Meet the Diet Divas

HARSHIKA DARYANANI, 36



It was when I saw a photo and looked more like my son Jahaan’s grandmother than his mom that I decided enough is enough. I looked old, bloated and totally unhealthy. It didn’t help when my son called me and my husband Dilip fat! He is nine years old now, but back then he was four and would climb up and lie on top of me like I was a comfy pillow. The shame! I’d also gone through two miscarriages due to genetic complications. Convinced my weight was a factor, I reached a point when I felt I couldn’t put myself through something like that again. In June 2009 that I decided to take control of my body. My diet and exercise regimen was, to begin with, a strict one-hour cardio workout in the gym everyday.



I followed a very strict diet initially by cutting down on carbs like corn, which has a high starch content, rice and consuming only one roti a day. This was based on a thorough research I conducted online to give me that initial push with losing weight, but I later realised that it's important  to be healthy and not to be skinny!



My focus shifted from calories to nutrition and I started eating five times a day but eating right, swapping my unhealthy choices for healthier options like quinoa instead of rice in biryanis, baking falafels instead of frying and I’ve completely stopped using packaged and processed foods. I ditched my crash-diets and began to enjoy healthy, nourishing meals.



The first year was tough though. Dubai is full of endless eating options. I am a “foodie” at heart and sweets are my biggest weakness. Add to that celebrations like Diwali, New Year and birthdays cropped up making it almost impossible not to cheat. But determined to not give up (despite a whole flurry of close calls) I allowed myself a “cheat day” every Friday when I’d have a scone and jam, they’d always been a weakness.



My biggest obstacle was being lazy. I just could not be bothered to workout! But for me it was “Mind over matter”. I couldn’t believe it when I lost five kilos in the first month and steadily shed three to four kilos every month after that.



Now my weight has been stable for about two years and I actually look forward to my gym sessions and weekly yoga class. And I can happily pass by a buffet and not get tempted to gorge. That for me is my biggest victory!



But the best thing about my new found figure is the confidence it brings me. I’ve always said when you feel good you look great! A lot of people I knew said I’d never lose the weight and keep it off. Those same people are now applauding my determination. I am living proof you can still enjoy food without letting yourself go.



BEFORE

Weight before -95 kilos

Dress Size- 26 (UK)

AFTER

Weight now- 62 kilos

Dress Size- 12 (UK)

Height: 5ft 3' “short”



FOOD BEFORE

BREAKFAST: Just a cup of coffee

LUNCH: Three parathas

EVENING SNACKS: Fried pakodas, an aerated soft-drink

DINNER: Heavy Indian meal eg: dal, rice and panner

FOOD NOW

BREAKFAST: Two parathas with a vegetable dish or quinoa dosa accompanied by tea

MORNING SNACK: A fruit at 11am

LUNCH: Soup or a salad accompanied by a slice of bread or one chappati

EVENING SNACK: A fruit or yoghurt at 4pm

DINNER: Very light – vegetable juices. e.g. beetroot, celery, carrot cucumber and ginger juice.

VISSIE PACHECO, 43 



I didn’t go on a diet because of vanity. It was to do with health issues that I could no longer ignore. Every year my doctor would beg me to lose some weight as I had high cholesterol, aches and pains in my joints and I also suffered from hypothyroidism, a thyroid condition that slows down weight loss. I did have a gym membership but I wasn’t motivated enough to workout everyday. Still I couldn’t get away from the cosmetic reasons either, like the fact that I constantly struggled to find nice new clothes that fit me.



I joined a gym and my husband transferred his membership to my gym so we could go together. My personal trainer Yameen Imtiaz created a diet and exercise regime based on my medical history and body type - no carbs, no dairy products and no sugar. I began with working out six days a week alternating between personal training sessions, cardio and group classes. Initially I was ravenous having had to give up on all those food groups. But I learnt to curb the cravings by snacking on nuts, dried and fresh fruits. The plan got me on to drinking a lot of water and green tea and eating a banana every day which speeded up the weight-loss and is a great tip for anyone looking to shed extra kilos.



The biggest obstacle was getting out of the house and into the gym. All credit goes to Yameen who’d call me throughout the day and motivate me to both eat correctly as well as coaxing me to the gym. That encouragement meant a lot. That’s not to say I didn’t cheat. Sugar and milk in my coffee in the mornings and chocolates were my biggest weaknesses. I’d pop one in my mouth without thinking.



I snacked on junk food like crisps and cookies for the first week and somehow I was surprised when I failed to lose half a kilo. I stuck to the plan and having steeled my self off carbs, red mead and sugar I started feeling a lot better physically and mentally. It was like a psychological block had been lifted. And I lost five and a half kilos in the first month and 28 kilos in six months!



Now I look younger, largely because I have no more aches and pains in my joints so I’m more agile. My hypothyroidism is under control as are my cholesterol levels which dropped from a risky 380 to a 220 and will continue to do so until I reach a healthier 200 as recommended by my doctors. My family and friends were in awe that I had managed to lose 28 kilos in such a short timespan! 

BEFORE

Weight: 101.8 kilos

Dress size: 20 – 22 (UK)

NOW

Weight: 74.5 kilos

Dress size: 12 – 14 (UK)

Height: 5ft7"



FOOD BEFORE

BREAKFAST: Omlette parantha/dosa/sandwich (all ordered from a restaurant)

LUNCH: Junk food ordered in - beef burgers, KFC accompainied by chocolates

DINNER: Rotis (2) accompanied by beef /fish/vegetables

FOOD NOW

BREAKFAST: Egg white omelette with tomatoes, mushroom half a slice of cheese with black coffe (no sugar)

MORNING SNACK: Dried fruits and green tea

LUNCH: whole wheat parantha with a slice of turkey and steamed vegetables

AFTERNOON SNACK: Dried prunes

DINNER: A smoothie - 1 banana, strawberries, oats and low-fat laban or two slices of watermelon or a fruit salad

DIMPLE JIVOTHAMA, 32 



During one of my regular check-ups last year my doctor declared: “You’re borderline diabetic” and said if I didn’t lose weight I’d have to be put on medication. It was a shock, but the reality check I needed.



My weight had always been a problem. Not fitting into clothes that I liked in Dubai Mall was nothing new, and my mum was always telling me to slim down. But threat of diabetes was a shove in the right direction.



My aunt in India had started following a diet plan formulised by a dietician and had lost a miraculous 17 kilos in two months. I decided that was what the plan I’d follow to lose weight. The plan included an early morning brisk walk in the park for 7km, yoga every evening accompanied by a carb and oil free but high-protein diet that included two big meals throughout the day and no food after 6pm. I could eat vegetables and meats cooked in any manner I wanted as long as prepared them without oil. 



The first few weeks were difficult as my body was still getting used to the change. I succumbed to temptations and cheated when I came in grabbing distance of sweets, chocolates and ice cream. I have a sweet tooth so family outings were a challenge.

But I did it by not buying myself any treats and learning to politely say no to offers of sweets. On the odd time I gave in to my cravings I’d walk an extra seven kilometres the next day and live off fruit like apples, pears, oranges and melons for 24 hours to balance things. One trick I used was the once-a-week banana and milk day that saw me eat a maximum of 6 bananas and drink around 2 litres of milk a day. I’d easily drop a kilo that day!



And on normal days snacking on dates really helped curb my sweet tooth. Because the plan involved me eating two really big meals that kept me full I wasn’t really hungry ever and as a result I lost 6 kilos in the first month and 22 kilos in four months - amazing! I’ve not only maintained the weight but I’ve lost another two kilos since then.



The best thing about my new found figure is not having the niggling fear of disease at the back of my mind. My sugar levels and blood pressure are now normal. I feel healthy, active and young thanks to all the compliments I get everyday. My mum is delighted with my new healthier lifestyle. I feel weight-loss can be quick and long-lasting.



BEFORE

Weight: 102 kilos

Dress size: 22 (UK)

NOW

Weight: 80 kilos

Dress: 16 (UK)

Height:  5ft 10”

FOOD BEFORE

BREAKFAST: Skip it or eat a chicken burger or masala dosa (restaurant food) accompanied by tea with 2-3 spoons of sugar

MORNING SNACK: 4-5 digestive biscuits

LUNCH: 2-3 rotis with chicken/mutton curry or fast food like burgers or biriyani

AFTERNOON SNACK: A bar of chocolate

DINNER: Chappatis with vegtables or dal or fish fry

FOOD AFTER

BREAKFAST: A big bowl of cereal such as conrflakes or Weetabix eaten at 8:30am sharp

LUNCH: Big bowl of dal, veggies or sprouts and bowl of fruits, low-fat yoghurt.

SNACKS: Dates,low-fat yoghurt, Chinese green tea (7 cups a day)

No food after 6pm.