How does a busy HR professional Archana drop 15 kilos by eating twice as much food?​

Hi friends, welcome to one more video testimonial with one of our mentees. Her name is Archana and she is a HR Senior Analyst. So before we get into today's interview, let's welcome Archana to this video interview. Archana, welcome, welcome. And it's been pleasure coaching you. I think it's been very long we met. So I'll first introduce myself, then I will have a quick introduction, and then we go through the, uh, this video testimony. So my name is Aravind and I am a lifestyle coach, and also I founded Haffit a year back, and we have been coached multiple people across the world, 20+ countries and 200+ clients. So Archana is one of our mentees and she is one of the most committed constant, consistent, and more passionate about her fitness journey. And she did an amazing transformation. I think her transformation is— it has actually inspired me because I was coaching her and I, I know how much she used to, you know, follow to the core. And that's why she, she was able to achieve that kind of a result. She lost, I think, 15 kgs during my journey and she continued to even beyond the program has been ended with me and she continued to able to follow that routine and she actually progressed much more than what she is. And now, without further ado, I will just welcome Archana to this call. Archana, can we have a quick introduction and then we get into the call?

Thanks, Arvind. I'm Archana. I'm from India, Bangalore. I started my journey with Arvind some time ago, but the journey has been very helpful for me. And, um, I— the, the kind of suggestions, the kind of tips, the kind of, um, uh, hints he's given me to not just lose weight but to maintain the weight has been very helpful, uh, in carrying on this journey even after my program, my fitness regime with him, training program ended with him. So thank you so much.

Thank you, thank you so much, Archana, first of all, giving this time. And definitely, I think, uh, This interview is going to inspire a lot of women out there who think that being a busy professional, people think that it is very difficult to maintain and follow the regime. But I think you are the true example for that. Even though with your busy schedule and your kids and your own personal life, all of that, you still give the importance. And one of the great things, what I understand, what I actually really love about you is you still continue it. I know people who always join some kind of a fitness program, they end and they go back to previous habits. But you are one of the, I think, true model, role model for that is, you know, you, you're, you learned it, what is that basics, and you able to prolong, follow them even today. So that's hats off for you for that. And, um, let's get into, uh, today's interview. First of all, um, um, I, I do remember, I think when we had a first call, you mentioned that, you know, I'm eating 2 less but still I'm not able to lose weight. What could be the reason? And I still remember those days, and, um, and I told you that, uh, you are eating less than your BMR and your body minimum required calories. You are into a kind of a low metabolism state. And I do remember I have given double the food what you used to eat. I, I remember you said I'm eating 900 or 1000 calories something, and we started our journey with, um, around 1800 calories surplus. And I, I, you asked me one question, because I am eating so less, I'm still not losing weight. If I eat double the food, will I not increase my weight? I don't want to go back to my state. And I do remember I said that, you know, believe me, your, your metabolism is, your actual calories or maintain required energy per day is much, much higher because of your activity levels. Trust me, and you, you will definitely enjoy the journey. And I do remember you come back to me and said that after a couple of weeks, I, I'm able to do my activity well. And can you just share that experience, uh, maybe in, uh, to the audience?

So when I started my journey with you, I remember I had reached a plateau.

Yeah.

And I was not knowing how to break the plateau. Yeah. When I was— my weight was in 80s, uh, and it, when it came down to, I think, higher side of the 70s, um, it was easy. But after it hit a plateau, it was getting very hard, and the only knowledge, uh, I had out of ignorance was eating less food means losing calories. Of course, calorie deficit is something that is really important in this fitness journey, but, uh, it is not something that we eat so less that it is lesser than the energy the body requires for its daily activities. So at that time, the kind of regime you put me in was something that was easily followable The diet component was something that's easily available in any Indian kitchen. The workout components that you gave was something that's enjoyable every day. I remember messaging you every day at around 6:00, 6:30 in the morning. I love my workout. So I had an amazing journey and many of it, I'm hoping many of it, I still remember and continue to follow it.

Yeah. And I do remember, I think a lot of people have the same kind of a myth what you just highlighted. Eating less is what is required to lose weight, but it is the biggest myth. Our body goes to a kind of a set point if you give too much of less calories. And because something is a minimum calories required, you should never go below that and stay there for longer period of time. That's the most important. But I think I'm glad that you trusted me and you followed eating more. I do remember the messages that time you said, I'm too much full but I'm still losing weight. After a couple of weeks, you messaged me. And how was that? Because I know that you are so much frustrated with, you know, you're not able to eat enough food but still not able to lose. You are in that frustration. So how was that period of, you know, when you started eating more food?

So I remember a funny incident that you had given me certain calories, I guess, and the food mapping to those calories. But still, I couldn't complete that particular quota of calories per day. And I was now worried on the other side. This is the amount of calories I'm supposed to eat, and I'm feeling so full and I'm not able to eat it. So, but still I was losing weight, I was getting fitter, there was inch loss happening, uh, my dress sizes were going down. So it is an amazing memory, something I'll cherish for life. It feels good.

Yeah, awesome, awesome. And, uh, one more thing, I think, uh, you also followed, uh, you always used to follow a workout. I think we, when I think we get into a call and we actually created a plan which is much, much aligned and it is very specific for you to get a better result and you, for you to get a better hypertrophy or muscle gain. So how was that journey? So I, I do know that you are even previously also follow, used to follow strength training. How was your experience, uh, with the workout routine which we followed? And I also explained you why do you need to follow this kind of a routine and this many number of sets you have to do, this much of progression you have to do. So can you just explain a little more about that?

I remember I was on a tour just before I started your fitness journey, and I couldn't even walk for like 4-5 kilometers. Uh, hiking, walking, traveling is something that's very passionate to me, and I was feeling a kind of worried that why am I not able to do it? And that's when I realized my legs are not strong. Yeah, so I remember walking 3,000 steps itself was a big task. And every day I lock, uh, 10K steps these days, you know. Worst to worst case, 8K steps will be done. So, uh, to make something a habit is, is something that I got a lot of tips from you. I made a discipline from then on when I signed up for that regime with you. So that is something that I really like. And I was very particular when I came to you and I said, I want— I'm not too comfortable with bodyweight workouts. I want something that deals with dumbbells or strength training in terms of dumbbells or kettlebells. So most of my workouts were designed based on that. So instead of cringing for my workouts, I'm not an early morning person, I'm not someone who used to love workouts at that time. So I used to finish my workouts early in the morning. So I think that credit should go to you for designing workouts such that someone would love to do it. So yes, I was very happy with that discipline that I picked it up.

No, that's one thing, right? So you know, when you commit and surrender to your mentor and you get the results. So I think I'm glad that I got a mentee like you who, you know, who understood, who listened to me. So that's why you saw the immense results. And one more thing I wanted to also stretch, I think the whole plan has been simplified in 6 habits. So how was that? Uh, did you actually— how did you feel that overall program? I know that, you know, the diet and exercise, you really enjoyed it. What, how about the overall program? You felt—

when you, uh, talk about those 6, uh, elements in that program, these are not something that's too complicated. They actually have to be a part of our lifestyle, right? So it's like brushing our teeth, it's like sleeping every day. These are mandate things for any human pain. So just like that, these also should be a part of our life. So, uh, the way you have divided it, the way you have understood and, um, deciphered it, is, uh, is so simple to understand for any common man. Uh, after that, I have spent a lot of time learning about the, the science behind it and all that, but at that moment of time, when I was starting my journey, these things made the fitness journey very, very easy and simplified.

Yeah, that's great. So hope I think, um, you, you enjoyed, uh, following this 6 habits. They are very simple. People make it more complicated. So I always, uh, even during our call, I always used to say keep it simple. Okay, if you're feeling anywhere difficult, let us know. How simple you make, that is that much easy for you to, you know, sustain that for a lifetime. And one of the most important thing is, um, I'm really glad that you understood why we, uh, why I started this whole mission is we want to make fitness part of a lifestyle. It's not like one-time a task, you do it and then you forget and you come back to that cycle. So you understood that, and I'm, I'm really, um, happy and glad and humbled with your journey. And you keep continuing your journey. And, um, before we, uh, close this call, I just have a couple of more questions, then we'll end this call. So I want to know what was the previous beliefs which has been broken down during our journey? What was your previous beliefs you had which you thought that, you know, this is not— but maybe that during this journey which made maybe I'm not right, and you know, it is— what are those 2 or 3 new beliefs has been broken during this program?

One is belief system itself. What we believe for our body is what we give to the body. If you feed your body with fear, doubt, and a kind of self-punishment we get into by feeding it with lesser calories or over cardio, you know, whatever it is. So that belief to treat the body right is the first step that I learned in this. Uh, second, when you're starting a journey, there's always a trainer required. It's like having a teacher while you're learning your ABCDs, right? It sets a very good basics there. Um, so that is something that I learned from you, that it's very important to have a trainer if you want to progress constructively at a paced duration for any journey, including fitness. Third, fitness is not a sprint that you get on a fad diet, lose 10 kilos, and you're back to your normal life. It is a marathon. It's a journey that you have to do it every day until you are cured. And as you age, it has to be given more prominence. Right? So basically, the change in belief system to believe in yourself, to believe in the mentor, to believe in the system they provide, the knowledge they provide, And second thing, that fitness is a marathon. You need to be associated with people who are into fitness. Like you yourself was working on towards a target, a destination at that time, right? And so being with people who are like-minded motivates you to lose even more weight and become fitter. So at the end of the day, it's not losing weight, it's about being stronger.

Yes, exactly. I think you mentioned two points, um, which is 100% right. I think we always think that we can do our own, and because taking someone's assistance or a mentorship or under some person whose experience will always save time, money, and your effort and your energy. You're 100% right. And the second thing is what you said about fitness has to be a long-term goal. It's a marathon. You exactly mentioned the right word. It's not a— you always have milestones during the marathon, but this marathon has to go as a lifetime. So hats off for it, and I'm really happy that, you know, you understood these things. And that was our main motto of creating the whole, uh, the program. And because I have gone through my journey, that is what I understood. I thought of Always wants to give what has worked for me, what is, uh, actually what was the challenges I faced. I want— I don't want the people to go through that thing. And I'm glad that you are understood the whole thing and you achieved your goal. And I still remember when you posted on Instagram, that's when actually it gave me a lot of satisfaction when we had a first call. And then when you posted me and said, Arvind, I posted a review, just check, because you did not even tell me then. That day actually made my day. I know. So when we had, when we started our journey with a lot of doubts and, you know, when you confidently came and showed your transformation to the whole world. So I'm really glad and humbled coaching you. And before we go to the last step, So how, how are you able to sustain it? Because most of the clients, you know, they, they take a program, they follow for 3 to 6 months and they leave it. So what was the change compared to any other plan which you followed previously and how would you able to sustain even today?

So when I approached you, I did not take any fitness plan that a trainer just gives to you. I was very vocal about what kind of fitness plan that I wanted. So strength training is something that really excites to start my day. Maybe for someone it is yoga, maybe for someone it's Pilates, whatever it is. So we have to be very sure of what our like is, because if you like something, we'll be able to follow it. Second, right kind of knowledge is what I got from you, which I'm able to use it and doesn't— I don't harm my body by giving it lesser or more than what it requires. Yeah, I remember you emphasizing about rest, resting the body for a certain day of the week. So that is also important. So basically it boils down to self-care. Yeah, everything is self-care. The food you eat, the rest you give, and the workouts you do. It's how to care for your body, something that has helped me to sustain this. Apart from that, the steps— these are simple things that anyone of us can do, right?

6 habits, I think, which actually helped you to take it from— exactly. Very simple steps.

Yeah, yeah, correct.

Okay, uh, do you want to share anything to the audience, or you want to give any message to them before we end the call?

I always learned from you, uh, Arvind, that whatever we set our eyes on, we'll always achieve it. And that's something that I also, uh, resonate with. I'm a person who believes in a lot of willpower, a person who believes in a lot of resilience. That never a day is a failure. You can always bounce back. As they say, either it's day one or one day. So what do you want is what you decide, right? We both had that same journey where we came from, where we were, and what we are today. So it's very important to trust your mentor and follow that journey for a certain duration of time, and then it becomes a lifestyle. So I'm glad whoever is the viewers, whoever is the audience, Um, you can easily trust Arvind, and I am the example here who sustained this life. I have many of my people from friends and family taking the training with him, and it's— they also have an amazing journey as good as mine.

Thank you so much, and it's a pleasure talking to you, and thanks for your time. I think, hope, uh, guys, you saw the Chinaz's journey, and go and read her, check her Instagram profile, and she has the whole transformation journey has been mentioned there. And get inspiration. It's, it's very simple. Don't make it complicated. Take expert help and get your fitness into a routine. That's the most important. It's not just losing your weight, as Achin has rightly mentioned. The fitness has to go as how you brush your teeth every single day. If you are not achieving that, whatever you do with the small tricks and tips and shortcuts is going to bounce back in no time. So keep that in mind. Take fitness seriously and take your health and fitness seriously because that is the best gift you can give it to your family and yourself. Do that investment and take your journey, and we are always there to help you. And if you, uh, we also put across a small free training for you guys, so you can go to halfit.com/training where I have revealed the 3 unsaid secrets which will actually help you to start journey. So hope you take, uh, go through that journey. And if you need any further help, you can also visit our website and book for a consultation call. Thank you, Archana. It's a pleasure talking to you, and thank you so much for giving your valuable time and sharing your journey with us. And I, I wish you all the health and fitness for lifelong. Keep continuing it, keep inspiring, and keep going as, as always. Thank you.

Thank you, Arvind. Thank you so much.

Thank you so much. Thank you. I'm really humbled, and it was a great journey. I can, I can never forget. Thank you.

It's a privilege for me to get trained under you. Thank you so much.