Wedding ceremony planner Niki Chawla, who by no means loved any sports activities or bodily exercise, dropped greater than 60 kg in three years. Here is what helped in her weight-loss journey.
How many individuals anticipate the “greatest particular person within the class” to run marathons sometime? Effectively, the story of Niki Chawla, a New Zealand-based marriage ceremony planner with roots in Punjab, will shock you. She grew up staying away from sports activities and all issues that screamed “bodily exercise.” However in 2021, she made up her thoughts to surrender unhealthy habits and work on getting match. Niki Chawla’s weight reduction transformation isn’t just about consuming proper and figuring out. Her weight-loss journey additionally includes tears and ache. She weighed 123 kg in 2021 and is now simply 58 kg. Learn on if you wish to know the way the 27-year-old girl, who as soon as hated strolling, shed all the additional kilos.
Niki Chawla: ‘I’ve been obese my complete life’
To grasp the drastic weight reduction transformation of Niki Chawla, you must know the way it began. “Previous to 2021, I’ve been obese my complete life. I don’t assume there’s a particular purpose as to why I used to be obese rising up,” says Niki Chawla. She cherished meals, however she by no means knew how a lot to eat, or what a balanced meal appeared like. “Portion management, and protein have been by no means a part of my vocabulary, and there’s no one responsible for this. I didn’t know higher, and rising up in an immigrant family, my mother and father have been working extraordinarily arduous to construct the life they’ve constructed for themselves and my household at present,” says the marriage planner. So, the explanation she saved gaining weight extra time was due to her consuming habits and an absence of second.
Niki Chawla: ‘Bodily actions have been by no means enjoyable’
As a baby, she most likely wouldn’t have considered dropping a lot weight as she by no means loved any sports activities, or bodily actions whereas rising up. “It was by no means enjoyable, principally as a result of it wasn’t straightforward for me,” she says. She didn’t have the power like most individuals. “I might get drained simply and in actuality, being the largest particular person in your class, you by no means actually obtained included in most workforce sports activities. I might skip cross nation, or our annual sports activities day,” she says. She would go to high school late when their first interval was bodily schooling. “I even tried going to the gymnasium on my own once I was 16, however once more I by no means actually loved it,” she remembers.
Niki Chawla on beginning her weight-loss journey
In 2021, she determined to show her life round and start her weight reduction transformation journey, which over time turned a journey of dwelling a wholesome life-style. “My inspiration was seeing my uncle and aunty (aged 60) in Queenstown, New Zealand, doing a number of hikes and walks. Seeing them being that energetic and match at that age made me query myself. I used to be 23 on the time, and occurring a simple 4 km stroll obtained the most effective of me,” she remembers. She could also be sharing her weight reduction journey now however on the time, she was left with leg cramps that lasted for days.
When Niki Chawla fell in love with figuring out
Understanding usually is without doubt one of the main components that performed a job in Niki’s weight reduction transformation. When she determined to begin her weight-loss journey, she began exercising with a private coach in her residence gymnasium. “My coach helped me develop into assured with figuring out, and I began having fun with figuring out and fell in love with shifting my physique,” says Niki Chawla, who did battle rope train, ran on the treadmill, did squats, and field jumps throughout her weight-loss journey.
Strolling turned Niki Chawla’s buddy
When she began her weight reduction transformation journey, she began strolling heaps. “Previous to this, I hated strolling. After I began strolling, I keep in mind crying. Even a 1-km stroll would result in ache in my legs,” remembers Chawla. With time, she elevated her tempo, and distance. “I ultimately began strolling 10-12 kms each second day. Over time, strolling turned much less difficult so I obtained into working. I did my first 11 km occasion on the Auckland Marathon in 2022,” she says. As a problem to herself, she determined to begin coaching for half marathons in 2023. “In 2024, I began working distances (as much as 32 kms), and labored quite a bit on my tempo. After beating my half marathon time in 2024 from earlier years by 20 minutes, I made a decision to take part in full marathons in 2025,” says Chawla.
Niki Chawla: ‘Diet performs a giant position in weight reduction’
Other than discovering methods to maneuver her physique, she began specializing in her eating regimen whereas on her weight reduction transformation journey. “I realised that vitamin performs a giant position in weight reduction, and only a basic wholesome life-style. I hit a tough reset on my consuming habits, appeared into what I eat and educated myself on my each day calorie consumption, vitamins, protein, carbs and fat,” she says. Consuming proper turned part of her weight reduction journey.
She even took a break from consuming do-it-yourself meals ready by her mom, and began cooking her meals herself. “I nonetheless prepare dinner my very own meals. I religiously prep my meals over the weekend, which helps me proceed on sustaining my wholesome life-style. My weekdays are sometimes lengthy as a result of nature of my work, so it’s an effective way to ensure once I come residence I’m not snacking on no matter is in sight, and simply eat my dinner,” says Niki Chawla.
You may additionally like
Niki Chawla’s weight reduction transformation: 5 issues that helped her
1. Go for a balanced eating regimen
She modified the best way she eats to keep up her wholesome weight. Meaning she doesn’t at all times eat meals excessive in unhealthy fat. “I now eat balanced meals which can be portion managed. I don’t eat until I’m full, I solely eat until I’m 80 % full. Your eating regimen is 80 % of your progress,” says Niki Chawla. In accordance with the World Well being Group, you must have not less than 400 grams of fruit and veggies per day. Legumes, nuts and complete grains must also be a part of your meals. As you attempt these sustainable weight reduction suggestions, keep in mind to eat wholesome.
2. Transfer your physique
She finds alternative ways to maneuver her physique at any time when she will be able to. “I do cardio and weight coaching. I believe it’s actually essential to maneuver your physique in methods you get pleasure from,” says Niki Chawla. Throughout a 2012 research revealed within the Journal Of Utilized Physiology, individuals who have been within the cardio and weight coaching group noticed a big quantity of discount in complete physique mass and fats mass.
3. Give significance to good high quality sleep
“I prioritise my sleep, so I sleep for six to eight hours each day,” says Niki Chawla. A 2005 research revealed within the Sleep journal, confirmed considerably excessive charges of weight problems in adults who slept lower than seven hours per night time. So, ensure your sleep amount and high quality are good.
4. Keep hydrated
Her weight reduction transformation journey features a quite simple but essential factor—keep hydrated. “I drink 3 to 4 litres of water on a regular basis,” says Niki Chawla. Ingesting water may help in your weight-loss journey. Throughout a 2019 evaluation revealed in Nutrición Hospitalaria, researchers discovered a hyperlink between extra water consumption and weight reduction.
5. Persist with the routine
Everybody has a each day routine, and if sustaining wholesome weight is your goal then observe it. Whereas wrapping up sustainable weight reduction suggestions, Niki Chawla says, “Persist with a routine. It could be boring however a continuing routine is the one means you will notice fixed outcomes.”
These sustainable weight reduction suggestions have helped her rework herself. “The rationale why I haven’t gained all my weight again is as a result of my method to my journey was for it to be sustainable and never for a short lived weight reduction,” says Niki Chawla. She needed to develop wholesome habits that will profit her via all her life. “These final 3-4 years have taught me a lot. I’ve educated myself and over time discovered extra methods to push myself, problem myself and assist me proceed to construct and preserve sustainable wholesome habits,” concludes Niki Chawla.
