Diet & Exercise FAQ'S
Q 1: Hi! My name is Ami & I'm keen to gain some weight.My height is 5'4'' & my weight is 48kgs & I am 25yrs old.My mom suggests I eat a piece of sweet everyday post meals.Another friend suggested I join the gym & weight train.
ANS: Hi! Ami.Well you seem to be one of those lucky few.First of all its important for you to know what your BMI & body fat levels are.Based on information that you've provided your BMI is 18 which puts you in the slightly underweight category.However its important to know what your body fat levels are.It is possible that in spite of being underweight you have normal body fat levels - in that case you will need to make sure your weight gain is only muscle gain.
Q 2 : Hello! I'm Yasmin.I'm getting married in a month & am keen to lose 10kgs.I've heard about a few diets which work wonders & make people lose loads of weight in a short time.Do you think it will work?
ANS : Hi! Yasmin.Quick weight loss diets may cause you to lose a good amount of weight but only for a short span of time.In my professional practice I've seen a lot of people losing weight through these methods only to gain most of it & at times more weight once they go back to normal eating.Moreover many of these diets focus too much on one particular food or food group while either completely avoiding or allowing minimal intake of other foods.This could lead to nutritional deficiencies which may present themselves as a health issue sometime later in life.Balanced nutrition with regular exercise in the best long term solution to your problem.Since you have a month on hand aim at about 2 to 4 kgs weight loss.If lost scientifically this may not get you to your target of 10 kgs but will surely give you the healthy glow of a new bride.Good luck to you!!!
Q 3 : Hi! My name is Harshad & am suffering from arthritis since the past couple of years.My knees hurt when I exercise for longer duration but my doctor insists I workout regularly to loose some weight & remain fit.Kindly guide.
ANS : Hello! Harshad. I recommend you exercise in breaks- two to thre times in a day for a couple of minutes each time.That way you will remain pain free & comfortably exercise.You can gradually increase intensity & duration as you fitness levels improve. Swimming & cycling are two of the best options for you as far as cardiovascular training are concerned.During resistance training you need to avoid weight bearing exercises i.e exercises which require you to put pressure & weight on your knees.
Q 4 : Hi! This is Divya.I'm 36 yrs old & have been diagnosed with high blood pressure & high cholesterol.My doctor recommends I start taking medication but am keen on working on my diet & fitness to deal with the issue.Can you please guide?
ANS : Hey! Divya.Congratulations on your decision to work on you diet & fitness.Truly,lifestyle modification is the only long term solution to your problem.Since you haven't mentioned what your weight,blood pressure & lipid values are I'm going to give you some baseline advice.
Take up some form of aerobic exercise - walking,cycling & swimming are some examples.Make sure you get at least an hour 4 to 6 times a week at a pace most comfortable for you.If you routine involves resistance training as well as yoga make sure not to perform forward bending exercises & exercise that require you to hold your breath for longer durations.As far as your diet is concerned include sufficient amount of both soluble fibre ( fruits, vegetables, lentils, oats,dried fruit, soya milk and soya products) & insoluble fibre ( bran, wholemeal flour, brown rice, whole grain cereals, vegetables, edible peels of fruit, nuts and seeds).Restrict your salt intake to minimum.