Prepping up for the festivities

It’s that time of the year again. When lights, family, friends, parties, dressing up and a marked departure from the every-day routine of our lives takes center-stage. I love Diwali, and I know that if I don’t take extra care, the excesses of this season can wreak havoc with my system.

Here are some quick and easy tips to make sure you stay fit and look like a million bucks this festive season:

Skin care

Late nights, parties, alcohol, all these can take a toll on your skin. Take few simple yet very beneficial steps to prevent all this from making your skin dull. Just add some aloe vera to your regular routine. It is super hydrating, and makes your skin glow by removing dead skin cells from the surface. Wash your face with your regular face wash, apply rose water and then a thick layer of aloe vera gel on your face and neck. Keep it on for 20 minutes and then rinse. Follow up with your normal skincare regime. Add it to your evening routine for healthy glowing skin. It will also protect your skin from all the Diwali pollution.

Good quality aloe vera gels are easily available in India. I highly recommend Forest Essentials Pure Aloe Vera Gel. Other good brands are FabIndia Aloe Vera Soothing Gel with Cucumber, and Khadi’s Aloe Vera Gel with liquorice and cucumber extract. In case, despite all this, you feel a pimple coming on, don’t panic. Immediately apply Neutrogena On the Spot Acne Treatment and it will subside in no time. This product is an excellent one to keep handy for emergencies like this.

Diet

This is possibly the toughest part of the festive season. How does one adhere to a healthy diet when this time is all about indulgence and familial love expressed in the form of food? I feel it is ok to relax the tight rein on your diet a little bit. Just this one time in the year, and as long as you don’t completely throw caution to the wind. I don’t have much of a sweet tooth so am not drawn to the mithais but I enjoy my wine and Diwali dinners. I just take a little extra care of myself during this time to protect myself from all the dietary excesses, and so should you.

Alcohol causes dehydration, so start by adding more alkalinity to your system. Start your day with some green juice with probiotics or a super green powder. You can add half a teaspoon of organic turmeric to this as well. This concoction will keep your gut healthy. Green juices should be consumed on an empty stomach, at least 30 minutes before a meal so that it is properly absorbed by your system.

Whip up some alkaline water and sip on it through the day to stay hydrated and fresh. The easiest alkaline water is lemon water. Fill a pitcher with filtered water. Cut one lemon into 6 pieces and add the pieces to the water. Let the lemons soak for 6 to 8 hours. Remember, don’t squeeze lemon juice into the water as this will make it acidic. There’s no need to refrigerate this water and you can sip it through the day so that your system remains alkaline. Just remember to drink this at least 30 minutes before any meal. These waters and green juices are excellent for your kidneys and liver and in fact, they have a mild diuretic effect. Most importantly, these are brilliant for preventing hangovers later in the day. I also eat a handful of almonds and take a Berroca Vitamin C dissolvable shot before stepping out. I find this very energising. Some people might find it too acidic, so if you suffer from acidity then I suggest that you skip this and stick to homemade alkaline water.

While preventive action is fine, I find the toughest challenge commences in the evening. Faced with all those delectable goodies, it can get tough to say no. Don’t worry, you don’t have to deprive yourself this season. Just remember to not overdo anything. Choose either a full meal or mithais. If the curries and rotis are making you drool then go for it, and say a polite but firm no to dessert. If controlling your sweet tooth is difficult, then go ahead and indulge but make sure you don’t eat anything else other than barbequed dry protein snacks. If you want to drink alcohol then stick to vegetarian and / or non- vegetarian barbequed protein snacks, avoid a full-fledged roti curry kind of dinner and definitely skip dessert. The mantra is simple – cut where you can and don’t go overboard.

I end my day with Magnesium and B6 tablets before going to bed followed by the same after breakfast the next day. This combination is brilliant for reducing fatigue, indigestion and hangovers. A word of caution here, the supplements I take are safe and suit my system perfectly, but, I suggest that you consult your GP before taking any yourself, especially if you are pregnant, trying to conceive or have any pre-existing health conditions.

Any form of physical activity around this time is also great! It will take care of those extra calories. Workout first thing in the morning to get it out of your way.

Don’t get stressed out about the festive season. Just observe the tips and suggestions I have provided here, let your hair down and have a good time. May the Festival of Lights bring you good health, good luck and a lifetime of happiness. Happy Diwali!

Is there something you do during this time? Write to me below or using #stayrealstayyou on Instagram @shagunkhanna

Disclaimer: Any supplements I mention in my posts are safe and suit me. Women with certain health conditions, pregnant or who are trying to conceive should always take advice from their GP.