We often wonder how our favourite celebrities manage to stay in shape and take out time from their hectic routines to work out at home or hit the gym. They do put in a lot of effort to stay healthy and fit. Many stars stick to eating healthy (or clean) along with incorporating light exercises in their fitness regime. Some follow a strict workout regime – such as cardio exercises, yoga, weight training and cross-training etc. Actor Azekah Daniel is a health enthusiast, who firmly believes that working out regularly and having a balanced diet, can make all the difference.

Having essayed important roles in multiple TV serials, including Cheekh, Balaa, Malal e Yaar, Ishq Zah e Naseeb, Tera Ghum Aur Hum, among many others, Azekah Daniel made her big screen debut in 2018 with the horror film, Pari.

Currently, she can be seen in the mystery-thriller Dunk alongside Bilal Abbas Khan and Sana Javed. Azekah brilliantly portrays the character of Minal in Dunk, which is directed by Badar Mehmood and written by Mohsin Ali.

We caught up with the actor, who has become a household name, to know more about her health routine and how she manages to stay in shape inspite of her busy schedule. Read on…

Health matters

Talking about her lifestyle choices, Azekah shares that she wouldn’t categorize herself as a fitness freak but health and fitness are very important to her. “I make sure that I’m working out enough to stay in shape,” she says. As far as her fitness goals are concerned, the actor tells Instep, “My fitness goal is to stay lean and to achieve that I make sure I workout six days a week.”

The actor also feels that at least 10 hours of sleep is important especially for those who have a busy day-to-day routine.

On how she keeps herself motivated for a healthy lifestyle, she informs, “I have set a goal for myself and achieving it is my biggest motivation for now.”

Eating preferences

When it comes to her eating habits, Azekah shares, “To be honest, I don’t have any preferences, and I usually take two meals a day, breakfast and dinner. Having said that, I prefer consuming more protein and smaller portions of carbohydrates and fats.”

We asked her if there are any juices or shakes that are an important part of her diet. She notes, “I’m not a big fan of dairy so shakes are an absolute NO for me. However, fruits are healthy and one must include them in their diet but I don’t take any fruit juices. I prefer vegetable juice. Like they say ‘eat your fruit and juice your vegetables’; I follow that rule.”

Workout routine

When it comes to exercising and staying in shape, the Dunk actor says that she works out six times a week and prefers weight training, as it gives her the results in a shorter period of time. “I used to train with my trainer (Adil of Fitness Edge gym), but ever since the pandemic hit, I’ve been working out at home with few basic equipment like weights etc. Moreover, there are several workout videos on YouTube that have been really helpful,” she elaborates.

Stress management strategy

Mental health is the most important part of our wellbeing and taking care of it is as important as looking after our physical health. Speaking of how she manages stress, Azekah reveals, “Working out can be a really good stress reliever. It works for me all the time and keeps me sane as well as healthy and active.”

Piece of suggestion

The actor suggests to her fans and followers to keep trying their best to achieve a healthy lifestyle. “Just set a goal and go for it. Fitness is a choice and there can be no excuses. Also, I firmly believe that diet and workouts go hand in hand. So make sure to have a healthy diet and exercise as well. One more thing I’d like to add is that ‘Eat to Live’; that’s my motto these days,” she concludes.