Gallery

I am not sure if I will be able to stop describing my joyful experience with this fantastic group.

When ELITECISOs health group was created, I was worried, thinking how long this group will sustain. As a member of many other health groups I have observed that after some time such groups die their natural death. I kept sharing this worry with Vikas but he was confident enough about his man-made  Bot. His Bot has a different story altogether and that’s a secret I am not going to share here.

I believe that Elite CISO’s has provided a great platform for all the hardcore fitness enthusiasts in our community to come together. I must admit that this is the best group I have come across. The beauty of this group is the active participation of each and every individual, which further adds on to continuous inspiration by all and to all. Each member of the group has been a constant pillar of support and encourages everyone in their fitness endeavors. It is heartwarming and invigorating to see that the group respects each other’s achievements and milestones, no matter how big or small. Another great thing about this group is that all members are friendly and down-to-earth. There is a sense of togetherness when we run or have breakfast after our fun run. A big thanks to each and every member of the group. Group celebration of 100 Days of Running Challenge (HDOR) milestones are moments that will always be cherished. Thanks to Baljot and Anukur for making this special every time.

Most interesting thing has been Vikas’s considerate Bot, he keeps everyone on their toes with warnings and repercussions for inactivity of any member. Hats off Vikas Arora!, You are not only a White Hat but Fitness Hat too!!!

As I shared before in another fitness article published on CIOs of India site in 2018, I fell in love with the word ‘Challenge’, which has now become part of my life. Hence, taking fitness challenges has become my habit now. Which is why I have been extensively taking part in different challenges for mental and physical wellbeing. Currently I am on the journey of ‘Three Hundred Days of Fitness Challenge’, ‘100 Days of Running Challenge’ and ‘No Sugar Challenge’.

Come on friends! Start something which keeps you fit physically and mentally. Something that removes all your worries and leads you towards a joyful life. I promise, that if you join some group like ‘ELITECISOs Fitness Fans’, you will get motivated from others and will enjoy each moment of your life. What else does one need if fitness, motivation, dedication, bonding, self-discipline, enjoyment and fun takes place together??

Many who are associated with/know ELITECISOs only know it for its work in Cyber Security community building and collaboration, however there is much beyond this!

ELITECISOs, for past 1.5-2 years, has immensely brought change in many CISOs/CIOs lifestyle by cultivating fitness by all means. The co-founders recognized that health is wealth especially for critical assets of an organization - CISOs/CIOs and hence made all possible efforts to make fitness a priority for every member of the group.

I have been fitness cautious since quite long, have been engaged in Running, Swimming, Gyming, Trekking etc. for years, hence do value what our body needs the most - Right food, ample water, regular exercise and enough rest!

I happened to join ELITECISOs in 2019, just after getting to know Vikas Arora, the co-founder and one of the pillars of group. As usual, I expected it to be a "Techie" group who usually talks only about what the world is doing about Cyber Security and so on. I proved to be wrong soon as I realised the group is doing much beyond our bread and butter related stuff.

It was April 2019 when Vikas Arora encouraged ELITECISOs members to participate in the Hundred Days Of Running (HDOR) challenge, one of the biggest fitness challenges in the world. The target was - walk/run at least 2 kilometres per day for 100 consecutive days! Looked so easy at first glance, but equally challenging when we really attempted it. As with many of us, first response was - "How is it possible?" We started gradually, by seeing many doing it, my thought was transformed to "I may able to make". I kept moving by doing a few kilometres daily, I was still skeptical about being consistent for 100 Days! I saw some fantastic examples in the group - Someone in his 50s who could barely walk with a stick started walking independently, sooner cracking 5-10 kilometres or someone reduced a few kilograms etc. This was encouraging enough to boost my confidence to say "I will do it". Some portion of that challenge was falling into one of highest ever monsoons in Pune (in last 50-60 years or so), however that didn't stop us achieving what we wanted to day. I kept interacting with all group members virtually, but never felt we were apart. The collaboration was at its pick and it remains today as well.

I wish to mention that Vikas kept energy so high that we didn't give up, not on a single day of the challenge duration and thereafter too. I remember and cherish a day where I drove 500kms a day (my highest ever driving distance in a day) and returned next day and still made sure to complete my target on both the days! Once you are encouraged enough, you do justice to your health. Another interesting fact about Vikas' motivation, he is not less than our college or school time teachers who used to get maximum out of all. He literally warns members who lose a track or become inconsistent and even removes them from the group for a while. I have not seen, even many of our family members pushing this hard for betterment of our health, hence he stands apart and each of us do respect and thank him for where we stand on fitness ground.

HDOR was just an instance, post that, Vikas kept everyone on their toes by engaging in group fitness activities, health related knowledge sessions etc. He ensured that it becomes a habit, a lifestyle than a competition which lasts only for specific time and a short duration benefit. We really can't thank enough Vikas for bringing this much needed change in everyone's life. Honestly, without a personal gain, very few do such a stuff.

With a quite happy record of 501kms of HDOR 2019 and overall 900kms in 2019, I suggested to set the Three Hundred Days Of Fitness (THDOF) challenge to make every one disciplined, all the year. I have already completed 180 days of this challenge (by taking just 6 breaks until now) and hoping to end on another happy note! I am sure ELITECISOs will set another remarkable record with this initiative.

I request readers of this post to think where they stand on their fitness and do whatever it takes to do justice to your body and mind.

Remember, the only thing that remains with you until your last breath - is your body. Wake-up, it is never too late in life.

Running was something that I used to do on and off without any goal with more off than on. I was introduced to the GoQii-CIO running group in Feb 2017 when for the 1st time I ran 5 kms around Nehru Park in Delhi. That's the time I got to know of the running stalwarts in CIO/CISO's group like Naresh, Rajesh, Kamal, Balwant among others... That also gave me an opportunity to buy a GoQii device to track my walking/running. I couldn't complete my first Hundred Days of Running in 2017 due to office work, but the motivation to run made me run my first 10k run in Nov 2017. I continued to run in 10k races, successfully completed my Hundred Days of Running in 2018 clocking 560 kms in 100 days. That's when I got to know Satish & Vikas. I graduated from 10k to do my first 1/2 marathon in Feb 2019. In the 2019 edition of Hundred Days of Running Vikas introduced me to the EliteCISO group and got to meet most of the team during the 50th day run and on completion of 100 days. EliteCISO group is the best running group that we have where we motivate each other and have only fitness as the goal (apart from security of course !!!)

Running for me has now become a habit. When I started I just ran because I was away from my family, in a city miles away from home . Summers in Gurugram were scalding and winters were harsh and lonely and running helped me to stay sane and fit. More than a physical exercise, it became a mental conquest. Each kilometre would egg me on and add positivity to my thinking, each 100 day challenge would be a test of my endurance and consistency and each marathon I ran only made me outrun my fears and challenges. If I would have to describe running in one word today, it would be LIFE !! In fact, during this lock down, thanks to Rajesh, we came up with the idea of running only Indoors or terrace. We challenged each of us and completed even 1/2 marathons running inside the house. Running was and is my therapy and my medicine and I get a high when my legs rhythmically thump on the ground and my heart beats in tandem with the wind blowing through my hair. It is something I will never give up

I joined ELITECISOs nearly 18 months ago where it was a core Information Security forum and not like others where InfoSec is for name sake and the purpose is giving awards. The journey began with Vikas Arora who ensured that right learning is imparted through different technological landscapes, personality development with a touch of entertainment for sure.

While everything was going great from a technical perspective, there came by 100 Days of Running (HDOR) challenge across India and ELITECISOs as a group took up the challenge.

From my perspective, I always loved running/gymming but never got the motivation to keep doing it. And especially being allergic to dust, it was more of a challenge. However, with God grace and the powerful energy from this group, not only did I complete the HDOR, I made it a habit to run/exercise 6/7 days and the results were showing up. In a year, I lost 12 Kilos and with improved immunity where I was running outdoors easily. Taking a step back and recalling those HDOR group runs, the passion went upto the extent that I landed once at 3 AM and was at Lodhi Garden at 6 AM. Similarly, once I had a day in transit, so completed my 2 KMs walk at the airport which was fun. And not forget, where I met Vikas in NY and I had my first 10 KM run with him (with his push for sure).

With the current Covid-19 situation, folks while WFH can take it as they feel. But with the constant motivation from this super energetic group, regular push from Vikas and my son Krishiv, I got into Yoga. I did fear the most where I thought that I may gain weight sitting locked down; however, I took great care of my diet and regular exercise/Yoga, and reduced another 2 Kilos.

To conclude, if you are serious with core technical discussion and in parallel wish to take care of health, then please do join us. It's Learn and Run #Together.

Thank you Vikas Arora and #ELITECISOs!

I love people and especially when they are curious about new things.

While this love for people made me part of many communities but few nurtured my curiosity part. When I joined EliteCISOs, it was for having deep-dive conversations & learning on the IT security; but 2020 completely changed this for me as Vikas introduced to this ELITECISOs Health community and share the amazing initiative of 365 days health challenge.

Recently on 11th April, the Sunday ELITECISOs completed first milestone of 100 days and celebrated in a unique way which was carefully conducted amidst the high-level of covid precautions.

The event started at 6’15 am in the morning with a warm-up walk/run of 10 km from Nehru-Park, Chanakyapuri and after that we reached at Taj Palace Delhi, where a session on nutritious diet and Celebratory Cake was waiting for us. We sealed the success of first milestone with Champagne and a healthy sumptuous brunch with a strong resolve to complete the remaining milestones as a community.

The excitement was palpable and infectious and clearly seen in the participation of each member. The best part was that it was a community game and our individual actions amidst the time, health, personal challenges got support from the community and resolved.

Lot of CISO friends shared their stories and one of the touching stories of our dear Ashok sir which I remember during the event. It was his amazing experience which he shared by joining the ELITECISO Health community. He reported that at a start he is giving up as he could not walk for even a short distance due to some personal health reasons. In any other community people would not bother much and move ahead with the rest but this is where EliteCISOs is different. As a community leader Vikas resolved by finding a way to transform his issue and keep him into playing the game. Vikas calibrated his daily milestone to minimum so that he can participate and be with us. Not only could he cover the daily milestone set for a short distance of 200m at the beginning, but he also completed the challenge successfully while walking more than a targeted Kilometer. While sharing his experience, Ashok sir was brimming with energy and glowing in the unstoppable spirit in the game.

As we all clicked the photographs wearing the same themed T- shirt, we pledged to keep being active, operational and lead with health in all communities of our life.