Fitness is not only about body transformation, it is more than just the ‘after’ and ‘before’ pictures. Behind the fit body of women who have lost weight, gained weight, or just want to stay fit is an inspiring story that pushed them to work hard and feel content with what they have achieved in terms of fitness. But some real stories are often left unsaid because of the glitz and glam of the social media world that drives us away from reality. Hence, the story loses its purpose. We don’t want that to happen, which is why we are bringing to you REAL fitness stories of 5 women who have had their fair share of struggles on their way to fitness.

Hidden behind the phone screens are real women who struggle, give up, fall, and then stand up to achieve their fitness goals. Not one story is similar to another. That just goes to show that each one of you is different and the results would be different! Having said that, here are 5 inspiring real women who shared with us their fitness journey and the changes they experienced after working out.

Shweta Bhadana: Didn’t stop for the sake of my mental and physical health

After her first pregnancy, she gained a whopping 30 kilos of weight which made her uncomfortable. She couldn’t breathe properly and it was affecting her mentally, which was the turning point for Shweta! “I started working out a few months after my pregnancy. It was my first time exercising and I felt relieved. I felt more confident in my own skin when I lost around 9 kilos in two months,” she shares.

Soon after, she got pregnant the second time and reached 98 kilos. “All the problem struck and I was struggling again. However, I started going to the gym and eating healthy to maintain a healthy weight.”

She struggled with cardio in the beginning but didn’t give up because she wanted to stay mentally and physically fit. Throughout her journey, she felt discouraged every time someone would come up to her and ask about the weight but she didn’t stop. It is a part of her routine now!

“I might have felt demotivated at times, but I didn’t stop for the sake of my physical and mental health, which were suffering drastically.”

Also Read: 5 solutions for new moms who want to lose postpartum weight

Dineshwori Longjam: I exercised to stay happy and look beautiful

The Covid-19 lockdown made all of us lazy, and Dineshwori’s story is no different. When the coronavirus became the new normal, she gained a lot of weight without her realising she has put on so much. “I reached XL from medium and suffered from severe acne for which I consulted a dermatologist, who suggested that I need to lose weight as it was the root cause of the problem.”

This motivated her to join the gym and within two months, she lost about 5 kilos with a proper workout regimen and diet. “While medications helped clear my acne, regular workout and a healthy diet helped me regain the glow on my face. I continue to work out regularly despite my busy schedule and follow a healthy diet. I am back to medium size and no one can guess my age (40 years) by looking at my skin,” she adds.

Be active, eat healthy, and smile more… I now strictly follow this mantra to stay happy and look beautiful is her message to everyone and anyone who is struggling to find a way to be fit.

Varsha Vats: Working out helped manage my mood swings

Dealing with polycystic ovarian syndrome or PCOS, Varsha was struggling to keep up with the ebb and flow of her hormones. Even though she found it difficult, she never gave up on her fitness journey.

“My mood swings were my biggest enemy. I usually don’t enjoy cardio much because they leave me breathless. So, I started with low-intensity exercises. After a few days, I started running and did a 30 minute workout along with it.”

PCOS can make you feel disheartened at times when you get stuck on your weight loss journey, but she didn’t give up. The post-workout glow, no more mood swings, eating healthy, and managing everything in her daily life with sheer confidence motivated her to stay true to her fitness journey.

Also Read: How to lose weight with PCOS? 7 lifestyle tips to follow

Nikita Chauhan: Used exercise to live life on my own terms

Nikita realized that she needed to start working out when she noticed that she couldn’t climb 20 steps without struggling for air. “That day I decided that I won’t be a person who is dependent on anyone or anything for my needs. It was a tough journey, I wasn’t confident, my clothes didn’t fit, I got sick easily. That turned me into an antisocial extrovert,” she says.

While it wasn’t an easy journey, Nikita slowly and steadily reached her goals within 6 months of keeping a track of everything she was doing. She learned what her body needed, and created a positive outlook that helped her reach better results.

“Keeping oneself healthy or in shape doesn’t only help with positive body image, but also helps with stress and anxiety which it did for me. I worry less, I eat what I want, and still stay active by working out! My metabolism is super good now. My legs are not sore all the time anymore! My stomach problems are gone until of course I eat all the cheese!

“I could see all the differences working out made in my body, I was able to beat my enemy – the stairs, run a mile without gasping for air and trek more. To focus on my health and body was the best decision I made in the recent past. It is tough but it is so worth it,” she shares.

Satata Karmakar: Helped me stay positive and deal with my health problems

Conscious about her physical and mental health, Satata started her workout journey to feel more confident and positive! Regular workouts gave her strength, and tons of energy. It also fixed her posture. She struggled with cold and cough due to weak immunity, but exercise helped her fix it all.

“Exercise helped me battle all the mental and physical health challenges. Not only did it boost my confidence level, but it also made me happy and positive. When you have a workout schedule, you make it a point to not miss a session. This fixed schedule helped in battling loneliness, especially when working from home. I finally had a reason to get ready, go out and meet people. It is like you are doing something good for yourself. It is like you are investing time and energy in something that is all yours,” she says.

Inspired by the transformational journey of these wonderful women? It’s time for you to get on the bandwagon to stay healthy and happy.