Just Homemade: Crash Diet vs Balanced Diet

Losing weight and shaping the body is the emerging trend now a days and that too very fast in a week's time.  The Crash diet that they follow are terribly shocking to know. Crash diets rarely work because we try to fool the body, but the body doesn’t buy it. Rapid weight loss diets invariably fail because they are metabolically unsound and often unsafe.

A Known  Story:

One day Crash and Balanced thought of running a race and started running towards the finish line, Crash was so fast it ran like a lightning and Balanced was slow and was almost walking. Half way through, Crash got tired and thought of taking rest under a shade and dozed off while Balanced was slow and steady and finally wins the race.

Moral: Crash is fast and weak but Balanced is slow and strong

Above might sound like a hare and tortoise kindergarten story but I would like to share a real life incident that happened few years back for my friend who was about to get married in couple of months

Meet my friend

She is a chubby (that is what we call her), beautiful, composed and a fun loving girl. Her marriage was fixed and somebody commented that she is looking fat than her would be. She felt bad and thought of losing weight in couple of weeks before marriage in order to surprise everyone.

The Diet Mission

After many hours search, Internet suggested her to go for crash diet and even showed her before and after picture. She got may different diet plans online but decided to go on a fruit and vegetable crash diet (How do I know all this, I will tell you at the end of this post). She decided not to reveal the plan until she has successfully reached her goal.

During The Mission

For few days in the office we noticed that she was only eating fruits for lunch when asked she said she is not having the craving (we even teased her saying while in love you won't feel like eating). After a week,

*  Angry bird - She was loosing her temper for small things and getting angry for nothing

* Less Productive - She was unable to think or work for longer time. She always looked tired and she started complaining that she has lot of work to do

* Always munching - Even in the meetings she started to eat fruits which was strange and others started to feel uncomfortable

* Sick leaves - She started to take leaves regularly and her leaves started to elapse

Mission Aborted

My friend was on a sick leave for couple of days and we thought it is normal until we got a call from her mother saying that she was admitted in the hospital and doctor has advised her to be in bed rest for couple more days. I went to see her in the hospital and I was welcomed by my friend with a cry and tight hug. I was worried for her and bit surprised too. I consoled her and asked what is going on to which she said something that shocked me "Crash Diet "

Doctors Report

I was really shocked when I heard she was on a crash diet (eating only fruits) but the more shocking news was the doctors report that said

* Her neural system got affected due to lack on metabolism (Reason for her to be angry bird)

* Her fat was burnt and muscles started to work more which makes her tired (Reason for less productivity)

* Not enough strength due to sudden reduction of food intake (Reason for her to be always hungry)

* Her body has lost the essential nutrients like protein, fiber, Vitamins and minerals (Reason for getting sick regularly as the immune system become weaker)

Doctor even told that if this was continued for few more weeks it might have caused serious issues to her body and mind.

Happy Ending

Finally friends and family convinced her and told her we all love her the way she is. She promised that she is not going to continue it anymore.

On my way back home, I was thanking myself and my parents for following a balanced food habit and regular health check-ups that has the following benefits

Weight Control - Eating right and exercising can help us avoid excess weight gain

Immune System health - Healthy eating habit increases the health of our natural immune power

Heart Health - Good balanced diet will reduce the bad cholesterol and increase good cholesterol

Keep us active - Healthy body will make healthy mind. Healthy diet keeps us active

and much more..

Conclusion

Till this day, I did not realize what was I blessed with.  Based on my experience, Instead of eating lot unhealthy food and then trying to control using a crash diet we can control the consumption of unhealthy food and follow balanced diet and stay healthy for a long time.

I have been having Dabur Honey since my childhood till now and would like to carry on this lovely product to future generations. Honey Diet helps in achieving a balanced diet.

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Just Homemade: Turmeric Face Mask(Scrub) / Turmeric Oil

Who would not want a clear skin without pimples and blackheads? Clear and bright skin boosts confidence in everyone. With a lot of pollution and stress in the day to day life, maintaining a clear and healthy skin becomes a great challenge.

Our skin clearly indicates how healthy we are. In order to have clear and healthy skin it’s very important to care equally for the inner body as well as the outer skin. Inner body can be taken care of by eating healthy including all the necessary nutrients available in the fresh fruits, vegetables, meat and dairy products and maintaining a balanced diet.

Still I remember my mom, continuously insisting me on drinking a lot of water, having good sleep and washing my face 2 to 3 times daily to have clear and clean face. She used to make Turmeric face mask and Turmeric Oil regularly for me. (Below is the recipe for Turmeric face mask and Turmeric oil). I used to have slight hesitation in using this, on the days when I need to go out as these leave a yellow stain. It used to be very difficult to remove the stain. Then I was in need of something which would satisfy my requirement of having turmeric and ayurvedic medicinal properties both together. That's when I found "VICCO Turmeric Cream" a complete package all in one. It is very easy to use, doesn't leave any stain and smells really really good. New products from VICCO are very promising and I'm very excited about trying them out. 

Turmeric Face Mask / Scrub

Ingredients: 

1) Ground Turmeric (Powder) - 1 Tsp

2) Gram / Besan / Chickpea Flour - 2 Tbsp

3) Almond Oil - 1 Tsp

4) Milk - 2-3 Tsp

Preparation:

* Add the ground turmeric, Gram Flour and Almond oil and mix well without lumps.(This can be stored in the glass container for later use)

* Add 2 tsp of the above mixture in a bowl add the milk and mix well forming a smooth paste.

* This paste can be applied on the face as a mask for 15 minutes and washed with water.

* This paste can be used as a facial scrub and washed with water.

* This is a basic face pack. Other variations can be done based on the skin types.

Benefits:

Anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties that turmeric possesses are both important in treating these skin conditions.

* In acne, using facial masks can soothe skin blemishes and heal acne scars.

* Turmeric face masks are used to rejuvenate skin. Regular use of turmeric with various combinations of ingredients can soften the appearance of wrinkles and fine lines.

Turmeric Oil

Ingredients: 

1) Freshly ground Turmeric paste

2) Organic Coconut Oil

Preparation:

* Place a pan on medium heat and add the coconut oil and freshly ground turmeric paste.

* cook till the raw smell goes away. Strain and store in a glass container. Ready to use once it cools down.

Benefits:

* Reduces skin problems(scars, cracks in foot etc..)

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Just Homemade: My Mom ! My Expert !

As far as my memory recollects, I have never considered my mother to be a separate person. She is a part of me. Growing up I had many instances with my mother and I would like to share some which had a greater impact on me.

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Just Homemade: Memories of My Motherhood

Every mother holds on to the memories of her child crystal clear no matter how many years pass by. Each and every moment is very special.  Motherhood brings in new kind of energy, new responsibilities, lot of happiness and satisfaction. Even the smallest accomplishments by their kids bring immense pleasure to moms. From the day one till today it has been a complete learning process and happy experience for me with my daughter.

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Just Homemade: Share the Load ! Everybody do Your Share !

Clean Up , Clean Up 

Everybody Clean Up 

Clean Up ,  Clean Up 

Everybody Everywhere 

Clean Up ,Clean Up 

Everybody do your Share 

- As my daughter sings her kindergarten song when she helps me doing the chores
k.

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Just Homemade: A Letter to My Daughter About Honesty

Dear Sweety,


In this letter, I would like to record couple of important moments in our life when you have learned 'Honesty is the best policy - When it is served with More Sugar and Less Pepper'.

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Just Homemade: Look up Story

       From my childhood, whenever I kind a feel low or disappointed my dad would always cheer me up and ask me to see the positive things in the situation and keep going rather sitting and worrying on the negative. There will be always be ups and downs in life and worrying only makes it more worst. During my final year of engineering, a popular software company came for campus interview and since I was a topper in my class I was selected to participate in the interview with other toppers in my college, I attended the interview and did my best and I was 100% sure that I will be selected but result came negative. I really felt very bad, cried and did not talk to anyone for two days. Seeing me like this, my dad called me and told me about what he had gone through in his life to make me understand life much better.

     My grandfather was from a upper middle class family and my dad had a very happy childhood with all good facilities. My dad would never worry about his future as my grandfather was his complete hope. But suddenly one day my grandfather passed away and my dad and his brother along with my grandmother was suddenly left all alone and was unable to cope up with the situation emotionally as well as economically. My dad had just started his college and his elder brother had finished his education and took up a job but was not paid well. The household was running on a very small budget. Used to luxury life it was very hard for my dad to get used to the present life. Seeing his brother struggling alone, my dad took up part time job to support him. My dad used walk to the places he needed to go rather taking the public transportation. Save whatever he could so that  could finish his education without burdening his brother. After a lot of struggle he finally finished his education and got a central government job. Then slowly family situation started to improve and then my dad wanted to buy a house so he started saving for that. Unfortunately during that period he lost his brother too. It took some time for him and my grandmother to  recover from his brother loss. Days passed and one day my dad bought a land and started building a house. Then he moved to the house along with my grandmother and later started a new life with my mother there. Despite the struggle and problems that he faced in his life , he provided me and my brother with best of education and a good quality life. Recently he retired from his job as a southern region manager with a lot of satisfaction.

       Tears rolled down my eyes when I heard his story but he told he never regrets about his past and the struggle he had faced had only built him even more stronger. Finally he ended saying “ I don’t want you to be afraid of the future and break down very easily when things does not go on well. I want you to look in for the positives in all the situations you come across and keep moving forward with hope.”  From then on the respect on my dad has increased a lot. Even today he is a role model for me and I look up to him. 

This post is part of housing.com/lookup.

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Just Homemade: When I Took a Bold Step

When I took a bold step

It all happened couple of months before my first marriage anniversary, I was working as a software engineer in a multinational company with good salary, caring husband and lovely family, my life was flowing as a calm river.

 Image courtesy of [photostock] at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

One day my husband and myself went to our family doctor for a checkup and found that I am pregnant!!! my husband and myself became very happy and was waiting to go home and tell the good news to my parents and in-laws.

When I told the news, everyone was happy and conveyed their wishes. Days passed by, I become too busy at work, lots of stress, travel and sometime was too busy that I delayed my lunch and breakfast . Except those everything was fine and we started talking and thinking a lot about the baby.The excitement and anxiety increased day by day.

Image courtesy of [iosphere] at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

On the first month scanning day, my husband and myself had some important meeting to attend but managed to get permission for few hours for the scan. My husband and myself was called in for the scanning in a very busy and famous hospital in my home town and we were so excited to wait for the doctor to come.

Doctor came and after initial formalities she started the scanning and my heart beat started raising on seeing the reaction from the doctor. Finally she expressed her grief and said it was a miscarriage. For a second I felt my heart beat had stopped and that day was one of the bad day I had in my life. Everyone was worried and I was unable to talk only tears rolled from my eyes. I felt my world is completely filled with sadness.

Image courtesy of [David Castillo Dominici] at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

After lots of thinking, we doubted that whatever happened is because of the stress,anxiety, travel related to my work and it all comes to a point that to have a baby quit the job or change the job and try again. When discussed, few of my well wishers said leaving a good job or changing the job is not a right decision and few said baby is important. My husband asked me to take the decision and he will support me to whatever I decide. I was so confused.

Within few days, I told my husband that I want to quit the job and he said if that is what you feel will work then I am with you. I quit the job and it was not easy to convince my manager and the company. When my well wishers asked about my decision I said, I have to take a bolder step for the betterment of my family and for myself, so I thought setting up the family is most important at this stage of my life than the job that is why I quit. It felt like I started a new life after that.

Image courtesy of  nongpimmy at FreeDigitalPhotos.net

Today, I am a happy mother of a beautiful daughter and I work from home on the job that I like. I must thank myself and my family for supporting me to take a bold step to start a new life. #StartANewLife :-)

This post is part of Housing.com

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Just Homemade: Friends get together is happiness

For me, friends get together during a weekend and sharing the joy with a good food is the real happiness.

I am living in abroad with my husband and my daughter for many years now, during first few months in abroad I didn't know anyone around my apartment or in my community so I started feeling lonely and worried. One summer evening, while I was playing with my daughter in the park I met a mother from the same community and soon we become friends. Slowly she got me introduced to many of her other friends and my friends circle started to grow. Thanks to technology, we use Whatsapp, Facebook group chat and keep in touch regularly and I started feeling happy.

After some days, we arranged for a get together at a friends house and invited all other friends and their family. Happiness and excitement filled me from the time we decide to have a get together. Everyday all our friends met at one other friend's house and discussed about the items to cook and activities that we can have to entertain kids and husbands in the get together. We had many different views, ideas and some crazy fun activity suggestions for families and kids. During the course of time there was lot of laughter, discussions, chats and  happy times we had in the friends group and then we will finalize the plan for the weekend. 

I, as other friends, did lots of cooking, tasting, preparing the kid and husband for the get together and waited for the time to pass by. On the day of get together, I was happy and got ready, pack the food items that are prepared and I called and confirmed the time to meet.

I went at least 30 minutes earlier to the house in which the get together is planned, to help the friend in setting up things. Slowly one after the other, all the friends along with their husband and kids came ans the whole living room was filled with happiness and joy.

Once initial greetings done and everyone settles down, all women, husbands and kids formed individual groups and was playing, chatting and laughing until a friend's husband said 'what is the menu for today', then the food was served. I was waiting for the comments for the food items that I prepared, then I saw a friend filled his plate for the second time with my food and a friend's husband  in the get together passes a comment that my food was good, I felt so happy and proud of myself. At every get together that we had, the food is not complete without a glass of Coke.

    

Watching my 4 years old daughter playing and talking with her friends, my husband laughing out loud and all the items that I prepared has been eaten without a piece left in the bowl makes me very happy and that ends the week on a happy note.

Happiness is incomplete without friends and families together!!!

This blog post is part of Coca-Cola International Day of Happiness

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Just Homemade: Achieved our dream together

As our child’s 2nd birthday was nearing my husband and myself who are from a normal middle class family had a dream of buying a residential land on our princesses birthday with all our savings money. Even though we have dream to buy a land, we actually did not know where to start and how to go about, we know buying land is a huge investment and we have to be very careful. we were not interested to take a loan from bank and pay the monthly installments for decades.

Once decided to give a try, we have expressed our interest to both of our family members. Everyone appreciated our idea and suggestions from each of them started to pour in.From the next day onward with lots of enthusiasm we started searching in the internet, local newspapers etc…. as days went by we felt everything became slow and a lot of hesitation and confusion was involved.

One day during evening tea time, my father called me and said buying a land is not easy but if we missed this chance then we may never get it back and he also asked me to discuss with my husband to put a plan with our requirements, desire and a budget on a paper to have a clear picture.That night was a sleepless night for my husband and myself. we discussed and came up with clear requirements and a plan. This gave us back our hope of continuing our search.

As my husband works from a different state, during weekdays myself along with my father, father-in-law and brother-in-law started to contact different land promoters and visited their lands later would discuss with my husband over the phone daily and during weekends my husband and myself continue to do the same.
Meanwhile my mother, brother, mother-in-law and sister-in-law gathered information from friends and other family members. Within couple of weeks we had lot of information and we had identified few lands to consider for buying. Those couple of months all the family members came together and worked as a team and spend quality time together.

Finally after thinking of lots of pros and cons we had decided a land that suits all our requirements, but the budget was higher than we estimated. Since the land was good and we decided to buy, my husband was thinking to get loan from family and friends for the rest of the amount but I told him that it is our dream and we will put in all our savings and jewelry and we did that still we were short. We informed our family member and without any hesitation they accepted to help us in all possible ways they can and they did it. 

Nearly around 3-4 months of entire families effort the day has come and we finally registered our land on our daughter's birthday. That day was obviously a very joyous day in our life not just because it is our only daughter's birthday or that we bought a residential land but it is that we did that as a family and as a team. The experience that we went through those 4 months was very wonderful and built our relationship with everyone even more stronger It was the time of my life when I realized that we are #together in this journey of life and were never alone.

This blog post is part of housing.com

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