Trimming the fat

Somendra Pandey,engineer and aspiring model,has already called it his New Year resolution and has been seriously following it from day one. “I have had enough of junk these days. Be it because of the party mood or the peer-pressure that we tend to eat and drink a lot. However,I need to take care of my body given the fact that I aspire to get into the field of modeling. So,I have strict orders for my cook to give me less oily and spicy food and I also follow a strict timing for my dinner,which has to be before eight. Eating out is a strict no-no for me now.”

While a few are able to follow a diet chart,other out station people are forced to resort to fruits as between-meals and soups as dinner,as not much can be expected at the hostel. Soniya Mehta,student,says,“No matter how much I binged and ate during the parties,I cannot ask our mess attendant to prepare less oily or spicy food,so I had to resort to ready to make soups and fruits that are available in the market. I now start my days with fruits followed by lunch at the mess,then again some fruits or vegetable salad in the evening and finally soup with some vegetable as dinner. But dieting is a must,not only to detoxify my body but also to loose those extra inches that came as my New Year gift from my friends. I have also borrowed a diet-chart from my friend,who went to gym to get that and I am following it better than my friend is doing it.”

Another student,Riya Kapur,has same story to tell. She says,“Though I don’t feel guilty of eating high-calorie food during parties,but I do feel that I need to come out that of binging mode and have some simple food. Right from Christmas to New Year,everyday I have had cakes with lots of cream and have almost everyday dined out with my friends. Now,I have promised myself to increase intake of salads and fruits. Given the fact that I stay in a hostel,I would be expecting too much if I demand home cooked food,so fruits and vegetable salads come as only help. Even,while having food in our mess I stick to basic food like rice and dal or chapatti and some green vegetables. Thankfully I don’t have any visible effect of my binging on my body in terms of skin related problems or added inches,but I know that my body needs to relax a bit.”

Rujuta Diwekar,dietician and author of the bestseller,Don’t lose your mind,lose your weight adds,‘It’s important to eat right and eat guilt free. When you just can’t help and have to give into the festivities,give in,but make sure you couple it up with lifestyle changes. While planning a diet for my clients I keep in mind of any upcoming festivals,so they stick to their diet,and enjoy the festivities guilt free.’