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Search Results for: weight

August 20, 2014 By Luke Coutinho Leave a Comment

Use this tool to eat Right and Lose Weight

portion-control
The concept of weight gain and weight loss will always remain the same, irrespective of any new theories on molecular science and diet, blood group diets, fad exercise programs, restrictive diets etc.

‘ Your body will only use how much it needs of the food you eat, for it’s functions Anything extra will get stored away, leading to possible fat gain’.

If you are very hungry, and your only option is a slice of pizza, you should eat it. Your body will break it down for the energy it needs.

What it may not be able to do is break down a couple of slices of pizza, with a portion of pasta and a tiramisu. It may if you’ve just burnt like 1500 cals and your body is craving replenishment of energy.

It is all about controlling your food portions. How much is enough for your body?

Only you can tell by being aware. Eating 2-3 rotis at night or at lunch is probably out of habit. It’s what you have done since you were growing up. But the situations are different. You ate more when you were probably more active and younger with a quicker metabolism.

Things change. Everything changes, including the way your body works and breaks down food, year on year.

What if your body really can do with just 1 roti instead of 3?

What if your body can do with a small scoop of ice cream instead of a large or super-sized portion?

What if you really don’t need 6 small meals in a day?

What if you could still enjoy your dessert or piece of cake, but share it, so you don’t get into a deprivation mode?

Most humans eat more than their bodies require. Especially with the massive choice of culinary delights available, the eye appealing desserts, the way food is plated etc…it works on our minds to a level that we crave it. And that’s OK. I love good food too, who doesn’t.

The problem is, we eat too much of it and there reaches a point when the body does not know what to do with the crazy amounts of food we eat, so when you see your belly/tummy, mid riff, waist starting to expand, that’s your body telling you, ‘ you are eating too much’  OR

‘ Your not exercising sufficiently, your not using all this excess energy that you are feeding me ‘

And what takes months or even years to develop into abdominal fat, as humans we always want things to happen for us quickly. Instant gratification, Instant results, and then we get crazy and desperate to lose that tummy, choosing options that can create more harm than good for the other parts of our body.

We get into intensive exercises, and damage our knees and backs..we get on crazy diets and lose a little weight along with bone density, and key nutrients.

PORTION CONTROL is difficult, yet the easiest way to lose weight, keep it off and moreover, it’s a lifestyle change, something that can change this whole obesity epidemic. We all struggle with food. This may be the solution to eating our favorite food, yet controlling the portions and being fair to our bodies.

When my friend Vishal Gondal brought back a portion control plate from the U.S  to show the entire GOQii team, I had a look at it and realized, this is what India needs.

Such a simple tool that will teach people how to eat, How much to eat without feeling deprived.

It can teach children all about the right portions that they should serve themselves, and I envision families using this portion control plate to serve themselves and build a culture of eating clean and right.

I used one for a month, serving myself everyday using this portion plate and at first I thought the quantity was too less, but quickly figured I was eating more than I needed.  I used a 1 cup portion serving for a few days and then cut back to a half cup serving at dinner.

Like all habits, it took a few days getting used to, but all I can say now is, I am eating lesser for sure and I don’t feel hungry after doing this.

It beats all fat loss pills, which anyway never work. This teaches you to eat the right way and anything that works towards making a shift in your lifestyle, is worth it, is sustainable and is the right way to go.

Once you get into the habit of controlling your portions and knowing how much your body really needs, you then begin to automatically apply the same when you eat out.

You can try this simple yet effective tool to change the way you eat and control or lose weight.

Moreover, using this will ensure you eat a balanced meal of carbs, protein, fats and veggies.

Get it at: http://purenutrition.co.in/meal-measure.html

March 2, 2026 By Divya Thampi 3 Comments

4 Reasons Why Affirmations Are Not Working For You

AffirmationsAffirmations are statements that firmly declare a positive intention, stated as a truth, so as to make these thoughts a part of your reality. For example, someone who wants to improve their physical health may use affirmations like “I am healthy and well”, “I radiate good health” or “I love feeling fit and strong” or all of them. Generally, affirmations are used repetitively at certain times of the day.

The idea behind using affirmations is to bring about a shift in our thoughts and beliefs. We humans have approximately 60000 thoughts in a single day and more often than not, we are unaware of our thoughts, they just stream through our minds constantly. What we think repeatedly and frequently slowly becomes our beliefs. And beliefs have the power to change reality. Thus, by influencing our thoughts, affirmations have the power to change our beliefs and reality.

How Do Affirmations Work?

In a study, individuals diagnosed with Anorexia Nervosa (an eating disorder characterized by an abnormally low body weight, an intense fear of gaining weight and a distorted perception of weight) were asked to walk through a doorway that became increasingly narrower. They found that these individuals started turning their body when the doorway was 40% wider than their shoulders while another set of individuals, without the diagnosis, turned only when the doorway was 25% wider than their shoulders. This pointed to the self-talk of the diagnosed individuals which made them believe that they were physically bigger than they actually were. In another study a group of patients who were due for a surgical procedure of the knee for osteoarthritis were divided into 2 groups. One went through the surgery while the other had a sham surgery i.e they had an incision made on their knee and the procedure was faked so that these patients believed that a surgery had been performed on them. The results were amazing because both the groups recovered equally. This is proof that the human mind has the power to make things happen if it believes in them.

Due to something called negativity bias (the tendency to focus on potential threats and difficulties) we humans tend to focus on negative aspects of our day to day life. When affirmations are used correctly, they can slowly replace the negative thoughts and help our mind to focus on not just what’s going well but seed the image of a reality that fits with our hopes and wishes.

Affirmation can slowly become a subconscious part of our thinking and belief system and the changes we wish to make in our lives will happen effortlessly. This sounds really simple and effective. Then why doesn’t it work as effectively for some?

Reasons Why They Fail Sometimes, And What To Do About It

Here are 4 reasons why their efficacy may be low for some:

  1. Contradicting practice – Many people may repeat the affirmations verbally or in writing once a day but say things and behave in ways that contradict these affirmations. For example, someone who wants to get a great job may be using affirmations like “I see myself in my dream job” for 10 minutes in the morning but for the rest of the day may be saying things like “It is tough times and jobs are not easy to come by” or “With my qualifications I don’t know if I can get a job I want.” Pay attention to your day today thoughts and words and use them in ways that match with the affirmations.
  2. Not focusing emotionally – A very important factor for the affirmations to work is that one should focus on experiencing the feelings that come with the affirmative thought. We may be parroting the words without truly focusing and thus failing to generate the emotion. Positive emotion is the fuel that will push your desires to reality.
  3. Using future tense – The affirmations have to be in present tense. If you use an affirmation like “I will be healthy and fit” your subconscious mind will always see it as something that is supposed to happen in the future, a future that never arrives. Affirmations in present tense allow you to not only picturize the possibility but also help you in experiencing the feelings that would accompany the accomplishment.
  4. Framing affirmations negatively – Many of us find it easier to talk about what we don’t like or don’t want in our lives and this may lead to people using affirmations the same way. However, our mind thinks in images and finds it difficult to process negative words, so replace an affirmation like “I don’t feel angry all the time” with “I feel calm and at peace”.

Affirmations have the power to change your habitual thinking and alter your beliefs for the better. Come up with affirmations for 2-3 areas of your life where you want to see changes. As you continue to use these affirmations correctly and consistently, your mind will come up with ways to make them come true and attract the exact opportunities required to fulfill your dreams.

We hope you enjoyed this article. For more by our emotional wellness expert Divya Thampi, check out Healthy Reads or tune in to her sessions on GOQii Play.

#BeTheForce 

Disclaimer: GOQii is committed to providing accurate, up-to-date, and comprehensive health information. This article is intended for informational purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for professional mental health or medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.

February 27, 2026 By Dhwani Bagadia 1 Comment

Leaky Gut: Symptoms and Causes

leaky gutThe gut is considered to be the “Gateway to Health”. It consists of approximately 80% of the immune system. 95% of “serotonin”, the “feel-good” hormone, is also produced in the Gut. Healing and improving your gut is of the utmost importance to lead a healthy and happy life. Your gut is responsible for stomach conditions, pain and even eagerness. Poor gut health can cause various issues such as a Leaky Gut.

A Leaky Gut is one of the most puzzling illnesses/diseases to be diagnosed and to get treated. It is a very puzzling disease or illness majorly due to the gut having a very extensive and complex structure. “There is still so much science that proceeds with finding newly developed methods, where the gut can have an impact on the health of the heart to brains being young and active,” says Dr. Alessio Fasano, Director of the Center for Celiac Research and Treatment with Harvard-affiliated Massachusetts General Hospital.

What is Leaky Gut?

The digestive system is where food is broken down and nutrients are absorbed. It also plays a major role in safeguarding your body from detrimental or dangerous substances. The intestinal walls act as a barrier/hurdle to check what is passing into the bloodstream, to be carried to different organs of the body.

Water and nutrients are passed into and out of the small holes (tight junctions) in the walls of the intestine when obstructing the movement of detrimental substances. Intestinal Permeability is defined as an easy passage of the substances through the walls of the intestine. When the small holes (tight junction) of the intestinal wall become loose, the permeability of the gut increases and results in bacteria and toxins passing from the gut into the bloodstream. This event is termed as “Leaky Gut”.  

Due to Leaky Gut, toxins and bacteria enter the blood-stream, resulting in inflammation and activating a reaction from the immunity. Proponents declare that it is one of the major causes of several medical conditions such as chronic fatigue syndrome, migraine, multiple sclerosis, fibromyalgia, food sensitivities, thyroid abnormalities, mood swings, skin conditions, and autism.

Many Health-care professionals say that an increase in the permeability of the intestine occurs in a few chronic diseases. It is a challenge to calculate the strength of an individual’s gut barrier, so it becomes difficult to identify whether a person has a leaky gut and what impact it will have on the body.

Symptoms to Watch Out For

As per Dr. Leo Galland, the director of the Foundation for Integrated Medicine, the symptoms below could indicate a Leaky Gut.

  • Digestive issues such as chronic diarrhea, constipation, gas or bloating or IBS (Irritable Bowel Syndrome)
  • Nutritional Deficiencies such as anemia, omega-3 fatty acids, vitamin deficiencies
  • Excess weight, obesity, diabetes
  • Poor immunity such as frequent cold, flu, and infection. Auto-immune disease such as rheumatoid arthritis, lupus, celiac disease or chron’s disease, Hashimoto’s thyroiditis
  • Brain: Headaches, brain fog and memory loss and Depression/Eagerness/ADHD (Attention Deficient Hyperactive Disorder)
  • Excessive tiredness or fatigue
  • Rashes on skin such as acne, eczema
  • Cravings for refined carbs or sugar
  • Bones: Arthritis or Joint Pain and Osteoporosis
  • Seasonal Allergies or Asthma
  • Imbalance in the hormones such as PMS or PCOD i.e. Pre-menstrual Syndrome and Polycystic Ovarian Syndrome
  • Diagnosis of candida overgrowth
  • Food Allergies, food sensitivities or intolerances

What Causes a Leaky Gut?

There are several factors that can cause a Leaky Gut. Gluten, food, infection and toxins being a few of them. The following factors can also be considered.

  • Food Sensitivities, Candida or yeast over-growth, Parasites, Medications and Drugs
  • Excessive sugar intake and other un-healthy food affect the barrier of the wall of the intestine
  • Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAID’s): Excess and too much use of NSAID’s like ibuprofen leads to leaky gut due to an increase in the wall of intestinal permeability
  • Excess alcohol intake may also cause intestinal permeability
  • Nutritional Deficiencies: Deficiencies of Vitamins such as A, D and Zinc result in increases intestinal permeability
  • Inflammation: Can also result in the leaky gut
  • Stress: Excess Stress also results in gastro-intestinal disorder, leading to leaky gut
  • Poor Gut Condition: There is a mix of good and harmful bacteria which are almost in millions in the gut. If the balance of the good and harmful bacteria is affected, it can affect the intestinal wall.
  • Yeast Overgrowth: Natural existence of yeast is there in the gut, but excess growth of yeast can lead to leaky gut

Stay tuned and stay healthy. For more topics on Gut Health, click here. If you’re experiencing any of the above symptoms, consult a doctor or speak to our experts for lifestyle changes that will help you heal. 

#BeTheForce

Disclaimer: The information provided in this blog is for general awareness and educational purposes only. It is not intended to replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for personalised medical guidance or concerns related to your health.

February 26, 2026 By GOQii Leave a Comment

Muscle Is Your Insurance Policy: Why Strength Predicts Lifespan More Than Cardio

Most people measure fitness in steps. Ten thousand a day feels productive. Calories burned feel like progress. But long-term health is not just about movement. It is about muscle.

Research over the past decade has consistently shown that muscle mass and grip strength are strong predictors of longevity. In simple terms: how strong you are may matter more than how many kilometres you clock.

After 35, Muscle Starts Declining

From your mid-thirties onward, you naturally begin to lose muscle. This gradual loss, known as sarcopenia, accelerates with age, especially among those who are sedentary.

Muscle loss is not just about looking softer. It directly affects:

  • Blood sugar control
  • Metabolic rate
  • Bone strength
  • Balance and fall risk
  • Daily energy levels

Many urban Indians, despite having a “normal” weight on the scale, are severely under-muscled. That means lower metabolic resilience and a higher long-term risk for lifestyle diseases.

Grip Strength and Survival

Large population studies have found that lower grip strength is directly linked to a higher risk of heart disease, disability, and even early death.

Grip strength reflects your overall muscle quality. When muscle declines, your body’s reserve capacity declines with it. Strength gives you a vital buffer against illness, injury, and ageing. It is not about bodybuilding. It is about maintaining functional capacity.

Muscle Protects Your Metabolism

Muscle is the body’s largest glucose sink. After a meal, it helps absorb and store blood sugar. The more muscle you have, the better your insulin sensitivity.

Having less muscle often means:

  • Higher blood sugar spikes
  • Greater insulin resistance
  • Increased abdominal fat
  • Higher diabetes risk

Resistance training has been shown to improve HbA1c levels and insulin sensitivity, even without major weight loss. For a country facing rapidly rising diabetes rates, this is critical. Cardio strengthens the heart, but strength training protects the metabolism. You need both, but muscle deserves much more attention than it currently gets.

A Simple Longevity Strength Plan

You do not need hours in the gym. Two to three 30-minute sessions per week are enough.

Each session should include:

  • A lower-body movement: such as squats or lunges.
  • An upper-body push: such as push-ups or overhead presses.
  • An upper-body pull: such as dumbbell rows or resistance band pulls.
  • Core work: such as planks or bird-dogs.

Focus on controlled repetitions that feel challenging toward the end of your set. Combine this with adequate protein intake around 1.0 to 1.2 grams per kilogram of body weight daily, spread evenly across your meals.

Strength Is Independence

Longevity is not just about living longer. It is about staying capable. It’s the ability to climb stairs without breathlessness, carry your own groceries, recover quickly from an illness, and stay steady on your feet.

Muscle is your insurance policy for those moments. Steps are good. Cardio is important. But if you truly want to invest in your long-term health, start lifting. Your future health depends on it.

Ready to start building your strength and metabolic resilience? Reach out to our certified experts by subscribing to GOQii’s Personalised Health Coaching here.

#BeTheForce

Disclaimer: The information provided in this blog is for general awareness and educational purposes only. It is not intended to replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider for personalised medical guidance or concerns related to your health or before beginning a new exercise regimen.

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