Everyone sees the “after” photos. The confidence. The smile. The visible transformation.
What most people don’t see is the years of struggle that came before it.
My journey was never just about weight loss.
It was about reclaiming my mental health, my sense of self, and my life.
For most of my life, I did everything right.
I was academically driven, ambitious, and deeply disciplined. After completing my education at IIT, I moved to the US to pursue a fully funded PhD. From the outside, it looked like success. Inside, I was slowly falling apart.
Living alone in a new country, navigating a high-pressure academic environment, and constantly pushing myself took a serious toll. Loneliness turned into anxiety. Anxiety turned into depression. My relationship with food changed, and emotional eating became my coping mechanism.
Physically, I was struggling with PCOD, obesity, extreme insomnia, and hormonal imbalance.
Mentally, I was battling depression, severe body image issues, and constant self-doubt.
Food was no longer nourishment. It became comfort, escape, and control all at once.
I found myself stuck in a binge-restrict cycle. Every Monday felt like a “fresh start.” I tried extreme diets, blamed my lack of willpower, and pushed myself harder. Nothing worked long term.
I stopped stepping out. I avoided social situations. I slowly disconnected from myself
Eventually, my health reached a breaking point.
In 2022, I made the hardest decision of my life. I walked away from my PhD and moved back home.
On paper, it looked like failure. And to many people, that’s exactly what it was.
Some laughed. Some judged. For months, I was too broken to even step outside my house.
But deep down, I knew I had made that decision for one reason only.
To survive.
That breaking point became my turning point.
I realised something important. Hating my body wasn’t going to heal it. Punishing myself wasn’t working. Restriction wasn’t the answer.
What I needed wasn’t more discipline.
I needed nourishment.
I stopped looking for shortcuts and started focusing on healing. Not just physically, but mentally and emotionally as well. I learned to approach my health holistically, addressing stress, sleep, food, movement, and mindset together.
There was no overnight transformation.
But there was consistency.
I didn’t “go on a diet.” I changed my lifestyle.
My transformation was built on a few non-negotiable foundations that now form the core of my coaching approach:
Balanced Nutrition: Moving away from restrictive dieting and using food as fuel and support for my body
Consistent Eating: Ending the binge-restrict cycle by nourishing my body regularly
Movement: Starting with simple home workouts and movement that felt sustainable
Sleep & Stress Support: Actively working on sleep and cortisol regulation
Mental Resilience: Meditation, mindfulness, and rebuilding trust with my body
Consistency Over Perfection: Showing up daily without extremes or guilt
Slowly, my energy returned. My sleep improved. My hormones began to regulate. My relationship with food healed.
Over time, I lost over 30 kg.
My PCOD symptoms reversed.
My mental health stabilised.
But my biggest win wasn’t the weight loss.
It was getting myself back.
That journey changed everything.
It made me realise that most people don’t struggle because they lack discipline.
They struggle because they are exhausted, overwhelmed, and following health advice that ignores mental health, hormones, and real life.
I decided to formally study Nutrition and Dietetics and become a Health and Wellness Coach. I founded Nourish by Karisma to help people achieve sustainable fat loss, heal emotional eating, and build a healthier relationship with food without fear, guilt, or extremes.
Today, I work as a nutritionist and holistic wellness coach, offering personalised nutrition plans, lifestyle coaching, and one-on-one support. My approach focuses on:
Sustainable fat loss
Emotional eating
Hormonal balance including PCOD and thyroid support
Mental wellbeing and lifestyle alignment
Because true health is never just about food.
I don’t believe in quick fixes or fad diets.
I believe in systems that support your life.
I coach from science, lived experience, and deep empathy. I’ve been where many of my clients are. I know how heavy it can feel to be stuck, confused, and disconnected from your body.
And I know this to be true:
If I could heal, rebuild, and transform my life, so can you.
With the right guidance, a holistic approach, and consistent support, sustainable change is possible.
If you’re ready to stop suffering and start nourishing, I’m here to walk that journey with you.
