Vineeta Singh and Namita Thapar, entrepreneurs and sharks of TV’s Shark Tank India, on the role of fitness in their success as industry leaders
Vineeta Singh
Vineeta Singh
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Vineeta Singh is a familiar face among the city’s marathoners. Before the SUGAR cosmetics founder became a known face for her entrepreneurial endeavours, stories of her completing a 21-kilometre marathon during her pregnancy, the coveted Ironman triathlon (comprising a 3.8-km swim, a 180-km bicycle ride and a 42-km run), and multiple Comrades ultramarathons (89-kilometre runs), often hit headlines.
Although an activity she chanced upon, she quickly found running rather meditative. “It has the power to [remove] me from my environment and enhance my focus. It serves as an escape from the mundane. I exercise for an hour a day, at least. This ‘me-time’ helps me alleviate mental stress and increases productivity. I start my day with a run. This has numerous benefits — it is a means [to stay] fit, alleviate stress, and have heightened energy throughout the day,” says Singh.
Singh had completed the Ironman triathlon (3.8-km swim, 180-km ride, and 42-km run) in 2017
Singh has always established that indulging in sports since childhood has played a crucial role in shaping her. “It teaches one to be disciplined, deal with failure, and be agile. It has taught me some of the most important lessons of my life, including the importance of hard-work and resilience. Being active beats lethargy, which would have otherwise [hampered] my day. I am a better version of myself on the days that I exercise. It also brings out my competitive spirit, which, over the years, has helped me become the best version of myself. In college, I was an intra-university badminton player. While [studying at] IIM-Ahmedabad, I learnt of my interest in running. My friends had taken a trip to Mumbai to be part of the marathon. It was a life-changing moment.”
While the routines of the general public took a hit amid the lockdown, Singh levelled up. “My friends and I started a virtual boot-camp, [and practised] HIIT based formats like Tabata. Variation kept me motivated. [Running a] start-up can be quite demanding. Long hours and sleepless nights made it impossible to exercise more than three times in a week. But, during the pandemic, I took to a 100-day training challenge, and exercised for 120 days instead. Looking back, I can see that it helped me remain calm, and enhanced my immunity. I’m currently content with my fitness journey and would never [trade] it for anything.”
Singh’s fitness mantras
.Never skip meals
.Always stay hydrated
.Find the exercise that suits you
.Snack mindfully
.Stay consistent
Namita Thapar
Before Namita Thapar hit the age of 40, her weight was at the mercy of her eating habits, which, in turn, were affected by stressful situations. “I was an emotional eater, and would indulge in stress eating during my board exams, chartered accountancy exams, and during the while that I was in the US, away from my family. Due to this, my weight would yo-yo significantly. When I turned 40, I realised that
I needed to make changes to my lifestyle,” says the Emcure Pharmaceuticals CEO, who practices a mix of yoga, functional training, dance, and aerobics, apart from walking sessions in the evenings. Dance, she says, inevitably found a place in her life given her profound love for Bollywood, a confession she has made on television on several occasions.
Thapar credits her gamut of trainers for keeping her routine in check. “I used to train sporadically, but now, I do so six days a week. I have trainers for the different fitness classes and they help me stay consistent. I am not a [fan of] high-intensity exercises like kickboxing, marathon running, or spinning. It doesn’t suit my body-type. It’s good to be fit, but it’s nice to have some curves, and the right amount of fat.”
Thapar practices yoga, dance
Home-cooked meals with restricted quantities of oil and masala are a staple. Given that she is a vegetarian, Thapar usually indulges in soups and salads at lunch, and rotis and sabzi, for dinner. However, being mindful of the kind of food that impacts her poorly has helped her chalk out a list she refrains from. “I listen to my body and minimise consuming things, like Chinese food, mushrooms, and milk. One must be aware of the signals one receives from the body.”
In the wee hours of the day, before her duties as mother, wife and CEO beckon her, Thapar wraps up her exercise sessions. “It is the first thing that I do in the morning. There are days when I don’t feel like [training], but I push myself. Exercise helps me stay calm and positive. Most importantly, I love fashion, so looking fit helps me pull off a variety of [ensembles]. I have learnt to accept my flaws, and love them too. That’s important. I am so much more than just my body-type. It is important to remember that.”
She reiterates that pampering herself is just as important as training her body. Thapar often credits women for their management skills, but believes they have a long way to go when it comes to managing guilt. “I take time out of my schedule to focus on my breathing. I don’t mind being labelled selfish for doing things that make me happy, like, going out with my girl-friends, and getting massages. If you are happy, you will be a better mother, wife, and leader. Prioritise yourself, and don’t worry about the labels. Getting rid of guilt and external validation has made me a calmer and happier person.”
Fitness tips that work for Thapar
. Mostly, I eat gluten-free foods. It makes me feel more energetic.
.I had a massive sweet tooth, but have cut down on the amount of sugar I consume. Now, I have dessert only twice a week. I find healthier options. It’s worth investing time in this.
.I believe in Ayurveda and homoeopathy, which help improve the immune system.
.I eat natural foods like almonds that have been soaked overnight, or a
drink which is a mix of dates and black raisins. I change my habits according to the season. For instance, in the summer, I will have a drink that is made of jeera, ajwain and saunf, because it cools the system.
.I don’t believe in strict diets. Eating well is important for good skin, and energy.
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