When Sunil Chhetri opened up about the importance of a strong body, mind: ‘After 20 years…’

Simple habits like prioritising protein, and including fruits or vegetables in all meals can make a lot of difference; here's how

Sunil Chhetri on why a fit body is necessary (Express Photo by Partha Paul)

Your health is your most important wealth. It’s not just us; even former Indian football team captain Sunil Chhetri believes so. In a throwback interview currently doing the rounds on social media, Chhetri noted, “After 20 years, when you have thousands of crores in your bank account and not an able body to use it, this all will mean s**t.”

According to him, it is crucial to find the right balance between work, madness, fitness, and overall health – and stick to it for exponential growth. “It can be a small thing, waking up at 6 am, eating breakfast at 8 am, going to office at noon, conducting a team meeting at 3 pm, going to the gym at 6 pm, eating dinner at 9 pm, and sleeping at 10 pm. It doesn’t matter, your itinerary is yours and you should just stick to it,” he told Peak XV Partners’ managing director Mohit Bhatnagar in October 2023.

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Taking a cue from Sunil Chhetri’s interview, let’s understand the importance of “finding the right balance” for long-term health.

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Spoorthi S, Fitness Expert at Cult, told indianexpress.com that your 20s are when you are most likely to have the energy and the resources to be a fitter version of yourself. “This is most likely also the time when you are at your prime and don’t feel the need to work on your health and fitness consciously. But if you start, you would be cultivating habits that you can sustain in the long run and also prevent many conditions that tend to creep up on you as you age,” said Spoorthi.

Fitness is crucial. (Source: Getty Images/Thinkstock)

This is where strength training, a balanced diet, mindfulness, and healthy habits can play a pivotal role.

“This does not mean you need to stop enjoying your favourite foods (unless you are an athlete and on a restrictive diet), or that you need to go on extreme diets. Simple habits like prioritising protein, including fruits or vegetables in all meals, minimising processed foods and alcohol and eating mindfully without distractions can help you mindfully focus on choosing a healthier path in terms of eating,” said Spoorthi.

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Apart from these, mind-body practices such as yoga contribute to physical fitness and enhance mental clarity, flexibility, and overall well-being.

DISCLAIMER: This article is based on information from the public domain and/or the experts we spoke to. Always consult your health practitioner before starting any routine.

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