How to keep in shape during the winter season

So you spent the entire summer under the AC, with a cold drink in your hand. Winter's here and now you notice that you've got big love handles escaping the sides of your pants! So what do you do to get fit again? Here's our five-point program, whether you're in the chilly foggy North or a balmy pleasant South.

1.    Stretch and stretch some more – A lot of guys who want to get fit quick head straight for the dumbbells. "Bad idea," says Krishna Kumar, fitness specialist and personal instructor based in Delhi. "Always start your workout sessions with lots of stretches. In fact, you could go the army way and concentrate more on stretches than heavy weight workouts," says Krishna.

Apart from warming up your muscles, stretches can also help with muscular strength. Do a hamstring stretch where you stand and try to touch your toes. You can flex your knees a bit but don't over-exert yourself while touching your toes.

Also try the upper back stretch by holding your hands over your head. Rotate your shoulders forward to really get a good stretch for your upper back. Hold the stretch for a slow count to ten and feel your body thank you.

2.    Watch what you are eating – Yes, you've heard it lots of times, but it still holds true - you are what you eat. Quit starchy, oily chips and all that street food you've been gorging on. While you're at it, cut down on carbs after 7 p.m. Replace your usual source of carbohydrates with good carbs like the kind you find in potatoes and oatmeal. "Eat egg whites and fish for proteins or pulses if you are vegetarian. Go for apples, grapefruit and berries for fibre. And most importantly, have 4 to 6 small meals a day. That will keep your metabolism stoked all day," advises nutritionist Dr. Vaibhav Singh. And remember to have proteins in all these meals. Carbohydrates should be reserved only for before and after a workout. Supplement your diet with probiotics to keep your stomach healthy. One way to do this is to include regular doses of yoghurt in your diet. Feel those muscles under the layer of fat already?