Workout Combine - A different paradigm

Like most of us, I also used to prefer the air-conditioned precincts of a standard club gymnasium with “Technogym” kind of state-of-the-art machines, most of which many people don’t get to use, or wish to use on a regular basis.

It always feels good to sweat it out in a gym on a treadmill, or lifting weights, or even try out the new-fangled machines which look intimidating at the outset. One gets a “high”, a sense of elation over one’s achievement at the gym and the eventual control over “machines”. There is that reluctance when one thinks of having to “prepare” for the gym and the pressures that the body goes through. However, once the strenuous workout is completed, there is always a great feeling of having accomplished something significant, don’t you feel that way ?

Well, I have been doing gym stuff for a fairly long time, though inconsistently over the past couple of years. I do not regret it though. While it is good to go to the gym, there are other equally good ways to burn off those unwanted calories. The key trick, or technique, here is to achieve uniformity, consistency, and discipline with an iron hand.

I have devised a way that is suitable for me, others need to check out for themselves or develop their own way to beat the flab and maintain a healthy feeling right through the days, weeks, months and years. There are four components :

a). Brisk Walk every alternate day for a minimum distance of 2.5 Kms - the walk has to be fast paced, relentless, non-stop, and really brisk with a straight frame and good walking shoes. You have to feel a pain at the calves after a few rounds (I walk along a circular path in a garden), and start sweating - the temperature in summer is 30 deg even at 6 AM, and that adds ! But, should not relax and keep walking. Jogging is not advisable for people with any kind of back problem.

b). Yoga every alternate day - this needs to consist of atleast 10 minutes of stretching exercises, and 20 minutes of “Surya Namashkar”, or Sun Worship, followed by relaxation (”Sarvasan”). This exercise is a proxy for the cardio work-out at the gym. However, there is a right way to do Yoga, and then, there are many wrong ways. One has to work real hard, preferably under a Yoga Teacher, to develop the right way. There are many more Yoga exercises which would surely help, but the above is the minimum for time-crunched executives.

c). Good food habits - again, time discipline matters here - reduce amount of rice intake as much as possible, go for wheat, green vegetables, baked chicken, fish, et al. Again, the food design is to be undertaken by the respective individual and should not be compromised at the drop of the hat - I mean, at the sight of succulent kebabs ! You are what you eat, as the scholars say, so some serious attention is necessary.

d). Lots of fresh fruits - the minimum is one apple per day, but the minimum won’t do in the case of fruits - one should add banana, dark grapes, papaya, pomegrenate, pear, kiwi fruit (if you can find it), berries and dry fruits like figs. And, certain nuts like pistachios, almonds, etc., help a lot - not in large quantities though.

(c) and (d) require intense examination of oneself, one’s food habits, consultation with family doctor, reading up of available best-sellers (!) on food, and other inputs. It would take time to settle on something suitable. However, (a) and (b) require immediate implementation - ofcourse, if one is happy with the gym, then there is no issue - just do it everyday !

I do occasionally go to the gym these days, but I am no longer enamoured of those “Techno Gym” equipment ! The idea has been to stay healthy and fit, not to get those six-pack abs !!

Have a wonderful weekend,

Cheers.

Vijay Srinivasan
10th May 2008
Mumbai