Fitness

It’s a circular thing, this page.
I am inspired by and copying what Priyanka is doing.
She in turn, was inspired by my earlier progress on the old microblog, which sadly no longer exists.¹

Short story short, once upon a time, due to life and circumstances, I weighed close to a hundred kilos.²
I embarked on a journey that took me close to a year and half, where I learnt and internalised the basics of diet and exercise and lost 30kgs to come down to a lean 67kgs.
Cut to now, where once again, due to life and circumstances, I find myself having put on quite a bit of weight.³

Writing and logging helped then. I know it will help me once more now. Ergo this page.
It’s on the blog this time, because I am mad, that I lost my old journey. Hopefully a simple text file will not crash and die on me, and it will stay put here for a long time to come.
I’ll be adding entries up top, so if you want to read from the beginning, you’ll have to come up from the bottom.

What’s with all the jargon? Here’s a key.

2025-03-14

#

Managed to eat consistently this month.

- cw: 97.7 kgs (2025-03-14)

- gw1: 87 kgs
- gw: 68 kgs

- sw: 82.7 kgs
- hw: 97 kgs

2025-02-14

#

Trying to eat clean.
Not being able to give it the time.

- cw: 97 kgs (2025-02-14)

- gw1: 87 kgs
- gw: 68 kgs

- sw: 82.7 kgs
- hw: 97 kgs

2025-01-10

#

- cw: 97.4 kgs (2025-01-10)

- gw1: 87 kgs
- gw: 68 kgs

- sw: 82.7 kgs
- hw: 97 kgs

2024-10-11

#

Into dreaded three digit territory now!
Nothing much has happened this month.
The weight is slowly telling on my body.
Joints getting creakier.
Note to self, think we need to reprioritise now.

- cw: 100.9 kgs (2024-10-11)

- gw1: 87 kgs
- gw: 68 kgs

- sw: 82.7 kgs
- hw: 97 kgs

2024-11-08

#

Making the effort.
Slow progress.

- cw: 98.9 kgs (2024-11-08)

- gw1: 87 kgs
- gw: 68 kgs

- sw: 82.7 kgs
- hw: 97 kgs

2024-09-14

#

Ok, coming back to log after a month.
One big life thing is out of the way.
Should hopefully give me more leeway to focus on losing weight.

- cw: 99.4 kgs (2024-09-14)

- gw1: 87 kgs
- gw: 68 kgs

- sw: 82.7 kgs
- hw: 97 kgs

2024-08-09

#

Nothing’s really happened the past few months.
Barely keeping my head above water.

- cw: 98.6 kgs (2024-08-09)

- gw1: 87 kgs
- gw: 68 kgs

- sw: 82.7 kgs
- hw: 97 kgs

2024-03-04

#

Ok! Time to probably start focussing on this.
Because at least a third of my thoughts are about how my weight’s creeping up.

- cw: 98.6 kgs (2024-03-04)

- gw1: 87 kgs
- gw: 68 kgs

- sw: 82.7 kgs
- hw: 97 kgs

2024-02-26

#

Grrr!

- cw: 98.5 kgs (2024-02-26)

- gw1: 87 kgs
- gw: 68 kgs

- sw: 82.7 kgs
- hw: 97 kgs

2024-02-19

#

Not gonna to lie. Ate a /lot/ this week!

- cw: 98 kgs (2024-02-19)

- gw1: 87 kgs
- gw: 68 kgs

- sw: 82.7 kgs
- hw: 97 kgs

2024-02-12

#

I’m trying dammit! 😂

- cw: 98 kgs (2024-02-12)

- gw1: 87 kgs
- gw: 68 kgs

- sw: 82.7 kgs
- hw: 97 kgs

2024-01-22

#

Went down a good amount, but I know I am still holidaying so will know properly only in the second week of Feb
Trying in the meanwhile to somehow rejig my life, to healthy eating and try and find time to cook myself. That too is something I will only know at the end of Feb.
In the meanwhile, slow and steady and intentionally does it …

- cw: 97.1 kgs (2024-01-22)

- gw1: 87 kgs
- gw: 68 kgs

- sw: 82.7 kgs
- hw: 97 kgs

2024-01-15

#

Still in a Christmas food coma 😂

- cw: 97.6 kgs (2024-01-15)

- gw1: 87 kgs
- gw: 68 kgs

- sw: 82.7 kgs
- hw: 97 kgs

2024-01-05

#

Let’s go, New Year.

- cw: 96.6 kgs (2024-01-05)

- gw1: 87 kgs
- gw: 68 kgs

- sw: 82.7 kgs
- hw: 97 kgs

2023-12-29

#

Started the year at 91 and ended up 6 kgs heavier.
This was that kind of year.
I did however have the presence of mind to see how this happened, and not end up stressed and surprised.
I just have that kind of life and I realise that I prioritise other things that are more important to me. And this year, I saw what trading your life and health for other things feels like. This year, the tradeoff was worth it. Reflecting back, the tradeoff earlier was worth it too.
Here’s to having the space and time to work at health and fitness in the new year.

- cw: 97.10 kgs (2023-12-29)

- gw1: 87 kgs
- gw: 68 kgs

- sw: 82.7 kgs
- hw: 97 kgs

2023-12-01

#

Having more bad days than good, this time in my life.

- cw: 96 kgs (2023-12-01)

- gw1: 87 kgs
- gw: 68 kgs

- sw: 82.7 kgs
- hw: 97 kgs

2023-11-24

#

Diwali extended! 😂

- cw: 95.8 kgs (2023-11-24)

- gw1: 87 kgs
- gw: 68 kgs

- sw: 82.7 kgs
- hw: 97 kgs

2023-11-17

#

Diwali! 😂

- cw: 95.3 kgs (2023-11-17)

- gw1: 87 kgs
- gw: 68 kgs

- sw: 82.7 kgs
- hw: 97 kgs

2023-11-10

#

Moved in the right direction this week.

- cw: 95.1 kgs (2023-11-10)

- gw1: 87 kgs
- gw: 68 kgs

- sw: 82.7 kgs
- hw: 97 kgs

2023-11-03

#

Trying to get a handle on at least eating right.

- cw: 95.71 kgs (2023-11-03)

- gw1: 87 kgs
- gw: 68 kgs

- sw: 82.7 kgs
- hw: 97 kgs

2023-10-27

#

Life’s happening. Overeating is happening.

- cw: 97.1 kgs (2023-10-27)

- gw1: 87 kgs
- gw: 68 kgs

- sw: 82.7 kgs
- hw: 97 kgs

2023-10-13

#

Some lost. I realise I need to have some physical activity in my life.
Sadly life does not permit that right now.
But I hope to, soon.

- cw: 93.5 kgs (2023-10-13)

- gw1: 87 kgs
- gw: 68 kgs

- sw: 82.7 kgs
- hw: 97 kgs

2023-10-06

#

Keep on swimming …

- cw: 93.8 kgs (2023-10-06)

- gw1: 87 kgs
- gw: 68 kgs

- sw: 82.7 kgs
- hw: 97 kgs

2023-09-29

#

Sigh!

- cw: 93.9 kgs (2023-09-29)

- gw1: 87 kgs
- gw: 68 kgs

- sw: 82.7 kgs
- hw: 97 kgs

2023-09-22

#

Lost a tiny bit more.

- cw: 93.6 kgs (2023-09-22)

- gw1: 87 kgs
- gw: 68 kgs

- sw: 82.7 kgs
- hw: 97 kgs

2023-09-15

#

Lost a bit more.
Need to stay on top of this.
Struggling.

- cw: 94 kgs (2023-09-15)

- gw1: 87 kgs
- gw: 68 kgs

- sw: 82.7 kgs
- hw: 97 kgs

2023-09-08

#

Lost a bit
Now to keep at it.

- cw: 94.4 kgs (2023-09-08)

- gw1: 87 kgs
- gw: 68 kgs

- sw: 82.7 kgs
- hw: 97 kgs

2023-09-01

#

New month. Journey’s still the same.
Gained quite a bit.

- cw: 94.8 kgs (2023-09-01)

- gw1: 87 kgs
- gw: 68 kgs

- sw: 82.7 kgs
- hw: 97 kgs

2023-08-25

#

Still the same.

- cw: 93.9 kgs (2023-08-25)

- gw1: 87 kgs
- gw: 68 kgs

- sw: 82.7 kgs
- hw: 97 kgs

2023-08-18

#

Been quite a while since I updated this.
Too much happened. Gained a bit of weight.

- cw: 93.9 kgs (2023-08-18)

- gw1: 87 kgs
- gw: 68 kgs

- sw: 82.7 kgs
- hw: 97 kgs

2023-05-01

#

Made quite a bit of progress.
Hoping this sticks.

- cw: 92.1 kgs (2023-05-01)

- gw1: 87 kgs
- gw: 68 kgs

- sw: 82.7 kgs
- hw: 97 kgs

2023-03-27

#

I think my scale is broken 😂
No, it’s a couple of days of not being intentional.

- cw: 94.6 kgs (2023-03-27)

- gw1: 87 kgs
- gw: 68 kgs

- sw: 82.7 kgs
- hw: 97 kgs

2023-03-20

#

Giving up on the gym for now.
I cannot seem to manage it with the rest of my life.
Will keep continuing with my walks

- cw: 93.7 kgs (2023-03-20)

- gw1: 87 kgs
- gw: 68 kgs

- sw: 82.7 kgs
- hw: 97 kgs

2023-03-13

#

Would you believe it? Still sick!

- cw: 93.7 kgs (2023-03-13)

- gw1: 87 kgs
- gw: 68 kgs

- sw: 82.7 kgs
- hw: 97 kgs

2023-03-06

#

Still sick!
Taking time off.

- cw: 93.7 kgs (2023-03-06)

- gw1: 87 kgs
- gw: 68 kgs

- sw: 82.7 kgs
- hw: 97 kgs

2023-02-27

#

Been sick as a dog all week.
Taking time off.

- cw: 93 kgs (2023-02-27)

- gw1: 87 kgs
- gw: 68 kgs

- sw: 82.7 kgs
- hw: 97 kgs

2023-02-20

#

Gained weight.
The gym is making me hungry!

- cw: 93.2 kgs (2023-02-20)

- gw1: 87 kgs
- gw: 68 kgs

- sw: 82.7 kgs
- hw: 97 kgs

2023-02-13

#

No change.
No news is good news :)

- cw: 92.7 kgs (2023-02-13)

- gw1: 87 kgs
- gw: 68 kgs

- sw: 82.7 kgs
- hw: 97 kgs

2023-02-06

#

Still trying to get used to physical activity.
The diet’s all off, because I am hungry after the gym and I eat more.
Keep track and doing things slow.

- cw: 92.7 kgs (2023-02-06)

- gw1: 87 kgs
- gw: 68 kgs

- sw: 82.7 kgs
- hw: 97 kgs

2023-01-30

#

In pain.
Trying to get used to the gym and the hurt.

- cw: 93.1 kgs (2023-01-30)

- gw1: 87 kgs
- gw: 68 kgs

- sw: 82.7 kgs
- hw: 97 kgs

2023-01-23

#

I began working out a bit.
I ate because I was hungry and gained weight 😂
Once the aches and pains go away, will look at matching diet and exercise.

- cw: 92.8 kgs (2023-01-23)

- gw1: 87 kgs
- gw: 68 kgs

- sw: 82.7 kgs
- hw: 97 kgs

2023-01-18

#

I’ve begun taking care of myself in earnest, with small baby steps this week.
Still noting what I eat.
Walking regularly.

- cw: 92.4 kgs (2023-01-18)

- gw1: 87 kgs
- gw: 68 kgs

- sw: 82.7 kgs
- hw: 97 kgs

2023-01-09

#

I’m still feasting! 😂

- cw: 92.2 kgs (2023-01-09)

- gw1: 87 kgs
- gw: 68 kgs

- sw: 82.7 kgs
- hw: 97 kgs

2023-01-02

#

Nothing’s changed yet 😂

- cw: 91.4 kgs (2023-01-02)

- gw1: 87 kgs
- gw: 68 kgs

- sw: 82.7 kgs
- hw: 97 kgs

2022-12-30

#

Ending the year, close to 10kgs heavier than I began and about 22kgs away from my goal.
The log has kept me sane and away from a panicky “How did this happen?!” attack.
I know how I put on the fat and I’ve given myself the grace to be ok with it.
I’ve been through this before. I can do this again.
Here’s to showing up, keeping at it and persistently doing the work, in the new year.

- cw: 91.4 kgs (2022-12-30)

- gw1: 87 kgs
- gw: 68 kgs

- sw: 82.7 kgs
- hw: 97 kgs

2022-12-18

#

Two words.
Stress Ate.
And will now festive eat 😂
So just keeping an eye on my weight.
At least this time, I am not surprised about how I packed on so much weight.
I have seen each kilo rise, and I have been cognizant of what I was feeling and what I was doing.
Makes it easy to be kind on myself and give myself grace.
Makes it easy to be persistent and show up anyway!

- cw: 90.8 kgs (2022-12-12)

- gw1: 87 kgs
- gw: 68 kgs

- sw: 82.7 kgs
- hw: 97 kgs

2022-12-12

#

Haven’t written here for a month
But life really went topsy turvy
I had been keeping track though Big swing up over last time

- cw: 89.3 kgs (2022-12-12)

- gw1: 87 kgs
- gw: 68 kgs

- sw: 82.7 kgs
- hw: 97 kgs

2022-11-14

#

Don’t know if I was hallucinating last week.
But the weights were all wrong.
I was 88.8 last. Not 88.
And obviously no goal was broken.
Anyhoo, I seem to have lost a teensy bit!
Back to the grind and doing it with intention :)

- cw: 88.5 kgs (2022-11-14)

- gw1: 87 kgs
- gw: 68 kgs

- sw: 82.7 kgs
- hw: 97 kgs

2022-11-09

#

Hit goal one!
Yippee!
On to the next!

- cw: 88 kgs (2022-11-09)

- gw1: 87 kgs 👍
- gw2: 85 kgs
- gw: 68 kgs

- sw: 82.7 kgs
- hw: 97 kgs

2022-10-31

#

Lost about a kilo since I last updated.
Now to just keep at it.
Rejigged the goal weights, to motivate me some

- cw: 88 kgs (2022-10-31)

- gw1: 87 kgs
- gw: 68 kgs

- sw: 82.7 kgs
- hw: 97 kgs

2022-10-25

#

Some weight loss.
I had nothing to do with this though.
Too much life happening and I just zombied throught the week.

- cw: 88.9 kgs (2022-10-25)

- gw1: 81 kgs
- gw2: 78 kgs
- gw3: 75 kgs
- gw4: 72 kgs
- gw5: 69 kgs
- gw6: 68 kgs

- sw: 82.7 kgs
- hw: 97 kgs

2022-10-16

#

Gained a kilo again!
I started all those months ago to lose weight, and I’ve gained close to 7 kgs!
Talk about a kick in the pants.
Don’t know when I will be able to gain momentum to start pushing this down.
But watching and being as intentional as possible is helping me stay sane and not panic.

- cw: 89.3 kgs (2022-10-16)

- gw1: 81 kgs
- gw2: 78 kgs
- gw3: 75 kgs
- gw4: 72 kgs
- gw5: 69 kgs
- gw6: 68 kgs

- sw: 82.7 kgs
- hw: 97 kgs

2022-10-09

#

Still on autopilot. Some more weight lost.

- cw: 88.4 kgs (2022-10-09)

- gw1: 81 kgs
- gw2: 78 kgs
- gw3: 75 kgs
- gw4: 72 kgs
- gw5: 69 kgs
- gw6: 68 kgs

- sw: 82.7 kgs
- hw: 97 kgs

2022-10-02

#

Was on autopilot tihs week.
Happy to see some weight loss

- cw: 88.7 kgs (2022-10-02)

- gw1: 81 kgs
- gw2: 78 kgs
- gw3: 75 kgs
- gw4: 72 kgs
- gw5: 69 kgs
- gw6: 68 kgs

- sw: 82.7 kgs
- hw: 97 kgs

2022-09-25

#

A whopping two kilo gain.
Life happened.
Stress ate.
This time, I am observant and am letting it be.
I can see the stress, and I see my reaction to it.
This time, the gain does not catch me unawares, so at least, the weight gain is not another source of stress for me.
I realise it will be a lot of hard work to get rid of this.
But for now, it helps me cope.

- cw: 89 kgs (2022-09-25)

- gw1: 81 kgs
- gw2: 78 kgs
- gw3: 75 kgs
- gw4: 72 kgs
- gw5: 69 kgs
- gw6: 68 kgs

- sw: 82.7 kgs
- hw: 97 kgs

2022-09-18

#

Ok. did not gain any this week.
So that’s heartening.

- cw: 87 kgs (2022-09-18)

- gw1: 81 kgs
- gw2: 78 kgs
- gw3: 75 kgs
- gw4: 72 kgs
- gw5: 69 kgs
- gw6: 68 kgs

- sw: 82.7 kgs
- hw: 97 kgs

2022-09-13

#

Huge weight gain in two weeks.
Hopefully the end of travel, means I can get it all down.
Mentally, getting a bit stressed as the weight keeps inching up.
Have to keep reminding myself that I am doing the best that I can, eating as well as I can and as intentionally as I can.

- cw: 87 kgs (2022-09-13)

- gw1: 81 kgs
- gw2: 78 kgs
- gw3: 75 kgs
- gw4: 72 kgs
- gw5: 69 kgs
- gw6: 68 kgs

- sw: 82.7 kgs
- hw: 97 kgs

2022-08-29

#

Travelling. Just trying to eat as well as I can.

- cw: 84.7 kgs (2022-08-29)

- gw1: 81 kgs
- gw2: 78 kgs
- gw3: 75 kgs
- gw4: 72 kgs
- gw5: 69 kgs
- gw6: 68 kgs

- sw: 82.7 kgs
- hw: 97 kgs

2022-08-21

#

Life’s been crazy.
And my weight’s gone up.
I’m now close to 2kgs heavies than when I started.

- cw: 84.5 kgs (2022-08-21)

- gw1: 81 kgs
- gw2: 78 kgs
- gw3: 75 kgs
- gw4: 72 kgs
- gw5: 69 kgs
- gw6: 68 kgs

- sw: 82.7 kgs
- hw: 97 kgs

2022-08-14

#

It went up by half a kilo this week.
But! I ate clean.
So, to just stick to the plan and wait.

- cw: 83.9 kgs (2022-08-14)

- gw1: 81 kgs
- gw2: 78 kgs
- gw3: 75 kgs
- gw4: 72 kgs
- gw5: 69 kgs
- gw6: 68 kgs

- sw: 82.7 kgs
- hw: 97 kgs

2022-08-07

#

Well, it’s beginning to go down a bit 🤞

- cw: 83.4 kgs (2022-08-07)

- gw1: 81 kgs
- gw2: 78 kgs
- gw3: 75 kgs
- gw4: 72 kgs
- gw5: 69 kgs
- gw6: 68 kgs

- sw: 82.7 kgs
- hw: 97 kgs

2022-08-01

#

Stayed the same. (well, mostly)
Will just keep going this week too.

- cw: 84.0 kgs (2022-08-01)

- gw1: 81 kgs
- gw2: 78 kgs
- gw3: 75 kgs
- gw4: 72 kgs
- gw5: 69 kgs
- gw6: 68 kgs

- sw: 82.7 kgs
- hw: 97 kgs

2022-07-25

#

Got stressed. Binged on food. Gained weight. Oh well!
Just keep truckin’

- cw: 83.9 kgs (2022-07-25)

- gw1: 81 kgs
- gw2: 78 kgs
- gw3: 75 kgs
- gw4: 72 kgs
- gw5: 69 kgs
- gw6: 68 kgs

- sw: 82.7 kgs
- hw: 97 kgs

2022-07-18

#

Back from a medium sized trip out of town.
Eating on the road was definitely not healthy.
However, I tried to be really intentional about what I was eating.
(Did not always succeed. Lots of Maggi. Lots of Sweets 😂)
Lost 500g to come back to the weight I was about three weeks ago.
That’s a win in my book.

- cw: 83.2 kgs (2022-07-18)

- gw1: 81 kgs
- gw2: 78 kgs
- gw3: 75 kgs
- gw4: 72 kgs
- gw5: 69 kgs
- gw6: 68 kgs

- sw: 82.7 kgs
- hw: 97 kgs

2022-06-27

#

And … 600g gained.
Think I ate fairly clean this week.
No reason to see why I gained. Figuring out things like this, are why I need to log stuff.
Will make food logging a part of my daily routine now. There’ll be fits and stumbles, before I get into some sort of rhythm with that.
But, this is the journey. And this is the work.

- cw: 83.7 kgs (2022-06-27)

- gw1: 81 kgs
- gw2: 78 kgs
- gw3: 75 kgs
- gw4: 72 kgs
- gw5: 69 kgs
- gw6: 68 kgs

- sw: 82.7 kgs
- hw: 97 kgs

2022-06-20

#

Have gotten into eating pulses regularly.
Broke down and ate junk a couple of times.
500g lost. Fairly good week.

- cw: 83.1 kgs (2022-06-20)

- gw1: 81 kgs
- gw2: 78 kgs
- gw3: 75 kgs
- gw4: 72 kgs
- gw5: 69 kgs
- gw6: 68 kgs

- sw: 82.7 kgs
- hw: 97 kgs

2022-06-13

#

Weekly update.
Weight’s up by a kilo over the past week.
I attribute it to switching to wholly homecooked meals and having regular water intake.
Since a kind neighbour is cooking, I have no say in what goes into the food.
But right now I am just happy, I get good food.
Now that I am eating at a regular cadence, my next step will be to increase the level of protein intake.
Will try doing boiled eggs / pulses / protein shakes for the next week or so, to make that a habit too.

- cw: 83.6 kgs (2022-06-13)

- gw1: 81 kgs
- gw2: 78 kgs
- gw3: 75 kgs
- gw4: 72 kgs
- gw5: 69 kgs
- gw6: 68 kgs

- sw: 82.7 kgs
- hw: 97 kgs

2022-06-09

#

Attempted to eat on time.
Failed. Will keep trying.
Eating clean continues to happen.

- cw: 83.3 kgs (2022-06-09)

- gw1: 81 kgs
- sw: 82.7 kgs
- hw: 97 kgs

2022-06-08

#

Turning off, most of the goal weights, while I do frequent updates ⁴
Another good day healthwise, yesterday.
Gained weight, but I feel much better than I have in weeks.
Think I’ll stick to eating healthy this week and begin logging next week.

- cw: 83.8 kgs (2022-06-08)

- gw1: 81 kgs
- sw: 82.7 kgs
- hw: 97 kgs

2022-06-07

#

Will drop down to a weekly cadence sooner or later, but right now I feel like logging the struggles as I begin.
Switched over to eating home cooked food, by a lady in my neighbourhood.
That seems to have solved a lot of bodily issues; have gained some weight though.
I’m content with this happening, until I am ok eating clean.
And then start calorie counting.
And then, some while after that, add in some exercise as I go.
Here’s to an intentional journey.

- cw: 83.3 kgs (2022-06-07)

- gw1: 81 kgs
- gw2: 78 kgs
- gw3: 75 kgs
- gw4: 72 kgs
- gw5: 69 kgs
- gw6: 68 kgs

- sw: 82.7 kgs
- hw: 97 kgs

Begin!

#

- cw: 82.7 kgs (2022-06-05)

- gw1: 81 kgs
- gw2: 78 kgs
- gw3: 75 kgs
- gw4: 72 kgs
- gw5: 69 kgs
- gw6: 68 kgs

- sw: 82.7 kgs
- hw: 97 kgs

There’s bit of trepidation as I begin here.
Will I be able to do it? Or will I be overwhelmed? I was waiting for some clear window and some headspace to start, but apparently that is not on the cards.
So the best thing I can do is start, and do it slowly.
My only commitment is to show up everyday.