Written By: Upneet Pansare | Updated : September 30, 2016 10:32 AM IST
I spend half of my waking hours liking Instagram posts of fitness and yoga experts and too-beautiful-to-eat overnight oats and protein smoothies. I must admit, however, that my obsession with fitness and healthy eating stops at just that. Those fit AF bodies are an inspiration, no doubt, but nothing and no one had motivated me to start exercising and eating healthy, till the day I spoke to 32-year-old Bangalore-based Shreejith Nair, certified personal trainer and lifestyle and weight management consultant.
Shreejith's Instagram account has all the makings of a typical fitness enthusiast -- photos of his ripped physique, before and after transformations, drool-worthy healthy recipes, and informative tips. But one of the things that set Shreejith apart from the rest is his own inspiring story from being fat to fit. Getting a fit, muscular physique took years of dedicated and consistent training. And unbelievable as it may seem (from the way he looks), Shreejith did not resort to steroids.
'Growing up was hard'
Shreejith was born with a club foot, a congenital deformity in which the foot is rotated at the ankle, that made it impossible for him to walk or run like normal kids of his age. He was even ridiculed by his friends for this condition. That didn't stop him from pursuing his dreams. He got himself specially-designed shoes from a doctor. Despite being barely able to walk, Shreejith played lawn tennis. "It used to be very painful but I was super proud of myself when I participated in a tournament a year later and survived till the third round, limping all the while. I remember feeling on top of the world!" 
At 15, Shreejith underwent a successful surgery to correct his clubfoot. It made it possible for him to walk normally. Sadly, a new problem arose during his recovery period post the surgery. 
A new struggle
During the recovery period, Shreejith resorted to eating unhealthy food that led to weight gain and another complication: supra ventricular tachycardia. 'I was working as a game developer and would spend hours sitting at my desk. I went from 70 kgs to 108 kgs. My friends would make fun of me constantly and never take me seriously. I didn't like how my life was going. I was just getting by. I felt like a slob. I was ridiculed first for my leg back in school and later because I was fat. THIS HAD TO STOP,' Shreejith says.
'I wanted to prove to myself'
'Something had to change. I said to myself, that this is one shot at life, and it's ending one minute at a time. If I have to do something, I have to do it NOW! That lit a fire inside me. I really wanted it bad. I wanted to prove to myself that I was capable of better things. Whatever motivation we look outside of us is just temporary and won't last. The intrinsic factor-- the WHY-- one wants to lose weight is very important. The stronger your WHY, the more fuel you have in your tank to last the entire journey,' Shreejith says.
'What worked for me'
His mantra is simple -'If you are just trying to lose weight to look good in class or just to impress someone, you will never last the entire journey because your WHY factor isn't strong enough. How bad you want it, determines your outcome. The badder you want it, the easier it is!'
A huge part of his weight loss and getting healthy journey was focused on nutrition, even more than exercises. And a lot of it was trial and error. 'I was confused about my diet. I would keep experimenting and sometimes failing at that. I read up a lot and did my own research. I saw the transformation happening gradually. I began to love the effect healthy eating was having on me. I began to love myself.' Some sacrifices needed to be made. Shreejith vowed to give up some of his favourite things including cold drinks, fast food, fried items and rich curries. He ensured he had plenty of vegetables, whole grain foods, water and fibrous foods. Shreejith realised that he had found his true calling. That's when he decided to get a certification in personal training.
When it came to exercises, Shreejith says he stuck to the basics. 'I did a lot of compound exercises because they focus on several muscles at the same time. Exercises like dips, pushups and even squats, target muscles in several areas of the body and work really well for those looking get fit without the use of steroids. It's never too late to start. Here is fitness plan day 1 to get you started on your fitness journey for the entire year.
His best tips for anyone who feels lazy to workout
1) Make exercise a part of your life. Enjoy working out and being in the gym. 2) Start doing exercises you like doing. Keep it easy at the start. Keep switching workout routines time to time may avoid boredom and laziness. 3) Get a gym partner. You guys can motivate each other and push yourselves to a reach your goals. 4) Buy new gym wear. You'll be amazed at how motivated you feel to workout after buying a new tank top, new shoes or even enrolling at a new gym.
Busting diet myths
'Eating fat-free is not the best option. The food may be fat-free, but the calories usually come from other sources like hidden sugar. So fat-free doesn't mean it is healthy. Second, rice does not make you fat. Weight gain occurs when the number of calories you consume exceeds the amount used to fuel your activities and your metabolism. Rice is no more likely to cause weight gain than other foods if eaten in appropriate portions as part of a well-balanced nutrition plan."
His parting words? 'If you really want it bad enough, you'll find a way. Otherwise, you will find an excuse.' I think we can all agree to listen to anyone who looks likes this.
Watch his video on how you can get a super fit body like him without steroids -
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