Unlike others, I don't constantly weigh myself: Parineeti

Fitness hijinks

Parineeti Chopra is back after a much-deserved break and is looking better than ever before. Even detractors, who were criticising her for the swelling dress sizes, are now trying to save face - so gorgeous is her all-new avatar. Just like her characters she's pulled off a grit game, persevered and burned out the love handles. And just like always, she's making a whole lot of sense in her balanced approach to fitness. She's not jumped desperately onto the crazy diet programs and workout regimes. She's found out the holistic way to staying healthy and in ship shape. Best thing is, Parineeti doesn't mince words, she doesn't beat around the bush. Even with something as general as fitness she brings her own unique touch and perspective making it interesting for herself and the readers...

FIT OVER FAT
Parineeti debunks the stereotypes that surround the concept of the body beautiful. "Who says your body shape has got anything to do with being fit? Have you ever noticed the background dancers? Some of them are outright fat but they dance the whole day without breaking sweat. They are extremely fit, have oodles of stamina and also grace. They don't turn skinny or have a flat stomach despite all the workout they do. It's wrong to tag people, to criticise them on the basis of their size, figure or weight," she fumes. The next minute she is grinning, "Unlike others, I don't constantly weigh myself. I have a simple trick - if my clothes come on tight, that means
I have put on weight and need to lose some flab. If they become loose, then I don't have to step up my exercise routine."

FITNESS MEANS...
Another fitness myth she's cheesed about are diet fads that keep changing. "People say go off carbs, eat only proteins and salads. I believe that's totally untrue. You must eat everything but in small quantities. Fitness is about feeling great when you wake up in the morning. If you need coffee to wake you up then you are unfit. If you wake up in morning and your blood is flowing, your brain is fresh, your body is rested and you are smiling, then you're fit."

She says hers is not a typical Punjabi family who live for butter-laden parathas. "My mother must have made more salads than parathas because my family is health conscious. My siblings, my father and even my mother believe in eating healthy and exercising daily. Everyone is into some sport or the other. My parents practise yoga regularly. In fact, I was the laziest. Now they tease me no end when they see me scooting off to the gym."

JUST WORK IT
Parineeti wasn't concerned about exercise till she joined films. "Now I have more knowledge about fitness and food. Now, I know what looks good in front of camera, what I should wear to look pretty. I understand that your arms need to be of a certain size, your butt needs to be of a certain shape. You have to work on different aspects and sculpt your body. When I was shooting for Daawat-e-Ishq, I felt I needed a break.

My skin had turned unhealthy, I was running short of energy and stamina. Then, after finishing Kill Dil, I decided enough was enough and took a break."
She began working out as she wanted to feel and look better. "You are constantly in front of the camera, you can't afford to look unfit. So for energy, stamina and to look better on screen, it's important to sleep properly, eat well. Now I sleep for eight-nine hours." She adds, "To bring variation to your roles, it's important to be fit and flexible. I'd like to work on that."

IN GOOD TASTE
The actress reveals she doesn't follow a set diet. She starts her day with a glass of warm water. Her breakfast consists of either oats, poha, dosa or idli depending on her mood. She works out after that. "I'm taking care of what I eat. Let me tell you it's the hardest thing for a foodie. If I eat anything wrong, I balance it the next day. For instance, if I eat pizza today, I stick to healthy things for the next five days. Then, I make sure to finish my dinner by 7 pm. The body needs time to digest. A late dinner doesn't get digested properly and leads to bloating. My body has responded well to these changes. Like I can do 50 sets of suryanamaskar now. Whereas I got tired doing just two earlier."

DANCERCISE
She's learning Kerala's martial art Kalaripayattu from an expert. "Kalari apes animal forms. So one day you may attempt the deer form, which is elegant and agile. The other day you may do the bull form, which shakes you up. I work out either in a gym or we go to a rehearsal hall where we get an open space. My trainer's also a qualified dancer, who has followed this martial art form since her childhood. I have begun to see life with a new perspective."

Fitness tips

Sleep well

Drink lots of water

Work out the way you like - be it dancing, walking or swimming

Eat everything but in small portions. Just stay away from artificial and packaged food

It's okay to cheat once in a while