The most unique dish I have experienced -MasterChef India 2 Contest

In any functions held in South India, the menu for the feast will be incomplete without 'Payasams'. If we attend the marriage ceremonies in Kerala, not one or two but several varieties of Payasams will be served.
What is Payasam?


Payasam (Sanskrit: क्षीर/Ksheer)(Hindi: खीर, Punjabi: ਖੀਰ, Khiri (ଖିରି) in Oriya, Urdu: کھیر/kheer) also known as Payasam (Tamil: பாயசம்) or Payesh (Bengali) (Malayalam: പായസം) (Kannada:ಪಾಯಸ) (Telugu:పాయసం) is a rice pudding, which is a traditional South Asian sweet dish. It is made by boiling rice or broken wheat with milk and sugar, and flavored with cardamom,raisins, saffron, cashewnuts, pistachios or almonds. It is typically served during a meal or also consumed alone as a dessert.
(Source:http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Kheer)
By now you must have  guessed what my favourite dish is.:-)


My favourite  and Unique Dish:

Last year on a Saturday evening, I  went to dine out with my family. After discussing various options, we decided to go to the Rasam Restuarant , a venture of the famous KrishnaSweets in Purasawalkam,Chennai. It is located in Raja Annamalai Rd, Purasawalkam , Chennai near Dharmaprakash Kalyana Mandapam.

Rasam Restuarant in Purasawalkam

In the Ground floor Krishna Sweets is functioning and Rasam Restuarnat is in the first floor. On entering the first floor, you will be surprised to see the serene environment of an Old Bungalow of yester years decorated with beautiful pictures.

                                              Thali Meals

This restaurant is famous for  the delicacies of Kongunadu like Murungai keerai Rasam(Drumstick soup), Nellikkai Rasam(Goosberry Soup) Vazhapoo vadai(Vada made of Bannana Flower),Kuzhi Paniyaram,Idiyappam, Vegetable briyani,  Paruthi Pal Halwa,Ilaneer(Tender Cocunut) payasam etc. They serve only thali meals for lunch. There are two options – a regular and a special. The regular thali has fewer items than the special but its quantity is far more ideal. Though the items are priced on the higher side, the taste of all the items are very good  and the items are made with less oil.  

We ordered for Murungai keerai rasam,Vazhapoo vadai, Kuzhi Paniyarams(both sweet and hot),Vegetable Briyani, and Ilaneer Payasam. It was the first time I tasted Ilaneer Payasam which was a Unique food item at that time. The taste was very good and later on  whenever I visited the Restaurant with my family, we never forget to order for this dish. I organised a get together of (about twenty persons)my college alumini friends (Loyola College, 1970 batch), in the restaurant and after tasting all the items my friends had a special word of  appreciation for Ilaneer Payasam.   

Now a days in most of the marriage receptions, this delicate item is included without fail. 

How to prepare Ilaneer Payasam?

Ilaneer Payasam

Ingredients:

Tender coconut kernels - 2 cups
Tender coconut water - 1 cup
Sweetened condensed milk - ½ a can
Milk - ½ cup
Thick coconut milk - 1 cup
Ground green cardamom - ¼ tsp.
Cashew nuts - 5 (whole)
Raisins - 8
Ghee - 1 tsp.

Method:
In a bowl mix tender coconut water, condensed milk, milk, coconut milk and ground cardamom.
Cut the tender coconut kernels into bite sizes and add to the liquid.
Fry the cashews and raisins and add to the kheer.
Enjoy and it’s good to eat it immediately.

(Source:  http://www.nandinisfood.com/2010/04/elaneer-payasamtender-coconut-kheer.html)

(Courtesy...Google Images for the pictures in this post.)

Enjoy tasting my favorite dish Ilaneer Payasam

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Taking care of hair

(Note: I have compiled the information in this post to participate in a contest . At the time of submitting the post, I noticed that the contest was already closed. Even if I had participated in the contest, the chances for me to win is very remote that many participants have already submitted wonderful postings (poems,pictures,write ups etc). However , I wish the share the information gathered by me with the readers.)


Hair care is very important because it is the crown of the human body. I give below the information of hair care gathered from other sites and also my own experience about Dandruff care.


Basic Information about Hair:

In general, there are five different types of hair that will determine what hairstyles you can choose and consequently, your beauty.


Fine Hair

About 15% of all women have fine hair. Fine hair has a diameter of 50 microns. Fine hair reflects light the best. When it is healthy, fine hair will often have a natural shine. Blondes have fine hair most often, since blonde hair is the thinnest.

Fine hair is: soft, shine, limp, flyaway, lifeless and flat.

Fine hair is much easier to damage than medium or coarse hair. The biggest problem with fine hair is to gain volume and get hair to hold a style.

To gain volume color and heat style your hair and it will hold a style easier. Use volumizing products and styling gels and mousses. Use a gentle shampoo.

It is also important to use a lightweight conditioner! Put conditioners onto the lengths and ends of your hair rather than the roots.

A short blunt cut will create the illusion of more hair. Avoid layers and long hair.

The general rule for fine hair is that the shorter it is, the lighter it is and therefore the less limp and flat it is.

Streaks are a good idea for fine hair, because they add volume to the hair.


Medium Hair Type

Most people have medium hair. Medium hair is not too thick, not too thin, and has a diameter between 60-90 microns.

Medium hair has lots of body and usually holds either a blow-dry shape or any type of hairstyle very well. It has the most styling flexibility of the three hair types.

Medium hair is:

• Softer than coarse hair.

• More voluminous than fine hair.

• More manageable than fine hair.

• Medium hair is regularly considered as normal hair.


Coarse Hair Type

Coarse hair has a diameter of 100 microns and above.

Coarse hair is:

• Rough

• Wiry

• Heavy

• Wild

• Strong

Coarse hair is often dry. Coarse hair needs conditioning to keep it under control.

Wear it long so the weight of the hair drags it down. Get a layered cut. Stay away from a blunt cut.


Thick and Thin Hair Type

Whether your hair is thin or thick depends on the number of hairs on your head not on the thickness of each hair strand.

The average head has between 100,000 and 150,000 hairs, and normal daily fall-out is 50-100 hairs.

People with thick hair have about 150,000 strands on their heads.

People with thin hair have about 90,000 strands on their heads.

Thick hair will look too bushy if cut into a short style. Layer thick your hair since layering adds mobility.

If you hair is thin, short haircuts look best. Adding highlights and low lights give the illusion of thickness.

Read more: http://www.hair-styles-secrets-revealed.com/hair%20type.htm#ixzz1dZFttt8I


How to take care of hair?


Good hair care contains simple steps like brushing and combing, shampooing and drying, treating baldness, hair conditioning, dandruff, hair dyes, split ends and hair loss treatment and some other methods. We can start hair care from home. With right care and interest you can bring back its vitality and glossy shine.

. Keep your head clean. Don't neglect the hygiene of head.

• Brush your hair before shampooing to eliminate the tangles.
• Brushing is less damaging than combing but a long brushing can also damage the hair.
• Back combing is also harmful for the hair. It causes knotting which is not easy to untangle. 
• Always use a good comb if you feel more comfortable in combing. A good comb can be categorized as a comb which have rounded and soft teeth.
• Nylon brushes with pointed ends also break the hair. 
• If you are suffering from the Dandruff-the most common problem, immediately get rid of it by applying good and suitable hair oils.

• Use good shampoos and conditions for healthy looking hairs. Nutritious shampoos are the best choice because hairlessness is caused due to insufficient nutrition.

Source:http://forumhealthcare.org/what-s-the-importance-of-hair-care-t28002.html

Dandruff control for hair care :


Dandruff is the worst enemy of hair care. If sufficient precautions are taken we can avoid dandruff problem. 

Causes


Dandruff is thought to be caused by a fungus called malassezia, a fat-eating fungus, which lives on the scalp of most healthy adults. While it does not cause problems for most people, malassezia can sometimes grow out of control and begin feeding on the oil on your scalp. The result is increased cell turnover and a large number of dead skin cells. These cells, combined with dirt and oil from your hair and scalp, form flaky white scales.

Symptoms

The common symptoms of dandruff include itching and white, oily flakes. That said, there are several conditions, including psoriasis, dry skin, seborrheic dermatitis, or contact dermatitis, which present similar symptoms. Before beginning treatment for dandruff, it is important to consult your dermatologist to make sure you're treating the right condition.

Treatment
While controllable, dandruff can be persistent and requires consistent treatment. There are several types of over-the-counter shampoos available for treating dandruff. If you try one and it doesn't have the desired effect, move on to the next. Following are four common types of dandruff shampoos:

·         Zinc pyrithione shampoos, such as  Head & Shoulders, contain an antibacterial and antifungal agent (zinc pyrithione) which has been shown to fight the fungus that causes dandruff.

·         Selenium sulfide shampoos, such as Selsun Blue, can prevent cell turnover and may help control the malassezia fungus. These types of shampoos may discolor blond or gray hair and can cause significant discoloration in chemically treated hair, so follow the directions carefully and rinse well.

·         Ketoconazole shampoo, like Nizoral, contains a broad antifungal agent.

·         Tar-based shampoos, such as Neutrogena T/Gel, contain coal tar, which slows cell turnover and reduces the formation of dandruff's scaly flakes.

Use of these shampoos above is recommended daily until dandruff is controlled. Once the dandruff is under control, use dandruff shampoo two or three times a week, alternating with a good moisturizing shampoo. If the dandruff shampoo loses its effectiveness, switch to another type of shampoo or try alternating between types. Be sure to follow directions carefully. Should over the counter treatments fail, see your dermatologist. Stronger treatments are available by prescription.

In addition to using the proper shampoo, other steps can be taken to control dandruff, including: eating right, exfoliating the scalp with a facial scrub , managing stress, and reducing the amount of styling products used. Consistently following a dandruff control routine should keep your hair and scalp looking healthy and flake free.


Source:http://menshair.about.com/od/scalpcaretips/a/dandruff.htm


My own experience of dandruff control:


I used to have a lot of dandruff which used to cause a lot of irritation ion the hair. After seeing an advertisement of Aswini Hair Oil, I started using it and after some days I had great relief from dandruff problem. 

I also take the following precautions to avoid dandruff:

• Always using a clean comb. Never use a comb used by others.
• Don't us the pillows used by others since we can easily get the dandruff through it.

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How to Simplify Your Life?

Let's face it, life has become way too complicated. Between spending huge parts of our time at work, paying our taxes, making sure everything in the house is in order, fixing our cars, making sure our kids are ok, working for their future and dealing with the ever increasing demands of technology from us, sometimes we just feel like screaming: "Enough! Leave me alone!".  But life doesn't uncomplicate itself, we have to do that, and so, with the goal in mind of having a simpler life, you can have it without moving to some remote countryside and milking cows.Here's how:

1. Get up 20 minutes earlier: If you find your morning tight on time, try to go to bed a littler earlier and get up 20-30 minutes before your usual time. You'll be surprised how this little addition of time can start your whole day better. 2. Be 10 minutes early for meetings: It's hard to be late when you're planning to get there early, and it'll some of the pressure off. You'll also have time to smooth out your thoughts and think about what you'd like to say. 3. One thing at a time: Don't be fooled by those around you who brag they can do it all. Everyone has a problem concentrating on several tasks at once, or even pay attention to one while you're thinking of another one. Try to put your entire focus on the most urgent issue. Finish it and then move on to the next. You'll be surprised how much faster and more efficient you are at problem solving when you're solving one problem at a time. 4. Ask yourselves some questions: Stop yourselves from time to time and ask: "Am I making things more complicated?" and "how can I simplify the problem?". Sometimes we miss simple solutions because we don't stop to look around us. 5. Ask yourselves: "Will this still matter in five years?", most of the time, it won't even matter in 5 months or 5 weeks. If you find yourselves facing a mountain, maybe check it's not a mole hill. 6. Write down everything: There is no memory that doesn't 'leak' from time to time. The few minutes you spend writing things down will be worth having those things out of your head and memory, resulting in less pressure. 7.Remember that there is something greater than yourselves: We don't know everything, nor are we always right. There are always going to be causes bigger than ourselves. 8. Enjoy the simple things: Sometimes we need to stop, shut our eyes tightly, and then open them again and truly FEEL the moment we're in, the way it looks, the way it sounds, feels, smells and tastes. This is the meaning of living in the moment, and enjoying things that are so basic we hardly really pay them attention anymore. 9. Drink a glass of water: Water is the essence of life, and sometimes we might be better off drinking than binging on junk food that will just increase our anxious feelings. 10. Kindness is a blessing returned: Be kind to others. One day you may be old, sick and in need of kindness yourselves, knowing that you were kind to others and that they want what's best for you is a load off, and will reduce the fear you feel about the future. 11. Simplify your life by simplifying your home: A cluttered house is a cluttered mind, some say. Try and keep a place for everything in your house, keep it clean and tidy. It may seem unrelated, but a clean house makes us feel good about ourselves and helps us concentrate on what's important. 12. Stop and find the roses: Instead of speeding from thing to thing, try taking some extra time with certain tasks, relationships, work and personal projects. That extra time will give you confidence and help you discover things you may miss when you're rushing about. 13. Spend some time with simpler folk: Spending time with those that lead a simple life will help you simplify your own. Their slower pace and calm will leak into your own life, and you'll learn some of their tricks for simpler living.  14. Ask advice from those who have been there: When you encounter a problem, remember that most of them are not new, they have been challenging others as well. Turn to those who have been there, and ask for their advice. Sometimes it takes a village to get through life. 15. Forget about perfection: Don't try to do everything perfectly, you'll probably not succeed. Let go of the illusion of perfection and focus on what you have that is good and true. 16. Take a breath of fresh air a few times a day: Like a smoker on smoke breaks, take breaks to go out and get some fresh air. You'll be surprised how quickly those anxious thoughts can die down while you take a minute to disconnect from anxiety and reconnect with the world around you. 17. Take 30 minutes on the weekend to plan your week:Weekends are a great time to relax and take a little time to plan out what  you are going to do this week. Make a list, it'll help you remember and you'll feel more calm dealing with the coming week's challenges. 18. Ask people around you more questions: Sometimes, the things that make us anxious could be solved with a simple question. Don't be afraid to get answers you may not want to hear - in the long run, it'll help to know. 19. Take some time to be lazy: If you can simplify your lives a bit, you may find out you have some spare time. Take some of it to relax, you deserve a little laziness. 20. Remember life is longer than you think: You may change your mind a couple of times throughout, you may grow as a person and want different things, love different people. Accept this fact and you'll see how things so bothering you as much.

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Organizing your Life-First things first

We all have many things on our list to do and there doesn't seem to be enough time and energy to get it all done. Prioritizing is a way to solve this frustrating problem.

Prioritizing is about making choices. Here are ideas to help you prioritize.

1. To prioritize effectively, you need to be able to recognize what is important.

The important (high priority) tasks are based on what you value and those that help you achieve your goals and provide meaningful and rewarding long-term results. As you perform different tasks, think about where they fit on your priority list.

2. Making a list of all the tasks that need to be done is a good way to begin prioritizing.

Prioritize the items on the list by using the ABC method to rank your priorities. For example, Priority A: Must Do (crucial tasks and commitments to do today), Priority B: Should Do (important things that do not need to be done today), and Priority C: Nice to Do (least urgent tasks).

3. Do not think of your priorities as just jobs that need to be done.

As you remind yourself to direct yourself to the most important tasks first, you will find yourself letting go of tasks that really didn't need to be done at that time. For example, what's more important? Helping your child with homework or getting a load of laundry done?

4. Also take note of the difference between tasks that you NEED to do and those that you WANT to do. Deciding the order in which you prioritize tasks means you start with the needs first and move to the wants afterwards.

5. It has been said before, but learning to say 'no' is important.

Try focusing on the important things that will get done because you used that little word to decline a task that was not a part of your priorities. What are some of the things you should say 'no' to?

6. Interruptions are a normal part of life.

If you deal with a lot of interruptions in your life, this can put a damper on your priorities. Learn to limit the number of interruptions in your life.

7. Delegating tasks to someone else is a way to free up some of your time for the jobs that are important for you.

It may be tempting to take over if the work is not being done quite to your liking. However, you have to learn that done doesn't have to be perfect. Good enough is often just fine--like allowing your child to fold the laundry, even if it's not perfect.

8. Work on overcoming procrastination.

Procrastination can waste a lot of valuable time that could have been used for working on your priorities. When you catch yourself procrastinating, be sure to make the effort to take that first step toward completing the task at hand. Taking that first step will help get the ball rolling toward completion.

9. When you prioritize unplanned activities, keep in mind your goals and rely on your instincts.

Your effectiveness in prioritizing in these situations depends on the clarity of your goals.

10. When prioritizing, you need to be able to separate the tasks that need doing from the busy work that tends to eat away at your time. Many tasks that fill up your day may not need doing at all or could be done less frequently. Determine what that busy work is in your career and your life.

11. Priorities change as life changes. Revisit and update your priorities on a regular basis.

12. Keep in mind that everything in your life cannot be a priority.

There are many important things that will compete for attention over your lifetime and that there are not enough hours in that lifetime to give attention to everything that is good and worthwhile. You have to be selective.

13. Develop systems to help keep things running smoothly.

Many times that can be accomplished by using a personal calendar. In family settings, a master calendar is helpful.

14. Keep the option of 'buying time' in mind. If you have an extremely hectic schedule, it may be reasonable to buy time by selecting goods and services that save you from investing time. For example, paying a neighbor to mow your lawn is one way of buying time. What are other ways you can buy some time?

15. Use technology to help you prioritize tasks.

Sometimes an important task can be done more quickly with the use of technology. Instead of meeting an appointment in person, can you do it through a conference call or by e-mail?

16. When prioritizing, make sure to include deadlines for each task.

It will make tasks easier to prioritize and give you more focus.

17. Last, but certainly not least, you also need to be one of the priorities you set for yourself. It is important to take care of you and make time for yourself.

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20 Tips for fast weight loss

Fast weight loss is the ultimate dream. Everybody wishes to wake up to a slimmer self without much effort. It's one wish that remains in our minds all the time.

But if you have tried and failed at fast weight loss, then now is a good time to give it a try again. In order to lose weight quickly, most folks try crash diets or extensive workouts. But for some surprisingly odd reason, your fast weight loss planning did not work out for you. So we give you 20 tips for fast weight loss that'll clear the air for you, while helping you decide what your personal weight loss journey should be about. For starters, it should be about getting fitter, and not 'slimmer'. Let's begin... 

#1 Weight loss wish

Decide how much weight you need to lose - Most people start their weight loss journey by claiming to be xyz kilos overweight. This isn't a healthy way to project or aim for weight loss. Calculate your desired weight against your height by using reliable methods like the BMI, and set a healthy weight loss target. This is often half the battle won.

#2 Reduce the calories

One gram of fat contains twice the calories of a gram of protein or carbohydrate. Avoid fatty foods, subtract the fats from your meat too. Include a lot of vegetables (full of fiber) and fruits in your diet. For fast weight loss, replace the oily paratha breakfast with a bowl of whole grain cereal or some lean protein and vegetables.

#3 Drink more water

Doctors recommend that one must drink at least 6 to 8 glasses of water in a day. Drinking more water helps the stomach feel fuller and reduces cravings considerably.

Take one glass of water before every meal, it is a good way to keep you from overeating.Substitute all your sodas, fruit juice, teas, coffee, and beer for a glass of water and you could lose weight fast.

#4 Time management 

This is quite often overlooked in weight loss programs. Decide which part of your day will be dedicated to exercise, when in the week you will stock up on groceries, and when you will do the cooking - all within your current work and home life routine. If you don't do this now, your days will be rushed and unplanned, and you won't be able to sustain your weight loss efforts.

Arnav Sarkar, our fitness coach unveils the biggest mistake we make to achieve fast weight loss: We believe spending hours in the gym will aid in fast weight loss, but the truth is, quality matters over time. Arnav says, "When it comes to training, you don't need to do 20 exercises in each workout, and neither do you need to spend 45 minutes on the treadmill." This sounds similar to what you want to believe.

#5 Stock your kitchen

Keep your house well-stocked with fruits, vegetables, healthy meats, grains, cereals, spices, and flavourers. Follow our tricks to healthy cooking, cooking vegetables for the week, and low-fat cooking posts to understand how best you can stock your kitchen with healthy and delicious ingredients.These will help you avoid binging and aid in fast weight loss.

People whose diets are dominant in fruits & veggies tend to lose weight faster and maintain their weights much longer.

#6 Watch portions 

Instead of binging on the biggest piece of cake, choose the smallest slice or simply share it with someone. After all being guilt-free is half the weight loss battle won.

Chew everything you eat at least 8-12 times. Eat slowly. Your body doesn't realize that you've had enough to eat until several minutes after you've had it.

#7 Stick to home-cooked meals 

Whether it's you who's cooking, a family member, or house help, ensure that every one practises healthy cooking methods, and ingredients. Ask any person who's lost weight the healthy way, and you will always hear about how healthy homecooked meals were a big reason behind it. Use less oil, low salt, fresh produce, and you'll start seeing results in no time.

This habit not only helps in fast weight loss but it makes you healthy and fit from within.

#8 Break the fast

After sleeping for 6 to 8 hours at night, your glucose level or blood sugar level is low. After you miss your breakfast, you let the body go into a hibernation-like state, which leads to no or minimum calorie burn.

Advice backed by scientific evidence: Through several studies it is suggested that more than 95% of overweight individuals, tend to skip breakfast - making it a common habit amongst those who are unable to manage their weight well.

Breakfast and weight loss: Each morning, your body needs to rev up its metabolic rate and breakfast does exactly that. It keeps your hormone levels stable and helps regulate your blood sugar level, burning more calories.

Stop unhealthy cravings: Are you a big snacker? Eating breakfast will help you curb your snack attacks a lot better. One of the biggest advantages of eating breakfast is that it helps stabilise your hormones and keeps potential overeating and bingeing at bay.

#9 Cut the salt 

Eating more than the recommended 2500mg (1 tablespoon) of sodium each day will cause you to retain water and weight gain. Sodium holds up to 50 times its weight in water. When you limit the amount of sodium you eat your body will begin to expel some that unwanted water weight.

The urge to drink water is a good indicator that your sodium intake is too high. As your sodium levels get high your body ask for more water to dilute the sodium by making you thirsty.

A lot of bars offer salty snacks such as peanuts and chips for free, after customers get thirsty they will order drinks to quench their thirst. So watch out for salty snacks!!

#10 Start a cardio + weights workout

A healthy weight loss programme is incomplete without a good exercise routine, and weight training mixed with cardio is the best way to lose weight. Of course, variations and forms exist, but any workout that stresses on muscle tone and increased heart rate will always help you lose weight and keep it off. You can either start a home workout today, or rely on gyms for fitness training.

You'll get a much greater after burn effect from lifting heavier weights because of the high intensity and your body's metabolism will burn more fat to help your body recover from your heavy weight training workout.

Japanese researchers recently found that lifting weights first helps you release more growth hormone which in turn helps your body release more fat to be burned for energy while doing cardio or intervals.

#11 Opt for a hobby

It isn't sufficient to rely on just 30 to 60 minutes of physical activity per day. Moving from bed to office chair, and back to bed, isn't a healthy way to live. Buy a motion sensor gaming console that lets you enjoy social games with friends and family, plan weekend trips, clean your house once a week, dance, play sports, the list is endless. Get out of the coffee shop and dining table rut, and you'll have fun along with the healthy weight loss.

#12 Combat stress

Stress is always detrimental to healthy weight loss in the long run. Find ways to combat stress and you'll soon realise that your diet and exercise aren't sabotaged anymore, and that you truly do see results. Look at yoga, meditation, deep breathing exercises, or simple hobbies like reading to fight stress.

#13 Opt for healthy vacations

Why go all the way with healthy weight loss, when one tiny vacation will just come along and topple it all? Healthy vacations aren't impossible. Take a look at how you can eat smart on a holiday, and then at bodyweight workouts that you can carry with you wherever you go, to understand how to holiday right. Above all, remember that these are lifelong habits that'll help you stay fit forever and not short term weight loss quickfixes.

#14 Walk after every 4 hours

According to researchers at Missouri University, as quoted by nowloss.com, "sitting down or being virtually inactive for longer than 4 hours slows down your metabolism making it easier for you to store fat so to prevent this from happening try standing up for at least 10 minutes within every 4 hours."

#15 

Chew food properly

Various studies have revealed that slow eaters munch through nearly 70% less calories per meal. This is because eating and chewing food properly gives ample time to the body for appetite-related hormones to activate. Secret tip- Slow down your eating by putting the knife and fork down before taking the next bite. Evidence shows that this way you'll end up eating less.

Keep snacks out of sight

Out of sight is out of mind - and it is a highly recommended practice when it comes to food. Stock up on healthy snacks instead, and ensure that any energy packet of chips or other unhealthy snacks are stored in places that you don't see every few minutes.

More can be merrier

It is seriously okay to have several snacks or small meals during the day, if you are eating healthy. Keeping hunger at bay prevents mindless cravings to binge on food at the very sight of it. Opt for yogurt, fruit or fresh homemade snacks. This may sound old school, but it works brilliantly!

#16 Avoid eating straight from food containers

Never. Yes, never eat straight from a multi-serve packet or container. The basic or natural tendency to keep reaching for the food is given a huge blow if you serve yourself from a small bowl or cup. We suggest you pour out the amount you intend to eat, and give it a stop when it's over. Try and fight against the subliminal message of 'no one can eat just one'.

#17 Be on the move

Be active. Get going, whenever you can. Don't let your job chain you to your desk all day. Get up, go for short walks, get some fresh air every two hours or so. It will improve your circulation and avoid the flab from piling up. Also try to walk small distances like to the grocery store, to the station, to the bus stop etc.

#18 Avoid sodas

Even Diet sodas! Since regular soda is basically a weight gainer drink and since water is a 0 calorie weight loss drink - You would lose 1 pound every week if you replaced 2 bottles of soda with 2 bottles of water so go here to see how to stop drinking soda.

#19 Strike a balance

Remember: When planning for weight loss, It pays to be patient. You are not going to lose weight overnight. So don't be discouraged and don't punish your body if you don't see instant results. Starving yourself or putting in overtime at the gym is never the answer. It will only lead to exhaustion, fatigue and will eventually lower your immunity. In fact, you will benefit a lot if you take breaks in between your routine workouts. And occasionally, treating yourself to a piece of chocolate or a slice of pizza will not do any harm to your weight loss plans.

#20 Sleep well

Sleep well and sleep right. Your body needs to recover and regenerate itself after a long working day. You need to give it enough time for that. Seven-eight hours of sleep every night is essential. Sleeping lesser or more could lead to accumulation of fat. So make sure you get enough rest.

Courtesy:Sobiya N. Moghul

Read more Personal Health, Diet & Fitness stories on www.healthmeup.com

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