“Healthy Eating for Busy Professionals” with Nagina Abdullah | Ep. 052

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About this Episode:

In this episode of The Transformative Leader Podcast, I speak with health coach for busy professionals, and founder of MasalaBody.com, Nagina Abdullah. Nagina helps executives and high achievers make healthy eating simple by providing meal approaches, weekly routines, recipes, guidance on what to include and what to avoid when traveling, and advice on making progress beyond counting calories and watching portions. Nagina has been interviewed on the podcasts of JJ Virgin and Ruth Soukup (one of our previous guests). Although Nagina’s work is aimed primarily at women—most health and wellness guidance is, for good reason—rest assured that the principles apply equally to anyone looking to get healthier and lose weight.

Nagina’s experience can attest to the effectiveness of her approach. Like many of us, Nagina struggled with losing weight for much of her adult life. But after having her second child, and while working as a corporate consultant and traveling frequently, she realized she didn’t have the energy to enjoy her time off with her family. After some experimentation with nutrition and diet, Nagina was able to lose 40 pounds and boost her energy, all while still working 12+ hour days. And MasalaBody was born from her desire to help others do the same.

I know from personal experience just how difficult that is to do, especially as a traveling professional, and just how liberating and energizing it feels once you have achieved victory in the area of personal health and wellness. This is something that is critically important for professionals and leaders, because, as I have mentioned in previous posts, when we neglect our own health, we are also neglecting our responsibility to lead and serve others. This was a great conversation with an inspiring guest on a topic that doesn’t get enough focus in the business world, so be sure to check it out.

Some topics discussed in this episode include:

  • How Nagina came to be where she is today, from struggling with her weight and energy even as she was having success in other areas of life, to creating the system that led to the founding MasalaBody.com.

  • Why Nagina recommends a lifestyle transformation, rather than any particular diet, and how shifting one’s mindset makes it easy to eat healthy while traveling, networking, on vacation, at restaurants, etc.

  • The importance of making the connection between the foods we eat and how they make us feel and affect the way we function.

  • How those who travel frequently can prepare and create routines to avoid making poor food decisions during their commutes.

  • Why it is critical to establish what Nagina calls non-negotiable weekly routines to eliminate the risk of backsliding, and why enjoying what you eat, rather than depriving yourself, is key to long-term success.

  • Nagina’s free gift for Transformative Leader listeners, the “Sweet Spice Cheat Sheet,” which includes the benefits and 5 ways to use a common spice to help curb sugar cravings.

Nagina Abdullah is the founder of MasalaBody.com, where she teaches busy professionals how to eat delicious food and lose weight without counting calories or feeling deprived, helping hundreds of people lose up to 40 pounds and regain their confidence. Nagina has been featured in Business Insider, People.com, Huffington Post and on Fox News.

Guest Links:

To learn more about Nagina and her work, you can visit the About page on her website, which has links to some of her best articles, interviews, recipes and videos. You can connect with Nagina on LinkedIn and on Instagram at @masalabody.

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“The Power of Cross-Cultural Collaboration” with Vicki Hudson | Ep. 053

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“What Leaders Can Learn From Fighter Pilots” with Christian Boucousis | Ep. 051