Trolling the Cholesterol

God has been witness to the ferocity with which I’ve fought the urge to exercise. Multiple failed New Year resolutions, at least four ‘donations’ to the neighbourhood gym (it’s high time we start getting tax exemption for gym memberships), countless taunts (thanks mom!) and innumerable sighs & heartburns inside the trial rooms (fit people will probably never understand this pain) – nothing worked hard enough for me to workout. And then four months back, in a typically filmy style, my doctor looked at my lipid profile test results (get it done once a year after you turn 30, trust me!) and told me “Tumhe dua ki nahin, dawa aur exercise ki zarurat hai”. My body was getting trolled by high cholesterol and it was high time I strolled against it. Gym was no longer an option for me, so I hit the road. Quite literally.

We usually dismiss the things that we can’t understand or appreciate. In the initial few days, I kept ranting about how waking up early is highly over-rated and unfairly romanticized. I mean what is the fun in resisting the urge to snooze the alarm, waking up at an ungodly hour, trying one’s luck against the temperamental neighbourhood dogs and go out for a walk (I could call it a jog, but that would be lying). But every time the devil in me told me to stop, the angel showed me the cholesterol figures and coaxed me into going that extra mile. My wife even gifted me a cycle on my 33^rd birthday (talk about midlife crisis!) and motivated me to add a bit of cycling to my regime. Call it acclimatization or good old Stockholm Syndrome, I eventually made peace with my morning routine.

Slowly but surely, I could see myself going farther than I’ve ever gone before. My first 5K (walk, not run) was a thrilling achievement for me. Eventually I was confident enough to mix a bit of running in the walk. Of course, the morning routine had to be supplemented by dietary restraint throughout the day. I didn’t do anything drastic; just removed all the meals I had...errr.. in-between meals. So, there was no more room for the evening samosas, bhajiyas, sev puris etc. After all, “Balidaan to dena hoga”, right? Things really hit the next level of euphoria when I started getting compliments from people about looking fitter and leaner. Tightening the belt was never this gratifying.

But I was still wary of all my ‘accomplishments’. After all, this would amount to nothing if the cholesterol remained out of control and I continued to be under medication. After 4 months of regular workout and walking away from the sinful snacks, I got one more test done. Voila!! The cholesterol levels are down and the doctor put me off medication temporarily - provided I continue to manage my lifestyle changes.

The battle may have been won, but the war continues. The lifestyle changes must remain consistent and the tests need to become an annual affair. My true agnipariksha will be during the upcoming festive season. Saying no to the modaks of Ganesh Chaturthi, the cheese nan and papdi no lot of Navratri, and the ghughras and mathiyas of Diwali – I will have to continue walking the road less taken. The pursuit of wellness is similar to the pursuit of happiness – a never-ending journey where the road is more important than the destination.