Fitness Secrets - Diet and Health

Models don’t have a choice but to look good. So it’s no wonder then that Sahil Shroff takes his fitness very seriously. He shares his workout plan Working it out My fitness regime these days is a balance off all kinds of energy systems being tilised in a week along with flexibility and strength training. With regards to cardio, I run once or twice a week and cover 12 kms in each run. I have at least one session of Taekwondo in a week, along with basketball or tennis to fill in the third and fourth day of cardio. I have an alternate day regime for cardio. I don't do body building or weight training anymore, I work a lot on core strength and use my body weight for my exercises. I hit every muscle in different angles using my body weight through push ups, pull ups, lower body exercise and intense band work. I also spend my mornings doing basic yoga breathing exercises and meditation. I keep changing my regime so I don't get bored. Food for thought My diet is very balanced. I don...

HOW TO REMOVE TAN While a tan may be attractive for some, for others it's just one of the dreaded hazards of summer. Though most of us douse ourselves with sunscreen before stepping out, a sun tan invariably sets in. Besides, darkening our complexion, it can also cause skin cancer by destroying the skin cells. For those who are stuck with a stubborn tan, here are some quick fix Methods to Remove Sun Tan and Burns: - “Apply pure sandalwood paste on your face 10- 15 minutes before you go for a shower. It's very soothing and works wonders for your complexion,” says Asha Hariharan of Beyond the Fringe Salons and Spas. - Prepare a mixture of besan ( gram flour) and rose water and apply it on the affected area. Leave it till it dries and wash it off with lukewarm water. - Apply a paste of papaya, cream and sugar on the tanned area before bathing to get rid of the tan. - Mix the juices of tomato and cucumber and apply it on your face on a daily basis to remove tans. - “Grate cucumber ...

Kulraj Randhawa made her presence felt when she starred opposite the Deol family in the comedy ‘Yamla Pagla Deewana’. she made the audience noticed her dimpled smile and now, she seems to be enjoying every bit of her new found stardom. Here she talks about her Diet and fitness along with few of her favorite things. Diet mantra I am blessed with a lean body so I don’t do much. If I put on weight, then I usually lose it easily. Favourite food I love food. I am a Punjabi so I love good Punjabi food. I also like Thai cuisine. Fitness regime I am into yoga and I’m a very active person otherwise. I play squash. But since I am part of the industry, I have started weight training recently. Free time and weekends Weekends are mostly party time. I hang out with friends and also attend events. Style statement Fashion is what looks good on your body. Depending on the occasion and time, I wear dresses, gowns, denims, shorts and jumpers. Favourite vacation spots Leh and Ladhak. And I want to go to K...

‘I PREFER A NO MAKE-UP LOOK’ ...says singer Shibani Kashyap My Daily Skin Care Regime I like to keep my skin hydrated.Protection from the sun, cleansing of the skin and sleep are very important for a good, glowing skin. My daily skin care regime starts with washing my face with cool water, first thing in the morning. I leave it for at least half an hour and then rinse it off. Trust me, it works like magic on the skin! I always apply a sun block before stepping out of my house. I prefer going in for a no make-up look most of the time. I use make-up only during shoots. To beat the heat, I keep spraying rose water on my face to keep my skin fresh. Before going to bed, I use a light scrub to get rid of the grime, a soap-free facewash, followed by a toner and a light overnight cream to keep my face hydrated through the night. The skin of the entire body needs pampering, so I take a weekly body massage, body scrub and body polish. I believe in loving my skin and taking good care of it. My H...

‘I do 100 Surya Namaskaras’ …says actress Soha Ali Khan, who keeps fit by doing yoga, playing badminton and climbing stairs when she’s bored of the gym MY EXERCISE REGIME It’s not fixed as whenever I get bored, I change my form of workout. But then, I keep an active lifestyle, so I can afford to not hit the gym everyday. Usually, I head to the gym for about two weeks, daily for an hour. Since I have always been fit, I don’t stress much on cardio. Moreover, I get bored running on the treadmill. Instead, I prefer doing light weights and sometimes, use the elliptical machine. On the other two weeks of the month, I keep fit by playing badminton, climbing stairs for 20 minutes and doing yoga. I do 100 Suryanamaskaras. MY WEAKNESS I think I have this Bengali cheeks. Since I have a petite frame, my cheeks tend to stand out. No matter how much body weight I lose, I can’t lose weight on my cheeks! I have tried doing facial exercises and make funny faces in front of the mirror, but it hasn’t rea...

Pulitzer Prize-winning ‘The Emperor of All Maladies’ is a biography of cancer and of those who have fought it throughout history. The Emperor of All Maladies іѕ a magnificent, profoundly humane “biography” οf cancer—frοm іtѕ first documented appearances thousands οf being ago through thе epic battles іn thе twentieth century tο cure, control, аnd conquer іt tο a radical nеw understanding οf іtѕ essence. Physician, researcher, аnd award-winning science writer, Siddhartha Mukherjee examines cancer wіth a cellular biologist’s precision, a historian’s perspective, аnd a biographer’s passion. Thе result іѕ аn astonishingly lucid аnd moving chronicle οf a disease humans hаνе lived wіth—аnd perished frοm—fοr more thаn five thousand being. Thе tаlе οf cancer іѕ a tаlе οf human ingenuity, resilience, аnd perseverance, bυt аlѕο οf hubris, paternalism, аnd misperception. Mukherjee recounts centuries οf discoveries, setbacks, victories, аnd deaths, tοld through thе eyes οf hіѕ predecess...

BODY odour can be the most embarrassing malady of the season. Below are a couple of simple tips to keep it at bay: Drinking plenty of water and fresh vegetable juices can reduce sweating and hydrate the body. If you are prone to body odour, a shower twice a day should help. What is important is that you bathe after working out, exercising or coming home from a sweaty day. Also, make sure you wash your sweaty clothes regularly. The underarms tend to accumulate more sweat so make sure you shave or wax regularly. The same goes for the genital region that tends to produce more sweat. Smelly feet can drive anyone up the wall. So change socks daily. Fabrics like cotton and linen are better at soaking in sweat than other fabrics. Deodorants do help to mask body odour, but because they cause the skin pores to clog, you can’t be using a deo every three hours. Wash yourself at regular intervals. You can even keep wet wipes handy. Adding lots of fibre to your body helps clear the trash away....

The magic of mint: We love the mint leaves in our kababs and our mocktails, and its not without a reason. Mint leaves along with their lovely fragrance also have a number of health benefits that are stated below Aids in digestion Mint is a good appetizer. The smell of mint activates the salivary glands that produce digestive enzymes. This helps us in digestion. Nausea and headache When you feel nauseous try some mint to drive away that feeling. Smell the aroma of mint oil or fresh mint leaves in order to decrease nausea. If you are having a headache try applying some mint oil. Reduces congestion The smell of fresh mint is very effective for respiratory congestion as it opens up nose, throat, and lungs. Mint flavour can also help to overcome cough. Helps breathe easy If asthma patients use mint regularly it can provide relaxation, and help relieve breathing. Gives you skin sheen Mint juice is great when used as face masks. In addition to the skin, infections, rashes, and acne can also ...

‘I have a natural tendency to bulk up’ MY EXERCISE REGIME I work out religiously through the week. I do a lot of weight training. I work out for a maximum of two hours in the gym, out of which I spend one hour on the treadmill. I focus on a different body part each day, like legs, shoulders, chest and so on. Twice a week, I practise martial arts and American boxing. MY PROBLEM AREAS I have a tendency to bulk up a lot. My trainer has advised me to do more cardio to solve this issue. I also do spinning. Honestly, I do not like to look too bulky and want my body to look proportionately balanced. I tend to put on weight easily and so I want to lower my weight, which often fluctuates. MY STRENGTHS I have good will power, stamina, strength and I’m very competitive. If I see someone doing heavy weights in the gym, I try to out do that person by doing heavier weights and more repetitions. MY DIET I’m a Punjabi and that automatically makes me a big foodie. I’m a non-vegetarian and eat a lot of...

STRESS is synonymous with modern life. Too much of it wrecks our health and robs us of our personal happiness. Here are some tips to combat stress: .. Exercise and Meditate Run, do some yoga, punch a bag at the gym, that's important. Your hormones need a bit of loosening up. The muscles need to begin working again. Exercise is a way to manage stress that doesn’t have to add to your financial woes. A 20-minute walk or jog around your block can yield up to 12 hours of improved mood. The main thing is to find a physical activity that you enjoy, whether it’s dancing or fly fishing. Practice deep breathing and meditation exercises daily, and when you feel tension rising. If you like massages, go for them. Stress often manifests in the form of physical ailments, aches, pains, etc. Massages are a good for the physical body and also, mentally, it relaxes your frayed nerves. Consciously incorporate some laughter into your daily regime. Whether it is in the form of jokes, films, comic strip...

TV ACTOR NEHA DESAI who has been seen in a number of TV serials is very particular about her fitness. She loves to workout in the gym whenever she has free time at hand. She shares her fitness regime: Gym gyaan I have been working out rigorously for the past five years or so. I hit the gym at least five days a week. I train specific body parts like chest, shoulders, triceps, back and biceps, legs, abs on different days. As I am already slim, I don’t need any cardio workout. Also it’s easier to tone my muscles, which is what I concentrate on. Weighty issue Genetically, I am quite thin.But since I have a high metabolic rate, I have to balance my workout with my daily food intake. Also, my weight has been stable throughout. I don’t have a tendency to put on kilos. If I don’t work out regularly, I tend to lose weight. So, I need to exercise to stay healthy. My diet Regime I start my morning with a huge glass of warm water, followed by tea with ginger ( I do not compromise on my first tea f...

Just two weeks ago, you forgot your cell phone in a taxi, only to repeat the same thing again last week. The only difference is that this time it was with your wallet. You are not alone! A recent study by the Hokkaido University of Japan, conducted on 150 volunteers between the ages of 20 and 35, found that one in 10 young people are suffering from severe memory loss. Another study on women under 30, estimates that a third of women cannot remember their own phone number, leave alone the birthdays of as few as three close relatives. Are we running out of memory space? Neurology specialist Dr Vinay Chauhan says that the tendency for forgetfulness at a younger age is a growing cause for alarm. "It is important to focus on the cause for memory loss in young people, because more often than not it is not an actual brain dysfunction like Alzheimer's, but an environmental or chemical imbalance in the patient's life. Once identified, these causes can usually be treated," he sa...

Mahaakshay Chakraborty talks about his fitness regime and Diet Mahakshay Chakraborty MY EXERCISE REGIMEN My exercise regimen is very intense. I do Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) thrice a week for 90 minutes. I don’t do weights anymore, but concentrate on cardio — whether it’s running 5 km a day, dancing, swimming or squash. I also do the ‘Insanity’ workout which is cardio to the extreme! And I play a lot of cardio games too. MY DIET Of course, diet is key! In fact, I believe that diet is everything! I count even the air that I breathe. Because of my intense training, I make sure I eat the right amount of nutrients. Everything is balanced. But I don’t take supplements. I only take a multi-vitamin. I eat everything under the roof but in moderation. Just enough for the body to absorb and to use. MY PROBLEM AREAS Since I’ve been doing MMA I have moved my shoulder tendons on more than one occasion so my shoulders are loose. My lower back pains from time to time and so do my muscles tendons below ...

FIRST THING on my mind when I wake up… My schedule for the day... I’m always in TWO MINDS about… Whether to comment or not to. THIRD-TIME lucky (something I tried thrice) Touch wood! I have been very lucky with the kind of films I’m doing… FOURplay (my all-time favourite songs to work out to) I don’t have any, as the tempo of my workout drives the music I play. Gimme 5! (My 5 workout essentials) I do weight training four times a week to tone my body. Eating right and healthy is a very important part of my wellness routine ( Check out Anushka's Wholesome Diet ). Yoga is a recent addition to my workout, as it rejuvenates my mind, and gives my skin that inner glow. Sufficient rest is also important for the body to recuperate. 6 am (what I’m most likely to be doing at the time) Sleeping, unless I have work. 7 days a week (I can’t live without!) Yoga! 8 and 8 (my favourite guilty indulgence) My mom’s momos and butter chicken. For Anushka's Recipe of Momo Click here >> On cloud...

Staying younger longer is a wholistic process that has its roots in sound nutrition. Even if you are keeping your weight in check, you still need to ensure that you are eating the right foods to ensure you’re getting adequate nutrients from your diet. A good way to ensure this is to incorporate lots of bright colours on to your plate: greens, yellows, reds and even purple ( brinjal is a great “ super” food, bursting with antioxidants). Eating foods rich in antioxidants ( almonds, sweet potatoes) and “ fat- burning foods” or complex carbohydrates, including fresh fruits and veggies go a long way in making you look younger and feeling fabulous, since metabolism slows down with ageing, and as a result the body burns fewer calories. Experts advise steering clear of processed foods, which are foods that have been altered from their natural state, either for convenience or safety reasons. Examples include foods that have been canned, frozen, dehydrated and even refrigerated. These include ch...

The gorgeous Shilpa Shetty performs Yoga Asanas in the perfect scenic ambiance of Kerala on the southern tip of India alongside the Arabian Sea, surrounded by mesmerizing views. This unique workout aims not only to strengthen and tone, but also to heal; designed to help improve posture you will notice your body changing through a series of calming poses which focus on slow movement and breathing control. With careful and precise instruction, the DVD demonstrates specific sequences that, with practice, will enhance concentration, agility and flexibility. Other benefits include stress and tension release, increased energy and vitality, weight loss, improved circulation and digestion and enhanced energy. The programme is broken down into back postures, standing postures, sitting postures, stomach postures, neck & shoulder postures and the art of correct breathing. Bonus features include, meet Shilpa Shetty, behind the scenes, a photo gallery and a 15 minute Quick Fix - BUY SHILPAS YOG...