Burn out don't fade away

I always associate happiness with fitness! That feeling of being "Fit" is truly a demonstration of all the determination and hard work put in by you. Because, only "You" are responsible for your happiness. Every time I hear reasons by someone for not being able to allot time for fitness, I know I am looking at someone who is putting the body and mind in trouble or mostly, it's already in trouble! Very honestly, "I don't have time", is a grown up version of "the dog ate my homework"! So, for those of you who use this as the reason, I am hoping that you would change your perspective and try a bit harder to make that time! For the ones who are struggling with "what can I do for fitness?", please have look at the list below. And for the fitness freaks who are example setters because of their regularity, determination and results, please share with me your routines! I cannot wait to try your ways! :-)

Here's a list of things I do or have tried in the past and have found great! It's a good trick to keep changing your exercise regimes as well. Your body gets to break its monotony and your mind gets an added excitement!

Meditation
Mandala
Vipassana
Nadabramha

Sports
Swimming - Breast Stroke I am swimming this stroke for over 10 years now.
Badminton :-D Not really to this extent. Enjoy the video, its incredible!
Table Tennis :-D I am a very basic TT player. Another brilliant video!

Gymnasium
Lately my work outs are more over at the Gym. Below are a few exercises focused on training specific areas for advance strength.

Upper Body
Basic arms workout
Chest, Biceps and Triceps tone
Abs
Side Waist
Side Abdominal
Lower abdominal
Waist and Legs
Lower Abdomin and Thighs
Pelvis Bridge
Love Handles

Lower Body
Full body move
Legs tone
Single Leg Squat
Bulgarian Squat
Split Squat with Side Kick
Thighs
Inner Thighs
Outer Thighs
Hips & Thighs
Glutes and Legs
Glutes and hamstrings
Quadriceps and knees
Calves

Worthless Anger

Have you ever experienced the feeling of the utmost urge to prove yourself? Since I have, it gives me this special ability to validate few facts that I get to hear all the time as heavy doses of advice. Honestly, its not their fault to begin with. Especially when someone like me, who has a long history of temper (... real bad temper) I just don't know how, I always get into situations where people throw judgements at you and then arguments begin regarding the same. I would like to state that such type of arguments are never nasty, at least with me. But the intensity of taking such judgements personally only affects me. After a long series of ruining my own jolly mood over these things, I am finally able to accept it as absolute petty stuff and move on. Here's how I could let go by really listening to the advices! :-)

1. It is a complete waste of time, energy and PEACE OF MIND. It is like a wrestling game with a pig where you think you are fighting a genuine opponent. But after sometime you realize that you are full of dirt and the pig is utterly enjoying it!
2. Judgements are called so because they have no resemblance to facts. If the people are already judging you before knowing you, what makes you think they would even bother to listen to the reality? 
3. Your true worth is not in wining an argument off your worth, but in going beyond them and joining the laughing club around it. If there is no reality in what is said about you, just go with the flow of jokes. I know it is always easy said than done. But I have been there and done that. And the first time when I was able to join in the laughter, it just gave me a different level of understanding the superficiality of such people cracking jokes on someone else's worth. What's the bet, they themselves are worthless and use such defence mechanisms to camouflage it? To be honest, I feel deep pity for such people who can't be honest with themselves, let alone others.

Just like infinite number of ways one can live a life, infinite number of triggers ignite one's anger! Only those who have temper issues would understand this analogy! I do have a long long way to go before I can even say "my anger is in my control". But I have surely over come one of the main triggers! 

Italian 3 course meal

Till now I have only shared single recipes which turned out to be good for me! And by all means I shall continue doing that till I stop cooking for pleasure. An idea struck me while making a proper theme meal on one weekend - Sharing interesting combinations of 3 to 4 course meals that I have tried out. As in, its a different thing to cook one dish at a time and enjoy it. And its a totally different thing when you combine 3 to 4 different dishes as a part of one menu. In spite of having made perfect dishes, if they don't go well with each other, it turns out to be a complete disastrous. I am a total get together person and so, it happens quite often for me to plan menus for the same. I am sure if you like planning thematic meals, this might help you in doing so. Voilà, my first Get Together Menu!! :-)

Since I followed all the recipes from Internet without any of my additions, I am sharing the links of the same.

Italian 3 course meal...

Baby Potato Salad

Classic Spaghetti Nepolitana

Mocha Tiramisu

Celebration

My opinion on the reasons of celebration, confusions regarding what it is by and large perceived as and also to some extent agitation over justifications of "celebrations" suddenly seemed answered when I heard this experience! It became crystal clear to  me as to what is worth celebrating. Who are the people who should become a part of one's celebrations. And lastly, very sad feeling for the perception of it in our society that truly spoils the beauty of pure celebration!

"Since 4 months a teen aged boy used to come on this jogging track with his 3 companions. He was tied to a wheelchair due to a terrible mishap. But everyday he used to come for attempting to walk with the help of these 3 people. One of them used to support him from behind and the other two from each side. Once he was able to stand up, then all of them used to help him walk around 8 to 10 steps with partially carrying his weight. At the 10th step, he used to get so exhausted that he had to be helped to sit back into the wheelchair immediately. This entire exercise used to last for 30 minutes. Each and every member on the jogging track used to see him and feel extremely sorry about the poor kid's condition. But everyone without fail smiled and waved at him with utmost encouragement! 

This routine continued everyday without fail for almost 4 months till that day when the entire jogging track stood still for 20 minutes. This kid stood up like everyday with the help of his companions. After the first step, he walked the remaining 9 steps all by himself!! He was clapping for himself to get the rhythm and strength to walk up those steps. When he took the first step without help, there was a huge cheering by the people who were close by. And suddenly each and every member gathered around him within a few minutes! Everyone was clapping, shouting, cheering and in their hearts wholeheartedly celebrating this wonderfully special moment!"

I was numb till my bones for a very long time. My eyes went moist after this narration settled down in my mind. The real moment was there - at that time when he walked on his own between those people who saw him everyday practising it! It was that part where the entire track stood still just to encourage him and bless him for witnessing this special achievement! It was neither about the display, nor about any competitive performance. It was never about invitations nor about stereotypical parties. What had happened there was simple spontaneous celebration in its purest form!

Dark Chocolate Chips Cookies

Credit - Nigella Lawson

Quantity - around 20 pieces  

Time - 40 minutes

Ingredients -

• 125 gms. dark chocolate (minimum 70% cocoa solids)
• 150 gms. plain flour (I use wheat flour)
• 30 gms. cocoa powder sieved
• 1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 125 gms. butter soft
• 75 gms. light brown sugar
• 50 gms. white sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 medium eggs cold from the fridge
• 350 gms. dark chocolate chips (or semi sweet chocolate morsels)

Method -

1. Preheat the oven to 170°C. Melt the 125 g dark chocolate in a heatproof dish over a pan of simmering water.
2. Put the flour, cocoa, bicarbonate of soda and salt into a bowl.
3. Cream the butter and sugars in another bowl.  Add the melted chocolate and mix together.
4. Beat in the vanilla extract and cold egg, and then mix in the dry ingredients. Finally stir in the chocolate morsels or chips.
5. Scoop out 12 equal-sized mounds - an ice cream scoop and a palette knife are the best tools for the job - and place on a lined baking sheet about 6cm apart. Do not flatten them. (I made around 20 smaller cookies)
6. Cook for 18 minutes, testing with a cake tester to make sure it comes out semi-clean and not wet with cake batter. If you pierce a chocolate chip, try again.
7. Leave to cool slightly on the baking sheet for 4-5 minutes, then transfer them to a cooling rack to harden as they cool.

Serve - Serve with tea or coffee. 

p.s: Its really simple and a huge hit!! :-)

Phalanges Express

I have found out a great brain teaser for the breaks at work - "on line Typing Tutorial"! I know it sounds a little weird, but it is actually real fun! Over the years of using a QWERTY key board, I had kind of subconsciously started typing without looking at the key board and honestly, fairly fast. But just out of curiosity, I wanted to learn the systematic technique of the same and found this site.  Its real neat and a very refreshing break as well! While using this site I follow the basic standard chart of "Fingers : Letters." (Refer the picture below)

The nature of my work is quite sedentary and very varied as well. To begin afresh from one task to another, a short break always helps. In stead of playing a game of Solitaire or make a cold call or for that matter just whiling away your time thinking about what to do, this is a very interesting change over! You learn as well as get a complete break from the monotony! I hope you find it as constructive as I do!

Nankhatai

Credit - Internet (My little additions)

Quantity - 16 to 20 pieces  

Time - 15 minutes preparation 20 t0 25 minutes baking (Over night dough resting)

Ingredients -

• Maida/ Self rising flour - 1 cup
• Castor Sugar - 1/2 cup
• Cardamom powder - 1/2 Tsp.
• Ghee - 1/2 cup (melted and at room temperature)
• Baking Soda - 1/2 Tsp.
• Salt - a pinch

Method -

1. Stiff together the flour and baking soda.
2. Mix the ghee and sugar together till a smooth paste is formed. Add the flour and soda to this paste slowly till a dough is kneaded.
3. Rest this dough for overnight in an air tight container. (You can also rest it for an hour before baking. But overnight resting makes it more delicious.)
4. Pinch similar size balls out of this dough and place on a greased baking tray.
5. Bake in a pre-heated oven at 170 degrees for 20-25 minutes. 

Serve - Serve with tea or coffee.