#FlirtWithFitness: Pick a workout that works for you

The focus on fitness has never been as intense as it is today. While back in the day, all you did was aerobics or pump iron in the gym, you now have a range of workouts to pick from. So, how does a novice know which is the right workout for him/her? We asked an expert to unravel this for us. Actor and fitness consultant Raghu Ramappa, who has helped many actors and even top cops get into shape, tells us that blindly following a workout won’t do you much good.
“Everyone has different goals and mindsets, so people have to choose what suits them. Not everyone wants to look like Salman Khan; some would look like Milind Soman, while others are not chasing any body type and just want to be fit. So, you can’t apply the same the formula for everyone,” he says.
Raghu breaks down the essentials and tells us what to keep in mind when chasing a specific fitness goal:

TO STAY FIT
If your goal is to just stay fit and be healthy after spending long hours in the office, you don’t have to hit the gym and can choose to do any form of exercise, such as yoga at home, cycling or walking. Along with this, ensure that you eat healthy homemade food.

FOR SIX-PACK ABS
To get six-pack abs, you need to focus on intense circuit and weight training. You should workout six days a week and split your workout twice a day, with weight training in the morning, and cardio and ab workout in the evening. Your diet should be high in proteins, while keeping carbs to a minimal.

TO BUILD MUSCLES/GAIN WEIGHT
Cardio and interval training is a no-no for those who want huge muscles. Your workout needs to include more power lifting and compound exercises, such as dead lifts and squats. Also, your calorie consumption has to be high — to around 4,000-5,000 calories a day. Weight training is important for those who are looking at gaining weight. Along with this, their diet has to include equal amounts of protein and carbs.

TO LOSE WEIGHT
It is important to let your trainer know about your medical background if you are overweight. Those who don’t have any medical issues can do weight training, cardio and circuit training. Sticking to a diet that is low on carbs and sugar, and high on protein is very important.
IF YOU’RE STARTING OUT YOUNG …
A lot of college kids are taking an interest in working out, but Raghu says that they run the risk of getting waylaid with wrong methods that can end up harming them. “Anyone who is over the age of 16 can work out in a gym. When they are starting out, youngsters need to be guided well. I see a lot of them using anabolic steroids and I have seen them suffering as a result of this. Youngsters need to avoid this and stick to natural foods and healthy methods of working out,” he says.