To be fit and to see fit

      Sorry for the long break. There was the June Examinations and had to focus on passing my subjects. Writing about someone else can be pretty tiring so for today more for my sake than yours, I will type a little story about keeping myself fit and on why I have a big enormous ego. Yes, I do and it ain't going to change much... yet. 

    This story goes back to when I was still in Elementary school or Primary school. Back then, it was a very different and harsh environment. It was the most traumatic experience for me and the thought of going back to that state haunts me every single day. Technically back then, how I would present myself to the world was not much of an afterthought and maybe that was the problem. Only later on after puberty did I realise the importance of first impressions and maintaining a good image. So, on fitness first: it was terrible. I was overweight in my third year and I remember vividly this pretty girl from Neptune House, Afiqah, was commenting on my bulge and that was something hurtful. So warning girls, never call a guy fat. Had to attend TAF (Trim and Fit) Camp for a year to lose that extra pound. As a testament, I keep a trophy from my TAF camp days in the trophy cabinet, not for the biggest loser but for the most co-operative team:) My 1.6km timing for NAPHA was a long 15 minutes. Something I realised also was that my primary school society was more favourable to those who looked good or are fitter. I was neither so that automatically that placed me at the bottom food chain. Bullied, outcasted and practically non-existant.

    TAF camp made me tough. It is a miracle I managed to cut down tremendously in less than a week by determination and hard work. No pain, no gain. Oh, and it is not about dieting. A little tip, exercise. Seriously, it was very hard for me at first because the extra weight pulls you down and I had a string of medical problems too but hell, if others could run, so could you. At a point of time I had internal bleeding in my kidneys too but that did not stop me. And silat also helped in the process. Yup, the next year, I fell down to the category of underweight surprisingly. Now, it was all about agility and speed. Took home 3 gold , 3 silver and 2 bronze in various sports activities after that Alhamdulillah and hence, my desire for more success is egotistically motivated. I was still a loser, big time and that trait was brought up to secondary school though I met some of the most awesomest friends there. 

   On the scale of 10 on how I think I looked in secondary one, I'd say a 1. Looking gorgeous was not one of my priorities. And then, I met Akshat Hans of whom I have talked millions of times in this blog. The first time I met him, he was lanky and obscenely tall, weak and slow. Not particularly handsome and very awkward. Now, he is buff and strong, still obscenely tall and is the fastest long-distance runner in Meridian Junior College and yes, I admit it, he is one hot Indian guy. Oh, I am straight anyways. He was not popular in his early days but eventually shot to perpetual and infinite fame but more importantly, he became my strongest competitor both mentally and physically and the greatest friend I ever know. 

   He came up with this theory that getting buff and handsome gets you a lot of things in life and seeing him, I guess it is somehow true. He lived in a condo so he could work out in the gym everyday and go running around his estate. Me on the other hand had to make do with running only and hence, my smaller built. He grew in size, and almost on a weekly basis, he would force me to check out his more toned body in the toilet mirrors to make me dreadfully jealous. Such blatant ego. Significantly, he pushed me to improve my stamina and fitness. He came up with a full-proof exercise regime called the 100% get-fit-quick scheme and we worked hand-in-hand together. Never looked back again from then and due to his enforcement, till this day, I changed from a silver-rated kid to narrowly attaining the Iron Man award for full 30 pointers consistently. My 2.4km timing came into the 10 minutes range almost crossing into 9 :,) Running at Bedok reservoir together became a routine and hence, came the cross-country challenge.

    Before he came into my life, trying my best in the X-country got me a 65th position. He was never top ten either before the 100% get-fit-quick scheme. Unfortunately, X-country was always during the fasting month of Ramadhan but that did not deter me. Fasting is a stupid excuse for maintaining excellence but yea, I was dying of thirst and hunger after the vigorous running schedule around Pair Ris. Anyways, finally got a medal for placing in 5^th position, Alhamdulillah, while Akshat got a 2^nd. We were ego-fuelled and full of ourselves. Barely recalled my TAF camp days!

     Now, time to move on to the topic of looking good every day. I am short, blame it on my genes. I wore huge 80’s spectacles and short pants that could trip me. My wardrobe was filled with free t-shirts and souvenir t-shirts. My face was riddled with acne that was so ravaging it only receded nearing graduation from secondary school. Technically, scoring a chick would have been as probable as finding a halal pig. Thus, finally when I was sick of who I was and having such low self-esteem, it was time to feed myself with ego to boost my confidence. Every day, I look myself in the mirror in the morning and tell that person: You are so handsome multiple times no matter how unglam or awful I looked. If I choose to believe so strongly that I am the most handsome guy in the planet, I will be it. That was the mantra. And miraculously, the change slowly happened. First impressions became my main draw and my wardrobe grew in quality, not quantity. My clothes were expensively tailored or simply classy and uh, yes, I spend at least 5-10 minutes in front of the mirror every single day. That is the little sacrifice you would need of course to make yourself presentable.

    Of course, there will be drawbacks from a major change in lifestyle. One thing is that I am perpetually broke most of the time. Additionally and more sadly, there are many blind people out there who are after looks more than the character. Ya Allah, there are times when it can get traumatising. But then again, I am but a fallible man and I do bask in the attention given to me to boost my ego and escape my traumatising past. Things are way different now but the moral of the story is: Be fit to Be Happy. Good night :)