Sara Ali Khan's trainer on how actor got into ship shape: Trained like a beast

Sara Ali Khan

There was no weight gain," says Dr Siddhant Bhargava, addressing a recent photo uploaded by Sara Ali Khan that suggested she had piled on a few kilos. "She had simply taken a break, and had gone to London. When she came back, she had to shoot for [a chat show], and had other commitments. She also had to walk the ramp. So she wanted to [get back into shape]," says the nutritionist, who has been monitoring Khan's fitness and diet for several years.

Ever since Khan shared the image on social media, and revealed that she became ramp-ready in two weeks, netizens have been eager to know her process. While Dr Bhargava admits that losing a large amount of weight in a short period is not advocated, he says Khan had to adhere to the regimen owing to her professional commitments. "She was on a largely calorie-restricted diet. Usually, she consumes 1,700 calories, but we brought it down to 1,200. While cutting calories, we ensured she was put on an extremely high protein diet. Also, since fibre is needed to [digest] protein, we added an adequate amount of it to her plate. Carbohydrates were limited to one meal alone. She was on 100 grams of protein, 70 grams of carbs and about 40 grams of fats. She was also working out like a beast."

When she isn't facing the camera, Khan's diet is "pretty chill". "Since her metabolism is pretty fast, consuming 1,700 calories is fine. She had to create a deficit of 1,000 calories via her diet and training, and that was possible considering her high metabolic rate." Apart from pilates, Khan practiced functional training, which "suits her lifestyle better."

For anyone hoping to replicate a similar feat and shed weight in a short period, Dr Bhargava has some words of caution. "Know that you may do some damage to your body. Also, there's no way to lose weight fast without feeling hungry. So, that is bound to happen. Also your energy levels are going to be lower than normal, and you will be crankier. You'll need to have a lot of water and fibre to feel satiated.

Keep your protein intake as high as possible. Finally, be cognisant of the fact that you've got to warm up and cool down appropriately, because you will be prone to injury when you're training hard without a proper nutrition plan. Add easy movements to your routine."

1200 vs 1700
difference in Sara's caloric intake to facilitate the weight-loss process