However, she added that exercise or physical activity should be sustainable to be regular. “You can only be regular if it’s something sustainable for the long period. I used to go to the gym 5-6 days a week. It can be terribly boring. So, something varied but one hour of activity every single day. When you mix it up, it’s fun. People diss walking but it is fantastic. Twice a week, I walk for an hour and a half and it’s a great exercise,” said Bedi.

She also spoke about how she resolved to lose 19.5 kilos within six months of delivery to fit in her pre-pregnancy clothes. “When Vir was born, I put on 22 kilos. When he came out, he was only 2.5 kilos. I was like, ‘where did the other kilos go’! So, I had to lose 19.5 kilos all by myself. That’s like a lot. I gave myself six months to lose those 19.5 kilos. I was back to my pre-pregnancy clothes,” shared Bedi.

Further, she advised pregnant women and new mothers to try and “get on to the (weight loss) wagon as soon as possible”. “Never buy yourself any in-between clothes so as not to get comfortable. I remember Vir being born on June 17 and I had an event on December 17. Then in six months, I managed to lose weight. I was 52.5 kilos when I weighed myself on December 17. I worked hard to lose weight. Now, fitness has just become a part of my life. The key is to keep it sustainable,” recalled Bedi.

Mandira Bedi likes to have dates in place of processed sugar (Source: Getty Images/Thinkstock)

Inspired by her fitness journey, we decided to understand the benefits of giving up processed sugar. Clinical dietitian Garima Goyal noted that it may be very difficult to go totally sugar free, but it is worth it.

“Having sugar and sugary beverages takes a toll on health and has many negative implications. The various medical conditions that occur with high sugar consumption are obesity, diabetes, cardiovascular disease, poor dental health etc. Also, high sugar intake has been linked to fatigue and lethargy, due to reduced energy levels in the body and decreased alertness,” said Goyal.

While limiting or completely going off processed sugar is advisable, the focus should be on rethinking your whole diet pattern. “Go for a healthy dietary pattern including more protein and fiber-rich foods in the diet such as fresh fruits, vegetables, nuts and seeds, beans, legumes, eggs, poultry etc,” Goyal said.