Note: This is Kanav Puri's story, who is also the author for the same.
 

It finally struck me hard one day when I met my friends after 6 years for a college reunion, and my friend dared me to complete 10 pushups in one go. I accepted the offer but to my disbelief, I could not even do more than 3 pushups. This wrecked me emotionally and mentally. Over the next few weeks, I started avoiding meeting people in large masses and almost always squirmed by way out to avoid my old friends and relatives. It was a tough time. I had two options, I could either to sulk and be content with this look or to fight back for a healthier me. Being a fighter, I accepted the challenge head on.

I was around 215 pounds (97 kgs). With persistence and dedication, I dropped 50 pounds (22.5 kgs) and went from having a beer belly to a rugged 6 pack. To be honest, the first few days were not easy. It was more of a mental block than anything else. I kept my head straight and started focusing more on the positive aspects. To keep myself engrossed, I started reading articles and scientific journals on topics such as macro nutrients, the digestive tract to advanced topics such as nutrition partitioning and metabolic syndrome.

 As I learned about the imperativeness of nutrition, I started applying it to my daily lifestyle. Being overweight with 27% BF (body fat), I reached 9% BF in 3.5 months with the right nutrition and a solid workout plan. Throughout this journey, I changed many diets. I started by limiting the intake of carbohydrates from my daily meals to a more moderate intake of proteins and a majority of healthy fats. As I lost a ton of weight, I started introducing carbs in my diet to get lean gains. The progression of my carbohydrate intake increased gradually with intake of fats going down. The supplements I used were-

1) Whey – a great and handy source for protein 

2) Creatine Monohydrate – a supplement for muscle mass and strength gains

3) BCAA- Branched Chain Amino Acids-to simulate protein synthesis.

I now feel more confident, animated and jovial. Soon, I realized that I really loved fitness and nutrition. I continued my journey and became a NESTA Certified Fitness Nutrition Coach and American Red Cross Certified Adult CPR and AED. There were days I felt like giving up or didn't want to get up, but I stayed focused with discipline and patience. That became my motto and still is. With discipline, patience, and focus, you can do anything. My message to the avid readers is if I can do it, so can you. BELIEVE IN YOURSELF!