Weight loss: My tailor never takes my measurements because I have been the same size for the past 12 years

As age catches up, our fears regarding everything increase manifold. 59-year-old Sanjay, who is also a doctor by profession was scared of the implications of his tremendously unhealthy lifestyle on his body.
But, it was only when he was diagnosed with diabetes and high blood pressure that he realised it was time for him to change his lifestyle.
Another motivating factor behind the same was that he did not want to be bedridden and dependent on anyone when he got old.
From clean eating to completely shunning food from outside, he made a lot of lifestyle changes that helped him shed a whopping 26 kilos. Read his story to know more.
Name: Sanjay Bhagde
Occupation: Doctor, General Physician
Age: 59 years
Highest weight recorded: 91 kilos
Weight lost: 26 kilos
Duration it took me to lose weight: 7 months
The turning point: Being a doctor I know how diabetes, cholesterol and high blood pressure can have a severe impact on our health. And when I got diagnosed with all three, I had no option but to turn healthy.
My breakfast: One and a half medium sized thepla, stir-fried seasonal veggies mixed with chana and a bowl of raw sprouts.
My lunch: One and a half roti with a dash of ghee, green vegetable, legume-based vegetable, dal, Gujarati chaas and a glass of vegetable juice before lunch.
My dinner: I try to keep my dinner really light. I eat one Gujarati non-fried snack (khandvi, dhokla, hando, patarvelia, thepla with paneer, dahi vada, stuffed paratha with curd). I avoid eating rice or potato at night.
I indulge in: I have no cheat days. Never! Because once you get used to avoiding certain types of food items, eating them again will only remind you of what you are missing.
I have not eaten deep fried food for over a decade now and I don't miss it.
My workout: I only walk, around 13,000 steps a day and 15,000 on weekends.
Low-calorie recipes I swear by: Any dish made of chana.
Fitness secrets I unveiled:
1. Work out more on weekends or eat less as it's on weekends that one can undo several days of careful diet.
2. You are what you eat. Stick to the diet that your forefathers ate, modify it to a healthier version if possible and combine it with exercise to get optimum results.
3. Avoid rice/refined flour/rice/deep fried food and potatoes.
4. Make eating at home your new eating-out.
How do I stay motivated?
1. Fear of being dependent on someone during my old age.
2. The positive effect of my health status on family members, especially on my children.
How do you ensure you don’t lose focus?
1. Psychosis of not being able to enjoy my life in my later years.
2. Images of being bedridden and the fear of long stays in Hospitals.
3. My getting hit by a car is not in my hands but what I put into my mouth certainly is. Control those circumstances that are in our hands.
What’s the most difficult part of being overweight?
Not being able to climb two floors without having to stop to breathe, excessive sweating and not being able to fit into clothes.
What shape do you see yourself 10 years down the line?
Same as I am now. Being able to fit into the pair of jeans you brought a decade back is the happiest feeling. My tailor never takes my measurements as I have been the same size for over a decade now.
What are the lifestyle changes you made?
1. Stopped watching TV
2. Stopped eating out at restaurants, as I said eating at home is eating out for me.
3. Started walking several times a day as it's the accumulation of the minutes put in daily rather than one big bout of exercise.
4. Using stairs, parking the car away from work, never sitting at a place for too long, like getting my tea myself rather than asking someone to do it.
5. Never relaxing on weekends.
What was the lowest point for you?
Seeing myself in a photograph from a wedding. Despite wearing the best clothes ever, I ended up having not just a triple chin but a quadruple one.
Lessons learnt from weight loss: The human mind is wonderful. We have a lot of will power in us, all we need to find is the right motivation. All our problems start from the kitchen, so all solutions can be found in the kitchen. With the right type of nutrition, one can have a healthy life.
I'm off tablets for Diabetes (diabetes reversal), BP and cholesterol for over eight years now just by making certain tweaks in my food and lifestyle.
My waist has remained the same, 31 inches for 12 years now.