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March 12, 2019 By Anusha Subramanian 4 Comments

Catalysing Social Change through Karma

Catalyzing-Social-Change-through-Karma

How often do we all do Charity?

Whether it is monetary or just about helping somebody out. How often have we helped someone with their studies? When was the last time we spent time playing with underprivileged kids? We seldom do it. Unless some friend actually points to a particular cause that he or she is related to. Let’s accept the fact that Philanthropy does not come to us easily. While globalization is increasingly making us aware of all the problems faced by humanity today, we aren’t doing much to bring about social change.

Everywhere around us, there is hunger, unemployment, lack of medical facilities and education. Not much has been done to eradicate poverty from every corner of this country, extend health care, provide basic education to one and all and protect our environment. Anyone who’s studied emerging markets talks about the opportunities the BoP offers. Especially in South Asia and more importantly in India. It’s a well-known fact how 70% of the population lives in rural areas and 75.6% live on less than $2 a day.

People below the poverty line all around the world are not asking for the moon or any aspiration goods and services. They are asking for basics such as infrastructure, water, energy, education, and employment to be able to live a decent and sustainable life.

Be The Change!

There may not be one resolution to all the problems. Non-profits for decades have been working for the betterment of the lives of the people at the bottom of the pyramid. But, there is only so much they can do. There is a new breed of young social entrepreneurs (Socents) who have sprung up in the last decade or so and are doing their best to bring about a social change. For instance, GreenSole, a social venture by Shreyans Bhandari and Ramesh Dhami, collects discarded shoes, refurbishes them and makes comfortable footwear for the underprivileged. You can know more about them by visiting their website: www.greensole.in.

Step Towards a Brighter Future

Apart from NGOs and the Social entrepreneurs, the opportunity to do Karma or good to others awaits all of us. There is an opportunity for us, as individuals, to be bold and use our unique role as philanthropists to spark, and drive large-scale social change. Whether as a social entrepreneur or by supporting a social cause, each one us has the opportunity to participate and do ‘Karma’(Doing good to others). GOQii, provides the opportunity to do Karma and this can be done by being healthy, fit and earning Karma Points.

At GOQii, our philosophy has been to achieve harmony between mind, body & soul. Inspired by Mahatma Gandhi’s journey of 390 KM, which he started today, for every 390 steps tracked through your activity tracker, you earn 1 Karma Point. These points then get converted into monetary donations by our donor partners.

With the India Steps Challenge, you’re not only walking and earning big rewards but you’re also collecting Karma Points which you can donate to a charity/cause of your choice in the GOQii app! Currently, there are two causes in the GOQii app:

1. Upcycling to Slippers for Children in Need

This cause enables the collection of old shoes and Rs. 199/pair to upcycle them to slippers and donate to children in need. Greensole’s vision is to contribute to social good, by creating a self-sustaining infrastructure that facilitates the provision of the basic necessity of footwear to everyone. Environmental good by refurbishing discarded shoes with zero carbon footprint and economic good by giving employment to refurbish shoes.

2. Trees for Rural Communities, Chintamani, Karnataka

Grow-Trees.com wants to  allow users to satisfy a private purpose of greeting someone through an eTreeCertificate, while doing social good by planting trees. With Grow-Trees you can plant trees with just a few clicks and gift them to celebrate festivals, birthdays, anniversaries or other special occasions using their personalized e-certificate. The cost of each tree is INR 85.

Believe me, I can say this from my own experience, doing Karma will only help bring a positive change in your life – a change for the better.

Who knows? One day, you may look back and say, “I was there at the beginning and I made a difference!”

March 9, 2019 By GOQii 1 Comment

From Fattest to Fittest! Pratyush Dixit & His Awe-Inspiring Transformation

Pratyush DixitHave you ever been in a situation that felt hopeless? Do you think that your current predicament is irreversible? Have your circumstances chained you down to the extent that you feel you cannot achieve your dreams? If everything around you is crumbling to an inescapable pit of despair, we want to remind you that things can change. You can change. It’s never too late. It’s never too late to reverse your circumstances and achieve your dreams.

If you want to know how this is possible, we want you to read Pratyush Dixit’s inspiring story of reversing the odds!

A marketing professional from Delhi, Pratyush Dixit has been working since 2005. He was leading a sedentary life due to the strenuous nature of his work. Especially for the past 8 years, handling stock provisions, then the hospitality sector and now heading a marketing division, he was always seated and stressed. Apart from being sedentary, Pratyush was also a foodie. He had been winning food eating competitions for as long as he can remember, enjoyed street food and was never into healthy eating. On the medical front, he had a family history of diabetes. At 34, he weighed 105 kg and things weren’t working well for him. He found himself thirsty throughout the day and urinating frequently at night.

Identifying these as the classic symptoms of diabetes, he went for a medical checkup. He was aware that his blood sugar might be high but once his tests came in, he got the shock of his life. His Blood sugar level was at 330 and PP (post prandial sugar after meals) was more than 525 and his cholesterol was extremely high. When he consulted his family doctor, he advised immediate measures to bring the situation under control. He was put on heavy doses of insulin till his sugar dropped to 200. Pratyush knew he had to bring his weight under control as well for him to be able to recover. He immediately took to walking and in 2 months was able to shed 7.5 kg.

Enter GOQii

At this point, Pratyush Dixit had read extensively about diabetes. He was searching for a fitness tracker that could help him. He came across other bands but eventually settled for GOQii. Initially, he didn’t want the coaching option as he believed he had read enough about diabetes to know everything. After a long conversation with the GOQii Coach assigned to him, he realized that he needs a coach. His Coach was knowledgeable, patient, understanding and motivating. She assured Pratyush that he will achieve his health goals.

Starting slowly, she told Pratyush that he need not rush in one go but should take one step at a time. For instance, when on the phone, he could squeeze in a walk. She encouraged him to eat healthy. Whenever he wanted to eat a pizza, she advised him to not eat more than a few bites. She also advised him to eat smaller portions throughout the day so that he was full and didn’t feel the urge to eat unhealthy.

Changing Habits and Getting On Track!

Pratyush stopped eating unhealthy. Now, he avoids rice completely. His diet involves a lot of protein and complex carbohydrates. On a daily basis, he consumes fruits with cinnamon (as it helps control blood sugar) as well as a couple of teaspoons of apple cider.

In the mornings, he starts his day with Fenugreek and Fenugreek water. Then he goes for one liter of luke warm water with apple cider, lemon, pepper and black salt. Post that some apple and cinnamon. He follows that up with some cold milk with Basil (Sabja) seeds. Later, he eats either Porridge, Oats or Upma loaded with vegetables. He then goes on to eat nuts, some pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, pistachios, almonds and/or walnuts.

For lunch, he takes multigrain chapati with one dal or vegetable or both and salads in good quantity. He also has buttermilk twice a day. In the evening, he munches on dehydrated pulses with some salt. He also eats a fruit, mostly pomegranate or pears. He avoids mangoes and pineapples. At night, he again eats a chapati, vegetable and salad. If he must opt for rice, he prefers brown rice.

For exercise, apart from walking, when he gets the time, Pratyush includes bicep and tricep curls as suggested by his Coach. He also manages to do a few pushups and squats. He has started jogging a little as well.

He was bedridden for 6 months because of lower back pain but was able to overcome that and recover. His GOQii Coach helped him with some yoga as well.

When Asked If He Still Eats Street Food, Pratyush Dixit Said:

“Now I go for healthy street food! Even if I go for the unhealthier one, instead of going for Dalda or ghee, I go for a olive oil tikki and I won’t take more than a bite or two. I avoid whole portions. I have stopped ordering from Dominos or Pizza Hut but opt for Pizza Express where they serve thin or wheat crust. If I’m out, instead of Aloo Tikka, I got for Paneer Tikka or Soya Chaat. Everything without butter. Then I opt for Green Tea regularly as well as Basil Leaves.”

What Were The Results?

Pratyush told us that he wasn’t worried about his blood sugar levels anymore. He slowly lost weight the healthy way with help from his GOQii Coach. He currently weighs around 80kg. Before, his HPCL was 14 and now, it is a stunning 5.2. His diabetes is completely under control. His PB recently was 95 and fasting was 80, both of which are not sugar levels of a diabetic. With diabetes under control and low cholesterol, he is always high on energy! He says that he is the healthiest person in his office! Recently, his TSH shot up. He is working towards controlling it. On a daily basis, he walks anywhere between 10k to 30k steps. He is a part of the Active Sunday group and every Sunday meets his like-minded GOQiites for some fun walks and exercises.

When Asked About GOQii, He Said:

“The best thing about GOQii is that it provides you some learned, educated and dedicated coaches. They are like friends who are helping you out. They are not just carrying that professional approach of ‘you have to do this and my job is done’. There is a lot of personal approach and they keep motivating you. That does not mean they are lenient. They keep pushing you to do better. Sometimes when I miss my walk, my coach tells me that it is okay. You can’t religiously follow your schedule every day. You aren’t a machine. The key is that even if you go off schedule, you should come back. With GOQii, there’s someone to motivate you to come back to that schedule. So that is what GOQii has done to me. When I told my coach of my problems, she assured me that we will overcome them and achieve my goals! I never thought I will be this fit person.”

People in Pratyush’s office consider him as their idol and often approach him for help. Once upon a time, he was fattest man in his society and now he is a role model with people asking him how he did it. He simply responds by saying because he had the zest to do it!

Going forward, Pratyush wishes to push his limits and practice Parkour Running. He is currently working with his coach to achieve this. As it was always his dream, now he feels he can finally achieve it.

What did you think about Pratyush’s journey? Share your thoughts in the comments below!

#BeTheForce

March 7, 2019 By Farzana Chauhan 4 Comments

5 Astounding Benefits of Walking 100 Steps Post Dinner

Centuries ago, the Greek physician, Hippocrates said, “Walking is man’s best medicine”. This saying is true even today. A recent study by scientists from the University College London proved that walking helps in minimizing the risk of cardiovascular dysfunctions by 31%. It even reduces the risk of deaths from diabetes and related illnesses by 32%.

Walking 10,000 steps everyday will help you stay fit. It can facilitate a healthy living in ways you can’t imagine. Being the safest and easiest exercise possible, walking helps your cardiovascular fitness. It aids weight loss, boosts your mental health and shapes your body.

It’s suggested by some health experts that walking 100 steps before going to sleep every night is good for your health. Usually, we would spend the time post dinner and before sleep in front of a TV or checking emails. Instead, go for a short walk! A minimum of 100 steps will help you burn calories, improve digestion, and control blood sugar levels among other benefits.

  1. Aids Digestion

Walking accelerates the secretion of gastric juices and enzymes responsible for breaking your food into beneficial elements. Under normal conditions, it takes some time for this process to start. This results in the occasional acidity, indigestion and other stomach related complications. Walking around 100 steps will help you sleep better and wake up fresh and healthy.

  1. Maintains Blood Sugar

For those suffering from diabetes (type 2) and extreme blood sugar levels, walking after half hour of having had a meal will help breakdown the food component with more utilization of glucose and improved blood circulation. A physically active body will always need more glucose (sugar level) to burn, thereby controlling/limiting the accumulation of the same.

  1. Helps Metabolism & Facilitates Weight Loss

Any kind of exercise boosts the body’s metabolism, aids blood circulation, burns stored fats and filters unwanted chemicals out of the body. You certainly cannot go through rigorous exercise after dinner. Walking for half a mile solves this problem. Burning of fat and an improved body metabolism also leads to losing weight. For elders, walking after meals is strictly advised to maintain a healthy body. However, this should be practiced by individuals of all ages.

  1. Improves blood circulation

Walking 100 steps after dinner can work up the muscles and facilitate better blood circulation through the body. It only takes a 15 minute stroll to lower the accumulated fat levels in your blood (comprising of harmful cholesterol and triglycerides). Your blood stream will be supplied with more oxygen as your lungs will demand more air.

  1. Relieves stress and improves sleep

Doctors have always advised against going to bed immediately after dinner. If you cannot step out, walking within your home is a good idea as well. For those who lead a sedentary life, walking for a while after dinner aids digestion. Which in turn helps you get better quality sleep.

Make walking after dinner a habit for a lifetime. You will certainly be able to experience positive results within a few weeks. Considered one of the easiest of all exercises. Walking 100 steps after dinner can surprisingly bring a healthy turnaround in your life.

February 27, 2019 By Arooshi Garg 2 Comments

How to Deal With Body Shaming

How to Deal With Body Shaming
Society is not making it easy to accept our bodies as they are. Body-shaming (criticizing yourself or others because of some aspect of physical appearance) can lead to a vicious cycle of judgment and criticism. The insensitivity has risen to a level where people don’t even mind making fun of someone’s body type!

Today’s generation does not see anything wrong in ‘voicing their opinions’, regardless of the fact that these opinions can actually hurt someone. Most of the young girls and boys today are scared of becoming ‘fat,’ and therefore do crash dieting, eat a low-carb diet – failing to understand that their bodies are in the growth phase, need more carbs-proteins for growth and dieting means a completely different thing! It has also been seen that kids as young as 10-12 years are now worried about the way they look and their ‘size’!

Shockingly, some people believe that making a person feel ashamed of their bodies is a good way of motivating them to transform themselves, and that they will work even harder to achieve it and the sad part is that some people will sham you just for fun!

If someone is unhealthy, telling them how to change that, showing them how they can become fit, and encouraging them to achieve what they desire is the right way, rather than just criticizing them or making fun of them. Discrimination, singling out, and shaming only causes stress and makes any person feel bad. If someone is already overweight/underweight, this attitude can actually stress them out!

Body shaming can cause depression, eating disorders such as Anorexia Nervosa or binge eating and reduced self-esteem. Here are some tips to avoid body shaming and to silence body shamers as well!

  • Ignore Negativity
    Stay away from negative influences or people who make you feel uncomfortable entirely. People like these usually thrive on your discomfort and misery. Trying to correct them or make them see your journey/life situation is absolutely futile.
  • Stand Up For Yourself
    Next time when someone makes fun of your looks or mocks you, don’t just withdraw into a shell, speak out against it. Express what is going on inside your mind. Stand up against body shaming. Remember, your motive isn’t to humiliate them, but to make them aware of the negativity of their attitude and the implications of their ‘shaming’ on those affected.
  • Find The Real Issues
    Sit down and take some time to think about the real issues that are bothering you. Why are you in this situation? What is it that you want to change and why is that change not happening? Many a times, there may be factors beyond your control that are affecting your efforts. Accept and admit the reality of the situation. If it’s something that is beyond your control, don’t stress on it but move on in life.
  • Share It – Talk About It
    Don’t just bottle it up inside! Express the emotion to move through it. Speaking with someone you trust will help you tide over an unpleasant situation. Talking is nature’s antidote to stress. Keeping it inside you will only weaken you further, and destroy your inner motivation.
  • Do Something That Makes You Happy
    Go for a walk, talk to a friend, have a healthy dinner! Controlling food with good dietary habits, living a better lifestyle and regular exercise are better coping mechanisms that have helped people over decades to feel good, and ultimately bring the changes they wish to see in themselves. Always divert yourself to something more useful.

The way to end body shaming is not a difficult task, it is simply just keeping your opinion to yourself and letting everyone live in peace. Love yourself for who you are and let others do the same thing. Do remember this is your own journey, and you need to be your own well-wisher and guide.

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