Lovebirds Sonakshi Sinha and Zaheer Iqbal who tied the knot recently in an intimate ceremony with friends and family have known each other for years. That bond is reflected in their camaraderie which is often visible in many of their interviews together. One such interview from the archives shows Sonakshi revealing that Zaheer loves to flaunt his abs on screen. “The level of dedication to show his abs on screen is something huge. He worked very hard and even while we were shooting the Blockbuster song, he was not eating salt, not drinking water. He used to say, every muscle should pop out,” shared Sonakshi in a 2023 interview with Zoom.
Sonakshi, who also shared space with Zaheer in Double XL, added, “I was like, this takes some commitment. I didn’t know he had it in him. But abs ke liye kuch bhi karega.”
Can abstaining from water and salts help extreme fitness goals?
Dr Pooja Pillai, consultant physician and diabetologist, SPARSH Hospital, Bengaluru told indianexpress.com that complete fasting is when people abstain from not just food but also water in some instances. “It is possible that significant weight loss may occur during this time. Weight loss depends on various factors such as an individual’s starting weight, basal metabolic rate, existing comorbid conditions, and overall health,” said Dr Pillai.
Glycogen, stored in the liver and muscles, is the body’s first reserve of energy. “Since glycogen is bound with water, the initial weight loss is largely due to water loss. This can result in a rapid drop of 2-4 kgs within the first few days,” described Dr Pillai.
After the glycogen stores are depleted, the body shifts to burning fat for energy. “On average, the body may lose around 0.5 to 1 kg of body weight per day. This may vary based on the individual’s body composition,” shared Dr Pillai.
However, it is not advisable from a health perspective. The short-term side effects include headaches, gastritis, dehydration, electrolyte imbalance, and hypoglycemia. In the long term, multiple nutrient deficiencies can occur.
According to Dr Pillai, a person can survive without water for about 3 to 7 days, depending on environmental conditions and physical activity levels. “While complete fasting can lead to rapid weight loss, it poses significant health risks and should not be undertaken without expert guidance,” said Dr Pillai.
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First uploaded on: 29-06-2024 at 18:27 IST