Malaika Arora opens up on COVID recovery, says ‘It broke me physically’

Malaika Arora is one of the celebrities who was tested positive for COVID-19 back in 2020. The actor has now taken to her Instagram page and shared her journey of regaining strength after going through difficulties while diagnosed with coronavirus.

In a new Instagram post, Malaika revealed that she gained weight and felt weak after contracting Covid-19. She wrote a long note describing her recovery and that it hasn’t been easy for her. Posting pictures flaunting her fit body, Malaika wrote that she has started to feel like herself again 32 weeks after testing negative.

Malaika Arora is seen in a black sports bra and shorts in the collage she shared on Instagram. Showing off her abs, she began her post by asking, “What defines strength?” She continued, “‘You’re so lucky’, ‘It must have been so easy’ is something I hear regularly. Well yes, I am grateful for a lot of things in my life. But luck, played a very small role in it. And easy!? Boy! That, it was not.”

Malaika further revealed that she was afraid of never regaining strength. She added, “I tested positive on the 5th of September and it was really bad. Anyone out there calling a COVID recovery easy, is either blessed with great immunity or isn’t aware of the struggles of COVID. Having gone through it myself, ‘Easy’ is not the word I’d choose. It broke me physically. Walking 2 steps felt like a herculean task. Sitting up, just stepping out of bed, wanting to stand in my window was a journey in itself. I gained weight, I felt weak, lost my stamina, I was away from my family and more. I finally tested negative on the 26th of September and I was so grateful that I did. But the weakness stayed. I felt disappointed that my body wasn’t supporting how my mind felt. I was afraid that I’d never gain back my strength. I wondered whether I’d even be able to complete one activity in 24 hours (sic).”

Talking about working out again, she called the first one after Covid-19 brutal. “My first workout, was brutal. I couldn’t do anything well. I felt broken. But Day 2, I got back up and I told myself, I am my own maker. And then day 3 and 4 and 5 and so on. It’s been about 32 weeks since I tested negative and I finally have started to feel like myself again. I’m able to workout the way I used to before I tested positive. I’m able to breathe better and I feel strong both physically and mentally (sic),” she wrote.

Malaika concluded her post with what got her through the tough times. It read, “The four letter word that pushed me through was HOPE. The hope that it’s all going to be okay, even when it feels like it’s not okay. Thank you to all of you who have been sending me messages, DMs and inspiring stuff which kept my spirits high. But I also pray that the world recovers as well and we all come out of this together. I come out of this phase with 2 words. GRIT & GRATITUDE. Thank you my dearest brother & partner @sarvesh_shashi. Next 30 week phase starts in June (sic)!”

On the work front, Malaika Arora was last seen as a judge on India’s Best Dancer with Terence Lewis and Geeta Kapur in Shilpa Shetty’s absence.