For get the stereotype of the workaholic entrepreneur chained to his desk. Defying this categorization is Ankur Warikoo, the man who wears many hats; that of the entrepreneur, investor, content creator and best-selling author, who also recently added an Audible audiobook for his book ‘Make Epic Money’ to his professional checklist.
But she also made headlines for something else: at the impressive age of 43, Warikoo defied expectations by experiencing a remarkable physical transformation: a six-pack “fat-free” physique.
Scrolling through social media, we are bombarded with images of sculpted figures and dramatic weight loss stories. They promise a quick fix, a one-stop path to a “beach body” or a “dream body.” But the reality of this transformation is much more nuanced. It is a demanding journey paved with challenges, plateaus and setbacks; and Warikoo’s journey was no different.
As such, we caught up with the multi-hyphenate to talk about what it was like to be on this journey, why she even decided to take it in the first place, and her advice to those who want to follow this path.
Read edited excerpts here:
Q. How (and when) was the seed planted in your mind to undertake this physical transformation?
Ankur Warikoo:The genesis of this was almost 10 years ago. At 33, I had my first six-pack abs. The reason was not my vanity, but my hip. At the age of 32, I was diagnosed with a condition called avascular necrosis. My right hip bone had started to deteriorate because the blood supply had stopped.
Before that, I had frankly treated my body like a trash can. I ate shit: what I wanted, when I wanted.
The diagnosis is when it hit me like a bolt that this body is the only one I really have. It is a pity that we, only through these setbacks, realize the most important things in life. I’m glad I went through this early. That’s when I embarked on an exercise and diet routine that I’ve stuck to for the past 10 years.
Q. Why did you decide to become, as you say, fat-free at age 43?
Ankur Warikoo: In 2016 or 2017, He had seen actor Farhan Akhtar gracing the cover of a magazine. I remember the photoshoot and his six-pack abs, and the cover said fat-free at 43. I decided to do this transformation at 43 at the time, especially since it would also be the 10th anniversary of the shift. my life took
Getting six pack abs is more like stretching. There’s a lot that goes into making it happen. So I certainly don’t want to do that every day of my life simply because I don’t need to and I don’t want to. But every 10 years, I made a commitment to challenge myself and align my body and mind to get to that point. So 33 was the first time, 43 was the second. And then I hope to do it at 53, 63 and so on until I can.
Q. How have you stayed at a fitness level where you can get back to your six-pack abs every 10 years?
Ankur Warikoo: A combination of diet and exercise. But most importantly, there needs to be a permanent change in your mindset, especially if you plan to maintain your fitness level. It shouldn’t be about your ego or your vanity, it should be about your long-term health and happiness.
Several people have been asking me if I am on TRT or did I take steroids.
Frankly, I had to google TRT to find out what it is. So no, I didn’t 🙂
And without steroids, why would I do this to my body?
The video will explain everything 🙂 https://t.co/47nbIEaTXL pic.twitter.com/fMHiTsPvAp
Ankur Wrikoo (@warikoo) April 16, 2024
Q. What does your current diet entail?
Ankur Warikoo: The biggest change has been the percentage of protein I’m taking naturally and also through supplements. Primarily, the Indian diet is high in fat and protein takes a back seat. I am very conscious of the type of food I eat and now my diet is higher in carbs and protein and not so much fat.
Q. What was the hardest part of your transformation?
Ankur Warikoo: I have the biggest sweet tooth. I just can’t give it away and I certainly don’t want to. But, I agree it’s addictive, so I had to cut my life in such a way that I can still have my sugar, as much as I can, while getting to this point.
Q. What surprised you the most when you were on this trip?
Ankur Warikoo:The biggest scam you will see on Instagram, YouTube is that all these people with these perfect bodies are only doing shoulder exercises, thigh exercises, abs and what not. Isse koi farak nahi padta. (It makes no difference.)
Exercise will only shape your body, it won’t make the muscle surface. The only way it happens is with the right diet. Every fitness regimen will tell you to exercise because they want you to believe that exercise can get you there. But the truth is that 90% is just diet. And that also makes it the hardest.
Having a samosa right now will give you joy for five minutes, 10 minutes. To burn off that samosa, you’ll have to run on the treadmill for 30. That doesn’t mean you never eat samosas. But if you go for the second and third, be aware that there will be a huge investment on your part to burn this thing, while it may be easier to resist it.
Q. Any advice you have for someone who wants to go down this path
Ankur Warikoo:The biggest thing for people to recognize is when it comes to fitness or for that matter any other change you make in life, whether it’s reading books for example or auditing. managing your moneyyou have to do it in a way that comes naturally to you.
You don’t have to force yourself to become someone else because the rebound will be as hard as the first step to get there.
Not that the world has never been to the gym before. It’s just that we go for a week and we’re so sore that we never want to go there again. Being active is more important. So ask yourself: Can I play a sport? can i go for a walk Can I run with my pet? can i go for a bath Can I ride a bike? What can you do for yourself?
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Image Source : indianexpress.com