Drinking My Sorrows Away

Now before you say anything let me just apologize profusely for being MIA for the last couple of months!

I know even as i say it I can’t believe that I have not posted since the end of June! how could this have happened and where did the time go?? Well however much time I have lost, I refuse to let this negligence continue and I intend to make amends right away.

The last few months have been, shall we say harrowing to say the very least! Suffice to say they have left me mentally, physically and emotionally drained and I find myself in dire  need of a major uplifting of my spirits and some rest and rejuvenation for my mind and body!

I could feel my body and mind were full of negativity and I needed something that would cleanse, repair and replenish on the inside and out. An elixir of life if you will!

While on my search for this elusive elixir I came across this recipe for “Mean Green Juice” that was originally created by  Dr. Memet Oz, an American-Turkish cardiothoracic surgeon, author and television personality.  Apparently he swears by this juice and drinks a glass everyday. Not only that but apparently he has Oprah hooked onto it, and she refers to the juice as “a glass of fresh”. 

The green juice when taken on a regular basis is said to be a natural health aid for high blood pressure, Alzheimer’s prevention, liver cancer prevention, weight loss, bone protection, asthma, breast, lung & colon cancer prevention, improved digestion, lowering cholesterol, increasing antioxidants and blood circulation, arthritis prevention, reduced inflammation, blood cleansing and prevention of anemia as well as macular degeneration prevention …..and the list goes on!

Sounds exactly like what I need and hey if its good enough for Oprah, then its definitely good enough for me.

I found the recipe at the start of Ramzan and it seemed as good a time as any to start juicing and to cleanse my body and my soul.

The recipe could not be simpler

Ingredients: (makes 2-3 glasses)

• Green Apples – 2 medium (3″ dia)

• Celery – 3 stalk, large (11″-12″ long)

• Cucumber – 1 cucumber (8-1/4″)

• Ginger – 1/2 thumb (1″ dia)

• Lemon (with rind) – 1/2 fruit (2-3/8″ dia)

• Parsley – 1 bunch

• Spinach – 2 Large handfuls

Directions

Process all ingredients in a juicer, shake or stir and serve. If you don’t have a juicer just put all the ingredients into the blender and add a little water so that everything blends easily.

And what you end up with is…….

For those of you who are looking at the picture with some trepidation and thinking My God Thats Green, I have to say those were my first thoughts too!  However once I moved past my initial hesitation and actually drank the juice, I have to say I was pleasantly surprised. Even though it was a bit “grassy” it was actually not that bad; in fact it was quite refreshing and filling.

I had this juice everyday for a month at Iftari after just eating a couple of dates to break my fast and I have to say it delivered on all counts. Not only did I have a lot of energy despite the 16 hour fasts and erratic sleeping patterns but I found that my asthma and constipation issues were almost non existent. My haemoglobin levels went up and my anemia improved visibly. I lost a total of 4 kg during Ramzan and not only that my skin was clear and glowing and I could actually see some of my cellulite just disappearing.

I know it may sound too good to be true but it actually is! I can’t remember a time when I’ve felt healthier, fitter or more motivated.

Unfortunately I havent been able to continue with the routine since Ramzan as the heavy monsoon rain has made it very difficult to find celery and parsley. However they will be in season in a couple of weeks and I plan to start having my juice regularly…atleast until the weather remains colder and all the ingredients are easily available.

So put down that cup cake or plate of pasta or biryani or whatever it is that you turn to when you’re having a crap day or in my case a crappy few months.  Get up off the sofa, go to the market get some fresh ingredients and get juicing! Trust me you will not regret it!

Stay tuned for more juicy posts,coming up  very very soon..I promise!

This Little Piggy Goes to Market…..Khalis Food Market That Is!

With the temperatures rising and the load shedding taking its toll on all of us, most of  us would rather hibernate in a giant deep freezer than venture out of the house.

So one can understand that it is with some trepidation and a lot of sunscreen that my mother and I bravely ventured forth to explore the new happening place in Lahore…..Khalis Food Market.

The word “Khalis” which means pure in Urdu is an apt name for the event as it seeks to bring together  bring producers of whole foods, organic vegetables, fruits, grains, hormone free dairy products, poultry, fish, baked items and much more together in one venue on a regular basis.

The world has been going back to organic produce for several years now however knowledge of organic, pesticide and hormone free produce is still very limited in Pakistan. Which is ironic considering that agriculture and livestock rearing is such a large part of the economy and of the general way of life in pakistan.

 

This event was the second of its kind to be held in Lahore, and having missed the first one, I was determined not to miss this one.

The market did not disappoint. Offering a wide variety of fresh, fragrant and pure produce along with some delicious live cooking stations and lots of free samples, the market brought together a surprisingly large crowd of people despite the intense heat.

vegetables, spices, baked goods, Ayurvedic oils, aloe vera, meat & poultry. In short there was something for everyone!

“Blooming Tail” Hair Oil…I love that Name

Ayurvedic Hairoil anyone? With such a cute brand name and pretty packaging its a great buy and I’m kicking myself for not getting some! especially since I saw more hair in my hairbrush this morning then usual (rants on that coming up soon)

Freshly baked granola? I got some and have been having it for breakfast for the past week and it keeps me full till lunch time. Heathy, Nutritous and completely yummy, what more could you want?

Now I’m not a chutney person; I am however a marketer by profession so it’s very hard for me to resist anything with such tongue in cheek brand names! I eventually boat a jar of spice me up, which was completely divine and goes well with….well everything!

Since the ever-present power outages have us feeling like we’re back in the stone age, why not try eating what the cave men used to eat?

The caveman diet or the paleolithic diet as its technically called focuses on eating the same kinds of food that a caveman would have eaten back in the day. The diet consists of fresh organic meat, poultry, vegetables, and nuts mainly grilled or stewed. Hunter’s Cottage is taking us back to the cave ages by using organic produce and methods of cooking. On the day of the event they had some freshly grilled chicken and rabbit. Even though I didn’t buy any on the day I will be doing so very soon.

There was lots more stuff to try and buy but I have to say my absolute favorite stall by far was The Pantry by Hunger & Haw Hai

The lovely canvas bags were worth a visit in themselves and are a great way to go green and eliminate plastic bags from your grocery run

First of all, the stall was beautifully laid out. It had the right amount of atmosphere in that it looked like a picnic table, with jars of homemade curry, humus and dips presented in lovely glass jars, large baskets and colourful ceramic bowls. Now that is great merchandising!

Yummy!

Another clever move was having huge bowls of samples for everyone to try and I have to admit I did go a bit overboard with several more helpings than was politically correct! But its simple math really; get someone to try something yummy and they are that much likely to buy it!

As the day wound to a close I headed home several bags heavier and several  rupees lighter! Khalis food market created  a lovely atmosphere by bringing together a group of educated and responsible producers and like-minded consumers. They also provided Lahoris with a much-needed alternative activity to just dining out, buying lawn and going to the movies!

I’m also really impressed by the people who set up stalls at the market. Its heartening to see the enterprising spirit that some people have as well as the committment towards going organic.

Kind of gets one thinking about setting up a stall oneself at the next market….What do you say? Would you like to see an FYC stall at the next market? Let me know with your comments as I’m seriously considering it!

I absolutely loved my sunday at the market and can’t wait for the next one!

Feet First into Heaven

Whenever I visit another country, my main objective is to try as many local specialities as possible. Whether it is the fashion, the food, a particular experience or even local remedies I want to savor as much of it as possible.

On my recent trip to Bangkok I was on a quest for an authentic Thai massage. Sadly, I couldn’t manage to get one the group I was leading had other plans and proceeded to occupy every minute of my time and sap every little ounce of energy and sanity from me; which ironically made me a perfect candidate for a massage!

Not one to give up easily, I decided to settle for something which would consume a little less time but would still fulfill the criteria of a traditional Thai experience; Foot reflexology. So after I had tucked my brood in for the night, I made a late night visit to a local foot reflexology center near my hotel.

It’s very easy to think you’re in a massage parlour but to actually end up in a really shady joint in a city like Bangkok so do check places out thoroughly before you decide to venture in. The center I chose was called “Happy Feet” and I chose it because it seemed to be one of the few centers where the ladies were in a proper uniform and I could see a couple of european couples getting a shoulder massage through the window.

Foot reflexology is an ancient healing technique wherein the therapist attempts to balance your inner energy or “Qi”  by applying pressure on points in the feet corresponding to vital organs in order to heal or regulate their functioning.

What Your Feet Are Telling You!

 

Well you know me, I’m always up for a bit of balancing and healing, so here goes. The therapist started by having me soak my feet in a small basin filled with soap water and flowers and small pebbles after which she gave my feet a light scrub with a brush

Look How Pretty!

 

Then the real work began! The therapist proceeded to pound my legs and the soles of my feet into a pulp; which surprisingly was not at all painful, in fact it was completely relaxing. She continued by twisting and pulling my feet in smooth rhythmic strokes at all odd angles.

 

Now comes the healing part, the therapist used a series of wooden sticks to poke and prod different points on the soles of my feet. Wood is said to be one of the ancient elements of healing and by using the wooden sticks the therapist puts pressure on different points in one’s feet to unleash blocked energy and to begin the balancing and healing of each organ.

The Magic Wand

 

Let the Healing Begin

While the therapist, proceeded poking she would put in a word or two about how things were looking on the inside. For instance she told me my lungs were not in the best shape, which they probably wouldn’t be as I’ve suffered from asthma since i was 9. Pretty impressive diagnosis for someone who is only looking at your feet!

After the poking, the therapist gave me a firm but relaxing and rhythmic foot massage which was so amazing, I felt as if I was floating on a cloud.

To complete my trip to heaven she then proceeded to give me a quick shoulder massage. After being twisted in all directions and several loud Khraack sounds coming out of my shoulders, I thought I might not be able to walk out in one piece but by the time she was done, I was in a complete state of bliss!

When I walked out of the center, I was pain, stress and care free. Plus I was walking with perfect posture, it was as if the stress of the past 10 yrs had been completely wiped away *sigh*

So am I completely healed inside and out. Well I don’t think only one session will do that, but i”ll tell you this….that night I had the most peaceful sleep I’d had in years and my posture still continues to be very good. definitely more than one would get in a normal foot massage

Whether or not this ancient method actually works or not I’m still not sure. However I am definitely sure, that I will be doing it again; surely anything that is that relaxing can’t be bad for you!

So if you ever have an hour to kill in Bangkok, I suggest you use that time heading feet first on a cloud to heaven.

 

Falling Off the Radar & Off the Wagon

 

Ok so before you say anything, let me just apologize for not posting in a while! Work, lots of late nights and a crazy trip to Bangkok (details of which will be shared very soon) have consumed all my time and a lot of my sanity! As the title of this post suggests, not only have i been neglecting my blogging I have also put my fitness regime and diet on the back burner. Nothing you can say will make me feel worse than I do already, I lost a month from my timeline and am nowhere near my target with only 2 months to go to my deadline.

The only positive is that despite all the late nights and crazy routine, I have managed to maintain the weight i lost during the first month. That’s something to be proud of right?

So even though I still have a long way to go, at least I havent taken a step backwards. And now as my routine has normalized a bit, I have every intention to get back onto the blogging + dieting+ exercising wagon with a vengeance.

They say a man or in this case a woman’s character is gauged not by whether or not she fails but in whether she gets back up after she falls.  So this is me getting up, dusting myself off and getting back onto the wagon with renewed enthusiasm.

So here goes 2 months till D-Day. Weight loss/fashion updates and Bangkok highlights to follow very soon….

 

First Weigh In: Judgement Day

 

As many of you who are following my blog (yes all 18 of you) will remember that one of these reasons I started  this blog was to document my weight loss journey as part of achieving my resolutions for 2013.

Well its been little over a month and I’m ready for the first weigh-in. I have to admit I have not been as good as I should have this past month, which is why I mounted the scale with a mixture of trepidation and a bit of shame.

The scale needle settled at just under 60 kg, which means I have lost a total of about 5 lbs; just under my 6 lb target.

Whereas others would feel happy about losing the 5 pounds I feel angry at myself for not trying harder; because I know I could have done much more. I’m not beating myself up here,but I owe it to myself  to give this battle 100% of my effort and dedication otherwise its just not worth it!

Having said that I have started to notice a positive change in my appearance and the state of my skin and hair. Whats more, people have started to say that I do look thinner which is always a great thing to hear.

All I have to do now is forge ahead with a concentrated effort to attack the remaining 19 pounds! Ugh God how am I going to do this…..Help!

Stay tuned for updates on my  battle with the bulge and my next meeting with the dreaded scale!

Love Thyself…& The World Will Follow Suit

This post is inspired by a conversation I had with a colleague earlier this week. I have watched my colleague (We’ll call her Miss X) suffer with a taxing workload and rising stress levels at the cost of her health and happiness for almost 2 years. The culprit is not her boss or the company she works in (not entirely anyway) the culprit is Miss X herself; because she has made herself her last priority.

Its february and shops, restaurants and conversations are filled with ideas on how to express our love for others. Can you imagine, a whole month dedicated to loving others and making them feel special.However there is no month, day or even an hour dedicated to loving ourselves or making ourselves feel special.

Not to be confused with pride, self-love is valuing and respecting yourself enough to never settle for anything less than you deserve whether it be getting a raise, being loved by someone or leading a fulfilling life

Now I am by no means a self-help guru, or any other kind of guru for that matter, however I have enough experience with not prioritizing myself to know what it feels like as well as what I did to get myself out of that frame of mind

So after having spent half a day lecturing Miss X on how she needs to take care of herself, I have come up with my personal prescription for self-love:

• Its ALL About YOU!

Nothing is going to happen if you do not make a conscious decision to make your self your foremost priority.  When you don’t love yourself, you are basically telling the Universe that you are unworthy or undeserving of any love or positive outcomes in Life.

When you make a decision to love yourself, you are really saying that you want to come alive. You accept that you are responsible for the outcomes that you experience in your life and would like yourself to shine from living a fulfilling life.

This does not mean being obsessed with oneself or having an inflated ego, it means being comfortable with who you are; taking pride in your strengths, accepting and working on your weaknesses.

• My Body is My Temple

We’ve heard it a 100 times…health is wealth! Eating healthy, exercising, taking your vitamins, and treating health problems are all part of caring for and respecting yourself enough to try to have the healthiest body possible.  

Treat your body like a garbage can and it will look and react in the same manner. Treat it with respect and it will not let you down!

• Eliminate Negativity

All to often our lives  are disturbed by negative comments and people. We allow these comments and the actions of these people to occupy our thoughts and make us feel bad about ourselves.

Remember these comments and actions have nothing to do with you, in fact the stem from the insecurities and jealousy of others. The best way to deal with such people is to ignore such people and or take oneself out of a negative situation or relationship. Negative people are like toxins and the sooner we remove ourself from them, the sooner we detox our lives.

• You’re Beautiful

You don’t have to be happy with every inch of your body  and facial features to love and accept it. Stressing out over how your body looks  or how your nose is too big or small sends a message that you disapprove of yourself. Instead of accepting it, we lament over the flaws we see or the weight we can’t seem to lose. This is negative energy! 

Instead of focusing on your perceived flaws try to be the best version of yourself. Be well-groomed and as fit and healthy as possible. Take out time for your own grooming and beautification. When we look our best, we feel our best.It’s loving to want to feel as good as possible.

How we present ourselves to the world is a representation of our own self-worth. If you present a sloppy unkempt image of yourself, don’t expect anyone to treat you with value as it obvious to them that you yourself don’t!

• Be Your Own Best Friend

Think about what you’d say to your best friend who broke something or said the wrong thing or made a big mistake? You’d probably do your best to give reassurance. Next time you do something that you regret, think about what you’d say to a friend who did the same thing.

Dont beat yourself up or be overtly critical of your self. You are not perfect and at some point in life you will make a mistake, which is ok as long as you learn and grow from it and not live with regret.

Best friends are truthful, understanding and offer constructive criticism, be that person to yourself!

• Stop Feeling Sorry for Yourself

Do you blame others for being unhappy? Do you complain that you hate being a victim? Playing a victim is your choice. Nobody can force you to give up your power to choose what you want. People Pleasers complain about who did them wrong. It’s YOUR choice to accept behavior you don’t like, or to love yourself enough to change your response to it.

Relinquish self-pity and change your situation! Why stay a victim? Taking a stand makes people less likely to take advantage. YOU control how people treat you. Complaining is a cop-out. Nobody uses someone who won’t allow it. And nobody is a victim unless they choose to be. Victims feel helpless, which brings self-esteem down. But you’re not helpless.

You always have spiritual support in uplifting yourself from living as a victim to setting boundaries and being happier. It’s all in your court. Think about what makes you feel like a victim and how you can change the dynamic. The more you nurture self-love, the less you’ll allow people to treat you poorly, and the less you’ll feel like a victim.

• When Nice is Too Nice

The truth is: Nice people don’t finish last. DoorMats do!

Recognize that nice doesn’t mean pleasing everyone. It means being friendly, caring, respectful, courteous and helpful when it works for you. Redefine NICE and make it work for you. People like true nice people. As long as you learn to handle yourself in ways that show you take yourself seriously, you can be as nice as you’d like and enjoy the fruits it bring!

• Do What You Love Doing

Why deny yourself your dreams? When you nurture your dreams, you would love the life that you are leading. Every moment that you live is a joy because you are expressing yourself fully.

Inject some fun into your life. Life is meant to be an enjoyable. Don’t take life or yourself too seriously. If you can think of life in this manner, you automatically relax and quit worrying over things that do not matter.

• Let Go of Stress

It doesn’t matter what the world throws at you. Things at work may be frenetic. Your romantic partner is driving you crazy. Your kids are getting into trouble. The weather is miserable. Your mother is demanding your attention and calling you all day long. Do you LET all these things affect your mood and perspective of how good life is? Unless you consciously choose a different direction, stress will beat you up!

Find something that reduces your stress and do it regularly. Give yourself the gift of a more relaxed you. It’s YOUR choice—let stress control you or YOU take control of the stress so it doesn’t take over your life. Less stress leaves more room to be happy, and feel self-love.

• Loving You Loving Me

 

 

I’ve often heard my friends say, “If only i had that special someone” or “things will be fine once I get married” or “I’ll do this or that once I have a husband”

Your happiness should not be solely dependant on another person. It’s common to make a romantic partner or even the dream of a hypothetical romantic partner more important than yourself, but that doesn’t make it right. YOU should be the most important love of your life. That doesn’t take away from loving others too but does assure your place of honor in how you prioritize your needs. Many people sacrifice their happiness to please someone else to feel loved. But, does that give you a real love life?

The more love you give yourself, the more you have to give and the more you attract, since self-love is attractive. Jerry Maguire (Tom Cruise) may have said the line “you complete me” but that’s only true in the movies. The person who completes you should be YOU and not someone else. No one wants to be with an incomplete person, would you?

Relationships should enrich your life, and not be a crutch or an excuse

 

Self love is not something we can achieve in a day. Like anything in life that is worthwhile, it takes time and effort. As Oscar Wilde said ” Loving oneself  is the beginning of a life long Romance” and who are we to argue with Oscar 😉

 

Spring Cleaning Your Body

The coming of every new season brings a new transition to our lives and to our bodies. With spring just around the corner, its time to shed the winter blues and to rejuvenate our minds and bodies.

Remember that spring signifies the rebirth of the earth when everything comes alive after being frozen in winter. The same principle applies to our bodies. After being stuffed with coffee, chocolate, dried fruit and all those wedding feasts, our bodies need a good spring cleaning!

Now I’m not suggesting any detoxing mambo jumbo, just something very simple that all of us can do…..drink water! Yes you heard me, I said drink water!

Now I don’t mean your regular 8 glasses a day water, I’m talking about  an ancient form of water therapy originating in the japanese and chinese cultures. As we are all aware water is a great source of life and is a necessary element for each of our bodily functions.Besides quenching thirst, water is said to have a great remedial effects for various ailments. Not only does it have the power to purify the entire body but it is also known to remove negative energy.

Japanese traditional medicine recommends drinking  water just after awakening because of its natural health benefits. Scientific research officially prove the effectiveness of this habit. Japanese water therapy is a renowned natural remedy in cases of meningitis, diabetes, gastritis, headache, asthma, bronchitis, arthritis, epilepsy, other pains in the body, heart problems, fat in the blood, kidney diseases and urinary infections, diarrhea, vomiting, constipation bowel, hemorrhoids, eye disease, ears, nose and throat,cancer and menstrual disorders.

According to the Japanese water therapy  it is recommended to drink 4 glasses of warm water in the morning, before brushing your teeth. After that, you can brush your teeth but  it is recommended that you don’t eat or drink anything for 45 minutes (which is enough time to hop in the shower and get ready for work). After this period you can eat breakfast normally after which you cannot eat anything for the next 2 hours.

you can follow up by sipping (not gulping down) warm water throughout the day to get your required 8-10 glasses a day

 Be sure to drink only warm water – not mixed, not luke warm but warm water. This is essential as cold water will congeal  fat taken from food inside your stomach and will turn it to sludge! This not only restricts the absorption of nutrients from food but greatly slows digestion. Slow digestion can not only damage your intestines but can also make you pile on the pounds! EEEEK!

There are no negative side effects to this therapy (except that you have to make a few more trips to the loo!) but there are many benefits. Do this for a few weeks and you’ll find yourself to have more energy, better digestion and lesser allergies not to mention a glowing complexion!

If you are trying to lose weight like I am, you can add a few drops of lemon juice to your morning water. and if you are interested in some serious body refurbishment, add a small teaspoon of honey as well!

Try this simple therapy for a couple of weeks to cleanse your body of its toxins and negativity and to get it ready to absorb the sunshine and colours of spring!