The year 2009 saw a high strung nine to five corporate executive toying with the idea of a different perspective to life, both personal and professional. But, what came by was a string of health related battles, perhaps a boon in disguise for Bengaluru-based Lopamudra Banerjee; that triggered the gradual transformation of a former Enterprise Accounts Manager, an Area Operations Manager and a team leader into the wellness coach that she is today. With celebrity clients, corporate executives, movie stars and politicians, she has a fitness regime designed for all. She is the founder and brand ambassador of World of WOW, her personalized fitness platform for lifestyle and weight management. The Gladrags Mrs. India Finalist 2009, Lopamudra is also the recipient of the Excellence in Fitness award by the Karnataka Women Achiever’s Association, 2018 and shares her health travails and tips to fitness
“It all starts from your kitchen, so redesign your kitchen (cooking) concept to kick start your family’s fitness goals”, said Bengaluru- based Lopamudra Banerjee, founder, World of WOW and a corporate wellness speaker. A certified fitness trainer, her words come from training hard and learning from her bitter years of suffering from an autoimmune disorder and rheumatic arthritis.
The years 2009-2011, saw Lopamudra intermittently bearing the scary side-effects of her disorder manifesting into alopecia (loss of hair and bald patches) but, she braved on under the care of her doctors. From a stage when she was scared for dear life she also mustered enough courage to pave an alternate path wherein she could spend more time with her daughter, at the same time seek alternate professional goals.
With a happy 70 kgs around her, she was always an active individual with a moderate fitness schedule but, balancing an extremely packed corporate-cum-home life. Her chance to reinvent herself came in the form of friends who plodded her to participate in the Mrs. Gladrags 2008-2009 competition.
Having cleared her second round of auditions, she embarked on a month long journey into the world of fashion and fitness in February- March 2009.
Meeting with 21 other Mrs. Gladrags contestants in Mumbai for their month-long grooming and competition sessions that included an old widow, a single parent, a lady who was a victim of abusive relationship and other such brave ‘Mrs. Gladrags’ wannabes inspired Lopamudra to review her own challenges. “Some of these women I met were extremely bold and going through hell in their own personal lives. I realized that relatively I am much better off and that everything was in my hands,” she said. She had by then made up her mind to quit her nine to five job; but resumed office post the pageant and served her notice period.
”I don’t take a load the days I don’t exercise. I compensate by climbing stairs. A good way is to stand and do some work instead of sitting constantly”
The years from 2011 to 2014 saw Lopamudra undergoing fitness courses to equip her learning into a new career that included the Reebok Instructor Alliance (RIA) certified courses, the RYS 200 Yoga Teachers Trainer from Aayana Yoga Studio and the eminent ACE (American Council on Exercise) certified PT amongst others. She then embarked upon individual consulting on fitness when she decided to set up her own business into weight management and grooming. “I had no idea on running a business and decided to work in a fitness oriented startup company. Gradually, I realized that my strengths were into my people skills ability, my expertise as a trainer and my capacity to hand hold individuals to achieve their fitness goals...I then embarked upon my own venture World Of WOW”
Currently, World of WOW has an organic and linear growth with a renewal rate of 35% annually. “We believe in assured weight loss without supplements. I handle 62-68 clients per month with my team of three nutritionists and two fitness trainers by giving my clients a good trainer versus customer ratio; to provide the right amount of consistency and accountability to all our clients.”
“My clientele consists of 96 per cent women primarily in the age 25-45 years, who want to lose weight with the inner desire to look good. However, I often notice men above 40+ years approaching me when they face some medical alarms and are forced to fulfil some fitness goals.”
At 37 years and a mother to a 12-year-old, Lopamudra believes that the onus of a good lifestyle and fitness, especially for youngsters, are on the parents themselves. “If you don’t change your lifestyle then how can you protect yourselves and your kids from the dangers of modern day ailment like COPD, polycystic ovarian diseases and other side effects like hair loss etc.? If my child has obesity, the message goes to the parent. You have already built the foundation of your food and lifestyle; keep the string pulled onto good eating habits but not too much or young adults might become victims of bulimia as emotional eaters and face other eating disorders.”
“Have a disease free body and inculcate a positive body image irrespective of body types. Stay energetic enough to say, carry grocery till the 14th floor and energetic enough to play with your children. We are all humans and are entitled to having fun”, she said.
“Follow the 80:20 Plan 80% - try to eat healthy but avoid artificial goals and too strict a diet regime or develop over dependency on fad diets. There is no need to be on a cabbage diet all year round. Focus on any ailment and recheck diet accordingly. Most recently I adhered to a short-term Keto diet to lose weight.”
She said that keeping oneself hydrated throughout the day can help keep excessive weight away. Her quick mantra for fairly medically healthy adults is hydration with at least five liters of water and an active life every day along with Indian home cooked food.
She’s focuses on six-day training with a day of rest for herself. Being a business person, she wakes up at 3:45 am starts with a run for 40 minutes, followed by strength and core body training for 30 minutes and other post-run drills for 20 minutes. She follows this regime three days a week. The remaining days, she focuses on full body strength training in the gym or does yoga.
“But, remember, I don’t take a load the days I don’t exercise. I compensate by climbing stairs. A good way is to stand and do some work instead of sitting constantly.”
By Sangeeta Ghosh Dastidar
