5, Entrepreneur Take Charge You can't control time, but you cans! inspite of his hectic manage it. This ehedule. Read on to findout how s guy does the latter, WORDS:SALIL JAYAKAR PHOTOGRAPHY: ANMOL ARORA ESA JET-SETTINGENTRE- preneurwhe frequently ttavels abroad ora couple of weeks tosource new ‘products for his company. Not toforget ‘the week-long trips he makesmonthly across India. Yet, ftnessisanintegeal [partofhislife—thareforalltosee fram, ‘his lean physique and enviable eight- ‘pack Meet 35-year-old Raul Jagtiani,a ‘Mumbai based entrepreneur, whorepre- ‘sentsall that a healthy lifestyle should, FITNESS COMES FIRST Despite busy schedules and hectic travel Toga, fitness has always come first for Rahul. Adauble bachelor’s degree helder ‘in management information system and marketing from Vinginia Tech, USA, Rahul also has. diploma in interior design and worked in his family business formany years. This meant long hours working on-site in different cities (both, in Indiaandthe USA) “Ive worked on allsorts of projects—from commercial office spaces, tohotels, malls and residences, Naturally it meant alot of travel and long days at work, in meetings and on project sites. But even then I've always taken time gut tadosome sort of physical activity.” he avers with a smile ‘n2010,he decided to take the plunge omhis own and starthis owa business venture, Thus was born Phish Plaza, his boutique lifestyle firm thst dabbles in concept furniture, home scceseories and lunique giftitoms. “Its achallonge to stay committed tofftness especially when ever s0 often, youre eitherom the road. or in theair,” headmats. ‘But that doesn't stop him from trying. On arecenttrip to Las Vegas, the fitness enthusiast made his way through a casino floor tothe gym at 73am even while others worestill rolling dice."It's not always about hitting the gym. You need to do some sort of physical ctvity best walking the city gaingtfor a runar hike orsimply skippingrope in your ‘hotel room,” he says. Nothard tebelieve thenas after ared-eye ight to Hong Kong, he tooka coldshower and was soon trekking up to Victoria Peal According to Rahul, its OK to cheat on. your diet too while you's travelling as Jong asyou don't go overboard with processed or packaged foods and eating binges, He maintains abalance by eating Jots of fruits and ensuring he drinks plenty of water.“Being surrounded by people who have made similar choices ives an unmistakable positive energy” KEEP A POSITIVE ATTITUDE Bachomein Mumbai, typical day for Rahul begins at sbout6 30 amor 7am ‘withabanana orafew walnuts, after ‘which he heads tothe gym." choose to gyminthe morningas I'm surrounded by people who havemade asinnilar choice, ‘There’-an unmistakesble positive ‘energy around that you justcan'tbeat!” ‘Afirmbelieverin physical and mental fitness, he listens toa fitness or ‘husiness podcast on his way to the gym ‘Who knows, 'lIearn something new that will add value to my fitness routine ‘oemiy business EATING REGHT 15 VITAL Post-workout and a heavy breakfast ‘comprising muesli, fruits and protein smoothie, twoegg whites and toast, he's ‘offto work. The entrepreneur spends neatly an hous and ahalf daily (home to ‘office and back) commuting apart from the time spent travelling to meetings across the city. He mostly carries his meals, including light neh of two rotis anda sabai and nuts and seeds tomunch ‘onduring the day. An evening snackat about 5.0 pm usually consists of mulligrain chicken sandwieh or a bow! of oats, Rahuls last meals dinner at about 8 pm comprising soup or asalad and ‘ieat— usually chicken, Ithelps that his family —parents and sister—are equally conselous of what theyeat, so meals don't have tobe prepared separately forhim. Forsomeone who wasnever an owerwelght kid oz had health concorns, Rahuls dedication to fitness isallthe ‘more commendable, He remembers going tothe gymwith olderkids whenhewasin fifthorsixth grade inschool just tado some stretching exercises. It wasonly in college that he turned to weight training. Tthelped that he-wasfainlyactivein sports through his studentyears."Tplaycricket, even today;"he states, CULTIVATE YOUR HOBBIES “The idea of fitness has changed over the yeats, Taday, ts net just about pumping ‘weights andbuilding muscles [t's also about a healthy mind, Mental fitness is ‘mportant—the way I manage my time, iy thoughts, the books Iveador the hobbies [eultivate, AIbealtaybady and ‘ind combined give you confidence, develop your personality and contra ower your life” asserts Rahul, who loves: adventure sportsand isan avid scuba diver too, Thenot-smoker andalmost tectataller—he drinks rarely—stresses om the importance of leading a healthy life Fitness has naw become second nature tome It's partofwho Iam, what Ido and the way Tlive my io" BE FIT, BE RICH ‘Theambitious entrepreneur belioves thatbeing fitand looking good are add- ‘ons that help him in his business. He stars in productvideos sold by his company and regularly shoots travel videos, combining his passion for work and travel, Rahul sums up his fitness mantra when he says, ‘Tike tacallit plushliving. But is not only about the physical and material things butalzo shout the way you live your life. And fitness—both physical and mental—isan {integral part of mine, And do believe thata little positive vanityis a good thing ‘What's wrongin looking good ina simple {shirt as compared to 010008 suit? None at all, we thinle om Surpisna Superphysiquisascluretat Sceiraesreplirpysuberscomirentionds ‘esiewarneruatingGet the Fashion, Houston ras ean vie eae eo ce nes eee eee ee re you into fash: New York Fashion Week (that fashion houses and up-and- ion? Did you pore was September); think loser, _comiing new talent are unveil: over every glossy friendlier and full of Bayou City ing. Enjoy the people-watching image inside the 856 pages of panache. Fashion Houston’s bonanza, too, as the glamorous, Vogue's legendary (end hefty) fifth annual week of fashion _eclectic H-town crond, decked September issue? Does the shows and events is upon us out in their best, warmly thought of seeing someone at this Nov. 18-21, sponsored receives the new collec- the airport in “college chic” byAudi, and appropriately AM tions parading down the pajama wear crush your soul _accessorized with the lon- gleaming white runway just aweebit? Do youlistthe gest red carpet anywhere in Installed at Wortham, head sales associate at Botsies Houston. Center. We've got a as your emergency contact or For four nights, one rearrange your shoe closet quar- can sip a refreshing tery? If so, you might bea fash- glass of wine or cham- jon warrior, and weealute you. pagne while enjoying a More than that, we want ook at the styles local focelebrate your quest for au _ designers, legendary courant clothing in all its near nations, and strongly advise 3 moe , youto geta ticket to the big, show in November—no, not on roast 28 wayou otty Ac42\u0 Octobor/ioverber fow insider tips, bricks and trunk shows to help you make the ‘most of this fabulously fash jonable and uniquely Houstonian take on haute couture ‘THE DESIGNER RUNWAY We asked Jared Lang, founder of Fashion Houston, just how this unabashedly hometown- proud, yet decidedly designer- centered showcase has evolved over the years. "We've been very fortunate from the start to have support from great part ners like Tootsies, Saks Fifth Avenue and Neiman Marcus, and its grown in recent years to include local retailers such as Elizabeth Anthony and Sloan Hall” says Lang, Don’t expect just a rehash of ‘New York's fashion week, how- ever, Lang says. “Basically, the difference between this show and fashion shows of L.A., Ne York or Milan is that while those