Anuradha Varanasi
... Read More
By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. Cookie Policy.
Written By: Anuradha Varanasi | Updated : February 2, 2016 9:50 AM IST
The first two weeks of 2016 will soon come to an end and if you have managed to stick to your resolution of eating healthy and exercising so far, congratulations! By now, the hardest part of trying to set a certain routine towards a healthier life is over. Your mind and body is starting to get acclimatised to your new lifestyle and you are finding it easier to wake up on time, have a hearty breakfast and plan for your lunch before leaving your house for work or setting about with any other chores. Here are some ideas for today:
Morning: You could start your day by having coconut water. If there isn t a coconut vendor available nearby, head outdoors for a half an hour walk and buy yourself coconut water. This drink is not only refreshing but is loaded with vitamins and can act as a natural energy drink. These are the five reasons why you should drink coconut water regularly.
Healthy recipes
It is difficult to be able to come up with a new and healthy recipe everyday, especially when you re strapped for time and have to rush to your workplace. Also, in some cases, the ingredients aren t always available in your fridge or kitchen cabinet. However, you could try one of these easy Indian recipes to stick to a healthier diet in 2016.
Breakfast: For breakfast, you could try this quick and easy recipe of savoury Maharashtrian pancakes or rice ghavan. You can make this within a few minutes and these ingredients are always available in most Indian kitchens. If you don t have any curry to eat this with, don t fret, you could make coconut chutney by grinding finely chopped coconut and adding some tadka to it or even any chutney you have at home or gunpowder will taste great with the rice ghavan!
Lunch: If you have managed to squeeze breakfast into your schedule, by the time it is lunch time, you develop a healthy appetite and need something filling as well as healthy food to keep you going. Altogether skip eating at your office canteen or at a restaurant and instead make these easy vegetable parathas. This recipe won t require too many ingredients and though it is simple, it is high in fiber and still packed with flavour and taste.
Dinner: You could end your day with a light dinner and what better way than making a coconut and paneer puranpoli. This dish is high in protein and will also satisfy your sweet tooth. This way you won t end up eating heavy Indian sweets or chocolates before bedtime! Preparing this coconut and paneer puranpoli will take only 15 minutes and is also incredibly healthy.
Snacks: By the time it is evening, most of us get intense hunger pangs and it is around this time when your cravings for salty foods is at its highest. However, before you think of running to the nearest vada pav or chaat vendor to fulfill these desires, you could instead plan ahead and use this spicy falafel recipe! Chickpeas are high in dietary fibre, vitamins and minerals and low in fat. The best part is, this dish is delicious and a much healthier option instead of your usual Frankie.
Exercises
By now your body is used to exercising and the initial soreness and pain you might have experienced has started to subside or subsided completely which means you can now start increasing the intensity of your exercises slowly.
Home: Lie down on your yoga mat and bend your legs at your knees. Now, lift your upper body slowly and touch your left knee with right elbow and bring it back to the first position as slowly as possible. While doing this, you will feel a bit of pressure on your abs. Repeat this with your left elbow and right knee. Once you are comfortable, instead of keeping your other leg folded at the knee, stretch it out completely. So, when your left elbow touches your right knee, your left leg will be stretched out above the ground. Make sure your foot doesn t come in contact with the ground. This exercise is an excellent way to get rid of that stubborn belly fat. You can count till 15 and take a 20 seconds break before doing another set. If you re not feeling too tired, increase the number to 30 before taking rest again. These are the 5 types of crunches for a flat belly.
Gymming: Since you have already begun with doing squats, you re now ready to lift some kind of weight while you re at it. Pick up a bar which isn t too heavy for you depending on your strength and stamina and place it on your shoulders. Hold each end and complete two sets. Try to complete at least 15 squats in each set. This is an amazing way to not only get a toned butt and thighs, but also flat abs. After this, do some other leg exercises like the leg press and leg curl. Don t overdo it in terms of how many weights you use. Since you are only in the second week, use lesser weights and instead concentrate on doing these exercises in the right way because if you don t, your knees will end up suffering. Remember that experiencing any form of knee pain during your lower body workout is a bad sign. Consult a physical trainer or watch a Youtube video before you begin, so you re sure about whether you re doing these exercises the right way or not. Here are the five variations of squats you need to know about.
Yoga: End your workout with the shavasana or corpse pose. This will help your muscles and mind relax after a long day of exercising and eating healthy.
You can read the previous day's fitness plan, here
Well, if you are motivated to start your New Year with a bang, spread the word by tagging your friends and #NewYearNewYou and @HealthSite4U. You can even mail your pictures and we ll post in on Facebook, Instagram and share it with our TheHealthSite.com Community.
Disclaimer: If you follow a fitness plan already, consult your nutritionist before switching to this one. If you are allergic to any of the foods/ingredients mentioned, please do not consume it. Do not follow this plan without consulting your doctor if you suffer from a health condition hypertension, hypotension, diabetes, etc. or are pregnant.
Image Source: Shutterstock
