Pooja Patil is a yoga enthusiast and a budding entrepreneur. She loves all things bright and beautiful, just like her soul. This is her journey Growing up I lead an active lifestyle, so I didnt really worry or even care about my body. But things really got out of hand in my mid-20s. It was a combination of financial freedom, a large circle of friends and an unwavering aim to have fun everyday. I used to go out a lot, binge eat and drink. Life was good but my weight just kept piling on and I didnt even realize it. It got worse after I had my baby. My health was not my priority at the time. I worked full-time, often late into the night, forcing me to eat what came my way. I quit my job a few years ago and my daughter started school. I had a lot of time on my hands and people advised me to get healthy. So thats when my journey started. My weight had peaked at 90 kilos and Ive lost over 20 kilos since. It didnt happen overnight and it certainly hasnt been easy. I started with power yoga, which I didnt enjoy at all. Then I started training with another yoga teacher, Thanvi, who took the time to understand my body and my capabilities. Under her guidance I started to make some genuine progress. In the last 6 months Ive also started walking and hopefully one day I will run! I wish I knew earlier the impact food and drinks have on your body. Eating out ruined me. I decided to quit eating meat for a year. It turned out to be a year of realization. Not only was it a stepping stone in accelerating my weight loss, but I learnt where to draw the line between enjoying and binging. I realized I didnt need to eat out to have a good time and that my body doesnt need non-veg. My biggest weakness is and will always be dessert. I have to make a serious effort not to overindulge. Ive been seeing a dietician, who is helping me figure out what suits my body. By the end of my program with her, Ill be able to draw out a wholesome, nourishing, well-balanced meal plan for myself. Im really looking forward to that. Today I feel much better. Im much more energetic, my body is slowly getting back into shape. I feel no fatigue, no laziness or crankiness. I challenge myself everyday to get better. I get a lot of compliments, which is a huge boost especially for someone who has been overweight for such a long time. I still have a long way to go, but I dont lose hope. I want to tell everyone that its never too late. Some days I used to wake up and feel like there was no light at the end of the tunnel. And then I used to get up and switch it on! Just get moving and soon you will find yourself in a much happier place.
