A dairy from India

juni

juni

New member
Hello everyone:

I moved to India with work about four years ago. I absolutely love this place. Since college, I have been struggling with weight and in the last few months have gained a whopping 5kgs. My clothes dont fit, I don't like having my pictures taken and hate looking at myself in the mirror. Basically, I don't feel good about myself.

So I decided to change all that. I joined a yoga class last week. I have never been much of a runner or a gym person (hard to find good, inexpensive gyms where I live). I am really liking my class (if only I could get breathing right- but my teach tells me it will come with time). I have also decided that I want to stay healthy for the rest of my life. If I do lose weight in the process, that will be fab!

Anyone else here who is doing yoga? It is not any particular king of yoga that I do. Lots of stretching and asanas with some breathing exercises. I do it for 1 hour, five days a week. I try to go for a 20-minute evening walk everyday, but that doesn't happen. :)

My diet is quite simple. This is what I have been doing for the last few days.

I don't like having a huge breakfast in the morning so I have a handful of almonds, LOTS of fruits (it is mango season here so I have at least two mangoes), pears, cucumbers. I basically eat all morning :)

Then around 12 I have a quick lunch of two chappatis and some curry

around 3 I have a snack of some biscuits and a cup of tea with milk (no sugar

around six I have dinner of veggies and chappatis again

I feel like I am doing something wrong somewhere. I do slip often, especially at night when I am working. Also if my collegues at work are having something fried, i can't resist it so I eat with them, then I have a cookie (or two) in the evenings sometimes. I feel totally guilty about it later, and wonder why I even did it. aaah!

I am hoping this is a good place to keep track of what I am eating, seek advise, criticisms etc.

To the experts out there I have a couple of quick questions:

1) Is there anyone out there who is doing yoga and can tell me a little bit more about the amount of calorie burnt etc?

2) How many calories can a 28-year old eat with yoga 5 days a week, some brisk walking (three times a week). I am 5 ft 3 inches.

Until next time....

Starting weight- 65 kgs
Goal- 55 kgs
 
I was good all day and then I slipped again at dinner. Aaaah!

So I had lots of fruits and cucumber all morning. I looove homemade yogurt, so i had that with cucumbers with a little bit of salt.

At around 1pm I had a light lunch of a cucumber, tomato and chedder cheese sandwich, a samosa and a 6-7 french fries.

I had dinner at around 730 ( I know I shouldn't have eaten after such a long interval, but i wasn't hungry until i saw the food in front of me), so i had a couple of pretty oily Indian bread called Puri (love them--they are evil, one of my weaknesses), some tapioca porridge, and cauliflower curry. Eeekk!! Now I feel so stuffed and quite guilty guilty guilty guilty guilty.

I was good exercise wise, though. I did one hour of yoga this morning and 30 mins of brisk walking in the evening.

I keep telling myself, tomorrow is another day, and I will be better. *sigh*
 
Tomorrow IS another day :D Dont feel down by it, think of it as learning, and try to do better the next time. You got your exercise in and that's great :D You did better today then you were doing before :) Maybe if you're working late bring extra snacks, you'll be proud when you can finally resist the fried night time food.

I'm jealous, I love indian food, I'm not sure I'd survive if I had it available like you do :p a blessing and a curse in one!

I did yoga once, I found it enjoyable and relaxing. I'd do it again if it didn't cost anything :p
 
So my teacher cancelled yoga class today because it was raining in the morning. We have our classes outside in the open, so there was no other option but to cancel, I guess. I was bummed, but I guess it is good to give your body a rest.
That said, I was really good about food today

BF 8am: Hommade tapioca porridge with tiny bit of sugar and lots of raisins and almonds
Snack: 11am: A pear and a bowl of plain yogurt
Lunch 2pm: A chappati, paneer curry and cucumbers
Snack 5:30pm: A handful of almonds and tea with milk (no sugar)
Dinner 7.30pm: A chappati, paneer curry, a cup of yogurt and LOTS of cucumbers

So I heard from my boyfriend back home today and he is going to come visit me this September. Yayay!! Jump jump!! He adores my body and has always loved that I am so curvey and he doesn’t care about weight etc. I have gained a few pounds since we saw each other in May and even though he doesn’t care, him coming to visit is a great motivation for me to lose weight. We LOVE going up to the mountains and trekking together. I come back to the city always relaxed, tanned and a few pounds thinner (!!), so I want to lose weight so that I am fit enough to trek with him. A fitter Juni will be much better at keeping up with him (if not overtaking him) than a Juni who is not comfortable with her weight.

Antyoch: Really appreciate your encouraging words. Thank you for suggesting that I bring my own snack. That’s exactly what I did this morning. While the others chewed on oily stuff, I munched on my pear and yogurt. When I work late, I usually work from home. So the temptation to raid the fridge is more. But today, I cleaned my fridge and pantry and gave away all the evil, fatty, oily snacks away so all I have are cucumbers and plain yogurt in the fridge. Tonight’s gonna be one of those nights when I stay up late and finish a report for work. Eeek!! Better get back to it.

Until tomorrow…
_________________________
SW: 140, PW: 140, GW: 120
 
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Went back to yoga class today!! It is amazing how good I feel all day when I do yoga in the mornings. I hope it doesn't rain tomorrow morning.

I was pretty good with food all day as well but I had a small can of coke and some dumplings, which I am not too proud of. :(

Breakfast 8AM- One cheese omelet and a handful of nuts

Snack 11AM- A cup of Yogurt and cucumbers with a little bit of salt

Lunch 2PM- Two chappatis, few pieces of bbq chicken and currey

Snack 4PM- 6 pieces of chicken dumplings and a can of coke :(

Dinner 7:30PM- One chappati, some jam and three slices of chedder cheese.

I know it hasn't been many days, and I don't think I have lost lbs, but my jeans felt really loose today around the hips and waist. It couldn't be true, could it?

I am trying not to weigh myself everyday- otherwise I'll make myself crazy. I'll do that every two weeks the same time in the mornings. If I have lost lbs, it give me a sense of accomplishments.

May I also say that I am spending A LOT of time reading posts here in the forum. Love the community. Hope everyone is doing well. Stay safe.

_______________________
SW: 140 CW: 140 GW:120
 
Missed yoga again coz I overslept :(

So by the time I got up it was 8:30PM (yikes!), so had to jump into the shower and get ready for work. Then it was quick breakfast and the day started...

9am, breakfast: One small cheese omelet, black olives and a pear

2pm (I know, I know, I shouldn't have eaten after such a long break but there was absolutely no time at work to grab snack today): 2 chappatis, small cup culiflower curry, one lentil cake and one oreo

5pm: Muesli and yogurt

7pm: three slices of cheese, two pears

Still haven't gone on the weighing machine. I am going to resist till the next week, but my jeans feel lose around the hips. Could it be true? Or am I just making this up in my head?
 
I was doing moderately well with food all day and then I slipped. JUST NOW, at 11 PM. I hate when I do this.

I had a snickers bar!! And I don't even like Snickers. What the hell is the matter with me??? Ugh!! Totally disgusted with myself. :banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead::banghead:
 
Still too scared to go on the weighing machine. But i feel lighter in my body- cud it be true? I have only been doing yoga for about two weeks and watching what i eat for about 5 days.

Breatfast 9AM- Muesli and yogurt

Lunch 1PM (I know i should be eating more regularly but i was not hungry): Two chappatis, curry, spinach

Snack 4.30- three veggie dumplings and some fries

Then I came home and had some fruit candies coz I was craving them so much.

I don't usually crave for candies (cheesecake maybe, but candies?--what's happening with me? yesterday it was snickers bar, and I dont like that either)

I also walked a lot today and did 40 mins of Yoga.

I am not going to go on the weight machine 'til August 10. I want to see some change, and don't want to be disappointed.

Somehow I feel like I am not really doing a lot of physical exercise. Can someone pls enlighten me on yoga and losing weight? Actually here may not be the right place to ask this question coz I dont think anyone is reading this- which is fine, coz i did this more for myself anyway.

Until next time...
_____________________________
SW: 140lbs, SW: 140lbs, GW: 120lbs
 
I think yoga is a lot about toning but from what I gather it helps in weight loss.

Do what you can and what you're happy with for exercise, anything is better than nothing :D dont feel like you have to be dog tired after every workout. Just keep it up and you'll see changes :)

and hey, the snickers bar, it was only 1, at least it wasn't 10 :D
 
Hi :)

Hi juni, how are you doing?loved to know that you love being in my country and also love the food here!Would like to know about your daily routine, what kind of work do you do,like does your job makes you sit at one place or you can manage being physically active?Yoga definitely helps in weight loss and the breathing exercises helps you to maintain the equilibrium of the body so it is efficient and effective,I would like to know what does your yoga include, does it include pranayam (breathing exercises) and asanas or one of these only?Also you need to plan your diet, your diet includes a lot of oil and carbs ,you have to watch it!
Well I am In pune city, where are you working in India?
 
So the weekend is going alright. No yoga classed today so walked for about 30 mins in the morning before it got too hot. Came back home sweating

Breakfast 9AM- fruits- lots and lots of fruits.

Lunch 1PM- half cup of cooked bulgar wheat (they call it daliya here), soy nugget currey

Snack 3pm- pear and cucumber-- lots and lots of them

Dinner 6pm- corn currey (with little bit of oil, ginger garlic)- yum!!

Also had some fruit candies (ugh ugh ugh!!!) :banghead:

Antyoch: Thank you, sweets for encouragement. Have decided to think before I eat sweet stuff now (have an extremely sweet tooth- what do i do?). I have to curb this bad habit.

Endurance: Hello hello. Great to find someone else here from India. I have been looking all over for fellow Indians in this forum- so happy to have found you. I am in Dilli city (gotta love the heat) and work for an International Organisation. My job does make me sit in one place a lot, but I try my best to move around as much as I can. The office is HUGE and our water fountain is pretty far :). So whether it is to get to the water fountain or to the meeting room, or not taking the elevator- I try to move as much as I can (i know tis not enough). My yoga classes include both- pranayama and asanas. Don't like pranayama too much though :eek: although I know it is really good for you. The thing is, my teacher does pranayama right at the end and i am always looking at my watch by that time coz I would have already been there for one hour. I should really stay back for it. I will stay back tomorrow (yes, my yoga teacher only takes Saturday and some public holidays off) Heh!
Btw: congratulations on the 3kgs lost!! Good going!! I will drop by your diary- we should keep each other motivated. If i may ask, what does your diet include? I didn't even realise I was eating too many carbs til you pointed it out. Would love it if you could share with me.

Hope to hear from both of your regularly. Have a good rest-of-the weekend!!
 
blah kinda day :(

Started out feeling blah. Had a long convo with my bf last night. All I can say is: Long distance relationships are HARD!!

That said, I had amaziiiiiing yoga session today!! I was doing a couple of asanas I couldn't do before. So that's a big high.

Just came back and had a small bowl of muesli. I love this stuff. This is from the German bakery I have been avoiding :)- they make the most amazing croissants and cookies and cinnamon rolls (yum), but breads and sweets are kinda my weaknesses, so I hv been avoiding it. They also make great muesli- so whenever I feel like going there (I also know the owners since I moved here and they always ask if I don't show up for a long time- I like dropping by to say hi to them once in a while), I have decided I am gonna just get muesli.

I have sooo much work to finish, so although it is a day off, I am heading out to the office to finish a few things. Ugh! Hopefully the day will get better.

Later!
 
And oh yea..I haven't been near the weight machine in a week. I wanted to do that every two weeks. I signed up for the August challenge so for Aug 1 I put the same weight I had when I checked last week. My two weeks were supposed to be over on 10 Aug, but since I joined the challenge it'll be 8 Aug, which works. Then every week after that.

Part of the reason I haven't weighed is also coz I am scared I haven't lost anything. :( Really really nervous the weight loss thingie. Waaaaaaaaaaaaah! :(
 
Hey Juni. I am from bangladesh and my mom makes delicious bengali curries and fried food that I can't stay away from. I am starting my diet after a long time.

What I used to do before is I ate very little portion for carbs. So, instead of 2 roti, I would have 1 or even 1/2. but I would replace it with alot of baji cooked in very little oil. I will pick out the chicken, meat or fish from the curry. The sauce has alot of calories. I tried to stay away from fried food, but I kept it in control. Instead of 3-4 samosa, I would have 1 or 1/2. I ate fruit that are in low in calorie. I lost alot of weight with eating like this and exercising.

I would suggest for you to cut down on chapati and cheese. Eggs are ok as long as you don't cook in alot of oil. Anything you cook, put minimal oil. I know Desi cooking is all about oil and spice. But try to stay away from oil.

Anyways, hope this helps you out. I'm in August challenge as well. So, let's do this together!
 
Hi Khaleda,

Just said hi to you in your diary. You are totally right, re: chappatis and cheese. :) Must cut those down this week. This is all learning experience. I should know about low and high calorie Indian food by now (since I have been living here for last four years), but these are not food that I am used to, so it is a little hard to do that. Plus all the meal planning sites are for western (read American) food anyway, so it has been hard.

Good luck with this week. I'll drop by your diary as regularly as possible.
 
So today's log:

8AM- small bowl muesli with yogurt

11AM- snack- cauliflower and a small bread

4PM- grilled fish fillet with veggies and a little bit of noodles

5PM- iced coffee w/ sugar syrup (eeeeeeeeeeeek!)

Feeling really blah today (did i already mention it?). The grilled fish was a little bit greasy, now my stomach feels funny. I have only been eating healthy for about a week, could my stomach really reject greasy stuff. I feel guilty about the grilled fish fillet but that was the only healthy choice among choices such as momo (which is laden with fat), lasagna, biriyani or the curries. Aaaah!! I guess I can be given a cheat day, no?

What i don't understand is why I had to have iced coffee with sugar. I don't evern like sugary coffee. I think my mind is rebelling against itself. One devilish part says go ahead have unhealthy stuff, and the other tries to reign in.

Anyway, emotional crap is still going on. Will try to talk to the BF tonight. Maybe we'll clear things. Other than that, one report is done done done. I have another one due on Thursday.

Until next time...

_______________________________
SW: 140lbs, CW: 140lbs, GW: 120lbs
 
Hey, Juni. You did great today. Better than what you ate before. sugar don't be discourages because you ate grilled fillet and sugar syrup. I have to have sugar in my tea or coffee, so I take 1/2 spoon instead of 1. it's all about decreasing. An about the fish fillet, you made the better choice out of all the choices you had. If possible, wipe off extra oil with TISSUE!..LOL... just my little trick......hey every little bit counts~!
 
I slacked off a little bit today:

B'fast, 8am: a toast and a cup of tea with milk but no sugar

Snack 11am: small egg sandwich on white bread---yikes (just something i grabbed coz i had absolutely no time to pack lunch today) grrrrrrr!

Lunch 3pm: Tuna veggies and macaroni salad (small)

Dinner 7.30pm: one chappati and cooked green beans

Been making sure that I drink at least 3 litres of water. I used to drink a lot already, but now I consciously make sure that I DO get 3 litres of water everyday.

Had to skip yoga. Must get up on time tomorrow, must get up on time tomorrow, must get up on time tomorrow, must get up on time tomorrow....

Am also combining C25K with yoga. Let's see...

Khaleda, been using that tissue trick too. I does help. And as u said, every bit counts.
I don't like sugar on my milk or coffee, so it is strange i wanted sugar syrup in my iced coffee...it is like whatever one part of my mind says not to have the other part says I MUST have.
 
Hey Juni! Just popping in to say hi :)

Im sooo jealous that you are in India. I would love to travel there. I have many friends from India and i LOVE their food. It's a good thing i cant make Indian food because otherwise Im sure i would be 300 pounds heavier. Its sooooo good:drool5:

I have tried yoga twice and really enjoyed it. I've been meaning to go to a pilates class for some time but am never free when a class is offered..frustration!

Anyway, great to see that you are consistent with monitoring your food intake!
 
So I am a little frustrated today. Almost two weeks of very carefully monitoring what I eat and yoga, when I wore my slightly tight pair of pants, I had expected it to feel a little loose around the waist. Instead, I feel like it was tighter than the last time I tried it on. I was thinking about wearing that to work, but it put me in such a bad mood that I didn't wanna do much after that. Whatever I wore, I felt like I had gained more weight. It is not TOM, but my stomach feels bloated and I feel much more heavier than I did say, yesterday (and I have also been carefully monitoring my sodium content). This is really discouraging. I still haven't been near the scales (4 more days), but now I am thinking what's the point of weighing myself? Gaaaah!!!

Anywho...

Did one hour of yoga today in the morning.

My food log for today:

8.30am: Muesli with yogurt

11am: Dark chocolate with hazelnut- 2 pieces (why oh why do I do this to myself?)

1pm: chappati, cooked cauliflower, soy nuggets mixed with tomato

5.30pm- a handful of almonds

7.30- steamed baby corn with a little olive. oil, garlic and ginger

So someone at work was leaving to go back to his country, so my office folks took him out to drink. Everyone was drinking copious amounts and eating pizza and other greasy stuff. I had my steamed corn waiting at home, and I didn't even touch the greasy stuff, drank three glasses of water. Then they ordered my favourite (grilled veggies) pizza and....and....and....and....I DID NOT EVEN HAVE A PIECE. I a pretty proud of myself.

However I had the two pieces of dark chocolate (good smooth kind) in the afternoon, so I guess it is not much of a sacrifice, when you come to think of it.

A few minutes ago I was feeling like my blood pressure was dropping, so I drank a glass of coke when I got home (that was the only sugary stuff around). Apart from the chocolate and coke, I think I did ok.

Ugh, stomach still feels bloated.
 
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