Elena Fernandes has got a body to die for. Half South American and half Indian, Elena was born and raised in London. She is one of the globally recognised faces from the fashion industry.
The supermodel and actress, who has worked in films like Badla, Kapoor & Sons and very recently Jaawani Jaaneman, doesn’t believe in diets. In fact, fitness for her is a mix of both — eating right and working out.
Excerpts:
- What is your fitness mantra?
I think it’s important to remember that a fitness routine should be tailored according to your needs. What works for someone else may not necessarily work for you. For example, my body responds to hardcore intensity workouts whereas my friends prefer yoga. It’s also important to mix up different forms. So while I do high intensity workouts, I like to combine it with swimming and reformer Pilates. That way, you get to work out different muscle groups and your body is consistently challenged.
- How to strike the balance between work out and eating right?
They say fitness is 70 per cent food and 30 per cent workout. Again, it’s very personal and it’s more important to keep a balance and go for what works best for you. I prefer cooking my own food. You can multitask whilst your food is being cooked — you can clean your home or do errands. I find that when you cook your own food, you are more aware of the ingredients being used.
Also, everyone has a busy schedule, so it’s understandable that getting to the gym everyday is hard, but what you can do is incorporate a workout into your daily routine. For example taking the stairs rather than the elevator or even walking to work instead of driving. Small changes truly make a difference.
- Which is the best time for you to hit the gym?
I like to go either first thing in the morning but if I can’t, I’ll go last thing in the day. People think that if you go to the gym in the morning, you’ll be tired for the rest of the day but I don’t think that’s the case. More than anything, it gets you pumped up and ready for your day, as you’re high on endorphins post workout.
- What are some of the common mistakes that people make in the name of fitness?
I feel that one of the main mistakes is the posture. If your posture is not correct while working out, you can cause more harm than good. Poor posture can lead to spasms, knotted muscles, etc. Also it’s not about how heavy you can lift. It’s about the quality of reps you do. There’s no point doing 20 heavy reps of a substandard quality; instead do 5 quality reps. Always remember quality over quantity.
It’s also very important to wear the correct gym kit so that you can work out effectively. The most important are the trainers you’re wearing. Are they appropriate for the workout you’re doing?
- Are you a believer of taking health supplements. If no, why?
I personally don’t take or believe in health supplements. The best supplement is the nutritional support that you get from eating proper food and vegetables.
- Which is your most favourite diet food?
I don’t diet but I do eat a lot of proteins. If I am doing a lingerie shoot, I will reduce the amount of chocolate I’m eating (laughs) but generally what I’ll do is increase my workouts. It’s all about balance. Eating the healthier options which are cleaner, for example, I cook my food in coconut oil.
- How do you motivate yourself to work out everyday? Do you have cheat days both for workouts and food?
It can be tough, especially in the winter in London. It’s dark and rainy and you don’t want to step out. It’s easy then to slip out of a routine. It is all about self motivation and just going that once. That endorphins kick gets you back into it.
I think it’s also important to remember that you work out for the health of your body. Don’t beat yourself up for having cheat days. You’re human. It’s also about living and having fun. It’s fine to just rest, switch on Netflix and have that pizza. That’s what I did yesterday. Yet today I woke, put my gym kit on to make sure that I will at some point work out. I think that’s half the battle won. Once your gym kit is on, you’re 90 per cent more likely to get that butt to the gym.
