
Calorie Deficit Diet To Daily Movement: Nutritionist Shares 5 Ways To Burn Fat
5 Ways to burn 95 percent fat
1. Follow a calorie deficit – but make it sustainable
Starving yourself slows your metabolism and leads to rebound weight gain, says Lovneet Batra. She recommends focusing on portion control and nutrient-rich foods, instead of extreme restriction. Eat enough to fuel your body while staying in a small calorie deficit.
2. Eat enough protein
According to Lovneet Batra, protein keeps you full longer, preserves muscle mass, and supports metabolism. It's your best friend in any fat loss journey. Some protein-rich items to add to your meals include eggs, lentils, paneer, tofu and chicken.
3. Add more fibre to your plate
The nutritionist shares that fibre keeps your digestion smooth, controls cravings, and reduces belly fat. For a fibre-packed diet, simply add fruits, vegetables, legumes, seeds and whole grains.
4. Prioritise quality sleep
Lack of sleep can increase your hunger hormones (ghrelin). It also reduces satiety (leptin). People who get 7–8 hours of deep sleep have better appetite control, leading to enhanced fat burn and better hormonal balance.
5. Move more, sit less
As per Lovneet Batra, sitting for more than six hours can increase fat storage even if you work out regularly. So, get up, stretch, move every hour and prioritise daily movement.
View this post on Instagram
A post shared by Lovneet Batra (@lovneetb)
On a concluding note, the nutritionist advises her followers to stay consistent, as it is the key to achieving perfection. 'Fat loss isn't about shortcuts or starvation. It's about daily habits around food, movement, sleep and balance,' she reveals.
Disclaimer: This content including advice provides generic information only. It is in no way a substitute for a qualified medical opinion. Always consult a specialist or your doctor for more information. NDTV does not claim responsibility for this information.

Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles


Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
How many hours should you really be exercising each day? (Hint: It's less than you think)
We live in a world obsessed with productivity. And somewhere along the way, exercise got lumped into that hustle culture mindset. You've probably seen people bragging on Instagram about their two-hour gym grinds, their 5 a.m. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now marathons, or their sixth workout of the week. It's easy to feel like you're not doing enough if you're not drenched in sweat for hours every day. But let's pause. How much exercise do you actually need to stay healthy—and how much is just overkill? The short answer? Not nearly as much as you think. According to leading global health authorities like the World Health Organization and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, adults should aim for about 150 minutes of moderate physical activity each week. That works out to about 30 minutes a day, five days a week. If you prefer more intense workouts—running, high-intensity interval training, cycling—you can get away with half that time. Just 75 minutes a week of vigorous activity can still deliver major benefits to your heart, brain, metabolism, and overall mood. But here's the catch: consistency is what really matters. It's not about exhausting yourself on the treadmill once a week and then collapsing on the couch for the next six days. Your body thrives on regular movement. Daily effort—even in short bursts—is better than long, irregular slogs. What counts as exercise, anyway? A common myth is that unless you're lifting heavy weights or gasping through a gym class, it doesn't count. That's nonsense. Exercise isn't just what happens in a gym. A brisk walk to the grocery store, dancing in your living room, climbing stairs instead of taking the elevator—all of that is movement that your body appreciates. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Gardening, cleaning, playing tag with your kid, hauling groceries—these things may not come with a fitness tracker or a calorie count, but they absolutely count. Moderate activity is anything that gets your heart beating faster and makes you breathe a little harder. Vigorous activity is when you're breathing a lot harder and can't hold a conversation easily. Both types are good for you. And the beauty is, you can mix and match based on your energy level and schedule. Can you break it up? Absolutely! If the idea of carving out a dedicated 30-minute slot sounds impossible, here's some good news. You don't have to do it all at once. Multiple have confirmed that shorter bouts of movement scattered throughout the day are just as effective. Ten minutes in the morning, ten in the afternoon, ten after dinner—done. It all adds up. Your body doesn't care if you hit 30 minutes in one go or three. This is especially helpful for people with desk jobs or busy family lives. Movement doesn't need to be a production. It can be as simple as getting off the couch during ad breaks or doing a few squats while your coffee brews. But is 30 minutes enough for everyone? Here's where it gets a little more personal. Thirty minutes a day is enough to maintain general health, reduce the risk of chronic diseases, improve your mood, help you sleep better, and keep your muscles and bones in decent shape. But if your goals go beyond just being healthy—if you want to lose weight, gain muscle, or train for an event—you may need a little more. For weight loss, many experts recommend closer to 45–60 minutes of daily activity, depending on your diet and other habits. And if you're strength training, you might spend 45 minutes to an hour three or four times a week lifting weights or doing resistance exercises. Still, even then, more doesn't automatically mean better. Overtraining is a real issue. If you're working out hard every day without enough rest, your body will eventually push back. Think fatigue, insomnia, irritability, nagging injuries, and even a weakened immune system. It's not about punishment—it's about balance. The real problem: Sitting too much Even if you hit the gym for 30 minutes every morning, what you do with the rest of your day matters too. Sitting for eight to ten hours straight has been dubbed 'the new smoking' for good reason. Long periods of sitting can cancel out many of the benefits of exercise. Your metabolism slows down, your muscles get tight, and your risk for heart disease and diabetes shoots up. So if you're sedentary for most of your day, try to break it up with movement. Stand up and stretch every hour. Walk while you're on phone calls. Take stairs instead of elevators. Use your lunch break to move around instead of scrolling Instagram. These little changes make a big difference. What an ideal day could look like You don't need to go from zero to athlete overnight. A great day of movement could start with a 10-minute walk in the morning sunshine, followed by a few bodyweight squats or stretches after lunch. Maybe in the evening, you take your dog for a long walk or do 20 minutes of yoga before bed. That's it. You've already done more than most. And the best part? None of it has to feel like a workout. You're just adding more life to your day. We've been conditioned to believe that exercise has to be brutal, sweaty, and time-consuming to count. But the truth is far gentler—and more forgiving. Just 30 minutes of moderate activity a day can protect your heart, sharpen your mind, and improve your mood. You don't need to be extreme. You just need to be consistent. If you're just starting out, don't stress about the numbers. Start with five minutes, then build from there. The body responds to motion, no matter how small. And once you realize how good it feels to move every day—not just physically, but mentally—you'll actually want to keep going. So how many hours should you be working out each day? For most of us, just a half hour is enough. And in a world constantly asking us to do more, isn't it refreshing to hear that less can truly be more?


India Today
2 hours ago
- India Today
How a silver revolution is taking place in Indian gyms
The moment you enter a gym, you're mostly greeted by loud, thumping music. The mecca of movement is always abuzz with commotion. While some are busy clicking mirror selfies to announce their gym attendance on social media, others are sweating it out on the treadmills, with many struggling to lift weights. The oohs and aahs of pushing the body for just one more rep echo throughout. So do the clangs of iron as barbells and dumbbells are finally released after a strenuous bulked-up men further chiselling their frames, women striving to be in their best shape, or young teens working on their physique metamorphosis, gyms, over the years, have become more inclusive. It is obviously no longer a workout arena for young men. Women are now equally serious about their fitness game. And it is no more limited to the so-called fat-melting cardio sessions.A new set of fitness enthusiasts is finally hitting Indian gyms: people in their 50s and 60s. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Ashu Jain (@ revolution in Indian gyms When I re-entered the gym this month, years after first trying it, something felt different. In the cardio section, a man in his early 70s, crowned with a head of shining silver hair, was cycling with the other side of the gym, a 57-year-old woman was performing weighted squats. That day, she had brought her daughter along to get her a gym membership too.I could easily spot four to five more elderly individuals around – including my 60-year-old father, who has been a regular at the gym for over a month reason for hitting the gym at 60 was to manage a few health issues that surfaced earlier this year. Alongside medication, he consulted a nutrition and lifestyle coach, who recommended some basic dietary changes, fixed his meal timings, and strongly encouraged him to start weight training. It is not uncommon to see elderly people working out in gyms now. (Photo: Unsplash) Sandeep, a Noida-based gym trainer with over three decades of experience, says that earlier, even doctors used to discourage the idea of going to the gym. 'Now, doctors themselves advise their patients, even older ones, to make strength training a part of their routine. It helps prevent muscle loss, controls many diseases, and supports a pain-free life,' he Singh, a fitness instructor based in Raipur, also acknowledges the rise in the number of elderly people joining gyms.'There is increased awareness, especially after Covid-19, because of which more people in their 50s and 60s are beginning their gym journeys,' Singh tells India the beginning – a long way to goMeanwhile, many fitness trainers also believe that this silver revolution in Indian gyms has just begun, and has a long way to go.'When I began my fitness journey almost 15 years ago, there were hardly any elderly people in gyms. Now, I do see a few, but I'd still call it a rarity,' says Yash Kumar, a 31-year-old Delhi-based fitness Fitness, a prominent fitness brand with a nationwide presence, shares that memberships from the 50-and-above age group have been increasing steadily at a rate of about 5.6% per year since 2019.'Compared to five years ago, we've seen a mindset shift where fitness is no longer viewed as a youth-centric activity. Post-Covid, awareness around immunity, mobility, and long-term health has made the older demographic more conscious about physical well-being. Many of them now see gym routines as a preventive and lifestyle necessity rather than a reactive measure,' Dr Richa Mishra, personal trainer and VP, Operations at Anytime Fitness India, tells India lifestyle disorders like hypertension, diabetes and fatty liver are among the key reasons why there is a silver influx in gyms.'Strength training improves insulin sensitivity, cardiovascular health, and mental well-being, all of which are especially relevant after 50. It also supports healthy ageing by reducing the risk of falls, fractures, frailty, and lifestyle diseases like type 2 diabetes and hypertension,' says Dr Suranjit Chatterjee, senior consultant, internal medicine, Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals, New media leading the movementAshu Jain, a fitness influencer known as 'Not Just A Grandma' on Instagram, began her fitness journey at the age of 54 after being diagnosed with hypertension and high cholesterol. She started with regular walks and home workouts, eventually transitioning to gym Mohan, a popular model, was also 54 when he began his fitness journey, battling a host of health issues at the time. Choosing fitness as a way to fight back and reclaim his life, he is now 66, a professional model, and confidently flaunts his enviable physique on the ramp. View this post on Instagram A post shared by dinesh mohan silverfox India (@ Jain and Mohan have been vocal on social media about starting their fitness journeys late in rise of fitness influencers and health experts championing strength training for the elderly for an improved quality of life is also pushing this silver Ramprasad is one such influencer championing senior fitness, both online and offline. Through video content featuring his parents, he encourages young followers to take charge of their own parents' fitness journeys. While he doesn't necessarily advocate gym workouts, he highlights the importance of strength training for the elderly, even if at home with tools like resistance bands, to combat sarcopenia (loss of muscle mass), mobility issues, and other age-related growing trend of older adults lifting dumbbells or using resistance bands, rather than limiting themselves to just morning yoga or park walks, is also driven by children motivating their parents to adopt a more active, strength-focused training matters more with ageThe benefits of being physically active are ample. But so are the injury risks. So, while starting gym or any other fitness activity in older age, one should not skip personal training. Look for a trainer with experience in training people of your want someone who understands your health issues and works on an approach to build strength gradually, improve flexibility, and ensure heart-friendly endurance without every elderly member undergoes an initial fitness assessment to create a personalised plan, supervised closely by our fitness is never too late to start working out. Fitness experts as well as doctors agree with it. But having a personal trainer should be non-negotiable.'Many people have had the luxury of exercising and getting into weight training while they were young. They carry it forward into old age. But just because you didn't do it earlier doesn't mean you can never start,' celebrity fitness trainer Shivohaam told India too, emphasises the importance of personal need someone to correct the form and posture. It will ensure you don't get injured. 'As you are above a certain age, the risk of injury is higher. So don't exercise without a trainer,' he in case you have serious health issues, it is imperative you first consult a doctor and have a trainer guide you accordingly.- Ends


NDTV
8 hours ago
- NDTV
Exclusive - Biology Beyond Earth: How Space Station Is Shaping Human Life in Space
Indian astronaut Group Captain Shubhanshu Shukla is visiting a home away from Earth that has seen continuous human presence for a quarter of a century and is floating around 400 kilometres above Earth. For most millennials, the idea of humans living and working in space has been a constant reality. Since November 2000, the International Space Station (ISS), a football-field-sized laboratory orbiting 400 kilometres above Earth, has hosted a continuous human presence. But beyond the awe of astronauts floating in microgravity, the ISS has quietly become one of the most important biological laboratories in human history. In an exclusive conversation with NDTV, influential NASA biologist Dr Sharmila Bhattacharya shared how two decades of biological research aboard the ISS are not only preparing us for long-duration missions to the Moon and Mars but also transforming our understanding of human health on Earth. A Living Lab in Orbit "The first few years were about building the station," Dr Bhattacharya explained. "But for the last 15 to 20 years, we've been doing very active science as an international community." That science spans a wide range of biological disciplines. Researchers studied how spaceflight affects muscle loss, bone density, cardiovascular health, immune function, and even kidney-stone formation. These studies are essential because space is an extreme microgravity environment, radiation and isolation take a toll on the human body. And yet, astronauts have not only survived but thrived. "They go fit and come back fit," said Dr. Bhattacharya. "But that's because they're some of the fittest people on Earth and follow strict exercise and diet regimens." The Brain in Space One of the most fascinating areas of research has been the effect of spaceflight on the brain. Dr Bhattacharya's team used fruit flies, Drosophila, as a model organism to study neurological changes. "We found that in space, there were definite effects on the brain," she said. To test whether these effects could be mitigated, her team created artificial gravity using a centrifuge aboard the ISS. "We were able to partially reverse some of the defects we saw in the nervous system," she noted. This has major implications for future missions, especially those lasting years, such as a round trip to Mars. Preparing for Mars A journey to Mars could take six to nine months one way, with astronauts staying for several months before returning. That means humans will need to survive in deep space for up to two years, facing elevated radiation and reduced gravity. "The ISS has taught us a lot about microgravity," Dr Bhattacharya said. "But the Moon has one-sixth Earth's gravity, and Mars has one-third. We need to understand how partial gravity affects biology." A recent collaboration between NASA and the Japanese Space Agency used mice to study biological changes under different gravity levels-Earth, Moon, Mars, and microgravity. "It was a really interesting experiment," she said, adding that "because it helped identify thresholds where certain biological systems begin to change." Plants in Space: More Than Just Food Beyond human biology, the ISS has also become a greenhouse in orbit. Astronauts have successfully grown lettuce, tomatoes, and other crops. "Some of the tomatoes were very well appreciated by the crew," Dr. Bhattacharya said. Plant habitats on the ISS are not just functional; they are emotional anchors. "They're well-lit, so when crew members celebrate birthdays or holidays, they often gather near the plants. It's like the beautiful garden in space." These experiments are crucial for future missions, where astronauts will need to grow their food. They also help scientists understand how plants respond to microgravity, which could lead to agricultural innovations back on Earth. The Microbial Frontier Space is also a frontier for microbiology. Dr Bhattacharya's team studied how bacteria behave in space and found that some, like Serratia marcescens, became more virulent after spaceflight. "They killed fruit flies faster than bacteria that hadn't gone to space," she said. Interestingly, this increased pathogenicity disappeared when the bacteria were grown again on Earth. "We wanted to understand the molecular biology behind that change and what made them more dangerous in space," she explained. "These enclosed environments give us insights into microbial ecosystems, not just in space but also in places like submarines or hospitals on Earth," Dr Bhattacharya said. Astronauts as Test Subjects Over 600 astronauts have flown to space, many of them to the ISS. Their bodies have become invaluable data sources. "We've grown multiple generations of fruit flies, Caenorhabditis elegans, and even plants in space," Dr. Bhattacharya said, adding that "Now we're doing longer and longer experiments." One of the most exciting upcoming studies involves MRI scans of astronauts' brains before and after spaceflight, as part of the Axiom 4 mission. "Given what we've seen in fruit flies, I'm very interested to see what the human data shows," she said. The End of an Era, and the Start of Another The ISS is expected to be retired by 2031. But Dr Bhattacharya is optimistic. "I celebrate what the ISS has given us," she said. "But I'm also looking forward to the next platform." That next step could be a commercial space, perhaps Axiom, Haven, or VAST. China already has its space station, and India is planning one too. "The more platforms we have in space, the more science we can do as a global community," she said. Why It Matters for Earth While the focus is often on preparing for Mars, the benefits of space biology are already being felt on Earth. From understanding immune responses to developing better exercise regimens, the research done in orbit is improving healthcare on the ground. "Basic biology helps us understand not just how to live in space, but how to live better on Earth," Dr Bhattacharya said. A New Age of Exploration As humanity looks beyond Earth, the ISS stands as a testament to what international cooperation and scientific curiosity can achieve. It has been a proving ground for the biology of the future where humans may one day live on the Moon, Mars, or even beyond. And thanks to scientists like Dr. Sharmila Bhattacharya, we're not just dreaming about that future, we're building it, one fruit fly at a time.