Saqib Saleem shares his fitness secrets

by | January 23, 2015, 16:28 IST

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Saqib Saleem shares his fitness secrets




Today’s young Turks are a health conscious lot. They know that having a fit, toned body is a must if they want to go the long haul. Saqib Saleem is no different. But he isn’t just concerned with bulging biceps or washboard abs. Stamina is as important to him as strength building. He doesn’t want to simply work up a sweat on the treadmill. Running for him means pumping out his lungs in the great outdoors and putting several kilometers under his belt each day. “Fitness should be part of your everyday routine. Make fitness your lifestyle and start enjoying the run, however rigorous. It has come to a point that I feel sick without a regular workout,” he vouches.



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SPORTY KID
Saqib was involved with sports right from his childhood and credits his athletic form to that. Like most Indians, Saqib was passionate about cricket and even played it at the national level. He also played other sports at the college level, including football and badminton. He mentions that his coaches were disciplinarians who punished their wards by making them run two rounds around the ground for every goof up during practice. In the bargain, he developed a liking for running.

CAMPUS DUDE
He credits his mother for encouraging him to take up sports, “My mother believed I should do something apart from joining the family business. Another incentive to stay fit during college was to impress girls. That stage passed soon and I realised that I should remain fit just for myself. I wish to stay 100 per cent fit all my life.” The need to develop decent guns led him to join a gym while in college.

HEALTHY CHOICE
Today, he is a regular at the Yash Raj Studio gym and can be found pumping iron most evenings there. “I work out for an hour non-stop. It is the most difficult time of the day because it is intense. I don’t believe in six or eight packs, but good health is my aim.” Currently he’s on a strength-building program and lifts as much weight as he can. “I change my workout pattern every few months. Generally, I try a mix of upper body and lower body workouts. Now, I want to concentrate on my lower body. I believe the legs are the strongest part of your body, your base.” He insists that developing camaraderie with one’s trainer is productive. “Your trainer should be your best friend in the gym. He should know you inside out as he needs to design a program that suits you best.”

REWORK & REINVENT
Saqib also keeps reading and watches videos on fitness, trying to figure what works best for him. “I came across an article, which said one needs to shock one’s body for maximum results. That inspired me to go for CrossFit exercises. They benefitted me.” He elaborates, “Fitness trainers have different fundas. There’s a whole community that uploads videos online. My current inspiration is American fitness instructor Jillian Michaels, who has inspired many with her intense 30 minute workouts.”

FOOD RULES
Saqib doesn’t believe in following a rigid diet. His principle is to nourish the body with all essentials. “Healthy eating comes naturally to me. I understand my body well and know how it reacts to different food. I don’t give in to temptation though.”  He consumes a glass of protein shake before, during and after workout, as the body needs maximum protein then. Instead of three square meals, he consumes six small meals a day.  “I include chicken, brown rice, dal, vegetables in my meals. I can never survive on a soup-salad diet.”

MY HEROES
An actor is expected to lose or gain weight as per the requirements of a role and Saqib too lost around eight kilos for Mere Dad Ki Maruti. “My director, Ashima Chibber, wanted Ram Kapoor and me to look complete opposites. I lost weight by cycling. I would cycle from Andheri to Bandra back and forth after midnight for around five months. Luckily, I haven’t regained my lost bulk even after I stopped that.” Amongst his peers, he says Siddharth Malhotra, Varun Dhawan and Ranveer Singh have fab bods but names Hrithik Roshan as the top dog among them all.  “To achieve the kind of biceps Hrithik has, you need a different level of dedication. Akshay Kumar is my idol too. He follows his workout regimen religiously beginning at 6 am. He doesn’t keep late nights . Like him, I want to make fitness my lifestyle.”



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Fitness tips:

 

  1. Work hard. There is no substitute for that
  2. Invest in good gym wear. Proper clothing gives a psychological high, which aids a good workout
  3. Do not exercise without guidance. It could be dangerous. A good trainer is a must
  4. Consuming a protein shake is also a must, of course, with recommendation from your trainer
  5. Avoid heavy meals before workout
  6. It is essential to give your body rest. Give the gym a miss once a week
  7. Go in for a detox once in a while. Once a week subsist on green tea, soup, salad and fruit.

 

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