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Always Look At The Big Picture – Mukul Bhartiya User Journey

Mukul Bhartiya

We often treat health as a one off objective but what happens once we achieve our goal? Do we fall back to our previous habits? While keeping health goals, it is important to always look at the big picture. While losing weight is a good target, being healthy should always be a lifelong goal! This is something our player Mukul Bhartiya understood during his journey with GOQii. Let’s look at his journey in his own words. 

Finding GOQii 

I started my journey with GOQii around two and half years back and my purchase decision was a result of meeting Vishal Gondal in 2012 at IIT, Mumbai where he was one of the speakers. I was looking for a fitness band and while researching, I came across GOQii. I immediately jumped in without having a clear idea of what I will do with it. Unfortunately, after just a month or so of purchase, I became very busy with work, having very little time to spend on my health. There was a disconnect with the coach and the 3rd coach assigned to me was a tough task master with his own ideas of fitness and health. So I decided to quit the journey.   

I am a Black Belt in Shito Ryu Karate Do, but left practicing it around five years back due to personal issues. I kept myself active for a couple of years but after that, I became lazy, spending lots of time on social media, following twitter trends, validating my view point through anonymous writer’s rants.  This time, around four months back when I looked at one of my pictures, it gave me a clear idea that I needed immediate help. I was weighing 84kg. Around 10 years back when I signed up for a weight loss program, though I lost 11kg, it was at the cost of my health. This time I needed certified people guiding me, so I went for GOQii! 

Mukul Bhartiya Begins His Journey Again 

My coach Ms. Falguni Bhojak is a patient and understanding coach and mentor. She asked me about my routine and my health objectives. She encouraged me to speak more about my health objectives, challenges and limitations and it resulted in a personalized health template for me. I years back. I wanted to lose weight fast, but she drilled down a few things in my mind, like “not everyday will be the same, I need to  focus on the bigger picture and not allow failures to bother me”. We set a target of 1.5-2kg weight loss per month and made it a one year project. She also said that though weight loss is my immediate target, good health should be my lifelong target.  

Ms. Bhojak’s first and foremost interest was to pull me out of laziness and make me active. She told me, “Mukul, can you start with half an hour of low intensity activity?” and guided me with the same. Now, what was “half an hour activity” around three and half months back, is “more than three hours activity” ranging from moderate to high intensity. In three and half months, I have lost 12.5kg. I am walking around 14-15km per day, spending around 30 minutes on martial arts, 20 minutes on yoga and eating healthy. Even on a bad day, I walk more than ten kilometers.    

What Were Some Key Learnings? 

  • Start always matters, even if it is small: I started with around 15 minutes of lazy activity and now I keep thinking how can I incorporate exercise in every activity. 
  • There should be a bigger picture than the big picture: My coach’s question made me think what will I do after losing 20 kg? I have created a bigger picture for that and it has made my big picture look like a journey than just an end result. 
  • Break the big picture into smaller pixels: Big picture may look daunting and many people back away, so break it down into smaller targets. Achievement of targets work as a reward mechanism for efforts we are putting in. 
  • Stay consistent: Not everyday will be your best day. If you have a bad day, work hard the next day and make it better than your best day. 
  • Everything needs time: You can’t make things happen by the snap of your fingers. Every result is the outcome of many actions you take on a daily basis to make it good.
  • Have someone who can critically analyze your actions but will be considerate and a helping mentor. Ms. Bhojak encourages me to ask questions, list out my challenges, immediately points out my deviations and keeps exercise routines which interest me. 

There are options in the GOQii Arena where players can share their achievements, their story and their now-then photos and people share their achievements daily. Then there are “active month” challenges where participants can see their points, badges and ranks. There are some feature stories of achievers as well. There are many like me who either learnt or re-learnt something during their journey with GOQii. If everyone shares their stories, their journey, challenges, pain, achievements and guides each other from their experiences, moderated by experts, it can create a Facebook of “Health and Healthy Community”. 

What Does Coach Falguni Have To Say About Mukul Bhartiya? 

Mukul joined with a goal of losing 20kg of weight. He was doing meditation but workout or physical activity was missing due to the lockdown. We started with 30 minutes of workout. Moving ahead, as he was a trained Martial arts karate player and enjoyed doing it, we started with Martial arts as his exercise along with 20k steps. 

He was following healthy eating and early dinner, but portion control was needed. So, we started working on it. He was quite determined and with his consistent efforts and hard work, we were able to see a loss of around 14.7kgs in 4 months. 

The best quality of Mukul is that he is a very active GOQii Player who keeps updating his routine on the app and also discusses his challenges and progress with me on a regular basis – which is very essential in achieving any goal. 

Does the journey of Mukul Bhartiya inspire you to begin yours? Head over to the GOQii App or our website to begin your journey today! For more inspiring stories, check out Healthy Reads. 

#BeTheForce 

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Getting A Push To A Healthier Lifestyle – Rohit Khatri User Journey

Rohit Khatri

The choices we make early in life often determine our current predicaments. Unhealthy choices always lead to unhealthy consequences. But it doesn’t have to stay that way. It is never too late to make a shift to healthier choices. Lifestyle diseases can be reversed and you can live a healthy and fulfilling life. When things seem the bleakest, all you need is a gentle push in the right direction. Don’t believe us? Just ask our player Rohit Khatri! 

Finding GOQii To Make A Change 

Rohit Khatri is a 32 year old Delhi-based businessman who was introduced to GOQii through the ABBOTT Gutfit program in 2016. His doctor had asked him to register for a 3 month subscription with GOQii to adopt lifestyle modifications to manage his GERD issue as well as his weight, which at that time was 132kg. The doctor said that the only way he could get relief from GERD and other associated issues is when he reduces his weight.  

“Most times, you know what the problem is but you can’t seem to do anything about it. You just give up and let life take its course,” says Rohit. He knew his weight had increased incredibly over the years and he just seemed to lack the will to do anything about it. He commends both his coaches, his previous coach, Swati and current coach Sakhi Agarwal, for giving him the confidence and the push to tackle his weight issue. 

He points out that untimely eating, overeating and having absolutely no control over his junk habits were the sole cause behind his enormous weight gain. 

Inculcating New Healthy Habits 

The first and foremost thing that his coach assured him was that he doesn’t have to go through any drastic changes to his routine. She said they will adopt a gradual yet consistent method to losing weight and resolving his gastric issues. He was asked to make the following changes to his routine: 

  • Drink jeera water on an empty stomach in the morning, followed by a fruit 
  • Khichdi or Dalia for breakfast 
  • For lunch, he was asked to eat roti, sabzi or dal-chawal, though the portion size was reduced 
  • Avoid calorie-dense foods
  • Stay off junk food and sweets 
  • Dinner consisted of more salads followed by home-cooked meals  
  • Brisk walk for 45 mins every day (his duration has increased to 1.5 hours now) 
  • He slowly included jogging, cycling or brisk walking or a combination of all to avoid boredom 
  • During lockdown, he started watching GOQii Play and worked out with whichever coach was online during his exercise time 

The Right Efforts Lead To Healthy Rewards 

As a result of following his new healthy habits daily, Rohit Khatri witnessed the following changes in his life: “

  • Completely off GERD medication 
  • Weight has reduced from 132kg to 103kg 
  • He feels more energetic and positive about himself 

He says that shopping for clothes earlier used to be a nightmare as he didn’t have many options for his plus size but now he doesn’t have to struggle as much. He is pleased with the compliments he gets from people for his weight loss and that even after 4 years, the weight he lost hasn’t come back. It makes him happy that he achieved his goal. 

What Does Rohit Khatri Have To Say About GOQii? 

He is grateful to both his coaches and says he owes it all to them. If not for them, he wouldn’t have gotten the push to focus on his health. They made it seem too easy to him, corrected him whenever he went wrong, motivated, and encouraged him at every step. 

“Sometimes, all you are waiting for is a push in the right direction and GOQii gave that to me,” says Rohit Khatri. Now the habits have become a part of his life. He says that he can’t imagine a day without his jeera water, fruit and exercise. 

What Does Coach Sakhi Agarwal Have To Say About His Progress? 

Rohit Khatri was transferred to me on June 5, 2020. He was an Abbott Player and had a history of GERD. At the time, his weight was 120kg in July, his waist was 40 inches and his sleep time was disturbed i.e. 2am to 11am. I suggested 3 habits as per his goals: 

  1. Morning detox water to speed his metabolism 
  2. Improve sleep timings and change it to 11pm to 6am 
  3. Start taking an average of 3k steps a day 

Later, I introduced other habits like replacing biscuits with roasted snacks or fruits and eating meals on time.

Now, he has increased his step count to 16-20k a day. He lost 11kg and 5 inches in 5 months. His current weight is 109kg and waist size is 35 inches. He is currently working hard to reduce his weight further and getting healthier. He is happy with his progress and has renewed his subscription for 1 year. 

We’re thrilled to see Rohit Khatri make progress the right way with the right push from our team of experts. Found this story inspiring? Want to make a lifestyle change or know someone who wants to? Ask them to visit our website www.goqii.com or download the GOQii App now: www.goqii.com/app 

For more stories to motivate you, check out other transformation stories on Healthy Reads. 

#BeTheForce 

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Lose Weight The Right Way – Neetu Choudhary’s Weight Loss Journey!

Neetu Choudhary

Do you struggle with losing weight? Are the odds always stacked against you and despite your best efforts, the number on the weighing scale doesn’t budge? Well, you might have a lot in common with our player Neetu Choudhary who faced similar challenges. But with the right guidance from her GOQii Coach, she was able to make a positive lifestyle change! 

Before Joining GOQii 

Neetu Choudhary always had a medium build. She dabbled with yoga and the gym to stay active and fit before marriage. However, post-marriage, due to the new home, work and the stress which came with the responsibilities of managing both, her fit and active lifestyle headed towards a downward spiral. She also had a miscarriage which further impacted her stress levels and led to weight gain. After a successful delivery, her weight had touched 82kg. She had reached a stage where she was ready to try anything to lose weight. 

Neetu Choudhary Makes The Shift! 

Neetu Choudhary was introduced to GOQii through a friend. Let’s read her story in her own words: 

“1 year ago, my weight was more than 80kg. My BMI was hovering around the obese category. Because of a C section delivery and hormonal imbalance, my weight was increasing day by day. Despite working out and dieting, I was not able to reduce my weight. I worked out 3 hours a day at the gym and my diet was only liquid without chapati or rice and I often skipped meals. 

I still remember the first call with my GOQii Coach where she told me that I am torturing my body and experimenting with it the wrong way – that’s why my metabolic rate is very low. I told her that I don’t eat anything and I’m still unable to lose weight. To this, she said that’s what the problem is! If we don’t eat right, it will affect weight. Those words hit home and from that day on, my life took a big u-turn. 

The changes that my coach introduced included: 

  • Reducing my workout time from 3 hours to 1 hour
  • Have 3 meals a day – breakfast, lunch and dinner 
  • Include yoga and meditation for better sleep and to reduce stress levels 

Additionally, she also suggested that I don’t avoid anything but only restrict the quantity for the initial stage. 

After following these changes, I began realizing that my energy levels increased and I don’t feel tired all the time. My anger levels reduced. My GOQii Coach Unnati helped me a lot during my journey and kept motivating me. She also helped me stop a few bad habits such as: 

  • Reducing my milk tea from 5 cups to just 1 
  • Doing away with processed and instant food. Now, I don’t even have biscuits in my kitchen 

Staying Fit During Lockdown 

When the world went into lockdown, I was worried about how I’ll keep my routine up but my GOQii Coach motivated and guided me to utilize this time in an effective manner. I switched to home workouts which include stair workouts, skipping, HIIT and running. I lost nearly 8kg in the lockdown itself. 

I now believe that even without a gym or skipping meals, we can still reduce weight. All you need is determination and a positive attitude. My coach said – STOP MAKING EXCUSES  and this has been my motto ever since in my personal as well as professional life!” 

What Does Neetu’s Coach Have To Say About Her? 

Coach Unnati says that, “Neetu was very determined towards her health goals, which was to lose weight, lose inches (especially belly fat). Her health concern was PCOD because of which she had gained weight and was finding it too difficult to lose. 

After learning about her daily routine, we decided to reduce the workout from 3 hours to 1 hour & in addition introduced a half an hour post dinner light walk. Workout would include variations of HIIT, Stair Climbing, Skipping Rope, Strength Training and of course a small session of Pranayama & Meditation. For food habits, we decided not to skip or eat less for any meals instead, follow intermittent fasting starting with 12/12 hours and at present following 16/8 hours very smoothly. During the eating window, we made sure her diet was rich in fiber, protein, good fats & moderate amount of carbs. Water intake was also improved by incorporating detox water.

Changes Observed:

  • Weight loss – 12 Kgs (from 82 Kgs to 70 Kgs)
  • Inch Loss – 4”
  • Belly Fat – 6”
  • Arms – 2”
  • Improved on Sleep Quality, 
  • Reduced Stress Levels 
  • Good Energy levels throughout the day.

Neetu’s Sincerity, Determination, Dedication & Consistency helped her achieve her health goals. Seeing her so motivated, motivates me too!”

Well, does this story motivate you? Remember, it is never too late to make a change. With determination, motivation and the right habits, you can reach your health goals too! For more inspiring stories, check out Healthy Reads. To subscribe to GOQii, head over to our Website or Download the App Now! 

#BeTheForce 

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Faith, Patience and Persistence – Kumarswamy Remala User Journey

Kumarswamy Remala

What motivates you to push past your limits and achieve your goals? What drives you to stay active mile after mile? Is it determination? Is it a poster you read that charged you up? There may be many reasons such as building confidence, wanting to be there for your family and friends, the desire to live longer and healthier – but as we all know, motivation runs out as quickly as it comes. Determination without the right guidance is meaningless. But with the right guidance, faith in your coach, patience and persistence, anything is achievable. Don’t believe us? Ask our player Kumarswamy Remala. 

Life Before GOQii 

Kumarswamy Remala is a 33 year old working professional from Bangalore. Since childhood, he has been a complete foodie. However, to balance it out, he used to be very active. Cricket and badminton were his favorite in college. He even kept himself active intermittently after joining a workplace. In December 2015, he suffered a back injury which put a halt to all his physical activities for a while. 

To add to this, he worked in rotational shifts which moved from morning shifts to late night shifts. This worsened his eating habits as pizzas, junk food and alcohol became a staple. His sweet tooth along with a penchant for trying different recipes added to his weight gain. He went from 80kg to slowly accumulating another 20-24kg over a period of time.  

Motivation to Change and Joining GOQii

His health began taking a turn for the worse. He knew he had to change but the real motivation came through when his child was born in 2017. Kumarswamy Remala realized that he could not hold his child for a long time due to his back pain or even play with him due to his weight issues. This made him feel quite unhappy about himself and he finally decided to do something about it. He did not want to miss giving a 100% to his child. It was in 2019, approximately 6 months ago that one of his colleagues introduced him to GOQii. 

Kumarswamy Remala Turns His Lifestyle Around! 

After coming onboard GOQii, he began to strictly adhere to the habits set by his coach. His changes included: 

  • Reducing rice intake. Although difficult, he managed to switch to less rice and began eating more salads for both meals. His plate now is 60% veggies! 
  • Reduce the intake of sweets and consume natural sugars like dates, dark chocolate, etc. 
  • Begin consuming plant protein powder supplements post-workout and chia seeds water to control the in-between hunger pangs. 
  • Finish dinner before 9 during his night shift and just eat a fruit or muesli with milk if he feels hungry at night. 
  • Drink ACV water in the morning to boost metabolism.
  • Get active for at least 5 days a week by working out in a gym.  

Making the Shift! 

Currently, Kumarswamy Remala weights 84kg. That’s a reduction of 16kg in a span of 6 months with GOQii. He says he feels really good about himself for having achieved his goal. He is able to concentrate on work better than before. In fact, he has begun pursuing his passion for badminton again as and when time permits and also enjoys spending time with his family like he couldn’t before! 

He is thankful to his GOQii Coach for the inputs shared on portion control, suggestions and tips on how to eat healthy during his night shift and for sharing healthy recipes which appease the chef in him. He interacts with his coach regularly and logs his activities without fail every day. He purchases a lot of products from the GOQii Health Store, in fact, he purchases half his groceries from here. He has subscribed to GOQii Play coaches like Tufail Qureshi, Ronak Gajjar and Bhumika Uniyal for a mix of fitness and yoga. 

In closing, he says that it is easy to manage your health when you have somebody guiding you at every step. He says this job is done extremely well by GOQii and all you need to do is have faith in your Coach, patience for results and be persistent in your efforts to achieve your goals! 

We hope this story inspires you to get off that couch, Level Up and Get Active! Do leave your thoughts in the comments below. 

#BeTheForce 

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