Fitness in 40's

(**Typewriter keystrokes**) Somewhere in the Himalayas. March 2019.

The excitement was making way for exhaustion. One winding trail after another was knocking the wind out of my sails. The mountain air was refreshing only to be polluted by the thick black smoke coming out of age-old Land Rovers that were climbing up the terrain made of unwieldy stones arranged haphazardly. The trek organizer at Manebhanjang was right in warning us that the hike from Kalapokhri to Sandakphu is the steepest and will test our endurance. At the time, 6.5 km did not seem much. How hard can this really be?

Earlier that day, after our guide briefed us on the technicalities of the hike, we quickly settled into a nice rhythm. Small steps, steady speed, hydration, and stopping by every 45 mins or so. The first half of the trial was confidence-inspiring, I even managed to outpace both Anand and our guide. The early sights of Kanchenjunga left such an impression that I could not wait to see it from the highest point (Sandakphu). With 2 more km to go, however, things changed. My legs could no longer take the weight of my body forward. My lungs were on overdrive. I could sense the frustration in my guide's voice as I sat down on the wayside for one more time. We hadn't booked accommodation in advance and multiple vehicles were ferrying up people by dozens created the risk of not finding a room. The Himalayan weather was starting to look threatening.

As I drew into my energy reserves to haul myself to the top, it was clear that my fitness levels were mortifying. Altitude sickness had crept in and one needed this 6.5 km stretch at 3600 m altitude to drive the point home. It was time to do something about it. 

(**Dramatic heavy metal plays in the background**)

But it takes more than one embarrassing hike to hit the gym. Things did not happen soon. Till one day, I decided to 'just inquire' about membership to a newly opened fitness center in the vicinity. That they don't call them gym's anymore was one of many realizations I had in the last few months. So if you have hit your 40s and want to become a regular, here are 6 things that you must know -   

1. You still need a gym partner - even more than before. Well back in the days, you were told to work out in pairs - to push each other, stack up the weights, provide contingency in case too much weight was attempted, watch the balance, composure etc. The job description now has changed. These days - the partner basically helps you shoot the Instagram videos of your workout.

2. Cross fit - Designed with barbaric intentions, "functional exercises" are a form of workout where one is put in a group of athletic individuals and made to do a sequence of progressively higher intensity exercises with decreasing amounts of rest time in between sets - until you retire out of exhaustion or embarrassment - whichever is earlier. And yes - you probably heard it wrong. It is not burfee - but burpee. 

3. Dress it up - Since your last visit to that sweaty basement gym in Delhi two decades back, an entire industry has come up. Now there is a dress code that allows you to basically wear all colours as long as they are black and wear anything that is from Decathalon. And yes. Time to actually wear the fitness tracker that your office gave you last Diwali. Also, please download the fitness app. 

4. Personal trainer - The guy hovering around you passing subtle comments about your 'lack of technique' and wanting to understand your 'fitness goals' is very likely to sell his services as a personal trainer in another 12 minutes sharp. Just wait for it.  Tik Tok.

5. Sadhguru - Yes that same guy. He knows it all. Everything about all muscle groups. Technique. Reps. Diet. Sleep. Injury and Sex. Even adjusts the music volume and changes tracks - although the gym disallows it. He is a constant across generations. Just that he hasn't found the time to work on his own fitness. Commands so much respect from everybody around. Make friends with him. Pronto.

6. Powerlifting - Oh this is the new fad. Get comfortable. This one is an Instagram hit as boys and girls alike have taken to it with much aplomb. The problem? Well, every single time you attempt it, someone definitely has a piece of advice for you - to take it slow and start with squats and gradually build it up. And Sadhguru is most certainly watching you from the other corner of the gym. He will talk to you at some time.

But if one can negotiate these changes, the rewards are promising - as a trainer once told me. As I prepare for my next Himalayan Trek later this year, I will have an opportunity to test how the new age conditioning in the gym could help. But that one is for a subsequent blog.