Why Your Parents Eat "Healthy" But Stay Unfit

Hello Broskiis!

Welcome to the ninth edition of Tastes like a Cheat Meal. You can read others here - https://newsletter.proskii.in/.

For first timers, this is Proskii’s weekly newsletter. Both me (Rohit) and Yash hate reading long emails / blogs, so we usually keep these short and promise to not spam your loving soul

SACH MAI!! AMRITSARI CHOLE KULCHO KI KASAM

Let’s be honest about something we’ve all noticed…

We adore our parents
But most Indian parents over 50 are struggling:

High cholesterol. Knee pain. Diabetes. Hair loss. Constant fatigue.
And despite saying "hum toh bohot healthy khana khate hai, beta", they're not getting any fitter.

Sound familiar? 🤔

So I did a small experiment:
I tracked exactly what my parents ate in a day

And…wow

🍽️ The "Healthy" Day That Wasn't

Breakfast: Simple poha or upma (ghar ka bana, no processed stuff)
Lunch: Dal, sabzi, 2 rotis (whole wheat, obviously)
Dinner: Light khichdi or soup

Home-made, simple, low-oil — very “healthy.”

So why isn’t their health improving?

Because the real story is in the snacks between meals.

The Hidden Calorie Bomb 💣

10:30 AM - Chai + 2 Parle-G = 150 calories
12:00 PM - “Small bowl” of fruit = 200 calories
3:00 PM - Chai + namkeen = 250 calories
5:00 PM - Multiple rounds of dry fruits = 400+ calories
Post-dinner - "Small" gulab jamun or kheer = 200 calories

Hidden calories: 1,200+
Protein: Maybe 10g

And they wonder why the scale isn't moving. 😅

🧬 The Science They Don't Know About

After 30, the body loses 3–8% of muscle mass every decade.
After 50? That loss doubles.

This is called sarcopenia — age-related muscle loss.

Which means:

❌ Slower metabolism (burning fewer calories at rest)
❌ Constant fatigue and weakness
❌ Higher risk of diabetes and heart disease
❌ More joint pain (less muscle to support bones)
❌ Faster weight gain (muscle burns calories; fat doesn't)

And the ONLY way to fight it:

1. Resistance training (lifting weights, bodyweight exercises)

2. Adequate protein intake (1.2–1.6g per kg body weight)

Most parents do neither.

🚨 Why Their "Healthy" Diet Is Failing Them

1. Too Many Carbs, Not Enough Protein

Lunch = ~14g protein.
Required = ~84–112g/day to maintain muscle

They’re not even halfway there.

2. "Healthy" Snacks That Aren't

Dry fruits, fruits, biscuits —
None of these have meaningful protein. All of them spike blood sugar.

3. No Resistance Training

Walking ≠ muscle building.
No muscle = slower metabolism.

They're eating like they're 25, but their body is 55.

📋 The Real Fix (Bro-To-Bro Cheat Sheet)

If this sounds like your parents (or you), here's what actually works:

✅ Prioritize protein at every meal
Add eggs, paneer, chicken, fish, Greek yogurt, or protein suppliment

✅ Limit "healthy" snacking
Dry fruits ≠ unlimited. Fruits ≠ calorie-free. Watch portions.

✅ Cut down sugar in chai
Even removing 1 tsp makes a difference. You'll save 50+ calories per cup.

✅ Start resistance training 2–3x per week
Bodyweight is enough - (squats, push-ups) help maintain muscle

✅ Track what you actually eat
Most people underestimate their intake by 30–40%. Write it down for one week.

👴👵 The Uncomfortable Truth

Our parents grew up in a time when:

• Food was scarce

• Labor was manual

• Protein was "only for bodybuilders"

Those rules don't apply anymore. Today,

• Food is abundant

• Work is sedentary

• Protein is essential after 50 to fight muscle loss

But habits are hard to change—especially when "ghar ka khana" feels inherently healthy.

If you care about your their health (or your future), start these conversations now.
Because the scale isn't lying. Their body is just adapting to a diet it can't sustain anymore.

🏗 Proskii Updates

🛠️ Work in PROgress:

Big week ahead!
I'm (Rohit) flying to Rajkot on Dec 17 for our first commercial batch.

New formulations are tasting amazing 🤤
Website is nearly ready.
Packaging is locked.

Launch: January (finally!)

PS : Early Broskiis get better access to the crunch, latecomers get FOMO. Join the waitlist here → https://tally.so/r/w8RVXo 

Thank you for reading till the end - You’re a sweetu
Also thank you for subscribing to the newsletter - sweetu x 2

We’re working hard taki AAP CEREAL CHUNO, CHINI SE BHARE CEREAL KILLERS NAHI!!

See you next week :)