A Personal Struggle with Weight Loss and Consistency

My fitness journey has been deeply personal, driven by a desire to feel better in my own skin rather than conform to external standards. It began back in 2018 when I realized that the extra weight I was carrying was impacting my overall well-being. My goal wasn’t to become skinny or drastically thin, but rather to feel fit and toned.

When I first started running, I struggled to keep up for even five minutes—that’s how unfit I was. Over the years, I gradually improved my fitness level, but things took a downturn in 2022 when I switched jobs. The new role involved a lot of sitting, and with less time for exercise, I gained 7 kg in just a year. I started working out again in January 2024, but my inconsistency led to another 2 kg weight gain over six months.

Determined to turn things around, I committed to walking every day in April, and I started to feel better. However, a bout of the flu in May derailed my progress. By July 29, 2024, I knew I needed to get serious again. I calculated my body fat percentage and discovered it was at 40%—far above the average 25% for women. This was a wake-up call.

Here’s a brief rundown of my journey from July 30 to August 13, 2024:

July 30, 2024:

• Walked for 45 minutes after dinner, covering 4k steps. I felt better, whether it was psychological or not.
• I’m focusing on incorporating more fruits, vegetables, and nuts into my diet, while minimizing sugar and baked goods.

July 31, 2024:

• Started the day with 5 minutes of stretching.
• Had 3 almonds and toned milk tea, followed by a small portion of rice with pork, cucumber, and boiled squash leaves.
• Snacked on dark chocolate and tea at work, then had mixed nuts in the afternoon.
• Dinner included 3 pieces of beef and a small portion of rice, but the beef left me feeling nauseous and uncomfortable, likely due to my gastritis.
• Walked for 30 minutes after dinner and ended the day with jasmine tea.

August 1, 2024:

• Woke up at 5 am and started the day with a cup of warm water, toned milk tea, soaked almonds, and pumpkin seeds.
• Breakfast included dal, cucumber, and an omelet. I avoided beef since it didn’t sit well the previous night.
• At work, I had a piece of 70% dark chocolate, followed by tea and two small pieces of aloo chop around noon.
• Despite feeling exhausted after work, I managed to go for a 40-minute walk after dinner, which included cucumber, fried bitter gourd, pork, and a small serving of rice.

Unfortunately, I lapsed in my routine after 4th August 2024 . Today is August 13, 2024, and I’m reflecting on my failure to maintain consistency. There’s no excuse—I struggled with poor time management, lack of motivation, and uncontrollable screen time. I realize now that setting shorter goals, like sticking to a routine for 20 days instead of a month, might help me stay consistent and make progress.

If you’re on a similar journey, know that setbacks happen, but it’s important to keep pushing forward. I’ll be sharing more of my experiences, and I hope they can inspire others to stay on track with their fitness goals. Let’s continue to support each other and strive for better health together.