Stay Unhealthy To Stay Patriotic!!

Don’t workout and strain yourself and your economy.

So you are not a party animal who is out on street till the early hours of the morning, you don’t like to smoke or booze or have the urge to pull out those car keys even for a short trip to the grocery store on the corner of your street.

You are among those early walkers and joggers who like to catch the first rays of the sun. You prefer a glass of fresh juice to a beer mug. A good bowl of protein salad is what makes your breakfast with a glass of soy milk. You think fast walking is better than fast food.

You are the one on the covers of fitness magazines or gym windows, trying to make sales to the poor beer belly who is entering the gym door, thinking he would be standing right beside you in a few days.

Think again you fitness freaks, because that poor fat guy, gulping a burger from Burger King, is far more important to your economy, than you!

This is not my assumption, but your state and economy think so.

The Dilemma of a Fitness Enthusiast post-Lockdown.

I would have not realized the reality of this government mentality, had it not been for my friend who is into fitness. He just loves to hit the gym after work, no matter how late it is.

So as the unlock of the economy started, he would often get frustrated over the authorities for not allowing the gym and swimming pool to be opened. He always questioned, if the local transport and manufacturing sector can start, why not the gym.

And this repeated questioning of his, made me think of the reason behind such a lax attitude by government authorities to one of the more important aspects to be considered during the pandemic and that was personal fitness.

The findings was a surprise and made it clear that, no matter what happens, Above All, Money Rules!!

A Cure is Better Than Prevention.

If you think I have written a wrong title, well you may be right. Because we have always been taught the opposite. But, in this case, this is exactly what has happened in my country, India.

Everyone knew that an unwanted visitor is waiting for you at every corner and the only remedy you had was to boost your immunity. Everyone wanted to stay fit.

What better time for the fitness trainers to earn some good moolah with so many people suddenly conscious of their health.

But Alas! the Gym doors were closed.

The government seemed to be indicating that they wanted people to travel in crowded buses and trains, have junk food in restaurants, get infected in doing so, and go to medical stores and hospitals to get cured.

But for some reason, they didn’t want you to hit the gym or swimming pools.

No doubt India had such a sudden spike in Covid cases post the unlock started.

Reason for Government Ignorance!

After reading through multiple sources, this is what I would believe is the reason.

With an economy in tatters due to shutdown, the growth rate of all countries is at rock bottom. Job losses are at a peak. Growth is the need of the hour. The governments are under extreme pressure to fulfill the basic needs of the people.

In such a scenario, your fitness was the last thing on their mind. Your lifestyle was not beneficial to them; instead, it was detrimental to their growth initiatives.

Economic disadvantages of healthy people

• Gym Memberships Vs Hospital bills - The government invests a lot of money in building medical infrastructure, subsidizes medical education, and sponsors research in medicines and drugs. It expects you to occupy those expensive hospital beds and take those highly researched medicines. But you want to be fit and waste their resources by avoiding these things.
• Health Juices vs Alcohol and Smoke - Sin goods such as alcohol and cigarettes are highly taxed in my country and a major source of income to the govt treasury. Your avoidance of their usage means you pay less in taxes.
• Fresh Veggie Salads vs Processed Foods - So you prefer a homemade salad and orange juice to keep healthy. But do you know, by doing this you don’t contribute to the service tax charged by restaurants or by the packaged food industry. Do you realize how many restaurant workers and delivery boys are you making jobless?
• Walking vs Driving - This is a big one. The automobile sector is one of the biggest revenue generators for any country. The environment and road tax, loan payments and other duties you pay to buy a car are one of the biggest incomes for the govt. The heavily taxed gas refill is also a stable and recurring income. So you buying a cycle, rollers, or running shoes to avoid driving is a big no-no for your country. They don’t need your green favors.

Now that you realized why your govt hates you! Do you think, they would want to support you and allow you to influence others, to be like you?

So, please give up your good habits. And if you still want to continue your passion without harming society, join the army. At least your fitness would be of some use to the nation.

By now you would be thinking that either I am insane or this is some kind of a joke. The article seems to be full of sarcasm.

But that is the on-ground reality. This is my take on what I have read and observed in my country and it may seem completely wrong to you.

Does this mean that the govt is wrong? The answer is ‘No’.

The problem here is that the priorities are different. While you are looking towards yourself, govt has bigger problems on hand. They have to serve the jobless, the homeless, and the needy first.

Will The Fitness Industry Survive Post Pandemic?

Fitness is one of the most prospering industries and will never die. Infact, awareness about fitness has just gone up during the pandemic. So, while people may look towards other priorities during the short term, the renewed interest in fitness will ensure they come back to it in some time.

Key Takeaways

• Your fitness is your lookout. Don’t expect others to help you out of this situation. Find your own answers. My friend was so passionate about his exercise routine, that he started working out at home with water bottles and rice sacks as weights. He started to practice Yoga for mental health. He was able to stay fit even without a gym.
• Ensuring fitness and not occupying those hospital beds, just ensures that we allow these limited resources to be used by people who are actually in need of them. It puts lesser pressure on an already bleeding economy.
• Your green habits may not be preferred in the short term, but they have a longer and bigger goal. To keep this planet safe for the next generation. Influencing people to go green is the best gift that can be given to our children, A Beautiful Green Planet.
• Finally, you don’t need to join an army to serve your nation. You can serve it by making its people fit and strong to handle any situation. That’s the best service.

Thank You for your time. Stay Healthy, Stay Safe!!