Like many, 27-year-old Shruti was battling weight problems and reached a point where it brought along additional health risks. She was determined to stop obsessing over the number on the scale and turn her life around, no matter what it took. With sheer determination and willpower, she reversed the damage and shed a whopping 40 kilos in ten months. To know how she did it, read her story here:

Name: Shruti Gadiyar

Occupation: Psychologist

Age: 27

Height: 161cm

City: Mumbai

Highest weight recorded: 120 kilos


Weight lost: 40 kilos

Duration it took me to lose weight: 10 months

The turning point: I was always obsessed with my weight and getting back in shape. However, we all know that it is easier said than done. I suffered from several sleepless nights just thinking about it or researching things. One fine day, I decided this was it, I had to take a step forward and do what’s necessary. After this day, I never looked back.

My breakfast: Poha/Upma/Dosa/Idli Breakfasts are always light and nutritious. Poha, upma, dosa or idli are my go-to staples.

My lunch: I prefer homemade food and avoid outside food as much as I can. Subji made at home, along with two rotis and dahi fill me up.

My dinner: I make sure that I cut out carbs from my evening meals. I usually have something like soup or salad. I relish eating cheat meals once a week. So when I get to enjoy my off day, I have something like chaat, cheese sandwich or a slice of pizza.


Pre-workout meal: Dry fruits

Post-workout meal: Any source of protein like paneer, chickpeas or chicken. I wasn’t fond of shakes so avoid them altogether.

My workout: HIIT has helped me lose weight for good. I picked up running and run for around 3 kilometers every day at a stretch. I also do some strength training exercises along with my running regime.

Low-calorie recipes I swear by:

Salads and soups aren’t as boring as we think! They have become my go-to favorite now. Apart from this, I am extremely grateful for my mom’s cooking. She manages to make every healthy meal in a tasty way, it doesn’t feel I am on a diet.

Fitness secrets I unveiled: I have discovered that portion control and moderation work a great deal in maintaining a stable weight. I make it a point to eat every two hours. Apart from that, I am extremely consistent with my workout regime and do not miss it for even a day.

How do I stay motivated? I look back at how far I have come already and I feel I still have a long way to go. Now that I have transformed, people have started to compliment me which doesn’t stop. The support from friends and family is motivating enough. So many people tell me that I am an inspiration for them and this alone is helpful enough to keep me going whenever I feel low or feel like skipping the gym.

How do you ensure you don’t lose focus? I set weekly workout targets for myself. In fact, working out has become a daily ritual for me, just like brushing my teeth. It is not something I can even think of skipping!


What’s the most difficult part of being overweight? I suffered from bouts of low self-esteem and lethargy. I didn’t feel like doing anything and soon enough, this turned into a vicious cycle. This for me was the most difficult part.

What shape do you see yourself 10 years down the line? A fit woman who wouldn’t have to compromise on playing with her little one someday because of physical inability to do so.

What are the lifestyle changes you made? Workout has become a fixed routine now. Consistency and moderation are something I can’t afford to skip now. My diet comprises of 80% healthy food and 20% cheat food.

What was the lowest point for you? I had become emotionally week and felt really drained because of excess weight gain. Lethargy has become a part of my everyday life and this even exhausted me physically. When such days and bad episodes became a regular feature, I decided to pay heed to the situation.

Lessons learnt from weight loss: Weight loss is nothing less than a major transformation in your life. You’ll see that not only does people’s perspective towards you change, but even the way you look at yourself changes drastically. You consider yourself to be a more confident person once this change happens because of you taking ownership of your life and consequently, you do not let anyone treat you wrong. You’re just ONE decision away from an entirely different life!

If you have a weight loss story to share, send it to us at toi.health1@gmail.com