20kg Loss Inspires Mom

Dubai local Drisya Pai has transformed her personal postpartum recovery and weight loss experience into a successful coaching profession.

After losing 20kg herself, she now assists other mothers in overcoming postpartum challenges with personalized fitness programs.

Originally from Alleppey in Kerala, 29-year-old Drisya began her career in engineering, graduating from Mar Athanasius College of Engineering.

Despite being active and winning the prestigious Kalathilakam title for arts and dance from the Government of Kerala, fitness was not initially a priority.

This changed when she was chosen for the Indian Navy, prompting her to focus on her physical health. Seeking better career prospects,

Drisya moved to the UAE in 2018, married her husband Arvind in 2019, and had their son Dhruvaen in 2021.

However, the birth of her son brought significant challenges. Drisya gained 20 kilograms, suffered from severe back pain, postpartum loneliness, and depression, worsened by the Covid-19 pandemic isolation.

She recounted, “I couldn’t sit for long to feed my baby or bend over to change diapers.”

Determined to recover, Drisya researched postpartum fitness and quickly realized that standard workouts were unsuitable for her needs.

“After four days of trying YouTube workouts, I experienced breast engorgement and couldn’t feed my baby. That’s when I knew I needed a specialized approach,” she mentioned to Khaleej Times.

Subsequently, she earned certifications in pre and post-natal fitness training, becoming a level 4 personal trainer.

Personalized Approach

Drisya created a platform to share her experience and advice on postpartum fitness. Her coaching model offers customized, non-time-bound programs focused on weight loss, fitness, and recovery.

One client, Rajani, didn't expect weight loss upon joining. Concerned about face fat and black pigmentation on her neck, she lost 9kg and saw a significant reduction in both after two months.

Gehan, a Syrian bride-to-be, achieved her fitness goals for her wedding with Drisya's guidance, shedding 7kg through personalized workouts and coaching.

Radhika, dealing with PCOS (a hormonal disorder in women of reproductive age), didn't know how to begin. In 12 weeks, she achieved considerable weight loss.

Essential Support

Drisya acknowledges her husband, Arvind, for his vital support. “He encouraged me every step. From being an estimation engineer, I became a woman with just a vision but no concrete plan. He helped me learn and apply my skills for the benefit of other women,” Drisya shared.

Looking forward, Drisya plans to support women with PCOS and those preparing for future pregnancies. She strongly believes in sustainable fitness and advises mothers to incorporate movement any time of day, rather than skipping workouts if they miss their set time.

Her advice is, “Exercise doesn’t need a strict schedule; it needs consistency. If you have set a particular time of the day to exercise and miss it for some reason, most tend to abandon it altogether.

It’s always ideal to make up for it whenever you’re free. Portion control and a balanced diet alongside exercise are key to a healthy body.”

Source: khaleejtimes

The opinions shared in the GymNation blog articles are solely those of the respective authors and may not represent the perspectives of GymNation or any member of the GymNation team.