The Empowering Journey of Sheetal Nilesh Andhale, Founder of Mestrong
My name is Sheetal Nilesh Andhale, and I am a 42-year-old mother of three with a passion for fitness that began in 2013. While I wasn’t overweight at the time, I was physically weak and lacked stamina. During a particularly challenging phase in my life, fitness became my escape—a way to focus on myself and manage stress. What started as a temporary distraction evolved into a lifelong commitment.
I was introduced to strength training by my coach, Bipin Kamble, who saw potential in me and encouraged me to pursue powerlifting.
With his guidance and my dedication to strength training and a disciplined diet, I entered the competitive world of powerlifting in 2014-15. After years of hard work, I achieved a significant milestone by winning a national gold medal in powerlifting in 2018, an honor that led to my recognition by Maharashtra Chief Minister, Eknath Shinde.
In 2019, I faced a new challenge: pregnancy with my third child.
Although the journey came with complications, my fitness and mental strength helped me manage it with resilience. While I had to pause my training, I continued to enrich my knowledge by completing certifications in fitness and nutrition from INFS, including a specialization in clinical nutrition. This education helped me understand not only physical fitness but also the critical role nutrition plays in leading a healthy lifestyle.
After recovering from postpartum, I was eager to share my knowledge and passion with others. In 2020, I founded my online fitness platform, Mestrong, with the mission of empowering women to embrace fitness, lose weight, and gain strength.
Over the last three years, Mestrong has grown into a successful global community, helping countless women lead healthier lives.
Today, my fitness journey continues. I train under Mr. Sagar Kedare in gymnastics and practice yoga to maintain flexibility and balance in all aspects of my life. Fitness is a lifelong pursuit for me, and despite all that I’ve accomplished, I believe that there is always more to achieve.
My mental and physical strength have been my greatest assets, and this strength has not only allowed me to reach new heights but also to overcome the most difficult moments of my life.
In addition to my work with MeStrong, I also ventured into bodybuilding. In 2020, I competed in an international bodybuilding competition hosted by ICN in South Korea, where I won a gold medal
This victory gave me immense confidence and reaffirmed my belief in the power of perseverance.
A Message to Society and the Community
To every woman facing hardship, my message is simple: fitness isn’t just about physical strength, it’s about mental resilience. When you commit to becoming stronger—both inside and out—you can overcome anything life throws your way. I urge women to invest in their health, push their limits, and never give up on themselves.
Through fitness, I found purpose, strength, and confidence. You can too.
