Know what’s good for you: Gul Panag

My fitness mantra is adaptability. I keep in mind that I need to do 45 minutes of intense physical activity a day, whether I am travelling or whether it is raining. And so I adapt my fitness plan according to the situation,” says Gul, adding, “I take into account how my body is feeling on any given day and don’t blindly follow a routine for the sake of it.”

The actor, who has been part of films like Dhoop, Dor, Manorama Six Feet Under, Hello Darling and Turning 30, feels that gymming is not the only way to stay fit, there are other outdoor options available too.

“There are a countless options other than gymming to stay fit. Taking the stairs, choosing to walk whenever possible, cycling, running outdoors, etc, all help; in fact, if one chooses an active lifestyle, one doesn’t need to sweat it out in a gym,” she says.

The 32-year-old, who recently tied the knot with her longtime boyfriend Rishi Attari, opined that ideally five days of workout is good enough for a healthy lifestyle. This gives the body two days to rest.

Along with physical exercise, the nature of diet is also of prime importance to remain fit and Gul feels that binging is a strict no-no. “What you eat is very important. I adapt my daily intake of food to the weather, location and my activity levels. I eat sensibly and don’t binge,” she says. The actor specified that women need to take extra care about certain things when they are working out to avoid any problem later.

“The right attire and support is very important, especially for high impact exercises. Women need to bear in mind that after a certain age, there is loss in bone density and they need to focus on strength training,” Gul says, adding, “What’s most important, especially if one is following an outdoor routine, physical safety has to be of top priority.”