We were lucky to catch up with Tina Naidu recently and have shared our conversation below.

Tina, looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. It’s always helpful to hear about times when someone’s had to take a risk – how did they think through the decision, why did they take the risk, and what ended up happening. We’d love to hear about a risk you’ve taken.

In 2020, I felt a slight burn out in the healthcare field. I had always been a fitness enthusiast and due to my own struggles of being overweight and having an unhealthy relationship with, fueled me to find more answers and educate myself. I signed up for a fitness and nutrition coaching certification with no real plan in place other than educating myself. I shared a lot about this journey on my Social Media Page and connected with several like minded people in this industry. The more I spoke to them, the more I realized I may want to do something in the fitness industry in whatever small way possible. I connected with the founder and CEO of a virtual fitness and nutrition coaching company called The Boss Body Revolution that focused on south asian nutrition and limitations. I loved their values and mission and how they were helping women understand their cultural foods and approaching their goals in a sustainable way. They were looking for a coach when I was studying for my certification. The founder & CEO, Dee Gautham, probably saw some spark in me and asked if I would consider coaching. I’m pretty sure I laughed about it as this was never under my radar, but the more I spoke to her the more I realized that being a coach is probably what my next step should be as I felt like it gave my story and struggles a purpose. It’s a risk I took and here I am almost 2.5 yrs later and I can’t imagine not being a part of this team and helping women on their own health journey. it’s truly rewarding in a different way.

As always, we appreciate you sharing your insights and we’ve got a few more questions for you, but before we get to all of that can you take a minute to introduce yourself and give our readers some of your back background and context?

I currently work on the administrative side of healthcare and also coach on the side. I’m a part time Nutrition and Fitness Coach at The Boss Body Revolution, where we help women (predominantly south asian women) with their weight loss and health journey in a sustainable way without giving up their cultural foods or restricting food groups. We help our clients implement habits and behaviors and provide them with tools & resources that help them work towards their goals bringing about a mindset shift. We want them to feel empowered on this journey.

We often hear about learning lessons – but just as important is unlearning lessons. Have you ever had to unlearn a lesson?

Growing up, I was considered an overweight and I was always reminded of that, as well. I was born in Mumbai, India and I moved to Texas when I was 14 years old. While in India, I trained in multiple dance forms and I remember during one of the dance practices I overheard someone saying, “Oh! That fat kid can dance.” People also jokingly called me “moti” which means “fat” in Hindi. I was often body shamed since clothes didn’t fit me the way they were supposed to and finding clothes in my size in stores was quite a task. II grew up thinking I had to be a certain size to be accepted in society and to be considered a good dancer. I attached my worth to my size and the way I looked. I started associating happiness and the idea of beauty with “being skinny.” When we moved to the U.S. the internal comparison and struggle became even more pronounced as I didn’t quite look like the people around me. I was lost and just wanted to blend in and I turned into this young girl full of self-doubt, not at all comfortable in my body or skin. In my late teens, I decided to make some changes. Doctors were concerned about my hormonal imbalances/thyroid issues along with my family medical history so I discussed it with my mom and decided to join a gym. I also made some changes to my diet. Initially, I had no idea what I was doing at the gym, but with the help of group classes and a little push from fitness instructors, I was hooked in no time! In about six months, I lost 30-35 lbs. The number on the scale motivated me further to continue my fitness journey.

A few years later my dad suffered a stroke, which he recovered from fairly well (I had lost my grandpa due to a stroke when I was just 2). I was very young when I lost my grandpa, but I was well aware of the impact it had on our family. So seeing my dad go through the same made me realize the value of health even more. It pushed me to work out even more and eat better. My love for fitness grew, but I also started focusing more on the inches I lost. I would compare my arms, legs, and abs to others that I considered “fit.” I obsessed over my calorie intake. This time, the comments centered around me being too skinny and not eating enough. Guess what? Those were probably justified. Skinny is not the key to happiness and skinny doesn’t mean you are healthy. It took me a long time to realize that my fitness journey so far was fueled by others comment about my body, but what I truly wanted was an overall healthy lifestyle. I dug deeper and changed my approach. I’m not here comparing my journey to others, because I know we all have different starting points and goals. But now, I understand the importance of a balanced healthy lifestyle over a restrictive one, which is important for my mental and physical health. I am learning to accept myself and embracing all the curves. It’s MY journey and I am proud of it! I am doing this for me, not others. We all have our own journey that makes us who we are. What we take away from it and how we evolve or grow is important. I am much happier now, not obsessing over everything I eat or worrying about what people think of me.

Training and knowledge matter of course, but beyond that what do you think matters most in terms of succeeding in your field?

When I first pursued a career in the fitness world, I started with a Fitness & Nutrition Coaching Certification. But I think what helped me is the hands-on training with The Boss Body Revolution and connecting with the team and going through their own training. The tactical pieces are important, but I think understanding the mindset component truly helped me. All the coaches also go through a health mindset coaching certification, which I felt like brought a huge shift in the way I approach my clients. I draw a lot from my own struggles and story and probably how I’m able to empathize with my clients, which truly helps me create a safe space for them. When they can be open and honest about their journey with me, I feel like I’ve succeeded!! I am able to lean in more and help as and when needed. I want them to feel empowered on this journey and be able to implement these habits and behaviors towards more long term goals vs short term goals. I want them to believe in themselves and not compare their journey to those around them. It’s something I’m truly passionate about. I want others to embrace this journey and not struggle the way I did. My hope is to be a resource to them and also their cheerleader along the way.

Contact Info:

• Website: https://bossbodyrevolution.com/
• Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/fit2frolic/