Meet Sushma Pachouri Khadia, a doctor turned bodybuilder whose journey embodies resilience and determination. Overcoming challenges with conceiving and battling self-image issues postpartum, Khadia embarked on a transformative journey of weight loss and self-discovery. Now, at 45, she stands as a beacon of empowerment, defying stereotypes and inspiring others to embrace their true selves.
In an interview with SheThePeople, Sushma shared her journey where she encountered difficulties conceiving due to an uncommon type of PCOS, prompting her on a path of resilience and optimism. Yet, it was in her postpartum phase that she encountered another hurdle—a battle with self-esteem and self-assurance.
Sushma Pachouri's Journey In Her Own Words
"After getting married, I got diagnosed with an unusual form of PCOS, in which you don't get fat but you stop ovulating, because of which you can't conceive a baby. I began with my treatment and got pregnant within that period of time due to the treatment. I wasn't able to continue with the pregnancy after 4 months.
The doctor said that I should not plan for a baby now, as it won't be good for my body, and I should take a break. I was sure that I wouldn't be able to get pregnant without treatments, but despite doctors advising against it, I got pregnant naturally again within three months. The pregnancy was complicated, and doctors recommended abortion due to the severe risks. However, I chose to proceed, and miraculously, my baby was born healthy. Today, my son is 17, and our family feels blessed.
I got a C-section delivery of my child, and while I was resting on the bed during that time, I saw myself in the mirror and didn't like how I looked. I started crying, and I said, “Ye mere ko kya hogaya."
I decided to focus on myself now, as I wanted to change the way I looked. For the next 5 years, I took care of my child, and one day I decided to join the gym.
In 2012, my journey started from 93 kg to 59 kg. I was scared about doing weightlifting, as I had no knowledge about it.
In 2019, when everything was going great, a few pictures of me went viral on social media, which took me back to depression. I got support from the people around me and decided to go bodybuilding.
In 2020, I was the only person who was working, and I pitched bodybuilding to my husband and told him that it's not the wrong thing and that it's just like a sport. I took part in a show happening in Mumbai, and I won gold in 40 categories. After which, in 2022, my journey started, and I participated in multiple competitions.
I am 45 years old today, and when I look back at my journey, I realise that I started with someone who didn't like the way she looked in the mirror, but today I'm glad I took that step."
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