Bipasha Basu's first HT column: Be fit not thin

Here’s a big hello to everyone on my first column. I’m happy to be here, and glad I’ll be able to share so much with you over the weeks to come. I hope you don’t mind if I start off on the thing closest to my heart — staying fit — to be healthy and not ‘thin.’ Whoever said “being thin is being fit” was hugely mistaken. Being an avid fitness enthusiast, I can vouch for that.

Thin is not in! As much as fashion magazines or international runways endorse it, I beg to differ — it’s alarming to see anorexia being so predominant among teenage girls who go on crazy crash diets to fit into clothes that are sizes smaller, or simply to ape their favourite stars.

I am a strong believer of the philosophy, “love yourself.” So, I take good care of myself. I want to live fit and healthy for a 100 years. I believe it is important to invest in your health. Just as we invest in property, relationships and a career, we should invest in health too, otherwise other investments won’t matter. It all boils down to nothing if your health isn’t in place. People need to be inspired to look after themselves and their bodies and to be the fittest they can possibly be at any given age.

I initially took to fitness when I learned about my osteoarthritis condition — I had no knowledge about health and fitness back then. Suddenly, I started suffering from excruciating pain in my knees, with days when I could barely stand. And then, it suddenly hit me — “It can’t be this way, I need to fight it out. You live only once, don’t you?” Today, I’m a fitness enthusiast and it takes a lot of discipline and special care to get a fit and healthy body.

“Being fit and not thin” should be your goal. Love yourself and work out for your heart and soul… it has done wonders for me.