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DFC 2019: Staying in shape makes me feel good, says Indian expat

Dubai - Akshatha said it was a snide comment from a loved one that motivated her into becoming a fitness buff.

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Nutrition, exercise and fitness: Three things that are always on 28-year-old Akshatha Balachandra's mind. But that hadn't always been the case.
Akshatha, who came to the UAE in 2013, said it was a snide comment from a loved one that motivated her into becoming a fitness buff.
"I have always loved the idea of exercising, being fit and strong, but I was never consistent or motivated until, one day, a close friend said something that made me realise it's time to hit the gym," she recalled. "However, being in India, I never really got a chance to follow a strict diet and exercise regime because of too many family and social gatherings."
Soon after she got a job in the UAE, she started her life-changing fitness journey.
"I started following a strict diet and began exercising regularly, squeezing in some time even with a hectic work schedule. This was an investment in myself as I took on the challenge of getting in shape." Akshatha shed a considerable amount of weight in a year or so and realised that being fit not only helped her look good but also made her mentally strong.
"Not only did I lose weight in a healthy way but it also toned up my body. My family could not believe it was me, when I sent them my pictures a year after coming to the UAE."
The changes fitness brought into her life were unbelievable, she said.
"Not only did I look and feel good but also became more confident and mentally strong. I cannot think of a day without exercise."
Taking up the Dubai Fitness Challenge with great zeal, Akshatha believes such initiatives give people a chance to focus on themselves and take charge of their fitness levels.
saman@khaleejtimes.com
 

• Dubai Fitness Challenge