Fitness | MindsetHow Fitness Transformed My Life
Author: Chand Baungally | Published: September 2025
That knowledge hit me hard and made me realize how precious our health truly is. Suddenly, fitness wasn’t just about how I looked or how strong I felt. It became about being more conscious, about taking care of my body as an act of love and responsibility.
Through this experience, I discovered resilience. Fitness taught me to keep showing up, even on days I didn’t feel like it. It reminded me that growth doesn’t happen overnight; it happens in small, consistent steps. It showed me that discomfort is not something to fear but something to embrace, because it is through discomfort that transformation takes place.
Looking back now, I see how much I’ve changed. I’m no longer that shy version of myself who doubted whether she could do big things. I’m someone who knows her own strength, who knows that with patience and persistence, anything is possible. Fitness gave me courage, it gave me confidence, and it gave me a sense of purpose that continues to guide me every day. My commitment to fitness goes far beyond the stage or the gym. It is about living fully, staying healthy, and continuing to grow as a person. It is about inspiring others to see that they too can change, not because they are lacking now, but because they are capable of so much more than they realize.
I am deeply grateful for every part of this journey: the 97-kilogram version of me who started, the competitor who pushed herself to the limit, and the woman I have become today. Each stage shaped me, taught me, and brought me closer to the person I was always meant to be.
Fitness transformed my life not by changing who I was, but by helping me discover everything I could become. That is a gift I carry with me every single day.
If you had met me years ago, you would have seen a very different version of me. I was always on the bigger side, and at one point my weight reached 97 kilograms. I was never ashamed of it. I wasn’t unhappy with who I was, nor did I see myself as less worthy because of my size. My journey began not from shame, but from curiosity, from a desire to see how far I could push myself, and from a dream of living a healthier, stronger life.
That dream eventually led me to one of the biggest milestones of my life: losing 35 kilograms and stepping on stage for my first bikini fitness competition in 2015. Preparing for that moment changed me in ways that went far beyond my body. It reshaped my mindset, taught me discipline, and gave me the courage to finish what I started.
Walking on that stage in a bikini was something I never thought I would do. Not because I disliked how I looked before, but because I never imagined I could develop the kind of confidence it required. I used to be a shy person who kept to myself. Fitness taught me how to stand tall, how to own my space, and how to believe in myself. That transformation was not just physical; it was deeply emotional and mental too.
Through fitness, I discovered that it is not only about appearances but about building trust with yourself. Every time I set a goal and reached it, I proved to myself that I was capable of more. I learned how to walk the talk. I learned how powerful it is to complete something you once only dreamed of.
Over time, fitness became more than just a part of my lifestyle. It became my best friend. It has been with me in every emotion and every season of my life. When I feel sad, I move my body. When I feel happy, I celebrate with a workout. When I feel angry, I release that energy at the gym. No matter what I go through, fitness is my outlet, my grounding place, and my reminder of strength.
As my journey evolved, so did my perspective. What once started as a goal to compete grew into something much bigger: health and longevity. A powerful shift happened when I learned about my family history with cancer.
Chand Baungally is a certified fitness coach with over 10 years of experience. She has has trained and supported 100s of people doing her career. She is now expanding her domain to include an online fitness business. In her free time, Chand enjoys peaceful moments with her dogs, self care and hiking in nature.
