My Story

Ten years ago, I had a perfect life — on paper, that is. I had three wonderful and healthy children, a trustworthy husband, a large, beautiful home in a lovely community and a six-figure, secure job. I should have been happy. In reality I was moody, tired, overwhelmed, stressed, and overweight, with no joy and purpose in my life. I was miserable and it nearly cost me my marriage!

I saw a therapist. I went on a 6-day detox retreat where I ate a very low-calorie vegan diet and hiked for 3–4 hours every day. I lost eight pounds and felt better. Gradually, as I went back to my old eating habits, I gained the weight back, lost a lot of hair, and became insufficient in vitamin D, B12 and iron.

I took a year-long course in Positive Psychology and learned strategies and interventions for my well-being. I realized that with my three young children and high-paying job, I was putting everything and everyone — my children, financial security, maintaining a beautiful home — before me. I had stopped taking care of myself.

I decided to switch from my work in information technology management to allied health. It wasn’t an easy transition but well worth it. I became certified as a personal trainer/health coach and obtained a Master of Science degree in nutrition and integrative health.

Having spent my childhood in India, I was aware of using herbs and natural therapies as medicine, but I had always thought staying fit was about exercising and avoiding fat. What I learned and now apply in my nutrition and health coaching practice is the core and foundation of optimal health — what we eat affects not only our physical health but also our mood and our happiness! Our mind, body, and spirit are all one and if we don’t take care of even one aspect, it affects all three. What we eat, how much we move, how we sleep and even how we think, affects our health and our happiness.

But in spite of all my knowledge I still couldn’t lose weight and keep it off and felt depressed at times.

Information does not equal transformation. Life happens and before we know it we switch back to our old habits. I started working on changing my eating and lifestyle habits and replacing them gradually with healthier ones and seeing the glass half-full.

Today, I am not a fashionably thin, always ecstatic, ultra-fit health professional. I still struggle with weight loss and some mood swings, but overall I am healthier and happier with much improved eating, movement, thinking, and mindfulness habits. And I have found meaningful work. My purpose is to support middle-aged men and women create a healthy lifestyle based on self-care leading to increased energy, steady positive moods, and sustainable weight loss.

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My Philosophy

Information does not equal transformation.

We are defined by our habits. All our successes are a result of our habits and all our failures are a result of our habits. Fortunately, our habits are under our control. The emerging field of neuroscience explains that our brains are neuroplastic and over a period of time we can gradually replace our old neuro pathways with new ones. This takes time but, by gaining insight into our motivations and triggers and gradually creating small but achievable positive habits everyday, we can create our own optimal lifestyle and experience optimal health.