The young man had fixed an
appointment to see me. He stood just inside the door wringing his hands.
“Do you remember me? I came
to you ten years ago.”
I did not remember him but
was eventually able to track down his records.
“I want to become a
body-builder and go for the Mr. Tamil Nadu competition.”
A worthy ambition.
Unfortunately he was twenty four years old (Arnold Schwarzenegger started at
the age of fifteen years) and had a stoop and skinny arms and legs. I could not
even imagine a six pack on his abdomen.
‘’You need to train four to
six hours a day,” I said.
“I can’t “ he said I work for
my father. He makes me work for twelve hours.”
“Perhaps you could join a
gym?”
Vellore is dotted with gyms.
There are exclusive “male only” gyms with paintings of Sylvester Stallone and
Arnold Schwarzenegger. Their faces are lopsided, their muscles bizarre
unanatomical and disproportionate. They have untrained “trainers” and no aerobic
equipment at all. This is in stark contrast to the elite gyms that cater to the
affluent in Vellore. Those have qualified trainers, separate timings for
ladies—there are even ladies’ gyms.
He joined an “Arnold
Schwarzenegger” gym. His trainer was very enthusiastic. “I can get you to
the competition in two months”, he said, “just follow my plans.”
I kept a close watch on all
that was going on.
“Eat six egg whites, and 200
gms of beef a day” said the trainer.
The man protested, “we are
Hindus, my parents are vegetarian, my mother fasts three days a week.”
It seemed to be a no win
situation.
“Perhaps ,” I suggested, “you
could buy an induction stove and a microwave and cook in your room?”
He has shifted to the terrace so as to have room for his exercise. Apparently there was a half room there where he lived.
He has shifted to the terrace so as to have room for his exercise. Apparently there was a half room there where he lived.
One day his mother screamed, “the
house is on fire I can smell the burning.” Father and mother followed the smell
to the terrace. They boy was cooking beef with ready made masalas.
That was the end of his
protein supplements.
The trainer suggested
packaged tablets and supplements. “This is only whey protein and creatine.”
I refused to allow him to
take it. The internet was full of
articles about adulteration of supplements and although creatine is a natural substance, its
effect hasn't been well-studied over the
long-term. Researchers still aren't sure what effects it might have on the
body, particularly in young people, or how effective it might be.
So we were back to
eating Rajma and Kabuli channa.
“When is the
competition?”
“Its two months from
now” he said.
“Why don’t you try
next year?” I asked looking at his ribs and skinny arms.
He was determined
and went for the trials.
“No 7 & 9” said
the judge.
Very pleased because
they had not even climbed on to the stage, he stepped forward.
“You can go home.”
They were eliminated
before they even started.
The trainer smirked
,”everyone listened to me except you. They all took supplements.”
He looked around,
they were oiled, rippled and ribbed.
Dejected he left.
They next day he
came to see me again.
“Don’t worry, “ I
said, “you can put all this health and stamina to good use. Start marathon running. You will be healthy long
after the supplement users kidneys have packed up or they are caught like the
Russians in the Olympics this year.”
