Anant Ambani, the youngest son of Indian business magnate Mukesh Ambani, has garnered widespread attention not only for his philanthropic endeavors and upcoming marriage to Radhika Merchant but also for his extraordinary weight loss journey. His dedication and perseverance in shedding a significant amount of weight have made him an inspiration to many.
The Starting Point
Anant Ambani once weighed a staggering 208 kg, facing potential health complications and limitations. This was partially due to a health condition. He suffered from chronic asthma, and the strong medication led to a condition called 'medicine induced-obesity'. Coupled with physical inactivity and unhealthy food habits, things got worse for Anant, leading him to gain morbid amounts of weight. Recognizing the need for change, he embarked on a rigorous weight loss program, achieving a remarkable transformation.
The Weight Loss
Anant Ambani's journey involved losing a remarkable 108 kg in just 18 months through a combination of diet control and an intense workout routine. This transformation was not merely physical but also reflected his emotional and mental fortitude. He was ridiculed for his obese frame and trolled mercilessly for his rich ancestry and luxurious livelihood each time he appeared in public events or on the stadium to root for his IPL cricket team (Mumbai Indians). But Anant Ambani, son of industrialist Mukesh Ambani, took his detractors down, when he appeared in his slimmer avatar, having shed over 108 kilos in less than 18 months, taking everybody by surprise.
The Diet Plan
A crucial aspect of Anant's weight loss was a carefully designed diet plan created by a team of experts. This plan emphasized portion control, nutritious foods, and consistent meal timings. Anant followed a strict weight loss diet. Talking about his strict diet routine, Anant's trainer said that a well-formulated and customized diet plan was made especially for him. This would also include a place for a crash diet. He adopted a zero-sugar, low-carb diet, loaded with fibre and protein. Junk food was off the radar completely. He would have six meals a day, loaded with vegetables, cottage cheese, fruits, quinoa etc. He would also include a teaspoon of ghee in his diet. His calorie consumption in a day was about 1200 -1400 calories. There were no cheat days. He used to begin his days with sprouts, soups and salads and fresh cow milk.
According to his trainer Vinod Channa, Anant followed a low-carb diet that primarily consisted of fruits and vegetables, with no bread or rice. His diet was rich in paneer, sprouts, and other sources of good fats, complex carbs, and protein.
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The Workout Routine
In addition to his diet, Anant also followed a dedicated workout routine to shed weight. Another addition to his personalized workout routine was walking. His daily exercise routine included yoga, strength training, flexibility exercises, and cardio. He would also work out daily for at least 5-6 hours, focusing mainly on building lean muscles, burning calories, and improving overall fitness.
His fitness regime was intense. He worked out five to six hours a day and was on a strictly monitored diet. Anant started walking from 30 minutes to two hours, progressing onto 21 kilometres everyday followed by yoga, weight training, functional training and high-intensity cardio exercises. Anant would work out from 9 pm to 12 midnight followed by low-intensity training, which sometimes went up to 4 am in the morning! Anant began with practicing balance training: leg reaches, arm reaches, and very gradually transitioned to light weight training with high reps. And only once he lost the excess fat did he move to push ups, planks, burpees, and various other methods of functional training.
The Role of a Personal Trainer
Renowned celebrity trainer Vinod Channa, who has trained celebrities like John Abraham, Ritesh Deshmukh, and Ayushmann Khurrana, played a vital role in Anant's transformation.
Keeping his medical state in mind, it was important for Vinod to chalk out a routine and diet for Anant that doesn't come in the way of his medical condition or cause any physical injury or muscle tear. Therefore he made him start with low intensity workout with high reps.
Channa researched Anant’s condition to make sure he adhered to medical protocols, developing a plan that enabled Anant to push his limits but remain healthy.
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Channa added, “I also used to give him break diets so that he felt motivated for regular workouts. Lastly, as he progressed, Channa included high-intensity training, which included short sprints coupled with jogging and sprinting again. Almost unbelievably, and surprising for him as his popularity was always eclipsed by his siblings and parents, he became the talk of the town.
Dr. Andre Chimone also contributed to this massive effort to transform Anant. In the cardio phase of his regime, he used to walk 21-kms a day to burn the excessive amount of calories. For people who are obese, walking is the most preferred and recommended solution to weight loss. Almost simultaneously, Channa put him onto strength and functional training which included weights to ideally strengthen and tone his body. The routine included balancing routines, chest press, leg press, bicep curl reps, and several other reps for each part of the body.
Support from Family
Anant's mother, Nita Ambani, provided unwavering support throughout his journey. She changed her own diet and fitness habits for her son Anant. Whenever he exercised, I did too. If he went for a walk, I would go along. By virtue of being his mother, I lost weight. He was my main motivation and continues to be, as we are still fighting obesity.
She openly acknowledged the need for him to lose weight for health reasons and actively participated in his fitness activities. Nita Ambani isn’t the only member of the ultra-rich Ambani family who’s gone on a diet - she also encouraged her youngest son, Anant, to battle obesity with a protein-rich, no-sugar diet and a fitness plan involving 5 to 6 hours of exercise a day.
Challenges and Motivation
Like many on a weight loss journey, Anant faced challenges and moments of demotivation. His trainer noted that he sometimes felt discouraged when he didn't see the desired weight loss results every day due to factors like late nights and hormonal changes.
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His trainer was quoted as saying, “Sometimes he used to expect that he needs to lose certain gram of weight every day, which is not possible every time. His lifestyle, like late nights and hormonal changes and lot of other issues sometimes made him gain 200-300 grams due to which he would feel demotivated at times. He would be much tensed about his workout and diet routine.
However, he persevered, driven by his determination to get fit by his 21st birthday. Instead of an extravagant birthday party or flashy gifts, Anant had one wish for his 21st birthday: to be fitter and healthier for the big day. With that aim in mind, he hired renowned personal trainer Vinod Channa, who has trained celebrities like John Abraham, Riteish Deshmukh and Ayushmann Khurrana.
Current Status and Continued Efforts
While some of the weight has since crept back, Anant Ambani’s rapid lifestyle U-turn remains an inspiration for many. Anant who is currently pursuing his higher studies in the United States is mindful of his diet and fitness off the shores too. Anant is a strict vegetarian, therefore they had to plan his meal very carefully. All the hard work finally paid off. Anant floored everyone with his jaw dropping transformation, but most of all his mother Neeta Ambani, who had also been a partial receiver of the harsh criticism, often trolled to be feeding her son all sorts of junk food. She said in an interview to a leading daily that her son's journey has been nothing short of "inspiring". "So happy to see Anant Ambani, lots of respect n sooo happy fr him.Takes a lot of willpower to loose 108kgs in 18mnths.(sic)"
Lessons Learned and Advice from Anant's Trainer
Anant Ambani's fitness trainer regularly shares tips and tricks to lose weight. Recently he opened up about why people experience a stagnation while losing weight. Weight loss is no cakewalk. Just restricting diet, random workout may not always help with optimal weight loss. There are times when people complain about getting stuck or not be able to lose weight further. “Many people usually complain that they are not losing weight/fat or reaching their target even after following healthy diet and regular exercise. This is one of the major reason due of which people gets de-motivated.
Channa, on his blog shared 4 reasons that are essential to lose weight and avoid weight loss mistakes.
- Watch your cheat meals: I have seen that many people follow diet whole day but somewhere they do small cheats like adding sugary products or keep on taking bites of some fatty food. There are some people who follow diet for 4 to 5 days and thinks that 1 day cheat meal is allowed. However, this actually spoils their entire week’s hard work. It depends upon your body fat percentage whether you need to cheat in a week or once in 15 days. Ideally, you must break your diet only once in 15 days during the first phase of weight loss plan.
- Challenge yourself: Some people do not seem to challenge themselves while working out and do not come out from comfort zone which makes their workout ineffective as per their required intensity. This is the main reason that they do not progress and there is no fat loss. Different weight loss routines work differently for individuals.
A Broader Perspective on Obesity in India
Anant Ambani's journey is particularly relevant in the context of rising obesity rates in India. He isn’t alone in his struggle; the United Nations’ recent State of Food Security and Nutrition in the World report revealed that while undernourishment in India has declined, adult obesity is on the rise. But the youngest son of billionaire Mukesh Ambani fought his way from being a statistic to a weight-loss icon.