Sonia Saxena’s Five-Year Fitness Reboot (Photos: Sonia Saxena)
Five years ago, Sonia Saxena stood at a crossroads—balancing the demands of motherhood, international moves, and a scale that stubbornly read 80 kilos. Today, she weighs 53 kg, not just lighter in body but significantly stronger in spirit. Her transformation is not just about aesthetics or numbers. It is about grit, grit… and a bit more grit.
“I wouldn’t call it a transformation,” she says with a knowing laugh. “It’s more like a roller coaster that occasionally forgot to follow the tracks.”
From Dream Body to Real Problems
Sonia’s reasons for change were not driven by vanity but by a mix of aspiration and necessity. “A dream body is something everyone wants,” she says. “But when health issues linked to being overweight started knocking, I had to answer the door.”
It was not her first attempt either. She had tried before—crashed, burnt, and bounced back. But this time, something clicked. Maybe it was the realisation that doing nothing was not an option anymore.
Discipline is Greater than Motivation
You might expect her to talk about her ‘why’ or a Pinterest board filled with #fitspo quotes. But Sonia does not buy into the hype.
“Motivation is overrated,” she says matter-of-factly. “Discipline is what matters. You do the work even when you don’t feel like it. Eventually, it becomes a habit. That’s how you win.”
And her winning strategy? Keeping it simple. A quantified diet (portion control), a consistent workout routine starting with push-pull-legs, and most importantly, zero overcomplications.
Challenges that Came Her Way
Her biggest challenges were not burpees or deadlifts—they were life itself. After the birth of her twin daughters, Sonia and her husband, Deepak, moved abroad. With no extended family support, she juggled motherhood, household chores, and workouts like a reluctant circus performer.
“I had to do everything alone—feed them, bathe them, rock them to sleep—and still find time to show up for myself,” she recalls. “There were days I felt like quitting. But something inside me kept pushing.”
That ‘something’ also helped her recover from physical, emotional, and logistical setbacks. Injuries happened. Fatigue knocked. But she always came back. Slowly, but steadily.
Coach, Community, and the Quiet Hero at Home
Sonia credits her transformation not just to her own determination but to the people who made the journey a little less lonely. Her coach Navdeep, the Fittr community, and her husband Deepak are the ones who picked up the slack when she needed time for herself.
“My biggest learning? Get a coach. Someone who holds you accountable when your inner voice tries to talk you out of things.”
More Than a Goal Weight
Sonia’s story is not about a magical number on the scale. It is about what that number represents—resilience, reinvention, and rising above the odds.
“I’m not done,” she says. “This is just the beginning. Hitting your goal isn’t the end. It’s proof that you can aim higher.”
Her advice to anyone standing where she once stood?
“Trust the process. Keep it simple. Stay consistent. The results will come. And when they do, you’ll barely recognise the person you used to be.”