At Last Intermittent Fasting

How IF Changed My Life

My Story

Today, I thought I’d share my story which might be of help to those desperately trying to lose weight and lead a healthy lifestyle.

I’ve been overweight for almost 20 years. I had no knowledge of when to eat at what times during day/night. But, I had this intense desire to lose weight and burn fat (especially stubborn fat) which I didn’t know how to get rid of.

I’m 5 feet 4 inches tall and used to weigh approx. 147 to 149lbs. My weight used to fluctuate between the mentioned lbs and it’s been like this for about 20 years.

How It Started

Year 2005–2010 (New York)

I was living in New York during that period of time. I got myself enrolled in a local gym at(New York Sports Club). I was fully pumped and quite excited to get started off…

I did workouts randomly at my own pace mostly on the machines. This went on for some time maybe for six months or so. Once in every two weeks, I used to step on the weighing scale secretly praying that I’d lose a few pounds. When this did not happen, I said to myself “Maybe what I’m doing is not right”. So let me hire a “Personal Trainer”.

My trainer came up with a workout routine which was mostly a mix of cardio and strength training. While the workouts were effective where I felt I was pushed to my limits, it lasted for about only a few months. I had made no progress. My BMI was still the same and I didn’t lose a single pound. So I quit.

Thyroid

I got diagnosed with hypothyroidism in the year 2007 and was low on Vitamin D. My physician told me that it was very difficult to lose weight especially for people suffering from hypothyroidism.

Year 2011–2013

I gave birth to two beautiful boys and in the process gained more weight. Not a single day passed by without thinking about what else I should do or try to lose weight.

Back on Track

Year 2014- 2016 (New Jersey)

I was very determined to try something new. So, I got myself enrolled in

1. Local gym — Where I used to workout mostly in the mornings. Again the workouts were a mix of cardio and strength training
2. Kickboxing — Attend kickboxing sessions twice a week
3. Korean Yoga — 4 times a week

I lost about a few lbs and my weight dropped to 145lbs. I was ecstatic but still overweight. My weight remained at 145lbs and didn’t lose an lb more.

Year 2016–Present (India)

Diet Plan + Strength Training — I hired a personal trainer at a local gym in India and went on to do “Strength Training” for 2 years. I had learnt that exercise alone will not help lose weight. You need to follow a diet plan.

1st Diet Plan — All Natural

My personal trainer took me to a dietitian who practiced naturopathy(herb based diets). She had prescribed a diet plan which was very tough to follow. There was no follow up. It was a one time plan which cost me INR 10,000. I gave up after doing it for about a month.

2nd Diet Plan — Virtual online healthy eating app

I’m a South Indian and a strict vegetarian. This time I made sure that the dietitian understood my eating habits and prescribe a diet plan accordingly. But alas, it lasted for about a year. When I started off with the diet plan, I used to get irritated very often. There were a lot of restrictions imposed on what I should eat and what I shouldn’t. This made me very uncomfortable in fact suffocated. I was like what is the purpose of living this way. So I quit…

BTW, I did lose few pounds. But I was unhappy. I vowed I’d never ever consult a dietitian again.

Change of Workouts

I quit the local gym and got enrolled in another gym (Cure.fit). What I liked about cure.fit is it has a plethora of workout styles which you can choose from each day. It got me very excited as I was too bored of doing the same workouts.

Jan 2019 — March 2020

I began to enjoy workouts at the gym (cure.fit). My BMI was 25.9 with Body Fat of 37.2 %. I weighed 145 lbs / 65 kg. Slowly the body fat % started going down and it dropped to 35.4 % in March 2020. My weight dropped to 138 lbs/63 kg approx. I knew that something was working. I got my thyroid checked and it was under control. Please be aware I was not following any diet plan.

What I ate

My eating routine consisted of coffee with milk and sugar, South Indian breakfast (eg idli, dosas etc), fruits at least 1 per day, nuts (almonds and pistachios), white rice/brown rice with vegetables, lentils soup for lunch and yogurt/raita, milk tea in the evening followed by 2 chapatis/rotis for dinner along with dal/curry. I stopped eating junk and fried food.

Despite losing weight I still wasn’t satisfied because I was very adamant about losing stubborn fat. The body fat was still very high compared to the muscle mass and that made me feel horrible.

Intermittent Fasting

May 2020 — Present

I came across a good friend of mine who was obese and lost a hell lot of weight through Intermittent Fasting. She could easily get rid of her stubborn fat by doing IF for 8 months.

Not knowing what IF was, I quickly googled up and was convinced that this might be the one that’ll help me reach my goals.

18: 6 Fasting

I started following this plan where you fast for 18 hrs and eat during a 6-hour window. Initially, the first week was very challenging… I’d rather say it was a test to my mental ability. I quickly got over that stage and the real transformation process began…

I can proudly say that I’ve lost a good amount of stubborn fat and my BMI is now in a normal range. I made sure I worked out during certain times in a day to get maximum benefit.

When to workout?

Ketosis Phase — This phase kicks off after 12 hours from your last meal. In this stage, the body burns fat into energy instead of relying on carbohydrates. I did workouts which comprised of body weight/cardio/yoga. I exercise for 6 days a week and do my workouts only in the Ketosis Phase.

What do I drink/eat?

I’ve become a huge fan of black coffee and green tea. So when the hunger pangs kick in and when my stomach growls I have one of these. For lunch, I eat brown rice with veggies and dal, salad with raita/yogurt. I also eat nuts (almonds and pistachios) for my evening snack along with milk and sugar tea. For dinner, I eat chapatis/rotis/parathas with curry. I also eat homemade muffins/cookies/dark chocolate. The point here is I ate what I liked consciously.

IF Tracker

There is an app called Simple: Fasting Timer & Meal Tracker app available on Google Play Store for free. The beauty of this app is it allows you to choose the plan that best fits your needs and also explains the current phase your body is going through. For example, the following processes trigger in our body every single day

1. Blood Sugar Goes Up — We are in this stage most of the time because our eating window has no closing time
2. Blood Sugar Goes Low
3. Blood Sugar is Normal
4. Ketosis Begins
5. Fat Burning
6. Autophagy

Take a look at my results with Simple Intermittent Fasting App: https://simple.life/?c=share

My Weight Progress

Conclusion

I currently weigh 128.5 lbs and my Body Fat has gone down to 25%. I’m finally getting rid of stubborn fat. Thanks to Intermittent Fasting for making my life better. I feel more confident and finally relieved.

Please note what I’ve written is purely based on my experiences. I suggest you chose whatever works best for you.

Intermittent Fasting is not merely fasting it’s eating consciously…

Surviving the Startup Jungle: Common Pitfalls for First-Time Founders”

This message is for all individuals who aspire to enter the world of entrepreneurship and have been bitten by the ‘I WANT TO BE AN ENTREPRENEUR’ bug, aiming to shake things up and make a positive impact on the world.

First-time founders often face the challenge of navigating their entrepreneurial journey independently. I’ve been through it myself. When a business idea first crossed my mind, I wasn’t aware of the structured process required to validate that idea.

Here are some key points to consider:

1. Do not quit your job: If you have a revolutionary idea, continue working on it while keeping your job. Don’t rush into quitting your job prematurely.
2. Avoid investing your money in product development: Prior to investing your hard-earned money in building a product, conduct a thorough market study and engage with potential customers. There are numerous online resources available to guide you. Be wise with your financial resources.
3. Jumping in together: It’s not uncommon for couples to consider leaving their careers simultaneously to start a business. However, it’s important to assess the risk before quitting stable jobs. Starting a business is a significant decision, and it’s essential to evaluate its potential success. “PLAY SAFE”. I know it’s hard advice if your job sucks but it’s even more important to maintain a steady income.
4. Belief: First-time founders often tend to trust every piece of advice and everyone they encounter, only to realize later that not all advice is sound. Take your time, exercise discernment, and select the right people for your journey. You’re not just building a business; you’re shaping a culture and a legacy.
5. Co-founder dilemma: Assess whether you truly need a co-founder, especially if they are unwilling to leave their current job to join your venture full-time. If you choose to remain self-funded (bootstrapped), having a full-time commitment from all co-founders can be crucial for success. Be cautious about investing your time and resources in someone who is already earning a stable income and may not be fully committed.

In conclusion, entrepreneurship is a marathon, not a sprint. It requires patience, persistence, and careful decision-making. Remember not to rush into any major decisions and always approach them with a thoughtful and strategic mindset.”

Please feel free to share if I’m missing anything.

Mental Suffering

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Favorite Inspirational Quotes

Feed your mind with good thoughts. Read at least one inspirational quote a day that empowers your soul. Here is a list of my collection.

Visualize that your mind is a beautiful garden and you need to sow the seed of a good thought today in order to reap it’s benefit later on. Don’t expect to see results immediately. The path to perfection is a slow transformation. It doesn’t happen overnight…

FEAR

Fear is an illusion..

Fear is an invisible shadow..It plays a game called LIFE..

Fear doesn’t exist ..It’s simply created in the mind..

Feed your mind with good nourishing thoughts.. like the way you eat good food..

Just as we remove waste from our bodies..it’s time to get rid of this evil spirit from our minds..

Take control of your life now..because we are more powerful than we could ever imagine..

Would love to hear your thoughts and suggestions on my new video..

Finding Strength in Adversity

Today, I’d like to share my insight on how do we find strength when faced with difficult situations. I would also like to talk a little bit about the “Law of Attraction” and “Law of Karma” and what part do they play in our lives. We all tend to crumble in difficult situations. Our emotions tend to occupy our thinking ability and loose complete focus on the situation.

For most part of my life, I thought it was my duty to listen and act on other people’s advice ignoring myself. I was also scared that I would loose relationships if I go against the wishes of someone. Be it back answering to elders, or going out of the way to do something for my friends. What I have not realized is “I was being taken for granted”. I spent most of my childhood and college years in anger ,frustration and sorrow because I was acting against my instinct. Everyone was taking advantage of me because back of their minds they knew that this person would do anything to keep the relationship.

Adversities come in many forms and they come to test you. I am now convinced that all that happened in my life had a reason. The secret message behind all the problems I was facing back then was to tell me “TO GROW SPIRITUALLY”. My heart was telling me to go deep within myself (i.e my soul) and understand what I really want from life? Then started this spiritual quest to discover myself and understand that “Life is a game” and “I ,the soul am an actor” playing my part in this “Drama of life”.

Law of Karma : We all have to reap what we’ve sown.Soul has committed many sins during it’s previous births and the life we are leading today is a result of all the actions we’ve committed in our previous births.I still have to face my consequences in this life and so adversities will come for sure.

Whatever good deed or act I perform in this life , I will reap it’s benefit for the next life.

Law of Attraction: Lot has been said about how powerful this law of attraction is. So keep in mind that even if someone causes you harm ,the only choice for you is to forgive them . If you don’t forgive then you will attract negativity in your life.

It’s good to resolve the differences with anyone , but if the other person is unrealistic then it’s better to ignore and forgive them and move on with your own life.

Replace every negative thought with a more powerful positive thought immediately.

Our time is limited and be fortunate if you are alive today as you get a chance to do something for yourself and make somebody else’s life better.

Stop brooding over the past and do something worthwhile for your future. “Your future is based on your present moment”. So “Live in the moment”.

EVERY OBSTACLE IS A GROWTH

Time to remove junk

Everybody talks about the “Power of Mind” but how many are consciously making an effort to change their thought patterns at the sub-conscious level. Did you get my point? Take a look at this picture.

Thoughts are of two kinds:

1. Good thoughts – Positive,Not repetitive, more clarity , bring benefits to the self , mind is usually focused and peaceful. Generates feelings of peace,love and usually stress free.

2. Bad thoughts – Negative in nature, brings destruction to the self and others,repetitive,consumes lot of energy and time.

A person is always over burdened in a negative state of mind.

We all take good care of ourselves when it comes to personal hygiene,the way we look,the way we dress etc……except in one area. Our MIND.

We constantly feed our minds with “JUNK” in the form of waste thoughts. Thoughts of fear,anger,past,future etc which are baseless. These have no place in our lives and we need to close the doors to these type of thoughts.

For a person who has or is living in negativity he is killing his soul every moment. Why? When you eat junk it causes acidity just as the same way when you inject waste thoughts and give power to them they are permanently stored in your sub-conscious mind for the rest of your lives.

By the time you’ve realized it your mind becomes a garbage. Did you know that you need about 17 positive affirmations to remove one single negative thought from your mind?

My friend what’s the solution?

1. Remember that you are a soul and not a body.Become a detached observer.

2. Make a conscious effort to detach yourself for few minutes and observe your thought patterns.

3. Your mind drifts without your awareness. So keep an eye on where it is travelling.

4. Whenever you get a negative or baseless thought put a full stop to it.

5. Forgive yourself and others if anyone has caused harm to you. Forgive others to free yourself.

6. Every morning sit for at least 15-20 minutes to create a blueprint of the actual person you would like to     be.

7. You must do things that bring benefit to your soul and not kill it.Feed your mind with good thoughts just as you love eating good food.

8. Ask yourself what a negative thought has done to your life vs a positive thought.

9. Keep your thoughts positive ,powerful and limited.

10. Don’t waste time in finding fault with others. They have their own logic to defend.

Remember that we have to settle our accounts with GOD and no other person.

Nothing comes easy in life my friend…

We all have to pay a price….

SELF-CONFIDENCE FORMULA

We all dream of being self confident in our endeavors. As we are constantly challenged in this game of life and tend to loose confidence in ourselves, I’d like to share this self-confidence formula from the book “The Law of Success” by Napoleon Hill. It’s a great book to read and implement.I hope it helps.

1. SET A GOAL

2. BELIEVE IN YOURSELF

3. GO FOR IT

My Karma

It’s a huge topic to reflect on. I will try to explain in the simplest way possible.

Soul has been given a costume (i.e. body) to perform its actions. When a person dies the soul leaves the body and acquires a new one. This is nothing but the birth/rebirth cycle. During this process knowingly or unknowingly we have committed good deeds and bad deeds.

Law of Karma: “Every action has a reaction or a consequence and we reap what we have sown”

Nowadays everybody talks about “Karma” but how many are actually implementing the law? We still cling on to our old thought patterns and memories of the past filled with anger, grudge, despair, etc against others which are of no use. Each time somebody says something to us we get upset and deep within we develop hatred for anyone who has hurt us. Now, it may be another’s person fault but we start to hate that person rather than his thinking. What is happening behind the scenes of our mind is we are creating bad karma.

Good deed/thought – Good karma

Bad deed/thought – Bad karma

Hence, we suffer mentally because our ego is so hurt that it doesn’t want to forgive that person. Like this, our soul has committed many sins during the birth/rebirth process. The soul has lost its luster and is in complete ignorance. Whatever life we are living today is a result of the actions we’ve performed in previous births. Whatever deeds we do in our present life will be stored in our karma bag for future births for us to reap.

It’s very easy to give advice but very hard to implement nowadays because our lives are controlled by our vices and we no longer are in control of our own life. Please don’t ponder over situations that were not under your control. If a person has done bad to you leave it to the “Law of Karma” to take action.

It’s high time for us to wake up and think seriously about our thoughts/actions and their consequences. Human beings are far superior to other species. Let’s live our life to the fullest. We are meant to give and not take.

Expectations

EXPECTATIONS : I hate this word because I am sick and tired of meeting with it.

I was wondering when will I have the time to meet my own expectations?

We lead our lives fulfilling others needs , but in the end we realize that we haven’t met ours. At least I think that way. I have realized in this journey of life is it is very difficult to meet other’s expectations. No matter how hard you try to, I am absolutely convinced about this.

During this process I have failed to focus on myself . Expectation leads to a great emotional loss. I mean common running around others trying to satisfy their needs without focusing on yours . Just question yourself do you feel happy at the end of the day? I don’t because I know that I am not taking care of myself first.

Hence, I have decided to do things which make me happy first. Expectation is a two-way process. You expect from someone and someone expects from you.

When ,I don’t have to expect from others – It makes me feel healthy and happy. Because,expectation leads to sorrow nothing else and relationships become worse. It is me again who is responsible for all of this to happen. It’s better to work on my own .

When, other’s expect from me – I am in control of my life and not others. So , I can only do my best when it comes to meeting other’s expectations . I no longer have to be crazy and scared of not meeting theirs. If someone understands me or not it is their problem not mine. I’m not going to waste my time in this anymore.

I no longer feel stressed with my workload because I serve other beings in the name of GOD. Whenever a task is too daunting I just think of him. I say to myself I am working for GOD, and this thought gives me strength to do all my tasks and makes me emotionally free.