Dashain is here with all the festive feasting to seduce your taste buds. Sadly, the aftermath may not be too great. Health experts share some tips on how to enjoy a happy and healthy Dashain

“It’s normal to gain weight during the festive season, but it’s important to maintain a healthy lifestyle throughout your life,” says Anzana M Kayastha, personal trainer and fitness instructor at Befit Fitness. She believes that diet plays a vital role during the festive season.

What major factor affects our lifestyle in the festive season?

It is holiday time and you tend to eat more when you are mentally free, especially when there is good food and drinks around. I would say all you need to do is watch what are you eating and how much you are eating. Drink plenty of water throughout the day and do at least 30 minutes of workout daily.

Tips to stay healthy...

1. Eat small portions (5-6 times a day) rather than three big meals.
2. Try to incorporate more fruits and vegetables into the diet.
3. Sleep well, at least 7 hours a day.

Practical exercise one can do everyday…

Brisk walking for at least 30 minutes.

What is a big no-no?

Avoid oily and spicy food, sweet or sugar, eat less red meat and go for fish and chicken.

Tips from the Doc

According to Dr Bharat Rawat, Senior Cardiologist at Norvic hospital one does not need to search for happiness by over eating junk and drinking alcohol. He shares, “We should learn how to enjoy the festive days without stopping our routine exercises and meditation.”

1. How can one enjoy the festive season by

   staying on a strict diet?

We need to learn that we eat to live and not live to eat! We should discover other means to make the festive season merry such as singing, good conversation, sports et cetera.

2. What should one keep in mind during the

   festive season?

Remember half the food you eat is for you and the other half is for your doctor, so stay on healthy diet. Check the amount of oil and salt and enjoy fruits.

3. What kind of food should one incorporate in a healthy diet?

Try different salads, seasonal fruits and fish cooked in minimum oil. Avoid white bread, salt rich snacks, oily food and red meat. If we take care of our habits, our children will follow the same. Limit your alcohol intake to one or two drinks a day!

Shasta Rana Shah believes that health should be one’s first priority. The fitness instructor at Fitstop Fitness says we need to be conscious no matter what the occasion is. “Health is wealth,” she emphasises.

How to maintain a healthy lifestyle during the festive season?

1. Sign up for fitness classes in advance. This way you will be obligated to go and you will also feel a little better about yourself when you indulge in festivities.
2. Moderation! That’s the key to everything one does. Party, eat and drink in moderation.
3. Try not to alter your routine too much.

How can one be healthy without compromising on anything?

I'd say try to get your workout done, even if it's just for 15 minutes. If you can't squeeze in a workout for a day or two it's ok, don't beat yourself about that. Just get back to it when you can.

A few easy exercises one should opt for

1. Butt kickers. Do a stationary run and touch your butt with your heels. Repeat.
2. Squats. Make sure you are parallet to the ground and that your knees don't come in front of your toes.
3. Jumping jacks.
4. Forearm plank.
5. Russian twists. With a weight in hand, twist left, centre, right. Make sure your core is doing the work and you are in a C curve position.