The moment weight loss comes up, most people start advising diets, gym sessions, hours of exercise or fasting, yet almost no one talks about changing habits. The truth is that a few small, wrong habits are often the real reason behind the extra weight. Fitness trainer Shikha Surana made exactly this point while sharing her weight loss journey on Instagram. Once 72 kg, Shikha now weighs 49 kg, a full 23 kg lighter. What stands out is that she did not try any new trick. She simply dropped the habits that were quietly working against her efforts to lose weight.
Shikha listed eight habits that, once changed, not only improved her lifestyle but also helped her shed the weight. There were no crash diets, no detox teas and no shortcuts involved. She chose an approach that could stay a part of her life for the long run.
The Eight Habits That Changed Everything
She stopped skipping breakfast: The first thing Shikha fixed was the habit of skipping her morning meal. Missing breakfast leaves you ravenously hungry later in the day. She used to keep herself hungry, which slowed her metabolism, and then she would eat everything at night. She also stopped skipping dinner and began eating within an hour of waking up.
She cut out calorie-loaded drinks: The second change came in her drinking habits. She completely gave up juice, sugary tea and cold coffee because they pile on unnecessary calories. In their place she now sticks to water, black coffee and plain tea.
Even healthy foods, measured carefully: Shikha realised that without watching portions, even healthy foods can become a problem. Makhana, dry fruits and peanut butter were part of her daily routine, but eaten in large amounts they too add calories. So it is important to drop the belief that you can eat any quantity just because it is healthy.
Only cardio, never weight training: For a long time, cardio was the main part of her fitness routine. Shikha says she spent hours on the treadmill, but the real change appeared only after she started weight lifting.
Less sleep, more stress: Lack of sleep was another big issue she worked on. According to Shikha, staying up late raised her stress and cortisol levels and triggered strong cravings. Now she makes sure to get 7 to 8 hours of sleep every night.
She stopped eating out: The habit of eating at hotels and restaurants also went away. Even if you eat healthy or in small amounts, restaurant food contains certain ingredients that sneak in extra calories. Shikha now mostly eats home-cooked meals.
Everything in limited quantity: Shikha used to think that one day of heavy eating did no harm, but a single indulgence can undo a whole day of effort. So even when eating out or having something unhealthy, keeping an eye on the quantity matters. Eating in limited amounts does far less damage than stuffing yourself for one day. In short, eat everything, but watch the portions.
Staying positive and motivated: Losing weight is not a one-day job; it takes consistent effort over a long time. So instead of waiting for the 'right day', stay full of positive energy daily and keep motivating yourself with discipline. Stay focused and learn to be happy.
Shikha's story makes it clear that change does not come from a magic formula but from slowly fixing everyday habits, and that is exactly the kind of change that lasts.
