On the road to fitness

Most fitness enthusiasts today are particular about their workout routines. They believe that being healthy and fit isn’t just a fad or a trend but a lifestyle. That’s great, but how much should one exercise and where should one draw the line?

Software developer Arun Kumar didn’t join the gym because everyone else was doing it, but because he wanted to drop his 108 kg. “I started cycling and realised that it wasn’t making much of an impact. I joined the gym and kept a target for myself each week. I even purchase a size lesser each time I shop nowadays,” he says.

He also took to social media to update his progress initially. He adds, “I don’t do much of that anymore because I didn’t want to upload anything without a drastic change. My attitude towards many things have changed since my weight loss and I continue to set a new target each time.”

Each profession also has its own requirement when it comes to staying fit. Television actor Ridhima Pandit, says, “Though being fit should have nothing to do with your profession, it’s important for an actor to be fit as we need to look good all the time. It’s also difficult to find the time with the hectic schedules. That’s why I follow a healthy diet and practise yoga and Pilates. Ideally, one hour workout with adequate stretching is just perfect.”

Arun Kumar Naik, an associate manager, has been a dancer for more than a decade. This eventually led him to join the gym. He says, “A good workout makes me feel active and productive. I believe that people who work out are happier than those who don’t. I can do my day’s exercise without any equipment now. But that doesn’t mean that everyone can follow my routine. Each body is different but one thing that’s common is to give your body enough rest in between exercises,” he explains.

Dr Sanjay Mehrotra, senior interventional cardiologist at Narayana Institute of Cardiac Sciences, says, “Whether you are exercising more or less, you are still doing better than the person who doesn’t do anything. Though exercising has become a fashion statement today, it’s motivating many to get up and do something, and that’s a great thing. However, it is important for one to do just enough without hurting themselves.”

He recommends a combination of aerobic activities along with weight training and not just either one of them. Around 45 minutes to one hour of exercise is enough for one to stay fit.

There are many apps too that motivate many to lead a healthier lifestyle. Anagha Bhaskar, a model, says, “To be honest, I wonder how much overall participation in fitness has really increased. I can’t help but think to some extent it is a ‘the rich get richer’ phenomenon. By that, I mean people trying new things, buying designer wear etc. are people who were already into working out. I like to hope that the new options of workout equipment, like fitbit, workout clothes and shoes, is drawing people to exercise more and make it a lifestyle.”