Each of us experiences some defining moments that change our life forever. For fitness expert and wildlife photographer Sandeep Mall, one of those moments happened in 2009, when he was in an accident and got trapped in a 10-car pile-up. Mall was seriously injured; and his recovery and rehabilitation were extremely difficult, painful and long. Hurt but not defeated, the 43-year-old man took stock of his life and came to the conclusion that he had devoted much of his life to little more than running his business. He decided it was time to change and express his creative pursuits.

So, during one of his trips to the Ranthambore Wildlife Sanctuary, he realized that wildlife photography was not just a hobby, but a therapy that would ease the pain that had plagued him since the car crash and the resulting disc replacement surgery. While on the road to recovery, he also discovered the true value of fitness and how it has the potential to change all aspects of your life – body, mind, attitude, relationships. and business in a positive way. He said, “My doctors were ready to prescribe me and put me on medication for life. But I wanted a way out and so I started my journey into the world of staying physically and mentally agile, ”explains the 55-year-old who is the grandfather of an 8-month-old girl.

He started training with Rajiv Godara, a boxer who happened to be his neighbor. “He was a friend of my son’s and encouraged me to exercise. Whether at the gym or at the park, it made me push my limits. I started to see differences in my physical appearance as the fat accumulated around my neck began to recede. My sleeping habits became healthier and I started to think positively.

Mall began sharing his journey on Twitter, inspiring thousands of people in the process. “I was amazed to read transformation stories with words of gratitude for inspiring them to get fitter. My story has motivated so many people to eat well and get in shape! Thus, the desire to influence more people to adopt a healthier lifestyle has increased. ”

Mall announced two monthlong health challenges in January and February, and surprisingly many non-believers have also started exercising regularly, being a part of #GettingFitterwithSandeep. Encouraged by the response, Mall issued another challenge. “To break up the monotony of the exercise, I announced a 100-day multi-activity health challenge, which began April 1, with the mission of involving 100 participants in this trip.” To his surprise, 580 people signed up. And a mass fitness campaign grew out of interactions on Twitter, supported by fitness and health experts, entrepreneurs and individuals from diverse backgrounds.

The challenge was unique in its format as people could do a variety of activities and not be limited to just a few exercises. He encouraged fitness enthusiasts to keep going with their routine or change their activities according to their mood and interest to prevent monotony from setting in. “Internet users have engaged in all kinds of physical activity, from Zumba to aerobics. We encouraged people to do whatever activities they wanted, making the challenge tastier and healthier.

Going back to his own journey, Mall says, “That’s right, it takes about 21 days to get into a new habit, and I chose the fitness habit. During my journey that began in 2009, I have enjoyed a myriad of benefits ranging from being less sensitive to anger to getting rid of all lifestyle ailments.

Mall thinks anger is counterproductive. “Anger doesn’t just hurt us, but a lot of other people as well. Always look at the big picture. Replace anger with love, gratitude, and purpose. You will be a winner. You will build a solid foundation to restart your life, ”he says.

Mall’s goal is to motivate people to lead healthy lives, and he believes in sharing as much information as possible to try to encourage others. “As you start to adopt a healthier lifestyle, your outlook on food changes as well. I make sure I have freshly prepared meals. It is advisable to avoid all packaged foods. Hydration is just as important and consuming 3 liters of water is a must, ”he says.

Mall is never limited to having candy and especially ice cream, “I just had it,” he laughs. He thinks it is pointless to restrict yourself all the time, and you can have what you love in moderation, because health is not a short-term goal, it is a lifelong practice.

The entrepreneur thinks it is important to be grateful and write in his journal every day and night, thanking God for the little things and experiences. “The power of gratitude is like a magic potion that would make you happier, healthier, more optimistic and more productive, and this potion would cost nothing and take very little effort to use,” he believes.