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Fitting Fitness Around You: Building A Happy Relationship With Exercise For Busy Women

Posted on by Aditi Malhotra

We all appreciate the importance of regular exercise. But, to be completely honest, finding time for those physical activities can be very difficult. Even if you love workouts, they are often the first thing to be sacrificed as you juggle the various responsibilities of modern life. Changing this immediately should be a goal shared by all women.

The only way to achieve that target is to embrace a healthy relationship with fitness that is built exclusively around your aims and needs. Here’s all you need to know.

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Appreciate Your Limits: It’s easy to feel envious towards the gym buffs seen on social media. However, you cannot expect to match their bodies or their routines. While you want to push yourself to the limit, it’s always important to walk before you run. Moreover, you must learn to take injury recoveries and time limitations into account. Sadly, if exercise starts causing problems in other aspects of your life, giving up is inevitable.

Incorporate Fitness Into Daily Activities: Time is the main hurdle standing in the way of our fitness goals. However, gym workouts aren’t the only source of exercise. Getting a little creative by cycling to work or holding yoga sessions after work can be very useful. You’ll be getting a full workout while only adding a few minutes to your day. And when regular activity doesn’t prevent you from achieving other life goals, you’ll find that long-term success is more likely.

Turn Holidays Into Adventures: Vacations are a great opportunity to let our hair down. While throwing your diet out of the window for a few days is nothing to worry about, you should still stay active. Combine the trip with a charitable endeavour such as the Mount Toubkal Trek, and you’ll be sure to do just that. Alternatively, if you’re on a city break, walk or cycle instead of taking the bus tour. Either way, it’ll stop your body from regressing whilst you’re away. In turn, this should allow you to get back into the swing of things far easier. Besides, it’ll improve the holiday too.

Exercise With Others: Human interaction is an integral part of human life, which is why time with loved ones is so important. Starting an amateur sports team or simply attending the gym together can make a world of difference. Or if you are someone that prefers to exercise alone, you can maintain a social vibe with a FitBit watch. Track your progress and compare against your nearest and dearest for that extra motivation and something to talk about in person. Perfect.

Choose The Best Routines Possible: By now, you should realise that fitness needs to be fun. Having said that, if you only have limited time in the gym or on the track, you must make it work harder. Finding a suitable HIIT strategy could see you burn twice as many calories and build twice as much muscle. Apart from anything else, seeing those positive results in the mirror is sure to put an even bigger smile on your face. What more could any woman ask for?

 

 

 

Reminiscences of a Seeker- Book Review

Posted on by Aditi Malhotra

A word about the author first.
Kapil Kumar Bhaskar was a successful businessman whose interest in spiritualism led to the World of Dark Arts. The book is his recollection of the innumerable experiences he went through on his way to seek enlightenment. He is now a full time Counsellor and Spiritual Master.

The Book
As it proclaims is a true story based on the first hand encounters of Kapil in his quest for spiritualism. Having experienced some divine encounters from an early childhood he is literally attracted to the unknown and goes on a journey that pulls him the the world of Dark Arts. He is pitched in a battle of drama, greed and betrayal.
So deep is he sucked into the depths of never ending trials and tribulations where his whole being is at stake. It is a real engrossing battle between the good and the evil. Makes for a fascinating read and at the same time gives me the goosebumps just to think what Kapil,the protagonist had to go through in life. An excellent insight it gives us into the real world of Tantrics n Aghoris. The way the author shares his experiences it becomes very easy to believe in this OTHER DARK WORLD.

But as they say eventually Good wins over Evil. A must read for everyone,and I assure you it willbe difficult to put away the book. Get your copy now and go through a fascinating journey of deceit, fear, greed and last but not the least FAITH.
Eagerly awaiting for his next.

The book is available on Amazon for Rs 250/-

My Rating 4.5/5 stars

Health? It’s Only Skin Deep!

Posted on by Aditi Malhotra

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Our skin is the one sure sign of age. There is nothing worse than looking older than your age and looking after our skin, and our body is the best way of fighting off old age. Eating processed foods and indulging in bad habits over the years will do a lot of damage outside and in, but here are some easy and effective methods to looking after your skin and reversing the clock.

Losing Weight

If you carry the unaffectionately named “spare tire” around your belly, losing it is always one of the best places to begin to help you look and feel younger. There are plenty of ways to do it, from eating the right foods to methods like cold laser fat reduction treatment and making sure you exercise, but the best thing is to have a combination of methods with the right lifestyle choices. A diet always sounds like a temporary measure, but it’s a lifestyle choice you need to make so you can keep the weight off. The effects of excess fat increase stretch marks, and if you find yourself with more stretch marks post weight loss, then having a diet rich in collagen will help you to regain that elasticity. Collagen is found in heavy amounts in foods like bone marrow, so you can make a healthy bone broth to drink, or make into gravy using the bones of the animal.

Reducing Stress

Not an easy thing to do in the modern world, but stress will show up in lines on your face and inside too. Too little stress is bad, but too much stress can result in elevated levels of cortisol which will impact on your ability to grow muscle and put you in a constant state of anxiety. We can all do with giving our lives a makeover to give our skin a makeover! By learning stress-controlling techniques that work for you, you can begin to make your life, overall, a better one and by cutting down on unnecessary extra activities and begin to focus on what makes you happy it will have a massive benefit, inside and out.

Rejuvenate

Recharging isn’t just about getting the right amount of sleep, but it’s about understanding when to take a step back and get a mental break or physical break from things. As mentioned, stress is the big one to cut back on, and by making sure you can recover in ways that benefit you, you will be a much healthier person inside and out. Exercise is a very basic way to rejuvenate and to encourage the body to perspire, getting rid of toxins, but you can also find ways to cleanse your body by detoxifying. And this can be by having a glass of water with a bit of lemon in the morning, or by engaging in activities that reduce stress and anxiety, such as yoga or Pilates. But while one of these methods will work, it’s best to try a combination, and combined with a healthy diet, you will be cleansed, and it will show on your face.

 

 

Push Past The Marathon Pain With These Awesome Running Tips

Posted on by Aditi Malhotra

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Running a marathon ain’t easy. Even the most experienced runners will tell you that getting to the finish line is a very tough challenge, and you will certainly need to put in enough training to be able to get there. Not only that, though, but you also need to come up with a plan to push through all the pain when it hits. And we’re talking physical and mental pain!

You can reduce the amount of physical pain you experience with sufficient practice. However, the mental pain is something that can be problematic. But as long as you follow these awesome running tips, you shouldn’t struggle with it too much!

Forget Pre-Race Nerves

Pre-race nerves can really mess with a runner’s mentality before the race. If the nerves really get to you, they could scupper your chances of beating your personal best. It is very important that you try to stay relaxed right before the race so that you can forget all about your nerves. One way to ditch the nerves is to focus on your strengths and what makes you a good runner. That way, you won’t be thinking about the different ways things could go wrong!

Use The Best Source Of Energy

If your body doesn’t get the right energy to burn during the marathon, there is no way it is going to make it to the end. But getting the right energy can help reduce the physical pain, which will help you stay motivated and focused throughout the race. Carbohydrates and sugars are packed full of energy and protein is necessary to help the body repair itself. Most runners pack a load of these food groups into their meals the day before the marathon. As well as preloading, you will be able to buy energy supplements that you can take during the race.

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Think Of Pain Positively

Ok, so this might sound very hard to do, but if you manage to think of pain in a positive light, then it won’t bother you half as much. Try to connect your pain to a positive thought, as you will then feel it a lot less. Once you start to think all of the usual negative thoughts when you first feel the pain, it will make it a lot worse than what it actually is.

Keep The Finish In Mind

When you are running and start to feel the pain build up, you should start to think of the payoff that is waiting for you at the finish line. Once you cross the line, it will all be over, and you will have certainly achieved something amazing! Not only will you have completed a marathon but you might also be able to beat your personal best! Keep thinking of this personal achievement and all the joy you will feel once you are finished.

No one said running a marathon was going to be completely painless but, hopefully, this guide will help you push past it all!

Good luck with your next marathon!

 

Rocks To Rock At Rock Bottom Prices

Posted on by Aditi Malhotra

Most girls love to adorn their bodies with beautiful stones and precious metals. Jewelry has been part and parcel of many cultures, throughout time. Today, among modern societies and developing places alike, you’ll find this sort of bodily decoration to be extremely popular. In the recent past, these items would be too expensive for most people to own. But, in recent times, they’ve become much cheaper. This means that for those willing to are willing compromise on diamonds or other expensive stones, real bargains can be found. To help you with this, this post will be going through some of the best gems and rocks for visual and wallet appeal.

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A lot of people like expensive stones because they have very interesting visual features. For example, light dances within a diamond differently to any other stone. And, this gives it a very unique look. But, a stone’s price doesn’t dictate how special it is. In the case of the Tiger’s Eye, you’ll be surprised to see how beautiful a cheap stone can be. Usually, this rock is a mixture of light and dark shades of grey, in formations which almost look like strands. It looks best with a highly polished finish. And, it can be applied to almost any sort of jewelry to look nice. It’s rare to find such a fascinating stone of these colors.

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For some, the Tiger’s Eye may not seem girly enough. And, although it is elegant, it makes sense that it might not be everyone’s thing. A rose quartz is a very different stone to a Tiger’s Eye. This sort of stone is, as its name suggests, pink. These stones grow in crystalline structures, with great detail and precise lines. But, they can also be polished to shine and look smooth. Like a Tiger’s Eye, this sort of stone is great within any sort of jewelry. A local jeweler should be able to help you to find this sort of stone. And, they may even be able to suggest some for you.

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This next rock isn’t actually a rock. Instead, it’s part of a natural process used by oysters and a few other types of mollusk. When a foreign object, like a grain of sand, enters the oyster’s, it has to protect itself against infection or damage. To do this, it creates a smooth shell around the object. And, this is the pearl you wear. These jewels of the ocean have been commonplace in most societies with ties to the sea. And, they can be found in the highest of society out there. The best sort of options for a stone like this are things like handmade pearl earrings or necklaces. A lot of the examples you find from automated factories are made using substandard pearls to lower their price.

Hopefully, this will inspire you to start saving some money on the rocks you wear. A lot of people like to use this sort of accessory to add some color to their outfit. It gives you the chance to make something more interesting. Or, you can use it as an accent to the clothing you already have.

 

 

 

Fast Ways To Eliminate Stress

Posted on by Aditi Malhotra

Stress is something that we all go through at one time or another. It is that uncomfortable feeling of being under pressure and not knowing whether you will be able to come through and achieve what you want. Unfortunately, stress is an ever-present part of modern life, and this doesn’t look as if it’s going to change anytime soon. However, there are some things that we can do to manage our stress in the here and now. Read on to find out what they are.

Meditation

Meditation is a great way to manage stress. This is because it is all about focusing in the now. The point is to just experience what is happening right at the time without controlling it, something which can help alleviate stress. By just letting it be you give it the chance to work itself out, and pass, instead of clamping down on it and making it stay for longer. 

Meditation can also help you slow down and listen to your own thoughts. This is useful as you can make calm decisions even if you are feeling stressed. Something that can help you get a positive outcome no matter what your internal state is.

Exercise

Exercise is also a good quick remedy for stress. When we are under pressure our bodies often coil and constrict as if they are ready to pounce into action. This is because stress stimulates the old fight, fight, or freeze response that comes from our lower brain.

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Exercise can help alleviate this, as it provides somewhere for all of that nervous energy to go. So next time you are feeling stressed take a walk, or head to the gym and work out some of the symptoms physically. You will be surprised by how good it can make you feel.

Water

Drinking lots of fluids can also help you beat stress. This is because your brain is 85% water, and if it’s not properly hydrated it’s not going to work right. Also when we are stressed the body releases a hormone called cortisol. By drinking lots of water, we can keep this diluted in our bodies; negating some of the effects.

But what sort of fluids should we drink? The answer is and always will be water. Why? Well, water is the most natural fluid. As well as the purest, especially if you use a system like this Everpure water filter to remove any contaminants from the stuff you get out of your taps.

It’s also easier on the body because you actually have to use more fluid to expel caffeinated drinks than you gain from drinking them. Something that often leads to dehydration.

Therapy

Lastly, if stress is a constant issue in your life, you may want to consider some counseling or therapy. This is because many people suffer from what are known as cognitive distortions, or a skewed way of looking at the world.

This can cause them to interpret situations as stressful when they are not. However, by learning to recognize these issues, you can have a more balanced reaction to them, decreasing your stress.

 

 

Harappa- Curse of the Blood River- Book Review

Posted on by Aditi Malhotra

A word about the author first.
Vineet is a very successful entrepreneur. At the young age of 22 he started his company Magnon from a shed. Magnon is among the largest digital agencies in the subcontinent and part of the a fortune 500 Omnicom Group. He was the youngest ever CEO of a multinational advertising agency TBWA as its India CEO. Much acclaimed and awarded in his field he was recently listed among the top 100 Most Influential People in India’s Digital Ecosystem.
He has authored three best selling management and inspirational books:
Build From Scratch
The Street to The Highway
And
The 30 Something CEO


The Book.
The most amazing fiction which gives you the feeling of being more real than real. The main protagonist Vidyut is a character one easily falls in love with. The story spanning a 3700 yrs from ancient Harappa to the modern day Kashi is a roller coaster ride that keeps you on the edge of your seat.
The author has a wonderful vision and complete hold on the vivid canvas which he spreads across distinctive time zones.
The events unfold at breath taking speeds and keep you mesmerized. Really difficult to put down the book. Vineet’s style of narrative and backdrop does remind of Dan Brown but Vineet has surpassed it in terms of vision and imagination. Its so glad to see that our Indian writers are now experimenting with topics, style of writing and giving many shades to their characters. They are no more caught up into traditional thinking, and that for readers like me is a very good news.

Get yourself a copy NOW and relish the superlative storyline.
Kudos Vineet
Anxiously waiting for Pralay!

Grab your copy here, available on Amazon for Rs. 130/-

My Rating – 4/5 Stars

Eid- Ul- Fitr Special Recipes from Funfoods by Dr Oetkar and Chef Ranveer Brar

Posted on by Aditi Malhotra

After a month long sacred month of Ramzan, its time to break the fast, and Eid-Ul-Fitar marks breaking of this fast. On this occasion, FunFoods by Dr. Oetker recommends tasty desserts which are mouthwatering, easy to make, and would allow you to enjoy the festival as well with your loved ones. And whats an Eid without Seviyaan. So here are not one but two drool worthy recipes, shared especially for you!

Shahi Lucknowi Seviyaan Recipe by Chef Ranveer Brar, Creative Kitchen, Dr. Oetker FunFoods                                                                           

Servings: 2

Ingredients:

500 ml Full Cream Milk

50 g Almonds, chopped

50 g Cashewnuts, chopped

60 g Roasted Vermicelli

1 tbsp Condensed Milk

1 tbsp Sugar

50 g (3 tbsp) Dr. Oetker FunFoods Milk Shake Mix Kesar Pista

½ tsp Kewra Water

1 tbsp Pistachio, chopped

Directions:

  1. Heat saucepan (low flame) add milk, almonds, cashewnuts and vermicelli. Let it cook for 5 minutes or until milk starts to boil.
  2. Add condensed milk, sugar and milk shake mix. Cook for 5 minutes or until Milk shake mix is dissolved completely and mixture is thick in consistency.
  3. Pour kewra water and mix well. Garnish with pistachio and serve.

 

Level: Beginner

Preparation Time: 5 Minutes

Cooking Time: 10 Minutes

Gulab Kheer Recipe by Chef Ranveer Brar, Creative Kitchen, Dr. Oetker FunFoods

Servings: 4

Ingredients:

1 Litre, Full Cream Milk

100 g Rice, washed and soaked for 30 minutes

100 g Sugar

1 tsp Green Cardamon Powder

8-10 nos. Cashewnuts, chopped

60 g (4 tbsp) Dr. Oetker FunFoods Milk Shake Mix Rose

5 nos. Almonds, chopped

Directions:

  • Bring milk to boil in a large saucepan.
  • Add rice, sugar, cardamom powder, cashewnuts and rose milk shake mix. Simmer over low heat until the mixture thickens and the rice is cooked completely.
  • Pour the mixture into serving bowls. Refrigerate it for 2 hours, garnish it with almonds and serve.

Level: Beginner

Preparation Time: 5 Minutes

Cooking Time: 25 Minutes

 

 

 

 

Sort Your Summer Chic Look, Now

Posted on by Aditi Malhotra

Between the rising temperatures outside the house and the increasing need for trendy, beautiful clothes, summer chic styles are becoming ever more popular. Dressing for the office, especially, is becoming a difficult business! You don’t want too many layers, nor do you want too little as the air conditioning in the office is cranked up to counteract the heat from the sun outside. Choosing your daily workwear may get difficult as the warmer months draw in and accessorising your outfits can also be hard as you have to find a good, professional balance!

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Revamping your closets with Daisy Dukes and long, flowy boho tops is one thing for casual looks, but how do you accessorize? Your usual neckerchief or patterned stockings won’t have a place in the heat, but boho bracelets and delicate flower garlands for your hair like these ones can step into the spotlight! Summer time is a time for lighter, flowing styles and you have to push your comfort zone to get that summer chic look. So, how can you change your usual dress to match a trend that is so popular?

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White. In the heat, wearing light colours is a must. White is one of the purest you can wear and it is so fashionable, especially against a gorgeous summer tan. It looks fresh, clean and can really make accessories with colours and metallic hues stand out. Floaty summer dresses in white are often on the catwalk, and your summer chic look can really pop with white trainers paired against denim shorts. You can’t go wrong with white for your summer wardrobe!

Stripes. Most people would go against stripes for their summer wardrobe, but it’s all about choices. When you have an outfit with vertical stripes, you can accessorize any style of stripes with nautical accessories like these and they look fresh!

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Boho. Crop tops and long, flowing skirts are an absolute essential for that boho summer look. Pair these with long chain necklaces and drop earrings for a fashionable look that is on point for the whole summer.

Shoes. Summertime is all about comfort and staying cool, so sandals are in and trainers are out. flat sandals like these can match the colours of your summer accessories, so don’t be afraid to decorate your outfit in any way that can match your shoes!

Bag. While you’re on the subject of accessorizing your outfit, choosing a bag that is lightweight and colourful to reflect the summer. Ditch the backpack and go for a lightweight tote. Again, colour should be bold and reflective of your personality as well as the sunshine outside.

Whether you are thinking about your casual summer look or your work outfit, the key is cool, casual and chic colours and additions to each outfit from head to toe. Caring about how you have dressed is wonderful and you can really show off your style when you go all out this summer time!

 

The Bandstand Experience!

Posted on by Aditi Malhotra

Located in the Aurobindo Complex, Hauzkhas, this place has by far one of the best terraces that I know of. Once you climb up, trust me you don’t want to leave. The view is just awesome and even when its hot out there, they have amazing mist fans, that make you feel as if you sitting in a hill station.

Coming to food, they offer European and Continental food with main focus on finger food and smaller plates and burgers, pizzas, hotdogs make for the mains.

We started by ordering Thai Style Chicken Wings, Spicy Kafir Lime Fried Chicken and Sichuan Style Gyoza Dumplings. The wings were nice and juicy and I really liked them. The Kafir Lime Chicken was overpowered with the kafir lime flavour and spices, and hence I did not like it much. The dumplings were good, but I wish the filling was spiced a little better.

Followed this was the Chicken Caesar Salad and Roasted Beetroot, Pumpkin, Rocket Leaves & Feta Salad and both the salads were awesome, especially the Beetroot salad, absolutely refreshing and flavoursome.

Next we settled for the Mezze Platter, both veg and non-veg and both were delicious. BBQ Ribs and Sichuan Pepper Pork Bao with Green Apples, these both were the winner dishes. You really can’t miss them. The Ribs were so delicious and juicy and so was the bao. The green apple added a different layer of flavouring to the juicy pork, which was a nice change.

We tried a half and half pizza with Double Pepperoni and Bolognese Smoked Cheese and also the BBQ Chicken Pizza. The pizzas were superb. Thin crust, crispy and the toppings were great. I loved all three flavours and its hard to choose which was the best, but if I have to be partial even by 1 percent, it would be the BBQ chicken pizza. BBQ Chicken, Caramelised Onions and Blue Cheese, made for a deadly combo.

For burgers, we tried the Pulled Tandoori Chicken and Bacon Burger & the Pulled Pork Khao Suey Burger. I was personally a bit disappointed with the tandoori chicken burger, as it did not meet my expectations. Can’t say that it was bad, but somehow it did not gel well with my taste buds. The pork burger was definitely a good one. Even the vegetarians have the Beetroot burger to look upto, my friends said it was awesome.

 

For drinks I tried the Spicy Mango, followed by a Water Melon Mojito and both were really good. For desserts we tried the Poached Pear and Apples with Rum Soaked Sultanas, Raspberry Puree and Ice Cream and also the Bandstand Chocolate Brownie Sundae. Both the desserts were nice but could have been a little better. The Poached Pear dessert was definitely more innovative and tasty than the brownie sundae. The brownie sundae wasn’t bad at all, but it was just a regular dish.

This place surely calls for a visit if you haven’t been already, and a visit again, if you have been there before. I thoroughly enjoyed my time here and especially the ambience was so good at the terrace that I wanna go again soon. Bandstand also keeps bringing great artists from time to time, so if you love music, this is the place for you.

Bandstand Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

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