‘It’s very easy to be healthy, not at all difficult,’ said Ritesh Bawri, businessman-turned-fitness expert at the Kolkata launch of his book, The Amazing Health Transformation, at Crossword Bookstores, Acropolis Mall on June 30. In an hour-long interaction, Ritesh aimed to dispel myths, stigma and bad habits surrounding the well-being of individuals, offering intriguing insights into the ‘transformation of health’ through personal anecdotes
All photos by Amit Pramanik
Having sold more than 15,000 copies already, Ritesh’s book explores the various facets of food, health, sleep, fitness and body image, underpinned by scientific principles that seek to make a meaningful impact on people's lives. Having embarked on his own fitness journey after grappling with Type 2 diabetes, hypertension, asthma and insomnia, the author spoke about the wear and tear of the human body and how one can avoid its inevitability
‘In an era of health evangelists, Ritesh isn’t here to give us foolproof solutions for everything. Instead, he wants to create a dialogue and put forth options for us to consider. The sincerity of his approach stands out as much as the substance of what he says,’ observed My Kolkata’s Priyam Marik, who moderated the conversation for the evening
Given the endemic nature of diabetes in India, Ritesh chose to unveil several lesser-known facts related to the condition, backed with precise, scientific knowledge. Having been a diabetic himself, the author acknowledged the importance of a good diagnosis through his personal experience. He mentioned that ‘diabetes is an imbalance in the mathematics of the food that you take in and the sugar that forms in your body from it.’ In a supplementary discussion about how one can determine if they are the right weight, Ritesh pointed out: ‘Your weight is a symptom that tells you if something is wrong. It all boils down to how you feel about yourself and how you choose to act.’
Ritesh went on to emphasise the importance of sleep, as it influences ‘the way you talk, move, and recollect’, highlighting how inadequate sleep can impair cognitive function. For sound sleep, he advised drinking tea with the water of boiled banana peels. He also recommended having afternoon naps, which are restorative, and drew attention to the natural sleep cycle of humans that spans between 8pm and 4am
Through the story of a 37-year-old woman named Pooja, whom Ritesh and his team had assisted, the conversation delved into the different levels of anxiety that hamper one's productivity, sleep cycle and socialisation. ‘Empower yourself by changing the physicality of your body,’ said Ritesh. He recommended a breathing technique that involves inhaling for four seconds and exhaling for six seconds, as it effectively calms the body during times of stress. ‘Count the number of times you’re breathing per minute to figure out if the stress you’re feeling is becoming physical,’ added Ritesh
Following the chat between Ritesh and Priyam, the audience posed numerous questions, with food, fitness and sleep on the agenda. One such query brought to the fore the problem of midnight cravings, which is becoming increasingly common. In response, Ritesh remarked: ‘Hunger is a disguised deficiency in your body. It’s a false alarm that’s created in your body, which gets translated in the form of a craving. So, it’s always better to ignore such cravings, as your body already has a sufficient amount of calories by then.’
‘The reason I tell my stories is because it empowers me,’ said Ritesh in conclusion. Focusing on the importance of therapy in today’s world, he said: ‘All of us are fragile. I have never met anyone who isn’t. The path to acceptance is the path to curing yourself. Start with small steps. Your body is a miracle, waiting for you to give itself that chance.’ The evening came to a close with Ritesh signing copies of his book for audience members to take home
