2022 marked the year of accomplishment for the comedian Romesh Ranganathan's weight loss journey.
On 12 September, Ranganathan posted on his Instagram his fat-to-fit photos. He captioned, "Thanks to all that have shown concern regarding my weight loss." Ranganathan, being the comedian he is, added humorously, "Don't worry, my mum is still sending me food parcels, we just reduced it to 4 per week."
He received heartwarming and very supportive comments from his followers. People expressed their unwavering love for the comedian regardless of the situation. One follower, @brenlarge, wrote, "This is great for you and your family. I think you looked good before, but now you're looking healthy too."
When did Ranganathan Acknowledge His Weight Gain?
Ranganathan's father passed away in 2019. After that, he pledged to start working on his weight gain and ill health.
First, it was his appearance that had him concerned. He wrote in the Guardian, "My dissatisfaction with the way I look means I tend to wear one or two more layers of clothing than the season dictates."
Weight gain is a problem for a low-key person, let alone a celebrity who is in front of the camera most of the time. Things were difficult for Ranganathan as people would mock him every chance they got. He said, "Social media is brutal."
"I have, of course, tried to lose weight many times and succeeded - only to put it back on. I wanted this to be different, so I resolved to make changes that would be sustainable.", Ranganathan wrote in the Guardian.
He accepted that it was his greediness that got him to bulk up. He wouldn't let go of junk food. He once ate four huge, filled doughnuts in one sitting. So the first step for him was to curtail his diet. But that was proving impossible as the comedian couldn't resist the urge to eat what he wanted.
What Did He Do To Beat Weight Loss?
The road from fat to fit was rough for the comedian, but he pushed himself for three years to lose weight.
Restrained eating didn't help the comedian. So, he opted for the gym. He hired an 'Adonis' trainer, David, to help him with the gym routine. It started every day with 6 am workouts and circuit training. That much commitment and discipline were turning very strenuous for the free-willed comedian.
He canceled the regular session and instead looked for more flexible alternatives. He tried running, boxing, and even going to the gym. But all that on his own, without a trainer to guide him. The process was doomed from the start.
Ranganathan was tired and exhausted but was not ready to give up. He was looking for alternatives and then came across 'Spin Bike". It was expensive but had multiple benefits, which got him invested.
The comedian wrote in the Guardian, "I discovered my savior: a spin bike with a screen that lets you do classes online. That doesn't sound particularly enticing to a sloth, but it was perfect. I could do high-intensity classes, and all I had to do was go downstairs."
He added, "Spin bike is the one form of exercise that has stuck. It is difficult to find an excuse not to exercise in your own house."
"Diet was the next thing. I tried to take all of the decision-making out of my hands by having pre-prepared meals delivered. I would eat only three meals a day, plus water, and know exactly what my nutritional intake was", Ranganathan wrote in the Guardian.
The comedian also tried intermittent fasting. For that, he selected eight hours of the day during which he could eat and fast for the other sixteen hours - sticking to zero-calorie drinks such as water and black coffee. But his tour schedule intervened a lot with his diet plan.
How much weight did he Lose?
Ranganathan lost an incredible amount of weight. All the trouble he went through paid off well in the end.
Now, he looks healthy and ready to take on new challenges. The people who encouraged him the most to lose weight are the comedian's family.
Ranganathan's mother, Shanti, has been the inspiration for the comedian to achieve his weight loss. Shanti has mentioned a multitude of times about her son's weight on TV and in front of a live audience. She wanted her son to be healthy and fit. And she always expressed her concern in a comedic manner. She even 'fat shamed' Ranganathan in Alan Carr's show.
