Rich Roll: Living the brave and healthy way

On his trip to Karachi for a speaking session, Rich felt honoured to be given the chance to do what he loves.

KARACHI:

While some of us cringe at the idea of giving up unhealthy habits and starting afresh, Rich Roll, a 47-year-old fitness advocate, epitomises the fact that life is worth fighting for.

A graduate of Stanford University and Cornell Law School, Rich is an inspiration for people the world over as a transformative example of courageous and healthy living. After finding himself entangled in the cobweb that obesity is at age 40, Rich made the conscious decision to overhaul his life. He adopted a plant-based diet and rediscovered himself as an ultra-distance endurance athlete.

On his recent trip to Karachi for a speaking session, Rich felt honoured to be given the chance to do what he loves — “speak with people about health...” Having lived a troublesome early life, Rich told The Express Tribune that he struggled terribly with drug and alcohol addiction, which he eventually overcame.

Rich is an ultra-distance endurance athlete, who competed in the Ultraman World Championships in his mid-40s. PHOTO: FILE

“I overlooked one crucial aspect of my life — my health and fitness,” he said. He further added, “My life was spiralling out of control... By the time I was 39, I was 50 pounds overweight, lethargic and depressed”. He did everything to fix what he referred to as his “broken life” but to no avail. “So why wasn’t I (happy)?” he often asked himself.

The eve of his 40th birthday was a revelational moment for him. “Walking up the stairs to my bedroom late that night, I had to stop and rest... I thought I might be having a heart attack.  It was a scary moment. A moment I knew I had to seize in order to change my life, or suffer serious health consequences,” he said. It was then that he decided to adopt a vegan diet, one devoid of meat and dairy products. “I suddenly had so much energy; I resumed an exercise routine... And before I knew it, I was training for triathlon competitions,” he said. He went on to compete in as gruelling an event as the Ultraman World Championships in his mid-40s.

On the question of how important men’s wellness is in today’s fast-paced world and how pertinent it is for the Pakistani man, Rich acknowledged “heart disease, obesity and diabetes rates in Pakistan are exploding”. Quoting statistics, Rich stated “26% of women and 16% of men [in the country] are obese.” Suggesting an approach to curb these rising numbers, he said that one must establish wellness where “mind, body and spirit are in proper balance”.

When asked what he would say to someone who is suffering from obesity and a surrendering attitude, Rich said “the power to change resides within all of us. It only requires a decision, followed by a commitment to small ‘doable’ actions repeated regularly. Because baby steps move mountains.”

He believes that incorporating a triad of things into daily life can propel the most debilitated of individuals to employ a healthy lifestyle: One, start small; two, release the pressure of being perfect; and three, create a community around the process. In terms of starting small, Rich recommended an easy health routine: “Remove one unhealthy item from your diet, simply commit to taking a 10 minute walk everyday or [have] one meal daily with fresh plant-based foods. Repeat the behaviour... When you begin to experience even the slightest improvement... reward yourself to keep things fresh and fun”. Rich acknowledged the fact that it is okay to make mistakes and that acceptance and making the next best choice are key to employing healthy habits. In addition, one must surround oneself with supportive people and allow them to hold one accountable, he affirmed that change in one’s lifestyle will not occur overnight. It must be given time.

On asking the all-important question of how to fight cravings, Rich said that one must “put a distance between [one] and the unhealthy food [one] craves” and that one mustn’t cheat!

Published in The Express Tribune, October 21^st, 2013.

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