‘Eat small meals throughout the day’
He’s known as much for his muscular body and his passion for fitness as much he’s known for his acting chops. Here, Gautam Rode opens up his diet and exercise.
Which is the one breakfast food that you must have?
My day starts with skimmed milk, a scoop of whey protein, and oats.
One fattening food item that you just can’t resist?
I can’t resist three things— pastries, chocolate cakes and besan ke laddoo.
How do you get back in shape post a fattening indulgence?
For me, my workout is the most important part of my day. Be it a regular day or one post a fatty indulgence, I make it a point to integrate exercise in my daily routine. I work out daily for an hour-and-a-half depending on the time. I focus on different body parts on different days. I focus on my back, biceps, chest, shoulder, triceps and legs. Abs is also one thing that I work on, on a daily basis.
Do you prefer mini meals? What do they normally contain?
Mini meals always work best for me, as they are light on the stomach. My whole day consists of around seven mini meals, every two hours. Post breakfast, I have fruits and an assortment of dry fruits. Lunch is quinoa, dal or another pulse like chhole (chickpea), and a green vegetable. My evening snack consists of hummus with quinoa roti. My preworkout meal consists of strong black coffee, sweet potato for good carbs and prunes. Dinner is light. It usually consists of a soup and boiled or sauted veggies, quinoa and cottage cheese. A well-balanced diet always works for me. It always consists of more proteins and less carbs.
A health tip that you rely on?
When working on staying fit and putting a proper fitness regime into place, always keep in mind that it is a 70% diet and 30% workout balance. So, sweat it out, but always follow a proper diet with small meals through the day and most importantly, eat the right food.
What are the benefits of the sport you play?
I have been playing table tennis of late. It is a great sport, to keep yourself active and burn calories as well.