Celebrity Trainer Secrets

It’s January and once again you have a laundry list of resolutions.  Is reaching your physical best a goal for 2010? You may think A-listers look fab and fit by spending hours on the treadmill. But you can get the same star-quality body without logging hours at the gym or spending big bucks. Get the fitness secrets of stars with some motivating advice from their personal trainers.

What do Madonna, Gwyneth Paltrow, Courtney Cox and Kate Hudson all have in common? Amazing bodies.  However, these A-list ladies also turn to the same woman for help keeping their svelte figures.

Celebrity fitness trainer Tracy Anderson shapes bodies by creating small yet lean muscles. Anderson’s customized regimens allow any woman to attain the body of their dreams with unique moves and high repetitions. No time for the gym? Feeling lazy? No worries. Anderson’s method also includes a simple routine that you can follow at home with a towel. You can learn how to do her “Under Arm Flab Fighter” move below.

Don’t live in NYC or LA to get to one of Tracy Anderson’s studios? Try some of  her methods yourself with Tracy’s online webisodes.  Dance addicts can check out Anderson’s Perfect Design Series-Sequence I and Dance Cardio 2 at andersonmethod.com.

The Hills star Audrina Patridge is known for her enviable abs and super-toned limbs. What’s her secret? A new workout called Reebok’s Jukari Fit-to-Fly.

The inspiration behind this tough workout evolved from Cirque du Soleil trapeze artists and involves hanging from a trapeze contraption from the ceiling. You’ll engage your core muscles while working on both balance and strength. Now, you may not live in a city that currently offers Jukari just yet. However you can try to  mimic some of the moves like the Woodpecker, in your own gym.

When New Moon star Ashley Greene needed to prepare for some intensely physical scenes, she knew her Pilates regimen wasn’t going to be enough. Her personal trainer put her though a series of tough workouts but also tried to find activities she enjoyed to keep her moving while also having fun. Greene says she tried everything from kayaking and hiking to yoga and martial arts. MMA or Mixed Martial Arts was also a big part of her training an you can get a similar technique at home with some of their DVD’s.

How does Vanessa Hudgens get this body?

Love Pilates? Enjoy the challenge of boxing? Piloxing is a creative workout in LA and everyone from Hilary Duff to Vanessa Hudgens . Ashely Tisdale also takes advantage of Piloxing’s stress-busting routine. Piloxing creator Viveca Jensen has been turning  bodies sleek and sexy with her inventive fusion of Pilates and Boxing that enables you to feel powerful and strong. Take advantage with her DVD and try Piloxing at home.

In some other countries, Jessica Alba would be a freak of nature with her picture perfect looks and her ability to keep her incredible figure in tip top shape. Even after the birth of her daughter Honor, she whipped herself back into shape under the strict supervision of her trainer, Ramona Braganza. How did she do it?

Braganza told People magazine that after the birth of her baby “She worked out an hour a day, five or six days a week, and stayed on a strict diet of about 1700 calories a day, losing 600 calories because of exercise.” Braganza is also responsible for getting Halle Berry and Ashlee Simpson-Wentz back into post-baby shape.

Victoria’s Secret model Alessandra Ambrosio is known for her amazing assets and her body defies gravity with a little help from Brazilian trainer Leandro Carvalho. Carvallo’s new DVD Brazil Butt Lift takes all the same moves he created for Alessandra. This DVD is an amazing regimen of cardio-sculpting moves taken from martial arts and ballet which help you get your butt firm and tight. Carvalho also has some tips on preventing bloat and keeping yourself healthy. His magic potion? Homemade Ginger tea. Just slice half a ginger root and boil. Cavralho suggests drinking two a day as ginger is a natural antibiotic.

 

Celebrity Trainer Secrets

Your Detox Plan Before D-Day

You’ve been planning for this day for months now. And now there are only a few days left before your wedding day. Fittings for your various bridal outfits are done; the menu is fixed; so are your appointments with the beautician for last-minute fixes. You now need to calm down, relax, gather positive energy and gear yourself up for your big day! Here’s an easy-to-do detox plan that will not only leave you more energised, but will aid your existing fitness regime, help you lose that li’l bit of extra flab and give you naturally glowing skin and hair.

“True beauty comes from within. So, it is important to detoxify. A detox routine ‘cleans’ us,” says Mumbai-based nutritionist Naini Setalvad.

Here’s What a Detox Plan will do for You

·                  Remove toxins like chemicals, pesticides and other naturally accumulated waste from your body.

·                  Improve the body’s ability to cleanse itself.

·                  Improve overall wellness and boost your immunity.

·                  Prevent premature ageing.

·                  Improve energy levels and increase mental clarity.

“Eliminate all foods that take time to metabolise, like white flour, refined wheat, diary products, eggs, meat, fish, processed foods, foods with preservatives, aerated drinks, alcohol and sugar,” says Mumbai-based dietician Maithili Pashtekar.

Here are Foods Naini thinks You Should Include in Your Plan

·                  All fresh fruits and vegetables.

·                  Condiments like sea or rock salt; lemon, ginger, cumin seeds and coriander. Avoid refined salt.

·                  Replace tea and coffee with herbal teas like green tea, jasmine and chamomile.

·                  Lot of Water.

·                  Lime water, vegetable juices and coconut water.

·                  Brown rice, unpolished rice, amaranth (raj gira), bajra and nachani (ragi).

·                  Steamed sprouts.

·                  Unsalted nuts and seeds like flax and sunflower seeds.

·                  Dried fruits for natural sugar.

 Naini's Seven-day Food Plan for Brides-to-be

 Day 1

·                  Start the day with a fruit salad sprinkled with rock salt and cumin powder and green tea.

·                  Have brown rice pulao and steamed sprouts for lunch.

·                  Snack on a handful of dry fruits.

·                  Have bajra rotis, dal and a vegetable with salad for dinner.

·                  Have chamomile tea before bedtime.

Day 2

·                  Start the day with coconut water and a handful of dry fruits.

·                  Have a cup of plain yogurt.

·                  Have brown rice, dal, a vegetable and a salad for lunch.

·                  Have a cup of green tea and 2 teaspoons of flax seeds later.

·                  Have bajra or jowar rotis for dinner with a vegetable and salad.

·                  Have a fruit an hour before bedtime.

Day 3

·                  Start the day with a vegetable juice, say beetroot or palak and flax seeds.

·                  Have a cup of green tea later.

·                  Have bajra rotis, a vegetable, dal and salad for lunch.

·                  Snack on coconut water and a handful of dry fruits.

·                  Have a plateful of salads seasoned with lemon ginger and cumin seeds for dinner.

·                  Have a fruit an hour before bedtime. 

Day 4

·                  Start the day with a fruit salad and lime water.

·                  Have clear soup, brown rice pulao and a salad for lunch.

·                  Snack on a handful of dry fruits.

·                  Ragi rotis and steamed sprouts for dinner.

·                  Chamomile tea before bedtime. 

Day 5

·                  Start the day with coconut water and a handful of dry fruits.

·                  Steamed vegetables, dal and bajra rotis for lunch.

·                  Snack on flax seeds and a cup of green tea/jasmime tea.

·                  Soup and a bowl of steamed sprouts seasoned with rock salt and cumin powder for dinner.

Day 6

·                  Start the day with a vegetable juice and flax/sunflower seeds.

·                  Have a cup of green tea later.

·                  Have a brown rice pulao with salad for lunch.

·                  Snack on a fruit and a cup of yogurt.

·                  Have a plateful of salad and steamed sprouts for dinner.

 Day 7

·                  Start the day with a cup of green tea and a fruit.

·                  Have a handful of dry fruits later.

·                  Bajra rotis and a vegetable for lunch.

·                  Drink coconut water in the evening.

·                  Have a salad and a clear soup for dinner.

“Combine this detox plan with yoga or some form of light exercise like walking and plenty of rest,” says, dietician Maithili Pashtekar. Use this time to catch up on movies you have been wanting to watch or books you wanted to read but could not because of crazy work schedules, shopping for your trousseau and checking on the arrangements.

Your wedding is something you will cherish for the rest of your life. So remain calm and don’t let last minute nerves get to you. The detox plan along with light exercise will help you do just that!

Eating Carbs at Night to Lose Your Belly Fat?

Eating carbs at night to lose your belly fat has long been a no-no for any diet plan. In fact, pretty much eating anything after dinner has been frowned upon.

A new study published in Obesity contradicts the “no eating carbs at night” idea when it comes to losing weight. The study followed 78 police obese police officers over a 6 month period. They were randomly assigned to one of two different diets.

The nutrient breakdown was the same for each diet (approximately 45 to 50% carbohydrates, 20 percent protein and 30 to 35% fat) as well as the same number of calories daily (1,300 to 1,500 calories).

There was one distinct difference between the two groups.

One would eat their carbs steadily throughout the day while the other group would be eating carbs at night. They wouldn’t just eat carbs at night, they would eat the majority of their carbohydrates during dinner.

The “eating carbs at night” group lost more weight (11.6 vs. 9.06 kg) and also had lower hunger scores as well as greater improvements in fasting glucose, average daily insulin concentrations, and insulin-resistance.

Carbs raise insulin levels which can promote body fat storage. It’s possible that the group eating carbs throughout the day was constantly raising insulin levels, allowing the body to become more efficient when it came to storing body fat.

As I’ve talked about in the Secret Abs Manifesto report, one reason for these results could be the changes in leptin secretion. You can read more about it here, but basically leptin is a protein secreted by your fat cells that helps to regulate apetite. Turning on leptin (which could happen with the carbs at night group) can decrease appetite.

The reason for this study, according to the researchers…

“…consumption of carbohydrates mostly in the evening would modify the typical diurnal pattern of leptin secretion as observed in Muslim populations during Ramadan. The experimental diet induced a single daily insulin secretion in the evening, thus it was predicted that the diet would lead to higher relative concentrations of leptin starting 6–8 h later i.e., in the morning and throughout the day. This may lead to enhanced satiety during daylight hours and improve dietary adherence.”

They also stated that…

“Studies have shown that there is a negative correlation between insulin and adiponectin levels. Since the experimental diet used in this study reduces insulin secretion during the day, it was also hypothesized that adiponectin concentrations would increase throughout the day improving insulin resistance, diminishing symptoms of the metabolic syndrome and lowering inflammatory markers.”

There were many other benefits from the eating carbs at night group such as lower levels of various inflammation markers, improved lipid profile, etc.

As always, and the study authors make this clear…

“Further research is required to confirm and clarify the mechanisms by which this relatively simple diet approach enhances satiety, leads to better anthropometric outcomes, and achieves improved metabolic response, compared to a more conventional dietary approach.”

Keep in mind that the groups were closely monitored as to their overall calorie intake as well. Why do I mention this? Because there are always consequences.

I believe one of the main reasons to restrict someone’s carbohydrate intake to earlier in the day isn’t about improved weight loss directly, but calorie control indirectly. It’s a lot easier to eat too many calories by eating carbs than by eating a meal of protein and fats.

If you can control your calorie intake, by all means, make an adjustment to your diet and try shifting to eating carbs at night more than you do now. As it may turn out eating carbs at night could be good for your body transformation results.

However, if calorie control is a struggle for you, you might not want that plateful of pasta before bed time.

5 Exercises That Can Give You An Orgasm

If you came to know that one of the ‘side-effects’ of your regular fitness workout is having an orgasm, we bet you’d be spending extra time at the gym! Don’t believe that’s a possibility? According to a survey by Indiana Centre, certain exercises like crunches, planks etc. set off orgasms amongst women. These are known as coregasms. What’s more, you don’t need to be fantasizing about sex to achieve them.
Now that we have your attention, you will be interested in knowing the reasons why they happen. While there isn’t any one specific reason for these ‘curious climaxes,’ the study reveals that coregasms occur when your abdominal muscles are being utilised, or usually during exercises that involved friction. One theory suggests that pelvic and abdominal exercises put stimulating pressure on the clitoris. Increased blood flow to the vagina during a workout might also play a role. 
So what are the specific moves that tickle your fancy? When it comes to achieving an Exercise Induced Orgasm (EIO), the main exercises that help achieve this phenomenon are abdominal exercises, climbing ropes or poles, and weight lifting. As for Exercise Induced Sexual Pleasure (EISP), biking, aerobics and yoga amongst other exercises were the causes. 
The Coregasm workout
If you want to experience this wacky, core-induced climax, we suggest you tune your body to the following exercises: 
Hanging straight-leg raise Hang from a pull-up bar with your hands shoulder-width apart and your hips centered under your body, so that there‘s a straight line from your hands to the bottom of your hips. Keeping your legs and back straight and using a slow, controlled motion, raise your legs until they’re parallel to the floor. Slowly lower your legs. Do four to six reps. As you raise your legs, don‘t swing them or let momentum do the work. Concentrate on keeping your butt down, as if you’re sitting on a chair.

Hanging side crunches
Hang from the bar, holding it with your palms facing forward, and bring your knees up so that your thighs and torso form a 90-degree angle. Next, pinch at your left side, curling your left hip up toward your left shoulder. Use your core to keep yourself from swinging, and repeat to the right. Continue alternating sides for 20 reps. This strengthens your entire core.

Single-leg plank
Lie on your back with your knees bent and your feet flat on the floor. Cross your arms over your chest and raise the lower half of your right leg until it’s in line with your left thigh. Press your left foot into the floor and contract your glutes as you lift your torso so it’s in line with your thighs. Hold. Rest for one minute, then repeat, raising the opposite leg.

Arm pull over straight-leg crunch
Grab a pair of dumbbells weighing four-five kgs and lie on your back with your arms behind you. Extend your legs at a 45-degree angle. Bring your arms up over your chest and lift your shoulders off the mat while raising your legs until they’re perpendicular to the floor. Return to start (don’t let your legs touch the floor). That’s one rep.

Medicine ball blast
Set an adjustable ab bench at a 45-degree angle. Lie down on it with your head toward the floor and hook your feet under the padded support bar. Hold a medicine ball at your chest as you lower yourself. As you come up, chest-pass the ball straight up. Catch it at the top of the movement, then lower yourself and repeat.

Cocoa Helps You Lose Weight!

If you've always kept off chocolates thinking it will add to your waistline, you've thought wrong. According to a lot of academic research, cocoa not just helps fight depression but helps you lose weight too. We asked the experts and here's what they had to say.

Boosts your Metabolism
Fibre in cocoa increases your metabolism and enables your body to burn more calories each day. It thus helps you lose weight. A good reason to drink that cup of hot chocolate then!

"Cocoa in itself is low in calories and is a great ingredient to boost your metabolism," says Mumbai-based dietician, Dr. Shilpa Mittal. So it's not such a bad idea to pop a piece of dark chocolate as a dessert. "Cocoa products are best consumed during winter when your metabolic rate dips," says Mumbai-based dietician Jyoti Lalwani

Beat that craving with cocoa
Feeling low? Reaching out for that bar of chocolate may not be a bad idea. "A major component in cocoa is Theobromine, that makes you feel satiated and prevents you from over eating," says Lalwani. 

Theobromine or the 'feel good' chemical in cocoa will not just perk you up in an instant, but will suppress your cravings for other sinful indulgences (read: chips, pizzas, fries).  "Cocoa contains caffeine that lowers your appetite too. So while you consume cocoa or dark chocolates while stressed, you're also fighting your craving for more food," says Dr. Mittal.   

Stabilizes Blood Sugar
"Cocoa is released slowly in to the blood stream which results in slow release of insulin. And thus stabilizes blood sugar levels," says Lalwani. This makes cocoa safe to be consumed by diabetics as well.

Antioxidants
Cocoa contains higher levels of antioxidants than in red wine or green tea. Antioxidants improve your digestion. "If the food you eat is not digested properly, your body tends to accumulate toxins which lowers your metabolism," she explains.  So, next time you think that plate of chat did not go well with your tummy, pop in a piece of dark chocolate

Sexercise to Burn Those Calories!

You're always supplementing your regular exercise regime with extra yoga classes, bollybics classes or early morning/late evening jogs. This of course could become a dampener in any after hours (bedroom) activities you'd like to indulge in.
So instead, why not supplement your gym exercising with a little sex? We all know it's possible to burn up to 150 calories (that roughly equals a plate-full of potato chips) during a 30-minute session!
And to help you out, we have very thoughtfully come up with a chart that tells you how much sex to have, so that you can burn off the calories you had at dinner!
But first, here's how it works.
Unbelievers might laugh at the idea of sex actually helping anyone - especially women, as one male friend so nicely pointed out - lose weight.
But 'it' does help.
Just ask Mumbai-based sexologist and iDiva.com expert, Dr Raj Brahmbhatt. He says, "Definitely, sex is like a moderate workout. It's like brisk walking. Sex can be thought of as sexercise rather than just an act of copulation."
Elaborating, he explains that having sex flexes several muscles in the body. And as the blood that collects in the pelvic region rushes all over the body during "peak and release" (just like when you exercise) it gives your heart and lungs a good workout.
Of course, adds Dr Brahmbhatt, how many calories you burn also depends on how vigorous the sex is! "It's better if both partners are completely involved in the act - then all the joints, all the muscles come into play. If you're sexually fit, you're also physically fit," he says.
Burn after eating
Scenario 1: The cook cooked, so you couldn't have your juwar chappati and the veggie wasn't made in a tablespoon of oil! Your meal consisted of: Two chapattis (100 cal/chapatti), aloo beans (134 cals), dal (92 cals) and rice (111 cal).
Calories consumed: 537 cals
Work it off with: One solid hour of sex will help you burn around 300 calories. But remember that actions leading up to the Big Act will also help. For example, removing the bra with two hands will help you lose 8 calories; if it's removed with the mouth, you'll (or your partner, actually) burn 8.7 calories; but if it's removed with just ONE hand, one can burn up to 18!
Scenario 2: You couldn't resist, and so breaking your diet, you ate one gulab jamun!
Calories consumed: 100
Work it of with: Kissing helps burn about 2.5 calories/minute. So, an hour of kissing (passionately) should do nicely. It'll help you burn off about 150 calories!
Scenario 3: You were at a cocktail party where they were serving hot, hot samosas and you just couldn't resist!
Calories consumed: 256 per samosa
Work it of with: Assuming you were good and ate just two, you can burn of the 400-plus calories with a combination of foreplay and some pretty intense sex. Some 15 minutes of foreplay can help you burn around 30 calories (we know it's not much) and follow it up with another 45 minutes of sex - that should help you get rid of 290 calories. Don't look shocked, it works! Now that you've got enough examples, you can do the math yourselves. Also, if you have sex three times a week on average, you could end up losing about five to six pounds a year! That's enough to keep you fit! 

 

Celebrity Workout for Thinner Thighs

Fat-busting moves from Courteney Cox and Lauren Graham's trainer

HOW IT WORKS

Michelle Lovitt understands the pressures an A-list actress faces to always look camera ready. As personal trainer to Cougar Town’sCourteney Cox and Parenthood’s Lauren Graham, she’s constantly coming up with ways to mix up their workouts and target trouble spots such as the hips, butt, and of course, thighs.

“Increasing strength in your lower body increases lean body mass, which raises your metabolism and helps your body burn calories at a higher rate, even at rest,” Lovitt says. “So the most important thing you want to do for lean legs is strength train them by lifting weights that will cause your muscles to fatigue after 10 to 15 repetitions,” adds theZobha Brand Ambassador and celebritytrainer. “Then, add in cardio exercises like hill running, hiking, walking, skating, and bike riding to sculpt the quads, hamstrings, calves, and glutes by aiding in body-fat loss.”

Lovitt designed this lower-body workout to help you get slimmer thighs—just in time for summer!

TWISTING SQUATS

Squats are one of the best exercises you can do to tone your hips, butt, and thighs, Lovitt says. They burn fat and help build muscle in your legs by using your bodyweight as resistance.

How to do it: Stand with feet shoulder-width apart, holding a 5- to 10-pound dumbbell in each hand, elbows bent at 90 degrees, with palms facing forward. Keeping your chest up, begin to squat down.

As you lift back up through your glutes, twist your body to the left, allowing your feet to pivot so that right heel lifts off the floor. At the same time, press dumbbells overhead. Return to start. Switch sides and repeat.

Begin with 12-15 reps on each side. Begin with one set and work your way up to three sets.

SINGLE-LEG DEADLIFTS

Hold a dumbbell in each hand and place your left leg slightly behind you, lightly resting on your toe.

Keeping the weight in front of your thighs, tip forward from your hips and lower as low as your flexibility allows. Keep your back flat or with a natural arch and make sure you keep your abs contracted to protect your lower back.

Squeeze your glutes on the working leg and raise back up. Do two to three sets of 12-15 reps.

REVERSE LUNGES

Stand with feet hip distance apart. Step back three to four feet with your right leg, land on the ball of your right foot, and lower into a lunge. Pause, then push yourself to the starting position as quickly as you can. Repeat 12-15 reps on your right leg and then switch to the left. Aim for two to three sets total.

STEPUPS WITH A KICK BACK

Stand facing a set of stairs or an elevated platform. Step onto the platform with yourright foot. Keep your right foot on the stair as you press through your heel and rise. At the same time, lift your left foot to touch the step quickly and then extend your left leg back (really squeezing your butt) before returning to the starting position with both feet on the floor.

Lara Launches 'Prenatal Yoga With Lara Dutta' DVD For Yoga During Pregnancy

The yummy mummy Lara Dutta recently launched her Prenatal Yoga DVD. The program 'Prenatal Yoga With Lara Dutta' has been conceived and developed by Lara who an avid yoga practitioner and Tonia Clark - an expert Prenatal Yoga instructor.

Prenatal Yoga is a powerful tool for to-be Mothers. It caters to the need of a pregnant woman as her body undergoes various changes during this period. In the prenatal program a pregnant women utilizes easy Asanas and positions that naturally create more space within the womb for the growing baby.
Buy Lara Dutta's DVD For Rs 265/- >> [Cash on Delivery]

It encourages mind - body harmony, creates deep relaxation and rejuvenation, and prepares a woman for the process of labour and delivery. Often pregnancy brings with it a period of inactivity and lethargy, not to mention a host of fluctuating emotions... Lara Dutta's Prenatal Yoga program, which has been specially designed for all 3 trimesters will help you counter this by keeping you fit and active, and more over in a happy positive frame of mind - Buy The DVD Now >>

Wholistic in it's approach, Lara Dutta's Prenatal Yoga program run you through the relevance and benefits of prenatal yoga and then takes you through a 'do-it-along' 30 minute yoga routine, guided meditation series and labour oriented endurance exercises called keep-ups.

To Buy "Prenatal Yoga With Lara Dutta" DVD For Rs 265/- Click Here >>

Video: Prenatal Yoga With Lara Dutta - A Promo
Watch the video below to get a glimpse of the 8 month pregnant Lara Dutta performing her yoga poses and exercises. Lara also Talks About Her Prenatal Yoga Program.



Pictures of Lara Dutta Performing The Various Yoga Asanas During Pregnancy









Buy "Prenatal Yoga With Lara Dutta" DVD For Rs 265/- From Flipkart.com >>

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Buy "Prenatal Yoga With Lara Dutta" DVD From amazon.com >>

Confessions of a Serial Dieter by Kalli Purie

A self-confessed serial dieter KALLI PURIE's weight loss epiphany came when she tipped the scales at 103 kilos and realised that she didn’t have the energy to keep up with her two young children. Realising that she had been putting off her life, while she had been putting on the weight, she decided it was time to go on a diet. Her Book "Confessions of a Serial Dieter" is her weight loss memoir

It has taken her years of therapy, diets, workouts, trainers and dieticians to get hold of her life and face her weight. Her two deliciously edible kids are the only treat she is allowed. Though she has achieved many things as an alumni of Modern School, a graduate from Oxford University and a media professional, nothing has brought her more joy than shedding half her weight. She currently lives in New Delhi and is on a new diet.

Kalli who has struggled with her weight since childhood, has finally found a weight she is happy with. Mostly. The diets featured in her book "Confessions of a Serial Dieter" are structured rather like episodes in her life, full of characters, anecdotes and juicy nuggets of weight wisdom from surya namaskars set to Bollywood beats to drastic coconut water diets, from a dark experiment with bulimia to a love affair with the self-concocted champagne diet. The story of weight lost and a life gained, Confessions of a Serial Dieter will make you believe you can do it, whether its losing those stubborn last three kilos or chasing your dream! - Buy The Book Now >>

Pictures of Kalli Purie Before and After Her Diet Program

Kalli’s sole qualification to write the book is that she has “been in the fat suit". "The book is told from an emotional point of view; from a dieter’s point of view,” says Kalli, adding that her book is a first-person account. “Fat people don’t think of themselves as fat,” says Kalli Purie, who allows herself to eat foods like French Fries, pizzas and jalebis only once a year.

Lifestyle battle:

The mother of two says that living in any of the metros doesn’t make healthy lifestyle choices easier. “What choice do we have, but to be closet dieters! We are continually assaulted by processed foods and ‘lazy entertainment’,” says Kalli, referring to options like going out for a dinner or a movie; choices that are usually defined or restricted by food. “I ask my friends to join me for a walk instead.”

Dear diary

Writing the book "Confessions of a Serial Dieter" proved to be a cathartic experience for Kalli, who says that her biggest revelation during the experience was the realisation that, “Everyone who is thin, is working on it. There is a diet out there for everyone; you have to find what works for you. This is what I did,” she says.

“Finding your ‘happy weight’ is like finding your soul mate. It takes time. I found my soul mate easily, but it took time for me to find my ‘happy weight’,” she signs off with a laugh.

Buy The Book "Confessions of a Serial Dieter" For Rs 168/- Here >>

What does 300 calories look like?

You barely go out for dinners or indulge in those sinful pizzas or pastas. But somehow, the weight keeps pilling on!
Well, the fault may still be in your daily diet. We all have busy schedules and hectic days but that doesn't stop us from indulging in yummy [and greasy!] snacks - read: samosas, chips, biscuits - without knowing how it affects our health. We got dietician Mehek Makhija to list the calories in some of the most common snacks, and the amount of exercise you’d need to burn it off!  

Potato/banana chips
As soon as the clock strikes four, you have your packet of chips on your work desk. And you won’t stop munching until the packet is over. Here’s how much you’ve just consumed.

Calorie Count: Every 50 gms contains 268 Calories
How to burn the calories: 90-115 minutes of brisk walking
Healthy replacement: Have two bananas or a glass of fruit juice or a fruit plate to munch on.

Chocolate Chip cookies 
You’ve got to have something with your hot cup of coffee, right? So out comes that box of cookies. And it’s not just one cookie you limit yourself to. You pop the second, and third…

Calorie Count: Each biscuit contains a minimum of 53 calories 
How to burn the calories: 30-45 minutes of brisk walking
Healthy replacement: Have 2-3 Marie (wheat flour) biscuits 

Soft drinks
You must have been warned against it several times. But somehow, you just can’t swallow your food without a glass of Coke or Pepsi to accompany it. Those sinful glasses contain around 7-8 spoons of sugar.

Calorie Count: For every 355ml, it contains 150 Calories
How to burn the calories: 30 minutes of cycling
Replacement: Have coconut water (48 calories for every 200 ml) or lime juice (40 calories for every 200 ml). A healthier option would be soups, which will vary in calories depending on brands and types, but will surely be less than 150 calories.

Chocolates
We all have a sweet tooth, and specially need o pamper it after a full meal. So indulging in a chocolate becomes our daily routine. Well, before you decide to indulge this way again, you may need to read this!

Calorie Count: Dairy Milk (60g): 315 cals
How to burn the calories: Over 2 hours of brisk walking
Replacement: Fruit custard/ fruit salad/ bengali sweets like Rasagulla etc, which may be high in calories but at least have some nutritional value over chocolates.

Samosas
So you’ve just left work and decide to grab a bite with your colleagues before you head home! What better than a hot plate of Samosas to sooth those hunger pangs? When we asked dietician Mehek as to what we should do if we have samosas, she laughed, saying, “You’d rather have an entire meal of 2 rotis and sabzi in those calories

Calorie Count: 450-500 calories in one large samosa
How to burn the calories 4-5 days of brisk walking for 60 minutes each day
Replacement: Healthier options like sandwiches are advisable

So the next time you decide to grab a quick bite, think about the effort you'd need to put in to burn it off! 
Have any healthier options for daily snacking? Leave us a comment and let us know!