With his experience of more than 5+ years in fitness and nutrition, Dt. Rajat is a go-to name among athletes, sports persons, fitness enthusiasts and people looking to lose weight. He is affiliated with various fitness centres and gyms across West India where he works with the members as a nutrition and diet consultant and offers them written personalised workout consultation in accordance with their nutrition making him stand out among other practising nutritionists. 

Rajat is officially associated with the Rajasthan Police Academy and Rajasthan Royals Colts& Sparks as their consulting sports nutritionist. He also has credits to his name for working with seasoned IPL cricketers on their nutrition and fitness regime.

Where/How do you get your best ideas?

I get most of my ideas from my surroundings. It started from my family, seeing every person on the verge of obesity. Weddings are a great source of inspiration, followed by my clients as well. The hypocrisy of people is a good source of ideas when they turn a blind eye to food habits and wonder how to lose/gain weight. Above all, the greatest inspiration comes from my inner self.

What’s something they don’t teach you in University that you should probably know?

They give you first-hand knowledge of nutrition in theory, but no university or school can give you a practical side of things. Of how the world works and how things go with different people, their mindsets and their perspectives. Communication and listening skills are an important part of this field which is not inculcated in the students. That comes from within and the will to learn and go ahead in counselling.

First thing you do as soon as you wake up?

I pray to god and pay gratitude for giving me this life. I tell myself to become better, better than what I was yesterday. Then I do my stretching, a few steps, and yoga and finally my strength training. So it’s simple, something for my soul and something for my body.

What do you hope to see happen shortly for small businesses in the country?

Small businesses are bound to grow. Especially after the covid situation, people are focusing on minimising their cost on infrastructure, setups etc. Talking about the health and fitness industry, people who wanted to set up their workspaces can now directly work from home, without waiting to get funds for their own office/clinic. The same goes with every field, where physical presence is not necessary.

What was your biggest stroke of luck since the launch of your company (s)?

I don’t believe in luck as much as I do in hard work. But my turning point has to be when an IPS officer (I can’t name him) met me, had a trial session with me, and lost 16 Kgs. He introduced me to various bureaucrats, politicians, and I am glad now I can be of some help to them as well!

If you had one piece of advice to someone just starting out, what would it be?

I am still learning. I don’t think I am in a position to give any advice. But never leave your hard work and don’t let the success get into your head. no one is successful, you just have to keep going and keep learning. It’s a lifelong process.

What do you typically read?/ Favourite book?

A bunch of novels, mostly love stories. For the last few years, I am into business and nutrition articles. To be honest, for the last couple of years I am trying to read more articles and books from fields I don’t know about. Something other than my field of work. It gets very limiting to keep learning about only one field. I enjoy Dan Brown’s work and some Nicholas Sparks romances.

The best boss you had and what did you learn from them?

In 2015 I joined a gym, and after a year I pitched them the idea that I want to start something on my own. I hardly got any response from them and later they saw me as a competitor. I was far from being one. There were three owners at that time, and having even one of them at the inauguration of my clinic would have been a great support. None of them showed up. That really hurt, I expected better. A year after that, one of them called me up and asked me if I could handle some of their clients. That was one learning, whoever I would work with, I won’t let myself stop them from growing on their own. Because people want to be independent, and it would be great if I could help them be.

One thing you learned about yourself?

One major realisation, I am a very lazy person. I take my time with my decision and it has slowed down my progress, probably but I’m fine with it now. Everyone has their own pace, so do I. As far as I’m enjoying the process, I am fine with being slow.

How do you keep your team motivated & engaged?

If their priorities are sorted if they know what is it that they are here for and we help each other achieve our goals and move ahead in life… I don’t think there is a need for external motivation. Sure, there are some low days on which I just try to understand their point of view and help them get out of it.

How do you maintain work/life balance?

I think now that happens all by itself. You put the effort initially, but now responsibilities are showing up now and then, I don’t have to plan anymore. It just happens if the priorities are set right.

Tea/Coffee?

I like spending time with my family and all of them love tea. Probably more than me. So it’s tea when I’m with them, otherwise, I’m a coffee person.