This is that time of the year when we all tend to overeat and indulge in a variety of foods that we wouldn’t otherwise consume in our daily life. Our culture is such that we feel obliged to eat wherever we go, even if we are full, in order not to offend the host. [break]
As you visit family and friends and entertain them at home yourself on this festive season, you’ll end up gorging on a lot of meat and sweets and drinking way beyond your limit. Needless to say, a lot of calories are consumed in the process that wrecks havoc in your diet.
The result is apparent on the weighing scale after Dashain is finally over.
Over the weeks, under the expert guidance of our fitness gurus Sujita Gurung and Shova Gurung, you might have taken up Zumba or Kickboxing or followed their easy workout and diet tips to lead a healthier lifestyle.
You might be worried now that Dashain is around the corner you’ll not be able to continue with the rigorous workout and diet plan and all your previous hard work will go down the drain which is why our experts are back to give you tips to help you stick to your fitness goals.
Our fitness experts take on Dashain and its “side effects.”
“Dashain is a time to party and with all the oil-laden food you’ll definitely end up putting at least 1-3 kilos if you are not careful about it,” say Sujita Gurung who believes in enjoying the festival to the fullest and not holding back. She ensures that she cuts down the portions as the frequency of meals increase during Dashain.
Shova Gurung also has similar views. “During festivals everyone tends to overeat mainly because we don’t pay attention to what we are eating and drinking and get carried away. The best thing would be to stop when you are full and not eat under somebody’s coaxing,” she adds.
Shova makes sure she limits her intake of food even during Dashain and advises everyone to do the same. With food being an important part of the festivals, it’s difficult to abstain from sweets and meat but you can limit its intake and not overindulge.
“The main reason behind weight gain during festivals is the lack of activity. The sitting-talking-eating takes its toll on the body. A lot of calories end up finding its way into your diet in the form of drinks, smoothies, desserts and the like,” says Sujita who ends up partying and eating more during this time of the year. But she believes that it’s the lack of activity rather than the overeating that makes you bloat in a matter of days.
You can’t stay away from all the delightful treats this time of the year. You just can’t. Rather than feeling guilty about giving into your lust for good food that’s so readily available, you could try and balance it out with some form of exercise and enjoy the festivities to its fullest.
“People lead a relaxed and sedentary lifestyle during Dashain and end up piling on weight. It’s difficult to lose all the weight afterwards. Think about that and though you won’t be able to follow a strict workout routine make sure you incorporate a lot of physical activity to balance it out,” advises Shova.
Our experts are full of ideas on how you can eat to your heart’s delight and not let it have a devastating effect on your physique. Follow their advice and you will still fit into the jeans you are wearing now as you read this, post the holidays.
Become a kid
Jumping ropes or hula hoops can be your savior this festive season. You can have fun and get the much needed exercise at the same time and that too without leaving home. Skipping is easy and can be done in counts of 100 at a time. It shouldn’t be too hard to squeeze in five minutes of skipping every couple of hours.
Just 30 minutes of hula hooping can burn 200-300 calories. While hula hooping, move only your mid section, keeping the upper and lower body stable and rocking hips from side to side or front to back and not in a circle.
Walk those stairs
Make stairs your best friend during the holidays. Walk up and down the stairs as you talk on the phone or instead of slouching in front of the TV. Climbing a flight of stairs 10-20 times per session 2-3 times a day can burn anywhere between 400-500 calories.
The key here is to remain active and it doesn’t take much to climb up and down a flight of stairs a couple of times a day.
Cleanliness is the savior
Since Dashain means constantly having people over, make sure your home is clean and spotless. Wipe, sweep, mop, wash – go all the way. You will have a spanking new house and get your dose of exercise in one go.
One easy thing to try out is to mop the floors by foot. Instead of using a mop, step on a damp cloth and scrub with your right foot while the left foot dries it with a second towel. To polish the floors after cleaning, use two clean towels and glide. The heart rate goes up and your hips get a workout. This burns as many calories as a 30-minute brisk walk.
The little things you do
Little things do make a difference. Since festivals keep you busy and occupied with one thing or the other, it might sometimes be tough for you to squeeze in even that little bit of time to hula hoop or skip.
During those hectic days, do 10 incline pushups on the edge of the bed the minute you get up, and then jog on the spot as you brush your teeth.
Contract your abs and work on the core muscles as you get ready for the day and keep doing it at regular intervals throughout the day.
Healthier options
Workouts aside, keep sipping water throughout the day to keep your hunger in check. Sometimes we tend to mistake thirst for hunger. Also, water makes you feel full and there won’t be an urge to eat large portions at a time.
Replace your regular tea with green tea and sugar with honey. Have fruits and nuts for snacks as it will keep you full and prevent you from binging on unhealthy snacks.
This holiday, here’s a novel way to think about exercises – as something you can do all day in your living room and kitchen.
Fitting long hours of workout is definitely not realistic during this time. But 10-minute segments of exercises thrice a day is as beneficial as a long workout.
The trick is to figure out what to do during those 10 minutes and mixing things will also keep you motivated.
Our fitness trainers have shared their favorite ways to include fitness in your daily life no matter how busy Dashain keeps you.
Heed their advice and enjoy the festivities without adding an inch or a kilo and have a guilt-free holiday.
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