Eat healthy, keep fit

Apart from exercising, a little focus on what you are eating can give 
perfect shape to your body, says Shilpa Raina

Meenakshi Dhar (25) is heading for a beach. Excited as she is, the thought of wearing a bikini is giving her nightmares. But experts say with the right diet, exercise and a little camouflaging, she can have a happy sun and sand holiday. There are many who choose shorts and T-shirts over swim wear because they lack the confidence, mostly because of extra flab.

Fret not, says Althea Shah, vice-president and fitness expert at Gold's Gym, Mumbai. "One must work out harder on stubborn parts like inner thighs, love handles, back and triceps. These are the most prominent places for fat accumulation and visibility," Shah feels.

"Start with at least three days a week to do any form of a cardiovascular activity — walking, jogging, stair climbing, etc, and follow a simple exercise for every body part, alternating between upper and lower body workouts," she adds.

Nothing much is required, just dig out green leafy vegetables from your fridge, to satiate your hunger, says nutritionist consultant Geetu Amarnani, adding one can also have salads and soups. "Avoid oily foods because that can make you feel bloated," she says, and that "it will help in getting rid of those extra inches on the waistline." Amarnani has more useful tips to help you in getting into shape.

"Women basically dread bulgy thighs and sagging fat on the abs. But fat on abs is just like fat everywhere. So get the desired results by balancing diet and exercise. Drink eight-10 glasses of water a day; it detoxifies you and helps in getting rid of accumulated salts, leading to water retention," she adds.

If you want to get rid of the flab quickly, technology comes as a saviour but at a cost. Rajesh Khurana, president of Timpac Healthcare, says there is a non-surgical treatment called VIP complex and there is a surgical treatment called vibration amplification of sound energy at resonance (VASER) that can help one get into shape.

For VIP complex, one has to shell out Rs 1,000 to Rs 2,500 per session, whereas for VASER it may cost anywhere from Rs 50,000 to Rs 1,50,000, depending on the area to be covered. One month's advance planning is a must for this treatment.

"Use lotions all over your body, not just on your face. Re-apply it after three-four hours' gap for extra protection. For hair, use a cap or any kind of headgear before you enter the sea," said Shobha Sehgal, head, beauty, VLCC Health Care Ltd.

Take bath and moisture your body once you are out of the sea. Do not let the salty water dry on your body or hair. Go for a deep conditioning treatment for hair, after your beach holiday.

One should not ignore the age-old sun protection tools — umbrella or cap. "It is always a good idea to carry them," according to Sehgal. Also, carry an aloe vera gel as it helps in healing the skin after sun exposure. Follow these tips and take the plunge! — IANS

HOME