Fitness with finesse

When fitness steps out of the proverbial box, it becomes a way of life. So it is with actor Rahul Khanna. But again, pushing boundaries comes naturally to him, be it work or wellness. Talk of the archetypal fitness go-getter, he sure isn’t that. As he unlocks the key to his fitness space, and to his youthful looks (genes apart), staying fit sounds like a cakewalk! And a lot of fun.

“It’s only recently that I have understood fitness better,” he says. “But I don’t follow the traditional fitness routine, I hate it.  I get bored easily and I am a big fan of variety so, I like to try lots of different things. I mix CrossFit, gymnastics, calisthenics into my routine and I also love the outdoors so I try and incorporate swimming, hiking and running.”

 “Consistency is key. You just have to prioritise,” he elaborates. “You have to find a routine that works for you and, most importantly, that you enjoy and look forward to. I think if one makes the connect and is disciplined, everything becomes easy.” That goes for fitness too!

As is known, ‘The Americans’’ star is busy criss-crossing the world, but that clearly hasn’t affected his fitness routine. Neither does it seem like a chore. “If I’m travelling, I look for a good yoga class nearby, or I find a park where I can have a long run, or I go for a swim.” But working in show business could be notoriously unkind to good health. Do the odd hours affect the routine?

“Show business isn’t a 9 to 5 job! You don’t have the luxury of allotting a daily set time for your fitness regimen. No two days of mine are the same. But I always try and fit in a workout somewhere,” he adds.

The actor’s menagerie include inspiring food choices also, some of which are for consumption on Instagram and Twitter. Eating right is an essential part of his routine.
And for those who may not be looking at what they eat, he has some food for thought. “Changing the way you eat is possibly the most important thing you can do, fitness-wise.

I won’t use the word ‘diet’ as it is not about cutting calories and starving yourself. Be ruthless about consuming only the highest quality of food you can find and avoid anything that wouldn’t exist in nature. I go for whole foods, fruits and vegetables that are local and in season and lots of healthy fats like ‘ghee’, coconut oil and olive oil,” he says. Not to forget his green smoothies that are by now legendary!

“Processed foods packed with preservatives is something you should try and avoid,” he adds. But wait! He has a ‘cheat day’ too, in his own words. “If I am craving chocolate or a huge pizza, I allow myself one day a week to indulge.” Does shooting at odd hours and places affect the eating pattern? “When you’re pressed for time, you sometimes have no choice but to go for the quickest option which may not be the healthiest. Therefore, it’s very important to maintain a regular healthy eating plan to compensate for such times.”

For those who want to cut down on bad habits or stay in shape, “Try lots of different things until you find a physical activity you really enjoy and then be consistent! ,” Rahul says.  Good genes may be incidental, but the hard work does reflect. And the greens, by all means, are doing their job!

Green blast: Actor Rahul Khanna shares a quick and healthy recipe

“This is my favourite “recipe”. Everything in here is fantastic for you — incredible amounts of nutrients, fibre, vitamins and antioxidants. Feel free to adjust proportions according to your tastes and/ or substitute ingredients with your favourites. I prefer using an extractor (the NutriBullet is my favourite) or a blender rather than a juicer so as to retain all the fibre and pulp.”

Add
1 handful of organic spinach
1 handful of organic kale
1 stalk celery
1 cucumber (skin on)
Juice of 1 lemon
Some fresh mint leaves
½ inch piece of fresh ginger root (skin on)
½ inch piece of fresh turmeric root (skin on)
A dash of sea salt
A pinch of chilli powder
Some extra virgin olive oil

(I sometimes also add flax and chia seeds and some fresh aloe vera)

Top up with chilled filtered water (or coconut water if you prefer). Blast for 30 to 40 seconds.