200 pounds of data

As the head of enterprise technology at GXS Bank, Harikrishnan Raguraman - better known as Hari - spends his days managing complex systems, identifying glitches, and optimising performance. 

But in April 2024, he found himself facing an unexpected and critical failure: a diagnosis of Type 2 diabetes, fatty liver disease, and high cholesterol. There were no warning signs, no symptoms, just a sudden, glaring reality check from his doctor that his lifestyle had taken a serious toll on his health. It was a wake-up call, but one that Hari approached with an engineering mindset. 

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So, what was your wake up call?

For years, a sedentary lifestyle and unhealthy habits had been the norm. From eating whatever came to mind, to consuming a litre of Coke every day, it all added up. By the time I turned 37, I weighed 102 kilograms, and the health problems had stacked up. It was clear: a lifestyle reset was non-negotiable. With that came a decision to change course and get healthier. But this wouldn’t be about temporary fixes - it was time for a real, lasting transformation.

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What changes did you make to improve your health?

Strangely enough, before this, I tried all sorts of crazy methods to lose weight for my wedding. Spoiler alert: none of them worked. But here’s the thing - the real solution turned out to be the most boring one. The one that no one really wants to do. The basics are key. 80 per cent of losing weight or getting healthy is all about diet. I switched to a protein-heavy diet, cut back on carbs, and added more fibre to each meal.

That alone was a huge game-changer. The remaining 20 per cent? Simple: stay active, reduce stress, and aim to hit at least 10,000 steps a day. The first month wasn’t easy, especially after a recent surgery, but once I committed, the changes felt more natural. And with the flexibility working that GXS Bank offers, it made it easier to adjust my schedule to make more room for health. 

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How did your engineering mindset shape your health journey?

At GXS Bank, my role is all about optimising systems, analysing data, and troubleshooting. So, when it came to my health, I approached it with the same mindset. I didn’t just jump into another weight-loss routine; I knew I needed something more structured and data-driven.

I started wearing a continuous glucose monitor, which provided real-time insights into how my body was responding to different foods and activities. This gave me actionable data, like which foods spiked my glucose levels and which exercises helped bring them down. Tracking these metrics—glucose levels, heart rate, even sleep patterns—was crucial in helping me make informed decisions.

Rather than just focusing on losing weight, I broke it down into specific, manageable goals: controlling my glucose levels, improving my muscle-to-fat ratio, and overall health. The weight loss followed naturally as a result. Just like in my work with AI and data at GXS Bank, the key was having clear, real-time insights into what was happening with my body - visibility. It wasn’t about blind trial and error, but about using the data to shape my habits and fine-tune my approach. This mindset made it easier to stay on track and make real, sustainable changes to my health.

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The result?

The results were nothing short of impressive. Six months later, Hari had shed 30 kilograms, reversed his Type 2 diabetes, fatty liver disease, and high cholesterol - all without the need for medication. The best part? It wasn’t just about losing weight - it was about regaining control over his health. 

So, if you’re looking to lose weight, why not take a page out of an engineer’s playbook? Focus on the data, optimise your habits, and watch the results follow.

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