Yashesh Shethia was at a crossroads in 2015, successful on the outside but falling apart on the inside. Years of high stress, unpredictable schedules, bad lifestyle and choices and excessive eating had finally caught up with him. He lived in Mumbai and was always on the move, shuttling between late-night flights, client meetings and parties that practically ran around food. Underneath the line of success, his health was faltering. Living with diabetes since the age of 17, he was at war with severe neuropathy in both his feet, and no matter what he did, his blood sugar level never seemed to drop.
“I was living a very dangerous life,” Yashesh says. “I didn’t listen to any of the stop signs my body put up,” he said, “sleepless nights, not recovering and working all day. I was burning both ends of the candle, presuming everything will be O.K.”
The wake-up call was the doctor looking him in the eye one day and saying, “You either fix yourself or get your will in order.” It was a moment of reckoning. He was shaken into action by that frank statement. With his wife by his side, Yashesh realized he needed to find himself again — one deliberate step at a time.
The Turning Point
The first thing he had to do was the hardest — he had to change his relationship with food. “I was a guy who’d eat two cheese garlic naans without even thinking,” he admits. “Except then I started asking myself — what is this meal doing to my body?” That curiosity evolved into education. He educated himself in nutrition, macros and the power of food to either heal or hurt. He traded in indulgence for intention — adopting a diet with plenty of protein and fibre and doing away with processed, refined foods.
"I haven’t eaten a normal, wheat or processed flour paratha or pizza in years — and I don’t miss it. Your body adapts if you give it enough time", he says.
Also Read: What you eat shapes how you feel: Here's how to decode the food-mood connection
The changes didn’t stop at diet. Yashesh started exercising regularly, beginning with walking and cycling until this marketing professional with over three decades of experience in branding, events, and experiential storytelling found his calling in the ancient art of Gada (Mace) Swinging — an age-old Indian tool for strength training. In the last three years he has finished more than 2.5 million swings, which says something about his dedication and persistence.
He has now turned what started off as a form of exercise into a philosophy — one predicated on balance, discipline and mindfulness. “I would be afraid to go up on steps. Now I can workout for hours without getting tired,” he says proudly. “The small wins are what keep you going.
Mind Over Matter
He found that his body slowly started to become stronger, he can work out for a couple of hours every day, between training his students and then his own workout.
Yashesh came to understand that the real transformation was internal — about taking responsibility and being resilient. “One, it is not only about health,” he said. “It’s being confident in your choices — in relationships, at work and life. The buck stops with me.”
His wife, friends and doctors have been his main support system throughout the change. Their encouragement was what kept him centered and driven, demonstrating that no transformation journey is ever a one-man show.
Yashesh, now in his mid-50s, says he feels healthier and more youthful now than when he was in his 20s. He has lost over 50 kilos and cut his insulin by 80%. “I would wake in the morning feeling tired and anxious,” he writes. “Now, I wake up strong, peaceful and prepared.”
The 10-Point Plan for a Healthier, Happier life
Yashesh boiled down his transformation into a 10-point plan — the road map that any other person can use to reassert control over their health:
- Eat right. Eat less. Mindful eating trumps any fad diet.
- Move more. Exercise is medicine — find something you like to do.
- There are no shortcuts. Sustainable change takes time.
- Understand your limitations. Trust your body — push, but don’t punish.
- Regular health check-ups are critical. Precaution is better than cure.
- Inform your doctors. Medical guidance is essential to long-term safety.
- Don’t believe everything online. Look for good advice, not viral fads.
- Relearn, reset, re-evaluate. Growth is a lifelong process.
- Acknowledge that you’re a work in progress. Always there is the daily opportunity for improvement.
- Be disciplined. Success is the product of doing things consistently.
The difference is that now Yashesh works out as if his life depends on it. It is a journey about finding yourself, your will to survive and one person’s capacity for change. He’s living proof that you can rewrite your story no matter how old, or much past, you may be.
Also Read: Healing Space | How to stop consuming stress along with your food
“I’m a work in progress,” he says, smiling. "But that’s the fun part — you keep learning, growing and getting stronger", he adds.
His transformation — from chaos to control — is a testimony of hope for any who want to reclaim their health, and life, one mindful decision at a time. He has also written a book titled ‘Why I’d Rather Be a Warrior Than a Weightlifter!’ that is an honest reflection on resilience, transformation, and finding power when the odds are stacked against you.
Disclaimer: This article, including health and fitness advice, only provides generic information. Don’t treat it as a substitute for qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist for specific health diagnosis.
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