GIVE ME MY LIFE BACK

Do you feel lethargic, anxious, sad, angry, and moody or do you feel like a failure, unloved, worthless and as tough life has no meaning for you anymore?

 

Do all these thoughts or some of these thoughts go through your mind from time to time or all the time?

 

Chances are you may be depressed. If depression goes unchecked it may lead to several problems like being overweight, developing other diseases related to the heart and digestive system, may even lead to hormonal imbalances and create stress levels to elevate to such a high level that they can lead to drastic steps like suicide.

 

This morning’s paper seemed to be devoted to suicide. The latest celebrity to be taken into its clutches Jiah Khan, such a young life, so much potential. There were other reports of suicide in todays paper of two teenage girls taking their lives. Of course the newspapers tend to report news based on what's trending and todays big subject is SUICIDE.

 

I feel compelled to discuss this subject. I have been meeting several people over the last week who are going through depression. Its scary, and its about time we wake up and look around us. You will find at least one person who is affected by it in your immediate circle of family and friends. Vow to help them in whatever way you can. To understand depressive behaviour a little better one of the definitions I came across which I thought conveyed the right impression is below.

 

Depression: definition

Depression is a common mental disorder, characterized by sadness, loss of interest or pleasure, feelings of guilt or low self-worth, disturbed sleep or appetite, feelings of tiredness and poor concentration.

It can be long lasting or recurrent, substantially impairing a person’s ability to function at work or school, or cope with daily life. At its most severe, depression can lead to suicide.

When found to be mild, depression can be treated without medicines but, when moderate or severe, people may need medication and professional talking treatments.

 

Anyone can be affected!

In a childs life puberty is responsible for setting off Early depression, the hormonal imbalances, feelings of insecurity, social pressures of trying to fit in etc

In a womans life Puberty, Maternity and Menopause are the times most women fall prey to depression. Some don’t experience any turbulence but most women experience some amount of disturbance in varying degrees.

Men are most affected in puberty and when they go through stresses of finding their space in the world, competition, performance anxiety and repressed feelings result in depressive behaviour with men

 

What should we do, and how can we help?

1)    Look around you, and be aware of others feelings.

2)     If you sense loneliness in a friend or relative, make time to spend with them.

3)    Make an effort with people. Get out of your own comfort zones, learn to include more people in your social circle, open your mind to meeting and socialising with people. Don’t shun someone, even if you may not think alike or you think someone is not in your league, don’t shun them, it always feels good to be included.

4)    Tell your loved ones and friends you are proud of them, especially the underachievers or those who keep trying and failing to make a mark.

5)    Never flaunt your successes, be humble and sensitive to others who may not be as successful. Success is some ability and lots of opportunity. Others may not have been blessed to have the opportunity to succeed that doesn't mean they don't have the capability.

6)    Share your feelings with your loved ones and get them to open up and share their feelings too. Strengthen and deepen your close relationships.

7)    Be approachable, you never know when a friend or family member may need you

 

If you sense you are depressed, reach out for help and save yourself. Never be alone in a depressed state. Make sure you have someone to care for you when you are feeling low. Make yourself happy, watch lots of funny movies, start socializing more, try and find fun activities to keep busy.

Friends, send up a prayer for the souls of those who have taken their lives, pray that their families find the strength to go on, and give thanks for all you have been blessed with.

 

Keep your eyes open!

 

Love yourself and love others too :)

 

 

 

 

Shortcuts !!

THERE ARE NO SHORTCUTS TO BEING HEALTHY

 

You need to plan to be healthy. There is no quick fix. It requires commitment and understanding of what you are doing to be truly healthy.

 

Don’t jump onto a trend or fad bandwagon just because someone suggests it’s the in thing to do. Sustained results are what you should aim for.

 

Being healthy is a unification of your mind, body and spirit. Your choices must be initiated by your mind, applied by your body and governed by your spirit.

 

No compromises

 

Whatever your choices are and whatever your reasons for getting healthy, make sure you do it the right way. Don’t ever compromise on the quality of your life. You must do what makes you happy at the same time blend your choices into that lifestyle.

 

Be practical in your approach, for example we go through phases where we say "I will give up eating out, no alcohol, no socialising etc…that way I stay on track". But you fall off the wagon very quickly.

 

You can socialise, enjoy your alcohol and eat out as long as you do it right. There are choices for food anywhere you eat, you need to know what you are doing to be able to adapt what’s available to your requirements.

 

Say no to supplements, fat burners, growth hormones and other gimmicks. They destroy your body and create several imbalances. If you eat right and natural you can still achieve any result you need, yes it may be a bit slower but are you willing to pay the price of taking a short cut?

 

Say no to shortcuts.

 

Respect your body, Love yourself

In the Moment



You never know who comes along and how they affect you. How the most random person comes along one day and changes you - helps put into perspective so much.

 
So often we struggle to find answers to problems, so often we just struggle to no end and even for no reason. We work hard towards a certain goal and no matter what we do, nothing works..... Then why is it that someone can come along and change the entire dynamic?

Make you look at the whole situation so differently, without even trying, they change your life.

Are these people meant to come into our lives, is it predetermined or is the magic truly in being able to stay in the moment and recognize it for what it is.

I realized a few things today. I am blessed, and I have so much to be grateful for, so many people to be thankful for, and so many people to thank. I am what I am only because I had what I had. Good and Bad.

So today, thank all those people and bless all those people who have affected you positively or negatively, because they came into your life to make you realise something, and change your life for the better.

Bless and be blessed, be happy and spread happiness. Take joy in the moment and be aware that every moment can change your life.

"Remember the magic of being in the moment"

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Why do some people find it easier to lose weight while others find it so difficult?

The process of losing weight is holistic, all encompassing, a combination of efforts of mind body and soul. It’s aligning our thoughts, determinations, hang up’s, eccentricities and giving into the process whole heartedly.

There is no short cut to weight loss. You need to just eat less and more frequently and exercise moderately. Once you make a habit of the above the body starts healing itself and shedding all excess.

Why do we find it so difficult to say no?

Saying no is a habit, like anything practice makes perfect

Why is it that some people can eat whatever they want and how much they want and never gain weight? Bad eating habits always catch up with you. You may get away with it for a while but one day you realise it’s not working anymore. Either you start having medical problems or you gain weight suddenly or you start feeling sluggish and unhealthy.

Stop being envious and start doing something about yourself!! Every time I am out socially at least one person will come up to me and say, “I hate you, you are so skinny” or “you can eat anything you want because you are so skinny”.

A couple of days ago, someone walked up to me and said with much malice “ I hate the way you never seem to put on any weight” – to all of you out there who hate people who are fit, don’t do that. It’s not fair to those who care about themselves, work hard at being healthy and look after their bodies. Instead of being envious – STOP eating too much and do something about it.

On one hand we moan at someone who is thin, and with the other hand we are steadily shovelling food into our mouths

STOP procrastinating !

STOP abusing your bodies !
STOP being envious of others !
STOP finding excuses not be healthy !
AND
STOP hating yourself !

 

"RESPECT YOUR BODY, AND LOVE YOURSELF"

 

WHY GREEN TEA ?

Green tea is made from the leaves of a plant called Camellia Sinesis. It gets its name "green" from the fact that the leaves are processed very little unlike black tea which is a result of oxidization and fermentation.

The Green tea is prominent today, in this age where we are seeing diseases and health problems more rampant than ever and we find that modern medicine is very advanced however it has its side effects.

Allopathic cures are known to be effective and quick however are still not very adept in preventive medicine. All ancient cultures relied heavily on their surroundings and chanced upon herbs which they learnt to value and make the most of in whatever way possible. Tea was one such leaf that was discovered to taste nice when brewed, was soothing because of its warmth and drinking tea in many cultures is considered a social custom and provided a good way for people to interact.

The known benefits that green tea has are preventive in nature and not curative as far as heart disease, cancer, toxaemia, renal diseases, increased blood sugar etc. Studies have shown that drinking four cups of green tea a day can reduce the risk of developing stomach and lung cancer as well as heart disease. They also aid in natural weight loss by being able to break down and dissolve grease residues of food. They also benefit in improving eye sight, aid in digestion, improve renal function thereby detoxifying the body.

Weight loss is largely associated with lifestyle correction; however we can always use any help we can get. Green tea is known to improve the metabolism by 4 %, a small figure but like I say any help you can get is always welcome.

It inhibits fat absorption and helps to regulate glucose. By slowing the rise in blood sugar after a meal it prevents insulin spikes, which in turn helps because lots of storage of insulin causes fat storage as well. So the effects are indirect but evident.

 Every day I hear about and counter many theories about weight loss, digestive disorders, current fads with food and exercise and the one thing I always tell everyone is that every fad or theory has some scientific basis to it, however the problems start when we randomly apply them to our lives without understanding how they work. I came across someone who was on a prescribed diet for weight loss and this person was asked to consume 5 to 6 cups of green tea a day, especially after meals. The benefits of the tea get completely negated when you drink it immediately after. You should give a gap of half hour before you start drinking any fluids. Fluid dilutes gastric juices thereby weakening their ability to break down the consumed foods. Definitely add green tea to your daily routine as that is a wonderful source of hydration, and helps to dissolve grease residue along the digestive tract and speed up the metabolism marginally. But always remember it is an aid to weight loss not something to rely on wholly as a means to lose weight.

Below are the dos and don’ts of green tea

1) Do drink at least 4 cups a day to get the real benefit of green tea

2) Do substitute your tea/coffee with green tea, it’s not a stimulant but it does help to make you more alert

3) Do drink it as hot as is comfortable to drink fast, so that it works faster in releasing the grease along the digestive tract

4) Do drink green tea to fight cancer, prevention is wise

5) Do learn to enjoy your green tea, it also has deep roots as a beverage served to socialise

1) Don’t drink green tea as a source of nourishment. It cannot substitute food

2) Don’t drink green tea as a substitute for water

3) Don’t drink more than one cup at a time and after which you then allow for half an hour before you eat or drink anything else, so it can do its job properly

4) Don’t compromise on the quality of your green tea

5) Don’t add sugar or honey to your green tea, have it pure and unadulterated

And remember the key to losing weight is moderation and lifestyle correction.

Eat moderately, drink moderately, exercise moderately and in the same vein drink your green tea in moderation. Over drinking it does not increase its benefits.

RESPECT YOUR BODY, LOVE YOURSELF

Wellness - Spiritually

We all endeavor to be spiritually strong. However I believe that we don’t really know what spiritual strength means. Text book information, wellness gurus, motivational speakers religious leaders all over the world all talk of spirituality differently. Not always correctly.

Many people claim that they are spiritual; I have always asked what does spirituality really mean?

I have yet to receive an answer that satisfies my soul, so to speak. I am still in search of it but I feel I am a little closer to an understanding than I was before.

My approach towards treating people, whether lifestyle correction for disease management or weight loss or rehabilitation after accidents and surgeries has always been to reach into their soul as far as I can go to be successful in treating them.

Our belief system, self worth ability to feel pain or joy and our ability to heal ourselves physically and emotionally is connected very deeply with our soul. Our soul speaks for our experiences, our memories (happy and sad) our fears and is the network of our faith and belief system. So addressing the most internal part of our soul means addressing our spirituality, our inner being, our salvation from self destruction.

Illnesses today are far more lifestyle based rather than congenital or genetic. We have deteriorated into a life of excess. In this life of excess that very inner being the supposed most treasured part of our being which lives on and on lies forlorn and forgotten.

There is a surge of spiritual activity (so called ) across the world, everyone is embracing yoga and meditation as a means to get fitter mentally and spiritually, but yet they abuse themselves and others in more ways than one. Are we changing our lifestyle or are we embracing a trend which will be forgotten the minute the next one comes along?

To help this understanding grow, which is - that the root of our physical, mental and emotional wellness lies in finding our spiritual self. I am trying to infuse some sense into the madness all around us.

Is Spirituality religion?

No! Being spiritual is not being religious, or following any particular religion. My journey has seen me reach into the depths of 3 religions. All religions hint at the same thing. But all religions will confine us – thus preventing us from being truly spiritual. I am not against religion. I just hope to distinguish religion from spirituality.

“A spiritual person can be religious but can a religious person be truly spiritual”?

That’s the biggest question I have to ask?

I found three apt definitions for religion in my research

1) A set of beliefs concerning the cause, nature, and purpose of the universe,   especially when considered as the creation of a superhuman agency or agencies, usually involving devotional and ritual observances, and often containing a moral code governing the conduct of human affairs.

2) A specific fundamental set of beliefs and practices generally agreed upon by a number of persons or sects: the Christian religion; the Buddhist religion etc

3) The practice of religious beliefs; ritual observance of faith.

As you may note – fundamental and ritual form major parts of most definitions of religion.

While researching spirituality I came across the following

"Spirituality is NOT a religion. The definition of spirituality is different for everyone, but some common themes associated with it are, the idea of a process or journey of self discovery. The challenge of reaching beyond your current limit"

"Spirituality is the art of understanding what you are, who you are, etc..
When one rectifies his mistakes, he comes to reality when one understands his reality he comes to know what spirituality is"

"Spirituality is the essence or nature of your relationships with yourself, other people, and your deity".

What grabbed me

"When one understands his reality he comes to know what spirituality is"

In my opinion this is quite close to an understanding of spirituality. When one understands his own reality – whatever it may be, accepts it and builds upon it, he is far more spiritually inclined or is connected with his inner being.

To know ones faults, and work towards correcting them in reality.

To know ones talents and use them to benefit others and oneself.

To acknowledge ones weaknesses and work towards overcoming them.

To live in the moment, accepting reality for what it is, knowing you can’t change your circumstances but you can improve the environment around them so they are easier to deal with.

And lastly, true spirituality is freedom. Freedom to think. Freedom to believe and speak out for what we believe.

Spiritual experiences vary. No two people will experience the same thing the same way. No emotion can be felt by two people the exact same way, no trial or tribulation can be dealt with the same way by two people.

We are individuals which mean we will feel things individually – individually different. But to be true to your own spirituality is to accept the difference in others spirituality and embrace it.

Spirituality is to be connected to yourself. Connected to your higher power, enjoying the freedom to explore your heart, mind, body and spirit freely, knowing that the only thing you will discover is yourself in the process.

                                                                                                                    Karen Bhatia

“RESPECT YOUR BODYAND LOVE YOURSELF”

“QUOTABLE QUOTES”

I came across some funny quotes on weight loss. Thought I would share them with you. And have added my two pence below J in red

"The rest of the world lives to eat, while I eat to live."
- Socrates

"Your body is the baggage you must carry through life. The more excess the baggage, the shorter the trip."
- Arnold H. Glasgow

"A diet is the penalty we pay for exceeding the feed limit."
~Author Unknown

"Don't dig your grave with your own knife and fork."
~English Proverb

"Inside some of us is a thin person struggling to get out, but they can usually be sedated with a few pieces of chocolate cake."
~Author Unknown

Jokes aside J

Some questions for you…….

Why is food all important to me? Either I am thinking of what to eat or I am thinking of what not to eat!

How many times do I think about food in a day?

How many times a day do I check my weight?

Why do I associate food with everything, be it a celebration or lamentation?

Why is food my comfort? After all its temporary relief – after indulging I feel awful anyway, but soon forget that horrible feeling when faced with the same situation again.

Why do I need to feel stuffed to feel like I have eaten?

Why do I feel deprived if I eat a little less?

Answer these questions to get some insight into your behavior.

My thoughts……..

We all react the same way to situations, it’s just that some of us have learned that we can control our environment rather than have it control us. We have choices we can make and we should start from today.

Acknowledging our behavior is the start to correcting it.

“RESPECT YOUR BODY AND LOVE YOURSELF”