My Weight Loss & Fitness Journey: From Obesity and Pain to Strength
The day I decided to take control of my health was the day my life started changing.
At that time, I did not know exactly which exercises to do or what kind of diet I should follow. I only knew one thing: if I continued living the same way, my health could become worse.
I made a promise to myself: I would take care of my body and work toward becoming healthier, no matter how difficult the journey became.
That promise eventually became stronger than my fears.
My weight loss and fitness journey has not been a straight line. I lost weight, regained it, struggled with pain, tried different approaches, learned about nutrition, and eventually discovered the importance of strength training and sustainable lifestyle changes.
This is the story of how I learned that weight loss is not only about becoming lighter—it is also about becoming stronger and healthier.
Starting With Small Steps
At the beginning of my journey, I was dealing with a disc bulge, constant pain, and obesity. Because of my physical condition, I could not handle intense workouts.
So, I started with small steps.
I did not try to transform my body overnight. I simply focused on doing what I felt I could manage at that time.
Looking back, I now understand how important those small steps were. Starting slowly helped me build the confidence to continue.
My First Serious Attempt to Lose Weight
Once I decided to improve my health, I purchased a one-year online weight-loss plan that provided daily diet and nutrition guidance.
Along with following the meal plan, I started walking every evening in a park.
I gradually reached around 6–7 kilometres of walking every day, which usually took me more than two and a half hours.
At that time, I believed that walking more and eating according to a diet plan would be enough to solve my weight and health problems.
And initially, it seemed to work.
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I Lost 9 Kilograms in Five Months
Within about five months, my weight dropped from 73 kg to 64 kg.
People around me started noticing the difference. I received compliments and was told that I looked much slimmer.
I was happy because I thought I had finally found the answer to my weight-loss struggle.
But there was something I did not understand at that time.
Looking slimmer did not necessarily mean that I was becoming healthier.
When My Body Started Telling Me Something Was Wrong
Although I had lost weight, I was not feeling as healthy or strong as I expected.
Because of my long walks and the amount of time I spent standing during the day, I began experiencing significant discomfort in my legs.
After returning home from the park, I would still spend several hours standing in the kitchen, preparing meals and taking care of my family.
Eventually, I developed varicose veins and had to wear compression stockings every day for almost four months.
The discomfort became difficult to manage, and I eventually had to stop my evening walks.
I continued following the diet plan for some time because I was worried about regaining the weight I had lost.
But gradually, I began to realize that simply reducing my weight was not the complete answer.
Losing Weight Did not Mean I Felt Healthy
Even after losing 9 kg, I often felt weak and exhausted.
My energy levels were low, and I did not feel strong.
After some time, I stopped following the online diet plan as well.
This was an important point in my journey because I started asking myself a different question:
What if being healthy is about more than losing weight?
Until then, I had been focused mainly on the number on the weighing scale.
I had not given enough attention to strength, recovery, nutrition, energy, or building habits that I could maintain for years.
When the Weight Came Back
A few years later, my weight started increasing again—and this time it increased much faster.
The 9 kg I had lost came back, along with another 5 kg.
My weight increased from 64 kg to 78 kg.
That was one of the most disheartening periods of my life.
I felt as though all my previous hard work had been wasted.
I had worked so hard to lose weight, but I had not learned how to maintain a healthy lifestyle for the long term
The Biggest Lesson From My Weight Loss Journey
Regaining the weight taught me one of the most important lessons of my life:
Losing weight and becoming healthier are not always the same thing.
My body had become lighter, but I had not focused enough on making it stronger.
I had concentrated on reducing the number on the weighing scale instead of building habits that supported my overall health.
That experience completely changed the way I looked at fitness.
I began to understand that long-term health requires more than dieting and endless walking. It requires a balanced approach that includes nutrition, movement, strength, recovery, sleep, stress management, and habits that are realistic enough to maintain.
That realization became the foundation of the next stage of my fitness journey.
Learning About Nutrition
I soon realized that exercise alone was not enough.
I started reading and learning about nutrition, weight management, hormones, and how food can affect overall health.
For the first time, I began to understand the difference between dieting and nourishing the body.
Instead of thinking only about eating less, I started thinking about eating better.
I began making healthier choices, increasing my protein intake, including more fruits and vegetables, reducing processed foods, and drinking enough water.
I was no longer trying to follow a temporary diet.
I was trying to build better eating habits that I could continue as part of my lifestyle.
Falling Down and Getting Back Up
My journey was far from perfect.
There were weeks when my back pain became worse.
There were days when my motivation disappeared.
Sometimes my weight did not change even when I was trying to follow my routine consistently.
There were moments when I felt like giving up.
But whenever I felt discouraged, I reminded myself why I had started.
I was not trying to become slimmer just for appearance.
I wanted to feel better.
I wanted to become stronger.
I wanted to live a healthier and more active life.
And most importantly, I wanted to be a healthy and energetic mother for my children.
That purpose helped me keep moving forward.
Discovering the Power of Strength Training
As my body became stronger and after taking therapy appointments and receiving appropriate guidance, I gradually introduced strength training into my fitness journey.
At first, I was afraid.
Like many women, I had believed that lifting weights might make me bulky or make my existing problems worse.
But I gradually learned that strength training could be an important part of a well-rounded fitness routine when performed appropriately.
For me, it changed the way I thought about exercise.
I was no longer exercising only to burn calories.
I was working to become stronger.
Over time, I felt that strength training helped me build confidence and focus more on strength, movement, and overall fitness rather than only the number on the weighing scale.
For the first time in years, I felt that I was becoming stronger instead of simply trying to become smaller.
A New Lifestyle, Not a Temporary Diet
Eventually, I stopped looking for quick weight-loss tricks.
I wanted to build a lifestyle that I could maintain for the long term.
I started paying more attention to:
- Balanced meals
- Adequate protein
- Regular movement
- Strength training
- Better sleep
- Recovery
- Stress management
- Drinking enough water
- Consistency instead of perfection
I also started using motivational audio as part of my personal routine and mindset work.
The goal was no longer to follow a perfect plan for a few months.
The goal was to create habits that could become part of my everyday life.
Becoming the Woman I Needed
Today, I no longer look at my past struggles simply as failures.
They became some of my greatest lessons.
Every health challenge taught me to listen to my body.
Every setback taught me patience.
Every small achievement reminded me that change is possible.
I may not have chosen all the challenges that came into my life, but I could choose how I responded to them.
That change in mindset transformed more than just my approach to fitness. It changed the way I thought about my health and my future.
My journey is still continuing.
I am still learning, improving, and working toward becoming a healthier, stronger, and happier version of myself.
My Biggest Lesson: Health Is More Than a Number
One of the most important things I learned is that the weighing scale tells only one part of the story.
During my first weight-loss attempt, I went from 73 kg to 64 kg.
Later, my weight increased to 78 kg.
Those numbers taught me something that no diet plan could teach me:
A sustainable fitness journey is not only about losing weight. It is about learning how to take care of your body for the long term.
For me, that meant changing the way I approached food, exercise, recovery, and my mindset.
It meant understanding that consistency is more important than perfection.
And it meant accepting that progress can sometimes be slow.
Every Recovery Begins With One Small Step
My story is not about having a perfect body or following a perfect fitness plan.
It is about starting again.
It is about making small changes even when life feels difficult.
It is about learning from mistakes instead of allowing them to define you.
And it is about understanding that your health journey does not have to look like anyone else’s.
Today, my mission is to encourage other women who feel that it is too late to change.
If you are struggling with your weight, fitness, confidence, or lifestyle, remember that you do not have to change everything in one day.
Start with one small step.
Then take another.
With patience, consistency, appropriate guidance, and a willingness to learn, you can continue moving toward a healthier version of yourself.
Your journey can begin with one decision—and sometimes, that one decision can change your life.
About the Author
Girija Rani – Girija Fitness World
I share my personal experiences and lessons from my weight loss and fitness journey to encourage women to focus on sustainable health, strength, nutrition, and healthy lifestyle habits.
My goal is to remind women that it is never too late to take the first step toward a healthier and stronger life.
Fequently Asked Questions (FAQS)
What was the first step I took towards my fitness recovery?
My first step was accepting that I needed to change my lifestyle. I started with small steps like improving my daily habits, following a healthy routine, and taking care of my body.
How did I lose weight during my first weight loss journey?
I followed a one-year online diet and nutrition plan and started walking 6–7 km every evening. Within five months, I lost around 9 kg and my weight reduced from 73 kg to 64 kg.
Why did I regain weight after losing it?
I realized that weight loss alone was not enough. I focused only on reducing weight but did not build strength, improve nutrition, or create a sustainable lifestyle
What important lesson did I learn from my weight loss journey?
I learned that being lighter does not always mean being healthier. True fitness means having strength, energy, good nutrition, and a healthy body.
How did strength training change my fitness journey?
Strength training helped me build muscles, improve posture, reduce back pain, and increase my confidence.
What is my biggest message for women starting their fitness journey?
It is never too late to start. Begin with small steps, listen to your body, stay consistent, and focus on building a healthy lifestyle instead of searching for quick results.