Regaining My Wellness Journey

A hospitality professional who's always thrived on perfection – when I think of college days; I was at my ideal weight, then moving to professional life - balancing high-energy careers at Taj Hotels and then moving to IHM Mumbai academics, now at Apeejay Institute. Without missing a beat—I've long been the woman who knew exactly how to course-correct if the scale tipped. Yoga has been my faithful companion; I am not a gym person. I love the mindful flow of asanas that keep me centered, strong and my weight in check. But life, that unpredictable guest, has a way of shifting even the best laid tables. Plans can derail as life happens but then that’s the beauty of life isn’t it?

Marriage happened to a perfectionist whom I loving called OCD and Neem Hakim. Family was into mindful living not just eating right. My in laws did everything that was near perfect. Twice through pregnancy, I gained 20 kgs each time; exercising mindfully, eating nourishing meals, and shedding it all post delivery, my mom in law guide me on the age old wisdon. I even blogged about becoming a ‘Yummy Mummy,’ sharing tips for new moms such as prioritize protein-rich sattvic foods like dal, greens and yogurt; weave in 20-minute yoga flows and track progress with weekly measurements, not just the scale - were some of the tips shared.

Life was on normal course, master mariner husband maintaining his sailing routine and me bringing up our two boys in the caring company of my parents in law; balancing personal and professional life. God knows where a decade went by.

Then came the ACL (ligament) tear - no surgery, just my doctor's wise counsel; I was fortunate to meet one of the best doctors who has remained a friend. The only one who told me I didn’t require a surgery in my 40s. Dr. Maheshwari said, "Stay light, ditch the heels." I followed through, blogging again to help other women: opt for supportive flats, strengthen quads with gentle squats and maintain ideal body weight to ease joint load.

Why do I share these personal stories? Being into learning and development; it’s a mindset to share information that might help someone somewhere. They're my way of turning personal battles into collective victories; because I've lived them and they can light others' paths too.

But the last six years tested me like never before. Watching my beloved in-laws battle incurable foes - PSP for one, Parkinson's for the other; shattered my illusion of control. They fought with such grace, yet medical science offered no cure, only relentless decline. My world revolved around them and I did endless research on PSP (Progressive Supranuclear Palsy - which has no known cause, no reversal).

It impacted me in many ways, not just emotionally - irregular walks, skipped morning yoga and scales gathering dust. I poured everything into their care, feeling helpless as they became my priority. Emotionally, it carved deep—cortisol, that sneaky stress hormone, wreaked havoc, spiking my BP and ushering in perimenopause with 6-7 extra kgs and borderline thyroid.

Boom! Within five days, both left for their heavenly abode. Suddenly, I became the lady of the house, decision-maker in a home echoing with their absence. Blessed with parents-in-law who loved me like their own, always prioritizing us—the shift brought stress I couldn't handle. As a counselor myself, I knew the drill: process grief, seek support and move on. But even counselors need counselors. Months blurred; then my BP spiked; a wake-up bell for me. I felt it was time to reclaim me. I had to take care of self to take care of my family; I often don’t have the luxury of my husband with me though we are connected 24 X 7 through Whatsapp (All thanks to technology) but time zones can be an issue. He is the best man I have known and I am blessed to have him on this journey called life. He is my cheerleader who has pushed me to try my limits and be the very best that I can, be it building IWH (Indian Women in Hospitality – I am the Founder) to completing my PhD to even author a book. He has stood by me rock solid! Only thing he couldn’t do is make me drive!

Enter resolve, that universe conspiring force. It was end of December 2025, I am no New Year's resolution fan, but it was perfect timing. My cousin Poonam’s transformation inspired me; she'd tackled her health issues with discipline. Chatting with Dr. Swati and Ms. Hema, I joined the Fitinspiration Club - an online wellness ecosystem with wake-up calls, monitored workouts, tailored diets, nutrition supplements and truckloads of motivation. I am glad I declined a nice job offer earlier in November just thinking of the 2-3 hour commutes each day—sometimes, doors close for better ones to open. This 2026 gem fits my life: sustainable, engaging and community driven. I also watch yoga by Saurabh Bothra who has created a wonderful online yoga community Habuild to learn more about yoga and wellness.

Then, Gunjan Talks podcast sealed it. Dr. Bhagyesh Kulkarni and Dr. Chandrashree Kulkarni unpacked DDEEC - a brilliant formula for wellness marathons, not sprints. I identified instantly; it's reshaping my "next phase." Let me elaborate DDEEC for women in midlife transitions-perimenopause, caregiving, career pivots. It's holistic inside-out fitness:

Diet: Fuel like a queen, not a crash dieter. Focus on anti-inflammatory whole foods. Cut processed sugars that spike cortisol; aim for 1.6g protein/kg body weight. Tip for women: During hormonal shifts, add omega-3s (flaxseeds, walnuts) to tame mood swings. Food needs to have the required nutrition.

Discipline: Daily rituals over willpower. Wake up early, consider gratitude journaling; no negotiations. I restarted yoga here -Surya Namaskar for energy, not exhaustion. Women schedule self-care like meetings, it protects against emotional eating.

Exercise: Move joyfully, do willingly. Yoga, walks, Pilates - 30 minutes daily builds resilience. Move your body so that you move ahead.

Education: Knowledge empowers. Read on cortisol's chaos (it packs belly fat, disrupts sleep, ages skin). I devoured PSP research, now podcasts like Gunjan Talks. Follow credible sources; understand your thyroid-perimenopause link to choose wisely.

Consistency: The marathon secret. Small wins compound - no all-or-nothing. Lose that extra weight steadily; that will help avoid developing lifestyle diseases. Women, forgive slips; recommit daily. Wellness isn't cosmetic it's soul armor.

Be mindful of your sleep and water intake - they need to be in right amounts. No less, no more!

Cortisol doesn't discriminate, but we can. Listen to that podcast; it's an eye-opener. Prioritize mind-body-soul: meditate 5 minutes nightly, connect with tribe (like Fitinspiration), and remember grief evolves into growth. I'm not "back" - I'm forward - getting lighter and wiser.

I am filled with gratitude for people in my life and all those who might benefit reading my personal account in this blog.

Here's to sustainable wellness - your story starts now.

PS: Pictures are taken from Google with due credits.