Women Empowerment

Sheryl Alfonso e D’Souza JUGGLING BETWEEN HER PASSION AND PROFESSION

By Rajesh Ghadge

With a Master's degree in Food & Nutrition and Diet Ethics from Bombay University, Sheryl Alfonso is pursuing her career as a teacher and diet consultant in Goa for the last 20 plus years. She is a well-known name in the field of Diet & Nutrition in Goa and is associated with Goa's biggest gymnasium chain, Norbert's Fitness Centre. Being a dietician hasn't been an easy task for Sheryl. In 2000, when people were hardly spending time and money to consult professional Dieticians, Sheryl did not give up and continued her journey through this roller coaster ride. Sheryl's inspirational story is a guide for many women who aspire to accomplish and master the multitude of roles a wife, a mother and a career woman all at the same time…

Sheryl completed her Bachelor's degree in Food and Nutrition from the Goa College of Home Science and then she decide to go to Mumbai for her Master's degree in the eld of Food Nutrition and Diet Ethics. “After completing my masters in Mumbai, I was invited by the Goa College of Home Science College for teaching,” said Sheryl adding that back then it wasn't the full time job and that gave her opportunity to venture into the eld of consulting dietician at Neomi' s Fitness Centre. “It all just started with taking my students for a visit to the Neomi's Fitness Centre (Now Norbert's Fitness Centre) to help them understand the role of a dietician,” she added. According to Sheryl, during this time she rst met Norbert to whom she later tied the knot, making him her life-partner. “At that time Norbert was heading the Neomi's Fitness Centre and he offered me an opportunity to work at Neomi's as a part-time dietician. I also jumped at this opportunity since I was staying close by,” said Sheryl. This was the beginning of a new journey for Sheryl as a dietician and a clinical nutritionist. Sheryl recollects that there was very little demand for dieticians during those days “I started my work with Norbert and started approaching doctors in my free time to get more assignments, but none of them were open to the concept of having a dietician working with them so freelancing as dietician was out of the scope,” said Sheryl, adding that working with the gym was only option for her and at that time Neomi's was the only place to combine nutrition with exercise where normally gyms focus solely on exercise only. According to Sheryl, initially the demand for dieticians started coming only from people looking to lose weight “They gradually began to understand that working out and following a nutritious diet showed a better and bigger difference. Back then it was only at Neomi's we used to work out a program including diet plans,” she said. Although the awareness started, still it was not the grand success she expected since people still weren't accustomed to combining food with working out. “A few of them who understood the value of diet in their plan joined the program and also saw visible effects. In the diet plan, results are not instant and people need to be patient and consistent: no cheating on meals. A few who joined saw the results and the others who were observing gave it a try too, eventually,” she added. Most people associate dieting with weight-loss only. However, nutrition isn't restricted to this and indeed, people who need to gain w e i g h t m u s t a l s o f o l l o w a particular plan. Nutrition and diet also aids medical ailments such as diabetics, and heart disease,” averred Sheryl. Sheryl ventured there where very few people were brave enough to, making her journey very special. She always had an interest in going into the medical eld, but somehow she spotted that her talents lay in a less medicinebased aspect of health and tness so she joined the eld of diet and nutrition. After completing her postgraduation in the eld of Food & Nutrition and Diet Ethics from Bombay university, Sheryl then decided to move in to teaching. “Honestly, getting into teaching wasn 't my decision and it was more of an invitation,” she said adding that it was her principal Dr Rao who asked her to join the college, as she saw potential in Sheryl to be a good teacher. “I had a plan to stay in Mumbai and work in the eld of Nutrition, but when I got the call from Dr Rao I decided to give it a try, although jobs were not easy to come by during those days (20 years back). I took up the opportunity and soon I realised that I am enjoying it.” Sheryl presently teaches at the Carmel College in south Goa and she also continues to be a p r a c t i c i n g d i e t i c i a n a t t h e Norbert's Fitness Centre. “I am teaching at Carmel College for the last 3 years. The college has an M . S c . p r o g r a m i n F o o d Technology, hence I very much enjoy my work and at the same time I continued to be dietician at N o r b e r t ' s F i t n e s s C e n t re s . Norbert' s brand helped me by giving me an opportunity which is more valuable than setting up my own clinic,” she said. Sheryl realised that imparting knowledge to the students is more satisfying than being dietician, “The work of a dietician is my

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passion but there is a more deeps e a t e d i n c l i n a t i o n t o w a rd s teaching. That is something I would never want to give up,” she said. Sheryl is slowly realising that it is a time to set up a brand for herself. “It is more of a brand ideology which I would take up myself and that I would feel that I have done my duty towards education.” Besides teaching and working as nutritionist, Sheryl also writes for number of publications in Goa. “I had started off with the Navhind Times and later shifted to Herald, then Weekender and for some time I also wrote for Viva Goa,” she said. Sheryl currently writes a weekly column for Incredible Goa. In her spare time, especially on holidays, Sheryl loves to go trekking. “It is just one of my hobbies and I've been doing it for the past 15 years. I am also a s s o c i a t e d w i t h D r P r i t h v i Amonkar and his group, since their trekking is something that I really enjoy.” Sheryl is now aiming at doing a Ph.D in Nutrition and Diet. “It has been my long pending dream which I now have time to do, since my daughter is also grown up and she can take care of herself,” said Sheryl. According to Sheryl, once an opportunity knocks on your door, one must grab it. But at the same time, you need to stay focused on what you want. “I don't know whether this is a negative or a positive thing, but many of us have dreams in life and we are versatile in so many ways, as with me where teaching and nutrition are my passions but at some point in life you realise that you have to let go of one to achieve success in the other. It becomes a difcult decision, but as a woman you need to spend a few moments thinking what it is or how and where you see yourself in a few years' time. Putting those words down on paper and working towards them should be really important. As it is easy for us to get diverted along the way and being a w o m a n t h e r e a r e f a m i l y responsibilities as well, but once you have set out on a task, don't get distracted and get these tasks done and eventually complete them all. “It isn't that responsibilities are just a female obligation or duty, but it is something that you value because deep down most of us want to be a mother or a wife, and that shouldn't be a burden to you. That is why it is important to nish phases of your life in such a manner that you can enjoy everything that you are doing, but don't look at it as burden and this is something that women should look at and understand as well,” with these words she concluded.