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THANE PLUS

2 l Friday, March 8, 2013

Fitness first For me, since I am a part of showbiz, its imperative to stay fit and look good. However, fitness is more important, which extends to being healthy and confident with yourself. This goes a long way in looking and feeling good in the bigger picture as nothing can conceal if you arent happy with yourself. Its bound to reflect on your face. Being in the industry that I am, there is immense pressure about the way you look. There was a time, not long

would want to tell all young girls who are increasingly becoming figure conscious; not every one comes out from the same mould or has the same frame, so there is no point following any actors figure or fitness routine. Each body has a different need and form, so get the right assistance and follow what is right for you and what will work for you, thats what matters. Diet and training The most important thing is to identify your body type whether you are an ecto-

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PHOTO CREDIT: ROHAN PINGLE

Besides weight training, I believe in working out with dumbbells and resistance bands regularly; I carry them everywhere I travel. Besides I do a lot of toning exercises to be in shape. Having a high metabolism, I keep eating every two hours. What most girls fail to understand is that everyone has a different metabolic rate. When it comes to food, I eat everything. According to me, nothing can compensate for the actual intake of food, I dont subscribe to body supplements as they dont provide all the nutrition that actual food can give. Tips and tricks I have lots of water and juices with my breakfast. Eggs, toast and juices are what comprise my breakfast. You must make sure that you consume a lot of liquids as that aids in releasing the anti-oxidants and helps in achieving flawless skin. Other than my regular routine, I love cycling or playing a sport like squash or badminton whenever I can and feel like it. Also, keep changing your workout routine from time to time as your body tends to get used to it and see what wonders you can achieve with it! Signing off What I really urge people to understand is that if there is something called overweight, there is something like this body type as well. And its time one stops using the word skinny, just like you would usually not call someone overweight or fat! Its that simple. (The writer is a Bollywood actor and has hits like Band Baaja Baraat, Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi, Matru Ki Bijlee Ka Mandola under her belt. She is currently shooting for Rajkumar Hiranis Peekay)

Penny wise, pound foolish?

> Continued from page 1 However, such income once reinvested the subsequent income will be taxable for you. If you are in the lower tax bracket, there can be tax savings for the family. Investing in the name of a woman can potentially provide protection to the assets from any unfortunate bankruptcy or other claims against the male family members. Invest at the right age Shweta Aprameya, Vice President and Head-Business Management and Growth, FINO PayTech Ltd. says, Prudent rule says that the type of investment should be determined by calculating the retirement age minus current age. Say your age is 40 and average retirement age is 60, in this case 20 per cent of your investment should be equity and 80 per cent should go into debt. Gurmeet Singh, Head-Wealth Management, DiVitas Capital Advisors Pvt. Ltd. advises, Mutual funds are quite advantageous. The pooled investment avenue gives an individual the benefit of investing in equities, debt and liquid funds; however, a right mix of equity and debt has to be selected according to the age group. Those in the age group of 25-30 should invest 70 per cent money in equity related products and 30 per cent in debt and fixed instruments. Those between 40 and 50, should have 60 per cent in equity with 40 per cent in

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Knowing your body type and accepting it goes a long way in achieving the perfect figure
by ANUSHKA SHARMA

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morph, mesomorph or endomorph. Once you understand your body type, you can work on your training and diet accordingly. I am an ectomorph the kind who are lean naturally with lean muscle mass and dont gain weight easily. Unlike most, I can only gain weight if I go to the gym. So my secret is doing weight training and not cardio. In fact, if I stop working out, I start losing weight. This is how this body type works. What works for me the most is being on a high-carb diet.

back, when people and the media wrote and spoke a lot about my weight loss, some even claiming that I am anorexic. But the truth is I was always the way I am, even now. In my earlier films, I wore a lot of Indian outfits which camouflaged my figure. I did have baby fat on my face, which I lost over time, but I have always been blessed with a lean frame. I started losing weight due to stress, but its pertinent to not get affected by what people have to say about you. This is what I

Travel meanderings
Great places transcend personal tastes. Take a tour of these must-visit destinations that have also claimed the women-friendly tag for solo travel or girlfriend-getaways
by S H I V YA N AT H fter my first solo trip in India, many people asked me what it was like to travel alone as a woman. Liberating, I always said. To travel alone is to realise that the big bad world has a big heart and there is nothing quite as empowering as the confidence to experience an unknown place by yourself and that you dont need a man to figure out directions! Heres a mixed bag of some of the most women-friendly destinations that you should not miss out getaway, a reason to party and bull fights. Along the Andalucian countryside, I was marvelling at Arabic architecture and Roman ruins, biking around picturesque vineyards and olive fields, and tapping to the beat of the flamenco in a cave hamam (Turkish bath), all in one day. Much safer than bigger European cities, the countryside villages and towns in south Spain have a way of easing outsiders into the good lifelong lunches and longer siestasthat are immediately addictive.
PIC: RISHABH GUPTA

Balance your plan with a combination of low and high MONEYrisk investments Jewellery cannot MATTERS be considered as investment. So invest in gold funds or gold coins/biscuits Plan your retirement. A combination of systematic investments in ULIPs and mutual funds are good options Make sure that 20 per cent of your income is set aside for investments Have a good medical cover as it helps in the long run

fixed income; and those beyond 55-60, should have 80 per cent in fixed income with only 20 per cent allocation to equity. Mutually beneficial If youre looking at investing in mutual funds, a long-term plan and regular investments are the best options. Gurmeet advocates the benefits of investing in mutual funds: Mutual funds are the best option for investment as it invests according to the investment objective specified at the time of launching a scheme. So there are different kinds of funds such as equity funds, debt fund, fixed maturity plan and liquid funds and many others that cater to different needs of an investor. The availability of these options makes them a good investment choice. The only factor to keep in mind is that the fund has to be selected keeping the risk profile in mind. Gold advantage If we look at the global scenario, today India stands as the worlds largest single market for gold consumption. The rapidly increasing value of gold, coupled with the current economic conditions, and the use of gold in many evolving industries has made the yellow metal a winner all the way. Gurmeet suggests, An allocation to gold provides potential portfolio diversification benefits. The more asset classes you invest in, the less chance of all your holdings to fluctuate in tandem. Diversification of portfolio results in the risk being reduced because at any given point in time, investments do not react in the same way; hence the losses of one investment can be compensated by gains in some other investment, thereby reducing risks. When considering any investment, you should not only consider the potential positive and negative scenarios for that investment over time, but also the impact on your overall portfolio performance. The gold price has historically exhibited a low correlation with other asset classes. This fact makes gold a good source of diversification for a portfolio and gold may help protect against the downside risks. Always buy gold in the form of coins or bars or invest in gold funds; never consider gold ornaments as investment. Gold in the form of jewellery is only going to cause loss in the form of wastage and making charges.
Disclaimer: The above investment options give you an idea of what is available in the market; it is best to consult a financial advisor before you make any decisions.

OVERSEAS
Singapore This small island nation in

and working in Singapore, I revisited to marvel at Gardens by the Bay, the latest addition to the city skyline and an architectural marvel and sample trendy new concept bars and cafes popping up everywhere on the island. The best part: the islands

Southeast Asia can seem almost too good to be true as a single woman: it is as safe as it is cosmopolitan. With glittering shopping malls and massive year-round sales, well-preserved cultural districts, tranquil seaside escapades and a happening nightlife, there is enough to keep you on your toes. Public transport works like breeze, a huge expat population means there are enough Asian and international cuisines to sample, and its vicinity to Malaysia and Indonesia makes it a perfect base to explore the rest of Southeast Asia. If youve been there before, there are always new reasons to visit. After spending six years studying

Bahrain What has the conservative Gulf region got to offer a single woman traveller, you might ask? The warmest hospitality, utmost respect, and some much-needed perspective; in that order. Bahrain offers a flavour of the Middle East and a history lesson dating back to before 2,500 BC, minus the tourists of Dubai and Egypt. In fact, tourism is in such a nascent stage that the residents are genuinely happy to welcome foreigners into their homes; I found myself conversing,

Southern Spain Not quite taken by Zindagi Na Milegi Dobara? Then hear this: Spain has more to offer than the sun, sea and sand

devo bhava (guest is God) ever did justice to a region, it was here, and it really doesnt matter if youre alone or not. Meghalaya While all seven north-eastern sister states pay an ode to nature in the majestic backdrop of the Eastern Himalayas, Meghalaya stands

the verdant hills and picturesque villages. A sight that will remain indelible forever! (The writer is the co-founder of India Untravelleda social enterprise that aims to set travellers off-the-beaten track to experience rural India)

Marketing Coordinator: Response, Thane Editorial: Aindrila Mitra; Sumita Bagchi Chief of Design Head: Madan Patil Creative Team: Avinash Virshid, Nitin Sawant, Manish Bhatia (RESP-ART: MUMBAI)

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reputation of safety precedes it; so convincing your loved ones to let you go alone should be easy!

befriending, sharing meals and even hitchhiking with the locals. Its here that the East truly meets the West Arab men and women in traditional costumes drive foreign cars, converse in Arabic slang and accented English and hang out at European cafes serving fusion Middle Eastern cuisine! In the vicinity of the coast lie spectacular uninhabited islands; while inland, souks (street markets), pottery villages and restored traditional houses stand alongside bustling malls, artsy neighbourhoods and quirky cafes and bars. A state-of-theart causeway connects Bahrain to Saudi Arabia, and driving on this engineering spectacle is as close as you can get to its conservative neighbour as a solo woman.

CLOSER HOME
North Kerala

PHOTOS BY SHIVYA NATH

Himalayan ranges Ironically enough, the coldest regions of the TransHimalayas are home to the warmest people! Spiti and its better-known cousin, Ladakh, are enchanting places; home to stark terrain, magnificent landscapes, postcard villages, ancient monasteries, snowhooded mountains and starstudded skies. I couldnt have picked a better region for my first solo trip, or my first hitchhike. The smaller and more remote the villages in these Himalayan deserts, the more welcoming are the locals. If the notion of atithi

out as a matrilineal society; descent is traced through the mother and women who play the more dominant role in everyday life. Rest assured that female travellers are not only safe, but also highly respected. True to its Sanskrit name, the abode of clouds, much of Meghalaya receives high rainfall, making it one of Indias richest biodiversity belts, its ancient forests protected by the hill tribes for their cultural and religious beliefs. An almost mystical aura engulfs the state during the rains, with the clouds coming low to kiss

North Kerala is one of the few regions in India where, as a solo woman traveller, I felt genuinely welcomed with a greater sense of admiration than concern. Ditch the houseboat-lined backwaters along Alleppey and Kumarakom for the sleepy, coconut-fringed hamlets of the states north. Here, the backwaters flow like fullfledged rivers and are clean enough to swim in, uniting with the Arabian Sea across virgin white-sand beaches. The hilly countryside is home to well-preserved forests and tribal villages and many families in the region offer home-stays on their tea estates and coffee plantations, together with heart-warming hospitality and delicious home-cooked food.