Every few weeks, I come across a new diet or weight loss program, or rather these days it will probably be called a “healthy living plan.” Since I get carried away quite easily, any new “miracle, so easy to do, life changing” plan I come across must be tried!! And over the past 5-7 yrs, I have lost count of the number of fitness solutions I must’ve tried – obviously haven’t been able to stick to any of them permanently. This includes the (god-forsaken)
GM-Diet, adapting
Shikha Sharma’s Diet, Reader’s Digest’s Change One program (now rechristened to “
Best You“) following the so-called mantras in Payal Tiwari’s book
From XL to XS , counting calories on the various apps available for the iPhone (like this one), going for umpteen yoga (and/or power yoga) classes, etc etc. Most recently, a friend shared a link to something called the
Whole 30 Challenge which a blogger (skinny one at that) took up and ended up looking so fit (even more than what she already looked).
But after reading this particular blog, I had a kind of an epiphany. With all the google search, and stories heard of people’s miracle regimes, and even the experimentation I’ve been doing, I realize that it’s not so tough to come up with a fitness plan suited to one’s body, suited to a budget, living conditions, and most importantly to the time at hand.
So I have my own plan now, for which I’m using one of those fancy catch phrases which will hopefully make it easier to stick with in the long term – My 5 Point Program..
The plan is simple, and its simplicity will be the reason for success (hopefully) - Eliminate 5 unhealthy habits, and replace them with 5 new healthy habits. I did a deep-dive into my daily routine and eating habits and came up with this list below..
5 things to eliminate:
1. Stop eating deserts after every meal. I’m not eliminating sugar, because I know the body needs some amount. But, I need to drop this habit of “khaane ke baad kuch meetha ho jaye“
2. No alcohol. No empty calories. This one will make going out with friends tough. But the plan is to be strictly off alcohol for atleast a month, and then restrict myself to only a couple of drinks, not more than once a week.
3. Nothing fried. We get enough oil in our normal meals, no need to add to the greasiness with chips, fritters, and mostly all other snacks that are deep fried.
4. No pizzas. Even though we have a cook, we end up ordering pizzas on days she doesn’t come in, or on days we don’t feel like eating roti-sabzi-dal – which is 2-3 times a week at least. So I’m hoping the ban will lead to a substantial reduction in calorie intake over time.
5. No more skipping breakfast. Don’t need to elucidate the pros of this one, I know it’s good for me, I know! And yet it gets skipped. No more excuses.
5 healthy things to do:
1. Add some form of work-out in my weekly routine. Swim / yoga / gym for 5 days in the week. No excuses.
2. Drink more water. I have at least 2 litres a day, and will now take that up to 3-4 litres.
3. Take the stairs. My office is 8 floors above my parking level, and the lift is always crowded in the morning. So, I’m getting the stairs workout at least once a day.
4. Plan ahead for eats. Most of the time, the reason I end up binge snacking is the evening gawd-i’ll-eat-anything-right-now urge. So I will consciously make an effort to think of and prepare healthy snacks – boiled channa, sprouts, salads, boiled eggs etc – and avoid the random chips, namkeen, cheese toast type munchies.
5. Have a cup of jasmine green tea before sleeping & stay awake for at least an hour after dinner.
There, I’ve put this out in the blogosphere so that I’m motivated to stick to it faithfully. And I’ve roped in the husband so we can do all this together. It sounds as easy as most of the things that have been mentioned above, and I’m hoping it will be.
I should be updating with some positive results soon! *fingers crossed*
