Vishnu Ki Secret Life

The world before the coronavirus is now gone, changed forever. How can we deal with the new reality we now face? Everything about our lives has changed – from our work, to our relationships and our exercise and even spending habits. Questions flood our minds, filling us with anxiety. Understanding this new situation can be difficult. In this time of crisis, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed and lost. Not to worry, because we have answers that can help. This episode of Vishnu Ki Secret Life dives into adapting to change. From practical methods, to different ways of thinking, there are several approaches to better adapt to change. Understanding these, can mean the difference between positive or negative change. Can we make the most of this tense period, and come out of it happier and healthier? Knowing what to do and how to do it, can bring us closer to this possibility. Everyone deals with change differently. Don’t beat yourself up about it if you feel lost. Understanding is the first step to growth. So, listen to this podcast, where we help you understand what to do. Host and Producer: Vishnu Gopinath Editor: Shelly Walia Music: Big Bang Fuzz

What do music lessons, art therapy, cooking, and video-calling have in common? Well, they're all great ways to pass your time in lockdown, silly! This is a special episode of Vishnu Ki Secret Life, recorded from deep within the confines of my home during lockdown. More than two weeks have passed since most of the world went into lockdown, to stop COVID-19 from spreading any further. Two weeks in isolation can do a number to anyone's mental health and peace, going from fun to "when will this end?" quicker than you can say, "coronavirus is not that dangerous". We're joined by an art therapist, a music teacher, a part-time chef and full-time lawyer, and a counsellor, on this special episode! Guests: Nyana Sabharwal, Founder, SafeSpace Anu Singh, Art Therapist, Certified Zentangle Teacher & NLP Coach Suyash Gabriel, Drummer & Music Teacher Arnab Ghosh, Lawyer & Part-Time Chef Host and Producer: Vishnu Gopinath Editor: Shelly Walia Music: Big Bang Fuzz

In the interest of limiting the novel coronavirus’ spread, a number of organisations in India and across the world have asked their employees to work from home, thus eliminating person-to-person contact. This, as you may know, is all contributing to what has become the watchword in this time of pandemic and panic –– social distancing. Social distancing is a set of non-medical steps that can limit the spread of the virus. If we don’t practice social distancing, and if the number of infected keep rising, we also risk overburdening our healthcare system, something that Italy has had to deal with. Things have changed, and will have to change as we go on... social distancing – by not going out, by working from home, by limiting human interaction, becomes an essential part of this. Today we’ll show you how to prepare for social distancing and do it effectively so you can weather the coming weeks with good health and peace of mind. Guests: Dr. Jayakrishnan, Co-ordinator, Regional Prevention of  Epidemic Disease Cell, Calicut Medical College Dr. Sumit Ray, Chairperson Critical Care Medicine and Chief of Medical Services, Artemis Hospitals Delhi Host and Producer: Vishnu Gopinath Editor: Shelly Walia Music: Big Bang Fuzz

Modern life is unbelievably stressful. According to a 2018 study, 9 out of 10 Indians feel they’re suffering from stress because of work, health or money. 3 out 4 said they don't feel comfortable talking to a medical or mental health professional for their stress.  On this episode of Vishnu Ki Secret Life, I explore five alternatives to meditation for relaxation and stress relief. These techniques are useful for different challenges you face daily, including work stress, sleeplessness, social anxiety, and general anxiety. The methods I tried include Autogenic Relaxation, Jacobson’s Progressive Muscle Relaxation Technique, Guided Visualization, Diaphragmatic Breathing and Body Scan Relaxation. Which method will suit you best? Listen to the podcast and find out! Guest: Sri M, Spiritual Guide Host and Producer: Vishnu Gopinath Editor: Shelly Walia Music: Big Bang Fuzz Music

Do you feel guilty or ashamed after you eat some foods? Do you hide what you eat or how much you eat from people? Do you ever stuff yourself till you’re full, and then keep eating? If you said yes to any of these questions, you, or someone you know, might be suffering from food addiction. On this podcast, I document my own struggle with food addiction, and how I try to cope with it on a daily basis. What’s food addiction? It’s an addiction to junk food that’s as strong as drug addiction and as damaging, if not more damaging. Like any addiction, a food addiction can kill you prematurely, by causing obesity, heart disease, high cholesterol and a range of lifestyle disorders…and if it doesn’t kill you, it makes you miserable, by taking from you slowly till you’re left a shell of your former self. Guest: Naini Setalvad, Obesity, Lifestyle & Nutrition Consultant Host and Producer: Vishnu Gopinath Editor: Shelly Walia

I think it’s safe to say most of us were hoping 2020 was better than 2019. But just over a month into 2020, many people have already felt that stress levels, both physical and mental have gone up. And the first thing that goes for a toss when life gets overwhelming, is your self-care routine. Diets go out the window, exercise routines are ignored and we often stop the steps we took to make sure we were feeling and doing fine. But self-care is essential to a healthier state of mind, a better mood, improved energy and overall wellness. On this podcast we learn all about how to ensure you self-care and different approaches to self-care. Guests: Kamna Chibber, Clinical Psychologist Abhishek Munian, 28 Jennifer Fatogun, 28 Veeran Singh, 28 Namrata, 27 Host and Producer: Vishnu Gopinath Editor: Shelly Walia Listen to our series of guided meditation podcasts here.

On Vishnu Ki Secret Life, we usually talk about fun, light topics with a little bit of knowledge you can take for your own daily life. Today we're talking about something a little serious - Mental health. Specifically how people's mental health has been affected by the CAA protests and anti-NRC protests, going on in India right now. The CAA protests have had a visible impact across the country, with people mobilising in large numbers to protest peacefully. Protests have turned violent in many parts of the country, with police firing, using tear gas and lathi charges against protesters. But while the political and social unrest continues, people’s mental health has taken a turn for the worse. We spoke to people who have regularly attended the CAA protests, people who’ve been following the protests closely, as well as psychologists and therapists volunteering support for people in distress during the protests. So today we explain how and why your mental health suffers at times like this, and how you can take care of yourself. Guests: Srividya Rajaram, Psychologist Siddhant Sachdeva, 20, Student, IPU Shalini Pratap Singh, 19, Student, Delhi University Zijah Sherwani, 26, Journalist, The Quint Ataliq Khan, 23, Journalist, The Quint Garvita Khybri, 29, Journalist, The Quint Host and Producer: Vishnu Gopinath Editor: Shelly Walia Additional Reading: Mental Health in the Times of Protest 'Society is suffering': Hong Kong protests spark mental health crisis The Lancet Comes Under Fire Over Report on Health of Kashmiris

Almost 100 percent of all New Year’s resolutions fail. But this year we’re giving you a guide to set better resolutions and accomplish what you set out to achieve. Do you want to lose all the weight you’ve gained over the holidays plus a little more? You want to make 2020 the year you quit smoking? It’s very doable, but you just need to take the right steps, with the right guidance. Today’s episode of Vishnu Ki Secret Life covers just that - how to set better resolutions and how to accomplish your goal. Listen in! Guest: Kavita Devgan, Nutritionist & Author of 'Don't Diet!' and 'Ultimate Grandmother Hacks' Host & Producer: Vishnu Gopinath Editor: Shelly Walia Read the story on The Quint.

What is a calorie? Why do calories matter? Are all calories the same? And can you stay healthy if you just count calories and work out regularly? Today we’ll answer all these questions and more. We have three guests with us today – clinical nutritionist Rupali Datta, 23-year-old Abhishek Sarin, who works as a constultant in Delhi, 22-year-old Udayan Sinha, who’s a journalist. Both Abhishek and Udayan have lost approximately 20 kilos each. And this is everything you need to know about calories. There’s one group of nutritionists who swear by calorie counting and its effectiveness for weight loss, weight gain, or maintenance. Then there’s another group that says calorie counting is the biggest farce of the 21st century. Which group is right? We answer every single question you might have about calories on this podcast. Host & Editor: Vishnu Gopinath Guests: Rupali Datta, Clinical Nutrionist(Fortis Hospitals, Max Hospitals) Abhishek Sarin, Consultant Udayan Sinha, Journalist Producer: Shelly Walia

......And we're back! This is Episode 1 of Season 2 of Vishnu Ki Secret Life, the show where you learn something new, through my own experiments, and with the help of experts and others who’ll be joining me. Today we’re talking about how to get back on track when you either stop a diet or fail on the way to your goal! Stop me if you’ve heard this story before. The festivals are here, you’ve had a few weeks of eating good rich food, mithai, cake, and other delicious things…. And suddenly your clothes are just a little tighter! Despite everything on Season 1 of Vishnu Ki Secret Life, despite knowing all the ways and science behind it, I defaulted on my health this year. I ignored all the lessons I’d learned and put on like 10-12 kilos. And then I was sad. So, I thought, let’s take a step back from my own advice, and speak to a nutritionist and an expert in the field. And that’s our first guest on this episode, Kavita Devgan. She’s a nutritionist and weight management consultant as well as the author of ‘Don't Diet! 50 Habits Of Thin People’ and ‘Ultimate Grandmother Hacks’. I also spoke to my brother Vivek, who recently got back to being healthy, after steadily gaining weight for the most of the last two years. Growing up we’ve both been overweight or obese for large parts of our life. So, today, Kavita, Vivek and I will tell you different methods to get back into a healthy routine IF you’ve wandered off the path and found your clothes tighter than usual. Host & Editor: Vishnu Gopinath Guests: Kavita Devgan, Nutritionist and Author of 'Don't Diet! 50 Habits Of Thin People’ and ‘Ultimate Grandmother Hacks’ Vivek Gopinath Producer: Shelly Walia 

Let’s talk sex. How can you improve your sex drive? There’s a ton of research proving the connection between what you eat and what goes on in your bedroom. But what else can affect your sex drive, positively or negatively? And how can you get more bang for your buck, quite literally. A low sex drive can be tough to deal with. It can lead to decreased interest in sex, friction in relationships, arguments, dissatisfaction, frustration. I’ve personally experienced what can happen when someone loses their sex drive when they’re in a relationship. It leads to a lot of repressed needs, frustration with your partner and anger. So listen to these tips and increase your sex drive with food, exercise, supplements, and other good health practices. How To Sleep Better What Supplements Should You Take? More Podcasts from The Quint Host: Vishnu Gopinath Producer: Vishnu Gopinath Editor: Vishnu Gopinath Follow Vishnu on Twitter at @VishnuSaysWhat

How does food affect your brain? Do you feel low on energy all the time? Lethargic? Like you don’t want to get out of bed or move? It may have something to do with the food you eat. Eating unhealthy food or junk can lead to problems like depression, fatigue, lethargy, and mood swings. What food can you eat to fix this? What food should you eat to avoid feeling like this? There’s a big relationship between what goes in your stomach and what goes on in your mind. There’s substantial research about the relationship between food and mental health relationship which proves that your gut can influence your head. So I’ll tell you about my own experiences with this first and then we can talk some science about why this happens and what you can eat to fix your mental health. Listen to the podcast for the complete breakdown!

Do you need to eat three meals a day? Does eating more, smaller meals speed up your metabolism? Is breakfast the most important meal of the day? The answer to all of these questions is a big fat no. And I’ve got into tons of arguments about this, but stick around and you’ll know why I’m correct. So, on this podcast we discuss paleolithic living, paleolithic eating, paleolithic exercise as well as intermittent fasting. So going paleo means getting a little closer to nature, but not going full hippy. It starts with how you eat. So what can you eat and what can’t you eat? Also what should you know about intermittent fasting? Listen to the podcast, where we answer all these questions and more. Check out the podcast on sleep here. Click here for the episode on which diet suits you best. Host: Vishnu Gopinath Producer: Vishnu Gopinath Send your feedback into podcasts@thequint.com or @VishnuSaysWhat on Twitter.

On this episode of Vishnu Ki Secret Life we answer one of the most searched questions on the internet when it comes to health and fitness.   What diet should YOU follow?   We cover three popular diets on this podcast – The Keto Diet, The Low-Carb Diet and The Paleo Diet.   The ketogenic diet, or keto, is an almost zero-carb diet that focuses on high protein and high fat food. In simple terms, when you’re on a ketogenic diet, you eat almost no carbohydrates.    The Low-carb diet allows a low to moderate amount of carbohydrates in your diet, high protein, and moderate to low fat.   The paleo diet  - Short for paleolithic, in one sentence, the paleo diet is eating like paleolithic man, or how a caveman would eat. Read the story here. Send your feedback, suggestions and queries in to podcasts@thequint.com Host: Vishnu Gopinath Producer: Vishnu Gopinath Editor: Vishnu Gopinath Follow Vishnu Gopinath on Twitter at VishnuSaysWhat

Supplements. Pills. Drugs. Which ones should you have? And how can they help you? On this podcast, we discuss the often neglected fourth pillar of health – supplementation. Why should you use supplements? Which supplements should you take? Why can’t you get your nutrients from just eating “healthy”, natural food? We answer all these questions and more on this episode of Vishnu Ki Secret Life. Host: Vishnu Gopinath Producer: Vishnu Gopinath You can follow Vishnu on Twitter at @VishnuSaysWhat The link to the L-Theanine Podcast. Check out more podcasts from The Quint here.

Getting inadequate sleep for even one night can affect your brain function. Getting inadequate sleep for many days together, turns your brain into a confused mess. Simply eating right and sleeping well will make you healthier. On the other side of this coin is the fact that if you DON’T get enough quality sleep your fitness, your brain, your memory, and your appetite ALL go for a toss. I know because I’ve messed around with my sleep quite a bit, getting too little, or, sometimes, getting the right amount. On this podcast, we tell you why you should get good sleep, how to get good sleep, why you may be feeling exhausted despite sleeping a lot, and how to sleep really little, and still wake up feeling refreshed. Read the story here. Producer: Vishnu Gopinath Host: Vishnu Gopinath Editor: Vishnu Gopinath

I experience anxiety often. If you’ve dealt with anxiety, you know the crippling effect it has on you. You’re always worried or uncertain, you have trouble making decisions, and it basically is a huge pain. My anxiety is usually made worse because I drink a lot of coffee. L-Theanine is a non-essential amino acid which is found in tea. Which means it’s not made naturally in your body, but you can get it from drinking tea. The ingredient in green tea that calms you down is L-Theanine! On this podcast I'll walk you through how L-Theanine helped make me a more calm, centred person, and how you can supplement with L-Theanine to fight off anxiety. Listen to the podcast for the full story on how L-Theanine helped me, and can help you! Read the story here.

In March 2013, I lost more than 5 kilos of weight in 2-3 weeks by eating ONLY fat. I didn’t step inside a gym for a single day of those three weeks, but I SHREDDED fat. How? I went on a fat fast. During a fat fast, you eat ONLY FAT. Almost no protein or carbohydrates. JUST FAT. The science behind it, is that since fat is so satiating, it’s hard to overeat it. I started my fast on 3 March, 2013, and broke my fast on 19 March. I started my fast weighing around 87 kilograms. Two weeks later, I was down by 5-6 kilograms. I looked up fat fasting and did my research on fat fasting from multiple online resources. Disclaimer: Speak to your doctor before you do this. A fat fast is an extreme step, and should, under no circumstances, be done suddenly or without planning.  Listen to the podcast for the whole story!

I first learned about Modafinil in 2012. It’s a prescription drug that’s commonly used to treat narcolepsy and a range of other issues including sleep disorders, and Attention Deficit Hyperactive Disorder. It’s also used, off prescription, as a ‘cognitive enhancer'. I read a study that said Jet fighter pilots could function for up to 37 hours of continuous wakefulness, with a very small drop in baseline function on 100 milligram doses of Modafinil. I tried Modafinil for the first time in law school. I’d kept delaying a number of previous exams, and one thing led to another, and eventually I had just two weeks to write 9 exams.  Listen to the podcast for the full story! Read the story here.

You might feel like you’ve tried everything to lose weight, but nothing happened. That’s likely because you’re making these weight loss mistakes that you should avoid.  Don’t worry much, I’ll tell you what might be going wrong that you haven’t realised.  So in case you missed it, a quick recap – I was super fat my whole life, blowing up to 120 kilograms at my fattest, and then I lost around 40 kilos in a year, just by eating the right things and doing a little exercise.  But my story didn’t end there. After losing all that weight, I also gained a lot of it back, and lost it again. And this has been an up and down process ever since.  So I’m more than a little knowledgeable about what and why these things happen. The podcast has the whole story, so here’s a quick look at it. Read the story here.