How this 20-year-old lost over 50 kg in a year!

Saksham Kumar, a student from Ambala, is a regular guy who goes to college and hangs out with friends. But a year ago, he transformed himself completely when we went from 115 kg to 57 kg, all by himself. And his journey isn’t over yet – Saksham is now on a mission to bulk up and get muscular. He shares his inspiring story in a candid Q&A session.

How did you put on so much weight? Were you always overweight?

I was a bit overweight as a kid but gained a lot of weight after my tenth grade. For two years of my life i.e. from the age of 17 to 19 years, I did not bother about the way I looked and completely focused on studies. I was under a lot of pressure to do well and because of that I did not pay attention to anything else. I would go to tuitions, study, eat junk food, there was no physical activity and without even realising, I put on so much weight. Even though I was staying with my parents, I did not eat much home-cooked food. Post dinners, I would eat chips, biscuits, have cold drinks because I would be up till late, studying. And soon I was 115 kg.

When did realise you wanted to lose weight?

It was only when I started going to college I felt conscious about the way I looked. Everyone else was smart and fit and I too wanted to feel and look that way to fit in. I also realised I could not take part in many activities like sports, etc. if I was this fat. So at the age of 19 I finally decided to shed all the weight I had put on the past two years. It was also one of my school friends who inspired me. He too was overweight, had a few health problems and lost weight. He kept telling me if he can do it, so can I. He guided on the best gym to join and soon I also got a gym membership in the same one.

What was your workout routine?

I did not have any personal trainer to guide me but I kept reading a lot on the internet to help me set a workout routine and also my weight loss diet. When I started working out, my focus was more on cardio exercises, I did not really do a lot of weight training.

I would be in the gym for 1.5 hours either on the treadmill, elliptical trainer for 40 minutes and then after that I would run, skip, jump, cycle, etc. My main aim was to burn more calories. I worked out five days a week.

Did you have to bunk college to go to the gym?

No, I went to the gym in the evening at about 7.30 pm. Before my workout, I’d eat brown bread with peanut butter and post workout I ate soyabean or boiled dal.

What diet did you follow?

I started my day with a glass of lemon water and then ate a handful of nuts. Before leaving for college, I’d eat some high-fibre, digestive biscuits. For lunch and dinner I’d eat boiled chana, dals, soup, soyabean, etc. After coming back from college I usually had a fruit. Since I am a vegetarian, I did not eat any meat. I also gave up eating roti and rice completely for a year.

Did you have any protein supplements?

No, I did not take any supplements as my father did not allow. His first condition when I joined the gym was that I should lose weight in a natural way, not with any supplements. Does whey protein have any side-effects? Find out.

How did you control your cravings?

I did have hunger pangs when I started with this diet but I really wanted to get in shape so I curbed them by eating salads, steamed dhokla, having green tea. I started eating home-cooked food.

Was your family supportive?

We have so many festivals and sweets are a big part of them but I told everyone that I need to stick to my diet and my family completely understood and supported me. They never offered me any dessert, even my relatives after a point did not try to force feed me with unhealthy snacks.

My family played a major part in making my weight loss a success as they made sure I got what I wanted to eat for every meal. Since I was in college, I could not pay the gym membership on my own so they supported me financially too by paying the membership fee.

Didn’t you have college parties to attend? What did you eat there?

Even if there were college parties, I wouldn’t really eat much. If we went out, I would order the healthiest option available such as a plate of salad. I made a conscious decision to stop eating junk food and outside food, cold drinks, desserts and anything else that was high in calories.

How did you feel after losing weight?

In the very first month I lost four kilos which was a great motivation for me as I was happy to see my body reacting in a positive way. It also kept me going and I pushed myself harder to get better results. I do feel happy and proud of myself after the weight loss journey but I also think if I had stopped myself at the right time, I wouldn’t have gained so much weight. I do regret not being responsible about my weight at that time.

Did you ever think of giving up?

Being in college, I saw my friends eat and drink whatever they wanted to and at times I too felt like doing the same. But I had my goal in mind which kept me going no matter what. I learnt to control my temptations and just be on the weight loss track. I did not want to be obese again, this thought was enough to not touch junk food again. Also read how this man lost 61 kg in 9 months. 

How did people react to your weight loss?

At first people did not believe I lost so much weight on my own. They thought I underwent a surgery to get rid of the fat but I assured them that it was all due to gymming and dieting. My family members were also happy as they too played an important part in my journey.

What has changed in your life after losing weight?

I think I am much more confident now, weight loss has boosted my self-confidence to be able to talk to people without thinking what they might think about me. I feel fitter and happier now, I can play sports and be more active physically.

People who lose weight often have stretch marks and saggy skin. Did you face these problems?

Yes, all of them. After losing so much weight, I had a lot of loose skin and stretch marks on my body. To tighten my skin I have started weight training and I use coconut oil or creams available in the market to lighten stretch marks.

What’s your weight today?

In a year, I lost 57 kg following this diet and workout routine. Today I weigh 57 kg.

Isn’t that less for your height and age?

Yes, it is as I am 5 ft 7 in but I am working on it. Now I am weight training in the gym to put on muscle mass and bulk up a little. My fitness goal has changed now – from losing weight to gaining weight. I want to be 66 kg.

So what’s your new workout routine?

I now do more of strength training, cardio is just for warm-up and cool down. I work on different body parts every day such as chest, back and biceps, legs, triceps and do three sets of 15 reps for each exercise. I also play cricket whenever I get time and go for brisk walks every morning and evening.

So have you changed your diet again?

Yes, I have stated eating rotis and rice again (brown rice though). I also eat more now because when you weight train, your body burns calories even after the workout so my metabolism is better and I eat more. But my diet is still healthy, I don’t eat junk food. I also consult a dietician now. Here’s a weight gain diet by diet expert. 

Have you inspired anyone else to lose weight?

Many of my friends and relatives come to me to ask about how I lost weight and they too want to get fit now which feels good. But at the end of the day, one has to be self-motivated to go ahead and really achieve their goals.

Any tips for others who want to lose weight?

Just believe in yourself and go for it. Switch to green tea, cut down on sugar and high-calorie snacks and eat healthy ones like nuts. With the right diet and exercise anyone can lose weight.

Disclaimer text TheHealthSite.com does not guarantee any weight loss through this method as the results may vary from person to person. We recommend you consult your nutritionist and physician before following any of the tips suggested here.

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