Mindy Kaling, best known for her witty humor and iconic roles on The Office and The Mindy Project, has also become an inspiration for those on a health and fitness journey. While Kaling’s comedic talent has kept us laughing for years, her approach to fitness and healthy living has evolved in a way that’s relatable and motivating for fans everywhere. Kaling has managed to maintain a balance between motherhood, work, and self-care, which has played a crucial role in her physical and mental well-being.
What makes Kaling’s fitness journey even more inspiring is that it isn’t driven by vanity. Instead, her transformation is rooted in a desire to feel healthy and energized, especially as she balances her busy career and being a mother to three children. From staying active in little pockets of time to prioritizing hydration, Kaling’s fitness philosophy offers practical advice for anyone looking to make lasting lifestyle changes.
The Shift to a Healthier Mindset
Mindy Kaling’s fitness journey didn’t begin with the intention of changing her appearance for the sake of beauty standards. Instead, it started with the realization that her health needed attention—not just for looks, but for overall well-being. In an interview with People in 2022, Kaling admitted that she struggled with her body image for a long time, often associating fitness with vanity. But over time, she has shifted her perspective.
“I’ve tried really hard to let go of this idea of losing weight for vanity reasons and really trying to think of how I can be healthy,” she shared. This shift was a turning point for Kaling, as she started focusing on how to feel better physically rather than just focusing on the number on the scale. For Kaling, healthy living means working out, moving her body regularly, staying hydrated, and maintaining a positive relationship with exercise.
Hydration is Key
One of the most consistent habits Kaling has adopted is the importance of hydration. As a mother with a busy career, staying hydrated has become one of her top priorities. In fact, Kaling starts her day by drinking a significant amount of water—50 ounces before 7 a.m. to be precise. She’s clear on how crucial hydration is for both mood and energy.
“I think hydration is so key. Half the times I’m in a bad mood it’s because I’m not hydrated,” she admitted to Women’s Health. It’s a simple habit, yet it has proven to be incredibly effective in keeping her feeling balanced and energized. For Kaling, hydration is not just a physical need; it’s a mental one, helping to prevent the sluggishness and irritability that can come with dehydration.
Finding Time to Move
Mindy Kaling’s workout routine might seem like a simple affair, but it is tailored to fit her demanding life as a working mom. Instead of struggling to find large chunks of time to dedicate to intense workouts, Kaling gets creative. One of her go-to activities is walking, and she aims for 15 to 20 miles of walking a week.
“I think that if I can get in about 15 to 20 miles of walking a week, I have mental clarity, I feel like I get better sleep at night,” Kaling shared with Prevention. Walking allows her to stay active without the pressure of finding a designated time to hit the gym. Kaling even multitasks during her walks, catching up with friends on the phone, which makes the exercise feel more like social time than a workout.
Additionally, Kaling looks for small pockets of time throughout her day to move her body. Whether it’s taking a quick walk after dropping off her kids or using spare moments to stretch or do light exercises, she’s found that staying active doesn’t have to be a daunting task. “Instead of it being like one chunk of exercise in the beginning of the day or none at all, I’m now just deciding that I’m going to be a more active person all the time,” Kaling explained.
Strength Training and Experimentation with Workouts
While walking and staying active throughout the day are important, Kaling also makes time for strength training. As she’s gotten older, she’s seen the importance of lifting weights to maintain muscle mass and strength. “When you get older, you lose muscle mass. You need to start lifting,” Kaling said. She embraces strength training as an essential part of her fitness routine, realizing that it’s just as important for her long-term health as any cardio workout.
In addition to weight training, Kaling enjoys switching up her workouts to keep things fresh. “I refuse to let it get monotonous,” she said. Whether it’s yoga, hiking, or group classes, Kaling is always experimenting with different ways to move her body. She’s even ventured into Pilates, calling it one of the hardest workouts she’s ever done.
Kaling also enjoys experimenting with home workouts, where she feels comfortable trying new things without the pressure of others watching. Her openness to trying different exercises ensures that her fitness journey stays exciting and rewarding.
A Balanced Diet
When it comes to diet, Kaling has found the key to her success lies in moderation. Rather than completely depriving herself of the foods she loves, Kaling has embraced the idea of eating in moderation. She’s become a fan of portion control and doesn’t feel the need to restrict herself drastically.
“I’m never going be someone who can just have spinach and salmon every day,” Kaling said with a smile. “I’m really for the first time in my life, trying moderation, and I love it.” By including a variety of foods in her diet and cutting back on the things she enjoys in a balanced way, Kaling has been able to maintain a healthy relationship with food.
Her diet now includes a focus on leafy greens, minimal red meat, and limited dairy. She admits that she is a “work in progress,” but her balanced approach to eating has made healthy living easier to maintain.
No Pressure to Weigh In
Instead of obsessing over the scale, Kaling has opted to measure her progress by how her clothes fit and how she feels. “To me, the most amazing thing is that all my clothes kind of fit,” she said. This simple approach helps her avoid the stress that can come with constantly checking the scale. It’s about how she feels in her own skin, and she’s learned to embrace that feeling of satisfaction with her journey.
The Mindy Kaling Approach
Mindy Kaling’s approach to fitness and health is a model for anyone looking to make positive changes in their life without the stress of extreme restrictions. Her balanced, flexible approach to working out and eating in moderation has allowed her to make sustainable changes that fit into her busy life as a mother, actress, and entrepreneur.
Her commitment to self-care—whether through hydration, strength training, or simply finding small moments to stay active—shows that healthy living doesn’t have to be about perfection. It’s about consistency, kindness to oneself, and finding what works for you. Kaling’s journey reminds us all that making small changes and embracing balance can lead to lasting results and a happier, healthier life.