CELEB HEALTH

Being a working mom is not an easy job as your life is packed full. From caring for the kids to managing the home, ensuring nutritious and healthy meals for the family, it seems virtually impossible to squeeze in a workout routine once you get home from work. However, there are plenty of celebrity moms who juggle between their family lives and hectic work schedules while actively working out in order to stay fit. Sure, they have personal trainers and nutritionists to guide them, but it takes a lot of personal effort, sweat and consistency to stay in shape and look good.

Instep talks to two celebrity moms, Sarwat Gilani and Syra Shahroz, who certainly inspire us to follow a healthy lifestyle.

Sarwat Gilani

Mother of two boys, Sarwat Gilani, who is gearing up for the release of her movie Jawani Phir Nahi Ani 2, manages to stay in shape despite her busy routine. "It is imperative to take care of your health especially when you are juggling between family and work," she told Instep. "My day starts with having breakfast with my children, one is three and the other one is a year and a half old, and after dropping them to school I go to the gym."

According to the actor, her trainer isn’t too hard on her as she has recently joined the gym. "So, I walk on the treadmill and do a little weight training. Besides that I do a lot of yoga and breathing exercises. It helps me to stay calm and maintain my mental health. Also, for me meditation is very important, it keeps me sane. When I pray, it not only allows me to meditate but also concentrate on my inside, my soul and my connection to God."

The actor further went on to share that breathing exercises help you sleep like a baby, especially when you are stressed out and tired.

Sarwat is very particular about her eating habits and drinks one and a half liters of water every day along with 5 small meals during the day that include ample amount of greens, veggies and fruits, to keep her energy levels up. "Because I am running around all day long, either it is work or the tough schedule with my children, I make sure that I never feel down or low on energy so, after having breakfast around 8:30 - 9 a.m., I have fruit salad at 11 a.m. followed by lunch at 1-1:30 p.m. Snack time is around 5:00 p.m. and then we have dinner at 8 or max 8:30 p.m."

On what motivates her to stay fit, the actor revealed that her kids motivate her to follow a healthy lifestyle. "I have made my routine such that I am always on the go with them; I eat with my children, play with them and that has helped me to stay physically fit."

A health tip that the actor swears by is having a bowl of porridge for breakfast as it keeps energy levels up the whole day. As for her fitness goals, the Khasara actor lost a lot of weight for a character so she is trying to get that weight back and is working on her abs and lower body.

Sarwat, who religiously takes morning supplements like her calcium, vitamin D, biotin, iron, etc., firmly believes that mental health is way more important than one’s physical health. "Because if you are not mentally stable then you’ll not be a happy person, if you are not happy you will not eat healthy and that negatively affects you and your family, especially your kids."

She advises to take care of oneself and one’s health, maintain a healthy regime and stay positive as worrying about everything will not make it go away.

Syra Shahroz

This fit mommy utilizes various workouts to stay in shape, but her favorite is Pilates. She just loves it. Talking about maintaining a healthy lifestyle, Syra shared that if you make clean eating an essential part of your life, half the work is done. "Though I am a foodie and I love to eat anything and everything, I consciously make an effort to eat healthy and clean. But I make sure to treat myself every now and then. The key is to make time for yourself and anything is possible."

Syra added that she works out as regularly as possible but at times it can be difficult with her work schedule and a little daughter to look after. So she turns her ‘me time’ into work out time and usually takes her daughter, who is just 3, to her workout sessions as well. "To be honest, I work out to stay active and healthy.  And the feeling after every workout session is motivation enough to keep me on track."

Moreover, Syra deems mental health to be of utmost importance. "Mental health is everything. If mentally you’re fit and willing, you’ll find ways to maintain your physical health as well."

As far as Syra’s fitness goals are concerned, the petite actor is quite pleased with how she looks. "For me what’s more important is how I feel. Actually for me fitness is being strong, healthy and capable."

Some health tips that the Chalay Thay Saath actor swears by is drinking lots of water, cutting sugar out and exercising at least four times a week. "Trust me, working out makes a huge difference in the way you feel," she emphasized.

On a parting note, she said, "In today’s world, what you do, how you look can never be enough. None of this will matter if you’re happy and content with yourself. Love yourself for who you are."