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Journalism of Courage
MODEL Upen Patel is passionate about a lot of things: Fast bikes, good clothes, movies and hip hop. But there is one thing he needs to get him through each day8212;a workout. 8216;8216;I get depressed if I miss out even a day. It8217;s a matter of life and death.8217;8217;
He gets his daily fix at Sanjay Dutt8217;s home, in the actor8217;s private gym. The model is so addicted he finds some way to squeeze it into even the most packed days. 8216;8216;I have to exercise for a minimum of an hour, seven days a week. I8217;ve gone to the gym even at 1.00 am and 3.00 am after shoots,8217;8217; he says. Not even wrist and shoulder injuries have dampened the lure of bar bells.
Trainers say they are spotting an increasing number of exercisers who can8217;t do without a daily hit. Kaizzad Capadia, director of K11 Fitness Management, with 13 gyms across Mumbai, says that more than the health-promoting benefits of exercise, gym junkies are there because of the temporary feel-good factor of a workout.
The depression-alleviating effects of exercise are caused by the release of biochemicals called endorphins, a phenomenon known as Runner8217;s High. 8216;8216;And it8217;s as bad an addiction as any other,8217;8217; says Capadia. 8216;8216;I8217;ve seen gym rats who spend their whole day in the gym, even if they are unwell.8217;8217; Worse, many of them don8217;t even know they have a problem.
Rustom Warden is one exercise buff who readily admits he8217;s addicted. The 25-year-old, who runs a gym in south Mumbai, has been exercising since he was 17 and doesn8217;t see a reason why he should miss a workout. 8216;8216;But I listen to my body. I8217;ll skip a day if I have a cold because working out when you are sick can be harmful,8217;8217; he says.
8216;8216;This gym addiction is quite a bit of a problem,8217;8217; admits celeb trainer Vrinda Mehta. Her estimate? One in every 10 exercisers will succumb to the obsession. 8220;But an hour or an hour and a half of moderate intensity exercise is all one needs,8217;8217; she says. Any more than that and you8217;re exposing yourself to depression, a drop in immunity and energy levels, and increased anxiety.
Orthopaedic surgeon Dr Darius Soonawalla has dealt with damaged muscles, tendons and ligaments from over exercising. 8216;8216;Multiple small injuries can result in stress fractures,8217;8217; he says. Physician Dr CV Kothari also warns those suffering from any heart, lung or kidney ailments. 8216;8216;These problems could get exacerbated. Besides, fatigue and acid formation in the muscles causes pain.8221;
Hardly a deterrent for those who get their kicks from a punishing workout.
