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Tracking Your Fitness Progress

Track your progressYour workout goals may vary greatly, from reducing a certain amount of weight and gaining muscles, to getting a toned body, a flat stomach and lot more. The point of measuring your progress during a workout is to take note of significant data that you can act upon and to decide the steps you should take to attain your goal. Tracking is really important not only for your progress but to keep you motivated as well. It helps you stay focused and decide the next steps of your fitness journey.

Body Composition

Body Composition measurement determines your overall body fat percentage. A healthy body composition is one that includes a lower percentage of body fat and a higher percentage of fat-free mass which includes muscles, bones and organs. Body composition can provide you with a clear idea about how much lean muscle and fat you have.

This test can be used to check whether you are gaining muscles and/or losing fat. This test can be an eye opening experience because it reveals the ratio of fat to lean muscle tissue, the percentage of fat in the body, the metabolic rate (BMR) and BMI.  It can easily be done at gyms, health clinics and so on, at a nominal price.

How much Fat is OK?

           Women                     Men
Essential Fat             10-12%                     2-4%
Athletes             14-20%                     6-13%
Fitness             21-24%                     14-17%
Acceptable              25-31%                      18-25%

Girth Measurement

This is a wonderful way to track fat loss! Reduction in body fat is usually represented by the inches you have lost. It is one of the easiest and home-based methods to assess your progress. You can use a standardized flexible, flat measuring tape to measure different parts of the body, including your chest (across your nipple line), neck, abdomen (at your belly button), hips (measure the widest part of your buttocks with your feet together) and your calves (widest/largest part), among others.

As per ICMR, Abdominal obesity (AO) was defined as a waist circumference (WC) ≥ 90 cm for men and ≥ 80 cm for women. Isolated generalized obesity (IGO) was defined as a BMI ≥ 25 kg/m2 with a waist circumference of < 90 cm in men and < 80 cm in women.

Body Mass Index (BMI)

BMI is a person’s weight in kilograms (kg) divided by his or her height in meters squared. On a BMI calculator, the number you get may fall into one of these four ranges: obese, overweight, normal weight or underweight. However, this number does not consider your muscle mass vs fat mass, which means muscular individuals, can end up with a higher BMI that may place them in the obese category. So, you should use BMI just as a beginning point.

As per WORLD HEALTH ORGANIZATION (WHO):

Nutritional Status

BMI
18.5 Underweight
18.5–24.9 Normal weight
25.0–29.9 Pre-obesity
30.0–34.9 Obesity class I
35.0–39.9 Obesity class II
Above 40 Obesity class III

And 4th is My Favorite…

Selfie Zone

A full body Mirror selfie is a perfect way to measure/compare your progress from a specific time period. Nothing can be better than a visual explanation. One gets to know his/her own progress by comparing the two selfies of BEFORE and AFTER.

Reasons to Track Your Fitness Progress:

  1. It allows for modifications and indicates when and where you need to make changes
  2. It lets you manage your workout regimen and time more effectively
  3. Helps to drive direction and focus to your workout program
  4. Makes it easier to attain your goal
  5. It’s quite easy to go overboard when eating your meals. But, if you have clarity about your fitness progress, it will help you decide on the right portion size
  6. Tracking your progress with regard to your workouts acts as a strong motivator that keeps reminding you of the fitness goals you wish to achieve

We hope this article helps you! Do leave your thoughts in the comments below! For more on health and fitness, check out Healthy Reads or tune in to LIVE sessions by experts on GOQii Play.

#BeTheForce 

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Healthy Eating: Masala Egg Sandwich

masala egg sandwichIf you woke up this morning thinking about eating eggs, then you’ve come to the right place.Like with all my other recipes, I’m going to be putting a twist on traditional eggs by making a full meal out of them using veggies and healthy carbs. While sandwiches are considered to be a “shortcut breakfast”, this Masala Egg Sandwich is best eaten as a meal! 

What You Will Need

  • Boiled eggs – 2 whole
  • Wheat bread/ multigrain bread – 4 slices
  • Onion – 1 big finely chopped
  • Tomato – 1 big finely chopped
  • Coriander finely chopped – ¼ cup
  • Garlic ginger paste – 1 tbsp
  • Cheese – 1 cube
  • Few onion slices
  • Few capsicum slices
  • Green chutney – 2 tbsp
  • Red chilli powder – 1 tsp
  • Turmeric – ½ tsp
  • Garam masala – ½ tsp
  • Jeera powder – ½ tsp
  • Oil – 1 tbsp

How To Prepare

  1. Heat a pan, add oil and allow the ginger garlic paste to saute.
  2. Once done, add in the onion and cook for a while until translucent.
  3. Throw in the tomatoes, coriander and cook for 5 more minutes.
  4. Add the spices, chilli powder, turmeric, salt and garam masala. Give it a quick mix.
  5. Mix some water and allow this to cook for a few minutes.
  6. Chop the boiled eggs into small pieces and add them to the pan. Allow it to cook for 3-5 minutes.
  7. Turn the flame off and your egg masala is ready! 
  8. Take 2 bread slices, layer both with green chutney. Add the egg masala, top it up with sliced onions, capsicum and shredded cheese (1/2 cube). Sprinkle some chat masala and cover with another slice of bread. Repeat the process to make another sandwich.
  9. Heat a flat pan, brush some oil and place the sandwich on it for a grill. After it is golden brown on one side, flip it over and cook the other side.
  10. Cut the sandwich into 4 pieces and serve hot with chutney or ketchup.

Note: you can use chopped paneer or tofu cubes instead of eggs.

Highlights of the Masala Egg Sandwich:

  • A great balanced meal, easy to make and a twist to a regular meal.
  • Gives you satiety and a punch of vitamins.
  • It has a good amount of proteins as well! 

We hope you enjoyed this Masala Egg Sandwich recipe. Is there something different you do while cooking eggs? Let us know in the comments below! 

For more awesome recipes, check out Healthy Reads or tune in to cooking sessions on GOQii Play. 

Stay home, stay safe, eat healthy and #BeTheForce 

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Indians Aren’t Lazy Anymore! GOQii India Steps Challenge Beats the Stanford Report by 118%

GOQii India Steps ChallengeFebruary 22nd this year marked an important beginning! It was the day we initiated the GOQii India Steps Challenge in partnership with Network18 to make India a country that walks for good health!

The challenge was conceptualized when we came across a study conducted by Stanford University in 2017. It deemed Indians as the laziest in the world, clocking in an average of only 4297 steps a day. This average was challenged in 2018, when the IndiaFit Report 2018 found that the national average had increased to 6783 steps a day.

The GOQii India Steps Challenge sought to drive this number up considerably. By gamifying walking and introducing exciting rewards, GOQii was able to make people walk more. After 100 days and participation of over 2 million individuals from all over India, we are excited to announce that the national average has now reached 9391 steps a day, beating Stanford’s research by 118%.

Apart from this, we found that women walked just as much as men. Women participants clocked an average of 9184 steps a day. Their male counterparts clocked an average of 9436 steps a day.

GOQii India Steps Challenge

The youth of India took a healthy step forward, with participants below the age of 25 walking an avg of 9443 steps a day

GOQii India Steps Challenge

We also received reports from participants who began walking to earn rewards but as the challenge drew to a close, they began walking for their health. There were numerous stories of individuals who began walking every day and even managed to lose some weight and be healthy. GOQii India Steps Challenge

Winner Gives All!

Rajneesh Sharma from Pathankot in Punjab won the grand prize of Rs. 5 lakh. He managed to clock in an average of 39,657 steps daily! Rajneesh was able to achieve this by being active for 5-6 hours a day. Apart from him, there were 3 other players who clocked a daily average of 36,000 steps a day.

“I am very happy to have won this challenge as I have decided to give this money to an NGO – ‘Shiv Bhole Langar Samiti’ with whom I volunteer. This NGO feeds people in Himachal Pradesh’s Hadsar and Gauri Kund area. I participated and started walking to keep myself fit only to be able to climb up 13 km to feed people as part of the NGO work. Then my friends joined me and that kept me motivated.”

The support we received was amazing! We look forward to even more participating from the June Challenge initiated within the GOQii app.

To collect your GOQii India Steps Challenge certificate, you can:

  • Open the app
  • Select Arena
  • Click on Challenges
  • Click on India Steps Challenge

You can either download the e-certificate or get a copy sent to your address.

Stay tuned for our next challenge and keep an eye out for GOQii Play!

#BeTheForce

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11 Real Reasons Why Tobacco is Bad!

LUNG CANCER! MOUTH CANCER! THROAT CANCER!

When we talk about smoking or chewing tobacco, the only thing that pops up is cancer. Apart from that, we have also heard about tobacco use causing COPD, heart disease, strokes and what not! Yet, smokers and tobacco chewers seem almost immune, if not indestructible as they continue to use tobacco day after day.

no smokingMaybe these conditions are extremes that arise after addictive, prolonged use of the substance. After all, we have all heard of that one grandpa who lived his entire life disease-free despite burning through a packet a day or that one aunt who is healthy despite smoking 15 cigarettes a day. Just because the effects aren’t immediate, doesn’t mean they are nonexistent.

While no amount of reasoning will help a tobacco user quit unless they choose to, here are some very real reasons why quitting tobacco today will be the best health move you can make!

1. It Cripples Your Sense of Smell and Taste

Tobacco consumption damages the sense of smell and the taste buds. Smell and Taste are connected to each other by a channel present at the roof of the throat to the nose. Without the sense of Smell, your food may turn tasteless. Blood vessels of Taste buds are also affected making your food less palatable. Quitting may help you enjoy your meals more!

2. Baldness

Toxins present in tobacco harm hair follicles, causing hair loss. It may also damage melanin, resulting in premature greying. Quitting tobacco reduces hair damage or hair loss to a very large extent.

3. Eye Problems and Blindness

Did you know that tobacco consumption can cause blindness? The nicotine present in tobacco causes AMD (Age Related Macular Degeneration) where a person loses central vision making it difficult to see and read things. Cataract is also common in people who consume tobacco. The retina is also affected which results in blindness.

4. Fertility Issues

This is a big one! Both men and women who consume tobacco may face fertility issues. Men’s sperm and Women’s egg get damaged due to the harmful chemicals present in tobacco. The DNA present in the sperm and the egg also get affected, resulting in an unhealthy baby or a baby with cleft lips or cleft palate. If you are trying to conceive, quitting 3 months prior will help a lot!

5. Buerger’s Disease

This disease is common in people using tobacco products. In the beginning, the arms and legs tend to become cold followed by pain in the legs, ankles and feet due to the thickening of blood vessels. In severe cases, ulcers are also noticed on the hands and feet. If infection due to the ulcers spread inside the arms and feet, doctors may advise amputation. There is no cure for this disease, and the only way to prevent this is by quitting tobacco products. Ouch!

6. Problems with Immunity

Consuming tobacco makes you more prone to infections by reducing immunity and depressing antibodies that fight infections. This results in body aches, pains and in severe cases, may result in rheumatoid arthritis.

7. Effect on Skin, Nails and Teeth

The harmful chemicals present in tobacco stain fingernails and the teeth of a user making them look yellowish. It is also an enemy of the skin as it makes you look older than your age. Quitting may help you look younger and retain the brighter side of your teeth and nails.

8. Loss of Hearing

Tobacco consumers are more likely to face hearing problems like tinnitus (ringing in ears) as nicotine results in narrowing of blood vessels present in the body. It also affects nerves  present in the inner ear and also the neurotransmitter responsible for identifying noises. This makes you more sensitive to loud noises and more prone to noise related hearing loss.

9. Digestive Disorders

The digestive system converts food into nutrients which are supplied to various parts of your body. This ability is hindered upon tobacco consumption. A person may experience digestive issues such as heartburn, irritable bowel syndrome, crohn’s disease (inflammation of the intestines) and may even form gallstones. Quitting will improve digestive health drastically!

10. Disturbed Sleep

Consuming tobacco products affects one’s sleep cycle causing sleeping disorders such as sleep apnea or wakefulness. Quitting will improve your sleep quality and reduce sleeping disorders.

11. Wound Healing

Nicotine causes constriction of blood vessels. As a result, blood supply to body parts decrease and makes it difficult for a wound to heal.

Apart from these reasons, your social life can get affected too as many people find the smell of chewing tobacco and cigarette smoke very repulsive!

Clear the smoke and wipe the stains of an unhealthy lifestyle to breathe the freshness of a healthy one!

Was this article helpful? Did we miss out on anything? Do you have trouble quitting? Let us know in the comments below!

#BeTheForce

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