From Pain to Power: My 4.5-Year Fitness Journey of Resilience and Reinvention

By Vatsala
#fitat48 #transformationstory #fitover40 #fitnessjourney #INFSscholar #fittrcommunity

The Beginning of a New Chapter – May 2020

Every journey starts with a single step. Mine began in May 2020, in the middle of a pandemic, when I finally decided to take control of my health. At the time, I was battling a triple threat of chronic health issues:

• A severe L3-L4-L5 spinal injury
• Past surgery for lymph node tuberculosis
• Ongoing challenges with thyroid imbalance and a heart valve prolapse

Every doctor’s visit felt like another door closing on my dreams of living an active, pain-free life. I had almost accepted that I’d never trek, lift weights, or even drive long distances again.

But something shifted in me. A quiet voice inside said, “You’re not done yet.”

Laying the Foundation – Coach Abhijit Singh’s Support

Reaching out to Coach Abhijit Singh was one of the best decisions I ever made. He didn’t just give me a plan—he gave me hope.

For six months, he helped me build strength gently, focusing on rehabilitation, mobility, and healing.
He understood my limitations, but more importantly, he believed in my potential. Slowly but surely, we worked on posture, core strength, nutrition basics, and consistency.

🏋️‍♀️ I started with the simplest of exercises—bodyweight squats, stretches, short walks. Every rep was a victory.

A Turning Point – Rising Higher with Coach Shanu Shashank

By early 2021, I felt ready for more. That’s when I joined Coach Shanu Shashank’s team, and my journey transformed from recovery to realization.

Coach Shanu helped me unlock a new level of physical and mental strength. He restructured my workouts with scientific precision, made me believe in progressive overload, and guided me to eat for fuel, not fear.

💡 Mindset shifted: I stopped identifying as someone with “limitations” and started identifying as an athlete in the making.

Achievements That Once Seemed Impossible

Let’s talk about the wins—not just the physical ones, but the emotional victories that brought back my confidence and courage.

🎯 Competitive Success

• ✅ Top 250 in Fittr’s TC14 – competing with thousands of participants across the world

• 🥇 ICN 2022 – Won medals in both sports model and swimsuit categories. At 45+, standing on that stage was a dream I never thought I could claim.

🏔️ Trekking the Himalayas

From someone who could barely walk without pain to someone who scaled heights:

• ✅ Chandrashila-Tungnath – A spiritual and physical test
• ✅ Kheerganga – Challenging terrains, rewarding views
• ✅ Hatu Peak – Conquering fears with every step
  My ultimate goal? Everest Base Camp – and I know I’ll get there.

🏃‍♀️ Running Against Odds

• ✅ 10KM at Vedanta Delhi Half Marathon
• ✅ 10KM at Tuffman Mashobra Trail Run
  For someone once warned against jogging, these milestones felt nothing short of miraculous.

🚘 Driving Through Life

Long-distance driving had once triggered back spasms and fear. But now:

• ✅ I’ve driven across states in India in my Virtus, embracing freedom and independence with each mile.

💪 Strength Numbers That Empower

• Deadlift: 80 kg
• Squat: 60 kg
  Every rep of these lifts was a reminder of how far I’ve come—from spinal injury to strength training.

Becoming an INFS Scholar – Learning to Lead

In 2024, I took another leap—I became an INFS Scholar and completed the Diploma in Fitness and Nutrition.

Learning the science behind training and nutrition gave me a whole new sense of power. I no longer followed blindly—I understood, analyzed, and adapted.

🎓 This wasn’t just about becoming fit. It was about becoming capable—of helping others, educating myself, and empowering change.

Support System – The Pillars Behind My Success

• 🧠 Coach Shanu Shashank – for pushing me past my comfort zone and into transformation
• ❤️ Coach Abhijit Singh – for building my foundation with care and wisdom
• 🌍 Fittr Community – for the motivation, stories, and camaraderie
• 🙌 Jitendra Chouksey (JC) – for creating a platform that’s more than a fitness app—it’s a movement. Your motto, “walk the talk”, became my truth.

The Emotional Transformation – Beyond the Physical

Yes, I lost fat. Yes, I built muscle. But more importantly—
I gained self-worth, I shed years of fear, and I found peace.

💖 I live pain-free—physically, emotionally, and spiritually.
💖 I’ve made peace with my past and turned it into a platform to inspire others.

Looking Ahead – Fit at 48 and Beyond

As I turn 48 on July 28, I’m not slowing down. If anything, I’m just getting started.

 My Next Set of Goals

• Conquer Everest Base Camp
• Deadlift 100kg
• Speak and coach to inspire more midlife women to reclaim their health
• Represent India in international natural fitness competitions someday

💬 This isn’t a “before-after” story—it’s a “before-during-and-still-going” story.

Final Words – You Are More Powerful Than You Know

To anyone battling chronic health conditions, low self-esteem, or the belief that “it’s too late”—let me tell you this:

It’s never too late to rewrite your story.
Your setbacks can become your comeback.
If I did it, you can too.

Consistency, mindset, and the right guidance can change everything.

📢 Join the Movement

I hope my journey inspires you to take that first step. Because behind every transformed body is a resilient soul—and yours might be next.

Let’s keep growing, glowing, and going. 🇮🇳
#transformationstory #fitnessafter40 #womenwholift #fittrcoach #fittrcommunity #strengthtraining #INFSscholar #vatsalajourney #everestdreams