Showing posts with label Zareen Khan diet. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Zareen Khan diet. Show all posts
I’ve tried every diet in the book-Zareen Khan
8:26 AM
Over a decade since she made her acting debut, Zareen Khan on her public battle with the bulge, and chasing challenging routines
Sonia Lulla (MID-DAY; December 7, 2022)
Zareen Khan’s battle with the bulge has been a rather public one. The actor, who made her industry debut with Salman Khan’s Veer admits to have “tried every diet in the book” and resorted to “fasting for two days at a stretch” before adopting healthy habits.
“By the time that I became part of the industry, I had already dropped 50 kilos. In fact, I had to gain weight to look voluptuous for my debut film. And it is rather ironic that while no one told me anything when I was [obese], everybody had an opinion when I gained weight for a role. I got a lot of flak for it,” says Khan, asserting that her journey with both, trolls and fitness, began before her industry debut.
While her genetic predisposition put her at a disadvantage, Khan points out that the hormonal changes that women are subjected to also affect the ability to maintain weight. “Sometimes, no matter how hard we try, things don’t work in our favour. They take our body on a different track altogether. At one point in time, I weighed 100 kilos. I come from a family where people battle chronic illnesses like diabetes and heart-related issues that are a product of [obesity].”
However, she aptly highlights that when it comes to fitness, sometimes, one cannot judge a book by its cover. Individuals who appear slim, she highlights, may also be battling health-related conditions. On her part, Khan counts physical activity among the most crucial factors in her journey. Not a gym rat, she prefers to adopt functional methods — exercises that will actually help her tide over calamities, when they strike.
“I think about the physical requirements that will be needed in the face of calamity. I will need to run, [swim], or jump to navigate obstacles that may arise. It’s like a survivors’ [boot camp]. I don’t believe in heading to the gym and pumping one body part.”
While cardiovascular activities have been a staple, Khan says she experiments with fitness forms like pilates, and weight lifting. Currently, she adheres to functional training and aerial yoga. “If I look at something, and begin to wonder if I can do it, I take it up as a challenge. Even today, while doing yoga, I am often surprised by what I can pull off.” The actor, who wouldn’t even cover “500 metres in a day”, also focuses on being active.
Tackling weight-related issues, she agrees, has hampered professional opportunities. “In this industry, a lot of people speak about body-shaming, and then, the same people are [adamant] about casting actresses who are stick-thin. But, things have changed in the last two years. Instead of perceiving them as eye-candies, women are being given more actor-driven roles. In the past, the makers wanted every woman to look the same. Now, the focus is on the role and not on the looks alone.”
Khan on diet tricks that have helped her
Intermittent fasting may be tough at the onset, but after three days, you no longer feel hungry during the fasting phase. You eventually realise that a lot of times, you eat due to boredom. It helps you understand your relationship with food. I also follow a low-carb diet, and avoid sugar, as much as I can.
I don’t know if the trolls are disturbed or frustrated-Zareen Khan
8:00 AM
Zareen Khan on body-shaming trolls, finding support in Anushka Sharma and staying fit
Hiren Kotwani (MUMBAI MIRROR; September 4, 2019)
“Many people have double standards. On one hand, they criticize a celeby’s pictures on magazine covers and billboards, saying they are photoshopped. On the other hand, when someone posts a real picture, with all her imperfections, she is trolled,” Zareen Khan sums up the reactions to a picture she shared on the social media in which she is posing at Lake Pichola in Rajasthan, her crop top revealing the stretch marks on her stomach. The actress goes on to add that when she posted it, it wasn’t as an actress but as a person and it wasn’t about her but the beauty of her surroundings. “But many viewed it as a picture I’d posed for, be it for a magazine or a brand.”The actress who was last seen in Vikram Bhatt’s horror film, 1921, points out that there are thousands of apps to edit pictures and make them perfect. “But I didn’t feel the need to use them because I don’t believe in hiding my imperfections. I believe everyone is imperfect in their own way. As a teenager, I weighed over 100 kg and when you lose 50 kilos, your skin tends to get loose and leave stretch marks. I’m proud of what I have achieved. It’s not about becoming picture-perfect for people but for myself. This fitness journey made me the person I am today, a part of the film industry, and I feel blessed. And before I could reply to the trolls, several fans stood by me,” she beams.
One of those who stood up for her was Anushka Sharma and Zareen applauds the actress, saying, “That was very sweet of her since Anushka and I are not even friends. We’ve met each other briefly at social gatherings. It takes a strong woman to recognise another. I’ve come a long way in the journey, but I would still require photoshopping. But I like to be the real me on the social media.”
Zareen isn’t the first actress to be body-shamed. From Malaika Arora to Sara Ali Khan, many have been trolled and shamed for their posts but they continue. “I don’t know if they are disturbed or frustrated looking for solace on the social media. I’d certainly like to see the kind of bodies people posting such comments have. Thank God it’s a small section and you shouldn’t take them seriously,” she says fervently, admitting that this platform that has given them direct access to celebs is both a boon and also a curse. She is however quick to reason that even in real life you meet some unpleasant people and her response to such trolls is with the Rajesh Khanna song from Amar Prem, “Kuch Toh Log Kahenge, Logon Ka Kaam Hai Kehna”.
Flashbacking to her teenage years, she admits she wasn’t a disciplined eater and wouldn’t even walk down to the end of the lane. But over the years, she’s learnt the importance of a balanced diet and doing some physical activity. “If you don’t take care of your body, you will collapse and end up in the hospital. You should do at least 30 minutes of exercise every day to keep fit,” she asserts.
Depending on her schedule, Zareen chooses her regimen. On easy days, she opts for weight-training, strength training, functional training, cardio and when her schedule is hectic, it’s yoga or pilates. “Exercise should be a way of life, not a punishment. My trainers keep changing my regimen, so I don’t get bored,” she points out. And to ensure that she doesn’t gain unwanted kilos while not starving, she’s opted for the Keto diet and intermittent fasting. “Keto is a fad now, but I took my time to research it and have been following it for over two years now. Intermittent fasting works wonders without making you feel you’re starving yourself,” she informs. And what happens when she succumbs to temptation? “I’m human, so the temptation to cheat will be there. But from the time I’ve been on Keto, I don’t have too many cravings.”
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