Decisions

I feel there is nothing wrong in staying single or choosing career over love or getting divorced or leaving your job and following your passion or having a kid or multiple kids or leaving your job to be a househusband/ housewife/ stay at home mom or dad, move to a different city or anything else for that matter - if you believe it will make you happy and that is what you want out of your life, then that is exactly what you should do. Life is too short to overthink. The only rule one must follow is - no whining! Make a decision and stick by it. Don't blame or curse the world, or stars and planets if your decisions do not work out. How the next person decides to lead their life should not influence anyone to make that same decision. Do what is right for you, the only thing that matters at the end of the day is happiness and mental peace. 

Pant: American Eagle, Top: Banana Republic, Shoes: Nine West, Jacket: United colors of Benetton

In Harmony

What I truly don't get is the concept of "what's in" and "what's out"! I won't lie, I do read a lot of fashion blogs but I shop only on the basis of personal preference and good fit.

Here's a thought - Everything we wear doesn't have to be 'in-fashion' but definitely has to be 'in-perfect-harmony' with our personality and body type.

Shoes: Nine West, Tights: Target, Sweater: Modcloth, Skirt: United colors of benetton

Skin Care

Know your skin type - is it dry/ oily or sensitive?

If you are here to note down a list of any fancy fast working skin products then you will be disappointed, I have none.

1. The secret to keeping the whole body soft and healthy-looking lies in moisturizing.

I have a dry skin type, which means my skin feels very tight after bathing or any contact with water. I have a dry hand and dry lip symptom too, I get chapped lips all the time.

So what do I use?

a. I do not use soaps in public restrooms - restaurants/ theaters, etc. they are by default harsh and do not suit me. I always carry either a soap bottle or sanitizer/wet wipes in my purse.

b. Almond oil - it is excellent for the skin - it makes the skin look healthier, reduces dark circles, it cures skin problems like eczema, acne.

c. Cetaphil and Vaseline are my all-time favorite moisturizers, vaseline is best for lips too.

2. The secret to good skin is NOT using loads of skincare products

Skincare products claim to be working fast like magic but they do more harm to the skin than anything. Go for the natural fixes instead. For example, before going to bed massage your face with coconut oil for at least 20 seconds - it takes away any makeup products used and keeps the face moisturized throughout the night.

Aloe Vera, castor oil, honey, cucumber, and sandalwood powder are excellent for the skin.

3. The secret to glowing skin is EXERCISE

I have seen many people who do not necessarily have spectacular skin - but when they start working out, running, biking and whatnot - their skin starts to glow! The reason is simple - exercise increases blood flow and blood carries oxygen and nutrients to the entire body including the skin. Marathon runners, bikers and generally people who work out regularly have radiant skin.

4. The secret to healthy skin is DIET

French fries, hormone-laden meats, fried food, chips and generally all types of junk food is ALSO bad for the skin. A simple and nutritious diet does well to the skin too (as much as it does good to the entire body).

5. Drink ….WATER

Drink at least 8 glasses a day, it helps to rid the body and skin of toxins.

6. Last but not least - SLEEP

Sleep strengthens your immune system, it keeps your heart healthy, it boosts your mood, it is important for your physical and emotional well being (as much as exercise and a good diet are). Seven to eight hours of sleep is required by the body. If you want good health - sleep, if you want to lose weight - sleep, if you want to live long - sleep and if you want good skin ---- sleep!

I hope you find these tips useful.

2 combos:

Skirt: United Colors of Benetton, Top: Old Navy, Shoes: Kensie

Shorts: American Eagle, Top: Old Navy, Beach Sandals: American Eagle

What the health: Part 1 - Life is beautiful...when healthy.

Having a good lifestyle helps you to get thinner, feel energetic and healthy (emotionally, physically and mentally). So I decided to write my experiences and battle with health, fitness, exercise, and diet but the post was turning out to be too long so breaking it up into parts.

Beware: This post has strong opinions (facts ;-)) and a rant on fitness, obviously you are not mandated to read it ;-).

The Jargon - These days there is a jargon - don't fat shame people - and no I am not going to fat shame, anyone. All I want to say is - IT IS NOT OKAY TO BE FAT! And it is not okay to live a junk lifestyle.

Just to clarify - I said the same thing when I weighed 180 pounds and saying the same thing today when I weigh 135 pounds that is 10+ pounds overweight for my height.

[There are some rare health conditions where weight gain happens, and it can also be a side effect of certain medications and I am not talking about these scenarios here - however, shifting to a healthier lifestyle helps with most medical conditions].

How do we get fat?

It is really not rocket science to figure out why we get fat, we all know the reasons!

We eat junk food, live a junk lifestyle, are engrossed in sedentary behavior and do not exercise. There is so much variety of food available these days, one doesn't know how to control.

There was a time when I treated my gut and health with complete ignorance or shall I say disrespect, I ate out at restaurants every other day with colleagues, friends, family and sometimes alone - I ate pasta, pizza, cupcakes, burgers, ice-creams, anything, and everything. To add to that I consumed medicines, painkillers, antacids every other day, I didn't have time and the luxury to be sick.

No need to say that one day everything came back to me like a boomerang. When the downfall of health starts it takes a long time to recover (if recovery happens!).  I will spare you the details of health troubles I went through for almost four consecutive years, all's well that ends well. During those years I caught some ailment one after the other, with no breather at all. I did not have the interest or energy to enjoy anything happening around me. Health affects everything that we do, career, relationships, personal interests, and whatnot. Life is beautiful… yes… but more so when one is healthy. So I say... it is not okay to be fat, it is not okay to live a junk lifestyle, period.

If today I have lost weight and feeling light and right - it is not because of luck- it is because I changed my entire lifestyle and obviously I had to put in efforts to do so. Tomorrow if I weigh 180 pounds again or feel sick all the time then I know it will be because of my own stupidity, lack of control, lack of discipline and messed up priorities.

By being fat we are inviting diseases like heart ailments, diabetes, arthritis, GERD, sleep apnea, some cancers, gallbladder disease and many more - which is okay if you want to live with one, but trust me (or ask anyone who is suffering or has suffered because of bad lifestyle choices) that it isn't fun to live with one...

Here is why I respect fit people - irrespective of my overweight or fat status -

“Because fit people with a physique is much more than how good they look. A well-built physique is a status symbol.

It reflects that you work hard for it, no money can buy it. You cannot inherit it you cannot steal it you cannot borrow it you cannot hold on to it without constant work.

It shows dedication, it shows discipline it shows self-respect. It shows dignity. It shows patience work ethic, passion. That is why it's attractive to me.”

To be continued ...

Skirt: United colors of benetton (also worn here)

Top: Black house white market

Shoes: Kelly and katie

Red Lipstick

Shoes, a beautiful dress, new haircut, jewelry are all trivial material things, in all honesty it should not matter because people say our inner self is what matters.

Once I went to meet a friend who was down with severe bronchitis. She was wearing a nice dress and a red lipstick, she didn't look sick at all. 'You look good' I said. While pricking her skin with a needle (for her gestational diabetes) she said 'Exactly! I look good and so I feel good'.

Our physical form is strongly connected to our identity, that is how we interact with the world around us. The exterior matters as much as the interior... 

Skirt: United Colors Of Benetton, 

Shoes: Guess, 

Top: Charter's Club from Macys