He was a teetotaler who never played any sport and weighed 92 kg.
Today, he can run up to 36 hours. In 2018, he completed three 100 miler marathons in a period of six months.
Rediff reader Shajan Samuel, 43 from Bengaluru shares his incredible weight loss story. You can share yours too.
- Earlier in this series: This guy lost 41 kg in 10 months
I had never played any sport actively in school. The closest I came to playing was as a substitute goal keeper of the school team where I could barely play.
I currently work for Aptech Ltd in a leadership role.
My job profile includes extensive travelling. I travel 10 days in a month.
Over a period of time due to unhealthy eating and lack of physical activity, I gained weight.
I weighed 92 kg.
I was 36 when I started running in 2013.
I could barely run a few metres. Also, at the time, I didn't understand the science of losing weight.
My algorithm was faulty.
I used to burn 400 calories and consume 2,000 calories in a day.
I realised the futility of my efforts and made it a point to burn more and consume less calories so as to be more mindful of my choices.
Once I decided to be an ultra-runner (cover a distance over 42.195 km) I knew for sure I needed to be light.
How I lost weight
My transformation started in October 2017.
With discipline, hard work and healthy eating habits, I managed to lose 20 kg in 3 months.
I have always been an early morning riser. I continued to wake up at 5 am and sleep at 10 pm. I cut down on social evenings, avoided drink and dine parties to begin with.
Here's my daily schedule:
- I run 5 days a week and clock in 50 km every week.
- Before running, I have half a banana. After running, I finish the other half.
- Breakfast: Two eggs, cereals or idlis with a glass of coconut water.
- At 11 am green tea.
- Lunch at 1 pm: Two rotis, 3 teaspoon rice, dal or a salad.
- Between 3 and 4 pm: Nuts and green tea.
- Dinner at 6.30 pm: Grilled fish, salad, soup or boiled vegetables.
- I stopped white sugar completely 18 months ago. No aerated drink, no cakes, pastries, chocolates, French fries and burgers.
- I have always been a teetotaller. Today, I believe the best drink is water. I have a minimum of 3 litres of water a day.
I do my own training but I did a comprehensive blood test before getting in to ultra-running .
Success story
I completed my first 100 miler (161 km) running for 36 hours without two nights of sleep.
In 2018, I completed three 100 miler in six months.
I run 50 km a week. If I am preparing for a 100 miler (161 km) then I aim for approx 70 km in a week.
I also make it a point of do strength training and work on my core and glutes.
I took me just focused three months to shed 20 kg and adopt a healthy lifestyle.
When I check in to hotels I carry my own luggage to my room.
Even if I have an appointment on the 20th floor, I walk up the stairs. Post lunch I go for a 2 km walk.
Challenges
The most challenging part was not eating between 6 and 8 am.
Sometimes I felt like eating the bedsheet, but I never kept anything at home to eat.
So even when I woke up in the middle of the night due to hunger, there would be nothing to tempt me.
My body has now fully embraced the transition.
With the passage of time I have learned the art of circumventing my temptation.
Learnings
Our minds can be so powerful, that it can subvert the body.
There is a direct relation between our mind and what we can accomplish in life.
My goal is to complete the Khardungla Ultra Marathon (72 km), the world's highest ultra marathon in September this year.
This race is only for the fittest and very experienced runners. The harsh conditions makes this extremely tough as you will be running approximately 60 km of the race at above 4000 m (14,000ft)!
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