Nitin Gadkari Weight Loss: How the Union Minister Lost 46 Kg After Covid-19 With Daily Exercise and Pranayama

Nitin Gadkari, Union Minister for Road Transport and Highways, recently shared how he shed 46 kilograms after Covid-19 to restore his health and overall well-being. Speaking at a podcast, Gadkari, who weighed 135 kilos before the pandemic struck, said he now believes “health is wealth” and has systematically built a discipline into his routine to achieve physical and mental well-being. “I had a very unplanned, undisciplined life. Undisciplined? Absolutely. And now after Covid-19, I exercise for two to two-and-a-half hours daily; I do exercise. I did it today as well,” Gadkari said in Series C, hosted by Pratham Mittal, Founder of Masters’ Union and Shark Tank India judge. Reflecting on his earlier lifestyle, Gadkari, who has been on a weight

loss spree in the last five years, said he now consistently exercises, which has set a discipline in his life. “I had a very unplanned, undisciplined life. Undisciplined? Absolutely. And now after Covid-19, I exercise for two to two and a half hours daily; I do exercise. I did it today as well.” He also shared the exact scale of his transformation and why it became non-negotiable for him. “Health is wealth. And if your health is not good in your life, then the rest of the things are meaningless… You will be surprised; my weight was 135 kilos. Now I am 89… I have lost 46 kg.”

Gadkari does pranayama daily

When asked the secret behind his “younger” looks, the Minister attributed it to consistency in daily pranayama practice: “Now many people tell me that day by day you are becoming younger… It is because of my pranayama and the exercise I do,” he said. Gadkari added he also indulges in stretching and strengthening asanas daily. Pranayama is the ancient yogic practice of controlling the breath – prana, or life force – through specific techniques like deep inhaling, holding, and exhaling, serving as the fourth limb of yoga to calm the mind, improve energy, and strengthen the respiratory system by regulating vital energy flow. It involves conscious modification of breathing patterns like alternate nostril and breath retention and offers benefits like stress relief, better circulation, increased lung capacity, and enhanced mental clarity, making it a fundamental part of holistic well-being. Gadkari urges youngsters to prioritise health Gadkari also urged youngsters to avoid the mistake he feels he made for years – putting everything else ahead of personal well-being. “Give the priority to your health. I have made a mistake. It is very necessary,” he said, recalling advice from his mother that stayed with him, “Oh, there are many problems. Are you going to solve all the problems? The sky is torn; have you alone taken the contract to stitch it? First, look at yourself.” He added that Covid-19 was the inflection point that forced the change. “During Covid-19, my friends who were with me passed away. Then I felt I had to change. Absolutely, it changed for us since then.”