Sometimes, one incident can completely change a person’s life. Former Mrs India finalist Maitreyi Karanth had that moment during a game of squash almost 20 years ago. While running to take a shot, she slammed into a wall, leaving her with severe bleeding and deep chest muscle bruises. The injury took months to heal and limited her mobility. For someone who was always active, the sudden pause was difficult and hence, to cope, food soon became her comfort, due to which she ended up gaining 25 kgs.
“I still felt very pretty and continued to post pictures of myself on social media without feeling like I needed to hide any part of my body,” Karanth, now 52, told the South China Morning Post. But as she tried returning to activities like squash and hiking, she noticed the extra weight was slowing her down. “I realised how heavy I’d become,” she further said.
Facing hurtful comments
Karanth says the weight gain also brought painful comments from others. “I really admire you. If I were you, I would not even go out,” one person told her. Another friend once asked to look at her plate “to see what I was eating to look like this.” Someone else even called her a buffalo.
Instead of letting such remarks break her spirit, Karanth reflected on her lifestyle. “I’d heard about intermittent fasting, and opted to eat just one meal a day,” she told South China Morning Post.
At first, her meals weren’t very healthy. But as she started losing weight, she became more conscious of what she was eating. Her typical plate had a small portion of rice, some protein like a hard‑boiled egg, plenty of vegetables, fruit, and even a small treat.
Dropping 30 Kgs in a year with OMAD diet
Within a year of following the one‑meal‑a‑day plan, often called OMAD, and giving up alcohol completely, Karanth lost 30 kgs, bringing her weight down to 62 kgs.
But the journey wasn’t always easy. “It was hard not being able to snack between lunch and dinner, and I struggled with reintroducing alcohol on weekends without going overboard,” she told South China Morning Post.
She admitted that her relationship with food became complicated. “I was afraid to eat, and when I did eat, I didn’t know my limits.” At one point, she regained 7 kgs, but lost them again in two months by following the OMAD plan.
Now, she follows a more balanced routine. “I eat two meals a day and allow myself to have a little bit of everything,” she told South China Morning Post.
Is the OMAD diet sustainable?
As per experts, while OMAD can lead to quick results, it may not be the best choice for long-term health. “Eating just one meal a day can lead to short-term weight loss due to a calorie deficit,” Ashlesha Joshi, senior nutritionist at Tone 30 Pilates, told The Indian Express. “But for women over 50, it may not be sustainable. At this stage, hormonal changes affect metabolism, bone density, and muscle mass. Relying on just one meal might mean missing out on essential nutrients like protein, calcium, and fibre, which are very important during and after menopause,” she further said.
She suggests a more balanced approach. “Instead of extreme restriction, having small, nutrient-dense meals throughout the day works better in the long run,” Joshi told The Indian Express.
How can emotional eating make you gain weight?
Karanth gained weight due to emotional eating, which can play a role in weight gain. “This type of emotional relationship with food is more common than many realise, especially among people who have faced years of dieting or pressure about body image,” Joshi explains.
To break the cycle, she suggests practising mindful eating. “It’s important to rebuild trust with food. Stop labelling foods as good or bad, and focus on nourishment and satisfaction. Working with a professional can also help address emotional triggers behind eating habits,” she further told The Indian Express. Today, she inspires many by openly sharing her struggles with weight which shows that even after setbacks, it’s possible to lose weight and transform yourself.
