weight lifting

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.

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.”