How a Good Coach Can Change Your Life – Here’s My Story!
By Priyanka Dutta Barua
Fittr Coach
As a kid, I was never into sports or exercise. My father, a sports teacher, coached the boys’ team at school and tried his best to get me involved in sports, but it never clicked. The only sport I dabbled in was playing a little cricket with my friends—just for fun.
When puberty hit, things started changing. I began gaining weight, and my self-esteem took a hit. To hide my growing discomfort with my body, I started wearing loose clothes. Thankfully, my close friends never made fun of me, but school wasn’t always kind, and the bullying chipped away at my self-confidence.
The Turning Point: My First Coach
Fast forward to 2012, I’d had enough. I was stuck in a cycle of starving myself to lose weight, only to gain it all back once I started eating normally again. My uncle, who had recently joined a gym, suggested I join too. Hesitant, but desperate for change, I agreed.
The gym floor felt intimidating—full of high-energy, muscular guys. I was clueless and overwhelmed, so I decided to hire a personal trainer, which turned out to be one of the best decisions of my life. He was the head trainer at Gold’s Gym, and his guidance transformed me.
On the first day, he walked me through the basics—names of equipment, machines, and foundational exercises like chest press, squats, and deadlifts. He explained why resistance training was more effective than cardio for fat loss, and he focused on that. We trained 3-4 times a week, and he was meticulous in correcting my form and ensuring I used proper technique.
My coach didn’t just guide me through workouts; he educated me on nutrition too. He encouraged me to stick to my usual meals—rice, dal, fish, chicken, veggies, and fruits—but to watch my portions. Junk food was off-limits, except for a slice of chocolate cake once a week (my favorite treat!).
Within three months, I had lost 7 kg. I looked different, felt amazing, and my confidence skyrocketed. I kept going, lost even more weight, and slowly began to fall in love with the gym. Though I started working out on my own after six months, I always remembered my coach’s teachings and kept progressing. He didn’t just help me lose weight—he made me self-sufficient and set me on a path of lifelong fitness.
Finding My Second Mentor at Fittr
Two years ago, I found another incredible coach through Fittr. I couldn’t believe how similar he was to my first coach at Gold’s Gym! Just like before, my Fittr coach educated me, identified my strengths and weaknesses, and guided me toward my fittest self.
I consider myself incredibly lucky to have been coached by two of the best in the industry. Thanks to them, I’ve never suffered an injury while working out or had issues with my diet. Finding the right coach can be tough—you might not connect with the first one you meet. But when you do, they have the power to change your life.
Becoming a Coach: Passing It Forward
Now, as a Fittr coach myself, I strive to be the kind of mentor that my coaches were to me. Every day, I continue to study and learn more about nutrition and exercise science, so I’m always prepared to guide my mentees in the best way possible.
I owe so much to my first coach, Bibhu Singha from Gold’s Gym, and my Fittr coach, Manish Padia Sir. They didn’t just teach me about fitness—they taught me how to be a great coach.
Finding the right coach can change your life, and I’m living proof of that.
By Priyanka Dutta Barua
Fittr Coach
