Gautam Rode reveals the secret of his to-die-for physique: 800 crunches everyday

Gautam Rode is easily one of the hottest men on television today. He is a self-confessed gym lover and is the happiest when he’s working up a sweat. He’s known for acting in shows like Saraswatichandra and Maha Kumbh. He will soon be seen as the lead in the upcoming movie, Aksar 2. Last week, he got engaged to fellow actor Pankhuri Awasthi. Here, he gets talking on how he manages to maintain his six pack.

What’s your fitness regime currently like?

I work out daily for one-and-a-half hours. I focus on different body parts on different days. For my chest and shoulders, I do some heavy lifting with dumbbells, and for legs, I go for lunges and squats. And I make sure I work on my abs every day.

Do you follow a strict diet?

My breakfast consists of skimmed milk, a scoop of whey protein, and granola with dry fruits and oats. It’s a combination of proteins and carbs -- healthy and very tasty. At 11.30am, I eat some fruits. For lunch, I have a heavy lunch that usually consists of brown rice, palak dal, and gobi ki sabzi. I try to include more of veggies and greens. For dinner, I have less of carbs and more proteins -- I try to keep it simple and light. For example, a soup and boiled veggies or cottage cheese.

What you eat before and after a workout is also important. Pre-workout, I have a strong black coffee, sweet potato which comprises of good carbs, and prunes. The idea is to have foods that have carbs and also energy. Post a workout session, I have 5gm of Glutamine and one scoop of whey protein.

On your cheat days, what do you binge on?

My cheat food is mainly all the sweet stuff I love to eat -- pastries, chocolates, cakes and besan ka ladoo.

Actors usually have hectic schedules and travel a lot. How do you manage to include exercise in your schedule at such times?

When I am travelling or shooting outdoors, and if there is no gym around, I do pull-ups. If there is a bar somewhere, I manage push-ups, squats, and generally I just sweat it out in the room or my vanity van. But I make sure my workout regime is never hampered at any cost!

You had a six pack when you were only 19. How did you work on your body back then?

During those days, I didn’t really have much knowledge about what exactly had to be done in order to build up a good physique, but fortunately my metabolism levels were very high as I was a teenager. So my hardcore workouts were quite effective. And I had also managed to get my dedication in place and focus on building up my stamina and body! Though nowadays we have the benefit of the internet where you can look up guidelines on what to eat, various workout forms, etc.

Being a vegetarian has obviously not stopped you from having an enviable physique. What would you like to say about the perception that a vegetarian diet doesn’t have enough protein to build muscle?

I have been a vegetarian for a few years now, and I am honestly managing it quite well in sync with my workouts and maintaining my physique as well. From whey protein to cottage cheese to tofu, all my proteins, carbs and far content are well in place and balanced.

A few years ago, you were pulling off 400 crunches a day. Do you still do that?

It has now in fact become 800 crunches.

What would your advice be to people who are just starting out on their fitness journey?

When working on keeping fit and putting a proper fitness regime into place, always keep in mind that it is a 70% diet and 30% workout balance. So sweat it out, but always keep in mind the right food and diet. Also, do try out other workout forms - like swimming, cycling, and jogging - which will keep you even more active. Outdoor activities usually tend to motivate good fitness regimes.

What’s a common mistake people make while trying to get fit or lose weight?

I feel and at times see that people, especially youngsters today go all out with lifting weights, and hardcore workouts, but never take into consideration the form of the workout. That is definitely wrong, and you will always end up with injuries! Mainly, one must be aware of the form of the workout, the right method of doing it, so you can avoid injuries and also make the most of the workout. Personal trainers and any kind of additional guidance is always the best way to go.

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