Diwali is just around the corner, which means so too are the sweets, late mornings and days off from work. However, despite all the planning, the only thing which seems to be avoided in the schedules is how to keep fit and healthy. This is particularly the case in people who have spent a long time trying to lose weight and then simply give in to temptation. It may seem like spending a few days indulging won’t do you any harm, but if you’re new to exercise and have spent less than six months working on a routine, you could be at a high risk of dropping off the fitness radar for a long time afterwards – all for the sake of one event. There are ways to stay fit during the celebrations, without it cutting into every moment of fun and relaxation with your loved ones. For example, you could indulge in the foods that you particularly enjoy during Diwali rather than consuming everything on offer. There are so many foods on offer, such as street food, cakes and sweets, that it can be difficult to avoid them. But try to stick to the essentials and carry on with your healthy eating plan other than that, with just your basic three nutritious meals a day.
Even some festival foods have healthy options, so scan the table and stock up on those options which provide a lower fat content and plenty of nutrients. For example, avoiding fried foods is a good start and the same can be said of anything laden with sugar. Rice-based dishes which have plenty of vegetables in them would be your best bet, as these will be lower in fat but have enough vitamins and minerals to make them good for your healthy eating plan. Try to make the selection of foods available as healthy as you can, including whole grains, lean proteins such as eggs, chicken and fish, and dried fruits. Dairy is great for protein, as long as it’s low in fat and sugar, and plenty of water. And, as with any healthy eating plan, stock up on fruits and vegetables.
So what about exercise? Well, celebrations are notoriously about relaxing and indulging, so chances are you haven’t spent much time thinking about your gym sessions. But making the effort to stay healthy and fit during this time will help ensure that once Diwali is done for the year, you aren’t way behind on your plan. Try to keep fit where possible and sneak in a few gym classes or a run around the block of an afternoon will keep you in check for the coming months. The best thing to do is to plan your Diwali week in advance and ensure that there are at least three mornings out of six that you don’t need to be late, because the previous nights will end early. Set out these mornings as home workout sessions, and plan them with your trainer if possible. If you don’t have a trainer, try to be as regimented and disciplined as possible. Be sure to warm up and cool down before and after, so that you can avoid injury where possible, as this will slow up your regime for many months after. It’s all in the planning with big festivities, so as long as you’ve pre-planned it all you should be able to maintain your healthy lifestyle and still have a great time.
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