Yummy Magazine Vol 13 - Taste Of India | Page 52

WELLNESS FIT FAB FOODIE With a cool blog and a fabulous Instagram account that would have us all re-examining our diets and fitness regimes, Meera Vadgama breaks things down for us. I love everything related to fitness. Talk to me about getting sweaty and you have my full attention. There is something so exhilarating about getting your heart rate up, breaking a sweat and then embracing that feel-good feeling which makes it all totally addictive. I am crazy about HIIT (High Intensity Interval Training) – it is quick, intense and gets you results. I am however not opposed to other forms of workout which can range from hitting the gym to an intense swim session or a jog out in the fresh air. The key to sticking to anything is loving it, so find something that you feel passionate about and you are likely to keep doing it daily. When it comes to food, I practice the paleo way of eating. I am reluctant to refer to it as a ‘diet’ because I feel like that word automatically makes one think of a short term solution. Paleo is all about going back to the basics. Think about how cavemen may have eaten in the Stone Age period. Think fresh fruits and vegetables, nuts and seeds, fish and meat. The idea is to eliminate anything 52. that is overly processed. When you eat simple, natural whole foods you speed up your metabolism, reduce allergies, have better energy levels, increased mental clarity, balanced blood sugar - the list is endless. I’m not trying to sell the idea here but you only have to try it to see how much of an impact it can make on your health! Staying motivated, passionate and making this a way of life has been all about finding what I love. I like to keep my workouts short, quick and intense. I like my food to look colourful and beautiful. I like knowing that what I am eating is actually doing my body good and providing me with the fuel I need to feel strong, energetic and fabulous. With focus and dedication, anyone can do it. Start today. Put down that soft drink and reach for a glass of water instead. Swap that chocolate at 10:00am for a bowl of chilled grapes. Skip the fries and have some buttered broccoli. The easiest way to remember? If it didn’t come from nature, don’t eat or drink it! What I eat on a typical day 7: 00 am A mug of hot water with 2 teaspoons of apple cider vinegar A smoothie bowl/chia pudding A cup of black coffee If it didn’t come from nature, don’t eat or drink it! 10:00 am 8 – 10 cashews A handful of grapes 1:00 pm 4 egg omelette A side of broccoli A large green salad 4:00 pm A fruit shake (typically banana, strawberries and almond milk with either chia seeds or ground almonds) A cup of black coffee 9:00pm (dinner is usually after a workout thus so late) 1 pan fried or grilled chicken breast Asparagus / broccoli or oven baked sweet potato fries