‘Fad diets are not healthy’

Vidhi Sharma, a playback singer and a semi-classical vocalist, has been performing around the world for more than a decade now. She is a professionally trained singer in Hindustani classical and light classical music. Vidhi has won the Global Indian Music Award (GIMA) for the album, Cinema. She has also been awarded the title of Bhakti ki Awaaz on Zee TV. An extremely versatile artiste, Vidhi is adept at performing genres from Indian classical, Sufi, ghazals to folk music, and has done playback singing for films like Paan Singh Tomar, Listen Amaya, Rabba Mein Kya Karoon and short films on YouTube like Bunkar, The Strange Smile, etc. To keep up with all her activities, Vidhi has to be physically fit and here she shares how

A must in today’s time

Fitness in today’s time is imperative, rather than a choice or compulsion, because the hectic and erratic lifestyle can only be adhered to if our physical parameters are right within the framework and all the hard work put in justifies the end result.

Daily routine

I start my day with yoga and my riyaaz for a fit body, mind and soul. I eat small portions throughout the day and drink lots of water to keep energy levels up. I also like going for running in the evenings, occasionally. The morning yoga is actually a magic mantra and everybody should incorporate it in their lives.

Combating a busy lifestyle

Well, I have to make deliberate efforts by taking stairs rather than elevators at recording studios when I am off to work (most studios have stairs). I avoid sitting for long hours and keep stretching throughout the day. Of course, careful eating also helps. I think one has to manage time and give priority to fitness as well. Three or four days a week of running keeps me healthy.

Food choices

Diet plays an equally important role. Diet covers up for missed out workout sessions. I am fond of lentils more than leafy vegetables, and that provides the required energy and nutrition both while warding off the fat.

Binge eating, of course

I like to binge on Indian chat like dahi puri, pani puri, matar ki chat, etc. That’s light on the body, is lip smacking and I don’t feel guilty after such a binge! So, even when I freak out on food, it is of the lighter variety.

Balance is the key

I would say that as much as eating food leads to attaining happiness, so does pursuing fitness goals. Therefore, you have to maintain a balance and do not punish yourself by refraining from tasty food or go for a compelling workout session. Follow a lifestyle that suits you best and keeps you in good spirits. After all, fitness is not restricted to body but to mind and soul as well.

I would like to emulate

I really look up to Bipasha Basu Grover as a style icon when it comes to fitness. Her perseverance towards fitness is very inspiring. I believe fitness is not a man-woman thing. A fighting fit and beautiful physique is a must for all regardless of gender.

Solitary workouts for me

Nobody can match up to my schedules, so workout is always alone. Though some people like to exercise in groups but for me the concentration goes haywire if am not working out alone.

Fad diets, a big no

Fad diets are anything but healthy. I personally think of fitness to be a way to holistic well-being rather than simply restricted to bodily aspect.

Being vegetarian helps

As a pure vegetarian, I feel vegetarian food is light on body and mind. The changing trends and many people turning vegetarian speaks volumes about its positive health effects. 

(As told to Poonam Bindra)