Buff Brides: The Experience
So, what did Manisha really think about the Buff Brides experience? We asked her! Find out what she liked and disliked about the program and check out how much weight she lost!
Manisha's Final Stats
Height: 5'2"
Weight: 118 lbs. (from 134.5 lbs.)
Dress size: 5 to 6 (from 9 to 10)
Total Pounds Lost: 16.5 lbs.
Q: What was your diet and exercise regimen during your Buff Brides experience?
A: My diet consisted of eating five to six times a day. I ate a good, hearty breakfast — an egg-white omelet on whole wheat bread, oatmeal and coffee was a typical breakfast. A mid-morning snack usually consisted of fruit or low-fat yogurt. Then my lunch was usually a salad or grilled fish or chicken with grilled veggies. A mid-afternoon snack was coffee and a peanut butter sandwich on whole wheat bread or a banana with peanut butter. I then went to the gym after a long day at work and worked out for approximately two hours. The first hour was weight training and the second hour was cardio. I would then come home famished and exhausted, only to realize that I couldn't have any carbohydrates for dinner. Of course, the Indian diet mostly consists of bread and rice. So my mom, being the wonderful person that she is, always prepared lentil soup or chicken curry or some dish that was high in protein and a salad and it was ready for me when I arrived home. She also limited the amount of fats she used in her cooking. It was definitely a drastic change in my eating habits.
Q: What was your favorite part of the experience?
A: I must say my favorite part of the experience was actually seeing the results after the first month and a half. The scale was always deceiving, so I never really weighed myself often. Because I failed at my prior attempts to lose weight, I was very suspicious about seeing results. It wasn't until my clothes started to fit better and eventually when they became big on me that I knew I had lost weight and inches! I was very excited at that point!
Q: What was your least favorite part of the experience?
A: Changing my diet was, hands down, the hardest thing about the program! I didn't mind the rigorous workouts or cutting out the "bad" foods — fried foods, butter, oil, cream, whole milk and cheese. But it was cutting back on the breads, rice, potatoes and carbohydrates in general that really tested my discipline. I was accustomed to eating a typical Indian diet, which consists of at least two to three servings of carbohydrates PER MEAL. Now, my trainer tells me only to eat four to six servings per day AND not to eat any carbohydrates at dinner! I knew it was going to be a tough road ahead. Also, drinking more water was hard for me to change. I am still trying to master it.
Q: Who was your biggest cheerleader?
A: My biggest cheerleader was Mitesh, but my biggest supporter was my mom. Let me see if I can explain the difference. Mitesh would always encourage me to stick with the program and tell me how beautiful I looked, all the while stuffing some fries in his face. My mom, on the other hand, changed her entire way of cooking to help me lose weight. As I mentioned before, she used less oil and butter in her dishes and would always have an alternative low-fat meal and a salad prepared for me at the end of the day. She really played a big part in my weight loss.
Q: Do you think you'd have been as happy on your wedding day if you hadn't lost the weight?
A: As far as my relationship with Mitesh, yes, I am very happy to have married him. But as far as feeling beautiful, no, I don't think I would have been as happy if I hadn't lost the weight. Losing weight was a goal for me before Buff Brides ever came into the picture. I was determined to lose at least 15 to 20 pounds before my wedding day, and if I hadn't, I would not have felt beautiful. I would have flipped through the photo album, thinking that I looked too fat.
Q: What would you have done differently in regard to the program?
A: The only thing that I would have changed is my diet. I would have been stricter if I had to do it all over again. Stricter in the sense that I would have completely eliminated processed sugars and flour from my diet. The reason is because my trainer, Kefi, felt that if I would have done that, I could have lost more fat in my stubborn areas, such as my abdomen. Also, I would have worked on my abdominal area more frequently than I did.
Q: What would you have done differently in regard to the wedding?
A: I would have done my hair a little differently for the reception, but that's about it. I was completely happy with the way the wedding and reception turned out.
