Nutrition

ood health ood eating for with Sadia Salman

Experienced dietician with a demonstrated history of working in the health and fi tness industry, dietician Sadia Salman is an expert on diet and nutrition. She is a health professional from LUMS, The Gerald J. and Dorothy R. Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy at Tufts University and talks to us about good eating habits .

MARCH 8-14 2020 How did you get started creating your passion into a business—what’s your story? Some passions are hidden until the need arises for them to show themselves. I am a bureaucrat by profession and an entrepreneur by inclination. I served as an additional commissioner with Inland Revenue Service Pakistan for 12 years. After losing my new-born daughter to (suspected) gestational diabetes I found myself to be at 102 kgs. My pre baby weight was 60 kgs and I already had a son aged six. Incidentally, as God would have it, he granted us with another son the very next year Alhamdullilah. He is the best planner for sure! But this meant that my weight would remain above 100 kgs with two full term pregnancies in two years, accompanied by diabetes. That’s when my life took a turn and I decided this couldn’t go on any more. I had always been a pro fitness person, the captain of my sports teams, and a swimmer. I was unable to recognise myself. To put on 40 kgs in two years is not a joke. My body was paying the price for it. I took leave from my work for two

years and sat down to chalk out a plan for my health. I hated insulin and medication. I started with an online course and went on to do the full programme from Tufts University, USA with 3.8 GPA. You can imagine my level of interest in the subject. In the meantime I came down to 65 kgs and felt super fit just by following what I was studying. That’s when I decided to share my secret to fitness with the community here! Eat right to lose weight and not the other way round! I went on to establish Diet by Design in 2012.

What do you think are the biggest misconceptions about dieticians? The biggest misconception is that, they are not doctors so they know nothing about the body. I come from a family of doctors including my mother who has just retired from a medical university and has worked in the US for many years. It was hard to convince my family that dietician also work in a similar way, more holistic in my opinion.

Fuelling your body from workouts and living lean takes work, what’s your typical meal for the day? We have customised meal plans for each client. So someone who’s working out will have a different macro and calorie count from someone who isn’t. We do an in-depth body assessment to measure the body fat, muscle mass, bone density, visceral fat, metabolism rate etc and the program depends on these readings and also the medical condition of the client and his nutritional assessment.

What is your professional background? I am a CSS officer and a nutritionist. I have degrees and certifications in diverse fields such as English Literature, Nutrition and Dietetics, Business, Entrepreneurship and Marketing, Accountancy and Law both from Pakistan and USA. I have also taught short courses on nutrition at LUMS and worked with The American University, Washington DC. I have been invited to various conferences in US by my Alma Mater, Tufts University.

What are your biggest challenges as an entrepreneur and how do you overcome them? The biggest challenge for any business owner in Pakistan is the absence of work ethic, professionalism in the work force and the public. I am blessed to have an amazing team but it was built over the years. The other biggest challenge is the economic instability of the country. People are reluctant to invest capital and lack consistency.

There are pros and cons to social media; being a trained dietitian what are your thoughts on the craze and fall of some social media “wellness gurus”; how do you feel it impacts the well-being of people following along? I love this question! I lost 37 kgs in one year. I wanted others to benefit from it so I went on to learn and study professionally. Once I had the certification, I began helping

others through a professional clinic. Diet by Design was the first clinic of its kind in 2012 in Pakistan where we had professional nutritionists/dieticians who make the right plans, then professional chefs who carry out those plans and a delivery service to get those meals to the clients. I think when we share our own journey with others who may follow the same without proper knowledge; it could be very harmful in the long run. Such practices are banned by law all over the world. It’s not safe or ethical to guide people without professional knowledge.

How would you describe your philosophy about ‘Living Whole and Eating Well’? Our body is the only one we have and we need to take care of it by eating a balanced diet and creating a healthy, nourishing environment for the body to keep it young and fit.

Where do people go wrong when losing weight; what’s the right way of getting fit coming from your company? There is no rule of thumb on losing weight. It depends on why someone has gained weight in the first place. For instance, if a medical condition is causing it, we have to

treat that simultaneously. We had many clients who have been treated and cured of liver disease, IBS, hypothyroidism, diabetes, and hypertension. So we recommend a thorough analysis done at our clinic before embarking on a weight management programme.

What’s one of the strangest nutrition-related myths you’ve heard? Water makes you bloated and makes you gain weight!

What’s your favourite quote or mantra? Love your body and take care of it! It’s the only one you’ve got!

Who or what gives you the most inspiration? My children inspire me the most! My elder son Meekal is 16 and has high functioning Autism. He has inspired me over the years to face all challenges head on, not to fear anything as long as you’re in the right, to make health a priority, to make more effort to communicate with those who keep to themselves. He has taught me that kindness and love are the best healers in the world!