How Hard IS It To Lose Weight?

As a teenager, and even younger, I was always one of the thinnest girls in my class. Some would probably get picked on for being as thin as I was, but my height saved me. It saved them too- from the comeback that would follow. But that’s a different story. As I was saying, it never seemed to be a problem to me, I never thought of eating less than I wanted to, and it never seemed like a big deal, like the way the healthier kids made it seem to be, to have to be “weight conscious”. But then came college, and the game changed. Big time!

College is all about freedom. You do what you want to, when you want to and how you want to. And at this pinnacle of liberty, my wants were….food! Thanks to the endless chain of fast foods and restaurants across the road from the campus, my friends and I made a point to pay our respect to the place atleast once a week. If it wasn’t across this street, we would head out to some other street, at an attempt to explore the nation’s capital, Delhi. There was food everywhere we went, and it became everything I ever thought of.

It seems like reality came back to bite me after all these years. I had relatives telling me (until recently) that I look like my only source of food is the air. Not that I’ve exploded out now or become enormous, or something, but the change is big enough for me to realize that once you’re fat, giving up food is the hardest thing to do. It’s like every time you decide to gain a control over your taste buds, you’re served melted chocolate truffle, with your favorite ice cream, on a chocolate plate (which by the way, you get to eat with a chocolate spoon). So in a situation so alluring, you fall off the wagon, more often now, than then.

Coming from a family that doesn't believe in the concept of dieting, I've never really been successful in skipping meals. Time and again I've been told to exercise, to take a brisk walk in the morning, but there’s no fun in doing that, is there? So, I continue to hog on, and devour the many heavenly creations from the Cook Book to Fatness. If you wonder what the point is of cribbing, since I’m so adamant to keep eating, you’re right. I actually found something to do, that might just give me a way out.

There’s a popular television series- Grey’s Anatomy. I’m sure there are a number of you who follow it, and that’s where I got my idea from. No, I’m not talking about getting liposuction done (I don’t even have that kind of money to throw away). I’m actually referring to the crazy dancing spree that Christina and Meredith indulge in, from time to time! They do it to release the stress, but I think there’s more to it- if you let yourself loose, turn the music on to full volume, and then dance like a maniac…..there’s a lot of sweat dripping there. And for those of you who have no clue what I’m talking about, watch the video for yourself:

No kidding folks, this is one heck of an awesome way to FEEL yourself lose weight, and feel AMAZING while you’re doing it! Honestly, I’m not sure how long it takes to work; I've just joined the party. But if this sails your boat too, why not give it a shot? ;)

I'm pretty optimistic now, that I might just go back to saying someday, that losing weight isn't as hard as it seems to be!

That Guest...

There are a variety of funny specimens in the human race, and sometimes we get to meet them in the form of our guests. We can’t escape them most of the times, and to make matters worse, there’s always something about them that irritates the hell out of us. I’m not saying my guests do that to me (they’re all very lovely, thank you very much J), but just for the sake of some fun, Akhil and I have formed a list of some of the kinds of people we all run into from time to time. So no hard feelings when you read this, and have a laugh with us when we say that there’s always the guest that…

…is so loud that your whole house shudders from their booming voice

…says he/she has already ate a lot, but still decides to eat anyways (and more than you do, when actually you’re the one who’s starving)

…drains out all the hot water from the shower after their “quick bath”

…asks you what you’re doing about your career (just like the last time, and million times before that)

…refuses to leave, and keeps talking till what seems like the end of time (in sync to the one where they say they’re leaving, but never really seem to be able to get out of the door)

…is too primate to use the flush (Why God, why??)

And now, for some kids’ specials, there’s always the guest’s kid who…

….eats out all the snacks from the serving tray with his/her bare hands (with his SALIVA-LAYERED, bare hands)

…seems to have escaped the local zoo (no offense, but the couch isn’t a trampoline kids, so stop acting like monkeys)

…uses the bathroom floor to leave signs that he was there (TOO unpleasant *grossed out*)

…digs his/her nose like….(there’s no metaphor disgusting enough to describe this one)

…likes your old toys better than anything, and makes the biggest scene on earth until you let him/her keep it (forever! L)

…goes through every cupboard, drawer and bag like a suspicious girlfriend (only worse)

And of course, an official tribute to the special aunties who…
…walk into the kitchen asking how they can help, then just stare at all the good food and walk back to the table to sit and start eating right away

…have that laugh that makes you laugh (and it’s definitely not even in the romantic way)

…use your stuff like it’s really their’s, and forget to give it back (especially the hair bands)

…try making small talk with you but never really lets you finish your sentence

Ahhh….the list could go on and on! It’s a pleasant little world, isn’t it? J

Don't Believe In Make-Believe

As children, one of the first things we are introduced to is fairy tales. We are presented with a world of make-believe and told about stories that never happened, about people who never existed and about magic that disobeys all of nature’s laws. As we grow up, we realize that there’s no Santa Claus climbing down the chimney on Christmas Eve, there’s no such thing as talking animals (except parrots), and Cinderella’s story is just another girl’s dream (which in most cases doesn’t come true). My biggest question is WHY?

If I put myself in any parent’s shoes, I begin to understand that all they want to do is protect us from the infinitely cruel reality. They want us to believe that everything is striking, perfect and even if it’s not- the ending always becomes a “happily ever after”. We are taught to be exceptionally hopeful in life, live fearlessly and gain many other moral values that seem to come along with every one of those enchanting stories. That’s all great, but the truth is- we are taught lessons in the most sugar-coated way possible, and the only things we remember at the end of these lessons is that to be the princess, you have to be breathtakingly beautiful  (and by that I mean the prettiest thing alive), that your prince will come and get you no matter what (even if it means he has to kill someone) and that you’re always going to have some superpowers or magical friend that will help rescue you from all the bad guys. I’m pretty sure that's not the direction you were headed in, was it?

I have nothing against the charm and positive aura that these stories create around children, but I have an objection from the fact that parents DO hurt children by telling them years later that these things were….a lie. I have an objection against the pounds of expectations that are built up in our minds that we just can’t let go of. For all I know, I’d never even want to know about Santa, I’d rather just be thankful that my mom and dad spent their entire holiday bonus getting me the most incredible Christmas gifts. According to me, knowing this reality would actually make me love them even more (as a child).

It’s not that I don’t know that these are traditions that have been carried down the line since decades. But why do you need your children to hang on to something that doesn’t even exist, and then expect them to remember the lesson, but forgive the whole story behind this lesson for being surreal? I believe that the second a child knows the truth- he will forget what you had been trying to teach him all along. There are families who don’t follow these traditions, and their children turn out just fine. The children still grow up to be loving and caring, and even though they don’t believe in magic, it’s not something they can’t live without.

My thoughts might seem disrespectful or bold to some people, but all I’m trying to say is, there are better ways for parents to teach their kids to become better humans. It’s not fair to tell them about something that you don’t believe in yourself. Of course mystical things like witches and wizards are great in the movies (and books), but if you let your children see them just like a movie or a book, they’ll definitely turn out more practical as they grow up. They won’t be so heartbroken and they’ll still admire the characters just as much. To add to it, they might even cherish these stories more, now that they don’t have to be told to come back to reality.

As a child, I always felt that life around me was perfect, because my parents chose to omit the things that were too hard for me to handle as a child. But I was never really made to believe in these fictions. So things like having a rip-off dress or a perfect appearance never really mattered to me. My parents taught me to be a better person by displaying those qualities in themself. Whether it meant to learn to give up half the candy on Halloween because it would hurt my teeth, or share my toys with the other kids who came home on parties- I learned to do it (even if I cried my eyes red sometimes). They managed to protect without hurting me more than necessary, and today, I know everything about life the way it is, and I'm actually happier this way. And I think I’ll go the same way, when it’s my turn to be a parent. J