As a child, I was never skinny. I grew up to be slightly overweight but was a broad
frame. Things suddenly started going wrong once I hit the 20s, my periods became irregular and I started gaining weight.
At first I did not notice it, as was busy pursuing my masters in nutrition. But in 1 year I moved to 64 kg from 56kg & that is when I realised there was something wrong. I discovered I was suffering from PCOS.
I started studying about it in detail and was convinced that weight loss and maintaining weight to ideal levels was the only solution to have a healthy hormonal profile. Also, being a dietician myself, it was important to be well within my ideal weight limits.
The next barrier to excess weight and PCOS was when I was planning to have a child.
I was very upset to hear I was suffering from infertility and it would be tough to become a mom. It was very depressing to hear about fertility treatments and the side effects, it made me very scared and depressed.
That is when I started with eating correctly, eating in right portions and did not give in to junk food. I started losing weight and became 58kg again. I was very happy to conceive naturally (rare with PCOS) and had a very good pregnancy.
During the 9 months, I put on 23kg and was horrified to see 78kg after the birth of my child. I immediately stepped into action, I ate foods that nourished me and not make me put on.
I also had been operated for a slipped disc so heavy workouts were never an option for me. I would go for walks when I got time.
After my child was 1 year old, I was 66kg. And my PCOS symptoms disappeared. My cycles were very regular. I went a little more aggressive and made a conscious effort towards losing weight. This was not easy as I was taking care of the baby, working and taking care of my weight.
At times, I gave in to cravings, ate wrong but when calm, I would ask myself, was it worth the big bar of chocolate… I started being happy with tasting junk and eating healthy food. Thus satisfying my craving. After another year I was 58 kg… And today I see myself at 56kg!
During this time, I had set up a corporate health kitchen serving 1000 employees with my own chef and cooks in one of the leading financial companies in India.
I was consulting busy executives & CEOs which gave me first hand insights into their stressed lives & effect it had on their health. I studied how to make practical diet plans for diabetes, for people with acidity, gout and many other health issues.
This whole journey from PCOS to Post Pregnancy weight loss panning over 11 years was a period of intense R&D and I discovered and came up with EAT-IN PORTIONS, RESTAURANT GUIDE, ALCOHOL GUIDE and THE CELEBRATE LIFE "MAINTENANCE KIT" which are now an integral part of my programs.
Every client journey at Balance Nutrition is a deeply personal experience for me and my team. I know what it takes & what it means. Achieving your health goals may not look easy to start with but when you do so, it's all worth it.
I eat outside, have erratic mealtimes, enjoy parties & cheat at times but I eat smart follow the tools & guides. No one can eat special diet foods all their life, a more practical and doable approach works best.
