Neha Sharma is one of the fittest stars in Bollywood, but it’s not a fluke or genetics—the model and actress works very hard to maintain her toned, strong physique. Sharma, 36, shared a video of herself wearing a white tank top and black leggings, doing a dumbbell arm workout for the camera. “Let’s get that workout done… one step closer to the goal,” she captioned her post. Here’s how Sharma’s diet and fitness routine means she is thriving in her 30s.
Sharma practices intermittent fasting, restricting her eating period to six-eight hours a day. “Many things happen during intermittent fasting that can protect organs against chronic diseases like type 2 diabetes, heart disease, age-related neurodegenerative disorders, even inflammatory bowel disease and many cancers,” Johns Hopkins neuroscientist Mark Mattson, PhD, tells Johns Hopkins Health.
Sharma breaks her fast with eggs and avocado. She also enjoys oily omega-3-packed fish as part of her daily diet. “Oily fish – such as salmon and sardines – is also particularly high in long-chain omega-3 fatty acids, which can help to keep your heart healthy,” says the UK’s NHS. “Most of us should have more fish in our diet, including more oily fish.”
Sharma says she cannot do without carbs to fuel her workouts. “Studies suggest that eating or drinking carbohydrates before exercise can help you do better during your workout,” say the experts at the Mayo Clinic. “And the carbohydrates may allow you to work out for a longer time or at a higher intensity. If you don’t eat, you might feel slow-moving or lightheaded when you exercise.”
Sharma loves quality fat, especially ghee and coconut oil for her coffee. “Ghee contains medium-chain triglyceride (MCT) oil, which some research suggests could help with weight loss,” registered dietitian Candace O’Neill tells Cleveland Clinic Health Essentials. “But it’s in trace amounts, so if you’re looking to get MCT oil in your diet, ghee’s not the best way to go.”
Sharma swears by weight training and Pilates for her health and fitness. “Pilates builds muscle, and this is important since building muscle increases your body’s basal metabolic rate — which is how many calories your body burns while at rest,” athletic trainer Leanne Wonesh tells Houston Methodist. “Pilates is a type of strength training exercise that encourages you to identify and work within the limits of your body. There’s also an inherent mindfulness to it and a lot of breath work, which can help relieve tension and stress.”