Nutritionist & Fitness Consultant Munmun Ganeriwal Shares Her Fitness, Farming And Nutrition Tips

Munmun Ganeriwal is India’s only professional to have acquired both a Master’s Degree in Nutrition Science and International Certification of Health Fitness Instructor from the American College of Sports Medicine. She has also been studying and practicing Iyengar Yoga.

Over the last 13 years and more, Munmun Ganeriwal has worked as a Nutrition and Exercise Consultant with a diverse set of clients from all walks of life, of all age groups, varying fitness levels and varying medical histories and it constitutes of business leaders, actors and celebrities, sports icons, professionals, students and homemakers across the globe. She helps her clients achieve sustainable weight loss and fitness by using a combination of her unparalleled scientific knowledge in Sports Science, Exercise and Nutrition and the age old wisdom of eating right in a balance. This enables her to better cater to the needs of new urban Indians keeping in mind their modern lifestyle.

Namita Nayyar, President WomenFitness.Org catches up with Entrepreneur Munmun Ganeriwal.

Ms. Namita Nayyar:

You have worked for over 13 years in the fitness & nutrition industry and at state of the art fitness clubs and premier medical institutes of India. Walk us through your incredible journey and tell us how it all began?

Ms. Munmun Ganeriwal:

Back in 2000-2002, Nutrition and/ or Fitness was not popular as a mainstream course or industry compared to the present time. I was studying to be an Engineer at MIT, Pune and in my second year, I discovered a local fitness club that was hiring young students as part time fitness trainers. Having a strong affinity towards exercise, fitness and everything that revolved around it, I applied and landed myself a job as a Fitness Trainer. It didn’t take me much to realize and decide that this is what I saw myself doing for the rest of my life, almost like I found my true calling.

What followed next was pretty natural. I switched from MIT, from a “highly coveted” course to a “not so well known” course to study Nutrition and Fitness and continued working & training clients after college hours. And thus, my professional journey started, all at the age of 20.

My professional journey spanning 13 years and more has been very fulfilling as I got to work with a diverse set of clients from all walks of life, of all age groups, varying fitness levels and varying medical histories and it constitutes of business leaders, actors and celebrities, sports icons, professionals, students and homemakers across the globe.

Having already worked at state-of-the-art fitness clubs, world renowned medical Institute etc. I felt it was a natural progression that I take the unbeaten path of paving my own way by setting up a unique practice of my own, and I named it “Yuktahaar”

Ms. Namita Nayyar:

Introduce us to a day in your life.

Ms. Munmun Ganeriwal:

I wake up by 5 am, eat my small, pre-workout meal and after exercise, reading newspapers, prayers, breakfast etc. I travel to my office in Juhu, Mumbai. The day unfolds with meetings and consultations with my clients. I have an early lunch and work continues. After I return home, I either spend time with family and friends or read to catch up on latest food and fitness updates. After that, I wrap up my day with an early dinner. I hit the sack by 10pm last.

This interview is exclusive and taken by Namita Nayyar, President womenfitness.org and should not be reproduced, copied or hosted in part or full anywhere without an express permission.

All Written Content Copyright © 2017 Women Fitness Org

Ms. Namita Nayyar:

What exercises comprise your fitness regime or workout routine?

Ms. Munmun Ganeriwal:

I do weight training thrice a week and practise Iyengar yoga twice in a week. I enjoy doing my cardio outdoors v/s at a gym and so I go for a run or sprint outside once or twice a week.

Ms. Namita Nayyar:

Tell us about the food/meal routine that you follow to remain healthy and physically fit?

Ms. Munmun Ganeriwal:

The meal routine I follow is very similar to what I recommend to my clients. I eat frequently, every 2-3 hours. I try to have fresh, homemade meals most of the times and I drink plenty of water throughout the day.

I love to eat healthy carbs like local variety of rice, jowar, ragi etc. I consume home made ghee with all my meals everyday. The fatty acids keep my joints lubricated, my energy up, and help in losing stored fat.

Ms. Namita Nayyar:

You are also a part of some community farming projects, where you learn the best practices for growing fresh sustainable food, fruits and veggies of the season. Tell us about the key components that you have learnt from there?

Ms. Munmun Ganeriwal:

Well, there’s so much hands on learning but if I have to mention few key components, then here they are-

• Food is much more than its calories or its nutrient
• agriculture and health is interlinked
• eating food that is local and seasonal is not only good for one’s health but also builds up local economy and sustains ecological diversity.

This interview is exclusive and taken by Namita Nayyar, President womenfitness.org and should not be reproduced, copied or hosted in part or full anywhere without an express permission.

All Written Content Copyright © 2017 Women Fitness Org

Ms. Namita Nayyar:

Being a Specialist in pre- and post-natal exercise too, share with us a few tips from the workout plan that you would devise for a new mother.

Ms. Munmun Ganeriwal:

A new mother requires to come back to the game, but only one step at a time. Hence, slow and gradual progress is the key here. Based on your exercise history (whether you are a beginner/ intermediate/ advanced), you can choose to workout at low-moderate intensity for 2-5 days/ week.

Ms. Namita Nayyar:

You have also been practicing Iyengar Yoga for quite sometime now. Tell us how has it helped you in your life and why should people adopt it in their lifestyle?

Ms. Munmun Ganeriwal:

Guruji BKS Iyengar has said, “one must learn the difference between “right” pain and “wrong” pain. Right pain is not only constructive but also exhilarating and involves challenge, while wrong pain is destructive and causes excruciating suffering”

Iyengar yoga, of many things, has helped me to differentiate between the right that I should endure and the wrong, when I should simply say “No”. Yoga is not just a physical exercise of poses and contortions, it’s a philosophy of life. When adopted in entirety, it gives a more profound direction in life.

Ms. Namita Nayyar:

What according to you are the 5 Must-have components/foods in an Indian Meal?

Ms. Munmun Ganeriwal:

Ghee tops the list followed by homemade pickle, sugar or jaggery, curd and coconut.

This interview is exclusive and taken by Namita Nayyar, President womenfitness.org and should not be reproduced, copied or hosted in part or full anywhere without an express permission.

All Written Content Copyright © 2017 Women Fitness Org

Ms. Namita Nayyar:

Would you like to tell us about the changing scenario of fitness in our country over the years?

Ms. Munmun Ganeriwal:

Well, earlier, the focus was only on weight loss. It used to take a lot of time to explain and educate clients as to why I do not weigh them on a weighing scale. But now I don’t spend that much time on it. In fact, I have clients because they know that there would be no weigh-ins once they sign up for consultation. So yes, the perception has changed.

There’s a better understanding about the fact that once metabolic health improves; weight loss follows, not the other way around. People are more inclined towards health and fitness v/s weight loss.

Ms. Namita Nayyar:

What would be your Top 5 Nutrition/Fitness Tips for college going girls?

Ms. Munmun Ganeriwal:

1. If you want to lose weight, you will have to eat. No boy is worth starving for.
2. Chilling at cafes and sipping on colas is not “cool”. Instead drink sherbets (aam panha/ kokum sherbet/ sugarcane juice) that in turn will give you an acne-free and flawless skin.
3. If you do not want to be caught up in food crisis/ accidents (like gorging on a pastry at 6pm when you had just decided to eat healthier in the morning), you need to plan ahead for your 4-6pm snack.
4. Being in college and hence “grown up”, should not stop you from playing sports. Run, play and jump- will help you build a strong and toned body.
5. Whats app/ Facebook is better left for the day. For hormonal balance and pain free periods, switch off your phone and ensure you sleep by 10.30pm last (on most days of week, if not all)

Ms. Namita Nayyar:

Advice and motivational words to the aspiring and budding nutritionists & fitness trainers who all are your fans, they shall like to know from you, what they should do for their climb to ladder of success in this field?

Ms. Munmun Ganeriwal:

I absolutely believe that success or failure is a state of mind. Hence, I would only suggest all to spend time figuring out their true calling. Once you love what you do and do what you love, things happen on it’s own, almost like it’s programmed to be so.

Ms. Namita Nayyar:

What do you wish to say about the website Womenfitness.org and message for our readers?

Ms. Munmun Ganeriwal:

Womenfitness.org is brilliantly in it’s 18th year of unrelenting service to womanhood. The President, Namita Nayyar’s strong vision and sense of great purpose has helped and served women achieve the best in health and fitness.

To the visitors, I would only say that as women we often fail to prioritize and take care of our own selves. The first step to health and fitness is to be able to love yourself. Once you are able to do that, you will see your self and body transform, effortlessly!

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Women Fitness Org Team extends our heartfelt gratitude to Munmun Ganeriwal for taking out time from her busy schedule and doing this interview with us.