I have a confession ? I?ve become kind of easy on my fitness. I have slowed down quite a bit because I?ve crossed those years when life was moving at a rocketing pace. Things are much more relaxed now, which gives me more time to pursue hobbies and pastimes.

There was a time when I was thinking of nothing but athletics. That was much before I came into the glamour world. If I hadn?t signed up for the Miss India contest, you?d have surely found me running on the tracks. I slept, dreamt and even lived sports. And thanks to my stint in sports, I was once considered one of the ?best bodies? in modelling here.

I?ve always had an athletic build. Thanks to my height (five feet and eight inches), I easily caught the attention of ad-makers and fashion gurus in Mumbai. Apart from a good figure, sports has taught me two very important qualities ? discipline and perseverance. It?s a totally different story that I also found the world of glamour and modelling fascinating.

But whether it?s been sports, films or modelling, I?ve kind of been active throughout. I may not have spent hours in the gym like a freak but there haven?t been too many lazy days either. I have always worked hard and also partied hard. That, in my opinion, is important ? to freak out after hours of work. It never makes things boring!

Easy going now...

I have just taken myself for granted for the last few years. But living in Italy (following marriage with Gianmaria Emendotori, an Italian) a lot of things are taken care of where the food is concerned because it is so healthy ? it is all cooked in olive oil. I sleep for about nine to 10 hours and have loads of water ? certain things like these have been ingrained in me and they are good for me. I am in bed by 10.30 pm and up by seven. My sleep habits, I think, are very good. Sleep is the greatest boon ? it repairs your system internally. So while you are sleeping your body is actually doing important work. I?ve always been an early riser.

The upper slopes

I am a regular skier now. In Europe, people usually follow seasonal pastimes. My husband?s family are very sporty, so I go with them to Switzerland every winter. My father-in-law took it upon himself to teach me skiing and I?m good at it now.

I never practised yoga but I do this breathing exercise called anapan which is very good for stress, I had done vipasana. I am by nature an easily stressed person and I practise this breathing exercise whereby you just feel your breath coming out and going in. This teaches you to be focused and relaxed. When I get worried I practise this and in a few minutes I feel better.

When exercising at home or in the gym, I do cardio more than anything else. I?ve never had a personal trainer except when I was shooting for Boom when we had one for a month.

Madhu advises...

• Drink a lot of water. This is one habit that holds good for everybody.

• I have my own way of busting stress. Find out your way and do it regularly.

• Tidiness is conducive to good health. I am very finicky about this. Keep your room clean, even your handbag clean. It is a feel-good factor.

• Don?t push yourself to the extreme even if you?re very young and robust. Someday, your body might let you down. That will hit you hard. Give it enough rest.

• Be active. Let even your holidays be active. But I?m not suggesting that all your days should be packed with action. Take things easy.

• It?s important to play some sport. If you have missed out on your chance to learn some sport, don?t let the same happened to your children.

Healthy bites

I eat like a horse. And living in Italy, I drink a lot of wine which I really must stop.

It?s very important for me to have breakfast ? I always have a heavy breakfast. At 12.30 pm, I have lunch. At 5 pm I have tea. Dinner is at eight.

I start my day with a litre of water. Then a cup of coffee and a croissant.

At lunch I have salad and pasta. (I have this yardstick that I eat till I feel full then stop. I observe this religiously.)

Then till about five in the evening, I eat nothing so that my stomach gets time to digest the food. Then, I make myself a cup of very Indian tea with adrak (ginger) and a couple of biscuits.

At about eight, I eat dinner which is either fish or meat or Indian food but no rice or pasta.