BackHealthy, wealthy, and wise
Just like how a budding entrepreneur or a manager has to work hard to climb to the top, the rich also have to put in a lot of effort to look sculpted
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The ultra-rich have all the money in the world to eat in lavish restaurants, relish the cuisine of their choice when at home, and live life king-size. But how do they really manage to stay fit?
Just like how a budding entrepreneur or a manager has to work hard to climb to the top, the rich also have to put in a lot of effort to look sculpted.
Globally, many chief executive officers of high-profile companies such as Kellogg Co., Burger King Corp., Walt Disney Co., Nike, Inc., Siemens AG, the Vanguard Group and PepsiCo Inc. are marathon runners.
Many vouch that running and working out are stress busters. Take the case of Naveen Jindal, chairman of Jindal Steel and Power Ltd. He is a national record holder in skeet shooting and an accomplished polo player. Raghuram Rajan, governor of Reserve Bank of India, is a marathon runner, a swimmer and a squash and tennis player.
Many Indian chief executives are fitness freaks such as N. Chandrasekaran, chief executive officer of Tata Consultancy Services Ltd, and Anil Ambani, chairman of Reliance Anil Dhirubhai Ambani Group.
Other than relieving stress, working out gives these professionals much needed time with themselves and it provides an outlet away from the hustle and bustle of office. Mittu Chandilya, chief executive officer at AirAsia India, says, “I train for an hour to 90 minutes depending on the workout and the stress I need to get out."
Chandilya, who is always on the run, says he carries his shoes and gym clothes with him. “Even while on the road, I try and maintain the same workout regime," says Chandilya.
Some even hire a personal trainer.
Talwalkars Better Value Fitness Ltd caters to the wealthy by offering premium services. “There are options for home training for those who do not have time to come to the gym. The trainer carries EMS (electrical muscle stimulation) training machines with her to rich clients which gives them a body workout in just 20 minutes a week," said Prashant Talwalkar, managing director and chief executive officer, Talwalkars Better Value Fitness.
Celebrities and corporate honchos also undergo boot camp training to keep fit, according to Sucheta Pal, a fitness trainer and zumba expert, who trains company chiefs and celebrities. “The boot camp regime focuses more on strength training. It is a high-intensity workout followed by intervals of low-intensity rest period and lasts around one hour," says Pal.
Now there may be some who may not be able to undergo high-intensity training or have the luxury of hiring a personal trainer, so they change their workout methods to make it more adoptable.
Chandilya changed his training methods to use the gym more and was not able to have a personal trainer because of his busy schedule. He says that since he has to jump on the plane at any given time, discipline is imperative for him to ensure he gets his workout done. “Today my workouts are a mix of cardio, weight training and floor exercises. So it’s a combination of treadmills, elliptical trainer, stair master, weight lifting, pilates, zumba, yoga and core training," he says.
The wealthy also like to ensure that their workout is also family time. Kapil Wadhawan, chairman and managing director of Dewan Housing Finance Corp. Ltd, says that there is too much family pressure, so he works out with his family along with a personal trainer.
Chandilya dances with his wife and three boys on the weekend. “Bouncing on the trampoline is a fun way to get the whole family involved," he adds.
Besides being indoors most of the time for meetings, some choose to venture out.
Wadhawan regularly goes for walks for about 30-45 minutes. Arora of Macquarie runs ultra-marathons and goes for long-distance running and treks during the weekends in the outskirts of Mumbai.
A healthy body cannot be maintained with just a workout regime; one needs to eat healthy as well. Many corporate honchos try to follow strict diets.
“I control portions, avoid sugars and work with my metabolism (I usually don’t eat after 7pm). I drink a lot of water and actually track my intake on my wearables," says Chandilya.
Protein-rich diet is generally followed, which includes tofu, legumes, chicken breast, salads, broccoli and spinach and nuts like walnuts, almonds, pistachios and raisins for snacks.
Talwalkers offers a weight loss programme for rich clients. “We have a diet-based weight loss programme called Reduce for premium customers. It fits into their daily routine as it provides nutritionally balanced vegetarian, low-calorie food with high fibre," says Talwalkar.
These days there are instruments which help one track calorie consumption and the amount of calories burnt.
There are various types of fitness bands available in the market from FitBit to GOQii Band, which allows one to track the number of steps taken during the day, distance walked and calories burnt.
Chandilya uses FitBit Surge and is quite addicted to it. “My wife and few of our friends are in a network where we count our steps and compete for fun. It also tracks my water intake and my dietary consumption," he says.
Just like getting to the top of the corporate ladder is not easy, any form of workout, be it running or playing football or tennis, requires a lot of effort.
“At a deeper level, running is about pushing the limits of realizing one’s possibilities," Ambani had said after completing a marathon in 2011.
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