Fitness as a way of life

Weekends are when I get my cherished ‘me time’ as well as a chance to take a break from the routine and spend time with my family and friends. I make sure that I don’t rush through the weekend and take time to enjoy whatever I am doing.

My profession requires that I stay fit and look good at all times so my mornings are never complete without hitting the gym. I feel something is amiss when I don’t work out. So I make it a point to work out at least twice a day. I do cardio in the morning and weight training in the evening. I also have a personal trainer who regulates my training and monitors my diet to tone my body according to the requirement of the shoots. So working out is a big part of my life. I was always into working out and was interested in modelling from my college days. Winning the title of ‘Mr India -World’ this year was a dream come true for me. Life has changed a lot after I won the title and weekends have become busier because I get invited to judge shows or to inaugurate something.

I also enjoy taking short trips on the weekends. I usually like riding solo because it gives me enough time to spend with myself. I am most creative when I am travelling alone. I’ve ridden to Mangaluru and Chikkamagaluru by myself. These trips prepares me to face the challenges coming my way.

I picked up a love for cooking when I was in college because of my friend Aman Kumar. He loved cooking and would make some exotic dishes for me. I would witness his experiments in the kitchen. Soon, cooking became a craze for me and I started experimenting in the kitchen as well.

My weekends are also devoted to trying new recipes. I can make good ‘Chicken curry’, ‘Fish curry’ and ‘French omelette’. I don’t believe in going by the recipe book but enjoy giving a different twist to every dish that I make. Cooking is a great stress buster for me. It helps me relax. I watch what I eat. But having said that, I also have my cheat days when I eat whatever I want to. I follow a strict diet which is low on fat, carbs and high on protein.

Weekends are also when I take time off to plan my career. I don’t know what the future holds for me but I never move forward without a plan. All my plans have materialised so far but you never know when things can go wrong.

I am in a very competitive industry where not everything is as rosy and glamorous as it is made out to be. One has to be emotionally strong to be able to handle the pressure and competition within this industry. I owe my strength to the encouragement and support I get from my parents, brother Jishnuraj and best friends Najma Sheikh and Deepu. These people have been with me through thick and thin and helped me convert all the negative energy around me into positive vibes.

(As told to Nina C George)