Actress Ramya Subramanian | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
Mozhi actress Ramya Subramanian, who made her debut as an anchor at the age of 15, says she faced body-shaming, which forced her to resort to extreme measures, from drastically cutting down on food to losing her weight. Up to the constant work to hide “flaws”.
Popularly known as VJ Ramya, she is now also a health coach, and has recently launched Stop Waiting (published by Penguin), a book based on her own journey to fitness . “This book is about my story, my journey, and the mistakes I made,” she says, adding that she aims to guide readers on the “do’s and don’ts.” Let’s hope Along with sharing healthy recipes and exercise guidelines, tips on skin care, hair care, and mental health.
Ramya’s journey began when she discovered weight training. “It was a game changer because it gave a feeling of confidence. I participated in power lifting competitions where I won gold medals in many competitions. This brought a huge change in the behavior of many people as they never thought of this sari clad girl as a power lifter. Soon, many people approached me for weight loss tips.
Book cover of ‘Stop Waiting’ | Photo Credit: Special Arrangement
She says, “Many people have told me about their depression when their friends or relatives shame them. The conversation usually starts with ‘You have become thinner, lost a lot of weight or gained weight’ rather than ‘How are you / how do you feel today’. I think society needs to change its perception.
She says that the Indian way of showing love through food also has its drawbacks. “Unfortunately we have grown up in a scenario where a child’s achievement is celebrated by rewarding him with his favorite food. Even in my childhood, my mother encouraged me to eat more, as a result of which I became a fat child.”
Ramya suggests that parents involve their children in more physical activities. “Playing games helps with concentration, agility, multitasking, hand-eye coordination.”
She advises people who want to lose weight to be “conscious about every single food you eat”. The actor-turned-health coach concluded, “Only discipline and consistency will help you achieve your goals.”
The cost of the book is ₹399. It can be bought online.