I have lost an incredible 13.2 kg

31-year old Tabish Ansari from Noida took a consultation from SHARAN dietician Poonam Sharma and not only managed his pre-diabetic condition, he also lost 13 kgs in four months!

When I started my journey with SHARAN, I weighed 107 kg and my HBA1c count was 6.7%, which is the ceiling value for pre-diabetes. A bit more negligence and I would have fallen into the agonizing cycle of medications for diabetes. With Poonam Sharma’s continuous monitoring, guidance, dedication and motivation over the last four months, my HBA1c level is now at 5.6%  and I have lost an incredible 13.2 kilos. Of course, I am still obese, but I am also happy, more energetic and feel light.

Before SHARAN happened to me, I had consulted with a plethora of dietitians but none of their approaches convinced me the way Poonam’s did. The recommendation of Forks over Knives helped me understand the concepts and misconceptions around food. For instance, potatoes never spiked my glucose level despite eating them every day. They, in fact, helped me manage my hunger pangs and food craving.

It is indeed difficult to change food habits but the primary thought/mantra that kept me going was, “Let’s eat nutritious food rather than temporarily satisfying taste buds and being on meds lifelong”. All of this was never possible without Poonam’s supervision and my dear wife Mrs. Fauzia Karim Ansari who ensured that the kitchen was always well equipped and my portions were kept on check. SHARAN is not just about a diet, it is a way of healthy living, a lifestyle improvement! Alhamdolillah (Thanks to God) for the SHARAN mentor-ship and for the caring efforts of my lovely wife.

Recipe – Healthy vegan Ice-cream  

Check this easy to whip up and delicious ice-cream that will surprise you and your family!

Ingredients

• 400 ml coconut cream
• 100 gm dried figs

Method

For the ice cream

Soak the dried figs in the coconut cream for about one hour or a bit more. (in warm climates it is better to put the mixture in the fridge during this time). After the figs swell and become softer put the mixture in the blender and blend. Freeze. Once it is almost frozen its ready to serve.

Variations

Take approximately equal volumes of thick fresh coconut milk, ripe smashed bananas and dates and blend in a blender. Freeze the mixture. Let it set. Serve.

You can try this with different nut milks, or even soy milk with a little sesame butter for creaminess. Dates can be replaced with other dried fruits which should be soaked in the milk for a while before blending. Bananas can be replaced by any fruit with similar consistency (mangoes, chickoo, papaya) If you want to use a juicy fruit like pineapple then add a little more sesame butter to give the creaminess. Nuts can be added if desired.

Serves 4-5

Food for the mind

FACEBOOK SUPPORT GROUP

If you love Facebook, then join us to be supported on your plant based journey. we are offering three possibilitie

1. SHARAN India This is SHARAN’s main Facebook page which you can like and follow for getting useful daily updates and news from the plant based health world. You will also get news about the latest SHARAN events, see testimonials, and more.

2. SHARAN’s Vegan Support Group This is an open support group to know more about vegan/plant-based lifestyle. Here you can ask questions and share inspiring stories, tips, recipes, etc.

3. SHARAN’s Plant Powered Health This is the new group only for the past attendees of SHARAN’s events: seminars, cooking classes, retreats or longer programs.

All our doctors and presenters will be here to answer your questions and give you tips. If you have attended our events join this group to be a part of our family.

Please like the main SHARAN page and join the group(s) applicable to you.

Steps to take Health into Your Own Hand

Whatever the time and situation may be, what we do with it is what will eventually matter . With the lockdown, the universe has pressed the pause button. So use this time productively.

This is the best time to invest in health, our greatest asset. Health often takes a backseat when we get too preoccupied with our lives. But now we have the opportunity to reset our pace and regain our lost health.

Read on for some ideas on how to do this:

1.  It all starts with knowledge Take this time to empower yourself with information. There are some amazing books and documentaries that you can tune into. Some documentaries on Netflix that we highly recommend are Forks over Knives, What the Health, Game Changers, Heal, Hungry for Change. For books, check out the list on https://sharan-india.org/resources/  You can trying accessing the Kindle versions too. Our website and YouTube channel are also great places to visit for information.

2. Get into healthy cooking Experiment with new recipes. We have almost 600 recipes on our website, apart from others on the internet too. We also have a special offer on our Whole Plant Based Basic Cooking Class online. To know more click https://sharan-india.org/events/online-basic-cooking-class/

3. De-clutter It’s the best time to start clearing up what you don’t need. You can put these extras aside to give away later. Household chores are great stress-busters too.

4. Go easy on social media We need to give enough rest to our eyes, so please limit the time you spend on social media. Fix up the time and stick to it.

5. Exercise  Dance, skip, on-the spot jogging, yoga and even mopping the floor! So many choices. If you are confused, just switch on YouTube to find many exercise videos that you can follow.

6. Learn something new Is there some course you have always wanted to do but never found the time to do it? Well now is the time! Thanks to technology this is now possible.

7. Understand hunger This is the best time to reconnect with your body and understand hunger. No need to have a specific time to eat….just eat when you are really hungry and drink when you are thirsty.

8. Spend quality family time Truly the time to be together, support each other, play games and simply have fun! A happy family is a healthy family.

9. Start a gratitude journal Everyday at a fixed time, start writing 10 things you are grateful for. This is great for mental health as your focus is on what you have. Trust us, you will never run out of ideas!

10. Exercise your brain Do crosswords, puzzles, sudoku, answer logic based questions, attempt quizzes, play chess, do creative writing…..

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