Mar 7, 2011
Celebrities in the tinsel town are known to be fitness freaks, and especially where the fairer sex is concerned, the freakishness can go to extreme levels of stringent, and sometimes strange, dietary regimens, exhausting exercise schedules and even cosmetic surgeries.
Sonakshi Sinha, daughter of yesteryear matinee idol Shatrugan Sinha, and herself a star in the making after the recent success in her debut blockbuster Dabangg opposite Salman Khan, has an amazing story to tell of how, from being a rolly-polly couch potato who survived on junk food, she went on to lose 30 kilos to become a svelte, slim and trim bollywood sensation.
The journey was literally a pitched battle between Sonakshi and the weighing scale. Pampered in her growing years as any star daughter would be, Sonakshi was a foodie who hated going to the gym, was least bothered about her expanding waisteline and even less about the constant reminders from her mom to take care of her shape and dad who was concerned about her health.
So how and when did it all change? Recalls Sonakshi, "I loved my sedentary lifestyle, I loved my food and made every possible excuse to not exercise. Then suddenly, I found my mom had stopped nagging me completely. While it felt great initially, I gradually found something missing. My conscience started pricking me. This was around the same time when I was finishing my fashion designing course."
At the recently held Star Screen Awards where she won the best debutant (female) award for her role in Dabangg, she specially thanked Salman Khan for playing a crucial part in her success, and not without reason. Nor was it only for coaxing her to sign up for the movie. Incidentally, it was Salman who asked her to lose weight and give a serious thought to join the bollywood bandwagon. Well, if you were fitness freak like Salman, it wouldn't be easy to keep quiet about a young and beautiful lady weighing 90 kilos!
From 90 to 60 Kilos, in two years!
As Sonakshi herself admits, it wasn't an easy task to shed 30 kilos in a matter of a couple of years. It took immense dedication, determination and will power to follow a fitness regimen and a diet planned by her physical trainer. What the plan needed the most was some factor that would keep her motivated.
Her weight-loss campaign began with a combination of weight training, cardio and spinning exercises, together with squats and abdominal crunches. "The initial days were extremely difficult. My body would ache so much so that I would have difficulties waking up in the morning," says Sonakshi.
But a rock-solid determination to say 'Khamosh!' (daddy style) to her detractors and all those who commented on her chubbiness led her to continue her mission. She worked out for about two hours twice a day and lo, within a month she discovered that she had actually lost three to four kilos. It was a great boost to her confidence and all of a sudden, losing weight turned out to be an exciting challenge.
The thrill of not only shedding excess fat but also staying fit got to her and soon exercising regularly became a part and parcel of her life. " The weighing machine was my best friend. I loved keeping track of how much I lost each day. And even a 500 gm weight gain would get me worried and make me put in more effort," she says.
But it wasn't just sweating it out at the gym that did the trick for Sonakshi. Eating right was as important, and as difficult, given her love for junk food. She admits that like most others, she too went on and off on crash diets, only to gain more weight. However, once she seriously embarked on her mission, she cut down on junk food completely, which wasn't easy, reduced intake of carbohydrates and consumed healthy fats.
She was on a high protein and low carbohydrate diet, and to make it easier for her, she was allowed to have one favourite dish as long as it was within limits. It then became such a routine that she no more had cravings for junk food, turning her into a conscious eater. Even if she does let her hair down once in a while now, she makes sure that she makes up for it by spending extra time in the gym.
Fitness is forever
Sonakshi's feat in itself is marvellous, but the glamour queen is not the one to rest. Fitness regime has become an innate part of her life now, and moreover, she is prone to add on weight easily. She, therefore, ensures a regular workout to keep her perfect.
Her present fitness programme includes small meals taken every three hours to maintain her bubbling energy level, and hot yoga - that is, yoga performed in a steamed room - to tone her body. In fact, she prefers yoga to aerobics and stays fit even with a regular round of tennis.
Here's a tip from the girl herself - stop eating carbohydrates after six in the evening and drink several cups of green tea on a daily basis.