Mangoes – Sadly Seasonal

You all must be wondering what made me update my blog so soon this time. Well its Mango time, that’s why and I dedicate it to all the Mango Lovers.

The title of the blog itself suggests it’s such a pity we get to enjoy the king of fruits only for a couple of months which makes us use it as an excuse only to convince ourselves to feast on a mango or even two in a day. I come across many different ways of convincing oneself to eat the so called seasonal fruit Guilt Free. Well actually this is the real reason that inspired me to write and clear some misconceptions.

We all wait for mangoes, a year long. And when the season arrives we go bizarre. Every other week there are dozens of mangoes bought by us or gifted to us by friends and family. I love the whole traditional touch to a fruit season. There are get togethers arranged specially to feed mangoes to everyone. Every other night we go out after dinner, not for a walk but a visit to the ice cream parlour for the mango with fresh cream, we feast on various kinds of mango preparations as often as we can after all the fruit is here only for a while. It all sounds and feels so crazy after a point, not only for the body to keep up to the functions and the food but also for it to take in so many calories… oops mangoes.

Undoubtedly mangoes are very beneficial for health. They are rich in Vitamins minerals and antioxidants but at the same time it is also high in sugar and so high in its calorie content. But some of us go overboard using its nutritional value as an excuse to kill our guilt. It’s as if we do not consume any Vitamin C or A, if it’s not for Mango season. Of course I understand we need to stock it up for the rest of the year (in our body) but what are you really stocking up on?

Mangoes or (unwanted) CALORIES?

I don’t say we should stop eating it completely but striking a balance is very important. In your defence you guys might say, we workout and so we can afford it. But that’s not the solution. You are working out and burning half the amount of calories you have consumed in that particular day. What about the rest? Like you desire, it’s getting stocked up. Everything eaten in moderation is best and harmless. Strike a balance and your body will be thankful to you. This rule sadly applies to the King too.

Make the time, its only for YOU!

Its time I get a new haircut or a new look, its time I go shopping because I need a new wardrobe, oh I need a manicure, how about a new hair colour, and I’ve had a long week I need a massage. Every now and then we talk about our “to-do” list to our friends. When have we ever said its time I hit the gym. Or rather when do we plan on saying that? Gym, exercise, health has conveniently taken a back seat in our life. Don’t forget there is only up to size XL available in the market. Of course there are tailor made double and triple XL’s also, but think about it, do we really want to get there?

Why is time always a constraint when it comes to health and workout? There is always time for your “to-do” list, which includes everything but YOU!

For a regular teenager, it’s always about looking hip and perfect. Gym class is always on their mind, but just before class if they get a call from a friend for a movie or coffee its goodbye gym. But does that really mean good bye extra kilos?

For a housewife whose life revolves around her husband and children, gym comes last on her list (thankfully it does), but if there is an outing with a friend or a social gathering, gym doesn’t fall into her list at all. You can always go tomorrow, but the question is-when is tomorrow?

For an office goer, the first challenge of his day is to punch his card on time at work. He will do anything to meet this challenge. He will start his day in a rush, behave grumpy, and abuse everyone and everything coming his way only to be at work on time (only to find himself standing there and grinning hearing a mental applause to have done it again), but he wont make an extra effort to wake up just an hour early to pump those muscles and start fresh.

I say, considering all of the above situations, it is even more important to take your health seriously with all the social pressure. It’s even more important to start respecting your body and giving yourself priority. But again, of course, I understand when you say “no time.” You will never find “the” time unless you make one.

In my career so far, I have met countless number of people who have convinced me of how busy their life is and how there is no time for health. It’s hard to believe but given the seriousness with which I am told all of this, I land up sympathizing with them and agreeing to what they have to say.

When I say make the time, it’s only for YOU. I mean it. I have seen a lot of people not giving the right amount of priority when it comes to themselves and their health. It only makes me wonder what can be more important than YOU. I don’t say go to the gym to get “the figure,” like I mentioned in my earlier blog they are mere numbers. You can go to the gym to achieve your individual goals. To build strength, stamina, muscle tone, loose the extra pounds, overall to be fit only to be a part of your daily routine but in a fitter position. Unless you make the time and the effort for it, you are not going to see any results. And once you do you’ll be shocked to see and feel the difference.

Then again, it is so important to entertain your friends over a cup of coffee or a movie. When I say movies, of course it means butter caramel popcorn and cold drinks. Come on!!!! It’s a compulsion or else the usher’s not going to show you the way and the movie’s not going to begin.

It is important to serve your family at a social gathering, which again means over eating as you have already got special comments from the elders that you look weak even though you are 10 kilos overweight. I thought the thick glasses they wear are supposed to show things bigger than their actual size, but I guess its not the case with the Indian make.

It is so important to please that life-saving job and boss we have by working like a donkey only to receive a heavy salary at the end of each month.

But have you ever wondered, where do YOU stand in this whole circus???

No offence, this is a part of life and we cannot avoid any event from the above, but all I am trying to emphasize is that this is just a part of life and not life itself. There are a lot more things that can be added to the daily drama. By the end of it all, you are so drained and tired of pleasing the whole world that you are left with no time and energy to please yourself, to please your body, and bring peace to your mind.

I have personally started to see a lot of change in the attitude of my clients who have started to take their health seriously in spite of their busy schedules and chores. I can see the effort, and they have already started to see a change.

Time is never a constraint unless you start treating it like one. Gyms have always been around and will always be, but when are YOU going to get there?

So the next time you make your “to-do” list or come across someone else’s, check for yourself. I won’t be wrong here.

Write to me about your experiences, time constraints and schedules I may be able to help you figure out some way and also share a few “to-do” lists if you come across any.

Fitness - your take

How many of us really know the true meaning of Fitness? Yes, I know most of you have raised your hands, and the rest have already googled it. But my real question is how many of us “understand” the true meaning of Fitness.

Every now and then we religiously read articles in newspapers or magazines, and some of us even subscribe to newsletters of various Exercise and Diet websites but what do we do after that - take a chai break, get back to work or gobble down a samosa in the canteen. There is always a tomorrow for exercise right? Obviously we are being very ambitious when we want an exercise routine or a diet plan to work wonders in a jiffy, and so when that doesn’t quite happen, we discontinue the regime. The reason being it dint work. Ya right, if only the regime came with some magic wand. I mean come on!!! when we all believe in patience is virtue and hard work pays off, then why don’t we apply these qualities to everything we do and not only to things we get paid for? When I say “hard work,” I mean real workout and patience required to obtain positive results, in other words, results that are healthy and permanent.

There are no short cuts to a healthy body and there are no tomorrows to start a health regime.

Now, if all of us become so dedicated what will happen to all the excuses that I as a fitness professional get to hear daily? Every other day, my clients give me very creative yet lame excuses for giving a gym class a miss. The excuse list is endless, and yes your excuse is on the list too. But let me share with you a few unrealistic reasons I have come across in my career so far because of which the client decides to get started with a workout.

• The vey famous and overrated 36-24-36 hour glass look. “The figure”. Girls love to be skinny and “thin,” but they fail to understand that thin doesn’t necessarily mean FIT!

I fail to understand why we are so obsessed with “the figure.” These are just plain numbers. I am not saying that these numbers are unachievable but not everyone can achieve them. Each body type is different, and our goals need to be set according to that. Therefore, there is no harm in talking about complete overall fitness and changing your habits and lifestyle, rather than concentrating on the measuring tape.

• I want to loose only the last 5 kilo’s and ill be fine.

However perfect this reason might sound it keeps me wondering - how will they ever be fine? Is this what being fit is all about? Reaching your ideal weight? Its like saying I will be eating for only 5 days and ill be fine for the rest of my life. We know that’s not practically possible. What after that? How about maintaining your weight and raising the “fitness” bar?

• This one’s a killer. I am getting married. Well, congratulations! Something finally shook you to get started. It’s the most important day for which you have been waiting all your life, and u never thought of following a health regime earlier until you realised you had to be able to fit in the same frame as your husband! Again, short term and temporary because after the wedding, you are going to be unrecognizable.

• Otherwise it’s just cool to workout at “the gym” with “the celebrities”. A reason good enough to get going. Life would be boring without all the live page 3 gossip. You regularly hit the gym but the only body parts that get exercised are the eyes and ears.

Such a pity, so much awareness all around about health and fitness, but so little has been done to put it into practice. Why can’t a reason for going to the gym simply be yourself so that you can make a difference in your lifestyle and overall health?

Just to be FIT!

My Take :

My take on fitness is completely different. For me, fitness holds a different meaning. I don’t really focus on having “the figure” or being “size zero” (another obsession). When I say being FIT. I mean overall fitness of the mind, body, and soul which can be achieved by a combination of a good workout and a balanced diet.

If I can comfortably do my household chores without complaining about any aches and pains, if I can comfortably walk for a couple of kilometres while I am on the phone without getting breathless, if I can carry a bag of potatoes weighing 10 pounds without pulling a muscle, go biking for a couple of hours and not complain of severe soreness, I am FIT! It doesn’t always have to be about the external hour-shaped body and tone, what also matters is fitness within.

I don’t see myself starving to death to fit into a jeans two sizes small. But I definitely see myself hitting the gym and taking the right route to achieve what I want. Size zero can stay with the actors.

Write to me about your take and your fitness mantras and any story you have come across relating to fitness. And the next time you think of becoming “thin”, ask yourself are you really going to become FIT!!