Sonali Bendre Shares Her Fitness Mantra For New-Age Mothers

I never miss out on these fitness mantras that are also super quick and easy to follow, says Sonali Bendre.

Being in a super competitive industry and managing a family alongside can be extremely hectic and take a toll on you, leaving you with absolutely no time for yourself. That is exactly why fitness becomes all the more important.

I’ve realised that if I want to keep my family healthy and look good on screen, I must make conscious decisions to keep myself and my family fit.

As difficult as that may sound, it really isn’t!

I make sure that I never miss out on these fitness mantras that are also super quick and easy to follow:

Exercise Daily

I make sure that I work out for at least thirty minutes every day. I do a bit of cardio and strength training. My personal trainer ensures that I keep my fitness regime and diet in line with my goals.

There are days when I absolutely cannot hit the gym and that is when I take my pet out for long walks and pamper her, covering up for the workout that I missed.

Do not ever miss out on pampering your body with daily exercise.

Eat Every 2 Hours

I was a healthy eater even as a child. In fact, even then, I used to eat every 2 hours for which I would be scolded by my mother.

But now the same advice is being given by dietitians and nutritionists. Eating five to seven small meals a day helps speed up your metabolism.

Snack Smart

I have always been a big advocate of healthy eating and regular exercise but it can be difficult to maintain a set routine when you are busy all week. When you are super busy, it’s inevitable to binge on unhealthy snacks but those are the ones that should be avoided at all costs.

You will always find me carrying some fresh fruits along with some almonds for in-between snacking.

Almonds are a natural source of many essential nutrients making them a nutrient-rich snack that keeps me going through the day. To add some flavour to the almonds, I toss them with black pepper, lemon, olive oil, sea salt and toast them in a pan or keep them for 7 minutes in a moderate oven.

Once cold, I pack them in a jar and carry them when I am on the move.

Have a Healthy Breakfast

Mornings are usually the busiest time of the day, when I am trying to pack my son off to school and getting ready to reach my shoot or meetings on time. But I never skip my breakfast.

I start my day with a glass of water and a handful of almonds that are soaked the previous night and peeled the next morning. I’m not someone who eats too much bread, so I get my dose of fibre from fresh fruits.

What I like to do is add a few slices of apples, berries to my oats and almond milk – it’s my favourite breakfast bowl.

Restrict Your Caffeine Intake

Coffee is our go-to beverage for anything right? It’s very important to understand that caffeine can be extremely addictive and unhealthy and that is why I make sure that I restrict myself to 2 cups of coffee in a day.

Coconut water then becomes my beverage of choice!

Incorporating small changes/additions in one's daily routine can have a big impact. All these small efforts not only help me maintain my weight and a healthy lifestyle, but also help balance both my family's health as well as my own.

(Sonali Bendre Behl is an Indian actress and a fitness enthusiast.)