Pradnya Padhye - Balcal Nutrefy, Hiranandani Estate

Diabetes Program Review

Objective of Article: This article is a review of Diabetes Management Program offered by Nutrition / Diet Expert Ms. Pradnya Padhye of Balcal Nutrefy.

My Goal: I had kept goal of bringing HBA1C to the range of 5.6/5.7 from 8.5 and get rid of diabetes tablets while maintaining body weight and BMI in healthy range.

Program Review: Firstly, Ms. Pradnya explained the science of diabetes, role of insulin, how body reacts to various scenarios of food intakes, etc. This has helped me to understand the basic concept of blood sugar management.

Initial program phase was designed to identify how my body reacts to various food items including carbohydrates, proteins, fibre and their ratio in my diet. This phase was very crucial as each individual is unique and diet has to be designed to suit the need.

After initial phase, Ms. Pradnya designed appropriate diet for me which was balanced in nature, consisting of carbohydrates, proteins and fibres in right ratio, supplemented by right physical exercise.

Result of Program: At the end of program, my HBA1C has come to 5.7 within 6 to 8 months timeline. My doctor has even stopped diabetes tablets since last 3-4 months and I am able to maintain my HBA1C at 5.7 just by following diet designed by Ms. Pradnya.

Weekly counselling sessions were conducted by Ms. Pradnya and Ms. Tanvi to discuss how my sugar levels varied according to variation of food items in my diet. It gave me insights on my body managing sugar levels and boost my confidence about managing diabetes henceforth.

My Observations: It is like there is no single master key to open all types of locks, there is no single diet plan to manage diabetes in all individuals. It is up to diet specialist to identify what suits well for an individual. Ms. Pradnya has this expertise very well. She quickly understands this part in initial phase of program and adjust diet plan accordingly.

Secondly, her focus is not to stop particular nutrient such as carbohydrates altogether to manage sugar levels because when you deprive body from something, it creates psychological want and such diet doesn’t sustain in long term. Instead, Ms. Pradnya creates right balance of all essential nutrients in diet so that at any point of time person doesn’t feel like starving for some food items.

And third important point is encouraging individual to stay on track to achieve goal. It is not that once she gives diet plan her part is over. She monitors sugar levels throughout the week and then discusses findings during weekly session.

These points make program very unique in my opinion.

Acknowledgment: I thank both Ms. Pradnya and Ms. Tanvi of Balcal Nutrefy for helping me achieving my goal of managing diabetes without medication.

I was planning to run the Tata Mumbai Full Marathon in January 2023. I have been relatively active and fit . My marathon journey started in 2012 and I graduated to full marathons in 2016.

Although I kept improving, during each of my marathons I had issues with cramping . Somewhere my nutrition was not proper and I could sense that . Hence upon a recommendation of a close friend who also had taken consultation from Pradnya, I decided to see them .

They promptly fixed and appointment and gave a reminder. Upon payment of the initial fees , I saw Pradnya and Mrudulla who was assigned as my mentor. The wait to meet was barely anything. The first meeting was productive . They listened to me and asked pertinent questions to know what I needed . I simply told them to help me with a diet plan which I could sustain to lead a healthy lifestyle and something which my family could manage without inconvenience.

They carefully noted my needs and then talked about what I required. I quickly realised that despite being lean and seemingly thinking I was fit , there was so much in my body which was wrongfully going in . Fuelling the body is so important I had read but their talks came as a powerful reinforcement. One thing she mentioned was that small things lead to a big change . One such example was starting the pre workout meal of banana or peanut butter bread or likewise .. this change boosted my energy levels very high . Almost all my practice runs after the pre workout meal helped me with sustained levels of energy and immediately showed on my performance. I just couldn’t believe that such a small change could make such a huge difference.

They carefully guided me on how to intake my protein, carbs and fibre and helped me with the ratio . Being a vegetarian and an athlete, their guidance with various alternative protein sources were a boon . Although now a days much knowledge is available in the open domain , when someone customises this for your needs it’s a whole different thing . Over the next few weeks , I saw a change in my levels of alertness, agility and performance.

One thing very special about the team is that they remain fully invested in you . They give their 110% . Phone calls happen weekly for updates and those supposed to last for 20 mins invariably end up crossing half an hour . Besides this they make a watsapp group with Pradnya and Mrudulla both and keep answering any doubts or questions. Whenever you give any updates they’re more than encouraging pushing you to go even further and stick to the plan .

Another big thing that happened is that my blood haemoglobin levels shot from 12.5( borderline for donating blood ) to 13.9 . I was smiling when I saw this as I prefer donating blood every 3 months and now I won’t have fear of rejection due to low count . It was only the diet which accentuated the HB levels . I followed their advice almost 85-90% and results were miraculous.

For anyone who’s planning to take consultation from the Balcal team I recommend you be as invested as them and then see magical results. They offer very good advice and are not commercia or time conscious . I would go and visit them again if needed and shall recommend the team to all my runner friends and others . It’s a small investment for insuring and insulating your health.

Hi I’m Sonu Sahani; I lead a normal active life of a housewife;I was careful about my exercise, eating habits n the like; I was putting on weight in spite of my active lifestyle, which was worrying; In the course of my exercise class at Joints n Motion, I kept on hearing the name of Dr Pradnya n how she was instrumental in shaping many of our members health n weight issues; These people were right in front of me: part of my daily life; I decided to visit her; was a bit apprehensive initially as I had heard tales of how some nutritionists change the entire diet n introduce new fads; I was completely wrong;Dr Padhye sat me down n first explained about weight, fats, n the body n areas it affects; I was put at ease; I was in my menopausal age n perfectly understood the fact that the metabolism slows down;I wasn’t overambitious of going back to the weight of my 30 year old self; this was explained to me very well by the Dr.I took a sesdion of 3 months first; I was completely at ease since the diet plan wasn’t something that required too much planning, it was the daily Indian food but tweaked a bit; ;I felt the difference in 3 months n later decided to extend it by another 3 months; I religiously followed the diet, exercised regularly; n felt lighter n more active;I needed to eat the right things at the right time which Dr Pradnya initiated;I yet follow the pattern of healthy eating along with exercises;I’ve got back into my old trousers; I am maintaining my weight between 56-57 kgs n keep fit; Dr Pradnya is always there at a phone call when I need n happily keep on recommending her; My only advice to all is - Follow her diligently n U will feel n see the difference!

I consulted Balcal Nutrefy in February 2022. I am a 21 year old who was dealing with PCOS because of which I gained a lot of weight. I tried every diet out there, spent my money on expensive nutritionists only to get disappointed every time.

After reading Dr. Pradnya’s review on google, I got a good vibe and thought that this could be the one last chance that I can give to myself. I continued to take the 3 months plan from her for weight loss.

In the first meet itself, she very beautifully and supportively explained me my issues and also how the diet was going to work for my body. She showed me the flow charts of certain concepts so that I can understand them better. It was definitely a good start.

She appointment Niviedi Mam for my regular assistance who was undoubtedly super friendly and always made sure that there was transparency between us, even if couldn’t follow the diet properly. Nivedi Mam made sure to consult me and take into consideration my choices before giving me a new plan.

If you choose to take a plan with them, your diet plans will get updated weekly accordingly to your progress and that will always make you look forward towards the new week and it surely doesn’t make it monotonous to follow.

Within 3 months I went from 75 to 67 which was a lot more than I expected including all the hurdles and problems that I faced.

I would definitely 100% recommend Balcal Nutrefy to anyone who is looking for that little push to go ahead and get onto healthy habits and be fit.

A big thank you to Dr. Pradnya and Nivedi Mam to make this possible!!

About five years ago I inherited diabetes from my maternal side. In due course I had to have regular exercise, a measured diet, and adequate sleep to keep my errant sugar levels under check. However, during the lockdown months, I saw my mental resolve dwindle. Consequently, my sugar levels and my weight rose alarmingly. A point came when I had to take professional help to address these pressing issues.

My husband, Sandeep, had consulted Pradnya Padhye five years ago when he ran the Ladakh marathon. The brilliant nutritionist that she is, ensured that my husband lost weight without compromising on his nutrition needs. So, a visit to Pradnya beckoned.

In today’s electronic age, the onboarding process at Balcal Nutrefy was seamless and completely online. Pradnya and her talented colleague, Nrutika, took the bull by the horns (!). On my part, I submitted completely to them. Not once during the four months that they counselled me did I feel hungry or drained out. Simple lifestyle modifications and practical eating habits ensured that I was satiated and getting a nutritious diet.

Their weekly calls enabled a regular frank discussion about food choices. Both Pradnya and Nrutika explained the scientific reasons behind starting or stopping certain kinds of foods. Both the ladies possess excellent communication skills, and this makes it easy for anyone to understand the science behind eating. And yes…. they do allow the occasional feast day! I have understood that dieting is not starving or denying yourself the sensory pleasure of eating. It is eating right and not succumbing to the dictates of your tongue too often.

Balcal Nutrefy has an Accountability Journal (diary) on their well-designed app. This is a marvellous concept as subconsciously one always knows that Pradnya and Nrutika are watching what you eat. They chide you if you are inconsistent or untruthful in your reporting. This has worked wonderfully for me.

I wish the Pradnya and the entire team of Balcal Nutrefy the very best. 

Vidula Oke

My weight loss journey started with a health scare I am asthamatic and had major slip disc some years ago,so any weight gain puts me in trouble.I was 20 kgs overweight wen i started seeking guidance frm Pradnya coz i was detected with multiple health issues and deficiencies.Pradnya won me over with her calm demeanour( m a ball of nervous energy).she went into great detail about how my body works thinks and does things. I had tried lossing weight some 2 yrs ago where i ended up horribly wreacking myself up with bad hair loss and palpatations..and this is all from mindless dieting and copying some one elses diet(she was a diabetic).\nPradnya always coxed me into taking up some form of exercise( i hate tht word and m a lazy bum).listening to her abt her running,motivated me enough to take up running and today i run for 10 kms..and m still working on it but i enjoy it so much that i would not trade it for anything else. Weight loss came as a side effect of me eating well,on time and exercising..basically leading a healthier life than i was.I have now starting taking n enjoying my bowl of fruits.Sipping in on water(i was always a shy drinker).My weight loss journey is not just cleansing of my body but of my mind as well.I ended up losing 20 kgs of my body weight,now my body age corresponds to my actual age..yay!! and i m as active as anyone can be.M in a very happy state of mind and intent to keep it this way always.Much gratitude to the awesum threesome(Pradnya,Mridula,Manick). For who ever reads this and gets a little motivated \n\"Start where you are,\nUse what you have\nBe what you can.\

I am truly grateful to my dieticians, Ms. Pradnya Padhye and Ms. Nivedi Chavan, for their guidance and support on my health journey. Before consulting them, I was under the impression that “diet” meant eating something fancy in fixed portions at strictly defined intervals – something I thought would be very difficult to manage as a working woman. However, they completely changed my perspective. They aligned the diet plans with my existing eating habits, kept multiple options open for me, and even allowed festive indulgence, which made the whole process sustainable.

I first decided to consult them after being diagnosed with grade-1 fatty liver and also experiencing excessive weight gain during last 2-3 years. They patiently explained the concepts of a healthy diet, portion control, and balance in a way that was simple and easy to follow.

With their manageable diet plans, I not only lost 8 Kgs in 6 months, but also saw remarkable improvements in my overall health. My menstruation-related issues, digestion problems reduced, my sleep quality improved, and over a period of 6 months, my body age reduced by 7 years!

The weekly follow-up calls played a key role in keeping me on track and motivated. Through this journey, I realized that diet is just as important as exercise in maintaining a healthy body composition.

Thanks to Pradnya and Nivedi, I now feel healthier, more energetic, and more confident. I would highly recommend them to anyone looking for sustainable and effective diet guidance.

I had reached out to BalCal in early 2023 when I wanted to lose weight. At that point I weighed more than I had ever done before and I wanted to get back to a fit physical state. I was just recovering from a surgey and was not in the best mental state. Little did I realise the impact that a helathy, balanced, nutritious diet would have not just on my weight management and energy levels, but also in my disposition. I felt lighter and more positive looking forward to healthy food everyday. This was certainly not what one would expect out of a diet protocol :)

BalCal worked with me in order to incorporate my regular food into meal plans that are healthy. As such, I did not see any major omissions of food that I love from my diet so it was very easy to follow it. And when I would see my weight drop on the scale while eating tasty food all the while without being deprived, it did not feel like a diet program but as something that I was consciously doing to achieve good health and fitness. One myth they have successfully busted for me is that healthy food cannot be tasty.

Last but not the least, I would not have been able to achieve my weight loss without the constant support of Pradnya and my mentor Aasavaree. Pradnya for her science and life skills powered motivation, and Aasavaree for her gentle (and at times firm :)) coaxing weekly reviews and pep talks. A diet plan is important, but without the support of the people at BalCal I would not have been able to achieve what I did. Today I feel confident about my food and nutrition choices because of BalCal. And like I tell Pradnya, the CPF ratio is something that I won’t forget ever. Thank you BalCal for everything.

* Appreciation Note for My Nutrition Mentors **

I feel truly blessed to have found the right guidance on my fitness journey with BalCal. Under the mentorship of Mridula, I’ve not only achieved significant fat and inch loss but also reached a weight milestone I never thought possible. My weight had never gone below 59 kg, but with BalCal I started losing 1 kg a month consistently. More importantly, as a marathon runner, my TMM 21 km timing improved tremendously thanks to the nutrition plan given by Mridula. *****

A big thank you also goes to Pradnya, whose very first consultation opened my eyes to the importance of understanding the CPF balance in my meals. What I loved most is how she and Mridula even prepare us with special guidelines for days when we are travelling or socialising – so the plan fits seamlessly into real life.

I was first introduced to Pradnya( Balcal) by my runner friend Rajashree Panchal, and the key person behind introducing BalCal to Rajashree is Archana Mantri. My running group, Xtreme Runners, noticed a visible difference in my training performance and appearance in just three months of following BalCal. In fact, many of them have now joined too, and we even gifted a 3-month BalCal plan to a fellow runner on his 50th birthday – that’s how much we vouch for it!

For me, this is not just a short-term diet; it’s a lifestyle I can continue forever. I’m truly grateful to Mridula & Pradnya for being my guiding lights in this journey – mentors I can trust for life* **

Our food habits took a toll during the second Covid-19 wave. The effect of unplanned and unhealthy dining was evident from our indolent attitude and imminent health problems. At that time, we decided to control our eating habits and develop a healthy lifestyle. However, we were completely lost in the absence of proper guidance. At that time, we found the information of Pradnya Padhye from Practo during a web search. Her glowing reviews have prompted us to schedule an initial online meeting with her. We thought the dietician was going to put us through a tough food regime, but Pradnya busted the myth in the first session. She patiently gauged our current food habits and prescribed an easy-to-follow food schedule for a week. She has also nicely explained the logic behind her suggestion that has allowed us to be on the same page from day 1. We have followed her advice for the next three months, and we can clearly see the changes in ourselves as our vitals reverted into the safe and healthy zone. Our body composition improved significantly during the period as we continued to feel rejuvenated. The best thing we like about Pradnya's process is that she eases us into new food habits according to our lifestyle and daily schedules. So we have never felt pressured to adapt to a new system. Additionally, her flexible food plans work as a gem as we slowly move towards an auto-pilot mode. Pradnya and her team (Tanvi) are always a phone call (and WhatsApp message away) as they continue to monitor our progress during the past three months. Pradnya has an amazing personality as she can be approached with ease without any prejudice. We have been surely benefited from Pradnya's suggestions, and we thank her for setting us up on the right course.