Shefali Narang : From Flab To Fab
As a teenager, Shefali Narang, 5 feet 6 inches, used to tip the scales at 80kgs, but whittled herself down to a svelte 53 before she married Rahul, a fitness enthusiast and now the owner of Olympia gym. Today, more than 15 years into the marriage and two kids later, Shefali continues to maintain her weight by following a regular balanced diet and exercise programme. Now she is a counselor and says, “Staying fit and healthy is no rocket science. It’s a matter of common sense, discipline and positive thinking and some willpower. As we grow older, we need to lessen our calorie intake and increase our physical activity to keep our metabolism high.” She added, “There are a few golden rules we should be aware of – eat sensibly, eat small meals, exercise four to five times a week and don’t abuse your body. Till you are 35, even if you lead a unhealthy lifestyle your body supports you but as you approach your forties, you have to put in some effort to stay healthy. I would say eat everything but in moderation and try to eat healthy as far as possible.”
As for workouts, Shefali does 20 to 30 minutes of cardio followed by 10 to 15 minutes of weight training to build muscle. Cardio or aerobic exercises are a must to strengthen your heart and lungs and it also improve blood circulation, cycling or walking briskly outdoors or indoors or on a treadmill or a cross trainer for 15 minutes keeps fat at bay and increases basic fitness level. Shefali says she follows her cardio with weights because using weights to tone up muscles is an important part of a complete fitness regime. She advises that it is a good idea to have a trainer to stay motivated and on the right path.
Another tip she gives is to maintain a diary of everything you eat so that you know exactly where you stand. She sets herself a simple diet plan that revolves around her daily routine and is based on food she likes to eat. That way your diet becomes a part of your lifestyle.
She emphasizes- Appreciate yourself, be positive because your body responds to positivity. Do not use food as a stress buster and throw in a little meditation. Be aware of what you are doing and you can defy your genes. She concludes by saying that don’t forget to get eight hours of sleep everyday!
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