PERSONAL LIFESTYLE AND FITNESS JOURNEY: MY STORY
I am neither an athletic built person nor a medallist in sports events. I am just a common air force pilot who dedicated most of his time in the professional needs. Yet, I can claim that my heath state and fitness levels are above my peers which I achieved by a persistent heathy and positive approach to life. Today, I enjoy reaping its multifold benefits, having retired a few days back. I was privileged to command two large transport bases of the IAF and the premier Airmen Training School (ATS), Belagavi. My lifestyle benefited many people whom I commanded and interacted with. This led to a domino effect and snowballed to include many others in the respective stations.
My story starts from Academy days when I started enjoying long runs over the weekends. The zeal continued even after I got commissioned. Gradually, the weekend runs changed to a daily routine. I progressed from 5 Km per day to nearly 10-14 kms per day. The routine continues even today be it winters, summers or rainy season. Initially I was worried about straining my knees and joints but gradually I learnt to invest in good shoes and to take proper care of my body. Frequent monitoring of blood pressure and routine lab tests helped in keeping a close watch on unperceived breeches of strain. The runs would help in maintaining my blood sugar and salt levels. Helped me in high metabolism and enjoying my get-togethers and social drinks.
While I was flying Jaguars in my early 20s, I contracted Caries of Spine and was unfit for fighter flying due medical reasons. Since then, I decided to fight back my space in cockpit. I earned great achievements for IAF as a transport pilot later. I believe in a healthy mix of physical exercise, minimalist approach and frugal way of life and healthy eating habits. A routine, that was not harsh to follow, soon became my life-time habit. I restrict myself to minimal salt and sugar diets, routine long runs, rising early morning and sleeping early. Long distance runs became my passion. As AOC of the bases I commanded, I visited each and every nook and corner of the station on foot that ended me in knowing my bases inside-out. I would visit backyard of messes, married quarters and stores even before anyone would be awake. Surprise guard checks were added advantage. En-route, I would interact with many personnel and get firsthand account of administrative services. While at ATS, I would run alongside the trainees during cross country. Most of them now recognize me and greet me, adding to my happiness quotient.
I believed in people realizing their own need to remain fit and healthy. I used all the opportunities like welfare meetings, social get togethers etc. to advise them to make a beginning. Choose a routine as per own convenience be it yoga, walk, gym training, swimming or running. The station PT sessions turned out to be enjoyable activities, presence in sports grounds and park increased manifold and included ladies and children. Self-realization of need to remain fit in triggering own quest for the same. Gradually the same gets converted to self-actualization where a person can feel the difference.
My advice for a beginner seeking fitness and health routine is, to make a start, gradually know your capacity and set your own limits. Don’t get carried away by social media hype on fitness news, videos and WhatsApp ‘gyan’. One needs to be aware of pitfalls of getting into the syndrome of running a ‘Hedonic Treadmill’ as if a person is running inside a looped ring. One’s greed to do well leads to a faster speed of the treadmill ending up in a harder life and unfulfilled goals as the speed continued to increase. In present day, most people forget what gives them happiness and get trapped in gaining minor pleasures. Contentment and gratitude are the means what one needs to realize and follow. The modern generation can read up more on “Easterline Paradox” a term used by psychologists to say that while an income is directly related to happiness at a given time, it does not necessarily lead to increased happiness over the time. I want to remind that a ‘frugal life style’ and ‘minimalistic living’ are the new terms that western world has started adopting. The same has been a traditional way of life in Indian culture, that is, to remain contended.
My story continues even when I have retired recently. The opportunity to meet people in civil streets while I enjoy my runs helps in knowing people beyond routine. My advice to anyone seeking happiness is to take life easy at it comes. Enjoy the wonderful journey and thank mother nature to provide you the same. Medical science has proven that only way to feel contended and happy is by adopting such lifestyle. Enjoy your own journey of release of the DOSE of happy hormones (Dopamine, Oxytocin, Serotonin and Endorphins) by taking part in social and physical activities when you adopt such lifestyle. All the very best. That’s my short story of a long journey.
Air Cmde SK Verma VSM (Retd)
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