SECRETS FROM A DIVA’S WELLNESS DIARY

Here’s how actor Ankita Lokhande keeps herself fit and glowing despite a crazy work routine

The fun and bubbly Ankita Lokhande, aka Archana who rose to fame with TV show Pavitra Rishta, swears by old school tricks when it comes to beauty and well-being. In the past few years, Lokhande has focussed on her spiritual as well as physical well-being. The actor who believes there’s nothing like natural remedies to look and feel your best, shared with us her fitness and wellness regime. Take notes, people.

NATURAL

I believe in natural ingredients. I rely on kitchen-shelf remedies for my skin woes. Besan is great to exfoliate my skin. I also apply pure aloe vera on my skin to hydrate and sooth my skin. Fresh milk cream with a few saffron strands helps fight tan and keeps my skin replenished. These ingredients have been a part of my skin care routine since teenage. These tips have been passed on to me from my mother and grandmother.

I get dark circles around my eyes, because of lack of sleep. I use aloe vera gel to treat those.

MANE CARE

My daily hair care routine includes a DIY hair pack made of aloe vera gel and multani mitti. I also go for hair spa once a week. Protein treatment for my hair works well, as they are curly and tend to become frizzy very often. My hair become quite frizzy in monsoons which leads to a lot of hair fall. I try and keep my hair nourished with rich conditioners and regular spa treatments. I also go for a rejuvenating head massage with warm coconut oil to keep frizziness away. It also leaves a healthy sheen.

FITNESS REGIMEN

One must do some physical activity to stay fit. That does not necessarily mean spending two to three hours in the gym. A basic 45-min workout regime to burn those extra calories is enough. I have recently started crossfit which becomes more effective as you increase its difficulty level. I try to push myself for a fivedays-a-week schedule, so my stamina increases. I like to focus on my core strength to tone my body which includes full body workout thrice a week.

DIET WISE

I drink a glass of warm water with honey and lemon first thing in the morning. For breakfast, I eat white egg omelette with brown bread. In lunch, I prefer different types of salads. For dinner, I like to have a soup. Since soups are low on sugar and salt, I don’t have a bloated face the next day. I’m quite a foodie but for the past two weeks, I have been on a diet plan to achieve my fitness goal. I am being calorie conscious. If I am cheating, I like to eat pav bhaji and vada pav. But right now, I am on a strict diet for the first time in my life! If at all I end up cheating, it’ll be on a Sunday.

PHOTOS: INSTAGRAM/ LOKHANDEANKITA