Postpartum weight loss is the one thing every Indian mum Googles at midnight, and nobody gives her a straight answer. So I asked Sohrab Khushrushahi.

The weight that didn't leave. The C-section belly that still looks pregnant. The core that feels disconnected. The exercises that just aren't working. And that quiet, constant pressure to "bounce back."

I sat down with Sohrab Khushrushahi, founder of Sohfit, and asked him everything we're too embarrassed to ask out loud. That the 40-day rest period isn't gospel. That one of his students deadlifted 70kg the day she delivered and was back in the gym five and a half weeks later. That the C-section pooch might take a year, two, or three, no matter what a reel promises. That perimenopause and menopause are also postpartum. And the line that stopped me completely: the gym cannot change you — only the way you eat does.

We also cover cardio vs weight training, why two hours of padel might be funding your physiotherapist's next holiday, why muscle is the real longevity hack, and why he now trains five-year-olds and teenage girls.

If you've been consistent for eight months and the scale hasn't moved, this one's for you.

Sohrab Khushrushahi is a corporate lawyer turned coach, and founder of Sohfit — now 25,000+ members strong across 70 countries.

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Your child isn't yours. They come through you, but not from you.

That line from Kahlil Gibran is where this episode ends. Where it begins is a much harder question. Is it love? Or is it emotional responsibility disguised as love?

This week I sit down with Dr. Rachna Shah to talk about enmeshment, a word most of us have never heard but a pattern almost every Indian family is living inside.

I went into this conversation ready to talk about parents and in laws. What actually happened is that Rachna turned the question around on me and asked what it would mean to me if my daughter did not become everything I know she could be. And I heard myself say it out loud. I would feel like a lesser mum. That was the moment this stopped being a theory and became personal.

Rachna explains it beautifully. A healthy family is a tree with deep shared roots, where every branch is free to grow in whatever direction it wants. Enmeshment is a vine wrapped around that tree, where nobody knows where one person ends and the other begins. It never comes from bad intention. It comes from love. That is exactly what makes it so hard to see.

In this conversation we get into what enmeshment actually is and how it differs from a close knit family, why it shows up more in India than anywhere else, why so many men live caught between their mother and their wife, why a child always chooses attachment over authenticity, what emotional intimacy really means and why so many women here have never been allowed to ask for it, the plant and the gardener, and how you heal from all of this without cutting anybody off.

The part that stayed with me most is this. Redefining the relationship with your parents is not abandoning them. It is gifting them.

If you have ever felt guilty for wanting your own life, this one is for you.

About our guest

Dr. Rachna Shah is a compassionate, inquiry focused therapist based in Mumbai, working through a holistic lens. She holds an EdD from Johns Hopkins University, USA. She is also an educator and a yoga practitioner with a deep passion for empowering individuals and helping them access their highest potential. With a strong foundation in psychology, counselling and movement based therapy, she offers an integrative approach to mental health and personal transformation.

Resources mentioned

Gabor Maté on attachment and authenticity

Hold On To Your Kids by Gordon Neufeld and Gabor Maté

Dr. Shefali Tsabary on conscious parenting

Khalil Gibran, On Children

Mumma Approved is hosted by Sneha Jhaveri, your fellow mommy friend, where she asks all your questions to the best people in the business.

There's honest. And then there's Parul Kakad honest.

Mumbai Mummy. Mum of four. Parenting guide. And someone who has lived through 9 pregnancies, 5 miscarriages, postpartum depression, hormonal chaos, and years of unlearning — and come out the other side with more warmth, wisdom and humour than most people we know.

In this episode of Mumma Approved, Parul goes all the way there.

She talks about the postpartum depression that blindsided her after her fourth child. The therapy she found in a culture that still treats it like a taboo. The NLP practice that completely rewired how she communicates with her kids, her husband, and herself. And the parenting philosophy she lives by — attachment with detachment — loving your children fully while letting them fall, fail, and figure life out on their own.

She also gets into managing a husband she calls "the fifth child," raising teenage daughters in the social media era, what "snatched" means and why it worries her, and the school-grade mix-up story that perfectly captures the mental load every mum carries alone.

This is one of the most honest, funny, and genuinely eye opening conversations we've had on this podcast.

Every mother needs to hear this one. 💛

In this episode:

9 pregnancies and 5 miscarriages — her story

Postpartum depression after her fourth child

Why therapy changed everything for her

Discovering NLP and how it transformed her parenting

Managing "the fifth child" — aka her husband 😂

Raising teenage girls in the age of Instagram

Attachment with detachment — her core parenting philosophy

Healing her daughter's inner child at age 12

What she hopes her children remember about their childhood

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What happens when a single mother is told she needs the permission of her abusiveex-husband just to get a passport for her child?In this powerful episode of Mumma Approved, Sneha Jhaverii sits down with Zaaria Patni,the woman whose fight against bureaucracy led to a change in India's passport rules forsingle parents.From surviving an abusive marriage at just 19 years old to launching a petition that gathered96,000 signatures, Zaaria's journey is a story of resilience, courage, and systemic change.In this episode we discuss:• Leaving an abusive relationship• Raising a child as a single mother• The passport rule that affected thousands of women• How a Change.org petition went viral• The role of Sushma Swaraj in creating change• Why every child deserves identity and opportunity• The power of speaking up against injustice

What does a biomedical engineer-turned-finance professional do when she can't find theright books for her daughter? She creates them - and accidentally builds one of India's mostloved children's book series.In this episode of Mumma Approved, I sit down with Yuti, the founder of Zayn and Zoey, aseries of 40+ nonfiction books for children that make science, math, and life lessonsgenuinely fun to read.We talk about:→ How The Curiosity Lab (robotics for kids!) led to Zayn and Zoey→ Why India undervalues children's books - and surprising tier 2/3 sales data→ The gap in nonfiction kids' books and why storytelling is the answer→ Her upcoming books on gender bias and learning to lose→ Why Zayn is a boy AND Zoey is a girl - the gender equality mission behind the series→ What she hopes her daughter feels about these books 20 years from nowIf you're a mum trying to raise a curious, confident reader - this one's for you.✨ Subscribe to Mumma Approved for conversations with inspiring mums who are changingthe world - one child at a time.#MummaApproved #ZaynAndZoey #KidsBooks #ParentingIndia #RaisingReaders#GenderEquality #ChildrensBooks #IndianMoms #CuriousKids #MomBoss

Every woman needs to watch this. Whether you're married, separated, or just want to know your rights — this conversation will change how you think. In this episode of Mumma Approved, I sit down with family lawyer Aditi Mohoni who pulls back the curtain on everything the Indian legal system doesn't tell women — until it's too late. We talk about what really happens when a marriage falls apart, why leaving your house first could be the biggest mistake you make, and what every woman needs to do right now to protect herself — whether she's thinking about divorce or not. This is the conversation every woman deserves to hear. No filters. No jargon. Just real, honest answers. In this episode: Why women should never leave the matrimonial home first What the Indian legal system actually offers women — and where it fails them How custody is really decided in Indian courts The evidence every mother must start collecting right now What to do if your divorce becomes contested Why financial independence is non-negotiable for every woman The single most damaging mistake women make in divorce cases What a family lawyer would tell her own daughter

If this episode helped you — please share it with every woman you know. This information could change someone's life. Like, subscribe, and hit the bell so you never miss an episode of Mumma Approved — where I ask all your questions to the best people in the business.

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What does clean beauty actually mean… and how do we know if a product is truly safe for both mumma and child?In this episode of Mumma Approved, we sit down with Meher Jadwani, founder of Dearist, to talk about skincare, wellness, ingredient labels, and the choices we make for ourselves and our children.What makes this conversation so important is how Dearist looks at products differently — not as separate “mom products” and “baby products,” but as clean, gentle, thoughtful formulations that can support both. From aloe vera gel to rosewater, belly and body butter, and other simple everyday essentials, Meher explains how one product can often work beautifully for mumma and baby when the ingredients are safe, honest, and well-formulated.We also talk about why kids don’t need harsh actives, why fragrance in children’s skincare needs more awareness, and how beauty should come from a place of self-care, not insecurity.If you’re a parent who reads every label, questions every product, and wants safer choices for your family, this episode is for you 🤍Watch the full episode now.Like, comment, and subscribe for more honest parenting, wellness, and mumma-approved conversations.#cleanbeautyindia #parentingpodcast #mummaapproved #skincaretruth #indianmoms[clean beauty india, dearist brand, meher jadwani podcast, safe skincare for kids india, mom and baby skincare, natural skincare india, baby safe products india, toxin free skincare india, clean beauty for mothers, parenting podcast india]

In the middle of toddler meals, picky eating struggles, and endless parenting advice… how do we really know what’s right for our child?

In this episode of Mumma Approved, we talk about the Montessori method not just as a school system, but as a way of life. A way that helps children build independence, confidence, and real-world skills from an early age.

From practical life activities to emotional development, mixed-age learning, and supporting neurodivergent children, this is an honest and simple conversation every parent can relate to.

If you’ve ever felt confused, overwhelmed, or unsure about your child’s learning and development… this episode will leave you feeling a little more clear, calm, and supported 🤍

#montessori #parentingpodcast #toddlerdevelopment #consciousparenting #mumlifeindia[montessori method india, parenting podcast india, toddler learning, early childhood education, practical life skills montessori, child development india, mindful parenting tips, preschool learning methods, montessori parenting, education for toddlers]

Are we prioritising the right things when it comes to preschool… or simply following the pressure?In this insightful conversation with Pooja Pillai from Toddlers Den, we explore what truly shapes a child’s early learning experience.Today’s parents are navigating constant questions,What is the right age to begin preschool?Will my child secure admission in the “right” school?How many activities or classes are actually necessary?Amidst all this, one fundamental aspect often gets overlooked, the quality of the teacher-child relationship.Because in the early years, it is not just about structured learning, but about emotional security, comfort, and being understood as an individual.In this episode, we also discuss:* The appropriate age to start preschool* What a typical playgroup routine looks like* Striking the right balance between learning and overwhelm* Key factors parents should consider while selecting a preschool* Common pitfalls parents encounter during admissionsIf you are planning your child’s preschool journey, this episode will offer clarity, perspective, and a more thoughtful approach to decision-making.
#parenting #preschooladmission #earlychildhoodeducation #parentingtips #toddlers #childdevelopment #indianparents #playgroup #preschoollife #gentleparenting #momlife #dadlife #earlylearning #kidseducation #parentingindia[preschool admission india, right age for preschool, early childhood education india, pooja pillai toddlers den, mumma approved podcast, playgroup routine india, preschool selection criteria, nursery admission tips india, emotional development in children, teacher student relationship early years, parenting challenges preschool, structured vs unstructured learning, toddler development india, preschool admission guide, early learning foundation]

In this episode, we dive into the playway method of learning, focusing on how early childhood education can provide a foundation that goes beyond traditional academics. Dr. Alefia Poonawala, founder of Creative Kids Early Learning Center, shares her insights on why children, even as young as 8 months, can benefit from early school experiences. With a background as a doctor turned educationist, Dr. Poonwala created a space that nurtures emotional security, curiosity, and confidence in young children.Are you a parent wondering if it's too early to send your child to school? Or are you questioning traditional education? This conversation will provide you with valuable insights on nurturing your child's overall development, not just their academics.The Playway method of learningHow early education affects emotional and social developmentInsights on sending kids to school as young as 8 monthsDr. Alefia Poonawala's journey from doctor to educationistNurturing curiosity and confidence in children🎧 Listen now to gain valuable tips for your child’s early development.#earlyeducation #playwaylearning #parentingtips #creativekids #childdevelopment #emotionalsecurity #schoolateightmonths #confidenceinchildren #earlylearning #parentingjourney[Early Childhood Education, Emotional Development,Playway Method, Sending Kids to School Early, Child Education Methods, Emotional Security in Kids, Curiosity in ChildrenParenting Advice, Dr. Alefia Poonawala,Creative Kids Learning Center]