Daijiworld Media Network - Mangaluru (PGP)
Mangaluru, Apr 19: "Stay fit, stay healthy, Lockdown is not an excuse to not exercise, as exercise helps the immune system to develop good resistance towards diseases," says Disha Dinakar, a multi-talented person, actor, entrepreneur and fitness freak base in Mangaluru.
A doctor by profession Disha was born and brought up in Oman and is the daughter of Dinakar Bhat and Vijaya Dinakar. She completed her MBBS from AJ Hospital and currently works as a government recognized nationally approved doctor for seafarers in the city.
In an exclusive interview with Daijiworld, Disha shared her tips on how to stay fit and healthy during the lockdown.
Q: What would you say are the kind of physical activities that can be done while at home on lockdown?
A: Lockdown should not be an excuse to not do any sort of workout or exercise. In fact, lockdown is the best time to work on yourself. In our daily lives, due to hectic schedules, we have absolutely no time for ourselves. Hence, this is the best time to get some physical activity such as walking or jogging on the spot and Zumba or Tabata sessions for dance enthusiasts. You can burn a good 400 calories in an hour, and have fun listening to your favourite music while doing so. For those who have no idea what would be the best for them, they can access various videos online according to their comfort level.
Q: What are the food items you would suggest should be consumed during this time?
A: Due to the lockdown, various groceries are not available. Staple food such as rice, wheat, oats and ragi is good enough if paired with available veggies. Make the best use of the vegetables available and incorporate them into your diet in various forms such as salads, stir-fry or curries made with less oil.
Q: What exercise or activities do you suggest to stay active?
A: Those who enjoy cardio can enjoy a session of dance, aérobics or Zumba. But I would personally recommend doing 20-minute cardio followed by a few minutes of HIIT (High-Intensity Interval Training) including burpees, jumping jacks, squats, planks and push-ups.
Q: Could you suggest ways to maintain a good immune system?
A: In the present scenario, we all are aware of how important it is to have a good immune system to develop resistance towards any disease.
Our Indian spices are well known for boosting immunity. I would recommend everybody to add in more turmeric, cumin, coriander and other such spices in their food. Include all green leafy vegetables as much as possible in dishes.
I would suggest eating vegetarian food as far as possible, at least during this period. You should include lentils and pulses which are rich in protein and easily available even during the lockdown. Having detox water daily helps to flush out toxins from the body. An easy way to make detox water is by adding a few slices of cucumber, lemon and mint and have the infused water throughout the day. Do not forget to consume at least 2.5 litres of water per day to maintain a healthy system both in terms of fitness as well as good health.
Q: What are the safety instructions one needs to follow when accessing digital fitness programs or platforms?
A: Due to the lockdown, we are all dependent on online fitness videos as gyms and other fitness centres are closed. However, we must keep in mind that if exercises are not done in the right way they can be ineffective or harmful as well. You could end up spraining yourself or have joint issues or even severe back pain. Therefore, do what seems easy if you are a beginner or do the exercises only which are known to you. It is advised to try them only in the presence of a trained fitness instructor.
Q: Would you walk us through your fitness journey?
A: I have been swimming since I was 3. I was born and brought up in Oman and when I came down to Mangaluru to pursue MBBS, I lived in a hostel. Due to studies, I could not pursue swimming regularly and used to eat out most of the time. By the end of MBBS, I realized I had gained a couple of kilos and it was about time I did something about it. I used to manage to work out about four days a week and without too much effort I lost about 12 kg in a span of 3.5 months.
For those who think losing weight is hard, it is not. Controlled junk portions and healthy lifestyle will definitely yield results. The process may seem slow, but do not give up. In a few months, you will see how much you have transformed. Also, keep in mind, no weight loss is permanent
It is a process just like consuming food. Fitness has to become a part of your routine and that is the only way you can stay fit.
Lastly, do not overstress and sleep well. Less sleep and stress are linked to being factors that lead to weight gain.
Q: Would you mind telling us a little bit about yourself
A: I am a government recognized nationally approved doctor for seafarers. I have done my MBBS and a short course on Emergency Medicine.
Apart from this, I have won Miss Mangaluru in the past and have been a part of the film industry. I have acted in three movies and have done 50+ advertisements.
I have my brand, Digvijaya herbals Pvt Ltd, where we manufacture organic beauty health and wellness products and export to 40 countries, as I am a firm believer in using natural products.
Q: What would be your advice to people consuming medicines to lose weight?
A: I would definitely not recommend any steroid / chemical-based medicines to be taken. Healthy organic metabolic enhancers made from food ingredients would be fine but it does not yield necessary results without basic lifestyle changes. It only helps to support whatever you are following to lose weight.
I do not recommend crash diets as well as once you get back to normal eating, the kilos you once shed will add up again.
Ideal weight loss is 0.75-1.2 kg per week. Losing too much too fast is not good. At times, not losing at all could be due to underlying medical conditions, hence it is better to consult a physician or a nutritionist if that is the concern.
At the end of the conversation, she expressed her message to the Daijiworld readers: This lockdown is a historical moment. Do not pity yourself, instead utilize this time as you will never get this again. Follow all the rules and regulations given by the government authorities.
Be productive, eat healthy food, inculcate new habits, stay safe and stay fit.