2008-03 MH India

MH Contents 03/08
No stress, more sex, in just a few easy steps | So much to read. Here’s where you start
Cover stories
SLASH STRESS
14 Sleep deep
Follow these four easy tips for a seamless
slumber at night
39 Be cool in a crisis
Learn some hassle-free formulas to
remain in control, always
74 Buy now, pay later
Skirt the credit card debt trap with some
planning and foresight
56
READ
80 Do you have office A.D.D.?
Fight off distraction and get the better of
attention deficit disorder
HER MIND 152 Feel better in 5 minutes
Pick these 13 mood-lifters to enhance
your life
DECODE
66 26 More sex than you can handle
Stay clear of trouble when Eve holds out
INDIAN the forbidden fruit
FOOD 52 Be a genius!
Let Viswanathan Anand make a winner
out of you—anywhere!
56 Read her mind
Become the man who has everything a
woman wants
59 6 crazy cures
Use these strange but effective solutions
to zap common ailments
66 Indian foods that fight disease
Find out if your grandma’s food advice still
holds true
72
144
GET FIT
Blast body fat
Lose an inch from your waist—with any of
these 34 tips
IN 15 104 Master the BBQ

Win friends and influence women with a
MINUTES display of your grill skills
MH POSTER SERIES 2008
117 Eight-pack abs
Upgrade your abdominal muscles and get
a rock solid core
121 Look sexier
Choose the right colours to suit your skin
tone and body type
140 Build a chest she’ll treasure
Engage more muscles in your chest and
back for new gains in strength and size
4 MEN’S HEALTH MARCH 2008 www.menshealthindia.com

MH Contents 03/08
117
UPGRADE
YOUR ABS
52 ARE YOU A
86
BE A LEG MAN?
GENIUS Or do breasts turn you on?
Health Nutrition/Weight Loss Wisdom

30 What’s your gut reaction? 34 Rustic delights 44 The CEO in slippers
Do a DIY diagnosis before dialling the doc Fill yourself up with the nutritious Make life more comfortable with these
vegetarian cuisine of Bihar new gadgets in store
31 Out of patients
Try these health practitioners if your family 35 What’s in that pill? 47 Who’ll have a heart attack first?
doctor is out of town Learn about the best sources of nutrients Take a reality check on your risk of
landing up in hospital
70 Are you a clean freak? 36 ‘I have lost 25kg!’
Cure yourself of hygiene obsessions Read how MH reader Siddharth 49 Finesse the interruption
Manoharan got his life back Be a smooth operator when handling
social pests
Fitness Sex & Relationships
18 Strength of being single
Stop using a spotter to squeeze out more
68 Couple right Regulars
Take this quiz to see if you two are the
repetitions 12 Editor’s note
perfect copulating couple
14 Ask Men’s Health
32 Row and grow
86 What grabs you? 16 Tell Men’s Health
Blast fat and build muscle at the same
Make the most of her body parts that are 50 The big question
time with this all-in-one workout
your biggest turn-ons 51 The most asked question
33 Best foot first 148 The spoils
Check out if cycling is better than running
to get fit fast Style SLASH STRESS! LESS WORK, MORE MONEY, NO TENSION!
62 Sweat to shape 40 True blue MARCH 2008 | Rs 50
Free Workout Poster!

THE MAGAZINE MEN LIVE BY
MORE SEX
®
EIGHT-PACK
Find out what makes Bikram yoga such Invest in the perfect pair of jeans and THAN YOU
a rage accessorise for the best effect

ABS!
Results In Just 14 Days
CAN HANDLE
Blast
Build A Body
Chest She’ll Fat MARCH 2008
92 126
Keep It Off
Treasure, p140
Inside the muscle laboratories Wrapped and knotted VOLUME 3 NUMBER 3
For Good!
GINGER!
BE A JAGGERY!
GEN IUS ! JOWAR!
Indian
COVER PHOTOGRAPHY:
Dump your old workout! Put into place Team the right shoes with the right belts, Clever tips
from
VISWANATHA
ANAND
N
Foods VIKAS MALHOTRA
That Fight
6 CRAZY Disease MODEL: ABHIJEET GULIA
this brand new one! whatever your budget CURES
Health Fixes That Work!
MH Guy
RNI No. DELENG/2006/18661
MAKE-UP AND HAIR: KAAJEE & KARAN RAI

Abhijeet Gulia www.menshealthindia.com
PLUS! LOOK SEXIER | MASTER THE BBQ | READ HER MIND

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03/08
Ask the experts on the MH India Advisory Board
MENTAL HEALTH
Is it true that problems treated with Rajesh Parikh Will freezing
homoeopathy never recur? Dr Parikh is a poet, painter, fruit reduce its
Ñ Ashim Kumar, New Delhi photographer and India’s leading nutritional value?
neuro-psychiatrist. He has won over Ñ Nitin Rai, Bangalore
ÜÜ No, it’s not true. If you have been treated with 200 awards, published scientific
an improper or superficially acting remedy, then the papers in international journals and ÜÜ No. In fact, frozen
symptoms may recur within months, or even days. lectured at the Harvard, Yale and fruits contain more
For long-term cure, you must have a full course of Johns Hopkins Medical Schools of some nutrients
homoeopathic treatment after proper investigation. in the US and the Institutue for than the fresh stuff,
Research in Neuroscience and because they’re
ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE Neuropsychiatry in France. He picked at the peak
Farokh J Master is also honorary psychiatrist of ripeness, when
Dr Farokh J Master is the director of the Homoeo- and neuropsychiatrist at Jaslok nutrients are at their
pathic Health Centre, Mumbai, and teaches Hospital, Mumbai. highest.
homoeopathy at the Bombay Homoeopathic Medical
College. He is also the author of over 36 books, SPORTS MEDICINE NUTRITION
including several best-sellers. Ed Mills of Classical Homoeopathy, Anant Joshi Dave Grotto
Toronto, wrote about Dr Master: “This man has taken the practice Dr Anant Joshi is a consultant with Dr Grotto is
and teachings of homoeopathy to a level previously unseen.” Bombay Hospital and Medical an inter-
Research Centre and is a nationally nationally
ALTERNATIVE MEDICINE EXERCISE SCIENCE recognised arthroscopy expert. reputable
Issac Mathai PV Jayasankar He is also a sports medicine nutrition
Dr Mathai hails from a family Chennai-based Dr PV Jayasankar, consultant to the Board of Control expert and has served as the
with a tradition of homoeopathic an orthopaedic surgeon, has for Cricket in India (BCCI). director of nutrition education at
practice for half-a-century. been recognised for his efforts the Block Center for Integrative
He is the chairman of Soukya to bring exercise science as a UROLOGY Cancer Care in Evanston,
International Holistic Health specialty onto centrestage. As Jon L Pryor, MD Illinois, for eight years and is
Centre, Bangalore, and a the organising secretary of the Dr Jon L Pryor is a member of a media spokesperson for the
consultant to holistic health 26th annual conference of the the American Urological American Dietetic Association.
centres in Europe and the USA. Indian Association of Sports Association and the author of
Medicine, Dr Jayasankar made a It’s in the Male: Everyone’s WEIGHT LOSS
CARDIOLOGY public commitment to spread the Guide to Men’s Health. He is Dr Muffazal Lakdawala
Prediman Krishan Shah science now popular in Punjab and also a consultant with McKinsey Dr Muffazal Lakdawala, a special-
Dr Shah is the director of the Delhi to other parts of the country and Company, an international ist in weight-loss surgery, is head
division of cardiology and the as well. management consulting firm. of department, bariatrics, at LH
Atherosclerosis Research Center Hiranandani Hospital and a consult-
at Cedars Sinai Medical Center in ant laparoscopic surgeon at Lilavati
Sometimes in a closed room I feel suffocated.
Los Angeles, and a professor of Hospital, Mumbai. Dr Lakdawala
Others seem to have no problem. Is this
medicine at the UCLA School of something to do with the heart? trained at the University of Ghent,
Medicine. Ñ Bob Lyngdoh, Mumbai renowned for its obesity surgery.
DERMATOLOGY ÜÜ Suffocation in a closed space, as in an YOGA

Shrilata Trasi elevator, is not uncommon in people suffering from BKS Iyengar
One of the first Indian women claustrophobia. This isn’t a heart problem. BKS Iyengar is the pioneer of the
to take up dermatology as a unique style of yoga called ‘Iyengar
profession, Dr Shrilata Trasi was CARDIOLOGY Yoga’ followed by millions world
attached to BYL Nair hospital for Sharukh Golwalla over. New York Times calls Iyengar
nearly 12 years. She now consults Dr Sharukh Golwalla, who completed his super “one of the most penetrating
at Hiranandani Hospital, Mumbai, speciality in cardiology studies from the University of writers on yoga alive today”. He
runs her own laser clinic and is California at Los Angeles, is consultant cardiologist lays great emphasis on precision
well-known as the dermatologist at Mumbai’s Breach Candy and Jaslok hospitals. and alignment and is one of the
to Bollywood stars like Madhuri He has also co-authored four books with his few masters to teach the highest
Dixit, Shah Rukh Khan and John cardiologist father Dr Aspi Golwalla. aspect of yoga—atma darshan
Abraham. through postures.
Send in your questions to the experts at menshealth@intoday.com or write to Men’s Health, 5th Floor, Videocon Tower, E-1 Jhandewalan Ext., New Delhi-110055

STRESS
03/08
SLASH
SP
ECIAL
Less Stress, More Money, No Tension!
hyperactive kids, is fast becoming one of
the biggest causes of stress among young
professionals all over the world.
A Men’s Health Int’l Survey conducted
last year rated Indian men as the most
stressed out in the world, with the longest
work hours (46+ hours per week) and
most tiresome daily commutes (36 minutes
Jamal Shaikh each way.) Add to that recent numbers
Editor that show each urban Indian carries 2.6
The Chairman and Managing Director cell phones on an average, and it isn’t
of a successful industrial house sent me a improbable that our rankings may get
‘friend request’ on Facebook recently. The worse.
gentleman is worth a few hundred crores Getting out of the rut is simple, say our
and his business interests cover a gamut Slash Stress Special stories this month,
of industries. In the days that followed, I which deliberately focus on urban stress
discovered that one of the first things he triggers that include money matters
does every morning is log onto the popular and debt repayment (p74) to crisis
social networking site, and when he’s not management, anger and impatience (p38.)
in office, he’s connected via the BlackBerry! “To beat back stress, Suggestion No. 1
Rubbishing statistics of unproductive for Indian men is to get off that incessant
Internet hours used up, he defended his car horn that underlines the apparent
newfound interest: “It’s a small distraction, impatience,” said Dr Alex Howard, noted
but a great stressbuster as well.” American psychologist on his visit to India
Researchers believe he may be horribly recently. My favourite piece of advice is
wrong! that we need to learn to turn off our cell
Multiple cell phones, pop-up e-mails on phone(s) when we go to bed. We’ve all got
Outlook, a friendly ‘poke’ by way of hello better equipment to use while we’re there,
from a virtual friend may have all resulted in don’t we?
us being better connected than ever before.
But this comes with a price tag, and costs
your health. Attention Deficit Disorder or
A.D.D. (p80), otherwise common among
Contributorsÿ
p39 p56 p86

MIKE ZIMMERMAN FARZANA CONTRACTOR DABBOO RATNANI
Men’s Health US senior editor Mark The editor of Upper Crust magazine, Farzana Bollywood photographer Dabboo Ratnani is in
Zimmerman is something of a celebrity story Contractor found her soulmate in columnist the business of making beautiful people look
expert, having done more than a dozen for Behram Contractor aka Busybee, who is her even more beautiful. An MH regular, Ratnani
the magazine. What he looks for in a celebrity, gold standard for measuring the worth of a man. has photographed some of Bollywood’s sexiest
though, is not fame but “authenticity”. In this See whether you can cross the high bar she has actresses, who represent the ideal physical
issue, he interviews Matthew McConaughey. set for you. attributes that men look for in women.
Mike, what’s your top stressbusting tip for Farzana, how do you suggest a guy should Dabboo, tell us chaps how to kill stress,
the fagged-out Indian guy? destress? please.
Once a day, take control of one hour. It’s yours. Stop chasing money. Not only will stress Get a pet. Dogs are really great stressbusters.
Work out, watch TV, read, anything. If you can’t disappear, but good people will appear around My pet dog, Flash, is always at my shoots and he
find one solid hour, find 15 minutes. It still helps. you. And good friends make life meaningful. really energises my studio.

ASK MEN’S HEALTH [Life’s questions, answered]
I’ve got a crazy SPECIAL
I brush twice daily, but I still

SS
week coming
RE
up. Can I
SH ST
have bad breath. Can herbal ‘store’ sleep
SLA
in advance?
remedy help? Ñ DEEPAK ROY, MUMBAI Ñ MD RAFI, MUMBAI
If a flower wilts when you try to smell it, blame it on the bacteria causing halitosis, says
Nope, your body is not
a bank account. You India’s rank
20
alternative medicine expert Dr Issac Mathai. It’s nothing to worry about if it’s only ‘morning can’t just pluck sleep in an
MH int’l
breath’. But if it persists even after you have brushed your teeth, and have eliminated out of your savings. In men’s survey
factors like not rinsing your mouth after a meal, eating garlic or onions, smoking or your case, the best bet covering 20
chewing tobacco, then you need to get checked for infection of the throat, sinus is to improve the quality
countries,
making
or lung, or diabetes, liver or kidney problem, Dr Mathai says. But beware of of the sleep you do get, us the
‘pseudohalitosis’, a mental condition where a person imagines they have so you won’t end up MOST
bad breath. As for the remedy, Dr Mathai prescribes chewing cardamom slumped on your files, STRESSED
OUT NATION
seeds, drinking lots of water, rinsing the mouth with a glass of water says Jon Magee, PhD,
with juice of half lemon in it and eating fresh fruits. Homoeopathic director of the Sleep Disorder Center
medicines like Merc sol, Pulsatilla, Nux vomica, Acid Nitric, at Research Medical Center, Kansas
Borax and Chamomilla also help. City. Do this for a few days before and
after your crazy week:
● Squeeze 15 minutes of exercise into
your day. Walking is fine.
● Don’t drink caffeinated drinks after
3pm, and avoid heavy foods after 7pm.
● Stick to just two alcoholic drinks
a day. Any more and your body will
spend the night metabolising alcohol,
which interferes with sleep.
● If you are dead tired by the end of the
work week, try this: drink strong coffee
and take 20-25 minutes of power nap.
This works because, says Magee,
it generally takes that much time for
caffeine to reach your bloodstream.
The ‘alerting effect’ when you wake up
will last about two hours.
I’m a thin guy. Why do I still

have love handles? Can I get
rid of them?
Ñ VISHNU RAO, BANGALORE
Being a thin man doesn’t disqualify
you from owning a little blubber above
I smoke only two or three a pack a day. But there’s one sobering MYTH OF your hips. In men, any excess fat,
cigarettes on weekends fact backed by decades of research: THE MONTH however minimal, is deposited low
with friends. Can this little “Over 90 per cent of the people who It takes 20 in your midsection and your sides,
bit hurt me? smoke even intermittently go on to minutes of
exercise before
says Johanna Hoffman, an exercise
Ñ ANUJ MITTAL, NEW DELHI become daily smokers,” says Dr fat burns specialist with the Johns Hopkins
“There’s no established safe level for Husten. And here’s another sobering Your body taps Weight Management Center in
smoking,” says Corinne Husten, MD, fact: smoking is to blame for half the TB fat the moment Baltimore. Now, you can’t spot-reduce
it senses an
of the Centers for Disease Control and deaths among Indian men, according energy deficit. a body part; you’ve got to attack the
Prevention in Atlanta. But let’s be more to research conducted by The If you exercise whole animal. Follow a moderate-
realistic: smoking a third of a pack a Epidemiological Research Centre, and cut back on fat, low-carb diet and do a strength
your calories
week obviously causes Chennai. The study predicted that the (creating an training programme every other day,
less damage number of men dying from smoking- energy deficit) with cardio intervals in between. It
than related illnesses in India could double you’ll burn fat won’t get you overnight results, but it’ll
all day.
smoking to more than a million a year by 2025. get you there in a few months.

ASK THE GIRLS AT COSMO
All your questions about the fairer sex and the unfair troubles answered
I have started bicycling,

but my legs hurt after the What’s the most
rides. Any stretches I can do romantic thing a guy
to fix this? has done for you?
Ñ RISHI JAIN, PUNE Ñ NEIL THOMAS,
“Stretching after a tough ride won’t MUMBAI
reduce soreness the next day,” says Ours? Can’t say. But a
Wayne Westcott, PhD. “But if you girlfriend told us that her
stretch after each workout, you’ll guy once baked her a
improve your range of motion. And chocolate cake for her
over time, you’ll be able to ride longer birthday and then took her
and harder with less soreness.” He to a hit rom-com. The film
recommends these three stretches was good, but it was the
after a cycling workout. Do each one cake that was the most
to three times. romantic thing because
Quadriceps stretch: Stand it took thought and effort,
on your right leg, holding a and made her feel really
tree, wall or chair with your wanted.
right hand for support.
Bend your left leg behind My girlfriend of eight
you so that you can months never used to
grip your left ankle. criticise me. But now
Hold for 30 she’s picking apart my
seconds, then hair, my clothes, my
switch legs. flat... What’s wrong?
Hamstring Ñ CHANDAN SINHA,
and gluteal KOLKATA
Payal, the editor
stretch: Sit on Payal Puri (right), editor, Cosmopolitan, of Cosmopolitan, She has just realised
the ground with your left leg with colleague Nandini Bhalla with Nandinisomething: contrary to
straight and your right leg what she thought during
bent, so that the sole of
Sometimes, I wonder if women date me because I those first infatuation-
your right foot make a lot of money. Am I being paranoid? soaked months, you’re not
is pressed Ñ AJIT TYAGI, NEW DELHI perfect. And she’s panick-
against the No, it’s a valid question. What do women do at ing. Does an eight-month
inside of your left knee. Bend forward The answer: money bachelorette parties? relationship qualify as a
at the waist, leaning out over your left is important, but most Ñ ABDUL ARIF, commitment? If yes, has
leg. Hold for 30 seconds, then women will tell you that BANGALORE she made a mistake? What
switch legs. they’d rather find man who Well, we’ve heard of if you’re the loser she had
Bake cake.
Calf stretch: Stand in front has direction in his life, the occasional male Get girl. It’s never spotted? Taking her
of a step. Keeping your right has reached some of his stripper—yes, even that simple. too seriously will actually
foot flat, place the ball of your goals and is doing some in India. But mostly, it make you that loser. Don’t
left foot on the step and lower work that he feels strongly usually involves hitting a be defensive; just laugh
your heel to the ground. about. A man like that is dance club and downing it off. If she picks on your
Lean forward until you feel much more likely to be martinis, or raising a clothes, say, ‘You’re right.
the stretch in your calf. Hold happy and well-balanced, toast—several toasts—at I should put my orange
PHOTOGRAPHY: DREAMSTIME (GAS MASK, MOUSETRAP),
for 30 seconds and repeat which makes him great one girlfriend’s place. trousers on.’ Confidence
AMIT SHARMA (COSMO GIRLS), STOCK XCHNG (CAKE)
with other leg. MH boyfriend material. And And yes, they dance at a and humour will win her
yeah, a big bank balance house party, too. These respect. MH
is icing on the cake—cash activities may be tame by
makes you even more guy standards, but they’re
EXPERTS ON CALL WANT TO HEAR FROM THE
Got a harrowing problem and don’t know attractive. But remember, a great deal of fun for the
GIRLS AT COSMOPOLITAN ?
who to ask? Write to: you’re the cake. Unless girls. It’s a rare chance for
Ask Men’s Health Shoot your questions on
5th Floor, Videocon Tower, E-1 Jhandewalan
you have all the right a bunch of good friends to life and love at them at
Ext., New Delhi-110055 or e-mail at ingredients, no woman get together, let their hair menshealth@intoday.com
menshealth@intoday.com. Answers should Or write to Men’s Health,
who meets you will want down and enjoy that fierce 5th Floor, Videocon Tower,
not be considered substitutes for profes-
sional medical advice. All correspondence only the icing. pre-wedding high. E-1 Jhandewalan Ext., New Delhi-110055
becomes property of Men’s Health.
www.menshealthindia.com MARCH 2008 MEN’S HEALTH 15

TELL MEN’S HEALTH…
WHAT MH READERS SAY THIS MONTH
CHOP IT OFF
One of the things I like about Men’s
Health is that it features Indian guys on
its covers who are not celebrities.
Somehow, it makes it a little more
believable to me that regular
people can have impressive
physiques as well. But why
should the MH Cover Guy have
A SIX-PACK IMPACT long hair? I have all your issues,
MH has created a revolution in India. and I can see that the MH Guy
That’s obvious from this invite. Mumbai has long hair in Nov ’06, March
party host Viren Shah called his annual ’07, Sept ’07 and then again
bash the ‘Six-Pack party’ and included a with the girl in Feb ’08. Don’t
six-biscuit pack labelled ‘Want a 6-pack?’ you know long hair went out of
The invite read ‘Get a 6-pack - Physique style as soon as MS Dhoni and
in just one day’—just like a line from your John Abraham chopped their
cover. And to think India didn’t even know locks?
of six-packs before MH came in... Ñ RACHIT KHANNA,
MUMBAI
Ñ BHARATHI PANDYA,
MUMBAI
MISNOMER!
I think Men’s Health is a complete lifestyle
magazine for men. Your covers are
misleading, as they focus on health and
fitness. Change your name from Men’s
Health to Men’s Lifestyle! I’m reading
your February issue now and I’m loving it!
Ñ CHANDRAKANT VOHRA,
LUCKNOW
3
TEACH ’EM nervous. I have no family history of diabetes,
TRICKS but now it seems my lifestyle could lead me
TIPS FROM
Thank you for giving the down that road. The WHO expert you have
MH READERS
stick-in-the-mud Indian male quoted makes it clear that millions of guys my Nothing works as a hungover cure?
a primer on how to use his
hands (Love in Your Hands,
age—I am 27—could be diabetics. I am going
to have to start making diet changes and put a
1 Have a handful of green cardamom
seeds with sugarless cold black tea.
February 2008) to stimulate fitness plan together. Fast! —Anupam Thapa, Shimla PHOTOGRAPHY: VIKRAM BAWA (GIRL), SUBI SAMUEL (MH COVER GUY),
a woman. Most Indian men Ñ PRADYUMON BHATT,

MUMBAI
have that wham-bam Keep a small plant on your desk/
approach that leaves
women so cold.
WEE WILLIE WINKIE
Your February 2008 Guy List was hilarious. I
2 windowsill at work to cut stress and
improve air quality.
Ñ ANITA KIRAN, didn’t know smoking can shorten our willies, —Swarup Ghosh, Kolkata
VIA E-MAIL
or that foreskin is used to reconstruct burnt
SCARY FACTS skin. The ‘growers’ and ‘showers’ point, which Keep inspirational wallpapers on your
3
DEBASHIS PALIT (BISCUIT AND CARD)
Your story on the showed that size matters little, was the funniest! PC desktop. For example, if you want
diabetes epidemic Ñ VIJAYKANT BELSARE, to build a good physique, get a wallpaper
looming over India NAGPUR of John Abraham or Upen Patel. It will spur
(The Invisible Epidemic, you to move faster towards your goal.
Write to : Tell Men’s Health,
February 2008) made me 5th Floor, Videocon Tower,
—Samarjit Mahurkar, via e-mail
E-1, Jhandewalan Extension,
New Delhi - 110 055 or Got a tip? Cool! E-mail it at
e-mail at menshealth@intoday.com menshealth@intoday.com
www.menshealthindia.com
Health [
[
[
Avoid vitamin E to reduce plaque risk
Don’t take your cholesterol test to heart
MAR’O8
Bulletin
Cut your cell phone chats to save your ear
[ Try an amino acid pill to kick a vice LATEST NEWS FROM
[ Steer clear of migraines amid high winds AROUND THE WORLD
Keep your ear
to the ground
PULSE Take a load off the ticker
Facts you never Never, ever, get cocky about your
knew
heart health: you can ace your
VITAMIN E cholesterol test and still end
An American
Journal of
up clutching your chest. While
Clinical Nutrition analysing the medical histories
study found of more than 3,00,000 adults,
that vitamin E Dutch researchers discovered
shrinks the size
of HDL (good
that just 2.2kg of extra weight
cholesterol) increases your heart attack risk
particles, by 20 per cent—even if you don’t
increasing smoke and your blood pressure
plaque buildup
risk. Although and cholesterol are at safe levels.
vitamin E
lowers LDL (bad Only your HDL
cholesterol) can’t protect
levels, the study your heart
authors believe
genetic factors
determine the
outcome.
A SIGHT FOR
BLIND EYES
Zebra fish may
HEAR TODAY, DEAF TOMORROW hold the key
to reversing
Don’t blame your wireless carrier if your answer is “No, I blindness,
can’t hear you now.” Your cell phone may be harming your thanks to unique
hearing, say Indian researchers. In a study of 100 cell users, stem cells that
can regenerate
the scientists found that four years of heavy usage (an hour damaged Vice advice
a day) diminished the users’ ability to hear high frequencies, retinas. British Can’t kick a habit? Try the
making it hard for them to distinguish between certain researchers willpower pill. An amino acid
sounds. The study’s lead author, Naresh Panda, MD, blames have already supplement may help fight
grown the
electromagnetic waves emitted by handsets. “This radiation vision-restoring addictive drives, says a new
can affect your inner-ear mechanics,” says Dr Panda, who stem cells in the University of Minnesota study.
suggests using a headset to move the cell away from your ear. laboratory. After 27 compulsive gamblers
each received a daily dose of
about 1,200mg of N-acetyl
cysteine (NAC) for eight weeks,
Cold temperatures
Under the High humidity they reported a 50 per cent
weather
HEAR TODAY, DEAF TOMORROW PHOTOGRAPHY: GETTY IMAGES
STROKES Stroke risk HEART ATTACKS reduction in the urge to ante up.
spikes during the winter Infarction deaths are 3.5 One theory is that NAC boosts
due to more cold and Climate changes don’t just times higher in summer. levels of glutamate, a neuro-
flu infections, which can influence your clothing Heat keeps your body
thicken a person’s blood. from cooling itself, transmitter tied to motivation
choices—the weather can also burdening your heart. and reward. Talk to your doctor
forecast your health.
before you try it.
Rain Rising barometric pressure High winds

ALLERGIES OSTEOARTHRITIS As barometric MIGRAINES Wind alters FACTS OF LIFE
5.5
Rain ruptures pollen pressure rises, so does pressure the number of positive-
sacs, increasing within your joints. This causes and negative-charged Number of Indian men
airborne pollen pain and may slow the flow of molecules in the air, which who die from tobacco use
levels 12-fold. lubricating fluids. can affect your brain’s each year
biochemistry. LAKH
Source: Euromonitor

Fitness [
[
[
Stretch and recover from fallen arches
Avoid ibuprofen for muscle pain relief
MAR’O8
Bulletin
Use a spotter’s presence, not his nudge
[ Burn fat with walk-and-work desks LATEST NEWS FROM
[ Foresee sports injuries from muscle flares AROUND THE WORLD
A not-so-clutch reliever Hit the spot, even TUNE IN

without your spotter Get healthy,
Stick with ice for post-race mus- wealthy, wise
cle pain. Ibuprofen can damage
WHEN BRAIN
an athlete’s body, says a Medi-
MEETS BONE
cine and Science in Sports Exer- University of
cise study. Ultramarathoners Cincinnati
who popped ibuprofen before scientists found
that college
and after a race had twice the
football players
oxidative stress—a marker of had less grey
cancer risk—than did drug-free matter—the
runners. “During strenuous brain tissue
that controls
exercise, gut bacteria can enter thinking—than
the blood stream, causing an other students.
inflammatory response,” says The upper
study author Steven McAnulty, forehead, used
for heading,
PhD. “And ibuprofen increases offers limited
the bacteria that escape.” cushioning for
the brain. The
impact can lead
to a brain-and-
skull collision.
MUSCLE
FLARES
Your muscle
activity may
Ditch the ibuprofen foreshadow a
use an ice pack
STRENGTH OF BEING SINGLE future sports
injury. University
Stop using a spotter to squeeze out more reps: it’s a waste of of Virginia
time and effort. A Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research researchers
Work out at work study reports that lifters who bolstered their rep counts using a found that
Tubby workers could have a second set of hands gained no more strength or size than their a person’s
quadriceps shut
shock if scientists at the Mayo solo-lifting counterparts. But in debunking this common belief, down in hours
Clinic in New York get their study author Eric Drinkwater, PhD, discovered something else: leading up to an
way. They have developed you’re able to increase total reps if you do fewer reps per set. anterior cruciate
vertical “walk and work” desks, ligament tear.
which could help employees
shed up to 25kg a year. The
desk allows people to work at a Save your sole!
The pain from fallen arches can lead to flat training sessions. The solution could be in a simple
computer while simultaneously stretch devised by surgeons at the University of Rochester, Michigan, USA.
walking on a treadmill. The
average energy burned while
seated at a desk is 72 calories
per hour. But volunteers burned
SAVE YOUR SOLE! ILLUSTRATION: PIYUSH GARG
191 calories an hour while at

the vertical work station.
Step 1 Step 2 Step 3

FACTS OF LIFE
16.5
Take your shoes and socks Place the fingers of your right Stretch the arch of your foot
Number of situps an off. While sitting, cross your hand at the base of by pulling your toes back
average Indian man right leg over your left knee your toes. Immediately towards your shin. Hold for a
can do in a minute (assuming it’s your right foot regret not washing your feet count of 10, then repeat
Source: Men’s Health International Health that’s sore). beforehand. 10 times.
Survey 2007

Sex [
[
[
Attract her with your pearly whites
Share your Sunday brunch with her
MAR’O8
Bulletin
Turn her on, turn off the bedroom TV
[ Commit to a blind date after listening to her LATEST NEWS FROM
[ Burn fat by staying in bed AROUND THE WORLD
Beam her up SIGNS

Understand the
Don’t underestimate the power chemistry
of pearly whites. A strategic
smile can make you instantly TELLY
more attractive, says a study TRAUMA
in the Journal of Nonverbal Turning on
the box in
Behaviour. When the research- the bedroom
ers asked 50 women to analyse could turn off
videos of men smiling, the guys your other
who let a smile spread slowly half—Italian
researchers
across their face were rated as have found that
more attractive and trustworthy couples who
than those who flashed a grin. have a TV in
“Women see this subtle delay as their bedrooms
get it on half as
being more genuine,” says study often as those
author Eva Krumhuber, PhD(c). who don’t.
THE HEART
OF DENIAL
Atherosclerosis
Listen to her voice has no gender
before you meet her bias. Yet women
are less likely
SHE’S NOT PHONE(Y) AT ALL! than men to

adopt a heart-
A voice holds clues to a person’s body shape and sexual healthy lifestyle,
Your pearly whites says an American
behaviour, reports a study of 149 college students, published Heart Journal
may win her over
in Evolution and Human Behaviour. Researchers recorded the study. Women
voices of participants counting from one to 10 and had members with heart
of the opposite sex rate each voice. Voices rated attractive disease in their
genes have a
Save the date belonged to people who were attractive physically (measured greater tendency
Think ruts are bad for relation- by waist-to-hip and shoulder-to-hip ratios) and who had the to smoke, have
ships? Sharing brunch every most sexual experience. So don’t turn a deaf ear to a blind date: high BP and be
Sunday can strengthen a cou- “At least have a phone conversation before you commit to a overweight and
sedentary than
ple’s bond. Canadian researchers date with someone,” says study author Susan Hughes, PhD, an do men with
SHE’S NOT PHONE(Y) AT ALL! PHOTOGRAPHY: RITESH SHARMA, MODEL: PINKY GAUTAM
found that partners who shared assistant professor of psychology at Vassar College. similar DNA.
regular rituals were more satis-
fied in their relationships than
those who didn’t schedule down-
time together. Repeated behav- Your Rx: Sex
iours reinforce the uniqueness A romp in the sack can improve short-term brain function and long-term psychological health,
of a couple, providing a sense of thanks to the release of pleasure hormones, say British researchers. But the benefits don’t
belonging. One strategy: make stop there. Having sex twice a week will…
1 2 3 4 5
separate lists of activities you’d Bolster your Cut your Halve your Ignite your De-stress
like to do together on a weekly immune prostate- risk of a fatal fat-burners your mind
basis, and see where you overlap. system cancer risk heart attack During a After orgasm,
You’ll experience The more Sex causes passionate bout your body
a spike in you ejaculate, a surge in of sex, men use releases
FACTS OF LIFE immunoglobulin the more testosterone, a 143 muscles oxytocin, a
Percentage of Indian A, an antibody carcinogens hormone that and torch as hormone that
13 men who ensure their

partner is satisfied every
time they have sex
that can fight
off respiratory
and stomach
you’ll flush out of
your sex gland,
say Australian
helps protect
your heart from
stress.
many calories
as during a 15-
minute jog.
acts as a natural
anti-anxiety drug.
Source: India Today-AC Nielsen ORG Marg infections. researchers.

Sex Survey 2007

Nutrition [
[
[
Get rid of your sore throat with honey
Don’t bank on tomatoes for a fit prostate
MAR’O8
Bulletin
Cure your headache with red pepper
[ Flaxseed may keep your sex gland in shape LATEST NEWS FROM
[ A new powder may kill bacteria in produce AROUND THE WORLD
FOOD FOR
Melt migraines THOUGHT
Move the red pepper to your Your guide to
medicine cabinet. Cayenne can eating right
make your headache vanish. FIGHT OFF
Scientists at Seattle’s Bastyr CANCER
University report that capsaicin, Eating flaxseed
(alsi) may
which gives chillies their heat, protect your
cuts off the neurotransmitters in sex gland from
the brain that trigger headache cancer, say
pain. Eating spicy foods won’t researchers at
Duke University.
do the trick, though. The study It’s loaded with a
authors suggest dissolving ¾ tsp form of omega-3
of cayenne powder in 120ml warm fatty acid that
water. Dip a cotton swab into the may inhibit
cancer cells
spicy solution and apply it to the from forming.
inside of your nostrils.
BANISH
BACTERIA
Rutgers
University
scientists have
created an
edible, tasteless That splat you just heard
powder that was your prostate gland
disables
Salmonella and
E. coli. Made
DE-VINING THE TRUTH
Kill headache of antibacterial
Although tasty and nutritious, tomatoes may not be the wonder-
with a hot chilli compounds food we might think. Research in Cancer Epidemiology,
extracted Biomarkers and Prevention found that lycopene, an antioxidant
from cloves, found in tomatoes, does not effectively prevent prostate cancer.
oregano, thyme
FACTS OF LIFE and paprika, In fact, beta-carotene, an antioxidant related to lycopene, could
384
this potent even increase the risk of prostate cancer. “It is disappointing,
Amount in rupees the powder could
average urban Indian
since lycopene might have offered a simple and inexpensive way
be protecting to lower prostate cancer risk in men,” said Dr Ulrike Peters of the
spends on processed produce as early
food every month as this year. Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Centre in Seattle. However,
Source: National Sample Survey Organisation tomatoes are still packed with cancer-fighting antioxidants.
The health life of honey 2001

US researchers find that
DE-VINING THE TRURH; MELT MIGRAINES PHOTOGRAPHY: DREAMSTIME
Uncover the sweet and occasionally sour history of honey honey can
750 BC 50 BC 1714 decay teeth
The Babylonians Roman writer Dutch doctor Bernard faster than
are the first to Pliny the Elder de Mandeville sugar
use electuaries: claims a few discovers that the king
medical herbs drops of honey bee is in fact a queen
and pastes helps combat
mixed with 1980
gall stones Australian
honey to make
them more researchers 2006
palatable find that the Honey from
1340 1915 antibacterial New Zealand’s
Mead-loving Polish Honey mixed properties in Manuka region is
500 BC knights refuse to with cod liver oil honey support found to contain
Obviously short of effective go crusading after is used to dress the old wives’ antibacterial
remedies, the Egyptians realising the honey-rich soldiers’ wounds tale that it properties that
resort to honey to treat beverage isn’t available during the First combats sore fend off the MRSA
lesions caused by plague in Palestine World War throats superbug

Weight-Loss [
[
[
Add a lime slice to your diet cola
Have borage oil to keep off the kilos
Don’t stress out with low-fat diets MAR’O8
Bulletin [
[
Dieting? Watch your wallet
Lose fat with a protein shake
LATEST NEWS FROM
AROUND THE WORLD
TUNE IN Less calories, bitter taste
Lose fat, the
faster way Diet lemon-lime soft drinks
taste more like their full-calorie
STRESS DIETS
Low-fat diets counterparts, say University of
may be good Illinois food scientists. Turns
for your out, regular soda provides a
waistline but
they stress you pleasing coat of moisture in
out. Studies your mouth that boosts taste,
published by
Elsevier Health while artificially sweetened diet
Sciences varieties leave you drier. Study
found that mice co-author Shelly Schmidt, PhD,
withdrawn from
high-fat or high- adds that the less sugar a soda
carb diets had contains, the less vicious it is.
higher stress Cola addicts can also try the
levels than their
porkier pals. diet version with lime.
LOW-FAT
Regular or diet, it
CREAM all tastes the same
Applying
amino-phylline
cream, a
cellulite
Money can’t buy you a reducer, to
thinner waistline your waistline
may shrink
it. Louisiana
POOR LOSERS State University
scientists had
If you’re watching what you eat, you should probably watch 25 adults rub
your wallet, too. University of Minnesota researchers recently the cream for
discovered that dieting can increase the likelihood that you’ll three months
while on a
spend your money impulsively. Why? The scientists theorise that weight-loss
you have only a limited number of mental resources to allocate programme.
towards self-control. If you’re using these resources to resist The result: 4.3 Avoid rebound kilos
inches off their
certain food cravings, you become more prone to giving in to waistlines. A fatty acid may be the key
other temptations—such as buying that new high-def plasma The cream to keeping off discarded
may block an
TV. Some money-saving advice: don’t touch products you don’t enzyme that kilos, finds a University of
need, says study author Kathleen D Vohs, PhD. That sensory triggers fat California at Davis study. Being
stimulation will increase your desire to buy. storage. overweight reduces arachidonic
POOR LOSERS PHOTOGRAPHY: DREAMSTIME, DIGITAL IMAGING: PIYUSH GARG

acid levels in key membranes,
making it easier for the body
Shake up your diet to store fat, says study author
Stephen Phinney, MD, PhD.
Big weight loss doesn’t require extreme tactics. In a University of Kentucky study, 63 men lost
45kg in 10 months by drinking a protein shake—like this one—in place of a meal daily.
Unfortunately, shedding fat
doesn’t reverse this problem.
1 cup 2 tbsp 1 tbsp ½ cup 1 scoop
skim milk ground reduced-fat frozen (32gm) 100 But consuming gamma-
flaxseed peanut butter blueberries per cent whey Nutritional linolenic acid (in borage oil)
powder information may, by pushing the body to
400 calories,
40gm protein, produce more arachidonic acid.
42gm
carbohydrates,
The calcium A solid fibre Peanut butter They add The protein 10gm fat (2gm
contained punch, has been found sweetness, helps you saturated), 9gm FACTS OF LIFE
5.45
in your glass of flaxseed has to reduce plus maintain fibre, 270mg
milk may help been shown hunger pangs antioxidants, muscle mass sodium Percentage of the
speed fat loss. to rev your fat- for two hours. fibre and and increases obese population
burners. vitamins. satiety. in India
Source: Euromonitor

Alpha Male
HEALTH
03/08
What’s your gut
FITNESS
Best foot first
All you need to lead in life
NUTRITION
Savour rustic
WEIGHT LOSS
‘I’ve lost 25kg...’
PSYCHE
Seven rules for a
GEAR
The CEO in
WISDOM
Who will have a
reaction? Choose between delights Read how and stress-free life slippers heart attack first?
Find out what that cycling and running Sample delicacies why Siddharth Learn how to Wear your flip-flops Put yourself to the
stomach pain really depending on what from Bihar’s Manoharan gave up banish negatives at work and make test and find out if
is with our DIY results you want to primarily vegetarian bingeing and shed from actor Matthew your life better with time is running out
diagnosis. p30 achieve. p33 cuisine. p34 the kilos. p36 McConaughey. p39 these gadgets. p44 for your ticker. p47
When she offers forbidden pleasures, it’s

easy to succumb to temptation. Before you
go any closer, read this
Y
ou’ve met her, spent time The Chummy Coworker The Still-Hot Ex
with her, maybe you even Ask yourself Ask yourself
work with her—she’s the Am I treating her just as I would a Could my wife (or girlfriend) be
woman who hints at possibilities. male coworker? “If not, then that’s invited to this rendezvous? If not,
But when flirting turns to invita- your warning,” says Pooja. “Re- “Don’t have that meeting,” says
tion—and it’s definitely not your establish a formal relationship and Pooja. “Remind yourself of how this
imagination—you have a decision call her Ms Mehta, not Shalini.” woman was bad for you. Repeat the
to make. Will you exit gracefully or mantra: ‘She’s trouble—run.’”
act disgracefully? When you’re together
“If you know that you are simply “Never close your door or blinds,” When you go
not game for an affair, be honest says Scott Haltzman, MD, creator Tell your wife you’re going to see the
and look at what makes you vulner- of the site www.secretsofmarried- ex. “This automatically helps keep
able,” says Men’s Health columnist men.com. “The more eyes on you, you in line because you know that
Pooja Bedi. Just as in driving, it’s the better.” Never gripe about your when you get home, your wife is
always easier to avoid dangerous home life—it’s an invitation for her to going to ask you about it,” says Don
situations than escape from them. “demonstrate she’s better than what David Lusterman, PhD, the author of
Here’s your road map. you have”. Infidelity: A Survival Guide.
26 MEN’S HEALTH MARCH 2008

Turn over and
challenge the
seductress
MARCH 2008 MEN’S HEALTH 27

Danger often The Biz-Trip
comes gift- Temptress
wrapped
Ask yourself
SEX
What will happen after the

sex? “The more you think
it through, the easier it is to
walk away,” Lusterman says.
HEALTH
Imagine everyone you’re

near has a hotline to your
wife, suggests Pooja. Then
imagine her look of horror
and despair.
FITNESS
When she keeps touching

your forearm
Blurt out, “I’m married”
(or “I have a girlfriend”),
says Pooja. “It’s to remind
yourself of your situation
NUTRITION
as much as it is to inform
her,” she says. And have
a “trouble buddy” stand
by to bust you if you start
canoodling.
WEIGHT LOSS
When you feel the urge

“Go to a bathroom and
masturbate,” says Ian
Kerner, PhD, a clinical
sexologist and the author
of She Comes First. “This
can relieve some sexual
tension and give you about
PSYCHE
30 minutes of sanity. Use

this window to get out of a
situation like this.”
LOOKS
GEAR
Create your own

vocabulary for
her twin peaks
WISDOM
Turn down
her alluring
gestures
03/08
ALPHA MALE
Sex
Bedroom hit a rut when she gained 15kg. But love lingerie but most prefer to pick it
Confidential several others who’ve been married out themselves. You have no idea how
SEX
The science more than three years told me their sex humiliating it is to go into the bathroom
of sex, explained lives are better than ever. As for your to step into a slinky new panty set, only
buddies—are they romantic or do they to have come back and explain to the
By Pooja Bedi
just roll over and poke their penis into man that you couldn’t get your thighs
WORK OUT IN BED
HEALTH
her thigh at bedtime? Women stop through the leg holes. Buy something
What exercises make you great in wanting sex when they’re not getting too big and she’ll accuse you of thinking
the bedroom? enough emotion or romance. Life is she’s fat, which is worse. If your choice
Samit Roy, Hyderabad complicated and sexuality can be clashes with her personality, she’ll
K egels, cardio and abs are the

cornerstones of your super-stud
easily affected. Don’t let that scare you;
just be aware.
feel as if she’s wearing a fancy-dress
costume. How psyched would you be
FITNESS
workout programme. Studies have for sex if you felt trussed up? Go with a
found that a basic one-hour cardio INNER FANTASIES gift certificate and a card that says how
session thrice a week will improve I’d like to give lingerie as a gift to much you enjoy undressing her. The
your ability to get hard and stay hard. my wife. Is there a right way and a right lingerie makes us feel extra-sexy
Use this to delay the big bang: inhale wrong way to give it? and that’s as much a treat for us as it is
and squeeze the same muscles you Sanjeev Patil, Guwahati for you.
NUTRITION
use to stop the flow of pee midstream.
Hold for a few seconds and exhale.
Start with a set of 10 reps. Repeat this
W rong way: buying something
that doesn’t fit her body or her
taste. Right way: giving her a gift
TV presenter and actor Pooja Bedi is India’s original
sex symbol. She answers your queries on sex at men-
shealth@intoday.com and shows why she deserves
throughout the day. Next time you’re voucher from a lingerie store. Women the ‘Goddess of sex’ tag.
about to orgasm, contract the same
muscles just before and relax. You’ll no
HOW CAN YOU RESIST? PHOTOGRAPHY: DREAMSTIME; BEDROOM CONFIDENTIAL
WEIGHT LOSS
longer go off like cheap firework.
SEX SCARE
All of my friends who’ve been
married for a few years complain
PHOTOGRAPHY COURTESY: KAYA SKIN CLINIC (POOJA BEDI)
that their wives don’t want to have

sex. What’s the deal?
Vineet Kapoor, New Delhi
PSYCHE
ll of them? Wow! I asked around
a bit: one of my married friends
didn’t want sex for an entire year!
She was working 12-hour shifts in an
emergency room. Another said that
the excitement had faded and that
LOOKS
neither person was doing anything Give her a gift
certificate and let
to revive it—let’s chalk that up to her pick her lingerie
laziness. Another confessed that she
GEAR
Caress her sensitive spots with your tongue

Work the flattery without appearing opportunistic in her eyes
1 Hair
3 Lips
5 Butt
WISDOM
Keep it general, like how it Talk size, shape, colour. Be Use jargon like ‘tush’ or ‘booty’.
shines or how soft the curls are. specific to features unique to her. ‘Ass’ is sexy. But ‘behind’, ‘backside’
Refrain from giving style tips. She’ll and ‘rear’ sound very old-fashioned.
blame you if they don’t work.
4 Stomach
Discuss her softer angles and
Convince her that you love it: adore it,
claim it, name it, pay attention to it.
2 Breasts curves when she’s on her back, so her

Avoid the potentially offensive
terms: hooters, knockers, udders.
stomach is flat. Tell her: “I love how
you look when...”. This makes her an 6 Legs
Say they’re in good shape. you’ll
Create your own vocabulary. Women active participation in seduction, not lose some credibility if you say you
fall in love with what they hear. just a passive recipient of flattery. love them and she doesn’t.

03/08
ALPHA MALE
Health
What’s The cost of…

Speeding
your gut
SEX
reaction?
HEALTH
Before dialling for the doc, find out

what that stomach pain really is,
FITNESS
with our DIY diagnosis INDIAN ROADS ARE not Formula

One tracks and you are no
Schumacher. Slow down and you
Irritable Bowel
Bad biryani will save a lot of money. Oh, and
Syndrome (IBS) perhaps your life as well.
You’ve got a vicious case of You’ve got mild diarrhoea in the
BECAUSE New digital speed
NUTRITION
diarrhoea—the pan-splattering, morning. You may also become cameras at crossings you don’t
The watery type that comes on at any constipated. You alternate from the even take a note of never run out
symptoms time. Also stomach pain, vomiting trots to feeling as if your colon’s of film.
and frequent use of the term blocked. YOU GET A nasty fine
‘never again’. YOU PAY Rs 600
You ate the rest of yesterday’s You’ve eaten the same foods you BECAUSE Points for speeding puts
WEIGHT LOSS
takeaway. Rice can contain always do, haven’t been drinking you in a new bracket: dangerous.
bacteria that survive cooking. At and you’ve no clue as to what YOU GET An extra amount added
The cause room temperature, the bacteria caused this stomach upset. to your insurance premium.
produce toxins that cause
YOU PAY Rs 850
vomiting. Reheating won’t help.
BECAUSE Driving too fast burns
It’s more likely to be a case of You feel stressed. Feeling uptight more fuel. You end up spending
Delhi belly if your family or group acts like a fuel to IBS and is a chief 20-30 per cent more fuel if you drive
The factors
PSYCHE
of friends have similar symptoms. cause of symptoms among one in at or above 100km/h.
YOU GET Higher fuel bills and a
10 men.
costlier car.
Don’t be seduced by takeaway If diarrhoea is the main symptom, YOU PAY Rs 1,280
leftovers. And if you do get biryani take yourself off to the chemist and
BECAUSE People who drive at
belly, take in more water. When get an over-the-counter concoction high speeds are more likely to
LOOKS
you vomit or have diarrhoea, your with loperamide. Constipated?

The solution body loses water and salts. Mix Drink more water and get at least
brake hard, which puts more strain
on your car’s parts.
oral rehydration salts with water 20gm of fibre a day—an apple and YOU GET Garage bills that are
and drink up. a serving of broccoli each contains higher and more frequent
about 3gm. YOU PAY Rs 2,750
GEAR
BECAUSE Driving at high speeds

has been linked with muscle and
Weather these facts! back pain.
WHAT’S YOUR GUT REACTION? IMAGING: CHITERSEN SHISODIA
YOU GET Doctor’s fees and a

Heat strains the heart Chlorine makes you lose week’s course of chiropractic
WISDOM
True: In India, at least, your hair treatment.

people with heart ailments False: Dips in the public pool YOU PAY Rs 7,500
are more at risk in summer. may leave your hair coarse BECAUSE Speed is a factor in
Here’s why: the heart has to but this will not make it fall Switching from heat to air- 19 per cent of all crashes.
work harder to cool the body out. Chlorine can damage the conditioning causes colds YOU GET A new front end to
as temperatures shoot up. cuticle, a hair strand’s outer False: Temperature shifts your car, and a plaster cast for you.
And if the weather is very hot, armour, but not the follicle don’t make you sick; bug- YOU PAY Rs 17,000
the heart rate rises to a level (the base) itself. Don’t want struck people do. As more
where it becomes palpitation. to lose the shine? Protect people stay indoors during a TOTAL: Rs 29,930
Slink off into the shadows if your hair with a clarifying heat wave, germs get a happy + a dodgy back + a crappy car +
you feel this way. shampoo and a conditioner. hunting ground. licence trouble

03/08
ALPHA MALE
Health
Out of patients
SEX
If your family doctor is out of town, try one of these health practitioners
The optician The dentist The pharmacist The hairdresser
HEALTH
1 To spot Arthritis 2 To spot Cancer 3 To spot Smoking damage 4 To spot Dermatitis
Ask for Retinal photography. Ask for An ulcer check-up. Ask for A cholesterol test. Ask for A dandruff inspection.
A trip to the goggle shop is At your six-monthly check-up, The GP at your neighbourhood Your hairdresser can easily
about more than just reading the dentist can take a soft tissue medicine shop can perform detect problems like dermatitis
a couple of lines below the big sample that can highlight any blood pressure and cholesterol as well as other ailments like
FITNESS
A. A full image of the retina can potential risk of oral cancer. Let tests. Smoking lowers your psoriasis or alopecia. Ask him
show up a lot more than just eye your dentist know if you’ve been good cholesterol levels in the to point out any scalp issues
problems. Arthritis is commonly suffering from any stubborn blood. The nearest diagnostic if he spots them. If you’ve got
revealed by inflammation in ulcers. If it’s not causing pain but clinic can also help you quit some snow on your shoulders,
the iris and chronic dry eyes. appears as a red or white patch, smoking. Take a smokerlyser immediately start using a
A photograph of the retina can your dentist may refer you for test that will help monitor the shampoo that contains dan-
NUTRITION
also pick up signs of diabetes a biopsy. Don’t worry; it’s less carbon monoxide levels in your druff-combating zinc pyrithione
and hypertension. painful than the screaming drill. blood and give you a warning. for 2-3 weeks.
WEIGHT LOSS
PSYCHE
LOOKS
GEAR
Test your brainpower RED YELLOW BLUE GREEN ORANGE

Find out if you’re using your head GREEN RED ORANGE YELLOW BLUE
WISDOM
ORANGE BLUE RED GREEN YELLOW

OUT OF PATIENTS PHOTOGRAPHY: DREAMSTIME
WIN THIS MIND game. As quickly as you can, say aloud the colour
you see, not the word that’s spelled out, at right. This exercise, YELLOW BLUE GREEN ORANGE RED
called the Stroop Task, is used by doctors to evaluate Alzheimer’s BLUE YELLOW ORANGE RED GREEN
patients, stroke victims and people with attention-deficit/
hyperactivity disorders. It can also help predict your risk of stroke. a new way to work, taking an art or music class or becoming more
We just think it’s fun. innovative at your job. Creative thinking forms new connections
The task demonstrates which side of your brain dominates— in your brain; this works against the effects of ageing and brain
most men are left-brainers. “Men need to do more to use their right damage. Research has shown that those who become frustrated
brains,” says James Iaccino, PhD, author of Left Brain-Right Brain by the test have twice the stroke risk of those who keep their cool.
Differences: Inquiries, Evidence and New Approaches. Try driving Try it. And try to stay calm.

03/08
ALPHA MALE
Fitness
Time to row and grow

SEX
Blast fat and build muscle with this all-in-one workout on the rowing machine
T
here’s never a waiting list for the rowing machine at the gym. But if you use the right form and regimen, this floor skimmer can
HEALTH
torch more calories than a treadmill, build your upper body into a broad V shape, and injury-proof your lower back. To make it
work, you first need to find a groove, says Bill Manning, an assistant rowing coach at Harvard University. “If you don’t have rhythm,
you’ll tire quickly and won’t yield serious output.” Follow Manning’s tips to reap maximum benefits.
Your perfect-form primer

1 Sit with your
legs bent, 2 Without
moving your 3 When the
handle is over 4 As the bar
touches
FITNESS
Common
mistakes, like shins nearly vertical. arms or leaning your knees, pull your lower chest,
hunching your Lean your upper backwards, push the bar towards squeeze your
shoulders and body towards your off with your legs, your lower chest. shoulder blades
leaning too far knees, keeping your driving your feet into Lean your upper together. Relax your
back, diminish back and shoulders the stirrups while body back until arms, let the cable
pulling power straight. Hold your keeping your back your shoulders are gently pull your
NUTRITION
and strain your arms in front and straight. behind your pelvis. arms back towards
back grab the handle with Draw your elbows the flywheel and
an overhand grip. behind you and lean forward at
continue to push the hips. Once the
with your legs. handle passes your
extended knees,
WEIGHT LOSS
bend them to slide

forward on the seat.
PSYCHE
LOOKS
50
Percentage more fat burned during
a rowing workout than in a session
on another machine
GEAR
Achy breaky parts

Hamstrings killing you? Take the test to find if it’s a pulled muscle or gym aches
WHERE HOW WHEN TREATMENT
WISDOM
It can affect any muscle A sudden force is applied to the You will feel pain and Speed up recovery with RICE
TIME TO RWO AND GROW ILLUSTRATION: FERIC
in the body: anything muscle, causing the fibres to be tenderness, which is likely to (rest, ice, compression and
Pulled
from strain, overuse, stretched beyond their capacity. increase over the next few hours elevation). After 72 hours,
muscle
fatigue or taking a fall Failure to warm up the muscles and a bruise may form around try light activity to promote
can cause it. raises the risk of a pull. the muscle. reparative blood circulation.
DOMS affects muscle or Muscles are overworked or Unlike a pulled muscle, DOMS Rest the muscle group for
Gym ache muscle groups engaged unfamiliar with the exercises, kicks in up to 72 hours after a week. When you work
(delayed in eccentric activities so any damage to the workout. A prime time out, raise your muscle
onset (downhill running, them causes is as you progress to lifting temperature with a warm-up,
muscle plyometrics, etc) or soreness and heavier weights or start doing then do sets of the exercise
soreness) those unaccustomed to reduced range cardio exercises that are more that caused DOMS a couple
exercise. of motion. challenging. of weeks after returning.

03/08
ALPHA MALE
Fitness
Best foot first

World of
Hurt
SEX
Play without pain
Getting fit can be as simple as putting one foot in front of
the other. But should you get on your bicycle or run for it? By Anant Joshi
COLD COMFORT
HEALTH
I’ve heard that taking a cold
shower after a long run will
lessen muscle soreness. True?
Amarjeet Singh, New Delhi
C
old showers can cool
FITNESS
down more than
VS hormones. They can be

helpful after hard workouts,
when the muscles might have
tiny tears and a build-up of
waste products from exercise.
NUTRITION
Cold constricts blood vessels
in the muscles and reduces
inflammation and soreness. If it
works for champion racehorses,
CYCLING RUNNING it’s worth trying.
YOU WANT TO… GET FIT FAST
WEIGHT LOSS
You develop staying power on the bike. Running won’t max stamina as fast for one GET OUT, GET FIT
Cycling is low impact, so you keep going reason: it hurts. Running leads to muscle Is it better to run on a treadmill
longer. It’s sustained stamina soreness and damage. No wonder cyclists or outside?
WINNER Sridhar Acharya, Hyderabad
T
training. keep going for longer.
YOU WANT TO… BUILD MUSCLE he workout is about
Cycling power is generated by glutes, quads You can’t bulk up by running, even with hill the same, but some
and hamstrings. You’ll see gains in leg bulk. training. In fact, you’d have to be mad to try. experts advise setting
Hit the dumbbells so your top-half Running spreads strain throughout your body. a treadmill’s incline at 1 per
PSYCHE
WINNER doesn’t look like a stick drawing. Ever see Schwarzenegger running? Exactly. cent to mimic the effort needed
on roads. If running indoors
YOU WANT TO… LOSE YOUR GUT
is so unappealing that you
Calories burnt by 10 minutes of cycling: 97. Just 14.2 minutes on a treadmill burned 200
skip workouts altogether, go
You are sitting down, after all. If you’re not calories (it took 27 minutes on a bike) in an UK
outside—choose your surface
supporting your weight, you simply aren’t Centre for Sports Science and Health study.
BEST FOOT FIRST PHOTOGRAPHY: DREAMSTIME; WORLD OF HURT PHOTOGRAPHY: MANOJ SHARMA
LOOKS
carefully. Concrete is the worst,
going to be working as hard. You’ll burn more on uneven terrain
WINNER with asphalt close behind. A
like sand or hills.
natural surface like sand, grass
YOU WANT TO… STAY OFF CRUTCHES or a dirt path is best—it’s easier
Injuries per 1,000 hours: 6 Injuries per 1,000 hours: 11 on the joints.
You’ll crash only once every 15,00,000km. Shockwaves compress your vertebrae. GEAR
Ensure your legs can’t fully Marathon runners shrink by a centimetre Anant Joshi, MD, an expert in sport sciences
WINNER and medicine, answers your cries of pain at
straighten to minimise injuries. during a race. Temporary. But not good. menshealth@intoday.com
Time to sell your sole?

WISDOM
Sneakers with thinner soles may protect your feet better

IF YOU HAVE running shoes with big, spongy they try to stabilise on the wobbly pad. Over varied with foot
soles, you might be in for a jolt. “It’s a myth time, this can invite ankle sprains and other structure, but
that thick soles offer the most protection,” running injuries, warns Dr Robbins—even if Dr Robbins had
says Steven Robbins, MD, a biomechanics you run only a few kilometres a week. Other devised a simple
expert at the McGill University Centre for research backs this up: in a previous study, test: stand on one foot. “If
Studies in Aging at Montreal. In a study, Dr runners in thick-soled shoes were more than you have trouble balancing,”
Robbins found that overly thick soles cause twice as likely to suffer injuries as runners he says, “the soles are too thick. Find
a loss of balance. Your feet strike harder as in thin soles. Just how thick is too thick? It another pair.” Or stop drinking.

03/08
ALPHA MALE
Nutrition
Eating point: Bihar
Rustic delights
SURPRISING
SUPERFOODS
SEX
Primarily a vegetarian cuisine, the delicious food of Bihar

reflects the simplicity of its people
HEALTH
ALOO CHOKHA
Bihar’s trademark mashed potatoes
SERVES: 4
TIME TO TABLE
FITNESS
Under 15 minutes
STRAWBERRIES
One of the fruits from the berry
INGREDIENTS
group that is readily available
4-5 medium-sized potatoes, boiled, peeled
in India, strawberry is truly one
and mashed
of a kind in terms of looks and
1 small onion, finely chopped
NUTRITION
qualities. The presence of phenol

2 green chillies, minced
(from the anthocyanin pigment
M
1 tsp grated fresh ginger
that gives it the flush red colour)
ainly influenced by Buddhism Pinch of red chilli powder (optional)
and ellagic acid in strawberries
and Jainism, the cuisine of Bihar 2 tsp mustard oil
protects your heart, fights cancer
is vegetarian. Bihari food is quite 2 tbsp finely chopped coriander leaves
and acts as an anti-inflammatory
rustic, a staple being roasted chickpea flour 1 tbsp lemon juice
agent as well. You can get some
WEIGHT LOSS
or sattu. Labourers carry sattu for lunch, which Salt to taste

protection against arthritis by eat-
is had with green chillies, crushed onions and
ing fruits rich in vitamin C. Regu-
salt. Dough-covered balls of sattu, roasted DIRECTIONS
lar consumption of strawberries
on hot coals and dipped in ghee are called To the peeled and mashed potatoes, add all
is also proven to lower risk of
litti, and are often had with aloo chokha (see the remaining ingredients. Knead well so that
age-related macular degenera-
recipe) or with chicken and mutton curries. all the spices are uniformly spread. Roll with
tion or vision loss.
A typical meal is quite simple, comprising your palms into 4-5 balls and serve with dal
You can enjoy this fruit for
rotis, rice, vegetables and pickles. A number of and rice.
PSYCHE
much longer after the season is

rice varieties grown around the Gangetic basin You can also serve this as a variant to
RUSTIC DELIGHTS WORDS AND PHOTOGRAPHY: DR NANDITA IYER; SURPRISING SUPERFOODS WORDS: DR NANDITA IYER
gone, by freezing batches of it
make rice one of the staples. The Mughal mashed potatoes with grilled meat or fish.
while in season. Add chopped
influence on the cuisine is seen in meat dishes Raw mustard oil has a pungent taste. If
berries to your breakfast cereal
like kheema, nahari, kebabs and biryanis. you are not used to it, you may heat the oil to
or smoothie. It can even add a
Chotanagpur in the southern half of Bihar smoking point and then add it to the mashed
sweet touch to your lunch salad.
LOOKS
is home to some tribes that thrive on boiled potatoes, to reduce its intensity.
cereals and millets. The use of the mildly Strawberries
hallucinogenic mahua flower in cooking is CALORIES are better than
almost unique to these tribes. Around 152 cal per portion
Cranberries
Menu translator: Understand Bihari food Vitamin C—13 mg/cup

GEAR
(Strawberries—81mg/cup)
High High High High
in fibre in fat C in carbs in protein A High
in antioxidants
High
in sugar
Manganese—0.14 mg/cup
(Strawberries—0.42 mg/cup)
Vegetarian course Non-vegetarian course Grapefruits
Chokha — Mostly made with potatoes, boiled and Bihari kebab — Marinated strips of lamb meat, Vitamin C—48.8mg/serving
WISDOM
mashed with seasonings barbequed on skewers (Strawberries—81 mg/

Litti — Spiced sattu stuffed in dough and roasted Kheema matar — Minced meat and green serving)
on hot coals peas cooked with spices Dietary fibre—1.6gm/cup
Makuni Sattu — Stuffed parathas Desserts (Strawberries—3.3 gm/cup)
Baingan bhaja — Shallow-fried marinated eggplant Malpua — A traditional pancake with banana, Raspberries
slices dried fruits, dipped in sugar syrup made during Holi Calories—60 cal/cup
Bari Kadhi — Yoghurt curry with fried gramflour Tilkut — Laddoos made from sesame seeds
(Strawberries—43 cal/cup)
dumplings and jaggery Vitamin C—30.7mg/cup
(Strawberries—81mg/cup)
Bachka — Sliced vegetables dipped in chickpea Thekua — Deep-fried sweet made from wheat
batter and deep fried to make fritters flour, jaggery and coconut

03/08
ALPHA MALE
Nutrition
What’s in that pill?
SEX
The best way to take in vitamins and minerals is from foods. Find some excellent sources
of nutrients. But in a pinch, you’ll find the equivalent in a typical multivitamin
HEALTH
Vitamin A Folic acid Vitamin C
5,000 international 400mcg (100 per cent) 90mg (150
units (IU*) (100 per 1½ cups cooked per cent)
cent of daily spinach A large orange
recommendation)
4 baby carrots
FITNESS
Vitamin E Niacin (B3)
45 IU (150 20mg (100 per cent)
per cent) Boneless, skinless
55gm chicken breast
NUTRITION
sunflower
seeds
WEIGHT LOSS
Magnesium
100mg (25 per cent)
285gm long-grain
brown rice
PSYCHE
Selenium Vitamin B6 Zinc Vitamin B12
88mcg (125 3mg (150 per cent) 15mg (100 9mcg (150 per cent)
per cent) 285gm salmon fillet per cent) Half of a king crab leg
115gm tuna Oyster
*IU is a measure used for the fat-soluble vitamins (such as vitamins A, D and E)
LOOKS
Fight cancer with food
Eat up 10 great mouthfuls of antioxidants. They’re measured in
‘millimoles’, apparently GEAR
GRAPE JUICE (2,557)

BLACKBERRIES (5,746) WALNUTS (5,746)
Better than cranberry
Better than blueberries Better than almonds
RED CABBAGE (1,614)

WISDOM
Better than frozen spinach WHITE TEA (2,810)

Better than green tea
WHITE POTATO (918)

Better than sweet potato

03/08
ALPHA MALE
Weight Loss
‘I have lost 25kg!’ Ask the

Weight-Loss
Experts
SEX
They know
how to lose
Name Siddharth
lly Off! well
e
Be Manoharan
C By Dr Aditi Govitrikar
HEALTH
& Dr Muffazal Lakdawala

lu
Location Bangalore
Th
Age 21
EARLY START
Occupation Student Do I need to eat before my
Height 1.73m morning workout?
Weight before 95kg Aqib Khan, Kolkata
T
FITNESS
Weight after 70kg o pump up the effective-

How it started
1 Siddharth was 15
ness of your workout, eat
a simple carbohydrate
when he lost his father Before that will be digested quickly and
to diabetes and family will also give you the boost of
problems kept mounting. energy that you will need dur-
NUTRITION
“I felt I was leading a life ing the workout. Try starting

that was not worth living,” small: even a few biscuits, half a
he says. The only substitute banana or an orange will help.
to happiness was food and
none of it was healthy. “By FIBRE FUEL
the time I was 17, I weighed How can I eat enough fibre
WEIGHT LOSS
a ghastly 89kg!” he says. if I’m supposed to avoid

After carbohydrates?
Sandeep Krishnan, Bangalore
K
How it changed The new life
2 Within another year, Siddharth had managed 3 “The gym trainers were
eep fruits, vegetables
and whole grains in your
to pack on another 6kg and stood at 95kg. “Life extremely helpful but at the diet. According to a study
couldn’t have been more miserable. No girl would end, it’s your own effort that in the American Journal of Clini-
glance at me and my friends made fun of me. That pays off,” he says confidently. cal Nutrition, men who ate at
PSYCHE
was when I decided that I’ve had enough,” he says. “I just had my family to support least one serving of wholegrain
The first few months after he hit the gym were me when I was feeling down. breakfast cereal per day had a
hard. “Suddenly, I was so much more active. Any I’ve been hooked on to Men’s 27 per cent lower risk of death
small change was enough to spark the fuel in me to Health and it has been great from heart disease compared
get fit,” says Siddharth. His training routine com- motivation for me.” Today, he with those who rarely hit the
prised an hour of weight training and 45 minutes of boasts of a muscular frame bowl. Try oatmeal, brown rice,
LOOKS
cardio and abs workout every alternate day for six and is living every moment of sweet potatoes and limit proc-
days a week. While he stopped eating junk food and his new life to the fullest. “And essed starches.
opted for a high-protein diet, once a month he would yes, I met someone special at
indulge in dum biryani, his favourite. the gym!” he adds. Dr Muffazal Lakdawala is a weight-loss
specialist based in Mumbai. His wife, Aditi
GEAR
Govitrikar, is a certified doctor and Mrs

TELL US YOUR STORY, JOIN THE BELLY OFF CLUB
World 2001. Send them your weight loss
Do you have a great weight-loss story to tell us? Mail it to us at menshealth@intoday.com
queries at menshealth@intoday.com
t Drink this Not that u

DRINK THIS NOT THAT PHOTOGRAPHY: ANSHUMAN SEN
WISDOM
Beer Bhaang
Calories: 110 Calories: 230
Calories from fat: 0 Calories from fat: 40
Total fat: 0gm Total fat: 4.5gm
Cholesterol: 0mg Cholesterol: 15mg
Sodium: 5mg Sodium: 70mg
Total carbohydrate: 7gm Total carbohydrate: 42gm
Protein: 1gm Protein: 6gm
Although bhaang has more carbs and protein, it also has

fat and cholesterol, two things totally absent in beer.
That makes beer the winner.

03/08
ALPHA MALE
Work
Mix work & play Professional

Courtesy
SEX
Because smooth
guys finish first
Turn your passion into your work by honing the right skills By Sanjoy Narayan
COLD SHOULDER
HEALTH
This girl in office has eyes for
me. Okay, she’s hot, but I’m
not interested. How can I tell
her without being rude?
Vikas Seth, Mumbai
FITNESS
as this girl only got
eyes for you, or got
her paws on you, too?
If she’s only looking, there’s
n no reason for you to be rude.
he e
w Don’t go out of your way to
NUTRITION
k im
or t
w o ur fob her off; treat her with cool
o
t y
go i n
courtesy and she’ll get the
t o ing message. If she’s making you
er t t
si pu uncomfortable, ignore her
ea us t
h j
uc ot
when in company and direct
m n
is r e your comments at others. The
It ou’
WEIGHT LOSS
y cold shoulder usually works.
MURKY WATERS
1 Remember
your goal
of his learning curve is either
kidding himself or is out of
tomorrow that might not have
applicability until next year
My boss is shady. I don’t
want to lose my job but I
Every passion, when you turn touch. or a few years down the line don’t want to go to jail either.
it into a career, does become as technology and materials When do I have to squeal?
3 Write it down
Siddharth Kumar, Hyderabad
Y
a job. But it is much easier to come into play that makes it
PSYCHE
go to work when you’re not Keep a small notebook possible. There are no bad ou aren’t legally
just putting in your time but with yourself. You may get ideas, just unused ones. responsible for his she-
your interests as well. little crazy, goofy ideas all nanigans unless you
the time and there will be
4 Keep working knowingly help carry out a
2 Fail and learn

Research and
guys around you doing the
same. Then you can all sit
It’s difficult to master this
craft. To constantly improve is
crime. But continuing to work
directly for him may put you
LOOKS
development is a lot of failure. and do a brain dump on a the greatest part of the game. in murky legal waters. Some
You can successfully prove regular basis. A lot of times, Improve the next version laws protect whistleblowers,
many different ways not to do one idea feeds another and and deliver a better product so maybe it’s time to speak up.
MIX WORK & PLAY PHOTOGRAPHY: SATISH KAUSHIK, IMAGING: CHITERSEN SHISODIA
something before you find a third one springs from that. so people can have a little Sanjoy Narayan, Editor of Business
one that’s right. Anybody who Keep them all. There are a lot bit more fun than they had Today, will help you avoid work- GEAR
etiquette errors, at menshealth@
doesn’t use failure as a part of things you might think of yesterday. intoday.com
CV doctor Looks too good to be true? Learn how to weed out the bluffers
WISDOM
1 TAILOR-MADE
CVs can be a licence
to ramble. You can easily
2 MAKE THE GRADE
Companies are used to
potential employers calling
3 PRESENTED AND
CORRECT?
How much time has been
4 MIND THE GAP
Watch out for
unexplained breaks
spot the time wasters: they to check ex-employees’ spent on layout? Beware between spells of
spend pages droning on backgrounds, as it’s not the happy font-hopper. A employment. Delve
about work experience that unknown for rascally types jumbled CV points at the into the history of your
is entirely irrelevant or that to glorify themselves. If organisational mindset of applicant; it could be that
they’ve topped and tailed someone is ethically at an individual. Of course, your applicant has been
a standard exam and with ease about falsifying, what if you’re looking for a gaining some valuable
the respective percentage does it say about the kind creative helicopter head, it work experience sewing
score. Nil points. of employee he will be? might even be a bonus. mailbags.

03/08 SS
SPECIAL
ALPHA MALE
RE
Stress
SH ST
Be cool in a crisis
SLA
66
SEX
%
Stress is like primetime news—ratings rocket when disaster strikes. We wired increase
in a man’s
our writer to a heart-rate monitor to find the biggest panic factors in your day RISK OF HEART
ATTACK
as a result
HEALTH
of stress
20%
increase in
his RISK OF
DIABETES
14
FITNESS
%
increase in
his RISK OF
STROKE
NUTRITION
WEIGHT LOSS
The hassle: The hassle: The start The hassle: The hassle: Need to leave
Train delay of a meeting Rushing to hit a but have work to do
PSYCHE
The remedy: Lack of The remedy: You’re worried deadline The remedy: Don’t plan more than
control causes panic. you’ll be shown up. Be the first The remedy: You need 80 per cent of your day. Arrange
Breathe deeply five to speak and make an early more blood going to the work into piles: Must Do, Should
times, then regain impression. Sit up straight so brain than the stomach, Do, Could Do Later. Check it at the
control by asking the you look and feel equipped for so eat a light lunch. Avoid end of the day: the “shoulds” are
LOOKS
railway staff what’s tricky questions. Poor posture heavy carbs, such as rice for tomorrow; write the “coulds” in
happening. And phone makes you tired and leaves or potato. And go instead pencil. If you haven’t done them
your office. concentration levels flagging. for fish, apples or grapes. after two weeks, rub them out.
GEAR
Legal Ease it to the legal pest that you don’t any information and fi les that you’ve
BE COOL IN A CRISIS ILLUSTRATION: RAJAT BARAN CHAKRAVARTTY
appreciate his efforts. Remember: you stored on its computer system. The
Your in-house could be a crucial player to the case. If company can keep you from taking
counsel the harassment continues, inform the home business contacts, but if you just
investigating police officer. want some family photos, you could
WISDOM
By Diljeet Titus
ask them to burn a CD. Legally, you are
BURDEN OF PROOF OWNERSHIP RIGHTS entitled to your photograph of Priya
I witnessed an accident. Now the I quit my job and they won’t let me Aunty, that Kingfisher calendar and
attorney for the man at fault is into my office. What things do I have other precious desk mementos. If you
harassing me with questions. What a right to? must have them, offer to search your
are my rights? Sailesh Parikh, Hyderabad
Y
desk with a security guard present.
Santanu Roy, New Delhi
Y
ou should have taken what
ou are a witness, not a you needed even before you Diljeet Titus, founder of law firm Titus & Co. and
defendant or a plaintiff. So you quit. Generally, the company a member of the International Bar Association
answers your legal queries at menshealth@
don’t have to respond. Convey owns what you produced for it and intoday.com

03/08
ALPHA MALE
Stress
7 rules for a Head Check

Paranoia, neuroses
SEX
and other junk in
stress-free life
your attic
By Rajesh Parikh
BLACKTOP BLACKOUT
HEALTH
Banish negatives and beat stress with tips from Hollywood Why do people have little
actor Matthew McConaughey “blackouts” when driving?
H 1 See eye-to-eye with your job

Sameer Mehrotra, Patna
A
is life may look easy and breezy, but
Matthew McConaughey has to stuff “The situation can never be greater than ssuming you didn’t
as much crap into his 24-hour sack you are,” he says. “If it is, you’re never going hit happy hour before
FITNESS
as you do. “I’ve a lot of responsibilities and I to be able to engage and give your full talent, starting the car, it’s
love accomplishing goals and marking things because you’re not looking at it eye-to-eye.” a mostly harmless case of
off my bucket list,” he says. “But things do get “highway hypnosis”. Outside
overwhelming.” He has figured out a few ways
to eliminate negatives like anger, impatience 2 Learn the sneaky workout
McConaughey has those days, too: no
stimuli (lines on the road, trucks
going by) can flip your brain
and wasted effort. The results are clear. exercise time. He compensates with active into a hypnotic state. Don’t
NUTRITION
bursts throughout the day. “I’ll drop and give worry—your conscious mind is
myself 20 pushups at intervals. Also I have a still in control and you will react
5.5kg medicine ball. I’ll think, pick up the medi- appropriately in a crisis.
cine ball and don’t put it down for 30 minutes.”
3 Customise your to-do list
WEIGHT LOSS
“I’ll put fun things on my list to give me
more things to cross off,” he says. “Like, ‘surf
for an hour’. When you get to the one near
the bottom and it says, ‘Watch Monday Night
football’, it’s like, yeah!” AM I L?
MA
NOR
4 Adopt a simple philosophy
Some of life’s biggest stressors are the
PSYCHE
remains of self-destructive things you do. “I GAMING ZONE
GROOMING: CATHERINE FURNISS/CELESTINEAGENCY.COM, CLOTHES COURTESY: JAMES PERSE (SHIRT), MICHAEL KORS
don’t like to leave crumbs,” he says. “I like to I play video games for several
7 RULES FOR A STRESS-FREE LIFE WORDS: MIKE ZIMMERMAN, PHOTOGRAPHY: NINO MUNOZ, STYLING: BRIAN BOYE,
hours a day and seldom go a

(PANTS) HEAD CHECK PHOTOGRAPHY: MANOJ SHARMA (DR RAJESH PARIKH), DREAMSTIME (GAMING CONSOLE)
do things right, and not cheat to get ‘em done.

I don’t owe anybody anything. I never go any- day without getting one game
where and worry, ‘Oh shit, so-and-so’s here.’” in. Is this healthy?
Karanjeet Singh, Indore
LOOKS
5 Insulate yourself
McConaughey explains with a metaphor:
“I like to create my own weather so then I can
NO This sounds like you
have an addiction.
Brain-imaging studies have
blow in the wind. If you’ve got positive, like- shown that playing video
minded people around you, then your systems games releases a chemical GEAR
are in place. I don’t have to be looking over my called dopamine in your brain.
shoulder. I can just blow in the wind.” Dopamine is responsible for
concentration, pleasure and
6 Know what you don’t know motivation, which is why you

WISDOM
Fighting to prove you know something love playing video games. But
when you don’t wastes time and sucks energy. stores can be depleted, leaving
“‘I don’t know’ can be perceived as a weak- you sluggish and unmotivated.
ness, but I see it as a sign of intelligence. How Start limiting your playing
else will you learn something new?” he asks. time from today—and pick up
your game controller only after
7 Schedule the pleasure, too

How much pleasure do you really allow
you’ve accomplished something
useful.
yourself to have every day? “You have to be
Dr Rajesh Parikh is a neuropsychiatrist at
more flexible and enjoy things. Lighten up! It’s Jaslok Hospital, Mumbai. Tell him what’s
your lifestyle, not your life.” on your mind at menshealth@intoday.com

03/08
ALPHA MALE
Style
True blue Three ways

SEX
to wear it…
Jeans are our default trouser
setting, but it’s easy to get it wrong.
Here’s how to get the best return
1
What could
HEALTH
for your denim investment be better than

a cashmere
pullover? Grey
Fly
is an easier
It has to be a button fly.
shade to wear
Zip has the convenience Pockets
than black and
FITNESS
factor, but a button fly The magic number

it goes very
makes a pair of denim for jeans pockets is
well with those
jeans more secure. five. Jeans should be
dark denims.
Besides, some people functional, so they need
associate the zip with a two back, two front and
woman’s jeans. one ticket pocket. Note:
NUTRITION
the ticket pocket is the

Unconvinced
Fabric
Japanese ring spun
denim is the best quality.
wee one you find crafted
inside one of the main
pockets at the front of
your jeans. Where you
2 by grown-up
knit? Then try a
classic sweat-
shirt, which
It’s the strongest denim lose all your ticke… ah.
would look
WEIGHT LOSS
around, so will keep its relaxed, comfy

shape for longer. But how and would be
can you tell this from a the perfect jean
dodgy blue weave? If you accompani-
look closely, ring spun ment.
will have a vertical line.
Wash Stitching
PSYCHE
To find jeans that aren’t going More than just
3
Unless you play lead
guitar in a poodle metal to fall to bits, find the needle- a functional
band, stonewash is not a work nerd inside you. Inside device to hold
good look. Look for jeans seams should be French your jeans up,
TRUE BLUE WORDS: SIMON CHILVERS, PHOTOGRAPHY: DANNY BIRD, STUDIO 33, BIGPICTURESPHOTO.COM ;
that are straight, dark seamed. Translation: look for a belt can be
and tailored. They look a seam which closes all the the finishing
LOOKS
more grown up—that’s raw edges of the fabric within touch. This
vital when investing in a the stitching. This improves marks you
classic pair of jeans. Just the longevity of your strides. out as a man
don’t wash them with For the same reason, the of style and
your whites. thread must be cotton as sophistication.
GEAR
opposed to nylon. Apply the

same rule to your underpants.
Care for your ties: Wear and look after them

CARE FOR YOUR TIES ILLUSTRATIONS: PIYUSH GARG
WISDOM
1 SIZE REALLY DOES

2 AS WIDE AS IT
3 LET IT HANG
MATTER IS LONG Always hang your
The knot must be The width of the ties: it lets the
roughly the same knot matches wrinkles fall out.
depth as your collar. the width of your Knit ties, however,
Don’t make it so jacket’s lapel. can stretch when
big that you look Wide lapel, wide hung, so gently roll
like you should tie. Narrow lapel, them up. The same
be playing for a narrow tie. Couldn’t thing won’t work
football team. be simpler. with your granny.

03/08
ALPHA MALE
Grooming
Goo gone
SEX
Too much of a good thing can be a problem

when it comes to styling and grooming
products. How big a blob should you use?
HEALTH
Let the coin be your clue

FITNESS
NUTRITION
Moisturiser Hair gel Aftershave Shaving gel Hair wax Facial

WEIGHT LOSS
cleanser
PSYCHE
Dollop size Dollop size Dollop size Dollop size Dollop size Dollop size
HOW TO USE IT HOW TO USE IT HOW TO USE IT HOW TO USE IT HOW TO USE IT HOW TO USE IT
Use it after shaving Guys often go Coat all shaved Wash your face to Glide your fingertips Wash twice daily,
and spread it in an wrong here. Too spots and the back soften your beard over the wax and once before you
LOOKS
upward motion. much gel leaves of your neck and but don’t dry it—the apply it to dry hair as shave and again
GOO GONE PHOTOGRAPHY: ANSHUMAN SEN (GROOMING PRODUCTS), DEBASHIS PALIT (COINS)
Men tend to go for your hair looking like sideburn areas. moisturiser makes if you’re scratching at night. Lather the
squeaky clean and a plate of fries— If you’re going to it easier to spread your scalp. cleanser in your
dry out their skin crispy and greasy. apply moisturiser or the gel. Massage palms and then
with bar soaps. Always apply gel to a sunscreen, wait it into your skin so work it into your
wet hair and work about five minutes the moisturisers are skin.
GEAR
your style into place. for the balm to be absorbed.

absorbed.
Instant fix
WISDOM
Avoid a hair-raising situation

AS YOU BUTTON up your dress shirt, remember to stop somewhere in the middle. Some guys would not
hesitate to go all the distance with all buttons secured while some others would expose their chest (and
some unsightly tufts of hair) without a bother. But neither of these looks works right in the real world. The
rule here: never leave more than two buttons open on your shirt. A conservative showing of chest hair
and a hint of an undershirt is good enough. Of course, that would depend partly on the placement of the
buttons, too. But generally, leaving two buttons open at the neck is considered the perfect combination of
cool and sexy. Any more than that and you’ll be showing more breast than your date. Any less and you’ll
be looking like a missionary.

03/08
ALPHA MALE
Gear
The CEO in slippers

SEX
Take off the pointy shoes, wear your flip-flops at work and make your life
easy to manage with these gadgets
HEALTH
1 Laptop
The HP dv2610tx is a highly 2 Printer
The all-in-one, Canon Pixma 3 Cell phone
The RIM BlackBerry 8820 is
capable machine, with a snappy Intel MX308, functions as a printer, scanner the latest and greatest device in the
Core2 Duo processor, a gigabyte of and a fax machine and reduces the BlackBerry range and features among
FITNESS
memory and Windows Vista Home Pre- amount of clutter on your desk, so you other things Global Satellite Positioning
mium. Coming in a neat package with can put your feet up and relax. It does support (Airtel even offers a free
a distinctive finish, this laptop pretty all its three jobs impressively and very voice-aided navigation service) but in
THE CEO IN SLIPPERS WORDS: KUSHAN MITRA PHOTOGRAPHY: ANSHUMAN SEN

much defines a ‘personal’ machine. fast, printing up to 22 pages a minute addition to the BlackBerry’s legendary
Add to that, the ability to write double- and sending a fax in just three seconds. e-mail support, this one features a
layer DVD+R discs as well as use the This is no poser! Not just that, when you beefier processor and Wi-Fi support as
NUTRITION
Lightscribe system to make great disc have to take a print out of a photograph, well. But like all BlackBerries before,
art. Good speakers to boot, but most it will print out an image with vibrant this device, of course, allows you to
impressively it has a huge 160GB drive. colours in under a minute. carry your office with you.
Rs 48,990 Rs 7,995 Rs 31,990
WEIGHT LOSS
PSYCHE
LOOKS
GEAR
WISDOM

Ask Your
Gear Guide
SEX
All that’s wired
is not weird
By Kushan Mitra
SEE THE LIGHT
HEALTH
Why don’t my pictures come out
4 Headphones
The round-ear noise-cancelling Bose 5 Music player
You do need a device to store all your
at night? How can I correct my
digicam settings to get results?
QC3 headphones not only cut out the music on, and what better device than the Sidharth Saxena, Pune
F
extraneous noise but also have fantastic Apple iPod Touch, the same old reliable iPod or the best low-light or
FITNESS
sound reproduction, allowing you to enjoy system with a touch-screen twist. Though night photography, and I
music no matter where you are. The QC3 the ‘Touch’ is a bit pricey, it’s really cool assume you don’t want to
model comes with an extremely slick with the ability to scan through albums and use a flash, you need a Single-Lens
charger kit for its non-standard battery, photographs with the flick of a finger. The Reflex (SLR) camera where you can
which might be its only bad point, but the 16GB memory of this device allows you to set shutter speeds and a tripod to
battery does last a fairly long time, more store up to 4,000 songs, not as much as the keep the camera stable. To capture
NUTRITION
than enough for a long flight or a couple of iPod Classic, but the touch-screen is worth it! a good picture of the night sky, for
days’ work! Rs 23,600 (16GB model) example, you will need at least
Rs 21,263 (price inclusive of taxes) a two-minute long exposure on
All prices are Indian retail prices, before tax a good camera. In addition, you
unless specified, and can change at any time will need to adjust light exposure
settings and film speeds. If you
WEIGHT LOSS
want to capture a moving image
you might need a film speed of
ISO 1600, but the image could be
bad. If you have a point-and-click
regular camera, you may not be
able to change shutter speeds, but
you should be able to adjust film
speeds and make the sensor more
PSYCHE
light-sensitive. It will be a hit-and-
miss process till you find the right
settings. But honestly, for good
night photography, buy a good
digital SLR like the Canon 40D.
LOOKS
NET GAINS
Which is better for surfing the
Net—a PC or a Mac?
Paul Matthew, Kolkata
T
he best thing about the GEAR
Internet is that it is device-
agnostic, and what could
make a difference is not the hard-
ware but rather the software, and
WISDOM
the surfing experience on Internet

Explorer, Firefox, Safari and Opera
can be quite different. But between
a Mac and a Windows PC, there
is no difference whatsoever since
most browsers work on both.
Kushan Mitra is an Assistant Editor with

Business Today and spends much of his
free time fingering around with the latest
electronic toys. Send in your tech and gear
worries to him at menshealth@intoday.com

03/08
ALPHA MALE
Game Show
Who will have a heart
SEX
attack first?
Time is running out for one man’s ticker. Or will it be yours that stops first?
HEALTH
ABHINAV CHOPRA DHEERAJ SHAH
Age: 30 years OTHER FACTORS Age: 29 years OTHER FACTORS
Profession: Businessman Often, he visits industrially- Profession: Med representative Although he hates his job, he
WHY HE’S AT RISK polluted towns and this doesn’t WHY HE’S AT RISK hasn’t been able to move on
FITNESS
Abhinav is required to travel agree with his bronchial His job entails a good deal of to a better one. He had been
almost all month. While he problems. He self-medicates travelling across the country practising yoga and meditation
drinks and smokes regularly, minor ailments and deduces but he makes it a point not to for a while but hasn’t been able
he is addicted to pan masala. that it’s simply acidity and not skip his workout. However, he to continue. So despite the
One study found that smokers’ any heart or lung problem drinks regularly and sometimes workouts, his stress levels are
hearts get 21 per cent less whenever he has chest pain. smokes, too. He suffers from high.
NUTRITION
blood. And their blood has more HIS PREDICTION bouts of depression and stress- HIS PREDICTION
vessel-damaging free radicals. Abhinav feels he’s not in such related sleeplessness. His Dheeraj feels that once he gets
Antioxidant-rich fruits and a bad shape since he started recent divorce has taken a toll a new job, he will definitely
veggies could help, but Abhinav drinking and smoking only five on him mentally and he had to have a better life since he will
prefers biryani and beer. years ago. undergo psychiatric treatment be able to give himself and his
for six months. health some more time.
WEIGHT LOSS
PRATIK NATH
Age: 25 years OTHER FACTORS
Profession: Finance Pratik is required to drink
consultant and actor socially while entertaining
WHY HE’S AT RISK his business associates.
Pratik is trying to strike a Frequently, he suffers bouts
balance between both his of sleeplessness. Although
PSYCHE
vocations. His acting career, he goes to the gym, he isn’t
however, isn’t going great a regular because of lack of
guns, leading to frustration time.
and stress. Research says HIS PREDICTION
men with chronic stress have He plans to give up smoking.
LOOKS
the same heart-disease risk as “I am young and quite fit; I
men who smoke or have high don’t think I will succumb so
cholesterol. fast,” he says.
Take a few moments to consider each contestant’s prospects,

then turn the page to meet this month’s winner (or loser)! GEAR
Pub quiz 4
Which training form uses reps of high-
intensity work followed by rest periods? 8 Considered the best indicator of
cardiorespiratory endurance, what is
GAME SHOW WORDS & PHOTOGRAPHY: AKASH SRIVASTAVA
Fitness Which system of yoga had its origins in best defined by the Fick Equation?
5
WISDOM
By Tithi Sarkar the Yoga Korunta manuscript compiled Name the collection of globular pro-
by sage Vamana Rishi? 9 teins that is a mix of beta-lactoglobulin,
Besides increasing abdominal and alpha-lactalbumin and
Which part of your body’s fat is 6
1 reduced when you do situps?
back strength, a Swiss ball is good for serum albumin.
improving stability. Right or wrong? What exercise uses the
10
2
Stretching encourages upper- strength and elasticity
diaphragm breathing. True or false? 7 What is the name of the muscle that is
in the back part of the lower leg and of muscles to pro-
If you want to tone your muscles, what duce fast, powerful
3 kind of workout should you do?
runs from its two heads just above the
knee to the heel? movements?
ANSWERS 1. All parts; 2. True; 3. Strength training; 4. Interval training; 5. Ashtanga Vinyasa Yoga; 6. Right; 7. Gastrocnemius; 8. VO2 Max; 9. Whey; 10. Plyometrics

03/08
ALPHA MALE
Game Show
Pulse Check
SEX
Risk factor Point Value Pratik Abhinav Dheeraj Your score

AGE
Over 50? -1
And the winner The longer you live, the more time
HEALTH
(or loser!) is… plaque has to build up in your arteries

30-50? 0 0
Abhinav Under 30? +1 +1 +1

Chopra WEIGHT
We asked R Scott Wright, MD, Excess fat can raise blood pressure Overweight? -2 -2
FITNESS
a cardiologist at the Mayo and cholesterol Healthy, normal weight? +2 +2 +2

Clinic in Minnesota to help
us devise a test to determine SMOKING
our contestants’ fates. This
scorecard lists the major risk Smoke regularly? -2 -2
factors. Play along and tally
Smoking constricts arteries and limits Smoke occasionally? -1 -1 -1
NUTRITION
your score to see if your heart

is in better shape than our blood flow Used to smoke but quit? +1
contestants’.
Never smoked? +2
BLOOD PRESSURE
Final analysis High (above 130/85)? -2 -2 -2
When you’re young, it’s easy to feel A high level stresses the heart
WEIGHT LOSS
indestructible. But Abhinav is a good Normal? (130/85 or below)? +2 +2

example of how a poor lifestyle can
CHOLESTEROL
hurt you sooner than you think. Being
a smoker and being overweight are Dangerous level? (LDL above
LDL cholesterol contributes to -2
160, HDL below 35) -2
the two biggest causes of premature plaque formation; HDL cholesterol is
protective Safe level? (LDL 60 to 160, HDL
heart attacks and Abhinav is both. He +2 +2
35 to 65) +2
should quit smoking, cut his total fat
DIET
intake to less than 30gm a day, eat five
PSYCHE
daily servings of fruits and vegetables Mostly unhealthful? -2 -2

Saturated fat causes weight gain and
and exercise aerobically for at least
clogs arteries; antioxidants reduce Sometimes healthful? 0 0 0
30 minutes three days a week. These damage
changes will help him lose weight, Always healthful? +2
control his BP and cholesterol and EXERCISE
LOOKS
cut his heart-disease risk by 50 per

cent. He’s stuck with his family history Exercise infrequently? -2 -2
and he has a stressful work life, so it’s Regular exercise keeps weight, blood
When there’s time for it? +1 +1
important to eliminate the other threats. pressure and cholesterol down
Dheeraj’s genetic risk is frightening. Regularly? +2 +2
You’re more likely to share the fate of an
GEAR
STRESS
immediate family member than that of
a more distant one because you have Never a break from stress? -2 -2
more genes in common. He needs to Chronic stress raises blood pressure Frequently stressed? -1 -1 -1
exercise for at least 30 minutes three
Rarely stressed? +2
WISDOM
days a week, raising his heart rate to

about 130 beats per minute. Getting FAMILY HISTORY
back with his wife may be of some help.
Married people generally lead healthier Immediate family member? -2 -2
and longer lives. Sharing genes with high-risk relatives
Some family history? -1 -1
increases your risk
Although Pratik had the best score,
he may still be at risk if he doesn’t follow No family history? +2 +2
a healthy lifestyle or lets the stress get TOTALS +8 -15 1
to him. His weight, BP and cholesterol IF YOUR SCORE IS 0 OR LESS: Check your pulse! Your heart’s in trouble—time for major changes.
levels are safe, but healthy eating and IF YOUR SCORE IS +1 TO +6: Try to lower your risk, even though you’re not in immediate peril.
regular exercise should be his priorities. IF YOUR SCORE IS +7 OR MORE: Your ticker sounds strong—keep up the good work.

03/08
ALPHA MALE
Guy Wisdom
Ask the Barber
Anything
Talking big
SEX
Snappy
questions on
stuff that screws up
your life I play golf with my neighbour who,
I can never figure out how, always
MEET THE PARENTS
HEALTH
beats me by a few strokes. That I can
I’ve been dating my girlfriend for more handle. What I really can’t stand is all
than a year and her family asks loaded his talk about how great he is. What’s
questions about our future together. my play in all this? Do I let him get
How do I handle them? away?
Mehul Shah, Pune Vicky Ahluwalia, Bangalore
P S
FITNESS
lay nice. It’s important that they ounds like this shot calls for a
approve of you, even if she’s just nine-iron. To the shin. Kidding,
as miffed by their hounding of you Vicky. You’re definitely a bigger
as you are. Next time they rib you, laugh man for playing it cool even when he
along and toss out an innocuous line doesn’t. If you can’t beat him on the
like, “We’re happy, things are great, your links, then get him out on the court, on
NUTRITION
daughter’s the best.” Then when you are a run, anywhere that’s decidedly your
away from her parents, tell your girlfriend athletic domain. It won’t change his ego
that she’s the one who ought to tell them to though, but at least you can knock a
lay off the bridal banter. Because the only few strokes off it and make yourself feel
thing the family is accomplishing by push- better for a few days, till he again starts
ing you for an answer is pushing you away. off all that talking.
WEIGHT LOSS
GREEN-EYED GIRLFRIEND
I started a new job and I’m working PARTNERS IN CRIME the people get there at the same time and
closely with a lot of beautiful women. The guy I work out with is cheating on one young fellow intervenes. Chick broke
I mean, a lot of beautiful women. My his wife, and when he’s with his under- his damn nose. See, Akshay, you get
girlfriend is going to be really jealous, cover girl, he’s telling his wife that caught in the middle and you’ll end up with
but I can’t do anything about my office he’s with me. I cover for him, but I hate a bloody something-or-other. I’m all for
situation. Any advice? lying. But I also hate not being there for friends helping each other, even doing the
PSYCHE
Rohit Parmar, Mumbai friends. And now his wife is blaming
S
occasional moral misdemeanour for each
ome guys work 100 hours a week. me for their marriage going sour. What other. But friends don’t get in the middle
And some guys don’t even make should I do? of each other’s marriages. So tomorrow,
Akshay Sriram, Hyderabad
B
enough cash to take their kids to a when you guys get ready to work out, you
theme park. You? Your greatest burden is est fight I ever saw: two hot girls, tell your buddy that you know his affair is
LOOKS
sitting in meetings with women who see both in their early 20s. Out of his business and that you’re not going to
ASK THE BARBER ANYTHING PHOTOGRAPHY: RITESH SHARMA (BARBER), DREAMSTIME (TRUMPET)
more dropped jaws than a dentist. How nowhere they’re yelling and pull- turn him in or even remind him of the trou-
about this? You call me when you’ve done ing hair, and all the guys are howling like ble he’s getting himself into. But then tell
something even more stupid than writing tomcats. This little fair one rips out a huge him his alibi is his problem, not yours.
this letter, like maybe trying to sharpen clump of hair from the other, who’s this tall
Got a nagging problem? Let our friendly neigh-
your pencil in a place it doesn’t belong. Do big woman. That does it. Miss Big-and- bourhood barber set it straight at menshealth@
GEAR
that, and we’ll need to talk. Strong throws a punch. Only problem is, intoday.com
on
Less 3 Men’s Health Charm School
# 50
Finesse the interruption
WISDOM
WHEN BUTTINSKIES COME calling, coolness is key. To juggle equally important

obligations (client, boss, fantasy-league stats), you must start triage. “You’re next in
the queue. Once I finish this report, I’ll drop by your office.” This way, you can control
the interruption effectively. The worst offenders are those who break into the middle of
a perfect pitch or a great joke and deflate the mood. But pointing out bad manners is
bad manners, so the best option is to wait out the interruption, backtrack and regain
the lost momentum. Staying composed in the face of pressure displays more skill than
acknowledging the interloper. If he’s paying attention, your repetition will make his
mistake clear.

Q
THE BIG QUESTION…
What is wealth?
If time is money, are you rich in it? And if successful relationships are the real
riches, what does your balance sheet look like? Ponder the points
“Wealth is the product of “Know that wealth, sex- and the necessities will take
man’s capacity to think.” delights, power, learning care of themselves.”
} Ayn Rand, American author } Dorothy Parker, American writer
are all bondage. This is the
beginning of wisdom.”
} Swami Vivekananda, social
“On this earth there reformer and yogi “Early to rise and early to bed
is no better treasure makes a male healthy and
than donation; wealthy and dead.”
no worse enemy than } James Thurber, American humorist
temptation;
no better jewellery “Being rich is having money;
than a beautiful being wealthy is having
character and nature; time.”
no better wealth than } Margaret Bonnano, the writer
contentment.” of Star Trek
“Whoever cultivates the
} Sanskrit shloka
“We are stripped

“Wealth is the slave of a wise bare by the curse
man, the master of a fool.” of plenty.”
“Wealth is the ability to fully } Winston Churchill,
} Lucius Annaeus Seneca, ancient
Roman statesman and dramatist
experience life.” former British
} Henry David Thoreau, Prime Minister
American author
“They say it is better to be
poor and happy than rich
and miserable, but how “The importance of money
about a compromise like flows from it being a link
moderately rich and just between the present and the golden mean avoids both the
moody?” future.” poverty of a hovel and the
} Princess Diana, late British royal
} John Maynard Keynes, British
envy of a palace.”
economist } Horace, ancient Roman lyric poet
“Take care of the luxuries
“Money is the most important thing in

the world. It represents health, strength,
honour, generosity and beauty as
conspicuously as the want of it represents
illness, weakness, disgrace, meanness
and ugliness.”
} George Bernard Shaw, Irish playwright

… AND THE MOST ASKED QUESTION
When happens when I skip the gym?
After going all out in January, you’ve become a gym sloucher in the
past few weeks. How does your body cope with the break in routine?
1 SLEEP SUITS
Returning to the weights
burns calories. This new stress
makes your body crave rest and
recovery to repair itself. The sleep
after your first session will be
deeper and of a higher quality.
Plus, the time it takes for you to fall
asleep will be halved.
2 UPBEAT NEWS
Your ticker can’t push as
5 PERSONAL
BRAINER
The neural pathways between
much blood around with each your brain and muscles have
contraction but your muscles still been inactive, which makes
need the same amount of blood them less efficient. This is why
to get them working. Your heart you might seem weak. As you
solves this by increasing the train, your brain becomes
number of contractions it makes more accustomed to telling the
each minute (your heart rate) to muscle, “Yes, I can do this.”
push the blood around to the right
places.
3 BREATHE UNEASY
Your lungs are like your
6 GLAND GESTURES
Exercise causes your
adrenal glands to release the
biceps. They get stronger and stress hormone cortisol into
bigger when you exercise— your bloodstream. A return after
especially during cardiovascular a lay-off causes more cortisol
training. But a lay-off makes them than usual to be released,
and their supporting muscles which can lead to your joints
(the diaphragm and intercostals) becoming inflamed. This is your
weaker, which means you won’t body’s way of protecting these
be able to take in as much oxygen. areas if you’ve overdone it.
The result: you’ll be panting like a
dog in no time.
4 JOINT VENTURE
Lazing on the sofa deprives
7 LEGGING IT
You’ll feel like someone
has hammered on your legs the
your joints of their synovial fluid. day after your gym comeback.
Bending your limbs pushes this Pushing weights puts so much
fluid out of your joint membrane, stress on your muscles that it
the synovium greasing the causes microscopic tears in
WORDS: RAY KLERCK
cartilage and making the joint them. As your body repairs

move smoothly, like oiling a rusty these tears, your muscles
hinge. Your joints will be less stiff in become bigger, while bone and
a week or two. tissue become stronger. MH

Think
like a
Champ
What Viswanathan Anand does at the chess board, you can do in the
boardroom or in any other field of life. Make winning moves by harnessing
the power of your mind
Words: Viswanathan Anand Photography: Bandeep Singh
C
hess, they say, is no mind go to sleep. I try to play Making a decision involves
game. It’s war. Some- positions which require me take some intuition and some risk.
thing like your everyday risks. To challenge your mind, At times, you gamble and it
life out there. You need to make solve problems, calculate men- works. When it doesn’t, you
strategic decisions, outwit your tally and, more than anything sometimes get conservative.
opponent and move in for the else, play chess. And that is terrible, because
kill. Viswanathan Anand, World Outside chess, I try to have a it’s mentally crippling: you
Chess Champion and India’s lot of interests. Learning lan- suddenly stop playing your
first Grandmaster, gives you his guages is one thing that keeps normal game and start making
tips on making your mind razor- your grey cells working hard. I forecasts of how much risk you
sharp. also like astronomy, so I try to should take.
learn about that. Somehow, you In chess, we do a lot of strat-
On focussing and have to keep making your brain egy. For instance, if someone is
memory training do new things. The mind only having a bad tournament or is a
Constantly challenging your gets better with use. bit shaky, you know you have to
mind is the key. Even in chess, if keep pushing him slowly until
you keep playing the same posi- On improving he makes a mistake or cracks.
tion, you see your concentration decision-making skills But in doing so, you should
flagging or mistakes happening. There is no failsafe formula, no never lose control of your own
Boredom is what makes the one method that is always right. position. It is like staying Ñ

TAKEIT
TAKE MY ADVICE
FROM ME
VISWANATHAN ANAND

Ñ on terra firma and then being On identifying and attaining a goal you start feeling too smug about your
able to push your rival slowly off a Finding a goal is sometimes the luck. A little tension is good: it gives
cliff or tricking them into going over toughest battle, especially if you have you a feeling in your gut that some-
the edge of their own accord. Novelty already attained a long-term goal thing might just spoil the party, and
has a lot of value in chess. So, to get that you’ve been working towards for that feeling makes you concentrate
the better of your adversary, catch a year or so. harder on not letting things slide once
him unawares. If you can strike a When I became a Grandmaster the going has got so good.
move the rival isn’t expecting, it’s in 1987, I had a string of indifferent When you are going through a bad
Advantage You. results. Somehow, from the time I patch, the important thing is to forget
was a boy of 12, I would keep repeat- about taking the top spot and then
On reading a rival’s body language ing the mantra: “I want to become deciding how to salvage the situation,
All of us know when someone is India’s first Grandmaster.” When what to deal with first. It’s the chess
comfortable or otherwise. Watch out that actually happens, your brain player’s equivalent of making sure
for those tell-tale signs. For example, kind of switches off and tells you that that you win at least one game out of
I know players whose faces turn red it has served its time. That’s when the next four. Put your foot on firm
the moment they commit a blunder; you need to pull yourself up. ground with the first step, and then
someone else will start unbuttoning Nowadays, when I get that kind of think about the next one, and then
their shirt when they feel they’re a result or win some major champion- the one after that. You can look for
in trouble; some people even make ship, I try not to look at chess for a glory once survival is taken care of.
noises, or betray their agitation with few days. And then I write down all In chess, triumph and defeat are
barely restrained gestures, like turn- the things I could have done better, sometimes separated by just one
ing their tea cup violently. or I just choose something totally move—losing in such a situation
can make it very difficult to take the
Ideal mind = Focussed mind loss out of your head. But you must.
Sometimes, you just have to be philo-
sophical and ride the good waves and
The ideal mind is a focussed mind that is able to bring the bad.
it all together at the right time. You have to be able do
On respecting the competition
it under pressure. Anyone can come up with brilliant This is something that always comes
ideas or play moves like a genius in a comfortable back to haunt you. There are rivals
atmosphere. But the circumstances are you sometimes take lightly and
they are the ones who will beat
completely different when say, like me, you see you. But having said that, don’t
the minutes ticking away and a rival breathing have too much respect for your
fire on the board. So, never underestimate the rivals either. If you are awed by
your opponent, you cannot move
importance of preparation—it keeps you battle- confidently. You will start doubt-
ready even in a pressure-cooker situation. ing yourself, second-guessing your
own moves. Nowadays, since most
I am generally the poker-faced different to work on. That of us use a computer to check our
yogi. I can keep a straight face even way, you start focussing moves, the difference between
when my insides are churning. Trust on something else, and two players comes out in practi-
me, I’ve got away with a lot thanks make that your goal—at cal play and the ability to take
to that—both at home and on the the very least, it leads to calculated risks. Heard that
board!—and you can, too. Composure an improved performance one about an iron stomach? You
can make or break your game. the next time. But one tip: try not need it to make all the bold moves.
to set your goals too far in the future,
On improving concentration or you lose momentum. Winning the On handling celebrity status
I go to the gym for about two hours next round is the farthest goal you Distraction by success and fame hap-
daily, doing cardio, stretching and should set. pens at a subconscious level. There
weights. These exercises help you is a saying that my wife, Aruna,
THIS PAGE: PHOTO COURTESY NIIT
a lot in focussing. Sometimes, I do On staying motivated at all times once mentioned. In public relations,
deep breathing, especially during You need to motivate yourself, no apparently, they say, “Never believe
games, or when I feel I have to make matter what—definitely when things your own press release.” Similarly, if
a very critical move. Try this before are bad, but also when things are you start thinking of yourself as the
an important meeting—more oxygen good. Or else, you risk becoming person everyone makes you out to
inside you will help your brain focus complacent. When you are on a run, be, it is easy to lose focus. In today’s
more. you will have great results—unless wired world, you have people airing

TAKE IT FROM ME
VISWANATHAN ANAND
ANAND’S WAR
TACTICS
l Looking for that chink in
the armour: You need to
sometimes play unpleasant
moves, pushing your rival into
a position he hates to be in.
And with that, look for signs
of weakening, like general
agitation or a red face. Then
you know your strategy is
working.
l Holding on to your
advantage: Don’t get smug,
though, when you see your
opponent in a sweat. If you
become complacent, the
tables could turn very quickly.
l Not giving anything away:
While you look for signs of
tension on your rival’s face
or in his gestures, don’t
give anything away yourself.
Stay poker-faced, like me.
Composure can make or
break your game.
l Not letting a defeat get to
you: You might lose the battle,
“All I care about is but there is a war to be won
still. If you lose, analyse what
playing my game. In went wrong and eliminate the
the end, you have mistakes from your next plan.
to go there and get But don’t get downcast.
your pieces right.”
their opinion in blogs and forums. If sperson. I’ve been very lucky to have On being a role model to the young
one starts reading all that, it is quite parents who never really forced me When some kid comes up to you and
difficult to enjoy what you have. into chess nor put any pressure on me says he or she follows you, it gives you
For a very long time, I’ve stopped to excel. I just enjoyed the chess and a new high. At times, someone has
reading too much about myself; kept getting better at it. quoted verbatim something I said in
unless, okay, I am in the mood for Similarly, in marriage, I’ve been an interview years ago. It shows what
some TLC! But as a rule, I stop read- able to share my passion for chess effect you have, especially on younger
ing chess articles or media reports with Aruna. Since we travel together, minds. I just try to be a normal guy
before or during an event. When a lot of the tension gets halved. who wants to do his best in something
preparing for anything big, detach When you sit facing an opponent he truly loves doing.
yourself from your past successes and across the table and find yourself in a
get down to the job at hand. tough situation, it helps to know that On the best advice you can get
there’s someone with you. Also, when Enjoy what you do, and keep finding
On partnership in marriage you want a break from what you new ways to better what you do. MH
To have a stable family life is one of always do, it’s nice to just have fun
the most precious things for a sport- with the family. As told to Sanchita Guha

WOMAN TO MAN*
Are you Mr Right?

Let’s hope you’re not
Mr All Wrong
What a girl wants

Fame, power and money are short-lived turn-ons. Start by ensuring you
don’t turn her off Words: Farzana Contractor
irst, let’s get the physical he has pots of money, which he throws The X factor
F aspects out of the way. What

makes a man, a man? His
strength of course, both physical
around. As if money can buy him love!
Then there are those you find at par-
ties who have this glazed expressions,
What quality in a man turns a woman
on is most subjective. Power is an
aphrodisiac; fame another; personality
and mental. His raw sex appeal, his walking around, seeking with lust- is a huge plus point; money is age-old,
intense eyes, his mouth, which has a filled eyeballs nubile young things but it’s also the most short-lived turn-
smile lurking at the corners but which they can ogle at from as close a prox- on. Sportsmen, footballers, golfers,
never smiles. His lithe body, his taut imity as they can manage. Slimeballs! rally drivers and cricketers drive
muscles, his tall frame, strong arms, The sickest ones are those who get women insane.
broad shoulders, his unhurried walk, cheap thrills when, under the garb What puts women off, on the physi-
as he saunters towards you, on a Goan of greeting you, they go right ahead cal plane, is short, fat, bald men with
beach, wearing nothing but a piece of and feel you. What they don’t know is, toad eyes. Also those who have BO and
muslin around his middle. His shiny women know. They can smell this type who lack manners. In bed and out of it.
hair, through which he runs his fin- a mile away. And steer clear. The ones There is someone I know, a high-pow-
gers ever so often, throwing back his who don’t, deserve the sickos. ered married woman who had many a
head each time he does so. happy and intimate relationship with
W
other equally high-powered men—pol-
However... omen can spot a iticians. An erudite and bold woman,
All this physical attractiveness goes mile away a man she was appalled at the crudeness of
out of the window if the man is a boor. who’d try to get most of her paramours. One very sen-
A crass, coarse, rude man is the worst. a ‘feel’ of a woman when ior politico would always f**t in bed,
Followed by the one who thinks he is he speaks to her. And they she said. Revolting, though she loved
God’s gift to womankind—all because steer clear of such sickos his other rustic ways of life. Ñ

WOMAN TO MAN*
Ñ Speak low, speak slow

As for me, I like the silent, brooding What makes a
kind. The ones who speak usually man, a man
when they have something meaning- Here is Farzana Contractor’s list
ful to say instead of going yakkity-yak. of extraordinary gentlemen... and
I like it when they drawl in a low pitch how you can get on it, too
and look me in the eye when they do Amitabh Bachchan
talk. I place a high premium on hon- Age-defying style, and a
esty, however hurtful, and integrity great ability to communicate
and make people feel at ease
till the last breath. And a confession: I despite his demi-god status.
like pony-tailed guys, like Fleetwood Do it like him: Understand
Mac 25 years ago. And I like hair on that challenges in life should
make you a better person.
their chest. I’m not saying any more.
So is there a perfect man on earth?
Hrithik Roshan
Probably not. Just as there isn’t the While arguably the country’s
T
perfect woman. But there are many handsomest actor, he is
nice ones. Let’s name them. First let’s he men who impress known to be solidly devoted
to his wife and infant son.
define them. They are caring, and gen- are those who speak Do it like him: Value the
uinely so. They are soft and sensitive, when they have woman in your life, and other
women will adore you.
and romantic. And not scared to show something meaningful to
it. They are gentle. They are confident say. And they look you in Mukesh Ambani
and trusting. Protective, but not over- the eye when they speak What’s so impressive is
Mukeshbhai’s down-to-earth
protective. Possessive, but not obses-
demeanour despite his
sive. They have a tremendous sense stratospheric wealth.
of humour and don’t take themselves gold band on the ring finger, proclaim- Do it like him: Include others
in your ambition, and don’t
too seriously. They play with their kids ing to the world, I love her…
brag about the money.
and hold hands with their wives at the No, these are not some metro-shetro
movies. And they don’t have affairs. men, they are real men; not ordinary,
Shahab Durazi
But if they fall out of love, then they but extraordinary. And in no particu- Not at all a Page 3 Person.
come clean and call it quits. lar order, they are: Amitabh Bach- Nor does he need to be. This
A-list fashion designer’s
They are men who unabashedly go chan, Abhishek Bachchan, Hrithik huge talent speaks for itself.
searching for presents for the one they Roshan, the Nawabs of Pataudi, (both Do like him: Concentrate
love. Who give of themselves and their Chote and Bade Nawab), Harsha on the quality of your work.
Success will follow.
wealth. But who don’t talk money. The Bhogle, Vikram Mehta, Anand Mahi-
ones with finesse, style, class. They ndra, Shah Rukh Khan, Sanjay Dutt,
Praful Patel
are soft-spoken, yet firm if they need Mukesh Ambani, Hafeez Contractor, He has got a dull Union
to be. They are the ones you can’t bully Sajid Mitha, Harish Jagtiani, Bittu ministry buzzing with
activity, letting civil aviation
but who will melt when they see even Saigal, Tariq Ansari, Praful Patel, make headlines daily.
the glimmer of tears in your eyes. Shahab Durazi, Mario Miranda, Do it like him: Infuse some
Habib Rehman, Charles Correa, excitement in your work.
Come up with new ideas.
Not metro-anything Javed Ahmed and D Sivanandan.
So with all these ‘lovely’ qualities, are But while all the above men may not
Javed Ahmed
these men what’s now termed metro- have every quality I have mentioned, The Mumbai top cop works
sexual? No, certainly not. These are there was one who did. His name is on keeping the city clean.
Harder than keeping out
not sissy men who go to a salon to have Behram Contractor. Here is one man
plastic, but Ahmed is on it.
their eyebrows tweezed, or body hair who could with his ‘cool’ give many Do it like him: When the
removed, though they may get a mani- men a complex, unwittingly. In addi- going gets tough, the tough
get going. You get the drift?
cure and a pedicure. They don’t preen tion to all the assets a woman’s man
endlessly in front of the looking glass, could possess, he also had big talent,
These names have been presented in no
though they will be very well-dressed, a big turn-on. Not to mention his flair particular order. For the full list of names,
immaculate, dashing, debonair, suave. for non-dressing. He carried off with see the article
These are not men who will have gold great aplomb a Lacoste T-shirt, Colour
chains dangling from their necks, Plus trousers, Bata shoes and a Ray- *AS A TRIBUTE TO THE WOMEN WE LOVE,
PHOTOGRAPHY: CORBIS
arms and hands loaded with bracelets mond blazer, no tie. And could go meet ON INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY
and rings. But yes, you may see a tiny the Queen dressed like that. (MARCH 8), THE GUYS AT MEN’S HEALTH
SURRENDERED THE POPULAR ‘MAN TO
glint of a diamond stud in one ear, or Well, what can you say about a man MAN’ COLUMN TO SENIOR JOURNALIST
some beads strung on leather sitting who attracted a 24-year-old girl when FARZANA CONTRACTOR TO PUT FORTH
on a macho neck or, best of all, a thin he was 54? MH THE FAIRER POINT OF VIEW

Sweat to shape 62
Decode Indian food 66

VITAL
03/08
SIGNS
Rate your couple quotient 68
Skirt the debt trap 74
Play it right at a Holi party 76
KEEP YOUR FINGER ON THE PULSE
Six crazy
cures
Strange yet totally effective
solutions to your most
common ailments Ñ

VS Health
f you believe Johanna Use text messages
I Brandt, she discovered a

cure for cancer roughly 80
years ago while living in South
Kill foul breath
with blue light to quit smoking
Any time you want a Marlboro,
reach for your Motorola instead.
Africa. The remedy: grapes. Researchers at the University
Bunches of them. In fact, all of Auckland, in New Zealand,
you can eat, because, well, compared how well two groups
grapes are all you can eat for of smokers were doing in their
one to two weeks, if you follow attempts to quit. They discov-
the plan outlined in Brandt’s ered that those who received
1928 book The Grape Cure. daily text messages containing
Proof? She claims to have con- tips on beating cravings plus
quered her stomach cancer with motivational words from other
the power of purple. quitters were twice as likely to
Needless to say, the medical kick ash as the people who went
establishment never swallowed textless. What’s more, rates of
grapes as the answer to can- quitting for the cell-supported
cer. And yet, as extreme—and group remained high after six
potentially dangerous—as months. “People tend to carry
Brandt’s prescription may be, their phones with them at all
today’s researchers are uncov- times, so it’s a readily accessible
ering compelling evidence that means of providing cessation
natural chemicals in the fruit of assistance,” says study author
Vitis vinifera could help pre- Robyn Whittaker, MD.
vent and, yes, even treat cer- Make it work for you: When
tain types of tumours in mice. you’re finally ready to stub your
Granted, you wouldn’t want to cigs, set a quit date and then
stake your life on a rodent in go to backpackit.com, where
remission, but there are other you can write text messages to
examples of modern science yourself and have them sent
finding that some really odd didgeridoo (DIH-jeh-ree-doo) Playing an on preset days and times. Or,
antidotes might be just crazy lessons had about 3½ times less aboriginal to prevent you from predict-
enough to work. daytime sleepiness than the trumpet can ing every missive, you can use
Bad back? Plug in your head- folks who didn’t blow their own random delivery options, such
phones. Bad breath? Screw in a horns. Credit vibrations that
cure sleep as “later today” and “tomorrow
lightbulb. These are two of the exercise tissue in the mouth
apnoea morning”. Either way, include
six strange-but-true treatments and throat, says researcher by toning words of encouragement and
that we went from Australia Milo Puhan, PhD. “When these up mouth reminders about why you’re
to Israel to Ohio to gather. We muscles are strengthened, the and throat quitting. Next, go to your
aren’t promising that any of tongue has less tendency to muscles, phone’s message options and
them will cure cancer, but they obstruct the airway.” scientists create a group list of your closest
are guaranteed to be completely Make it work for you: The most tell you friends and family. Send a text
seedless. commonly prescribed option message to all of them, asking
is continuous positive airway that they shoot you encourage-
Treat sleep apnoea with pressure (CPAP), which involves ment on your quitting day and
a didgeridoo spending every night hooked the days that follow.
“A didgeri-what?” you ask. up to a machine that pumps air
While aborigines in Australia down your throat to keep it from Beat back pain
have been playing this long collapsing. The other approach with music
wooden trumpet for centuries, is surgery, and that’s only 30 to It’s official: Brahms is the balm.
it’s just recently been rede- 60 per cent effective. Now are Cleveland Clinic researchers
fined as a modern-day medical you ready to toot the didgeridoo? recently found that when people
device. Researchers reporting You can pick up a beginner- with loused-up lumbar regions
in the British Medical Jour- friendly model for about $80 at listened to music for an hour
nal evaluated 25 people with LA Outback (laoutback.com). every day, they experienced a
sleep apnoea—a breath-steal- And don’t worry; it’s intuitive 20 per cent reduction in back
ing condition caused by flabby to learn, says co-owner Barry pain after just one week. “The
throat muscles—and found that Martin. You purse your lips and effect may simply be due to
those who took four months of blow into it with the beat. music distracting your mind—

Odd But True
or it could be that it induces People who Make it work for you: Until PhD, points out, is really all
muscle relaxation,” says study pick their researchers develop a safe, anyone should need to feel
author Sandra Siedlecki, PhD, own tunes handheld blue-light device, results. What is important,
RN. “New studies that examine experience you’ll need to get creative. To however, is the timing of your
the effect of music on stress that end, try replacing the light- imbibing. It’s best to drink it
hormones such as cortisol may
greater bulbs over your bathroom sink. after lifting or any time you do
shed more light.”
relief from Then just complete your normal a higher-intensity workout.
Make it work for you: Don’t back pain twice-a-day routine—floss,
just flick on the radio and leave than those brush, scrape, gargle. Whatever Fix an enlarged prostate
your relief to chance. In the given songs light that manages to filter into with Botox
study, those who pick their own selected by your mouth may help your Physiologically speaking, an
tunes experienced significantly someone halitosis. expanding gland and frown
greater pain relief than the peo- else lines have nothing in common,
ple given songs selected by the Use cherries to except that the former can
researchers. Make a mix of your mend muscle cause the latter. But research
desert-island favourites and Recover from hefting 80kg of in the British Journal of Urol-
press “play” when pain hits. iron by lifting a glass of cherry ogy International shows that
juice. In an eight-day study of when men with benign pros-
Zap bad breath with weight-training men, Univer- tatic hyperplasia were given
blue light sity of Vermont researchers dis- Botox injections in their pros-
Duct tape has hundreds of uses, covered that those who imbibed tates, most experienced a 30
but apparently researchers at a tall glass of a cherry-juice per cent improvement in their
Hebrew University Hadassah blend twice a day retained more symptoms, including a reduced
School of Dental Medicine felt strength (18 per cent) and expe- urge to urinate and an easier
that fixing a malodorous mouth rienced faster pain relief (a day time when they did.
shouldn’t be one of them. So sooner) than men who downed Make it work for you: Botox is a
they experimented with other, cherry-flavoured Kool-Aid. good option for younger men
less restrictive ways to stop the Make it work for you: Normally, who don’t want to take a pill or
stench, including shining some calorie considerations would have surgery as they both can
light on the problem. In a study argue for chewing your cherries cause side effects ranging from
reported in the Journal of Medi- instead of drinking them. Only fatigue to erectile dysfunction.
cal Microbiology, the scientists problem is that you’d have to Obviously, it’s harder to hit a
exposed saliva samples to eat dozens of cherries to realise target below the belt than one
various wavelengths of light and the anti-inflammatory effect on someone’s face, which is why
then conducted a sniff test. The of one glass of the juice, which, doctors use ultrasound to help
winner: blue light—by a nose. study author Declan Connolly, guide needle into gland. MH
WORDS: LISA JONES; ILLUSTRATIONS: DUNG HOANG
Remedy or rip-off?
There are scores of companies pushing quack cures. Problems like baldness, obesity and erectile dysfunction,
particularly, are founts of phoney claims. Keep your eyes peeled and wallet in a tight grip
Eat a cactus to lose weight Seems Swallow bark for Beat baldness with fire
obvious: a mouthful of spines would kill stronger wood Capsaicin, the hot stuff in hot peppers, is
anyone’s appetite. That isn’t how it works. It’s been around purported to be an antidote for hair loss.
Rather, dozens of companies claim that for ages, but In theory, rubbing it into a sparse scalp will
ingesting an extract of Hoodia gordonii, yohimbe bark is still increase blood flow to the bare area and
a cactus that grows in South Africa’s being pushed as a wake up dormant hair follicles. In reality,
Kalahari desert, will head off your hunger penis pick-me-up. the only thing capsaicin has caused to
to the tune of 1,000 fewer calories a day. And for good reason: it works. Research grow is the list of bogus baldness cures.
But even though the Kalahari bushmen has shown that the active ingredient, A recent study in the American Journal
swear by the stuff, there’s yohimbine, helps relax the smooth-muscle of Pathology found that when capsaicin
scant research supporting cells of the corpora cavernosa, allowing was applied to a human tissue sample,
its safety or efficacy. more blood to flood these love chambers. it actually inhibited the growth of some
Then there’s the BBC The catch? Because supplements are hair follicles and triggered others to self-
investigation that unregulated, you might not take enough destruct.
found that Hoodia yohimbine to see an effect. Scarier: get
supplements sold too much and your heart rate and blood
in the United States pressure will spike. If you want to try it, ask
lack a key ingredient: your doc about Yocon, the prescription form
Hoodia. of yohimbine.

VS Fitness
Sweat to shape
What has made Bikram yoga such a rage in the US? Will it also work for you?
elcome to the tor- Heat speeds “hot yoga”. (To Indians, used to is the heat. As they all stand
W ture chamber. The

instructor, Bikram
Choudury, clicks the door shut,
up your
metabolism
and these
daytime temperatures of 40˚C
and more, this may not sound
very difficult, but try doing yoga
there, the only sound you can
hear is of sweat plopping onto
the plastic mats; everyone is too
sealing all 30 students inside on a very, very hot day, outdoors focussed to utter a word.
a third-floor walk-up above a
postures or with your fan off, and see After a few warm-up posi-
Philadelphia shoe store, with will improve what happens!) tions, the hot yogis are in the
the furnace cranked to 110 circulation The moves in Bikram yoga midst of a real killer: arms
degrees Fahrenheit (43.3˚C). and may look tame, especially com- straight out, up on the toes,
Then everyone is told to stand elasticity pared to Ashtanga, the power then dropping into a squat with
arms-length apart, lacing their yoga taught in health clubs arms and thighs parallel to the
fingers under their chins and that’s now being peddled in the floor, while still balancing on
huff and puff like fat guys mov- UK, too, by actor Shilpa Shetty. the balls of your feet. It’s brutal.
ing furniture. Where Ashtanga can twist you Little grunts and gasps erupt
into endless varieties of head- all around the room as people
Assuming the position stands, lotuses and back bends, fight for balance. “Lift your
After 90 seconds, the men were Bikram has only 26 postures, heels,” the instructor suggests,
shucking their sweat-soaked several no more complicated “until your legs are jittering
shirts and the women stripping than the head-to-knees you did like sewing machines.”
down to jogger’s shorts and before football practice. You There must be spiritual and
trunk tops. All this, after doing don’t even hold them long—just physical satisfaction in all this,
just one thing, breathing. This is about 10 to 20 seconds, com- as hot yoga has become a hyper-
what can happen during a ses- pared to at least one minute for popular discipline. According to
sion of Bikram Yoga, otherwise some traditional yoga poses. one estimate, some three mil-
known, for obvious reasons as What kicks your ass, however, lion people worldwide are now
Hot yoga helps you

lose weight faster
than other exercises

Hot Stuff
sweating and stretching for 90 High Stretching for more Not just fitness
minutes per class and paying temperature Heat also helps feed the mus- The Bikram system, however,
$10-12 (Rs 400-Rs 500 approx.) feeds the cles by increasing the circula- goes beyond promising limber
to exercise in a pressure-cooker tion of oxygen-laden red blood limbs. On the home page of
muscles
environment. cells. As you pump more oxygen their website, there’s is this
by leading into your muscles, they can prominent link:
Yoga-sauna to faster burn more fat. And the best “Have a health problem? Find
There are reasons—good, non- circulation way to let blood into the inner out what Bikram Yoga has done
sadistic ones—for conducting of oxygen- recesses of your muscle tissues for others. Then try it and see
the class in a sauna. For start- carrying red is to stre-e-e-etch. Heat speeds what it can do for you.”
ers, you’ll lose weight. It’s esti- blood cells. up your metabolism and hot Click on “Find out…” and
mated that a person can burn And that yoga postures aid by improving you’ll be sent to the Testimo-
600 calories in one class. helps you your circulation and elasticity. nials page and a menu of 23
Superheating the body will burn more But who says our muscles need health conditions ranging from
soften the collagen around fat more O2? Speed skaters. Accord- the bothersome insomnia to the
the joints, too. Collagen is a ing to Medicine and Science in potentially fatal kidney cancer.
lot like plastic and its rigidity Sports and Exercise, speed skat- One account is of a diabetic who
eases when you warm it. Some ers suffer muscle fatigue because no longer needs insulin, and
athletes ride an exercise bike the tight crouch they skate in another of a man who says his
before stretching, which heats cuts blood flow to the legs. Some- irregular heartbeat and high
the muscles and softens col- thing similar happens when blood pressure have disap-
lagen but there is no reason you’re hunched over a PC or peared. Then there’s the person
you can’t do the same thing by cramped in a car. A bit of stretch- who has been cured of Lyme
adjusting the thermostat. ing counters this negative. disease. Ñ
Hot pretzels
A quick taste of Bikram yoga you can
sample at home
Before you pay to exercise in an oven, check out
this hot yoga sampler. All you need is a super-
heated room (95 to 100 degrees to start with), a
mirror, a mat and the okay from your doctor. And
while the tenets of Bikram yoga stress that all 26
poses—taught in sequence under supervision of
a certified instructor—are necessary to reap the
full benefits, the five that follow will at least show Awkward pose: Stand with your feet Standing bow pulling: Standing
you what you are in for. Hold each pose for 10 to 6 inches apart and extend your arms straight, bend your right knee and lift
20 seconds. When you are ready to perspire in straight ahead, parallel to the floor. your right foot behind you so you can
public, go to www.bikramyoga.com/schools.htm. Now lift your heels. As soon as you’re grab it with your right hand. Extend your
In India, classes are currently held in Amby Valley, balanced, slowly bend your knees until left arm straight in front of you and
Pune. Contact details are on the website. your thighs are parallel to the floor (or with your left knee locked, slowly lean
as close as you can get them). Keep forward at the waist until your thigh is
your back straight and your heels high. parallel to the floor.
Rabbit: With your legs together, kneel on the
mat and rest your butt on your heels. Now reach
back, grab your heels firmly and lower your
forehead towards your knees. Start counting
when you can’t lower your head any further.
Half tortoise: With your legs together Full locust: Lie on your stomach with
and your back straight, kneel down and your legs straight and arms extended
rest your butt on your heels. Extend out on the sides. Taking a deep breath,
your arms straight above your head, raise your head, legs and arms—“like
and then slowly bend forward as if you a beautiful, flying bird,” as hot yoga
are trying to touch your forehead to the founder Bikram Choudhury puts it.
floor. The count begins when you can’t Once you are completely stretched,
bend any further. hold this position for 10-20 seconds.

VS Fitness Hot Stuff
In hot yoga, you hold a posture

Watch out for nausea, dizzi-
for 10-20 seconds, a fraction of ness, headache or weakness,
the time needed for executing says Armstrong. And above all,
traditional yoga moves
stay calm during a yoga class.
The more tense you get, the
more you contract your muscles
and that increases muscle heat
production.
It’s for precisely that rea-
son that Bikram repeats the
same 26 postures every class.
Because repetition is calming.
It helps ease the tension of the
unknown and allows your body
to get used to the heat.
That’s why, in the middle
of the class, he keeps telling
everyone to show him a “happy
smiling face”. To drive his point
home, he starts distracting the
trainers by kicking big yellow
smiley-face balls all over the
Ñ “It’ll certainly improve Bikram Rubbish, says Lawrence E room.
your circulation and provide yoga goes Armstrong, PhD author of And as the class starts to
health benefits,” says Dr Dhruba beyond Performing in Extreme Envi- relax a little, the people can feel
Lahkar, a practising physician at promising ronments and a professor of that the heat isn’t making them
the All-India Institute of Medical exercise physiology at the so heavy-limbed and claustro-
limber
Sciences (AIIMS) in New Delhi. University of Connecticut. phobic any more.
“But no exercise is going to
limbs; it Armstrong has spent thousands Some of the more experienced
change your physiological make- also helps of hours observing survival guys don’t hesitate to cool down
up. It may relieve the symptoms relieve the training and superheated for a few seconds in the lounge.
of the disease but it’s not going to symptoms treadmill tests. And all the Once back in the heat cham-
remove the disease itself.” of certain scare stories about hot yoga, he ber, your muscles retain their
To be fair, the Bikram website diseases says, are just, well, a lot of hot heat, but now your head is clear
does include a disclaimer of sorts, air. “Temperatures of 95, 96 or enough for you to hold your bal-
albeit one that is very hard to 100 degrees (Fahrenheit) are ance and mimic the postures.
find. “…when Bikram speaks manageable,” says Armstrong,
of curing chronic diseases... he who practises yoga himself and Fighting fatigue
is saying that if you faithfully has observed hot yoga classes. With the end of the class
follow his directions, you will The key, he says, is to make approaching, it’s time for the
be relieved of your symptoms of sure you are medically cleared “cobra series”. Here you lie on
discomfort. That’s the only ‘cure’ for normal athletic activity and your stomach with palms down
anyone can offer,” it says. aren’t a high cardiac risk. “Your as if to do a pushup, and then
normal core body temperature raise your chest off the floor so WORDS:CHRISTOPHER MCDOUGALL; PHOTOGRAPHY: MARK HAVRILIAK
Too hot to handle is already 98.4 degrees Fahren- your back is arched. By now,
Yoga purists aren’t big fans of heit (36.8˚C),” he explains, “so you will be dying to call it quits,
Bikram. The purpose of yoga is as long as the exercise intensity but once you have started on
to relax the sympathetic nervous is not high, it’s not dangerous to the final postures, you will feel
syatem—to disengage the fight- function in an environment that a thrill fighting through the
or-flight instinct—and that’s dif- is as hot or a little hotter.” fatigue.
ficult when you are sweating like In a word, it is just great
crazy. The high heat is a concern Extreme exertion because you can feel your well-
as well. There have been reports But what about the 126 degrees warmed muscles accepting the
of a yoga student in these classes Fahrenheit that Bikram boasts stretch, enjoying it, instead of
suffering a stroke. Some experts about? “Okay, that’s extreme,” straining. Suddenly, you feel
even believe that people may get Armstrong concedes. “You energetic and are ready for
nauseated and be told that it’s could be getting close to your another hour in the torture
purification, whereas the real body’s max for cooling itself or chamber with a happy smiling
reason may be heat prostration. you have to monitor yourself.” face. MH

VS Fitness I Hate The Gym
Bull body,
fowl legs
Looking for an escape route from
those heavy weights and a regular
gym routine? Here is a weightless
wonder to beef up your lower body
ou don’t need fancy leg presses and squat
Y racks to be fit enough to wear those shorts

to the gym. Boost your weak spots and beef
up your chicken legs with this lower body workout.
Perform this routine twice a week in place of your
lower-body lifts for three weeks or until you pass the
strength test below and you will be proud to get your
pins out. Wear your shorts with proud
thighs, not poultry ones
1
DOUBLE-
2
STRENGTH TEST SINGLE-
Hop forward on one LEG JUMP LEG JUMP
leg 5 times, landing Stand Perform
with your feet as you would
on both feet on your final
shoulder-width the double-leg
hop. Measure the distance apart. Dip down, vertical jump,
and repeat on your other then jump up and but leap off
leg. More than a 10 per reach as high as one foot and
cent difference in distance you can. Land land softly on
means you have a strength softly with your the same foot.
imbalance and should be hips and knees Do 2 sets of 3
doing the following moves bent. Do 2 sets repetitions with
to correct it. of 5 repetitions. each leg.
3
DUMBBELL
4
SINGLE-LEG
IMAGING: PIYUSH GARG; ILLUSTRATIONS: KAGAN MCLEOD
LUNGE BROAD
From JUMP
standing position, Stand on one leg
stride forward with with your knees
one leg until your bent. Jump
thigh is parallel forward. Land
to the floor. Then softly on the same
push back up and foot. Do 2 sets of
repeat with your 3 repetitions with
other leg. Do 3 each leg. MH
or 4 sets of 8-10
repetitions per leg.

VS Nutrition
R
I T OH?
H T
MY .17
Decoding No
Indian food
Find out if traditional wisdom is good for you
or just being pushed down your throat
Photography: Anshuman Sen
You should not eat during You should not drink milk
an eclipse just after eating fish
HIT ❏ MYTH ❏ ✔ HIT ❏✔ MYTH ❏
This old aunt’s tale has been According to ayurveda, milk
passed down the generations. and fish are incompatible as
There’s a vague belief in Indian they are two different kinds
families that germs attack food of protein. Delhi-based nutri-
more during a period eclipse, tion expert and MH contribu-
but such a thing has never been tor Sunita Pant Bansal says
scientifically proven. So, unless that this can create digestion
you are looking for an excuse to problems as fish takes much
skip meals, eat fearlessly dur- longer than milk to be digested.
ing an eclipse. However, a dish like doi machh
(curd fish) will do you no harm
Vegetarian food helps you as the curd gets cooked along
lose weight with the fish.
HIT ❏ MYTH ❏ ✔
Whether you eat meat or not Jaggery cures acidity
isn’t a deciding factor for weight HIT ❏✔ MYTH ❏
loss. What matters is the right The next time you feel your
food choices, method of prepara- stomach burn, try this home
tion, quantity and quality and remedy. Potassium, which is
also your lifestyle. “A vegetar- available in abundance in jag-
ian staple like paneer is already gery, helps conserve the acid
high in fat content, even before balance in the cells and combats
you cook it,” says dietician acids and acetone. Have a small
Sushila Sharangdhar, director of piece of solid jaggery after every
Health Education and Lifestyle meal and it will help prevent
Management (HEAL) in Mum- acidity. No wonder, jaggery is Almonds and milk make
bai. “Potato, which is low-fat often referred to as ‘medicinal you virile
when simply baked, becomes sugar’, says Sharangdhar. HIT ❏ MYTH ❏ ✔
a fat bomb when it is cooked in This is conventional wisdom,
oil, which is what we mostly do Desi ghee helps you build but not conclusively backed by
in India.” muscle any research. Almonds are high
HIT ❏ MYTH ❏ ✔ in protein and omega fatty acids
Veggies lack aggression Our pahelwans associate ghee and are cholesterol free. They
HIT ❏ MYTH ❏ ✔ with body mass, because they are also high in vitamin E and
“Naturopathy says non-veg are into building power, not contain minerals such as zinc,
foods provoke harsh and irritat- sculpting a physique. But if you magnesium, potassium, cal-
ing behaviour. Veg foods, on the want muscle definition, desi cium and iron. Milk has all the
other hand, have a soothing ghee will not take you there, as essential amino acids you need.
and non-stimulating effect,” it’s pure animal fat, says Pant So milk and almond are very
Sharangdhar says. But there Bansal. A lot of ghee is most good for your health, which can
is no proof that diet in any way likely to increase your body fat lead to better sex. But they
impacts aggression. percentage. don’t pump up your penis.

Get It Right
Raw ginger in the morning

helps you lose weight
Sorry buddy, ginger has a lot of
other health benefits, but on its
own it can’t help you lose
weight. From blocking the
effects of prostaglandin—a
substance that causes inflam-
mation of the blood vessels in
the brain, which leads to
migraines—to relieving nau-
sea, reducing acid secretion and
lessening the pain of rheuma-
toid arthritis, the list of benefits
goes on and on. To get this
goodness, all you need to do is
mix a spoonful of ginger juice
with a glass of water and gulp it
down. You can have it with your
daily cup of tea, too. But to lose
weight, you should have a
balanced diet and do the right
kind of exercise.
You shouldn’t have curd

at night
Not true, unless it’s homemade
curd left on your table from
morning to night. Store-bought
packaged dahi is okay to eat
any time of the day as long as it
has been in the fridge. In fact,
Coriander has cooling Chennai-based sports nutri-
properties tionist Shiny Chandran says
✔ MYTH ❏
HIT ❏ that allopathy advises taking
You must be having a bunch probiotic dahi at night so that
every day, but do you really the gut-friendly lactobacillus
know what it does for your can aid post-dinner digestion.
body? Coriander helps you
absorb heat internally and Turmeric has healing power
externally and also acts as HIT ❏✔ MYTH ❏
a gas-relieving agent. It is a Cancer specialists in the UK
You should not drink water digestive tonic, diuretic and a are testing oral turmeric cap-
after having bananas mild sedative. Whoa! sules to cure colon cancer.
HIT ❏✔ MYTH ❏ Whether you take this orally or
“Naturopathy says that if you Bottle gourd helps control use externally, turmeric has
have water right after having diabetes strong antiseptic properties; it
bananas, you may end up catch- HIT ❏✔ MYTH ❏ is warming, astringent and is
ing a cold,” says Sharangdhar. Yes, and so will any high-fibre good for skin and stomach
So, if you’re thirsty right after vegetable, says Pant Bansal. In disorders. It will also help you
polishing off a fruit, exercise this, bottle gourd (lauki/doodhi) reduce fat; aid blood circulation
patience for at least half and has company in spinach, cab- and purify it. Not only that,
hour to be on the safe side. bage and beans. Plus, its juice turmeric cures digestive prob-
Why only bananas, it is best to cures constipation. Fibre-rich lems and strengthens the body
avoid water immediately after cereals like jowar and wheat against parasites in the intes-
having any fruit. bran are diabetic-friendly, too. tines as well. MH

VS Sex Women Speak
Couple
right
Are you and your partner the
perfect copulating couple or
more like different species?
Take our compatibility test to
find out
How to do the test
Ask her each question loudly.
Record her answers—given
as honestly as possible, we
hope—then get her to ask you
the same questions. The idea
is to see whether you’re sexual
equals—and maybe raise a few
talking points that you’ve been
avoiding. There’s no right or
wrong, you simply tick the A or
B box. Finally add up the points
and consult our sex gurus to see
how you can take your sex life
to the highest level.
1 “Which one of the

following do you
consider foreplay?”
A) Cuddling on the sofa in front
of the TV.
B) A full-body massage.
You: A ® B ® Her: A ® B ®

Get Compatible
2 7
“Speaking of TV… you’re “Sometimes a quick Results
alone together and a passionate shag is exactly How many answers did
graphic sex romp unravels what you want.” you both agree on?
before your eyes on a costume A) Yeah, sometimes. 9 OR MORE
drama. Do you want to…” B) No never. Sexually, you’re a perfect couple.
A) See it through to the end You: A ® B ® Her: A ® B ® Congratulations.
because it’s part of the story
(with a view to possibly
recreating the scene later).
B) Find it a little embarrassing,
8 “All that Kama Sutra
acrobatics stuff is
rubbish. There are only
6 TO 8
Good base but there’s room for
improvement. Look back at the
snigger and hope it ends three do-able positions: answers that you clashed over and
soon. missionary, girl-on-top and pinpoint why you don’t agree—you
You: A ® B ® Her: A ® B ® doggy-style.” may find that you actually want
A) You disagree. There are the same thing. “Sometimes
3
in a relationship one of you will
“If you go a whole week plenty more to try.
say what you think your partner
without having sex you…” B) Sorry, what were the other
wants to hear,” explains Petra
A) Know it’s nothing out of the two? Boynton, lecturer at University
ordinary; you both have been You: A ® B ® Her: A ® B ® College London. “Be honest with
busy and will do it soon. yourself and your partner and
B) Fear something’s up because
that’s way too long for you to
go without doing it.
9 “You read a magazine
article the other day
about a new form of
use a positive approach to spice
things up. Tell your partner what
you love them doing while they’re
You: A ® B ® Her: A ® B ® contraception. You…” doing it—and then when you’re
A) Investigate some of the other relaxed, praise them slipping in
4
your suggestions for something
“Sex is great. You really types available anyway.
different at the end.”
turn your partner on, and B) Stick with the one you’re
even if there were an official using.
sex amnesty tomorrow, You: A ® B ® Her: A ® B ® LESS THAN 5
Oh, dear. You two are heading the
there’s genuinely nothing
10
way of the panda bear unless you
about your sex life you would “Do you know which
get your act together.
change.” part of your body your 1. Find the answers you agreed
A) Agree totally. partner is ashamed of?” upon and discuss why. It will get
B) Well, since it’s an amnesty, A) Yes, but he/she shouldn’t be. you talking about sex at least.
and while you’re on the B) No. Is there one? 2. Look beyond the bedroom. Not
subject, there’s just one thing You: A ® B ® Her: A ® B ® at the golf course over the back;
you really don’t like about we’re talking metaphorically.
your sex life… “Sex toys are for “Couples who aren’t enjoying
You: A ® B ® Her: A ® B ® 11 people who are
bored with ‘normal’ sex.”
sex may need to look at other
areas of the relationship,” adds
5
Boynton. It may be that you’re
“You walk into the room A) Rubbish—unless the toy’s too
no longer keen on each other
and find your partner big to go in a suitcase. or that sex feels routine. If it’s
masturbating. Do you…” B) Definitely—you still have got to the point where you only
A) Offer to give a hand. great sex without resorting to come on to each other when
B) Presume you’re not enough novelties. you want sex, then add some
to satisfy your partner and You: A ® B ® Her: A ® B ® sex to other areas of your life.
storm out in disgust. Give your other half a snog the
You: A ® B ® Her: A ® B ®
12 “Unless it’s a full-on moment you get home, then
penetration and at
If it’s got have dinner.
WORDS: ROB KEMP, SISKI GREEN; PHTOGRAPHY: CORBIS
6 “If quite spontaneously, least one of you come, you to the point 3. To get over things you’re too
you come into a bedroom wouldn’t classify it as sex.” where you embarrassed to talk about,
send your partner an e-mail. It
wearing a uniform—not a A) No, sometimes only oral sex only come doesn’t sound very personal
coffee shop one, either— or even a good snog does the on to each but, according to psychologist
would you…” trick. other when James Pennebaker, that’s not
A) Stick around and see B) Yes. For you it has to be the you want the point. “At least it shows
whether you could get the full three-course—foreplay, sex, then you’ve taken some time to think
other to slowly strip it off. sex, orgasm—or you’d be add some about your feelings. You can at
B) Call the other a pervert and watching the evening news least broach subjects and it’ll
sex to other help you focus on what you
ask to sleep in the other room. instead.
You: A ® B ® Her: A ® B ® You: A ® B ® Her: A ® B ®
areas of actually want, too.” MH
your life

VS Health
Are you a clean freak?

Crazed ear-swabbing, fierce flossing, wild nasal manoeuvres—here’s how the
road to hell can be paved with hyperhygiene
ike many men, Sanjeev Ow! But he couldn’t give it can get by with a few drops of
L was a hygiene centrist.

As a kid, his mother got
him to clean his ears regularly
up, so he found a specialist who
allows canal cleaning with a
swab dipped in hydrogen per-
Next time
you have
a blocked
nose, try
hydrogen peroxide (diluted
50/50 with water) or mineral oil
a couple times a week. Olive oil
with warm coconut oil. The oxide. He’s doing it again, his works, too, but you may smell
obsession with cleaning grew eyes rolling up in his head. So plain salt like a salad.
till he became a sucker for the the obsession is still there. And water. It
cotton ear bud and scoffed at so are the risks, as we know all will ease Limit your nasal
the warning: “Do not use swab too well. Here’s a guide to where congestion manoeuvres
in ear canal.” Who were they hygiene spills across the border by making Did you know that nose drops
kidding? into self-destruction. the nasal and sprays can be addictive?
Then came the first infection. passage There are many such people
“You use a cotton swab, don’t Keep that thing out moist who can’t go an hour without a
you?” asked the doctor, poking of your ear spritz of 12-hour nasal spray.
in his ear canal till it felt like Swirling a swab in your ear Overuse causes “rebound swell-
a root canal. All his swabbing canal can cause infections and ing” and ever-worse congestion.
had pushed his earwax deeper, worse. “Push too far and you Extreme spritzing can also
where it formed a festering can rupture your eardrum,” mess with your blood pressure.
“wax plug”. Sanjeev winced; the says Atul Mittal, senior ENT Next time you have a stuffy
doctor smiled. This man hated consultant at Max Healthcare. nose, try plain salt water. It
cotton swabs and he was teach- His advice: Do nothing. “You eases congestion by moisten-
ing Sanjeev a lesson. “Never,” don’t really need to clean your ing dry nasal passages. Taking
he said, probing deeper, “put a ears.” A few people have trouble an antihistamine or inhaling
cotton bud down... this... far!” with earwax buildup, but they steam can also loosen mucus.

Shipshape
Cut it out with the Brushing

toenail trimming too hard,
Compulsively trimming your too long
toenails can send a nail bur-
erodes the
rowing back into your flesh. In
extreme cases, you can wind up
protective
with an infection or ulcer that layer of
may lead to amputation. Even enamel on
ordinary ingrown toenails often your teeth,
require “removing a portion after which
and cauterising the nail root so the bristles
it will not grow back”, says Dr hit your
Seema Oberoi Lall, New Delhi- gum tissue
based dermatologist. Less floss,
Her advice: “Never wear shoes better smileage
that are too tight. Always trim
toenails straight across. And do Hygiene should be When you do scrub up, keep
not invade the nail bed by trim- skin deep a lid on harsh cleansers or
ming too short, or too deep into A 2005 survey indicated that astringents. “Try alcohol-free
the margins. Make sure that 37 per cent of men didn’t wash skincare products,” says Oberoi
the cuticle isn’t removed.” their hands after emptying Lall. Use a gentle foaming
their bladder. Creepy, yes, cleanser and don’t wash more
Lighten up on your teeth but then there are those who than twice a day.
“Brushing your teeth does not can’t stop washing. Some men You don’t need to take
require a lot of force,” says rub their skin clean off. “That extreme measures for exfolia-
Atlanta-based Ronald Gold- traumatises the top skin layer, tion. By the time you take your
stein, DDS, author of Change which turns thick and brown- next breath, more than a thou-
Your Smile. Yet he’s treated ish. Nerve endings can become sand dead skin cells will have
men who’ve brushed away their irritated, triggering a vicious fallen off your body. Exfoliating
enamel and kept going until the circle of itching and rubbing,” with abrasive creams or loofahs
gum tissue receded. Continuous says Oberoi Lall. accelerates the process, but
hard brushing wears away the Even mildly neurotic over- compulsive use can “denude”
much softer cementum (cover- washing strips skin of natural the epidermis. Don’t exfoliate
ing the root), which may lead to oils and can turn your epider- more than thrice a week.
decay and tooth deformity. mis into something like pimple-
Check your brush. If the bris- covered bark. This can happen And finally, we reach
tles are frayed or splayed after on your face, where too much your dirty bits
a few months’ use, you may be soap can send oil glands into While a coffee enema might
brushing too hard. Flossing is overdrive, plugging pores and pep a person up, below-the-belt
healthy, but not if you garrote follicles, which triggers acne. orifices seldom need clean-
WORDS: KEVIN COOK; ADDITIONAL WORD: NICOLE MAIER; PHOTOGRAPHY: MICHAEL HEIKO;
your gums. Move floss gently Remember, as well, that you ing. Rectal itching can result
under the gums, then up and could stay perfectly healthy from poor hygiene, as when
GROOMING: STACY BENEKE/RJ BENNETT; PROP AND SET STYLING: LOREN SIMONS
down each side of the tooth. without lathering up daily. fecal particles become stuck in
skin folds near the anus. But
itching and irritation can also
Hygiene beyond the extreme be caused by too much rub-
Dental as anything fishing line, with whiskey as and he wound up with tissue bing with toilet paper and/or
A patient flossed so hard that anesthesia. The lucky ones necrosis, skin flaps and too much washing. The rectal
he “sawed through one of his avoid infections, but even plastic surgery. He will never area is naturally oily, which
teeth”. The guy knew he had they can wind up with some be sexually functional. prevents irritation. Don’t soap
a problem when he hit the hideous scarring. Pubic service away your natural oils.
nerve inside the tooth. Lube tube Shaving pubic hair might “Scrubbing the pubic area too
DIY surgery A teenage boy, wanting a seem hygienic, but ingrown much can infect the hair folli-
There are outdoorsmen who well-oiled penis, used the pubic hairs can become cles and cause ingrown hairs
have stitched up their gaping thin straw on the nozzle of a infected and in the worst that may turn into pustules,”
wounds by themselves. Call lubricant can to fire the stuff cases, erupt with bacteria. says Dr Oberoi Lall. Wash
it the Rambo syndrome, into his urethra. The corrosive Treatment can be as drastic carefully but not fiercely. The
they use dental floss or oil came out at high pressure as removal of the scrotum. best advice: when in doubt,
leave your privates in peace. MH

VS Weight Loss
34
Pack it on
9
ways…
Put on 2.25kg of muscle
and you burn 200 calories more
a day. Do lunges—3 sets of 12
daily for six weeks—for bulk.
to trim 10 Water it down

Sinking half a litre of
H2O before meals can cut calo-
an inch
To drop a belt notch or two, just follow one of these
rie intake by a quarter (thirst is
often mistaken for hunger). Two
months to lose one inch.
Be a GI Joe
simple, surefire steps 11 Low glycaemic index
foods, like fruits and pulses, can
Make waves Have sex often
1 Swimming burns fewer
calories than running, but as
5 Thirty minutes of enthu-
siastic lovemaking burns 200
Drinking
half a litre
cut calorie intake by a quarter.
An inch gone in a month.
of water Move it
you’re suspended in water, you
can go on longer. Thirty min-
utes’ front crawl every day
calories. Do it twice a day for
three months and you’ll be trim
and grinning.
before
meals can
12 In a University of Vir-
ginia study, subjects lost weight
for six weeks will burn off cut calorie four times quicker through
Rest speedy intake by a
an inch.
Get booted
6 Sixty-second rests between quarter
daily, light exercise bursts.
Squat
2 Ninety minutes of football
burns 1,500 calories. In just
sets stimulate growth hormone
production, helping to siphon
up to 20 per cent more lard from
13 Do 3 sets of 12 squats
with a barbell each day for six
six weeks, you’ll be an inch your fat cells, according to Pur- weeks to shed an inch.
nearer that call from one of the due University research. Rest
national clubs. short for nine weeks.
Suck it in Treat yourself

3 “Holding pressups for 30 7 A bit of ‘naughty’ food twice
Dine early
seconds will help flatten your
stomach,” says personal trainer
Dan Fivey. Three sets of 30 a
weekly can up your diet-sticking
chances by 50 per cent, a French
study says. Cut 500 calories a
14 Sleeping within an hour
of dinner can pile on up to 1kg
day for two months will see you day, and you’re there in 28. a month, say US researchers.
one inch slimmer. Sleep light for two months.
Start big Crunch time Get fruity

4 Making breakfast the big-
gest meal of the day can reduce
8 “Holding light dumbbells at arm’s length
makes crunches more effective,” says fitness
15 Having an orange
rather than the juice halves
overall calorie intake by 10 per trainer Jonathan Lewis. Three sets of 30 daily your calorie intake. Five a day
cent. Just two months of it will for 10 weeks does the trick for you. lets you drop an inch in six
strip an inch off your waistline. weeks.

Fight Flab
All bar none Pack protein Swap slices

16 Grab a handful of olives
instead of crisps to skip 120
Thirty
minutes of 23 Eating low-fat, high-
protein foods such as fish and
29 Forget the cheese and
pepperoni pizzas and go for a
enthusiastic
calories. Do it for four months skimmed milk will boost weight vegetable and mushroom pizza.
and you’ll be an inch slimmer.
lovemaking loss, reports the International At a fifth of the calories, 14
burns 200 Journal of Obesity. Get 40 per switches does it.
Pedal power calories.
17 A 30-minute bicycle run
burns 3,000 cals a week, so five
Do it twice
a day
cent of your calories from pro-
tein-packed foods for five weeks.
30 On the court
Tennis burns 470
for three Pre-supper sweat
weeks will recycle that inch.
Small change
months and 24 Intense exercising
calories an hour, so a two-hour
session three times a week
18 In one US study, switch-

you’ll be
trim and
before meals suppresses appe-
tite, cutting food intake by up to
ditches that inch in six.
Fidget
ing to low-fat dairy and meat
products shaved 0.45kg a fort-
night. One month does it.
grinning 10 per cent. Sample 20-minute
‘starter’ runs for nine weeks. 31 A US study showed it
can burn 700 calories a day. So
Go green
19 Take a hike
But take it slow—US
25 Drink green tea before
you exercise. The beverage frees
don’t stay congealed in your
chair even if you have a desk
job. Three weeks of daily bum
research found that taking 20 fatty acids, so you burn fat more shifting recommended.
minutes to walk a mile rather easily. Two large cups daily for
Crack one open
than 12 burned more fat. Stroll
three in 60 minutes daily for six
seven weeks.
Moral fibre
32 Swap your bottle of
weeks.
26 Switching to a high-
fibre diet has been shown to
strong beer for a light one and
you’ll halve your calories to just
95. A couple a night for two-and-
Come dancing
20 At 500 calories an hour, three two-hour
reduce daily calorie intake by
up to a third. Three-and-a-half
a-half months.
Chill out
grooves a week for five weeks will do. Need a
better reason to hit the nightclubs?
weeks of eating wholemeal
passes your spare inch on to the
porcelain.
33 Lancaster University
researchers found stress can up
your calorie intake by as
much as 20 per cent. Three

Milk it Step up
21 Half a litre of filling
skimmed milk mid-morning
27 Walk up and down three
flights of stairs five times a day
weeks’ unwinding and you
could have an inch less to worry
about.
and afternoon can cut 300 and burn 220 calories. Three
Jump to it
cals a day. Six weeks skim months and you’r an inch short.
34
PHOTOGRAPHY: ANSHUMAN SEN
an inch. “Rope skipping works

WORDS: MATTHEW BARBOUR,
your whole body, develops

Swinging it Get chewing
22 A three-hour round of
golf twice a week will put the
28 Research shows that chewing sugar-
free gum all day spikes metabolic rate by 20
intense core strength and rock-
hard abs,” says fitness trainer
Jonathan Lewis. Just 20 min-
porky pros to shame in just 35 per cent, burning 1.8kg in a couple of months. utes daily for six weeks will lead
days. to looser trousers. MH

TR ES S
H S S
VS Stress AS
PE
SL
CIAL
The size of the bill
will wipe the smile
Prepare a budget
off your face
3%
1 That, too, well in advance.
Be it gifts for friends, cost of
men who say travel, extravagant birthday
SHOPPING or anniversary parties, tot up
is a stressor
up there everything and decide to put a
with natural fixed amount in an envelope or
disasters into an account, each month.
Discuss with your partner and
finalise the budget so that there
are no “I-save-and-you-splurge”
fights later on, advises personal
finance expert Gaurav Mashru-
wala. Review your savings from
time to time and don’t touch
this money. This budget is not
to make you Mr Scrooge. On the
contrary, a detailed spending
plan can actually ensure that
you give thoughtful, well-appre-
ciated gifts to all.
Now you should be able to
arrive at a number. If the figure
fits inside your larger scheme
of fiscal fitness without dip-
ping into your other savings or
taking into account your credit
card limit, then you are in great
shape. If the amount feels like a
couple of zeros more than what
you have in your hand, then
Buy now, it’s either time to save up, earn

more or cut some of your regular
expenses.
pay later On S
E FA
H
DEAT LT?
U
BY D ber 17, 2007, i
h Sar v
eptem fMumba
ankar o ly because
Prakas lleged m
Maxed out credit cards and not enough cash balance? ted suic
id e, a
e press
ure fro
commit withstand th private bank.
Find out ways to avoid falling into the debt trap he cou
ldn’t nts of a ersona
l
re c o v er y age yment of a p dly
loan a te
Words: Dr Nandita Iyer the rep he was repea
ing on agents
.
Default R s 5 0,000, by the
w o r th ten e d s
loan threa nk ha
o you go overboard each unkindest cut. But you can’t ed and , the ba the
D time you go out shop-

ping? Thanks to a bunch
of maxed-out credit cards and
Buying
during the
season’s
clearance
really blame anyone. You got
yourself in this mess; you alone
can get yourself out of it.
harass ing his death
Follow
co m pe
paym
n
e
ed with
e fam
deceas of Rs 15.5 la
nt
a
il
sated th n ex-gratia
y of
kh.
accumulating interest rates, According to a report by the

your income never seems sales three India Brand Equity Founda-
enough for your needs. This is to six tion, during the high festival
months in Learn from experience
especially hard near the end of
the financial year, when most
young men scramble to meet
advance
saves you
season in the last three months
of 2004, consumer spend shot up
by a whopping 36 per cent. But
2 Make your year’s plans on
the basis of last year’s expenses.
their investment targets and from last- as with marriage, you spend in Preparing an expense statement
face extra tax cuts on their sal- minute haste and repent at leisure—the and keeping it for reference will
ary. To stare at a large outstand- festival season has gone, but make your planning a breeze and
panic
ing figure on your credit card your debts haven’t. Read on to you can even give expert advice to
bill at this point is really the
purchases see how you can avoid a repeat. friends and family!

Spend Smart
that you plan for it at least three

Signing with
a smile? Keep to six months in advance.
Ask the cash
that intact when
You can save, spend and then
course expert
you pay, too Helping you learn
not have any guilt pangs about how to earn
it. That way you’ll only have
By Rohit Sarin
fond memories of your good
times and not an aggravated I WANT TO IMPROVE MY
acidity problem whenever you CREDIT RATING
see the mounting interest on I got into some trouble and
your unpaid credit card bill. delayed paying my credit card
Preparing Borrowing for anything other bills for about a year. I’ve paid
an expense than a contingency is the road to it all off now. But I need to
statement financial hell. improve my credit rating now
and keeping as I want to apply for a house
Chalk out your plan
Get smart
it for
reference
5 Your friend or neighbour
loan. What do I do?
Jayesh Verma, New Delhi
3 Gifting during festivals has

always been a part of our cul-
will make
planning a
has been talking about an
anniversary party at a five-star
hotel. So what? Think about
B ankers are once bitten twice
shy. You’ll have to begin
afresh by letting the banker look
ture, but of late, the gifts have breeze the what means more to you and at your cash flows and giving you
become a status symbol—peo- next time follow your own path. If you a home loan based on your ability
ple want them to be shiny and around think you’ve saved for the theme to pay your EMIs. Look for a new
expensive. Which means a huge party with special low rates, go bank and start a new relationship
credit card bill that you’ll for it. Or else, make your own on a fresh note. For the existing
have to keep paying off for party rules. If you have bank, it would take a long time to
months after the festivi- close friends, take turns at wipe out the bad experience from
ties are over. But, costlier hosting festivals and their memory (read system).
is not necessarily better. holiday parties at home;
Spending Rs 1,000 on a everybody can let their Rohit Sarin, founder partner of Client
Associates and a seasoned private banker
gift with a pinch of crea- hair down and hey, booze will help you with your money troubles at
tivity or thoughtfulness is always cheaper at menshealth@intoday.com
is equal to spending Rs home. MH
5,000 on a gift with none of the
above. Put down your thoughts
on what gift would make each THE GOOD, THE BAD AND THE UGLY OF CREDIT CARDS
recipient glad and shop well
before the rest of the shopping
hordes. Buying during the
U se credit cards only when you travel or shop
online. Using cash or debit cards at other
times is wise. Failure to pay credit card bills on
If you are already in debt
A minimum payment ensures that you are not
blacklisted in the credit bureau. A listing in this
season’s clearance sales well in time can practically double the cost of purchased bureau means no lender will trust you for a loan
advance saves you from last- items. Remember: if you have not paid the entire or another credit card.
minute panic purchase. amount during your interest-free period (usually If you have a card with an interest rate lower
Spacing out your expenses is 50 days), you’ll be charged interest on the whole than the others, it is a good idea to transfer
sum in the next billing cycle, even if you have higher-interest bills to that one. If you are being
also a smart way to avoid using
cleared 80 per cent of it in the first cycle. Are you a new card with an interest rate lower than your
credit cards. If there are several prepared for that? Think before you spend and other cards, take it but use it only for balance
MODELS: SANDEEP TYAGI, PUJA VERMA (WITH BAGS): AGENCY: GLAZE
weddings clustered around the then make an informed decision. transfer, not for more shopping.
same time for which you need to And don’t get taken in by tempting schemes— Paying off debt with your savings is also a
buy gifts, spread out your pur- they all have the same aim: raiding your wallet. good idea, especially if your income from inter-
PHOTOGRAPHY: RITESH SHARMA, SUMEET INDER SINGH;
chases, buying well in advance, Lowered interest rates, extra credit limit, lifetime- est after taxes is the same or less than what
so that you can use cash or debit free all sound very good, but remember to read you are shelling out for credit card bills. If you
card. the fine print. Raman Khanduja, product head, have no savings, ask family and friends to help
cards, at Centurion Bank of Punjab advises you.
Never borrow that your approach to credit cards must be this: Another option is to take a personal loan,
4 Borrowing for luxuries such
as shopping, travel or entertain-
spend only what you can
repay in
which at roughly 18 per cent per annum is way
less expensive than the credit card interest rates
full. of 36 per cent p.a. or more.
ment is a strict no-no, says
And the last option, try to renegotiate the
Mashruwala. If you think terms and conditions with your creditors. Re-
going on that expensive cruise quest for a lower payment plan by assuring them
is the only way to feel good of regular payments.
about your life, then make sure

VS Work
BE RESPONSIBLE
How you act at your boss’s Holi party can’t make your career. But it sure can break it
here are many dangers as time and emerge in one piece. from his office, neighbour-
T a professional. You may be

stuck on burning asphalt
in Delhi on a day so hot that
What follow are the most
dramatic threats you’ll face
during Holi this month—and
hood or a third cousin who has
dropped in for that essential
Holi drink—bhaang.
the car engine refuses to start how, if you are smart, dedicated Like this one, there will be
despite the driver hitting the and not completely out of your Holi parties everywhere. At the
bonnet with a murderous light gourd, you can prevail. office, in your neighbourhood,
There are a
in his eyes. You may realise in in the family and more impor-
the middle of a meeting—just Being in the wrong place
lot of places tantly, the one you can’t miss,
when you have stood up to at the wrong time where your boss’s party.
make an impressive presenta- Holi is one occasion when you it’s okay Your strategy: You want
tion—that you forgot to zip up don’t actually need an invite to to be an to be at all the parties that
after the last loo trip. These be part of that big bash happen- inebriated you want to be at. But your
things can happen, do happen ing in the neighbourhood. With fool, but an goal should be not to attend
and probably will happen. all those coatings of red, yellow office party every event but to be invited
But nothing compares to the and green powder on your mug, is not one of to all of them. You may then
desperate and inevitable peril it is a tough task for the host them select which one fits into your
accompanying the festival of to actually make out whether schedule and which ones won’t
colour. It takes a tough man to the man he just greeted with do anything for you. But don’t
make the most of this critical a “Holi mubarak” is someone forget your boss’s party. And

Play It Right
it’s okay to be an inebriated

If the girl you are eyeing is
your subordinate, go to the fool, but let us make one thing
loo and pour a glass of water clear: it is not okay to be a blith-
on your head
ering idiot at your boss’ party,
even though it is Holi time.
Your strategy: By the time
you realise that you shouldn’t
have had the last glass; you
have already gone beyond it.
So, start slowly and make sure spells trouble.
you keep an eye on yourself.If Everything feels super after a
you have lost track of how many few glasses of bhaang. But good
you’ve had, stop. lord, what a career hangover
awaits if you allow your little
Inappropriate behaviour head to do the big thinking.
due to relaxation of face Your strategy: If the woman
Last year, Chandresh Naray- you’re looking at like she is
anan was caught in an embar- a ripe mango is in any way a
rassing situation at his CEO’s subordinate, go into the loo
Diwali bash. He had a Scotch and pour a glass of water on
or two and took it into his your head. If she’s your peer,
mind to get jiggy with Mr Boss. stop. If you are married, imme-
Chandresh hugged him, wish- diately leave the party. And if
ing Happy Diwali. He doesn’t the woman who is looking at
exactly remember what, but he you like you’re a tasty morsel
also yelled something jocular is your superior... well, you’d
into his face. Mr Boss looked better be awfully good. Some
at Chandresh for a while, then performance reviews, once
said, “Goodnight, and drive failed, may have a permanent
safely.” Don’t let this happen to impact on your situation.
you on Holi.
Your strategy: Stay within Total ball droppage due to
your social circle! If you want to lack of attention
greet the top dogs, do so at the You are at the party because
beginning, before you run into you have a job. Just because it
Jiten, Mukesh or Manoj. And is Holi doesn’t mean there isn’t
remember that there is never, stuff to do. Being a droopy, inat-
don’t forget to wish him Happy Drink slowly ever any time when the cultural tentive mess isn’t going to help
Holi the moment you make your and make strata of your organisation are you in the long run.
entry. You may not be in the sure you suspended in favour of a more Your strategy: Even if your
right state to face him half and liberal model. boss is a drink-soaked wreck, be
keep an eye
hour later. ready to step up to the plate to
on yourself. Crazy sexual behaviour (a) protect him from his sorry
Stupidity due to excessive If you have due to effusive jolliness self and (b) take care of the
ingestion of bhaang lost track of Drinks. People looking good. guests. You need to keep your
Okay, so out of fear or respect, how many More drinks. Little food. The professional obligations
the boss’ s party happens to you’ve had, general atmosphere of the wrapped tight and with it, your
WORDS: GIL SCHWARTZ; PHOTOGRAPHY: INDIAPICTURE,
be the first one you visit. After stop day... Put it all together and it reputation, too. MH
the initial courtesy calls and
exchanging of colours, you look
around and notice that it is a big
Do’s and don’ts at the Holi party this year
DREAMSTIME (COLOURED POWDERS)
one. There are special counters ● Do contribute and participate, ● Do lend a hand if someone needs
where liquor and bhaang are don’t just be there for the protocol. help. Especially if they look wobbly
● Do mingle. Don’t hang out with just on their feet.
being served. You keep on drink-
your favourite few. ● Don’t crack crude jokes at the
ing and drinking and slamming ● Don’t accept a challenge or throw expense of others.
folks at the back and pretty soon one, like who can put himself ● Do avoid those huddles where
you are an inebriated fool. outside the biggest amount of sexual, political, racial and nasty
Now, there are a lot of places bhaang or food. remarks are flying thick and fast.
and times in the world where

VS Profile Pradipkumar
Singh has a practical philoso-

Apart from the gym phy: “It’s very easy to condemn
and his medication,
his green thumb
mistakes. But if you can learn
keeps Singh going from them and become a better
person to influence lives of oth-
ers, that’s what counts.”
Struggle for survival

Living with the virus has not
been easy, what with the prevail-
ing prejudices. When some mem-
bers of the Eagle Guide Gym,
where he works out, learnt that
Singh had HIV, they demanded
that the secretary, Romesh May-
engbam, bar Singh from the gym.
The protests subsided only after
the secretary and an NGO work-
Singh’s
Live positively
And you will be able to move mountains,
message to
the world:
people with
HIV can not
ing on AIDS awareness assured
these members that sharing gym
equipment with Singh did not
put them at risk.
says this HIV-afflicted bodybuilder only lead Triumph of the spirit

productive It was only after his Mr Manipur
Words: Ajit Bezbaruah lives but win that Singh came out in the
can also open to talk about his condition.
hirty seven-year-old Khun- started working out in the gym, “I want my win to show people
T drakpam Pradipkumar
Singh won the Mr Manipur
title in the 60-kg category
making rapid progress. “I even
started taking part in local pow-
erlifting and wrestling competi-
go to the
top of their
fields
everywhere that those with HIV/
AIDS can not only lead normal
lives but can also become medal-
recently. But that is not the most tions, where I won some medals.” winning athletes. It wasn’t easy
inspiring thing about him. His But just when he was doing so to reconcile myself to this deadly
achievement goes way beyond well, life dealt him a big blow: he virus inside my body, but it’s not
that. It is about his strong will to tested HIV positive. Singh, like a the end of the world,” he says.
live a healthy life despite know- true champ, didn’t let that break This is a message especially
ing that all the odds are stacked his stride. “I didn’t lose heart pertinent to his home state.
against him—Singh is HIV+. and tried to find a way to lead a “Blame it on the socio-politi-
healthy life,” he says. cal condition of the state or its
Learning curve It was his mental strength that economic fallout, Manipur has
“I was too young when I commit- pulled him through, assisted by a huge number of HIV-afflicted
ted the mistake of taking drugs his newfound love of fitness. “If people,” says Singh. “They all
and sharing a syringe. But should you have a strong will, nothing is lived in isolation, but after my
you let one mistake spoil your impossible in this world. Death win, many have come out of that
entire life? I didn’t want to,” says is inevitable, but until it comes, shell, saying that they want to
Singh. “I know not many people I have decided to live my life work out and live a healthy life
have the courage to take a path positively, no matter what,” adds till the end.”
full of thorns towards redemp- the iron man, who needs three His goal now is the Mr India
tion. But I tried.” doses of second line antiretroviral competition, for which he has
To kick the addiction, Singh drugs every day. increased his gym hours from
four to seven. He has also
increased his milk intake from
PHOTOGRAPHY: SHARAT SHARMA
Find a hobby when you’re feeling low: Singh 5 litres a day to 10 litres a day
● “When you are feeling very low, ● “If someone is talking negative, and has added 20 more
do something that you like doing. just excuse yourself and never go eggs to his diet. Singh
I do gardening; it is a wonderful near him again.” says, “More than the
feeling to see the plants grow, the ● “When you don’t feel like working
medication, it is my
new leaves, those buds turning to out, go to the gym and watch
flowers and everything.” others. It will energise you.”
workouts that keep
me going.” MH

So many
messges, so
little time

EC I A L
SP
SH STRESS
DO YOU HAVE
OFFICE
LA
S
15%
men’s yearly
SICK DAYS
caused by
A.D.D.?
stress
Mail inbox cluttered with last year’s spam. Juggling three phones at once.
Getting frazzled looking at the number of messages that need a reply. If that’s
your usual day, you may be heading for, or have already caught, that deadly
workplace disease: attention deficit disorder
R
ahul Ahuja, a Century Information Overload. concentration. These first came
Delhi-based jewel- Dr Hallowell is one of the world’s to India just over a decade ago,
ler, told his girl- most eminent experts in atten- changing the way we work.
friend to meet him tion deficit disorder and the And in the past few years, these
for lunch, only to symptoms displayed by Rahul have been the channels through
discover, after she was already and Pradeep are familiar to him: which an avalanche of informa-
at the restaurant, that he had difficulty in focussing, inability tion has swamped users.
a meeting with some outsta- to complete a project, irritability, Every mobile phone inter-
tion clients, and they, too, had anxiety. ruption from a tele-caller ped-
already reached the meeting In many men, these symptoms dling some scheme, some PR
place. Not a good day for Ahuja, can be explained away as a bad person selling a product, every
but hardly an unusual day. day at work. But in many others, e-mail message popping up on
Things slipping out of his mind they are a clinical condition. the corner of your computer
moments after he filed them in screen is a hindrance to your
his brain had become a common Excess baggage concentration. Because, much as
occurrence... Very short attention spans have the modern young professional
Pradeep Mitra hasn’t cleaned been traditionally associated loves to believe that he is an
his office e-mail inbox in a long with children. Until the mid efficient juggler at work, study
while. Not since early 2007, ’80s, physicians and psycholo- after study shows that the grey
maybe. The message overload gists believed that A.D.D. was matter is not equipped to handle
means that any new mail he outgrown by the time a child hit two complex tasks at once—at
tries to send refuses to make the adolescence. Surprise, surprise! least not without slowing you
trip. A flustered Pradeep has to It is now accepted by the medi- down or screwing you up. That’s Men are
quickly identify some useless cal community that childhood why, studies say, driving while more
(he hopes so) mail from his inbox A.D.D. can continue well into talking on the cell phone is like vulnerable
and create a tiny opening for his adulthood. driving after two drinks. to A.D.D. as
new mail to zoom off. “Why,” his The biggest prey group con- In a 2006 study published in
they don’t
colleagues ask Pradeep, “don’t sists of young professional men, Neuron, fMRI technology was
have the
benefit of
you clean the inbox out?” Um, not equipped with the multi- used to show that an actual the multi-
because so many of them still tasking skills that evolution has neural bottleneck occurs in the tasking
need to be read and replied to.... given women. Two of the biggest frontal lobes when you attempt skills that
These men have a condition tools of multitasking—the cell to do two tasks at once. And evolution
that Dr Edward Hallowell, MD, phone and e-mail—are also when you are interrupted doing has given
would label as the upshot of 21st two of the biggest enemies of something, your brain can’t Ñ women
ARE YOU A CYBERLOAFER? 51 PERCENTAGE OF OFFICE WORKERS WHO PROCRASTINATE BY SURFING THE INTERNET
Flip the page for

some fisticuffs
LIFE IS TOUGH
Subject: Ritwik Sinha
Problem: Brain
interrupted
Ñ go back seamlessly to the job table, he stretches, sometimes
it was doing before the inter- even scratches and, of course, As the head of corporate
communications of a
ruption. A study at Microsoft doesn’t grasp a word the pre-
private firm, Ritwik Sinha,
last year looked at how long it senter is saying...”
31, often finds himself
took people to return to a task There is no question that talking on the cell phone
when they were interrupted by A.D.D. can disrupt lives and while also checking his e-mail. And
an e-mail or a phone call. The reduce productivity. “It can be increasingly, he feels that he’s been
average: an astonishing 15 min- mild, moderate or severe and missing bits of conversation—some
utes. The study authors found the symptoms vary from person of them very important bits—and
that people, once interrupted, to person—but they have some failing to answer urgent messages
take the opportunity to do other combination of inattention, on time. Sinha appreciates the
things, like check more e-mail. hyperactivity and impulsive- usefulness of these two media of
Modern ness,” explains Dr Mehta. communication, but they do sap his
methods Primed for it “For most people with A.D.D.,
concentration, especially when he
of 24x7 In some people, A.D.D. is inbuilt. their lives are filled with an
needs to prepare a big release or
communi- report. And for all the modern ease
cation are They had very short atten- overwhelming chaos—piles of of reaching out to people, Sinha’s
the build- tion spans as children. When stuff, never-ending tasks and work doesn’t necessarily get done a
ing blocks they grew up, responsibilities out-of-control clutter. They are lot faster now than it did five or eight
of A.D.D. increased, but their concentra- constantly behind schedule and years ago.
You often tion did not get any better. This frazzled.”
Disable your distractions
feel over- led to unfinished jobs, rising People teetering at the edge Protect your morning burst.
whelmed stress and panic attacks, all of an abyss will often fall into it, That’s what Dr Hallowell calls the
by the of which coalesce into a psy- and this happens with A.D.D. rush of energy and focus most
number of chological disorder. Dr (Prof.) sufferers, too. Dr Mehta warns, of us have in the early part of the
phone calls Manju Mehta, clinical psychol- “In adults, the impulsive behav- day, and he says we should be
or e-mails ruthless about shielding it from
you have to ogy, AIIMS, explains, “Often X iour becomes more common; it is
Sharma in Class IV, who was more dangerous, as this can lead interruptions. His advice: do 60-90
deal with minutes of work before you check
daily unable to sit still in the class- to substance abuse and other
e-mail or go online. “Protect that
room, becomes Mr X Sharma, risky behaviour.”
time to do stuff before e-mail and
who at age 30, is unable to sit “Then there are some people
other distractions,” he says. “Be
through business presenta- who, along with a very, very rigid: ‘I’m going to do top-quality
tions.” Dr Mehta describes the short attention span, display brain work.’ ”
signs of A.D.D.: “His eyes dart hyperactivity,” says Dr Sandeep
Do one thing at a time. When you
around, his fingers drum contin- Vohra, senior consultant psy-
are talking to someone on the
uously, his legs kick under the chiatrist, Indraprastha Apollo phone, give the conversation your
full attention. Note down whatever
sounds useful. The same goes
Save me from for going through your mailbox.
distractions!
Don’t look at mail while chatting
with a colleague. E-mail is like
conversation, too.
Hospital, New Delhi. This is

A.D.H.D., the nasty big brother
of A.D.D.. “To a person with
A.D.H.D., it feels as if every-
thing is happening all at once.
This creates a sense of inner
turmoil, even panic.”
It’s like being super-charged
all the time, but not in a good
way. This is Dr Vohra’s picture of
what goes in an A.D.H.D. suffer-
er’s mind: “You get one idea and
you have to act on it. Then you
21 PERCENTAGE OF OFFICE

MENTAL BLOCK
WHEN YOU LIVE WITH A.D.D.
Subject: Pradeep Mitra Subject: Vineet Parasher
Problem: In-basket case Problem: Overconnected
When Pradeep Mitra, 37, As much as modern
landed his first media job technology drives us crazy,
back in the early ’90s, many of us can’t get
he had no Internet and enough of it. “I check e-mail
e-mail. So, of course, hundreds of times a day,”
the pace of life was far says Vineet Parasher, a 29-
slower. After passing though the year-old area sales executive based
wringer of a daily newspaper, Mitra in Mumbai. It’s like an Information
did a stint in TV and then set up his Age version of a nicotine addiction:
own programme producing company. the constant need to hit Send/
In his capacity as leader and owner Receive or glance at our PDAs in
of this small but busy company, order to find out whether somebody
Mitra now has access to every kind somewhere is trying to tell us (or
of communication technology. But sell us) something. Parasher is not
as his mailbox shows, instead of blind to the amount of personal time
making his life easier, this he gives up because of this habit.
information overload only leaves him “If I weren’t checking e-mail 30
feeling worried and inadequate. His times in an evening, would I be Know thyself
BlackBerry keeps him connected to learning to play an instrument?” he
his mailbox all the time, preventing wonders. His wife took this for as How can you tell if A.D.D. or A.D.H.D. lurks inside you?
him from separating his work and long as she could. But when Check for these symptoms. You may have the disorder:
● If you are forever irritable.
personal life. Parasher spent much of their
● If you have difficulty falling asleep and difficulty waking
Khandala weekend break—meant to
Disable your distractions celebrate their second wedding up all the time.
Empty your inbox. But once you do anniversary—hunched over his PDA, ● If you have trouble completing projects and tend to
it, you need to put yourself on a she threatened to get herself a jump from one activity to another.
programme. Dr Hallowell’s mantra is boyfriend. ● If you get bored easily, like within 15 minutes of
the classic “OHIO”: only handle it starting to do something, or within a couple of months
once. Set aside a few specific times Disable your distractions of starting a job.
during the day to read your e-mail— Talk to your boss. Or your staff. Or ● If you regularly lose things like keys, important
say, 10 am, after lunch, 3.30 pm— your girlfriend. Or whoever compels papers, phone numbers etc.
and when you do, act on the you to constantly check your e-mail. ● If you frequently have trouble remembering tasks.
messages right away: respond, Discuss whether an instant ● If you find yourself over-committed and often late.
delete, forward, file. And allow response during work hours is really ● If you keep making impulsive purchases and hasty
yourself a few minutes at the end of necessary. In most cases the decisions.
the workday to zero-out your inbox. answer is no, which means that ● If you feel overwhelmed and disorganised in your
Don’t use this time to shoot e-mail checking e-mail, say, every couple of daily life.
to friends. Stick to business. hours should be fine. ● If you go off on a tangent in conversations, usually
Build the walls back up. The only Change the office rules. Talk it out interrupt others or reply even before the other person
way to stay in control of message with colleagues and limit the has finished asking a question.
overload is to artificially impose the number of e-mail messages to be ● If you have trouble balancing your cheque book, or
boundaries that once existed sent to each other during the day. have difficulty with paperwork.
naturally. More than anything, that Jokes or ‘interesting’ viral mails are ● If you fidget or squirm when seated for long periods.
means avoiding the temptation to to be sent only to your non-official ● If you have difficulty engaging in leisure activities
check work e-mail from home. e-mail ID. quietly.
get another idea, so you go for wildly swinging camera lens,

Steps that help
● Work in small spurts rather than long hauls. Break all
that. But a third idea interrupts the A.D.D. sufferer’s constantly tasks down into smaller tasks.
just then… and pretty soon peo- gyrating mind prevents him ● Get help where you need it, whether it’s having a
ple are calling you disorganised, from focussing on the things secretary or an accountant.
irresponsible and impulsive. But that matter. ● Use tools to keep life organised, such as personal
you know that you are trying Why, for example, do you need digital assistants, “to-do” lists and Outlook reminders.
really hard—yet not getting to check every mail that pops ● Be realistic when making to-do lists. Pick two or three
anywhere!” up on your screen, even though things every day to concentrate on, not eight or nine.
● Before you start a job, fix a goal. If you don’t know
you can see from the subject line
where you are going, how will you get there?
E-mail addiction that it’s nothing important. But ● Remember: people with A.D.D. will forget things. When
As Dr Ashima Puri, consultant most of you will, compulsively, that happens, don’t get frantic. Just pick up where you
psychologist, Aashlok Hospi- drop the task you are doing, read left off and restart in the right direction.
tal, New Delhi, explains, like a the new mail, maybe follow a Ñ ● Get enough exercise to work off some of the noise
inside.
WORKERS WHO CONSTANTLY CHECK PERSONAL E-MAIL

MENTAL BLOCK
Lack
of iron
in your
diet may
hamper
focus.
If your
symptoms
point to
A.D.D.,
add more
cereals
and beans
to your
diet for
better iron
intake My cell phone
is my lifeline
Ñ link, and then another and What keeps you coming back writes Dr Hallowell in his book
get caught up in what Dr Hal- to your inbox is the prospect of a Delivered from Distraction.
lowell calls “screensucking”. He thrill: information about a new It’s not unusual for A.D.D.
calls it a turbo-charged version project; great news about some- sufferers to taste success in an
of a natural human trait: pro- thing; positive feedback from enterprise if they manage to
crastination. a colleague or the boss. This focus their energies, say experts;
constant thrill-chasing keeps but A.D.D. prevents them from
you, however, from finishing the becoming well-adjusted indi-
Modern-day maladies less exciting but more important viduals. In the case of Chennai-
These are the evils that make your life a misery tasks. And when the task pile- based entrepreneur K Shashi,
● Packing in too much: Some call it work overload; up begins to look scary, you find while his medical equipment
others call it multitasking. Imagine: you are working on escape in even more thrill-seek- business was smooth sailing,
Excel, surfing the Net, listening to music, answering ing in your inbox. his relationships kept running
e-mail and chatting on the phone about cricket. “Being
able to juggle so much may seem impressive, but this
may, in fact, be the reason your eyes glaze over when
someone—say, your girlfriend—actually tries to have “People with A.D.D. have difficulty
a proper conversation with you,” says Dr Vohra.
“Our brains have billions of neurons… yet the truth is in understanding how others
we can really focus on only one thing at a time,” says
René Marois, PhD, a neuroscientist and associate think and feel, leading to socially
professor of psychology at Vanderbilt University, in a
study published last year in Neuron. inappropriate behaviour.”
● All those missed meals: Short attention span could
result from low levels of blood sugar, too. Since the The road ahead into stormy weather. He could
brain needs glucose to function, lack of it keeps you Office A.D.D. can be control- never settle in a relationship, let WORDS: TOM MCGRATH, KAVITA DEVGAN; PHOTOGRAPHY: MICHAEL LEWIS,
BROWN BREAD); PERCENTAGE FIGURES FROM A MENSHEALTH.COM POLL

from focussing. But this does not license you to gob- led by training your mind and alone marry. This led to seeking DREAMSTIME (BUILDING BLOCKS, MAN SCREAMING, BRAIN DIAGRAM,
ble chocolate. A fruit juice is a much better substitute, forcing yourself to stick to a new psychological counselling. “The
so are energy-dense snacks, like nuts. work flow plan until the habit doctor put a name to my trou-
● An attic full of junk: That burger you ate just went to becomes second nature. Clinical bles. It’s been such a weight off
your head. Or, at least, it caused a road block for nutri- A.D.D., like any other clinical my chest,” says Shashi, who is
ents. You know well that a diet rich in junk food is poor condition, needs diagnosis and now on medication. “Now I know
in vitamins and minerals. Lack of iron is especially bad treatment. “The diagnosis can how to handle my situation.”
for concentration, showed a study by the US Agricul-
be liberating, particularly for That’s the thing about this
tural Research Service. Eight healthy males, aged 27
to 47, were observed over a period of 20 weeks, dur-
people who have been stuck disorder. It takes a lot of adapt-
ing which time they had a low-iron diet and performed with labels like ‘lazy’, ‘stubborn’, ing to get on in life living with
badly in a simple hand-eye coordination test. If your ‘wilful’, ‘disruptive’, ‘impossible’, A.D.D. “But,” stresses Dr Mehta,
diagnosis says A.D.D., eat more cereal and beans. ‘tyrannical’, ‘brain-damaged’, “it certainly can be done, and be
‘stupid’ or just plain ‘bad’,” done very well.” MH
14 PERCENTAGE OF EMPLOYEES WHO ADMIT TO BROWSING PORN WEBSITES ON COMPANY TIME

WHAT
GRABS
YOU? Every man has his own set of turn-ons.
Here’s what makes you a breast or a leg
man, and how to make the most of it
Photography: Dabboo Ratnani
>>You’re a
leg man
There are three simple reasons you like shapely legs: they >>
suggest strength and speed, indicating—to your genes—a
mate able to take good care of your offspring; they lead your
eye (and your mind) directly to her sculpted “mount me!”
buttocks; and their upside-down ‘V’ pleasingly draws your
focus and imagination to the point of intersection amid her
thighs. Women are also ideally engineered to wrap their legs
around their partners in a coital embrace, a position that’s
very reassuring to a man. It means she eagerly accepts him
as her mate while creating a circular, possessive barrier to
reject other mates.
>>Maximise your arousal: Ask your partner to accentuate
her legs during foreplay by wearing short skirts and high-cut
knickers. These garments make her legs more alluring than
does complete nudity, says psychologist Stuart Fischoff, and
during sex ask her to wrap her legs tightly around you.

HEADTURNERS
>>You’re a
big boobs man >>You’re a
Some researchers small boobs man
theorise that human Men who like small-
breasts evolved to breasted women—and
be so pendulous there are millions
because, well, they of them—are often
need to do the work seeking a more
a female baboon’s submissive, non-
thrust-out backside threatening partner,
does in attracting says Fischoff. Also,
a mate. “Unlike a you may get the
baboon, a human psychological hint
woman walks upright that she’s not trying
and needs to have her to compete with other
sexual attributes up women who have larger
front,” says Mumbai- breasts, and therefore
based psychologist she’ll be loyal to you.
Rachna Kothari, a Or maybe the very first
practising marital girl you had a crush
and relationship on had small breasts,
counsellor. So, in a and if she constructed
sense, her breasts your earliest example
may be a frontal of what’s sexy, her
derrière. In fact, the memory may still
visual qualities of lead you to find small-
the breasts and the breasted women
behind aren’t all that exciting.
different. >>Maximise your
Also, men and arousal: Stretch her
women look for out, her back arching,
differentiation in their when you two are in
partners. We already bed. This will elongate
bring flat and hard to her torso and flatten
the bedroom; we need her breasts.
something curvy and
bouncy to make us
feel complete. “The
roundness of contours
translates to beauty in
the male brain,” says
Kothari.
>>Maximise your
arousal: Put her on
top so she faces
you and let her do
the bouncing. Have
her hold her breasts
together and do the
movement thing
you’ve seen in the
porn movies.
Women are ideally engineered to wrap their legs

around their partners in a coital embrace, a
position that’s very reassuring to a man. It means
she eagerly accepts him
A firm and >>You’re a
toned body man
toned female >> To your testicles, a firm
body looks like and toned female body
looks like the perfect
the perfect baby-making machine. It
signifies youth, health,
baby-making strength and an ability
to survive. “Women
machine. It are often compared to
cats,” says Kothari,
signifies youth, “and that’s a very sexy
metaphor that ties into
health, strength the biological reason
and an ability to we find a toned body

attractive.”
survive Cats are sleek, lithe,
fast animals with long
legs who can suckle six
babies at once and kill
almost anything their
size. If you can find
a woman with those
attributes—minus the
fish breath—you’ve
found the right girl.
>>Maximise your
arousal: During sex,
have her lift her arms
above her head and
stretch lazily. A move
that makes her appear
long will stroke your
primal urge.

HEADTURNERS
>>You’re a
face man
Since her mouth is the
conduit of such great
pleasure, it’s hard not
to find a woman’s face
>>You’re a an erotic body part.
hands man And that’s doubly so if
Most men think that their she has full lips, which,
lust for red fingernails according to scientists,
(and toenails) is a strongly suggest
mysterious desire, the labia. But more
since neither area is importantly, a beautiful
particularly close to the face and lustrous eyes
breasts or vagina. “But also indicate good health,
long, well-defined nails says Kothari.That’s why,
capture attention and across all cultures, men
suggest that the woman have certain standards
might be sexually bold,” they find appealing in
says Kothari. “And your a woman’s face: clear
mind says that sexually skin, high cheekbones,
bold women are healthy a balanced forehead and
and fertile.” Also, red is chin, eyes that aren’t too
the most primal, visible close together or too far
colour to human beings; apart. These qualities
as a sign of blood and signify symmetry and
danger it instantly draws balance, two synonyms
your attention. That might for health. If you’re a
suggest to our brains face man, though, you
that women wearing red probably find a woman’s
are dominant; they’ll eyes her most erotic
take control of sex. attribute. “The eyes are
Since nature knows how an incredibly responsive,
busy we are, a dominant conversational organ
partner leaves us with that humans use for
one less thing to worry intimate non-verbal
about. communication,” says
>>Maximise your Kothari.
arousal: Sign up for a >>Maximise your
pottery class—you can arousal: See things from
ogle those hands sexily a different angle, literally. >>You’re a
>>
moulding clay, then meet Have sex standing in hair man
their owners afterwards. front of a mirror—you’ll A woman’s hair style is a very strong sexual cue, says Fischoff.
Or rent Ghost. get a view you can’t Indian men—and their parents—have traditionally judged a
normally focus on when woman’s beauty and overall health by the length and sheen of her
>>
you’re that close to her. hair: long, lustrous hair equals a good wife and ideal child-bearing
material. Long hair also suggests to man that a woman is receptive
to sex; in films, a woman often shakes her locks down to her
shoulders before her clothes hit the floor—it says: “I’m available
and free of all inhibitions.” Short hair, however, is functional,
efficient and even a bit androgynous—and there are thousands of
reasons you might find that erotic or desirable (but we won’t get into
the Freudian stuff).
>>Maximise your arousal: Give her a sensual shampooing before
you have sex. It’s much easier to do this if she kneels down in
the shower, of course, and since it takes a good few minutes to
work up a suitable lather, she might as well think of something, er,
constructive to do. Inhale the smell of her hair deeply when you’re
having foreplay or sex. Its aroma may be the sole basis for your
turn-on.

>>You’re a
belly-button man >>
“The belly button is
a little orifice that’s
suggestive of the
vagina,” says Fischoff.
A flat midriff with an
exposed navel is very
sexy. In fact, though the
Indian culture frowns
upon the display of
legs, midriff baring has
long been a part of our
tradition—look at any
ancient sculpture for
confirmation. Cultural
imports like piercings
and tattoos, which
are a relatively new
development in India,
draw further attention
to her belly-button and
the skin that leads to
her Venus mound, just
above her vagina. A
woman who exposes
and/or adorns her belly-
button is subliminally
asking you to focus your
attention on her lower
torso.
>>Maximise your
arousal: Let your
tongue linger there
before beginning oral
sex. If she’ll let you,
massage semen into
her belly-button after you
ejaculate. That’ll cause
the sight of her navel to
become more sexual to
you through association,
and you’ll enjoy that
area more.

HEADTURNERS
POWER PAIRS
>>You’re a
bum man All your bodily sensations are plugged into the
A lot of our sexual
desires come from the
parietal lobe of your brain. It so happens that
animal kingdom, and
a man’s fondness for
genitals and feet share a fence in this sensory
his partner’s backside,
for example, can be
neighbourhood
traced right back to the
time we were primates,
says Kothari. Female
baboons raise their
behinds when they’re >>You’re a
ready to be mounted, little ears man
and our brains may Ears, like the belly
still be programmed to button, are enticing
look for this sexual cue openings that beg to be
while eyeing a desirable probed, says Fischoff.
woman. “In fact, putting your
The hourglass tongue in her ear is
shape—a nipped waist a clear metaphor
and flaring hip bones— for penetration,” he
has long been an object explains. Like French
of admiration among kissing, it’s another
Indian men. Brazilians, frontier in exploring
that nation of body- all the possible ways
worshippers, also put you can enter her. As
a high premium on a always, you may have
shapely butt. Because had a previous sex
a nicely rounded bottom partner or adolescent
sends a message to the object of lust who had
man’s subconscious nicely shaped ears, and
that the woman is at it’s the sexy attribute
peak fertility. In short, you subconsciously call
our animal brain sees to mind.
a woman’s backside >>Maximise your
as an indicator of both arousal: Lick, suck, >>You’re a
>>
sexual willingness and nibble and blow gently foot man
child-bearing fitness— on her saliva-coated Many men find a woman’s feet to be among her most sexually
two things your testicles lobes to make them attractive parts, but they have no idea why. It doesn’t outwardly
are very interested in. extra sensitive. And make sense—feet aren’t close to the vagina, and they lack the
WORDS: RON GERACI; PHOTOGRAPHS ARE FOR REPRESENTATIONAL PURPOSE ONLY

>>Maximise your spend five minutes dexterity to effectively stroke you.
arousal: Concentrate during foreplay tracing But the explanation is simple. First, looking at a woman’s
on rear-entry sex with their curves with your feet is a very impersonal, non-threatening way to scan for
your partner so you can finger. You’ll not only sexual cues. So you do it—a lot. “Also, the sloping shape of
keep a close eye on gratify your own turn- her foot metaphorically suggests her legs and buttocks, and
her best attribute—and on—you’ll make her that sexualises her foot,” says Kothari. “Then, we learn early
give it plenty of grabbing feel incredibly desired. in life that feet are amazingly rich in nerve-endings that aid in
and squeezing. In this sexual arousal.” All your bodily sensations are plugged into the
position, she’s best parietal lobe of your brain. It just so happens that genitals and
mimicking the monkey feet share a fence in this sensory neighbourhood. Now you
come-hither move that know why you can’t take your eyes off her smooth feet in those
your primitive brain gold high heels.
finds arousing. And >>Maximise your arousal: Ask her to show her feet off—by
even in positions where wearing shoes that mildly accentuate her arch and by painting
you can’t see it, touch her toenails. Or why not paint them for her? (Remember that
it. It’s no accident that scene from Lolita? Phew!) Also, give her a long foot massage
her smooth bum makes during foreplay and have her massage your groin with her little
for a squeezable grope. toes, after you kiss them slowly one by one. MH

INSIDE THE
MUSCLE
LABORATORIES
Did you study enzyme theory before your last workout?
Metabolic pathways? Protein synthesis? And take an
exploratory whirl in the biology-busting, NASA-funded Space
Cycle? Of course not. But the geniuses of muscle have,
and here’s what they’ve concluded: that workout you’ve been
doing? It’s pretty dumb
Words: Adam Campbell
Space Cycle represents the pinnacle of LWYN COSGROVE doesn’t claim
H
AVE YOU HAD LUNCH YET?”
the rocket scientist asks as he
straps me into the Space Cycle.
his lifelong research—and, I think, a
great investment opportunity. “Exer-
A to be a muscle scientist. But, in
a sense, he’s become one by default.
I nod yes, but it wasn’t an invitation; cising in the Space Cycle is like hang- Since Cosgrove opened his gym,
he wants to be well informed. You ing a barbell on every atom of your Results Fitness, in 2000, he’s kept
see, I’m about to be spun at 3 g’s in a body,” he tells me. Clearly, it’s infomer- a detailed account of every single
hypergravity exercise gym, a proto- cial gold. workout session that’s been conducted
type designed for a Mars space station. Only, Caiozzo isn’t concerned with there. “Clients pay for the fastest
For a visual, picture doing squats in helping men build bigger biceps—his results,” he says. “So to compete with
a weight-room power rack, with one research interest is far less market- the gym down the street, I had to find
potentially catastrophic difference: the able. Like that of almost all muscle out what works best.” And that meant
rack—and you—are swung horizon- scientists, its purpose is to find better collecting workout data on a large
tally around a steel pole at more than ways to prevent the muscle loss that number of ordinary men who were
40 revolutions per minute, sort of like occurs with ageing, cancer, spinal using a variety of training methods.
a human tetherball. “You’ll be fine,” he injuries and, in the case of the Space Cosgrove’s facility in California
says. “But whatever you do, don’t look Cycle, interplanetary travel. offers only semi-private training,
sideways.” I don’t need to ask why. But the lessons these researchers meaning each workout is designed,
Vincent Caiozzo isn’t a mad scien- learn can still benefit those of us who monitored and recorded by a member
tist. He’s a professor of orthopaedic want to look more buff at the beach. of the staff. Consider that in a typical
surgery at the University of California The trick, however, is knowing how to week, it hosts 400 workouts, providing
at Irvine, who’s been studying muscle apply the hard science to your primary feedback on 20,800 sessions a year. In
for nearly 30 years. The NASA-funded goal: building hard muscle. effect, that makes Cosgrove’s gym a Ñ

FUTURE SHOCK
The Anatomy
of Muscle
A MICROSCOPIC VIEW
MUSCLE FIBRE A single SARCOPLASM A semifluid

muscle cell, which contains membrane that surrounds
several hundred to several the myofibril and contains
thousand myofibrils structures such as
mitochondria—that provide
FASCICLE energy for muscular
A bundle of contraction
several
muscle MYOFIBRIL
fibres A collection of
thousands of
CAPILLARIES tiny proteins
Tiny blood vessels that together
that deliver nutrients generate force
and enzymes to the to help a cell
muscle fibres cotract
MUSCLE TENDON Tough
A bundle of fascicles that are connective tissue
enclosed in a sheath of connec- that attaches muscle
tive tissue called fascia to bone

Ñ bona fide research laboratory. at 7 pm, your body is in muscle-growth just don’t confuse targeting with
To explain his real-world findings, mode until Wednesday at 7 pm. isolating. Cosgrove uses the example
he’s tried to bridge the academic On paper, this supports Cosgrove’s of the bent-over row. It’s a back exer-
research of men like Caiozzo with the first assertion: “Performing total-body cise, since that’s the area of your body
practical application of exercises, sets workouts three times a week is the it emphasises. But, because of the
and repetitions. “A 19th-century Eng- most effective way to gain muscle.” interconnection between the muscles
lish biologist named Thomas Huxley Unfortunately, that advice directly and connective tissues of the hips and
once said that ‘science is nothing but contradicts what most guys actually back, your hamstrings and glutes are
organised common sense,’ ” says Cos- do. That’s because almost everyone contracted for the entire exercise.
grove, “which is what training should subscribes to a leftover from the Stay Also, since body-part training is gen-
be.” The end result of his experiment Hungry days of weight-lifting: what erally performed intensely on consecu-
is a muscle-building plan that’s not Cosgrove calls “body-part training.” tive days, it impedes recovery. “The
just gym proven, but is supported The idea is to divide the body into nutrients your body needs to repair
by science, too. And because it shat- specific muscle groups, or body parts, muscle damage from the previous
ters nearly 40 years of bodybuilding and dedicate an entire session to workday are allocated towards providing
dogma, it will probably surprise you. ing each individually. For example, energy for your workout instead,” says
you might perform exercises for your Jeff Volek, PhD, RD, an exercise-and-
THE BIOLOGY OF MUSCLE isn’t, in chest on Monday, your back on Tues- nutrition researcher at the University
fact, rocket science. At its most basic day, your shoulders on Wednesday, of Connecticut. “Your muscles grow
level is the SAID principle, an acronym and so on. Even though you’re training best when your body is resting, not
for “specific adaptation to imposed daily, each muscle group is targeted working.”
demand”. “When a muscle contracts only once a week. So, in essence, those
against a large amount of resistance, it muscles grow for just two days out BODYBUILDERS ARGUE that
adapts by getting bigger and stronger,” of seven. With total-body workouts, total-body training doesn’t allow you
says Caiozzo. Likewise, if it’s regularly though, you work each muscle more to work muscle groups hard enough.
forced to contract for long periods of often. “When you train a muscle three For instance, they claim that if a typi-
time, it becomes more resistant to times a week, it spends more total cal chest workout takes 30 minutes
or more to complete, you’d have to
“Exercising in the Space Cycle spend hours in the gym to adequately

train your entire body. “That’s based
on the assumption that a chest work-
is like hanging a barbell on every out needs to take 30 minutes,” says
Cosgrove. He goes on to explain that
atom of your body.” a typical chest day might consist of
three sets of four exercises, for a total
of 12 sets; but you could do the same
fatigue. These adaptations occur to time growing,” says Cosgrove. amount of work—12 total sets—in the
reduce stress on the body, which is why Anatomically speaking, you can’t same time period by performing four
you can perform everyday functions— isolate muscle groups in the first place. sets thrice a week. “Training works
like walking up stairs or picking up a All of your muscles are enclosed in a like a prescription,” says Cosgrove.
light object—with little effort. tough connective tissue called fascia. “You wouldn’t take an entire bunch
Now let’s apply the SAID princi- And since fascia attaches to bone and of tablets on Monday to relieve pain
ple to your workout. When you lift other muscles, it creates “functional” all week; you’d take smaller doses at
weights, you cause tiny tears in your relationships between seemingly sepa- intervals.”
muscle fibres. This triggers a process rate muscle groups. A study at the University of Ala-
called muscle-protein synthesis, which “Even a small movement of your bama supports this notion. The
uses amino acids to repair and rein- upper arm triggers a network of mus- researchers had one group of men
force the fibres. The effect becomes vis- cles from your shoulder down to your train each muscle group once a week
ible over time—bigger arms, broader hip,” says Bill Hartman, PT, CSCS, for three months; another group
shoulders, thicker chest. a physical therapist. The latissimus performed the same number of total
Understanding this process provides dorsi (or lat), the largest muscle of the sets weekly but split them equally
you with a logical rationale for how back, attaches to the upper-arm bone, among three total-body workouts. The
often you should train your muscles. shoulder blade, spine, and thora- result? The men who worked each
In multiple studies, researchers at the columbar fascia—a strong layer of con- muscle more frequently gained 4.5kg
University of Texas Medical Branch in nective tissue that attaches muscles of muscle—2.5kg more than those who
Galveston have reported that muscle- to the spine and pelvis. The glutes, or trained each muscle only once a week.
protein synthesis is elevated for up to rear hip muscles, attach to the pelvis. To save even more time, Cosgrove
48 hours after a resistance-training See the connections? employs another strategy: alternat-
session. So if you work out on Monday You can emphasise a muscle group; ing sets. When possible, he pairs Ñ

FUTURE SHOCK
The Minimalist Workout

GET BIG RESULTS IN ALMOST NO TIME
U
se this 3-day total-body workout, HOW TO DO IT Perform this workout three days a week, resting a day after each session.
designed by Alwyn Cosgrove, • Do the same exercises each workout, but vary the sets, repetitions and rest periods accord-
CSCS, to muscle up in less than ing to the chart below. (One exception: for the Swiss-ball pike, do 12 to 15 repetitions every
90 minutes a week. By incorporating session.) • For the first exercise (1), use straight sets, so that you complete all sets of the
the laws of functional anatomy, it works movement before moving on to the next. • Then perform each subsequent pair of exercises
every muscle in your body with just five (2A and 2B, 3A and 3B) as alternating sets, resting for the prescribed amount of time after
exercises. Building brawn has never each. So you’ll complete one set of exercise 2A, rest, do one set of exercise 2B, rest, and
been faster—or simpler. repeat. After you’ve finished all sets of both exercises, move on to the other pair.
1 WIDE-GRIP DEADLIFT
Set a barbell on the floor
and stand facing it. Squat down
2A DUMBBELL
INCLINE PRESS
Lie on your back on a bench
2B CABLE ROW
Attach a straight
bar to the cable and posi-
3A WIDE-GRIP LAT
PULLDOWN
Grab the bar with an overhand
3B SWISS-BALL PIKE
Get into pushup posi-
tion, but instead of placing your
and grab it with an overhand that’s set to a low incline and tion yourself in a cable-row grip that’s about twice feet on the floor, rest your shins
grip that’s twice shoulder-width hold a pair of dumbbells at the machine. Grab the bar with an shoulder-width and sit up on a Swiss ball (A). Raise your
(A). With your back flat and sides of your chest (A). Press overhand, shoulder-width grip straight (A). Without moving hips as high as you can as you
head up, stand up with the the dumbbells up and together (A). Without moving your torso, your torso, pull the bar down roll the ball towards your body
barbell, pulling your shoulder (B). Pause, then lower the pull the bar to your abdomen to your chest (B). Pause, then (B). Pause, then return to the
blades back (B). Slowly lower weights back to the starting (B). Pause, then slowly return slowly return to the starting start by lowering your hips and
the bar to the starting position. position. to the starting position. position. rolling the ball backward.
FOR EACH EXERCISE, Workout Sets Reps Rest

take 3 seconds to lower the MONDAY 4 5 90 seconds
weight, pause for 1 second, WEDNESDAY 2 15 30 seconds
then take 1 second to lift it.
FRIDAY 3 10 60 seconds
CABLE ROW
WIDE-GRIP
LAT PULLDOWN
DUMBBELL
INCLINE PRESS
a
b
b
a
b a
b SWISS-
BALL PIKE
WIDE-GRIP
DEADLIFT

From Meat
to Muscle
HOW PROTEIN
MAKES YOU GROW
1 BREAKING DOWN
THE MEAT
The process starts
in your mouth with
the mechanical
digestion of food:
your teeth cut, tear,
and mash the meat
into smaller particles,
mixing it with saliva to
form a semisolid lump.
2 DIGESTING THE
PROTEIN
Once swallowed,
the pulverised meat
moves down your
esophagus and lands CHYME
in your stomach. Here,
enzymes such as pepsin AMINO
chemically break the ACIDS
meat into strands of
amino acids. The whole
mess is now more of a
liquid called chyme.
PEPSIN
3 CREATING
USABLE PARTS
From your stomach, the
chyme passes into
your small intestines.
Here, additional TRYPSIN
enzymes—trypsin and
chymotrypsin—act on
the amino acid strands
to break them into even
AMINO
smaller parts, until only ACIDS
single and double amino
acids remain.
CHYMO-
4 PREPARING
FOR DELIVERY The
amino acids are then
TRYPSIN
transported through the

cells that line the walls
of your intestines and
into your bloodstream.
This is called absorption.
They’re now ready to be
sent to your muscles via
your blood vessels.
5 BUILDING
THE MUSCLE
Once they reach your
muscles, amino acids
are delivered to the cells
by capillaries. There,
the amino acids help
repair damaged fibres.
In fact, muscle-protein
synthesis can’t occur
unless amino acids are
available—all the more
reason to eat some
protein at every meal.

FUTURE SHOCK
Ñ exercises that work opposite resistance-training apparatus, some- BEING IN THE SPACE CYCLE is
muscle groups and cuts the rest period thing like a leg curl machine. Next, by a strange experience. Although my
between sets. implanting a steel wire inside the rats’ body is nearly parallel to the floor as I
It’s a concept based on the scientific body, running from their hind limbs exercise, it feels as if I’m upright, and
work of Sir Charles Scott Sherrington, to the skulls, the researchers gave the there’s no sensation of spinning—pro-
who won the Nobel Prize in 1932 for rats small electric shocks, causing the vided, of course, that I don’t violate the
his contributions in physiology and hind leg muscle to contract with maxi- sideways rule.
neuroscience. Sherrington’s law of mal force. This allowed them to mimic Caiozzo invented the Space Cycle
reciprocal innervation states that “for a weight-lifting workout. to help remedy one of NASA’s biggest
every neural activation of a muscle, In the first eight weeks, the rats, headaches. “Because of the lack of
there is a corresponding inhibition exposed to a total tension time of 80 gravity, an astronaut’s muscles waste
of the opposing muscle”. This means seconds on the curl apparatus, gained away quickly,” he says.
when you work your chest muscles, no muscle mass. In the next stage, the As a veteran of four space flights,
the opposite back muscles are forced to contraction time was increased and Commander Bill McArthur knows
relax, thereby resting. muscle mass increased significantly in this reality firsthand. When I spoke
So, instead of waiting two minutes just four weeks. to him by phone in early February, he
between sets of bench presses, you can was living on the International Space
perform one set of the bench press, “GO HEAVY OR GO HOME” is a com- Station. He shared this memory from
rest for just one minute, and then do a mon saying among bodybuilders. But, his first mission: “When we landed,
bent-over row. Then rest again, then while it’s crucial that you use a weight I bent over to give my wife a hug,
repeat the entire process until you that provides a challenging load, the and she had to catch me because the
complete all sets of both exercises. “In mantra is flawed. That’s because mus- bending wasn’t going to stop,” he says.
an average workout, this saves almost cle fibres can grow in two ways. The “That was after just 14 days.” So, in
10 minutes,” says Cosgrove, “without first is when the myofibrils—the parts his current detail, McArthur exer-
sacrificing performance.” of the fibre that contain the contract- cises nearly two hours a day—using a
There’s another piece to this puzzle. ing proteins—increase in number specially designed resistance-training
In analysing thousands of workout
logs, Cosgrove developed a volume-
threshold theory. “It seems that “Muscle growth occurs once a
growth occurs once a muscle has been
exposed to 90 to 120 seconds of total
tension,” he says.
muscle has been exposed to 90 to
For example, let’s say it takes five
seconds to complete one repetition.
120 seconds of total tension.”
This means one set of eight reps would
place your muscles under tension and density. This type of growth leads machine—just to maintain his muscle.
PHOTOGRAPHY: RAJWANT RAWAT, BETH BISCHOFF; MODEL: HEMANT KUMAR; ILLUSTRATIONS: KAGAN MCLEOD
for 40 seconds. So, using Cosgrove’s to strength gains and can be accom- Hardly a time-efficient solution.
theory, you’d need to do only three plished by using heavy weights that Enter the Space Cycle. The rotat-
sets—for a total of 120 seconds—to allow only one to seven repetitions. ing gym creates artificial gravity, up
perform enough exercise to stimulate The second type of growth occurs to seven times the normal amount
muscle growth. Likewise with four when your muscles are forced to con- on Earth. Caiozzo believes this not
sets of five repetitions or two sets of 12. tract for longer periods of time. This only will prevent muscle loss in space
This is more theory than fact, how- means using lighter loads that allow but will stimulate growth—without
ever, as in human studies, there’s not you to complete 12 to 15 repetitions. weights. And in minutes, not hours.
enough data to draw from. So you look This increases the number of energy- The Space Cycle illustrates an
elsewhere in the animal kingdom. producing structures within the fibre. important point: the most effective
So you don’t get a lot stronger, but you workout needn’t be the longest or the
OME MEN SIMPLY GAIN muscle do get bigger. hardest; it’s simply the smartest. And
S faster, easier and to a greater
degree than others, which is why we
Using a rep range that falls between
the two causes a combination of both
the hours every guy spends sitting on
his behind while commuting, working
study rats,” says Caiozzo. Compared types of growth, but each to a lesser and watching TV isn’t a bad approxi-
with humans, rats are a much more degree. And that’s why Cosgrove uses mation of weightlessness. So you may
homogeneous species, meaning there’s all three ranges. And indeed, in a have more in common with astronauts
little variation from one to another. 2002 study, Arizona State University than you think.
This allows scientists to more accu- researchers discovered that men who “Building muscle takes sweat, guts
rately study the enzymes, metabolic alternated their repetition ranges in and determination,” says Cosgrove,
pathways and genes that regulate each of three weekly training sessions always eager to help the couch-bound.
muscle growth. gained twice as much strength as men “So why make it harder than it needs
In 1992, Caiozzo developed a rat-size who didn’t vary their repetitions. to be?” MH

IRON MAN
MEN
CAN COOK
The grill is the glory tool of masculine cooking.
Why, then, do Indian men not use it so often? Here
is a quick guide that will help you win friends and
influence people, especially pretty women, with some
super-tasty roast recipes
hen a man steps in front of his grill, you’d think he’d invented fire
W instead of just using it to cook a few roasts. The barbeque grill is

perfect for Indian men with their abiding fondness for tandoori
dishes—the food is as good and is easier to cook on the grill,
particularly if the grill is power-operated. If you have not joined the ranks of
BBQ kings yet, we could quickly set you on the road to master class. These
healthy dishes with sublime taste will garner you praise as high as the heat.
GRILLED CORN WITH CHILLI-LIME Cook’s note

Use high-quality heat
To make a dish like this really
Time: 30 minutes Ingredients husks back into place, special, use high-quality chilli
Makes 8 servings 8 ears fresh sweet corn covering each ear powder. This lets you skip the bad-
3 tbsp butter snugly. for-BP salt without compromising
Plain roasted corn, aka 1 lime, cut into wedges 2 When the grill is ready, on taste. Store-bought chilli powder
bhutta, is one of the 1 tbsp high-quality chili cook the corn, turning is a mixture of low-grade chilies,
healthiest street snacks powder, plus more to occasionally, for 10 to powdered oregano, salt, maybe
around, and if the ear is taste (see note) 15 minutes. As the ears some garlic—it’s a mishmash
perfect, few things are start to brown, remove and not a premium one. For the
better. But this variation Instructions the husks. Now coat best powder, you have a couple of
is an upgrade. The tart 1 The grill should be the corn with the butter options. One, you can track down
lime juice is incredibly moderately hot and the and return to the grill, one made from ground anchos,
refreshing, and the chilli’s rack no more than four turning occasionally, New Mexico chillies or smoked
smoky heat brings out inches from the heat until the ears are Spanish paprika, called pimenton.
the crisp sweetness of source. Peel back (but nicely browned. This The other option is to mix a store-
the corn. Serve this with don’t detach entirely) should take about 5-10 bought, regular chilli powder with
straightforward foods, the green husks of the minutes. a couple of pinches of ground
such as roast, chops and corn and remove the 3 Squeeze lime juice on habanero for extra heat; a little
chicken. At its juiciest, the inner silk, the fibrous the corn, sprinkle with finely minced garlic won’t hurt,
humble corn can hold its things clinging to the chili powder, and serve either (keep it in the refrigerator).
own in the best company. husk. Smooth the immediately. Takes work, but it’s worth it.

GRILLED SHRIMP WITH
CILANTRO
Time: 20 minutes
Makes 4 servings
There is, in fact, nothing

easier to grill than shrimp.
They’re less risky than even
hot dogs. Because they’re
so lean, they almost never
catch fire, and they turn
pink when they’re done, Cook’s note
which is almost always Learn to salsa
in five minutes or so. (For Cilantro salsa is a South
that matter, even if you American standby made
overcook shrimp, they’ll with raw garlic, chilies, lime
still taste great.) The size of and a little oil. And we like
the shrimp doesn’t matter a hit of ginger in there, too,
much, though bigger shrimp for extra spiciness. Remove
look better and take less the cilantro leaves from
effort. (They’re also more the stems, and wash the
expensive.) Leave the peels cilantro well before putting
on if you’d like, or be nice to it in the blender. This salsa
your guests and take them works great on nearly
off before grilling. anything you cook on the
grill—steak or chicken, firm
Ingredients white fish, even vegetables.
1kg shrimp, peeled or
unpeeled
Cilantro salsa
225gm chopped fresh
cilantro leaves
2 cloves garlic, peeled and
lightly smashed
1 tbsp peeled and roughly
chopped ginger
1 habanero or jalapeño
pepper, stemmed, seeded,
and roughly chopped, or
dried red-pepper flakes to
taste
60ml extra-virgin olive oil
(or corn or canola oil)
Fresh lime juice, salt, and
pepper to taste
Grilling instructions and browns a bit. Serve down the sides as needed.
1 Make the cilantro salsa immediately with the 2 Remove to a bowl, add
(see instructions). Start a salsa. some salt and pepper,
charcoal or gas fire (don’t and thin with one or
make it too hot), and Salsa instructions two tablespoons of lime
position the grill rack at 1 Combine the cilantro juice. Taste, adjust the
least four inches from the in a blender with the seasoning, and serve; or
heat source. garlic, ginger, hot pepper cover and refrigerate for
2 Grill the shrimp, turning and oil. Puree until up to a day. Bring back to
once, until the shells are smooth, adding more oil room temperature before
too hot to touch or the if necessary and stopping serving. Makes about one
flesh turns bright pink the machine to scrape cup.

IRON MAN
LAMB SKEWERS
GRILLED
WITH BAY LEAVES

Time: 30 minutes
Makes 4 servings
Skewer the meat, and the

addition of fresh herbs injects
an extra layer of flavour into
this simple classic. If you’re
using wood skewers, soak
them in water for about half
an hour before you start
cooking, so they won’t burn
as readily. And if you use two
skewers for each kebab, the
turning process will be much,
much easier. For the moistest
results, use lamb chunks from
the shoulder. Marbling in
the shoulder keeps the meat
moist and delicious, even if
you overcook it. You probably
don’t want to eat the bay
leaves.
Ingredients
1.5-2kg lamb shoulder, cut
into 1½ inch pieces
500gm zucchini, chopped into
1-inch pieces
3 tbsp extra-virgin olive oil
1 tsp dried oregano
1 tbsp minced garlic Cook’s note
Salt and pepper to taste Smoke some herb
Lots of bay leaves, preferably
fresh Using fresh herbs on the grill
perfumes the meat with a
Instructions delicious aroma once the herbs
1 Start a charcoal or gas are singed. Look for fresh bay
grill; the fire should be only leaves at your local market.
moderately hot and the rack (They are glossy, green and
about four inches from the leathery when fresh.) Fresh
heat source. leaves are much stronger than
2 Combine the oil, oregano, dried leaves and go beautifully
garlic, salt and pepper. Toss with lamb. (Dried will work,
the meat and zucchini in the though, and are better than
oil mixture to coat. When nothing.) Rosemary (called
you’re ready to cook, skewer rusmari in India) is another
pieces of meat alternately herb that’s fantastic on the
with bay leaves. If the grill: use whole branches
leaves break, just jam them stripped of their leaves as
between pieces of meat. skewers. (Save the leaves for
3 Grill the meat for 2-5 marinades.) Or take whole
minutes a side, depending sprigs of thyme, oregano or
on the heat and your desired sage and toss them directly
degree of doneness. Remove onto the grill just before
and serve. cooking.

GRILLED CHICKEN WITH SESAME Cook’s note
Soak up the flavour
The all-purpose Korean-style
Time: 20 minutes Salt and pepper to taste heat source. Grill the marinade used here is useful
Makes 4 servings Chopped scallions, for chicken carefully—this on just about everything—fish,
garnish mixture will burn shellfish, meat and even
This dish from Korea easily—starting at the vegetables. You can marinate
gives apna tandoori Instructions cooler part of the fire seriously and let the food bathe in
chicken a run for its 1 Toast the sesame and, as the chicken’s it overnight (or even for a couple of
money, more so as it does seeds in a small dry fat drips less, moving days—always in the refrigerator,
away with the articifial skillet over medium to a hotter part. Turn please), or just turn the food in it
colouring powder that heat, shaking the the pieces as necessary right before grilling. You need not
gives tandoori chicken pan frequently until to brown them. The even grill; this will cook fine in an
its bright orange look. they colour slightly. chicken is done when oven or broiler. A couple of words
Korean cuisine is huge on Grind half of the seeds it’s lightly charred, about ingredients: you can buy pre-
flavour. Garlic abounds, to a powder and set firm, and springy to the toasted sesame seeds and even
as does sesame in many the other half aside. touch. sesame-seed powder, something
PHOTOGRAPHY: JAMES WOJCIK

forms, and there’s usually Combine this powder 4 Serve hot or at room you might consider if you become
WORDS: MARK BITTMAN;

some sugar and soy. In in a large bowl with the temperature, garnished addicted to this cuisine. But
short, it’s food for people garlic, ginger, soy sauce, with scallions toasting them takes no time at all,
who like their tastebuds oil, sugar or mirin, salt, and the as you’ll see.
awakened, not treated pepper and about ¼ cup reserved
gently. And it shows itself of water. sesame
off no better than with 2 Make a couple of deep seeds.
grilled chicken. slashes on the skin side
of each piece of chicken
Ingredients and add the chicken to
1.5-2kg chicken parts, the marinade. Let it
trimmed of excess fat rest while you prepare
50gm sesame seeds the grill or refrigerate
2 tbsp minced garlic up to 24 hours, turning
1 tbsp minced ginger occasionally.
50ml soy sauce 3 Start a charcoal or gas
2 tbsp sesame oil grill. The fire should be
2 tbsp sugar or mirin only moderately hot,
(sweet Japanese rice with the rack about
wine) four inches from the
Your BBQ FAQs answered

Chef Dean, executive chef, The Park, New Delhi,
enlightens the barbeque beginner
How different is a grill from a tandoor?
“Grill cooking and traditional tandoor cooking are not the same, but
these recipes (on these pages) can be used on the tandoor, too.”
What should a new convert go for?
“The grill is definitely easier. To use a tandoor, you have to become good
at gauging the temperature before you can start cooking.”
How big is big enough?
“The grill size should depend on how many people you normally
entertain. An 18-inch diameter grill is enough for four to six guests. As
for a tandoor, I wouldn’t recommend a tabletop one—these don’t work
well. You can buy a small clay tandoor that can be installed easily.”
How do I choose a grill?
“There are two kinds—the charcoal grill and the griddle grill (which has
an iron or ferromagnetic surface, and heats with electricity, wood or
charcoal). The griddle grill is better for beginners. On a charcoal grill,
again, temperature control is the key. If the heat is too high, the food
may look cooked from the outside, but wouldn’t be done on the inside.
On an electric grill, you can set the temperature as you want.”

IRON MAN
GET GRILLED!
What it costs What to look for
You can buy a grill at home appliance Some grills are round, some are a
stores in all the metros. Not every rectangle. While a charcoal grill can be
shop has them, but we have a of either shape, the power-operated
few addresses for you (see box). grills are usually rectangular, so that
Prices are Rs 1,000-Rs 5,000 for they can be placed easily on a table.
Getting the
basic medium size (18”-24”) grills, It makes no difference to the cooking;
temperature right is
depending on whether the grill is pick whichever shape you like. vital in charcoal fire
charcoal or gas-powered. The bigger What matters more is the material
grills with side tables—with enough of the grill. The main body of the grill GO SHOPPING
grilling space to feed a small army— is usually made from cast aluminium,
ONLINE
can cost anything between Rs 10,000 sheet metal, cast iron or stainless www.sify.com; www.rediff.shopping.com
and Rs 40,000, depending on the steel. Stainless steel is the best
NEW DELHI
make and features offered. and the most expensive. But a lot of
Trekkers Point, Plaza Building, Connaught Place,
so-called “stainless steel” grills have
Tel: 011-23325475 (Sells only large gas grills)
Where to put the grill painted frames that can rust. Use a
You don’t need a lawn or a backyard to magnet to check if it’s really steel or Sham Di Hatti, Shop 1-A, Khan Market, Lodhi Road,
get a barbeque going. The neat little coated iron. An aluminium frame, if Tel: 011-24618520 (Sells gas and charcoal grill)
grills can be installed anywhere—your thick enough, is no worse than steel, MUMBAI
terrace, balcony or even indoors if unless you want a really big grill. But Mahavir Stores, Shopping Centre, Shop No. 2,
you place it in an uncluttered space whatever the material, clean the grill Station Road, Santa Cruz West, Tel: 022-26490707
near an open window. However, if it is regularly after use—that way, even a (Sells small gas and charcoal grills)
a bigger charcoal grill, avoid using it cheap grill lasts a long time. BANGALORE
within four walls. The tabletop griddle Controlling the temperature is vital, Electrical goods stores at Richard’s Square, Shivajinagar
grill can function anywhere, since the so unless you are sure of yourself,
temperature is controlled by a knob. choose a gas grill over charcoal. The meat
spear is
handy for
picking
up red-hot
chunks
The tongs
help you turn
the meat over
The skewers
can be either
A tabletop gas grill with The charcoal brickettes that of metal or
easy heat-control settings get the BBQ going bamboo
THE BBQ BAND Three guys who love the grill tell you why it’s such a man’s thing
I enjoy cooking, and setting I think the reason men like The kitchen is seen as a
up a good under-the-stars grilling better than regular woman’s domain, so to
barbeque is a part of that cooking is that a barbeque take the femininity out of
enjoyment. But why is it such is more interactive and has preparing food, we had
a man’s thing? Hard to say. more drama—you do it out to change the setting
Maybe the open flame is a bit in the open, under the night altogether. Men naturally
intimidating for women. Maybe it’s a boys- sky, surrounded by friends, and if you want congregate around the barbeque fire, where
bike-barbeque thing—a sort of tradition. Or a break then you can ask another guy to they can talk about anything from sports
it’s that old hunter-gatherer business. You handle the skewers for a bit. It is a chilled- results to a hot new female colleague.
kill something, bring it back and roast the out, spaced-out affair, more entertaining Tips: Wait for the coals to cool down to
meat in an open fire before feasting. than fixing a fast meal in the kitchen. low-medium heat before cooking. Don’t
Tips: If you are cooking chicken, don’t Tips: Getting the fire right is very important. overmarinate the meat, or it will be
marinate the meat for more than five hours. The burning charcoal must be spread out underdone. Slit fresh fish along the centre,
Try not to mix lemon and curd together evenly. For veggies, I’d recommend potatoes temper both sides with coarse salt, ground
as marinade. And if you’re having beef, and onions grilled in aluminium foil—super black pepper and lemon juice. Seal in foil
marinate the meat in papaya. tasty! If you grill paneer, cut chunky pieces. and cook on a very low heat.
CHRIS AVINASH, ANURAG MALLICK, NISAAR PANGARKER,
musician and radio station manager ad man and travel writer music producer and fund manager

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MEN’S HEALTH MARCH 2008

112
SHOW TIME
THE MH
Movie
Awards
Can films tell you how to get things done?
These can. Read on
Words: Sanchita Guha
RUNNER-UP
BEST GET-A- WINNER
CAMERA 16
GIRL MOVE GURU PARTNER
Guru (Abhishek Bachchan) wants to Bhaskar (Govinda) is in hell: he
marry his friend’s sister (Aishwarya can’t get a single girl to date him.
0 60997
Rai), and the friend can’t pluck up He goes to date doctor Prem
the courage to tell his father. So (Salman Khan) with a cry for help
what? Guru has guts enough for and is asked to follow the expert’s
everyone—he walks into the girl’s every move. By doing so, Govinda
house, goes straight up to the girl’s gets himself a cool attitude, plays
father and asks for her hand: “Give on the girl’s emotions and soon
me your daughter, and I’ll take care he has the girls eating out of his
of her.” Mission accomplished hands. His fairest conquest: the
within about half a minute. shapely Katrina Kaif.
What works for him: One word: What works for him: Confidence
confidence. Guru knows what he again. Playing on a girl’s emotions
wants, and he is able to state his doesn’t hurt either—if you play
case clearly. He doesn’t bother with on her emotions (without being
CAMERA 16
the girl’s consent, so it’s a bit like a complete cad), at least you’ve
dragging her by the hair into the noticed that she has emotions,
cave, but the effect is softened by which is more than what most men
his willingness to look beyond what do. That earns you some brownie
0 60997
folks see as her huge folly—an points. Then there’s the attitude,
attempted elopement. “Confidence which gets a man noticed. “Attitude
is a highly appealing trait, and here does not mean strutting like
sometimes a woman wants a man a peacock,” says Bhalla, “but
to take without asking. If you also simply walking into a room with
display a generosity of character, your shoulders squared, instead of
as Guru does, it’s hard for a woman shuffling in as if you want to blend in
not to be bowled over,” says MH with the furniture.”
relationships expert Nina Bhalla.
PARTNER
How it can work for you: Unless you
are made of stuff that will turn you
into India’s next business legend,
CAMERA
you need to assess your policy when

GURU asking for your girlfriend’s hand.
Bypassing the bride herself worked
160 60997
for Guru, it won’t work for you. But

when you intend to propose, you
need to be just as confident. To
overcome nervousness, try this: “It
may sound like too practical a move
for an emotional decision, but that’s
precisely what you need. Make a list
of all the reasons why your girl and How it can work for you: Govinda,
you are good together—and why you as we know, can get away with
think you’re the man for her,” says pretty much anything, but you’d
Cosmopolitan editor Payal Puri, who need to mix a bit of restraint with
solves your girl troubles month after your attitude; too much of it, along
month in Men’s Health. with too much cologne, puts off a
“Obviously,” she adds, “this woman. To begin with, go with the
CAMERA 16
would be from your point of view advice of Hollywood legend John

as well as based on things you Wayne: “Speak slow, speak low,
know are important to her. Before don’t talk nonsense.” Babbling can
you propose (or meet her dad!), go undo the good work done by those
0 60997
through your list so that you’ve got aforementioned squared shoulders.

clear, concise reasons top of mind. Also, maintain eye contact and let
This makes you more confident, and a slow smile spread over your face.
you can help her sort through any Research shows that both of these
hesitation as well.” establish you as trustworthy.
SHOW TIME
WINNER
BEST WAY TO WIN DILWALE not just a son-in-law equation,” says
OVER YOUR FUTURE DULHANIYA LE Puri. “Her parents need to know you,
CAMERA 16
FATHER-IN-LAW JAYENGE the man, not just you, the boyfriend.
That’s what will make them secure
Raj (Shah Rukh Khan) loves Simran in her decision to marry you.”
(Kajol) but she is to be married
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DDLJ RUNNER-UP
off to someone else. He sets
about winning her hand in the MEET THE
honourable way: by winning her PARENTS
father’s approval first. This involves Greg (Ben Stiller) arrives at his
dropping his dude act and feeding fiancée’s parents’ house, hoping
the birds with Papa (Amrish Puri) in to impress the Very Stern Dad
the crop fields of Punjab. He refuses (Robert De Niro). He is hero for a
to elope till the very end, risking while when Daddy’s dog is lost and
losing the girl altogether, when in a Greg finds one exactly like the lost
sudden flash of insight—as Raj’s pooch. Daddy is thrilled—until the
train pulls out of the station—Papa deception is discovered. But there’s
Puri realises that no one loves his a twist in the tale…
CAMERA 16
daughter more than this man. What works for him: Greg is caught
What works for him: Raj values the swapping dogs, true, but when
father’s sense of what’s honourable Daddy makes him go through a lie
and what’s not. That in turn earns detector test, he doesn’t so much
0 60997
him respect from the older man. as twitch his finger when declaring
How it can work for you: Unless his love. It’s courage under fire, and
you have a scriptwriter guaranteeing the battle is won when Daddy asks
a happy ending, it’s a good idea to Greg, “Will you be my son-in-law?”
board that train with your girlfriend How it can work for you: Stand up
before it starts moving. But whether for yourself, even when things are
you are eloping or not, it pays to looking bad, especially when things
show respect to your future in-laws. are looking bad. “When someone
“It’s hardly rocket science, yet too like a future father-in-law tries to
many guys don’t realise that they intimidate you, they want to see if
need to establish an individual you’ll turn tail and run, or act man
MEET THE PARENTS equation with their girl’s parents, enough,” says Bhalla.
seems as if Dupree has taken his

BEST WAY TO place in the affections of his wife
BRING TOGETHER A and the esteem of his rich father-in-
SEPARATED COUPLE law. After a blow-up, Carl walks out
on Molly and it’s up to Dupree to
effect a reconciliation.
What works for him: This being
Owen Wilson, manically cheerful
BIWI NO. 1
behaviour gets the job done. But
what ticks is the fact that Dupree RUNNER-UP
recognises his friends are still BIWI NO. 1
in love. “That’s really the basis Hubby (Salman Khan) leaves Biwi
on which this will work—good (Karisma Kapoor) for a model.
YOU, ME AND DUPREE intentions are wonderful, but you Friend Anil Kapoor gives the wife a
need to logically reason out why you makeover to bring them together.
WINNER think the separated couple should What works for him: Hubby is more
YOU, ME AND actually be together,” says Puri. in love with the new girl’s glamour
DUPREE How it can work for you: Find out than with the girl herself. So why not
Newlyweds Carl (Matt Dillon) what drew your friends together in give the old wife the same odds?
and Molly (Kate Hudson) get a the first place and point this out How it can work for you: Suss out
houseguest they could have done to them. As far as possible, don’t why your friend is straying. “If he
without—Dupree (Owen Wilson) take sides; but be the mirror that really is shortchanging his partner,
being someone who sets their they need to see how good they are have the nerve to tell him so,” says
house on fire. Worse, to Carl it together. Puri. “It’s in his best interest.”
www.menshealthindia.com 115
SHOW TIME
BEST STYLE What works for him: He has got

MAKEOVER the right job, the right suit and the
right address, but Agastya does
WINNER not make any headway in love until
CAMERA 16
JAAN-E-MANN he finds the right words. No style

It’s Salman to the rescue again. makeover is complete until it comes
Geeky, speccy Agastya (Akshay with a more articulate personality.
Kumar) is transformed by his stint in How it can work for you: Before
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the US, complete with a dental job. buying a new wardrobe, think how
But though suave on the outside, you want to project yourself. Then
Akshay is still the blathering nerd he become that person. But mind, this
was in college, an impediment in his new persona will not work unless SPIDER-MAN
way of winning the girl. Assisted by you believe in it. Work on improving
Salman, he begins to say and do the the outside only after you’ve buffed progressing from boy to man. Even
right things. up what’s inside. “Also,” Puri says, without the powers of climbing out
“don’t go against the grain. If you’re of the window when life begins to
a subtle kind of guy, wearing clothes suck, you’d do well to invest in a
that scream attitude will only make strong body, because with it comes
you look like a wannabe. Keep your a stronger mind.
makeover in line with your essential How it can work for you: Your inner
personality and you’ll do way better.” health is reflected in the way you
walk and talk. When your beer belly
RUNNER-UP stops pulling you down and the
SPIDER-MAN blood is flowing through cholesterol-
One bite from a radioactive spider free arteries, you are ready to slay
and Peter Parker (Tobey Maguire) the villains of anxiety and insecurity.
loses the ugly specs, the loser’s “For women, a man’s being fit and
slouch and the puny biceps. He well put together is far more critical
becomes a smart talker, too. than his actual looks,” Puri says.
What works for him: With his “Guys who combine intellect with
JAAN-E-MANN new strength, Peter becomes a physical achievement really make
smarter, more assertive character, us drool—it’s irresistible!” MH
AND THE AWARD

GOES TO…
BEST MOVIE TO WATCH BEST MOVIE TO WATCH
WHEN YOU’VE HAD A WHEN YOU NEED TO
LOVERS’ TIFF BULK UP
JODHAA AKBAR AMERICAN

It tells you that you’re never BEAUTY
too big to say sorry, and that Some regular sessions in
nothing mends a broken the garage with dusty vinyl
heart like that little five-letter weights send Kevin Spacey
word! from a spaghetti-armed
K3G
sofa slug to a man actually
capable of taking his shirt
BEST MOVIE TO WATCH off in public. It’s the only
WHEN YOU’RE IN BED WITH
A COLD: A TEAR-JEARKER believable thing in the movie
GURU
LIKE... for a reason: it’s doable.
BEST MOVIE TO WATCH Unlike bedding Mena Suvari.
WHEN YOU WANT TO LOSE
WEIGHT K3G
‘Coz research by the
GURU University of Cincinnati has
If watching Guru (Abhishek shown that laughter, when
Bachchan) compare his alternated with the squeezing
tummy to his pregnant wife’s of the tear glands—not an
doesn’t jolt you enough to exercise a human being can
head straight to the gym, do voluntarily—helps relieve
nothing will! JODHAA AKBAR nose congestion. AMERICAN BEAUTY

POSTER SERIES
2 0 0 8 UPGRADE YOUR ABS (AND GET A ROCK-SOLID CORE)
Side Bridge Swiss-Ball Knee Tuck PICK YOUR PLAN

1 Lie on your side with your forearm on the floor under your
4 Assume the pushup position with your shins resting on a Swiss
shoulder to prop you up, and your feet stacked. Contract your ball, hands slightly more than shoulder-width apart. Keeping
core and press your forearm against the floor to raise your hips your abs tight, draw your knees towards your chest until your
Three routines
until your body is straight from ankles to shoulders. Hold for 15 toes are on top of the ball. Slowly straighten your legs so the ball for the results
to 45 seconds, then repeat on the other side. rolls back to the starting position.
A you want
A
THE FAST-MUSCLE SEQUENCE
Beginning your workout with core exercises
reinforces proper posture. That means you’ll
use better technique to lift more weight in every
exercise, which translates to bigger muscles all
over. The best part: it takes just 3 minutes.
HOW IT WORKS Perform the side bridge [1],
followed by the plank with diagonal arm lift [2].
Hold the side bridge for 15 to 45 seconds on
each side, then do 4 to 12 repetitions of the plank
with diagonal arm lift. Do this routine at the start
of every weight-training session.
B THE PAINPROOF CIRCUIT
Have a creaky back? Then this is the workout
Lift your
hips as you for you. It improves the endurance of your core
Contract your abs bring your muscles, which removes excess strain from
and butt muscles knees towards
forcefully to keep your back and distributes weight more evenly
you so your
your body straight. throughout your body.
shins rise off
the ball. HOW IT WORKS Do the glute-bridge march [6],
plank with diagonal arm lift [2], cable kneeling
chop [5], and side bridge [1] in a circuit. That
Plank with Diagonal Arm Lift Cable Kneeling Chop is, perform one exercise after another without
2 Assume a modified pushup position with your feet shoulder-
5 At a high-pulley cable, grab an end of rope with each hand. Go rest. Complete 6 to 12 repetitions of the glute-
bridge march, 4 to 12 reps of the plank with
width apart, forearms on the floor. Keeping your torso steady, down on your right knee, with your left knee pointing towards the
diagonal arm lift, and 6 to 10 reps of the cable
raise your right arm forward and to the right, so that it points to weight stack; this is the starting position. Rotate your torso away
kneeling chop, and hold the side bridge for 15 to
2 o’clock. Hold for 2 seconds, then lower and repeat with your from the stack as you pull your hands to your chest, then down 45 seconds on each side. Rest for 60 seconds,
left arm, raising it to 10 o’clock. That’s one rep. and away from you. Reverse to the start. then repeat the circuit once or twice. Perform
this routine 2 or 3 days a week at the end of your
A A B workout.
THE PEAK-PERFORMANCE WORKOUT
When your core starts to give out, so does your
game—no matter what sport you play. But use
this 5-exercise circuit and you’ll move faster,
with more power and greater ease. All told,
you’ll perform better in any sport—and in the
B weight room.
HOW IT WORKS Do the plank with diagonal arm
lift [2], glute-bridge march [6], Swiss-ball knee
tuck [4], cable kneeling chop [5], side bridge [1],
C and single-leg lowering [3] in a circuit. That is, do
one exercise after another without rest. Complete
4 to 12 repetitions of the plank with diagonal
arm lift, 6 to 12 reps of the glute-bridge march,
Your elbows 6 to 12 reps of the Swiss-ball knee tuck, and six
should be bent to 10 reps of the cable kneeling chop. Hold the
90 degrees and side bridge for 15 to 45 seconds and perform 6
directly under to 12 reps of the single-leg lowering. Rest for 60
your shoulders. Keep your torso upright
as you extend your arms seconds, then repeat the circuit. Try this at the
away from your body. end of your training, 2 or 3 days a week.
3 Single-Leg Lowering 6 Glute-Bridge March HARD MOVE, HARDER MUSCLE

Lie on your back with your legs extended straight up. Keeping Lie with your knees bent and your arms and heels on the floor. Squats train your midsection harder than many
your legs straight, lower your left leg until your foot is 2 to 3 Push down through your heels and squeeze your glutes to raise ab or lower-back moves. Single-leg exercises
inches off the floor. Return to the starting position, then repeat your body into a straight line from knees to shoulders. Next, pose an even greater core challenge.
with your right leg; that’s one repetition. Think about pushing the bring a knee towards your chest. Reverse the move, then repeat Try this at the end of your workout.
bottom of your heel away from your hip as you lower your leg. with your other leg. That’s one rep.
CABLE SINGLE-LEG SQUAT TO ROW
A Grab a mid-pulley handle with your
A
right hand, with your arm straight
Don’t point your
and your palm facing left.
toes; keep your foot Bend your left leg slightly
flexed towards you. and straighten your right
Lead with your heel.
leg behind you so
it’s just off the
floor. This is the A
starting position.
Row the handle
towards your side as you straighten your torso
B
and draw your right knee towards your chest.
Do 2 or 3 sets of 10 to 12 reps with each leg.
B
Don’t allow your
hips to sag at any
time during the
movement.
B Pull the handle to your

side, so your elbow
passes your torso.
30
Percentage less
4
Number of times
30
Percentage greater
32
Percentage greater
34
Percentage more
2
Number of inches
back pain in men more stable your control you have core strength among arm velocity you will lose from
who do core training core becomes when putting in golf when athletes who don’t required to swing a your midsection by
you add Swiss-ball you do rotational suffer lower-body tennis racket hard eating three or more
BY THE
NUMBERS
exercises to your core moves injuries with weak core servings of dairy
workout muscles foods a day INDIA
PHOTOGRAPHS BY BETH BISCHOFF, GROOMING: GIOVANNI GIUNTOLI/REDKEN FOR MEN/ARTISTS CO-OP; STYLING (FRONT OF POSTER): SABINA KURZ/SUSAN PRICE, GROOMING: MIA SARAZEN
POSTER SERIES
®
2008 #3
INDIA
Upgrade
your abs
(And get a rock-solid core)
Every muscle relies on your abs, hips and lower
back, a.k.a. your core. It’s your base—and your
centre of attraction. Here’s everything you need to
sculpt that all-important part of your body
THINGS YOU DIDN’T KNOW ABOUT YOUR CORE

YOU CAN STRENGTHEN YOUR CORE SLOUCHING SABOTAGES YOUR SIX-PACK. CORE MUSCLES CONTRACT FIRST IN EVERY
WITHOUT MOVING A MUSCLE. Training your core helps correct poor posture. EXERCISE
1 Whereas most muscles propel you, your 2 But an hour a week of core work can’t 3 All the energy you exert originates in your torso,
core resists movement—for instance, to protect compensate for the 50 hours spent slumped over your before being transferred to your arms and legs. So a
your spine when you twist your torso. So don’t keyboard. weak core reduces the amount of force you’re able to
be surprised by how hard it is to stay still in this THE FIX: Stay tall through your hips and keep your apply to a barbell. When you hit a plateau in presses,
workout. You’re conditioning your core to do its job head up and shoulder blades back and down squats or any other strength move, ask yourself if
more effectively. all day long. you’re training your core as hard as you can.
03/08
126 128 132
Dye another Wrapped and Stay ahead of
day knotted your time
Choose the perfect Match your shoes Pick the right
colours to jazz up and belts with what’s coloured watches
your wardrobe in your wallet
THE CLOTHES THAT MAKETH THE MAN
t LOOK TALLER…
Wear light-coloured tops
with darker coloured lowers.
When wearing jeans, ensure
they are low-waist as this
gives the illusion of having a
proportionate build.
White T-shirts for summer.
Hue are you?

If you never look quite right in your clothes, there’s a strong
chance you’re simply not wearing the right colours
Turn over
and get
Fashion Director: Yatan Ahluwalia colourful
T-shirt (Rs 1,999): Sisley; Belt (Rs 1,800): EDC; Jeans (Rs 1,650): Mystic Monk

u LOOK FULLER…
Wear light colours like beige, white and pastel tones of pink, blue, grey
and green. Dress in layers—shirts with jackets and trousers for the office
and T-shirts under shirts and a pair of jeans when you are at home.
A light summer suit in beige, ivory, grey or white.
q IF YOU HAVE A WHEATISH SKIN TONE…

Colours like blue, army green, beige and chocolate brown compliment
wheatish skin tones. When wearing prints, ensure that the colour of the
print does not contrast with the base colour of the garment. Instead, look
out for prints with different tones in the same colour family.
Printed beach shorts
Above: Shirt (Rs 1,899): Park Avenue; Semi-formal suit (Rs 14,500): Cue; Belt
(Rs 1,195): Wills Lifestyle; Shoes (Rs 4,090): 3GLE, Shades (Rs 13,520): Prada
Left: Shirt (Rs 1,750): Cue, Shorts (Rs 2,250): Hom

03/08 COLOUR CODE
t LOOK LEANER…
Wear dark-coloured high-waist straight-cut trousers and team them with
lighter-coloured shirts. Avoid loose fit trousers and shirts that droop at the
shoulder and always opt for a fitted and structured fit for your clothes.
Flat-front and straight trousers.
q IF YOU HAVE A PALE SKIN TONE…

Wear strong colours like orange, turquoise, red and purple. You can mix
and contrast two strong colours together but never mix cold colours with
warm colours (read style wars for more).
Lounge pyjamas or comfort-fit trousers.
Embrace
Above: Shirt (Rs 2,245): Jeff Banks, Tie (Rs 2,495): Satya Paul, Belt (Rs 795): tradition in
Homme, Shoes (Rs 1,200): Bata, Bag (Rs 5,495): Hidesign, Shades (Rs 14,170): style
Bvlgari Right: Shirt (Rs 2,250): Deepika Govind, Pants (Rs 4,900): Manoviraj Khosla

COLOUR CODE 03/08
PHOTOGRAPHY: CHANDAN AHUJA; MODELS: INDER BAJWA, NARENDRA (ELITE MODEL MANAGEMENT), VIPIN MAKKAR;
JUNIOR STYLIST: RAMAN BHANDARI; MAKEUP/HAIR DIRECTOR: JOJO USING L’OREAL PROFESSIONAL AND TONI & GUY
t IF YOU HAVE
A DARK SKIN
TONE… PRODUCTS AND EXECUTED BY ADIL AKHTAR AT Y&E STYLE MEDIA PVT LTD
Wear lots of white, black,
olive green, light grey or
metallic tones of copper
and silver. Remember:
less is always more
when it comes to
embellishments,
especially on traditional
wear.
A lightly embroidered
traditional garment.
Sherwani (price on request):

JJ Valaya

Dye another day
Pick and choose the right colours to jazz up your
casual wardrobe
t Essentials
Upgrade Your 2|5|7
Style: No.4 When to wear: u Essentials
Hanging out
with friends
1|4|6|8
When to wear:
Going to the movies
Name: Sumit Sharma

Age: 24 years
Profession: Airline employee
An avid Men’s Health reader,
Sumit works the graveyard
shift but would like to brighten
his day with a colourful casual
wardrobe. However, like many
others, he is scared of wearing
too many colours, lest they look
too loud or mismatched. For
all practical purposes, there-
fore, Sumit likes sticking to an
all-black combination, whether
in the day or at night. We, at t Essentials
Men’s Health, added a dash of
colour to his everyday clothes
2|5|6
When to wear:
and some confidence to his
Heading for a long drive
persona.
Collared T-shir
ts: Lacoste (blue
), 2 T-shirts, ve
st
Tommy Hilfi s and collared shirts:
-casual trousers
:
4 Jeans and cordu
1
ger (green), roys: Tommy
Shorts and semi 95; EDC (blue),
3
),
Kocchar (orange (black), Rs Rs 1,200; Hilfiger, Rs 4,500
Rs 2,450; Jatin 50
2,25
Rs 3,800; Pa 0; Deepika Govind (w Hom 1,1 (green), Rs 4,200 ; Tommy Hilfiger
(pink), Rs 2,4 USI (beige), Rs
Rs 1,800; Lacoste rk Avenue (li hi
me), Rs 1,39 te),
9 Rs 2,800

03/08 STYLE ESSENTIALS
q Essentials
1|4|6|8 q Essentials
When to wear: 1|3|6
Meeting old school buddies When to wear:
Teeing off at the golf course
PHOTOGRAPHY: ANSHUMAN SEN, MAKEUP/HAIR: ADIL AKHTAR/Y&E STYLE MEDIA PVT LTD, STYLING: RAMAN BHANDARI
p Essentials
2|3|6
When to wear:
Having a drink at the bar
6 Shoes: Wills Sp
ort
Rs 5,865; ID (lig (dark brown),
5 Lounge pants and

pyjamas: Jasper Lee Cooper (blac ht brown), Rs 2,285; ro, Rs 4,950 8 Belts: USI (brow
7
n), Rs 495; EDC
3,955; Manoviraj k
Rs 2,385; Wills Sp with brown lace), Slippers: Via Ve (green), Rs 900
Conran (brown), Rs ort (black and wh
00 Rs 2,495; Levi’s
Khosla (white), Rs 6,5 (black), Rs 2,490 ite),

STYLE CHOICE 03/08
Wrapped and knotted

See what’s in your wallet before you match your belts and shoes
Belt: USI Rs 495

Sandals: ID Rs 1,485 Belt: EDC, Rs 1,800
Shoes: Wills Classic, Rs 2,495
Belt: Wills Classic, Rs 1,195

Shoes: Shoe Tree, Rs 1,900
Belt: Janpath, Rs 100
Slippers: ID, Rs 1,485
Belt: Mystic Monk, Rs 350 Belt: EDC, Rs 900

Shoes: ID, Rs 2,285 Shoes: Lacoste, Rs 4,000

03/08 STYLE COUNSELLOR
Strapped for cash
Rs 3,000 and under
Feeling flush
Rs 3,000 – Rs 5,500
Fully loaded
Rs 5,500 and above
P
Belt: Esprit, Rs 2,500 j u ink
Shoes: Lacoste, Rs 3,250 de s t m ca
fin a n b
e y ke e y
ou su ou
r m re r c
as you olo
cu r m ur
l i n u , to
e l sc o —
in l e s
e
How pink is too pink for guys?

Azmul Shaikh, Bangalore
‹ Pink can look girlie at times and you

must be careful about when and how
you are sporting it. If you don’t have the
muscles to shape your masculine line
Ask the clearly, pink is not the colour for you!
Belt: Sisley, Rs 2,999

Style However, there are times when pink
worn stylishly may yield good results;
Shoes: 3GLE, Rs 3,290
Counsellor you just need the right occasion.
Raghavendra Rathore
I find shopping for jeans that

A graduate of the Parsons School of Design
fit to be a nightmare. How can
in New York, Raghavendra Rathore is today
one of the leading designers in the Indian I find the right sort?
Saptarshi Guha, Bangalore
fashion industry. Get your style tips from
him at menshealth@intoday.com ‹ You need to pick from the different
cuts—bootcut, flare, straight, tapered,
How can I pick clothes in slim. If you’re very thin, tapered will
ASK THE STYLE COUNSELLOR PHOTOGRAPHY: HAIDER KHAN (RAGHAVENDRA RATHORE)

WRAPPED AND KNOTTED PHOTOGRAPHY: ANSHUMAN SEN, STYLING: RAMAN BHANDARI;
colours that flatter me? make you look skinnier. Bootcut is
Samar Khera, Bangalore good for hiding a little bulk around your
‹ Light colours flatter darker skin, bum. Go for flares only if you are very
but we’re not talking canary yellow young. And straight legs are best to
here. Go for pastel blue and green or show off a good body and strong legs.
neutrals. Light-skinned people can Make sure the seat of the jeans doesn’t
carry off more colours, so wear what sag when you stand straight, but the
suits your personality. However, avoid pair shouldn’t be too tight either.
Belt: Sisley, Rs 2,499 anything that’s too flashy.
Shoes: Sisley, Rs 4,499 Do slogan T-shirts make me
How can I stop my cashmere look like a troubled teenager?
jumpers being eaten by moths Vicky Bhasin, Mumbai
over the hotter months? ‹ There aren’t too many restrictions

Nishant Saxena, New Delhi really while you are casually dressed.
‹ Have them dry-cleaned as winter So you can wear slogan tees if you
comes to an end and vacuum-pack can carry them well. However, wear
them to keep them away from any something that makes a statement
moisture. This prevents damage. rather than simply look shoddy.

GROOMING 03/08
Do Indian men really

need sunscreen?
Yes, we do (and infinitely more than we require fairness creams!)
We’re almost as prone to sunspots and skin cancer as Caucasians.
Find out how to protect yourself
WHITE OUT
Protect your skin against darkening
and get an even skin tone, Nivea
Whitening Sun Block Lotion, Rs 525
GREASE OFF
Protect yourself from UV rays and
hydrate your skin, L’Oreal Men Expert
Comfort Max Moisturising Lotion, Rs 750
B O N U SbyT
a
IsmPetics
co
A study co nd uc ted
nt
at over 79 per ce
brand revealed th the
s dab on less than t
of sunscreen user m ak e th e pr oduc
To
amount required. n
eral in applicatio
work well, be lib ec tiv e lay er. If this
pr ot
and form a good l su ns cr ee ns
oily (al
makes your skin tle tal cu m powder
a lit
contain oil), mix
n. And do this in
before applicatio d
yo u step out to avoi
the bath before
uss!
looking like a wh

03/08 STYLE WARS
Burning style issues. Lasting fashion arguments.
BEAT THE HEAT
Nourish and protect your skin This is where they all slug it out.
during the summer months,
Clinique M Protect, Rs 1,950 This month: Is it best to wear warm colours or
cold colours?
Cold colours
VS Warm colours
C W
old colours include most arm colours include bright
shades of blue, purple and and dull tones of orange,
pink. Neutrals like white, grey yellow, brown and green.
DAMP DOWN
Moisturise dry skin all day, and silver are also considered cold. They are said to radiate the warmth
DO INDIAN MEN REALLY NEED SUNSCREEN? PHOTOGRAPHY: ANSHUMAN SEN; STYLE WARS PHOTOGRAPHY: ANSHUMAN SEN
Neutrogena Ultimate Moisture Day Cold colours are believed to have an and energy of the sun when you wear
Cream, Rs 1,150
unwinding and relaxing effect on the them. People who normally wear
people who wear them. They tend to warm colours are also perceived to
have a calming effect on both our bod- be grounded (earthy), friendly and
ies and minds, quite like the same way approachable. Warm colours convey
you feel when you stare blank- emotions from simple optimism to
ly at the sea or a clear strong violence. The warmth of
blue sky. While at the TIP red, yellow or orange can create
one end of the spec- Never mix warm and excitement, energy and anger.
trum, cold colours cold colours toge ther Neutrals like black and brown
have an impersonal when it com es to also carry attributes of warm
and antiseptic energy, coordinating your colours and so do earth tones
on the other end, they clothes. like olive green and rust. These
also have comforting and colours reflect a sense of security
nurturing properties. Cold and stability. Warm colours work well
colours work better on men with lighter with Indian skin tones, including all
or paler skin tones. wheatish and dark complexions.
TOUCH UP What can you wear cold colours on: What can you wear warm colours
Take care of sensitive skin with
this hypoallergenic lotion, Soltan Formal trousers, full- and half- sleeve on: Cargo pants, T-shirts, golf shorts,
Moisturising Suncare Lotion, Rs 1,950 shirts, formal jackets, suits, sportswear shorts, casual trousers and casual and
and swimwear. semi-formal jackets.
The winner? MH Style Counsellor Raghavendra Rathore says:

“While warm colours tend to agitate, cool colours tend to recede and relax.
Using too much of any colour can aggravate or depress, while diluting the
colour’s effect. Avoid using more than two or three colours together.”

03/08 ACCESSORIES
Stay ahead of your time

Choose the right watches with a hint of colour to match your clothes
The neutralisers The flaming streaks The energisers

1. Silver metallic watches work well with 1. An orange dial to wear with your jeans. 1. An industrial watch works well for extreme
black and white. (Concord, Rs 91,390) (Omega, Rs 2,05,500) sports. (Longines, Rs 73,000)
2. Brown straps neutralise beige and brown. 2. A sporty red strap and silver dial for your 2. A multicoloured watch for casual wear.
STAY AHEAD OF YOUR TIME PHOTOGRAPHY: ANSHUMAN SEN, STYLING: YATAN AHLUWALIA; HATS OFF PHOTOGRAPHY: ANSHUMAN SEN
(Ebel, Rs 92,500) leather gear. (Tissot, Rs 36,800) (Swatch, Rs 3,700)
3. A black strap highlights blue, grey and 3. An orange strap to wear with your cargo 3. A translucent watch for gym and sports
black. (Baume & Mercier, Rs 80,000) pants. (Hamilton, Rs 26,900) wear. (Swatch, Rs 3,700)
03/08 STYLE QUIZ
Hats off
Match the appropriate
C
headgear with the shirt B

Caps and hats Shirts
A
A Western-style 1 Yellow golf shirt
cowboy hat 2 Round-neck dual
B Bridged brown coloured T-shirt
golf cap 3 Casual shirt with check
C Baseball cap collars and pockets
well as urban settings

the greens; C2: For sportsmen, sports enthusiasts as
1 2
end in the country; B1: Perfect to tee off in. Contrasts on
ANSWERS: A3: Perfect for the outdoors or a long week- 3

STOCKISTS 03/08 FORM – IV
Place of Publication: New Delhi
Periodicity of its
PLAY WITH COLOURS, P121 Mumbai: High Street Phoenix; New Delhi: CP
Publication: Monthly
BATA Bangalore: Brigade Rd; Chennai: SATYA PAUL Bangalore: Vittal Mallya Rd;
Printer’s Name: Pavan Varshnei
Spencer Plaza; Kolkata: Camac St; Mumbai: Mumbai: Juhu Tara Rd; InOrbit Mall; New
Bandra (W); New Delhi: CP; South Extn2 Delhi: City Square Mall; The Crescent at Qutab Nationality: Indian
BVLGARI AND PRADA New Delhi: Dayal SHOE TREE Gurgaon: Metropolitan Mall; Address: K – 9, Connaught Circus,
Opticals, Khan Market; Himalaya Opticals, Mumbai: Atria Mall; New Delhi: B37 Khan New Delhi – 110 001.
GK1 Market; Select CityWalk Publisher’s Name: Pavan Varshnei
CUE Bangalore: Vittal Mallya Rd; Kolkata: SISLEY New Delhi: G13, South Extn1 Nationality: Indian
Lansdowne Rd; Mumbai: Vaswani House, WILLS LIFESTYLE Bangalore: Brigade Rd;
Address: K – 9, Connaught Circus,
Colaba; New Delhi: Studio, Golflinks; The Gurgaon: Metropolitan Mall; Kolkata: City New Delhi – 110 001.
Crescent at Qutab Centre; Mumbai: InOrbit Mall; New Delhi: TDI
Editor’s Name: Jamal Shaikh
DEEPIKA GOVIND Bangalore: 21/11 Craig Mall, Rajouri Garden; F41 South Extn1
Park Layout, MG Road; New Delhi: Shop No. Nationality: Indian
26, Khan Market DYE ANOTHER DAY, P126 Address: K – 9, Connaught Circus,
EDC Bangalore: Vittal Mallya Rd; New Delhi: ID New Delhi: Walk In M&B (011)23411412 New Delhi – 110 001.
Select CityWalk; M46, GK1 JASPER CONRAN Gurgaon: Ambi Mall Names and Address of individuals who own the
HIDESIGN Bangalore: Commercial St; Leela JATIN KOCCHAR Goa: Saga, Khadi Mobor newspaper and partners or shareholders holding more
Palace; Chennai: Spencer Plaza; Hyderabad: Road; Mumbai: Saga, Bandra (W) New Delhi: than one percent of the total capital
Amrutha Mall; Kolkata: City Centre; Mumbai: SquareOne Mall; M&S House of Design, R5, Owner: M/s. Living Media India Limited,
Kemps Corner; Atria Mall; InOrbit Mall; High GK1 (011)26447669 K – 9, Connaught Circus, New Delhi – 110 001.
Street Phoenix; New Delhi: G49, CP; Khan LACOSTE Mumbai: High Street Phoenix; Shareholders holding more than one percent of the
Market Crossroads; Linking Road, Bandra; New total capital of the owner company:
HOM Goa: Malini Ramani; Gurgaon: FIT Delhi: N3 CP; Ansal Plaza; G1 South Extn1; 1. Mr. Aroon Purie, 6, Palam Marg, Vasant Vihar,
Plaza; Mumbai: Options, Juhu; Kolkata: MGF Metropolitan Mall New Delhi – 110 057.
Forum; New Delhi: Pall Mall, South Extn2 LEE COOPER Mumbai: Linking Rd, Khar (W);
HOMME Gurgaon: Metropolitan Mall; 2. Mrs. Rekha Purie, 6, Palam Marg, Vasant Vihar,
New Delhi: M&B Walk-In New Delhi – 110 057.
Mumbai: Atria Mall LEVI’S Mumbai: InOrbit Mall; New Delhi: CP,
JEFF BANKS Gurgaon: Debenhams, Ambi Ansal Plaza
3. Mr. Ankoor Purie, 6, Palam Marg, Vasant Vihar,
Mall New Delhi – 110 057.
TOMMY HILFIGER Bangalore: Forum;
JJ VALAYA Mumbai: Aza, 21 Altamount Road; 4. Mrs. Mandira Purie, (Fawcett), 5, Carlow Avenue,
Mumbai: Apollo Bunder, Colaba; New Delhi:
New Delhi: Main Temple Road, Chattar-pur; Napean, Ontario, K – 2 GOP 9, Canada.
South Extn 1
The Cresent at the Qutab 5. Mrs. Madhu Trehan, C – 19, Malcha Marg,
UNISTYLE IMAGE Mumbai: Heera Panna,
MANOVIRAJ KHOSLA Bangalore: 27 New Delhi – 110 021.
Haji Ali; New Delhi: M Block, GK1
Dickenson Road; Hotel Leela Palace 6. The All India Investment Corporation Private Limited,
VIA VERO Gurgaon: Ambi Mall
MYSTIC MONK Gurgaon: Mega Mall; New K – 9, Connaught Circus, New Delhi – 110 001.
Delhi: Paragon Mall, Rajouri Garden 7. World Media Private Limited, K - Block,
WRAPPED & KNOTTED, P128
PARK AVENUE Bangalore: Brigade Rd; Connaught Circus, New Delhi – 110 001.
ESPRIT Bangalore: Vittal Mallya Rd;
Chennai: Anna Nagar; Kolkata: Elgin Rd;
Chandigarh: Sector 17C; Mumbai: Linking I, Pavan Varshnei, hereby declare that the
Road, Khar (W); New Delhi: M Block, GK1; particulars given above are true to the best of
my knowledge and belief.
South Extn 2
Sd/-
Pavan Varshnei
STAY AHEAD OF YOUR TIME, P132
Dt: 01.03.2008 Signature of Publisher
BAUME & MERCIER Bangalore:
Richmond Road; Chennai: Hyderabad: Taj Deccan, Banjara Hills;
Spencer Plaza; Kolkata: Mumbai: Tirupati Shopping Complex, opp.
Exclusive Lines, 4/1 Camac Mahalaxmi Temple; New Delhi: Lado Sarai
Street; Mumbai: Crossroads; HAMILTON New Delhi: L21, CP
Heera Panna Arcade; New Delhi: LONGINES New Delhi: K15 Middle Circle,
Kapoor Watch Co, G7 South Extn 1; Connaught Place
Johnson & Co, C16 CP; M61 GK1 OMEGA Chennai: ITC Park Sheraton, TTK
CONCORD Chennai: 12/27 Khadar Road; Mumbai: F31 Grand Hyatt Plaza,
PHOTOGRAPHY: ANSHUMAN SEN
Nawaz Khan Road, Nungambakkam; Santacruz (E); New Delhi: K2 Connaught

Hyderabad: Taj Deccan Hotel, Banjara Place
Hills; Mumbai: Tirupati Shopping Complex, SWATCH New Delhi: Kapoor Watch Co, G7
opp. Mahalaxmi Temple; New Delhi: G1, The South Extn 1
Crescent at the Qutab TISSOT New Delhi: Select CityWalk Mall,
EBEL Chennai: Khader Nawaz Khan Road; Saket

Personal Trainer
03/08
Because fit is the new rich

140 136
Go green
Pack on protein with palak and paneer
138
Sunshine guy
Work outdoors to keep flab at bay
145
Build your chest and back The triangle stretch

Engage more muscles for new gains in strength and size A move targeting upper legs, abs and lats
Key Bulk up
✁
Slim down Fat burn Save time Drills Ease out

Food 03/08
Go green Work out

Chomp on this nutritious palak and as your
paneer dish after a workout
Words: Sunita Pant Bansal body
signals
PALAK PANEER HOT-POT

Ingredients
n 1tbsp refined oil
n 125gm paneer (cottage cheese), cubed
n 3tbsp tomato puree
n ¼ tsp ginger-garlic paste
n ½ onion, sliced
n A guy in my gym tells me that I need to train to
1
3 handfuls baby palak (spinach) leaves
n A pinch of garam masala failure (till I can’t do any more repetitions) on
n Salt to taste every set to build muscle. Is he a prophet or a
OTHER lost cause?
S
Method OPTION neer
—Abhay, Delhi
out of pa
n Heat oil in a non-stick If you are d a ir y -free The idea of training to failure—lifting weights until your muscles
ant a
shallow pan. or you w lso use to
fu can’t complete another repetition—is pushed with religious
n ou can a er
Put in the onion and stir- option, y a u li fl o w zeal in some circles. But if it were such a good idea, you
fry for few seconds. v e g e ta ble like c ri e s, wouldn’t need to push it so hard.
or a in calo
n Now add the spinach te a d . T o fu is low u n ts A 1997 study in the Journal of Strength and Conditioning
ins l am o
beneficia
and keep on stiring till contains n d h a s no Research showed that guys not working to failure in multiple
the leaves become soft. of iron a sets gained 50 per cent more strength in the squat than guys
rol.
n Put in the mixture of tomato choleste who were doing a single all-out set.
puree and ginger-garlic paste. On the other hand, none of the subjects gained muscle or
n Add salt and spices. Allow it to boil lost fat, even though they all got stronger. You’d think that the
once. man who got the strongest would have gotten bigger, too. But
n Add the cottage cheese cubes and stir for a couple of the study didn’t show this after 14 weeks.
minutes, or till the cheese cubes get coated with the Strength gains usually result from a good training programme
sauce/gravy. but muscle gains come from the combination of the right
n Serve hot with rice, roti or toasted French bread. programme and the right diet. Or even the wrong programme
and the right diet. If you aren’t eating enough food, you won’t
420 calories, 25gm protein, 30gm fat, 4gm carbohydrates gain muscle, no matter how good your programme is.

03/08 Q&A
If I want to lose a lot of I have been doing biceps curls
2 body fat, do I have to do

cardiovascular exercise first
thing in the morning on an empty
4 for the past three months but
haven’t got the desired result.
What more should I do?
—Sudhir Tripathi, Mumbai
stomach?
—Tushar Srivastava, Delhi
Don’t count on any one exercise to
I think that’s a bad idea. First, your body overcome your genetic code, no matter
temperature is lowest in the morning, what fruit metaphor you signed on for. But
which means it takes much longer to you can maximise what you have by doing
warm up and get your muscles, joints and something a little controversial: like a
nerves working together and protecting cheat curl, says Mell Siff PhD, a
you from injury. biomechanics researcher and author of
Second, your cortisol level is highest Supertraining. Try these.
early in the day. Cortisol is a stress
hormone that can signal your body to
consume muscle for energy. So in theory,
morning exercise would have a muscle-
wasting effect, like dropping your body into
the middle of a marathon. Finally, morning
exercise proponents say, you’ll burn fat
instead of carbohydrates when you work
out before breakfast. That’s a myth: your
body burns mostly fat while you sleep so
you have plenty of carbohydrate-derived
fuel in the tank when you get up.
Exercise works best when your body
wants to do it. If that’s in the morning, at Shrug curl: After a thorough warm up, load
least be sure to eat something first. a barbell with weight that’s more than 85
per cent of the most you can lift once. Stand
Some bodybuilders at my
3
as you normally would to start the exercise,
gym work each muscle group but shrug your shoulders to start the weight
once a week. Is that enough? moving upward. Finish the curl with your
—Deepak Gogoi, Dibrugarh biceps, being careful not to arch your back
It depends on your supercompensation excessively. Lower the weight slowly.
curve. This is the wavelike response your Squat curl: Same idea, but this time start the
body has to any given workout. Let’s say movement by bending your knees and
you do bench presses on Monday along leaning forward slightly. Then quickly and
with other chest exercises. Immediately powerfully straighten your hips and knees as
after your workout and for perhaps two or you begin curling the bar and finish the curl
three days afterwards you’re weaker than with your biceps. Again, avoid overaching
before. Then the wave comes back up, and, your back and lower the bar slowly.
maybe four or five days after the workout, Practise both curls with lighter weights at
you’re stronger than you were on Monday. first. Try them once a week for a month.
That’s supercompensation. But if you Do 2 or 3 sets of 3 to 5 repetitions and
wait a full seven days, you may miss the watch those avocados grow.
wave and may actually be weaker than
you were the previous Monday. Lou Schuler
Personally, I find that my curve varies is a writer and
depending on my programme. When I am certified strength
working towards strength, I need more and conditioning
than a week between workouts and specialist based
exercises like squats, deadlifts and bench in Pennsylvania.
presses. When I’m more focussed on He’s the author of four books and
building muscle, I get better results also writes the Male Pattern Fitness
working the major muscles twice a week, weblog at louschuler.com.
using different exercises.

Slim down
Sunshine guy
Work outdoors following this simple routine two to three
times a week to ensure a fat-free body
Illustrations: Mitrarun Halder
1 Slow running
Run slowly for 5 minutes. Divide this
2 Interval running into three 30-seconds sections of
Run for a total of 20 bringing your heels up to your
minutes, cut into three backside and bringing your knees up
sections. to your waist height and 40-second
Set 1 7 minutes ➔ bouts of side-stepping.
Alternate between running
at 65 per cent of your full
pace for 40 seconds, then
pace for 40 seconds.
Set 2 7 minutes ➔
40 per cent of your full
Set 3 6 minutes ➔
40 per cent of your full
3 Stepups
Stand with feet shoulder-width apart about 1ft from a rock or
a bench with your hands on your sides. Keep your upper
body straight and step forward with your left foot onto the
rock/bench. Then bring your right foot up onto the rock/
bench, too. Return your left foot to the start position,
followed by your right. Start this slowly then pick up the
tempo. Hold weights in your hands to increase the difficulty.
Complete 3 sets of 40 seconds, resting for 30 seconds
between each set.

03/08 Fat burning
6 Pendulum
Lie flat on your back with your
7 Twisting jumps arms out at your sides and
Start in a crouch position with your your legs together. Slowly
feet shoulder-width apart and your raise your legs until your feet
torso upright. Jump up—while are above your hips. Keeping
airborne bring your feet together, your legs together and your
bend at your knees and hips to kick head and upper back on the
your feet out to your right, then land in floor, slowly roll your legs to
the start position. Repeat on your left the left as far as you can or
side. Perform 2 sets of 7 repetitions until they are 3 inches above
on each side. the ground. Pause, return
your legs to the centre, then
repeat to the right. Perform 3
sets of 6-8 repetitions on each
side.
4 Squat thrust
Start with the pressup
position with your feet 5 Kneeling leg kicks
together and extended Get on your hand and knees. Extend your right leg to the side so
behind you. Bring your that your knee is locked and facing forward. Your foot should be
feet towards your hands on the floor. Raise your leg until it’s parallel to the floor. Hold for
in a single jumping a second then bend your knee until your heel touches your
motion. Then return glutes. Straighten your knee. Lower your leg to the start position
them to the starting and repeat. Perform 3 sets of 15 repetitions on each
position. Make sure your leg, resting for 30 seconds between sets.
knees stay between your
arms and that your back
remains straight. Then
perform a pressup and
repeat the first step.
Perform 3 sets of 10
repetitions.

Bulk up
Build your
chest and
back
Engage more muscles for new
gains in strength and size
F you’re like us, you automatically delete any
I e-mail that has “FWD: FWD:” in the subject

line because you’re tired of getting the same
messages over and over again. Well, imagine
how your muscles feel doing the same exercises
the same way, workout after workout. Just like your
brain, they need something beyond the same old
stuff if you want them to get bigger and stronger.
In this chest and back programme, you’ll force
your muscles to work harder than ever by doing
exercises that require you to balance and stabilise
your body while lifting a weight. More muscle
fibres and nerve endings get involved in each
exercise, which means better results. If you’re a
beginner, this workout will help you build overall
strength faster than a routine using traditional
versions of these exercises. And if you’re an
intermediate or advanced lifter, the exercises here
will help you see new gains in size and strength.
Oh, and before we forget: be sure to forward this
workout to everyone on your mailing list.

03/08 Muscle
Do the chest and back exercises described here BEGINNER
STARTS HERE
YOUR WORKOUT
before working other muscle groups. Try to
increase the amount of weight you lift in each If you’re new to weight-lifting or are returning to it after a long layoff, consider
exercise by roughly 5 to 10 per cent each week. yourself a beginner.
You can do the remaining lifts in your workout in Do the 4 beginner exercises for 4 weeks.
any order you wish. Some suggestions: WEEKS 1–2: 2 sets of 10–12 repetitions of each
WEEKS 3–4: 2–3 sets of 8–10 reps
Ë BEGINNER Do a total-body workout 2 or 3
times a week. After you finish these chest and
BILATERAL CABLE REAR LATERAL RAISE
back exercises, try one set of 8 to 12 repetitions
(except where noted) of the following: 1 Attach two stirrup handles to the low cables
1. Squat (or leg press) of a cable-crossover station.
2. Leg curl 2 Grab the left handle with your right hand and
3. Seated alternating dumbbell press the right handle with your left and stand in the
4. Cable triceps extension middle of the station. Keep your back flat and
5. Dumbbell biceps curl bend at the waist and knees until your upper
6. Crunch (15–20 repetitions) body is parallel to the floor. Your arms should be
crossed in front of you and slightly bent.
ËINTERMEDIATE Divide your programme 3 Raise your arms until they’re parallel to the
into two workouts, one for upper body, one for floor, without changing the angle of your
lower. Alternate between the two, taking a day off elbows. Pause, then slowly return your arms to
after each. For example, do the upper-body the starting position.
workout on Monday and Friday and the lower-
body workout on Wednesday; the following
WIDE-GRIP BARBELL CHEST PRESS
week, do the opposite.
(FEET ELEVATED)
Upper-body workout After doing these chest
and back exercises, choose one exercise each 1 Lie on your back on a flat bench with your
for the shoulders, biceps and triceps. Do 2 or 3 hips bent 90 degrees and feet up in the air.
sets of the shoulder exercises and 1 or 2 sets of (Keeping your feet elevated forces you to
the arm exercises. balance on the bench, which calls more muscle
Lower-body workout Choose one “hip- fibres into play.) Grab the bar with an overhand
dominant” exercise, meaning it emphasises the grip, your hands a bit farther apart than for a
hamstrings and gluteals (examples include standard bench press, and lift it off the uprights.
stepups and any variety of deadlift). Then choose Hold it over your chin at arm’s length.
one “knee-dominant” exercise, meaning it 2 Slowly lower the bar until it nearly touches
emphasises the quadriceps muscles of the front the middle of your chest.
of the thigh (squats, leg presses and lunges 3 Pause, then push the bar back up until your
qualify). Do 2-3 warm-up sets and 2 work sets. (A arms are straight and the bar is over your chin.
work set means you’re using the most weight you
can for that number of repetitions. The warm-up
SINGLE-ARM ROW
sets should be percentages of that weight—
(ELBOW OUT)
maybe 40, 60, and 80 per cent of the work-set
weight. Do fewer repetitions in each warm-up 1 Grab a dumbbell in your left hand and place
set.) Add your choice of abdominal and calf your right hand and right knee on a flat bench.
exercises. Keep your back flat and your upper body
parallel to the floor. Let your left arm hang
ËADVANCED Divide your workout into 4 straight down from your shoulder and turn your
parts. Do each once a week; don’t work out more palm so that it’s facing your left leg.
than 2 days in a row. 2 Raise your left upper arm out to the side until
1. Shoulders and arms it’s just past parallel to the floor. Your upper arm
2. Knee-dominant exercises (described should be perpendicular to your body at the top
above), plus abs and calves of the move. Your lower arm should be pointing
3. Chest and back towards the floor.
4. Hip-dominant exercises (described above), 3 Pause, then slowly lower the weight to the
plus abs and calves again starting position.

Bulk up
KNOW YOUR
MUSCLES
DECLINE FLY
1 Grab a pair of dumbbells and lie on your back on a

6
decline bench. Hold the dumbbells directly over your lower
5 chest, with your elbows slightly bent and thumbs turned
2 towards each other.
2 Slowly lower the dumbbells and bring them slightly back
towards your shoulders until your upper arms are parallel
1 4 with the floor and in line with your ears.
3 3 Pause, then lift the dumbbells back to the starting
position.
INTERMEDIATE
1 PECTORALIS MAJOR
This is the biggest chest
muscle, the number-three
An intermediate has been lifting for at least 6
months to a year, has tried several different
workout programmes and has seen gains in
WEEKS 1–2: 2 sets of 8–10 reps
WEEKS 3–4: 2–3 sets of 6–8 reps
IMPORTANT! All 6 exercises on these two
vanity muscle behind abs strength and muscle mass. pages are for intermediate and advanced lifters.
and biceps. Its main job is to Do the 6 intermediate/advanced exercises Note the differences in sets and repetitions for
pull your upper arms in shown here for 4 weeks. each level.
towards the midline of your
body. A powerful chest—
SINGLE-LEG ALTERNATING DUMBBELL ROW
though incorrectly—is
considered the true measure 1 Grab a pair of dumbbells and stand with your left foot in
of a man’s strength. front of your right. Keep your back flat and bend over at the
hips so the dumbbells are hanging at arm’s length from
2 FRONT DELTOID
This narrow strip of
shoulder muscle assists in
your shoulders, palms facing in. Raise your right foot off the
floor.
2 Raise your left upper arm as high as you can by bending
most chest exercises. It also your elbow and squeezing your shoulder blade towards the
gives that broad look to your middle of your back.
shoulders. 3 As you lower it, raise the other arm—that’s one repetition.
4 Alternate until you finish the set.
3 LATISSIMUS DORSI
If you want a tapered
torso, you have to develop
Note: Alternate the foot you raise and the arm you start with
on each set.
this fan-shaped middle-back

SWISS-BALL REVERSE PUSHUP
muscle.
1 Secure a bar 3 to 4 ft above the floor. Lie under the bar
4 MIDDLE TRAPEZIUS
It pulls your shoulder
blades together in back.
and grab it with a shoulder-width, overhand grip. Hang at
arm’s length from the bar with your body straight and your
lower legs on a Swiss ball.
2 Keep your body rigid and pull your chest to the bar.
5 UPPER TRAPEZIUS
It lifts your shoulder
blades up towards your ears
3 Pause, then lower yourself back to the starting position.
STAGGERED GRIP PULLUP

and scares off door-to-door
salesman. 1 Grab a pullup bar with an overhand grip. Your right hand
should be directly above your right shoulder and your left
6 REAR DELTOIDS
This piece of the
shoulder muscle assists the
hand 6 to 12 inches outside of your left shoulder. Hang at
arm’s length with your ankles crossed behind you.
2 Pull yourself up as high as you can.
trapezius and latissimus in 3 Pause, then slowly return to the starting position.
most back exercises. 4 Alternate hand positions on each set, so your right hand
is placed out from the shoulder on the second set.

03/08 Muscle
ADVANCED
THE PAYOFF
An advanced lifter has been lifting consistently Do the 6 intermediate/advanced exercises
for more than a year, has seen considerable shown here for 4 weeks. MAKE AN IMPACT
gains in strength and size, is proficient at WEEKS 1–2: 2 sets of 6–8 reps Changing the angle of your
squats and several varieties of deadlifts and WEEKS 3–4: 2–3 sets of 6–8 reps, after a body during chest and back
can do at least 5 pullups. thorough warmup with lighter weights exercises can challenge
different parts of these
muscle groups for maximum
ALTERNATING SWISS-BALL INCLINE DUMBBELL PRESS
development. The numerous
1 Grab a pair of dumbbells and position yourself on your muscle groups in both these
back on a Swiss ball so your torso is at a 45-degree angle sections need to be
to the floor. effectively stimulated with
2 Hold the dumbbells just outside your shoulders at different sets of exercises to
about jaw level, with your palms facing forward. make the maximum impact.
3 Press one dumbbell overhead so the weight is above
your chin at the top of the move. As you lower it, press the IMPRESSIVE POWER
other. One of the key points to
4 Alternate until you finish the set. remember while doing chest
and back exercises is that
NOTE: Alternate the arm you start with on each set. If you need to use lifting
you’re doing an odd number of sets, start with your techniques that will allow you
weaker arm on the first and third sets. to use the maximum amount
of weight on each exercise
while keeping strict form.
SANTANA T-PUSHUPS
Compound exercises that
1 Get into pushup position with your hands on the involve your upper body and
handles of dumbbells that have been placed shoulder- incorporate functional core
width apart. strength will get your
2 Do a pushup and as you come up, rotate your body so muscles working together.
that you raise your left arm and the dumbbell straight up
over your shoulder and your body forms a T. THE PERFECT V
3 Lower the dumbbell and yourself and repeat to the Building bigger, stronger
other side. chest and back muscles also
adds size to your shoulders
NOTE: If you can, use hexagonal dumbbells the first few and trapezius, widening the
times you try this. top of your body. The larger
you are on top, the smaller
your waistline appears. So
BENT-OVER CABLE CROSSOVER
build a larger upper body to
1 Attach two stirrup handles to the low cables of a create the illusion of a thinner
cable-crossover station. midsection.
2 Grab the left handle with your left hand and the right
handle with your right and stand in the middle of the ADVANTAGE IN SPORTS
station. Keep your back flat and bend at the waist and Stronger pectoral, shoulder
WORDS: ADAM CAMPBELL; WORKOUTS: MICHAEL MEJIA;
#5
knees until your upper and back muscles give you
PHOTOGRAPHY: MARK HAVRILIAK, BETH BISCHOFF
body is parallel to the floor. more pulling power with

Your arms should be
Gym every stroke while swimming
Etiquette
outstretched but slightly and can keep your upper
bent. body from tiring out before
3 Pull the handles together your legs do. Having a
e
girl on th
without changing the angle
g li n g a t the hot e s ta ri ng strong upper body is a big
O e lik
should b riefly
treadmill
of your elbows, until your k b advantage in most sports:
lo o
n—only
hands just pass each other. at the su to the setting picks in hoops,
go blind
4 Pause, then return to the or you’ll y o u ’r e in pushing off in football etc.
o n
real reas
the gym
starting position.

Muscle
Total body training series
Grip it, rip

it, repeat
Full-body fitness in four simple
moves holding a weight plate
The continuous flow of this routine improves overall
fitness—and holding a weight plate strengthens your grip.
50MIN
Choose a plate that’s heavy enough so it’s challenging but 15MIN
WORKOUT
WORKOUT
still allows you to perform the exercises with proper form.
Do these in succession without rest. Break after the last
exercise, then repeat the circuit twice more.
Plate-pickup Plate bent-over Plate lunge walk Plate good
1 overhead lift
Stand over the plate.
Bend at the hips and knees and
2 row
Grab the plate and bend
forward at the waist until your
3 Hold the plate at your
chest, arms crossed.
Stride forward with your left leg
4 morning
Hold a plate at your
chest. Keeping your head up
grab the plate. Stand up again; torso is almost parallel to the until your left thigh is parallel to and knees slightly bent, push
when you are three- floor. Keeping your knees the floor and your back knee is your hips back and lower your
quarters of the slightly bent and your lower an inch off the floor. Squeeze chest towards the floor. Pause
way up, lift the back naturally arched, use your your glutes and bring your back before you lose the arch in
weight towards upper back and arms to pull the leg forward so you’re your back, then drive
your chest and plate up to your chest. Lower in the starting your heels against the
overhead in the plate. Do 6 to 8 repetitions. position again. floor to stand
one motion. Do 8 to 10 back up.
Reverse the repetitions, Do 6 to 8
move and alternating repetitions.
place the legs each
plate on the time.
floor. Stand,
GARG; THE TRIANGLE STRETCH PHOTOGRAPHY: RITESH SHARMA, MODEL: PARVESH VERMA
then repeat
MODEL: SANDEEP TYAGI; ILLUSTRATIONS: KAGAN MCLEOD; RELAX ILLUSTRATIONS: PIYUSH

GRIP IR, RIP IT, REPEAT WORDS: MICHAEL MEJIA, CSCS; PHOTOGRAPHY: RITESH SHARMA;
for 6 to 8
repetitions.
Ease out
Relax
The search for
tool. Ditching your work threads
helps you shift from manager to
someone who just wants to chill.
like the meditation most people
know but mindfulness means
you are keeping your brain
active.
the Holy Grail of Mindfulness
relaxation You don’t need an ashram Rock on, tune out
for meditation. If you Playing the guitar lowers
Undress your troubles practise a technique called stress levels because (a) it is
Change your clothes as soon as “mindfulness”, even a pub easy to pick up and put down
you get home from work. It can will do. For 10 minutes, study and (b) they don’t trigger your
be a powerful psychological everything in the room. It’s not competitive nature.

03/08 Cool down
The triangle stretch
A move to target your upper legs, abs and lats. Hold
each position for 15 seconds, switch legs and repeat
Step 1
Lunge out
Move your left leg forward into a lunge
position, with your right leg straight and
fully extended. Keep your left shin vertical
to the top of your foot, and your back foot
at 90 degrees to your front foot. Pivot your
torso to the left and forward, placing your
left elbow on your bent left knee and your
right hand on your right hip. This will open
up your torso and you should feel the
stretch in your inner thighs, abdominal
and obliques.
Step 2
Reach up
Move into the same position as Step 1 then place a yoga block (or anything
about 10inch high) upright and in line with the back of your left heel. Move
your left hand on the block—locking your elbow to provide a stable
platform on which to rest your weight. Fully extend your right arm
overhead, keeping it as close to your face as possible. Attempt
to keep the top arm, pelvis and back leg lined up in a single
plane. You should feel the stretch all up your right-hand
side through your lats and obliques.
Step 3
Reach further
From this position, remove the yoga block
and attempt to extend your left hand to
the floor. The tendency is to collapse
on to your front arm and leg, so
focus on shifting the thrust of
your pelvis into your back leg
as you move towards the
natural curve of your
spine. This move
requires a great deal
more flexibility, so
be careful.

145
03/08 The grid
Use this chart to track your progress through this month’s workouts—keeping a record is a great self-motivator
FAT BURNING Sunshine guy (p138)

WEEK 1 WEEK 2 WEEK 3 WEEK 4
WORKOUT 1 WORKOUT 2 WORKOUT 3 WORKOUT 1 WORKOUT 2 WORKOUT 3 WORKOUT 1 WORKOUT 2 WORKOUT 3 WORKOUT 1 WORKOUT 2 WORKOUT 3
Set Set Set Set Set Set Set Set Set Set Set Set Set Set Set Set Set Set Set Set Set Set Set Set Set Set Set Set Set Set Set Set Set Set Set Set
STATIONS (REPS)
1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3 1 2 3
Slow running
Interval running
Stepups
Squat thrust
Kneeling leg kicks
Pendulum
Twisting jumps
MUSCLE Build your chest and back (p140)

WEEK 1 WEEK 2 WEEK 3 WEEK 4
BIGNNER WORKOUT 1 WORKOUT 2 WORKOUT 3 WORKOUT 1 WORKOUT 2 WORKOUT 3 WORKOUT 1 WORKOUT 2 WORKOUT 3 WORKOUT 1 WORKOUT 2 WORKOUT 3
STATIONS (REPS) Set 1 Set 2 Set 1 Set 2 Set 1 Set 2 Set 1 Set 2 Set 1 Set 2 Set 1 Set 2 Set 1 Set 2 Set 3 Set 1 Set 2 Set 3 Set 1 Set 2 Set 3 Set 1 Set 2 Set 3 Set 1 Set 2 Set 3 Set 1 Set 2 Set 3
Bilateral cable rear lateral raise
Wide-grip barbell chest press
Single-arm row
Decline fly
INTERMEDIATE
Single-leg alternating dumbbell row
Swiss-ball reverse pushup
Staggered grip pullup
ADVANCED
Alternating Swiss-ball incline dumbbell press
Santana T-pushups
Bent-over cable crossover
✁
the
Spoils MIND feast your
eyes and titillate your
eardrums with the
best in music and
films
You’ve done the work, now reap the rewards
BODY you work
hard. you work out
harder. now party
hard too —eat well
and drink with gusto
SOUL lift your spirit
by lowering your
account balance.
pamper yourself with
the very best there is
WORTH
Watching
screen test playlist Songs from the

WORTH
Listening
Sparkle Lounge,
by Def Leppard
he release of this new album,
T slated just before the band’s
Europe and North America tour, is
a big deal for fans. This new studio
album follows two compilations,
Rock of the Ages (2005) and The
Best of Def Leppard (2004). The ‘deluxe’ edition of Hysteria (2006)
had some added novelties, but Sparkle Lounge is really the band’s
first new offering in a while.
Why listen: 1. One of the most talked-about songs is Nine Lives,
co-written by the Grammy-nominated country singer Tim McGraw.
10,000 BC It should be an interesting mix of lyrics and music. 2. Some fans feel
ike his worthy peer James Cameron, director-producer Roland the album title is ‘gay’. You might want to buy the music and find
L Emmerich thinks on a titanic scale. His films are rarely short of
apocalyptic possibilities and, very often, use state-of-the-art FX to
out what that means. 3. The older guys in rock are still the ones that
rock the hardest. Expect Def Leppard to keep that up.
showcase the destruction of the only part of the world that seems to
matter—the US of A. Hostile alien landing? Check. Giant critter run- Mystic Soundscapes, various artists
ning amok among the highrises? Check. Climate change causing ood albums don’t fade away, they just come back repack-
a great deluge? Check. Following Independence Day, Godzilla and
The Day after Tomorrow, Emmerich abandons the 21st century and
G aged. Mystic Soundscapes, the series that celebrates the
rhythm of nature, now comes as a 5-CD World Music set, based on
dials back to a time when facing unfriendly animals with foot-long the sounds of the desert, forest, wind, water and mountain.
fangs were all in a day’s work for a brave young man. Why listen: 1. All the five artists—Amaan Ali Khan, Ayaan Ali Khan,
Why watch: 1. This is the kind of Hollywood fare you can’t have Taufiq Qureshi, Rakesh Chaurasia and Rahul Sharma—are carrying
enough of. It’s a semi-epic, a romance, an action extravaganza all forward their musical legacy, while experimenting with the new. 2. It
rolled in one. 2. Heroine Camilla Belle is seriously hot. 3. Enough of gets you back in touch with nature. 3. If you’re a non-aficionado, it’s
futuristic claptrap. Let’s find out what sabre-toothed tigers were like. your easy introduction to classical music.

you think therefore you are MIND
WORTH
Your Time
crush
MALAIKA ARORA KHAN
Why we love her, and why
you should too
ontroversies and Bollywood go hand
C in hand, and a recent, rather asinine
one targeted the sexy Malaika Arora
Khan for “letting go” of her sex quotient
and revealing “ugly stretch marks” in
an item number. Malaika retorted (quite
to our delight): “I’ve never bothered
about stretch marks, and I’m not going
to start now.” Now we guys who work
out regularly (and occasionally skip our
workouts, too!) relate to the problem first
hand: six weeks of skipping the gym, and
our muscles get softer and ugly stretch
marks start to appear. We also know it’s
almost impossible to get rid of them. And
in Malaika’s defence, she is a mother,
after all! So, we’ll let the critics say what
they have to. We like our Malla, anyway.
If you’re having second thoughts about
whether she’s still as hot, just ask her to
turn around and you’ll have your answer;
for hips never lie!
Photo courtesy:
zapak.com

you cannot live by exercise alone BODY
liquid
no oil slick here WORTH
Feasting
assets
il has been getting pretty
O bad press from health
experts around the world, so
THE GASTRONAUT SALTZ Blue
Ingredients
you may as well stay ahead of 1 tbsp whole blueberries
the curve and join the zero-oil 15ml fresh lemon juice
movement by dining out at 60ml Ty Ku, an Asian-inspired liqueur made
Saltz. The restaurant, which with sake
serves Oriental and Continental 30ml limoncello
cuisines, has a mini menu of 60ml pomegranate juice
zero-oil dishes, with even-
Mixing instructions
handed justice for veggies
In a rocks glass, combine the blueberries and
and carnivores. Its regular fine lemon juice and muddle the berries to extract
dining menu also has quite a the juice. Add ice until the glass is half full, top
few items that can be prepared with the remaining ingredients, and stir.
without any oil, should a patron
Health buzz
ask for it. And except in the
In a Preventive Medicine Research Institute
deep-fried foods that require
study, heart patients’ health improved after
refined oil, e.g. fish and chips any feeling of heaviness. Post- they drank antioxidant-rich pomegranate
and crispy chicken and such Food for meal, the food settled easily. juice.
like, the cooking medium for
everything is olive oil, so it’s
Thought The menu has a fair sprin-
kling of stir-fries and vegetables
good for you really. Olive oil Never work all throughout. Wholewheat
boosts your metabolism, actu- pasta is available on request.
ally helping you stay trim, and before There’s just one disadvantage
keeps yout ticker in top shape, breakfast; if to getting used to such healthy
too. Go on, then, eat some eating: you may never be able
more. you have to to look at those vanaspati-
The pasta arrabiata we tried work before soaked fried horrors again
was proof that absence of oil without a shudder.
does not compromise taste in
breakfast, eat
any way. The spicy tomato tang your breakfast Saltz
was perfect, the penne betray- M-69, M-Block Market,
ing no sign of blandness, and
first. Greater Kailash-I,
you would be able to polish off ~Josh Billings New Delhi;
the generous portion without Tel: 46536281
reasons to be rich SOUL
WORTH
hang it!
Desiring
hen you suspend this piece—a lighting instrument in name, but

W really a work of art—from your ceiling, you can look at it from time
to time and think, “There hangs porcelain worth Rs 24 lakh.” Chances
are, when you let this figure drop casually in one of your small family
parties involving maybe 73 guests, most of them will get a crick in the
neck staring up at it, unable to tear their eyes away. That’s the power of
the Niagara chandelier from Lladro.

THE GUY LIST
SPECIAL
SS
RE
SH ST
SLA
Feel better in 5 minutes
13 mood-lifters and life-enhancers. All in less than 300 seconds
1in 8
Number of
men who
HAVE SEX
to relieve
1 Sit in silence and count stress
backward from 300. That’s
a five-minute chunk of life 2 in 5
Number who
gone to the gods, buddy.
Do you miss it? Good. Now DROWN IT
you see that killing time is
IN BOOZE
a subtle form of suicide.
2 Lunching at the desk does

not mean putting yourself
outside a large bag of
chips, followed by sugary
coffee. Have five-minute
snacks of energy bars,
yoghurt and some fresh
fruit every two hours.
3 Coffee-free break #1: Put

your favourite song on
headphones. Loud. Some
Euphoria, perhaps? Feel
better? Good, now get
back to work.
4 Every month, after you get

paid, log into your account
and transfer online 10
per cent of the salary to
another account. For the
rest of the month, forget
the second account exists.
5 Return that one call you

don’t want to return. Cut it
off after five minutes; you
now officially have better
things to do. Grab your girl and do whatever
playful thing it is you do to
6 You owe somebody a brighten her day. A quick tango.
thank-you note. Write it. A well-timed foot rub. A little
flailing in the shower. Attack now!
7 Stretch your hamstrings.
WORDS: MIKE ZIMMERMAN; PHOTOGRAPHY: CORBIS
Makes every muscle feel

better, doesn’t it?
8 Aim a few choice words 10 Coffee-free break #2: That Guy Got That I 12 Coffee-free break #3:
at yourself when you feel Get up from the chair Haven’t?” Whatever it Keep a funny book on
like lighting a cigarette. and take a walk around is, note your attitude hand. Laxman’s pocket
Use a different voice if the office. You don’t even towards that item or trait. cartoon collection, some
you are alone. have to loosen your tie. You now have a good old Calvin and Hobbes,
idea what’s motivating Khushwant Singh’s joke
9 Shred some old card state- 11 Great game when you’re you these days. And it book. Make five pages
ments. Feels good, right? stuck in traffic: “What’s passes the time. your 3 pm ritual. MH

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MH Contents 03/08

IN 15 104 Master the BBQ

4 MEN’S HEALTH MARCH 2008 www.menshealthindia.com

Health Nutrition/Weight Loss Wisdom

62 Sweat to shape 40 True blue MARCH 2008 | Rs 50

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a rage accessorise for the best effect

MAKE-UP AND HAIR: KAAJEE & KARAN RAI

PLUS! LOOK SEXIER | MASTER THE BBQ | READ HER MIND

6 MEN’S HEALTH MARCH 2008 www.menshealthindia.com

MEN’S HEALTH GLOBAL EDITIONS/EDITORS-IN-CHIEF

8 MEN’S HEALTH MARCH 2008 www.menshealthindia.com

DERMATOLOGY ÜÜ Suffocation in a closed space, as in an YOGA

10 MEN’S HEALTH MARCH 2008 www.menshealthindia.com

p39 p56 p86

12 MEN’S HEALTH MARCH 2008 www.menshealthindia.com

I brush twice daily, but I still

I’m a thin guy. Why do I still

14 MEN’S HEALTH MARCH 2008 www.menshealthindia.com

I have started bicycling,

www.menshealthindia.com MARCH 2008 MEN’S HEALTH 15

a woman. Most Indian men Ñ PRADYUMON BHATT,

Rain Rising barometric pressure High winds

www.menshealthindia.com MARCH 2008 MEN’S HEALTH 17

A not-so-clutch reliever Hit the spot, even TUNE IN

191 calories an hour while at

Step 1 Step 2 Step 3

18 MEN’S HEALTH MARCH 2008 www.menshealthindia.com

Beam her up SIGNS

SHE’S NOT PHONE(Y) AT ALL! than men to

13 men who ensure their

Source: India Today-AC Nielsen ORG Marg infections. researchers.

20 MEN’S HEALTH MARCH 2008 www.menshealthindia.com

The health life of honey 2001

22 MEN’S HEALTH MARCH 2008 www.menshealthindia.com

POOR LOSERS PHOTOGRAPHY: DREAMSTIME, DIGITAL IMAGING: PIYUSH GARG

24 MEN’S HEALTH MARCH 2008 www.menshealthindia.com

When she offers forbidden pleasures, it’s

26 MEN’S HEALTH MARCH 2008

MARCH 2008 MEN’S HEALTH 27

What will happen after the

Imagine everyone you’re

When she keeps touching

When you feel the urge

30 minutes of sanity. Use

Create your own

K egels, cardio and abs are the

that their wives don’t want to have

Caress her sensitive spots with your tongue

2 Breasts curves when she’s on her back, so her

www.menshealthindia.com MARCH 2008 MEN’S HEALTH 29

What’s The cost of…

Before dialling for the doc, ﬁnd out

with our DIY diagnosis INDIAN ROADS ARE not Formula

you vomit or have diarrhoea, your with loperamide. Constipated?

BECAUSE Driving at high speeds

YOU GET Doctor’s fees and a

True: In India, at least, your hair treatment.

30 MEN’S HEALTH MARCH 2008 www.menshealthindia.com

Test your brainpower RED YELLOW BLUE GREEN ORANGE