God willing
Tricity has no dearth of daredevils and MTV’s hunt for the Stunt God at Panchkula proves just that
Neha Walia

Follow your passion, break conventions, show the world that you have it in you; attitude and courage are on the sidelane, and of course fame will follow. A generation that eats, drinks and sleep adventure, there is nothing like The End. So, another thrill-ride for the fast and the furious cult of youngsters continues. Or, let’s say it started with MTV Pulsar Stunt Mania auditions at Panchkula. Enfolding action-packed drama from the word go, the new stunt biking reality show will have India’s 10 best bikers, at their daring best live on TV.

Impressed by the famous saying that only a biker knows why a dog sticks its head out of a car window, Sunday saw a large gathering of hot blooded, rough riders, who were desperate to show their skill in taming the mean machines and live action. The city saw the first leg of auditions, which will then proceed to cities like Bangalore and Chennai. Though the first day involved the participants with group discussions, day two promises some more action.

“The participants selected in GDs will be short-listed and will be performing with their bikes after which the final list will be made,” says a crew member. And improving on its track record, the tricity daredevils, as the participants were tagged, came out in strength to display their talent. “Chandigarh has always given us the best with regards to our shows. Be it Roadies or Splitsvilla, people here don’t have to put on the attitude, they are born with it. That makes it an obvious and favourite hunting ground,” says Ashish Patil, general manager, MTV India and VP creative and content.

Well, sure and we proved them right again. Over 500 entries within two hours of its start, the auditions were packed with passionate bikers, amateurs and professionals across the region, ready to stake claim at the crown of the Stunt God. To spice things up a bit, they were made to taste the action by a super display of some mind-boggling stunts by six members from a group of stunt bikers, Ghost Riders. The Chennai-based group of professional riders was performing for the first time outside the state. “We have over 50 members, out of which 20 specialise in stunts and appear in film shoots and other events,” said Mikhil, one of the members. The youngest stunt biking group in the country it has two of the best professional stuntmen in country, Abhishek and Senthil, in its group. Their passion and true calling is without a few risks and they are aware of the dangers, but they just keep getting better. “Being another sport, it has its risks involved, but we want to innovate and keep improvising,” says Mikhil. But he does have a word of caution, “Just because it gives you a high doesn’t mean you mindlessly try these stunts. We have been there and know what it takes to be a professional. So, never compromise on your safety and do your homework before riding that fire on two-wheels.”

lifestyle@tribunemail.com

Debi’s Aradhana
Winner of the President’s Award Pandit Debi Prasad Chatterjee, an eminent sitar maestro, shares his vision on gharana tradition, fusion music and proliferation of Indian music abroad
S. D. SHARMA

Paris in paradise

Socialite Paris Hilton is apparently determined to tell the entire world how much she loves her boyfriend Doug Reinhardt, for she is spending most of her romantic break with him posting messages on Twitter. She has left Twitter posts with titles like ‘Loving life with my love’, ‘Lovers in paradise’ and ‘My smooches from a secret island’.

In one post, Paris - seemingly obsessed with taking snaps of her and Doug kissing - wrote: “Having a romantic candle lit dinner on the beach. Love is in the air...” Meanwhile, according to reports, Hilton earns a whopping 7.5 million pounds in a year, it has been revealed.

The hotel heiress pocketed a whopping 15 million pounds in 2006 and 2007 just from promotional work. —ANI

What a party!

Actor Demi Moore  and her husband actor Ashton Kutcher pose for photographers upon their arrival on the red carpet for the annual black-tie White House

Correspondents Association Dinner on May 9.

US First Lady Michelle Obama attends the White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner.

Om Shanti Om

Andrea Devi Forman, the lead singer of the only Sanskrit rock band of the world Shanti Shanti, married an attorney Joel A. Santos in a traditional Catholic church ceremony in Sparks (Nevada, USA) recently. Acclaimed Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, who was present at the wedding, will also bless the couple in customary Hindu way once they return from their honeymoon in Canada.

Andrea recently released her sixth album titled Veda on the oldest scripture of the world Vedas. This groundbreaking work, which took one year to complete involving extensive research, contains shlokas (hymns) from all four Vedas-Rig-veda, Sama-veda, Atharva-veda, and Yajur-veda; some as old as 1,500 BCE.

Andrea has never been to India, never had a Sanskrit teacher, and still she can spontaneously chant, read, write, and translate Sanskrit since she was nine. She has toured various countries and various states of USA with her Shanti Shanti band giving packed Sanskrit musical performances. She has been in various television shows, mentioned in various publications, and extensively written about. —ANI 

Befitting gift

Hollywood actor Gwyneth Paltrow is donating a session with her personal trainer Tracy Anderson to a celebrity charity auction. Tracy Anderson, who also trains Madonna, will give personal training session to bidders in a bid to raise money for the Clear Water Initiative, a charity seeking to provide clean water to those without it.

Jessica Alba, on the other hand, has offered daughter Honor Warren’s Maclaren Juicy Couture Ryder Stroller and some of her baby clothes. The auction is taking place on eBay.com until May 14. —ANI

Mother’s Day out!

American pop boy band Jonas Brothers’ mum likes to spend Mother’s Day cooking up a special treat for her boys. Denise Jonas gets her sons to drop their plans for Mother’s Day, and instead asks them to help her out in the kitchen as she serves up Filet Mignon with Chinese Coleslaw.

“Having dinner together is important because it allows our family to reconnect daily and shut everything else from our lives and focus on each other...” a website quoted her as saying. “It is a priceless time and we all need it. If not, we stop knowing each other. Steak is always popular! When I serve this salad to guests, I always have a recipe card on hand because I am usually asked for it. The credit really goes to a dear friend, my husband’s former assistant. She and her husband first served it to our family when they welcomed all of us to dinner,” she added. —ANI

Insomniac

Enrique Iglesias has revealed that his insomnia is proving to be troublesome, as the sleeplessness forces him to pop more and more sleeping pills in a bid to doze off. The Falta Tanto Amor hit-maker has revealed that his increasing sleeping pill intake has become a cause of worry for him. He says though he pops in more and more pills to get sleep, he wakes up with an annoying morning hangover.

“I know about addictions because I have to take sleeping pills and often I don’t sleep after taking them. So, I take more and more and I lie awake and then I have to get up with a horrible sleeping pill hangover,” he said. Though Enrique takes sleeping pills to acquire sleep, he is totally against usage of illegal drugs. “I’m quite grounded. I’ve never taken hard drugs because I am scared of getting hooked,” he said. “I have taken grass, hoping I would write better music, but it made my writing worse and I felt terrible and paranoid,” he added. — ANI

BODY wise
Knee-jerk action
Sachin Kalra

Weak knees are a common problem. Many of us have bad knees from too much running, high-impact aerobics and sport in general. Sometimes the problem is structural, and sometimes it’s poor technique, bad shoes or inadequate conditioning. Bad knees are bad news when it comes to staying active. And once you have damaged your knee, you’ve compromised your ability to enjoy to the fullest whatever type of physical activity you love doing. You’ve also compromised your chances of having a vital and satisfying old age.

But, do not despair. Knee injuries aren’t inevitable and there are ways you can slow down the wear and tear that exercise and daily life bring to these all-important joints. It doesn’t take a whole lot of effort to learn how to take care of your knees. And it certainly takes a lot less time than it would to rehabilitate them.

Tips to keep your knees healthy

Warm up: Cold muscles are more prone to injuries. Even if you’re just going for a walk, you should begin at an easy pace before picking up speed. Remember to start off slow and increase the intensity gradually. Always do a good warm up before beginning any stressful physical activity.

Stretch out: Like cold muscles, tight muscles are also likely to cause injuries. Stretch all the leg muscles in your thighs and lower legs, every last one of them has an impact on your knees. Keep your limbs flexible and you’re less likely to hurt yourself.

Strengthen the muscles: This is one of the most important tips of all. Many knees are damaged because the leg muscles aren’t as strong as they should be, which puts too much stress on the knee joint. Strengthening the muscles around the joint protects you from injury by decreasing stress on the knee. Quads and hamstrings are the muscles that flex and extend our knees. Leg extensions and leg curls will strengthen these muscles and take some pressure off your knees. It is also important to strengthen the core muscles, like your back, abdomen and hip muscles, in addition to your quadriceps and hamstrings.

Use good form: Good form is very important and this goes for everything. It applies not only to exercising but also when you’re stretching or doing aerobic activities, which also include your normal daily chores. Never bend your legs to a point where your knees stick out past your toes. That puts a lot of pressure under the kneecap. Also remember not to remain in one position for extended periods of time.

Shed weight: Being over your ideal weight puts a lot of strain on your knees. So, if you need to shed a few pounds, try to do so. Your knees and many other parts of your body will thank you. But, weight loss isn’t easy for most people. If you have a serious weight issue, consider joining a weight loss programme or consulting a dietitian.

Buy athletic shoes: Get good shoes and tossing out the high heels can also eliminate some aches. It’s amazing what a difference a good pair of shoes can make — your legs will feel so much better. Make sure your shoes are right for your activity — shoes for aerobics offer a different type of support than running shoes. Many people don’t realise the importance of wearing the right athletic shoes. And once you have experienced how much the proper shoe enhances your enjoyment of your favorite activities and how better your feet and legs feel, you’ll never go back to old, worn-out shoes again.

Mix and match: Your muscles get the most benefit when you keep them guessing and they also develop more evenly when they’re developed from all angles. When some of your leg muscles are overdeveloped and others underdeveloped, you are putting your knees at risk. Mix-up running with weight training, yoga with swimming — or some variation thereof. A side benefit is that you’ll never get bored with your exercise routine and hence will always be motivated.

Call a doc: An injured joint can be a lot of pain and trouble if left untreated. If your knee is hurt, immediate attention is necessary.

Take the following steps: R.I.C.E. that stands for Rest, Ice, Compression and Elevation, which should be done for 48 to 72 hours after the injury. Let the knee rest, don’t try to walk on it. Use crutches if you have to. Apply ice on the knee for 20 minutes three to four times a day (stop if the skin turns blue or white). Never use heat, this will make your swelling worse. Use compression - wrap the injured knee with an elastic bandage, which should be firm, but not too tight. Elevate the knee above the heart (obviously, this is best done lying down). This will help reduce swelling. 

w See the doctor: If your knee does not improve greatly within a couple of days, or if you heard a pop or a tear when you injured it, if it swells or if you just know you’ve hurt it badly, see the doctor without delay.

w Be good to your knees: Cut back on extreme sports as you age. Don’t exercise to the point of pain or push past the pain: Sore knees are telling you to stop, so give Them a rest.  

w Go slow, but do ease back into exercise:Yes, it takes time to heal, but a knee injury doesn’t have to be the death sentence for being active. Even if your injury requires surgery, exercise can and should be a part of your life. It may be the best medicine for chronic achy knees. Focus at first on stretching and strengthening. Begin with very simple, muscle building exercises for your legs. Consult your doctor, or trainer, for suggestions. Start your favorite activities slowly and work at a comfortable pace. Don’t push yourself.

 If your knees are already bad there are many exercise alternatives that you can opt for. These wont stress your knees. Stationary cycling is one option. So is swimming or walking. Any activity where there’s a reduced impact or you don’t have to worry about changing motion is ok. You can also try a supplemental conditioning program, which involves strengthening the core muscles: the hip, lower back, abdomen and any of the muscles around the joints that are being used. Supplemental conditioning is probably one of the biggest keys to maintain an activity or to get back to it. 

kalrasachin@hotmail.com 

Randeep Hooda’s fitness mantra
Feel good factor
Jasmine Singh

This one is for all you boys pumping iron at the gym, running on the treadmill for hours, Getting into one or the other form of vigorous exercise, to get into those neat and chiseled six pack abs— It is no good. For, actor Randeep Hooda feels a good personality sans the abs is more appealing. “Women like men with a good sense of humour and that has nothing to do with extensive weight training. Nevertheless, it is important to be healthy and fit. More than this, one should feel healthy,” he says. So, here we have, the actor star of Rang Rasiya shares his fitness regime, which has nothing strictly fit about it.

Feel healthy, look good

I am unable to understand the fixation for strenuous exercising. I don’t believe in flaunting muscles, they are not for display, unless you need to be photographed or is a professional requirement. As for me, the fitness regime changes according to my role in a particular move. However, I have been doing weight training since grade 10, so this form of exercising has been with me for long. I am doing horse riding for the past two years, which I must say is a very good form of cardio-vascular exercising, which refreshes my body and mind. Lastly, I do a fair amount of weight training as well.

Food, no reservations

I wake up hungry in the morning, just like everyone and I can have four or five boiled eggs, cereals and juice. Thankfully, due to my good metabolism I don’t put on weight, no matter how much I eat. Nonetheless, if I wanted to look lean, I cut down on my carbohydrate intake, especially for dinner and I also cut down on drinking.

Time check

I spend half-an-hour in the gymnasium and not more. I don’t spend unnecessary time in the gym, for I feel weights are means to an end.

Save me

Running! I don’t like it and it has never been a part of my exercising regime.

Power yoga, meditation

Hey, never tried that. Mediation for concentration, c’mon there are better ways of improving it.

Take on six-packs

A jaw-dropping chiseled body is something every boy dreams to have. But here is what I feel, guys go out and dig into a bowl of chocolate and relax. Healthy body has nothing to with abs. If you are feeling good, you are looking great. And I bet women like men with a good sense of humour rather than those bulging biceps.

Stress Buster: Company of pretty women and horse riding

Jasmine@tribunemail.com 

Grit your teeth
It’s not impossible to have that perfect set of denture, says Dr Bimaldeep Singh, centre head of Dental Clinic, Fortis Hospital, Mohali
Anuja Jaiswal

Teeth that are pale white or even yellow in colour not only spoil looks, but also the impression you create in society. Having pearly white teeth is the first step towards exuding a charming look. And there’s more to keeping your teeth pearly white than a bit of brushing and the odd visit to a dentist. What to do, just modify your life style. Here are some tips:

Avoid fizzy drinks

Carbonated drinks (including the diet variety and sparkling water) can cause your teeth to look older than they really are. These drinks are so highly acidic that they can actually dissolve the upper layers of the tooth. They contain high amounts of phosphorus — a mineral that can leach calcium from your bones if you consume too much and some scientists believe they can weaken your jawbone, thereby increasing the chance of losing teeth.

Chew your food

Foods that work on the teeth like detergents are foods that require chewing. Apples, celery and carrots clean teeth naturally and foods such a spinach, lettuce and broccoli prevent staining by creating a film on the teeth that acts like a barrier. Major strainers will take their toll on your smile sooner of later, so steer clear of tea, coffee, red wine, and highly pigmented foods such as cherries and blueberries anything in fact, that will stain a white shirt.

Quit smoking

Smoking causes staining of the teeth and bad breath and increases the risk of oral cancer and gum disease, as it constricts blood flow to the gums. In fact, some gum specialists feel it’s not worth providing advanced treatment for gum disease in smokers, as there is very little chance of improvement. Smoking one pack a day for 10 years can cause a 10 per cent loss of bone mass. Long-term studies reveal that most tooth loss in 19 to 40-year-old is associated with smoking more than 15 cigarettes a day.

Beware of bleaching

A professionally applied whitening system will not damage teeth. But some over the counter bleaches are so acidic, they can cause surface loss and sensitivity.

Quit nail biting

Habitual nail chewers damage more than their cuticles; they can damage their teeth, too. Habits such as chewing nails and opening beer bottles will wear you down. Often the middle part dissolves quicker than the outside and the brittle enamel is very prone to chipping, making the teeth look uneven and unattractive. 

Yum’s the word!

The best way to lose weight is to eat a little of the foods you crave, that’s the suggestion of an Australian doctor. Dr George Blair-West, in the country for Diabetes New Zealand’s annual conference, believes that he understands why diets don’t work - and that the solution to effective weight cont rol is about getting around the psychological attachment to food. He says traditional diets that make people stay away from foods they love are ineffective and research shows ultimately people rebel against this deprivation and end up over-eating.

“Deprivation diets have a five-year success rate of around 5-20 per cent. We’re better at treating most cancers than at treating obesity using this traditional approach,” he said. Blair-West’s 2008 book, Weight Loss for Food Lovers, says the trick is to regularly eat controlled quantities of foods one desires.

“When you allow people to have the food they crave, their cravings disappear,” he added. — Kudi Chandigarh di

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