Binge now, regret later

Deepavali is around the corner and all kinds of sweets are flooding the market.
From barfis to pedas and mysore pak, the aromas have started to fill the air — people are binging on them and sending them to friends and family.

But while consuming a piece or two is all part of the festivities, many people do have a tendency to gorge on these sweets — and of course, the extra calories only lead to extra pounds.

Avoiding sweets totally is close to impossible, but keeping a track on how much you consume and substituting them with homemade alternatives would be a safer
option.

Most people with a sweet tooth cannot control their cravings, especially at a time when they are so easily available — and in bulk.

Aditya Narayanan, a second-year MBA student, says, “Deepavali is a very tempting season and we just go out and lay our hands on everything that we can possibly splurge in. And since I live in a joint family, we have a lot of sweets coming in.”

Sushma, a quality assurance executive at Himalaya Drugs, adds, “I consciously try to avoid sweets. I do eat as much as I wish to but when it’s possible, I try and keep a distance since the aroma gives a false hunger.”

 Ask her how she tries not to overindulge and she says, “Avoiding eating between meals is a way to compensate for the extra calorie intake. Post Deepavali, I will go for a good crash diet that will balance the calories out.”

So what does one do to keep a check on high sugar intake? It’s better to be wise now than filled with regret later.

Dr Sneha N, a dietician at Sama Wellness Clinic, lists a few pointers — “One needs to be conscious about what and how you eat. Sweets made at home are the best option, since they have essential oils with less trans-fat and aren’t reheated often.”

 Spacing out these sweets, like consuming them a few hours before or after a meal, is a good tip to follow, since consuming them with a meal of 600 to 700 calories will affect the glycolic load.

 “Post Deepavali, a balanced diet comprising more proteins and cereals, high fibre and less carbohydrates should help you bounce back to a healthy you,” adds Dr Sneha.

Supporting the views of weight watchers, Suma Anurag, a freelance fitness trainer, is true to her profession and opines, “I don’t really binge on sweets in a crazy manner. Homemade things are much better and that way, one can control the calories. It’s better to watch the calories while eating, since there’s no point regretting it later on.”