Episode Details
Back to Episodes
She Was 77 Pounds and Lost Herself — Then She Became a 4-Time World Champion Powerlifter
Episode 128
Published 1 year, 1 month ago
Description
Meet Fatema Dhoondia — a four-time world amateur powerlifting champion, single mom, and absolute force of nature. Originally from Mumbai, Fatema moved to North Bay in 2022 and brought with her something fierce: unmatched resilience.
In this episode, we talk about how she went from 77lbs and struggling to find herself, to squatting over 313 lbs, coaching clients around the world, and raising a son who's her biggest fan. It’s about more than fitness — it’s mindset, motherhood, migration, and muscle.
This one will leave you inspired, fired up, and maybe ready to hit the gym.
00:00 – Cold open: Meet the “Mini Beast” from Mumbai
01:30 – Moving to Canada & Culture Shock in North Bay
05:00 – What It’s Like Starting Over in a Silent Winter
08:00 – Fatema’s Favorite Indian Dishes (and the local food hacks)
10:00 – How Her Fitness Journey Began at Rock Bottom
13:00 – From First Deadlift to World Championship
17:00 – The Real Power of Consistency (and Finding Your Why)
21:30 – Training Cycles, Nutrition & Coaching Clients Globally
27:00 – Stories That Stick: Coaching a 65-Year-Old Gym Newbie
30:00 – Balancing Work, Motherhood, and World-Class Lifts
35:00 – The First 100 Days in Canada: Advice for Newcomers
39:00 – Final Thoughts: Fill Your Cup, Then Overflow
In this episode, we talk about how she went from 77lbs and struggling to find herself, to squatting over 313 lbs, coaching clients around the world, and raising a son who's her biggest fan. It’s about more than fitness — it’s mindset, motherhood, migration, and muscle.
This one will leave you inspired, fired up, and maybe ready to hit the gym.
00:00 – Cold open: Meet the “Mini Beast” from Mumbai
01:30 – Moving to Canada & Culture Shock in North Bay
05:00 – What It’s Like Starting Over in a Silent Winter
08:00 – Fatema’s Favorite Indian Dishes (and the local food hacks)
10:00 – How Her Fitness Journey Began at Rock Bottom
13:00 – From First Deadlift to World Championship
17:00 – The Real Power of Consistency (and Finding Your Why)
21:30 – Training Cycles, Nutrition & Coaching Clients Globally
27:00 – Stories That Stick: Coaching a 65-Year-Old Gym Newbie
30:00 – Balancing Work, Motherhood, and World-Class Lifts
35:00 – The First 100 Days in Canada: Advice for Newcomers
39:00 – Final Thoughts: Fill Your Cup, Then Overflow