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Weight loss doesn't begin in the gym with a dumbbell; it starts in your head with a decision. - Tony Sorenson
Maintaining a healthy weight is a crucial fitness goal we all have. The primary reason behind this goal is that a healthy weight helps us lower the risk of health issues. A healthy weight comprises two important factors- exercise and a healthy and balanced diet.
In this podcast, we discuss the topic of mastering weight management with an award-winning model, Aarthi Priyankhaa. She speaks about her journey in wellness and to the All India Pageant for South India 2022. She further shares her knowledge of the various aspects of weight management.
Key Takeaways
- Fast weight loss is a myth; Aarthi lost 33 kg in a year by refusing to rush. She frames the health journey like a relationship — the longer the arc, the more sustained the result.
- Track non-scale victories, not just the scale. Climbing eight floors in heels without huffing, or crossing her legs comfortably, were signals her body was changing even in months the scale did not move.
- Nutrition and workout each need 100% — and rest needs 200%. Seven to eight hours of sleep is the foundation; without it, cravings spike and the other two pillars collapse.
- Start tiny, not small. She began with a 20-minute daily walk and held it for three months before layering strength training, then badminton — each stage locked in before adding load.
- Workplace wellness challenges should be simple, relevant, and inclusive. Stairs-only weeks, a mandated 15-minute post-lunch walk, or a team sleep pledge — Aarthi's HR view is that employers must nudge gently and check whether every age and ability can actually participate.
- Point-based rewards turn behaviour into engagement. Her practitioner take: award points for daily sleep or step goals, let employees redeem them for non-monetary experiences; the loop itself is what sustains participation.
- Body positivity is self-acceptance, not a size. Society's beauty standard is fleeting — the lips she was teased for are now a cosmetic trend — so the only durable investment is unapologetic self-worth.
In Aarthi's Words
On the transformation
This journey is very close to my heart. From December 2021 to December 2022, I lost a whopping 33 kilos and came back home with a crown. I'm living one of the best years of my adult life.
Our body is a beautiful and noble machine. It needs to be used optimally — we need to run, lift, walk, jump. We shouldn't be afraid to use it at all.
On what actually works
None of us can lose weight fast. A health journey is more like our relationships — it can never be fast. You need time to savour and enjoy it; the longer it is, the more sustained.
I never started small, I started tiny. A 20-minute walk every single day for three months, no matter what. Then I layered in strength training, then badminton.
No matter how well I ate or worked out, if I did not give my body seven to eight hours of rest, everything went for a toss. Cravings shoot up, and a lot of things get disturbed.
On workplace wellness
Employers play a significant role by very gently nudging employees to make healthy life choices. The idea is to create a positive climate of fun and camaraderie.
Keep challenges simple. One week, only the stairs — no elevator. Two weeks, everyone clocks seven hours of sleep. A 15-minute mandated noon walk right after lunch. Little things that are absolutely workable.
Once employees put in the effort, reward it. A point system works — earn points for sleeping on time or hitting your steps, then redeem for health-related benefits. It doesn't have to be monetary; an experience is often enough.
We all come with different health limits and age groups. A good challenge has to be open for everybody — always pause and introspect on that before you extend it.
About the Speaker
Aarthi Priyankhaa is a vivacious, versatile HR Business partner who loves traveling, singing, and swimming. She is an award-winning Toastmaster from Chennai and a Plus-Size model who recently won the All India pageant for South India 2022.
She is also a body positivity influencer who believes in and practices inclusivity.
Connect with her on LinkedIn.
Show Notes
(00:40) Tell us about your journey in the area of wellness.
(02:42) What are the positives of losing weight?
(06:04) What is your opinion on body positivity?
(09:52) How can we lose weight fast?
(12:02) Do you think people weighing over 176 lbs are unhealthy?
(13:24) How much diet and exercise is required for losing weight?
(16:09) What are the three principles of weight management?
(22:30) What is your take on wellness programs?
(23:51) How can employers incorporate weight management in wellness programs?
(27:57) Would you like to share anything with the listeners?
Suggested article: Obesity in the Workplace - How to Deal with it?
