The Story Behind the Coach

Radhika Patel

Sep 13

10 min read

Radhika Patel

Fitness & Nutrition Coach

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Always happy to help & connect:

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@embrace_your_grace

Hi, I’m Radhika Patel. Today, you see me as a fit, strong woman and a certified fitness and nutrition coach, but this is not how my story began.

Rome wasn't built in a day, and neither was the life I live now—it was built over time, piece by piece. I had to walk through the very same struggles you might be facing today to become the person I am.

It is easy to see the coach today. This story is about everything that came before her.

Chapter 1:

The Making of a Divine Flame—From Unbroken Spirit to Conscious Realization

The Unbroken Childhood Spirit

Looking back, the fire within me was always alive. As a young girl, I wasn't quiet or cautious—I was full of wild, adventurous energy.

My mother lovingly called me her "Band-Aid Soldier" because my knees and elbows were constantly covered in scrapes from climbing trees, scaling walls, and jumping off porches.

I was naturally fast and constantly drawn to anything that pushed my physical limits.

Yet, growing up in a traditional environment, the path of a sports career was never presented as an option for a young girl.

The awareness simply wasn't there at the time to nurture raw potential into formal athletic training.

I clearly remember standing by my bedroom window in middle school, watching karate classes taking place in the yard next door.

I would stand there in secret, mimicking their punches and kicks, completely fascinated by the strength, grace, and discipline of movement.

Eventually, life moved forward in a more conventional direction.

I poured my energy into academics, earned a master’s degree in microbiology, and embarked on a career in the pharmaceutical industry.

The active child inside me was quieted, replaced by the demanding routines of lab work, and life's natural flow.

The Weight of Silence & Postpartum Struggles

As the years passed, life brought major shifts—marriage, moving across cities, and the beautiful arrival of motherhood.

But with those changes came a silent, overwhelming struggle.

After my daughter was born, I found myself in a new city, handling household duties on my own while navigating postpartum exhaustion and a body that felt heavier—eventually tipping the scales at 84 kg.

“Are you expecting again?”, "Did you have twins and only one came out?"

People would look at me after my daughter was born and ask me those exact questions. I used to laugh it off, but behind that laughter, my heart was breaking—trapped under the weight of exhaustion.

At 84 kg, I started experiencing sudden breathlessness as if I had asthma, whether I was simply climbing a flight of stairs, trying to walk and talk at the exact same time, or doing routine household tasks.

Back then, I didn't have the scientific knowledge I have today; I simply felt that because of this extra weight, I wasn't able to carry myself comfortably, and I couldn't work efficiently.

It was only much later—after studying health, nutrition, and earning my certification —that I truly understood what was happening.

Obesity is the foundational root cause of almost all lifestyle disorders, which is one of the biggest health challenges we face, especially in India.

If I had known back then what I know now, my journey would have started much sooner. But at that time, I was just trying to navigate how uncomfortable I felt in my own body.

I started working again and kept moving through the daily rush. Over time, as my daughter grew, I began trying basic home workouts—jumping jacks, bodyweight squats, high knees, and light exercises.

Slowly, my weight dropped to around 76 - 78 kg. But even as the scale shifted slightly, I still didn't feel truly strong, healthy, or comfortable. Honestly, the weight wasn't budging much lower beyond that point, but I kept going through the motion.

The Turning Point: The Whisper of Potential

We shifted to Kolkata because my husband has a transferable job. Since we were moving to a new city and I needed to care for my daughter, I decided to quit my job and become a full-time homemaker.

I have always been the kind of person who feels life deeply, looks at the world closely, and truly enjoys my own company.

Naturally, being a homemaker gave me a lot of space to self-reflect. I was taking care of my daughter, managing our home, and fulfilling my responsibilities, but deep inside, I felt this strong intuition that I possessed untapped potential.

I felt I could do so much more with my time and life.

Because of my husband's transferable job, we were constantly moving from one place to another.

One day, sitting by the window in Kolkata and looking out at the trees, a profound realization struck me:

“Trees are alive, but they are rooted to one spot. Animals have the freedom to move, and they are incredibly smart—they learn patterns, remember routines, and can be trained. But an animal’s mind is always focused outward on survival. A lion doesn't reflect on its health, and a dog doesn't regret what it ate yesterday.

This is where human life becomes a profound blessing. We have the unique power of self-reflection. We can turn our attention inward, observe our own thoughts, and question our habits. This is exactly how my own fitness and nutrition journey began. I stopped just reacting to my cravings and patterns. I used this human gift to pause, reflect on my life, and understand my choices. Because we can reflect, we aren't slaves to our instincts. We can take inspired action, transform our health, and consciously sculpt our bodies and minds to reach our highest potential.”

I realized that this is a rare privilege given to us, and we shouldn't waste it. Taking care of our body is a fundamental responsibility, a common purpose for every single individual, and a way of showing deep gratitude to God for giving us this human life. It became a kind of living prayer for me.

That quiet moment by the window gave birth to the core principle that changed my life forever:

Real change doesn't start with a restrictive diet or an intense workout program. It starts in

three conscious steps:

Self-Awareness & Realization: Stopping to recognize where you are and what needs to change.
Pure Intent: Deciding with absolute honesty that you honor this body you've been given.
Inspired Action: Moving forward step-by-step, not out of punishment, but out of self-love and self-respect.

I thought to myself: even if I cannot accomplish big things right now, I can at least take care of this physical body I have been gifted. That was the moment I started my journey with clear intention.

I started with simple daily walks. When walking felt easy, I tried running, but my joints protested.

So, I listened to my body and shifted into yoga and mindful movement. I became deeply fascinated by arm balances, especially Kakasana (Crow Pose).

I felt this strong desire to hold my body up in the air, but my heavy body made it extremely difficult to control myself in space. My wrists were weak, and I hurt myself multiple times.

In those frustrating moments of pain and doubt, my father’s timeless advice echoed in my mind:

“Every precious diamond was once a piece of coal that endured intense heat and pressure.If you want to refine your life, you must be willing to embrace the process."

Reminding myself of those words gave me the strength to keep going. Instead of quitting, my curiosity grew deeper.

I started diving into research, studying movement mechanics, and practicing relentlessly. Weight started to drop.

And then came my second pregnancy.

Chapter 2:

The Science of Strength, Mobility & Discovering My Purpose

The Postpartum Struggle & The Living Room Track

Shortly after my realization in Kolkata, I welcomed my second pregnancy when my elder daughter was 5.

Because of certain health complications, I was placed on strict bed rest. After my son was born, my body weight once again went up to 82-84 kg.

Restarting my health journey this second time was even more challenging. My newborn son was awake all night and slept during the day.

With a little girl to care for and continuous sleepless nights, going downstairs for regular walks was nearly impossible. But I was determined to keep moving.

I turned my drawing hall into my own running track—sprinting back and forth inside the house while my son slept.

As things settled, I added Water Zumba, evening walks with my son in his stroller, and swimming to my routine.

Eventually, I transitioned back into my yoga and movement practice. I also started cutting my calories and avoiding sweets. Genuinely, the weight began to drop.

The Overuse Injury & The Rumors in Pune

When my husband’s job transferred us to Pune, I had already mastered basic arm balances and was learning handstands.

But settling into a new city, reorganizing a home, and managing a 1.5-to-2-year old toddler who wouldn't leave my side meant my daily life was physically demanding.

Then the COVID-19 pandemic hit, and household chores multiplied overnight.

I was active all day, eating less, and practicing intense arm balances and handstands for hours.

My weight dropped from 84 kg down to around 69–70 kg, but then my progress completely stalled. I couldn't understand why—I was doing so much exercise and eating less, yet nothing was changing.

The combination of overtraining, constant handstand practice, a severe caloric deficit, and carrying my toddler everywhere took a heavy toll. Severe pain developed in my right shoulder.

At my worst, I couldn't even raise my arm to flip a light switch on the wall. A visit to the doctor revealed that overuse of my shoulder muscles had made my scapula bone unstable.

Through dedicated physiotherapy and rehabilitation, I learned a vital lesson: doing everything on your own without structured guidance can easily lead to chaos and injury.

I chose remote coaching because it offered the flexibility to fit training into my routine while still giving me professional guidance and accountability, The coach gave me balanced diet plan and structured home- workout plan.

I followed it strictly and started doing structured home workouts, focusing on foundational movements like push-ups. My weight dropped to 55 kg.

However, losing weight through calorie restriction and home workouts left me looking narrow rather than athletic and strong.

Relatives and neighbors even began whispering that I must be suffering from some serious underlying medical condition. Seeing me at 55 kg, my worried family insisted I undergo full health screenings.

I did every test imaginable—blood work, thyroid, cholesterol, ECG, X-rays, and sonographies. Every single result came back completely normal.

My maternal uncle, who is a doctor, reviewed my reports and gave me crucial advice: "According to your height, you should ideally be around 60 to 62 kg. At 55 kg, you are underweight for your frame. Please eat a little more and put on healthy weight."

Deciphering the Science: Muscle, Fat Loss & The Dual Engine

That advice shifted my entire perspective. I didn't want to just be smaller—I wanted to look powerful, athletic, and capable.

I began eating more incorporating plenty of paneer, milk, curd, dal, and chawal. I realized that my goal shouldn't be to just get smaller; I wanted to look powerful, athletic, and strong.

I researched deeply and understood that to achieve that athletic body, I needed to build muscle.

When we transferred to Ahmedabad, I felt stronger, but I looked bulky. It felt like I had gained more fat than muscle, and I felt desperate again. I am eating clean, home-cooked food—why is this happening?

I hired a new remote coach whose specialties were to focus on data and measurable progress then simply completing gym workout sessions. Regular tracking, feedback, and adjustments helped me understand what was working and what needed to change.

My coach could understand my goals, review my progress, and continuously adapt my training and nutrition based on how I was responding.

THE THREE FOUNDATIONAL LAWS

FAT LOSS FIRST- Lowering body fat percentage first prevents looking "bulky" when building lean muscle later.
MUSCLE AS CURRENCY- Muscle protects joints, drives metabolic health, and fights natural age related muscle loss (sarcopenia).
THE DUAL ENGINE- 100% Nutrition + 100% Training. Training builds the frame; proper macros and micros fuel the recovery.

The Visual Mirror, Mindset & Solo Struggles in Ahmedabad

To master my form, I started recording videos of my training sessions. The camera became my best mirror and teacher. Visualizing my movements frame-by-frame helped me correct my posture, fix my cues, and celebrate subtle strength gains that scale numbers couldn't show.

When my coach placed me in a deliberate fat loss phase to strip away excess body fat before building clean muscle, my weight dropped back down toward 56 kg. Once again, external criticism poured in: " You look Ugly, You look ill," people said. But this time, I had visual proof of my progress and absolute faith in the science.

Through every moment of doubt and external noise, my husband stood by me as an unwavering pillar of support. He believed in my vision even when others couldn't see it.

The true test of my resilience came when my husband was transferred to Mumbai mid-year. To let our children finish their academic term, I stayed behind in Ahmedabad, managing everything entirely on my own.

Managing the Household Solo: I handled school runs, sports classes, birthday parties, PTMs, and doctor visits alone.
Enduring the Journey: Handling everything solo was undeniably tough, but I kept my focus anchored on why I started.

I constantly pushed away self-doubt and chose to believe in myself again and again, reminding myself that this was just a phase—only half the journey, not the full story. It was a test of endurance I had to push through to reach my goals.

Knowing I had already come halfway and was stronger than the struggle, I found the courage to keep moving forward.
Streamlining Life Systems: To conserve mental energy, I automated my routine. I prep-cooked staples like rice in batch, ate consistent meals for 7–10 days straight to eliminate decision fatigue, and treated myself like an athlete.

I listened to high-performance podcasts. My children watched me set up cameras, track meals, and hold handstands, absorbing strength and discipline as a normal way of life.

Awakening Purpose

As I went through this transformation in Ahmedabad, people around me took notice. Friends, neighbors, and community members started asking, "Please guide us! How did you achieve this?"

My results were earned through trial, scientific understanding, and relentless execution.

That was my epiphany: my journey was never meant to end with my own transformation. It was a calling to help others cut through the noise, avoid the injuries I suffered, and build sustainable, healthy lives.

Driven by a deep need to ground my practical experience in proven science, I decided to formalize my knowledge. I started reading related books and enrolled in the Institute of Nutrition and Fitness Sciences (INFS). Accredited by global bodies like ACE, NASM, and AFAA—I earned my official credential as a Certified Nutrition and Fitness Coach.

Conquering challenges in my workouts and daily life didn't just rebuild my physical frame—it built deep mental strength and emotional resilience. It taught me to be fully mindful, aware, and conscious of every choice I make.

My fitness journey is not just the story of a homemaker who became a coach. It is living proof that when you honor the physical gift given to you by God, stay self-aware, and align your actions with purpose, you can unlock your true potential and inspire everyone around you to do the same.