Celebrity secrets to staying fit in Ramzan

The sun’s out and Ramzan just seems tougher than ever this year because when the clock strikes iftaar, all you want to do is gulp down an ice-cold soda or stuff yourself with a big plate of deep fried goodness. As satisfying as curbing your Ramzan cravings are, just know that this month will be over in around two weeks and all you’ll be left with are a pair of pants that just don’t fit anymore.

There’s no need to panic because if you’re looking for inspiration, we’ll bring you expert advice from the people who know a thing or two about staying fit. We sit down with the famous and fabulous to ask how they keep themselves looking so perfect even during Ramzan.

Mehwish Hayat: nocturnal workouts

“The most important thing about staying fit in Ramzan is to eat healthy,” says Mehwish Hayat. “The problem is that in Ramzan we tend to consume high amounts of fried foods and junk that we usually would avoid on regular days. So try to eat healthy stuff like fruit salads, dates, lentil soup etc. I would also recommend you include some sort of physical activity in your day, even if it is just 20 minutes a day, do some jogging, cardio or a light brisk walk to keep yourself feeling better and not stuffed. I personally changed my workout routine from in the morning to the evening after iftaar to stay fit throughout Ramzan.

Ayesha Omar: nuts over coconut

Ayesha always looks amazingly fit and we’d follow her advice if we were you.

“My first and foremost go-to drink in Ramzan is coconut water,” shares Ayesha Omar. “Not only will it keep you hydrated but it is packed with great vitamins and nutrients. Especially having a couple of glasses of it before sehri will leave you less thirsty and more energetic. When you’re going on about your day without eating for a longer period of time, hydration is key to surviving this month.”

Anoushay Ashraf: the pre-iftaar work-out

Anoushey Ashraf, photographers will vouch, is ageless.

“I always focus on eating healthy during Ramzan,” Anushay says. “I limit my carbs intake to sehri only which gives my body enough time to burn it off during the rest of the day and as tempting as stuffing your face during iftaar is, it’s always wise not to give in to unnecessary cravings. I also make sure to have at least 2 liters of water in between to stay hydrated. And as difficult as it is, I always schedule my work out to right before iftaar so I can get my metabolism kicking in. And let’s not forget the most important thing: get enough sleep and do not exhaust your body!”

Mehreen Syed: getting high on energy

It’s amazing how this mother of one stays so slim .

“People often forget that Ramzan is not the month to feast and it’s definitely not one to indulge,” opines Mehreen. “I always need my energy up during Ramzan because things tend to get very busy at work and at home. For that I always keep my diet high on protein and fiber for my sehri and iftaar to keep my feeling fuller for longer and maintain my routine lifestyle which means keeping my sleep cycle and workout cycle the same as before.”

Amna Babar: say no to pakora parties!

Pakistan’s top model isn’t an easy title to defend, year after year and Amna’s fitness plan is to swear by.

“For me, getting enough sleep, drinking lots of water, having a healthy diet and staying away from pakoras are keys to winning this month,” says Amna. “It’s so boring, I know, but doing those things really helps in giving me more energy for things that are actually important during the month of Ramzan.”