I am not gone. I am still here. Part of the Blogosphere, just moved to a new address. If you liked reading my posts here, please show your support and visit my new blog, Mukulika still musing...
Friday, August 07, 2015
Friday, July 10, 2015
A Foodie's Weight Loss Story
I believe that my weight woes started about six years back, about the same time when I had joined my first job. After spending three years in a college hostel whose primary menu included rice, rasam, and appalam, this job promised me not financial independence but also food that was approved and liked by my palate. That sounded like music to my ears and tasty food in my tummy!
If someone told you that Chennai is a land of idli-dosa and nothing more, then know for sure that they are yet to discover the culinary delights offered by this place. I can say this with confidence because even now my Bengali taste buds crave for the Thalapakatti biryani, rava idli and ghee podi, and hot sambar sadam. Add to this an occassional cup of hot, aromatic filter coffee and you are good to got for the day.
I never complained nor did my body decline any of the nourishment it received as I continued to go restaurant hopping in Chennai. Bengali cuisine for me is comfort food and I was lucky enough to have a room mate who loved food just like I do. So our weekend lunch was usually at a small dinghy eatery called Annapurna in Egmore which served home style cooked Bengali meals at pocket friendly prices. A look at menu and I was torn if to go with potol dolma or alu posto.
The company had offered a free health checkup and most of us at office registered looking at it as an opportunity to sneak out of office for a few hours. That proved to be the undoing of my foodie avatar. The weighing scale no longer showed the familiar number. The immediate feeling was panic which soon gave into worry. I was aware of my food intake and was assuming that daily walk to the bus stop and back, occasional run behind MTC bus and the weekend Zumba classes would help in counter the weight gain. But I was proved wrong, by 7 kilos. Next to maxing out your credit card right when a Flat 50% sale is announced, a reading of the additional kilos to your weight is similar heartbreaking experience. I decided to embark on a dark, dangerous journey for a quick weight loss bidding a sad farewell to all my favorites.
Honestly, it did not turn out so well. I reduced my portions of food, said no to that extra dosa and idli, no ghee with my podi, had chocolate with sans the hot sauce, but the results were not just not visible. And then I met G. An ex-colleague, she was the closest friend I had in Chennai. We had spoke often on the phone but had met very few times since she had left the company. She did mention she had surprise for me, little did I know that it was going to resolve all my worries.
Now about G, she is a lovely girl with a warm personality, a best friend who is wise beyond her age and gives out the best advise. G also loves her food and juice, and yes she was slightly plump. I had trouble locating her that day in CCD, Anna Nagar. That plump girl was no where to be seen, instead there stood a thinner, fit G. I was astounded and ran all the way and greeted her with a yell and a hug. Over a cup of green tea, she told me how she had to work for months to achieve this fit and fine figure.
She said,"Success cannot be achieved overnight. I had a very difficult first week, the second was a stretch and I had almost given up. But didn't. After that it was slightly better. Balance diet is the key. You need little bit of everything. Too much of anything can throw it off the balance. And crash diets, well the demerits of GM diet exceeds its merits". Incredulous, I asked, "Is it really true? Does it work?". She smiled, took a sip of tea and said, "You can see the difference. A balanced diet makes a difference. Be patient. And yes, say goodbye to sugar my dear, else all the efforts will go for a spoil.". My eyes went round at this suggestion, no sugar meant no sweets, no desserts, no happiness. SHe probably sensed my apprehension, and quickly told,"No to sugar, not to sweetness dear. You can always add Dabur Honey to your cup of cereal or pancake. Honey diet is a healthy way towards weight loss. A glass of warm water with Dabur Honey and lemon will not only detoxify your body but also recharge you with energy and strength".
She did give me the best advise. Since then I have never looked at food the same way. Eat until you stop feeling hungry, have something of everything, and not underestimating the power of exercise - these points have been my guiding lights in the journey of weight loss.
If someone told you that Chennai is a land of idli-dosa and nothing more, then know for sure that they are yet to discover the culinary delights offered by this place. I can say this with confidence because even now my Bengali taste buds crave for the Thalapakatti biryani, rava idli and ghee podi, and hot sambar sadam. Add to this an occassional cup of hot, aromatic filter coffee and you are good to got for the day.
I never complained nor did my body decline any of the nourishment it received as I continued to go restaurant hopping in Chennai. Bengali cuisine for me is comfort food and I was lucky enough to have a room mate who loved food just like I do. So our weekend lunch was usually at a small dinghy eatery called Annapurna in Egmore which served home style cooked Bengali meals at pocket friendly prices. A look at menu and I was torn if to go with potol dolma or alu posto.
The company had offered a free health checkup and most of us at office registered looking at it as an opportunity to sneak out of office for a few hours. That proved to be the undoing of my foodie avatar. The weighing scale no longer showed the familiar number. The immediate feeling was panic which soon gave into worry. I was aware of my food intake and was assuming that daily walk to the bus stop and back, occasional run behind MTC bus and the weekend Zumba classes would help in counter the weight gain. But I was proved wrong, by 7 kilos. Next to maxing out your credit card right when a Flat 50% sale is announced, a reading of the additional kilos to your weight is similar heartbreaking experience. I decided to embark on a dark, dangerous journey for a quick weight loss bidding a sad farewell to all my favorites.
Honestly, it did not turn out so well. I reduced my portions of food, said no to that extra dosa and idli, no ghee with my podi, had chocolate with sans the hot sauce, but the results were not just not visible. And then I met G. An ex-colleague, she was the closest friend I had in Chennai. We had spoke often on the phone but had met very few times since she had left the company. She did mention she had surprise for me, little did I know that it was going to resolve all my worries.
Now about G, she is a lovely girl with a warm personality, a best friend who is wise beyond her age and gives out the best advise. G also loves her food and juice, and yes she was slightly plump. I had trouble locating her that day in CCD, Anna Nagar. That plump girl was no where to be seen, instead there stood a thinner, fit G. I was astounded and ran all the way and greeted her with a yell and a hug. Over a cup of green tea, she told me how she had to work for months to achieve this fit and fine figure.
She said,"Success cannot be achieved overnight. I had a very difficult first week, the second was a stretch and I had almost given up. But didn't. After that it was slightly better. Balance diet is the key. You need little bit of everything. Too much of anything can throw it off the balance. And crash diets, well the demerits of GM diet exceeds its merits". Incredulous, I asked, "Is it really true? Does it work?". She smiled, took a sip of tea and said, "You can see the difference. A balanced diet makes a difference. Be patient. And yes, say goodbye to sugar my dear, else all the efforts will go for a spoil.". My eyes went round at this suggestion, no sugar meant no sweets, no desserts, no happiness. SHe probably sensed my apprehension, and quickly told,"No to sugar, not to sweetness dear. You can always add Dabur Honey to your cup of cereal or pancake. Honey diet is a healthy way towards weight loss. A glass of warm water with Dabur Honey and lemon will not only detoxify your body but also recharge you with energy and strength".
She did give me the best advise. Since then I have never looked at food the same way. Eat until you stop feeling hungry, have something of everything, and not underestimating the power of exercise - these points have been my guiding lights in the journey of weight loss.
Thursday, July 09, 2015
Cricket in my Country
In my country, cricket is treated with a lot of reverence, the players enjoy a demi-gods and trips to Eden Garden and Wankhede Stadium are considered as a pilgrimage. I am a child of the 90s, a time when pictures of cricketers, Gandhi, and Gods graced the walls at any home. The world cup used to be most eagerly awaited event, any match with our not-so-friendly neighborhood country would be the talk of the whole country, drawing crowd across all ages. Streets would sport a deserted look, some shops would just drop shutter and people could be seen gathered around a television or radio following a ball by ball coverage of a rivalry that has become legendary over the times.
In my purview, the worst hit were the students and the office goers who had no means of following the match, until they lunch break when news would somehow trickle in from outside sources. Technology was limited to wireless phones, VCRs, and pagers.
We have moved to a new century since then, and except for one factor the scene has not changed much. Cricketers continue to represent the country, they are celebrities with big brand endorsements and VIP status. Such is the power of the game, that the fate any man donning the blue colored jersey changes overnight. It is a dream of countless children who idolize their cricketers and play the game for the sheer love of it.
Few years back, the board governing cricket affairs in my country came up with an innovative plan, it would go on to prove a game changer in the coming years. Matches with an innings of 20 overs, teams representing different regions of the country, thus taking the game to next level altogether. As a cricket loving nation, we lapped it up and have been enjoying it every year since its launch.
Technology has evolved in means beyond our imagination. From mailing to calling people sitting thousands of miles away, to reading books, newspapers, and watching videos - all of this from a device that measures not more than your palm and can be carried around in your pocket. What makes this technology incredible is that it is affordable and widely available to the masses.
UC Browser takes you a step closer to enjoying the game by introducing their service UC Cricket. For any cricket follower, it will be a one-stop shop for information on all ongoing matches. UC Cricket is truly an innovation in the area of gaming application. Along with providing live updates, you can also set a reminder, participate and follow discussions. The match is not just a click away!
Do check out this interesting video by UC Browser to learn more about them.
In my purview, the worst hit were the students and the office goers who had no means of following the match, until they lunch break when news would somehow trickle in from outside sources. Technology was limited to wireless phones, VCRs, and pagers.
We have moved to a new century since then, and except for one factor the scene has not changed much. Cricketers continue to represent the country, they are celebrities with big brand endorsements and VIP status. Such is the power of the game, that the fate any man donning the blue colored jersey changes overnight. It is a dream of countless children who idolize their cricketers and play the game for the sheer love of it.
Few years back, the board governing cricket affairs in my country came up with an innovative plan, it would go on to prove a game changer in the coming years. Matches with an innings of 20 overs, teams representing different regions of the country, thus taking the game to next level altogether. As a cricket loving nation, we lapped it up and have been enjoying it every year since its launch.
Technology has evolved in means beyond our imagination. From mailing to calling people sitting thousands of miles away, to reading books, newspapers, and watching videos - all of this from a device that measures not more than your palm and can be carried around in your pocket. What makes this technology incredible is that it is affordable and widely available to the masses.
UC Browser takes you a step closer to enjoying the game by introducing their service UC Cricket. For any cricket follower, it will be a one-stop shop for information on all ongoing matches. UC Cricket is truly an innovation in the area of gaming application. Along with providing live updates, you can also set a reminder, participate and follow discussions. The match is not just a click away!
Do check out this interesting video by UC Browser to learn more about them.
Sunday, April 05, 2015
Change
Gender studies class, Mrs. Lahiri was telling the class about the state of women in our country in the pre-independence era. Their lives were confined within the boundaries of the house, dictated by the male members of the family. Married off at a young age, they were denied education and expected to remain in purdah.
She was lost in thoughts. Life must have been difficult for these women. To have remained subjugated for long years, they would have lost their voice. Loss of voice is equivalent to loss of identity. Without identity, there is no existence.
The enormity of their loss, large disparity overwhelmed her. Her thoughts were disturbed, and questions filled her mind. How did they survive? Did any one even try reasoning out?
Answering her question, Mrs. Lahiri's quoted Maya Angelou, "If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, then change your attitude."
Everyone changes, it is just a matter of time.
She was lost in thoughts. Life must have been difficult for these women. To have remained subjugated for long years, they would have lost their voice. Loss of voice is equivalent to loss of identity. Without identity, there is no existence.
The enormity of their loss, large disparity overwhelmed her. Her thoughts were disturbed, and questions filled her mind. How did they survive? Did any one even try reasoning out?
Answering her question, Mrs. Lahiri's quoted Maya Angelou, "If you don't like something, change it. If you can't change it, then change your attitude."
Everyone changes, it is just a matter of time.
Friday, April 03, 2015
Afraid of the Dark
It had been a busy week. Meera, five years old in the elearning industry had taken the big career leap. After passing the multiple rounds of interview, she had been accepted for the position of a senior technical writer. The new company was one of pioneers in the elearning industry and Meera was excited to start a new chapter of her career. She had found an apartment in a neighborhood close to the office. Today she would move in with a couple of bags and planned to set up the place over the weekend. After spending all those years in a hostel, sharing rooms, she was thrilled beyond words at having a place for herself.
After doing a final check on the Tasks for the Day list at her desk, she decided to call it a day. The cab took a left turn at 15th Cross street. It was little off from the main road and gave a deserted look except for a dog who kept running from one end of the street to the other. She had quickly grown fond of the place with its quiet surroundings and tall dark trees; the apartment had an open balcony that looked over to the East. She could picture herself curled up in her favorite chair with her copy of Wuthering Heights sipping tea from her purple Powerpuff Girls cup. She had found her corner in this world.
She unlocked the door and stepped into her new home. Dropping her bags she looked around. There were a few things leftover by the previous tenants. Meera decided to get down to cleaning business without wasting any more time.
One hour later, the house looked more habitable than when Meera had first stepped in. She had collected the abandoned, old things at one place, planning to dispose them next morning. But she was not ready to let go of the rocking chair. Made up of shisham wood, the chair gave an old world look to the whole place. She was besotted by its charming style and it would go perfectly with her minimal decor idea.
Too tired to cook, she crashed into her bed, hungry. Sleep came easily, and she drifted in and out of dreams. There was her mother advising her to eat well, her project manager listing out another task for the day, Abhi sounding concerned over her decision to live alone, and then she heard a faint creaking sound. Startled, she woke up with her heart beating fast. The creaking sound, it happened again. And again.
Heart in her mouth, she gathered courage to walk into the living room. The chair was there, moving back and forth, slowly, rhythmically. The creaking sound, loud and clear now.
"Oh God! I am afraid!", she thought. "I am afraid of the dark".
This post is a part of Write Over the Weekend, initiative for Indian Bloggers by BlogAdda. WOW theme of the week: 'Your response to the question, 'Are you afraid of the dark?'.
One hour later, the house looked more habitable than when Meera had first stepped in. She had collected the abandoned, old things at one place, planning to dispose them next morning. But she was not ready to let go of the rocking chair. Made up of shisham wood, the chair gave an old world look to the whole place. She was besotted by its charming style and it would go perfectly with her minimal decor idea.
Too tired to cook, she crashed into her bed, hungry. Sleep came easily, and she drifted in and out of dreams. There was her mother advising her to eat well, her project manager listing out another task for the day, Abhi sounding concerned over her decision to live alone, and then she heard a faint creaking sound. Startled, she woke up with her heart beating fast. The creaking sound, it happened again. And again.
Heart in her mouth, she gathered courage to walk into the living room. The chair was there, moving back and forth, slowly, rhythmically. The creaking sound, loud and clear now.
"Oh God! I am afraid!", she thought. "I am afraid of the dark".
This post is a part of Write Over the Weekend, initiative for Indian Bloggers by BlogAdda. WOW theme of the week: 'Your response to the question, 'Are you afraid of the dark?'.
Thursday, April 02, 2015
Bully
School bag in hand she walked slow steps towards her desk. She was not looking forward to the day. She was not looking forward to come to school. In fact, last night her mind was busy coming up with excuses to skip school. But somehow all of them fell flat after a second of reasoning. And today, here she was sitting at her desk, head between her hands, thinking hard.
It was not the Maths class that she dreaded, nor was she bothered by the constant chiding of the stern Mrs. Lahiri. Life at school was pretty normal and fun, until N had joined. She brought along with her the air of the big city, something which was looked at like exotic in this simple community life of Roing. Boys and girls had fallen to her charming ways just like bees to honey. They were the ones who were treated often by invites to the weekend parties at her place. And for those who did not belong to this group, quickly fell out of favor in her book.
Emboldened by her new found popularity, N had started picking on the few who she decided had offended her senses. M had the misfortune to be one of them. Life at school had become a sore point of her life. She lived each day in fear of being laughed at , being ridiculed, being harassed. She tried keeping a low profile, talking less and keeping to herself, and walking away from the school as fast her feet could carry her; but none of these measures could protect her from the mad, juvenile antics of N.
Now after several encounters with N and her entourage, her shell had developed a crack, it had grown over the week, and now it was threatening to break. N walked in a supercilious smile on her pink lips, looked straight into M's eyes and said, "Good morning sweetie!".
It was not the Maths class that she dreaded, nor was she bothered by the constant chiding of the stern Mrs. Lahiri. Life at school was pretty normal and fun, until N had joined. She brought along with her the air of the big city, something which was looked at like exotic in this simple community life of Roing. Boys and girls had fallen to her charming ways just like bees to honey. They were the ones who were treated often by invites to the weekend parties at her place. And for those who did not belong to this group, quickly fell out of favor in her book.
Emboldened by her new found popularity, N had started picking on the few who she decided had offended her senses. M had the misfortune to be one of them. Life at school had become a sore point of her life. She lived each day in fear of being laughed at , being ridiculed, being harassed. She tried keeping a low profile, talking less and keeping to herself, and walking away from the school as fast her feet could carry her; but none of these measures could protect her from the mad, juvenile antics of N.
Now after several encounters with N and her entourage, her shell had developed a crack, it had grown over the week, and now it was threatening to break. N walked in a supercilious smile on her pink lips, looked straight into M's eyes and said, "Good morning sweetie!".
Wednesday, April 01, 2015
Advancement
It had been a busy week. Meera, five years old in the elearning industry had taken the big career leap. After passing the multiple rounds of interview, she had been accepted for the position of a senior technical writer. The new company was one of pioneers in the elearning industry and Meera was excited to start a new chapter of her career. She had found an apartment in a neighborhood close to the office. Today she would move in with a couple of bags and planned to set up the place over the weekend. After spending all those years in a hostel, sharing rooms, she was thrilled beyond words at having a place for herself.
After doing a final check on the Tasks for the Day list at her desk, she decided to call it a day. The cab took a left turn at 15th Cross street. It was little off from the main road and gave a deserted look except for a dog who kept running from one end of the street to the other. She had quickly grown fond of the place with its quiet surroundings and tall dark trees; the apartment had an open balcony that looked over to the East. She could picture herself curled up in her favorite chair with her copy of Wuthering Heights sipping tea from her purple Powerpuff Girls cup. She had found her corner in this world.
She unlocked the door and stepped into her new home.
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