"One Step at a Time: How I Walked 3523 km to Rediscover Health and Balance"

April 2023 was a turning point in my life. Watching my father face severe health challenges in the hospital left me shaken. It wasn’t just the complexity of his treatment that disturbed me, but the realization that I wasn’t far from facing similar issues myself. At 114 kg, I was overweight, struggling with high blood pressure, and borderline diabetes. I knew I had to take control of my health—before it was too late.

Starting the Journey: Finding My Focus

It was my brother (will write a separate article on his positive influence on my personal and professional life) who pushed me to take the first step. I started small, setting up a simple home gym, and committed to an hour and a half of regular cardio each day. By September 2023, I had lost 7 kg and was beginning to feel stronger. But on September 8, 2023, I faced an unexpected challenge—an ACL tear. I had to undergo ACL restructure surgery and this completely derailed my routine. Spent 2 months using walker.

I’m incredibly grateful to my Doctor (Dr. Jitendra Taori), my physiotherapist (Rajesh Jhangid), and my driver Vijay, who not only helped me through this time but became integral to my recovery. And, of course, I cannot forget the unwavering support of my family, whose love and encouragement helped me heal faster.

Why Walking?

After the ACL tear, I was hesitant to go back to the gym. Walking seemed like the safest and most consistent way to stay active. So on Jan 1, 2024, I started with a goal of 10,000 steps a day. Soon, I shifted my focus from just steps to distance.

Initially, my goal was to walk 2,500 km over the course of a year, which amounted to about 8 km per day. But as I progressed, my confidence grew, and by end of February 2024, I set a more ambitious target of walking 3,000–3,500 km in 2024. To make this journey more meaningful, I visualized a route: from Kanyakumari to Vaishno Devi, (Distance is 3523kms) two of the most sacred and symbolic places in India. I tracked my progress monthly, recording every kilometer.

Tracking the Data: Every Step Counts

Here's a snapshot of my progress over the months:

• January/February: 8 km per day
• March/April: 10 km per day
• May/June: 12 km per day
• July: 13 km per day
• August: 14 km per day
• September: 19 km per day
• October: 20 km per day

Avg Daily Distance Covered - 12.45 kms

By October 10, 2024, just two days before Dussehra, I reached my destination: 3523 kilometers (82 days before deadline). Along with this accomplishment, I now weigh 96 kg, and I’ve lost 4 inches from my waist. What mattered even more was my health—throughout this period, I didn’t face any major illnesses.

I suggest anyone walking daily above 10kms to please take advise of your Physio/Ortho related to use of knee bands or the distance one should walk everyday.

The Power of Discipline: Walking Every Single Day

I walked for 283 days straight without a single break, regardless of whether it was a weekday, weekend, or holiday. It didn’t matter if I was traveling or had a packed work schedule—I made time for my health. That’s the discipline I committed to, and it paid off.

My strategy was simple: I aimed to complete 50% of my target before breakfast and the other 50% by evening. If my goal was to walk 20 km in a day, I would cover 10 km before breakfast, 5 km while working, and another 5 km between 4 pm and 8 pm.

Where did I walk? Practically everywhere:

• At the plant/factory
• While talking on mobile (now it’s become a robotic habit to get up and walk as soon as a call comes in)
• In the garden
• At the airport
• In my office cabin - Found ways of working while walking- Using dictation mostly for replying emails/whatsapp/sms.
• During open-space meetings (yes, our meetings even became shorter with walking!)

On a lighter note, I often felt like a boss in a movie, walking with my team in the parking lot or open spaces, turning meetings into “#walkeeting” sessions.

A Dedication to My Uncle: Arpit Mama

This entire journey is dedicated to my maternal uncle, Arpit Mama, who always encouraged me to reduce weight and focus on fitness. Even though he is no longer with us, his words continue to echo in my mind:

“Jadu 100 ni andar ke paar” (Below or above 100) My response (with a sheepish smile): “Mama paar” (Above) - this has been the dialogue for the past 20 years.

Mama, I’m proud to say that today, I weigh under 100 kg. Your love, motivation, and inspiration will continue to drive me to become better each day.

Other Changes in Lifestyle

• Dinner by 630-7pm max.
• Sleep by 930-10pm
• Have been early riser all my life so get up by 5-530am without alarm
• Mindful & timely eating.
• Cold water bath.

Will share more details after sustaining this lifestyle for longer period say of min 2 years. Personally I am in no hurry for weight loss. If it has taken 45 years to reach 114kgs let me take min 2-2.5 years to reach a reasonable weight.

The Health Transformation: More Than Just Weight Loss

Beyond weight loss and inches lost, this journey transformed me in countless ways:

• Stamina: I can now jog 10 km continuously without stopping and have even started participating in marathons with the support of my friends.
• Positivity and Energy: My mindset has completely changed—I feel more energetic and positive about everything in life.
• Better Temper Control: I am more patient and composed in stressful situations.
• Increased Confidence: Each step brought more self-assurance and belief in what I can achieve.
• Health Improvements: I no longer need medication for acidity, and I’ve reduced my dependence on blood pressure meds.

So, what Next

Now I would like to focus more on strength building but would continue walking/jogging min. 12-15kms a day making this a way of healthy lifestyle.

The Lesson: Health is the Ultimate Wealth

If there’s one thing I’ve learned, it’s that money cannot buy you your health. We often prioritize work, commitments, or other goals, but without good health, everything else becomes secondary. I urge each and every one of you to make your health your first priority, no matter what.

HAPPY DURGA PUJA & HAPPY DUSSHERA TO ALL OF YOU

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