A foolproof fitness plan

When it comes to life, Rakesh Badola has a simple philosophy: never preach something you don't believe in. "In the service industry, you want people to believe in the importance of well-being and fitness. No one takes a pot-bellied associate seriously. You need to be fi t and presentable to convey your message," says the 32-year-old associate director of F&B at Hyatt Regency, New Delhi. For Badola taking stock of food and beverage at work comes as naturally as spending hours at the gym. "If you don't respect and care for your body, it will never make you feel proud about it," he quips.

On a strong footing

Thanks to a strict and disciplinarian father, who served in the army, fitness was an integral part of his growing up years. "Even the games that I played with my brothers involved climbing up ropes, setting up tents in the garden, pretending we were at war, moving across the lawn on our elbows or lunge walking with imaginary snipers around, all this helped me stay abreast of my peers at school sports competitions," says Badola. These childhood games equipped him with a good muscle memory that proved handy years later.

Too good to ignore

"I was able to pursue my love for fitness after I began my career in the hotel industry 10 years ago. It's the kind of job in which you get a chance to interact with motley of people: from movie stars to political leaders to industrialists, authors and many others. Some of them leave an indelible imprint on your mind. I was inspired by a few for their commitment to fitness despite their busy schedules," he says. In the beginning Badola's fitness regime only comprised an early morning jog of 45 minutes but gradually he realised there was a difference between being fi t and having a good body. He also wanted a body that he had seen some of the celebs he met flaunt.

Build up to the destination once having made up his mind; he became a regular at the hotel gym. "Getting a body of your dreams isn't an easy task. It requires single-minded dedication, discipline and perseverance. But I had my goals clearly chalked out and there was no deliberation. Working out, for me had become as important as eating to drive away hunger," he says. Given the strict environment that he had been brought up in, adapting to routine and maintaining discipline wasn't difficult for him.

Workout essentials

As far as consistently following a workout schedule is concerned, Badola feels he is lucky to be in the hotel industry, where a gym and a certified trainer is easily available. "I would arrive a few hours before my shift and head to the gym. Till date, I begin with a 15-20 minutes warm up followed by push-ups, pull-ups, barbell chest presses, chest fly, bicep curls, shoulder presses and bicep dips. Over the weekend or on my weekly day off s, I double my hours at the gym," he says. But the road to fitness isn't always a cake walk, it comes with a fair share of ups and downs and Badola hasn't escaped it. "Those big sculpted arms take time. At times, results don't show and you tend to get demoralised. But the trick is not to give up and persist with your mission. It took me 10 years to get to where I am today," adds Badola

A vegetarian plan of action

Another important move besides charting an exercise regime was turning vegetarian. Badola completely eschewed any form of non-vegetarian fare, dispelling general notions that only chicken, fish and eggs provide the protein needed for building muscles. "I discussed with nutritionists at the hotel, read up on the net and also followed Men's Health to come up with a diet that accounted for my nutritional requirement. I spread my six meals through the day and it comprises different types of dals, green leafy vegetables such as spinach, broccoli and beans; paneer, chappatis, fruits and dry fruits," he says. It has been 10 years since, but he still sticks to his diet. "If at times I end up eating rich oily food, I try and balance it by increasing my workout for that day," he says

Fighting temptation Badola feels the best way to fight your temptations is to give in. "The thought that you are depriving yourself of something acts like a catalyst for the brain to want it even more. It's essential to have cheat days where you can feast on almost anything. After all, no one said you can't have little fun on your road trip to fitness." he says.