It’s everyone’s New Year resolution but getting fit, and staying fit, is no
cakewalk (pun intended). Here are some real-life fitness success stories to get you up and off that couch. Let’s find out what gets Kochi moving.
Another new year is here! And so are the trolls and memes about people going crazy about their New Year resolutions. A time-honoured tradition, New Year resolutions are meant to give us the hope of a fresh start. But sadly, not too far from January 1, the weak-willed among us may find ourselves wallowing in a pool of regrets and excuses for breaking the promises we made to ourselves. Among the flimsy New Year resolutions are ones like healthy eating, being more organised and tricky ones such as to quit smoking or to talk less. But according to the panoptic Google, the most shortlived new year resolution among all the humans in this big wide world is following a fitness routine.
Today in Kochi, choices are plenty for a person who wishes to take a step towards fitness and health. From the gyms in every corner in the city and open gym parks at Fort Kochi and Queen’s Walkway near Pachalam to Kochi Metro’s ‘rent a bicycle’ project, Kochi is improvising on how to motivate its population to lead a healthier lifestyle. Moreover, there are people from the city who have proved to be a pro at the fitness game. Whether it’s Mr Universe or the girl-next-door who just lost 5kg, they’re the proud ambassadors of fitness for Kochiites.
Fitness stories
Chitharesh Natesan, who recently won the Mr Universe title, has an inspiring story to tell. He has been into sports and fitness since his school days. “I was a hockey player in school and later, I channelled my interests into bodybuilding. It has been a long journey but the results have been great,” he says. He comments on how people today are confused between bodybuilding and fitness. “Bodybuilding is a totally different ballgame compared to staying fit and healthy. But today, most people go to the gym because they either have an obsession with muscles or wish to shed some extra weight.”
If a doctor validates your lifestyle, then that’s all the word you’ll ever need. Dr Rejeesh Selvaganesan, a gastro-surgeon and fitness enthusiast, says the key to fitness is to find a routine that best suits one’s work timings, and also stamina.”There is no need to go hard on yourself. If you do, you will slowly dread the thought of working out,” he observes. Dr Rejeesh is one of those who have completed India’s first Ironman triathlon— an endurance sport with three sequential and continuous races including swimming, cycling and running over various distances. He remembers a time when he was overweight and used to feel unhealthy. Recalling the incident that jostled him to begin a fitness routine, he says that it has changed his life. “A few years ago, two road accident victims were brought to the hospital— a young boy of eight or seven years of age and a man. We could not save the boy’s life. After the incident, I was depressed for days. I wanted to come out of it as quickly as possible. So one day, I woke up early and went for a short walk. It felt refreshing and when I made it a daily habit, it gradually helped me regain my old self,” says Dr Rejeesh. Diya John, founder of Salt Studio boutique at Panampilly Nagar, is yet another ardent fitness fan. She pinpoints why people these days can be complacent about health and fitness. “I think most of the people in my generation have an aversion towards the idea of following a routine. We want each of our days to be so different that we cannot afford to include a fitness routine. But I think we all need to try a routine at least once to know how it feels,” she says. Diya is now a regular participant of marathons both in the city as well as outside.
In our battle to stay fit and healthy, gyms and fitness centers are our greatest allies. Shweta Rangnekar, CEO of Gold’s Gym, Vyttila, observes that the people in Kochi have a greater concern towards staying fit and healthy. “There is a rise in the number of people coming to the gym lately. And it’s striking to see many middle-aged people keeping track of their health and fitness,” she notes.
Speaking about the trend of increased gym traffic during the beginning of a new year and other holiday seasons, Shweta says that the gym gives exciting offers for its new customers on such occasions. Proper training and guidance while working out is crucial if you’re new to a gym.
At Gold’s Gym, situated at Vyttila, there are floor trainers to assist all clients. Clients with specific requirements can also engage personal trainers. Besides, there are group classes like functional training, Zumba and yoga. Mohamed Sherif, owner of Lens and Frames, is in his sixties now and is a regular customer at Gold’s Gym. “In my 40s, I realised that the pressures and troubles of running a business were taking a toll on my health. And that’s when I decided to start a fitness routine. I started jogging every morning but shifted to a gym facility as I faced difficulties adjusting to the climatic changes,” says Sherif. A happy customer at Gold’s Gym, he opines that the trainers here are the best in the city and that they have helped him maintain his fitness without causing any injuries so far.
Writer Anubha George is another regular customer at Gold’s Gym. She mentions a list of people who inspire her to be fit, starting with Malaika Arora and Hrithik Roshan.
“Fitness is a way of life for me rather than just a fad. What I love about myself is that I try and fit something into pretty much every day—be it a walk, cycling, playing squash or going to the gym,” she says. Voicing her appreciation for Gold’s Gym, she says that she is grateful to Arun Kumar, one of the trainers at the gym. “I had a torn ligament in my knee last year. I found that working out was the best thing I could for my knee. Of course, that was based on what my doctor’s instructions. But most importantly, it was my brilliant trainer who understood what I needed and worked with me,” she says.
“It is also the first-ever gym in Kerala that allows mothers to bring their children to the gym,” says Shweta. “Most women feel pulled down by the changes in their routines after pregnancy and childbirth. Amidst the rumble-tumble of taking care of children, some women simply give up on their fitness during this period and adopt unhealthy lifestyles. At Gold’s Gym, we have recently introduced a play area for kids so that the mothers can drop them off here and then work out at the gym.”
Fitness enthusiasts are always eager to share their inspiring stories of transformation such as updating from a clumsy couch potato to a fit human being. Lakshmi Ramachandran, Mentor at Global Public School, Kochi, admits that she did not start her fitness journey until a few years ago. “I had taken my health for granted until I was pushing my fifties. My husband had a minor heart attack and I realised that I had to be healthy first before I could take care of others in the family. So, I began a lifestyle modification of healthy eating and exercise,” says Lakshmi, who will turn 68 in a couple of months. “If I, the original couch potato, can do a 10-kilometre run, I think everyone can,” she adds.
To be fair, it’s not just the gyms that can help you achieve your fitness goals. There are many other alternative workout routines one can choose from such as yoga, Zumba, sports and games. As Chitharesh says, “It is always better to find out what works best for a person before one joins a gym with sky-high expectations.”
Sudakshna Thampi, a prominent yoga trainer in the city, comments that fitness is a lifestyle that comes as a byproduct of healthy living. “Yoga helps you to discover what’s within you. Unlike the workout sessions at gyms, your fitness journey through yoga always starts from within, That is, if you’re healthy from within, you’re healthy on the outside; your whole life naturally reassembles itself when you’re fit. Whether it’s sleeping early, eating the right food or exercising daily, it all starts from within—this is the core idea of yoga,” she says.
Rajeev P Nair, founder of SlimYoga and yoga therapist at General Hospital, Ernakulam, complements this opinion as he says yoga has a holistic approach to fitness. A former Mr Kerala, Rajeev says he now feels more complete as a person through his regular practice of yoga. “Your mind is as important as your body. When I used to compete in bodybuilding championships, there were a few co-competitors of mine, who were mentally burnt out because they were under pressure. I observed that they were all physically fit but mentally very weak. Today, as a yoga practitioner, I feel stronger and healthier than before,” he avers.
Keeping at it
If you’re an unfit person reading through these inspiring accounts of sheer dedication towards health and fitness, chances are that you’re now in a fool’s paradise, probably imagining how good you’ll look in the dress you bought last week once you get fit. But the truth is, in this case, imagination won’t get you far. However, you don’t have to be a sage to find the ultimate solution to realising your fitness dreams. All the fitness enthusiasts in our story have one thing in common: determination and patience. Chitharesh explains how people are quite ignorant about staying fit. “It takes months and sometimes, years for a person to become overweight. Typically, when people realise that they have extra fat on their body, they wish to get rid of it in the shortest time possible. From what I’ve observed, if you put on weight over three or four months, then it takes at least five or six months to lose the same. Since people lack patience, they easily fall off a routine,” he says.
There’s no denying that the struggles are real in the fitness game. For instance, Lakshmi admits that it is indeed a challenge to stay on course. “Every morning, when the alarm rings, the temptation to switch it off and go right back to bed is immense. But then, my better self that does not want to lose the first battle of the day prevails. So, I lace up and get moving,” she says. “Staying motivated and having friends who will egg you on, of course, helps.”
Anubha’s hard-earned opinion about fitness and people is accurate to the T. “I think people fall off the fitness routine because of many reasons. Health issues, lack of time, injuries, say a torn knee ligament or a shoulder injury, lack of motivation…Lack of motivation is the top reason, I think. There are days when I feel ‘oh let’s just leave it for today’. And that one day turns into a week. I’ve learnt to recognise that pattern now. Also, we look to other people to motivate us, to make things happen for us. But really, if you have your goals—even something as simple as I will do something for myself every day—you’ll start to see results. Not just physical, but also mental,” she says.
Another big-time challenge to staying fit is to resist your cravings. Hungry or not, it is a constant trouble saying ‘no’ to those packets of chips and chocolates. However, your diet shouldn’t be as dreadful as you think.
Diya does not hide the fact that occasional cheat days are still a part of her life although she is smart about eating healthy. “In situations where I’m attending a function or travelling, it is difficult to stick to a balanced diet. But I can easily make up for it by working out a little bit more than usual,” she says.
On the other hand, if you’re someone who wishes to compete in a bodybuilding competition, a strict diet is one thing you cannot compromise on, no matter what. Imagine eating 40 egg whites and a kilo of chicken or fish a day for several months! This was Chitharesh’s diet before he won the Mr Universe title. While it may sound like a herculean task to the uninitiated, Chitharesh says that his passion for bodybuilding went beyond all his reasons to call it quits. “It was my dream to win the title and I am grateful that I have unwavering patience,” he says.
The fitness revolution in Kochi is not just another fad. A crucial impetus for this is also the various fitness events that happen in the city. It was in the last decade that Kochi witnessed the vibrant advent of marathon, cyclothons and more. People of all age groups and genders take part in these events for different causes. For some, it’s a charity run while others run for themselves, as a step towards fitness. Lakshmi revisits her experience of running a marathon a few years back and is glad that life has not been the same for her since. “I did a five-kilometre Susan Komen walk for cancer awareness about seven years ago and I was so inspired by the huge turn out of veterans and people with determination. It then hit me that I had no excuse to avoid exercise,” she says.
Getting fit is a sure-fire means to love and understand yourself better. To be hale and hearty as you enjoy your life to the hilt sounds like a great plan for life, doesn’t it? And today, Kochi is surely a place to be if you’re planning to count yourself in for the next marathon.
KNOW WHAT WORKS
Here’s a quick guide to finding the fitness plan that works for you.
1Do you wish to lose weight or become fit?
Although it’s a fine line between understanding weight loss and fitness, let’s be clear on the fact that both are two different outcomes of working out regularly. For instance, An obese person can lose 10kg and still be unfit. So before we decide on a fitness routine, ask yourself if you just want to lose weight or become fit.
2When can you work out?
It could be true that you’re the busiest person you know. But don’t let that stand in the way of working out regularly. Admit it! Nobody’s busy 24×7. After all, would it hurt to spare 30 minutes a day for working out?
3What is your workout plan?
If you’ve found a shortcut to fitness, then you’re probably dreaming. But what if you choose a plan which is fun and enjoyable? You wouldn’t need shortcuts then, right? And that’s the next step to planning a fitness routine–choosing a routine that caters to your goals, which also makes you forget that you’re working out.
4Is there a diet plan you would like to follow?
If there’s anything more you can do to increase your metabolism other than working out, it’s to watch what you eat. You can find plenty of diet plans on the internet today. If you choose the right plan, it’s guaranteed that there would be zero cravings. Choose one wisely.
5How do you plan to stay motivated?
Imagine it’s been two days since you started working out and avoided eating junk food. And as the days go by, you start feeling pulled towards your temptations. “But it’s only a phase that won’t last long,” say the fitness fanatics. You just have to keep yourself motivated and that’s difficult. However, you can rely on a friend, a mobile app, a YouTube channel or your gym instructor.
