Goodbye Dad Bod

The new year is almost upon us and with it comes once again the resolution we all make, that at least this year, we’re gonna hit the gym and have that Greek god like body. But, like every year, we start off with gusto and somewhere along the way, like a steam engine which runs out of coal; we lose our motivation and go back to our lazy ways.

However, there are certain celebrities, who despite the vagaries of time have managed to astound the world with their work out routines and results. These are celebrities, who are fathers or in some case even grandfathers who have managed to build such a chiselled physique that it is the envy of Bollywood town!

Javed Jaffrey recently posted a picture of his transformation on Twitter where sports washboard abs and a humongous arms.
“Bored at 3am in LA in my bedroom wondering what 4 months of intense performances & a strict diet do #MonsoonWedding (sic)” he tweeted sending internet into a tizzy.

The picture instantly started making the social media rounds because of two factors, mainly because of the age of the actor and also the image associated with him.

The 53-year-old actor Javed Jaffrey, who became a household name with the dance reality show ‘Boogie Woogie’ and as a narrator of ‘Takeshi’s Castle’ astounded his followers with his toned body. And it is not a walk in the park to get such an amazing transformation. To achieve this feat Javed went through a rigorous gym regimen and had a controlled diet plan for four months. No wonder now he is flaunting his chiselled body and eight pack abs for which he is garnering accolades.

Jaffrey’s body must have seriously made some youngsters reconsider their body image after looking into a mirror. “Very inspiring. I'm tempted to ask you for your diet & workout plans Jaaved bhai but I'm afraid I haven't your discipline to see them through (sic)”, Omar Abdullah, Leader of opposition Jammu and Kashmir legislative assembly, tweeted.

With the right kind of exercises this is achievable.

Santosh Macherla, Premium Trainer, Apollo Life Studio, states, “When you are 50+, you will start losing muscle and bone density, however, this can be reversed by incorporating a few weight training exercises as part of your workout plan. Weight training not only increases muscle volume and bone density but also lowers body fat. It is advisable to consult a doctor before starting weight training. At this age muscles have less elasticity so make sure you pack a few rounds of warm-up and stretching exercises along the way. Always begin with low intensity exercises and keep a firm watch on your form, and take assistance from a good trainer to avoid any injuries.”

“For 4-5 days a week, combine your cardiovascular exercises with strength training, aim at 20 minutes of Cardio followed by 30 minutes of weight training. On the remaining days include more breathing and stretching exercises in your workout plan. Try to expose yourself to early morning sunlight. Eat healthy and sleep well,” he adds.

Diet is a significant part of exercising and one should follow a strict regimen. “Try to include protein (chicken, fish, egg whites, low fat cottage cheese, etc), complex carbs (sweet potatoes, whole grain rice, oatmeal, etc), good fats and plenty of vegetables. Consume small meals for every three hours and try to have your dinner at least 2 to 3 hours ahead of your bedtime. Keep your body hydrated the whole day by consuming good amount of water and fresh juices (vegetables or fruit juice with pulp and sugarless),” Santosh advices.

Another celebrity is Shekhar Suman who also posted a picture on social media showing off his well-toned physique and body. “You don't stop exercising bcoz you grow old.. you grow old bcoz you stop exercising! (sic)” he tweeted posting a picture of his well-built body.

A game show host and a well-known actor in the television space, it is really heartening to see a 55-year-old actor being in better shape than some of the 20-year-old stars, who are big names in the industry nowadays.

When it comes to celebrities who have mastered the art of aging gracefully, there is one name that echoes on everyone’s lips; awarded the title of Iron Man, a model, actor and a heartthrob of many women and men alike, Milind Soman is the perfect example of an aging star whose attention to fitness and physique has earned him enormous fame and name in the fitness circle.

The mainstream celebrities too don’t shy away from flaunting their bodies on social media after rigorous work out routines. Shah Rukh Khan, Aamir Khan and many other Bollywood celebrities have started or rather inspired the trend of staying fit. These are actors who have foregone the mantra of having a pot belly and conforming to the notions of having a “Dad bod”. According to Urban Dictionary "Dad bod" is a male body type that is best described as "softly round".

It's built upon the theory that once a man has found a mate and fathered a child, he doesn't need to worry about maintaining a sculpted physique.

Proving this notion wrong, these celebs are chanting the mantra - age is but a number. Looking at them age 50 does seem like the new 20 and these actors have proven it by going the extra mile and creating a physical image for themselves that is not only beneficial to their personal health but professional careers as well. It is basically a shout out to the world that though they may have aged, they are still a forced to be reckoned with and that if given a chance, they could certainly give their sons, and in some instances, grandsons a run for their money!

By: Navin Pivhal