Conquer Festive Flab and Stay in Shape this Diwali
‘Tis the season of lights and indulgence or rather over-indulgence! Diwali is a notorious time with a lot of lenient eating, abundant events and possibly an increased consumption of alcohol. While we all aim to stay in shape and enjoy all the festivities during Diwali without impacting our health and waistline; exercise and healthy eating tend to go flying out of the window during the festive time.
So why not continue with your workouts while you are indulging in your festivities! You can start by creating a more flexible festive routine, which gives you room to indulge and prepares you for the post-indulgence mode.
The most common mistakes that we make during the festive season are not making exercise a priority, over-indulging in traditional sweets and snacks, and giving up on the urge of making ‘healthy decisions’!

So here are a few tips from the Fitness Expert Meenakshi Mohanty that can help you savour the festive season while staying in shape.
Indulge in healthy festive eating
Diwali is all about traditional sweets and delicacies but that does not mean it has to be unhealthy. There are several nourishing food alternatives that allow you to eat well and stay healthy while enjoying the festival of lights.
Stock your kitchen with healthy food alternatives and something that is less fattening such as vegetables, fruits, nuts, fresh herbs etc and proteins such as milk, chicken, eggs, curd, paneer etc.
Also never skip your meals. You should start your day with a wholesome breakfast containing of healthy grains like oats which will help to keep your blood sugar and cholesterol in check as well as keep you full for a longer period.
You can also control your calorie intake by making a few healthier changes to your home made delicacies such as using low fat and sugar content ingredients or baking, steaming and grilling instead of frying. To curb those binge-eating moments switch to healthier options such as bowl of fruits, nuts etc.
Set realistic goals to help you stay in shape
During Diwali, we spend a lot of time sitting around, indulging in our favourite festive treats and tend to lose track of our regular diets, while eating large portions and indulging in more sugary snacks and drinks. While it is unlikely that you will do the same amount of workouts that you normally do, it is best to set some easy goals that you can achieve easily and choose some healthy alternatives for your food and drinks.
You can try working out from home by doing some simple bodyweight exercises or yoga. Just 30 minutes is all you need to keep your metabolism in function and your muscles activated thereby helping you feel fresh and energised.
There isn’t any best time to work off those weight gains. You should workout whenever you feel the most energetic – morning, afternoon or evenings, whatever works best for you.
Keep a check on your drinks
The Festive season is a time for you to enjoy a drink and relax. After working all year round, Diwali is the perfect time to take a step back and enjoy with your loved ones.
Wine, alcohol and aerated drinks contain a lot of calories as well as slows down your metabolism. Also drinking too much alcohol can leave you feeling oozy the next day thereby forcing you to skip your workouts.
In order to stay hydrated during Diwali, remember to drink atleast 8-10 glasses of water a day. With all the alcohol and salty and sugary food intake, you can feel dehydrated if you don’t drink enough water. You can also try alternating your alcoholic and aerated drinks with water, nimbu paani, green tea etc so you drink a bit less and avoid getting dehydrated.
Keep Active with some daily on the go chores
A lot of us tend to keep our fitness routines aside during the festive season. Staying active during Diwali not only reduces your chances of gaining weight, it also helps to energise you, reduce stress and give you a break. You can engage in simple activities along with your loved ones like taking regular walks after your meals, making use of the stairs, grabbing a bottle of water from the fridge by yourself, walking while talking on the phone etc.
Remember no matter what you do this Diwali, it’s important to stay healthy and safe.
_____________________________________________________
Thanks Meenakshi Mohanty for exclusively sharing these tips for Let’s Expresso readers. Exuding a sincere attitude that affirms body-positivity and sincere living, Meenakshi Mohanty is a Delhi based fitness expert. She brings together a wide gamut of exercises and paradigms to promote the most holistic and healthy lifestyles amongst the conscious-dwellers.
Thanks for reading this article. I always try and get the best from the experts to help my readers become a better version of theirselves.