My Insta, my alter ego

I'm often asked by some acquaintances, long-forgotten friends and even random strangers, who just slide into my DMs like they own it, that why do I post semi-nude pictures on my Insta page? And for all I have but one answer - MY BODY IS MY BODY, NONE  OF YOUR BODY!

I totally get it why it surprises people when I post a picture as such, because if you meet me in real life you wouldn't think I'm that kinda person who is bold in her approach. I'm rather an introvert who will only open up to people with whom I feel comfortable. So my #famjam knows that when it comes to being comfortable in your own skin Prerna won't hesitate a bit, but for outsiders it's a shocker alert! So to everyone who has ever wondered what makes me do it, in all honesty I would confess that I love my body so I flaunt it. I actually feel more comfortable dressed down than I'm when I'm dressed up.  It makes me feel beautiful inside out and is very much a part of my sexuality. #NarciMuch maybe?!

Picture Credit: Navin Dhyani Photo

Some may think it's attention-seeking but in my opinion that's just one of the ways people like to cover up for their inability to understand why I do it. It's human nature to automatically put the blame on situations rather than delve deeper into the meaning behind it. And guess what, it makes no difference to me absolutely what someone thinks and that's one of the reasons why I pose with my naked skin. If I start caring about everyone's opinion, life will be such a waste.

But it wasn't that randomly one day I decided to bare it all and do a complete makeover. It started building up little by little and voila! A new Prerna was born! The first time ever I faced the camera with the intention of doing a photoshoot, I was a nervous wreck ready to break down anytime. And whoever knows me personally know that nervousness in many ways defines me.

Picture Credit: Navin Dhyani Photo

But thanks to my ace photographer friend Navin who instilled such stellar confidence in me I did what I had only dreamed about since childhood. I posed, I smiled, I went outside my comfort zone and decided to never return to it. Navin has a talent to bring out that inner you which rarely anyone else can spot. He showed confidence in me and I could never repay what he LIT within me from there on.  Anup acccompanied us too in this shoot and not only did he help manage last minute requirements, but his presence solidified my belief that everything was going right. And to think I was hesitant to attempt this in front of him, I feel silly and grateful today that he came along and became a part of this memory.

But mind you, my Insta avatar has nothing to do with the trendy hashtags of #bodypositivity #plusandproud #plussizemodels... you get the gist. I'm no influencer, I admire the girls who do it as a responsibility to educate the young minds to love and flaunt themselves, but I never aligned myself to that thought process. For me, my pictures are just a way to explore myself more, to see what all personalities are hidden inside me and in the course learn more about myself. It's truly been a rewarding experience so far and with each picture I fall more and more in love with myself. Now isn't that the aim of #SelfLove?

Want to see more of my epic transformation? Do follow me on @sherdiputtar and don't forget to like, share and leave feedback! :) <3

The Keto Life

My journey started on 23rd October, 2017 but really it was a month before when my friends and I toyed with the idea of going on a diet as a group. Our friend, Papa J had just recently explored the concept of Keto diet and together we contemplated if we should all go on it and see the results. I personally was never a diet person, too shy to even check my weight in the presence of others. But Diwali day we all checked our weights, placed it as a challenge to lose all the extra kilos and thus began the journey of transformation.

I would be lying if I said I didn't breakdown and cried myself to sleep in the course of this diet. The first 10 days were the most difficult for me as out of my HANGRY state I would scream at my mother for not loving me enough and not feeding me things I'm allowed to eat. Poor Mum, didn't even know the K of Keto never had to cook diet food in a Punjabi household, was now trying her hands at alien recipes of cauliflower rice and what not. It was her support at home in the initial days that despite all my melodrama she pushed me to keep going. And when not at home, special mention goes to Papa J (Jay Patel) without whom the diet idea would never come to realisation. It was his sheer belief in me that made me keep going come what may.

You would think that a bunch of young guns who are always spotted traveling or partying, basically living their life to the fullest, how serious can they be about a diet? Well, you gotta be with us to know us! We partied, we travelled, we did all sorts of things together but nothing ever stopped us from following our diet to the T. Together, we aligned our cheat days, planned trips keeping in my mind everyone's dietary requirements, like even though Anup was the only person who wasn't on diet but would join us to Keto-friendly places to eat without batting an eyelid and Papa J would even carry diet food on trips so no one goes hungry. Cue: aww alert! While these two helped keep up the morale, Navin's motivation skills came in handy when he would set out targets fashionwise and help reach a goal in his own way. There was nothing that wasn't going to fit me until Navin was around! This phase taught me that no matter what you do in life, when you have a solid support system like my friends there's NOTHING that can not be achieved. When you have unconditional support and love pushing you to achieve your goal, then sky's the limit. I would forever be grateful to have a set of friends who not only stand by me but are the voice of reason. They gave a new definition to my life and without them the journey wouldn't have been a blissful one.

It's a popular myth that once you go off Keto, all the lost weight comes back and you have to start from the scratch. Now I call it a myth only because I have been on and off this diet and not even once had to face the said conundrum. Yes, when you go off the diet you tend to gain a kg or two but that's totally natural and something that you can lose again. Keto by concept is a change in lifestyle, helps you build up good eating habits and makes you more energetic and vigorous. Combined with exercise time and I guarantee you would be at your optimal best! I started going on walk in the evening for 45minutes and would do squats and planks at home and all this really helped me feel less fatigued.

When I started on this journey, I was 97kgs, my medical reports were dwindling, sugar was on borderline and I had been suffering from PCOD from past 5 years. I decided it was time for me to make that leap of faith for my own good and go on this diet with positivity. And I have never made a better decision in life! Today, I weigh 75kgs, my sugar is normal and reports have no sign of PCOD. Believe me when I say, it may seem miraculous but I have achieved these results only because the efforts put in were informative and calculated. A lot of people message me asking for diet tips and how can they lose weight like I did, my only answer is please first read, understand what this diet does and then decide what's best for you. I'm not an advocate of any diet but I totally believe that if you love yourself and trust yourself enough you would do everything to make your life better. Self love is a FASHIONABLE topic now, more so like ignorance is the new self love where you are just in denial and don't actually do anything to improve or enhance your life. I went on a diet because I love myself and my health was deteriorating and I wanted to make myself healthy.  A lot is said on social media about the portrayal of self love but for me if you're doing it because everyone's doing it then it's a waste of time.

I'm going to start a new chapter in this journey soon and I cannot wait to share it! This is just a beginning, there's a long way to go and I look forward to ticking off my goals 😊♥️

Follow my posts on @sherdiputtar to know more about my journey!