How to Make New Year Resolutions

My experience with New Year Resolutions has taught me some lessons which I am sharing with you.
Don't leave New Year Resolutions for the last moment to write! If you do, on the last day of the year you may end up hurriedly writing down something not better than a shopping list. Spend some time and energy in writing them. At the same time, if you fail to write them before the New Year commences, don't think that now it is too late. Write in the first week of the year or later. It is better writing late than never. In fact, every religion and, therefore, most of the countries, have different New Year days. India alone has more than half a dozen New Year days depending upon which religion you belong to or which calendar you followed!
Before writing the New Year resolutions, think about the bigger questions of life: God, creation, life, death, etc. Is life pre-determined? Is there an after life? What is the aim of life? Is rat race for success good? What is the place of happiness, health, family and friends in our life? You need not be or become a philosopher; but do give these questions some pondering. Before writing about the New Year and future, cast a glance at your past and the old year also. How has your life been? What are your successes and failures? What are your regrets? How was the old year? Did you keep your resolutions? If yes, to what extent? If not, why? Given another chance, how would you plan and live the old year. Have a vision of the future. How would you like to see yourself after one year or thereafter? Base your resolutions on this analysis.

Make new year resolutions a vehicle for change. While we are comfortable with status quo, we want to change our life too. Everybody thinks that he is in a rut. He or she would have been happier in another job, in different circumstances, in new places. But we fear change. Don't just foolhardily jump into change, but plan for it.
Plan for new and exciting things in life. Learn something new-dancing, playing a musical instrument, a new language, tennis, web-designing, or writing poetry. If you have never loved, love. It is an exciting thing. If you are in love, get married. It is intoxicating.
Write down specific goals rather than general. Instead of writing, "I will reduce weight," specify how many pounds or kilograms you want to reduce within which period and by what means. So write, during the year I will reduce my weight by 30 pounds. I will aim at reducing 10 pounds every quarter (so that I have some extra time towards the year-end). I will regulate my diet (be specific about diet too), will exercise or play some game, go for morning or evening walk, start yoga, and lead an active life.
Break down bigger whole year aims to smaller quarterly and monthly aims. In fact, each week write down the aim for that week also. Of course, also keep a daily to-do list (to be written at the start of the day or one day in advance). Revise the monthly and quarterly targets in the light of progress made and aims abandoned and new aims added. In fact, write down a continually evolving list of to-do for the year. Whatever you want to do in the year, just add to this list and Do when the right time comes.
Supplement the Resolutions list with other lists: Daily Prayer in which you may pray to God for giving you happiness, success, and health, etc. Daily Affirmations, in which you may use the power of affirmations. Daily Do's in which you may fix your daily routine which may be helpful in fulfilling your Resolutions, Daily Don'ts, things you should not do.
Use positive power! Most of our resolutions fail because they are about negatives rather than positives. We want to reduce weight or quit smoking, or drinking. But all these are negatives. We will surely be defeated fighting against them. Instead, if we decide to start playing tennis, it would be a positive thing. Little by little we will get interested in it. We will get addicted to it. We will not be able to stay at home when it is play time, whether it is at 5 a.m. or 5 p.m. We will have to go when our partner calls us. If we are over-weight, we will jog, eat less and sensibly. If we get fatigued easily, we will quit smoking and drinking. We would like to be at the top of our tennis team! We will reduce weight, quit smoking and drinking easily (because our game of tennis demands it!).

Don't forget the taken for granted important things in life! When we write our Resolutions we concentrate what we want to achieve in worldly sense. But we fail to mention other important things in life, like: I will be happy, I will love my family, and I will enjoy nature, etc. These unwritten resolutions are more important than the written ones. If we fulfill them and even fail at achieving the written aims, we have still won. If we succeed at both, that is superb! For this, I would suggest, make two lists of New Year resolutions-one for important basics of life (happiness, love, etc.) and another for worldly success (you may like to make one separate one for your job or office life, if required).
Don't forget others! New Year resolutions are not for and about you only. They concern others too. Make resolutions concerning others also. Resolve that you will give more time and love to your family and friends. You will help the unfortunate and poor people. You will give a fraction of your gains back to the society who made your worldly success possible in the first place. These resolutions may be a part of your other (I would say first) list mentioned in last paragraph.

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Healthy Eating During The Christmas Party Season

The Christmas party season is rapidly drawing near, and with it the endless canapés, buffet tables, and 3 course meals, not to mention the alcohol!
So how to navigate the events with out piling on the additional pounds? The first and most important rule is to by no means go to a party on an empty stomach. You most probably will not be capable of make any sensible selections about what and what kind of food to consume whilst your tummy is rumbling and also your nose is fine-tuned to note the entire tantalising smells wafting from the trays of canapés being offered to you.

Having a little snack must subsequently be a part of your getting ready regimen. The snack must come with some protein to keep the hunger at bay for longer. in case you are in a hurry, have some natural yoghurt with muesli. Or when you've got more time, opt for a boiled egg with rye toast soldiers.
At the party, don't stand next to the buffet table, you will be tempted to select at bits. Instead take a plate filled with the items you in reality want to eat and enjoy them back at your table. Steer clear of any deep fried canapés comparable to mini spring rolls and samosas, and opt for the ones that include some protein. Look out for chicken satay sticks or prawns. They are simple, but will fill you up more quickly and keep you going for longer. If you can't help selecting something, see if there are some olives being offered. The fat they include is in reality good for you.
And just a delicate caution on the alcohol aspect. On the day of a large celebration, keep a 2 litre bottle of water in your table at work and look to to complete throughout work. This way you are fully hydrated earlier than you begin to drink alcohol. Steer clear of punches and pre mixed cocktails, they are going to be loaded with sugar; as a substitute keep on with champagne... only ninety cals per glass. if you're consuming wine, you should look to match each glass of wine with an equal glass of water and you'll feel significantly better the next day.

And should you do end up over indulging somewhat, don't panic - there's always the new year to get back on course with your weight loss journey!

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Do You Crave for Sweets? Read This to Know Why and How to Overcome

Craving for sweets is a problem that many people suffer from. The problem is not when you consume sweets, but it is when you over-consume them. It can be very bothersome for people who are trying to reduce weight or maintain it. People who have diabetes can do themselves a huge harm by giving in to sugar cravings. It is very important for you to differentiate the cravings that your body absolutely needs from those that your body wants as an addiction. The following sections will explain why you crave sweets and how you can overcome your cravings.
Emotional eating
Most people turn to sugar and sweets when they are stressed or unhappy. More specifically called 'emotional eating'; people reach out to sweets in order to comfort themselves. Severe stress, overwork or lack of sleep can make a person crave for energy dense sweets to get the sudden rush of energy. The instant sugary treat makes the brain release natural chemicals called opioids which give the body a feeling of pleasure and happiness. This explains the 'high' you get after eating a chocolate cake or a donut.

Deficiency of Vitamin B Complex
If a person is deficient in Vitamin B, he tends to be low on energy. To make up for this, his body starts giving out craving signs which make him want sugary or fatty foods that can give him instant energy. It is very important for a person to understand what his body exactly wants for. The only way to fight cravings is to ensure that the body gets its share of nutrition and healthy foods.
Low adrenal function
Adrenal glands secrete hormones like epinephrine (adrenalin), cortisone, oestrogen and progesterone. Low adrenal function can lead to reduction in the secretion of such hormones due to which one tends to feels low on energy, becomes lethargic and craves for instant energy boosting foods.
Dieting
If a person has been on a strict low fat, low carbohydrate diet for a long time, the body becomes insulin resistant. Due to this, even though there is ample amount of glucose in the blood, the body starts sending out signals to the brain because of which the person tends to want for more sweets and fatty foods.
How to reduce or overcome sweet cravings?
• Ensure that your body gets the required amounts of nutrients essential for proper functioning.

• Do not starve yourself.
• Drink lots of water whenever you crave for sweets. There are chances that a person has mistaken thirst or dehydration as hunger.
• Reduce the intake of packaged or canned foods. Your body needs natural sugars and -not synthetic or processed sugars.
• Whenever you crave for a cake or a bar of chocolate, try to divert your mind by going for a long walk or listening to good, soothing music. If the craving persists, try eating nuts or fruits to subside your hunger.
• You can also start mild exercising under the guidance of a personal trainer.
• If you still get cravings, consult a doctor or dietitian. Get your diet plan analysed by a professional.



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Why Bother With Breakfast?

They say ignorance is bliss but there are times when ignorance of people makes me sad. One such instance is when people do not think breakfast is important and chose not to include it in their routine. It is said that one should eat like a king for breakfast, queen for lunch and popper for dinner.

Unfortunately for many people, for reasons of their own, dinner happens to be the biggest meal and breakfast is the first one to be skipped. I have always believed that to a large degree, you are what you eat so I think food plays an important part in one's life, especially the quality of life. That is one of the reasons why I take time and effort to not just prepare good food but also to write a lot about it so I spread some awareness in whatever little way I can. Reason I say it makes me sad is because the effects of skipping breakfast may not be seen immediately. But over time one will have to face the consequences. When some of my friends say they do not have breakfast I feel bad because they are not doing any good for their body. In this article I hope to summarise what I have read and understood about the importance of breakfast and also some simple yet quick breakfast ideas to make it easier for you.
Let us look at the impact of having or not having breakfast to better understand why bother with breakfast
1. Weight management - many believe that skipping breakfast so they reduce calories would help them lose weight. It cannot be farther from the truth. When we sleep during the night, our body slows down, so metabolism slows down. When we have something to eat in the morning, we are effectively giving the signal to the body that the day has begun and metabolism should increase. However, people who skip breakfast deny their body of this signal so they feel sluggish as they continue until lunch with slow metabolism. When one feels sluggish and tired, one tends to work less, physically and in turn burns fewer calories. Also, when the body is deprived of food for a long while, cravings begin, especially sugar cravings. This is when we feel like snacking on a chocolate bar or a big fat muffin or cakes etc. This effectively increases the calorie consumption. In summary, a slow metabolism, tired body burning lesser calories and high calorie/fat snacks effectively contribute to weight gain and not weight loss. We all keep hearing about the numerous health problems that can come with being overweight, especially risk of heart diseases and skipping breakfast can potentially lead to being overweight.
2. Lowered cognition - studies have said to have shown that children who have breakfast fare better in problem solving than children who skip breakfast.

Remember that it is not just the rest of the body that gets energy from digested food but also the brain. When the brain is low on energy, one cannot expect it to function effectively. Some studies also show that children who skip breakfast are more likely to have problems concentrating and also have problems with memory when compared with children who have breakfast.
3. Type 2 diabetes - skipping breakfast is said to increase the risk of developing type 2 diabetes. If one is already diabetic, it is all the more important to keep sugar fluctuations low which means the body has to be fed at regular intervals. Diabetes is a state of the body that is not particularly easy to manage as the complications of diabetes can be very serious from losing eye sight, heart attacks, having to be amputated. If one is already overweight, the complications get even worse. The effect of diabetes may not be known immediately but the body will be deteriorating gradually. Keeping the blood sugar under control is absolutely important while living with diabetes and skipping meals, that too breakfast will be highly counter-productive for diabetes management.
4. Menstrual irregularities - some studies are said to have shown that girls/women who skip breakfast are likely to have irregular periods.
5. Poor mood - low glucose is said to be responsible for irritability fatigue and tiredness. Some studies show that people who skip breakfast snap at others more easily.
To me the risk of weight gain (and all associated health risks due to being overweight) and risk of diabetes alone are enough to make me run for my breakfast. When it comes to children, it is very important to set up healthy eating habit at an early stage and for that, having breakfast is important. With children getting less and less playtime and exercise these days it is all the more important for them to eat healthy. There is no point in sending them to school to learn stuff if they cannot concentrate and as parents, we need to give them adequate support to enable them to learn. Hopefully, by now you are at least thinking about having breakfast.
I come from a tamil Brahmin family and Brahmin meal plan is quite well known because most of them have a big mid morning meal, later in the afternoon a tiffin or lighter meal is consumed while dinner sometimes is liquid intake or fruits or some cereals, if not curd rice. Reason I mention that is that although some people criticise them for having a heavy meal that early, what modern day dieticians are advising is pretty much similar - have a big breakfast. The meal would normally consist of rice (carbohydrates), dal (protein), vegetables (vitamins and minerals) and ghee (fat) and unless I got it all wrong, this is what constitutes a balanced meal. At this day and age, we barely have the time to make all these before we walk out of the doors to work and neither would our working hours allow such a schedule. So, what are some quick breakfast solutions you could try.
1. Oats porridge - boil a couple of tablespoon of oats in water until it is done (regular oats is better than quick cooking and honestly does not take much time to cook anyway). If you like it sweet, add some milk, sugar or honey or any other sensible sweetener of choice. If you like savory, then add some buttermilk and little salt and consume. Either way, have a banana or any other fruit of choice.
2. Breakfast shake - milk shake or smoothies make great breakfast. Blend a banana sweetened with date syrup or any other natural sweetener (avoid synthetic sweetners or refined sugar) along with some milk. Top with crushed nuts and drink. Adding oat milk instead of cow's milk can help reduce calories and fat and also lend to fibre intake. You could try the same with apple too. You could also use a spoon of wheat germ as topping.
3. Muffin - having a low sugar, bran loaded muffin is a great way to fill you up for the morning. Top a healthy muffin with berries and eat along with a glass of juice. Plenty of healthy muffin recipes are available, try making enough over the weekend itself. I would say it probably takes about 10 minutes to make the muffin batter and about 20 minutes baking time and that would be your breakfast sorted for a week!
4. Breakfast sandwich - you could make these with leftovers too. You could use chapattis or pita breads or wholemeal breads and stuff them with left over sabjis or any vegetable of choice. Over the weekends I tend to quickly sauté grated courgette, spice it with cumin, chilly and coriander powder and make a grilled wholemeal sandwich. This helps me get one of my five a day vegetables as well. You can try the same with paneer or grated cauliflower, cabbage etc. Peanut butter sandwich is a good option as well.
5. Toast and beans - beans also contribute to one of five a day. This option is okay if you have the time to sit down and have your breakfast.
6. Low fat flapjacks - I make my own flapjack which is a bit more chewy than regular ones. I use very little brown sugar but add dry fruits and dates syrup to sweeten instead. Believe it or not small portions of these oats rich almost no added fat flapjacks are a great start to the day.
7. Multi grain porridge - back home it is common practice for moms to make a multi grain powder. It usually consists or wheat, barley, finger millet, sago, almonds and cardamom for flavouring. One can add couple of heaped spoons of this to water, bring to boil while stirring, add jaggery or sugar and milk.

8. Healthy pancakes - make your own pancake mix by adding either the above mentioned porridge powder or wholewheat powder along with some millet powder. Add mashed banana or pureed apple or blueberries, if you want it sweeter, add syrup like dates syrup to make a batter. I tend to skip the baking powder or soda bicarb as it inhibits nutrition absorption. You could add little all purpose flour to ease flipping the pancake. Pour the batter on hot tava and drizzle oil/butter/ghee. Cook both sides, eat.
9. Bread omelet - beat an egg and add salt and required vegetables like tomato, onion, mushroom etc. and make an omelet. Grab couple of toasts and a glass of juice. Having protein earlier in the day is said to be better than later.

10. Museli - combine wheat flakes, oat flakes, rye flakes, barley flakes with some dry fruits like raisins, currants, seeds like pumpkin seed. Serve with seasonal fruits and milk.
11. Quick French toast - cut couple of bread slices into four triangles each. Dip them in beaten egg (season it as needed) and cook on hot tava. Drizzle some oil or butter while cooking. Cook both sides and that's a good breakfast on the go.
12. Millet gruel - Millet is usually considered poor man's food but truth is many people who work hard physically have ragi gruel often for breakfast. It keeps them full for long although they are involved in intense work. One way of preparing is similar to multi grain porridge mentioned previously. Another method is to mix it with some buttermilk and let it sit overnight. Next morning add little water if needed and cook while stirring, until it is shiny. Season with salt and drink. Millets are low fat protein sources.
I hope at least one or two of the above options suit your taste and timing. On weekends one can indulge a bit more by making cooked breakfast and a number of such recipes are available on my blog as well.
Make healthy choices for your life, remember, prevention is better than cure. One can skip any meal, but not breakfast regardless of whether one is hungry or not. For the other meals you can go as per your body, eat when hungry but breakfast is an exception. Do not wait for the 'right' day to start having breakfast, there is no bad time to do the right thing. Live long, live happy, live healthy!

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How to Make a Smoothie: 9 Golden Rules

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The best thing about smoothies is their capacity for infinite experimentation. And like many subjective tastes, only you can determine the best combination of smoothie ingredients for you.
But how do you go about preparing a smoothie without botching it up?
There are some key considerations to bear in mind when going about the process, which should speed up the learning curve and get you preparing smoothies like a guru yourself.
Please keep reading as we break down how to make a smoothie great the first time by adhering to 9 simple rules.

1) Estimate The Proper Amount of Liquid to Add
All we are mean here is to ensure that you have enough liquid relative to the other ingredients so that you don't end up making a glass full of paste, or a smoothie with a runny, watery texture. Of course, everyone has different opinions, but I like my smoothies thick but still able to be sucked up with a large-diameter straw.
Most smoothie recipes will attempt to achieve a proper consistency by starting with a cup or two of liquid. This can be regular (cow's) milk, soy milk, almond milk, coffee/tea/alcohol, fruit juice and/or simply water. The amount of liquid needed will increase as you increase the amount of dry ingredients added. Things like ground seeds, peanut butter, dryer fruits (e.g., banana), protein powders, and similar ingredients will soak up quite a bit of liquid. Consequently, you should start with a cup of your chosen liquid and add more as needed to get the mixture to blend. And if it becomes too watery, you can thicken it with more ingredients. No science here, just blend and taste - and repeat till perfect!
2) Plan Around The Most Dominant Flavor(s)
Although this is the #2 consideration, this is really the first decision that should be made. So, is this going to be a pineapple strawberry smoothie? Or perhaps you are leaning more towards an avocado yogurt smoothie? Whatever floats your boat, think about how you want the resulting smoothie to taste - should one or more ingredients stand out? I like to think about it in movie terms - who's the lead? For example, if you love blueberry and like the potent antioxidants they contain, you might make them your "star" ingredient and ensure you are adding at least a cup of them to your mixture. Once that decision is made, you can pick your liquid(s) of choice.

Yes, we know that some of the best smoothies are created by a random jumble of ingredients, but randomness will happen either way. We think it's always best to start with some kind of vision for a smoothie, regardless whether you reach it, or end up with something very different, and perhaps even better instead!
3) Choose Your Supporting Cast of Ingredients
Whatever primary flavors you are aiming for with your smoothie, you have a plethora of options in terms of a supporting cast. For example, for virtually any kind of fruit and even vegetable smoothie, bananas are a great addition since they add some sweetness as well as bulk to the mixture. Further, they can easily be peeled and frozen (in that order!) before addition to give the smoothie the desired slushy feel. Yogurt is another ingredient that complements so many kinds of smoothies by adding density and creaminess. And the great thing about yogurt is that it comes in its own myriad of flavors. For a very rich and thick smoothie, we like Greek yogurt best.
4) Choose Your Sweetener(s) Wisely
While it's always convenient to reach for white sugar to add sweetness to your smoothie, think bigger.
Some of the best choices for sweetening up your smoothie are honey, agave, maple syrup, chopped dates, and raw brown (or coconut) sugar.
Corn syrup is another option for those looking for a liquid substitute for table sugar that more easily mixes at cold temperatures.
5) Give it an Added Health Boost!
Each time you make a smoothie it's a good idea to try and add something special, something that packs lots of vitamins or nutrients. There are so many things that can be added to a smoothie that can turn it from being merely healthy to health super-charged. For example, chia seeds are one of the new superfoods that can make almost any smoothie nutritious; and best of all, chia itself has no flavor, so it doesn't alter the vision of the smoothie you planned to create. Other popular additions are flax seed or flax seed oil, wheat germ, oatmeal, algae (spirulina and chlorella), vitamin and protein powders/liquids. The sky is really the limit here. Just add and taste and see what you can include while keeping things tasty. Just keep in mind that protein powders and flax/chia seeds will soak up lots of water, so keep some extra liquid on hand to add to the mixture as needed.
6) Determine How Icy You Like It
For many people, myself included, a smoothie is not a smoothie without some iciness to it. You can easily add the necessary ice factor by simply freezing any fruit or veggies that you add, or you can simply add ice cubes until the proper slushiness is achieved. Just remember that by adding ice cubes, you are watering down the mixture, so where possible it's always advisable to freeze some/all of your main ingredients instead.
7) Use a High Quality Blender For Best Results
If you plan on making healthy smoothies a part of your lifestyle, then there is no substitute for purchasing a high-quality blender. By this we generally don't mean the kind you are likely to find in your local department store. Achieving the velvety smooth texture that you'll find at smoothie shops is something that requires a blender with lots of power so that very high blade rotational speeds can be obtained. We are talking about blenders with motors typically over 1,000 watts. All other things being equal, faster blades means a smoother blend. This is particularly important when using lots of ice, seed material, and green leafy foods. In short, don't skimp on your blender!

8) Make Smoothies a Regular Part of Your Day

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One of the most important benefits of drinking smoothies is the huge does of vitamins and minerals they can provide, when consumed regularly. As such, we strongly encourage you to drink at least one healthy smoothie each day. Whether it is your own version of a breakfast smoothie, or a refreshing fruit smoothie you treat yourself to after dinner, make it good for you and drink them often.
9) Have Fun With It!
As we discussed at the outset, the best thing about smoothies is the endless creative possibilities they afford. Take advantage of this and experiment and have fun with the processes. We are certain that the more often you make smoothies, the more unique and interesting concoctions you will create. Also, when you've stumbled onto a real "winner," make sure to share it with others who may be looking for some inspiration - and perhaps use your experience to help teach them how to make a smoothie for themselves!

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Nutrition Tips For Runners - Juicing Basics

Nowadays, more and more runners are getting into the habit of juicing. This is not about buying a cold boxed cartoon of apple or orange juice but this is about making your own home made juice freshly extracted from fruits and vegetables.
Basically, home made juices are very healthy drinks that your digestive system can absorb within about 15 minutes.
When you make your own juice using fresh fruits and vegetables, you can really extract its rich nutrients and enzymes. This is a big benefit compared to buying boxed juices from convenient stores. Juices from stores are likely to have been depleted of many of its nutrients and enzymes. They are commonly been pasteurized and this destructs their nutritional value.

Why runners need to drink freshly-made juices?
Your optimum performance is related to the high supply of nutrients into your body while maintaining the toxicity level low. Drinking freshly-made juices helps you to achieve both of these goals because they help you to eradicate toxins from your body. Home made juices are also a great source of minerals, vitamins and other natural chemical elements that your body needs to fight disease and function at its best.
Juices versus smoothies
A lot of people seem to be confused to differentiate between juices and smoothies. Smoothies are made from fresh fruits which are blended using a blender while juices are fresh fruits that are put within a juicer. Fruits that are blended using a blender will contain fibres while a juicer will produce a fruit juice which is completely separated from its fibres. The advantage of using a juicer is to allow us consuming large quantities of nutrient-rich juice without burdening our digestive system with their fibres. Freshly extracted fruits and vegetables that are properly juiced using a juicer will be able to by pass your digestive system and be absorbed very quickly. We need to stress, however, that we are not advising you to ditch fibres from your diet. We just want to let you know that juices complement your high fibre diet.

Best juice for runners
All juices offer great nutritious benefits but in our opinion, the green juices are the best for runner as they have high chlorophyll content which can assist you to oxygenate your blood. Green vegetables also have high minerals such as iron, calcium and magnesium, which are all important for health. Green juices also have the least impact on your blood sugar so you will not experience sudden blood sugar spikes that can drain your energy.

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