From meetings and suits, they take to the ring and the river to revive – Healthy living over 40
New York Palace Hotel Manager Tamás Fazekas and Anantara Hotels PR-marketing Manager Gábor Földes make executive decisions every day as they negotiate and organize. And yet, when they step outside the hotel walls they seem to transform into different people altogether.
They told us why they’re so engaged in sports, how they squeeze it into their busy executive schedules, and their thoughts on how to get back in shape over 40.
Tamás Fazekas and canoeing
What would you consider a healthy lifestyle – and how does it fit your everydays?
I’ll refer to the motto “sound mind in a sound body”. Ever since I was a kid, sports were a regular activity, and having to go without my exercise would hit me hard. I took up canoeing at an early age, and ever since it’s been an important staple, a couple of times every week even now. Besides the regular exercise, I’ll sometimes enter Masters competitions too.
Why did this particular sport appeal to you? And how does it contribute to your mental wellbeing?
I was in elementary school when we were scouted for a canoe club, and I was immediately enchanted. It became such integral to my routines, even when I took up work overseas I needed to find a canoe club to visit. I believe that working in a mentally engaging field need to be balanced with a physically challenging activity. And strange as it may sound, it gives me a total boost.
How much time does a management job allow for regular exercise? What is the trick of maintaining your work-life balance?
Because sports really help keep balanced and focused, I always try to find time for it. Some mornings I’ll be out on the water at seven, other days I can only fit in rowing after work. The point is to keep up internal motivation for the workout.
Is there a particular morning routine, habit or diet that keeps you going?
Not really. Sure I try to eat healthy, but sports can be so physically punishing, afterward it’s best to just eat whatever I feel like eating.
Any words of advice on how to shape up over 40?
If you ask me, the main thing isn’t how much you exercise or how many times a week, but to keep it regular. Dedicate those days that you will get out there and train no matter what, whether it’s rain or shine. Regularity is what builds your stamina and integrates exercise into an active lifestyle.
Gábor Földes and Thai box
What would you consider a healthy lifestyle – and how does it fit your everydays?
To be honest, healthy living only returned to my life a few years ago. In my younger years I played ice hockey, and that meant rink or floor almost every day. Everything seemed to go smooth and simple.
Later on my career took away that spontaneity, and I was left carrying all that extra weight, so in a few years’ time I set out to pay more attention to eating and exercise.
Why did this particular sport appeal to you? And how does it contribute to your mental wellbeing?
After twenty years of ice hockey, I really could use some sport in my life, except now I found it difficult to fit regular training with my schedule. So I started off by taking up tennis, a less demanding sport. I took it very seriously, three sessions a week with a personal trainer, but even so I felt I need something more physically challenging. My wife found a local Muay Thai ring, and from my very first session I knew this was home. It’s difficult to describe the feeling, I might say each time’s like dying and then coming back to life again. Afterwards I feel all purged and relieved, the stress is all gone, and of course I’m dead tired too.
How much time does a management job allow for regular exercise? What is the trick of maintaining your work-life balance?
That can be difficult, but careful planning helps time management. Training is prioritized in my schedule the same way a meeting is. Once it’s on the agenda, I’ll do my utmost to make it happen. Currently that means three training sessions a week, luckily these are mornings which are easier to fit in.
Is there a particular morning routine, habit or diet that keeps you going?
I’m a foodie, but I had to realize that bread and sugar had to go, they weren’t good for me. Just by changing my diet I managed to lose 16 kilos in eighteen months, along with regular exercise of course. And luckily I’ve always liked vegetables, ever since I was a kid, so I’m not on suffering on my diet. I’m just being a bit more careful, that’s all.
Any words of advice on how to shape up over 40?
It’s always different strokes for different folks, I can’t point to any universal solution. What helps me along is getting motivation from my instructor. I’m a procrastinator, but I was lucky to find someone to badger me along and drive me as hard as necessary.
Golden Muay Thai SE – Training for all ages, all levels
Gábor’s trainer is Ádám Berkes, lead coach at Golden Muay Thai SE. Ádám has 21 years’ experience in teaching and promoting Muay Thai. His coaching career started in Dunaújváros and he’s been coaching professional boxers ever since. His Muay Thai training activities are now based in the towns of Veresegyház and Fót. His aim is to give all ages access to this martial art, and to give the local community a boost.
In their respective lines of sport, they both found their own path. Yet they share the attitude that sports is not a burden or a chore, but a beneficial energy source.
