11 Short Lessons From 11 Years of Daily Workouts

And how it changed my life.

I completed 11 years of consistently working out + eating healthy this month.

It all started in 2014 when I started university and realised I’d expanded to a point of no return. While I stand tall at 5.9”, I began to look square-ish. I also had PCOD since I was 12, and when uni started, I wanted to finally make a difference.

I was tired of being overweight all my life.

It left dents in my self-worth that I’m still undoing bit by bit.

Anyhoo, coming to the happy stuff - here are 11 lessons I’ve learnt along the way.

Oh, here’s an old before-and-after weight-loss photo:

---

1. When I was on a journey to drop 25kgs, it was much easier to adopt the mindset of 'do it because you love your body and want to be healthy' instead of doing it from a place of anger or disgust.

2. Weight-loss isn't rocket science, calorie deficit is the only way.

3. Lift weights, it doesn't matter how old you are or if you're a woman.

4. You already know what's healthy and what isn't.

5. Consistency is the only way to be healthier and achieve the goals you set in life.

6. You'll show up for many months, and the needle won't move. It's a part of the process. Delayed gratification is essential in today's time, anyway.

7. Make it fun. It'll be easier to show up.

8. Adding meditation, pranayama, and chanting to my routine makes me sound like I'm 60, but I'll probably be healthier than others when I'm 60.

9. I've ALWAYS been skinny-shamed by overweight people. It screams of insecurity to me.

10. It's okay to be the odd one out who will not indulge in junk or sugary drinks. Be a weirdo, be disease-free.

11. You can never 'work out' a bad diet.

As a woman, this lifestyle has given me perfect markers even though I've had PCOD. Good nutrition also helped me heal my acne and get better skin.

Here’s an article I wrote about how I healed my acne.

As a human, I now have a lot of perseverance and discipline, which helps me run a one-person business today.

Even half of my TEDx Talk elucidates how this journey literally changed my life in a way that helped me with my career too:

---

It's never too late to be healthy; start now.

I'm grateful to be surrounded by people who work out, which makes it easier. My mum has been lifting weights since 25 years old, and grandma is into yoga. You can literally SEE them standing out in a group of people because being healthy makes you look great.

My husband is into working out as much as me. That helps because our home naturally has an environment for working out. When we’re lazy, we’re naturally pushing each other and mostly hitting the gym together as well.

Honestly - being fat sucked growing up and gave me a lot of mental health issues, but I'm incredibly grateful for the journey I am on.

See you soon :)

Love,
N