Bollywood actress Alia Bhatt has always been known not only for her stellar performances but also for her dedication to fitness. After giving birth to her daughter, Raha, in November 2022, Alia openly shared her postpartum weight loss journey, inspiring many new mothers with her natural and holistic approach.
Refuting Unnatural Methods: Alia's Honest Revelation
Alia Bhatt addressed the rumors surrounding her weight loss, emphasizing that she relied on natural methods. In a 2023 interview with Vogue, she stated, "I know everyone believes that I lost weight unnaturally, but the truth is that I can't even get my wisdom tooth extracted at the moment since I'm breastfeeding and can't be given anesthesia." She further added, "My job is a visual medium, so I do need to present myself in a certain way, sometimes also for continuity. Even so, I wasn't hard on myself because I was so proud of what my body had done when I delivered Raha."
To counter the misconception, Alia decided to document her fitness journey on social media, sharing her experiences and progress with her followers.
Breastfeeding: A Natural Calorie Burner
Alia revealed on Kareena Kapoor Khan’s talk show, What Women Want, that breastfeeding played a crucial role in her postpartum weight loss. "I was still feeding… Breastfeeding actually makes you burn a lot of calories, and that did half the job," she shared. A study published in the Current Opinion in Clinical Nutrition & Metabolic Care supports this, finding that breastfeeding can indeed aid postpartum weight loss. Alia avoided crash diets to protect her baby's nutrition while breastfeeding, prioritizing her child's health and well-being.
Gradual Return to Exercise: Patience and Consistency
Alia emphasized the importance of a gradual return to exercise. "I didn't put any pressure on myself. The doctors advised me to only push harder in my workouts post 12 weeks, and I did that." She started with 15-minute walks and breathing exercises in the first two weeks postpartum, gradually increasing the intensity and duration of her workouts.
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By 12 weeks, she resumed regular workouts, including walking, Pilates, yoga, light cardio, and strength training. Alia's trainer, Sohrab Khushrushahi, told Indian Express that her workout changed during pregnancy. "A lot would depend on how she was feeling on a particular day because with pregnant women, no two days are the same. We always had a plan and programme, but we would tweak them when and where required," he said. Commending her hard work, Khushrushahi shared that her "effort was always top-notch. We slowed things down a little to make sure she was always ok.
Mindful Eating: Healthy Choices Over Deprivation
Instead of resorting to crash diets, Alia focused on mindful eating during and after her pregnancy. She avoided overindulging, stuck to naturally healthy foods, and didn’t deprive herself. “I wasn’t indulging in sugar every day-I was just eating a little more than usual. By the end of it, no food felt like enough for me!” she joked.
Her diet included nutrient-rich foods like fresh fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and proteins. She also enjoyed gond ke laddus, courtesy of her mother-in-law, veteran actor Neetu Kapoor, showcasing that a balanced diet can include traditional and comforting foods.
Ditching the Scale: Focusing on Holistic Healing
Alia avoided obsessively checking her weight, opting to weigh herself just once every two weeks. Her goal was not to "snap back" quickly but to heal holistically. This approach highlights the importance of focusing on overall well-being rather than solely on the numbers on a scale.
Prioritizing Mental Well-Being: Self-Love and Acceptance
Alia spoke against the "snapback culture," urging new moms to be kind to themselves and allow their bodies to recover at their own pace. "People need to understand that putting on weight during pregnancy is not a result of eating too much; it's because you're making life inside you, and that life needs that extra weight. It has to be in sync with your BMI, of course, and you should consult a professional if you have questions, but you're supposed to put on a certain amount of weight. It's completely okay!"
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She emphasized self-love and acceptance, stating, "Childbirth is a miracle in every way. After what my body did this year, I’ve taken a vow to never be hard on myself again."
Professional Commitments as Motivation
Alia clarified that her motivation to lose weight stemmed from her professional commitments, not public expectations. “My job is a visual medium… Even so, I wasn’t hard on myself because I was so proud of what my body had done when I delivered Raha.” Now back in top shape, Alia is prepping for some physically demanding roles-including action scenes in YRF’s spy universe film and Sanjay Leela Bhansali’s Love and War, where she stars alongside husband Ranbir Kapoor.
Alia and Ranbir: A Fairytale Romance
Ranbir Kapoor and Alia Bhatt's love story is no less than a fairytale. Alia fell head-over-heels-in-love with Ranbir when she first saw him at a young age while giving an audition for Sanjay Leela Bhansali's movie, Black. After making a strong footing in Bollywood, she never shied away from expressing her desire to marry Ranbir. The universe listened to her wish, and on April 14, 2022, Ranbir and Alia got married and welcomed their baby girl that same year.
Alia also revealed how her husband, Ranbir, is overly protective of their daughter, Raha, and wouldn't let any guys come even close to her.
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