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How Digvijay Singh Reversed Chronic BP Issues & Lost Weight With GOQii

Digvijay Singh

Do you feel that no matter what you do, you’re unable to lose weight? You go for walks, meditate and even eat right but that scale doesn’t budge while lifestyle diseases plague you. Our Player Digvijay Singh was stuck in a similar predicament. 

Life Before GOQii 

Digvijay Singh, a 63 year old retired public sector professional from Nagpur, was always conscious about his health and lifestyle. He took regular walks and even practiced Pranayama but no matter what he did, he could not lose weight. He weighed around 90kg and suffered from chronic blood pressure issues. 

Introduction to GOQii & Making Lifestyle Changes 

During his anniversary in 2016, his daughters gifted him a GOQii device with 3 months of subscription. When he joined, his goal was to reduce weight and control his BP issues. While initially he faced difficulty, there was progress. 

Between 2016-2019, he says that his progress was quite slow. His BP was still high at 140/90 and cholesterol levels were out of range. To help him achieve his goal, his GOQii Coach introduced a few lifestyle changes which included: 

  • Normal walks, interval walks and strength training 
  • Consuming apple cider vinegar and salads to his meals 
  • Early dinner 
  • No processed foods 

Eventually, Digvijay Singh’s cholesterol levels and BP both came down to a normal range. His weight has reduced and has remained constant since then. He has been able to lose 12kg and go from 84 to 72 kg within 8 months. 

Digvijay Singh is happy with the fact that his GOQii journey that started 5 years back, is still continuing. He says that with his GOQii Coach’s advice, his lifestyle has completely changed. He further stated, “Basically what GOQii did was that it disciplined me”. 

His daughters say that he is an inspiration. He is disciplined and follows what his GOQii Coach says. His eating habits have also changed. They said that they are glad about how his health has improved, he has been able to control his BP and looks fitter than before! They said, “Now the entire family (extended) knows about GOQii because of Dada and it is his best gift to anyone he thinks needs it”. 

To understand Digvijay Singh’s journey, check out this session of GOQii Health Talks, where he and his family spoke to our Founder & CEO Vishal Gondal.

What Does Coach Monika Raj Have To Say About Digvijay Singh? 

Digvijay has been a great learner! He always follows the habits I set for him. When we first started, his blood pressure was high at 140/90 and cholesterol levels were out of range. Then slowly, we started with minor lifestyle modifications. In a span of time, his fat percentage ranging from 35% to 40%, came down to 25%. 

We started with walks that ranged from normal walking to interval walks and then strength training. He was so consistent in walking that I had to stop him and make his regime for just 5 days a week so that  he could rest and recover well. Since then  he has been able to maintain it well.

We added salads to his meals and made sure his dinner was light. I also asked him to consume Apple Cider Vinegar before lunch and dinner, less salt in meals and completely avoid processed foods among a few other changes. 

For the past 5 years, he has never missed salads in his meals and has never missed crossing 10k steps. I am really overwhelmed and motivated to see his efforts and consistency.  

Does this story inspire you? Did it sound relatable? Want to make a lifestyle change? If yes, then speak to your GOQii Coach today by subscribing for personalized coaching here: https://goqiiapp.page.link/bsr

To read more inspiring stories, check out Healthy Reads. 

#BeTheForce 

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Recover and Reclaim Your Health – Yashas Ranganath User Journey

Yashas Ranganath

More often than not, we find ourselves moving passively through the world revelling in all it has to offer and more. Wading way beyond moderation in the beauty of excesses till the consequences of our actions pile up. Lifestyle diseases are caused because of indulgence in unhealthy habits, something that one of our players Yashas Ranganath found out first hand. How did he manage? How did he recover? Let’s find out!

Life Before GOQii

Yashas Ranganath, an IT professional from Bangalore led quite a normal life. He used to eat, drink and do whatever he pleased, paying no attention to health and fitness. His physical activity was almost nil and he paid no attention to his lifestyle to even make a change.

In 2016, he was diagnosed with hypertension and diabetes. He was also admitted to the hospital for a severe migraine attack and put under medication for both. His health only got worse with time. In September 2018, he was hit by a stroke due to a cyst in his left brain. This left the right side of his body completely paralyzed.

Enter GOQii

Initially, Yashas Ranganath had joined GOQii in 2015 when he was exploring the market for a good fitness tracker. He chose GOQii as he was intrigued by the personal coaching feature. However, he says he completely wasted that subscription and did not take it seriously at all.

In December 2018, after 50% recovery from the paralysis, he began thinking about making lifestyle changes. He turned to GOQii and renewed his subscription. He says that his life took a complete positive turn after that!

Making a Positive Lifestyle Change

Yashas’ goal was to get all his vitals under control and completely recover from paralysis. His GOQii Coach advised him to completely stop the consumption of oil, sweets, salt, junk food and all types of processed food. He was also asked to stop eating maida and consumed bottled beverages. From a foodie, he had turned into a monk – eating to live and not living to eat. But his sole focus was recovery and he was ready to give up on everything.

His daily routine became structured in terms of eating habits, activity and sleep:

  • He wakes up at 4 in the morning to leave for work at 6:30 AM. He eats his breakfast and lunch at work – both are customized to his requirement.
  • His breakfast consists of upma, poha or idli. For Lunch, he eats 2 cups of rice with salads and vegetable curry.
  • Dinner consists of chapatti with a curry.
  • His coffee intake is limited to 1 in the evening and he eat fruits as mid meal snacks.
  • Under the rare occasion when he eats out, he manages to customize his food.
  • He exercises for 2 hours a day, doing what his physiotherapist suggests along with numerous stretches recommended by his GOQii Coach. He concludes this with 15 minutes of meditation.
  • He has also started cycling and performs Yog Nidra at night.

After following this routine, Yashas says that he feels no cravings at all and doesn’t even get tempted after seeing other enjoy different delicacies. He enjoys his current lifestyle modifications.

What Changes Did Yashas Ranganath Experience?

When he joined GOQii in 2018, his weight was 75kg, HBA1C was above 8 and blood pressure was 200/170. He now weighs 63kg. His vitals improved drastically too with his HBA1C at 5.4, blood sugar – fasting at 80-90 mg/dl and postprandial at 80-100 mg/dl. Blood Pressure is 130/80. He is on minimal medication, feels more active physically and positive mentally. He has also made a 90% recovery from his stroke.

“You have to get hit before your eyes are opened and then you change in ways you never thought you could,” says Yashas.

His wife and parents are overwhelmed with his recovery. He attributes the change in his lifestyle to his GOQii Coach and says her contribution has been 100%, constantly guiding him on what to eat and what not to eat. Yashas has also explored the features on the app like Play and watches videos as and when he finds time.

Recently, Yashas Ranganath spoke to our Founder & CEO Vishal Gondal about his recovery and journey with GOQii. You can watch the entire episode of GOQii Health Talks here:

What Did His GOQii Coach Have to Say About Him?

“Yashas is one of the most disciplined player I have ever seen. He has been very regular in following
all the habits formulated for him. After the treatment of his stroke and during recovery, he used to suffer from episodes of hypoglycaemia in between. He used to feel dizzy and uncomfortable. Slowly, we started making him have small and frequent meals with portion control. We started millet based meals for better glycaemic index and on the side, he was doing his physiotherapy as well. All of which contributed to his lifestyle change.”

Yashas Ranganath made a positive lifestyle change, what about you? Subscribe to personalized coaching now to get healthier with GOQii: https://goqiiapp.page.link/bsr

Do check out more inspiring stories on Healthy Reads and #BeTheForce 

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Ashima Dalela Beats Gut Health Issues and Anxiety With GOQii

Ashima Dalela

You might have heard the saying, “Almost all diseases begin in the gut.” If gut health issues are left unchecked, it can get worse and affect your mental health too. Our Player Ashima Dalela suffered from gut health issues which led to severe anxiety and she visited around 15 doctors who were unable to identify the cause. But, she was able to fix the issue with simple lifestyle changes suggested by her GOQii Coach. How did she tackle her gut and anxiety issue? Let’s find out! 

Life Before GOQii 

Ashima Dalela is a young working professional based in Ghaziabad. For the longest time, she suffered from stomach issues and anxiety. Multiple doctors were unable to diagnose what was wrong, with some saying it was GERD and stomach infection. One doctor told her that it was IBS and her gut problem has combined with anxiety. Finally, one of the doctors she visited suggested GOQii. 

Identifying the Issue & Making Lifestyle Changes 

Since she onboarded, Coach Meenakshi was assigned to Ashima Dalela. Coach Meenakshi began by tackling the stomach issues and acidity. She prescribed specific foods to improve her gut health. She coupled nutrition with exercises such as asanas for the stomach, all of which slowly and steadily brought about a change. 

Initially, Ashima faced some difficulty in walking. So she was tasked with completing 2k steps a day. She was also skipping meals due to her situation and her condition was only getting worse. Despite some hurdles, Ashima stuck to the habits given by her GOQii Coach. Thanks to her dedication and her GOQii Coach’s constant motivation, she was able to fix her gut health issue as well as her anxiety. She now enjoys the live sessions on the app and always browses through Healthy Reads. She also enrolls for challenges within the app. 

Initially, her mother was skeptical about the coaching aspect but after seeing positive results, she is convinced that the coaching works. In fact, the entire family has adopted healthy habits. Her goal now is to stay active and gain healthy weight. 

 What Are Coach Meenakshi’s Thoughts About Ashima Dalela’s Journey? 

When Ashima came on board, she was very nervous about her health issues. She wanted to control:

  • GERD with symptoms like acidity in the morning, vomiting sensation, stomach upset, burning sensation, bloating and gas after meals 
  • Anxiety (20%, 1-2 anxiety attacks in a month because of health problems related to the gut) with symptoms like dizziness, increased heartbeat and numbness in hands and legs.

Now, her GERD has reduced by 95% without any symptoms after introducing habits like lemon water, detox water, eating slowly, adding curd, rice, kanji, etc. Anxiety levels reduced by 95% without any symptoms. Now, she can cope easily with any arguments/bad news. 

She has been practicing meditation, deep breathing and is generally more positive. Ashima doesn’t feel stress and anxiety while handling physical, mental and emotionally taxing situations. 

We changed to a new health goal on 15 August 2020 as she wanted to be more active in 3 months as she was unable to do any activity in the morning and evening because of work. She felt lethargic in the evening after office work. She was also facing haemorrhoid issues and irregular cycles. 

She feels 85% improvement in activeness with asanas, exercise and daily walks. Her bowel movement is fine with more water and salad intake. Menstrual cycle also continues now in September with the habit of seed cycle.

We’re now working with a new health goal from 10 March, 2021 – She wants to gain weight up to 53kg (weight was 50kg on March 10). Her current weight is 51kg thanks to the added habits of eating nuts and seeds, post workout meals and employing strengthening exercises.

To take a glimpse into Ashima’s inspiring journey with GOQii, watch her GOQii Health Talk session with our Founder and CEO Vishal Gondal along with her GOQii Coach Meenakshi, Doctor Viral Thakkar and Divya Thampi here: 

If you suffer from similar issues or know someone who does, share this article with them and subscribe to personalized coaching to make a positive lifestyle change today: https://goqiiapp.page.link/bsr 

#BeTheForce  

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Rudresh Basavarajappa Beats Insomnia With Simple Lifestyle Changes From GOQii

Rudresh BasavarajappaSometimes, our health issues seem overbearing and we’re unable to break free. These illnesses can cripple our ability to function normally. While some issues require medical assistance, there are some that can be fixed with simple lifestyle changes. Our player Rudresh Basavarajappa suffered from insomnia for the longest time till he found GOQii and his life changed completely. 

Before GOQii 

Rudresh Basvarajappa is an entrepreneur based in Bengaluru. He runs a software company that employs 200 people. He had been battling sleep issues for a long time. He would sleep only for 20 minutes to half an hour. This lack of sleep affected his personal and professional life. Along with insomnia, he was also battling the loss of an untimely death of his brother-in-law and business partner. 

His insomnia issue created complications such as shivering of his hands and legs. He had gravitational Oedema. Due to gravitational oedema, he could not walk or even wear his shoes due to the pain. It affected his sleep further. Moreover, he was also smoking around 20 cigarettes a day. 

He visited a doctor and after numerous tests, they could not arrive at any conclusion. He was prescribed sleeping pills. As 1 dose did not work, he had to up it to 2. This didn’t work for him either. 

Making a Shift With GOQii 

After trying everything possible, Rudresh Basvarajappa came across a GOQii ad in the newspaper. He was intrigued that it was a Make in India product – of which he is a fan. Since it was during the pandemic, he found the features to track SpO2, temperature and other vital parameters very useful. 

Since he got the tracker, he hadn’t selected a coach for almost 2-3 months as he did not believe in coaches. In due time, he had to forcefully select a coach and opted for Coach Nishreen. Despite his earlier qualms about coaching, he says that the GOQii Coach was the best thing that happened to him. Within a month he witnessed positive results and was able to sleep properly. 

He says, “The GOQii Coach is like a god to me. The Coach was very perseverant. Slowly and steadily she introduced activities and food changes. Now, I walk 10km a day and I sleep 7-8 hours a day. My sleep is regular. My wife and son who are fitness freaks also noticed these positive changes in me. Then my wife wanted my son to be on GOQii as well . But I wanted the same coach for him too. Glad that now Nishreen is both mine as well as my son’s coach.” 

What Does Coach Nishreen have to say about Rudresh Basvarajappa?

Rudresh was very focused, determined and committed when he came onboard. He just had one thing in mind, that is to lead a healthy lifestyle. He joined GOQii to reduce his stress, improve sleep as he used to take 2 sleeping pills and reduce gravitational oedema – a gravity-related swelling in the lower body. He smoked 20 cigarettes everyday.

He had done all the possible tests as suggested by senior doctors but couldn’t come to a conclusion. This was adding to his stress as he couldn’t wear appropriate footwear and thus, further disturbing his sleep cycle.

After our first call we decided to make simple lifestyle changes like starting Pranayama to relax his mind, reducing the number of cigarettes as he was keen to quit smoking and some leg raise exercise to improve blood circulation. He had a passion for exercises, so he enjoyed his morning walks.

Over the span of 2 months, he could see reduction in swelling and great improvement in sleep. We were able to cross each and every milestone in his health journey up to date. He is able to sleep immediately as pranayama is a medicine for sleep, he has quit smoking and oedema in his legs is almost NIL! He’s very honest and disciplined. So he adheres to any changes and accepts them without complaint. He maintains a two way communication and shares his updates with me every day! 

Recently, Rudresh Basvarajappa appeared as a guest on GOQii Health Talks and shared his journey with our Founder & CEO Vishal Gondal. You can watch the entire live session here: 

For more inspiring stories, check out Healthy Reads! To get your own GOQii Coach, sign up for personalized coaching here: https://goqiiapp.page.link/bsr 

#BeTheForce 

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