Mangaluru: The 15th episode of the global talk show TheSfactor titled Fuelling your Fitness was held on Friday August 13 at 4 pm. Dr. Sujatha Kelkar Shetty, Author, Biological Scientist, and Certified Life Coach, Wanitha Ashok, Fit India Ambassador & Lifestyle Motivator, Dr. Nikita Suresh, Fit India Ambassador & Nutritionist, Gautham Sangappa, Proton Fitness Academy, and Helius D’Souza, Author and Fitness Trainer. Influencers Shekhar Vijayan and Sameera Fernandes hosted the show.
Wanitha Ashok, Fit India Ambassador & Lifestyle Motivator
When asked about the source of inspiration for stepping into the world of fitness, Wanitha Ashok, Fit India Ambassador & Lifestyle Motivator said that, “I was very much inspired by Tao Porchon-Lynch and I was fortunate enough to meet her on her 101st birthday before she left the world. People say that age has no bar or that it is all in one’s head. But then she proved it by practising yoga and becoming the world’s oldest Yoga teacher at the age of 101. She was a living example of what I was talking about. When I ask people how old they are, they usually respond with numbers like 40 or 50. I am 54 and old age is nowhere near me.”
She emphasised that exercise, a healthy life-style helps in anti- aging and there are many living examples around whom everyone can look up to. She also insisted on making life-style changes.
Wanitha also said that is the only place you have to enjoy life is your body. “Everyone has a dream life, and in order to achieve it, you must be healthy and fit. I am a firm believer and a promoter of general fitness and nutrition.” She advised that people must return to their origins. “Even in their 70s and 80s, our great grandmothers were in good health. They were extremely active and lived life to the fullest.”
She further stated that, “If you wish to walk without a walking stick, make a move today and look after yourself. Otherwise, all of your hard-earned cash will be spent on medication. When it comes to people, I strive to educate them as much as possible.”
“My inspiration comes from unconditional love,”- Dr. Sujatha Kelkar Shetty, Author, Biological Scientist, and certified Life Coach
Dr. Sujatha mentioned that her source of motivation is unconditional love from an adult who is no longer naive. “They know the world and they know the difference. When you see these in an adult, you know they’ve found their spiritual equilibrium. This is what inspired me.
When asked about diet and fitness she said, “It’s all about having more calories going out than coming in when it comes to losing weight. Nutrition accounts for 70 per cent of weight loss and is determined by how, when, and what you consume. You will notice a difference when you feed your body nutritious foods.”
She said that everybody needs to be kind to their body. “We need a lot of healing right now and it starts within us. You work on yourself, mind, soul and body. And that’s how you bring change to the world.”
Dr. Nikita Suresh, Fit India Ambassador & Nutritionist
Dr. Nikita Suresh, Fit India Ambassador & Nutritionist explained, “What I do is compare my own advancement and not with others. If it’s about fitness, for example, I’d talk about how much I improved last week and how I’ll continue to improve this week. I’m constantly competing with myself.”
She went on to say that eating healthy always makes her feel good. “When people see me eat at an event eating, they often wonder if it’s because I’m a nutritionist. I tell them that I have been doing this even before I started working. When I was 21 years old, I began teaching Zumba. At a very young age, I became interested in fitness.” She further stated that this keeps her motivated and she likes what she does.
“I try to talk to people, educate them and help them to move out from whatever stress they are dealing with,” she added.
Nikitha is of the opinion that majority of people go for fitness training to look a certain way. “You want to have a wonderful time with your friends, so you go outside with them. Fitness is the same way. Because it is good for your health. Fitness, as previously stated, is a way of life. The happier you are, the stronger your body becomes. I hope it becomes a part of people’s lives.” she professed.
Gautham Sangappa, Proton Fitness Academy
Gautham completed his engineering degree and began his career in a corporate company. “Even though I have to sit for long periods of time at work, I keep my body moving. That’s when I realised a corporate job wasn’t for me and chose to pursue a career in fitness.”
He is of the opinion, “the fitness industry back in 2008, and its knowledge were insufficient. People needs to be educated in terms of fitness. That’s why I started Proton Fitness Academy to bridge this gap.”
Sangappa began his teaching with just two students, and today he trains almost 3000 people. “The goal is to ensure that people are following scientific procedures and getting the results they desire. I want everyone to be educated, to join the system, and to follow scientific principles. As a result, we’ve developed a variety of courses for people,” he added.
Answering to a question about women developing muscles like men, he mentioned that many people have a misunderstanding about the difference between muscle and fat. “Women, for example, come to me and express their dissatisfaction with the sagging muscle under their arm. They want a toned physique. However, when I ask them about the tone, they are stumped.”
He further explained that women often do not produce as much testosterone as men. It’s for this reason that they bulk up like guys. For women to reach the muscular physique like men, they have to put in lots of effort. Helius too agreed to this.
“I look up to people who make an effort to change,” says Helius D’Souza, Author and Fitness Trainer
Helius stated that, “I got my first inspiration when I was four years old. My mother was feeding me food, which I refused to eat. My father had a book on Arnold Schwarzenegger’s biography, and in it, I saw a picture of him doing a double biceps posture. My mother immediately asked me to eat my food if I wanted to look like him. It’s kind of stuck with me all these years.”
Today, it’s about seeing people make an attempt to make a difference in their lives despite their difficulties and tight schedules. These people inspire me because they don’t make excuses. They would go to any extent to make a change in the life. To me they are my heroes more than Arnold.
“If your making lifestyle change, what you are eating itself is right,” he said responding to the question on cheat meals.
Rapid fire round was done after the first half of the session where they were asked to answer how important is fitness to them. All invitees gave their valuable insights and opinion on the same.
The guests discussed about their healthy eating habits, how they may improve their lifestyle habits and fitness tips. They also emphasised and advised people to start living a healthy life and embrace a lifestyle that would keep you happy. Guests shared their message for Independence Day and with this the hosts winded up the session.
