Its going to be exactly two months since when i decided to tackle my over- weight problem. No it wasnt the first time in ma 8 years of being overweight that I thought of doing something about it. But i guess the difference bewtween all the past attempts and this one is that this time I seem far more resolute and finally it came from within. Till now it used to be my Mom putting in all the hardwork to try and make me follow some means to lose weight.. But others always said "its ok, she'll lose weight when she really wants to!!" N i guess they were right.. This time it really did come from within me... I had had enough of this freakingg problem.. Though everyone made me feel it was not a big one but still somewhere it did pose many chain problems and effects.. like those of lack of confidence, poor self image and the likes... The biggest reason for ma extra pounds was that i was a very lazy kid.. i hated to excercise n ma Mom used to try all tactics to drag me outa da house but I used to be one indoor freak!! I finally joined the gym on 25th Dec, Christmas!! But the most mportant motivating factor was that i wasn't the only one trying but my best friend was wanting to lose weight too.. I finally had someone my age trying to tackle the same problem along with me... It sounds all perfect.. v both are like each other's inspiration.. !! For the 2 months v hav followd a very rigorous routine by gyming 5-6 times a week for approx 2- 3hrs a day, comprising of all forms of work outs like cardios, weight training n evrytin one can think of. Looking back at these two months.. its been one hella va ride!! many ups n downs- emotionally!! our trainer calling us the most hard working people in the gym is one of the ups but the most crucial one is that I have kind of got addicted to working out!! If one day I dont go to the gym I feel im missing sumtin!! My mom has done it all her time and this was one feeling she always used to tell me about.. Initaially it can be tough but as she put it one has 'push ourself over the hump' n that is what has happened.. But the low was that I havnt lost a single kg. agreed that theres this spring in ma steps bt still i would certainly want some visible changes.. just a week bak I was at ma all time low in the last two months... it was coz hadt lost a single kg but only an inch from evrywhere!! my mom too had been a lil worried seing that even though all the hardwork we had put in v dint seem to show any chnges... soo i sure did need some pep talk.. generally im a very positive person n if im ever depressd then at takes me just a few hours to get over it n cheer maself up!! Thats what happened this time too... but this time it were the books 'Dicover your Destiny ' & 'The Monk who Sold His Ferrari' that did the trick :).
Below are the two pieces from each of the book that really inspired me:
" You are far greater than you have ever dreamed of being. And no matter what you are experiencing in life right now, trust that all is good and unfolding in your best interests. It may not look pretty, but it is exactly what you need to learn for you to grow into the person you have been destined to become. Everything occuring in your life has been perfectly orchestrated to inspire your maximal evolution as a human being and bring you into your true power. Learn from life and allow it to take you where you are meant to go - it has your highest interests in mind"
- 'Discover your Destiny' by Robin Sharma
I totally believe in God n the fact that there is someone looking after me from up there n that evrytin is really happening for the best!! soo after reading this i thought of just putting in my best n not worrying about the end coz whatever has to happen, will, weneva it has to... :)
The second clipping is:
"Sure I am that this day we are masters of our fate, that the task which has been set before us is not above our strength; that its pangs and toils are not beyond my endurance. As long as we have faith in our own cause and an unconquerable will to win, victory will not be denied to us"
- Winstn churchill quoted in 'Monk who sold his Ferrari'
These lines were more than enough to charge maself with invigorating energy and a zest to continue until 'victory is achieved' !!!
Now Im back to ma putting in ma best n just freaking out in the gym by kicking ma big fat ass!! Its actually fun pushing yourself harder n harder n just dreaming of that end that I have always wanted but its now that Im really doing something worthwhile towards achieveing it!!
Saturday, February 23, 2008
Monday, February 4, 2008
Foodie's Paradise!!
I am a total fooodie!! N along with that i love to cook too!! But keeping in mind my weight i constantly try new healthy dishes which along with being tasty are not 'junk'... lol
So here goes a salad recipe which i ate at 'All American Diner' and then tried to recreate it at home... unfortunately for Diners, my version was quite close to theirs soo now there is atleast one dish less for which il go to Diners...
MUSTARD HONEY SALAD
Preparation Time: 15mins
Cooking Time: 10mins
Serves 3
Calories per serving: 175
Ingredients:
~2 Cucumbers chopped with the skin on into 1 inch cubes
~3-4 Red Tomatoes chopped into 1 inch cubes
~1 Green Capsicum thinly sliced
~2 Spring Onions finely chopped
~Greens of the Spring Onions Chopped into 1/2 inch pieces
~5-6 Iceberg Lettuce Leaves, each leaf torn by hand into 8-9 pieces
~1 can of Corn Niblets (Green Giant preferably)
~8-9 black pitted olives split into halves
~8-10 Slices of Jalapeno
~4-5 gloves Garlic, finely ground
~Freshly Ground White Pepper
~ 1 teaspoon Parsley leaves(fresh or dried)
~1/2 teaspoon red chilli flakes
~2 teaspoons honey
~2 teaspoons french or english mustard
~2 teaspoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil
~2 teaspoons White Vinegar
~Salt to taste(Note for the beginers: Don't put more than 1/2 teaspoon salt :)
Ooohh god that was some long list! Now that ive sat down to write it, do I realize how many ingredients go into it!! phheeewwww
Now for the Process:
1.In a pan, heat the oil, add the garlic and spring onions(both white and green parts) together.
2. Saute constantly until they are glazed. Add the parsley, chilli flakes, corn, salt, pepper and honey.
3. Just stir the mixture for 2-3 mins until corn's juice dries up.
4. Now in a mixing bowl, add the lettuce, cucumber, tomatoes, capsicum, olives, jalapenos and vinegar .
5. Cool the corn mixture and then after it cools down add it to the vegetables.
6. Now add the Mustard in the end and mix everything well.
7. The salad is ready and perfect for a Summery Lunch!!
Pointers to keep in mind:
*The Lettuce should not be cut using a knife, it should be done by hand. Its then only that the proper look of a salad comes.
* One can use regular red onions instead of spring onions.
* Instead of Honey you can use 2 teasepoons sugar
* Its very important not to over do the garlic & onions, keep them a very light glazed pink.
* Instead of chopping the cucumber and tomatoes into chunks you can slice them and cut the slices into Halves like a half moon.
* If u do not have a liking for spices then cut out the chilli flakes or pepper.
For now hvnt taken a pic of it bt surely I'l post it soon!
Hope u try it out n like it!!
Cyaa for now, will b bak with more relicious recipes!!
So here goes a salad recipe which i ate at 'All American Diner' and then tried to recreate it at home... unfortunately for Diners, my version was quite close to theirs soo now there is atleast one dish less for which il go to Diners...
MUSTARD HONEY SALAD
Preparation Time: 15mins
Cooking Time: 10mins
Serves 3
Calories per serving: 175
Ingredients:
~2 Cucumbers chopped with the skin on into 1 inch cubes
~3-4 Red Tomatoes chopped into 1 inch cubes
~1 Green Capsicum thinly sliced
~2 Spring Onions finely chopped
~Greens of the Spring Onions Chopped into 1/2 inch pieces
~5-6 Iceberg Lettuce Leaves, each leaf torn by hand into 8-9 pieces
~1 can of Corn Niblets (Green Giant preferably)
~8-9 black pitted olives split into halves
~8-10 Slices of Jalapeno
~4-5 gloves Garlic, finely ground
~Freshly Ground White Pepper
~ 1 teaspoon Parsley leaves(fresh or dried)
~1/2 teaspoon red chilli flakes
~2 teaspoons honey
~2 teaspoons french or english mustard
~2 teaspoons Extra Virgin Olive Oil
~2 teaspoons White Vinegar
~Salt to taste(Note for the beginers: Don't put more than 1/2 teaspoon salt :)
Ooohh god that was some long list! Now that ive sat down to write it, do I realize how many ingredients go into it!! phheeewwww
Now for the Process:
1.In a pan, heat the oil, add the garlic and spring onions(both white and green parts) together.
2. Saute constantly until they are glazed. Add the parsley, chilli flakes, corn, salt, pepper and honey.
3. Just stir the mixture for 2-3 mins until corn's juice dries up.
4. Now in a mixing bowl, add the lettuce, cucumber, tomatoes, capsicum, olives, jalapenos and vinegar .
5. Cool the corn mixture and then after it cools down add it to the vegetables.
6. Now add the Mustard in the end and mix everything well.
7. The salad is ready and perfect for a Summery Lunch!!
Pointers to keep in mind:
*The Lettuce should not be cut using a knife, it should be done by hand. Its then only that the proper look of a salad comes.
* One can use regular red onions instead of spring onions.
* Instead of Honey you can use 2 teasepoons sugar
* Its very important not to over do the garlic & onions, keep them a very light glazed pink.
* Instead of chopping the cucumber and tomatoes into chunks you can slice them and cut the slices into Halves like a half moon.
* If u do not have a liking for spices then cut out the chilli flakes or pepper.
For now hvnt taken a pic of it bt surely I'l post it soon!
Hope u try it out n like it!!
Cyaa for now, will b bak with more relicious recipes!!
Sunday, February 3, 2008
Killer Bluelines' Continued Menace and Beyond....
New Delhi, January 31 2008
10:35am, 24th January 2008, the killer Bluelines had another victim to their name. Munesh Devi, a resident of Sangam Vihar, was on her way to visit a doctor in Sainik Farms when blueline bus No. 34 enroute to M.B. Road crushed her to death right in front of Gate No.1 of Sainik Farms. One of the witnesses present rushed her to the AIIMS Trauma Centre where she was declared ‘brought dead’. As told by her son who filed an FIR at the Malviya Nagar Police Station, the bus driver and bus had been taken into custody. But the driver has been released on bail under chargesheet 279/304A of the IPC (Indian Penal Code).
On 1st February, the Supreme Court expressed serious concern over the spate of accidents caused by Blueline buses in the Capital resulting in the loss of many lives. According to data given to the Court by the Delhi Government, as many as 488 persons have succumbed to such bus accidents in the past three years. The Delhi High Court had earlier issued directions to the Delhi Government to phase out Blueline buses in the city, withdraw licences of faulty drivers, commence criminal proceedings against drivers who were found unfit, impose hefty penalties on the owners of the vehicles and to set guidelines for all bus operators including DTC.
With all these orders coming in, Delhi’s Transport Minister Haroon Yusuf had ordered all Blueline buses to undergo a fitness check- up and install speed governors. He had also said that new DTC buses would be launched shortly. But one still finds Blueline buses running in a very bad condition and the speed governors are non existent. The only redeeming feature is the launching of the new High Capacity Bus Service which also seems to give the Delhi Roads a face lift. But what remains to be seen is the whole functioning and safety of the new bus corridor for the HCBS.
Moreover, the citizens cannot rely just on the government for their safety as Delhi Chief Minister, Smt Shiela Dikshit said in her response to the continuing danger of bluelines, that the “People should take care while moving on the roads.”
The whole debate regarding the safety of buses will continue until something drastic is done. But lets go beyond that. What happens to the victim’s family after the accident and the whole struggle that the family has to go through to get justice? Munesh Devi’s son, Sarvesh, got his mother’s body from the AIIMS Trauma Centre a day after the accident. He got a copy of the FIR after being pushed a lot by the Police. The AIIMS Trauma Centre is taking their own sweet time to prepare the post mortem report and instead of the stipulated 2-3days, they asked for a week. Its already been a week and now the hospital says it needs another week. As Sarvesh discloses, the hospital said that the doctor is not present and so no report can be prepared for another week.
Is the loss not enough that the hospitals and other officials create further anxiety by giving a ‘classic run around’ for every small document that needs to be collected by the family.
Another reason for the family’s grief is that the bus driver has been released on bail even though his bus is still in police’s custody. The son speaks out, “such a gruesome act of crime should not be made a bailable offence. It definitely deserves a stricter approach. If the punishment is so lenient then we cannot expect the bus drivers to mend their ways. They will continue on the same track of carelessness and indifference. ”
The law regarding this offence must be looked at in detail and all he three working bodies of the Constitution must awaken to the present state of affairs. The police and hospital officials need to rise to the fact that the family needs some support and would be best provided if they would mend their lackadaisical ways.
10:35am, 24th January 2008, the killer Bluelines had another victim to their name. Munesh Devi, a resident of Sangam Vihar, was on her way to visit a doctor in Sainik Farms when blueline bus No. 34 enroute to M.B. Road crushed her to death right in front of Gate No.1 of Sainik Farms. One of the witnesses present rushed her to the AIIMS Trauma Centre where she was declared ‘brought dead’. As told by her son who filed an FIR at the Malviya Nagar Police Station, the bus driver and bus had been taken into custody. But the driver has been released on bail under chargesheet 279/304A of the IPC (Indian Penal Code).
On 1st February, the Supreme Court expressed serious concern over the spate of accidents caused by Blueline buses in the Capital resulting in the loss of many lives. According to data given to the Court by the Delhi Government, as many as 488 persons have succumbed to such bus accidents in the past three years. The Delhi High Court had earlier issued directions to the Delhi Government to phase out Blueline buses in the city, withdraw licences of faulty drivers, commence criminal proceedings against drivers who were found unfit, impose hefty penalties on the owners of the vehicles and to set guidelines for all bus operators including DTC.
With all these orders coming in, Delhi’s Transport Minister Haroon Yusuf had ordered all Blueline buses to undergo a fitness check- up and install speed governors. He had also said that new DTC buses would be launched shortly. But one still finds Blueline buses running in a very bad condition and the speed governors are non existent. The only redeeming feature is the launching of the new High Capacity Bus Service which also seems to give the Delhi Roads a face lift. But what remains to be seen is the whole functioning and safety of the new bus corridor for the HCBS.
Moreover, the citizens cannot rely just on the government for their safety as Delhi Chief Minister, Smt Shiela Dikshit said in her response to the continuing danger of bluelines, that the “People should take care while moving on the roads.”
The whole debate regarding the safety of buses will continue until something drastic is done. But lets go beyond that. What happens to the victim’s family after the accident and the whole struggle that the family has to go through to get justice? Munesh Devi’s son, Sarvesh, got his mother’s body from the AIIMS Trauma Centre a day after the accident. He got a copy of the FIR after being pushed a lot by the Police. The AIIMS Trauma Centre is taking their own sweet time to prepare the post mortem report and instead of the stipulated 2-3days, they asked for a week. Its already been a week and now the hospital says it needs another week. As Sarvesh discloses, the hospital said that the doctor is not present and so no report can be prepared for another week.
Is the loss not enough that the hospitals and other officials create further anxiety by giving a ‘classic run around’ for every small document that needs to be collected by the family.
Another reason for the family’s grief is that the bus driver has been released on bail even though his bus is still in police’s custody. The son speaks out, “such a gruesome act of crime should not be made a bailable offence. It definitely deserves a stricter approach. If the punishment is so lenient then we cannot expect the bus drivers to mend their ways. They will continue on the same track of carelessness and indifference. ”
The law regarding this offence must be looked at in detail and all he three working bodies of the Constitution must awaken to the present state of affairs. The police and hospital officials need to rise to the fact that the family needs some support and would be best provided if they would mend their lackadaisical ways.
Friday, February 1, 2008
Long Lost Dream Coming Back to Life.....!!
28th January, started like any ordinary day... College at 9, IT classes n then off with my mum to shop for ma czons wedding... the day din't seem very special or extra ordinary.. But while i was out shopping, looking for saris for my mom, there was a couple with their 1 yr old baby girl... The couple was busy going thru saris n soo the baby was getting neglected n so was a lil cranky... I have been one kids-loving freak!! I just love babies n small children like crazy!! n evrytime i see one, it make me wanna spend time n play with them all day long... Similar wishes arose when i saw this cute baby!! She had such chubby n soft cheeks n her smile was soo aaaawwwww!!!
I told my mom dat i wish i could play with the baby! She said the parents would be more than happy coz then they could fully concentrate on shoppin!! soo I just walked up to the lady n asked if i could play wid their daughter!! the mother was initially taken aback but then realizing my enthusiasm and sheer glee she decided to give the baby to me to play for a while!! the next half an hour cant be described in words.... The baby was just soo adorable.. incase ur wondering y im caling her 'baby' n not by her name..she had not been given a name till now!! She had the most gigliest smile, n everytime i looked at her she would start nodding hr head as if agreeing with sumtin im saying!! I tickled her, played hide n seek by covering her eyes with my hand, n ol sorts of antics I could think of... Anything I did made her smile n laugh... I thought to maself, I must be having some kind of a connection with kids coz kids have always smiled n laughed in my company!! Since childhood I always wanted to open my own creche or do something around kids... N again that dream came back to remind me of my immesnse love for kids!!
That very night I saw Taare Zameen Par which sort of ignited that spark in me, telling me to do something for children with disabilities.. I have seen that I have patience and the will to deal with small kids n if i can club that with my passion to help people then surely i can do something worthwhile!! Just a day before there had been a workshop in colg about children with disabilities.. The guests from a few NGOs looking after this cause were soo passionate about what they were doing to help such children! I felt I had been so insensitive and indifferent towards these children. I knew they are very much like us, needing just love and care like we all do..
This shows how much a movie can inspire someone!! Certainly Aamir Khan would be proud to hear that after seing his film I have made it a point to help such children!
I just hope this new ray of light really does direct me to my 'Real Calling in Life'
I told my mom dat i wish i could play with the baby! She said the parents would be more than happy coz then they could fully concentrate on shoppin!! soo I just walked up to the lady n asked if i could play wid their daughter!! the mother was initially taken aback but then realizing my enthusiasm and sheer glee she decided to give the baby to me to play for a while!! the next half an hour cant be described in words.... The baby was just soo adorable.. incase ur wondering y im caling her 'baby' n not by her name..she had not been given a name till now!! She had the most gigliest smile, n everytime i looked at her she would start nodding hr head as if agreeing with sumtin im saying!! I tickled her, played hide n seek by covering her eyes with my hand, n ol sorts of antics I could think of... Anything I did made her smile n laugh... I thought to maself, I must be having some kind of a connection with kids coz kids have always smiled n laughed in my company!! Since childhood I always wanted to open my own creche or do something around kids... N again that dream came back to remind me of my immesnse love for kids!!
That very night I saw Taare Zameen Par which sort of ignited that spark in me, telling me to do something for children with disabilities.. I have seen that I have patience and the will to deal with small kids n if i can club that with my passion to help people then surely i can do something worthwhile!! Just a day before there had been a workshop in colg about children with disabilities.. The guests from a few NGOs looking after this cause were soo passionate about what they were doing to help such children! I felt I had been so insensitive and indifferent towards these children. I knew they are very much like us, needing just love and care like we all do..
This shows how much a movie can inspire someone!! Certainly Aamir Khan would be proud to hear that after seing his film I have made it a point to help such children!
I just hope this new ray of light really does direct me to my 'Real Calling in Life'
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