Actor Akshara Gowda gave birth to her first child in late 2024 and her pregnancy diet and workout routine is quite an inspiration for new moms. In a candid interview with HT Lifestyle, Akshara shared that her diet was all about balance, with a focus on healthy ingredients. However, she also stressed the importance of listening to your body’s cravings, which sometimes meant indulging in a sinful dessert. Read this also Nagarjuna reveals diet and fitness secret to impressive physique
Akshara followed a well-planned pregnancy diet
Pregnancy weight gain is a natural and necessary part of a healthy pregnancy. Akshara, who gained around 12 kg during her pregnancy, says she was ‘very careful’ about how much weight she put on.
Speaking about her diet, she says, “It’s a very difficult time because you have a lot of cravings and a lot of people suggest ‘eating for two’. As much as possible, I try to eat home-cooked meals.” Ate during my pregnancy, I was born with a sweet tooth, but within limits. I would have had it for sure. that I compensate with other food Like more protein and less carbs.”
She says, “I stuck to my pregnancy supplements that the doctor recommended even after my delivery. Thanks to this, I don’t have any hair, luckily.”
Akshara worked out during her pregnancy
Pregnant women already know the laundry list of items they need to be cautious about. They’ve heard it many times, like avoiding risky activities while expecting. However, Akshara believes that exercise during and after pregnancy is not only safe but also highly beneficial for both mother and baby.
Explaining how exercise during pregnancy has been linked to healthy pregnancies, Akshara says, “I was very particular that as much as possible, I wanted to ensure that it was a normal delivery and that I remained active throughout my pregnancy. Am. I wanted to bounce back after delivery for my baby and not for anyone else. I wanted to hold my baby, do everything on my own and have no one help. ,
As for her workout routine, Akshara says that she relied on strength-training exercises to stay active during pregnancy. She’s also a fan of Pilates, which helped her maintain flexibility and core strength.
“They say you can’t bend over or take stairs during pregnancy,” she says. But I kept asking my gynecologist (Dr Sindhuri Kapu from Hyderabad). I remember squatting, I did more squats during my pregnancy than I have done in my entire life. This is how I had a normal delivery. When I started doing my prenatal yoga and prenatal Pilates, I did everything, including bending over exercises and touching my feet. So my walking didn’t change, and I had no tiredness or fatigue throughout my pregnancy. ,
‘Exercise really prepares your body for birth’
Akshara says, “Exercise is the biggest thing that helped me have a normal delivery. Every pregnancy and body is different, but exercise really prepares your body for birth. I did a lot of Pilates. I also did HIIT, strength training and yoga. After the 35th week of pregnancy, I was told to cut down on HIIT, Pilates and intense cardio. I could still do yoga and go for walks. ,
Remember, every pregnancy is unique, and it is essential to prioritize your health and safety. Always consult your healthcare provider before starting or continuing any exercise routine during pregnancy.
Post her normal delivery, rest, nutrition, bonding with her baby, and nursing helped Akshara gradually shed almost all the baby weight. A few weeks after delivery, the actor says she started a postpartum-friendly workout with gentle exercises like Pilates and walking.
Akshara says, “I would tell all new mothers to prioritize their health so that they can take care of the baby. It’s important to strengthen your core and back so you can lose all that belly fat right away. Take care! If you can’t take care of yourself, you can’t take care of a child. I started walking within an hour of delivery; I took the stairs. Throughout my pregnancy, I was very conscious about what I ate and how I felt, because mental health is so important. ,
She says, “I rested at home for the first 15 days, walked around, and took care of the baby. After that, I was already in my pregnancy clothes and lost about 7 kg. I slowly started working out after 15 days post delivery with walks and Pilates. Now, I eat everything and have returned to my 1800 calories a day, which I followed pre-pregnancy. Breastfeeding also helped me lose pregnancy weight. ,
How to prevent stretch marks
Many women worry about stretch marks during pregnancy. With all the growing up that comes with having a baby, this question has probably crossed many bump-sporting minds. The actor emphasizes that they’re completely normal, gorgeous, and even empowering parts of the human body, and that new moms with stretch marks shouldn’t be self-conscious, but They should be embraced ‘like tiger strips’.
Akshara reveals that she doesn’t have any stretch marks; In fact, she even shares a ‘cheap’ hack to prevent stretch marks from developing in the first place. Speaking about her own experience, Akshara says, “My skin was beautiful during pregnancy. I didn’t have any acne. For stretch marks, I applied a lot of creams, and I don’t have any stretch marks. But for those who can’t afford them, I’ll tell you a basic hack that a friend of mine suggested. ,
“He has a 10 or 11-year-old son, and he doesn’t have any vibes,” the actor says. When I told her I was pregnant, she said, ‘Just mix rose water and glycerin and start applying it on your stomach and apply until you reach that pre-pregnancy weight because Your skin is still shrinking’. For at least three months after delivery, you will have to apply the same procedure. ,
The biggest pregnancy myth
As soon as doctors say you’re pregnant, women are immediately inundated with information. Between books, online communities, friends and family, Akshara, too, says it can be overwhelming to navigate the vast amount of information available. While much of this is need-to-know information, some of it may be based on myths. So, how did Akshar avoid falling for pregnancy myths? She says, “Whether it was my diet or my lifestyle, I always asked my gynecologist. Please reach out to the professionals. ,
Akshara feels that women need to stop believing in the age-old myth that pregnant women need to ‘eat for two’. While it’s true that pregnant women have higher calorie requirements, the idea of eating twice as much is a common misconception. Akshara recalls that her doctor advised her to gradually increase her calorie intake during pregnancy, but not to eat twice as much, as it would lead to unnecessary weight gain. In reality, she says, you only need to consume an ‘extra 200-700 calories a day’ to keep yourself and your baby healthy.
“Each trimester, you can increase 300 calories. I kept it up. You can’t eat 3000-4000 calories and a lot of carbs, and expect yourself to stay fit. ‘Eating for two’ is the biggest myth. When I first found out I was pregnant, I was like, ‘I can’t put on weight’ because I have so many work commitments, and my doctor said, ‘Okay, then, don’t put on weight; Don’t eat for two’. She explained that if you’re going to eat for two, it’s all really going to go to your body and not the baby’s. The baby will not be 5 kg or 10 kg at birth because you ate for two,” says Akshara.
She further recalls, “My gynecologist said ‘I don’t care how much weight you’re putting on or how much you’re changing physically, whether you’re losing or putting on weight, as long as There’s no need to worry about the baby being healthy. So don’t eat for two, just eat for yourself.”
