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Health Benefits of Weight Lifting You Might Not Know

weight lifting

Whenever I advise my players to include weight lifting in their workout regimes, their reactions range from, “It’s too complicated or difficult for me,” to “No! I don’t want to bulk up”. These are the misconceptions engraved in our minds from the glossy images of sculpted and chiseled bodies of men and women appearing in fitness websites and magazines!

Apart from the fact that many of these photographs are Photoshopped or Edited, they unanimously promote the sole purpose of weight lifting as ‘body building’, which defers many people who want to actually stay fit and active, from it. Weight lifting, in essence, is not just about getting toned and sculpted! The benefits of weight lifting are numerous, ranging from improving your body composition, burning fat, strengthening your bones and joints and increasing your happiness quotient as well!

Health Benefits of Weight Lifting

  1. Get Stronger and More Active: Weight lifting stimulates the growth and development of the slow twitching muscle fibers (type2 muscle fibers) which improves agility, endurance, and builds up your stamina and strength, thus, boosting your performance in doing activities of daily livings (ADLs).
  2. Boosts Resting Metabolism: When the muscles are stimulated after strength training, they need to work harder to rebuild. Hence, they utilize more calories for redevelopment and growth! Muscles are metabolically active tissues which keep burning calories even during the resting phase known as the Afterburn Effect!
  3. Strengthens Your Bones and Joints: Weight training not only strengthens your muscles and ligaments but also improves bone density. The way muscles start developing under stress, the bones also adapt by increasing deposition after consistent weight lifting. This becomes more important as one reaches the age of early 40s when we are prone to natural decline. Also, stronger ligaments and bones prevent the occurrence of injuries while performing cardio and other activities!
  4. Lower Risk of Diabetes & Blood Sugar Levels: A study funded by the National Institute of Health has found that men who added weight lifting to their cardiovascular exercise routine had a 34% lower risk of diabetes. It’s advisable for individuals with type 2 diabetes to include weight training in their workout regime as toned muscles improve insulin sensitivity and better utilization of glucose!
  5. Improves Heart Health: As weight lifting improves the lean muscle mass in the body, it improves blood flow to different body areas which put less pressure on arteries, thus improving cardiac muscles pumping capacity!
  6. Improves Posture & Balance: Weight lifting strengthens your core, tones up your muscles and improves your posture. It reduces undue stress on different bones and joints, especially the shoulders, spine and hips which are more prone to injuries because of bad posture! Weight training also promotes the development of smaller muscle sets known as stabilizers. These take care of keeping you upright and helping you balance on a slippery surface or on one foot when you are reaching out to a higher shelf!
  7. Makes You Happier: Weight training stimulates the release of endorphins in the body which are also known as the ‘feel good hormones’. They trigger the happy centers in the brain. A well-toned, lean and fit body elevates your mood and self-esteem. Weight training brings you out of your comfort zone. High intensity weight training proves the worth in persisting through uncomfortable situations – a lesson which can be applied to be successful in other aspects of life too.

How to Start Your Weight Training Journey?

The simple mantra is just ‘go ahead’. Simply enter a gym or put on a video to see how you can take your journey forward. Start with minimum weights and gradually increase. Make sure to start under the guidance of an expert to avoid injuries or wrong postures or techniques. Keep setting challenges and targets which will keep you motivated to push harder.

You can even subscribe to GOQii’s Personalized Health Coaching to seek guidance from your GOQii Coach, tackle myths and get the right information about weight training.

Push past your limits to the extent that your toughest workout now, becomes your warm up later! If you hit a wall, simply climb over it. What stops you from hitting the gym? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.

#BeTheForce

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Lose Weight The Right Way – Neetu Choudhary’s Weight Loss Journey!

Neetu Choudhary

Do you struggle with losing weight? Are the odds always stacked against you and despite your best efforts, the number on the weighing scale doesn’t budge? Well, you might have a lot in common with our player Neetu Choudhary who faced similar challenges. But with the right guidance from her GOQii Coach, she was able to make a positive lifestyle change! 

Before Joining GOQii 

Neetu Choudhary always had a medium build. She dabbled with yoga and the gym to stay active and fit before marriage. However, post-marriage, due to the new home, work and the stress which came with the responsibilities of managing both, her fit and active lifestyle headed towards a downward spiral. She also had a miscarriage which further impacted her stress levels and led to weight gain. After a successful delivery, her weight had touched 82kg. She had reached a stage where she was ready to try anything to lose weight. 

Neetu Choudhary Makes The Shift! 

Neetu Choudhary was introduced to GOQii through a friend. Let’s read her story in her own words: 

“1 year ago, my weight was more than 80kg. My BMI was hovering around the obese category. Because of a C section delivery and hormonal imbalance, my weight was increasing day by day. Despite working out and dieting, I was not able to reduce my weight. I worked out 3 hours a day at the gym and my diet was only liquid without chapati or rice and I often skipped meals. 

I still remember the first call with my GOQii Coach where she told me that I am torturing my body and experimenting with it the wrong way – that’s why my metabolic rate is very low. I told her that I don’t eat anything and I’m still unable to lose weight. To this, she said that’s what the problem is! If we don’t eat right, it will affect weight. Those words hit home and from that day on, my life took a big u-turn. 

The changes that my coach introduced included: 

  • Reducing my workout time from 3 hours to 1 hour
  • Have 3 meals a day – breakfast, lunch and dinner 
  • Include yoga and meditation for better sleep and to reduce stress levels 

Additionally, she also suggested that I don’t avoid anything but only restrict the quantity for the initial stage. 

After following these changes, I began realizing that my energy levels increased and I don’t feel tired all the time. My anger levels reduced. My GOQii Coach Unnati helped me a lot during my journey and kept motivating me. She also helped me stop a few bad habits such as: 

  • Reducing my milk tea from 5 cups to just 1 
  • Doing away with processed and instant food. Now, I don’t even have biscuits in my kitchen 

Staying Fit During Lockdown 

When the world went into lockdown, I was worried about how I’ll keep my routine up but my GOQii Coach motivated and guided me to utilize this time in an effective manner. I switched to home workouts which include stair workouts, skipping, HIIT and running. I lost nearly 8kg in the lockdown itself. 

I now believe that even without a gym or skipping meals, we can still reduce weight. All you need is determination and a positive attitude. My coach said – STOP MAKING EXCUSES  and this has been my motto ever since in my personal as well as professional life!” 

What Does Neetu’s Coach Have To Say About Her? 

Coach Unnati says that, “Neetu was very determined towards her health goals, which was to lose weight, lose inches (especially belly fat). Her health concern was PCOD because of which she had gained weight and was finding it too difficult to lose. 

After learning about her daily routine, we decided to reduce the workout from 3 hours to 1 hour & in addition introduced a half an hour post dinner light walk. Workout would include variations of HIIT, Stair Climbing, Skipping Rope, Strength Training and of course a small session of Pranayama & Meditation. For food habits, we decided not to skip or eat less for any meals instead, follow intermittent fasting starting with 12/12 hours and at present following 16/8 hours very smoothly. During the eating window, we made sure her diet was rich in fiber, protein, good fats & moderate amount of carbs. Water intake was also improved by incorporating detox water.

Changes Observed:

  • Weight loss – 12 Kgs (from 82 Kgs to 70 Kgs)
  • Inch Loss – 4”
  • Belly Fat – 6”
  • Arms – 2”
  • Improved on Sleep Quality, 
  • Reduced Stress Levels 
  • Good Energy levels throughout the day.

Neetu’s Sincerity, Determination, Dedication & Consistency helped her achieve her health goals. Seeing her so motivated, motivates me too!”

Well, does this story motivate you? Remember, it is never too late to make a change. With determination, motivation and the right habits, you can reach your health goals too! For more inspiring stories, check out Healthy Reads. To subscribe to GOQii, head over to our Website or Download the App Now! 

#BeTheForce 

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From Overweight to Overachieving! Vijayakrishna Iyengar User Story

Vijayakrishna Iyengar

At the age of 44, he was battling obesity and was also diagnosed with diabetes in May 2016. This was a wake up call for Vijayakrishna Iyengar to take control of his lifestyle and change it for good. A few concentrated and dedicated efforts by him, his doctor and his personal coach have helped him walk the path of good health. In about a year and a half, he lost 50kg and his blood sugar is in control with proper diet and exercise. Let’s hear his story in his own words!

Daily Life and Routine

My life was carrying along. Daily exercise was just walking on the treadmill in the gym for an hour although I followed a strict diet. I guess my biggest flaw was that I used to sleep only for 3-4 hours a day. Bad lifestyles have bad results. Mine was that I was obese, weighing around 138kg with a 48″ waist size and my shirt was 48″ as well. If that wasn’t enough, sometime around May 2016, I was diagnosed with diabetes (252) and that’s when the alarm in my head went off!

Suddenly, there was a need to rectify my habits in order to lead a medical-free and healthy life. I immediately started with some activities on my own. I started going to the gym and began walking on the treadmill. I was only resorting to cardio exercises and ignoring the other aspects of fitness. I had no guidance coming my way so I was not sure if I was doing the right thing.

Enter GOQii

I wanted to start doing the right things. I began by searching for a fitness band and came across many products. Then I came across GOQii! What I liked about GOQii is that it was not just a fitness band but a subscription for personal coaching which focused on holistic healthcare. The personal coach would guide you on fitness and nutrition.

GOQii went out of the way to ensure healthy habits are imbibed by the users. I found that very appealing and chose GOQii. I was very fortunate to get an excellent GOQii Coach who understood my goals which were weight reduction and to get fit, and my coach began advising very relevant habits which I could follow.

Earlier, when I had started going to the gym I only focused on the treadmill but my coach refined that and added strength exercises and core workouts. She also emphasized the importance of proper deep sleep and its advantages. Gradually, the habits set in. It’s not possible to change yourself in a day. With concentrated efforts and discipline, I am now able to sleep well for seven hours. Also, I do proper well-balanced cardio, strengthening and core workouts.

My water intake has improved and I regularly take at least 2L of water a day. All these positive habits helped me to sustain my efforts and make it a habit for a lifetime.

My strict diet (prescribed by my Doctor) followed with proper exercises helped me to reduce my weight (50kg and both trousers & shirts reduced by 10 inches) and the habits imbibed because of GOQii helps me sustain that. With these lifestyle changes for the better, I feel very good and positive about myself. My goal is now to reach a weight target of 75kg.

What Does Vijayakrishna Iyengar Have to Say About GOQii?

I cannot thank GOQii enough! The best part of having been on GOQii is that I can earn Karma Points for being healthy. These points I have been donating to charity. So I am doing my bit for the society as well, which otherwise, we seldom do. I have been maintaining a streak of 211 days (of walking more than 12,000 steps each day) and this helped me to earn a good amount of Karma Points.

Apart from being self-motivated and having a coach to further amplify that motivation, the other big motivating factor is earning Karma points. Whenever I walk, someone who may be underprivileged or having health issues gets the right treatment or support for food or education. What else is required to get motivated to move or to be healthy?

Among the other brands who just sell the band, GOQii focuses on mind, body and soul through physical fitness, meditation, and Karma points. Apart from that, having a dedicated GOQii Coach who understands the unique challenges of individuals and guides them properly to achieve their fitness goal makes it a unique product and service.

What Does His GOQii Coach Have to Say?

Vijayakrishna Iyengar was very determined and motivated when he came on board. I am really impressed by his sincerity. He always tried to do more than the target step count and never missed his workout. Along with cardio exercises, we also worked on doing core workouts and strength training. He has also started slow jogging. Sleep duration and quality improved by avoiding electronic gadgets before bedtime and going to bed by 10:30 pm. I am sure he will achieve his goal to be in normal BMI soon. Seeing him so motivated, motivates me too!

We hope you found this story about Vijayakrishna Iyengar to be motivating! Go on and make a positive lifestyle change today and #BeTheForce!

To share your journey or transformation with us, click here and our team will reach out to you!

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 ‘It is not about losing weight but, it is how you manage it’

Shobha Kunju                                                                                             Shobha Kunju

We are celebrating Women’s month and also women’s health. Here is another inspiring story of a woman who with her sheer grit and determination has been able to reverse her illnesses and get on a health path never to turn back.

It is said that it’s never too late to start if you have the right intent and the determination to do it. Shobha Kunju, 58, a mother of two grown-up children is a fine example of the above statement.

Shobha underwent several health issues between 2010 and 2015. She was first diagnosed with thyroid then she had a hysterectomy, and finally diagnosed with diabetes and put on a very high dosage of medications for both thyroid and diabetes. Apart from illnesses, she was also battling weight issues being on the heavier side. No amount of regular walks and exercises helped but, she was active. A ray of hope knocked on her door when her son introduced her to GOQii in 2015. Her eating and exercise habits bettered and she started targeting her step counts. On an average, she started clocking 10000-13000 steps daily. On weekends she goes for long walks -10 km. with better eating habits, exercise and sleeping better helped her in resolving her weight issues. Her weight reduced from 86 kgs 2 years ago to the present 78 kgs, in addition, she has also witnessed drastic inch loss around her waist. Shobha’s determination, self-motivation and discipline have helped her immensely to reverse her ailments and reduce medications. She is free from all medical issues thanks to her active lifestyle. She finds the idea of exercising on a Sunday morning together with other like-minded and motivated individuals very interesting and fun. Currently, she follows a regime of regular 5km walk in the morning with alternate day’s strength training and HIIT workout. Her message to one and all is: “Be disciplined and self-motivated to achieve your health goals”.

 

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