Mainstream media and the internet are full of fitspirations these days. Blog articles, fitness pages on social media and numerous TV shows are vying to get fitness mantras and to-dos across to an increasingly impressionable audience mainly comprising of the youth. All of the mayhem can ultimately affect us, no matter how hard we try not to let it.

As a person who considered himself to be of the overweight variety about four months ago, I had to make a conscious decision to get fitter and leaner. I have made some progress since, but I have had my share of hiccups en route to a fitter self over the years. Here’s to all of those..

1. Walk, Jog, Run, Repeat..

As an amateur in the workout world, extensive exercise was my go-to solution. I would do extensive bouts of cardio at every chance I got. I’d cover 8 kilometres a day and still end up doubting if my efforts were paying. Needless to say, they never did.

Don’t be surprised. I was never consistent with my efforts then. I’d run on a Monday, then skip workout for the next 3 days owing to sheer lack of motivation and the supposed “lack of time” that was a product of my imagination.

As a result, I never got ‘results’. (Yes, I am great at puns)

It was only when I decided to buck up did things change bit by bit. Yes, running around parks these days is nothing short of an obstacle course – too many merry makers walking in groups, leaves a small part of the track to joggers.

However, take it or leave it are the only choices you have mate!

2. Green Tea – The Frenemy.

A close friend once suggested green tea as a health drink. It’s supposed to help you lose weight and also detox your body. Sounds good, eh?

The description was impressive. The taste wasn’t.

My first trial with green tea didn’t end well. I actually had to eat a chocolate post that cup of tea to rid my mouth of the horrid taste. (Imagine the irony! A health drink that makes you eat a bar of chocolate)

I have shared a love-hate relationship with it since. I still drink it at times, oft forcefully than willingly.

Just for the record, I have also tried black coffee since and I find it more bearable.

3. Those elusive gym sessions..

Gym memberships that count for nothing were my forte once upon a time. I have had instances when in a three month membership, I have been to the gym for just one.

Giving up too soon, expecting overnight results and not giving your body the time it needs can have adverse effects (on your health as well as your state of mind).

As of now, not thinking too far into the future and taking those gym sessions one at a time seems to be working well.

4. To eat or not to eat?

Trying to regulate your eating habits can be an uphill task when you’ve just started off.

There are times when I am good at it. More often than not though, I tend to give in to my temptations and wallow in regret soon after. The guilt however, lasts only for five minutes.

No matter how strict my diet plans are, you can always serve me a scoop of frozen dessert and watch me go weak in the knees.

              Ice cream wins on most days and might well continue to.

5. Clothing crisis..

The sad bit about losing those extra pounds – too many oversized pieces of clothing in your wardrobe.

They can make you look like anything from a sumo wrestler to a hippie.

The solution – Gain all the flab you have lost in the form of muscle and voila! They’re perfect again.

I hope to get there, eventually.

#MustKeepWorking

6. Desperation

Unlike Bruce Wayne, I have tasted desperate. There was a point in time when, if someone had told me that walking upside down all day helps you lose weight, I would probably have done that.

7. YouTube Videos

Before I had my gym membership, I depended on YouTube to train me on my way to fitness.

Before you undermine this idea, let me tell you that YouTube has a decent collection of channels dedicated to fitness – I chose one that focused on bodyweight training.

I was all pumped up and ready to go when I saw these videos. They had exercises for every muscle group.

It was only after I started doing these exercises, did I realise, that I was running out of breath halfway through those sessions. Just 15 minutes into those workouts, (with plenty of resting between sets) I would be huffing and puffing as if I had done a full blown tabata session – I was wishing I could head out to the market and buy myself some stamina. (If only that could actually happen)

The road to a fitter version of you is one laden with challenges at every step. However, I believe that determination and dedication along with a spoonful of consistency can get you there. Diet plans might crash, you might inevitably miss your workout on some days and on some others, dragging yourself out of the cosiness of your bed might be a challenge in itself.

Ask yourself, is giving up even a choice?

If you do find an answer and an easier way out, let me know please.