We asked Get Ahead readers to share their stories of weight loss with us. Here, Umesh B Sethia, a 33-year-old software professional, tells us how he lost 10 kilos in six months:

Who doesn't love kaju katli, badam shakes, Bengali rossogulla, pizza, Bikaneri papad, pav bhaji and cakes? I come from a Rajasthani Marwari background and used to live to eat, with a particular fondness for Bikaneri papad and bhujias.

Predictably, my weight graph looked something like the stock market -- forever tumbling and rising -- and even having crossed a century once. I have, however, managed to stabilise my weight with a great little strategy.

I am 6'2" and used to weight 102 kilos about six months ago. I managed to drop 10 kilos over 3-4 months and have been successfully maintaining since then by adopting an analytical approach to eating.

I began by analysing my eating habits and foods that I binged on. I would control my cravings, trying to balance my favourites with healthy foods and reduce my intake of sweets and junk food in a phased manner, slowly dropping high-calorie items from my diet. 

I also realised the need for doing more than just controlling my diet. My work involves sitting at a desk for 10-12 hours, with hardly any physical exertion. So, I began walking about four kilometres every morning, practicing deep breathing (yoga) and enjoying the crisp morning air.

Once I lost the weight, I drew up a new diet plan, which I eased into gradually.

�         I begin the day with a cup of tea/ glass of milk with a few biscuits.

�         For breakfast I have a paratha

�         At the office I have three or four cups of tea

�         Lunch comprises three chapatis, one/ two vegetables (green vegetables are preferred) and a small quantity of rice

�         Dinner is similar to lunch, but low on the spicy, sweet or oily stuff

When at a buffet or a party, I usually opt for some plain rice with dal. If I do happen to cheat on the diet, jogging or walking is my quick fix; a two-kilometre walk burns off the excess calories and takes me back to my ideal weight.

Following this daily regime has made my weight-loss story a success, and I believe that just streamlining your daily schedule can work wonders. It will help you control your food intake, improve digestion and help your body function at its optimum. I find that I can now work more and have more energy to concentrate and focus on my priorities.

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Were you once overweight? How did you manage to drop the excess baggage? Email your contributions to howilostweight@rediffmail.com, along with your name, age, occupation, contact details, and photographs of yourself both before and after your weight loss. We'll publish the best entries right here on Get Ahead.