Mumbai, getting fitter is easy. Just make it a part of your life

When was the last time you carried your own grocery bags, took the stairs to your office or decided to walk to your neighbourhood gym instead of driving there?

When was the last time you carried your own grocery bags, took the stairs to your office or decided to walk to your neighbourhood gym instead of driving there?

In an age where everything from vegetables to fitness trackers is available at the click of a button, just staying active is often ignored — until the doctor orders it. What if fitness is not about the perfect figure or the dashboard abs? What if it was not just a way to keep your BP down and your heart beating? What if it became a way of life?

Stay active, save money

First, let’s talk numbers. If you already have a pair of shoes, going for a walk around your building would cost you nothing. Beginning an exercise regime as damage control, after a heart attack for instance, could cost you lakhs.

“Most people tend to start working out, walking or running in desperate scenarios,” said Suraj Bangera, a fitness trainer. “But that’s when age is catching up, the heart is getting weak and you are less mobile. My question is, why wait so long? Why wait till you are forced to start exercising?”

Up your happiness quotient

What’s not to like about staying fit, ask enthusiasts, who believe it’s a shortcut to happiness.

“Fitness to me means feeling good about myself; there is nothing more exhilarating than crossing the finish line of a marathon smiling,” says retired marketing consultant Arathi Rao, 51, who runs, plays squash and has been going to the gym for 14 years. “The gym routine has reversed my biological clock. With every passing year, I feel younger.”

READ: Unhealthy eating to getting fitter: This Mumbai man saw it all

PR executive Akshit Sabharwal, 26, says his gym routine is the only thing that helps him survive his 10- and 12-hour workdays. “We sit at a desk, staring at a screen all day. We end up overeating but do little physical activity to burn these calories off,” he adds.

“For me, the first 10 minutes of my gym session bring me back to life. It’s something I give myself. It also has a lot to do with work ethic — looking good is part of my job and it keeps me energetic in all aspects of life.”

Get out there, make friends

Shaurya Srivastava, a 25-year-old dentist, got active and lost weight as a way to treat his high cholesterol. Six years after his condition pushed him to start exercising, Srivastava says his day isn’t complete without some form of physical activity. He now also plays football every week.

“Long work hours and frequent travel are no excuses for me. It’s a lifestyle I’ve adopted now,” he says. “And the best part? I’ve made friends who are now irreplaceable.”

Mix it up

Tanya Rouque, a 24-year-old businesswoman, is a fitness addict. She has tested her body with different forms of exercise, from crossfit to kickboxing, while also following a regular gym routine. “I need the diversity,” she says. “It’s my nature. I get bored easily.”

For Rouque, staying active and getting fit is about finding balance. “It’s given me a lot more energy and makes me feel so good about myself. It’s my go-to when something is really frustrating me.”

Start early

Start with baby steps. First identify which part of your day you can dedicate to fitness — it can just be 10 minutes, or it could be an hour and a half, but be realistic.

READ: Get fitter Mumbai, your packet of chips, countless coffees can give you diabetes, BP, heart ailments

“In a city like Mumbai, you have access to gyms 24X7. So really, there’s no excuse,” says Roque.

If a packed schedule is holding you back, Bangera suggests you think about how getting fit will make you feel.

“Everyone can relate to feeling good, looking good and being happy. You will sleep better and you will have more energy to take on the day. Some of my younger clients admit to feeling horrible when they are not active,” he says.

So come one, what are you waiting for? Pick a routine, and let us know how it goes.