Episode 185 - How an Epilepsy Diagnosis Didn't Hold Aditya Back from Triathlon

How an Epilepsy Diagnosis Didn't Hold Aditya Back from Triathlon

 

Think your challenges are holding you back from triathlon? 

Meet Aditya Mehta from Mumbai, India, a 35 year old endurance athlete who was diagnosed with epilepsy at the age of 4. Despite being told that swimming was too dangerous a risk for him with seizures, he learned how to swim freestyle at 32 years old. 

He has since gone on to complete triathlons worldwide. 

His story isn't just inspiring – it's a masterclass in turning limitations into stepping stones for success. And it all started with watching a half marathon in Mumbai.

Links:

Aditya Mehta Instagram

Check how well you’re doing when it comes to your nutrition with our 50 Step Checklist to Triathlon Nutrition Mastery

Start working on your nutrition now with my Triathlon Nutrition Kickstart course 

It’s for you if you’re a triathlete and you feel like you’ve got your training under control and you’re ready to layer in your nutrition. It's your warmup on the path to becoming a SUPERCHARGED triathlete – woohoo!

Connect with me: 

To learn more about the Triathlon Nutrition Academy, head HERE | dietitianapproved.com/academy

See behind-the-scenes action on Instagram: @dietitian.approved

Follow along on Facebook: @DietitianApproved

Join our FREE Dietitian Approved Crew Facebook group

Enjoying the podcast?

Let me know what you loved about it and what you learnt by tagging me @dietitian.approved on Instagram!

Episode Transcription

Episode 185: How an Epilepsy Diagnosis Didn't Hold Aditya Back from Triathlon

Welcome to the Triathlon Nutrition Academy podcast. The show designed to serve you up evidence-based sports nutrition advice from the experts. Hi, I'm your host Taryn, Accredited Practicing Dietitian, Advanced Sports Dietitian and founder of Dietitian Approved. Listen as I break down the latest evidence to give you practical, easy-to-digest strategies to train hard, recover faster and perform at your best. You have so much potential, and I want to help you unlock that with the power of nutrition. Let's get into it.

[00:00:00] Taryn: Today's guest is somebody whose story is nothing short of extraordinary. AIA Metta from Mumbai, India, is a 30 5-year-old endurance athlete who has overcome some pretty big obstacles. Most of us could never imagine being diagnosed with epilepsy at the age of four. A DTR has battled seizures, injuries, and even a coma at age seven, but none of that has stopped him.

[00:00:45] He took up running in 2015 inspired by the annual Standard Chartered half marathon in Mumbai and since then has completed multiple 10-kilometre races, half marathons, four full marathons, and even a 50 K Ultra. In 2019, he added cycling to his repertoire, and then, despite being told that swimming was too dangerous a risk for him with seizures, he took the plunge literally and learned to swim freestyle in 2022 at age 32. Since then, he's completed six triathlons across Sprint, Olympic and half Ironman distances. 

[00:01:22] Most recently, he was also a key organiser of a Citywide Run event held on March 23rd to raise awareness for epilepsy and challenge the stigma that still exists in India.

[00:01:33] And to top it all off, he joined the Triathlon Nutrition Academy back in January this year to further level up his performance. Adia, welcome to the podcast. It's an absolute honour to have you here.

[00:01:44] Aditya: Thanks a lot, Taryn, and I'm glad to have this opportunity to be here and talk to you.

[00:01:51] Taryn: Yes, I'm very excited. So to kick us off, what actually inspired you to start running back in 2015?  

[00:02:00] Aditya: Well, I was always into endurance sports, so I used to play lawn tennis in my school days. So I played lawn tennis for almost seven to eight years, and I also played for my school team. So, endurance was something I always enjoyed. Running, I used to just watch uh, there's this marathon happening in Bombay, which is known as the Standard Chartered Mumbai Marathon.

[00:02:25] It was called SCMM. So at that point in 2015, I only used to do gym and yoga, so I stayed near the beachside. So I found there's a class happening on the beach. And the first day, very first day, I went up to my running coach and I told him, I have never run in my life, but I want to do this, and this event is in four months and I'm ready to do whatever was required for it.

[00:02:52] So that's how the journey started. And yeah, since then I have really been fascinated by running and I really enjoy running. 

[00:03:01] Taryn: And then did you ever imagine that that would then lead to triathlon when you started?

[00:03:06] Aditya: No, no, not, not at all, because it was only running at that point of time. And after doing the first half marathon in 2016, January, I did a spree of running events. Like in the very first year, I did maybe nine or 10 running events, and I was just enjoying running. But there happened to be about two or three people in that group where I used to train, who were triathletes, so I did know of the sport. I knew what the sport compiled of, but I always thought, you know, I'm doing running right now. I'm enjoying it. So I was focusing more on that and I thought, okay, maybe sometime in the future I might consider doing, but I never really planned that. Okay, I want to do it in so and so time, or it was a very gradual transition. 

[00:03:57] Taryn: Adding the cycling in and then adding the swimming. [00:04:00] So swimming is generally considered off-limits with, for people with epilepsy just because of the risk. If you have a seizure in the water, you know, you ha have a risk of drowning. What made you go, I wanna do this, let's do it. And then what was the learning process like to learn how to swim?

[00:04:17] How did you go about doing that?

[00:04:19] Aditya: So I think one of the keywords you mentioned there is off limits. So I think limits are set in our minds and if you remove limits from your mind, then anything is possible. So, yes, as of being someone with epilepsy there are two things which you're advised not to do, which is swimming and driving, because it can cause seizures and you can lead to accidents or drowning.

[00:04:46] And I did not have the opportunity to swim like most kids do during my school days. So taking it up as a sport was a challenge, but. I've always believed in life that, you know, whatever our weaknesses are, we can actually convert them to our strengths. So that's what I've always been focusing on, be it in sports for swimming or even in other aspects of my life.

[00:05:11] So I always believed that and I stand by that. And yeah, most importantly, being someone with epilepsy, you have to keep everyone around you informed, whether it your family or your friends, and. Even my swimming coach, or even my doctors. So I always kept them informed and in the loop about what I'm doing and how it is and the safety aspects and all of that.

[00:05:35] So it was always done under the guidance and support of everyone around me. 

[00:05:40] Taryn: And I dunno about you, but if I'm told that I can't do something or I'm not allowed to do something, it just makes me wanna do it more.

[00:05:46] Aditya: So the very first time I swam, I mean, swimming 25 meters also was 15 meters in freestyle also was a challenge. And I think how much swimming as a sport has taught me, like the importance of [00:06:00] breathing. Like, yes, in running and cycling, it is also important. But in swimming, if you don't breathe properly for even a few seconds, anything can change.

[00:06:10] So the breathing is very important in swimming. So that's what I've learned. And now, from like swimming 15 meters, about three years back, did a five-kilometre ocean swim last

[00:06:21] Taryn: Wow.

[00:06:21] Aditya: in February. In February in open water. So, I feel like I've come a long way in the last three years.

[00:06:29] Yeah.

[00:06:29] Taryn: Yeah. Good on you. That is huge.

[00:06:31] Aditya: Like I mentioned earlier, it was never something I had really planned or something. It was just something that happened in a gradual phase. Like I took up cycling after running, and then I took up swimming with the intention to do triathlons. So one of the main reasons, of course, why I do this is also to inspire a lot of people, especially people with epilepsy feel that exercising is not good, or exercising may cause more harm than good my intention is to motivate people and inspire people, you know, that. You can do this. there are ways to do this. So if you take it step by step and begin today, then tomorrow or after one month or after one year, you can progress to some level. Like the kind of progress I have achieved in the last 10 years is because of the consistency and I have been at it.

[00:07:27] But I think doesn't really stop here. I, I plan to continue on taking on bigger challenges and doing more. And yeah, this is just a beginning, you can say, and there's a lot more to achieve and a lot more to do. 

[00:07:42] Taryn: Congratulations. It's amazing. Is there anything negative or anything bad that's happened in a race? Have you got any stories or, or things that you can share that, of anything that has happened or have, is it all been smooth sailing?

[00:07:56] Aditya: I mean, my very first 70.3 [00:08:00] was here in India in Goa. And conditions in Goa are very uh, humid and hot. So by the time we were running it was around 37, 38 degrees Celsius.

[00:08:12] And the roads were flat, concrete roads, and there was no shade. And it was also a hilly route, sort of.

[00:08:21] So yeah, in the last I think two or three kilometres I ended up getting some cramps. while running and towards the end of the finish line, I was kind of, cramping and tired. Yeah, there have been technical glitches, but no injuries or something

[00:08:39] like sometimes, sometimes my bike computer has fallen off.

[00:08:43] Or the,

[00:08:43] Taryn: Don't you hate 

[00:08:44] Aditya: boil cage has fallen off. And yeah, sometimes I've ended up running a longer distance. So yeah, those things have been there. But I mean, touch wood's been smooth sailing so far. Yeah,

[00:08:56] Taryn: Oh, we've all suffered from those things. Losing your nutrition off your bike. It's the only bottle that you've got. All those sorts of things.

[00:09:03] Aditya: Yeah. Or the chain slipping during cycling and, 

[00:09:08] Taryn: One time I tried to do a flying mount and lost my shoe, and so the time that I was trying to save by mounting, I was completely lost by having to stop and go back and get a shoe. We've all been there.

[00:09:19] Aditya: I've seen the videos of how it's done, but I mean, in a city like Bombay, it's difficult to practice that, we don't have the luxury of that kind of space, 

[00:09:29] Taryn: I can imagine.

[00:09:31] Aditya: Yeah.

[00:09:31] Taryn: So what made you wanna join the Triathlon Nutrition Academy program and learn about nutrition earlier this year?

[00:09:39] Aditya: Well, I was always following your podcast, and I think I heard about you on another podcast. I think maybe try it out or somewhere else. And then I started following your podcast and I found it very informative and each topic was very well covered. I mean, over the years I have tried. A lot of nutritionist in India.

[00:10:00] But the difference is that I feel a triathlon is actually a fairly new sport in, in India. It's uh, you can say only about five or six years old. It's not that old as other countries like Australia and US and

[00:10:15] all. So not many people really understand a triathlon as a sport, what the requirements are and what goes into it, because it's not only like.

[00:10:26] Okay, you're running, it's running, cycling, swimming, recovery, all of that combined together. So how to club it together and get the right kind of, food before nutrients before you work out, after you work out, or the night before you workout. So I think those things are very important and in my last nine to 10 years of experience, I haven't really.

[00:10:50] Come across anyone who has that kind of knowledge and expertise. So that's my reason of joining the Triathlon Nutrition Academy. 

[00:11:00] I think we connected last year as well. and then I thought, okay, this year I will take the leap forward and join you and join the whole cohort from all across the globe.

[00:11:11] And yeah, grow from here and transform to another level.

[00:11:15] Taryn: Yeah, I am very excited to watch you. We do have athletes from all over the world. We've got Australia, New Zealand, the us, Canada, Europe, and the UK covered, but you are the first Indian athlete to also join the Triathlon Nutrition Academy program. So you, you get that medal as well.

[00:11:33] Aditya: Thank you. Thank you. Yeah.

[00:11:35] Taryn: So what, what was it that you were struggling with with your nutrition before that you knew that, okay, I need to do something here. I need to educate myself. What were some of your challenges?

[00:11:46] Aditya: So I think one of the main challenges is I sweat a lot. when I was only running, I was not sweating that much.

[00:11:55] Taryn: It's 'cause it's so bloody hot there.

[00:11:58] Aditya: Yeah. Yeah. But [00:12:00] I think even it's got hotter even over the years since then. but yeah. my sweat loss is very high. So, that's one area which I have addressed a lot of people in the past, but I have not got really any concrete suggestions on it.

[00:12:15] Taryn: haven't covered it yet, but it's in phase two of the program, so we will get there. Promise.

[00:12:20] Aditya: And another one is uh, basically I think before every workout till now, I was just having a standard few things, like a few bananas and raisins and some snack and that was it, and maybe some oats. But I feel like depending on the workout, you need to fuel yourself properly, depending on if it's a high intensity workout or low intensity.

[00:12:44] If it's a. Short duration workout or long duration workout. So fueling yourself well for be it swimming, cycling, or running is important. and also the recovery aspect. So yeah, these are a few of the challenges which I have been facing, which I want to try to fix so that I can perform better during my events.

[00:13:06] Taryn: And we've only just kind of scratched the surface with nutrition. You are only just through the first phase where we focus a lot on day-to-day nutrition and getting a really good foundation laid with all of that stuff. Most people wanna jump to. You know, the, the shiny objects in the 1% is in all the supplements first, but we spend, we spend 12 weeks going through what you're doing on a day-to-day basis and make sure you have that solid foundation built to then layer in the more advanced sports nutrition principles.

[00:13:35] On top of that, what has been the, maybe the thing that you've learned so far that's made the biggest difference to your training and recovery? 

[00:13:44] Aditya: I think we covered the, I. Fueling uh, nutrition. Like what, what should you fuel or have before you work out? And also for the recovery, what you need to have. So I think those are very important when to have it [00:14:00] and how much quantity to have.

[00:14:02] That also is important and, spacing it out and ensuring you're getting the right amount of proteins, carbs, and fats combined. and I think one of the most important things, which you have said multiple times is that uh, read the labels, like whatever you are eating. Like be it as simple as just having like peanut butter or any milk of any sort or any product.

[00:14:28] You should know what you are having. every product is different and you should know what you are having. 

[00:14:34] Taryn: And have you found sports nutrition to be any different or difficult in India? Like obviously your food is different compared to the western world uh, it's amazing, but is there any, anything that the, like the western world would do from a sports nutrition perspective that you're like, that's just not gonna work for me here?

[00:14:53] Or can you get

[00:14:54] everything on online, 

[00:14:56] Aditya: no, not really. I think we get everything, but only like, for like gels or race day related fueling, like chew gels and all of those things that is in very limited quantity over here and limited people supply that. So sometimes when we are traveling somewhere else or uh, going, then you, you have to buy it.

[00:15:18] like currently I use Morton Gels or Cliff Chew and Precision Hydration Nutrition. so yeah, these things aren't available easily here. So whenever, if I'm traveling or if someone's traveling, then we have to request them that please bring this when you

[00:15:36] Taryn: Bring the goods back.

[00:15:37] Aditya: yeah, yeah, and then I stock up and keep, so I have enough for. about the next three to six months or so?

[00:15:43] Taryn: Have you ever thought about making your own products as well, just to make it easier?

[00:15:47] Aditya: I have tried making protein bars and I've made protein bars at home. But apart from that I have not tried my hand at many other things.

[00:15:56] Taryn: one of the biggest things that I love teaching athletes is how to [00:16:00] actually do nutrition for themselves. So I'm, I'm educating you on pre-training, nutrition and telling you like how much to have and when, but then it is a blank slate and, you know, somebody anywhere in the world can implement, say as an example, their pre-training nutrition based on whatever food is available, whatever you can grab.

[00:16:20] Has that been helpful learning in that way or? Is it easier if you're like, go and eat this, and that's the one option that you've got.

[00:16:29] Aditya: So what I find different in the TNA compared to others is that. Here. Each individual has to make their own plan like each individual is different. Even though we are a, a cohort of 15 to 20 people or so, each individual is different. Each individual's body is different. And like you mentioned earlier, we are all stay in different countries across the globe.

[00:16:52] So the kind of products available also, you have to look at that as well. So, yeah, I mean, it's a good thing that I'm getting to learn on the go and also implementing that in my own uh, diet. So, it's a two-way win-win situation. I would say that I'm getting to learn new information and, and at the same time, implement as well and plan it for myself.

[00:17:16] and then I, I can hold myself accountable for it. Rather than saying that, oh, this person gave me that, or that person gave me this. I will be accountable for it. And uh, I will be the one who should be having all the information that why I'm having a particular thing, how is it helping me, what it's gonna do for me.

[00:17:36] So yeah. I find that very useful and I'm always keen on learning more. And that's one of the other reasons also, which I. Joined 

[00:17:44] Taryn: Yeah. Amazing. What do you wanna do next? And you know, you've got, you've got into the sport, you can swim, bike, and run. You obviously run quite well. what are your big goals? What do you wanna do with triathlon? Or is there another thing that you wanna leapfrog into? Do you wanna do [00:18:00] ultraman or something one day?

[00:18:02] Aditya: I mean, uh, this last February was a power packed month. I did a, a cycling event, which was a 110 kilometer cycling event with about 2,800 meters of elevation in a hilly area called Maur. And then I did this five kilometer swimming event, and in January was the Tata Mumbai Marathon, which was earlier known as a standard chartered marathon where I did a half marathon.

[00:18:28] So all this was in preparation For my next triathlon. So I'm participating in the 70.3 at Estonia, which is in August. And now I'll be training for that primarily. So that's the goal for now and that's a focus for now. And maybe next year in February, I would like to do a full marathon again.

[00:18:54] 'cause the last time I did a full marathon was in 2018, which was a long time back. and with the full marathon then I can maybe progress for the full Iron Man maybe in 2026 or 2027. 

[00:19:07] Taryn: you have any aspirations to go to Kona?

[00:19:10] Aditya: I don't think so much. I mean, I take it one step at a time. So right now I'm focused on. The 70.3 which was in Estonia. I have done two 70.3 so far. One was in Goa in 2023 and last year I did it in Turkey. This t-shirt is from there. So yeah, this was in, this was in Antalia.

[00:19:32] So my first go I went, was. Seven hours and 21 minutes. And then the next one in Turkey was six hours and 30 minutes. So, my goal is to do a sub six half iron man. And if I do achieve that, then maybe I will go for the full Ironman 

[00:19:54] Taryn: You don't have to do an Ironman. I feel like in triathlon, everyone's like, [00:20:00] when are you doing your Ironman? When are you gonna do a full distance race? And you don't have to if you don't want to.

[00:20:04] Aditya: I mean, I like challenges, so I like to see how much my body can take or what my body can do. I mean, I think we all have one life and I think you've gotta make the most of it. So I. yeah, I do do it because I do enjoy it and I'm happy to do it, and I do enjoy the sports, but I think there's also a deeper purpose to it.

[00:20:27] Like I was saying earlier, I want to make an impact or create a difference and, lift up other people that you know, it's, you can do it. So, that's the motive 

[00:20:39] Taryn: Your why.

[00:20:40] Aditya: do 

[00:20:40] Taryn: are you doing any other advocacy work for athletes with epilepsy?

[00:20:45] Aditya: I mean, this event which we organized in March this month was the very first event, a running event, which we've had in Bombay and also across India. So this was a very big step. so basically epilepsy is the second most common neurological disorder globally. everybody knows about Parkinson's or Alzheimer's and all the other issues, but no one knows about epilepsy.

[00:21:12] And the thing with epilepsy is, even if people do have it, they don't speak about it openly. So the purpose of doing this event was. To bring together people who have epilepsy and also other people, and also educate them in the right manner that if you do see someone getting a seizure, it's okay.

[00:21:32] And this is how you should attend to them or treat to them. It's not something abnormal they are just like you. We are, we are both humans. So, yeah, people do get scared and freaked out. there's a lot of stigma that if somebody gets a seizure, you should make them smell a onion or make them smell a sandal or, or something like that. so all these are very wrong things and wrong information. So. We want to educate people in the [00:22:00] right right direction and let people know that it's okay.

[00:22:03] And, and even if you have epilepsy it's completely fine. And you can also have a, a normal life. You can, you can study, you can have a good job, you can, have a family and you can do everything. Yeah. we had a turnout of 500 people. So that was pretty huge.

[00:22:22] And yeah, everybody enjoyed the event and they found it very very good that such an initiative was taken up. And a lot of people who did also have epilepsy and who were scared about it came for the event. And they also felt like, okay, there is this community or there is this group where, you know, I can, I belong or I can be there.

[00:22:45] So. So, yeah, that gives a very fulfilling feeling that creating something where people feel like, yes, this is there and we are there. 

[00:22:55] Taryn: That's amazing. Good on you.

[00:22:56] Aditya: yeah.

[00:22:57] Taryn: Do you have any messages then for somebody that might be facing the challenges of either epilepsy or just anything like big dreams about doing something big that's maybe a stretch for them? Something like triathlon or could be anything else?

[00:23:12] Aditya: I mean, I think there are always going to be obstacles in life, we all all have our own fears, but it's always about how you overcome them. And how you tackle them. And eventually it's all in the mind. Like I've been reading a book. I read a book also by Matt Fitzgerald which was called The Other Talent that also talks about this phrase which says Screw loose and shit together.

[00:23:41] So most of the elite athletes, if you read about them, they also have been through a lot of things. During their childhood and when they were growing up and 

[00:23:49] so forth. but they still carry forward that aspect and those moments of their life, and they convert them to their strengths on the field or in the [00:24:00] sport, which they're playing.

[00:24:01] I mean, even though triathlon or most of the sports are physical sports, so there's a lot of mental aspect as well to it. So if you are mentally strong and if you are consistent, and if you are disciplined, and if you are ready to put in the time, then I think everything is possible with the right guidance and right support and right information.

[00:24:25] we have a finite time on this planet, so I would say don't limit yourself and be limitless. And fear is only in the mind, so remove that 

[00:24:37] Taryn: I love that. What a good note to end on. I reckon That's it. Drop mic smashed it. Thank you so much for joining me today and sharing your story. I know that a lot of people listening will be like, wow, like this guy's awesome. and I'll see you power hour soon. 

[00:24:51] Thanks you Aditya

[00:24:53] Aditya: thank you. Wow, 

[00:24:55] Taryn: what an incredible conversation. Aditya's story is a reminder that with the right mindset, the right support and determination, We can push past any limit that either we have or others have placed upon us from overcoming epilepsy, learning how to swim as an adult, which is hard enough At the age of 32 that is nothing short of inspiring. Now, I know so many listeners that will walk away from this episode feeling empowered to chase whatever goals and dreams you have, no matter how big they seem.

[00:25:30] So it's, this is your gentle kick in the butt or nudge to just go out and do it. Get amongst it. Like Aditya said, you only have one life. So. Why not? If you wanna follow his journey and connect with him, I will link his Instagram handle in the show notes below.

[00:25:46] And if there's something in today's episode that really resonated with you, I would love it if you could share it with a friend or a training buddy or someone that just needs a little gentle kick in the right direction or a spark of motivation. If you [00:26:00] are ready to take your triathlon journey to the next level, just like Aditya has, then make sure you join the Triathlon Nutrition Academy program.

[00:26:07] I'll show you how to turn your nutrition into your secret weapon. Thank you so much for tuning in today, and until next time, keep showing up. Keep fueling smart and keep smashing those goals. I'll see you next week. 

Thanks for joining me for this episode of the Triathlon Nutrition Academy podcast. I would love to hear from you. If you have any questions or want to share with me what you've learned, email me at [email protected]. You can also spread the word by leaving me a review and taking a screenshot of you listening to the show. Don't forget to tag me on social media, @dietitian.approved, so I can give you a shout out, too. If you want to learn more about what we do, head to dietitianapproved.com. And if you want to learn more about the Triathlon Nutrition Academy program, head to dietitianapproved.com/academy. Thanks for joining me and I look forward to helping you smashed in the fourth leg - nutrition!