Aslam Gafoor is a hospitality professional. He loves to travel, is a foodie, a wine enthusiast and among his other hobbies he collects bells from across the world. Twitter - @AslamGafoor I often remember an old story -- there was this man, like you and me, who went to the doctor for a health check-up. During the consultation, the doctor gave the man a long list of things that he should stay away from -- chocolates, fried food, sweets, soft drinks, alcohol, etc. Upon which the man asked, "Doctor, if I give up all this what is the point of living in this world?" And, that's my point -- to stay healthy you don't necessarily have to give up on everything in life. My belief is that the secret to healthy living is to practice 'moderation' in everything we eat or drink. I notice many people go overboard and binge on food and drinks without any care of the damage this must be doing to their body. It is proven that most often, our brain cells are craving for food more than what the stomach requires. When we are slightly grubby, we usually eat up everything in front of us to satiate our hunger, which also means a lot of extra calories than what we normally require. To overcome this, I recommend a habit of eating a small piece of a sweet or chocolate instead of gorging on the whole box. Also, it would be sensible to share a bottle of cola with a friend or spouse, which will automatically cut your consumption and calories into half, and yet satiate your craving. I follow a few simple rules that help me to stay fit. I believe in eating more of smaller meals through the day that help me stay away from unnecessary hunger pangs -- so I eat every few hours. Also, there are some other activities, in addition to the above, which will help us stay fit -- like drinking freshly squeezed vegetable or fruit juice at home in the morning and having plenty of water throughout the day -- it's great for your system. Your skin will shine and your insides will be rid of toxins. Sleep well and enough -- nothing works better to calm down our tired and stressed nerves. I would also strongly recommend a morning walk -- it is very refreshing and you don't necessarily have to join a gym to do this. If possible, try doing yoga -- it is an activity that can be done anywhere and does not need any additional gadgets and accessories. I am not a doctor; however, my intention is that all of us should adopt a lifestyle (despite our busy lives) that will help us stay healthy and fit. I am talking about simple activities that do not require much effort yet, are very effective. I practice most of what I have said above and I guess, all this has helped me tremendously. After all, staying fit is not a choice, it is a necessity and the sooner we start the better. And, of course, fewer trips to the doctor!

Aslam Gafoor is a hospitality professional. He loves to travel, is a foodie, a wine enthusiast and among his other hobbies he collects bells from across the world. Twitter - @AslamGafoor

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Staying fit and healthy

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