Neither biryani nor aloo chaat is off her menu, but none of it is showing on Raima Sen’s toned frame. The secret? A workout regimen she loves and a balanced diet that lets her eat healthy. t2 chatted with the actress at her Ballygunge home about her fit bit...

What is great is that you have lost weight but you have your curves at the right places. And you look full of life too... 
(Laughs) Thanks! I wanted to knock a few kilos but didn’t want to go on fad diets. You know losing weight is not only about what exercise you do, 70 per cent is about what you eat. I have exercised all my life, but this time I divided up my exercise regimen. One day I did body conditioning, the other day I did body strengthening, then the next day was only cardio and then the rest of the days I would go swimming. Basically, I worked out six days a week. And the day I stayed off the gym, I would cycle at home.

Have you lost weight or inches?
I have lost 4kg in a month. I was 57kg earlier. Now I am 54. Not bad, huh!

Are you loving this new you?
I am loving this new me but I don’t know how long I can continue with this routine because I travel a lot. And when I travel, I don’t follow a diet. I am a foodie and I don’t want to miss the great food, specially when I am abroad. But I have decided that wherever I go, I will work out. 

Do you try out different diets...
Riya (sister) and I had followed an organic diet for a couple of days in Bombay where they would deliver food at home. But I get bored with these diets. I have tried many. The one I could stick to is the Salmon diet. I love it. Salmon is my favourite.
I ate a piece of boiled salmon and veggies for many months. I can’t follow a diet for long. I just tell myself that I have to control. Like if you place a plate of biryani in front of me right now, I won’t be able to take my eyes off the aloo.... I don’t follow these diets because I don’t like anything fixed. See, earlier I would eat even if I wasn’t hungry. Now I eat only when I am hungry. So I listen to my body. I can’t remember to eat every two hours. 

Are you feeling a spike in energy levels? 
Yes, I feel so active all the time with these little changes in my lifestyle. I get great sleep, I wake up early. I never feel groggy or don’t feel like catching an hour’s nap in the afternoon... yes, life is beautiful. I feel lighter and better. (Smiles)

You have also cut down on partying...
Unless I really want to party, I don’t go out. Earlier I used to just go out every day. If there’s a special party at somebody’s house, I go. Otherwise I prefer to stay at home. Earlier I would make plans with my friends and we would land up at The Saturday Club every evening. I don’t do that anymore.

What do you do at home in the evening after gymming?
I watch movies. I have downloaded Netflix. And I am very happy.

And you like working out? 
If I miss even a day, I feel like, ‘Oh no’. So I make it a point to hit the gym, coordinate my time. Actually once you get into the groove of gymming, you enjoy it. But, of course, a break day is important.

Isn’t it Parambrata (Chattopadhyay) who would push you to gym during the shoot of Suman Ghosh’s Mi Amor in Miami? 
Not just Param, Suman too would force me to go to the gym and, of course, I didn’t bother. Suman had come to Calcutta and when he saw me, he was like, “So now you have given up drinking, and now you are working out when the movie is over!” I took him to the gym with me one day and  swimming! [Raima’s dad Bharat Dev Varma walks into  the living room to say he has finished cycling] I have put my dad onto cycling, by the way!

Have you been able to motivate your mum (Moon Moon Sen) and Riya too? 
So far, dad and Suman! (Laughs) Riya is a fitness freak already. She attends various fitness classes in Bombay, like altitude climbing, Pilates, CrossFit body pump and all. Now she wants me to join those classes with her! She has always been in a strict fitness regimen. I am the careless one!

But you have your cheat days too... so you know the art of balancing. 
Yeah, yeah! I told you I eat aloo chat, biryani, yakhni pulao... but I eat brown rice, I have even got my dad into the habit of eating brown rice. Also, it’s important to eat only when you are hungry. Of course, Prosenjit won’t agree because he eats every two hours! I can’t do that. All his youth he ate only cucumber! I tease him a lot about his diet!

Is there a food that you are craving like crazy?
No, I am not craving because I know I can eat anything if I want to. I don’t stress over thinking that, ‘Oh if I eat this I will put on weight.’ I am not obsessed. When you tell yourself that you can eat anything at any point, then it’s easier to diet.

A fitness fad that never made sense to you...
Size zero. It’s not in, never was. I don’t understand how a few actresses were obsessed with size zero.

TIPS TO STAY FIT

1. Accept your age gracefully. I think older people losing a lot of weight is wrong. One must be fit. Losing too much takes away the glow from the skin.

2. Don’t believe in the myth that only dieting can help you lose weight. Always combine exercise with diet. If you stay hungry most of the time because you are dieting, then be prepared for hairfall and sagging skin. 

3. Listen to your body. Don’t overdo it and end up with injuries. Do take a break.

4. Don’t eat just because it’s breakfast, lunch or dinner time. Eat only when you feel hungry. Again, listen to your body.

 

Kushali Nag
Pictures: Pabitra Das

I would like to follow Raima’s diet and fitness tips because.... 
Tell t2@abp.in