They say eat less to weigh less, well, not always. There are some super foods that make you lose weight by their sheer nutritional value. Now let us understand what we mean by lose weight. Lose weight = lose fat, not muscle! Losing weight involves building muscle, in fact. The more you build muscle, the faster you will lose fat. Here are a few foods that help you lose weight, the fat weight that is…
An apple a day keeps the doctor away? Well, it keeps the weight gain away as well! Apples are the ideal on-the-go low-calorie snack.
Steak
Organic beef is actually good for you! The protein in beef can actually help you gain muscle and increase your metabolism, which in turn, will help you burn more fat and lose weight.
Eggs
One more food item that stacks on protein is an egg. Eggs are usually most healthy when boiled and it helps you lose weight as it builds muscle.
Besides being loaded with folate and disease-fighting antioxidants, they’re low in calories and high in fibre.
Yogurt
Most dieticians suggest plain yogurt as a great diet food. The reason being it can stave off hunger by keeping blood sugar levels steady.
Avocado
Avocadoes are high in monounsaturated fats
Well, when you hear about the fat content in an avocado, you may be discouraged. However, this fat is monounsaturated fat and it increases satiety. Thus, preventing you from gorging on unnecessary junk food.
Olive oil
Just like avocado, olive oil also contains monounsaturated fat that increases satiety. Research has also shown that it has anti-inflammatory properties that prevents bloating.
A lean figure is something we all desire, and when we look at some Bollywood celebs, we tend to think they had it easy. Well, not always. Some stars had to work their asses off to tone down to look fab. Let us look at a few.
Alia Bhatt
This sexy chic was not always slender like in the movie ‘Student Of The Year’. She had to go on a weight loss spree to get rid of the excess weight. She lost an enormous 16 kilos before facing cameras for the movie! Quite an inspiration!
Sonam Kapoor
Even Anil Kapoor’s daughter did not get everything on a platter. She had to work out a lot to get the slim figure she enjoys today. She had to lose 30 kilos to slim down from her initial weight of whopping 90 kilos!
Adnan Sami
Singer Adnan Sami once needed a wheelchair to move around because his weight, at an unbelievable 230 kilos, was too much. That very man burned around 150 kilos to look fit and fab!
Parineeti Chopra
Having a cousin like Priyanka Chopra in the industry was motivation enough for Parineeti to try. However, she had to lose considerable amount of weight to get into the industry. Parineeti went from chubby to chic in about ten months of a strict diet, yet she was criticised for being shapeless. For months she was adamant that wouldn’t want to lose any more weight, but after constant criticism she finally gave in and restarted her weight loss regime.
Arjun Kapoor
Arjun initially looked nothing like the star he is today and his weight loss story was indeed a life transformation. He is now rated as one of the hottest Bollywood actors in the industry!
Kareena Kapoor
The actress who made size zero a trend in India wasn’t always slim! In fact, for her item number in ‘Don’ (2006), she was criticised for her inability to maintain her figure following which she took up the challenge and transformed!
Zarine Khan
This chubby actress lost weight before entering into the Bollywood circuit. She lost so much weight that Salman Khan even asked her to put on some weight for one of her movies!
Sonakshi Sinha:
Our very own Rajjo, Sonakshi Sinha never thought she can be an actress. She was quite on a heavier side and was planning to pursue her career in Fashion Designing. However, Salman Khan told the 90kgs Sonakshi to lose weight and enter Bollywood. She lost around 30 kilos in 2 years and became a perfect heroine to star opposite Salman in the film ‘Dabangg’.
Jackky Bhagnani:
Well, his six-pack-abs were the talk of the town when he made his debut in the film ‘Kal Kissne Dekha’. But, not many know that it took 2 years for Jackky to get that body. The actor was around 130kgs before he thought of making his acting debut.
Karan Johar:
Karan Johar is surely a great filmmaker, but if you would have seen him few years ago, you wouldn’t have recognized him. He was fat and weighed 120kgs. However, he decided to lose weight and you can see what he is right now.
Abdominal fat is an issue which most people struggle with. Most people want to look fit and fab, but everyone struggles with that flab around the tummy. Let us look at the main causes of this belly fat:
Belly fat can be stubborn
Improper digestion
Improper digestion will bring about a range of gastrointestinal disorders. Eating at late hours can cause your stomach to bulge and bloat. It is important to take all measures to ensure that you digest your food properly if you want to get rid of belly fat.
Genetics
Sometimes the cause can be genetic
Genetics play a role in belly fat as well. Some people find it harder to get rid of belly fat than most others because of genetics.
Stress
Several studies say that one can gain abdominal obesity due to stress. When you are stressed, the cortisol hormone is released, which triggers the fat reserve around the belly. At the same time, stress also makes you binge which results in excess fat accumulation.
Slow metabolism
Reduced metabolism rate is one of the main reasons for fat accumulation. When your rate of metabolism is low, you tend to burn lesser calories and hence fat gets stored in the most convenient place, which is your belly.
Alcoholism
Most people proudly talk about their beer bellies. But they know themselves they’d love to live without it. Alcoholism will contribute to higher calorie accumulation in your belly area.
Lack of activity
This is quite an obvious cause of belly fat. You need to involve yourself in some sort of physical activity that is in proportion to your food intake, to make sure you do not develop body fat.
Unhealthy eating
When you eat fatty foods, they accumulate in your belly area quite conveniently. Fast food is normally fried in excess oil and this is one of the main causes of belly fat.
Cellulite is a condition in which the skin appears to have areas with underlying fat deposits, giving it a dimpled, lumpy appearance. Around 90 percent of women suffer from it in their legs, buttocks or stomach. There are ways in which you can significantly reduce the appearance of cellulite. Let us look at some of them.
A healthy diet plays an important part in keeping cellulite at bay. Eat plenty of fibre and whole grain foods as well as fruits and vegetables, since they help to remove waste and toxins from the intestinal tract. Drink plenty of water as well. Water helps in shedding of fat and also in strengthening the collagen in your skin.
Exercise
Cellulite is basically fat. Excess body fat shows itself through cellulite. Exercising regularly can reduce this excess fat and get rid of cellulite.
There are many cellulite massage tools in the market
Massaging the area with certain tools available in the market will help in stimulating circulation and breaking up fluids beneath your skin, leaving a more even appearance.
Gelatin
Consuming gelatin helps in tightening loose skin and it also improves digestion. It is also rumoured to help reduce the appearance of cellulite. So, there’s nothing like trying.
Coffee scrubs can be beneficial in reducing cellulite as well. The caffeine in coffee helps in tightening the skin.
Kettlebell workouts
Kettlebell workouts are effective in reducing fat
Kettlebell workouts are a great way to increase blood flow and reduce the appearance of cellulite. Known to be one of the most effective ways to build muscle and burn fat, Kettlebell exercises are especially good for your thighs, hips, buttocks and stomach area.
Consuming Omega 3fatty acids and fat soluble vitamins will help reduce cellulite over time. Besides, they are also good for various other functions in your body!
A close friend’s wedding is coming up! All your attempts to lose weight have failed, and you’re getting panicky. You want to appear thinner instantly, without going to the gym in these last few days? And without those silly crash diets? Well, of course you do! Here’s how you can!
Stand up straight
Standing up straight will make you look thinner
When you improve your posture, not only do you visibly decrease your stomach fat, but you also gain confidence.
Wear proper fitting underwear
An ill fitting bra or underwear will make fat spill over. Wear the proper size and you will look a whole lot thinner.
Wear long fitting tops
Wearing a long fitting top or shirt will stretch out your torso and thus make you appear thinner.
Choose colours carefully
Choose your clothes’ colours wisely
Avoid bright colours and patterns as they make you appear bigger than you are. Dark colours are known to make your heavier sections appear smaller.
Shoes should match your body
The shoes you wear should match your body type and size. If you are on the heavier side, try and look out for bulkier shoes, and don’t go in for slender heels!
Wear the right size of clothes. Do not go in for a larger size or anything too tight. If you try to squeeze into a size 12 if you’re a size 16, then you are surely going to accentuate your body fat, even the little that there is.
Stay away from horizontal striped tops/t-shirts
Don’t wear horizontal striped t-shirts or tops as they made you appear wider. But if they are vertically striped, they make you appear thinner.
When it comes to eating right, one of the worst things to do is treat it like a chore. And because our mentality has it that healthy food is boring, we don’t even take a minute before calling for pizza. But guess what? Comfort foods, like everybody’s favourite pizza, burger, or fries, can be made healthy too!
Of course, you’ll have to do away with all the bucket loads of oil and fattening ingredients that are not doing any good for your waistline. Today I’m going to share a few recipes for healthy homemade everyone’s favourite junk food, which will not give you a reason to worry about your weight!
Hot’n’crispy French fries:
Who loves hot crispy fries? I do! And because I can never satiate my cravings for a huge bag full of French fries I decided to make them healthier. Here’s how…
Baked french fries are a tasty yet healthy option to calm your junk food craving
You will need:
4 large potatoes or sweet potatoes if you want extra, extra healthy
One tablespoon olive oil
Salt as per taste
Water
Method: Wash and cut the potatoes into thin long slices (you may keep a little bit of the skin on for taste and health benefits). In a large pan, boil some water and dunk the potatoes in with some salt. Once they’re done, drain them on a piece of clean cloth and give it a shake to make the edges a little rough. Drizzle a baking tray with olive oil and spread the potatoes out on the tray. Bake for 30-40 minutes or until golden brown and crisp. Yummy, crispy and healthy French fries are ready to serve. Don’t forget the salsa dip!
Hamburgers top everybody’s favourite foods list. When it comes to burgers, bigger is always better. But the best burger and the current favourite of mine is my mom’s recipe of a good healthy homemade one. It’s a must try.
When it comes to burgers, it’s always the bigger the better
Method: This one is no less than a food extravaganza. Get your chicken ham slices/veg patties and the burger buns grilled. Wash and slice the tomatoes and onions. Wash the lettuce and cabbage leaves thoroughly and pat them dry with a soft kitchen towel or simply spread them on a plate and put them in the freezer for 5-10 minutes. Now, once you’ve got all your ingredients handy, start piling them up in 2-4 layers however you like it. For a fun food session, let your family members do the stacking themselves! Vegetarians can make the same by using veg patties instead of the chicken.
Crunchy crust pizza: Pizzas may be a takeout speciality but once you try this pizza-made-healthy option you’ll definitely know why it’s better. Most times, the chewy pizza crust adds to the inches on our belly; so in this homemade variety I used the ever so healthy whole grain chapattis with a twist!
Whole wheat pizza can also be yummy! Try it to believe it.
Method: Combine the whole wheat flour and the all purpose flour with yeast, salt and hot water in a food processor, to make a light and fluffy dough. Knead well so that the dough is soft. Lightly flour a flat surface covered with plastic wrap; let the dough rest for 30 minutes maximum. Meanwhile, chop the olives, tomatoes, onions, jalapenos, and the herbs. Roll out the dough in circles or rectangles and use a fork or toothpick to prick it. Spread a thick layer of salsa spread on each rolled out crust. Top the pizza crust with the chopped veggies, herbs, and cottage cheese/chicken (or whatever you are using as a main ingredient) and season it with salt and pepper. Sprinkle the feta and mozzarella cheese on top and bake in a pre-heated oven at 450 degrees C for 10-12 minutes. Serve immediately.
