This Indian mom lost 32 kg in 11 months. She quit these 4 foods

A Gurugram-based content creator shared the everyday foods she quit during her weight-loss journey after having her baby.Woman shares her weight loss journey (Photo: deepti_harshana/Instagram)New Delhi,Oct 5, 2026 13:16 ISTHow to lose weight? Ask the internet, and you’ll be handed 101 ways (and more, ofcourse) — from fad diets and food swaps to the latest weight-loss hack. But sometimes, a real-life story can be far more motivating than another viral tip. One mother’s weight-loss journey is a case in point: she lost 32 kg in 11 months after making some simple changes to what she ate.A social media content creator based out of Gurugram, Deepti Harshana is a work-from-home mum who documents the varied stages of her weight-loss journey, from her diet to her fitness routine. Interestingly, there’s nothing fancy, but everything is simple. For instance, in one of her Instagram Reels, she listed basic, everyday foods in the caption that she had quit to shed some kilos and help with bloating.Here’s what Harshana quit:She ditched sugary drinksFirst on Harshana’s list were sugary drinks. Instead of reaching for sweetened beverages, she switched to simpler options such as lemon water, coconut water and green tea. According to her, sugary drinks contributed to more fat storage and water retention, which could lead to a puffy face. White bread was off the plateWhite bread was another everyday food Harshana gave up. She opted for multigrain or whole-wheat bread, sourdough and oats instead. Packaged snacksPackaged snacks were another thing Harshana cut down on, owing to their high salt content and the bloating she experienced. Instead of reaching for salty, packaged foods, she chose options such as roasted chana, nuts and makhana.Bye-bye fried foodsFried fast food was also off her everyday menu. Instead, she chose homemade wraps, paneer or chicken tikka and simple home-cooked meals.Late-night snacking was a no-goHarshana also decided to call it quits with her midnight snacking menu, as mindless eating can add unnecessary calories. According to her, herbal tea before sleep served as a better alternative.These changes were part of a larger routine that helped the mother lose 32 kg in 11 months. She also focused on staying hydrated by consuming 2-3 litres of water, sleeping for about seven hours and walking regularly. Of course, weight loss isn’t about quitting five foods alone — overall calorie intake, activity, sleep and individual health all play a role. “You still need to be in a calorie deficit FIRST,” she wrote in her caption.And this is simply Harshana’s story, her weight-loss journey and the foods she decided to quit. According to her, these changes worked for her body and helped her stay on track.But here’s something to keep in mind: every weight-loss journey is different. What works for one person or body type may or may not give someone else similar results. A diet or fitness routine should ideally be tailored to individual needs, and consulting a qualified expert can help make the process more informed, healthy and sustainable.Because sometimes, weight loss isn’t about finding the most complicated diet on the internet. It can also be about understanding your own habits, making changes that work for you and, most importantly, sticking with them.- Ends