WHO: GAYATRI RANGACHARI SHAH, 43, contributing editor, Vogue India, mother
Achievement: 10km run
Goal: To be bikini-ready
How I sweat: Reformer Pilates thrice a week, treadmill run twice a week and barre Pilates once a week.
How I eat: I love birthday party food. I love a good bowl of pizza and pasta. I like a glass of wine. I try to be vegan. I don’t do dairy and milk.
Vogueathon life: It’s very important, as a mother, to be fit and healthy. Exercise helps keep me well. My biggest challenge is when I go out.
Fashion high: I’ve really worked on my upper arms. I like to show them off.
TRAINING: MEGHA KAWALE
USP: Rehab Pilates. It helps a lot of people who are dealing with injuries and pain lead a normal, functional life.
Game plan: Gayatri came to me and told me, “I want a bikini body,” to which I said, “Okay!”
Biggest challenge: To build her strength.
Biggest surprise: I never expected her to understand Pilates but as the journey started she fell in love with it.
Break the myth: There’s no such thing as a diet; it’s called healthy eating.
Contact: Meghakawalepilates.com; Instagram: @meghakawaleofficial
On Gayatri: ‘Lani’ layered performance bra, ‘Kei’ performance leggings; both NO KA’ OI. ‘Maddye’ stilettos, Steve Madden. On Megha: ‘Sugar Ray’ crop top, P.E Nation at Mytheresa.com. Leggings, Nike. Crinkled lambskin leather and canvas pumps, Dior
WHO: DIVYA JAGWANI, 31, bookings editor, Vogue India
Achievement: 10kg lost
Goal: To get down to 57kg in time for my brother’s wedding.
Fitbit meter: Average: 10,000 steps
How I sweat: A specialised cardio and weight training programme.
How I eat: I love chips, burgers, fries, pancakes and chocolate. I stay out late and eat junk. Now, I eat healthy fat and carbs like eggs and whole-wheat toast, lunch is besan chilla, vegetables and dal, and dinner is protein and salad.
Vogueathon life: I’m 10kg and 10 inches down. Being around others on the programme motivated me to not quit.
TRAINING: FARAH VOHRA
USP: As the co-founder of F2 Fitness, I encourage a mix of workouts.
Game plan: 4-6 sessions a week of weight training, cardio and flexibility-based workouts. We did weight and resistance training and TRX suspension training.
Biggest challenge: Consistency and remaining injury-free despite Divya’s busy work and social schedule.
Break the myth: Women don’t get bulky doing weight training.
Contact: Farah@f2fitness.com
NUTRITION: VIDDHI DHINGRA
USP: Customised plans. I would never ask a client to chug glasses of tasteless juices or eat bland boiled food.
Game plan: Get Divya off junk food, plan pre- and post-workout meals.
Biggest challenge: Overcoming her 5pm junk food indulgence! This is the most crucial meal in any diet.
Break the myth: People think brown rice is better than white. It’s not.
Contact: Instagram: @viddhidhingra; Tel: 09820543469
On Farah: Sports bra, drop-crotch leggings; both Reebok + Les Mills. ‘Waho’ jacket, NO KA’ OI. Shoes, Nike. On Divya: Racerback bra, Prabal Gurung Sport. Camo-print bomber, Ivy Park. Tights, shoes; both Nike. ‘Alta’ activity tracker, Fitbit. On Viddhi: Multi-print silk dress, belt, scarf; all Monse. ‘Tubular Defiant Primeknit’ shoes, Adidas Originals
WHO: ANAITA SHROFF ADAJANIA, 44, fashion director, Vogue India; film costume designer; mother
Achievement: 5kg lost
Goal: To reach my pre-baby weight of 57kg, to feel more energetic, and to sleep better.
Fitbit meter: Average: 10,000 steps. High: 15,000 steps.
How I sweat: Shopping is my cardio! I walk around all day carrying bags. Standing all day at shoots helps.
How I eat: I love biryani, mutton curry and rice, baked dishes, and dessert. I started to introduce carb substitutes like quinoa and moong dal, and cut out carbs and sugar post 4pm five days a week. The elixir of life is Organic India’s tulsi tea. I swapped desserts for dry fruit and dark chocolate.
Vogueathon life: I still face a lack of motivation when it comes to exercise. But I also realised how a change in diet can affect my body and mind.
Fashion high: Wearing a tank top, and shorter shirts.
NUTRITION: FARAH BARIA PARAKH
USP: I am a yoga and Ayurveda therapist. I provide each client with a customised therapeutic blueprint to heal and balance the body and mind.
Game plan: An in-depth initial consultation identifies the client’s unique Ayurvedic constitution and diagnoses any underlying imbalance. This is followed by a personalised Ayurvedic diet plan, specific lifestyle routines and recommendations, remedial yoga and mind-body therapy.
Biggest highlight: Watching the timeless wisdom of Ayurveda and yoga work in the 21st century—every time!
Break the myth: Many think health is just a quick fix or magic bullet away. It takes daily effort and commitment!
Contact: 1108 Arcadia, NCPA Lane, Nariman Point, Mumbai. Tel: 9821354329
WHO: PRIYANKA KAPADIA, 30, senior fashion editor, Vogue India
Achievement: 15g lost
Goal: To feel good in basic jeans and tee, lose 15kg, being fit post-30.
Fitbit meter: High: 25,438 steps
How I sweat: Weight training, cardio, functional work, high-intensity interval training and swimming.
How I eat: I love crisps. And there’s nothing like a big bowl of mac and cheese. But Sohrab made me cut out anything out of a packet or processed. I followed a high-protein diet with paneer, eggs, veggies and lentils, while cutting out rice, wheat and refined sugar. And easy swaps—I swapped rice with cauliflower rice, wheat-flour roti with bajra or nachni flour rotis, fried snacks became dry fruits, cheese was replaced with paneer, etc. And no alcohol.
Vogueathon life: I am 15kg down. I love to run. The gym is my happy place, and I plan my day around my workout. A hundred snooze alarms later, I’ve now become a morning person, just to fit in my workout.
Fashion high: I have a waist now and can show off my midriff. I went back to the basics—a classic tee and jeans looks and feels so good now!
TRAINING AND NUTRITION: SOHRAB KHUSHRUSHAHI
USP: Being a buddy more than a trainer. It’s about having fun.
Game plan: Mix it up, from running to weights to gymnastics to playing sport and swimming. When Priyanka started, her idea of fitness was running on a treadmill while chatting on the phone. We had to start slowly, understand what worked for her and up the tempo.
Biggest highlight: More than the weight loss, just seeing her strength, stamina, fitness levels and muscular memory improve was satisfying.
Biggest challenge: Instant gratification. From the start, all I wanted to do was change her idea of working out. Achieving that with someone who has no attention span or appetite for patience whatsoever was challenging.
Break the myth: Women don’t bulk up by hitting a gym. In fact, it aids fat loss way better than just running.
Contact: sohrab.khushrushahi@gmail.com
WHO: RUJUTA VAIDYA, 26, fashion writer, Vogue.In
Achievement: 20 full push-ups
Goal: To get rid of my skinny fat, improve posture and remind myself to eat what I need and not what I want.
Fitbit meter: Average: 10,000 steps
How I sweat: Crossfit
How I eat: I love bread and alcohol. I swapped that for hot water and cinnamon followed by an omelette, fruit and green tea for a mid-morning snack, brown rice and veggies with salad for lunch, a sandwich in the evening, and bajra roti and fish or chicken for dinner.
Vogueathon life: Eating healthy was new. But losing 3kg, being able to do a push-up, burpees, and have more energy has been great.
Fashion high: Wearing the leather skirt that I did in the shoot!
NUTRITION: KINITA KADAKIA PATEL
USP: I am a sports nutrition consultant.
Game plan: To start with a complete mixed-nutrient plan followed by making changes in the ratio of the macronutrient profile to complement the exercise routine. Getting Rujuta to come to the clinic for changes was challenging.
Break the myth: People think that if you exercise you can eat anything, which is not true.
Contact: Mealpyramid.com
TRAINING: NEHA AGGRAWALLA, VISHISHT KAPOOR
USP: Coaches and co-owners of 303 Crossfit Drive
Game plan: We know when to push a trainee’s limit. We track every member’s progress. Crossfit is very community-based. The GPP programme can be supplemented with a sport or cardio depending on your needs.
Biggest challenge: “I remember Rujuta couldn’t even air squat but I saw her progress to adding weights and other movements,” says Aggrawalla.
Contact: 303crossfitdrive.com
On Farah: Blouse, The Editor’s Market. Skirt, Zara. Wedges, Charles & Keith. Bangle, Hermès. On Anaita: Mesh bralet, Chromat. Bomber jacket, Philipp Plein. Trackpants, Golden Goose Deluxe Brand. ‘Donna’ metallic sandals, Malone Souliers. On Priyanka: Varsity jacket, Off-White at Mytheresa.com. Sports bra, Adidas. Metallic shorts, Ivy Park. ‘Ultra Boost Uncaged Low’ shoes, Adidas. ‘Charge HR’ activity tracker, Fitbit. On Sohrab: T-shirt, trackpants; both Zara. Sneakers, Nike. ‘Surge’ activity tracker, Fitbit. On Kinita: Wraparound blouse, Alexis Mabille. Knit midi skirt, BCBG Max Azria. ‘Wehe’ performance jacket, NO KA’ OI. On Rujuta: Text-patch hoodie, Dhruv Kapoor. Patent leather skirt, Isabel Marant. Shoes, Adidas. ‘Alta’ activity tracker, Fitbit. On Vishisht: T-shirt, Armani Exchange. Joggers, Zara. Graphic jacket, ‘Gazelle’ shoes; both Adidas Originals. On Neha: ‘Ola’ sports bra, ‘Kala’ leggings; both NO KA’ OI. High-top sneakers, Nike
WHO: CHANDNI SEHGAL, 27, senior copy editor, VOGUE India
Achievement: 10km run
Goal: To lose 7kg and run 10km.
Fitbit meter: Average: 12,000 steps
How I sweat: 3 runs a week—two short, one long. Yoga twice a week. I used the jeff galloway app, and at the end of 13 weeks i was able to run 10km.
How I eat: I love greasy Chinese, pizza and chocolate. I cut out processed sugar, ate fruit only before workouts, swapped evening snacks for spinach soup, and lunch and dinner was roti, vegetable and dal. And only two clear drinks a week (if I was desperate).
Vogueathon life: Finding energy for three runs a week. And finishing that 10km. Having an end goal made all the difference and being surrounded by fellow Vogueathon soldiers really kept me going.
Fashion high: Crop tops and shorts. Running has really helped shape my legs.
NUTRITION: DR VISHAKHA SHIVDASANI
USP: I am a qualified family physician. I work on correcting the nutrition status based on what the blood tests reveal.
Game plan: To wean Chandni off her simple sugars ‘addiction’ and switch to complex carbs instead for sustained release of energy and to reserve the simple sugars only pre-run/workout. Also, to keep her motivated.
Biggest challenge: To change her mindset. To make her believe that she would be able to run more than the 5km mark, and more importantly for her to understand how simple dietary changes would help her achieve that.
Break the myth: Carbs are not the enemy. Not only do you need them for energy, you can actually use them to help you get closer to your fitness goals.
Contact: vishakhashivdasani@gmail.com; Instagram @doctorvee; Tel: 022-22164000, 09821436857
WHO: BANDANA TEWARI, 45, editor at large, Vogue India, mother
Achievement: self-discovery
GOAL: To gain physical and emotional strength and peace of mind.
HOW I SWEAT: 1.5 hours of Vinyasa yoga with my teacher Levi Banner at the Yoga Barn, Ubud, and 30 minutes of meditation daily.
HOW I EAT: I love coffee, cheese, wine and vada pav! I gave up meat and wheat. I had fruit and juice till noon, and a vegan lunch with organic vegetables, brown or red rice. No carbs or sugar after lunch.
VOGUEATHON LIFE: 3kg lost but it’s more about self-discovery.
On Vishakha: Metallic jacket, Zara. Cropped blouse, Intrinsic by Muskaan Goswami. Ruffled trousers, Miuniku. Two-tone leather sandals, Fendi. On Chandni: Striped dress, Miuniku. Buckle belt, Vero Moda. ‘Tetrus 110’ sandals, Jimmy Choo. On Bandana: Floral bomber jacket, H&M. ‘Elevate Elastika’ tank top, Nike. Running shorts, Dhruv Kapoor. ‘Pearl’ metallic platform sandals, Jimmy Choo
WHO: PUJA BILIMORIA, 40, advertising director, Vogue India; mother
Achievement: 2kg gain
Goal: Not to lose or gain weight. To get ‘fit’ and healthy, have more energy, sleep better, be more balanced.
How I sweat: Yoga twice a week, fitness training twice a week and a brisk walk once a week.
How I eat: Very flexible. A lot of carbs, not enough fruit and vegetables. Low iron. I don’t eat desserts or chocolate, only biscuits.
Vogueathon life: I started feeling and sleeping better. My iron levels increased. I actually gained 2kg, but I loved maintaining the routine.
NUTRITION: RADHIKA NAZIR
USP: Flexibility. Customising a food plan according to an individual’s needs, lifestyle and tastes.
Game plan: To introduce healthy food options into Puja’s diet slowly and substitute with healthier choices. She wanted to keep her weight constant but feel more energetic, improve skin and hair.
Break the myth: There are no shortcuts or magic pills for good health and weight loss.
Contact: Tel: 09820599346
TRAINING: SIMEEN COLABAWALLA
USP: I have been in the industry for over 28 years. I work one-on-one to customise workouts—which are a mix of 30 per cent cardio, 30 per cent functional training, 30 per cent pilates and 10 per cent de-stressing.
Game plan: The idea was to improve Puja’s stamina, so we introduced cardio like running, kickboxing, high-intensity interval training, strength workouts with weights, kettlebells, TRX and Reformer and chair Pilates for a strong core.
Biggest challenge: Correcting her posture and making sure her upper body doesn’t bulk up. Puja is surprisingly strong and likes to push herself.
Break the myth: There are too many. Don’t follow the herd and, most importantly, be in tune with your body.
Contact: Tel: 09821207508
On Radhika: Dress, Alexander Wang. On Simeen: Sleeveless shirt, Zara. ‘Rebound’ leggings, PE Nation at Mytheresa.com. On Puja: Ribbed knit dress, Prabal Gurung
WHO: PRIYANKA PARKASH, 27, fashion coordinator and stylist, Vogue India
Achievement: 13kg lost
Goal: To have a workout routine, lose 15kg and generally feel fit.
Fitbit meter: Average: 10,000 steps
How I sweat: Altitude training is the only thing that works for me. I alternated cardio and cardio plus vibro machine training at a fixed time of 6.30pm every day for 30 minutes in an atmosphere-controlled room.
How I eat: I dream of rice in any form. But was put on a two-hourly schedule. It was two eggs for breakfast, followed by fruit, dal and vegetable for lunch, nuts in the evening, and vegetables and salad for dinner. Hemal gave me fun recipes like zucchini spaghetti to avoid boredom.
Vogueathon life: I can run now at higher speeds and for longer. I also lost 4.5 inches all over.
Fashion high: Clothes always motivate me. I can’t wait for the day when I can wear a white tank and denim shorts!
TRAINING AND NUTRITION: KETAN ASHAR, BINAIFER MARAWALLA, HEMAL GHEDIA
USP: Our Melt Program aims to achieve excellent weight-loss results. Our superior technology, a hypoxic chamber, includes Vibrogym technology, which enhances calorie burning, increases muscle fibre recruitment and metabolism.
Game plan for Priyanka: To reduce the percentage of carbs and increase percentage of healthy fat and protein in her diet. With her workouts, we wanted to increase her stamina.
Biggest challenge: Priyanka works long hours, so it was often difficult for her to reach her desired step count for the day.
Break the myth: Fitness is not just about looking lean, but also about how fit/healthy you feel.
Inside tip: When it comes to food, don’t avoid healthy fats—they are essential.
Contact: Melt at Qi Gym; Tel: 09930275668
On Hemal: ‘Equip’ dress, Karen Walker. ‘Savannah’ lace-up sandals, Malone Souliers. On Ketan: Printed T-shirt, Armani Exchange. Graphic bomber jacket, Hugo Boss. Joggers, Selected Homme. ‘Mexico 66’ shoes, Onitsuka Tiger. On Priyanka: Mesh-panelled dress, ASOS. ’Wai’ jacket, NO KA’ OI. ‘Montana’ leather pumps, Malone Souliers. On Benaifer: Sports bra, Ivy Park. Graphic print leggings, Nike. Knit sweater, Rag & Bone. Shoes, Skechers.
Hair and Make-up: Elton Fernandez. Assistant stylist: Ria Kamat; Aradhana Baruah. Fashion assistant: Naheed Driver. Project managers: Priyanka Kapadia; Priyanka Khanna; Ria Kamat. With inputs from Shahnaz Siganporia and Neharika Manjani
Location courtesy: Fitness Center at the World Towers by Lodha
*Vogueathon participants were given a Fitbit Alta each in order to measure their steps per day over the course of the challenge.
The post How these women achieved their fitness goals with #Vogueathon appeared first on VOGUE India.