Sonali Kulkarni, 50, doesn't want to be thin at the cost of her health; says slimming drugs are common in Bollywood
In an interview to HT Health Shots, she shares, 'I am at a point in life where I support myself and I tell myself 'I am unique. My size is my size'. I don't think that at the cost of my health, I want to be thin. There is a fashion of becoming thin and thinner. I understand there is a demand for that because I work on screen. The leaner you are, the better you look on screen. But it is so common to have friends who have the problem of throwing up what they eat (bulimia nervosa), and they are also consuming weight loss drugs.'
Sonali is particularly concerned about the way these weight management practices are impacting the overall quality of life of the people consuming them.
'It concerns me to see the 'chid-chid' they do, the way they treat their personal staff, the way they react to co-stars… all agitated 'ki khatam karo'. It is also a sight to see many people without make-up. I feel at the cost of what we are taking these? Until and unless, it is prescribed by your physician (for a problem), why are you going for it? The brunt is always borne by your close ones, your family. People sometimes forget they have a family and only start living for the persona on screen,' she adds.
The National Award-winning actress, who has featured in critically acclaimed Hindi and Marathi films, considers herself in a 'happy place'. Her work kitty has projects, she is actively involved in social causes she believes in, she prioritises fitness, and loves the company of her husband and daughter. 'I want to realise what I have. Unless I value what I have, I will also pursue what I don't have,' Sonali says on a philosophical note.
As far as her own health and fitness is concerned, Sonali Kulkarni is trying to listen to her body and make necessary changes to how she exercises and what she eats.
'Since the past five years, I can see that there are a lot of changes in my physique and body. Touching 50 has definitely made me a little more humble towards my health and everybody else's health. I see my parents aging, and how they are trying to keep fit even though they are 80-plus. That is a huge inspiration. I take the changes in my body as a warning that is telling me that 'You're probably crossing one phase of your life and you're ready for a new one'. So, fitness at present, is the most expensive thing… and I definitely want to be rich in that sense,' she asserts.
Are there any specific wellness rituals that you follow? 'I am an actor and I am aware that I need to take care of my mental and physical fitness. I weight train every alternate day. I jog every alternate day. Seasonally, I change my workouts. Until the end of 2024, I was doing yoga. Presently, I am doing different exercises. I also like walking a lot. I just try not to have excuses about not having time for fitness,' Sonali says.
On the diet front, she practices mindful eating. 'I am a major foodie and there are times when I have wished that there was an hour in our lives where we could happily enjoy everything - mangoes, puran poli and gulab jamuns! Having said that, I do mind what I eat. I am on nachni (ragi or finger millet) these days because it is summer. Nachni is very light and good for digestion,' advises Sonali.
ALSO READ: What is the best cereal for weight loss? Doctor reveals why you should eat ragi flour, quinoa, oats, barley, kuttu atta
In all of this, there's just one thing she cannot give up. And that is her cup of tea!
'I have followed lifestyle coach Dr Sarita Davare's diet for the longest time. But whenever I discuss my diet or obstacles with her or anyone else, they say, 'Why don't you stop chai?' So I ask them, 'What is the problem with one cup chai?' I see some people say, 'Let us turn vegan, let us not have milk (dairy)'… I have an eternal fight with people who are trying to make a complete and drastic shift in their diet to be thin, which I am very scared of. I like to maintain a normal routine because I like to maintain my mental fitness as well.'
Talking of mental wellness, Sonali says we live in challenging times. 'We are trying to find 'What I should be' rather than 'Who am I'. We are always comparing. I personally like to be a little considerate about the challenges that we face and the lack of community that we are becoming. We are all becoming islands.'
'It is mandatory to workout. We have to give at least 45 minutes a day for our fitness. It has to be a dedicated effort - be it a Surya Namaskar, Yoga session, cardiovascular activities such as walking and running, weight training, or anything people like. And when it comes to food habits, normalise having early dinner and eating with your family. Life reminds you you are in a good place if you follow these little things,' she concludes.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
6 hours ago
- Time of India
Youngest recipient of shoulder-level hand transplant finds power in her left
SLUG: International Lefthanders Day Surat: For most people, switching their dominant hand is a matter of preference or skill — some, like Albert Einstein, mastered writing with both hands. But for 19-year-old Anamta Ahmad, a young girl from Mumbai and now the world's youngest recipient of a shoulder-level hand transplant, receiving the right hand of Valsad's Riya Mistry in a rare procedure became a fight for survival — a journey marked by tragedy, resilience, and an unwavering will to adapt after losing her right hand in an electrocution accident. Three years ago, a severe electric shock injury forced doctors to amputate Anamta's right hand. The loss was devastating. She admits she was initially angry with her parents for allowing the surgery, but within 24 hours, she accepted the reality and set her mind on adapting to life without it. Determined not to let the accident define her, she began training herself to use her left hand for everything — from writing to daily chores. The first words she penned with her new dominant hand were not of despair but of defiance: "Caution: No Sympathy," a note she pinned to her bedroom wall as a reminder to everyone and herself, that she would not be held back. "Despite the major accident and hand amputation, she secured overall 92% marks in her Class X exams and 98% in Hindi. Maybe the confidence was the major force that helped her survive the transplantation surgery, which is considered rare," said her father, Aqeel. The electric shock had also severely injured her left hand, requiring multiple surgeries to save it. Initially, even using that hand was a challenge. But through determination and relentless practice, she regained strength and dexterity. Immediately after returning home post-amputation, Anamta started practising writing and handling everyday tasks with her left hand. While she took the help of a writer during exams, she continued practising so she could one day do it all herself. Even after undergoing the transplant, she still relies entirely on her left hand, as the new right hand will take time to become fully functional. "I use my left hand for all work — from writing to using a computer. The transplanted hand isn't fully functional yet, and it will take some time," Anamta told TOI. It took her about three months after the amputation to be able to write and manage most tasks with her left hand. In Oct 2022, Anamta was electrocuted while playing on a terrace at a relative's home in Aligarh, Uttar Pradesh. Nearly two years later, in Sep 2024, she received the right hand of Mistry in a rare transplantation procedure. "My educational institute, Mithibai College, has been very supportive. They allowed me to appear for exams despite long medical leaves, which helped me continue my studies even through hospitalisation and recovery," she said. Stay updated with the latest local news from your city on Times of India (TOI). Check upcoming bank holidays , public holidays , and current gold rates and silver prices in your area.
Indian Express
a day ago
- Indian Express
Over 8,000 West Bengal health dept vacancies to be filled a year after protests by junior doctors
The West Bengal Health Recruitment Board (WBHRB) has initiated a massive recruitment drive to fill over 8,000 positions in the state's health department, in an announcement that comes nearly one year after a wave of junior doctor protests demanded the filling of vacancies. The recruitment includes positions for doctors and nurses, as well as laboratory technicians, physiotherapists, Ayurvedic Medical Officers, Ayurvedic Drug Inspectors, and Deputy Superintendents for Hospitals. The West Bengal Junior Doctors' Front (WBJDF) had prominently raised the issue of vacant positions during their widespread protests that followed the rape and murder of a colleague at RG Kar Medical College and Hospital. The protests, which highlighted demands for increased workplace safety and the appointment of more healthcare staff, put significant pressure on the state government. The recruitment drive aims to fill 1,848 vacancies for doctors and 5,018 for nurses. Among the doctor positions, 1,227 are for General Duty Medical Officers (GDMOs), while the remaining 621 are for specialist doctors and assistant professors. For specialist roles, candidates must hold an MD/MS or a super-specialization degree like DM or MCh. The highest number of new appointments among assistant professors will be in General Medicine (48), Anesthesiology (47), and General Surgery (43). Interested candidates can find detailed information on eligibility criteria, application procedures, and important dates by visiting the official WBHRB website. The online application process for General Duty Medical Officers and Staff Nurses commenced on August 13 and will continue until September 3, sources said. Sweety Kumari reports from West Bengal for The Indian Express. She is a journalist with over a decade of experience in the media industry. Covers Crime, Defence, Health , Politics etc and writes on trending topics. With a keen eye for investigative and human-interest stories. She has honed her craft across diverse beats including aviation, health, incidents etc. Sweety delivers impactful journalism that informs and engages audiences. Sweety Kumari is a graduate of Calcutta University with an Honors degree in Journalism from Jaipuria College and a PG in Mass Communication from Jadavpur University. Originally from Bihar, she is brought up in Kolkata and completed her education from Kendriya Vidyalaya SaltLake. Multilingual, Sweety is fluent in English, Hindi, Bengali, and Maithili. She started her career as an Entertainment and lifestyle journalist with a newsportal in Kolkata. She is working with The Indian Express for 8 years now. ... Read More
The Hindu
2 days ago
- The Hindu
Pavlov's Nobel Prize-winning research on digestion and its lasting impact on physiology and neurobiology
In 1904, Russian physiologist Ivan Petrovich Pavlov was awarded the Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine 'in recognition of his work on the physiology of digestion, through which knowledge on vital aspects of the subject has been transformed and enlarged.' His experiments led to our understanding of how the digestive system works but also laid the conceptual foundations for one of the most influential ideas in behavioural science : the conditioned reflex. Early life and scientific beginnings Pavlov was born on September 14, 1849, in Ryazan, Russia, the eldest of ten children in the household of a village priest. Initially destined for the priesthood, he enrolled in a local theological seminary. His path changed after encountering the writings of physiologist Ivan Sechenov and naturalist, geologist -- Charles Darwin, which inspired him to pursue science. Leaving the seminary, Pavlov entered the University of Saint Petersburg in 1870 to study natural sciences, later earning a medical degree from the Imperial Military Medical Academy. After postgraduate training in Germany under prominent physiologists such as Carl Ludwig, Pavlov returned to Russia in the 1880s. By the 1890s, he was head of the Department of Physiology at the Institute of Experimental Medicine in St. Petersburg, where he began the series of experiments that would define his career. Transforming the understanding of digestion At the time, knowledge of digestion was largely based on post-mortem studies and crude animal experiments. Pavlov developed ingenious surgical methods to study the digestive organs of living animals without disrupting their normal functions. One of his key innovations was the creation of the 'Pavlov pouch' -- a small, surgically isolated section of the stomach with its own nerve and blood supply. This technique enabled continuous monitoring of gastric secretions over time. Pavlov's long-term, carefully controlled experiments revealed that the digestive process was not merely a simple chemical breakdown of food but was under intricate regulation by the nervous system. He discovered that gastric secretions could be triggered not just by food in the stomach but by stimuli such as the sight, smell, or even the sound associated with feeding. These 'psychic secretions' were evidence of a direct connection between sensory input and physiological processes. Research details and wider significance Pavlov's experimental approach was notable for its rigour, precision and reproducibility. His work bridged two worlds: the purely physical processes of the body and the influence of the mind on those processes. In studying digestive reflexes, Pavlov accidentally uncovered phenomena that would make him famous beyond physiology: the concept of the conditional (later called 'conditioned') reflex. Although not the focus of his Nobel-winning work, these observations such as a dog salivating to a metronome after repeated pairings with food, demonstrated that behaviour could be shaped by learned associations. Pavlov shared his findings widely, most notably in his 1897 work The Work of the Digestive Glands --that summarised years of findings and demonstrated how salivary and gastric glands were activated and coordinated, fundamentally reshaping physiological theory . The text laid out the experimental evidence that transformed understanding of gastrointestinal physiology. Later, in Conditioned Reflexes (1927), he detailed decades of experiments on associative learning, establishing a theoretical foundation for behaviourism. In Conditioned Reflexes and Psychiatry, he explored how his principles could be applied to understanding mental illness, famously writing, 'I am convinced that an important stage of human thought will have been reached when the physiological and the psychological, the objective and the subjective, are actually united' Beyond these, Pavlov published extensive lecture series and numerous scientific papers, many of which were later compiled into multi-volume works that continue to serve as primary references for physiologists and psychologists. Additionally, these findings later inspired entire schools of psychology, most notably behaviourism and influenced fields as varied as neuroscience, psychiatry, education and even marketing. Legacy and impact today Pavlov remained active in research for decades after receiving the Nobel Prize, expanding his studies of conditioned reflexes and their role in mental health and neurological disorders. He became a respected figure not only in Russian science but also on the international stage, known for his disciplined work ethic and methodical approach. In modern medicine, Pavlov's work remains relevant in multiple ways. His methods for studying organ function have influenced experimental design across physiology and biomedical research. His discovery of conditioned reflexes underpins behavioural therapy techniques used in treating phobias, anxiety disorders, and addictions. Concepts from his digestion research are still taught in medical curricula worldwide. Pavlov died on February 27, 1936, at the age of 86. His laboratory in St. Petersburg has been preserved as a museum, and his name has become shorthand for associative learning -- 'Pavlovian conditioning' is a term recognised far beyond scientific circles. The precision and vision of his Nobel-winning work continue to remind us that even the most fundamental bodily functions can yield profound insights into both the body and the mind.
