MILLENNIALS

When it comes to fitness these days, youngsters are always on the lookout for quick fixes that can give them instant results. Inspired by social media and celebrities, youngsters tend to set goals that not very realistic. These far- fetched goals might just end up hurting them in the process. Talking to fitness enthusiasts as well as a fitness expert, we find out the inside story....

Sunil K. G., an engineer by profession, feels that it’s adolescents who fall prey to fitness trends and set unrealistic goals. He says, “As a teenager, I had a similar mindset. One reason we get hurt while trying to achieve goals is that we don’t listen to our bodies. There is also no awareness among youngsters that every body is different and preparation is needed to go to a particular level. For example, a high intensity workout is not possible without warm- up exercises. Its a must to follow a process and do the pre and post workout. I plan to do an ultra marathon in the future which is not possible to complete without doing the 50K,

10K etc.”

A n k u s Sharma, a corporate trainer feels that as much as you train or wo r k o u t , rest is equally import a n t . Sharma says, “What is observed is that people normally start with a 5K then a 10K, working their way up. What people don’t understand is that there is a difference between running a 10K and 21K. When one is not used to doing this, bone density reduces. I have known people who have h ended up with stress fractures. Its a good thing to start and even more important to listen to the signs your body gives. When your body tells you you’re in pain, you need to stop. Although the goals have been set, I think its necessary to give your body time to prepare and also the rest it requires.” Software engineer S u r a j R a j p u t feels youngsters these days have wrong notions about fitness goals. He says, “They don’t have the patience to go through the process of getting fit. They just want to look good. They want immediate and quick results. I have seen them doing exercises that are not required. The entire mentality has now changed and is all about looking good rather than being healthy. This year, my goal was to lose six kilos. So till now, I have managed to lose two of those kilos.”

Lohith Nanjappa a fitness expert says, “Indians are fascinated by glamour and movies. These days, maintaining an aesthetic body is not easy and requires a lot of dedication and that is something people are not interested in doing. Everybody wants to take shortcuts. When one takes shortcuts, one will have to deal with the side effects as well. They should be realistic and set long- term goals. The one thing youngsters need to understand is that from the age of 16 to 30, our body is at its natural peak. Our body has been blessed with the ability to withstand and that one should work around it.”

Follow these words of wisdom and you can not just stay fit but look good too.