From Flab to Fab: The Battle of the Bulge

It all started here. Not everyone is lucky enough to have a smooth transition from college to work and setting up a family, so many of us struggle for various reasons which might be trivial to others. I was in such a phase of life. You can call it the post-pandemic era or the midlife crisis. In the swirling vortex of entropy, I finally found some peace on a trip. I had two memorable "adipoli days," leaving behind or burying my sadness under the happy smile you see in the photograph above. The picture was taken a year ago after an ecstatic experience of strolling inside one of India’s most controversial temples, the Padmanabhaswamy temple.

Exhausted from looking at my sullen face in the mirror for a long period of time, I found myself so beautiful in this picture. I was happily curving my lips to smile for the photo after living two wonderful days somewhere on the border of Tamilnadu and Kerala. As clichéd as it may sound, I wanted to share this moment with my social media circle, who might have almost forgotten my face since I haven't posted anything for the previous year.

Little did I know how much power social media users possess to ruin someone’s happy moments and confidence. "Dhanu, you have put on so much weight, you look old," was the response I received from many of my acquaintances in various different formats. No one really cared why I was inactive for almost a year, for I am a person who used to spam my followers with my silly stories. The people who responded to my post were only worried about how I am going to find a potential match for myself.

A moment of gratitude to all of you who said I looked fat; without you, I wouldn’t be writing this blog today!

Disclaimer:

• This blog doesn't recommend any weight loss program.

• This blog doesn't promote any body shape as the healthiest.

This piece of writing is my personal journey of transformation inside and out.

Boomer Quote: Failure is the stepping stone to success. I looked at myself in the mirror. Never in my life have I gained so much weight. I had chubby hips, deformed thighs, and a double chin that swallowed my dimples when I smiled. But neither did I hate myself nor my body. I thanked my body for helping me go through so many dramas and holding myself above the ground even after a zero-level career.

I started my home YouTube workouts and yoga, hoping I would slim down like Rajnikanth from the movie Darbar. Well, as all of you know, "Reality sucks!" We cannot become a superstar in a song. After doing a cocktail of yoga and random workouts I found online for a month, I somehow found myself losing 1 kg.

Boomer Quote 2: A friend in need is a friend indeed. The most blessed souls who successfully completed those 100 days of hitting the gym, doing home workouts, cardio, swimming, yoga, or badminton with their friends can skip to the next paragraph. I was forever searching for a companion who would be a part of my weight loss journey.

Long Story Short: I never found one!

Lesson learned: Your weight loss journey is your business.

Boomer Quote 3: The first step is always the hardest.

I still remember the first day (someday in the month of October) I stepped into the gym. It was late evening, and the place was lit with colored bulbs, with an English song thundering through the speakers. A few shirtless guys with muscular bodies were wandering, carrying heavy equipment with them. The voice inside me kept repeating that my mom would never let me in this place. But, like most of the time, I was wrong. She bought me a new bag, a bottle, and a few towels. On the other hand, I didn’t sleep well that night, a feeling solely experienced by students before the first day of school.

The Gym I was always a yoga person. I still do yoga sometimes when I find a quiet morning. Being a yoga enthusiast, the gym was very exotic for me.

My gym, "The Bullz," has given me an amazing experience. I had no idea where to start and what to do. But as time went on, I figured out how my body responds to each workout. It didn't take long to realize that I was in the right place.

In the beginning, there were times when I would have severe pains in my arms and legs just from lifting 2.5 kg. When I joined the gym, I didn't set any targets. I didn't want to lose 5 kg in a month. All I wanted was to do something properly, regularly, and feel healthy.

Comfort Space There were times when I wanted to quit the gym. The first obvious reason was waking up in the morning and going to work out. I still find reasons not to come out of the blanket, such as rain, menstrual cycles, and holidays. But sometimes, my gym is my only comfort space. It was the place that accepted me as a fat person, promised me a transformation, and still pushes me to compete with myself.

At this point in life, there are days when we feel very depressed. The next day, all I want to do is run on the treadmill, lift that weight, feel the pain, and sweat. An hour of intense cardio leaves my body drenched in sweat, and when I struggle to breathe, it reminds me of how strong I am as a person.

Secrets you all know Sorry for being repetitive, like other weight loss articles, but it is what it is.

• There were times when I was called short and fat. It is okay. Interestingly enough, the same people now call me "pretty and hot." I always loved my body, whether it was fat or slim. This is because only I and my body truly understand the physical and mental struggles we have gone through.

• There were times, after one month of heavy workouts, I couldn't find any visible changes in my body. I wanted to give up. I had doubts about the process. The truth is it is not instant coffee. Just one word: Consistency. Wake up when everyone is sleeping, put on the tracks, hop into those shoes, hit the gym and work out harder than yesterday.

• There were times when I despised munching greens and raw vegetables for breakfast. But trust me, it is worth giving up that one cup of coffee. I wouldn't say I followed a strict diet. My life would feel meaningless if I didn't gulp down some chocolate every two weeks. I always tailored my diet to my convenience. I experimented with a variety of healthy meals and observed how my body responded to different diets and workouts.

• There were times when people would come up to me and say, "If you do not do this, you will never lose weight." Not everyone can work out twice a day and consume food at regular intervals. My goal was not to lose 5 kg in a month and quit the gym. I wanted exercise to be a part of my routine.

• There were times I took a long break, like more than 20 days, due to personal reasons. But I resumed the journey once things were sorted. It is okay to take a break but make sure you are back again.

• Just love the process. I always embraced the simple changes my body had attained. In the end, when you wear that crop top, skinny jeans, and dine that cheesy pizza without any guilt, it is all worth it!

This is my recent selfie from the gym after a day of cardio. I love my mom for always being brave and supporting me in trying new things in life. Grateful to my friends who always loved me despite my shape and weight. A big thanks to my gym team, Prasanth and Satish Anna (Trainer), for guiding me on a healthy weight loss. Whoa! That’s a long article. Thanks for your patience if you are still reading.

Woohoo! I did it.