By : Kavita Shyam
Ileana D’Cruz is the one of the fittest actress’s we have in B-town. A self- confessed fitness freaks, she has grabbed eyeballs because of her acting talent and curvaceous body. The lovely lady debuted in Barfi and there has been no looking back ever since! Needless to say, she loves to dash off to Australia every now and then, because she has a suave Australian photographer boyfriend to boast of. We get the go-getter Ileana to delve deeper about her fitness regimes whether she keeps fit for her beau, career or just to be the real diva she is! We are sure smitten, read on!
How do you remain so fit?
Well, the trick is to eat in moderation. I phase out the sweet treats; once every few months. Honestly, I started exercising only a few years ago. I tried on a pair of shorts one day, and my dad pointed to the cellulite. That hurt my ego immensely and that was the start.
What does the word fitness mean to you?
I don’t complicate exercise. I believe one should do something that you’d enjoy. Simply join a dance class, run by the beach, skip in your balcony. I must admit I have an aversion to gyms. I find them claustrophobic, and get dizzy on a treadmill.
So how do you remain active?
It is not that tough! Living in Goa made it easy to run by the beach; four kilometers, three days a week for earlier. And the results have been instant. I discovered that running was liberating to me. It eased my mind, and helped me get rid of stress. For me, interval training worked totally. I would sprint, then slow jog, then sprint again. The short high energy bursts accelerated calorie burning.
Have you always been on the thinner side and have had a flawless body?
You won’t believe it but I was a chubby child, but never fat. My siblings and I were always fit. I think it’s because we were encouraged to climb stairs, wash cars, and help with housework. People underestimate how strenuous domestic chores can be. Get down and try mopping the floor. It’s one hell of a workout. I do it when my maid doesn’t turn up.
What workouts do you enjoy?
I discovered running also gifts you chiseled cheekbones, which don’t always look good on screen. So, I alternate running with other exercises. I swim twice a week, and can manage 100 laps. I alternate between the breast, back and butterfly stroke. The combination helps tone my chest, inner thighs, shoulders, buttocks and arms. I am a bit of a cheat. My physiotherapist has advised me not to stress my knee, but I always carry a skipping rope on outdoor shoots.
Do you diet or what’s your food regime like?
I have to say believe it not, I love to eat. If I am craving cake, I’ll have it. But I make sure I don’t overdo it. Sugar can boomerang in a bad way. I have four to five small meals a day to keep my metabolism going. I stay away from burgers and pizzas.
So you don’t actually diet like many other actresses who like to diet before an important shot or a bikini scene? We are curious to know your diet secrets, you have a beautiful body and skin!
I don’t believe in crash dieting. I start my day with a big breakfast — a fruit juice followed by two poached eggs with two slices of whole wheat bread (toasted), an hour later. I finish it with coffee with a hint of milk.
Between lunch and breakfast, I sip on coconut water or sweet lime juice. Lunch is at 1 pm and includes two chapatis, chicken or fish, and a vegetable such as cauliflower. And of course, there’s daal. I’m not fond of rice. In the evening, I have tea and a khari biscuit. Dinner is same as lunch. My mom cooks most of the time; I’m only good at baking. The first thing I have to do once I move to Mumbai is find a good cook. I wish my mum could move too, but she has three other kids to look after.
Do you not get any sort of cravings?
Rasagullas, rasmalai and dark chocolate. They were the reason behind my sudden weight gain few years ago. I was shooting for a film in the south, and there was this amazing mithaiwala close to the hotel where we were put up. Every evening, my mum and I would walk down and buy a box of assorted mithai.
Is there someone you look upto for fitness inspiration?
Deepika looks fabulous. She has added some curves makes her look even more gorgeous.
