I’m often asked in jest if pursuing fitness and wellness is all I do. My solemn, stock answer is “fitness enables me to do ALL that I do “. And it’s true! If it weren’t for my physical fitness, I wouldn’t be able to do a fraction of what I do.

For starters, it gives me greater bandwidth. The time I invest in my wellness schedule comes back at least three times over in the form of heightened productivity. I find that right after my exercise (running, swimming, tennis, HIIT whatever it may be that day) I’m the happiest and also the most productive. The endorphins released as a result of elevated heart rate not only mitigate the effect of the stress we carry, but also clear the head, allowing for more objectivity.

I firmly believe pursuing a wellness regimen makes you a better version of yourself and helps you not only maximise your potential but also be the best you can be at everything that you do. I’m an entrepreneur, an actor and a producer, I’m always up for new challenges, I pursue my hobby of flying and biking with zest, spend time with my family and dogs, and in general I would say I’m an optimistic, happy person. And I have wellness to thank for it.

Finding time

When interacting with people on the subject, I’m often asked how I find the time. The most common refrain from people who want to pursue fitness but don’t, is the lack of time. And I ask them a simple question—what do folks like Mark Zuckerberg, Justin Trudeau, Vladimir Putin, and Barack Obama (when he was president) have in common? The answer is that despite being very busy, and not to mention important people, they all invest time in pursuing a fitness regimen. Condoleezza Rice, even when Secretary of State and travelling across continents religiously ran five miles everyday! The reason some of the most successful and busy people in the world invest time in fitness is because they understand the power of unleashing their maximum potential.

Exercise vs weight loss

When I was younger I focused more on the visual benefit of fitness. I was introduced to running by my father at age 15 and can’t say I liked it. I thought exercise was something pursued by people who wanted to lose weight. But as my fitness levels increased (even though I remained the same size, considering I wasn’t overweight to begin with) I began to feel stronger and happier. And before I knew it, I was hooked.

Over the years I have actively pursued many forms of fitness. From marathon running that allows targeted goal oriented training to strength and resistance training to yoga to playing a sport, I keep varying my pursuits. And today at 38, I believe I’m actually fitter and stronger than I was at 15 years of age. Oh and by the way, I’m still pretty much the same size.

What is wellness?

In recent years, my focus has shifted from fitness to wellness. Wellness is all encompassing and not just restricted to the physical form. Making sure the mind is well is equally important. I now end my fitness regimen everyday with breathing exercises and meditation.

A wellness regimen makes you a better version of yourself and helps not only maximise your potential but also be the best you can be at everything that you do

Gul Panag

Lessons Learnt

  1. The endorphins released as a result of elevated heart rate not only lessen the effect of the stress we carry, but also clear the head, allowing for more objectivity.
  2. Most successful and busy people in the world invest time in fitness because they understand the power of unleashing their maximum potential.
  3. Exercise is not just to lose weight, but to feel stronger and happier.
  4. Actively pursue many forms of fitness—running to strength and resistance training to yoga or try your hand at a sport.
  5. Eating right is an important part of wellness, because exercise alone cannot absolve us of the sins of eating wrong.
  6. No matter how fit one gets, how fast one can run, how much one can lift, there’s always room to get better.

Eating right is an important part of wellness, because exercise alone cannot absolve us of the sins of eating wrong. Most of us are particular about what fuel we put in our cars. We don’t put petrol in a diesel car, because that would compromise the engine. What we eat is fuel for our body, why do we then compromise on what goes in? I’m not advocating living without indulgence. All I’m suggesting is regulating it. And being aware of when we’re indulging—because we often lose perspective and can’t tell nutrition apart from indulgence.

When do you achieve wellness

Another key lesson I’ve learnt over the years is that wellness (and fitness) is actually a journey. One never quite ‘arrives’—because the moment one thinks one has reached one’s goal and stops—the slide begins. It’s actually most evident right after achieving a goal.

I had trained very hard for a particular half marathon some years ago and achieved my target timing. Basking in the glory of my success, I took a few weeks off only to find even running 5 km was a challenge. No matter how fit one gets, how fast one can run, how much one can lift, there’s always room to get better. It’s only this spirit that can maintain a lifelong commitment to wellness.

‘Losing weight for a wedding, or a film role’ in my opinion are shallow goals that give no long-term benefit. The goal to have is to live a fuller, healthier life, keep vitality at a maximum and illness at bay.

The body is a medium to live life.  After all we have only one! This very body if looked after well, by eating and exercising for longevity and not merely to look good, will serve us well. We are all going to grow old, might as well have a healthy body to see us through.

Short Takes

First thing you do when you get out of bed: Stretch.

What gives you energy: Eating right and exercising regularly. I aim to do 5 days a week of exercise targeting strength, flexibility, and endurance-ending each session with breathing exercises.

Secret life hack: When in doubt or stressed—I go for a quick run. The endorphins fix everything.

Relationship with your phone: I use my phone to increase my productivity. However I’m not owned by it. I check mail/messages only at predetermined intervals. I don’t take it to bed with me.

Last time you felt burned out: I do have moments of feeling overwhelmed by all that I do. Taking every day as a new challenge to achieve something new is what keeps me going.

How do you overcome failure? Get up, dust myself and try another approach.

You unexpectedly find 15 minutes in your day, what do you do with it: Grab a power nap. I can do it anywhere. On a chair. Or leaning against a pole.

A quote that gives you strength: “Never Give In”! For me every day is a new challenge, something more to be done, something new to be achieved.

Author(s)

  • Gul Panag

    Actor

    Gul Panag is an actor and entrepreneur and a wellness advocate. She is a co-founder of Mobiefit, a suite of health-and-wellness applications and the inaugural member of Thrive’s India Evangelist Network.