My Journey – 24 by 7

Health is perhaps the most often missing piece of the jigsaw puzzle of our life. We know very well that a successful career to meet means, effectively dressed with a passion or two to give meaning to life, guarded with a fulfilling family and social life need to have the icing of a sound health in order? to paint the picture rosy. But often we invest less on the icing, thinking – que sera sera i.e. whatever will be, will be. Being an obvious commoner I didn’t break the stereotype and gulped the sweet – carbonated – chilled water and devoured on the aromatic biryani with a hidden guilt in mind but a savored greet on my face.

In line with all neglected beings in this world, my health tried to adapt for long but a day came when it resisted and revolted. As a clear indication got two distinct episodes of seizure – sudden blackout, followed by few seconds of numbness – in a gap of few days. Picking up on the alarm, this time I didn’t ignore and consulted a specialist doctor. After hearing me out, the first thing he wrote on the prescription was – “Admission into ICU “ – and in the same moment his mobile rang. As the doctor was talking on the phone, my eyes, mind and perhaps the whole existence got stuck in the 3 words he has written. After about couple of minutes, he added “- SOS” which was explained to me that if/when I get the next bout of blackout, I must get admitted. Following this he did a full check up and advised a list of examination to be done in next few days. As an obedient patient I got all the examinations done and got back on to the same chair by a week’s time. During that week while I was fulfilling all my duties and tasks and responsibilities, those first three words on the prescription kept on playing in the back of my mind. Once the doctor checked the reports – he called out that most of the parameters are showing up but also assured me that there are no deterrent found which is irreversible. So the immediate order to obey was to get my obesity under control (I weighed 99kg+ with a BMI of 33 on that day – 31st Aug 2022) and reduce my weight into 80s as an immediate target. And of course some medicines need to be embraced in my daily routine.

It was not that I was completely sedentary – in fact I did walk for 30 to 45 minutes in the morning and tried to be active as much as possible. But the problem was the lack of continuity, like my morning mood determining if I would take my scheduled walk or I snooze the alarm and get back to have a chat with my pillow. Along with that being a self declared connoisseur of food I often had two breakfast and three snack and even multiple dinners at times. So, as I walked out of the doctor’s chamber with kind off a final warning statement in my hand, it was not a very difficult task to initiate a plan for shredding down the extra flab and reverse the alarming medical parameters and to be fit for my existence. But the difficulty was in execution and maintaining the cadence. But this time it was a “final call” – take it or leave it. So, I saw the scribbling – “Admission into ICU” – as an ultimatum and while walking the steps out of the clinic a rare spell of determination curbed me – “I have to reverse this!!!”

A typical transformation journey has three parts to it (as I have understood) and the first part is the most difficult one. This is the phase of foundation on which the whole act stands. A period when you need to set the ground rules – challenging yet not impossible to achieved, start following the routine with no deviation, turn it into habit and all this without much of external motivation since the changes will be hardly visible to others, apart from your immediate family who will certainly observe your attempt. So, on 1st September 2022, the four basic ground rules was set up – [1] Sugar intake reduced to zero; [2] Lesser food intake, no more than 4 meals, zero snacks – deep fried food – junk; [3] 4 litres of water (this was exactly prescribed by my doctor) and no late night (11pm on weekdays and 12am on weekends); [4] 1 hr. of brisk walk in the morning and 30mins of stretching and meditation, 7 days a week. As I said, easier to start than continue but this time I had no choice. I also used some vital enablers – lunch, I started carrying in the form of cereals and pulses as in dalia or rajma or green mug along with salads – dinner, I started having in quarter plates to restrict the portion - didn’t eat out apart from some family dinner, even when I only order grilled food and soup – kept oat biscuits with me for controlling the untimely craving for a snack. ?The results started showing after little more than a month and that added to my confidence and endured me to continue on the laid track. Along with the dietary obligations I ensured a minimum of 6km covered during the morning hour. As an additional boost I stopped using any transportation for commuting any place with in 3km radius from my home.

As I slowly surpassed my first milestone by end of three months i.e. entering 80s in terms of my weight and the medical parameters tending to normal, I slowly moved to the second stage of the journey. This is the phase of being plateaued. I was hovering around 85kgs by end of 2022 but with the habituated practice was not able to move the needle down further. Further cutting down on the diet didn’t sound good and my doctor was fine with my position as I was visibly and medically much better than I was four months back. But, by then I have tested the blood and didn’t want to plateau out just like that when my BMI was still close to 29. During this period, one day I realized that though I could always walk long distance but never ever able to run at a stretch for more than may be 500mts. And around the same time I saw the flyer for Tata 10K run in Kolkata on a day which was about a month away. The positive movement in the first 4 months and slowly getting pat on the back in the social cycle boosted my confidence to give it a try. After couple of day’s attempt with newly acquired determination I could run 3 kms at a stretch at a decent pace of 9 – 10kmph. I started preparing for the 10K run – I thought by running few km and walking rest I should be able to ?complete the race. Eventually I finished the run by running the full 10km. You can imagine the boost to my confidence on that day. It felt like I can now run daily and get into further better shape. By then I have started knocking the door of 70s. Finally by another couple of months I weighed less than 75Kgs and for the first time my BMI was below 25, which is the ceiling of the normal range.

Hereby I entered the final phase, maintenance phase. Here I had to ensure that my habits are perpetual and I don’t do anything that reverses my efforts in last 7 – 8 months. I ensured 4km run and 6 km walk for 5 days a week; 5km run and 5km walk on the Saturdays; 8km run and 4km walk on the Sundays with occasional only walk days. The basic dietary plans remained same with bits of changes – occasional sweets, once a while cheat meal (not more than one per fortnight), occasional home made fried food. This enabled me to my final goal of getting 30kgs less heavy on mother earth in comparison to 2022 Aug. I finally hit the bull’s eye (first time recording weight in 60s in my adulthood) around 3rd week of 2023 Aug i.e. just below a year. But as obvious from the name, the maintenance phase continues for lifelong hereafter.

A good number of friends, family and acquaintances often asked me during last 8 months – “is it just by walking and restricted diet” or “is it the daily run” or “is it about controlling the craving for biryani and junks” – how did you managed such a change? If I look back and see, then I would say the key differentiator in this journey is nothing but the “CONSISTENCY”. A lesson that I learned from my running habit is to be patient and consistent to continue for a longer period. I could easily connect it with my journey as well – a crash diet or some rigorous efforts which are not sustainable doesn’t work – on the contrary a well paced run let you complete which is actually more important than competing. The challenging yet achievable targets that I wanted to achieve would have remained meaningless unless through consistence those were made into a habit. Today even on odd days with a less than 100% fitness, I ensure that I at least cover my 6km in an hour long walk.

Even after all this, there is no denying – que sera sera - whatever will be, will be. So, there is no guarantee that I will not get an medical advice with “Admission into ICU” in future. But the difference between 2022 Aug and 2023 Aug (and days to come) is that I will not feel sorry for myself if that unforeseen happens, because I will be content that I have tried the very best from my side with cent percent authenticity – so result is not in my hand but the effort is certainly mine.

I wanted to document this journey of mine not as a mere tool of self-conceit but for sharing my realization and a meaningful tryst with health with all the people I can reach out. It actually gives an immense dose of satisfaction when one sees his journey and learning can/is making a difference in others life.

P.S. – While I named this piece - “My Journey – 24 by 7”, wanted to share a small trivia which might make sense to the pun enthusiasts ??. My weight on 31st Mar 2023 was exactly 75kgs – rest you can make out, I believe.