Sheela Nambiar transformed her life through some simple exercises. Her recent book Get Size Wise serves a guide to a healthy lifestyle. By Karan Bhardwaj
For Ooty-based Sheela Nambiar, who began her career in 1994 as obstetrician and gynaecologist, life was about clinics, patients, surgeries and home. Soon she was arrested by fatigue as her unfit lifestyle depressed her. To break the rut, she began with an hour-long exercise. Relentless determination kept her going.
Two decades later, she is a name for many reasons – a renowned personality in medical profession, fitness trainer, lifestyle consultant and author of Get Size Wise (Rupa Publications), her latest book.
Paying attention to specific body types and metabolism, Nambiar’s book encourages women to understand their bodies and focus on four pillars of fitness — stamina, strength, endurance and flexibility. It also comprises exercise routines, diet suggestions, information tables, lifestyle advice and case studies of clients.
“People confuse fitness with weight issues. For many, losing weight is the only agenda. Once they do it, they return to an unhealthy lifestyle. And that habit is more dangerous than an unhealthy body. I always say manage lifestyle. It’s a necessary in our times,” she said.
Nambiar shared a case study. Her client Monisha, (name changed), took several bizarre steps to reduce her flab. She went to a fitness centre where they made her live on cucumber juice and mudbaths. It was frightfully expensive, but by the time she left in two weeks, she was thrilled to be kilos lighter. But after sometime, reverted to her original size.
Then she discovered lasix, a diuretic. She had developed high blood pressure, and part of the medication included a small dose of lasix to control it.
To her delight, she found when she took it, she was lighter and got in a blouse she couldn’t fit earlier. But this affected her health. “ Now she is much better in shape and enjoy working out.”
According to her, a fit person is always a better performer than the unfit. Doing exercise gives you the right frame of mind. And this improves your output. Forty-five-year-old Nambiar had come out of a surgery when she took our call. “I just tackled a complicated case but I am not exhausted. In fact, I am ready to take on more.
Half of the day is gone but I don’t feel tired. In the evening, I have to take classes as well,” she told us.Nambiar also runs a fitness campaign called ‘Training Training for life fitness studio’ in Chennai and Ooty. “We do various activities and workshops to promote social wellness. Under this programme, there’s a movie and book club. Our fitness classes are held at YWCA, Ooty. Recently we held a 3-day long diet and body conditioning workshop. It detailed fitness routines people can follow at home,” said the expert who became a certified fitness and lifestyle consultant with National Association of Fitness Certification, US in 1999.