Ayisha Qureshi

It was, I believe, around 2009 that I became really, really sick. Now when I say sick, I mean low energy, terrible bloating, weight gain and poor sleep. Because I didn’t have fever or any other physical signs of disease, no one would take me seriously. In fact, it took me almost a year of suffering in ignorance before I started taking myself seriously. The primary reason I finally realized that something had to be done was due to my inability to complete deadlines at work either due to exhaustion or just lack of energy and a growing discomfort accompanied by anxiety that hung over me throughout the day. Everything was going well but I seemed to be lacking the zest for life and craved hours of TV. I drifted in and out of poor quality sleep during the day due to which I was unable to sleep soundly through the night.

Here are some of the things I changed and some of my “AHAAA” moments during my journey towards wellness- a journey that is ongoing:

1. The human body is made for work so go ahead and work- do it without guilt and without feeling pity for yourself. The more you work, the better you will feel and the healthier you will become. Just remember to refuel yourself regularly and do not ignore maintenance issues.
2. What goes into your body will determine your energy levels, which in turn will determine the quality of the day you will have, so please be conscious about what goes into your mouth. I read somewhere (don’t know where but am giving credit to whoever said it!) that at 20 you are what God made you and at 30 you are what you make yourself. I am going to go ahead and add that at 40, 50, 60, and onwards, you are what you make yourself.
3. First thing, every morning, I started taking a glass of water at room temperature (so warm it a little in winters and don’t drink refrigerated water in summers). Now, I have increased it to 2 glasses. Your body is dehydrated from the overnight fast so it will thank you for it. Needless to say, it has helped.
4. Yoga is a must. And now it’s more of reflex for me. Good habits lead to good results.
5. I never miss my breakfast. In fact, it is the biggest meal of my day and I can’t imagine starting my day without it. I usually include 1-2 eggs with olives, green pepper, onions, a little cheese and lots of coriander and oregano. Yummm! No tea or coffee. Never took it and now don’t feel the need.
6. I try to eat every 02 hours keeping in mind that it is the fuel I need and so it’s either 02 dates, a few raisins or walnuts followed by any fruit I can get my hands on and if I am really in the mood, peanut butter and strawberry jam sandwich (don’t make that face- it’s not that bad and peanut butter is really healthy. Jam- that’s my guilty pleasure).
7. No water with food, a glass of water half an hour before food and before a bath.
8. Fruit on an empty stomach- never with food or after it.
9. I started taking vitamins and they have really helped. Any multivitamin preparation of a credible pharmaceutical company will do. (I don’t want to go into the details here as I change brands on and off but if any of you are really interested I can inbox you the details) I find they help and considering that our diets are usually lacking in the essential ingredients, there is no harm done. However, for those of you who are not big fans of multivitamins, then take a diet that ensures most of the minerals and vitamins requirements are fulfilled.
10. I started taking Ashwagandha herb capsules (GNC product) a few months ago. It is a herb recommended for general well -being, hormonal balance and stress management for both men and women. I highly recommend it. One tablet at night is all it takes. Read up on it and then give it a try. I also take one vitamin B12 capsule in the morning.
11. I try for at least 08 hours of sleep every night- even if that means having a routine like a new born! I am in a better mood all day, alert, and even my appetite is better regulated.
12. No white sugar and no white flour- as a rule. Though, there are bad days, I will admit. I am no saint.
13. I follow my instincts now and if I am not hungry, I just have a fruit and skip the meal. However, I never skip breakfast.
14. One of the best investments I made was buying a FITBIT. It is worn like a watch, counts your steps (you set the target step count), the distance covered, calories burned and active minutes. You can include hydration and calories eaten. It has helped me become aware of my lifestyle. I have a desk job so I know I don’t move around much during the first half of the day, but I had no idea it was that bad. Now the FITBIT reminds me every hour to get up and walk, and so, I do. If I’ve sat through most of the day, I make sure I go for walk. For example, if at 05:00 pm my step count is less than 3000 steps, I am appalled and drag myself for a walk. Once there, I feel better and am always glad I made it.

These are a few, simple lifestyle changes I have adopted and I believe they have helped me over the years. Pick any two and see your life change for the better!