I am happier than ever: Simran Kumar

Quick question: when is the worst time to realize that you have a weight-problem? Difficult answer: on the day before a big holiday. I had been planning a vacation in London with my family for the longest time. Imagine my disappointment when I didn't look nice in anything I tried on. I felt low and angry at myself for not noticing the extra 27 kilos creeping on! I remember looking into the mirror and promising myself that I'd get home and lose it all, no matter how long it took.

I was at a healthy weight before I conceived. It was during my pregnancy that I gained weight. I found out that I had hypothyroidism, and though I was Fitnesson medication it didn't help much with the kilos. After I gave birth to my daughter who is now 11, I dropped about 2 to 3 kg, but with every passing month the weight increased. My inactive body was changing slowly and I barely noticed it. I'd get breathless going up and down the stairs in my house. Eventually, I avoided them, asking my help to run small errands-that made me even more lethargic. Thankfully my weight never interfered with my ability to work but there was this ever-present exhaustion.

GOOD LOSS

I didn't lose much weight in the first month of starting my gym membership. That's because I hadn't changed my diet. So I decided to get help from a dietician for the first 6 months to understand what a healthy diet is. That really helped me. I learnt that although I didn't eat unhealthy, I still needed to manage my portions. I needed to cut my salt consumption and fix my meal timing. Just these minor tweaks along with stepping into the gym 6 days a week for 3 years finally brought the number on the weighing scale to 60 kg.

STEP UP

I still have 5 kilos to lose but I am already seeing results. My thyroid is better controlled. I don't think twice about running up or down the stairs. A teacher in my daughter's school even confused me for her sister! I am happy I kept my promise to myself and am proud that other mothers who live in my society are motivated to get healthy. We head to the gym together and keep each other going. This transformation is the best present I could give myself, besides the clothes I can now buy to look great in, not just on a holiday, but all year round.