Well-known for her stint in the Hindi entertainment industry, Claudia Ciesla has seamlessly transitioned to wellness entrepreneurship. With her book ‘Keep Eating Keep Losing’ and her global health platform ‘Claudia’s Concept of Healthy Living’, she is on a mission to help people achieve lasting well-being. In this exclusive conversation with Andrea CostaBir, Claudia shares her insights on how small lifestyle changes can lead to big transformations.
Excerpts from the interview…
You started your career as an actress. What inspired your transition into nutritional coaching and wellness entrepreneurship?
In 2009, I moved to India to pursue an acting career. I’ve appeared in several reality shows, including ‘Bigg Boss’, and participated in films, notably ‘Khiladi 786’ with Akshay Kumar. The warm reception I received in India has been overwhelming, and I now proudly call Mumbai my home. Alongside my acting career, I developed a passion for nutrition, quickly realising the pivotal role that food and exercise play in maintaining my appearance and wellbeing. Initially driven by a desire for glowing skin, shiny hair, unlimited energy, and weight management, I eventually felt a deeper call to promote holistic nutrition and a healthy lifestyle.
In 2016, I authored my first book ‘Keep Eating Keep Losing: Weight-Loss Secrets’. I also launched an online global platform called ‘Claudia’s Concept of Healthy Living’ (ClaudiasConcept. com), offering 12 programmes designed to help people achieve their health goals, from weight loss to disease recovery. In 2023, my nutrition talk show ‘Weight & Watch’ debuted on Tata Play Fitness, D2H, and Dish TV
Tell us a little about the work you do…
My mission is to transform the lives of 1,00,000 people; empowering them to thrive and reach their fullest potential. Nature offers all we need for a healthy, disease-free life. Yet, obesity has become an epidemic, and India is now the diabetes capital of the world, with rates that continue to climb. Childhood obesity is also a growing concern. We provide our clients seeking weight loss with effective solutions that show results in just three months. We recently helped a client lose 25 kg, and I am confident that I’m the last nutritionist he will ever need. We do more than just coach; we help clients transform their habits, ensuring their weight loss is permanent and that they avoid repeating past dietary mistakes.
Hippocrates wisely said, “Let food be thy medicine and medicine be thy food.” Unfortunately, today, unhealthy diets and incorrect lifestyles cause 80% of chronic diseases such as obesity, cancer, diabetes, cardiovascular diseases, and fatty liver. The good news is that these diseases are largely preventable through prioritising health. Additionally, adopting a healthy lifestyle can decrease dependency on medications and, in many cases, reverse conditions like diabetes and fatty liver disease. At Claudia’s Concept, our mission is to profoundly improve people’s quality of life. We aim to increase awareness, helping individuals understand that a diagnosis of chronic disease is not the end. There is a path forward, so let’s begin the journey of healing together.
What are the most common health and wellness challenges your clients face, and how do you help them overcome these?
Change is often the most challenging aspect for many. My clients frequently need to unlearn long-established habits, recognise how these habits affect their bodies, and begin implementing changes. Neuroscience explains that change is difficult because old habits have forged strong neural pathways in the basal ganglia, making them hard to override. This is why merely providing a diet plan often fails to be effective for weight loss; a diet alone is insufficient. Successfully losing weight or reversing diabetes requires a comprehensive approach that encompasses multiple factors. At our clinic, we employ a variety of innovative techniques to help clients rewire their neural pathways and alter their habits. During this transformative process, we also ensure that clients are mindful of their food choices and stay motivated. This holistic approach is crucial for making lasting changes.
Your book ‘Keep Eating Keep Losing’ promotes sustainable weight loss. What’s the biggest myth about dieting that you’d like to debunk?
Crash diets and restrictive diets are ineffective. Many individuals, before joining us, tried these quick-fix diets, only to experience the yo-yo effect where they not only regained all the weight lost but often ended up heavier than before. Restrictive diets tend to slow down metabolism.
To achieve sustainable weight loss, it’s crucial to approach it correctly. Often, weight gain occurs over years, yet when people decide to lose weight, they seek immediate solutions, hoping to see results within days. Our bodies operate 24/7, so it’s time to rethink our weight loss strategies. It’s about nourishing the body, not depriving it. Sustainable weight loss rests on four pillars – balanced nutrition, regular exercise, adequate sleep, and emotional well-being. These elements are intertwined and must work in harmony to promote optimal health.
Gut health plays a vital role in overall well-being. What are your top tips for maintaining a healthy gut?
The gut is often called our second brain and is teeming with trillions of bacteria. It not only aids in digestion but also produces 90% of serotonin, the “happy hormone,” enhancing mental health. Additionally, the gut contains 70% of the body’s immune cells, playing a vital role in fighting infections. To maintain a healthy gut, I recommend a few key strategies: Include a diverse array of fiber-rich foods in your diet to nourish beneficial gut bacteria, stay hydrated, and avoid overly processed foods that can disrupt gut balance. Incorporating probiotics, found in yogurt and fermented foods like kimchi and sauerkraut, can also support gut health, though they may not be suitable for everyone, particularly those with existing gut issues. Furthermore, exercise is crucial for gut health as it enhances muscle contractions that facilitate food movement through the digestive system and reduces stress, another indigestion trigger. By adopting these practices into your daily routine, you can maintain a healthy and vibrant gut.
Emotional eating is a common struggle. How can people develop a healthier relationship with food?
Firstly, one must address the root causes of emotional eating, whether it be stress, boredom, anxiety, relationship issues, or work conflicts. Awareness plays a crucial role. In cases of emotional eating, we often prioritise improving and developing a healthier relationship with food, which includes recognising the triggers of emotional eating. Many clients find it helpful to maintain a food diary, recording what they eat and how they feel at that time. This practice helps clients become aware of patterns and triggers, enabling them to make better and more conscious food choices. Additionally, we work with them on mindfulness, and some find meditation very helpful in coping with emotions. Since different techniques work for different people, it’s important to explore and discover what works best for each individual.
For busy professionals, what’s an easy-tofollow fitness routine that ensures overall well-being?
For those with limited time, a high-intensity interval training (HIIT) routine can be very effective and can be done from home within 20-30 minutes. These workouts alternate short bursts of intense activity with periods of rest or lower-intensity exercise. Additionally, integrating physical activity into daily routines like walking or biking to work, standing desks or standing up for 2-3 min once every hour, climbing the staircase etc can contribute to overall well-being without requiring extra time. It’s not always about exercise, it is about incorporating more movement into your daily routine.
Stress and poor sleep are major barriers to a healthy lifestyle. What are your personal strategies for managing both?
Sleep serves as the ultimate detox for the brain. For instance, if you’ve had only 3-4 hours of sleep, you’ll likely experience brain fog the next day, making it difficult to concentrate and focus. This can increase stress, particularly if you’re expected to work. Additionally, insufficient sleep often leads to increased carbohydrate cravings, making dietary control more challenging. Furthermore, if you compromise on your sleep, there’s a 95% chance that your workout routine will suffer as well. This scenario perfectly illustrates how sleep, mental health, nutrition, and exercise are interconnected.
Exercise is scientifically proven to reduce stress. Try running on a treadmill for 20-30 minutes to see how it affects your mood. If you’re short on time, a few minutes of dancing to loud music can be equally transformative. Regarding sleep, if you’re stressed, you might find yourself restless and irritable in bed. However, performing some breathing exercises beforehand can help you relax and fall asleep more easily. While there are numerous techniques to manage both stress and sleep, inaction is not advisable.
What advice would you give someone looking to start their wellness journey but feeling overwhelmed?
I advise against quick fixes and trendy diets. Instead, consult a nutritionist who can offer a sustainable solution tailored to last a lifetime.
Website – https://claudiasconcept.com/
