All the women out there, if you are reading this today, then you are in luck. Because today, you’ll come to know how to get rid of those harmful fats in your body, and whatever pain you have, too, will be gone by the time you hear this awe-inspiring story about the National-Award-Winning Powerlifting Champions Mother-Daughter Powerlifters Duo.
Neelam Jain is a professional teacher with a BCom, LLB, and a Diploma in Early Childhood Education. Today, she is also a ‘National Powerlifting Champion 2023, Gold Medallist,’ and ‘Strongwoman of Maharashtra 2024,’ award-winner.
However, there is an arduous journey behind her achievements. “Two years back, my mom, Neelam, was very ill. She could not even walk straight and kept falling now and then, and her hands started shaking. My family advised me to take her for Parkinson’s disorder tests. She used to walk daily for 10kms, but it seems that wasn’t helping her. Our general physician explained to me that only her legs are functioning while walking. It was that day in 2022 that I decided that we would both go to the gym. At the gym we followed crossfit training which included lifting weights and that is when she realised she has an aptitude for deadlift. Her very first deadlift was 70 kg, and she lifted it so naturally and with so much ease. Many struggled with even 70kgs, but for her, it was like a piece of cake. And it was that day that she fell in love with lifting,” recalls Nupur Jain, herself a Gold Medallist in Suburban Weightlifting Competition – Senior Category, 2024, a National Powerlifting Champion 2023, Bronze Medallist, a Certified Mediator from ILSCA, with a BLS/LL.B, LL.M (IPR), and an Executive MBA from IIM Calcutta. Currently, she is pursuing a Master’s Degree in Mediation and Conflict Resolution from MNLU Mumbai.
Together, We Can Powerlift the Mountains
Earlier, Neelam, the mother, never liked or wanted to go to the gym. “But she came because we had a pact to do all the activities together. She had come with me for one trial class and was forced to join because of me,” says Nupur, who, too, never liked picking up weights or heavy lifting. During Neelam’s personal training sessions, Neelam always told Jitendra Aher Sir (Jitu Sir, the trainer) that Nupur would not pick up more than 60kgs, “So, please don’t force her.” and Jeetu Sir never did. Nupur started going to competitions with her mom and Jeetu sir for moral support. “Of course, weightlifting and powerlifting are team games. I used to spend days with them, and then one day, I thought since I was there the entire day, I might as well play too. And then there was no turning back. I am not as good as my mom and will never be, but I am getting there. Mom and Jitu Sir inspired me to play and lift weights,” says Nupur.
Thus began the mother-daughter’s journey together in powerlifting. Now, they follow a strict regime. They plan their day around their workout. Their morning starts at 6 a.m., and the first thing they do is weigh themselves. “We are very particular about that. Mom has tea and plant protein, and I have whey protein,” informs Nupur. After that, it takes them around 30 minutes to pack their bags (which are huge) and water bottles for the gym. They carry almost 2.5 litres of water with ‘Electral’ and fast-up. They get done with training by 8:30 a.m., and then Neelam again has plant protein, and Nupur has fruit and whey protein. “And after this, our workday begins,” adds Nupur.
- They then have breakfast by 10 a.m., which is usually a high–protein meal like Millets or Sprouts with nuts.
- Lunch is a normal meal: salad, yoghurt, roti, vegetables, dal, and very little rice.
- By 4 p.m., they have fruits with muesli and Greek yoghurt.
- 5:30 p.m. is dinner – which again is millets or dosas of any kind or any low-calorie meal with veggies.
- 8:00 p.m. – fruits or Protein.
- They both have diaries in which they list their every meal and calorie intake. We have been doing that for almost six months now.
- Every day with Jitu Sir is a tough training day. He doesn’t believe in easy and chill days, says Nupur. “And especially with me and Mom – he won’t rest until we sweat. We always motivate each other and cheer for each other. On days that we have excess pain – we do rehab and icing together.”
Surmounting Adversities
Apart from all the physical challenges since the beginning, Neelam and Nupur faced different kinds of challenges. In fact, they still keep facing them. “We still hear many hater/disbeliever comments, but some of my all-time favourites are:”
- Your mother will break her back if she lifts so much weight.
- You will not be able to conceive if you lift so much weight.
- Your mother is weak and, at 59, will injure herself.
They have just stopped listening and responding now, says Nupur. There will always be haters/disbelievers, and it’s better not to answer them. “And with our routines, we don’t have time for negative comments. Most of our day goes into recovering from soreness and meal planning, profession and study that now we don’t have any interest in listening or responding to anyone.”
Other challenges—initially, recovery was slow, soreness would last more than a day, and building muscle and stamina was a tough journey. Adding fresh food, proteins, and four litres of water daily to their diet was a game changer.
An Ever-Evolving Relationship
It is all thanks to the way Neelam and Nupur’s relationship with lifting evolved. As Nupur puts it, “Weights cannot do without us, and we cannot do without them. They are an extension of us.”
They have gone from fighting and arguing 24*7 to BFFs for life. “My mom is my travel partner, workout partner, and much more. From training to meal prep, we do it all together. We have a very different bond, which has bloomed over the years. For me – when I am in trouble, I never think, ‘What will Mom say?’ I always think – ‘Mom will know how to solve it.’ It’s a bond I think every mother-daughter should have,” puts Nupur.
And then, there’s those awards. “For mom, it was when she won the Gold Medal in 125kg deadlift and 100kg squat. And for me, it was when me and mom lifted in the same weight category and she won the Gold Medal and I won the Bronze Medal,” informs Nupur. “Those were the defining moments of our lives.”
Today, both Neelam and Nupur have two different favourites in lifting and exercising. According to Nupur, weightlifting and powerlifting are two different games. She explains, “Weightlifting is clean and jerk + snatch, while powerlifting is deadlift, benchpress, and squats.”
While Neelam’s favourite lift is deadlift, for Nupur, it’s a combination of snatch, deadlift and squat. Similarly, in exercise, Neelam’s favourite is with dumbbells and barbells. In comparison, Nupur likes doing anything except cardio.
A Power-Packed Schedule
Nonetheless, other than any personal training sessions, they always train together no matter what. Their training regime was decided upon by Jitu sir. Their week usually looks like this:
Monday: focus on chest and shoulder.
Tuesday: focus on conventional deadlifts and squats.
Wednesday: cardio— we aren’t fond of cardio but Char Dham Yatra has made us understand the importance of Cardio.
Thursday: focus on sumo deadlift.
Friday: Crossfit and cardio
Hear, Hear! Here’s Their Message
In their advice to someone just starting their lifting journey, Neelam and Nupur caution that initially, your body will pain and be sore – don’t give up – eat well, eat fresh – have proteins- and keep hydrating. Be consistent and disciplined. “Our body is still sore for a few hours post-workout, but the soreness feels good now, and it is not lethargic. When you lift, you’re not just building muscle; you’re building:
- A strong work ethic.
- A resilient mind.
- A will to never give up.
The people who lift weights and exercise are happier than people who don’t. The endorphins released during a workout are a natural antidepressant. They also boost your mood and reduce stress. Exercise is the best medicine.
- Bicep curls will help you lift a gallon of milk when you’re older.
- Shrugs will help you carry groceries.
- Squatting will help you get up the stairs.
- Cardio will help you run around with your kids and grandkids.
- This is a long game; stay fit for life.
Ten side effects of lifting weights:
- More energy.
- Fixed posture.
- Uplifted mood.
- Mental strength.
- Stress reduction.
- Improved Health.
- High confidence.
- Increased strength.
- Better quality sleep.
- Good looking body.
Nupur adds, “Get to a point where your body craves exercise. No daily reminders or alarms are needed. Just an internal alarm that screams, ‘I need to move.’ When rest day becomes the hardest day, you’ve made it.”
Neelam says “Age is just a number both mentally and physically. Best example is PM Narendra Modi. His infinite energy, physical strength and mental alertness is a testament of a fit person.”
Trumping Stereotypes
Similarly, they say that over their lifting careers, they always faced stereotypes. Nupur recalls, “Six packs and bulges will make you look manly and muscular. You will have back pain, and childbirth for me will be difficult. We work out in an open gym on Dubashi ground, Vile Parle East, Mumbai. We work out in heat and rain. There is red sand on the ground. We were told we would not be able to withstand the rain every day – and we did. People told us we would have dust allergies by working out in red sand – and we still work out there. Our immune system has become stronger than ever. We prove them wrong every day by exercising.” She adds, “You, too, will face them. However, take them in a positive way, and everything will be fine.”
Nupur further informs that her mom, Neelam, is 59 today. They recently went on a Char Dham Yatra. She was able to walk and complete Yamunotri and partially Kedarnath, which in itself is an achievement.
Another factor is handling setbacks or injuries during the training. Nupur suggests: “Face setbacks head-on. Recovery exercises and rehab. Sleep and rest. Hydration and good fresh food.”
She also explains:
Champion mentality– Staying positive. Taking responsibility. Finding solutions. Admitting your fault and asking for feedback.
Versus…
Victim Mentality– Complains. Blames others. Makes excuses. They never think it’s their fault. Doesn’t want feedback.
“I know you will always choose a Champion’s mentality,” says Nupur. “To be successful at anything, you don’t have to be different. You must be what most people aren’t: Consistent.”
Adopting an Always Winning Mentality
Apart from powerlifting, the mother-daughter duo enjoys many other things together, like shopping, eating, meal-preparing, travelling, and playing sports—squash, swimming, and kickboxing.
Neelam says if she could weightlift with a world-renowned athlete, it would be Virat Kohli, the Indian Cricketer. For Nupur, it’s definitely Mirabai Chanu.
Recalling a funny incident that happened during their training session, Nupur says, “We are always gossiping during cardio days or warm-up, even after we are together the whole day. We both have a lot to discuss. I don’t know what we discussed so much now, but we do discuss, and Jeetu sir gets angry at us sometimes. Once, he shouted, “Geeta, Babita, chalo weight uthana hai (Geeta, Babita, come on, lift the weight).” It was very funny, as almost everybody present there laughed out loud.”
Neelam adds, “Another funny thing that happens is that I think mostly every week it happens; we do not know how much weight we lift. Initially, we thought it was 90 kilos and 100 kilos because it always felt like the weight in our hands. But by the time we’ve completed all our sets and repetitions, we realized that we had created our own personal record, and we have picked up 110 kilos, 120 kilos and 125 kilos. The assistant coach, Naresh Sir then tells us how much weight we have lifted. So, it’s kind of very funny, and along with motivating us, we find the whole scenario humorous.”
Life is a Fun-Filled Roller-Coaster Ride
In their advice to other aspiring mother-daughter weightlifters, Nupur says that if you lift weights, your muscles will be sore, and if you don’t, your whole body will hurt. So, you must choose which pain you want to bear for your lifetime. Because lifting pain will make you stronger for your life, while the other natural pain will make you weak. With exercising, you are building strength and muscle, and your body is becoming stronger than ever. It is also able to withstand many things which, without exercise and lifting weights, it cannot withstand. So that fear needs to go. Secondly, the bond of a mother and daughter evolves over some time. The mother needs to discipline the child, give them the right values, and teach them responsibility from 20 to 25. It’s more about getting them on track with life till 25. After that it becomes a relationship that you have with your best friend. “And that is something I have with my mother right now. We are best friends. To people, we look like sisters, which is a huge compliment. Because my 59-year-old mother looks young. I don’t think I would have asked for more or better.”
Brining Glory for India and Indians
Divulging their future goals, Nupur says both of them would love to play on an international level and fetch medals for India. “And my mom has this goal of inspiring other women in their 40s, 50s and 60s that it’s not difficult.” It’s not impossible. Just do it for your better health and quality of life.
Finally, both Neelam and Nupur are excited about two upcoming international competitions: one in Thailand and one in Ahmedabad in early 2025. “We both are participating and will surely fetch some medals for our country and make it and us proud,” concludes Nupur.
Women World India wishes all the best to the Award-Winning Mother-Daughter duo of Neelam Jain and Nupur Jain.
*Donning the Black Suit- Nupur Jain started her career as a lawyer in 2018 after graduating from Mumbai’s Rizvi Law College. To broaden her knowledge, she taught visiting faculty in environmental law at Government Law College while pursuing an LL.M. in intellectual property rights from the University of Mumbai. While continuing her studies, Nupur Jain decided to advance her understanding and abilities by enrolling in the prestigious IIM Calcutta’s Executive program in Business and Corporate Laws. Her quest for greatness, nonetheless, did not stop there. She studied for the Union Public Services Examination out of desire, which broadened her perspective even if she ultimately chose to concentrate on her legal profession.
Nupur Jain also finished a mediation course from the Indian Law Society’s Centre for Arbitration and Mediation (ILSCA), acknowledging the changing nature of dispute resolution. This extra certification is evidence of her commitment to developing her mediation abilities, a subject she is deeply interested in and actively contributes her knowledge to.
Nupur Jain, the Legal Head of a Private Limited Company and an Independent Advocate, focused on mediation to resolve disputes. She is currently enrolled in Maharashtra National Law University in Mumbai to pursue a master’s degree in mediation and conflict resolution. She hopes to continue teaching at universities and work for her Ph.D. in law to help educate the future generation of legal scholars. Her goal is to lead the way in enacting laws that will make mediation legally enforceable and desirable means of resolving disputes.
**Hall of Fame**
Awards Won by Neelam Jain –
- Amateur Powerlifting Association Suburban Mumbai – Gold Medal.
- United Powerlifting – Gold Medal. (National Champion)
- State Powerlifting – Gold Medal.
- Strong Woman of Maharashtra.
- National Powerlifting – Gold Medal.
- West India Powerlifting – Gold Medal.
Award Won by Nupur Jain –
- Featured in Forbes USA and Europe.
- Featured in NY Weekly Magazine 40 under 40.
- Lex Falcon Global Awards 2023 for Legal Rising.
- Rising Leaders Award 2023 for Inspiring Youth Enterprise Award – Law.
- Woman Leaders Forum 2023 for Outstanding Legal Service Provider and Entrepreneur of the Year.
- Woman Pride Award 2023.
- Best youngest Advocate of the Year 2023 by Diva Planet Magazine – Asia’s Top 100 influential women award 2023.
- India Star Community Awards.
- Title of 100 India Inspiring Women 2023 and 2024 by Fox Story India.
- To be featured in Wall Street times and Disruptors Magazine.
***About Our Coach Jitendra Aher –
National Champion in Powerlifting (multiple times), Strongman of Maharashtra (Masters Category), Kabaddi Champion. Fitness expert and Maker of Champions. Believes in the unique mixture of HIIT, crossfit, powerlifting and weightlifting. He is an advocate for exercising in the open.
