When it’s about fitness, you’ve got a deal!

Vineeta SinghVineeta Singh is a familiar face among the cityrsquos marathoners Before the SUGAR cosmetics founder became a known face for her entrepreneurial endeavours stories of her completing a 21kilometre marathon during her pregnancy the coveted Ironman triathlon comprising a 38km swim a 180km bicycle ride and a 42km run and multiple Comrades ultramarathons 89kilometre runs often hit headlinesAlthough an activity she chanced upon she quickly found running rather meditative ldquoIt has the power to remove me from my environment and enhance my focus It serves as an escape from the mundane I exercise for an hour a day at least This lsquometimersquo helps me alleviate mental stress and increases productivity I start my day with a run This has numerous benefits mdash it is a means to stay fit alleviate stress and have heightened energy throughout the dayrdquo says SinghSingh had completed the Ironman triathlon 38km swim 180km ride and 42km run in 2017Singh has always established that indulging in sports since childhood has played a crucial role in shaping her ldquoIt teaches one to be disciplined deal with failure and be agile It has taught me some of the most important lessons of my life including the importance of hardwork and resilience Being active beats lethargy which would have otherwise hampered my day I am a better version of myself on the days that I exercise It also brings out my competitive spirit which over the years has helped me become the best version of myself In college I was an intrauniversity badminton player While studying at IIMAhmedabad I learnt of my interest in running My friends had taken a trip to Mumbai to be part of the marathon It was a lifechanging momentrdquoWhile the routines of the general public took a hit amid the lockdown Singh levelled up ldquoMy friends and I started a virtual bootcamp and practised HIIT based formats like Tabata Variation kept me motivated Running a startup can be quite demanding Long hours and sleepless nights made it impossible to exercise more than three times in a week But during the pandemic I took to a 100day training challenge and exercised for 120 days instead Looking back I can see that it helped me remain calm and enhanced my immunity Irsquom currently content with my fitness journey and would never trade it for anythingrdquoSinghrsquos fitness mantrasNever skip mealsAlways stay hydratedFind the exercise that suits youSnack mindfullyStay consistentNamita ThaparBefore Namita Thapar hit the age of 40 her weight was at the mercy of her eating habits which in turn were affected by stressful situations ldquoI was an emotional eater and would indulge in stress eating during my board exams chartered accountancy exams and during the while that I was in the US away from my family Due to this my weight would yoyo significantly When I turned 40 I realised thatI needed to make changes to my lifestylerdquo says the Emcure Pharmaceuticals CEO who practices a mix of yoga functional training dance and aerobics apart from walking sessions in the evenings Dance she says inevitably found a place in her life given her profound love for Bollywood a confession she has made on television on several occasionsThapar credits her gamut of trainers for keeping her routine in check ldquoI used to train sporadically but now I do so six days a week I have trainers for the different fitness classes and they help me stay consistent I am not a fan of highintensity exercises like kickboxing marathon running or spinning It doesnrsquot suit my bodytype Itrsquos good to be fit but itrsquos nice to have some curves and the right amount of fatrdquoThapar practices yoga danceHomecooked meals with restricted quantities of oil and masala are a staple Given that she is a vegetarian Thapar usually indulges in soups and salads at lunch and rotis and sabzi for dinner However being mindful of the kind of food that impacts her poorly has helped her chalk out a list she refrains from ldquoI listen to my body and minimise consuming things like Chinese food mushrooms and milk One must be aware of the signals one receives from the bodyrdquoIn the wee hours of the day before her duties as mother wife and CEO beckon her Thapar wraps up her exercise sessions ldquoIt is the first thing that I do in the morning There are days when I donrsquot feel like training but I push myself Exercise helps me stay calm and positive Most importantly I love fashion so looking fit helps me pull off a variety of ensembles I have learnt to accept my flaws and love them too Thatrsquos important I am so much more than just my bodytype It is important to remember thatrdquoShe reiterates that pampering herself is just as important as training her body Thapar often credits women for their management skills but believes they have a long way to go when it comes to managing guilt ldquoI take time out of my schedule to focus on my breathing I donrsquot mind being labelled selfish for doing things that make me happy like going out with my girlfriends and getting massages If you are happy you will be a better mother wife and leader Prioritise yourself and donrsquot worry about the labels Getting rid of guilt and external validation has made me a calmer and happier personrdquoFitness tips that work for Thapar Mostly I eat glutenfree foods It makes me feel more energeticI had a massive sweet tooth but have cut down on the amount of sugar I consume Now I have dessert only twice a week I find healthier options Itrsquos worth investing time in thisI believe in Ayurveda and homoeopathy which help improve the immune systemI eat natural foods like almonds that have been soaked overnight or adrink which is a mix of dates and black raisins I change my habits according to the season For instance in the summer I will have a drink that is made of jeera ajwain and saunf because it cools the systemI donrsquot believe in strict diets Eating well is important for good skin and energy