Time for some post-Diwali healthcare

We’ve spent past week gorging on sweets and fried food. After all, Diwali celebrations would have been incomplete without trying all the sweets and faral items at home and even while we were visiting friends and family. But now that Diwali is over, it’s probably time to shed the extra pounds gained during all that indulgence, and get back on the health track.We bring you a few tips to help shed those extra kilos.
No more sugar
Dietician Himani Puri suggests complete abstinence from sugar as it is the biggest culprit behind weight gain. “Try your best to avoid sugar for a month, and ensure that there is no sugar in what you drink either. The healthy option to satisfy your sweet cravings is to opt for fruits which contain natural sugars. Artificial sweeteners too can come in handy during this time,” she informed.
Follow a diet plan
Having a well-planned, simple and nutritious meal is the key to healthy life. Following a diet plan that helps you restrict calories and eating healthy, non-oily food is a good thing. But don’t ever skip meals in order to cut back on the calories, say experts. Puri added, “Following a strict diet plan means cutting back on calories and not skipping meals. Many people misinterpret the term ‘diet’ and skip meals in order to lose weight, which is harmful for one’s health. You should eat at least four times a day and pay attention to the portion sizes. If you are diabetic then you must have something after every two-hour interval. Stay away from junk food and incorporate healthy foods like freshly-squeezed orange juice, amla juice, milk and eggs into your diet.”
Exercising is a must
Controlling your diet alone won’t help you lose those extra calories. Exercises like yoga, brisk walking and so on must be done in order to lose weight. And if you are bored of the routine exercises, go for a dance or Zumba class. “Dancing not only helps you exert your muscles but you also end up learning an art form and enjoying it. Many people prefer to join dance or Zumba classes in order to lose weight, because it’s fun and you don’t realize that you are exercising,” said Pooja Sarode, a young dance teacher.
Drink lots of water
You must have heard experts talk about the benefits of drinking plenty of water during the day. It is because water helps in flushing out the toxins from your body and makes you feel fuller. Anuradha Jagtap, a medical student, said, “There are many mobile apps which help in keeping a track of your daily water intake. You can install one of these on your smartphone and in order to keep a track of the amount of water you drink. They’re also useful in alerting you at regular intervals to drink plenty of water.”