Every Christmas, there are various popular memes that do the rounds and they are usually
about how, during the festive season, one tends to let go of whatever dietary
habits they may have observed over the year. Be it the major Christmas
lunch/dinner, the drinks at the parties or just munching on Christmas sweets,
it’s a lot to take in and there are still a couple of parties to go, including
the much anticipated New Year’s Eve functions.
This usually brings about New Year
resolutions on the lines of cutting down on food, quitting drinking and wanting
to get back in shape.
“People have this misconception that
eating healthy means eating food that doesn’t taste good or that one has to
skip meals or eat very little to lose weight. I believe it’s possible to eat
healthy when going out for a celebration. Most spreads and menus at restaurants
offer you a choice of foods. Most spreads give you a choice of salads, cooked
or grilled lean meat like chicken/ fish, beans and pulses. So it’s perfectly
possible to eat a meal high in fibre, high in protein, low in saturated fat and
with low glycemic index carbohydrates,” says Schalk D’souza, a former Goa
University best physique gold medallis.
Schalk also says it is okay for people to
take a break from their normal exercise regime during this festive period. “For
those who join after a break of a few days, start off with a good warm up and
stretching routine. I usually spend the first day doing cardio and maybe a
circuit training routine with less load, or I keep the same workout regime but
reduce the load by 25% and work my way up,” he adds.
“Don’t start working out as if you want to
punish yourself for putting on those extra kilograms on your body. It’s not
shameful. So relax. There is a way to shed that weight. Start exercising. Maybe
start with your regular walks, jogs, swim, group training classes, gym or maybe
even working out at home. But you need to start moving. Exercise not only burns
calories but also puts you in a positive mind-set, which can help you make
smarter food choices,” says Sunil Karmalkar, a certified personal trainer.
“Try to include free squats, push ups, couple of abs and lower
back exercises in it. You must warm up before starting, and stretch all major
muscles post workout. Also try to play an outdoor sport that you enjoy. I also
suggest mixing your workout session. These variations will keep your boredom
out and will help you stick to your exercise regime,” he adds.
Pointing out that keeping realistic goals, like losing 2kgs in a
month, helps one stay motivated, Sunil also emphasises on the importance of
adequate rest and balanced nutrition along with planned exercise.
Nutritionist Luana Mascarenhas recommends the use of cinnamon,
pointing out that it contains huge anti-inflammatory benefits besides helping
regulate blood sugar levels. “Begin your chilly mornings with an immune shot,
something as simple as a glass of warm water with a tablespoon of apple cider
vinegar or a squeeze of lime and a pinch of cinnamon, turmeric and pepper.
It’ll act as a cleanser and immunity booster in the winter season,” she says.
“For every half dozen sweets had, you could have a fruit and
veggie cocktail. My favourite kind is a cocktail made with spinach, pineapple,
orange, ginger, coconut water and chia seeds. It’s super refreshing and
cleansing. Similarly, you should try a concoction of apple, beetroot, carrot,
celery, and ginger juice; it’s a perfect fix to cleanse your system off
harsh-on-the-liver kind of season,” she adds.
She
feels one should go easy on the greasy and play it smart at buffets this
season. “Always go for the clear soups, kebabs at the starters. For Mains, I
have a concept of GPRS – Grilled, Pan-seared/Poached, Roasted, Stir-fried/
Steamed. This makes your selection process much easier,” adds Luana.
