Fitness secrets by Aamir Dalvi aka Zafar

• What does fitness mean to you
Fitness to me is a lifestyle. It’s not a duty but something that should be a part of your life.

• Your fitness mantra?
Make fitness your lifestyle. It’s not about working out 3 days a week or 20 sessions a month. It’s for your lifetime; you need to have the ability to pick yourself and go for a workout.

• How do you keep a healthy balance between your mind and body?
When the mind is wrecked, the best way to correct that is to hit the gym and to workout. Lot of things fall in place after that. I see things clearer and better post a good workout. Playing Zafar on Aladdin- Naam Toh Suna Hoga keeps me busy. Being an actor, it’s a mentally draining job. Acting is not a physically enduring job but mentally it is. So, when the mind is not correct, the body does get tired and when this happens, I avoid working out but promise myself to an even better workout the next day.

• Following your demanding and hectic routine, how do you manage to stay fit and maintain a healthy lifestyle?
To begin with, I eat correct because ‘you are what you eat’. So, once that is sorted, 80% of your job is done. I also make sure to hit the gym at least 3-4 times a week and I have kept that consistency in my life. So, whenever I plan my next day, it is always keeping in mind my focus on workout and the other things are secondary.

• What kind of music do you like listening to while working out?
I listen to a lot of EDM, trance and techno kind of music which has less vocals but a really strong beat going on. That’s my kind of music for a workout

• Your go to healthy snack?
I prefer Dahi (Curd), Chhaas (Buttermilk) and eggs when I’m off carbs. However, when I’m on carbs, it will be something as simple as Dhokla, Khakhra or Digestive biscuits.

• What does your cheat day/ meal comprise of?
An ideal cheat day for me, comprises of Dal, Rice, Pickle and Papad.

• One food item you can’t resist
I simply cannot resist having coffee; my day is incomplete without it.

• Any fitness tip for your fans?
Don’t make fitness activities your task, rather make it your lifestyle. It thus becomes much simpler as fitness is for a healthier living, in today’s world where everything is so inorganic. Hence, the best way to battle such life is ‘keep working out’. Also, for all the people who love working out, the tip is that work your legs. Legs are what your body stands on so, never miss that. Do something like weights, running, cycling or anything that activates your legs.
Another important tip is to never over eat. Try eating probably 2 bites less than becoming full.