KT for Good: She packs a punch to stay in sound health

Jyotsna Kanjhan is not a professional fitness trainer but she makes it a point to stay fit. The 28-year-old, who has spent most of her life in Dubai, says that UAE's lifestyle was one reason why she started paying special attention to her fitness and health.
"After I turned 24-25, my metabolism slowed down and I started gaining weight," she told Khaleej Times. "I started looking different," she said.
But it was not until she was motivated by someone that Jyotsna started taking fitness seriously two years ago. "My niece is into fitness and she does kickboxing," she said.
Egged on by her, Jyotsna took one class of kickboxing and fell in love with the activity. "I went and I enjoyed it. All other activities, I was not enjoying much," she said.
And like all things one enjoys doing, Jyotsna, too, stuck to kickboxing. "I started off doing it sporadically but now for the past year, I am doing it rigorously," she said. "I try and do it every day which sometimes is not possible. However, I do it at least four to five days a week for sure," she said.
While kickboxing kept her physically active and fit, Jyotsna realised that a healthy diet, too, played an important part in maintaining overall health.
"I try and eat healthy.have been trying to cut down on rice and chappatis," she said. With her diet and exercise regimen, Jyotsna lost 10 kis in 10 months.
She now stands at 51 kilos and maintains an ideal BMI with a height of 5'2. "I was around 61 before I started taking of my diet and fitness," she said.
Jyotsna advice to all people is to take control of their health and work towards staying fit for a longer and healthier life. "Once you love what you are doing, it becomes easier to enjoy that task. So look for the right kind of exercise which you can enjoy," she said.
asmaalizain@khaleejtimes.com

What's your favourite activity?
Aerobic: Usually the core of any fitness programme, it includes periods of continuous movement. Examples include swimming, running and dancing.
Strength: Helps increase muscle power and strength. Examples include resistance training, plyometrics, weight lifting and sprinting.
Calisthenics: Basic body movements done without gym equipment and at a medium aerobic pace. Examples include lunges, sit-ups, push-ups
and pull-ups.
High-intensity interval training (HIIT): Includes repetitions of short bursts of high-intensity exercise followed by low-intensity exercises or rest periods.
Boot camps: Timed-based, high-intensity circuits that combine aerobic and resistance exercises.
Balance or stability: Strengthens muscles and improves body coordination. Examples include Pilates, tai chi poses and core-strengthening exercises.
Flexibility: Aides muscle recovery, maintains range of motion and prevents injuries. Examples include yoga or individual muscle-stretch movements.

Checklist
It's important to consider a few things before you start an exercise routine.
1. Check your health
It's important to consult your doctor and get a physical medical examination before starting an exercise routine.
2. Make a plan and set realistic goals
Once you decide to start exercising regularly, try to create a plan that includes attainable steps and goals. Start with a plan of easy steps to follow. Then you can continue building on it as your fitness level improves.
3. Make it a habit
Another key component of exercise success is to stick to your routine.