Getting a set of six (or eight, if you’re over-achieving) perfectly crafted abs is no mean feat. Especially if you’re trying to break into Bollywood. Most actors who have worked on morphing into He-Man always, without fail, give credit to their fitness trainers. They are the most revered in every actor’s life, not only responsible for their rigorous work-outs, but most importantly, their diets as well. Which made us curious … what do these superheroes behind our superstars actually eat themselves?
We put that question to Abbas Ali, the man behind Shahid Kapoor’s well-sculpted body, for many movies, including Udta Punjab. Abbas has been a professional fitness trainer for over 18 years, currently working with a number of celebrities like Gautam Gulati, Nikitin Dheer, Karanvir Bohra, Sonnalli Seygall and Zareen Khan. His previous clientele includes celebrities like Sonakshi Sinha, Anil Ambani and Shilpa Shetty. As a fitness coach and owner of Bodyholics Combine Training Gym in Mumbai, Abbas spends most of his day at his workplace (the gym), clocking in an excess of five hours of training daily.
A foodie, who is passionate about fitness, Abbas says, “Since I train a lot I keep my meals nutritious and healthy, at least from Monday to Saturday. Sundays are cheat days”. He believes that fitness is a lifestyle and lives by the motto, “eat for a purpose and train for a purpose.”
Abbas’ Daily Diet
Breakfast
Unlike most fitness trainers, Abbas Ali is not an early riser. “My day starts at around 9.30 AM – 10AM. When I wake up, I drink 500 ml of water and eat one banana. Then I take a shower followed by a healthy breakfast which consists of six egg whites, two yolks, two multi-grain toasts and one cup of kadak chai. I can’t function without my morning tea.”
On some days, he substitutes egg whites with a bowl of oats which has fruits and is sprinkled with pumpkin seeds. After breakfast, Abbas takes his supplements, which consist of multivitamins, Vitamin C, B complex, calcium and Omega tablets, which are essential to keep his body fit.
Midday Snack
By 11 AM, Abbas is on the way to his gym but if he is heading to a meeting then he carries a protein smoothie with him. Between meals, he munches on a small protein snack of mixed seeds and dried fruits to keep his energy levels high and by noon, he is at his gym, busy spot-checking for hygiene and upgrades, followed by training sessions with his clients.
Lunch
For lunch, Abbas has two pieces of chicken breast, a small serving of brown rice, a large bowl of vegetable salad and yogurt, post which, his personal training sessions run till 6 PM. During weekdays, fitness shoots, interviews or workshops keep Abbas busy, so he prefers to spend weekends with family and friends. “It’s usually dinner plans or movies and road trips that take up my weekends,” shares Abbas.
Mid-Evening Snack
At around 6.30 pm, after he has finished with his clients for the day, Abbas has a quick snack, saying, “It’s usually a multi-grain chicken sandwich or wrap or a hearty chicken salad which keeps me satiated till dinner.” If he feels the urge to eat more, he has a juice or smoothie. “I avoid sodas and colas. Fresh lime juice, coconut water and fresh fruits are my go-to to curb hunger pangs,” adds Abbas.
Dinner
Abbas gets off work by 11.30 PM – 12 AM, when he shuts the gym and heads home. Dinner is similar to lunch and consists of two chicken breast pieces along with a low-calorie salad and a bowlful of brown rice. Sometimes the rice is switched with a bigger bowl of bean salad and a glass of juice.
Post-Dinner
Post-dinner, Abbas resorts snacking to a handful of peanuts, dried fruits, mixed seeds or berries, if and when hunger strikes. He also drinks a protein smoothie and takes all his multivitamin supplements before he hits the sack, which is usually at 2AM to get a minimum of seven hours of shut-eye.
