As the holidays quickly approach, do you dread the temptation from unhealthy foods that seems to be everywhere you turn? It’s frustrating that packing on extra holiday pounds is an inevitable side effect of this time of year, and then we deal with our clothes not fitting as they should. Is there hope for this year to be different? Today’s show answers with a resounding yes, because my guest has been there, and she’s been successful at making real transformation happen.
Nagina Abdullah has endured the ups and downs of dieting, and now she helps others make the same changes. After years of struggling to lose weight and feeling just plain crummy, Nagina thought about what she could add to her diet instead of what she needed to take away. She started by adding spices known for their anti-inflammatory and metabolism-boosting power. Everything changed. Soon she was enjoying her food more, and the pounds were melting away. In fact, this mother of two lost 40 pounds with her new take on ancient spices. Inspired by her success, Nagina created Masala Body, a blog and weight – loss coaching program now featured in People, Business Insider, Huffington Post, and FOX News. Because she herself works 60+ hours each week, she designed the program to fit the lifestyle of busy moms, professionals, and entrepreneurs. In this episode, Nagina shares her own story of weight struggles after having kids, the three key fat – burning skinny spices in her weight – loss system, and how to reduce urges for unhealthy quick fixes like sugar, alcohol, and caffeine.
Deciding to make a change
Nagina reached a point where she knew she wasn’t living her best life. She wanted to have a certain style, but she couldn’t fit into the clothes she wanted to wear. Feeling bloated and heavy all the time made her feel like it was a lot of work just to move around in the world. It was important to Nagina to have good health and project the appearance and image that she wanted, so she knew she had to make solid changes. She learned to level up this area of her life with the image she desired in all other areas of life. Projecting the idea that she wasn’t capable of taking care of herself was definitely not the image she wanted others to see.
Why depriving yourself will not work
Nagina fell into the trap of thinking that depriving herself of the foods she loved was the way to get to a good place with her weight. Not surprisingly, the weight came back a few months later as she slipped back into bad eating habits. Even though the yo – yo effect is very common for chronic dieters, Nagina wanted to find a lifestyle shift that really worked. She found that the key to real change is not to deprive yourself. With her background in healthcare and medical science, she could see the difference in what weight – loss companies were promoting and what actually works. She says that mindset and behavioral change are more important than counting calories.
Eating healthy foods doesn’t have to be boring
Nagina knew that she couldn’t resign herself to a lifetime habit of eating baked chicken and steamed broccoli, but that her food would have to be vibrant, indulging, and exciting. She begins her day with cinnamon sprinkled into her coffee. Cinnamon has numerous health benefits, like lowering blood sugar and preventing the storage of fat. For breakfast, Nagina eats eggs to maximize her protein intake and curb her hunger throughout the morning. She usually adds onions, mushrooms, and jalapeno peppers to her eggs and sprinkles turmeric into them. These additions help with gut health and have excellent anti-inflammatory properties. Nagina says that keeping blood sugar levels low will help with energy levels and brain focus. She usually rounds out her flavorful breakfast with a side of greens and some berries on the side.
Finding ways to reach your goals
Losing weight brought massive transformation to Nagina’s life. Eating exciting foods that she liked and being able to wear what she wanted gave her great satisfaction. She focused on eating high fiber, low sugar foods, which automatically lowered her calorie intake. She says shifting the types of foods you eat while making sure they are flavorful, is one way to reach your goals. Nagina was used to Indian foods made with turmeric, chilies, cumin, coriander, and lots of black pepper. Eating bland food wouldn’t work for her because it’s not sustainable. Making the weight – loss journey flavorful and fun meant lightening up her meals and getting plenty of vegetables in every meal. One of her favorites is cauliflower roasted with cumin and turmeric. Because her food tasted good, she fell in love with it and ended up losing weight quickly. T
Cooking for a family
If you have kids, then you know how picky they can be, and how their likes and dislikes fluctuate frequently. Nagina was determined not to be held captive to her kids’ appetites. She knew she had to eat the right foods to feel healthy, and she encouraged her kids to try new foods and flavors, too. Even though her kids still want pizza, chicken nuggets, and pasta, she tries to encourage healthier habits for them without overdoing it or making them feel deprived.
Dealing with the skeptics
It’s a common practice in families of certain ethnic backgrounds to be judgmental about weight. The family members who are quick to make comments about your weight will also judge you negatively for losing weight like you aren’t maintaining your health if you lose weight. There are confusing messages all the way around, but Nagina says you have to deal with the haters until you get to the place you want to be. Then they will notice your transformation.
Staying accountable
Nagina warns her clients that not everyone will notice at first when you are losing weight, but they will notice changes in the foods that you order. Nagina’s clients worry about being the picky person who can’t eat what others do, but she says to be the person who does what they want and need to do. There is nothing wrong with wanting to look a certain way and fit into certain clothes. What you do or do not eat becomes less important than the drive to feel good, have more energy, and reach the goals you’ve set for yourself.
Women and weight at work
Presentation is seen as part of executive presence, and this is especially true for women. Statistics show that overweight women make about 10% less money than women who aren’t overweight. Unfortunately, the perception is that women who are overweight are not in control of themselves, and therefore, can’t be in control in other areas of life. There is a stigma associated with how you maintain and prioritize your life. Nagina advises clients to know the why of losing weight, which would be the reason for the weight loss. Other important tips include having a protein-packed breakfast and a snack of healthy fats and protein around 2 pm.
Highlights of this episode:
- 3:41 – When you’re not living your best life
- 6:17 – A time when Nagina felt good about her weight
- 10:34 – Foods that make you feel vibrant
- 15:08 – How Nagina decided that weight loss would be her work
- 17:56 – How being an Indian woman of color has impacted Nagina’s journey
- 22:02 – The difference in men and women regarding weight loss
- 23:57 – Cooking for a family
- 28:56 – Dealing with skeptics
- 35:06 – How to stay accountable
- 40:08 – Women and weight at work
- 47:25 – Fem Five
Resources Mentioned:
- www.masalabody.com
- www.masalabody.com/nextfem Check out Nagina’s free gift, her Sweet Spice Cheat Sheet
- Instagram: MasalaBody
- The Big Leap: Conquer Your Hidden Fear and Take Life to the Next Level by Gay Hendricks
The Fem Five:
1. Favorite book to recommend for women?
- The Big Leap: Conquer Your Hidden Fear and Take Life to the Next Level by Gay Hendricks
2. Favorite self – care hack?
- “I meet a personal trainer three times a week. I don’t care what it costs me. The only reason I’m out of bed on those mornings is that I know he’s waiting for me at the gym.”
3. Best piece of advice and who gave it to you?
- “A girlfriend in college told me I could do anything I want to do.”
4. Female CEO or thought leader you’re into right now?
5. One piece of advice you’d give your five years younger self?
“One of the happiest things in your life will be the relationships you make.”
Last Time on The NextFem Podcast
Growing Your Business by Subtracting – with Denise Gosnell
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