Spirited at Sixty

Osho describes old age thus,
“It is a ripening of your being, maturity, growth. If you live moment to moment, to all the challenges that life gives, and you use all the opportunities that life opens, and if you dare to adventure into the unknown to which life calls and invites you, then old age is a maturity. Otherwise old age is a disease. Unfortunately many people simply age, they become old, without any maturity corresponding to it. Then old age is a burden.”

There comes a day in everyone’s life when one suddenly grows out of the age-old routine of waking up, getting ready for work and reaching office on time. There are no alarm clocks and no office bags. After having successfully passed through the various phases of life, overcome multiple stumle-blocks, been through various ups and downs, you enter a new phase of life – retirement. But retirement does not mean retiring from life. It is merely changing gears and driving down a slower lane where the ride is more relaxed and beautiful.


An interesting psychological study shows that 55% of people believe that they will be a burden on their family post retirement if they are not able to take care of themselves. 24% dread ending up at an old-age home, 12% fear being left alone as destitute while 10% worry death. The figures are truly disheartening, but only if we see ourselves in any of these brackets.

Old age is the harvest of all our working years. We are left to reap what we have sown for so long. Old age is beautiful for those who have lived their yesteryears well. With each passing day of our youth and adulthood, we do our little bit to ensure that our retirement years are sweet and comfortable. It is upon us to think and plan towards living a happy old age. It is but foolish to adjourn the thought of living a happy old age while we are still young and can plan for it because before we wake up to our first day post retirement, it will be too late to reconsider our plans. Here are a few ways which will ensure that you live your golden years to the fullest.

Plan your finances: Life insurance plans, mutual funds, pension plans may sound boring and appear to be a long-drawn plan but they are not mere tax-saving techniques. Financial planning go a long way in helping you live through your golden years the way you always dreamt of. You have been saving all your life, cutting ends and depositing lump-sums in the bank only to use them when you have no source of income. Now is the time to reap the benefits. Your savings, assets, investments, pension, all make you financially sound in your life post retirement and ensure that you face the mature years with courage and pleasure.

Live healthy: Lead a healthy life while you still can. Age brings with itself manifold problems – weak knees, poor eyesight, ailing heart and nervous disorders. It is important that you start taking care of your body now so that you pass your old age in good health and high spirits. Take balanced diet, exercise regularly, rest adequately rest and practice to calm your mind through yoga and meditation. Most importantly, get yourself medically insured so that when illness strikes, you are well-braced to fund the cure.

Have a hobby: No matter how busy you are, it is important that you pursue an interest. This will not leave any place for vacuum when you are retired and have nothing to do. Exploit your talents, learn new languages or pottery, take up a sport, paint or simply give words to your thoughts.

Stay in touch: Friends are important, more so when you have no office colleagues around you, no fellow bus-passengers, no familiar faces to turn and smile to. Keep in touch with friends. Take time out to meet them as often as you can. Like they say, friends are forever! It is them who you will eventually turn to when you grow old.

Make plans: Old age can be quite frustrating for those who consider it as a ‘death knell’. Retirement, in its initial stage, seems like a honeymoon phase. However, with the paucity of ideas and after prolonged rest and relaxation, one might tempt to get a little disoriented. Therefore, it is advisable to plan your life after retirement. Figure out what you love doing the best, what opportunities you will have in front of you and how will you face them, whether you would like to utilize your knowledge and experience gained over the years and how, et al. Once you have a plan of action, you would want your golden years to approach faster so that you can get a release from the pressure-cooker years once and for all!

Travel: The best part about retirement is that you can move around like a free bird; you can take off for your dream destination without anyone raising an eyebrow at your absence. Once you are ready with your list of ‘places I must visit’, start saving for that dream holiday. Trust me it will be worth all the effort.

Be a volunteer: There are several organizations that may need your assistance and guidance. Volunteering at schools, libraries, hospitals, welfare projects and camps etc will not only keep you busy but also in touch with people and happenings. Your worries will decrease considerably while you help others improve their life.

Think of alternate careers: Plan to become a consultant or even start your very own business post retirement. A corporate executive can become a consultant while a sportsperson can take up coaching. Better still, be your own boss and run your niche empire. Chisel your skills and abilities while you are still young. Keep a track of all your contacts and utilize your talents and expertise. Be prepared for an investment, even on a moderate scale and be financially independent even in your golden years.

Old age is full of life, full of sweet harmony. Every experience is like a little snatch of a song. As someone has rightly said,

“Rich in experience that angels might covet
Rich in a faith that has grown with the years.”

The trick is to polish your hard learned lessons and brace yourself to live life to the hilt even when the shadows of age fall upon you. There is so much to life even after retirement. Think of the things that you have abhorred from the bottom of your heart all this while – the strangling tie, the threatening alarm clock, deadlines, schedules, planning for your children’s future, cutting ends, saving and sacrifices.

Old age will be your turn to help others tread along the way you have already travelled. There indeed is so much to do! Look around for opportunities. Do not dread age. It is just another phase of life; and yes, it can be very charming if you want and plan it to be. Look around for opportunities. Life, after all, is worth more than your job. Plan to make it fulfilling and productive so that you can live it up to the hilt.

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My Cup of Tea @ Teasta, The Tea Shop

Need a place to hang out, chat and catch-up with friends over an irresistable hot cup of tea? ‘Teasta’, the little, old-world tea-shop located in Godavari Compex of Sector 37 offers not only deliciously refreshing ice tea, cold coffees and sandwiches but also a niche social circle. All you need to figure out is ‘what’s your cup-of tea’.


From socialising to drinking a good cup of tea, Noidans love doing things their way. Hanging out in malls is a thing of the past and the regular coffee shops, claustrophobic. To cater to this outwardly spirit of the Noidans, Godavari Complex at Sector 37 houses of a super cool tea shop called Teasta. When we say ‘tea shop’ don’t misunderstand this place for a non-descript roadside shack or a tapri. This is where the coolest, smartest and the most well turned-out Noidans go to not just sip hot cuppas and munch cold sandwiches but also to socialize.

The history of this tea shop traces back to a small shop housed in a garage, right opposite Lal market. Back then it had a flattering menu on the offer – Darjeeling Tea, Black Tea, Ginger Cold Tea, Ice Tea and so on. It was never really a restaurant or a hotel and therefore didn’t have a seating arrangement even then. Regulars used to hang around the garage or sit on low stools or mudaas. Young college goers, daters and old school student gangs used to frequent the place. Then it shifted its address to the Godavari Complex in Sector 37, right behind the Army School and close to the Telephone Exchange. The posh location and the young residents slowly and steadily added to its repute and popularity. It would be right to state that the fame of this age-old tea joint spread but by word-of-mouth.

This nice little tea-joint is run by Capt. (Retd.) Mehra and his wife and as mentioned, is quite a number among young crowd who hang out around it to chill, chat and smoke. Also popular by the name of ‘Tea Shop’, it serves a wide variety of hot and cold beverages and munchies a la carte. It is only after you’ve ordered your cup of tea that the ambience begins to sink into you. Media personalities, theatre artists, students and young professionals, Teasta is now the hot-n-happening hub for one and all; a perfect avenue to treat friends without emptying your coffers.

Looking for a place to sit? Do not bother for the tea shop does not have any formal seating arrangement. Surprising, isn’t it? Because of no formal seating arrangement inside the shop, regulars bring along their own mats and perch on the small steps running along the footpath while others squat on newspapers or on the bare ground. Evenings witness a long trail of cars parked right opposite the tea shop with customers relaxing in them and sipping their favourite flavours. Teasta is indeed a place to unwind, open up, mingle or just be on your own. Whatever be your mood, the ambience of the place only lifts your spirits.

Step in and be amazed; Teasta can well be mistaken for an old bakery-cum-curio shop. You will find a vivid display of quaint kettle and hookah miniatures, old photographs and a wall full of random notes, memoirs and testimonials written by the visitors. But if you are not too keen to dig into the curio bit, the tantalizing menu will not fail to allure your taste-buds; it is quite exhaustive for a tea shop that size to say the least.

Iced tea, cold coffee and ginger and lemon grass tea are some of the all time favourites. Paired up with grilled cheese and chicken salami sandwiches, they win hands down over the regular fare at big brand coffee shops, closely followed by chocolate muffins and cookies. Talk of variety and this petite tea shop has steaming hot momos and corn on its menu too! Teasta also swanks of a fine array of various flavoured tea leaves brewed to perfection. From Darjeeling tea in orange pekof, or lemon, lichi ice and peach ice to the more healthy Ginsing tea, the list is endless. For those who swear by caffeine, Teasta offers blends like ‘L’ Orange and Caribbean, besides the most beloved regular cold coffee. And if you were wondering for a miniscule bit about the price tag, rest assured the rates are way cheaper compared to a fancy coffee joint. Imaging a hot cup of aromatic ginger and lemon grass tea at as little as Rs. 20! Have a cup and you’ll bet it’s worth every penny.

Patrons and regulars don’t seem to think for a moment before lauding their favourite Tea Shop.

Says Chirag, “the tea shop is almost a getaway of sorts. You do not require to know anyone there. Just go and enjoy yourself alone, or with company. I go there often on my way back home from work. Every time I am tempted to try a different flavor of tea; they are so refreshing. The most amazing thing is no matter what you order, it hardly dents your pocket. There are times when I am really tired and my energy is too sapped to push me to the kitchen and brew myself a good cup. It is at these times that the Tea Shop becomes my haven. Sit in your car, play some good music and sip a hot cup of tea; you’ll know what I am talking about.”

Tempted to try it out? For those who do not know where the Tea Shop is, here is a quick set of directions to help you reach it.

• Reach Sector 37 or Arun Vihar, right opposite the Noida Golf Course.
• Ask for the way to Godavari Complex. In case you are still unable to locate the area, ask for Agnihotri Gas Agency or the Telephone Exchange. Teasta is located just a few shops away from Aginihorti Gas Agency.
• If you are still lost, ask for Hotel Kamboj, a very popular (and perhaps the only) restaurant in the area. Cross the gate after the hotel and take a right turn. Teasta would be on your left.

The popularity of Teasta, The Tea Shop has reached far and wide, so much so that it has a community dedicated to its patrons on Facebook too. Simply look for ‘The Tea Shop’ community and there you go! Meet your fellow Teasta lovers, chat, discuss, follow regular updates or even plan a social at the Tea Shop! After all, as they say, a lot can happen over a cup of ‘tea’!

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Pitch. Don’t Bitch!

We bitch to bond and bitch to wound. Some of us even view it as a catharsis that leads to a release from the pressures of work, relationships or life in general. At its best, bitching can be profoundly entertaining when we banter as equals. It can be witty, rude, or even confusing. From college mates to office colleagues, neighbors to strangers, everyone indulges in bitching once in a while (and your conception of this being a privy privilege of the fairer sex is a gross misunderstanding). Let's look at the lighter side of things that may on the surface seem clever or gossipy but may turn out to be a malicious habit.

In old times there were court jesters who used to entertain the royalty with funny, sometimes scandalous pieces of information; the modern times have their replicas in the form of friends, bored neighborhood aunties and even household assistants who do their due. There’s witty bitching, more commonly known to us as best-seller satires and a gamut of people, known or unknown who dare to wound face-to-face.

We bitch when things get complicated or just for the heck of it. We mostly bitch behind people’s backs when we find that happenings in their life are far more interesting than those in ours. We compare our partners and friends, talk about people’s attires, or the way they walk, talk or even work. There is rarely a sense of guilt involved, less so a sense of enquiry as to why we bitch in the first place. Truth is, we bitch in order to boost our ego and elevate our image, be a part of and popular in a group and develop a circle of like-minded people seeking improprieties in others’ behavior in order to hide their own shortcomings.


Clever bitching is considered thrilling by some who think that it allows them to distinguish themselves and show others that they really do not really care. People bitch to prove their dare and expose truths, which good manners dictate they shouldn’t reveal. They tend to forget that at its worse, bitching can be really hurtful. The irony is the line between wit and cruelty is so thin, it is almost invisible.

Says Pooja Singh, corporate executive, “I do bitch quite often, most of the times pretty unconsciously. It’s alright to bitch if I have a bad day or I feel powerless or inept in front of bosses, traffic officers and even my fellow bank colleagues. However, I make it a point to not cross my line and get outright rude or hurtful. Casual bitching is okay as long as you don’t hurt someone’s sentiments.”


Akash Narula, a Call Centre employee voices, “It is crucial to bitch about bosses and even girlfriends when they are giving you a hard time. It comes across as a natural way of bonding with people who are on the same boat. It not only gives you an opportunity to vent out your frustration, which you couldn’t have otherwise. Besides, you know that there is a mutual understanding as long as you are not letting anyone down.”

It is alright to bitch sometimes, but not all the time. The fine art of bitching lies in understanding the difference between the two situations. It is never appropriate to bitch in front of family members, more so in front of children. Imagine the sentiments of your daughter’s friend who has won a scholarship when you ask her, “Do your parents know the Dean?” or comparing your husband’s female office colleague in front of your child. If someone tells you something derogatory about a mutual do not make it a point to pass it on as soon as you lay your hands on the keyboard or your cell-phone. Do not forward critical emails and never rank or compare your friends. That is outright childish and reflects poorly on your personality too. Imagine your friends losing trust in you. Never compare your boyfriend/girlfriend or beau with those of others. Importantly, never share your conversations with your dear ones with others. Why should you? Aren’t personal talks between a couple supposed to kept private?

You do have a right to be bitter or express your opinion strongly. However, that does not give you the right to go around inflicting hurt on others. The world is too full with annoying things. It is naive to bitch about them. Starving children, Government measures, AIDS, US Policies, the Iraq war, Melting ice caps and global warming, the plight of the tigers, the delusion of our political leaders and the terrible holocaust facing mankind – what possible good can you do by bitching about these issues? Discussing them is interesting as an abstract exercise of elocution, but it is rather a waste of energy to bitch about them, and not very entertaining either.

Says Vishal Khurana, IT professional, “back in our college days we had a professor who was, shall I say unpopular. My class-mates and I used to complain ceaselessly about him. We actually got to a point where every discussion, every cafeteria meet or day-out would begin with at least a fifteen minute bitching session about him. We whined about his attitude, his meddling, even his dressing sense. But did we ever tell him? No! While we were bitching about him, he went on being himself and nothing really changed because none of actually went and spoke to him about our concerns. That might have made sense.”

Chronic complaining or bitching can be downright toxic and can make the entire environment a terrible place to be at and work. It pulls off the motivation and happiness and saps the creativity and ability to work alongside others in a fun environment. It makes matters worse. When people bitch, they only tend to focus on the negatives – the problems, issues, annoyances and the people they wrongly perceive.

Bitching can develop into a malicious habit. The more you bitch, the worse a situation gets. In the end you lose friends, every co-worker appears to be a buffoon and nothing around you seems good. Besides, the more you focus on the downs, the harder it becomes for you to concentrate on the ups. You tend to become biased for you only perceive information that suits your prior beliefs. You start believing that you have a control over everything and everyone around you, which again can be extremely detrimental to your own persona.


Bitching makes people downhearted. Your own constant complaints added to the stories you keep hearing destroys all hope that things are and can get better. You become less likely to mend or improve a situation or take action to help someone because you already have a pre-conceived notion that the scenario or the person is already doomed. You become less appreciative, critical and doubtful of others’ abilities. The most dangerous effect of bitching is that it demolishes innovation. Because everything seems so hopeless, people tend to lack creativity. Also, chronic complainers are the first to turn down any new ideas.

Moreover, bitching and constant complaining only attracts negative company of fellow-complainers. It thus promotes bad relationships. Constant complainers unite together but the cornerstones of such relationships are mostly negative experiences and unhealthy mind-sets.

The art of not taking things personally or to heart is a task in itself. Especially when you know that you are the person being bitched about. You must understand that when someone is actually bitching, their aggression might not really be for you. You just happened to be at the wrong place at the wrong time by a coincidence of mischance when this person wanted to lash out his/her feelings about something just in order to feel more content and strong.

The solution to the problem of constant malicious bitching is simple. If you perceive a problem, do something about it. Pessimism is bad for your health. If you must complain, you must learn to complain constructively, with a target of finding a solution to whatever is not to your liking. Being positive and appreciative will only make you more open towards other people – no matter who they are. Bitching, on the contrary will only alienate you from the social circle. Finally, you can train your own mental faculty to be positive and look at the brighter side of things and people. Just like complaining can become a habit, so can being appreciative, optimistic and nice! The latter will surely win you better friends and stronger bonds.

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Nails That Cast a Spell

Has the latest fashion fever caught you yet? NAIL ART is the buzz word these days. Think beyond French manicures and transform your nails into a canvas for expressing your creativity. We are talking designs, patterns, colours, stickers, beads, glitters, glamour and all that jazz. NOIDAN WAY tells you about this latest craze that has got all hands jazzed up!

Beauty is definitely one business that has withstood the repercussions of the fluctuating economy graph and has bloomed unrestricted. The recent years have witnessed it mushrooming with beauty salons taking bolder strides to be at par with the international style parameters. With the growing trend of nail art, the latest craze among girls is to get their nails painted with seemingly endless designs created with the help of vivid nail paints, stars, glitter, stones, stickers, beads, and flowers. Nail piercing and wearing trinkets or expensive pieces of jewellery like ringlets, is also on a rise.

The arrival of easy-to-do nail art is a great boon for modern women constantly in a rush. Simple nail art not only conceals the flaws in your nails but also exudes a great style statement. The list of nail art techniques is endless. Moreover, nail art is not a time consuming process and therefore can easily be adopted in one’s daily lifestyle.

The regular way of filing nails and touching them up with a single coat of polish is out of fashion. French nail art has taken over. French manicure provides a good base for nail art designs as it ensures extended longevity.

Homemade Recipes
With a little bit of creativity and a dash of imagination, your nail can achieve a professionally created designer look. Spice your unique style with funky accessories and watch your nails attain a unique character of their own. Here are a couple of tips on how to go wild with your creativity and create dazzling nail art designs on your own:
• For starters, you need a clear base coat, a top coat, nail polish or color and a tooth pick.
• To begin with, file your nails properly with a nail file.
• Apply the base coat on your nails followed by a coat of nail polish. Let it dry properly.
• After the polish has dried off completely (make sure it s not lumpy and is free of bubbles), start painting the nails with the help of a toothpick dipped in your favorite nail color. Create your own designs to adorn your nails.
• Put the final or the top coat to make the pattern last longer.
• Before applying the top coat, you can choose to add glitters to make the designs more attractive.
However, if you have a paucity of time, you can go for fabric or stickers to achieve similar results.
• In order to use fabric to create nail art, make an outline of your nails on paper.
• Cut the fabric to perfection according to the size of your nails.
• Using adhesive or a thick coat of nail polish stick the fabric on your natural nails. Remember to use a transparent nail polish in case you want it to act as the glue.
• After the fabric is stuck on your nail, apply a coat of transparent nail polish to make the design look natural. Lo and behold! You have the most attractive nails to flaunt!

Classic Nail Art
Classic nails are based on beautiful, well-trimmed and shaped nails polished to perfection. You do not need to exaggerate the design to make your nails attractive. Being practical, strong and reliable, class nails are a perfect choice for a working professional. Teamed with pre done French manicure, it lends an ultra feminine streak to your personality. It is undoubtedly an evergreen trend and usually blends well with any outfit or occasion.

Edgy Nail Art
With fashion trends being redefined and experimented with, nail art designs has also adapted to edgier looks. Learnt from the Japanese, who have mastered this art, edgy nails involve unreal designs, over accessorizing and the use of ceramic shapes that make the nails look like a real work of art. Although the edgy nail art is not a practical option, nonetheless, it does leave the nails looking drop dead gorgeous.

Nail extensions
There may be several reasons why women are unable to grow their nails to a fashionable length and maintain them. Brittle nails, working factors, lifestyle or the most popular vice of biting nails may be a few reasons. However, nail technicians have come up with the alternative of nail extensions that help curb all these factors and let women flaunt great, stylish nails.
Artificial nail extensions not only provide long lasting polished looks, but also have unlimited possibilities of designing them and latest techniques to achieve the desired results of unbelievable designs and unique styles.

Nail extension involve the fixing of artificial nails on top of the natural nail. As and when the natural base nail grows, the gap is filled with nail extension material. Depending upon the type of material used, nail extension can broadly be categorized under acrylic, silk wrap and gel extension categories. These are unnatural nails grown naturally on fingers. However, they can also be used on healthy nails to accentuate style at occasions or as daily wear.

Says Meenakshi, Owner of Meenakshi Beauty and Nail Hub, Greater Noida, “We mostly do UV gel extensions using Star Nails, a product made in USA. One UV gel extension sitting costs Rs. 1800 and lasts six months. However, a major part of my clientele visit me for the more sober French nail extensions which comprise a gel overlay that makes the nails stronger and prettier and lasts up to six months with regular refills. These refills are basically essential to cover up the gap between the artificial extensions and the natural nails. The price tag is a nominal Rs.1100 for ten fingers.”

Beyond the clichéd
For those who want to go beyond the traditional nail art designs, ideas are inexhaustible. As far as the design and color are concerned, women choose them according to the season and occasion. While pink ruled the roost initially, the advent of gold, magenta, red and black have transformed the clichéd perception and has rendered a more dramatic character to this art. Designs are mostly freehand. However, you can opt for using your own nail art brushes, acrylic paints, beads, glitter, and rings etc. to create masterpieces.

Says Taruna, a professional nail artist, “Liquid and powder nail extensions, also known as acrylic nails are most popular these days. Colored powders are mixed in varying proportions to achieve a typical desired shade. This is topped up with glitters, dried flowers, beads, pearls, crushed shells, and synthetic or semi precious stones to create fascinating designs. French manicure, on the other hand involves the use of liquid and powder acrylic, fiberglass or UV gels. To create these designs, white enamel is used to paint the free edge of the nail and give them a French manicure look. The art work follows later.”

Taruna adds, “Women like to have more intricate and embellished designs at occasions such as weddings. Red and gold are the hot colors and nails are accessorized heavily with gemstones, rhinestones and pearls to attain a bejeweled look. For occasions like Christmas, holly leaves can be painted on the nails while on Valentine day red hearts and cupids painted meticulously on the nails look fabulous.”

Nail piercing
After exhausting the possibilities of body piercing, the fad of nail piercing is on a tremendous rise. Pierce your nails carefully and adorn them with ringlets and studs. Choose a shimmering color and design that suits your personality and create sensational nail art designs.
A pinch of imagination + A dash of French Manicure

French nail art, replete with innovations and techniques, is all about treating the nails as individual canvases. Some eye-catching designs ideas that can let you own a stunning set of nails are as follows:

• Jewels have more to do than adorning ears, neck and hands. For a formal do, garnish your nails with small silver ringlets or similar jewelry when it comes to French nail art. All it requires is drilling a hole in the nail.

• Experiment with various colors and coloring techniques. Choose a color and a design carefully for each occasion. Go wild with jungle theme and animal prints!

• Most French nail art enhancement products comprise a white tip to achieve a French manicured look. Use dried flowers, glitters, acrylic shapes and bullion beads etc to create permanent French nail art. Experiment with rhinestones, flicks, dots and glitters.

• Use stick-on stones. There are plenty of options available in the market. Invest time and imagination to create a sensational look.

• Experiment with various airbrush techniques.

Try the reverse French tip. Use white on the entire nail and pink at the tip. Some gorgeous combinations are bright pink and bright yellow and metallic purple and silver. Top it up with glitter to add more jazz.

According to Sathya, Proprieter, Sravi Enterprises, Greater Noida, which supplies nail extension kits, “for a professional nail artist and parlours, we have nail extension kits that three gels – clear, pink and cover pink, primer, finishing gel, acrylic stick, brushes, buffer, cleaner, gel cleaner solution and brush cleaner solution, available at Rs. 9250. All gels are 15 ml as against the standard 7ml gels available in the markets and of international quality. The kit, however, does not include a UV lamp and customers need to buy it from the market.”

Meenakshi suggests, “Always ensure you follow all the instructions your salon may offer regarding nail care. This is primarily important when you experiment with nail art design and need to keep your nails maintained for a long period of time.”

Says Taruna, “There are endless ways to style your nail, according to the outfit you want to match it with, the occasion you are going to, or simply to your personality. You can choose simple, or extra edgy styles, starting from the classic French manicure and till the ceramic figurines that can be applied on the nails.”

Nails are an important part of our entire look and hence their importance should not be underestimated. Nothing is more repelling than dirty, unshapely fingernails. Even the minutest detail can make a difference. The key is to find the right style that suits your personality, and make it your signature manicure. Make the most gorgeous nail art designs on your own, or visit a professional for more intricate styles and get yourself some jaw-dropping glamorous nails.

P.S. I got a wonderful nail job done at Scratch, GK-2, New Delhi. The services @ Scratch are credible and extremely affordable (not to forget, probably the cheapest in Delhi too!. You can check them out here: www.scratchnails.in

Lean is In & Achievable!

You have been eating healthy, avoiding fast food and doing practically as much work as the other colleague at your workplace. And still your weight is still on a rise. You can’t seem to figure out why! Most frustratingly, you do not know how to lose those extra pounds, love handles and pouch belly that you never had a couple of months back. Where have you been going wrong? Really, what must you do to get back in shape without compromising with your daily schedule?

Here are a few, yet key things that I personally followed (strictly two months before my wedding) and  did achieve a lean figure.

If you are a working professional your demanding lifestyle of can take a toll on your physical health and body. The paucity of time, the dependence on ‘ready-to-eat’ convenience food, or ‘vegging on the couch’ after hours of toil only lead to a body gone way out of proportions. Clothes stop fitting and lethargy prevails, not to forget a couple of pounds bulging out notoriously at the most unwanted of places. You do practically as much work as your colleague sitting on the other side of the cubicle. You woefully complain that you hardly eat and yet you are gaining weight. You wonder to yourself what he does to stay so healthy and (more importantly) look so lean!  Then you wonder at the possibilities of dieting...or crash dieting...or whatever it takes to fit right back in your favorite pair of jeans! 

The key is not dieting. It is all about choosing the right diet and incorporating it in your daily life.    

Making minute changes here and there in your daily schedule can actually work miracles. No, you do not need to miss work and do not need to do strenuous ‘suryapranaams’ to achieve a lean and fit look (although we never discourage exercises and you can go on doing them as per your wish). It is about knowing what you eat and what impact will it have on your body, or more precisely, your ‘figure’.

A healthy diet is very important in achieving a proportional figure. While it may vary from subject to subject, we have compiled a general list of do’s and don’ts that will definitely help you reduce the overall fat content in your body and attain a balanced figure.

To begin with, certain key information must be furnished.

• Depending on whether you are a male or a female, your body would require more carbohydrates and proteins or calcium, proteins and carbohydrates respectively.
• You must also make a note of your height and have your Body Mass Index (BMI) calculated accordingly to set out on a diet plan.
• Next in line, you should make a note of vices – drinking, smoking, eating out, eating late, and skipping meals.
• Make sure you are not under any medication.
• Know exactly how your day is divided. This will help in making sure that you provide your body with the required nutritional support for enhanced professional performance.

Diet plan according to time

Whether you work from 9AM to 5PM or are in a graveyard shift, there is always a diet plan to help you replenish your body with nutritional food. 

• Working all day:  If you’re a long-run person, on your feet for almost the entire day, your body needs enough energy to keep you going. Keep your sugar level stable with the help of hydro-carbonates. Start your day with cereals and milk, eat vegetables (not too oily or overcooked) with chapattis and salads at lunch, go for a bowl of soup with a couple of baked bread sticks as an evening snack and round it off with chapattis, stir-fried vegetables and dal at dinner. 
  
  
• Late-night worker: If your work starts when the world goes off to bed, you need enough nutrition to last you till the wee hours of the morning. Vitamin B1 is the key nutrient that will keep you on your      toes till morning. Start your day with a breakfast comprising brown bread and honey. Your lunch should include salads, chapattis and vegetables. As an evening snack you can eat a fruit like apple, pear, orange or papaya. For dinner you can have chicken barbecue and salad. 

 While these are basic work shifts that require proper care and attention with regards to one’s diet, there are other general factors that help you maintain a lean and healthy body. No matter what occupation you have, your body needs enough energy to do it well. You need a healthy diet plan so that you don’t gain weight and yet eat only as much as is required by your body to work efficiently and for you to not feel dizzy or hungry and be tempted to hog between meals, even while at work.

 

Sedentary workers: Working professionals, especially those restricted to a sedentary job, perform intense mental activities and have very limited physical movement during their work hours. Your body needs ‘intelligent food’ that gives energy to your brain and nerves while also satiating your hunger. You need food items rich in Vitamin B and C. Eat a wholesome salad, fruits (oranges, apples, pears, papaya) or a vegetable sandwich (made with brown bread) for breakfast. Eat two chapattis with stir fried vegetables, salads and yoghurt for lunch. Have a bowl of fresh tomato soup in the evening and for dinner eat fish, vegetables or porridge (dalia).

For an average person who wants to shed a few pounds, here a few easy-to-do week-wise tips that will not only reduce the fat content in your body but also, if followed strictly, lead to acquiring visible results in body proportions within weeks! The prescribed timings are standard, based on an average person’s daily time table and can be molded by one hour to suit your needs. (And no, you can’t cheat! No chocolates, butter, cheese, rice or potatoes! Not even out of desperation! After all, you do want to get back in shape, don’t you?)

Week 1: Your body needs a detoxification.

7 AM: Drink a glassful of lukewarm water. You may add a dash of lemon if you please.

8AM: Take two slices of toasted brown bread. Toss in freshly chopped vegetables like cucumber, tomatoes, lettuce. Add a pinch of salt. This is your breakfast. 

11AM: Eat a fruit. Avoid bananas, litchis or grapes as they add weight.

1PM: Eat two flour and bran chapattis (the ratio of mixing wheat bran and flour is 2:1) with lightly cooked vegetables and salads.

4PM: Drink a cup of regular tea. You can also munch a couple of biscuits (but only a couple and not a whole pack of assorted nut cookies).

6PM: Drink a bowl of soup. Avoid cheese and butter. If you cannot take soup, you can eat a fruit. This will keep your hunger at bay till dinner time.

8PM: Eat one flour and bran chapatti (the ratio of mixing wheat bran and flour is 2:1) with lightly cooked vegetables and salads.

Week 2: Your body needs a nutrient replenishment.

7 AM: Drink a glassful of lukewarm water. You may add a dash of lemon if you please.

8AM: For breakfast, eat a bowl of sprouts. You can choose to drink a tumbler of thin buttermilk if you like.

11AM: Eat a fruit. Avoid bananas, litchis or grapes.

1PM: Eat two wheat and soya flour chapattis (the ratio of mixing wheat and soya flour is 2:1) with lightly cooked vegetables and salads.

4PM: Drink a cup of regular tea. You can also munch a couple of biscuits.

6PM: Drink a bowl of soup. No cheese or butter to be taken yet. If soup is not available, you can eat a fruit.

8PM: You eat porridge (dalia), cooked with seasonal vegetables for dinner.

Week 3: Your body feels lighter

7 AM: Drink a glassful of lukewarm water. You may add a dash of lemon if you please.

8AM: For breakfast, a brown bread sandwich. You can have an egg-white omelet on alternate days.

11AM: Eat a fruit. Avoid bananas, litchis or grapes.

1PM: Alternate between two wheat and soya flour chapattis and flour and wheat bran chapattis and have them with regular non-oily vegetables. Increase your intake of salads.

4PM: Drink a cup of regular tea. You can still munch a couple of biscuits.

6PM: Drink a bowl of soup minus cheese or butter. If soup is not available, you can eat a fruit.

8PM: You eat continue eating porridge (dalia), cooked with seasonal vegetables or salads or wheat and soya chapattis with light curry for dinner.

Week 4: Measure your weight and inch-loss

Follow the diet plan of Week 3. Increase the quantity of foods that cool your system such as yoghurt, cucumbers, and tomatoes etc. Also increase your intake of high-fiber foods such as oat bran, woody vegetables etc. that keep your energy levels high.

However, do bear in mind that you have already come this far. Three weeks without rice, potatoes, oil, ghee, butter, cheese, sweets, chocolates or fast food indeed calls for applause. This is the final week. A little bit of perseverance will give you astonishing results. Depending upon how much weight you have lost since you began following the diet plan, you can choose to include lean meat twice a week, to be taken at lunchtime. If the temptations are too hard to resist, you can allow yourself a treat of boiled chicken salad. Do remember, no gorgeous dressings should be added to the salad though!

We are sure that once you follow this month long diet plan, you will be a better judge of the food you eat. While continuing to measure your progress in losing weight each week, you will have an idea of what suits you the best and doesn’t leave you feeling weak or hungry. The idea of the diet plan is to keep your stomach full while not adding the minutest amount of fat.

Finally, here are a few tips that one must follow to maintain that gorgeous figure and stay healthy:

• Do not skip breakfast: Breakfast is the first chance for the body to refuel its glucose levels after a gap of eight to ten hours. It is important for weight management as it helps curb your hunger and prevents you from binging later during the day. 
• Eat at regular intervals: Our bodies needs energy at regular intervals. Moreover, frequent food intake helps your prevent acidity, gas or bloating. Mini meals supply a constant stream of insulin to preserve muscle but lesser insulin release and therefore lesser fat gain. 
  
  
• Eat healthy: Eat natural food items. Avoid junk food or eating out. Carry roasted nuts or fruits while on the go instead of chips and munchies.
   
• Say no to aerated or caffeinated drinks: Replace fizzy drinks with water, coconut water, lime drink, fruit juices or herbal drinks. Restrict your intake of tea and coffee.
  
  
• Avoid stress and long working hours: Let your body rest and use up all the nutrients that you have provided it with and produce energy. 
• Avoid cigarettes and alcohol: Smoking or drinking for busting stress is no excuse! These have more negative effects on the body than you could possibly imagine.

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A Class Apart

Class is a matter of attitude. You don’t need to be dressed in an Armani or a Gucci to look classy. Nor do you need to have lots of money. It is not just fashion but also your general demeanour that can make you leave a classy impression. Surprised? Don’t be. Here's a way to get out there and be your ‘classy’ best!

What do Amitabh Bachchan, Sushmita Sen, Sonia Gandhi, George Clooney, David Beckham, Barrack Obama and Martha Stewart have in common? The answer is ‘class’. While they are hailed as leaders in their respective fields, the world is awed by the charm of their strong, empowered personalities glazed by refinement and politeness. Truth is you don’t need to be well dressed or have a lot of money to look and be classy. Class is an intrinsic quality that comes from within. A classy person is elegant, sophisticated and well presented. They tend to dress and look clean and smart, thus exuberating connotations of the wealthy.

The ladylike style and the chivalrous stance are not just attitudes of the past. They make you what you are and go a long way in making you classy. Your actions, facial expressions, ability to give and receive compliments and how you carry yourself are but a few things that make you define your own class.

Surely, a lot of extremely wealthy people are typically deemed as classy. However, beautiful but brash women and attractive but arrogant men do not fall in this category. Instead, it is those who are polite, kind, helpful, sensitive, have a pleasant facial expression and friendly gestures that make you feel comfortable who know how to be classy, with or without money.

Want to know how to be classy without puncturing your pocket? Read on.

Smile please! Smiling helps generate a positive energy and lifts up spirits instantly. A smile creates a pleasant environment and reflects a positive side of your personality too.

Posture – Do not slouch while sitting or standing. Be confident and move with the flow. Stand up straight with your head held high to show that you are sure of yourself.

Receive compliments with pleasure – Do not shrug off from a person’s well-meaning comment about you. Learn how to take a compliment. Be it work, beauty, wardrobe, home or accomplishments, learn to accept compliments as generously as you would give them. Thank the person politely and feel good about yourself, just like a celebrity receiving an Oscar!

Don’t be a fishwife – Now this one is for the ladies who yell at their husbands at dinner, shout at her children and rant until everything is in place. Ladies, that behavior of yours is unappealing. No matter what life throws at you, replace your negatives with softness and grace. Don’t fake who you are but move in a direction that exudes class and respect for those around you.

Don’t be profane – Abusing is not cool! Classy women do not swear and definitely do not sound like a drunken waste. Use positive, creative vocabulary and tone down your mood swings, no matter how mad or panicked you are. Instead of using bad language and showing them the finger, be calm and composed and deal with bad times as smoothly as they would pass. Abusing is neither lady-like nor man-like. It is plain rude.

Watch your drink – Don't get drunk. Popping the bubbly and celebrating a good time with family and friends is not a sin, as long as you can handle it. Getting drunk in a party and dancing on a table-top is not cool. You would definitely not like people to recall what you did and have them repeat what an utter fool you made of yourself when you were in ‘high spirits’. Is it really worth it? Classy people know their limits, and when they think they have reached them they simply replace their poison with sparkling water, soda and lime. Plus, remember; classy people mix with the society. They do not cause an accident on their way back home!

Be eloquent – Speak loud, clear and correct. Slangs are not synonymous with class. It doesn’t matter if you cannot speak proper English. Do not be ashamed to converse in Hindi. Make the best use of your vocabulary but do not sound grotesque and alien. Accent or no accent, people want to know what you are saying, not where you come from.

Turning down a request – There is nothing wrong in saying ‘no’ and turning down a request. Take time for yourself to ensure that you turn down the invitation in a pleasant manner. Do not commit if you can’t make it.

Be proud in your shoes – walk proudly and with grace. Whether you are entering a room, buying your weekly grocery or ordering a burger, keep your head up, shoulders back, spine lengthened and tummy tucked in. Always remember, you are no less than anyone else out there. This will portray you as strong, confident and proud and you’ll be amazed at how many heads turn in your direction.

Nail your nails – Dirty fingernails are a big turn-off. They reflect poor sense of personal and social hygiene. Yellowed, chipped or ragged nails are not good either. Keep your nails well-trimmed, filed and buffed and at a good length. Keep a nail-cutter and a file always handy. Go for regular manicures or do them yourself at home. The same holds true for the toe-nails.

Be squeaky clean – Classy people are not dirty. They do not sleep with their faces made up like a birthday cake, like our soap-opera stars. They brush, floss and shower regularly. Do not get paranoid about cleanliness but do take proper care of your personal hygiene.

Develop a style – Finding a style that suits you the best depends largely upon your body type. Do not follow fashion blindly. Look around, mix and match and develop your unique style. Wear clothes that fit your body and make you look more sophisticated. Expensive brands aren't always better, but if you can afford it, they often wear well in the long run. A classy person is never overdressed or underdressed. Keep a few ensembles always in store to be worn at a sudden event. Follow dress codes at formal events. Remember that while you want to be noticed for your individual style, you don't want to look vulgar or profane. Dress up in an appropriate way while not sacrificing your own fashion sense. Anyone can be classy at any age, that's the beauty of classiness. It is a matter of having a timeless wardrobe, a classic wardrobe. You can match all your clothes to each other. However you do need to dress appropriately for your age.

Wardrobe matters – Learn to take pride in whatever you own. It doesn’t matter if it’s not a Gucci or an Armani. Put on your best face and go out into the world. Wear clean, pressed clothes with no threads, rips, stains or fades. Donne the outfit that you think makes you look your best, touch it up with some make-up and voila, you are ready to hit the town!

Make-up and accessorise – Being classy is all about exuding your natural beauty so do not hide it with layers of concealers and blush-ons. While men should keep make-up at bay, women should keep it to a minimum. Mineral powder is great to cover up flaws and a blusher to enhance your natural flush. A little bit of mascara and a lip-gloss that goes with your attire is all you need to have a classy appeal. Do not go overboard with your accessories. That will only makes you look like you’re walking right out of a fancy-dress competition. Match your dress with accessories – bags, jewellery, and sunglasses, etc and wear proper fitting shoes. All in all, try to be tasteful while accentuating the good features of your face and body. There you go ladies and gentlemen! It’s simple and effortless to look classy!

Be modest – A certain degree of modesty is necessary to exude true class. But you should know where to draw the line. The key is to be alluring and not obvious.

Behave! – Finally, a note on general demeanour. Bear good manners in mind. Always be considerate and polite. Say please and thank you. Mingle, without being haughty or rude. After all, you should not just be remembered for your impeccable taste and good fashion sense, but your warm and pleasant personality too.

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I Have Arrived!

Money, name, fame, power, influence and recognition – these may be the hymn words for many who judge ‘success’ according to these parameters. But for a few the concept of happiness is the ‘be all and end all’ factor that defines success. Let's delve into the psyche of commoners and aim at deriving an answer to the ever elusive question that has perplexed mankind since the day he was tagged as a ‘social animal’ – what is success?

In certain South American tribes, when a young man comes of age, he has to prove his manhood in a sacrament that expects him to jump off a tall tree in order to prove his manhood. Although a bit apprehensive before the jump, when he eventually performs the rite, his heart swells with pride, for he is now a successful man, ready to take on life with the rest of his tribe.

Success has many forms. Some consider amassing heaps of wealth as an indicator of success while others believe that it lies in finding ultimate happiness in life. To this the former lot argues that since money rules the world, without the moolah, there is no happiness either. Since time bygone, people have associated ‘affordability’ as a gauge of success. However, for some success lies in being content and at peace with oneself.

Another point that baffles the mind is the fact that success is short-lived. One may scale the heights of success today but taste the dust tomorrow! So, who really decides when has success been achieved up to the optimum? And is there really any optimum to this concept? When we look at movie-stars, or sports-stars, business men or youth idols, we believe that they are people of some worth; that ‘they have arrived’ in life. The facade makes us totally ignorant of the fact that their personal lives may be an utter disaster. Will it still be right to say that these people are winners? Have they achieved all that they could, and by all means, out of their lives; that they have not only lived but also battled life till the last breath and also partaken of its last dregs? In other words, is their life now totally futile? Does life become a mere sham once you have arrived? Or is name, fame and acclaim all but a mind-game?

Who could give more valuable insights into the concept than the ones who have, as per their own parameters, arrived in life and those who are still in its pursuit? Here are a few excerpts.

I have arrived

Shreeja Mathur, home-maker, “Though I am not working, but being able to live happily with my husband who supports me and two lovely children to look after and adore, I feel my life is pretty balanced and complete. My husband has a stable job, a salary every month and he takes good care of the family. I am in charge of running the household smoothly and making sure that there is comfort and support for all. We share our happiness as well as our woes together. It is one happy family under a roof. This to me is success.

Prakash Khanna, businessman, “If you ask me, what is the most important thing in life, I wouldn’t think twice before answering ‘money’. Just because a bank, a car dealer or even a family member tells you that you can handle everything on your plate, doesn't necessarily mean that you can. You have to know your capabilities as well as your limitations and to handle everything, you need money. I have enough that will keep me going quite comfortably in this lifetime. I don’t need to feel ashamed to say that I can afford a house worth a couple of crores. I have earned it and I am proud of accomplishing it. And if I can do better than providing a roof over my family’s head, clothes on their backs and three meals a day, why shouldn’t I? Especially given the economic times we are finding ourselves in right now.

Varun Saigal, college student, “While I think I am successful, the actual credit goes to my dad. I have no qualms about being brought-up in luxury. I love my lifestyle, especially my cars with customized number plates on them. Wherever I go, people make a note of my presence. My friends and I hang out at the best of places. Going to exotic locations is no big deal for my family; my dad has earned so much money! Do you think I would be flaunting branded clothes, branded accessories, these super cars if I had no money? No way! But it’s not my fault that I have them. I could do without doing anything in life but frankly I haven’t given that a serious thought either. May be I’ll go for an MBA abroad and come back and join my dad’s business. Let’s see. But for now, for what I am, I feel like a winner.

Success is a dynamic concept. While for Shreeja and Prakash, success is defined by the realization of dreams and goals in life, vis-à-vis also finding contentment in one’s accomplishments, Varun believes that he is a winner because he can get anything he lays his eyes on. None of them are wrong. Success to some may be the ability to support themselves, share their lives with someone, have a happy social life and typically have everything well spaced-out and balanced.

Says Saraswathy Vishwanathan, Teacher, “the ability to cope with one’s life is another factor that determines success. A life well-spent is a meaningful life. A person who is happy, satisfied with life, and effectively balances his social ties and work obligations, is a successful person to me. People need not be very rich. As long as they are able to sustain their daily living, and family expenses, and loving what they do, even if their daily life might appear as a drudgery, and have meaning in their life, they are winners.

It is difficult to gauge the success quotient of an individual. As Freud said, ‘every individual is unique’, we must understand that the dreams of different people are also unique and different. Everybody is gifted with a certain potential to harness their capabilities and realize their dreams. True success can be achieved only when every individual learns to be independent, provides for himself and depend and rely on himself. This does not mean that if you lose your job today, you are a loser or unsuccessful. Instead, realize that this temporary break from your ‘successful life’ has provided you with a chance to explore better opportunities, and once this realization dawns, get back to life with new zeal. That is ‘having arrived’ in the truest sense of the term.

In Pursuit of Success

Akshara Shivhare, model and actor: “My journey in life is not complete yet. I have not reached the successful stage of my life yet. According to me, name, fame and acclaim are the benchmarks of a successful life and since I am still at the initial stage of my career, I have a long way to go before I can call myself successful.”

Amandeep Singh, Senior Manager: “Given my age you would typically want me to acknowledge that I have arrived in life. But for me, it is rather complex. On one hand I do have most of the things I had planned for myself ten years ago but on the other, I also know that it is a long journey. The societal scenarios are changing. What seems to suffice today may be insufficient tomorrow. And that is directly proportional to one’s mental and psychological condition. So the strife continues. There is no negating the fact that our material needs are related to our spiritual satisfaction. But the scales are always heavier on one side. And I am no ascetic (laughs)! As long as I endeavor to keep the scales balanced, I can only say that I am trying, but haven’t really got there.”

So it is right to assume that whatever your argument about success is, you should own it completely. You should not allow the society, your friends or even your near and dear ones barge in and say that you are not a success. In present times, we have all fallen prey to ‘keeping up with the neighbors’ syndrome and the competition makes life really, really sad and weary. Success to some may come in the form of simply being able to wake up with that special someone one day or putting their children to sleep with a lullaby and a kiss. To some others, success might come in the disguise of having graduated or getting a job To still others, success could mean the biggest house in the posh, uptown locality, flanked by high walls and housing more cars than the number of residents.

To dream big is wonderful provided you are always careful of not biting off more than you can chew. Frankly, there is no harm in being able to flaunt nice things or brag about certain accomplishments, but the reality is that there are certain limitations on anything that we would like to do. Success, like many things in life, is a choice. With that said, if you have made your choices and you live through them successfully, there is no denying the fact that ‘you have arrived’.

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