My 15-Year ‘Weight-Gain-Loss’ battle
Left: 18 Years/ Right: 20 Years old me. And then repeat. Twice.
It was 15 years ago, when I first saw that weighing scale cross 100. To ensure I understood I’d crossed a line, the makers of that scale had, very kindly, marked 100 in red. I got the point.
Not that I needed a number to tell me that I was unfit. The fact that I couldn’t run more than 250m at a stretch, or that I couldn’t look at my feet standing straight, or that I frequently felt a pain in the centre of my chest — should’ve all been markers enough. But somehow, in all those years, I was never able to get up and do something about it.
Then one day I did. I lost 35kgs in 10 months! Woah!
I’m the right-most guy in both those pics.
Impressive right? Calls for a celebration? The dragon has been slain! Let the revelry begin! Well, it began. Lasted two years. And by the time I realised what was happening, I was back at 85kg+. In the decade that followed, that same weight-loss-gain cycle repeated itself thrice.
The BIG Question
Along the way, as I battled my recurring obesity problem, I became obsessed with researching the topic. From books, to blogs, to talks to seminars — I guzzled through a ton of information in an attempt to find the holy grail of fitness:
How do I get fit and then stay so?
Is it about diet or exercise or both? Is fat the problem or carbs or both or none? Does everyone lose fat the same way or are we all built different? The more I explored, the more the picture blurred. Experts couldn’t seem to agree. Scientists seemed to point in diametrically opposite directions. And personal experiences varied so widely that you couldn’t draw a patterm.
As I lay there, drowning in a sea of divergent information, a new, bigger question started troubling me. How is it that an issue that has so much written about it, that concerns almost half of humanity, hasn’t been solved yet?
Forget solved:
Why is obesity a bigger issue today than it’s ever been in the history of mankind?
Part of the answer lies in Economics. ‘Fitness’ is an industry worth billions of dollars. Dollars that wouldn’t know what to do if the obesity question got answered. So they find themselves in a unique spot. They’ve got to sell us something that looks like the answer, while ensuring it never really is. But how do they achieve that?
They do it by answering questions they want to answer. Not the ones you are asking.
Think of the last 3 fitness related articles you read. ’The 22-day KILLER abs workout’, ‘6 foods you need to eliminate from your diet TODAY’ and ’This One exercise can help you lose 2 inches in 10 days FLAT’. Sound familiar?
More importantly, are these the questions that trouble you when it comes to health and fitness? Or are they the simpler ones like — ‘I need to lose weight, where do I start?’ Or ‘I want to hit the gym, what do I need to know?’
Unfortunately, the modern, 21st century brain, loves fact-rich information served in a clickbait-y way. So lists like ’10 weight-loss shortcuts you’d never believe’ or ’7 morning routines to kill belly fat’ are infinitely more click-worthy than ‘How do I begin my weight loss journey?’ or ’Should I just stop having carbs completely?’. The latter, as you’d notice, are simple questions with complex answers. Questions, framed the way your brain actually asks them (Have you ever woken up thinking — ‘What are the 9 absolutely shocking truths about Avocado?’).
Problem is, no one’s ever put them together in a narrative and served them to you.
Enter FITSHIT.
My attempt at remedying this situation. *drumroll*
Over these past 15 years, I’ve waded through the murky ‘fat-to-fit’ waters enough number of times to now, finally, know my way around the landscape. A landscape littered with ’10 ways’ and ‘How to’s’ and ’14 truths’. FITSHIT, is my attempt to guide you through these landmines and weave a narrative that your brain can actually absorb and deal with.
So what is FITSHIT?
It’s a weekly fitness blog cum newsletter.
Every week, we pick up one ’simple-sounding — yet-complex’ question about fitness and dive deep into it. We start with my perspective on the issue and the personal experiences I’ve had while trying various approaches. Along the way, I shall provide links and references to the scientifically backed resources that I’m basing my point of view on.
The Deal: Read through my take on the topic → Find anything along the way that intrigues you → Follow the links and go as deep as the rabbit hole does
Like the deal? Let me sweeten it for you — it’s FREE!
All the years when I was struggling to get my fitness journey started, I hoped and wished for something like FITSHIT. A one-stop solution that answered one-question at a time. FITSHIT is free because I’m doing it for myself. For my 17-year-old, 104.5kg self. If you too can benefit from it, well that’s just great now isn’t it!
All I ask in return is to spread the word. If you know someone who’d benefit from this, then clap for it, share it, pass it around.
If this has value, then let it become a value snowball that rips through the weight-loss & fitness industry and forces them to stop selling us bullshit. Ok maybe I’m getting way ahead of myself. But let’s atleast give it a shot!
Shall we!
More Like This
Sorry, no related articles to display.
Hi Shashank. Really need some help. It turns out “added dietary fiber” is a problem for my gut so the yogabar protein bar (20gm protein and 10.5 gm dietary fiber) is out for me. I have come across a ritebite protein bar which has 20gm protein and 5 gm fiber. In your analysis of protein bars there is a rite bar, but not the one I am mentioning. What are your thoughts on that.
RiteBite Max Protein Active Choco Fudge Bars 450g – Pack of 6 (75g x 6) https://www.amazon.in/dp/B00DRE7KOK/ref=cm_sw_r_cp_api_i_3IAkFb5S5YA9Y
hey man…sorry not very active here nowadays…busy building thewholetruthfoods.com
but just look at the list of ingredients on that bar. if you find stuff you can’t pronounce…i’d say your gut wont agree with it either
Wow dude…i have subscribed..i am 32 and weigh a 100 kg, physically active, not much tummy, strong. But with a high fat percent and bmi. Now have started a journey to lose at least 20 kg and lead a fit middle age to be honest. I know some stuff about nutrition and am pursuing a couple certification on this as i am very interested about it. Anyway, what u write is very helpful..looking forward to more. Thanks.
thanks a ton for the kind words!
I really loved your blogs. Came here via a Google search for checking if jaggery is really better than sugar, and I got hooked. Nice articles.
thanks a ton for the kind words!
Hey, thanks, bro. Down-to-earth and brilliantly written. Glad I found your stuff!
I’m 61 and trying to stay fit. Have some questions about increasing muscle mass at my age, so would appreciate any inputs you may have.
Thanks again!