23 November,2010 06:35 AM IST | | Aviva Dharmaraj
He plays badminton at the age of sixty-four and is known to enjoy the occasional game of Tennis. But why does he still have a chin sag?
In keeping with his newly acquired 'take-charge' image Maharashtra CM Prithviraj Chavan is said to be particular about fitness. The 64 year-old is said to enjoy a good game of tennis and badminton in his spare time.
CM Prithviraj Chavanu00a0Pic/Satish Acharya
However, there's no escaping Chavan's double chin, which got us wondering if moderate exercise was enough to keep a double chin at bay. "Just walking won't do anything to bust a double chin, even gym work-outs won't help," says yogacharya Shameem Akhtar Fitness expert Zareen Watson agrees, "A double chin is a pocket of deposited fat, so diet plays a crucial role in determining your body fat percentage and thus the possibility of having a double chin increases dramatically with poor eating habits and faulty nutrition."
A double chin can be a sign of inner ageing says Shameem. "Yoga and following a yogic diet seems to be only relief for this condition," she says.
What to eat
The basic tenet of a yogic diet is to consume sattvic food or foods that are beneficial for the system and promote good health. The diet is essentially a lacto-vegetarian one, and the only non-animal foods it includes are milk, cheese and yoghurt. The idea is to consume foods that are as close to their natural state as possible. This includes eating lots of fresh fruits and vegetables, and foods that are free from additives and preservatives. Other Sattvic foods include cereal, seeds, nuts, lentils, rice, grains, butter and honey.
What to do
Shameem advocates practicing the Pranamasana or Prayer pose. This is done by placing the palms together in a namaste gesture, and then fanning out the elbows as wide as you can. Place the hands so their base rests at the center of your hairline. Inhale. Exhale. Inhaling, tilt your head gently up. Ensure elbows remain fanned out. Hold this pose breathing normally. Exhale.u00a0
Release to return to starting point. Repeat a few times. "This works the entire neck region removing ugly folds and sagging. It is a mood elevator, as are all upward facing poses. Such poses offer relief in respiratory ailments. They sweeten the voice, adding power to voice delivery," says Shameem.
Another asana Shameem suggests is the Greeva chakra or neck roll. It can be done seated in a chair or standing. Sit up straight. Inhale, lifting head up. Exhaling, relax it back. Do this five times. "This may be done several times during the day, especially if having a chair-bound pose.
Follow it up with gentle neck rolls, circling the head clockwise and anti-clockwise thrice.u00a0 All neck movements must be slow and precise.u00a0 Synchronising it with your breath so each movement follows an inhalation or exhalation helps maintain a slow pace, which is most effective," explains Shameem.
Lifestyle factors, however, are not the only considerations to keep in mind, as genetics too has a key role to play. "Our bodies fat storage areas are genetically predetermined. Thus, if you have a family history of double chins and then to compound it have poor dietary habits then it is inevitable that the dreaded chin will appear," adds Zareen. Other factors that contribute to a double chin include sagging facial muscles, age and gravity.
Posture plays a role
"Mr Prithviraj Chavan might lead an active life, but unfortunately with a 14-hour workdays, and most of them confined to a desk, the effects of poor posture will also contribute to slack facial muscles," says Zareen, who advocates a good strength training routine along with cardio, but emphasises on sound nutrition.
"To effect fat loss there has to be a synergistic blend of sound nutrition, strength training to firm and strengthen overall muscles in the body, and cardio vascular exercise of good intensity," elaborates Zareen.
While stress does not directly contribute to a double chin, it does affect fat loss says Zareen. "The body releases hormones when under stress that are not conducive to fat loss."
Make-up artiste Cory Wallia on how to disguise a double chin with make-up
"One of the great ways to conceal a double chin is learning how to hold one's face at the correct angle and not tucking the chin in and down too much," says Cory. Long-term measures include exercise and following a balanced diet "or even a simple surgery".
Those looking to conceal a double chin need to invest in the 'right' concealer or foundation. "Look for one that is two shades darker and compatible with your own skin tone," says Cory. Figure out whether you have more yellow, pink or brown tones in your skin. "Blending it very well is extremely important," says Cory, who cautions against looking like "a child painted your throat with chocolate".
"The secret to doing it correctly is practice," he adds. "Start from the area under your ears to just along and under the jaw line, which you have to feel with your finger tips, and then come up to the chin and follow right up to the other ear." The subsequent triangle that is formed then needs to be filled in very well. "Make sure there are no visible lines. Use a darker shade of compact to just set it."
Four simple exercises to beat that nasty sag under your chin
The exercises listed below will help in tightening loose facial muscles and help with firming a sagging chin. "These exercises have to be done regularly and at least two to three times a day for an extended period of time to see the benefits," advises fitness expert Zareen Watson.
The downward movement of our jaw and mouth is triggered by a muscle known as the Platysma. These few exercises are meant to strengthen the muscles of the chin and overall exercise and nutrition will contribute in shedding that pocket of fat.
Stand in an upright position, gently tilt your head back as far as you can. Keep your mouth firmly shut till you feel the tightening under your chin. Count a slow 10 and then bring head back to normal stance. Repeat as often as you can.
Sit straight and tilt your bead back as far as you can. Now open and close your mouth 10 times. Repeat as many times as possible.
An old tried and tested exercise is to slap under the chin with the back of the hand. Increase the speed of the movement. Do this for at least a minute or two a couple times a day.u00a0
