On Tuesday, President Droupadi Murmu conferred the distinguished Padma Shri on actor, filmmaker and producer R Madhavan on the Civil Investiture Ceremony-II. Identified for his work throughout Tamil, Telugu and Hindi cinema, Madhavan has gained each important and well-liked acclaim through the years. His directorial debut, Rocketry: The Nambi Impact (2022), obtained widespread reward and went on to win the Nationwide Movie Award for Finest Function Movie.
Aside from his work in Rocketry: The Nambi Impact, the actor additionally made headlines for a outstanding bodily transformation. After gaining weight to painting scientist Nambi Narayanan within the movie, Madhavan shed the additional kilos in simply 21 days. What stunned followers much more was his declare that the transformation didn’t contain intense exercises, surgical procedure or dietary supplements.
Talking to Curly Tales, Madhavan revealed one behavior he considers significantly essential: chewing meals completely. The interview quickly went viral final yr, prompting the actor to share his weight-loss rules on X.
Whereas particular person outcomes can differ and there’s no one-size-fits-all method to weight administration, a number of of his habits are supported by scientific analysis.
Listed below are the 11 mantras Madhavan says helped him shed pounds:
1. Intermittent Fasting

Intermittent Fasting. Photograph Credit score: Freepik
Madhavan adopted an consuming window that suited his routine and caught to it persistently. Intermittent fasting has been studied extensively for its potential position in weight administration. A scientific overview revealed within the Canadian Household Doctor journal discovered that intermittent fasting can result in modest weight reduction in obese and overweight adults, largely by serving to scale back general calorie consumption and inspiring higher meal timing.
2. Chew Each Chew 45-60 Instances
The actor advocates chewing meals completely earlier than swallowing, typically summarised by the phrase, “Drink your meals and chew your water.” Analysis revealed within the Journal of the Academy of Diet and Dietetics discovered that rising the variety of chews earlier than swallowing might assist scale back meals consumption and help body-weight administration. Consuming extra slowly additionally offers the physique extra time to register emotions of fullness, probably lowering overeating.
3. End Dinner By 6:45 PM
Madhavan’s final meal of the day was earlier than 7 pm. Whereas the precise timing might not work for everybody, avoiding late-night consuming may help scale back senseless snacking and extreme calorie consumption. Some analysis additionally means that aligning meals with the physique’s pure circadian rhythm might help metabolic well being and weight management.
4. Keep away from Uncooked Meals After 3 PM
One in every of his lesser-known guidelines was consuming solely cooked meals after mid-afternoon. There may be restricted direct proof linking this particular observe to weight reduction. Nevertheless, cooked meals are sometimes simpler to digest for some individuals and should encourage extra structured consuming patterns in comparison with grazing on snacks later within the day.
5. Take Lengthy Morning Walks
Strolling was Madhavan’s major type of bodily exercise. Strolling is extensively recognised as an efficient, low-impact train that may assist enhance each day calorie expenditure, help coronary heart well being and contribute to long-term weight administration when mixed with wholesome consuming habits.
6. Prioritise Deep Sleep
The actor emphasised going to mattress early and getting high quality sleep. Analysis has repeatedly linked insufficient sleep with weight achieve and elevated starvation. Poor sleep can have an effect on hormones similar to ghrelin and leptin, which regulate urge for food, making it more durable to take care of a wholesome weight.
7. No Display screen Time 90 Minutes Earlier than Mattress
Madhavan prevented screens earlier than sleeping. Publicity to blue gentle from telephones, tablets and televisions can intervene with melatonin manufacturing and delay sleep onset. Higher sleep high quality is related to improved urge for food regulation and more healthy physique weight over time.
8. Keep Nicely Hydrated

Photograph: Unsplash
Consuming loads of fluids was one other key a part of his routine. Ample hydration can help general well being and should assist with weight administration by selling satiety. Typically, thirst can be mistaken for starvation, resulting in pointless snacking.
9. Eat Lots Of Inexperienced Greens
Inexperienced greens are naturally low in energy and wealthy in fibre. Excessive-fibre meals assist enhance emotions of fullness and should scale back general calorie consumption. In addition they present important nutritional vitamins, minerals and antioxidants that help general well being.
10. Select Meals Your Physique Can Simply Metabolise
Madhavan targeted on easy, healthful meals that suited his physique. Whereas the phrase “simply metabolised” can imply various things to completely different individuals, vitamin consultants usually suggest prioritising minimally processed, nutrient-dense meals which are satisfying and straightforward to include right into a balanced weight-reduction plan.
11. Keep away from Processed Meals

One of many strictest guidelines in his routine was eliminating processed meals. Analysis has linked ultra-processed meals to greater calorie consumption and weight achieve. In a extensively cited NIH examine, contributors consumed extra energy and gained weight on an ultra-processed weight-reduction plan in comparison with a minimally processed one, even when the meals had been matched for vitamins.
It’s value noting that Madhavan’s transformation was the results of a number of way of life modifications relatively than a single behavior. Sustainable weight reduction usually relies on sustaining wholesome consuming patterns, staying energetic, getting sufficient sleep and following habits that may be continued in the long run.

