In this episode of the Becoming You podcast, I welcome Charmi Ramchandani, a personal trainer and nutrition coach and the founder of Cimply Fit.

Listen in as we talk about Charmi’s amazing goal to help South-Asian women take control of their health, and how tiny changes in your nutrition over time lead to dramatic changes in the long run.

Main Topics Discussed:

• Why consistency is key to long-term health and wellness
• How to enjoy the foods you love while staying healthy and fit
• How self-love impacts your weight loss journey

What do you do?

Charmi: I work with clients, mostly women in their 40s, on their nutrition in order to lose weight or to help address certain chronic conditions like hypothyroid or type-2 diabetes. I help women take control of their health and build a better relationship with food without having them overthink or overwhelm themselves.

I’ve just turned 40. What should I look out for with regards to my health now that I’ve entered this new phase in my life?

Charmi: Symptoms of perimenopause include everything that has to do with hormone regulation: hot flushes, mood swings, and unexplained symptoms of depression are the most common. Your hormones are hitting a new normal. Your reproductive hormones are lowering, which will make your body feel different. Stubborn weight gain, hair loss, and sleeplessness may happen.

Why is weight loss so challenging for a lot of people?

Charmi: A lot of people come in expecting to lose a ton of weight in a month, and if that doesn’t happen, they become hard on themselves and feel as if they’d failed. That causes many to give up right away. The key to long-term weight loss is consistency.

How did you end up in this profession?

Charmi: I’ve always been passionate about working out. I got into this profession after getting fired from my job and deciding on a whim to become a personal trainer for women. It took off and I realized later on that nutrition plays a big role in the journey of fitness, so I incorporated nutrition coaching into my work and have been doing it ever since.

What are some general small changes that anyone can make in their lives to improve their health and fitness?

Charmi: Start with having enough water throughout the day.

Another thing you can do is add veggies to your lunch and dinner. It doesn't matter which veggies, or whether they’re cooked or raw, as long as you add some every lunch and dinner.

How would you guide clients like me who are Indian or come from a culture where they’re surrounded by white, starchy foods at every family event?

Charmi: First of all, it’s important to remember that there are no “good” nor “bad” foods. Typically, when someone struggles with weight gain, it’s never just one food. It’s a culmination of different things. It’s really those underlying foundational habits.

How can I consume enough protein if I’m vegetarian?

Charmi: 99% of my clients are vegetarian. Focus on how much protein you’re getting out of vegetarian foods, such as lentils, as well as how much fiber you’re getting.

What challenges or pitfalls have you experienced in your own journey?

Charmi: In my mid-40s, the lockdown did a number on me: There were no gyms and it was easy to gain weight from stocking up on food. I had to dial in and really track my food. Instead of trying to do extra workouts, which is always a recipe for failure, I focused on making tiny changes and incorporating simple habits in my nutrition.

How does self-love and self-acceptance impact and affect the health, weight loss, and fitness journey?

Charmi: Weight loss does not begin in the kitchen—it begins in your head. You need to give yourself grace and compassion.

The messier you are, the more rewarding the results will be.

Learn more about Charmi Ramchandani:

Follow her on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/cimply_fit/ 

Follow her on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/trainercfit