An ill-fitting T-shirt and a tale of weight loss

Shameer, an accountant in Ras-al Khaimah till three months ago, wore his son’s T-shirt to prove a point - that he can rein in his bodyweight and trim himself down.

Shameer shares his weight-loss journey with us:

He started thinking about the bloating belly when he started buying t-shirts. He could not wear any as the tummy was ‘obnoxious’ for him, at least in plain sight. He loved his food and liked rice the most. The high-carb diet and a sedentary job hastened the quick weight gain.

Shameer had knee pain too. It was then that his wife, Tasleema, read about a weight-loss group on ManoramaOnline. She joined first and then urged me to join. It was one of the best decisions, he said.

The group provides daily updates on the sort of work-out to be done. We can stick to our food routine and there is absolutely no restriction on food. This is a great thing. The diet was made protein-rich with a dash of green leafy vegetables, gram, etc. There was high-intensity interval training (HIIT) five days a week. Then, there is resistance training for all muscles. He said all workout could be done at home as per our convenience. The group admin and all members were very encouraging. So, there was no scope for lethargy.

A new turn

Shameer felt pleasant when he stopped eating anything and everything. The intake was calorie-based and he regulated it himself. Shameer thanks his wife for supporting him through the programme, taking care to fit in the workout in his busy work schedule. His son is always by him, offering a new t-shirt to wear.

Now, his colleagues, mostly from the Philippines, want to know the ‘trick,’ Shameer says.