The business of health. After burning the candle at both ends, Hardev used his family as a catalyst for change following a scare in hospital
Hardev Sahota: Vital stats
Before
• Age: 60
• Height: 5ft 7in
• Weight: 185lb
• Body fat: 38%
After
• Age: 63
• Height: 5ft 7in
• Weight: 148lb
• Body fat: 18%
Q. Tell us a little bit about your overall health…
A lifestyle of overeating, socializing and parties led to me becoming not only obese, but also Type-2 diabetic, with high blood pressure and high cholesterol.
I was hospitalized during the filming of a TV documentary about our new family business and suffered nerve damage, which led to a loss of sensation in my left arm.
Seeing my sons crying at my hospital bedside was really painful, and made me realize my decisions had made my family suffer.
Q. So, how did you end up getting into fitness?
When I got home from hospital, I took a long, hard look at myself in the mirror. My stomach protruded like I was pregnant.
I realized that unless I changed my habits and improved my health, I’d be dependent on medication for the rest of my life – or even suffer a fatal illness.
That would not only make me suffer but also add a burden on my family. I love my family, and decided to change to stop this from happening. I felt going to the gym and training would be a good start.
Q. Were there any specifics you needed to change in your diet to improve your health?
I understood that the crucial factor for anybody losing fat was being in a calorie deficit. I used a mixture of intermittent fasting and a low carb, high fat/protein keto diet to achieve this every day.
I changed my eating patterns based on when I was hungry and didn’t just eat because it was breakfast or dinner time.
Q. What were the challenges you faced initially?
Not understanding what caused weight gain and weight loss was a big initial challenge for me. I knew I needed to make changes by reducing what I felt at the time was a more enjoyable lifestyle.
It was tough at first, but it’s not in my nature to give up. This brought about some visible changes alongside going to the gym, which kept me motivated.
Q. What are your goals for the future?
Today, I am very proud to say that I’m off all medication for diabetes, blood pressure and cholesterol. I weigh 148lb, but my ultimate goal is to get down to 132lb and lower my body fat to between 10-15%.
I also want to continue growing my family business, Mr Singh’s Sauce, which you can find in supermarkets nationwide.
Infomania
1/3
People who have pre- diabetes in the US. Nine out 10 don’t know.
2x
Higher risk of cardiovascular disease for South Asians compared to Europeans.
65+
1 in 4 people over 65 have diabetes, compared to only 1 in 10 for over 20s.
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