Sushant Singh Rajput is so gung ho about fitness, he’s launched a series of videos #TillIGetItRight on Youtube, where you will see him with various trainers trying out fitness techniques, till he invariably, gets it right. He wants people to adopt a healthy lifestyle. He explains,“It is essentially a six-video series capturing various forms of strength training, crossfit and functional workouts that I have included in my routine to achieve my fitness goals.” Being fit just doesn’t mean having a sculpted body, it means having an agile mind too. Says he,“An individual, from any walk of life, should be fit enough to perform his professional duties and daily chores and also take part in leisure activities. The idea is to stay fit both mentally and physically so that you not only add years to your life but also add life to your years.”
He stresses on the importance of yoga and meditation and includes them in his daily routine. “I spend a few minutes in the morning meditating; an activity that allows me to cut my existence from past anxieties and any future related stress. I synchronise my thoughts with the present and strive to be at peace.” He doesn’t believe in bulking up and uses both strength and functional training to achieve a lean physique with a strong core. He insists one should seek professional advice and uses the services of Praveen and Maahek Nair, the husband-wife team who are his fitness coach and nutritionist respectively. He attends the gym six days a week, twice a day. “My morning sessions focus on high intensity cardio, my evenings comprise SMR (self-myofascial release – involves exercising with foam rollers and massage balls), dynamic and static stretches, warm up, compound movements targeting all muscle groups.”
He says eating right is as important as exercising right. “I take a protein shake and two sweet potatoes post workout and consume essential fats comprising nuts and seeds, lean meats and greens before workouts. If I’m on a shoot then I make do with a protein bar.” He says right eating is the key to acquiring those six packs too. “To sculpt your tummy, you need to watch what’s going in your tummy.” He believes in maintaining a balance of salt, sugar and carbohydrates in his diet. “However, if my character in a film requires a certain physical appearance I take risks after consulting my trainers. Ishaan from Kai Po Che had to look lean and for that I had to lose a lot of fat. My workout and diet both were controlled and specific to the requirements. When I essayed a young Byomkesh I had to stay thin but fit and agile. So, I avoided fat and carbs and focussed on achieving a flexible body.”
Other thing he stresses on is constant detox. “I keep my water intake high, which I believe is the most natural detoxifier. Also, approximately one in two months, I revamp my diet to include two to three days full of fresh vegetables, natural herbs, spices, juices and soups.” He reveals one should constantly motivate oneself to exercise daily and not cheat. “I engage myself in an intensive cardio session like running/jogging/swimming if I’m out of town and don’t have access to a gym. Also, I am a firm believer of functional training. When time is scarce, I make use of props around me like bricks/sand bags etc. to work out.” He credits girlfriend Ankita Lokhande for boosting his morale. “She makes sure that I strictly following my diet and also inspires me to stick to my workout schedule.”
He says he’s been active since childhood; hence his body is used to making that extra effort to achieve his goals. “As a teenager, I used to dance for hours being a group artiste. I realised the importance of stamina and muscle flexibility.” Today, his hectic schedules don’t allow recovery time. “At times, I get little sleep, so my body does take a bit more time to recover than usual.”
His idols include Brad Pitt and Christian Bale because of the physical transformation they undergo from one character to another. According to him, Hrithik Roshan and Arjun Rampal have jaw dropping physiques. “The industry is becoming health conscious. So it motivates an individual when he/she is in the company of like-minded people.”
He advises against trying to achieve too much, too soon. “The obsession with heavy weights should be controlled. People tend to ignore working on their core and legs, which is the foundation of strength. Also, a little less of socialising can go a long way in achieving your ‘fitness’ goals! Using a mobile while working out is a big no-no too.”