Published on: October 17, 2025 | 9:49 AM IST

Tamil actress Keerthy Suresh, who turned 33 on October 17, has opened up about her fitness evolution, sharing insights into how she lost around 8–9 kg in 2018–19 primarily through cardio exercises. Speaking in an interview with Behindwoods Hits on YouTube, Keerthy detailed the challenges, mistakes, and ultimate lessons she learned in her journey toward a balanced, healthy lifestyle.

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Early Life and Fitness Habits

Keerthy revealed that she was naturally thin as a child but had no regular exercise routine until she entered the film industry. Before acting, her activity was mostly limited to school sports, such as tennis. However, once she started working as an actress, her lifestyle became predominantly work-sleep-eat, with little physical activity.

She explained:

“I was quite thin, but I never had any workout. So till 18, in my entire life, I hadn’t done workouts, not even sports. I used to play tennis in school, but after acting, it was work, sleep, eat, repeat.”

It was only after beginning her acting career that she seriously focused on her fitness, initially turning to cardio exercises.

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Cardio-Driven Weight Loss

Keerthy shared that her initial attempt at fitness revolved around excessive cardio, which helped her shed weight quickly but came with unintended consequences.

“I did a lot of cardio, and what happened is I lost a lot of muscle and became really thin. I didn’t follow any crash diet—just a high-protein, low-carb diet—but despite that, I lost a lot of weight.”

Her weight loss was dramatic, primarily because high-intensity cardio without strength training can burn both fat and muscle, which she experienced firsthand. This led her to initially believe that gym workouts weren’t effective for her, a notion she later realized was incorrect.

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Discovering Yoga and Strength Training

During the Covid-19 pandemic, Keerthy incorporated yoga into her routine. She noted the mental and physical benefits it brought, helping her feel healthier and more balanced.

“During the pandemic, I started yoga and I started getting better. I felt much better, so I thought yoga is very nice and I’ll stick to yoga.”

After two years, she also began strength training, which she credits for helping her build muscle and maintain a toned physique while still enjoying a flexible, balanced diet.

“The last two years I started strength training. I’ve never done keto or any extreme diet. My diet is only high-protein and low-carb, and I eat what I want. If I crave something, I go for it. I shouldn’t be scared of seeing food and not eating it.”

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Keerthy’s Diet Secrets

Keerthy emphasized that she avoids extreme diets and supplements like protein shakes. Instead, her diet focuses on natural protein sources and maintains a balance between nutrition and enjoyment. Some key elements include:

• Egg whites: She consumes around six to seven daily.
• Paneer, tofu, soya, pulses: These form the mainstay of her vegetarian protein intake.
• Low-carb meals: She maintains a focus on protein over carbohydrates without overly restricting herself.
• Flexibility: Cravings are addressed, allowing her to enjoy meals without guilt or restriction.

This approach, she says, has allowed her to maintain a healthy and sustainable lifestyle, rather than chasing temporary trends like keto or crash diets.

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Fitness Philosophy

Keerthy’s approach combines cardio, yoga, and strength training, supported by a high-protein, low-carb diet, emphasizing balance over extremes. Her philosophy revolves around:

• Consistency over intensity: Sustainable fitness rather than crash regimes.
• Body positivity: Eating what she wants while maintaining nutritional balance.
• Holistic wellness: Incorporating yoga for mental health alongside physical strength.
• Natural protein sources: Avoiding supplements while prioritizing whole foods.

She believes this is the healthiest point in her life, attributing it to a combination of disciplined exercise, dietary mindfulness, and mental well-being.

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Takeaways for Fitness Enthusiasts

1. Cardio is effective but limited: Excessive cardio can lead to muscle loss. Combining cardio with strength training ensures toned muscle while burning fat.
2. Yoga enhances overall wellness: It contributes to both mental and physical health, improving flexibility, balance, and recovery.
3. High-protein, low-carb diets work without extremes: Whole foods like eggs, paneer, tofu, and pulses are sufficient for protein needs.
4. Listen to your body: Flexibility and enjoyment in diet are as important as the nutrition itself.
5. Consistency beats fad diets: Long-term, sustainable fitness strategies are more beneficial than temporary crash diets or supplements.

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Conclusion

At 33, Keerthy Suresh exemplifies a balanced approach to fitness, blending cardio, yoga, and strength training with a high-protein, low-carb diet. Her journey highlights that sustainable weight management and muscle development are possible without extreme diets or supplements, emphasizing mental wellness and dietary flexibility as key pillars of a healthy lifestyle.

Her story serves as an inspiration for those seeking a practical, achievable, and enjoyable fitness routine, showing that consistency, awareness, and balance are more important than drastic measures or quick fixes.