Manisha: Before Becoming a Buff Bride
Manisha's Starting Stats
Height: 5'2"
Weight: 134.5 lbs
Dress Size: 9 to 10
Q: What was your favorite food before becoming a Buff Bride?
A: I had a lot of favorite foods. My favorite American dish is pizza. And my favorite Indian dish is something called bhel puri. It's a mixture of rice puffs, onions, tomatoes, potatoes, chickpeas, coriander, puri (special fried bread, but it's crunchy), Indian spices and chutney.
Q: What was your favorite body part before losing your weight?
A: I always used to brag about my calves because that was the only body part that contained the least amount of fat!!
Q: What was your motivation to lose the weight and get fit?
A: I think what TRULY motivated me was the fact that I was going to be on national television. That was one of my primary motivators, because I didn't just have to prove my ability to lose weight to myself, but for all of America! The second was my wedding pictures. Looking back at my engagement ceremony pictures, I was very dissatisfied with my appearance and I didn't want to feel that way about my wedding album. So, I knew even if everything went wrong that day, it wouldn't matter, because I knew I would look beautiful on my wedding day and in my pictures.
Q: Did you exercise before becoming a Buff Bride? If so, how often and what did you do?
A: Overall, my exercise regimen was sporadic. I would take walks in the park after dinner, only if the weather permitted. Then in January I knew I only had eight months to lose the weight, so I decided to join a gym. I went about three to four times a week, taking step classes and doing cardio-aerobic exercise for about 30 to 40 minutes, which didn't result in any type of weight loss because I never really changed my eating habits, nor engaged in any type of weight-training regimen. Now, knowing what went wrong, I decided to hire a personal trainer. Well, adding weight training to my cardio regimen helped a little. I lost about four or five pounds in four months, but I didn't see much result in inches. Still, I never changed my diet, and that's what was missing.
