Cycling, swimming were stepping stones of my training

This women's day will be nutritionist Priya Karkera's first dna ICan marathon. Karkera, who preaches a healthy lifestyle, decided to follow it herself and succeeded by participating in Mumbai Marathon this year. As she gears up for her second marathon, she shares her secret of fitness with dna readers.

hen 2014 came, I decided to work towards a healthier me. The simplest goal was to run the half-marathon in 2015. It wasn't easy though, as it meant a lot of workouts, training and bidding goodbye to naughty taste buds.
Being a nutritionist, I just had to follow my own instructions and set a goal every week. Six months was the target I set for myself. I started my regimen with my favorite physical activity — cycling.

Cycling and swimming were the stepping stones of my training. With work and home responsibilities, I could just get 45 minutes a day for myself. Nevertheless, the drop in weight soon got me motivated.

Watching my food habits helped me to a great extent. Initially, being an ovalactovegetarian (egg eater), I had to build my protein stocks with sprouts, pulses, egg whites, soy granules, milk and milk products with three to four servings daily.

With regular fruits, vegetables and whole grains in my diet, I ensured enough of carbs and fiber in my diet. I also made sure that I ate a handful of nuts daily. And a cup of green tea a day helped me boost my metabolism.

Once I managed to set my routine, I went for my first run on the streets of Chembur. I could just could manage 1.5km; 21km seemed way too long then. Determination and perseverance were the keys which could get me to my goal.

My diet and exercise regimen did falter many times, but I ensured that I went back to it. The last three months before the race, I gave my heart and soul to my workouts.

Karkera's regimen
Walking: Thrice a week for half an hour
Aqua: Thrice a week for an hour
Weight training: Thrice a week for 45 minutes
Long runs on weekends

Food habits
Early morning: 1 cup coffee (with jaggery) + 1 toast
8.30am: Simple Indian breakfast — upma or poha (with sprouts)/boiled pulses/three egg whites with a few dates
11am: 1 cup tea (at work)/green tea/few nuts
1.30pm: 1 jowar bhakri/rice + any pulses or soy + dal with vegetables + a cup of curd
4.30pm: 1 cup of coffee (with 1/4 tsp sugar)
2 khakras/bhel/any snack with proteins
6.30pm: green tea (no sugar) + a fruit
8.30pm: Same as lunch