Mona: Boss
is `REAL FITNESS' a text book? Boss: No dear, REAL FITNESS is an EXERCISE book.
Two ads appeared in sequence in
a leading city daily.
One said "lose 10 to 15 kgs. weight, no exercise, no
dieting.. only `pills & powders'."
The other said "scientific exercise program, balanced
diet and lifestyle modification... no pills or powders,
easy and permanent fat loss and fitness".
The `pill & powder' ad attracted a flurry of response.
The `scientific' ad had a call or two. The first call
was to express shock that one had to exercise to lose
weight!
The other call was to offer the following advice, "If
you want to stay in the fitness business, better start
giving pills & powders"!!
A lot of people live with fitness myths, having
their own concepts and theories of fitness and health.
When it comes to fitness, there are many that believe
strongly in the dictum `ignorance is bliss'. Most people
hate to exercise. Some hate even the thought of it.
Everybody wants a `medicine' that would make him or her
fit. Then there are those who associate frank obesity
with `good health'. There are those who swear by steam
and sauna as the only ways of reducing weight. A tummy
vibrator is hailed as THE machine to reduce the
waistline.
Others shout from the rooftops: "AEROBICS IS HARMFUL"
--period. Still others argue that one cannot match Yoga
to reduce weight.
I have come across many of these characters in my career
as an orthopedic surgeon and sports medicine consultant.
I meet them in my clinics, during talks, audio-visual
demos or corporate sessions on fitness. The time is ripe
for REAL FITNESS. Time to spread correct information on
fitness and dispel a lot of existing myths on fitness.
Unfortunately many of the fitness programs and equipment
sellers have pampered the psychology of the consumer.
Do-nothing-and-get-fit kind of formulae. Most of the
people associate exercise with punishment. A mischievous
schoolboy is often punished for his misbehavior and
asked to run a couple of rounds of the playground. In
keeping with Freudian theory, his subconscious mind
equates running with suffering. On the other hand a good
performance is rewarded with a chocolate. So deep down
it is registered as "Exercise is very bad, very bad and
chocolate is very good, very good!!" Early in life, when
such associations are made, counseling exercise often
becomes an arduous task. It takes a great deal of
patient de-conditioning.
Taking advantage of these human tendencies of exercise
hatred, programs like "Total Fitness in 30 minutes a
week" or "No diet, no exercise only herbal medicines"
hit the human soft spot. Then there are equipment
manufacturers who advertise " 7 minutes a day to
Fitness" and show a Tarzanish figure modeling. Out comes
the wallet--- forget the out come
REAL FITNESS promises no such miracles. For REAL FITNESS
is very close to the truth. A patient, enjoyable way
towards better life. No room for quickies here.
Awareness
REAL FITNESS is an attempt to
create awareness about fitness, clear the existing myths
and provide a simple, concise and practical formula for
fitness. Of these, clearing existing myths seems to be
the most challenging task.
Creating awareness
about fitness in the community is very important for
people need to realise the value of fitness. In REAL
FITNESS we have highlighted most of the benefits of
fitness in an attempt to create awareness. Here, rather
than just emphasizing what would happen if you are not
fit, definite plus points of being fit are provided.
If made interesting, people are willing to listen to
fitness facts. I have realised that after launching the
Fit India Movement in 1994. Fit India Movement is a
grass root level fitness awareness program. Launched
amid fanfare and media appeal with India's greatest
movie idol Amitabh Bachchan, this movement has spread to
various cross sections of society trying to create
fitness awareness. The popularity of the talks and demos
and audience participation reveals that people want to
make a change in themselves-- a positive change.
For book contact:
Nadkarni Clinic, 3/1 Saraswat colony,
Santa Cruz west,
