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No pills, no magic cream, no powder — these are absolute no-nos for me. After all, there is no shortcut to having a fit body. My mantra is balance. I have always tried to maintain equilibrium between my body’s needs and my ever-changing way of life, and I think I have succeeded so far.
Surprisingly, I never went on an overdrive to stay fit and in shape. But what really helped me was my participation in sports. I was a complete tomboy and played all kinds of games since childhood — football, basketball, cricket, etc. I would climb trees and swim faster than my brother could. Thanks to my father, my love affair with sports continued and I am still reaping the benefits. He took me to a professional coach and my career in sports began. At that point, I had to exercise hard — more than what non-sports people would do — and achieve a high level of fitness. I continued swimming and riding even after I gave up my sports career.
What I have always believed in is staying active. I don’t drive when I can walk or take the lift when I can climb the stairs. I like to sweat it out and that too with a smile. This is the basic level of activity that everyone should follow. This should be followed up with a little bit of yoga or simple freehand exercises at home. That’s what I have always done.
I don’t think that you need costly gadgets at home to stay fit. If you still want some, you should go to the gym. I visit a gym only once in a blue moon. This does not mean that I discourage others from going to gyms. But a lot depends on the choice of the gym and that’s where, I believe, everyone should exercise their discretion. The gadgets should be proper and the instructor should be a good one with some credentials — make sure he is not the local DJ who is doubling as the gym trainer. The best way to avoid walking into any such trap is to educate yourself on the subject. Read journals and even watch the television for health-related programmes. And don’t go for crash courses or any such shortcuts. You can have a crash course in spoken English or something alike. How can you have a fast-track slimming course? That’s impossible.
Any fitness programme needs to be supported by a good and balanced diet. And the simpler your diet, the better for your health. I am not much of a food freak — and not too adventurous as well. I like homemade food made with little oil. My choice of food is based on a very simple philosophy — there is a limit to how much food your body needs. Don’t stuff yourself. Take only the amount you can burn. In other words, your lifestyle should dictate how much food you should consume. Avoid grub from restaurants and fast-food joints.
Thanks to my active lifestyle, I am coping with extra work and pressure very well. With the elections, I am on my toes from dawn to dusk. My survival kit is simple food and gallons of water. There are, however, small concessions I give myself. There are certain food habits I cannot change — my addiction to sweets, for instance. If I don’t have anything sweet after dinner, I feel I have missed something. I love mishti doi and that can only come from a sweet shop. I try to make up for that slip by skipping a meal, if necessary.
Last but not the least, if you are not happy and have no peace within, then you are not healthy. Good health is complete only when there is both physical and mental well-being. One is incomplete without the other. So, fitness is not just muscles, workouts or gyms. You have to stay fit in your mind to look healthy. Keep smiling — it generates positive energy.
Nafisa’s food chart
• For breakfast, I take only a bowl of porridge within half an hour of leaving bed.
• Lunch consists of just one chapatti, and two to three varieties of subzi and dahi. In the afternoon, I take a cup of light tea with a couple of biscuits. For dinner, I have a slice of toasted bread and any one Continental preparation. I also take desserts.
• I drink a lot of water. I often drink a glass of nimbu paani with a pinch of salt. It’s not only refreshing but also good for summers. It prevents dehydration.
• I take mostly vegetarian food — I like to make the most of the vast range of fruits, vegetables and legumes that grow in our country. For non-vegetarian food, I stick to fish. It is healthy and nutritious and can be cooked with a little oil and spices.
• I avoid eating out. Outside food may be highly appetising but is not good for our system. Try to keep your food simple — even bland foods can be very tasty. So don’t just go by the looks of the food — be careful about what you eat.