Random Thoughts

• A little restraint in speech, action, and reaction goes a long way.


• The 'how' matters more than the 'what' in almost all the situations


• Give your best compassionate smile, instead of saying, 'told you so!'


• Always look at the bigger picture

Jegging: American Eagle, Shirt: Esprit, Shoes: Me Too

Happiness...

Never have I seen so many young, privileged, people trying so hard to be happy. There are countless articles written about it, blogs named for it, workshops attending to it. Whoever said we’re supposed to be happy all the time, anyway? We’re not. And the pressure to do so might be what’s making us unhappy, to begin with. It’s OK if you’re not completely content with your life twenty-four hours a day. Can you imagine what a boring person you’d be if you were? Going through shit storms, feeling uninspired, hating the way you look and having guilt over not accomplishing enough are just some of the things that make you interesting, relatable and human. Not to mention, if you’re reading this, then you have internet access and if you have internet access, it stands to reason that you have a computer, which makes me think you probably have a place to live, with electricity and plenty of food to eat and clean clothes to wear, which are all things that an enormous amount of people living on the planet today do not have. This is not to say that people shouldn’t strive to better their positions in life, however, it seems like so many of us are no longer content with a regular amount of happy, yet dead-set on being maniacally jubilant, all of the time.

- Kelly Rheel

Dress: Anthropologie

Shoes: Me too

What the health: part 16 - How to lose weight and stay healthycontinued...

This is part 16 of ‘What the health’ series. You can find earlier parts here – part1, part2, part3, part4,  part 5, part 6, part 7, part 8,  part 9, part 10, part 11, part12, part13, part14, part15

3. Sleep -

In today’s world, snoozing can be difficult, particularly when all your screens (computers, TVs, cell phones, tablets) lure you into staying up just a little longer. A lot of people also have ‘missing out on life’ syndrome so they don’t want to spend time sleeping. A lot of us make a mistake of popping sleeping pills (like I did for almost 2 years - it was a very bad idea).

The most important thing that I fixed after my diet and medicine usage is my sleep.  Why? Because… being short on sleep can affect your wellbeing and your weight too. While you are awake at night, your body cooks up a perfect recipe for weight gain.

When you’re short on sleep, it’s easy to lean on a large latte to get moving, I used to have a venti coffee from Starbucks every day. You might be tempted to skip exercise because you are too tired, get takeout for dinner, and then turn in late because you’re uncomfortably full.

Skimping on sleep sets your brain up to make bad decisions. It dulls activity in the brain’s frontal lobe, the locus of decision-making and impulse control. So it is a little like being drunk. You don’t have the mental clarity to make good decisions, it can also affect your mood and the way you behave with people around you. Plus, when you’re overtired, your sleep-deprived brain may have trouble saying no to the second slice of cake.

to be continued...

Skirt: Modcloth

Shoes: Me Too

Shirt: American Eagle

What the health: part 11 - How to lose weight and stay healthy?

This is part 11 of ‘What the health’ series. You can find earlier parts here – part1, part2, part3, part4,  part 5, part 6, part 7, part 8,  part 9, part 10

There are a few key elements when it comes to health... it is no rocket science... everyone knows what they are -

1. Exercise -

Take out some time every day to exercise! Not having time to exercise is like saying I don't have time to do the basic things like brush my teeth. A lot of people do not want to join the gym because they do not want to spend any money on it, while they do have the money to gather material possessions. Health is the best investment one can make!

Running a marathon once in a blue moon and then forgetting all about exercising until there is a marathon again is not the way to go about it. Exercise every day, rain or shine, even if it is just 30 minutes of yoga each day.

Think of making exercise a fun time so that you don't have to struggle each day to find motivation - join some fun classes like Zumba or dance of any sort, kickboxing, pilates, do yoga - there are so many good videos available on youtube, go hiking/biking or play sports with friends, try weight lifting, the list is endless. Whatever you do, do not do lazy man's workout. You will see these kinds of people when you hit the gym, they are there may be to watch TV, listen to songs, look around at some good looking people, I don't know but if you are spending time on something they might as well make the best out of it.

Not only does exercise tone your body so you can wear your favorite jeans, but it also strengthens your muscles, keeps your bones strong, improves your skin, increases relaxation (stress release), betters sleep and mood, your immune function gets stronger, and a lot more …

If you haven't then exercise today!

To be continued...

Dress: M collection

Shoes: Me Too

Necklace: Modcloth

What the health: Part 8 - Reasons you are not losing weight continued..

This is part 8 of 'What the health' series. You can find earlier parts here - part1, part2, part3, part4,  part 5, part 6, part 7

3. All cardio, no strength

Don’t spend all your time on cardio - focus on weight/strength training too. Weights do not make you bulky or muscular. Instead not only does it prevent injury by strengthening the joints, but it also builds muscle mass and increases metabolic rate.

4. No accountability

You assume that because you are opting for healthier food options and working-out so it is a reason enough to overindulge. I have seen people eating four ice creams in one go just because they are opting for a sugar-free option. Don't do that, our body does not need so much food.

Contrary to popular belief eating and shopping can not be hobbies and can not be used as stress release therapy because therapy is a treatment that fixes you for good instead of giving just a momentary pleasure. Food and shopping is a strategy... one simply needs to learn the strategy.

5. No Food Planning/ snacking on the wrong foods

Have healthy snacks and meal options ready at home and at work - at all times - otherwise, if you are hungry you will end up eating unhealthy things. Don't snack on cookies and candy, instead of on simple foods such as nuts, raisins, quinoa, fruits, salads, upma, thalipit, khichadi, daal rice, soups, buttermilk, yogurt, protein shake...

To be continued...

Jeans: Abercrombie and Fitch

Shirt: J crew Factory

Shoes: Me Too

What the health: Part 5 - Lame excuses continued...

This is part 5 of 'What the health' series, you can find earlier parts here - part1, part2, part3, part4

10. I can't live without junk food

There is this waterfall in Jasper, Canada and there is a board put up everywhere around it - it says don’t step on the rocks near the waterfall, they are very slippery and people have died here. People still cross the fence and walk on the rocks to take selfies. That means they accept the risk of dying a bad and untimely death out of their own stupidity.

Anyway coming back to the point if you can not live without junk food then no one can help you there. You have to make a choice. If you can't live without junk food then make peace with living in a junk-body.

11. I don't like gyms

Do you like parks? mountains? lakes? anything? Find a place you like and incorporate that activity as your workout. Running, Skiing, Tennis, Badminton, Dancing ...? There must be something. And if you don't know what you like yet, then try them all and I am sure one would click.

I do something different every day - yoga, hiking, biking, kickboxing, dance, pilates, tennis, badminton, weight training and whatnot (whether I like it or not!).

12. I am too old

Seriously, you are not. Meet Fauja Singh and Ernestine Shepherd. If you still think you are old then shame on you!

13. I hate working out alone

Join a group class, a running group, ask a friend to join you ... there are a lot of options. If not hiking/ biking or doing yoga at home then I prefer to workout at group classes, that motivate me the most.

14. It is boring

That is because you haven't explored all your options. Find something you enjoy. (and honestly do it anyway.)

to be continued...

Dress: J crew

Shoes: Me too

What the health: Part 4 - Some more lame excuses -

This is part 4 of 'What the health' series, you can find earlier parts here - part1, part2, part3

Yes! I am determined to cover all lame excuses I have heard (or have used myself)

7. Diets make me hungry.

If your diet is making you hungry, it's not a good diet or even sustainable in the long term. Don't go for any fancy (or trending) diet plans, fancier the name of the diet the crappier that it is - our body needs everything - carbs, proteins, and whatnot - all in moderation, don't cut back on anything. Do watch your portion size and eat healthy, simple food - healthy does NOT mean just organic or raw food.

8. Exercise makes me too tired.

No kidding! That is why they call it a workout! Jokes aside, exercise generates energy. The more energy you have, the more you will get done every day.

I generally workout in the morning but if for some reason I don't, and have to work out in the evening, that is after a long day at work - then I do not feel like moving even a limb. But I still put on my shoes and do what I am supposed to, 5 minutes through the workout I start feeling charged.

You recharge your body through food, sleep, and exercise. Movement creates energy. It gets your heart pumping, blood pumping, cleans out toxins, and gets your engine started. Exercise helps you lose weight, makes your skin glow and gets confidence levels up so you feel better about yourself.

9. I always gain back the weight.

When I decided to lose weight and make changes to my lifestyle there were months in a row I didn't lose even a single pound and there were some months when I put on weight instead of losing. Losing weight isn't a crash course, if you don't see instant results then don't give up, there needs to be patience and most of all continuity (for life).

I told someone to try yoga, she came back to me and said ‘I tried it for 3 whole weeks and didn’t lose even a pound’. Isn’t 3 weeks too less? considering you have taken years to ruin your body?… give it time… Rome wasn't built in one day ... it would be a long journey but it would be worth it. Don't do it to be thin, do it for a better quality of life.

One needs to change their lifestyle for good to lose weight otherwise if you resume unhealthy ways once losing weight then obviously you will be putting on the weight again.

to be continued...

Jeans: Abercrombie and Fitch

Shoes: Me too

Shirt: J crew Factory

My opinions on opinions

My new post 'My opinions on opinions' is available HERE

Jeans: American Eagle

Top: Ann Taylor (on sale available in stores right now)

Shoes: Me Too

No repeat value

In the last 8-9 years, I have worn this dress just thrice. These kinds of dresses do not have much of repeat value, after all, you can not wear the same dress to every party that you go to (not that people notice but it's our own fear that they will :-) ). I am not much of a party animal so I avoid buying party dresses.

So, today's recommendations are:

1. Buy stuff that matches your current lifestyle and body type.


2. Spend the minimum on clothes that have no repeat value (for you).

Dress: AND (from India)

Shoes: Me too

Instagram

I am on Instagram and my username is rasikamahabal

Gingham shirt: J Crew factory

Denim Skirt: Banana Republic

Belt: Style & Co. From Macys

Shoes: Me too From DSW

Blue Jeans...

Expression, modesty, appeal and simplicity - blue jeans has it all that I hope for … in my clothes

(I am working on my photo quality!)

Scarf: Target

Jeans : American Eagle

Shoes: Me too

Top: next

Bracelet : Hongkong Lane, Pune