The 'fat' of the matter

It all sounds simple. Eat less, exercise more, lose weight. But the actual test of the will only comes once you've reached your target weight "" keeping the scale steady at that point. Contrary to what most fitness and health fanatics believe, body weight is not merely dependent on "how fat you've become" but also on factors like bone density and water retention in the body and even the time of day at which you check your weight.

Weight fluctuation by a kilo or two should not be an issue at all. Sometimes the body has extra fluid, so it's primarily a biological factor. In fact, experts advice that you should not be paranoid about having your weight fixed at a particular point. Holistic health expert Mickey Mehta says, "People with a healthy lifestyle are never obsessed with their weight. In fact, an overweight person doesn't necessarily have to be unhealthy and being thin doesn't make you healthy."

Managing your weight is all about feeling healthy, living healthy and allowing your body to maintain its ideal weight, which could often fall within a range of five kilos. So how do you find out if you are healthy? Absence of diseases and ailments, high immunity, high energy levels, absolute flexibility of the body, an ideal appetite (which is if you feel hungry at the right time and can eat four meals a day) and a good sleeping pattern are all indicators of a healthy body. On the other hand, insomnia, vulnerability to infections and diseases, lack of appetite or excessive eating are indicators of an unhealthy body.

Managing your weight and keeping healthy at the same time is no Herculean task. Anoop Tiwari, fitness manager with Talwalkar, says, "Weight management requires a combination of eating right and exercising regularly. Only if you fall in the obese category do you need to cut down on your calories." Exercise should be done not out of compulsion but with pleasure. It makes all the difference. Says Mehta, "One hour of exercise, seven days a week is what I recommend, unless you indulge in an intensive workout and have to take one or two days off every week." Yoga, swimming, Pilates, military drill, dancing or a sport mixed with a healthy diet and regular meals are all you need.

However, Mehta also has a word of caution to offer, "Do not overdo or intensify your workout too much. You'll end up losing your immunity."