Diet, sleep, and coffee with whipped cream - that's how Facebook India boss Umang Bedi lost 31 kilos

Facebook India head Umang Bedi has had to change his wardrobe in the past 24 months. The sartorial overhaul isn't because he is part of the Menlo Park headquartered social media company. It's because Bedi has shed 31 kg in this time - his waist size has gone to 34 from 42.

The experience of losing weight hasn't been particularly stressful for Bedi. "I feel like a million bucks. I feel in command of my health and there couldn't be a better feeling than that," he says. "I weighed 120 kg when I started on a program called LeanScience."

But he is quick to point out that his makeover didn't happen overnight.

Like many, Bedi says, he tried various weight loss methods and diets in the past. "To say I was unhealthy is an understatement. Hectic work schedule, high volumes of travel [up to 240 days a year], inadequate sleep and poor lifestyle choices like smoking had compromised my overall health," he says.


Then (left) and now (right). (Image: BCCL)

What helped Bedi stick to the program was that he didn't have to drastically change his lifestyle. While his food habits remained almost unchanged, he had to focus on what and when to eat, and to train the body to utilise the existing fat as the primary source of energy.

He didn't exercise in the first three months. "The target was to get my body tuned to running on fats [irrespective of activity levels]," says Bedi, who still begins his day with what he calls his "magic potion" - a cup of coffee with dollops of whipped cream.

His daily meals comprise vegetables, proteins, nuts and cheese. And contrary to common perception, dinner is his biggest meal of the day. "Dinner is the time when the family is eating together. Moreover, it is the only time through the day when I am actually sitting down for a meal, since most of the day is spent in meetings," says Bedi.

And the best part: he can continue consuming his favourite items: paneer, aloo paratha and sushi. But apart from food, Bedi says he ensures he has proper sleep.

Currently weighing 89 kg, Bedi aims to touch the 80-kg mark. But he is in no hurry. "Looking at my results," he says, "my wife and father are also going on the fitness program."