Hi. I'm Nikila Ram. I'm on the top of the world now, but I was terribly depressed a couple of years ago.
I had every reason to feel down. My weight was up, way up. I was five feet three inches and weighed around eighty kgs. And had been that way for a few years now.
My fat depressed me and I consoled myself with food regularly. A vicious cycle soon set in. The more I ate the fatter I became the more depressed I got and the more I ate again. It was like a swamp land. The more I panicked, the worse the situation got.
But last year, I decided to take things into my hands. To begin with, I decided to pursue a childhood hobby swimming. I was determined to spend an hour in the pool every day.
It was embarrassing to get into a swimsuit being overweight as I was. But luckily, there were quite a few other 'fattys' around too. I began to relax. I swam for small stretches. A lap at a time. Within a couple of weeks I could do substantially better.
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The trick was to be regular and not aim for the moon. Swim everyday. And try to do a little better than you did the previous day.
A few months later I was 10 kgs lighter. And what's more I was enjoying my swimming sessions. I was doing well and I had made a few friends. But I was still fat. Not as fat as before, but fat nevertheless.
But I felt more positive about myself now, though depression did hit me every now and again.
Now when I get depressed about my weight I go for a brisk walk. I never attempt to jog. I just walk as fast as I can.
Brisk exercise not only helped me lose more weight, but it worked wonders to lift my depression and put me in a better frame of mind. So, I was actually killing two birds with one stone.
And the more cheerful I got, the less was my inclination to eat.
Once my compulsion to eat constantly was gone, I was able to plan my diet.
I wasn't too savvy about starch and carbohydrates and calories. And I didn't have time to see a dietician. So I cut out fat, rice and chapattis.
I lived on vegetables, salads and fruits for a while. Every night though, I would include a cup of rice in my diet to keep me from getting hungry at night and raiding the refrigerator.
Then I changed my snacking habits. I started chewing gum regularly. It kept me from bingeing on snacks. I carried carrots to work too. If the need to eat was overwhelming I chomped on a carrot and washed it down with plenty of water.
The results were amazing. Not only was I losing weight steadily, my skin was beginning to look good too. It must have been a combination of lack of greasy food and plenty of water.
The mere fact that I was happy and proud made my eyes sparkle and my posture, upright. I no longer slouched or tried to hide my body.
I became more particular about the clothes I wore. I still had a big tummy, and I couldn't wear sleek clothes, but I did try to choose ones that enhanced my complexion.
It took me a while to realise that my diet alone would not reduce my tummy. I had to do specific exercises. I called a friend who is a fitness freak. I asked her to help me out. She was more than happy to oblige.
We met up twice a week. She taught me various crunches, stretches and situps. 'Do them every day, no matter what' she ordered.
I did. For a few weeks there were no results at all. And then, suddenly, I could see the difference. So could a lot of other people. Compliments flowed my way.
I am not fat anymore and there isn't any obvious flab on me. I'm still not sleek and slim but that doesn't worry me any more. There is more to life than being able to wear clinging clothes.
I can't believe it when people consult me on how to lose weight now. I always tell them to eat and exercise sensibly. That is a major step forward in itself.
I never felt the need to consult a dietician or trainer and spend exorbitant amounts of money. I have every reason to feel proud of my success.
NIKILA RAM
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