My fitness diary

I never ever dreamt of being a thin girl. As you all must be knowing by now that I am not thin either. No it's not the case of sour grapes as the saying goes. The point is I was never attracted to the idea of thinness since childhood.
Since young age I always liked the Indian figure, full and voluptuous and even now I am never drawn to the notion or the trend of super skinny or skinny. To be precise my aim is being fit. I was always a healthy and plum kid since birth, so I guess it was always assumed that I am going to be this way forever.

Since childhood I was in different sports and activities but nothing held my attention for long. I like to wander like a vagabond.
I was the fittest when I was playing basketball, but that was like in 11th grade. I use to love it, the game the ambience, the people, my friends - you could say the whole package. That was then, after that I have had fluctuating weight graph till now. Getting fit then back to flab/fat.
Sounds harsh but that's that, the truth. Unhealthy choices, unhealthy lifestyle gives rise to an unhealthy and weak body. 

That's what I want to change and really make an effort to being fit. Blogging about this gives a good boost in the same direction and hence this post. 

I am not going to go on some diet or starve myself , I don't believe in it. I don't believe in gyms either they bore me to death. 

What I am going to do is introduce healthy options in my lifestyle - swimming, dance classes, walks, yoga, eating healthy, cardio to begin with. 

I am going to be fit and this is indeed a start to my journey.




xoxo
Bhakti





 

Weekend Diaries- Sinhagad in Rain

Pune rains are magical they make you fall in love with the nature over and over again. Pune mesmerizes you with its beauty and pleasant climate all year round but come monsoon and the place is vibrant and alive with its splendid glory. The ethereal charm of the city is visible in abundance in the wonderful setting of rainy season.

Over the years the city has grown leaps and bounds and has got many new changes but that age old beauty still is alive. Pune sits picturesquely amidst hills, mountains, forts and ample of country side. Just an hour of half's drive transfers you in the lap of nature.

On one such weekend we took a trip to Sinhagad ( lions fort). It is an eminent historical fort situated on the outskirts of the city. Well perched on the heights of Sahyadri mountains. The fort was conquered by and belonged to the great Maratha warrior - Shivaji Maharaj ( brush up your history lessons ;p)

Its famous for trekking, but we lazy bumps however went by car. The road to sinhagad itself is very pretty and beautiful. the earth is covered by green velvety blanket of trees. The slight drizzle of rain, lakes and dams filled with fresh rain water on our way. We actually felt as if we are travelling through the clouds. The weather was perfect, cool wind blowing on the face. The purity of nature(how I absolutely love it.).

I had a lovely time amidst nature, it was a perfect weekend.

Let the snaps do the talking.



evening - twilight - moonlight









credit flickr



credit flickr













enroute





kanda bhaji (pakodas/ onion rings), simple meals of pithla bhakri sold in small huts atop the fort

An elephant love story .......

I have grown up listening to mythological stories of the elephant god - human body with elephant head ( ganapati/ Ganesh and many other names) as a kid. Since childhood I was fascinated with this plump but really cute god of all. I was heads over heels in love with not only the god but the elephant himself.( and still am )

I still look at it in complete awe, whenever I see an elephant my eyes are out of their socket and I still dance around like a kid.

you know what? To the extent OF WANTING an elephant as a pet when I was a kid.( can you believe it? ) I just Love this magical creature. So much strength coupled with innocence and love.

I am in awe of it.



......and thinking all these things compelled me to paint.





and guess what I painted.... I painted an elephant. My all time favorite.

Monsoon Mane Magic

The Monsoon works magic on the heart and soul, it makes everything bright and beautiful. It's one of my favorite things. It gives new life to the parched earth. But it also takes away the life from your hair. Yes! Monsoon is not so magical for the mane.

Monsoons make the hair limp, clogged with impurities and lifeless wavy or frizzy, oily. 

see here

 

Heres how to take care of your hair in Monsoon.

Keep you hair clean.

Shampoo more often than you usually do.( alternate days/ daily )

Don't use a very strong shampoo, but a light shampoo.
Condition your hair.
Keep changing your hair products as hair becomes immune to the same one.

Use a wide toothed comb to prevent breakage and do not comb when hair is wet.

Use a powerful hair dryer to dry the hair, use it on high cool mode.

Use a light oil. Do not oil overnight but for 1-2 hours before bath.

Heavy hair treatment, hair sprays, hair gels should be avoided.

Do not tie your hair very tightly.(a pony tail or a pin up will do.)

Drink loads of water.

Exercise regularly.

Eat healthy.

Wash your hair after getting wet in the rain.

Home remedies for monsoon mane

Coconut , castor, olive oils are excellent conditioner.
Drink loads of water approx 8 glasses.
Have zinc and omega 3 fatty acids in your diet.
Mixture of beaten eggs and lemon juice are best remedy for dry scalp and hair let it dry on your hair and rinse.
Aloe vera gel and curd in equal quantities,  apply on scalp . Let It dry and then rinse.
2 bananas + 2 spoons honey for dry damaged hair and scalp. Apply and then rinse well after drying.


Monsoon mane must have products.

Aspiring ideas

One lazy afternoon as I was idling alone many thoughts crossing my mind..................

 

Human mind is a storehouse of imagination and thoughts. From these spring ideas - infinite ideas.

These ideas take shape in our mind, mold us, they make us do what we do, what we want to do. They give a meaning to our life, a reason, motivation. These ideas make us dream and dream we do. Aspiring to fulfill them. Giving birth to many more ideas and other more ideas to fulfill the earlier ones. A vicious cycle indeed. 

Humans are complex creatures. We are never satisfied. We accept some ideas and reject others. We perceive what we want to perceive and hence hold on to those ideas which we want to, however right or wrong. But when do these ideas become aspiring ideas?

Ideas aspire when they turn in reality. As the phrase goes " when we start dreaming and start doing". 

I truly believe that dreams are not enough to change the course of life however life doesn't have a course if there are no dreams to fulfill. A balance between these two helps in achieving a beautiful tandem. Initiate your first step towards the dream towards the ideas. Trust the dream and make a leap. No one will invest in our idea until and unless we invest our self in it. Ideas need to be executed for investment.

Aspiring ideas are not those which are circulating on the Internet in the form of quick fixes of getting rich and go on blubbering about their greatness and effectiveness. 

If ideas are really inspiring and aspiring they need to be conceptualized. What matters is not how good or bad the idea is but how well it is executed. Think big, start small is an old saying but truly effective even today.

 Any normal idea can  be an aspiring one with initiation, operation and implementation.  

 

pic credit jeffbullas.com

xoxo
Bhakti

Summer Fun ( summer things to do )

Summer has arrived with a bang,and despite the unbearable heat summer still remains one of my favorite time of the year.Perhaps the credit goes to the deep rooted beliefs, nostalgia, childhood memories, summer vacation, arrival of the much awaited king of fruits- Mango, spending time with family and mingling with relatives and friends. No matter what your reason is but the truth remains - Summer is hands down winner.(many would say otherwise with all the cribbing now a days, water shortage- heat-power cuts)

I always planned for every Summer much before time and awaited its arrival in anticipation.

Do you want to know what do i do and plan to do in Summer ??

Take a look...

ICE CREAMS and loads of it ... Raid the ice cream parlor, enjoy the dollies,relish the scoops.
Water Balloon Fight !! (need i say more ) Bring it on ;p
Summer Parties... awesome
BBQ --- i so love them.
Bonfires-i still remember granny telling us stories around the bonfire cuddled with a cosy rug under the stars...
Day Picnics- How could you say no to this. Best way to bond with family / Friends/ Children.
Books Books Books -- Its the best time of the year to catch up with your reading.
Dip in a pool - cool that summer heat
Join a Hobby class
Take up creative DIY projects.
Picnic in the field
Head to the beach
Try out all the cocktails
Bring on the Booze.
Lemonade Love--My all time favorite
Enjoy the summer festivals.
Pamper yourself with beauty treatments.
Explore new places.
Summer vacation
Camping!!!
Redo your home decor
Volunteer for a good cause .
Cook new Dishes.
Bake Goodies (yummy)
Play video games
Keep a Summer Diary
Visit a water park
Fly a kite
Go fishing
Movie Nights in the backyard.
Paint
Game nights
Burgers and Beer.
Pizzas and Pastas.
Do nothing at all!!! Bliss

Why don't you make your own list?.
Take your pick

Breaking Dawn....................... marine drive- midnight-- magic-- romance

Started from home for a romantic drive and guess where we(me and hubby dear) landed undecided unplanned ... Marine Drive.. yup in the wee hours of morning,, when everything was still,, we sat watching the sea,,,

For those who do not know -- marine drive is a prominent landmark of Mumbai India .. Marine Drive is a 4.3-kilometre-long boulevard in South Mumbai.A beautiful promenade along the road where many come to enjoy the sea, the setting sun, the cool breeze, stroll with your loved one , a sip of tea with friends, or just to enjoy your own company and let your mind wander or may be relax ,, . It is bordered by high rise buildings ,affluent bungalow, celerity houses, 5 star hotels..art decos, plush clubs but even though,, somehow ,, it is more captivating and beautiful than any of it ..
Real estate prices along the drive are among the highest in India, and fourth in the world at US$2100 per square feet.
Marine Drive also known as the Queen's Necklace as  the street light resembles a necklace if viewed from far.
credits- floyd and milan



oh ya sorry ... so as we sat watching the sea , i could not but ponder , even after all this time, even after all these structures, there is this ethereal magic about this place that transfers you to the old world charm, it feels as if you are a visitor in the house.Watching the daily activities of the people, the ongoing traffic, the cars zooming by, the sellers selling you the merchandise, the cups of hot tea, the lovers oblivious to the passersby. i feel like an outsider yet there is a strange calmness inside, i am at ease with myself.the buzzing activity, the dwindling people and yet its a peaceful setting. the waves crashing on the rocks.the calm music of the sea.the romantic illuminating beautiful necklace adorned by the night. its uncanny how this place has been witness to history and will be to history in the making. I am in love with this sheer magic, the beauty which never seems to diminish. its the wee hours of morning--- breaking dawn ... its like we romanced the sunrise by the sea...

 

yea we were really very sleepy ,, LOL

xoxo

bhakti