Join Christina and her extraordinary guest Abha Sharma as they discuss her personal journey into the world of movement.
Abha is a Health and Wellness Coach for Professional Working Moms. Her passion is helping working moms glow up utilizing hormone health, and living a holistic lifestyle.
She is a Paediatrician, Board Certified Lactation Consultant, and the host of The Health Has No Finish Line Podcast. This weekly podcast dives into subjects concerning: body image, emotional eating, mind-set, and healthier living.
Learning what you are capable of
Before sharing her story, Abha empathetically speaks to parents, especially mothers about the struggle that comes with parenting, and how sometimes they neglect to see their own abilities and strengths. She reminds listeners that they are capable of doing great things, whether it is taking care of their health, or even making time for themselves.
Sharing when you're on the other side of the rainbow
Both of Abha’s parents emigrated from India, and she describes the pressure that comes with being a child with immigrant parents, where there s a need to work really hard, especially when it comes to your academics. Knowing that your parents or grandparents immigrated for better educational opportunities.
Her mother cooked a variety of foods, with some being very carb heavy, so when she was younger, Abha dealt with fluctuating weight issues. By the time she was nine or 10 she got teased, and this continued through most of her childhood and teen years. She also wore a back brace for scoliosis, which excerbated things.
“Okay, I can try this!” Steps towards Healing
As she got older, Abha began to take charge of her life in a definitive way. She began to read health magazines, ripping recipes and workout tips from them that she could utilize in her day to day. She would go to Marshalls and find indoor workout VHS and DVD’s. It became fun for her, and she felt comfortable working out this way because she didn’t have to worry about anybody judging her. She was still triggered by what she had experienced on the playground when she was younger.
Even the small change can make a big difference
Abha was able to maintain her healthy in Detroit during her pediatric residency. Despite the long hours, Abha was able to balance her diet by making better food choices. Instead of Lean Cuisine with all the artificial preservatives, she traded those meals in for Trader Joe's bowl that had more whole ingredients and fewer preservatives.
What 10,000 steps will really get you!
Abha began to learn more about the benefits of walking and she learned that 10,000 steps was a marketing strategy that originated from Japan.
A study in the Journal of the American Medical Association, found that at 4400 steps per day, women had significantly lower mortality rates compared to least active women. If they did more, their mortality rates continued to drop until they reached about 7500 steps, at which point the rates levelled out.
Changing the language around food
Abha and her husband have made considerable efforts to change the language around food in their home. She is careful about using the words “Good food, or bad food,” around her daughter. If she is making non-restrictive changes in what she eats, she will just do it, but not explain it, especially when her daughter is around. She demonstrates balance by eating what she wants in moderation.
CONTACT US
Abha Sharma Instagram
