gritties, it is only when I started studying nutrition, I learnt about the benefits of curd.

Curd or Yoghurt as it is called is it same? While most think it’s the same thing, there is a slight difference between these two.

Yoghurt is a diary product that is created by fermenting milk using bacteria called yoghurt cultures. The bacteria ferment the lactose in the milk causing it to produce lactic acid, which gives yoghurt its tangy and acidic taste. The word ‘yogurt’ is derived from the Turkish word    ‘yogurt’ which means “to curdle or coagulated; to thicken”

The curd is another type of dairy product. Curds are made by curdling or coagulating the milk. This can be done by mixing edible acidic substances into the milk, such as lemon juice or vinegar. Introducing this substance to the milk will allow the milk to curdle and separate into two parts. The liquid part is the whey and the milk solids will be the curds. The whey contains the whey proteins of the milk, whereas the curds are the milk proteins or casein

Curd also contains measurable amounts of vitamins A, E and K; thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, pantothenic acid, vitamin B6, folate and vitamin B12. It also contains calcium, iron, magnesium, phosphorus, potassium, sodium, zinc, copper, manganese, fluoride and selenium, as well as saturated fats, and oleic acid, which is a monounsaturated fat.

We all know yoghurt is creamy and delicious. But, beyond that what else do we know about the yoghurt?

  • Yoghurt is a great source of high-quality protein, including both casein (80%) and whey (20%). Plain yoghurt made from whole milk contains about 8.5 grams of protein in each cup (245 g).
  • Yoghurt contains a family of trans fats called ruminant trans fats or dairy trans fats. Unlike trans fats found in some processed food products, ruminant trans fats are considered to have beneficial health effects. The most abundant ruminant trans fats in yoghurt are vaccine acid and conjugated linoleic acid or CLA. Yoghurt may contain higher amounts of CLA than milk.
  • Yoghurt contains small amounts of natural milk sugar (lactose). Many branded Yoghurts are also high in added sugar.
  • Yoghurt is an excellent source of several vitamins and minerals, such as vitamin B12, calcium, phosphorus, and riboflavin.
  • Yoghurts with live or active cultures contain probiotic bacteria (probiotics) that may improve digestive health.
  • Regular consumption can prevent aggravation of certain medical conditions namely High BP, IBS and antibiotic-associated diarrhoea.
  • Yoghurt is a rich source of calcium and protein and may reduce the risk of osteoporosis.

In Hindu worship, Yoghurt is added in Panchamrita. Yoghurt symbolizes strength and prosperity.

Did you know that yoghurt can make your workouts less tiring by reducing the muscular stress?  If yoghurt is consumed on a daily basis, it facilitates the further functioning of the active T-cells (dominant cells responsible for maintaining the immunity of the body). In case of people who follow a regular workout regime, yogurt soothes the muscle stress and post workout recovery is faster and better.

When you make it at home, it’s safe. But, when you buy from the market…. BE AWARE: Yogurt is often marketed as a healthy food. However, the sugar and flavourings added to many yogurts can make them more like junk food.

Reading the label is the first thing you should do when choosing a yogurt. The nutrition facts and ingredients list can tell you a lot about what’s in your yogurt.

How to choose healthy Yogurt –

1. When possible, choose a yogurt without large amounts of added ingredients. Instead, try to choose a yogurt with few ingredients.

2. Although yogurt already contains some natural sugar in the form of lactose (milk sugar), food companies often add large amounts of simple sugars to make yogurt taste sweeter.

3. Probiotics are the friendly bacteria that turn milk into yogurt. Look for yogurt with the “Live and Active Cultures” seal and avoid yogurts that have been pasteurized after production.

yogurt-with-mixed-berries_1339-7892

You can also make your own chia seed yogurt to make plain yogurt less tart. And, as a bonus, you’ll get extra protein, fibre and healthy fats with the chia seeds.

Recipe – It is as easy as mixing 2 cups (473 ml) of yogurt with 1.5–2 tablespoons (22–30 ml) of chia seeds and letting it sit overnight in the fridge. This is the best post workout snack.

Well, you can flavour your cuppa of yoghurt with either fruits, berries, banana, chocolate, mint coriander, mango or cinnamon and cumin spice, granola mix.

Is Greek Yoghurt healthy?

Greek yogurt has almost double the protein of regular yogurt. Unless you’re using the non-fat varieties, Greek yogurt has about three times the saturated fat than regular yoghurt. Greek yogurt contains about half the sodium of regular yogurt. Greek yogurt is also an excellent source of iodine. Greek yogurt contains roughly half the carbohydrates of regular yogurt, so It is definitely healthier and keeps your waist in check.

Let’s enjoy the cup of yoghurt in our next meal.

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Did you know you can burn fat just by breathing?

breathe airYou must have heard from your doctor that you can do without food and water for 3 days but, you cannot go without oxygen or breathing even for 3 minutes. Oxygen is life!!

We cannot see it but, we can feel it. Oxygen performs several functions in our body but, yet taken for granted by all of us.

Oxygen energizes our body and detoxifies the blood by neutralizing the free radicals that enter our body through pollution. It further strengthens the immune system, alleviates migraine/headaches, improves our endurance and performance, and relieves us of stress.

These are no doubt some amazing benefits of Oxygen but, the major benefit that draws attention is the connection of Oxygen with weight loss. Well, that’s a new one you have heard?

We all know that the first requisite for weight loss is burning more calories than we consume. Surprisingly, we can burn more calories just by breathing!

Let’s understand how-

Oxygen is needed for every metabolic process, in fact, the fat combustion occurs more efficiently in the presence of adequate Oxygen. Thus, the optimum oxygen level is as important as the exercise itself if we are aiming to burn fat and lose those stubborn pounds. With less oxygen, our metabolic processes slow down and thus fat storage takes charge and we gain weight.

Moreover, Oxygen is the “food” for our body cells. If our cells are surrounded by a good amount of oxygen, then our tissues and organs have their “fuel” in abundance and most likely will function efficiently. On the contrary, if our cells are not properly fuelled up, the message to our brain is “feed us.” This simply means that we overeat or eat without any reason/hunger if we do not oxygenate our cells well. If most of our energy is derived from oxygen, and the rest is derived from food and water, wouldn’t it lead to a lesser caloric intake and thus aid in weight loss?

Research shows that, over the past 10,000 years, the oxygen level on the earth has reduced by approximately 50%. We humans have got adapted to a climate less rich in oxygen. This has made us inefficient breathers and our bodies have had no other choice but to get used to it.

We can definitely get better at breathing oxygen and actually take in more, thus firing up our metabolic processes and burning fat effectively.

*Firstly, we should do some outdoor exercising. Any open environment (your terrace/garden, etc) will do rather than doing it between the 4 walls of your house. Even if we live in a cramped city, the oxygen levels outside are way better than inside.

*Exercise at such an intensity that you feel the need to breathe more. As your heart rate shoots up and you start sweating profusely, your breathing rate will also increase in order to match up. Take deeper breaths throughout.

*We need to ensure that our back and neck are straight. This would let in more oxygen.

*More you breathe oxygen, better the energy and endurance, allowing you to work out longer-thus paving the way for effective weight loss. Simple logic, isn’t it?

*We have one more opportunity to take in more oxygen and burn fat in a better way. It’s the time before or after eating or during eating. Take in 5 deep breaths before you start the meal or after you are done with the meal or you can do it while eating if you find it comfortable. Believe me; this has worked wonders for many! The fat break down occurs excellently.

Make the most out of this freely available resource and surprise your body with its wonderful effects!

Breathe more and feel the difference!

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