Lose Weight without Workout!

I am sure of 2 things happening –

1. A lot of people will want to read this article – because so many people want to lose weight, but not workout
2. People who have known me, will be stunned – “Is this really Khushboo promoting no workout?”

Well – the whole point of the title was to grab your attention, and I am sure I managed to grab it. Also this post comes after a long phase of silence (well – I am still slowly settling into motherhood, so kindly pardon my lapses)

Sunday morning, I was enjoying my chai and came across a Facebook post of a friend, on a “Diet” that promised weight loss without exercise, so obviously I had to talk – how could I not. I may have donned an additional hat – but I am still that food lover, the pro – sensible long term fat loss, keeping health the prime focus kinda woman.

I don’t get why exercise has such a bad name, that people use it as a marketing strategy. Well, for starters, exercise is important for health – it is NOT punishment. But most people are forced to exercise, when their excessive weight comes in their way – like pcos (leading difficult conception), high cholesterol, bad knees or cardiac issues.

I am shocked when people promote and even prefer weight loss by the kilos – ‘kitna kilo, kitne mahine main” (how many kgs in how many months) – and who is the biggest loser in this – not your weight for sure, but YOU. You lose your health, your youth, your skin, your hair, good food and even your peace of mind.

Exercise when coupled with eating correctly (mind you I promote eating right, not dieting, not fad diets, not soup salad for dinner, not low carb, etc) is the fastest, most guaranteed and sure shot way of achieving your dream body.

Exercise improves our blood circulation, strengthens the digestive fire and intestines – thus helping us digest better, prevents us from over stuffing our stomachs and faces, trains our body to consume calories from food instead of storing it as fat – leading to Fat Loss in the long run

So its time we stop taking exercise so casually, and to those who are too busy to exercise

If you have time for #facebook #instagram #whatsapp #twitter or even #pinterest – you most definitely have time to WORKOUT

So save the excuses and make time to exercise, because

 

LOOK YOUR BEST THIS WEDDING SEASON

The Winter Wedding Season is here and you want to look your best; losing weight is definitely a part of that and not lose that enthralling glow.

Here are the top 5 MUST HAVES (ideally if you start this 2 months before the wedding it works the best, but now is a good time too)

The Perfect Protein solution. Proteins are important for repairing and building the cells. The amino acids are the basis of all the cell in our body. In fact structural proteins like collagen, elastin, and keratin create the connective tissues to keep our skin, hair and nails healthy. So this way you get your daily dose of protein whether you are vegetarian or non-vegetarian. This will ensure that your cells stay healthy ad collagen firm for a supple skin.

Also being a good source of minerals like calcium, it helps strengthen bone density and gives you a good, toned look.

Tip:

• A cup of milk at bed time, gives you that beauty sleep and helps your mind and body recover from the stresses of the day
• Have a small bowl of curd/ glass of buttermilk before you step out for that party, it will not only keep you calmer and happy, it will also make your tummy look flatter

The Metabolizer. (Though this is another milk product, but this one definitely needs a special mention.)

Ghee contains conjugated linolenic acid, a type of omega-6 fatty acid, which leads to weight loss. It helps mobilize fats from those stubborn fat areas of the body.

It is the perfect solution for bloating, which is a common side effect with late night eating and sleepless nights

Also the essential fatty acids in ghee lead to good assimilation of fat soluble vitamins, more specifically Vitamin A & E and add that touch of glow to your face.

Tip: 3-4 tsps a day, preferably with your meals – and will give your tummy the flat look!

The complete detox solution. Sugarcane juice clears skin imperfections. Alpha Hydroxy Acids (AHAs) which are part of the natural constituents of sugarcane juice, fight acne, reduce blemishes, prevent ageing and help in keeping the skin hydrated.

Tip: Just 1 glass at day mid-afternoon will make your skin will look radiant and clean.

The anti-aging solution. Coconut water contains anti-microbial powerhouse called lauric acid that helps protect against skin infections. It also contains protein called cytokines that is responsible for encouraging cell growth and cell activation.

They regulate signals in response to inflammation caused by acne and also have an anti-ageing effect on the skin. Both external and internal use can improve wrinkles, fine lines and dark spots.

Tip: Have it as a mid day meal, by itself, definitely add the malai to it – to give you the added glow

The Powerhouse. It is rich in powerful vitamins, anti-oxidants, phytochemicals, nutrients and moisture making it the perfect snack for instant energy.

This fruit will nourish and revitalize dry skin as well as smoothen rough and aging skin. If you have acne-prone oily skin, you can use it topically for oil control and to reduce further breakouts.

Rich in fibre and pre-biotic by nature, this fruit is your solution to building good gut friendly bacteria and can give you a flatter looking tummy!

Tip: Eat it first thing in the morning, and see your energy levels soar throughout the day.

Custard Apple for Good Health

There is no need to DIE when DIE-Ting

Most people DIE – when DIE-Ting. And obviously when it doesn’t work –  that kills you further, because you gave up so much and yet you are back to square one.

Also when you consistently Over – diet and eat less in the process – thinking you could knock some kilos off quickly, you actually end up landing in a bigger mess. Suddenly eating lesser than before, slows down metabolism and the body responds to this ‘starvation mode’ by holding the fat back and now the body burns calories more slowly.

Also haven’t you noticed how you feel when you starve? You feel hungry and as a result are irritable, cranky, angry and feel weak. You may weigh less on the scale but the minute you go back to eating like usual, all the weight piles back on and sometimes even more.

This yo-yo weight gain and loss is even more dangerous.

Instead, it is just so much easier to EAT small meals frequently, sensibly and the right amount of food you need in that moment instead of ‘dieting’. This way you actually nurture and nourish your body. In doing so you will notice that your energy levels are better, you feel fresh, fitter, look younger and your clothes fit better too.

Food is Nutrients, Not Calories

Look at Food as #Nutrients, something which nourishes you and not as mere number or #calories. Get Real, Get Practical – counting calories cannot fill your tummy, eating good Food does  

Diwali Detox Diet – a Mania

As we go back to work, come back to our regular lives post the Diwali Dhamaka, so many are now looking to “DETOX”! The very popular ‘Diwali Detox Diet’, now has to be followed – we ‘sinned’ during Diwali, we ate mithais, we were up till late, so obviously now it’s time to punish ourselves – so bring out the yucky juices, boiled ill tasting food, and what not!

When I ask someone – who is dying to go on a Detox Diet – why do you want to Detox – I get a very standard reply – “Arre, I ate so much during Diwali – I now need to ‘make up’ for that and get back on track.” And to that I ask – so you think your body stores some ‘Special’ fat in some ‘Special’ parts – to let you know – that ‘Hey dude – this is your Diwali fat.’ Do you really believe a few days of eating – made you FAT? Did you suddenly go from being Skinny to Fat – thanks to Diwali? Exactly my point!

Yes, you ate more than you should, you indulged in mithais, you were up late – but did you not enjoy every minute of it? As you resume work now – do you torture yourself by adding extra hours at work or in any other way, because well you took a break – so time to punish yourself? No – you just went back to work. The same way, go back to eating sensibly, workout regularly, sleep on time and love yourself – including your body!

Be gentle with your mind and your body. Don’t create a belief for yourself that having fun has to be followed up with a punishment. Instead, teach yourself to live in Balance. Teach yourself to listen to what the body has to say, to listen to your Gut – your stomach. Your body is a miracle – it fixes every cut, every wound, when a tiny speck of dust gets into the eye, it is wise enough – to secrete tears so as to remove the speck. Even when you punish your body, torture it – in the name of weight loss – it is still here for you – doing the best it can and keeping you alive. Time you showed it some respect and TLC – it deserves.

I don’t understand – why celebrating a Festival – having fun with Family and loved ones has to be followed by a punishment? Why can we just not enjoy a festival, and move on with our lives – why go from one extreme to the other – bingeing and then starving – like now starve post Diwali and then go bingeing for Christmas and New Year and then make ‘Weight Loss’ as resolution AGAIN on 1^st Jan.

Seriously!? Is this all there is to Life? We need to put an end to equating weight loss, of being a certain size to being Happy, worthy and successful and gaining weight as being the exact opposite. Being thinner does not ensure more happiness. Do you think – Cutting calories, climbing on the weighing scale each day, pinching and pulling your ‘fat’ body parts, and measuring self-worth this way – is Happy? I don’t think so!

If you really want to be happy – be committed to yourself. Start doing things that make you happy in a way that we feel connected to your inner self.

I am in no way advocating – remaining unhealthy or over weight. Eat sensibly, workout, drink lots of water, sleep well – get FIT. But don’t obsess over numbers – do what needs to be done – and focus on living your purpose, being Healthy, Fit & Happy – instead of being a certain size or weighing a certain number.

Eat a Modak Today

Today as you bow down and seek blessings of Ganpati, make sure you get your dose of a Modak too! 
Ingredients of a Modak –

Rice – High fibre, with essential amino acids, vitamins and many phytonutrients. Fat burning, Reduces Anxiety & Irritability.

Jaggery – Rich in phytonutrients, vitamins and minerals like potassium, magnesium, iron, zinc, selenium, calcium and phosphorus and antioxidants. When combined with rice steadies the blood sugar level by ensuring a slow release of all the nutrients in your blood stream and soothes the nerves
Coconut & Ghee – 2 most beautiful fats – the perfect Omegas – 3,6,9. Perfect for those desperately trying to get rid of the ‘stubborn’ fat areas
Love, Prayers & Blessings!
Exactly why a Modak is a blessing from Ganpati – the Remover of Obstacles. It Reduces Anxiety, Reduces Irritability, Soothes Anxious Nerves – overall Calming Effect – Overall feeling Loved, Protected & Blessed!
  

The Ultimate ‘Quick-Fix’ with Guaranteed Result for your Health/ Weight

  

Weight Watcher’s Words

The best part of my day is when I am with my patients – discussing their lives, insisting and ensuring that they are eating and obviously discussing – Food! With every person I interact, I also understand their mindset which often reflects in the way they talk about Life, Food, Nutrition & Diet. (For now I am sticking to the Food, Nutrition & Diet bit.)

Some of the very commonly-interestingly-annoying concepts I have come across include –

• “Khushboo, can you please help me, I want to go ‘ON’ a diet” – What do you mean by ‘on’ a diet? Is this an on-off switch? Sad, yet true, we believe we must go ‘on’ a diet and lose some weight, and once we reach our goal or target, slowly go ‘off’ it. Obviously after a ‘maintenance’ diet. Anyway, what happens once we go off the ‘diet’ – we slowly and steadily put all the weight back on and may be some more sometimes. Get frustrated and try something new again. And start another cycle. Shouldn’t the point of a diet program be to not gain the weight back? Exactly! So please get off your diet and start living a good balanced life – Eat right, Workout, Think Right, Rest – results have no choice but to follow.
• “Cheating on the Diet” – this is another funda I just don’t get. Did you take some vows before you got on to the diet? Also by doing what you shouldn’t have done – exactly who or what did you cheat on? Who is the hurt-party in the bargain? Whose loss is it anyway? Did your Diet have heart-break or was it you, who felt sad and guilty thereafter? So time to get Real! You are human, you like to eat, and so you EAT. Yes, this sometimes includes fried, chocolates – or whatever your list of I-shouldn’t-have includes. Eating even these occasionally is good. You can’t be a sadhu, because if you are over-cautious with your diet, you will definitely rebel at some point. So it is best – to eat everything you like – just Sensibly and in moderation. Avoid the moralistic tag of being loyal or faithful to your diet or cheating on it.
• “Willpower”– ‘By the sheer force of my will, I will follow the diet’ – doesn’t this mean the you are simply forcing yourself to do something, and pressuring yourself to do a particular, which you feel otherwise you cannot sustain? Because, there will come a time, when you will go back to the usual – and then you will blame yourself for not being strong enough, feel guilty, blah, blah, blah.

So to make life easy and more satisfying – Make life-enhancing Choices! Choose to Eat right because YOU want to. Choose to Work out because YOU want to NOT because you Have to. Whenever you choose something out of Love instead of compulsion or fear, the happiness on the inside shows and yes, the results are much better and long-lasting!