Transforming From Software Professional To A Fitness Professional
Shweta Mehta hails from a small town in Haryana called Fatehabad. She is working as a software professional in Bangalore for the past 4-5 years, but has always wanted to compete as a ‘fitness athlete’. She wanted to change the profession seamlessly and that is why she started fitness along with a job and thought of leaving it once she perfectly settled herself in the fitness industry. She stays alone, so cooking and carrying 6 meals every day in office where she used to spend almost 10 hours was a difficult task. She did her weight sessions after office and cardio sessions during lunch time in the office gym. A hectic schedule and end time pressure of a project release made it more difficult to continue with 6 meals and the gym. But the first trophy in her first ever competition made her realise that it was all worth it. She competed as a bikini competitor in Jerai Classic Women’s Fitness Model at Bodypower Expo 2015.
What is a bikini athlete? How is the body of a bikini athlete different from other forms of female fitness athletes such as figure athlete and physique athlete?
Bikini Category was created as a category with much less emphasis on muscularity and more on overall beauty and body shape and tone. In this, competitors have the softer looks and are not required to have same muscle mass and definitions than that of other categories. Competitors are judged based on balance and shape, overall physical appearance from back and front, poise, skin tone and over all presentation.
However, in figure and fitness category, competitors are judged based on muscularity with separation and overall muscle tone and shapely lines. The goal is to have an athletic appearance like wide shoulders, slim hips etc. One thing that sets fitness division aside from others is that there is a fitness routine set to music and competitors show their talent in terms of flexibility, strength, gymnastic and physical fitness. Both the category demand defined physique.
There is one more category, Physique. In this, judges are looking at lean muscle mass with very little body fat. It’s not uncommon for competitors to dabble in multiple categories. Competitors change their category from figure to bikini by changing the diet plan and workouts and vice versa. Figure and fitness competitors participate in both pretty often.
If you could work out only one body part, which body part would you exercise and why?
Glutes and hamstrings are the body parts that I always concentrate more on. I feel they are the most important parts to be trained and are been neglected the most by a lot of the athletes here. I was always asked if I have six packs, it is like benchmark set in India to define an athlete. I do agree that working on abs is important, but I really feel that it should not be the only point to judge ones fitness or body aesthetics.
In order to be a professional fitness athlete, what is the approximate monthly cost?
I would say for a person who is considering fitness at a professional level it would be costing somewhere between 25000 to 30000 rupees per month, approximately. Gym fees would cost around Rs 1500 per month, professional coach will cost you around Rs 6500 per month. Apart from that, diet cost would cost you around Rs7000-8000 per month, which includes non-vegetarian diet also. Add Rs 10,000-12,000 as a supplement cost and gym gear will cost you around Rs10,000-12,000 per year. Participating in a contest will cost you around Rs 20,000-25,000 which includes costumes, make up, hairdo and final days preparation before the competition.
What are the career options for a fitness athlete in India?
It has become one of the popular industries in India lately. Also, there are a number of certifications available, few famous certifications provided by Reebok, Gold Gym and K11 etc. which will be helpful in finding jobs in the following field as a fitness instructor, nutrition counsellor, zumba, aerobics, spinning, yoga instructor and few others like crossfit and parkour trainers. With international fitness chains coming to India, the demand for these jobs has increased now.
How does one find, approach and choose a sponsor in order to pursue a career in fitness?
Well athletes don’t approach sponsors, instead they find us if they think that we are suitable enough to promote their brand. However, it’s a win win situation from both sides, athletes promote sponsors and sponsors promote athletes.
What makes you different?
As I am from a calisthenics background, I try to do my exercise in interesting and different way. I do upside down core exercises which require balancing and concentration rather than just crunches for abs. I do standing on head, walking on hands, dragon flag, bar play, balancing on medicine and swiss balls etc. Same way, for cardio I do not run on the treadmill, but I dance and spin.
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