If you're looking for fitness inspiration, look no further than Disha Patani. She has always been very committed to her workout routine, considering it a non-negotiable in her day. “Disha by far is the most dedicated person you will meet when it comes to fitness. She trains every day for an hour. The only day she takes an off is a Sunday,” confirmed her trainer Rajendra Dhole. On Patani's docket? “I work out every day and my routine usually involves cardio in the mornings, like dancing, kick boxing or gymnastics, and weight training in the evenings." Here's how you can cop her fitness routine now.
1. Focus on different parts of your body
Pros say that focusing on a different body part each workout session can help because it can help target a set of muscles on rotation while letting other parts of the body get rest. Patani focuses on her arm and back muscles often, as those are important to build a strong core. "Disha does squats, deadlifts, military presses, shoulder presses, chest presses, bicep curls, tricep extensions," to boost muscle strength for her arms, confirmed Dhole.
2. A good balance between cardio and strength training is important
With her hardcore workout routine, Patani busts fitness myths. “It has definitely come a long way, with just as many women working out in the gym today as men,” she shared. “The general assumption is that women working out involves cardio, not weight training. But we all work out and do heavy weights; I come across so many girls in the gym training really hard. At the end of the day, it isn't about gender, but about working on your body and becoming your fittest self." Strength training actually boosts your cardio workouts. You get an ‘afterburn,’ where your body continues to use more calories in the hours following a workout, which helps to burn fat and gain muscle.
3. Lifting heavy weights can be a good idea
“Low reps with heavy weights builds muscle mass, as compared to doing more reps with lighter weights, which increases muscle endurance," shared Dhole. Heavy weights increase the power and strength of your muscles without adding bulk or size, especially for women. Plus, lifting heavy increases the production of IGF-1, which is a hormone that helps to stimulate cognitive function.
4. It is best to warm up for the exercise you're doing
Warming up is important to boost recovery. With aerobic exercise, warming up gradually increases your heart rate and body temperature. The best way to do this would be to do your activity of choice at a slower pace and a lower intensity till your muscles feel ready. For strength training sessions, pros suggest warming up by strengthening and opening up the areas you plan to target using dynamic stretches.
5. Document your fitness journey
“There is no secret as such,” confirmed Patani about her washboard abs. “Maintaining abs is the most difficult thing as one day you have them and the next day they may disappear,” she shared. The actor knows that hard work is the only way to reach her fitness goals, and she spends a lot of time getting there. Progress photos help her stay motivated, and they can convince you to hit the gym more often too. They can serve as a great motivator, and they can help you stay accountable too.
Also read:
Is weight-lifting the most misunderstood workout among women?
5 videos that will let you follow Disha Patani's workout routine at home