Running to enjoy, not to exercise

Who would indulge in a strenuous activity without the desire to lose weight, you ask? Well, Vashi resident Sunil BS began running to get over the grief after an eight year long relationship with his girlfriend ended, though amicably. What better than running, he thought, as it helps release endorphins that lead to euphoria or what is often called ‘runner’s high’.

Residing close to the Mini Seashore was an added boon and Sunil started his mornings with a brisk run, since last November.

“When I began running, I was overweight and so it was difficult to run even 100 metre at a stretch. So, I used to run for sometime then walked and continued to run again. Slowly, the momentum increased and I started running for two hours daily,” he says.

“There is no better way to begin your morning as it is immensely refreshing,” asserts Sunil. Once he got past the starting troubles, he started looking forward to the run everyday. Running in the scorching heat would not be tolerable and thus he started out at 5am during summers. Even if it rained heavily, Sunil did not miss his daily routine.

“The important aspect in running is to maintain the discipline and being consistent. Even if you take a day off, it becomes difficult to get back in track,” he explains.

And here is the good news. Over a period of six months, Sunil managed to lose around 30kg and has a fit and lean physique now. Though, that was not his motive for indulging in the exercise, he is certainly a happy man. “There are no words to describe how good I feel, not only physically but also mentally. And the key is to run for the joy of it, not with the intention of losing weight,” he says.

Working as a journalist with a leading newspaper, Sunil has a lot of field work to do and getting back in shape made everything easy. Even travelling in and around Mumbai ceased to cause tiredness. Friends and family were shocked and surprised to see a drastic change in him and everyone had quirky comments to make. “My boss said I looked like a school boy and that was particularly flattering,” he says, laughing.

And, what does he have to say to all the fitness freaks out there who frequent gyms in order to shed the extra kilos? Should they follow his path? “People should do what suits them best.

I enrolled in one of the most expensive gyms in Navi Mumbai but it did not change anything for me, except leaving a sizable dent in my pocket. And, since I am an amateur weight lifter, I realised that trainers frequently misguide clients. So, it is better that you decide what exercise/activity suits you, rather than depending on trainers,” he advises.

He added, “As for running, you can never be consistent in it or enjoy it if you set out with the aim of losing weight. That shouldn’t be the priority. One should enjoy the activity and run for the joy of it.”

Enjoyment with a tinge of gain
Over a period of six months, Sunil managed to lose around 30kg and has a fit and lean physique now. Though, that was not his motive for indulging in the exercise, he is certainly a happy man.

His friends and family were shocked and surprised to see a drastic change in him and everyone had quirky comments to make.