Why Women Are Scared To Lift Weights
When you enter a gym, what do you see? Most women are generally busy doing cardio while the men stay crowded around the weights. This scenario is mainly due to a preconceived notion that weights are for men only and women should always be graceful and elegant and stay away from the bulky weights. Wonder why society has encouraged this kind of misogynist thinking. However, the truth is strength training is important for toning and also for that extra calorie burn. There are many other benefits of strength training and women should definitely not miss out on the same! Gender stereotypes tend to keep women away from weights, making them stick to cardio exercises and encourage the use of equipment such as the treadmill, elliptical and stationary bike. The gender stereotypes are encouraged by the extensive attention given to men’s sports and upholding of “male qualities” like competition, aggression and strength. Unfortunately, there is some sort of double standard with regard to women lifting weights - women are only expected to be toned and not have big muscles. The fear of looking MANLY with big built muscles keeps women miles away from the heavy weights. Women steer clear from lifting weights due to the fear of bulking up. According to experts, women need considerable many more hours of weightlifting than men, on a daily basis to really get bulky. Moreover, to become muscular there needs to be drastic diet changes as well. Strength training cannot make a woman bulk up so easily due to hormonal differences. Women have less testosterone; therefore, the body responds very differently to weightlifting. To actually bulk up like the way men do when they lift weights, women would need to consume excessive calories combined with an intensive weight training program. Nutritionist Advice Our Food Scientist Dr Lakshmi. K says “In a balanced and healthy diet, a woman consumes about 0.8gm/kg bodyweight protein. To work on muscle building and advance workouts, the protein intake should be gradually increased to 1gm – 1.4gm/kg body weight. Before taking the leap of faith, please contact your nutritionist as they can assess your health conditions (if any) and give you a customised diet that caters to your muscle-building needs. In general, increase the consumption of protein by adding an additional amount of 200gm in a week to your diet. If you are above 35yrs and are looking for strength and muscle training, your nutritionist will chart a diet based on your renal profile. The renal profile lets them know the creatinine levels and urea level in your body depending on which they will advise you on your protein intake.” Strength training makes you more energetic, helps you burn more calories and fat and also aids in preventing muscle loss due to aging. When you lift weights you not only improve your strength but also increase your basal metabolic and boost bone strength. In fact, weightlifting helps elderly people combat health issues such as hypertension, muscle loss and abnormal glucose tolerance as well. It also makes them independent. Expert Advice by Dr Rabindera Nath Mehrotra Endocrinologist Normal Hormone levels For Women & Men (Adults) Age Male (in ng/dl) Female (in ng/dl) 17 to 18 years 300-1,200 20-75 19 and older 240-950 8-60 There is no given testosterone level which helps in gaining muscle as such for women. With normal aging and lack of exercise anyone is bound to lose muscle mass. To maintain muscle mass one needs to have adequate calories/proteins- containing essential amino acids and exercise—resistance exercise. Doctors also measure an individual’s testosterone levels alongside Tanner staging; this is where the Tanner scale can monitor the visual growth of adolescents during puberty according to five stages rather than an individual’s specific age range. Benefits Of Resistance Training For Women Enhanced insulin sensitivity, decreased risk of diabetes, which is helpful for women with PCOD. Resistance training also helps women protect against osteoporosis and increases bone strength. Better muscle strength decreases the chances of fall and fracture. Better sleep/ lowers depression and anxiety levels Women don’t have much risk of bulking when compared to males. Resistance training helps women with improving their body shape. Start with sessions of 15 to 20 minutes twice weekly –gradually Lifting weights undoubtedly improves your physical appearance but along with this it also enhances UR confidence. It disciplines you and makes you positive. Strength training helps you believe you can take on challenges which in turn help you push yourself to set goals and achieve them! I believe weight training helps in all aspects of life. Ladies, don’t hold back, go ahead and lift those weights! Not only will you look better, but you’ll also acquire a sense of achievement! Don’t forget, your clothes will fit better too! Strong Women are Respected & UR stronger than U think.
When you enter a gym, what do you see? Most women are generally busy doing cardio while the men stay…
Know How A COVID-19 Diet Is Different From Others & Why?
The coronavirus pandemic has forced many nations across the globe to come to a standstill. It has forces us to make significant lifestyle changes which indirectly affect our physical and psychological well-being. Lock-down, quarantine and self-isolation imposed on people have led them to consume the most basic home cooked food. Also, there aren’t really very many things people could buy or order-in. With few to no choices for eating out, the movement towards home cooking and consuming homemade food is significantly rising. Whether the impact of the pandemic lasts a year or more, the one thing that we can all agree on is that our eating habits will not be the same anymore! Our food preferences and food culture are likely to see a huge transformation in the times ahead. Since we all are aware of the damage this virus causes, it is essential for us to adopt healthier practices in our lives for combating the virus effectively. What type of diet would you suggest to a person who has COVID or is recovering from it? Due to vulnerable conditions across the nation, it is turning out to be more difficult for people not to be prone to the virus. I have personally worked with few clients affected by COVID and most of them have complained about the loss of taste, appetite, weight loss and extreme fatigue. Even if the individual has a mild strain of the COVID, you can still see that they are struggling to get back to their normal self. So my strategy has been to put them on a combination of foods which has energy giving carbohydrates, good quality proteins, essential fats and loads of vitamins. At this stage and they can’t be put on an intermittent fast or like a no-carbs dinner. A wholesome meal needs to be planned and it is essential for me to work on bringing their immunity and energy back. Since there is a lack of appetite even post the COVID, it’s important to continue on the vitamins course for few more months. This will help them keep their vitamin profile in check and bring their energy back sooner. When you lose UR appetite, what can you eat? Should we stick to basic food? Consuming foods that are small in volume but high in calorie like a kahjoor laddo or having soft foods that have a lesser load on the digestive track would be recommended. For example: Porridge with Banana Dry fruit and nut smoothie Moong dal-ka-sheera Dahi Chawal Khichdi Carrot Oats Muffin Avoid a plate full of salad or meat which can be a bit stressful on your digestive tract as it requires more energy for digestion. Make UR meals smaller, and spread them through the day. Small meals are digested faster and doesn’t waste a lot of energy while digesting.
The coronavirus pandemic has forced many nations across the globe to come to a standstill. It has forces us to…
Unbelievable Effects Of Food Combinations
There are so many diets out there with food 'rules' that are sometimes very demanding and difficult to keep up with. One needs to remember, what’s most important is eating the three macronutrients in our routine diet which include; carbohydrates, protein and fats to have an efficient gut microbiota. ‘Food Combining’ these three major nutrients help one make their gut work at an optimum level. What Is Food Combining? Food combining is deeply rooted in Ayurvedic Medicine which is considered by many to be one of the most holistic ways of working with your gut. Another application of food combining came into play in the 1920s, when a physician named William Howard Hay, who adapted and viewed this practice with a medical perspective. The Hay Diet was known for using food to heal and achieve optimum health. Current food combining methods have combined Ayurveda and The Hay Diet principles to make it more appealing to the masses and your gut. These principles believe that specific food combinations don't work well with your gut. For example, when fish is combined with yogurt or when milk is combined with vegetables. But, the science of nutrition thinks otherwise; it propagates in making your gut stronger and healthy with a lot of pre and probiotics. Your gut is basically designed to digest anything, but some food combinations can work well for few people and have opposite results for others. Many don't respond well to certain combinations and can feel sick when they mix various food combinations. Even though some combinations may sound a bit bizarre at first, like apple, lemon juice and yogurt, but surprisingly, this recipe works in favour of your gut. This recipe has like a cooling effect for UR gut and also makes your system more alkaline by dropping the acidic levels. Ideal Food Combinations: Turmeric and ghee Almond and yogurt Hard-boiled egg and green salad Can people feel when something is not working with their body? What do you recommend for them? It's completely normal and natural for anyone to instantaneously feel a reaction when they eat something that doesn't suit their gut. They may feel bloated, sick or maybe have an allergic reaction. That’s why I always ask my clients for feedback after every diet I recommend. I do this to ensure if the diet is suiting their gut and body. I start by asking them a series of questions to understand them better and this is why what I prescribe is different for every individual. I have various packages for instance; a 12-diet package or a 24- diet package and at times, I have clients requesting me to share all the diet plans together; this is where I chime in and help them understand that this process doesn't work in such a manner, no matter what your end goal is. Only after I get a client's feedback, do I know how their body functions and then I create a plan which is nutritional without causing any discomfort. Until and unless my clients tell me what is happening in their body, I am not able to formulate the next plan. An individual’s body changes with age. There are certain immunoglobulins and allergens that keep changing in the body, so one may realize that suddenly at 50 you may not be able to digest milk easily, or at 45 gluten causes you to bloat up. Whether you might've had milk or eaten chapattis your entire life, you wake up one day feeling uncomfortable. That’s because, allergens change with age and hormones. These changes frequently happen with women due to their changing hormone levels. Hence, it is even more vital for us as women to listen to our body and understand the changes it undergoes with age, food preferences and lifestyle choices. A detailed feedback helps me understand my clients progress levels, current nutrient absorption rate and food reactions which helps me to personalise their diet. Results and improvement don't happen overnight. Working collectively with your nutritionist or dietician will help you improve UR overall well-being.
There are so many diets out there with food ‘rules’ that are sometimes very demanding and difficult to keep up…
Navigating Through The Fad Diet Culture
Fad diets are trendy but do they work? There's always some new diet trend that makes news and goes viral giving promising weight loss techniques. Unfortunately, these various diet concepts leave us confused and overwhelmed. The only solution to this is we need to educate ourselves about food. Knowing that certain foods [which are considered taboo] are actually rich in certain nutrients, will help you make a progressive shift in UR food and diet choices. Q & A with Kinita Kadakia Patel With so many diets going viral, how do you formulate your client’s diets? Fad diets are just like seasonal changes. For me, any diet which is not sustainable is a fad diet. I have an effortless way of defining this; if you can't keep up with it, then it's not meant for you to try! Adapting to any diet takes time but it works on you eventually. For this reason, I follow up with my clients weekly, I take their feedback to know and understand whether the diet I recommend is suiting their body, improving their health and energy levels. This crucial information helps me formulate customised sustainable plans for my clients. What do you feel about following an intermittent fasting as a diet preference? Intermittent fasting is an eating pattern/style, which cycles between the period of fasting and eating. This has rapidly become a phenomenon globally. This style of fasting is less of a diet plan and more of a lifestyle choice for many. What I understand and believe is that intermittent fasting doesn't make you withdraw any food group. However, fasting requires some discipline and patience to adjust to. Intermittent fasting can be challenging but it’s not misleading like some other trends such as- high-fat, high protein, gluten-free, dairy-free, raw foods, low carbs etc. and hence I wouldn’t consider it to be a fad diet. What according to you is "The Perfect Diet Full of Nutrition"? Maintaining a balanced ratio between carbohydrate, protein & fats is critical. A perfect diet is not about calories, it’s about where the calories are coming from. All foods are rich in nutrients and the key is to include them in UR diet at the right time and in the right quantity to attain maximum benefits. Thumb Rules of a Balanced Diet Finish UR fruits and grains in the first half of your day Spread UR dose of nuts and seeds evenly through the day Every single meal throughout UR day should have 15-20 grams of protein. Keep a tab on the visible fats like oil, ghee, butter, etc… Know the foods rich in invisible fats such as nuts, avocados, flaxseeds, etc… Hydrate well and remember your fluid intake depends on your weight, activity level and nutritional intake. Fun Fact: There are good fats in the Indian diet which can be found in ghee, coconut oil, flaxseeds and nuts. With a little mindfulness along with a pinch of expert nutrition advice, one can make the right choices in their nutritional intake and sustain a healthy diet.
Fad diets are trendy but do they work? There’s always some new diet trend that makes news and goes viral…
Do you really need vitamin supplements?
The fresh food you eat is filled with nutrients yet many times we do not get enough nutrients from the diets and some even show a deficiency of vitamins. Many times, there could be an issue with nutrient absorption and hence in some cases supplements become essential and critical. While my goal as a nutritionist is to give my clients a diet with all nutrients in it, but if they show certain symptoms of hair fall, lack of energy, pigmentation, etc… then they may need some help in getting their daily vitamin intake from supplements. For example: Vitamin B-complex helps in correcting hormones and improves the nutrient absorption in your body. Vitamin A helps with vision Vitamin C helps with collagen synthesis Omega-3 rich foods are anti-inflammatory and help prevent pigmentation Minerals such as Magnesium and Selenium work on the hair I would definitely recommend for men and women to take vitamins only when it is necessary or prescribed by a medical professional. But, don't forget to be mindful of the varied requirements depending on your age, sex and body's needs. There is no thumb rule for a prescription; it is very individualistic, as it keeps changing over time as you age. UR dietary preference also plays a major role in deciding your daily intake, whether you are vegetarian, non-vegetarian or vegan. Table Source: Harvard Health Publishing Good food sources of important nutrients NUTRIENT SOURCE Vitamin B Tuna, sunflower seeds, spinach and other leafy greens and eggs Vitamin D Salmon, tuna, vitamin D-fortified milk and yogurt, fortified orange juice and egg yolk Iron Liver, chickpeas, beans, lentils, and sesame seeds Magnesium Spinach, kale, other leafy green vegetables; unrefined grains and legumes Calcium Dairy products, salmon, sardines and dark leafy greens. Quick Wisdom Don't change UR diet abruptly. Consult a nutritionist before making any changes to your daily diet which can affect your overall health. Give UR nutritionists honest feedback. This helps me and other nutritionists understand what is working in favour of their health. Be mindful of UR body. Give your body time to adapt to a diet, don't go on unsustainable diets to lose weight or follow a trend. This can cause more harm than good.
The fresh food you eat is filled with nutrients yet many times we do not get enough nutrients from the…
What Should A COVID-19 Diet Include?
COVID-19 pandemic has been an extremely challenging situation for everyone, and it's not something that we were equipped for. There was no dietary checklist ready to follow in order to avoid or beat the virus smartly. All we knew was to eat immunity-boosting foods and go back to the basics of having Vitamin C rich fruits, haldi, vegetables and multivitamin. But the fundamentals which I've realised while working during this pandemic with my clients is that it's not just about immunity. We need to make sure that we follow a holistic plan. Not withdrawing any nutrient is the key to maintaining immunity. The idea is to eat well and not follow unrealistic diets during this unpredictable phase. Every nutrient should be included in UR diet in specific quantities during UR day. So, let me highlight some of these vital nutrients and give you a generic guideline on how to include them through your day: Nuts & Seeds: are high in magnesium and good fats. They can be consumed anytime in the day Dal, Pulses and Sprouts: are good sources of fibre and a make-up for the protein source for vegans in their major meals. Non-vegetarian Foods: might be difficult to get due to unavailability during the COVID times. Also, some people are apprehensive about consuming any animal protein during COVID. But if you can manage eggs, fish and lean meat, they are a great source of protein in your major meals. Greens: Spinach, green beans, amaranth leaves, colocasia leaves, coriander, fenugreek leaves, mint leaves and arbi-ke-patte all of these are rich in fibre, iron and vitamins. Fresh Fruits: All seasonal fruits are great sources of vitamins and minerals and should be added as a meal once or twice a day. Dairy Products: like yogurt, kefir, buttermilk and lassi make up for good source of probiotics for UR gut flora. Grains: Barley, brown rice, buckwheat, millets, oatmeal, whole-wheat bread, whole grains are great sources of energy Snacks: Makhana (fox nuts), nuts and steamed sprouts are great guilt-free snack options. Is there anything like over binging on immunity foods? At times we overdo eating all the immunity-boosting foods all at one go, which makes it ineffective. Spread these foods through UR day and don’t have it all at one time. Food’s such as haldi, ghee, flaxseed powder, jeera paani, black pepper, aloe vera, moringa powder, honey and Vitamin C, all of this works when taken consistently over a long period of time. It will eventually help you build a good immunity but it’s not going to overnight double UR immunity. The trick is to eat the right variety of food and create a good sustainable habit. Let food be thy medicine. While no foods or dietary supplements can prevent or cure COVID-19 infection, but following healthy sustainable diets are essential for supporting immune system. A good mix of nutrients which includes carbohydrates, protein, fat, fibre and fluids can help you attain a balance in nutrition, making your body stronger, one step at-a-time.
COVID-19 pandemic has been an extremely challenging situation for everyone, and it’s not something that we were equipped for. There…
5 Easy Exercises You Can Do At Home
When you brought your work home, why not do the same with your workout routine? Going out and hitting the gym with your buddies is now a far-fetched idea with the current situation. But that should not come in the way of you and your fitness. Now you can boost your immunity and strengthen your body with these five simple exercises, which you can do at home every day without any equipment. For beginners who want to give it a try, don't worry, these exercises are perfect for you! 1. Squats We sit and stand for so many hours in a day,especially when we are working or even watching T.V. The muscles that are used during squatting are essential as these are the same muscles we need to sit and stand without any discomfort. When we sit for long hours we weaken and avoid utilising and strengthening the muscles. Generally, people with knee problems hesitate or are afraid to try squats as they believe that it might make the pain unbearable. The truth is if you squat the right way and hold that position, it helps you relieve stiffness, pain, improves your posture and quality of life. If you don't do anything to strengthen these muscles then, you will experience pain doing something as easy as sitting or standing. You just need a few adjustments until you find the right position to squat. How to do it: ● Stand firmly with your back against the wall, place your legs in front shoulder-width apart. ● Slide your back against the wall and stand in the squat position. ● Hold this position for 10 seconds. ● Work at increasing your hold for 5 seconds more each time until you can reach one minute. That is what is going to strengthen your muscles. Need one here If you are new to squats, start with sitting and standing up in a chair. ● Stand in front of a chair. ● Push your glutes into the chair and then come back up, it should be as if you are kissing the chair. Some people might not be comfortable in their knees while squatting. Find a foot position that is comfortable for your knee by spreading your legs a little wider. 2. Wall Push-ups Comparatively, women struggle a bit to do a push-up. With a simple modification, you can extend your shoulder and upper back muscles with a wall push-up. ● Stand in front of a wall. ● Place your hands on the wall. ● Lean in towards the wall and come right back up. ● Then you can also try an inclined push-up. There are various types of push-ups you can do to build strength. 3. Back extensions The idea of maintaining a posture while sitting or working on a computer at home became bizarre. A couch or comfortable chairs like recliners became a popular choice to sit for long hours without getting up and work. Even if you are using an office chair, your back is stretched, shoulders are hunched, and the neck is in a lean-forward position. Anyone would need to work on their back muscles to get your posture back into place. ● Lie down on a mat on your stomach. Make sure to keep your legs together. ● Lift your arms so that they are over your head and stretch for a few seconds. ● Now, bring the navel above the ground. ● While stretching out your arms, legs and spine as far as possible(not in the opposite direction), make sure your face is facing the ground. ● Alternate between your hands and legs and pulse for a couple of seconds. ● Breathe in and hold for 5 seconds. Doing this will strengthen your spine health and strengthens your lower back. If you favour spending a lot of time in front of the TV, I suggest you come forward and rest your face on your two fists right below your chin supported by your elbows. This way, you get to be on your stomach. If you lie on the floor and take the help of your elbows, your upper body and spine are getting some extension and relieves pressure off your back. 4. Core - Abdominal Try planks, they are more effective than crunches and workout every muscle group in your body. When we say core muscles, it doesn’t just stop at your abdominal muscles, it also includes your upper back, lower back, spine muscles and pelvic region. When UR planking make sure UR body is in a straight line from UR head to UR heels, keep UR hip flexors open by keeping UR glutes engaged. ● Start by placing your forearms on the ground similar to an L-shape from your shoulder to your forearms. ● Your shoulders should always be directly above your elbows. ● Your forearms are pressing into the floor so that you stabilise the shoulder and widen your chest. ● Keep your hip flexors open so that they it keeps your glutes engaged. 5. Upper body – triceps Most women accumulate fat in their arms, I call them ‘bye-bye arms’. With the tricep muscles being the least worked muscles. This exercise engages your triceps and glutes. ● With your hands just outside of the hips, sit on a chair or bench. Make sure to keep your knees bent. ● Lift up with your hands and lower down until you are at about 90 degrees. While doing this, keep in mind that your hips are very close to the chair or bench and elbows are bent. ● Keep the elbows pointing behind you, your shoulders down and your abdomen engaged. ● Push back to start again and repeat. These five exercises are simple and can be done at home with no gym equipment. Some exercise is always better than no exercise! Make sure to move your body every hour and stay active to beat boredom and stay fit!
When you brought your work home, why not do the same with your workout routine? Going out and hitting the…
Why You Should Be Exercising During A Pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic has thrown us a curveball. Many of us possibly thought about every aspect of our life as we are invariably living in fear of falling victim to the virus. We are ready to try everything and anything to boost our immunity. It is for a fact that working out helps boost immunity. When we say exercise, it need not necessarily mean going out of the way and doing something which UR body isn't used to. All I advise is to move UR body! To reiterate the importance of workout lets start by understanding how exercise has helped us during influenza and how it's helping us now during COVID. The Origins Of Pilates The name 'pilates' was derived from Joseph Hubertus Pilates, the man who used a combination of various exercises. This gave birth to an incredibly effective workout routine that is still trending globally! He suffered a few illnesses during his childhood, making him interested in physical fitness. He was exposed to various types of physical routines in his life before he ended up in internment during World War I. He left Germany around 1912 and came to Britain. He was trained in boxing, diving, skiing, acrobats, self-defence, to name a few. As the war broke out in 1914, Joseph was kept in internment where he developed his fitness routine by fusing several sport-specific workout variations in his unique routine. Slowly this routine was picked up by a few curious inmates stuck in internment with him. These inmates were his first students/trainees and the camp was where he introduced Pilates. The immunity developing aspect of these physical exercises came to light when the Spanish flu was at its peak in 1918. It was observed that Pilates or the inmates he trained were able to ward off the diseases successfully. He was then positioned as a nurse in the hospital wing to care for the injured soldiers. Quote: Attaching springs to the beds of the hospitals, enabled the physically challenged to get a full-body workout with ease. Today we know that piece of equipment as the Cadillac/trapeze table! Cadillac/ trapeze table Pilates was tasked to help along with the recovery of veterans who were physically challenged fighting the war. He neatly worked out a practical and innovative idea to modify his routine to suit his soldiers. Attaching springs to the beds of the hospitals, enabled the physically challenged to get a full-body workout with ease. Today we know that piece of equipment as the Cadillac/trapeze table! After the war ended, he returned to Germany and started working on reforming his techniques and incorporating techniques from the east and the west. He set up his first studio in 1923 in America, and we all know this legacy with its universal appeal. That was the beginning of an exercise powerhouse we now know as Pilates. Importance Of Working Out During COVID 1. Boosts your immunity and improves your chances of fighting the virus, flu or infection. 2. Helps release happy hormones(endorphins) in the body which keep you mentally and physically fit. 3. Reduces stress, prevents weight gain and improves your sleep. As we are living through a pandemic at the moment, it is essential to remember that when injured soldiers can have the urge to work out, we can too. While creating and adjusting to new fitness routines may take some effort, any physical activity during the coronavirus pandemic can help you optimize your health and wellbeing. Use this time wisely to make the most of your lockdown, work out at your pace and as I said before a little bit of exercise is better than no exercise. If you need a little push, then read our other article on how you can build your workout routine.
The COVID-19 pandemic has thrown us a curveball. Many of us possibly thought about every aspect of our life as…
Know UR Body’s Limitations When UR Working Out
We all dream of having a perfect body and there’s nothing wrong in that! In search of overnight results, we sometimes end up pushing our bodies too far. You might be looking to lose the lockdown weight fast and push your body really hard. Without putting in the time and effort towards being fit first, it is not possible. That’s where we can go wrong while we are working out. Working out is more about being aware of your body’s limits and understanding what works for you rather than getting easily distracted with someone else’s workout results. Well, there’s a way to avoid these cardinal workout mistakes and refine your workout routine. In the same path, we find ourselves trying a trending routine that gives us the toned body with minimal to no efforts. This majorly happens when we get inspired by other's routines and want the same kind of results without knowing the effort which goes into it. There are three stages which can define your workout levels Beginners are people who never worked out or made working out as a part of their daily schedule. Intermediate have a routine and are at it for some time. Advanced are ones who work out everyday and follow a certain set of workout routine. Depending on which category you fall under, your body type, BMI and other elements your instructor can easily suggest a workout routine which can work in your favour. I’ve seen many trainers do the complete opposite too, so make sure your trainer doesn’t push you too much. During the current times, where people do not prefer to go out, hitting the gym is not an option. The next best option is to keep up with their trainers virtually. This contributed to me making content on workouts and modifications. The training sessions on social media are making working out at home accessible to everyone. With so many videos being easily available it is hard for people to find the source of information and assess the reality of the workout videos. Quote: Setting realistic expectations and achieving them one day at-a-time helps you achieve your fitness goals in a healthy manner. How You Decide Your Workout Routine Depending on body type, every exercise has to be customized to an individual needs and limitations. People are trying these exercises with the hope that the harder they work, the more fit they become. But all they end up with is sore muscles, and still, some go at it day in day out until they stretch it too far - encounter a spasm or muscle strain. For example, if you are about 70 kilos and are overweight according to the BMI (Body Mass Index), taking up an hour of advance training on the first day (beginner) eventually exhausts your body. In the same way, people with medical conditions or injuries might not be able to exercise the same way in these fad workout videos. Be heedful of… 1. Identify your level of fitness Before beginning a workout, make sure you understand your needs and learn the right way to develop your strength. If you are new to start working out, start walking around the house for 10 minutes and increase the time limit as days pass by. To be fit, you need to spend the time, stick to the routine and build your core strength brick by brick. 2. Recognize your body’s needs Comparing yourselves to another's routine or other's fitness levels. Work with your body instead of overworking it. For example, if a person never did a push-up in life, they wouldn't know how to do it and couldn't do it properly. It is crucial to follow what your instructor and if you are not comfortable with an exercise, tell your trainer. 3. Set realistic expectations Your body is unique and it falls on you to be mindful of it, nurture it by selecting the right set of exercises. Setting realistic expectations and achieving them one day at-a-time helps you achieve your fitness goals in a healthy manner. 4. Give your body rest Resting your body is vital for recovery. Recovery time helps build your muscles the right way. Your instructor should always help you become aware of your resting days when you start a routine. Expert advice: It is highly important for you to discuss your medical history with your trainer to avoid injuring yourself any further. Fitness is a journey and working with your body is what you should be doing. Don’t push your body too hard just because you saw someone doing it. Don’t forget that you have to live in it for the rest of the day! Take it one day at-a-time and you will be surprised that you're closer to your fitness goals than before!
We all dream of having a perfect body and there’s nothing wrong in that! In search of overnight results, we…
What Can Make & Break UR Workout Routine
If the idea of fitting a workout in your schedule seems daunting and looks tedious, trust me, you are not alone. Especially when we start working out, even 30 minutes seems never-ending and we can't seem to get the groove. In the current times, we live in; it is a wise choice to stay active by working out as it boosts your immunity and strengthens your body. Since my virtual classes began, I had an overwhelming response from a lot of people who always wanted to attend my sessions, but never got a chance to. They loved the workouts I was putting up on my Insta, and I've also started sharing modified variations of each exercise I suggest. People who never thought about working out in their lives have also been coming forward and looking for ways to boost their immunity and be fit to get ahead of things. Apply the saying, "Something is better than nothing," and the best way to get some exercise is to move your body! Try walking around every hour for 10 minutes and stretch your body. In a day, you would generally work for around eight to nine hours. This way, you can sneak in more than 45 minutes of movement every day. From my personal experience with years of back-to-back training sessions, I observed that one-on-one virtual classes have proven to be more productive! It's just my student and me; they can ask me anything during the session and ask for a variation or other workout-related doubts. This helps me give time to one person entirely, which I can't always do in a group session. The Upsides Of Strengthening Our Muscles & Bones Working out is like an investment you make for your golden years to pass without causing your body to hurt. Sometimes even relieve chronic pain. Probably that's why it doesn't have an age barrier. In a day, we sit or stand. We cannot avoid somebody movement during the whole day. If we don't work out, these simple tasks seem like lifting a mountain. Our spine is the trunk of our body that carries a lot of nerves that our body needs to function. If we tire it out or can't keep it in a proper posture, it would cause severe ailments in the long run. We don't tend to realise that while working on a system or watching TV hours at a stretch. Working out or giving a break helps your muscles and bones to function well and keep you fit at the same time. In this digital age, we can't function without spending a lot of time before our systems, not necessarily work. Or lie comfortably on the bed and hold your phone in your hands for hours together. Either way, it is terrible for your posture. Follow these simple exercises in a day so that you can get your work done without being afraid for your health. 8 Tips That Help You Build An Effective Workout Routine 1. Identify your level of fitness. This will help you understand and define what works for your body. 2. Modify your workout according to your body. Don't tame your body into doing something that will cause pain and hurt to yourself or constraint yourself by saying you cannot do it. 3. Start with a smaller number of sets in the beginning and increase them gradually to get your body accustomed. 4. Speak to your instructor if you have problems with following an exercise they can suggest a few variations which would be more ideal for you. Ask a few questions if you are confused; this will help you stay motivated and will prove to be effective. 5. Know how to guide and position your body while performing any exercise. Always ask your instructor. 6. Don't keep changing your workout routine or switch to intense workout routines when you are just starting to workout. 7. Do the best you can every day, every bit adds up. Try and track your progress through your phone, watch or other fitness apps. 8. Set a recurring alarm every hour that reminds you to walk for five minutes is ideal. Use this time to connect with your friends or relatives via call and make sure you talk and walk. Being aware of your body's limits can transform your exercise routine and life. I've trained many stars, and all of them know exactly what to do if I'm not available to train them. With years of working together, I know their bodies more than they know themselves. I know what works for their body without pushing it too the extremes. I've taught all my students in such a way that they know exactly how their workout routine is and how the temp needs to guide them during each set. Fitness is a way of life and can be only defined by you and your choices. So, chose wisely!
If the idea of fitting a workout in your schedule seems daunting and looks tedious, trust me, you are not…
What Is Better, Being fit or thin? Know more.
"Fitness is not a destination but a lifestyle." When we look at ourselves in the mirror, what is it that we lookout for – a thin, slender body or a fit one? Do we set weight goals or fitness goals? I am sure we have that one friend or relative we are jealous of – the skinny one who eats anything and everything, doesn't sweat it out in the gym or exercise and still boasts that thin body!! But have you ever asked if he/she is fit?? Being thin and being in shape are two very different things. The most archaic way of assessing our body mass index (BMI) and our waist to hip ratio (WHR) can give an inkling about our health but not the full picture. So coming back to the million-dollar question – "What is a fit body??" Fitness is an amalgamation of – The right body composition (our muscle to fat ratio) Body's strength and flexibility Cardiovascular fitness (our heart and lung function) Muscle power and endurance Fitness comes with the right balance of nutrition, exercise and rest – followed as a lifestyle and not just for an interim period. To help you get fitter, we have a few simple strategies that can take you closer to UR fitness goal – Stay Active: Research has shown that lean but inactive people have a higher chance of developing metabolic conditions like high cholesterol, diabetes and hypertension v/s slightly overweight but physically active individual. Hey don't get us wrong here – we are not saying it's OK to be overweight, but it's NOT OK to be physically inactive! Exercise keeps our hormone levels and blood sugar in check. It balances the good and bad cholesterol in our blood and also reduces the free radical damage. Regular physical activity gives strength and helps in muscle building, increasing our endurance and muscle power. If you notice we have used the word "regular" several times – it's not due to the lack of vocabulary but to emphasize that consistency is more important than intensity! Burn fat, not muscle: Work on building UR muscle weight and losing the fat. Hence don't look at the scale as a validation of fitness. Muscles are the active part of our body while the fat contributes to the sluggish, lazy weight. When we lose muscles and not fat (this is most common when doing crash diets and little to no exercise) – we land up with lower muscle weight mass than what we had started with, in turn leading to the classic bounce-back of weight soon after. But when we work towards skimming off the fat from our body (this can only be achieved with the right combination of protein, fats, carbs and regular exercise) – our metabolism increases leading to slower weight loss, maybe yes. But knocking off the fat and preserving the muscle, leaving us with better body composition and fitness levels. Fuel UR body with the right nutrition: Fad diets that make you eliminate food groups or starve for long durations – diets low in carbs and proteins only lead to muscle loss, not FAT. Our bodies need the right kind of fuel to sustain and get healthy and fit. Keep the carbohydrate load low and choose the right type of carbs (complex carbs – millets, high fibre grains; simple carbs & sugar from natural sources – fruits, dry fruits and jaggery v/s white sugar & processed sweets). Proteins (amino acids) are the building blocks of our muscles. We need to have enough protein to fuel our muscles and increase the body's metabolic rate. Here we would like to throw light upon another vital thing about protein – when to have it is critical. And not just for the active exercising ones but all of us! Hydrating our muscles with fast-absorbing proteins (whey from paneer and whey protein isolates; eggs). Pre and post-workout help maintain our muscle mass, adding on that glass of protein-rich smoothie first thing in the morning boost UR metabolism. Eating a pulse chaat or a nut bar as an evening snack replenishes our mineral stores. You may ask – is this too much protein?? NO – sadly our Indian diets are inferior in protein and consciously adding on these protein rice sources only give us the energy our muscles need. Fats are vital for the absorption of many vitamins and give our muscles the lubrication it needs. However, it's essential to include only healthy fats in our diet (nuts, avocados, ghee, coconut oil, nut butter, groundnut oil, extra virgin olive oil). Sleep & rest: Last but not least – rest and sleep are the missing links to UR fitness puzzles. Ever noticed that the night you have not slept well and when you go for UR morning run UR body cramps more or tires faster than usual!! Working out when fatigued will give you NO positive results but put you at risk for more muscle or bone injuries and tears. So rest up and relax when tired. Rome was not built in a day, and fitness is not something we can achieve overnight – it takes a bit of discipline and consistency. So go on and Get fit, not just thin!!!!
“Fitness is not a destination but a lifestyle.” When we look at ourselves in the mirror, what is it that…
Superb Exercises To Help Improve UR Flexibility!
Stretching exercises help you improve your flexibility. These exercises also help to increase joint mobility and are essential to execute other exercises properly as well. So flexibility exercises are important for maintaining good joint health. Also, the more flexible the body is, the lesser the chances of getting injured. However, a proper warm-up session is needed before starting any stretching exercise. Superb Exercises To Help Improve UR Flexibility! UR Stretching exercises help you improve your flexibility. These exercises also help to increase joint mobility and are essential to execute other exercises properly as well. So flexibility exercises are important for maintaining good joint health. Also, the more flexible the body is, the lesser the chances of getting injured. However, a proper warm-up session is needed before starting any stretching exercise. Strectches To Help You Become More Flexible Chest & shoulders: You can start this exercise by kneeling down or by standing. Grasp your hands behind UR back. Keep your arms straight and lift your hands as high as you can. While doing so, simultaneously bend down towards your knees from your waist and hold as long as you can. Triceps: Place your left hand behind your back on the spine, over your shoulder making a ‘V’ shape. Place your right hand on UR left elbow and push it gently downwards as you slide your left hand down along the spine to the extent you could and hold it there for as long as you can. Repeat with the other arm. Glutes: Stretch your lower body, first by sitting on the floor. Now, lift UR left leg and place it over UR right leg (on the knee). Ensure your back is straight and lean a bit forward to intensify the stretch. Maintain this position for 20 seconds and continue with the next side. Adductor: Stand up and spread your legs double the width of UR shoulder width. Shift your weight to UR right leg, bend your right knee, and push your hips back as if you’re going to sit down.Go down as low as possible while keeping your left leg straight.You will fell the stretch in your left inner thigh. Keep your chest up and your weight on your right leg. Breathe deeply and hold for 10 to 20 seconds before returning to the starting position. Switch to the other side. There are certain guidelines you should adhere to when following a flexibility programme: Before embarking on an exercise don’t forget to go through a proper warm-up. While stretching ensure you don’t experience any discomfort. The tightness you feel should lessen as you hold the stretch. Breathe out while doing a stretch and do not hold your breath! Maintain the stretch for 10 to 30 seconds. If stiffness or pain occurs while stretching, stop. Shake out UR limbs in between stretches and try to complete two-three stretches before starting the next exercise.
Stretching exercises help you improve your flexibility. These exercises also help to increase joint mobility and are essential to execute…