There are some things which you think can never happen to you.
But they do, and then you don’t really want to accept it. You don’t know you are sinking, and drowning everyone who loves you. You do things and say things which never should have been done or said. And you can’t take them back. You are trying too hard, and it is taking all your effort but you can’t stand up, can’t open your eyes to the truth, and while you want to do everything, nothing is getting done.
It is a dark place to be in. And just because you can’t see it, doesn’t mean it isn’t there. It is as real as that bloody wound, that running nose, that fractured hand.
I lost 3 years to this sickness.
In 2016, I was at my lowest point. Was barely going out of the house. Lost interest in everything that once gave me joy. This song from my band describes my condition the best:
Then I found my escape in fitness. No one told me to start exercising and I started at home, so no one judged me for doing what I was doing. It was a time I could be myself and let go.
As soon as I started, I realised how much of a toll sitting around had taken on my body. If I sat at a place for sometime, it took me effort to get up from there, my knees and lower back hurt all the time and I was slowly getting a big gujju (gujarati) belly which I absolutely loath.
My friend told me about this website HASfit and how it has great routines you could do at home. And Coach Kosak on HASfit is a great motivator. I started with one of their beginner workout routines.
I kept at it and as I saw my body change, I got inspired to keep going! And those endorphins and hormones were doing their job on my depression as well.
I got obsessed with exercise. I watched hundreds of youtube videos every day and read books on fitness and nutrition. I realised that everyone's body is different, and what works for one, might not work for another. You just have to try it yourself.
So try I did. From lifting weights to callisthenics. From intermittent fasting to calorie counting. I realised that for fitness, nutrition is more important than exercise.
The things that really worked for me were:
- Stopping refined sugar completely. This is something I would recommend to everyone without a doubt. Refine sugar has no nutrition and just accumulates fat in the body.
- Going Gluten free: I always had a bloated stomach problem. I read Novak Djokovic's book Serve To Win and tried going gluten free for 14 days. And realised that even if I had just a mild intolerance to gluten, going gluten free helped me reduce the fat around my belly much faster.
- Stopping junk food. This was a no-brainer.
- Exercise at home: I hate going to the gym and think it's a huge waste of time and money. And my goal isn't to be a body builder. It is to stay fit all year round and be in shape to travel for shows across the country and abroad. Hence exercise from HASfit really worked for me. 20-minute routines you can do at home.
I also deviced my own routine inspired by some challenegs on YouTube. It's called the #500RepsChallenge.
I did this for 14 days straight without a rest day. This was the result:
I also installed a pull-up bar in the house.
It took time and effort, but what kept me going was this intense desire to prove to myself that I can change and be good at something on my own.
This was the change that brought back my confidence and self-esteem. I now have more energy and enthusiasm to do what I love the most - make music!
There are a lot of things I have learned in my fitness journey. And like I said, everyone's body is different. So I avoid giving advice. What I can do is share my experience and small tips that work for me. Everyone is welcome to try it out for themselves.
But remember:
If it doesn't challenge you, it won't change you.
Peace
Hardik