GOQii

Blog

Search Results for: weight

By Leave a Comment

Goodbye Sugar, Hello Health: A Real-Food Approach to Managing Diabetes

Have you ever wondered if you could take control of your diabetes rather than letting it control you? What if the secret wasn’t buried deep on a pharmacy shelf, but already sitting on your plate?

Welcome to the world of DIP (Diabetes Improvement Programme) Nutrition – a low-carb, real-food philosophy that’s helping people across the globe rewrite their diabetes story.

The Sugar Trap: Why We’ve Been Getting It Wrong

For years, conventional advice has often pointed those with type 2 diabetes towards a low-fat, high-carb diet—ironically the very combination that spikes blood sugar. We’ve been told to count calories, watch portions, and rely heavily on medication.

But here’s the uncomfortable truth: more carbs mean more glucose, and more glucose means more insulin… and the cycle continues.

The DIP approach flips the script. It starts with one simple but powerful change: ditching sugar and refined starches. Think white bread, rice, pasta, sweets, sugary drinks – the usual suspects. Cutting these out helps reduce the constant glucose overload and gives the body the breathing space it needs to heal.

Low-Carb, Real-Food: What’s on the Menu?

This isn’t about deprivation or fad diets. It’s about getting back to basics. Real food – the kind your great-grandparents would recognise.

Think:

  • Above-ground vegetables
  • Healthy fats like nuts, seeds, and olive oil
  • Good-quality protein
  • And yes, even eggs and cheese

The DIP philosophy is rooted in nutrient-dense, whole food that nourishes rather than spikes.

The result? Lower blood sugar levels, improved insulin sensitivity, weight loss, better energy, and most importantly — hope.

Real Stories, Real Change

Across communities, people who follow the DIP way report feeling more in control than ever before. They’re reducing medications (under medical supervision), shedding stubborn weight, and finally breaking free from constant cravings and crashes.

It’s not magic. It’s metabolic science meets mindful eating.

Is This the Beginning of Your New Chapter?

If you’ve felt frustrated with traditional approaches…
If you’re tired of chasing highs and crashing lows…

Maybe it’s time for a fresh start.

“Goodbye sugar, hello health” isn’t just a catchy phrase – it’s a powerful reality waiting to unfold.

Let your first step be this: rethink what’s on your plate. Your body will thank you.

#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.

By Leave a Comment

ADHD and Sleep Disturbances: Solutions That Can Help, Regardless of Racy Ideas

For most individuals with ADHD (Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder), night is a time to run uphill rather than a time to unwind. The body is tired, but the brain is alert, buzzing along on a whirlwind of ideas, reminders, recollections, and worries. The very fuel of restfulness to bring about clarity and peace is constantly lost. But why is ADHD so persistently interrupting night time sleep? And more to the point, what is to be done about it?

The ADHD–Sleep Relationship: More Than Just Restless

ADHD is so much more than mere overactive restlessness or inattention. It is a neurodevelopmental disorder characterised by an imbalance in brain control over attention, emotions, impulsivity – and even over sleep-wake cycles. Several studies conducted over the years show that between 25% to 55% of individuals with ADHD continually experience sleeping problems.

But, it is interesting to note that sleep disturbance is both a symptom and a cause of ADHD-like behaviours. A bad night of sleep can aggravate inattention, moods, and emotional control and mimic the manifestations of ADHD – or make them even stronger if already in place.

Why ADHD and Sleep Don’t Always Mix

ADHD isn’t just about attention or hyperactivity – it’s about regulation. That includes regulating thoughts, impulses, energy levels… and yes, even sleep cycles. Research has shown that adults with ADHD often experience:

  • Delayed Sleep Phase Syndrome (DSPS): The body’s internal clock shifts later, making you feel more alert at night and sleepy in the morning.
  • Increased mental hyperactivity: Even at rest, the ADHD brain can feel like it’s stuck in fifth gear.
  • Low dopamine levels: Dopamine plays a role in sleep regulation, and ADHD is linked to lower dopamine activity.

Together, these factors can make bedtime feel like a battle.

Common ADHD-Related Sleep Issues Include:

  • Difficulty falling asleep (extended time to fall asleep)
  • Night-time restlessness and excessive night-time awakenings
  • Resistance to bedtime routines
  • Morning struggle to wake up
  • Excessive daytime sleepiness
  • Sleep-disordered breathing (e.g., obstructive sleep apnoea)
  • Restless legs syndrome and periodic limb movements

What Is to Be Done? Evidence-Based, Proactive Solutions

Let’s face it – there isn’t a one-size-fits-all answer to sleeping with ADHD. But these effective strategies, derived from science and everyday experience, can calm the ADHD brain and facilitate restful sleep.

  1. Prioritise a Sleep Routine (But Keep it Flexible)

Strict bedtime routines may not always work for ADHD brains. Establish a realistic and soothing routine to signal to the body to relax and slow down. This can include:

  • A warm shower
  • Reading (ideally fiction, but not stimulating stuff)
  • Listening to calming music or white noise
  • Deep breathing
  1. Trial Behavioural Sleep Interventions

There is evidence to suggest that behavioural therapy for sleep issues is extremely effective. Some examples include stimulus control, cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia (CBT-I), or light therapy for a circadian rhythm issue.

  1. Assess for Underlying Sleep Disorders

These conditions have to be ruled out—namely, obstructive sleep apnoea, restless legs syndrome, or delayed sleep phase syndrome – all of them more likely to occur in individuals with ADHD.

  1. Time Medications Strategically

If medication is prescribed for ADHD, discuss timing and dosage with your doctor. Changing when or what type of medication is taken may help reduce disturbance to sleep.

  1. Make Use of Environmental Cues

Your bedroom is for relaxing in:

  • Turning out the lights one hour before bedtime
  • A refreshing, serene room
  • Weighted blankets (which are soothing to certain adults with ADHD)
  • No screens at least 30 minutes before bed
  1. Manage Mental Overload

Writing down one’s ideas or tomorrow’s to-do list in the evening is a means of clearing one’s head. There are sleep meditations in apps like Calm or Headspace specifically aimed at racing minds.

Looking to the Future: A Whole-Person Approach

Managing sleep in ADHD is more than a matter of sleep hygiene—more about understanding the interconnected systems at play. Mood, medication, comorbidities, environment, and routine are all important factors. It is for this reason that it is advised by leading experts to assess sleep pre-treatment and review it on a regular basis in conjunction with a more overall management plan.

The Goal Is Not to Sleep Earlier. It Is to Wake Refreshed.

To greet the day with greater vigour, less disorientation, and fewer crashes.

Sleep Is a Skill – And It Can Be Learned

Sleeping should be something you can do naturally. But for a decent number of adults with ADHD, it takes work, experimentation, and copious self-compassion. You are not a failure—you’re a learner. And in learning to sleep more healthily, you’re investing in a gift of a less frantic, less blurry life.

#BeTheForce

Disclaimer: This blog is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Please consult a doctor for personalised guidance and recommendations related to ADHD.

By 1 Comment

Start Living, Stop Dieting

drink-more-waterDiets don’t work. They just don’t. You lose weight, and a few months later, it’s all back—sometimes with a little extra.

The ‘diet game’ leads to frustration, guilt, starvation, and social isolation. It begins to dominate conversations at every gathering—someone’s always talking about their weight, their new diet, or envying someone else’s transformation. And slowly, insecurity creeps in. Self-worth becomes tied to a number on the scale.

But here’s the truth: your weight doesn’t define your worth.

The Illusion of Quick Fixes

Now take a moment and really think—if it took you a year or more to gain the extra weight, is it realistic to expect a miracle fix in 3 or 6 months? The human body doesn’t work like that.

If you’re struggling with weight, the first thing to do is reflect. Think about the habits and behaviours that have crept in over the months or years:

  • Extra coffees or sugary drinks
  • Skipping workouts
  • Bigger portions
  • Frequent takeaways or dinners out
  • Mindless snacking
  • Long work hours or disrupted sleep
  • Holiday indulgences

Write it all down. Your solution is in that list. Reduce. Cut back. Add. Shift. You don’t need a specialist to tell you what’s right. Your lifestyle already holds the answers.

One Change Can Spark a Transformation

The most powerful insight from recent research is this:
Even one positive lifestyle change a month, if sustained consistently, can create a ripple effect in your overall health.

You don’t need to overhaul everything overnight. Pick one habit, build it into your routine, and let it settle before moving on to the next.

Some examples:

  • Drink more water
  • Reduce portion sizes
  • Eat fewer processed foods
  • Move your body more often
  • Sleep 7+ hours
  • Cut back on sugar or alcohol
  • Add more fruits and vegetables
  • Practise daily gratitude or breathwork
  • Keep dinner light
  • Stretch before bed

It’s not about extremes. It’s about sustainable, small shifts—ones that make you feel good, not deprived.

Ditch the Fads, Choose What Feels Right

Burning fat and building health is multi-factorial. A diet alone won’t get you there. And if you’re following something you don’t understand or believe in, you’re less likely to stick with it.

Instead, choose what resonates with you. Know your ‘why’. What truly motivates you to feel better, move more, or change the way you eat? Then build from that place—one step, one habit, one victory at a time.

Lasting health doesn’t come from quick fixes or fads—it comes from consistency, patience, and belief in yourself. Stop obsessing over the diet. Start reconnecting with your body, your choices, and your values.

You deserve to feel good in your skin, at your own pace. So start small, stay kind to yourself, and remember:

Real change comes from living—not dieting.

#BeTheForce

By 5 Comments

Common Reasons For Not Losing Belly Fat

Commons Reasons For Not Losing Belly FatBelly fat is not accumulated in a day or two. It takes several weeks and months of unhealthy eating and lifestyle to build it. When people finally decide to lose belly fat, the first thing they wonder is ‘Why am I not losing belly fat even after exercising so much and cutting down on junk food?’ There are several reasons for it.

Reasons Why You’re Not Losing Belly Fat

Here are a few common reasons why most individuals find it difficult to lose belly fat.

1. Eating Heavy Meals At One Time
Most people struggling with losing belly fat and weight loss are the ones who tend to have too much food at one time. The reason for this is largely either long gaps between the meals or skipping previous meal or if the person consumes food very fast. How is this related to belly fat?

When a person consumes food, it gets broken down to release/provide energy. Firstly, it will fill in the glycogen stores and then the excess calories that are not used up with good physical activity get converted into fats and the most common sites of fat storage is the belly, arms, thighs and buttocks.

When you are having food, only post 20-25 mins of eating, the satiety centers in the brain are activated and you feel full and satisfied. When you eat fast the satiety centers of the brain are not activated and you end up eating more. Small frequent meals and chewing your food thoroughly and eating mindfully is the key to control food portion.

2. Dinner Meals Are High In Carbs & High In Quantity
Due to a hectic schedule, the only meal that we have together with the family turns out to be ‘dinner’ and in turn, it ends up to be the largest meal with a variety of food that the entire family enjoys. Ideally, dinners should be light and should be high in proteins and less in carbs. This is actually vice versa of what is generally practiced.

The reason for the dinners to be light and high in proteins and less in carbs is that post dinner, we are not that active. Hence, there’s no real requirement of all the carbs for energy. The process of recovery of all the muscles that are used up throughout the day, the repairing of all the wear and tear happens during the night and that requires proteins, not carbs.

3. Physical & Mental Stress
This is only with regards to people who are excessively obsessed with exercise to lose belly fat. Excessive exercise leads to physical stress and thus, high cortisol levels. In case of mental stress, you might have noticed that the first thing you would choose is chocolates/ice creams or any comfort foods that are high in sugar or carbs for that matter. At this point of stress, the food gets broken down and is converted to fat and stored in your belly area. Exercise in moderation and keep yourself stress free by indulging in some yoga and meditation or your hobbies.

4. Consumption Of Processed Food
Do you have the habit of reading labels? Do pick one product that you eat the most and read the label today. Most of the processed or ready to eat food products are high in sugar, fat or refined carbs. They are extremely low in fiber as well. Even the fiber enriched product gives less than 2gm of fiber per serving. Read labels and choose wisely. The best solution here is to eat homemade food or you can try some variations to increase fiber intake by incorporating more veggies/fruits along with the main product.

5. Aerated Drinks
Products containing HFCS (High Fructose Corn syrup) or liquid glucose, that are present in all the aerated drinks like Cola, flavored sugar syrups, etc. do not get metabolized and are stored in the belly as fat, which is really tough to get rid off through just activities. Instead, opt for buttermilk, lemon water, coconut water, and fresh lime soda (salted) over the above drinks.

We hope this article helps you make better choices and avoid these common reasons for not losing belly fat.

#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.

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 […]