Bhakti Paun Sharma
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It s easier said than done don t we all feel the same when we read tips and advice on weightloss or fitness? But it is the real life stories or examples that inspire us. If he/she can, so can you. If a 20 year old can lose 20kg in 4 months or if Arpan Gupta can lose 61kg in 9 months without dieting, so can you. In our true weight loss stories section, Ashvin Shet shares with us his journey from size 52 to size 37.
Here s an excerpt from my conversation with Ashvin Shet:
What motivated him to take the leap?
Like most young boys, Ashvin was attracted to someone. When he asked her out, the girl refused citing his weight issues. While it was a major setback, within 3 days the fighter in Ashvin was hell bent on making a positive change in himself not just his body. And thus started his fitness journey.
His weight loss journey
The journey is a story that I love telling everybody. Losing weight is never actually a problem but keeping one's mouth disciplined is the biggest challenge ever. Several motivational videos that I downloaded and played all day kept me going. I literally brain washed myself to have a strong mind set. Whenever I had time, I would put my headphones and listen to the videos. I even played these videos on my computer while taking a shower so that I could keep hearing the words. For a guy who ate 4 packets of Gems every single night and rich food, the sudden transition was really tough that too with all the temptation being easily accessible. It was tough to be strong mentally but my will of changing was stronger , says Ashvin. You can also read this 5quotes by famous bodybuilders to inspire you for a workout.
Ashvin gave up cakes, chocolates, pudding, ice creams, chips and anything that was unhealthy including alcohol. He skipped celebrating his birthday to stay away from the temptation of reverting to junk food. He also quit smoking. After 4 months, he began consuming alcohol once a month and limited it to 120ml-150ml as he missed his social life. But I was still clear about my goals. I considered it as a mission and it was my responsibility to complete it , says a determined Ashvin.
Challenges
There are haters who constantly try to demotivate you, says Ashvin. I used to drop 2-3 kilos every week because I stopped eating all rich foods and people would say it s not good for health and you must visit a doctor. There were people who told Ashvin to not have too many proteins and the myths associated with it. There were others who discouraged him from going to the gym because he was too fat and would end up with an injury. But this did not stop Ashvin from hitting the gym each day. I had a mission, a goal and I would not move away from that journey , says Ashvin.
The same people who demotivated Ashvin from losing weight came back to him for advice to lose weight. This was like a compliment and the pride and satisfaction from this was something that motivated Ashvin to push harder. There were also some days when Ashvin saw some weight gain despite the workouts. Ashvin thanks his good friend for bailing him out on such bad days. You can also follow these 10 Youtube channels for weightloss.
But above all, the only challenge I face even today is discipline. It s easy to exercise, but being disciplined is a tough task. I still am disciplined but it s also easy to lose track without realising it. One should learn to be very patient and discipline. Changing yourself is the true reflection of the kind of person you are , says Ashvin.
Diet plan
To begin with, he used the internet and followed a diet plan. For the first 6 months, I quit rice, chapatis/parantha and all other forms of carbohydrates. Breakfast included oats with 3 eggs and post the morning workout, 3 eggs and 2 slices of bread. Lunch would be a tiffin box full of boiled veggies and chicken. With the help of fitness conscious friends and trainers, he chalked out a better diet plan and followed it for 13 months thereafter. Now he follows a diet which was designed, crafted, tested and used by Kris Gethin. If you are a non-vegetarian, you can follow this diet plan or you can also follow our expert recommended diet plan for Indians.
Exercise plan
Ashvin says, I followed the programs given by general trainers in my gym. For the first 6-7 months I followed split body routine where I worked out one body part every day. Then I changed my gym and started working on 2 body parts a day for the next 2 months. The trainer there gave me an advanced plan to train my entire body every day. Right now, from past 9 weeks, I have been following a muscle building program by Kris Gethin and it is one of the best decisions of my life as it makes every day interesting. If you are inspired by Sylvester Stallone, you can follow his fitness regime too.
The change
My trouser size was 52 and right now I wear a size 37. I used to wear 9 or 8xl t-shirts and shirts and now I wear XL/XXL t-shirts. I weighed 166 kgs before and now I am 101 kg. More than the visible physical changes, I am satisfied mentally and emotionally. I have never been as confident, proud, happy and in love with myself as I am at the present moment. What started off as a diet has now become a lifestyle which I am in love with and I am not willing to give it up. I still eat clean. I eat 6 times a day. I do cheat occasionally but not unnecessarily. I have not yet reached my goal. My goal is to participate in a bodybuilding competition one day and it's not to win but for my satisfaction to tell myself how far I have come.
Ashvin has also started a business called fresh fusion which basically deals in providing diet friendly healthy meals. His personal weight loss has benefitted his business too. He also has an FB page to motivate and guide all those who are eager to travel the road to fitness. Here are some tips from Kris Gethin to get the perfect abs.
How do you maintain your weight now?
Well, right now I see to it that I cook my own meals. This way, I know what s going on my plate and over the past 17 months, I have understood which ingredients can be used and those that must be avoided. Since I cook my own food, I try out different dishes with different spices and flavors every 2 weeks and sizzle my taste buds with all the ingredients that I am allowed to use. I see to it that every meal I eat, has around 60grams of carbohydrates, 40 grams of protein and 20 grams of fat. I weigh my food before I eat and I only use ingredients and recipes that my diet allows.
He continues following his exercise routine and does not miss a single day of workout. Dedication and determination are the keys to success and Ashvin is determined to reach his goal.
Has Ashvin s story inspired you? Please share your views in our comments section below.
Image Source: Ashvin Shet