I Gained 5 Pounds (2.3kgs)...and skinny culture had me feeling like a piece of shit about my body.

Until I stepped away from social media and reminded myself of who the fuck I really am.

I am no stranger to weight ups and downs. I've been north of 265lbs (120kgs) and south of 132lbs (60kgs).

So weight gain and body image issues are old frenemies.

I also believe staunchly that people have every right to use every tool available to help them regain control of their health. So no, I do not judge people who use GLP-1 medications to lose weight. The upside on cardiovascular health, among other things, is too significant to dismiss.

I am decidedly not talking about people using these medications to fuel their dysmorphia. Or the practitioners happily passing these meds around like candy, further fueling that dysmorphia and anxiety.

As someone who struggled very hard to lose an entire person off their body and keep the weight off - because Punjabi genes are no joke, especially when the weight loves to come back on the hips like a clingy koala bear - I know extremely well how real the struggle is.

Add to that perimenopause and the onslaught of expertise around how women like me "should" manage our bodies. You know: protein, weights, fiber, etc, etc.

I learned a long time ago that my weight manages itself when I learn to control my stress. No cortisol detoxes necessary. I also learned that expertise has its place.

But expertise that respects my wisdom and knowledge of my body is priceless.

This is why I help women connect with their own bodies in my practice. And as someone who has chronically and painfully been far ahead of "trends," I have been teaching women how to self-regulate, manage their lymphatic health, somatic health, and cellular health long before this became social media fodder for grifters.

Naturally, I lean into my own practices for myself.

Here's what the wellness-industrial complex won't tell you

Most of everything you see online is fabricated for views. You know this. Those celebrities hawking the virtues of magical anti-inflammatory programs are not going to tell you the reality of their struggle. They will sell you the highlights because they get paid to do it.

Nobody is going to get paid and tell you how shitty that program really is.

Influencers - and I don't hate them, truly - are also not going to tell you about the cosmetic work they get to keep up with the competition or to look "relatable." They have teams. Most of us are lucky if we manage to eat breakfast and slap on some lipstick most days.

You do not have cortisol belly. You do not need to worry about glucose spikes unless you are diabetic. Those vibration plates will not do jack shit for you unless you sit on them. Wink. Science is actually marvelous.

And you do not need to constantly optimize your health. You do not need to be a biohacking bro. You don't need to live like a wellness-obsessed psychopath hoarding devices, products, and supplements you don't need.

I see dysmorphia in my practice constantly. Varying degrees of it, but the extent is truly pervasive. I work with a lot of famous people and every day women. And women have never been spared the judgment of being too fat or too skinny or looking too old or, heaven forbid, looking human.

So I gained 5 pounds. I was hating the way my knees were looking. But I now live by this theory: if I die tomorrow, who the fuck will wear all my cute clothes?

Paayal Mahajan

So I wore the short dress. I threw on my ultra-cute tights and I had a blast putting patterns together to look hot as hell. At 44, I know when I look really good. I don't need external validation.

Weight, Body Image, and Maintaining Your Sanity

Weight, like everything else, will fluctuate. Some days you will love your body. Some days you will not.

But here are some things you can do to maintain your sanity and not spiral into self-loathing:

Stop following, watching, or consuming content by influencers, experts, and grifters who are constantly pointing out everything wrong with you. Even in the name of positive body image. Those fucking FUPA-busting videos? Exercise your right to ignore stupid content. Especially when it makes you feel shittier about yourself.

Remember that comparison is a con. You're comparing your reality to someone else's highlights reel, funded by sponsors, supported by teams, and often enhanced by procedures they'll never disclose. You're not competing on a level playing field, so stop treating it like one.

Stop trying to fix what isn't broken. You don't need to troubleshoot your body like it's a malfunctioning machine. Some of us are just trying to get through the day without spiraling, and that's enough.

Your Body Deserves Gratitude

As I sit here writing this and chomp down a gujiya, I want you to know: Your body is a gift. It really is capable of amazing things. And if you're not feeling that way, just think - you're reading this as you breathe, your heart pumping, your brain processing, your organs doing their thing.

The least your body deserves is a thank you for keeping you alive and mostly functional.

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Ready to reclaim sovereignty over your body and nervous system?

I work with high-performing women, public figures, founders, and executives, who are done with cookie-cutter wellness and ready for transformation that's real, lasting, and rooted in cellular intelligence.

The Paayal Mahajan Method™ is a full-spectrum recalibration system that re-patterns how your body responds to pressure, how your face reflects stress, and how your system holds energy, creating visible change in your skin, sleep quality, and leadership presence.

My practice spans New York, Mumbai, Dubai, and the French Riviera. I also offer my globally acclaimed Faceworkoutparty™ and the 101010 Transformation™ for women who want precision neurosomatic architecture without the burnout.

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