Christina Mathias, 42, lost 25 kilos in 8 months

Weighing right, being fit, and active has always been a way of life for me. Therefore, I`ve never felt the need to work out. Now, I think I should have. When I was carrying my only child Caroline, I put on an additional 15-18 kilos, on the higher side of the average weight gain that women experience post pregnancy. Plus, I had a C-sec that restricted my movement for some months after delivery. Even later, I could not do much as I was busy taking care of a small baby. What made things more difficult was my love for food. Soon I realised that I weighed 95 kilos. I am 5 feet 6 inches tall and well-built. You can imagine how huge I looked.

On the weightloss track
I hadn`t experienced any health problems because of my weight. But I was fast approaching my 40s. I knew that being so heavy at this age meant an increased risk of heart disease and metabolic disorder. So I decided to lose weight. My motivation: a healthy life, good stamina and looking like a `young forty-something`. I started trying out various weightloss diets and going for regular walks. I would lose a few kilos but quickly put them back later. This was because I was following the wrong eating habits and starving myself.

Eating more to lose more
At this point a friend of mine asked me to visit Pooja Makhija, a dietician. The foodie in me immediately warmed up to Pooja as she asked me to eat every 2 hours. Her game plan was to rev up my sluggish metabolism. Instead of giving me a meal-by-meal plan, she would advise me on all that I could eat in a day. Now it was up to me to decide what I ate when. The only restriction was on the consumption of refined sugar, and the amount of oil I used in cooking. Another must was a glass of vegetable juice every morning. The credit goes to my husband Noel who makes this juice for me every day as I rush through the morning chores.

Walking for health
In addition to the diet plan, I was asked to go for a brisk one-hour walk every day. I look forward to my daily walk as it helps me de-stress and feel happier. Here again I`d like to thank Noel because every day he drives me to the walking track, waits for me until I am done and then brings me back home. This has helped me stay with my exercise routine. I started this weight-loss programme in April `07 and managed to lose 25 kilos by December `07, reaching my goal weight of 70 kg. I can go below this but I feel I will look too thin and it won`t suit my broad frame.

A happy, new me With so much weight gone, I feel light, more energetic and self confident. People tell me I look much younger than 42. I am so thrilled I achieved my goal!

My daily diet Plan
6 am: 1 c tea/coffee made with low-fat milk, without sugar
8 am: 1 glass vegetable juice + 3 egg white omelettes
10 am: 1 c coffee + 2 Marie biscuits
12.30 pm: 1 bowl rice + dal + 1 bowl vegetables/1 pc chicken/fish
2.30 pm: 1 fruit, any except banana
5 pm: 1 c coffee/tea + 1 veg sandwich/2 idlis/1 bowl upma
6 pm: 1 hour walk, munch on almonds while walking
8 pm: 3 rotis + 1 bowl vegetables/1 pc chicken/fish
9.30 pm: 1 fruit

-As told to Shobita Dhar

Courtesy:Prevention