It’s the season to put on some holiday weight. Well, only if you let go too much. While it’s human to indulge in fatty foods during the holiday season, it’s best to watch what you eat at those Christmas and NYE parties. I caught up with the talented Harshvardhan Rane and he gave me his vishesh tipni on fitness during these hard and tempting times! He’s been on the Paleo diet for about 4-5 years now and he really enjoys it. The reason he loves it so much is because it’s really basic and not very hectic.
Theory Of Paleo According To Harshvardhan
He explained an age-old theory he heard, where humans only consumed vegetables and meat that they had to hunt for, up until thousands of years later when the need to store more food was grave. Hence, they started growing grains, which are easy to store. But given the human history, human bodies had not learned to break down carbohydrates from these grains. Which is why, he switched to the Paleo diet which consists mainly of meat, vegetables and fruits that have more nutrition and excludes dairy, processed food and grains.
When he moved to the Bollywood industry, he was told to look a certain way which involved a lot of fitness and exercise. It also required a disciplined diet. He took guidance from John Abraham and then started the paleo diet. He mostly used cauliflower to replace rice and pizza bases. He said there’s a lot you can do with this ingredient. He added that he fills up his stomach with meat and vegetables and fruits instead of indulging in potatoes, rotis or rice.
He also mentioned that initially, it might be hard and you might get irritated often, but our bodies are so advanced, that they adapt to whatever you eat. So, when I asked him for his expert advice on how to stay fit during the holiday season, he listed down these 5 tips:
1. Switch To Stevia leaves
These are leaves extracted from the Stevia Rebaudiana that is used as a substitute to sugar. However, he did warn me that it doesn’t taste all that good at first. He said it’s like getting used to a new relationship. It takes time to develop.
2. Replace Milk Chocolate With Dark Chocolate
A person who loves chocolate can use dark chocolate as a substitute. Of course, I’m not telling you to overindulge, but a block of it works when you have a massive craving.
3. Seed bread
It is a slightly expensive option, but it’s a great substitute for white bread. You can use flax seeds, sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds in this bread.
4. Give Up Alcohol
Another important step is to stay away from alcohol. It dehydrates you and basically makes you put on unnecessary weight. Honestly, my face did drop when he said that, but I gotta admit, he’s right!
5. Strike Out That 1st Jan Resolution
Don’t join the gym on 1st of Jan. Instead, join today! Even a small 30-minute walk every day will positively affect your body in the long run.
TBH, I’m totes convinced about the paleo diet as well as these 5 super easy tips he’s given me for the festive season. Only the alcohol one might hurt. Meh, let’s give it a try!
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