Padma Lakshmi’s diet secrets   Padma Lakshmi may be remembered as novelist Salman Rushdie’s ex wife ,cook book writer and Top Chef host. But when it comes to her super slim and fit figure at the age of 44 she has her own way to fitness and health. Check out her fitness routine which is quite sensible and inspirational. Clean Diet She follows a clean diet: no meats, no sweets, no alcohol, no cheese, no fried food, no wheat. She works out five days a week, boxing three days, lifting weights the other two.   To maintain weight She is into strength-training , uses the treadmill and elliptical, and boxes three times a week. She also does the  planks at home and jump rope. She also carries a skipping rope and when she is working she finds time to skip as quick work out when there is no gym.   After pregnancy She got back to her usual workouts after 6 weeks of delivery. She also says that it’s important to get enough sleep because the body holds on to more calories when it's tired, and rest is important to weight loss. She also avoids using the lift and walks up 70 floors when she can. Healthy habits She drinks a homemade cleanse of two ounces of pure cranberry juice, six ounces of either green tea or plain water, one Vitamin C packet, and a teaspoon of fiber powder three times a day along with two to three liters of water a day.Apart from that she eats in moderation and enjoys her regular pizzas, nachos and cheese.

Get alert with this simple Hand Mudra       There are times when we get caught with the routines of work , home, children and you end up feeling lethargic and dull. These feelings could lead to stress, depression and general feeling of numbness and disorientation. It has nothing to do with the body but more of the mind and this can be resolved with not only exercise, taking  a holiday or in chronic cases – medication. The beauty of different mudras in yoga work wonderfully well on each aspect of the body and the Shankha or Conch mudra is the perfect and easy to do hand exercise which can help alleviate you from this lethargy. Follow these simple steps using your fingers as the positioning of the fingers in a particular way activates the brain. Bring your hands about three inches apart with the palms facing each other. Point the left thumb at the right palm. Wrap the four fingers of the right hand around the left thumb. Place the right thumb and the left middle finger together. The resulting formation of your hands should roughly resemble a conch shell. Place this mudra on your chest, close your eyes and bring your attention to your breathing. This Conch   mudra should be held for up to two minutes.

Some must have healthy foods in your home       According to the popular Health magazine here are a few of a some must have foods in your home for health and energy. • Extra virgin olive oil: so prolific and necessary that it's earned its very own acronym, EVOO is the cornerstone of the peerlessly healthy Mediterranean diet.  • Nonfat Greek yogurt: because creamy and rich and healthy and low calorie are four descriptors you hardly ever find in the same sentence. Our desi yoghurt is just fine too. • Quinoa: Dietician Jenna Braddock says that "For one cup of cooked quinoa, you get 8 grams of protein and 5 grams of fiber for just 222 calories. Plus, the hearty whole grain is a good source of energizing iron and B vitamins." Oh, and it's great in salads and soups or as a side dish. This trend has just started in India too. • Eggs: three words: healthy, affordable and filling and packed with protein. • Tomato paste: Packs flavor and richness without calories or fat. Plus, it's cheap and chock full of cancer-fighting lycopene.  • Bananas: cheap, hearty, healthy, flavorful, and diverse and filled with potassium.  • Garlic:Garlic allows you to add flavor to your dishes quickly and easily without unhealthy fats or processed ingredients. • Frozen shrimp: low in calories, high in flavor, pack a protein punch.  • Mustard: bursting with selenium and turmeric, two immune boosting and cancer-fighting components.  • Dark chocolate: Dark chocolate provides powerful disease-fighting polyphenols and has even been associated with weight loss." 

Sleep well to lose that belly     No we didn’t mean that literally!  but the studies have shown that its best to avoid late night parties and staying up late,  if you want to cut the belly fat from growing. There's a reason as to why sleep deprivation can cause belly fat. When you stay awake in the night , your cortisol (stress hormone) levels go high. Typically, cortisol levels drop as you approach your regular bedtime, but studies found that after just one night of no sleep, cortisol in sleep-deprived individuals decreased six times slower the following night than control subjects' who were snoozing as usual. The end result? A major cortisol buildup. High levels of the stress hormone reduce your ability to handle stress, making you more prone to panic attacks and chronic depression. The buildup also kick-starts a vicious cycle: you're tired during the day and can't sleep at night as your stress and the hormone begin to pile up. And this stress which is  linked to cortisol leads to high levels of belly fat in women.  So get that good night’s sleep for a healthy lifestyle and a healthier body.

A  Kale veg-fruit smoothie for breakfast diet    According to Terry Walters, nutrition expert and author of "Clean Food”, your breakfast smoothie isn't very diet-friendly,if you're blending together a bunch of fruit and not much else, the resulting drink is high in calories and not particularly filling. And we've all heard that breakfast is the most important meal of the day, but it really is true says So to make your go-to smoothie a bit more nutritious, Walters has a simple solution: Throw in some vegetables. "Follow this rule when using a blender: For every fruit that goes in, add a vegetable," she says. For a breakfast smoothie that will keep you full until the afternoon, she suggests using frozen peaches, banana, and as much kale as you can squeeze into the container. Kale is a super food that contains vitamins, antioxidants and cancer-fighting phytonutrients -- and it has tons of fiber, but only 36 calories per cup. This green leafy vegetable which belongs to the cabbage family is available in many countries and is called  karam saag in Hindi and is more prevalent in the northerm parts of India. Blend it with rice milk, ice, and a spoonful of maple syrup and you are good to go for the day!

Zumba for your butts   The latest Latin American high intense dance exercises has taken the world by storm. Known for its quirky moves which are high intense and extremely fast they make you sweat and burn your calories and help in weight loss. This unique dance form is also extremely helpful for those who have tough time trying to cut the rear end of the body what we mean is the butt! The Latin-dance-inspired cardio dance is so full of shaking moves where your hips lead in almost every step as you salsa and dance to the contagious beats. Sixty minutes of dancing to the upbeat music is bound to make you feel happy anyway, but the bonus is what it does to your rear end; it's central to almost every dance move and having a little extra flesh back there means you have a little more weight to throw around and burn. So get yourself a DIY Zumba fitness CD or join a Zumba class near your place and  fill your IPods full of Latino Shakira and Lopez tunes and work your butt away!

Exercise during those Periods     There has been a never ending debate about whether you can exercise when you have periods. The traditional belief which is also endorsed by Ayurvedic physicians and old school of medicine which say that a woman must rest during menstrual flow is slowly changing. Yoga is banned during those 3-5 days  but fitness and weight loss which are the buzz words in the health scenario has seen a change where women are seen exercising during periods and  with the Sanitary napkin ads nowadays are also showing that you can exercise and not feel uncomfortable during “those” days. So we know that it is not impossible to exercise but if you have those usual cramps and pain in the stomach we suggest that you take rest till the phase of discomfort is over. Alisa Vitti, the author of WomanCode, and an expert on says that women need to be sensitive to the neuro-hormonal changes happening in their bodies while planning their exercise regimens. Follicular stage : Right after your period ends, in the follicular stage (7 to 10 days), you'll have fairly high energy levels. Vitti suggests you try a new cardio routine. "You have more new neural pathways being created during this phase, and they're more easily connected, so you're more likely to stick to a new exercise plan." Ovulatory  stage : In the ovulatory phase (3 to 4 days), right after the follicular stage, you'll be at full energy levels, and can go for an even more intense work out. "This is where we have a sharp rise in hormones, including a dramatic increase in estrogen and a nice surge of testosterone," explains Vitti. So a boot camp wouldn't be out of the question. Luetal stage: In the luetal phase, which lasts for 10 or 12 days, you'll start to slow down a bit. "Your energy may still be high if you're healthy," Vitti says. But as estrogen and progesterone decline, you'll slow down. That's when, suggests Vitti suggests strength training .When you reach the menstrual part of your period, you'll want to take it easy, and stick to low intensity workouts like walking or yoga. Trust us, your uterus will thank you.

Split Hops for added fitness     As part of your daily fitness routine which includes brisk walking and running you can also incorporate the plyometric Split Hop which is a great way to improve your metabolism and fitness levels. The Split Hop is a combination of balance, timing, and power for your glutes and legs. 1.It’s simple , first come into a lunge position, one foot in front of the other, hip-width apart. 2.Bend both your knees and leap up into the air, leaving the ground with both feet at the same time. 3. As soon as you land, do it again. Do two jumps then switch your feet for two more. You can increase the number as you get better. And the best part is that you don’t need any fancy equipment or place, do it in the park or where you walk.

Spend 20 minutes to heal respiratory problems   Watch Dr CV Rao show us how Yoga can help us in reducing respiratory problems. From a basic cold to asthma, to other chronic respiratory problems which occur because of drinking cold beverages, pollution and the weather, you can cure and heal these breathing problems by just spending 20 minutes of your time doing Yoga and Pranayama. A must watch for those who have chronic respiratory problems.    

Diet and Exercise during Puberty   Watch Dr Padmaja Prasad talk about the importance of diet and exercise during the onset of puberty.She emphasizes the need for exercise to regularize the hormones which are stimulated during puberty period. A healthy diet is also essential as it keeps the skin free from acne and pimples which are an outcome of hormonal imbalance during puberty. She gives very important tips about what should be eaten during the puberty phase.

Tricep Bench Dips for toned arms   Summer means sleeveless tops and when you wear them we also expect toned arms that go with it. Apart from your regular exercise for the hands the Tricep Bench Dips are an excellent way to tone your arms from flab to fit. How to do it 1.     Sit low on the bench making sure that your knuckles are facing your back as you grip the edge. 2.      Slowly walk your legs forward until your thighs are parallel to the floor keeping your feet flat on the ground. 3.      As you inhale, lower your body until your upper arms are almost horizontal, then exhale as you bring yourself back to your starting position. The best part is you can even do it using a chair while at work or at home!

సన్నబడాలనుకుంటున్నారా   " అర్జంటుగా సన్నబడాలి" అనుకుంటే, ఎం చెయ్యాలో  తెలీక  అవస్థాపడుతుంటాం. అయితే తీసుకునే ఆహారాన్ని తగ్గించటంలో పాటు క్రమం తప్పని వ్యాయామం మాత్రమే అధిక బరువును ఆడుతూ,పాడుతూ తగ్గిస్తుంది అంటున్నారు నిపుణులు. అయితే వ్యాయామం ద్వారా ఎన్ని కెలోరీలు ఖర్చు చేయొచ్చో తెలిస్తే చక్కగా ప్లాన్ చేయొచ్చు కదా! ఇదిగో ఆ వివరాలు చదవండి- పాటించండి- సన్నబడండి.   నడక: బరువు తగ్గాలనుకునే వారికీ అందరూ చెప్పే సలహా నడవమని నడక వాళ్ళ అంత లాభం ఉంటుందా అని అనుమానం వస్తుంటుంది కదా మనకి కాని నిజంగా చాలా లాభం వుంటుందట. ఎందుకంటే ఒక గంట నడిస్తే చాలు 300 కెలోరీలు ఖర్చవుతాయి. ఇంకాస్త ఓపిక ఉంటె కాస్త ఎత్తైన ప్రదేశాలవైపు నడిస్తే చాలు 400 దాకా కెలోరీలు కరిగిపోవడం ఖాయం.     ఇక నడుము కింద భాగం నాజుకుగా, ఉండాలంటే రోజు హాయిగా సైకిల్ తొక్కండి చాలు 350 కెలోరీలు  వద్దన్నా కరిగిపోతాయి.400 వందలకు పైగా కెలోరీలు ఖర్చు కావాలంటే పరుగుకు మించిన వ్యాయామం లేదు.   అలాగే మంచి మ్యూజిక్ పెట్టుకుని  నచ్చిన డ్యాన్స్ చేస్తే చాలు కెలోరీలు ఇట్టే కరిగిపోతాయంటే ఎవరు మాత్రం డ్యాన్స్ చేయకుండా ఉంటారు చెప్పండి. అలా డ్యాన్స్ చేస్తే చేస్తే గంటకు మూడొందల కెలోరీలకు పైగా ఖర్చవుతాయి. నచ్చిన మ్యూజిక్ పెట్టి సాల్సా, రాక్ఎన్రోల్ , బెల్లి డ్యాన్సింగ్ ఇలా వచ్చినది చేసేయండి.చాలు ఇక , స్కిప్పింగ్, స్పీడ్ జాగింగ్ , ఈత, ఆటలు, ఇవన్ని కూడా మానసిక ఆనందాన్నిచ్చెవె. వీటిలో గంటపాటు ఏ ఒక్కటి చేసినా 400  పైగా కెలోరీలు ఖర్చవటం ఖాయం. కాబట్టి కష్టంగా కాక ఇష్టంగా శరీరాన్ని కదిలించి బరువు తగ్గించండి అంటున్నారు నిపుణులు ఆలోచించండి ఆచరణలో పెట్టండి.   - రమ.

Ileana Fitness Secrets       The hourglass beauty is very well known for her slim figure and a great structure. Any guy would go crazy and any lady would envy this pretty woman. After a string of movies in Tollywood and Kollywood, Ileana has now shifted her complete focus towards Bollywood. With films like Barfi, Phata Poster Nikla Hero and Main Tera Hero, she is currently lucky in the tinsel town. Let us check out the fitness secrets of Ileana which also includes her daily diet.  Ileana's Stats : HEIGHT: 5’5’’ or 165cm WEIGHT: 56kg or 123 pounds MEASUREMENT: 32-24-38 in or 81-61-96cm Workout Routine : 1. Ileana has the habit of Running a good distance thrice in a week. This helps her in maintaining the right figure.  2. Swimming is something Ileana love. Being a Goan, it is natural for a person to love Swimming. She has the stamina of doing 100 laps without any strain. Ileana goes for swimming two days in a week.  3. Ileana believes in training with breaks. Initially she starts off from sprints and then shifts to slow jogging and later on she comes back to sprint. These intervals will help Ileana in loosening her muscles. This habit will generally help people in avoiding cramps and injuries during exercise.  Diet Regime : Ileana is one actress who does not believe in crash diet to be fit. On the contrary she loves food and mainly prefers Indian cuisine. Oily and fried food are excluded. Ileana eats absolutely healthy food that gives her a lot of nourishment. Here is Ileana's menu for a day !!! 1. Breakfast : Fresh Juice, Two Eggs (Poached) and two slices of Wheat Bread. 2. Lunch : Two Rotis, Fish or Chicken, Fresh or Boiled Vegetables and Daal.    3. Dinner : Fresh or Boiled Vegetables, Chicken or Fish, Two Rotis and a Glass of Milk.

  Triple-interval training      If you are the serious gym freak checks out the Triple interval training schedule. Here's how it works: instead of alternating between two intervals, fast and slow, as you would during an HIIT (high-intensity interval training) workout, you alternate between 30-, 20-, and 10-second bouts, building your burn from slow to fast to max. Benefits: It pushes you harder without your even realizing it. Even when you think you're in high gear, you probably have the capacity to push a little bit more. Here, the last interval forces you to dig down and find whatever you have left to burn and because you know it'll be brief (you can do anything for 10 seconds), you're less likely to slack off, says Nisha Varma, Pune-based Reebok University master trainer. Those last seconds spike metabolism, endurance and speed. Runners tried it and proved the theory: they shaved seconds off their times and lowered their blood pressure, all while cutting their mileage in half. When tested on walkers, they lost up to 5 kilos and more than 12 inches in 8 weeks. Try it with whichever activity you like best to supercharge your burn; throw in some lower-body toning moves; and balance it with set of calming exercises to keep you cool.  

Habitual Diet and Pre Digested food     Habitual Diet : Watch  Dr Brindavani, Nutritionist speak about pre-digested food which we eat on a regular basis as a habitual diet. These foods go through several processes e.g., idly which is soaked, ground, fermented and eaten. These foods have nutrient benefits, but because of the time taken to make them, people are resorting to eating conventional breakfasts which are faster to make. But the end result is we are missing a lot of nutrients because of these foods. She also gives healthy tips to balance our meals through a proper habitual diet.

High Impact exercises are good for the Bones   Contrary to the fact that women should be careful while doing high impact exercises as they tend to cause wear and tear if done excessively and could also jar the bones , but research shows  that  subjecting the bones to periodic stress bursts in the form of High intensive exercise would actually add mass to the bones  as people age which is good on the long run. Recently researchers at the University of Bristol gathered male and female adolescents — the body accumulates bone mass rapidly at this time of life — and had them go about their daily routines while they wore activity monitors. The bone density of the volunteers’ hips was also measured. A week later, the scientists reclaimed the monitors to check each teenager’s exposure to G forces¬, a measure of impact. Those who experienced impacts of 4.2 G’s or greater — though these were infrequent — had notably sturdier hipbones. Additional work done by the same researchers showed that running a 10-minute mile or jumping up onto and down from a box at least 15 inches high was needed to produce forces that great. The significance of these findings is that people should probably run pretty fast or jump high to generate forces great enough to help build bone. So, Dr. Tobias says, young people and healthy adults should probably pound the ground, at least sometimes. Sprint. Jump off a box 15 inches or higher at your gym and jump back up. Hop in place. A study by other researchers published in January found that women between 25 and 50 who hopped at least 10 times twice a day, with 30 seconds between each hop, significantly increased their hipbone density after four months. Another group of subjects, who hopped 20 times daily, showed even greater gains.

Share Your Diet with your best friends   With any endeavor to lose weight, most women think they need to go on a diet, says Lisa Sanders, MD, a clinician-educator in primary care at Yale University and author of The Perfect Fit Diet. But that's not exactly true. A diet is simply what you eat, which means you're already on one. That diet either works for you so you achieve and maintain the weight you want, or it doesn't. The real secret to eating healthier and losing weight is finding a diet you can stick to – one that suits your tastes and lifestyle. You need to help you find your own personal diet strategy. If you are the one who turns to friends and pros for answers Your ideal diet & weight loss plan involves plenty of support from women who've been there - sharing your battles with chocolate fudge and meeting you for late-night walks around the block. Check out weight loss programs that meet weekly for fun, camaraderie, and tips on nutrition, or go the fitness route and join an aerobics or Pilates class with a core group of members. Sessions with a personal trainer can give you regular, one-on-one help with your unique weight loss demons. If you're a stellar follower, but not so good at coming up with methods yourself, choose a diet plan that offers sample meals and grocery lists, says Suzanne Farrell, MS, RD, a spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association and owner of Cherry Creek Nutrition in Denver. Or start your own diet support group, choosing dependable friends who actually have time to offer weight loss help and won't let you get away with making excuses. A group of three or four friends can keep you firmly on the fitness wagon even when one member can't show up. Designate a leader, set a plan of attack and be sure to let your supporters know exactly what you need most from them, whether it's gentle encouragement or the toughest of love.

Value of Drinking Water   Right Diet || Value of Water : Watch  Dr Brindavani, Nutritionist speak about the importance of drinking water.She speaks about the right quantity of water to be had, based on the age and weight of a person. The metabolism factor plays an important role in how much water your drink and it is important that you make drinking water a discipline.