Shilpa Shetty S2 EDT Perfume

Shilpa Shetty's fragrance is called S2 (aka S squared). Shilpa Shetty S2 is a “semi amber floral” fragrance, and features notes of mandarin, bergamot, peach, cyclamen, jasmine, sandalwood, patchouli, vanilla and musk. Heart notes of jasmine, sandalwood, vetiver and patchouli. Base notes of musk and vanilla. It is available in 100 ml Eau de Toilette, and the bottle comes with a phone charm decorated with Swarovski crystals.

S2 is a refined, dignified, elegant and subtle fragrance which reflects Shilpa Shetty's key values. "A scent that comes from my heart and is strongly based around jasmine" says Shilpa.


Occasion: Perfect Anytime
Scent: Floral Oriental (soft, spicy, sweet)
Gender: Female

Perfume creator Mark Earnshaw says “Shilpa worked with us on the perfume and it contains all the notes that she's grown up loving. “It's got jasmine and musk but also fruit scents in it so it reflects her Indian heritage and will also appeal to the modern European market.”

Bipasha Basu Shares Her Healthy Living Fundas

"No size zero for me, Curves are hotter than a flat body," says sexy siren Bipasha Basu. Riding high on the success of her fitness video (Get Details Here >>), this Bollywood diva is marching ahead with her message of healthy living. Bips speaks to CS about holistic living and why size zero is a no-no:



Whole and soul
We live in an age where we make too many demands from ourselves. All of us want fabulous careers, great relationships and a jet-set lifestyle, but the quest for all these things takes a toll on you. At times, we are very harsh on ourselves. I want to tell people to accept themselves as they are, and enhance their strengths. And staying in good health is one of the basics to a successful fulfilling life.

No shortcuts here
I feel very sad when I hear that young girls are opting for fad diets or blindly crash dieting. Just spending hours at the gym doesn't guarantee you complete fitness. A fit body is one that goes beyond biceps. You need to eat healthy, workout properly and be happy to achieve complete fitness. I see so many young girls who look so worn out just because of an improper diet and crazy workouts.

Why size zero?
Well, size zero is a western concept, which is not relevant in India. Size zero means someone who is petite or of a small size. It is not related to fitness. By normal standards, a young girl of 13-14 can be size zero. It's very tough for an older woman to look size zero without looking anorexic. And who likes an anorexic looking woman? Indian men love a fuller body with a nice shape. Curves are hotter than a flat body.

Mind over matter
Fitness is not only about the body. Mental and emotional fitness is as important. I am a very contented person. I make sure that I don't let stress affect me. Whenever I am feeling low, I hit the gym, go for a run or do yoga. It helps release all the pressure. The next thing I want to learn is scuba diving.

Soha Ali Khan: Workout Regularly So You Can Eat All The Brownies You Want

Soha Ali Khan’s Fitness Recipe: "LOOK after your fitness and your fitness will look after you or workout regularly so you can eat all the brownies you want!” This is Soha Ali Khan’s mantra in life.


Soha Ali Khan shares her fitness mantra:

Pleasing self
Actually, in reality my workout pattern is very irregular ( smiles). There are phases when I go to the gym daily for weeks on end and workout with lightweights, alternating it with cardio three times a week. Or sometimes I like to keep it varied by playing badminton or practising yoga. But there are also times when I get into my pyjamas, put on a TV series and watch it for days on end, emerging only to make more popcorn or order a take- out.

Peculiar bites
I have notoriously bizarre eating habits. I have an unhealthy obsession with frozen yoghurt, too much diet cola and late night popcorn binges. But I compensate by avoiding excessively oily or spicy food. I am happy eating tandoori chicken, yellow daal and broccoli every day of the week.

Take my breath away
I strongly believe that every person’s fitness regime should include some technique that increases flexibility and stamina through focused breathing. Yoga helps you achieve the right balance. Such exercises make your muscles lean, tone your body, and tackle a specific organ issue or hormonal imbalance and relax the mind. And so, I alternate between yoga and gym workouts.

A must break
My idea of unwinding on a day- to- day basis is taking a hot shower and watching a film or getting stuck in a page- turning murder mystery. But when I’m feeling particularly sore or physically exhausted after a hectic schedule, I pamper myself with massages. And of course, getting away from Mumbai every once in a while is also imperative. I love to go to a beach resort — relax by the sea, have some great food, swim, lie in the sun; great company is a must!

Lara Dutta Launches Her Yoga DVD 'Heal With Lara'

Lara Datta Turns Fitness Guru With Her Signature DVDs H.E.A.L with Lara.
Following in the footsteps of Shilpa Shetty and Bipasha Basu, actress Lara Dutta has launched her own video CDs on yoga. The fit and fantastic Lara’s DVD is called 'H.E.A.L with Lara'. BUY DVD NOW FOR RS 255/- (Free Home Delivery-Cash on Delivery)

Lara Says she has researched for years to come out with this DVD which stands for Health, Exercise, Fitness and Longevity.

Earlier Shilpa had launched her yoga DVD, while Bipasha demonstrated fitness techniques in her CD called Love Yourself.

Lara Dutta Yoga Routine To Re-Balance, Restore and Revive You
LARA's YOGA DVD AVAILABLE FOR Rs 255/- Buy Now >>
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How important is being fit to you?
Ever since my Miss Universe days, fitness and holistic well-being has been extremely important for me.

Your fitness mantra?
For me, it has never been about following a fitness trend. It has always been about following what suits my body best. I have always been dedicated to a good workout. I work out five days a week — combining cardio, strength training and yoga. Being a vegetarian, I make sure I eat enough raw fruits and vegetables, take in good quality vegetable protein, drink lots of water and meditate frequently.

Actors in Bollywood share a strong camaraderie when it comes to sharing fitness tips. Is this seen among actresses too?
Sure we do. In fact, during the shooting of Don 2, all of us would hit the gym together. I have shared tips with Priyanka Chopra during the shoot, and with Deepika Padukone, before that.

What made you come up with a fitness DVD?
I have always been inspired to help women build better bodies. I have been collaborating with experts for a long time and it’s taken over a year of research and the understanding of various body types and requirements to put together the content on the DVDs. Therein was born the concept of H.E.A.L with Lara.

Since you are the only new member in the cast of Don 2, how is the experience so far?
We’ve already begun shooting for Don 2 in Berlin and it has been wonderful so far. The role I essay is very sophisticated and glamorous. Farhan Akhtar is a very talented director and working with Shah Rukh Khan is always fun.

What’s next for your production house Bheegi Basanti?
Once my DVD is released, I move on to my first home production Chalo Dilli with Vinay Pathak.

BUY -> DVD FOR Rs 255/- (DVD) - Cash on Delivery.

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Kareena Kapoor Launches Yoga Book - 'XL to XS' By Her Yoga Trainer Payal Gidwani Tiwari

'When I started yoga, I couldn't lift my feet above the ground' says Kareena Kapoor, who with Tusshar Kapoor talks about fitness and yoga at the book launch of their yoga trainer Payal Gidwani Tiwari.

Kareena Kapoor with Tusshar Kapoor at the book launch of 'XL to XS' by their yoga trainer Payal Gidwani Tiwari.

How exactly did Kareena Kapoor pull off her size zero figure a couple of years ago?

The answer is yoga and the person who motivated her towards this choice was yoga expert Payal Gidwani Tiwari. Tiwari, whose clientele also includes Tusshar Kapoor, Ekta Kapoor, Rani Mukherjee, Saif Ali Khan, and Maria Goretti, has just launched her book From XL to XS - BUY IT NOW FOR ONLY Rs 119/- CASH ON DELIVERY. Bebo and her costar Tusshar Kapoor were with Tiwari at the event and here's their take on keeping toned and healthy.

It may interest you to know that initially, Kareena was not convinced of the benefits of yoga and she left the sessions after a month. However, she soon returned and has since been Tiwari's most dedicated client. Says Tiwari, "She never missed a single class in five years. I accompany her wherever she is shooting, so I can say she is extremely disciplined and dedicated."

The actress cannot stop raving about yoga and its many benefits. She quips, "Yoga is like a morning prayer -- I have to do it daily and if I miss it then I am in a horrible mood."

"Yoga is not just for the body, it's good for your mind as well. I yearn for yoga when I am not able to do it," she adds.

Kareena's co-star Tusshar Kapoor said, "Everyone on the sets was inspired by Kareena's flexibility, she is amazing." He laughs, "In fact, she is the Shakira of Golmaal 3."

The actor talked about his own routine, saying, "A combination of gym and yoga does wonders to your body."

So does Tusshar aspire for a six-pack?

"The most important thing is to have a fit body," he explains. "Six packs don't ensure a healthy body. You can have a six pack and still be unfit. To have a lean and tight abdomen is what one should aim for."

They both agree that yoga helps you eat more. Tusshar counsels, "You shouldn't starve yourself, once in a while you can have what you wish to and then burn it out -- that is what I do."

Kareena agreed, adding, "Eat in moderation and you can have anything."

A self-confessed foodie, she says, "I can't live without food. I love food as much as I love movies. I am a Kapoor, so that explains my love for food and I eat everything, but in moderation."

she says loves to eat. However, her sacrifices and effort have done wonders for her body.

"Initially when I started yoga classes, I couldn't lift my feet up above the ground. Payal told me that my thighs are bulky and I need to tone them down," she explains. "But now I can throw my feet above my head."

Buy Book By Kareena's Yoga Guru Payal Gidwani Tiwari
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Payal chimes in, "If women do yoga regularly it can tone their bodies. But the biggest blunder which people end up making is that they give up easily. When one is losing weight one shouldn't stop -- you should always remember that you can gain back the lost weight if you stop doing yoga."

I take the stairs when possible."

And luckily for her, she doesn't like sweets and chocolates. But rice makes her forget her regime very easily! "I love having rice, I can have it three times a day," she enthuses.

Beau Saif Ali Khan seems to share her passion for working out and yoga. Although he did not attend the book launch, it turns out that he was the one who motivated Tiwari to write a book.

Celebs Talk:

‘Payal has helped me challenge my genes and Transform my body’ Kareena Kapoor

‘It is hard to be unhealthy once you start yoga’ Saif Ali Khan

‘Payal has brought about an Intrinsic Change in the way I feel and look.’ Rani Mukerji

BUY "XL to XS" FROM FLIPKART.COM FOR ONLY Rs 119 - CLICK HERE

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Ayurvedic Beauty Care: Ageless Techniques to Invoke Natural Beauty by Melanie Sachs

Ayurvedic Beauty Care presents both ancient and modern Ayurvedic secrets for beauty care and general health. The aim of this book is to elevate western understanding of beauty to new levels with deeper Ayurvedic insights. These insights hold powerful health promoting and enhancing methods and luxurious beauty techniques to achive all levels of beauty.

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This amazing book, is packed with information from cover to cover. It consists of extensive talks about different aspects of health and beauty care. It contains detailed information about how to manage every aspect of your daily life to create harmony in the body. According to Ayurveda it is the prefect digestion and assimilation of our food together with regular and effective evacuation of wastes that is essential for beauty. The book gives out general guidelines for helping digestion and food selection, the suggestions are in keeping with the sprit of Ayurveda.

The book is packed with loads of recipes to make at home. The recipes are tailored precisely for your particular skin type. Also explained are the daily eating routines to be followed by different body types.

'Ayurvedic Beauty Care' shows us where true beauty comes from. It contains very important information about health and how it relates to beauty.

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Top 10 Foods That Carry a High Risk of Contamination

Watch before you eat: They maybe healthy or delicious, but these top 10 foods carry a high risk of contamination

1. EGGS



One of the healthiest foods is also among the most unsafe. The salmonella bacteria, nurtured in the intestinal tracts of animals and birds, contaminates the eggs. The best way to ensure you don’t ingest that bacteria is to buy fresh eggs from a daily vendor. Do not buy ones that have been sitting in the heat for a while. Store eggs in the fridge, but no more than a week. If in doubt, test freshness by placing an egg in a bowl filled with water. If it sinks, it is fresh. Always cook the eggs and avoid using them raw in a recipe.

2. LEAFY GREENS

Though they boast of immeasurable benefits, leafy veggies such as spinach, coriander, cabbage, chauli leaves and cauliflower can pose health risks. They may have been grown near rail tracks with dubious irrigation, and can be contaminated by E. coli, norovirus and salmonella. Sprayed by pesticides, the best way to eat such vegetables is by soaking them in a large bowl of water, and drying them before eating.

3. FISH

Fish has to be eaten fresh; store it in the fridge for no more than two to three days, as it starts releasing natural toxins such as scombrotoxin or start bacterial growth. Consumption can cause illnesses related to norovirus and salmonella. Before cooking, wash the fish, especially the cavities, in running water and rub with salt and turmeric before cooking.

4. OYSTERS

Unless well cooked, oysters can cause norovirus infection which can lead to gastro-enteritis or stomach and intestine inflammation. Vibrio, a bacterium found in the same family as cholera and present in oysters, is more lethal and can lead to severe diseases. Thorough cooking the oysters destroys these bacteria as does storing them in cold temperatures.

5. POTATOES

This will probably break the hearts of couch potatoes — salmonella, E. coli, shigella and listeria are on the list of potato contaminants. However, don’t pass the fries yet. All you need to do is brush the skin with a toothbrush to dislodge mud and debris and peel it before eating or cooking.

6. CHEESE

Cheeses produced by unlicensed manufacturers and soft cheeses such as feta and brie, may contain dangerous pathogens that cause listeriosis, a sly, symptom free infection that can result in miscarriage. The only thing you can do to guard yourself is avoid non-pasteurised cheese products.

7. ICE CREAM

Home-made ice-cream,or those made in unhygienic conditions or served in unsanitary outlets can carry salmonella and staphylococcus. Most of the time, uncooked eggs and unpasturerised milk used in the ingredients is the culprit. Dirty scoops, storage containers and freezers breed bacteria and increase the threat of listeriosis. Commercial or store-bought brands are your safest bet.

8. TOMATOES

Even tomatoes are considered a risky food due to the presence of salmonella. The bacteria makes its way to the flesh through the cracked skin, dents and scars. Washing the fruit thoroughly and cooking it well is the only way to eradicate it.

9. SPROUTS

Since bacteria need a warm, humid climate to grow, they are persistently found in sprouts. Harmful pathogens such as salmonella and E. coli cling to pulses, which are essentially seeds, in the field or in storage. If you have a weak immune system, you are most susceptible to illnesses after consuming raw or undercooked sprouts. So if you are recovering from a bout of illness, or breast-feeding, avoid sprouts for a few days. Also, children and elderly individuals should avoid eating them raw.

10. BERRIES

Before running out to consume boxes of strawberries, know that they have been linked to thousands of illnesses. The most common being cyclospora that affects the intestines. Symptoms include diarrhoea, dehydration and stomach cramps. Only a antibiotics will set you back on course. To get rid of pesticides that penetrate the thin skin of berries, wash them thoroughly.

Young Hearts in Danger, Lifestyle Changes Necessary

Men and women as young as 19-years-old are falling prey to heart ailments. Their stress filled lifestyle is the culprit, say doctors

Acute mental stress is one of the primary reasons for heart problems in youngsters

Be it heart attacks or clogging of arteries, what is surprising is the emergence of a new profile of people between 25 - 35 years with heart conditions, typically seen in an older age group. Dr C N Manjunath, Director of Sri Jayadeva Institute of Cardiology, says, “Youngsters in India are more vulnerable to heart problems as compared to youngsters from other countries including the US. And this holds true even for Indians who live abroad. In our hospital alone, out of the 1500 cases that were admitted last year, 25 per cent were below 40. Our youngest patient last year was a 19-year-old. And it is happening in this age group across economic backgrounds, be it a techie or a coolie or a garment factory worker. Acute mental stress is one of the predominant reasons.”

WAKE UP CALL

Harish Iyer was pretty much “all okay”. He had recently been diagnosed with diabetes, but led a “normal life”. He recalls, “I used to play cricket over weekends and noticed that I felt unusually tired. Since I was diagnosed with diabetes a few months back, my doctor suggested some tests beginning with basic cardiogram and treadmill tests. Many tests later, including an angiogram, I was diagnosed with TVD or Triple Vessel Disease.” In September 2009, Harish had a bypass surgery. He was 30-years-old and had four blocks in his arteries with one of them being 99 per cent blocked!

Similarly, Jacob (name changed), who works in a leading IT company started smoking (two to three packs) to find relief from an extremely stressful job. Combined with irregular meal-timings, a potent scenario ensued resulting in a massive heart attack at the age of 31 years.

For Prasad Shenoy, a commodity trader, it was a gentler warning. In 2005, at the age of 31, when he was at work, he started sweating and experienced chest pain. “The minute I went to the hospital, they did an ECG and rushed me to the OT. At that time, my son was just one-yearold and my wife was expecting our second child. I had told her that I was going for a checkup, that’s all. By the time she came to the hospital, angioplasty procedure was almost done. One of the arteries was 100 per cent blocked,” recounts Prasad.

THE TRIGGERS

For Harish it was erratic food habits and timings, eating whatever was convenient (read as loaded with calories) and lack of exercise were largely responsible for the weakening of his heart. “Sleep was also an issue,” he says, “and I worked till late night and then carried work home.” The overwhelming feeling of tiredness was a sign that things were not well. As with Prasad, “The doctors could not really pinpoint any reason. I love fried food, had only butter naan or roti, did not exercise much. Plus, my job was extremely stressful. Probably, everything just added up together.”

Dr Sanjay Mehrotra, Senior Cardiologist at Narayana Hrudayalaya, tells of the warning signs.

» Chest pain/chest discomfort
» Difficulty in breathing
» Heaviness in the chest
» Feeling of suffocation in the chest
» Sometimes, the impending sense of something is seriously wrong.

For those people who have preexisting heart diseases or blockages in the heart then the same symptoms as described above will appear with a little exertion or the usual exertion like climbing more than 2-3 flight of stairs, running a short distance or riding a bicycle.

Are you predisposed to a heart attack? Yes, if you:

» are a smoker — (still the most important cause of heart attack in young people)
» have diabetes
» have high blood pressure
» strong family history
» do you have high cholesterol
» are obese/have a high fat diet/have a sedentary lifestyle

Then any of these factors can put you in the high risk bracket.

SECOND LIFE

Harish says, “I am very watchful of what I consume.” He also goes for a walk regularly. “That brought in some discipline and got my blood sugar under control. I have joined a gym — never knew it could be so much fun! I ensure that I do not get too stressed with work. So life is definitely better.”

Harish neatly summarises, “Trust me, it is not the surgery that hurts. You are anyway unconscious during surgery. It is the post surgery recuperation that has taught me a few lessons, the major one is to respect my heart. No one realises its importance, unless some jolt like this occurs.”

THE GOLDEN TIME

YOU SHOULD reach the hospital as soon as possible to save yourself from damage or death due to a heart attack.

The Golden hour: The patient should rush to the hospital within one hour of the onset of chest pain/discomfort.

The Golden Period: Upto six hours from the onset of chest pain when a simple injection (thrombolytic therapy) can save your life.

Katy Perry’s US Trainer Harley Pasternak Explains How You Can Eat More, Work out Less and Get a Dream Body

Five factor diet plan

Katy Perry’s trimmer than ever ahead of her wedding, thanks to Harley Pasternak. The US trainer explains how you too can eat more, work out less and get your dream body

Katy Perry

Pop star Katy Perry may like to wear cream cakes, but from the looks of her enviable figure, she certainly hasn’t been eating them. In fact, the 25-year-old has embarked on a strict diet ahead of her upcoming wedding to the tamed lothario Russell Brand, 35. The pair are set to tie the knot in India this October.

And Katy’s keen to look picture perfect on her big day, so she’s turned to the one man that — Hollywood’s leading ladies swear by — Harley Pasternak. “She’s getting in shape for everything — wedding, music videos, touring, etc,” says trainer Harley.

Singer Katy Perry’s eating plan is an example of how you might want to structure your own diet to increase your chances of losing weight in one month

“She works out as often as she can — she’s a busy woman — but her goal is five times a week and she eats five small meals a day.”

According to fitness and nutrition guru Harley, the reason celebs such as Megan Fox, Halle Berry, and Jennifer Hudson, love his famous Five Factor diet plan is simple, “It requires the least amount of time for the most results and that’s exactly what my clients are looking for.”

FORGET SIZE ZERO – 5’S THE MAGIC NUMBER

Harley’s credited with helping change the must-have shape of Hollywood stars from skinny to sexy. Under his guidance Katy Perry may be slimming down but she certainly won’t be losing the curves that helped her top Maxim’s list of the world’s hottest 100 women and brought her to Russell Brand’s attention.

In fact, after meeting her at the X Factor auditions, super-slim Cheryl Tweedy reportedly told a friend, “I look like a little boy next to Katy.”

But Harley’s 5-factor plan is for those who want curves in all the right places — not those who want to shrink to a shocking size zero. “Women should look like women. They need natural curves and if they’re too lean, their hormonal cycle gets thrown off and they stop looking and feeling like women.”

YOUR CURVES PLAN

Here’s how the magic number 5 can help you get curves in all the right places.

The 5 factor rules

Follow these simple rules...
» Eat 5 times a day — you’ll feel less hungry throughout the day and keep cravings at bay.
» Meals must consist of 5 ingredients or less — so they’re fresh, healthy and cheap to make.
» Meals should take just 5 minutes to prepare — so it’s easy to stick to, no matter how busy you are.
» Allow yourself to cheat once a week — taking a break where you can enjoy your favourite foods.
» You should do 5 short workouts a week.

The 5 meal ingredients

Every meal should include...
» A low-fat protein: chicken breasts, fish, shellfish, egg whites or cottage cheese.
» Healthy carbohydrate: beans, lentils, brown rice, wild rice, fruit.
» Fibre: from healthy carbs such as beans, oats, lentils, barley, brown rice, wholegrain bread, vegetables (except potatoes) and fruit.
» Healthy fats: cooking oils such as olive and rapeseed (no full-fat dairy).
» A sugarfree drink.

Your 5-meals-a-day menu

Choose from one of the following each day...

Breakfasts

» French toast: Two slices of bread dipped in egg whites, skimmed milk and a little sugar. Grill. Top with low- fat cheese and a few berries.
» Omelette: Sauté chopped onion, egg whites, ground chicken or turkey, chopped tomato and mushrooms. Serve with two pieces of wholegrain toast.
» Wholegrain cereal with low-fat milk.
» Scrambled egg whites with a strawberry smoothie (made with strawberries, low-fat yoghurt and ice) and two pieces of wholegrain toast. » Grapefruit halves, with low-fat yoghurt, plus porridge with strawberries.

Morning Snacks

» Turkey slices with celery dipped in homemade hummus (blend chickpeas, olive oil, lemon juice, two cloves garlic).
» Hard-boiled egg with tuna.
» Apple slices with peanut butter.

Lunches

» Curried chicken salad: chopped cooked chicken breast with onion, plain yoghurt, curry powder with water, microwave 1 minute, serve open-faced on a slice of bread or on a bed of lettuce.
» Lettuce wrap with prawns, celery and sweet chilli dressing.
» Baked sweet potato with tuna.
» Tomato soup with granary roll.
» Green bean salad with tuna and fat-free vinaigrette dressing.

Afternoon Snacks
» Tuna sushi.
» Edamame beans.
» Sausage skewers with roasted cherry tomatoes and mustard.

Dinners

» Chicken fajita: Chopped onion, pepper, skinless chicken breast, fajita seasoning, wrapped in tortillas, along with low-fat cheddar, salsa and lettuce.
» Chicken and vegetable stir fry with brown rice and Chinese veg.
» Grilled steak with sweet potato mash and steamed asparagus.
» Chilli made with lean beef and served with brown rice.
» Seafood and veg stir-fry with rice noodles.

YOUR 3 SUPER MOVES...

Harley advises combining cardio that gets you out of breath with toning moves such as the ones below.

Arm toner: Bicep curl

Hold a dumbbell (or fulllitre water bottle) in your right hand, with your right arm extending to the floor. Your palm facing upwards, exhale as you draw your elbow up along your ribs as high as you can Inhale as you return the your arm back to the starting position. Do 12 to 15 reps and then switch sides.

Legs and bums:

Lunges

Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and hold a light weight at arm’s length, with your palms facing each other. With your shoulders back and head up, inhale as you take a large step forward. Lower your body, creating a 90-degree angles. As your back knee nears the ground, exhale as you drive back with the muscles of your front leg to return to the starting position. Alternate after rep of 15.

Tummy target: Double crunch

Lie on your back with your knees bent, your feet a few inches off the floor, your hands holding your head — but your fingers not locked.

Curl shoulders up from the mat while rolling your bottom and thighs up toward your head. Keep your chin away from your chest and your eyes up. Do as many as you can in sets of 10 or 15.

THE POWER OF 5 FITNESS

Do five minutes of five different exercises, at least five days a week — that’s 25 minutes per session. Harley believes that working out more often for shorter periods of time is more effective than spending hours at the gym. Good choices include: running, cycling, dancing, brisk walking or swimming and variety is key. Daily Mirror

HARLEY’S STAR-STUDDED CLIENT LIST

LADY GAGA, 24 The outrageous but super-toned singer takes Harley on tour with her to keep her body in hot shape. “She wanted to have the best abs, legs and arms ever — so she stepped up her workouts. Now she’s super confident about her body and comfortable wearing everything,” says Harley.

JESSICA SIMPSON, 30 The US actress turned to Harley after her weight ballooned last year. “She wanted to be strong, athletic and fit and have definition in her arms, legs and abs but keep her feminine curves,” he explains.

HALLE BERRY, 43 Halle called Harley to help get her amazing body even more buff for the X-Men 3 movie. “She has no problem working her butt off as long as she doesn’t have to do it for too long, and as long as she sees results,” he says.

JENNIFER HUDSON, 28 Harley helped the American Idol star slim from a UK size 16 to a size 10 recently. “I think she looks fantastic,” says Harley. “She’s not someone who typically liked exercising but she saw the results and we got her working out five days a week.”

A-Z of Celebrity Diets-Hollywood Diet Tips to Hide Evidence of Those Extra Helpings

Even those oh-so-slim celebs over-indulge to beat stress, boredom and depression. Here are their secret Hollywood diet tips to help whisk away evidence of those extra helpings of, well, everything

41-year-old Jennifer Aniston owes her svelte figure to healthy diet

A IS FOR...
All-new Atkins Diet

A decade ago, the no carb/high protein Atkins was the most popular diet in Hollywood, with celebrity followers including Jennifer Aniston and Renee Zellweger.

The theory is if carbohydrates are restricted the body turns to fat to burn as its main energy source, resulting in a rapid and dramatic weight loss. But its popularity dived after heart disease and high-cholesterol scares. But now Atkins is back, new and improved and with more varied foods (wholegrain bread, brown rice, pasta, fruit grilled chicken, lean meats and fish) on the menu.

B IS FOR...
Baby food

Reese Witherspoon believes in baby food to keep her trim.
Yes, A-listers such as Reese Witherspoon and Desperate Housewives' Marcia Cross spoon in jars of baby food when they need to slim their waistlines. Baby food dieters replace two meals a day with a pot of pureed baby food (about 80 calories) and then fill up on one healthy adult meal.

C IS FOR...
Caffeine

The pick-me-up can be a dieter's best friend and one that Diet Coke fans Drew Barrymore, Cate Blanchett, Kim Basinger and Caprice know all about. A cup of coffee before a gym workout could help you burn more fat. Researchers at the Australian Institute of Sport found caffeine triggers the muscles to use energy from fat sources rather than carbohydrate.

D IS FOR...
Detox

Kate Moss and Sadie Frost follow this treatment. The detox plan involves avoiding refined sugary and “toxic” foods such as wheat, potatoes, dairy produce, citrus fruits, red meat and alcohol.

E IS FOR...
Emotional eating

Most adults eat to combat the blues, boredom, stress and loneliness. If you understand why you are eating you can easily tackle the problem, according to experts. Exercise more to lift your mood, take a relaxing bath. Acknowledge that you are turning to food when you need comfort.

F IS FOR...
Fruit juices

Fruit juice fans include Madonna, Sarah Jessica Parker, Gwyneth Paltrow and Alicia Silverstone. Katie Price/Jordan credited fruit and vegetable juices with her rapid post-baby weight loss. She opted for blends of avocado, pineapple, spinach and celery, which she said, “sounds revolting but it's delicious”. Juices or smoothies are an easy way to get your antioxidant fix.

G IS FOR...
Green tea

This oriental tea is a fantastic metabolism booster. Christina Aguilera drinks it to keep her in shape. Research shows green tea increases thermogenesis, the process by which your body burns the calories you consume, so one to two cups of tea a day could burn up to 70 calories.

G IS FOR...
Grapefruit diet

It's a tough diet, but one that Brooke Shields is believed to be a fan of. Dieters eat half a grapefruit before every meal and stick to less than 800 calories a day. Grapefruit contains fat-burning enzymes.

H IS FOR...
Hypnotherapy

Lily Allen was all smiles when she shed 19lbs, dropping to a size eight. The singer was under doctor's orders to lose weight and get fit after she was diagnosed with a heart murmur. Lily underwent hypnotherapy sessions to reprogramme her brain to enjoy eating healthy foods and feel positive about exercising.

I IS FOR…
Index

Kylie Minogue and Kim Cattrall are all fans of the Glycaemic Index Diet, which is rich in pulses, oats, fruits and wholegrains, but bans processed carbs. Foods are ranked on a scale from zero to 100 based on how much they affect blood sugar. Low-GI foods help stabilise blood-sugar levels so you don’t go through cycles of sugar highs and lows. You’ll feel fuller for longer and less likely to snack.

J IS FOR…
Japanese food

Victoria Beckham remain ultra trim thanks to Japanese cuisine — edamame beans (baby soybeans) and seaweed shakes. A traditional Japanese diet contains plenty of fish, vegetables, rice, fruit and soy. Plus portion sizes are smaller, cutting the calories. In Okinawa, which has the greatest longevity in the world, people commonly eat 10 different varieties of fruit and vegetables daily and up to three servings of omega-3 rich oily fish.

K IS FOR…
Kinesiology

Desperate Housewives star Eva Longoria says the secret of her toned figure is kinesiology. It is a holistic technique which can pinpoint imbalances in the body and identify which of those is a priority and what will be the most effective treatment. For Eva it means following a healthy diet eating meat, fish and fresh vegetables.

L IS FOR…
Little and often

Actress Charlize Theron believes her slim figure is down to eating little and often. “I eat six small meals a day,” she admits. “If I fancy a burger, rather than deprive myself I’ll have a quarter of one.” Pussycat Doll Nicole Scherzinger too eats six small meals a day. Small meals keeps your blood sugars steady so you are less tempted to snack. Psychologically as you’re not going too long between eating, you don’t feel deprived.

M IS FOR…
Maple syrup diet

This diet helped Beyonce Knowles drop a stone before starring in movie Dreamgirls. For a fortnight she glugged a syrup mixed with lemon juice, water and cayenne pepper. It’s called Madal Bal Natural Tree Syrup, made from the sap of maple and palm trees. It may be an extreme fad but followers say as well as dramatically losing weight you feel more alert and have clearer skin. The diet is flexible, you can follow it strictly, or do an occasional day, or replace some meals with the liquid.

N IS FOR…
The New York Diet

It’s an intensive boot-camp of a diet followed by Liv Tyler and Heidi Klum. The regime allows five meals a day but only from certain food groups. No booze, bread, starchy carbs, dairy, fruit and saturated fats.

O IS FOR…
One meal a day

Liz Hurley admitted a disciplined diet of only one full meal a day (dinner) was the key to shifting her baby weight. Brooke Shields admits to eating one meal a day as did Ashton Kutcher ahead of his 2009 movie Spread. Also called the Caveman Diet, it harks back to the Stone Age when cavemen ate just one meal a day. For the caveman diet, your main meal of the day should be a balance of protein, carbs and vegetables in the evening.

P IS FOR…
Portion control

Halle Berry always keeps a watchful eye on how much she’s eating, while Heroes star Hayden Panettiere goes one step further by eating a quarter of a portion and waiting to see if she’s full. By having too big a portion at each meal you could be taking in as much as 7,000 extra calories each week. One way is to eat half of your portion, but I recommend eating a smaller portion, then waiting 10 minutes. If you feel full, stop eating. If you’re still not satisfied have just a bit more. It can also help to use a smaller plate.

Q IS FOR…
Quick Diet

Jessica Biel, Angelina Jolie, Lucy Liu and Jennifer Lopez follow this diet. One should eat every three hours. Meals should include a Rubik's-cube sized portion of carbs at breakfast, lunch and dinner, and a deck of playing cards-sized portion of protein, a water bottle cap-sized portion of fat and a stack of three DVD's-sized portion of fruit and vegetables at each meal.

R IS FOR...
Raw Food Diet

It’s all about raw food. A daily diet should be made up of two thirds raw vegetables and one third meat (not pork), fish and dairy products. Uma Thurman and Demi Moore are believed to be fans. The idea is that raw food contains live enzymes which boost energy. These enzymes are destroyed during cooking. Eating raw vegetables also burns more calories than eating cooked vegetables.

S IS FOR...
Snacking

Supermodel and mum-of-two Cindy Crawford still looks sensational at 44 and she puts it down to snacking during the day. Sensible snacks include fresh vegetable and fresh and dried fruitS, yoghurts and crispbreads with low-fat cheese.

T IS FOR...
Treats

Even the slimmest of stars treat themselves occasionally, and some claim regular "pig-outs" actually keep them on track. Cheryl Cole says staying slim doesn't have to mean she misses out on her favourite foods. "I usually do it on a Sunday,”she says. Scary Spice Mel B and Mischa Barton are fans od once-a-week treats Healthy eating is all about enjoying your food and having treats in moderation."

U IS FOR...
Under the knife

Gastric-band surgery involves putting a band around the top of the stomach, preventing part of it from being used, so you feel fuller. The band can be tightened or loosened. An alternative procedure is gastric bypass surgery (or stomach stapling) where part of the stomach is sealed off. With patients only able to eat small meals, weight loss is rapid. However, maintaining a steady weight afterwards can be more challenging as Sharon Osbourne discovered.

V IS FOR...
Vodka and Vinegar

Sienna Miller and Liz Hurley swap wine for vodka. One shot contains 55 calories, compared to 115 calories in a standard glass of wine. Megan Fox and Black Eyed Peas frontwoman Fergie both admit to guzzling vinegar to keep in peak condition. "It's just water and raw apple cider vinegar, and it cleans out your system," Megan Fox explains.

W IS FOR...
WeightWatchers

Catherine Zeta-Jones is a fan. All foods are given a WeightWatchers' points value based on their calorie and saturated-fat content. You can eat any food you like as long as you don't go over your daily points allowance (which is based on your age, weight and activity levels).

X IS FOR...
X Factor

Syndrome X, is a form of insulin resistance where sugar levels are raised. It's a pre-diabetic state and is linked to obesity and longterm health problems. The biggest indicator that you’re suffering from Syndrome X is a beer belly — as the roll of fat is believed to directly affect the liver and pancreas underneath. The cause is sugar in our diet, something the slimmest celebrities avoid like the plague. In training for her world tour, Britney Spears shed a stone by curbing her sweet tooth. Katie Holmes, Julia Roberts and Beyonce Knowles are believed to all have a sweet tooth, but keep a close eye on their sugar intake. Cut out sugar — in sweets, desserts, fizzy drinks and processed foods .

Y IS FOR...
Youthful

Stars are quick to fight the ageing process by eating fish rich in omega-3 fatty acids or taking fish oil supplements, which also helps them stay trim. Supermodel Elle Macpherson includes fish oil in her daily organic diet. Gwyneth Paltrow follows a diet rich in fish — avoiding meat . Oily fish is a fantastic source of omega-3 fats which plumps out the skin, minimising wrinkles and improving complexion. These essential fats also improve the body's ability to break down fat, helping you shift those pounds. Tuna, mackerel, salmon and herring are an ideal choice.

Z IS FOR...
Zzzzz

Irregular sleep is believed to set the metabolic functions off-kilter, which can lead to obesity, diabetes, hypertension and vascular problems. Some stars like Penelope Cruz swear by eight hours of sleep. Lack of sleep causes imbalances in the hormones leptin and ghrelin, which control appetite and hunger. For the best night's sleep you should aim to get seven to eight hours of undisturbed zzzzzzs.

Meditation is The Only Thing That Helped Me Deal With Sleepwalking, Says Sameera Reddy

"I love my sleep and get cranky if I don’t doze off for eight to nine hours every day. And I suffer from sleepwalking. It began at the age of six. I remember my parents telling me that I kept circling the dining table holding my pillow, dazedly. Thereafter it became a regular occurrence — I walked in my sleep twice or thrice a week", Says Sameera Reddy


• Unwelcome habit

I’d have no memory of my nocturnal adventures though my family and friends had a rollicking time narrating them. Apparently, I used to have long conversations, at times even shout out loud. These conversations weren’t gibberish, but clear dialogue about a subject.

Also there wasn’t any fixed time for my sleepwalking. It could be within a few minutes of hitting the sack or an hour or two. It would last from a few seconds to 30 minutes. I’d wake up, walk around and talk, then snap out of it and get back to bed! There were occasions when I sleep-walked about six times in a night!

When these stints became more frequent, my parents started getting worried, especially since we stayed on the ninth floor of the building. Once they saw me wake up and stand pretty close to the edge of my window ‘talking’ to my friends on the eighth floor! They then got my room barricaded.

However, during my sleepwalking, my parents never woke me as doing so can lead a person into a state of shock or increase his/her heart rate. You either let him/her complete the act or guide him/her to bed gently.

• The problem continues

This problem continued well into my teens and adulthood. I then noticed that it was during high-stress situations that I sleepwalked the most.

Needless to say, it led to several embarrassing and hilarious situations. In 2005 when I went to London for a show with Hrithik Roshan, Yana Gupta and others, I was a bit stressed about my performance. When I went to sleep that night, I remember opening my eyes and running out of the room. Suddenly a mental alarm went off and I awoke only to see the door shut! Dressed in my nightdress, it was embarrassing to awaken others to get help!

Similarly, during the shoot of One Two Three in Goa, I tried to walk out of the room in my sleep and was so frustrated when I couldn’t that I broke the door and wrenched the lock. I wonder where I got the strength from!

• Therapy time

It’s not as if I didn’t try to cure it. One expert said it’s a reflection of my sub-conscious. When something happens, I don’t experience or express that emotion immediately and tend to repress it. But my subconscious acts up later. It’s probably true for several times when I wake up and find that my eyes are wet!

When I was 10, my parents took me to a counsellor who said I should always be happy. In college too, my mum took me to a hypnotherapist but to no avail. Only homeopathy worked to some extent as it helped me calm down.

Sleepwalking treatment requires a holistic approach and the patient’s sleep history is analysed

• Spirituality’s the saviour

Finally, under the influence of my sister, I turned to meditation about four or five years back. I have done all the courses — Art of Living, Vipassana, Oneness University etc. Now I do my own breathing exercises and at any given time, I can get into a meditative trance.

Soon after I started meditating I felt my system get cleansed. Emotionally, I learnt to deal with weighty issues. In fact, I actually called up people who had hurt me in the past and forgave them and vice-versa.

Now I meditate every day before I sleep. I sit on my knees, express gratitude, gradually go over all the events of the day and maintain silence. Slowly I drift into sleep, put my head down as though I am crouching (known as child’s pose) and go into deep slumber.

The results have been pretty good. After I went to the Oneness University, for almost five months I didn’t sleepwalk. Even now it has reduced, though a couple of weeks ago I was back to my old self!

• Humour helps

Fortunately, it doesn’t bother me now and I have learned to laugh about it. But I have started taking a deeper interest in matters of mental wellbeing. Books such as Eckhar Tolle’s The Power of Now have hugely helped me exist in the present, conduct relationships properly and become more aware of myself. And I guess the kind of stress we face these days, particularly, in Bollywood, every effort counts!

DOCTOR SPEAK

Dr S Ramnathan Iyer, consultant physician-sleep medicine, at Dr L H Hiranandani Hospital, Powai, provides a few insights on sleepwalking.

There are two types of sleep: rapid eye movement and non-rapid eye movement sleep. Instability in the non-rapid eye movement (NREM) is the background on which sleepwalking or somnambulism — a disorder belonging to the parasomnia family — occurs.

The usual triggers are stress, anxiety, emotionally charged memories, fever, alcohol intake and sleep-deprivation. Some common diseases associated with sleepwalking are sleep disorder breathing or obstructive sleep apnea, restless leg syndrome and period leg movement syndrome.

In extreme cases, it can cause injury, especially if the activities are violent (agitated). Here a patient may harm others or her/himself, cause accidents, etc. But the acts can also be mumbling or talking during sleep.

Exercise and Diet Required to Prevent Alzheimer Desease

Shut Alzheimer’s out in your 20s:

With the brain disorder kicking in as early as the 40s, experts tell us what changes to make to our lifestyles to start combating it early. How to Prevent Alzheimer desease from occuring. Diet and Exercise routine to follow to stop it. Read on to know how yoga, sports and the right foods can help fight Alzheimer Desease.

Alzheimer’s disease was brought to the forefront by Amitabh Bachchan’s character in the movie Black

The symptoms of Alzheimer’s disease surface later in life, but the silent damage begins when you are young. Furthermore, a growing number of people in their 40s and 50s are being diagnosed with Alzheimer’s. And because medication is still in the premature stages of development, the best way to avoid the disease is to take charge early. Fitness expert Nuri Khan, proprietor of Studio 5 Fitness centre, fitness consultant and educator Dilip Heble, and wellness coach Vinod Nair tell you what to do.

Exercises

• Yoga is not merely an exercise, but as fitness experts say, a way of life. Unlike other workouts that only stretch your muscles, yoga stretches your organs as well. Many asanas aid blood circulation in the body (including the brain) and even the regular Pranayamas will go a long way in reducing risk of Alzheimer’s.

• Sign up for sports such as tennis. Running on a treadmill is a no brainer; sports require a lot of concentration. And a high concentration level helps keep your mind agile.

• Water aerobics is like normal aerobics, the only difference being that one stands in four-foot deep water while exercising. Firstly, it reduces pressure on joints and takes away the monotony from a workout. Also, the water helps calm the mind.

Water power

Your brain needs a high level of water to function optimally; dehydration spells trouble in the long run. A word of caution: do not wait to till you get thirsty. If you’re not thirsty, the body is already dehydrated.

Breathe

A study conducted by researchers at the Brain Research Centre at Canada’s University of British Columbia proved that low levels of oxygen are connected to the risk of Alzheimer’s. The study proved that oxygen deficiency hastens the death of brain’s cells, putting the person at an increased risk. Hence, avoid shallow breathing. Over time, it turns into a habit and one doesn’t even realise that (s)he isn’t breathing normally. Take deep breaths to keep the oxygen supply running.

Watch our for diabetes

Different health issues don’t exist in water-tight compartments and an incorrect lifestyle can manifest itself in various disorders at different stages. One such relationship presented by researchers at the 10th International Conference on Alzheimer's Disease and Related Disorders in Spain is between diabetes and Alzheimer’s. While the statistics confirm a link, how exactly are the two connected is yet to be fully understood. A possibility is that diabetes causes accumulation of blood sugar in the brain causing damage to the brain cells. Bottom line: Take note of what you eat and keep sugar levels low.

Iron, Phosphorus, zinc

The three elements, when included in everyday diet, aid proper brain functioning and reduce the risk of Alzheimer’s. Sunflower seeds, peas, broccoli, banana, eggs, dairy products, whole-grain cereals, spinach, soy etc. are rich sources. You may also stock up on fruit and vegetable juices as a study published in The American Journal of Medicine claimed that three glasses of juice per week helps cut down the risk of Alzheimer’s by almost 75 per cent.

Veg is better

Non-vegetarian food, when eaten in moderation, is healthy. In fact, fish is considered the best source of Omega-3 fatty acids that are crucial for the brain’s health. Reason why many health experts stress on vegetarian food is owing to the poor quality of meat that’s largely available in the market. Animals are often fed nothing but garbage and bred under extremely stressful conditions, and when we eat them, we willingly take on the adverse effects. It harms our system, and our brain.

Tea and coffee

A study conducted at the University of Kuopio, Finland followed up 1409 individuals for a period of 21 years and established that coffee and tea consumption brings down the risk of Alzheimer’s.

The study was published in the Journal of Alzheimer's Disease. So take that daily cup of chai/coffee a lot more seriously.

Straighten Your Eye Squint - How to Treat a Squint on Time

Frequent eye turns can be a nuisance. Learn How to Treat your squint Eye on time!

Squint or strabismus is cross-eyes.It is defined as a condition in which the eyes deviate (turn) when looking at a particular object.Eye doctors generally look for the presence of a strabismus when looking at: distance (20 feet or more); near (16 inches for an adult and 13 inches for a child); lateral and vertical directions (up, down, left, or right).

When the eye turn occurs all the time, it is called constant strabismus. When it occurs only some time, it is called intermittent strabismus.With intermittent strabismus, the eye turn might be observed only occasionally, such as during stressful situations or when the person is ill. The timing and type of treatment depend on the type of condition.

How common is this disorder?

It is a common eye problem, especially in children. However, it is also known to occur in adults. It is seen in three-five per cent of normal population. It can occur due to a variety of causes, such as hereditary, muscle weakness, poor vision, or any disease occurring within the eye, such as cataract in children.

When should one suspect it?

I The most important sign is when eyes are not positioned straight. When a child turns his face or tilts head to see in a particular direction. I Closes one eye in bright sunlight.

What happens if untreated?

Amblyopia (lazy eye) is a gradual deterioration of vision in an otherwise normal eye. The risk is greater in children below 10 years of age. Once the eye becomes lazy, it tends to be irreversible, unless intervened appropriately.

How does squint correction help?

Straightens the eyes (cosmetic), restores vision, preserves binocularity (To use both eyes simultaneously).

Treatment - What is the treatment For squint

Orthoptics:
It is a medical term for the eye muscle training programs. Orthoptics treat muscle problems only in regard to strength and is usually done using a special machine called the synaptophore. Customarily, all squint patients, especially those whose axis of deviation is not too much, are given a trial of exercises.

Surgery:
Squint surgery is reserved for those whose angle of deviation is great or those who have had a trial of exercises and found inadequate improvement.

(Inputs from Dr Keiki Mehta, Mumbai-based ophthalmologist) - Source: TOI

How to Get The Rani Mukherjee and Lindsay Lohan, Messy Bed-Head Look With Tumbling Hair Locks

At a recent music launch, Rani Mukherjee showed up in a more sedate version of the messy bed-head do. After years of ironing and rebonding hair into submission, the recent trend of relaxed, wavy hair is refreshing. And the best part is, it's completely DIY.

Rani Mukherjee at a recent music launch

All you need to do to transform your limp tresses into Rani and Lindsay Lohan’s tumbling locks is work some conditioner into your hair, plait it and go to sleep. Open them up in the morning to get this gorgeous mess.

Lindsay Lohan

Shilpa Shetty's Beauty Essentials: My Body & I

FACE FACTS

What is your beauty routine?
In the morning, I splash warm then cold water on my face and apply moisturiser and eye cream. At night, I cleanse with a home-made remedy: olive oil, Johnson’s Baby Oil and Bio-Oil, which I massage in and remove with a hot face cloth.

Your make-up bag heroes?
Mac liquid eyeliner, Chanel foundation, Clinique powder, Mac mascara and Estée Lauder lipstick.

Desert island essentials?
Clinique sunscreen, right. As I live in India, the higher SPF the better – I try to use SPF50.

What beauty secrets has your mother passed on to you?
Never use soap on your face – it’s the worst thing for it. She also advocated the ‘less is more’ rule, so I don’t overload my skin with products.

Who is your beauty icon?
Madonna. She has made the best of herself every step of the way.

Would you have plastic surgery?
I don’t need it right now. I don’t want to be judgmental; have it if you feel you need it, but do your research, go to the right person and don’t become addicted.

LITTLE LUXURIES

What makes you feel glamorous?
A blow-dry – and Donna Karan clothes are wonderful.

Your favourite fragrances?
I switch between Esteé Lauder Pleasures and Dolce & Gabbana.

BODYWORK

How do you keep fit?
I practise yoga. It is the most holistic way to keep fit, as it works with your body and soul. I also find it calming.

A tip for body confidence?
If you want to change how you look, it requires dedication, so start today – even if it is simply walking to work or improving your diet. Understand the value of being fit, rather than simply looking good – that will follow.

Do you have body treatments?
I’m a spa junkie and usually go for a deep-tissue massage. When I was in London, I had a great one at Harrods’ Urban Retreat [tel: 020 7893 8333], and I’ll always remember the one I had in Tanzania at the Zamani Zanzibar Kempinski Hotel.

EATS AND TREATS

Do you eat to live or live to eat?
Both. I live to eat, but eat to live healthily. It is all about balance – if I eat heavily in the day, I have a light dinner.

Tea or coffee?
I’m a green tea-aholic – it’s a great antioxidant.

Do you take vitamins?
I take calcium, magnesium, vitamin C and a Centrum multivitamin each morning. I have a break every few weeks to give my system a rest.

What keeps you going through the day?
I have two eggs for breakfast if I’ve got a busy day ahead.

CHILLING OUT

How do you relax?
I watch TV with my sister. I love Friends, Sex and the City and Heroes. And a hot ten-minute shower is the ultimate relaxer.

What self-help books have inspired you?
Who Moved My Cheese? by Spencer Johnson. It shows you how easy it is to improve
your life.

Your ultimate great escape?
Switching off my phone so that I’m unavailable – although this is practically impossible as I love to talk. And London; it’s a home from home.

What is your feel-good philosophy?
I’m pretty practical really. I make myself believe things happen for a reason.
Shilpa stars in Desire, which will be shown at the Cannes Film Festival; see shilpashettylive.com

FAVOURITE MAKE-UP BRANDS AND ACCESSORIES THAT SHILPA SHETTY USES. SHILPA'S HOT LIST.

» Johnson’s Baby Oil, $4.64 for 591 ml, available on Amazon.com

» Bio-Oil, $10.53 for 60ml, available at Amazon.com

» Chanel Vitalumière foundation, $45.99 for 30ml at Available of Amazon.com

» Mac Liquid Eyeliner in Boot Black, $20.10 available of Amazon.com

» MAC ZOOM LASH MASCARA , $6.25 on Amazon.com

» Clinique Stay-Matte Pressed Powder, $22.00 on Amazon.com

» Sun-Care UV-Response Body Cream SPF50, $22.00 at amazon.com

» Estée Lauder Pure Color Long Lasting Lipstick in Rose Tea and Crystal Rose, available for $9.00 on Amazon.com

» Pleasures by Estée Lauder eau de parfum, $52.00 at Amazon.com

» Dolce & Gabbana eau de parfum.

Source: www.dailymail.co.uk

Karate Has Several Physical and Mental Health Benefits

That karate is one of the best forms of self-defence and fitness needs no elaboration. However, the martial art form is also an excellent means of selfdevelopment with several physical and mental health benefits that have rarely been highlighted. What’s more you do not need to be a master or have years of practice to experience its benefits. Just sign up for a class once a week at a centre near you and learn the callisthenic drills, stretching exercises, basics of attack, block, punch and kicks. 12-14 sessions of an hour or two each in a month are good enough to get you on the road to health.


KARATE THE STRESS BUSTER

Karate has a number of callisthenic drills (warm up moves) that loosen up your body and act as stress busters. To understand how they work, know these three aspects:
» Kihon: Techniques of moving forward, backward, sideward and various postures
» Kata: Imaginary fight sequences in which a person is surrounded by enemies and has to counter-attack using various stances
» Kumite: The lessons of kihon and kata are combined but they are executed with an opponent.

These three aspects not only sharpen your skills, reflexes and your ability to cope with stress during a fight or combat situation, but also aid you in everyday tasks.

For instance in kata, you learn to make split-second decisions on when to fight, punch or block. Over a period, these movements help you be more in control of your reflexes, keep your mind cool and increase your decision-making ability.

KARATE FOR GOOD HEALTH

IMPROVES LUNG CAPACITY

This martial art is a great exercise for asthmatics as the movements involve a lot of inhalation and exhalation. In kata, during an attack, one needs to exhale correctly as the power goes from your body to that of the opponent’s.

On the contrary, if you are blocking an attacker, you need to inhale properly in order to absorb the opponent’s strength. This inhalation and exhalation increases lung capacity. It’s believed that if you do kata 10 times, it’s equivalent to 10 kms of jogging. Once you practise the moves, they can also be performed in a confined space, say at home or in your office.

Kata is beneficial for asthmatics who can practise them under a doctor’s guidance as these movements help lessen their burden on the inhaler. Mild asthma can be controlled and possibly cured too with these exercises.

INCREASES RESISTANCE

Karate helps restore the balance to metabolism rates. Just in the case of any other form of exercise, when you train, toxins are flushed out as you tend to sweat a lot. Moreover, since lung capacity improves, your immunity against viral diseases such as coughs and colds increases too. Now this is something which you can do with, this malaria season.

More importantly, since karate works on your mind, it boosts your mental ability to deal with illnesses. Visualisation plays a big role in karate and it helps develop a positive attitude against diseases.

HELPS IN GAINING HEIGHT

The calisthenic drills stretch the joints to the maximum. Practising karate for a long time makes your body lean and supple and can add a few centimetres to your height.

EFFECTIVE FOR BACK PAIN

Certain kata movements and the drills that emphasise on stretching and maintaining the balance of the spine help cure minor back pain problems. But to get the maximum benefits, one must train regularly for at least six months.

NORMALISES HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE

Certain katas concentrate solely on breathing while power and focus are secondary. These can help people with high blood pressure bring their BP to normal levels.

EASES JOINT PAINS

Those with mild joint pains find karate very useful, especially stances that strengthen particular joints and reduce the burden on others. For example, a popular stance is one where one knee is bent to a side shifting the weight of the body to it. This reduces pressure on the other knee.

The best thing about karate is that you don’t need to be the right age or weight to start learning karate. The only criteria needed? A bit of discipline and regular practise. The movements and exercise take care of the rest.

Ready, Steady... DIET !!! - A Few Celeb Ladies Talk About Their Diet Tips

A few celeb ladies talk about their diet tips!

Pooja Bedi: Eat EVERYTHING! And then... work out, work out, work out!

Nicolette Bird: There’s gonna be loads of sweets, so go for it in limited amounts and make sure you’re on a treadmill the next day taking it all out!

Lubna Adams: Lots of watermelon juice through the day. Avoid fried stuff and down lots of water with khus or jal jeera.

Anju Taraporewala: Who diets with all the yummy goodies everywhere?? My only advice would be to enjoy everything... in moderation.

Queenie Dhody: Kalakand and gulab jamun! Haha!

Rashmi Uday Singh: Every day is Diwali for me. I have found that instead of dieting, if I drink lots of vegetable juices it really helps. Also I turn vegetarian for a couple of weeks. It’s a great way to detox.

Sharmila Khanna: The best would be to avoid carbs and desserts and do a lot of yoga and walking. But I’d be a lot thinner if I could avoid desserts!

Priya Kishore: I have a secret theory, that you can lose weight by sleeping!

Jesse Randhawa: Punjabi parathas with makkhan for breakfast and skimmed milk for dinner!

Bhavna Pandey: I’m the worst person to take tips from but the best is to enjoy and eat sweets in moderation; and then work your butt off the next day!

Gayatri Joshi: Don’t drink too much, have light dinners, resist the mithais and go on a detox diet post heavy meals.

Raageshwari Loomba: For the coming season, I’m ‘dieting’; and by that I mean I will ‘die eating’!

Deanne Pandey: Be careful about what you eat. Nowadays a lot of sweets are made that are low-cal and low-fat. People with a sweet tooth should be just a little wary and not use this season as an excuse to gorge unhealthily. Mithais can be made with sweeteners and skimmed milk and these are just as yummy!

Dance, Swim and Jog for Mental and Physical Well-Being: Dipannita Sharma

Fitness is about looking good, but more importantly it’s about feeling good. “Fitness means mental and physical well-being. Fitness is about looking good, but more importantly it’s about feeling good! It also means glowing skin and feeling good from within. Beauty is something that speaks of good health and an inner radiance that shines through.


Dancing her way to fitness

I am blessed with a slim figure and weight has never been an issue. I am not the kind who is fond of exercising in gym. I feel fitness has to be a pleasurable experience. For three months at a stretch, every year, I workout at a gym regularly. I am fond of dancing and I believe that’s best of form exercise. Currently, I am learning Latin ballroom dance, earlier I attended Latin Bhangra classes. Dancing works your muscles and you lose inches.

I have also learnt Tai chi and I practice it at home. It not only relieves stress, but also creates an inner peace. When you are at peace with yourself, you are in touch with yourself and then can lead life to the fullest .The basic objective of tai chi is to increase awareness of energy in the body. It is the mother of all martial arts and believes not only in self-defence but in the cultivation of energy and peace of mind.

Combine Swimming with Evening Jogs

Whenever I feel a little overweight the best thing to do is hit the swimming pool. I find gym workouts too mechanical. Swimming not only provides a full body workout but it also has a therapeutic effect on me. I try to combine that with evening jogs and a little care in terms of diet.There are times when I omit fried or sweets entirely from my diet. For all those who want to look gorgeous and fit stay away from desserts at least a month. Team that with a jog and swim and you're sure to look great.

Diet

I am a non-vegetarian, I believe in eating everything in moderation. I start my day with a glass of water. I drink lots of water through out the day, as water is very essential for the skin regeneration. Then I have tea a cup of tea. Breakfast is toast, egg and sometimes pan cake. I have two proper meals in a day. I cut down calories of one meal and gorge on the other. I am a rice eater and for lunch I eat rice, dal, fish curry or chicken. In the evenings, I have rotis and chicken or dal. I avoid red meat. I love fried food but I consciously avoid it. I eat sweets once in while.

Mind

I love music and it’s my favorite way to beat stress. Also, I am fond of reading and watching movies. After marriage, my hubby and I enjoy traveling to exotic places, which is great fun and a perfect way to unwind.

Spirituality

For me, spirituality is about taking out time for myself and focusing all my thoughts into one particular thing. I make sure I get at least 15 to 20 minutes of that 'me time' everyday. I prefer to analyse my actions and know myself better. I am not into rituals at all, though I do pray daily. When I go to Assam, my home, I do visit temple of Khamakhya Devi as I find lot of peace there.”

Arjan Bajwa Practices Martial Arts and is a Black Belt in Taekwando

I begin my day with:
A light workout at home and a few minutes of meditation. I try and do a little bit of neck exercises the moment I get out bed. It takes out all the stiffness I may have from sleeping in the wrong posture.

Breakfast is:
A bowl of muesli and fresh juice followed by a cup of tea and some toast. Eggs are mostly a part of my breakfast in boiled or half fried form.

When I am shooting:
I lunch on oil-free food. If there is a nice cafeteria around it's a blessing in disguise. I like to order from Subway.

Dinner is:
Light, salads and soups. If I feel hungry in the night I binge on muesli.

My fitness regimen consists of:
Weight-training and cardio at least four to five days a week. Apart from that I'm into martial arts. I am a black belt in Taekwando.

I hate:
Anything spicy. I like milk products but the smell of certain types of cheese puts me off.

When I am shooting I always carry:
Premixed coffee sachets as I like my coffee mostly dark and strong. Coffee served on the sets is mostly doodh mein coffee. Thankfully there are a lot of cafes around now.

Sunday lunch is mostly:
Sinfully rich parathas or pastas. It is the one day I stuff myself and don't worry about how my face will look the next morning.

In my fridge you'll always find:
Red wine, mint chutney, milk, olives and barbeque sauce. I know some are all sinful but that's why I have them stocked. I like to store nuts and biscuits in the fridge as they remain fresh and crunchy.

Click here for Recipe of Arjan Bajwa's Favourite Dish - Tandoori Fish

Simple Make-up Tips to Keep You Looking Fresh and Attractive at all Times

Beauty SOS - Here are simple make-up tips to keep you looking fresh and attractive at all times

Channel your beauty regime to look great in a matter of minutes. It is all about refining your make-up technique.


MAKE-UP STARTER

Start with a moisturiser that has a built-in foundation. Make-up expert Cory Walia says, “Use products that do double duty. Mineral make-up is the best for that Use a mineral make-up base powder. It effectively covers pigmentation and unevenness. Carry it around in your purse for whenever you need it. With this as a base, apply a nice thick line of eyeliner on your upper eyelid, and apply shimmery lip-gloss for a quick make-up fix for your face.”

HIDE TIRED EYES

If dark circles are an issue, here’s how you can look alive after a long night. First soothe your fatigued eyes by pressing cool chamomile tea bags or chilled cucumber slices over them. Then, massage in a base foundation and apply concealer on the dark circles. Use a light brush or your fingers to smoothen it out. Says hair and make-up expert Ruhi Bindra, “Use a nice under-eye cream and make sure that you use waterproof eye make-up, specially during the rain, as you don’t want your mascara streaking down your cheeks.”

GET ANGELINA-JOLIE LIPS

For that luscious pout, all you need is a good plumping fix. Line your lips a little outside your natural lip line and fill in with lipstick. “Use lip tints that not only colour, but moisturise as well. Lighter shades of lipstick will make your lips look bigger. Don’t use very creamy lipstick, as there are chances of it bleeding. Use red lipstick for instant glamour. Finish with dotting lipgloss in the centre on your lower lip for that bee-stung effect,” says Ruhi.

GET AN INSTANT GLOW

If your skin looks lacklustre, use a loofah in the shower to get rid of those dead skin cells. And naturally healthy and glowing skin, is the best make-up, says Cory. “Exfoliate your skin often, and with time the skin texture and tone will improve. Apply a shimmery body lotion all over to instantly brighten your complexion. Always use a foundation which is closest to your skin tone. Do not overdo the mascara and kajal part. You can finish off with a bronzer for that delicious, sun-kissed look,” adds Cory.

HERE IS THE FIVE-MINUTE MAKE-UP PLAN:

Apply a tinted moisturiser over your fresh, clean face.

Eyes: Line your upper lid with a black, brown or dark blue eyeliner to make your peepers look bright. Brush some luminous shadow over your lid and finish off with black mascara to open up your eyes even more.

Cheeks: Dust some rouge or bronzer over your cheek bones to define and bring out the angles in your face.

Lips: Put on a lipstick that matches your dress, or simply use a shiny clear gloss to let your natural lip colour show. Apply gloss right in the centre of your mouth to give the impression of fuller, plumper lips.

DAB IT: Touch up your face every time it feels greasy

Rapid-Fire Fitness With Tusshar Kapoor

The best medicine?
Yoga

An apple a day...
Is a good supplement for a meal.

Sibling rivalry healthy or unhealthy?
Healthy to a point. And unhealthy if taken beyond that.

Like father like son or like sister like brother?
Like father like son.

If Popeye is to spinach, Tusshar Kapoor is to?
Pizza!

The best way to shed flab?
Cut out desserts.

Skip breakfast or skip dinner?
Skip dinner.

One vice that you'd like to quit?
I don't have any vices that I think I need to quit. I've quit rice, though.

If you were Gayab for a day you would...
Find out who my true friends are and where my true love lies.

Health or wealth?
Health.

Kareena Kapoor Beauty Facts For the "No Make-Up" Look

The monsoon is the perfect time to experiment with make-up. Ditch the heavy eye shadows and the bright lip colours and opt for the rain-kissed look instead

Bollywood actress Kareena Kapoor recently confession that she looks her best sans make-up. Turns out the famous vegetarian might have more than her peaches-and-cream complexion and stress-free life working in her favour.


Here are three tips and tricks for those looking to recreate that fresh-faced look:

For the face:
Foundation and concealer are crucial when opting for the "no make-up" look. Wash your face with a cleanser and pat dry. Smooth a little concealer under the eyes and over blemishes. Most women make the mistake of opting for foundation several shades lighter than their natural skin tone, given our obsession with fair skin. The trick, according to make-up experts, is to actually get one shade darker than your skin tone. Apply a few dabs of foundation on the forehead, cheeks and the chin. Gently spread the foundation, using fingertips and pat with a sponge for a smooth finish.

For the eyes:
Ditch the black eyeliner, instead make mascara your friend. Make sure you invest in one that's waterproof to ensure you don't have those ugly streaks weeping down the side of your face when it rains.

For the lips:
Lighter skins can opt for nude lipstick shades with pink tints in them. Lip shades with red tints or browns are better suited to darker skins. Start by lining the lips with a nude liner and then fill in with colour. Add a dash of clear gloss over lips for a radiant look.

Final touch:
Lightly dust on some illuminator over cheekbones using a blush brush, and voila, you're good to go!

Buy Books Written By Kareena's Dietician Rujuta Divekar
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