Fitness is a passion with my family ? working towards it is a way of life for us. So each of us Mirzas is kind of a fitness freak. And that?s what keeps us so active. It?s a different story altogether that I am a sports professional. Even otherwise, I?m sure I would have been into exercise and games, given the kind of family I belong to.

I have been playing serious tennis from the age of six. If injury doesn?t prevent me, you will find me on the court every day. That?s partly because there is no concept of an off-season in tennis. Otherwise, I am hopping from one tournament to another. So my calendar is marked with dates I have with tennis.

My career is now taking a different turn and I need to keep working on my fitness more seriously than ever. You might think that I am obsessed with practice and exercise, but honestly, I am not. I try not to overdo things because in sports that can lead to a rapid burnout.

This itself, I feel, is quite a difficult task. At my age people tend to go overboard with most things in life. With exercise you get an adrenaline rush and you think you can do a lot more with doubled enthusiasm and force. That?s happened to me as well. I?ve been told to curb this tendency and I am doing so.

Sports is all about burning and at the same time conserving energy. I am ready to give my 200 per cent in a match, but what after that? My body needs recovery time, a rest period. Just like you need an off-period after two consecutive lessons in the laboratory. So I always make sure to sleep regularly and sound. Thanks to that, I wake up 365 days a year with a fresh mind and fit body.

Practice makes perfect

nMy day usually begins at 6.30 in the morning. In an hour, you?ll find me at the nets. The morning practice lasts about two hours. After that, I come home for breakfast and then I am off to college. Quite obviously, this routine changes with my tour schedule. When I am in Hyderabad, I return from college in the afternoon and go for practice again at about 3.30 pm. I am there till about five in the evening.

After the evening session, I am off to the gym. There, I train under the close supervision of my personal trainer. It is a tailor-made regimen and is honestly, quite demanding. Fortunately, I have a good trainer and a well-equipped gym to go to.

Gyms can be of great help but only if you are following the correct regimen and the equipment is right. Please stay away from gyms if you are not sure of their accreditation, facilities, etc. If possible, exercise at home. You can stay fit without a gym membership.

Sania suggests

Do not go by celebrity diets or exercises. They can do you more harm than good.

Stay fit to enjoy life, but don?t make fitness an obsession. Or else, you won?t get any pleasure or satisfaction out of your exercise regimen.

Eat well and wisely. Don?t skip meals too often. Your body needs fuel.

Tension is a bad thing for health. There should be at least one means of recreation in life. Use that means as a safety valve for your system.

It is always wise to consult doctors and fitness instructors prior to starting a new regimen. They can actually help you know your own body.

Food faves

I love eating? and it pains me to curb my food cravings for the sake of professional requirements.

Hyderabadi cuisine tops my chart of food faves. And of course, I love biriyani.

I am crazy about ice cream and any beverage of orange flavour. Sadly, I have to cut down on these to stay in shape. I have to include health food like bananas in my diet which, I promise, I would not have eaten otherwise.

My day begins with lots of water. I take only a glass of milk before practice. At breakfast, I take toast with butter or jam. I also take a few eggs and bananas.

I take lunch at around half past one. I skip lunch if it?s past two. The meal usually consists of rice, dal, green vegetable subzi, and mutton or chicken. I occasionally replace meat with fish.

Before the evening session, I down another glass of milk. Post-practice, I love a cup of tea with sugar and milk.

Dinner is not much different from lunch. I take rotis instead of rice. Dal and subzi are must-haves. I usually eat mutton at night.

I have to eat a lot of other varieties of food while I?m touring. And from that experience, I can say that nothing is as rich and varied as Indian cuisine. But Indian food needs to be taken in moderate portions.

I love junk food but can?t even steal a bite any more. It?s not possible for any sane person to hate junk food. But yes, you can?t afford to make it your staple food.