Staying Slim - My way

I have been marinating 60 - 62 kgs with a waist of 30-31 inches for atleast 10 years. I used to be lower before that. Big deal, yes I can easily put on 2-3 kgs in 2 weeks if I eat out of control or stop physical activity. I can come back to normal in a matter 4 -5 weeks. I have not tested my limits beyond that. I am afraid to risk. I start seeing the sagging waistline that it is time to get back to normalcy. BTW I love eating; I eat when I am bored.

Strategy I follow to stay thin is combination of consciousness, exercise and diet

1. 20-30 mins of exercise 6 days a week. Includes stretching, skipping, a combination aerobics I picked up from TV, sit-ups. I should feel my body has put in effort at burning calories.

2. Being conscious of calories. Identify foods which are of high calorific value, eating those will itself make me feel guilty when I overdo things. I eat what I like the most and keep away from others.
I Love chocolates, and 365 days you can find it in my fridge. I have eaten chocolates for breakfast, lunch and dinner when in Switzerland. Can’t imagine doing it now. But I have small pieces every time I feel like. Eat fried foods, sweets and ice creams (my mouth water at the thought of Hot chocolate fudge and death by chocolate in Corner house) occasionally varying from once a week to once a month.

3. Eat often; I don’t give myself a chance to be very hungry. This helps me avoid heavy meals. So I fix my eating time 8 AM, 12:30 PM, 5 PM and 9 PM.

4. Picked up eating Ragi muddae (balls) for last 4 year. This has helped cut down on rice for dinner.

5. Indulge less often may be once a month.

6. NEVER use lifts, always use stairs even if it 10 floors.

7. Try to walk if the distances are small.

8. Doing small things at home which involves getting up from sofa or bed as often.

9. Read material and identify what will work for me.

10. Helps to have parents who are on thinner side.

I find it a challenge to control my waistline during Dasara, Deepavali season and in March, April when there birthday treats and Ugadi.

Bottom line is to be conscious that I have to stay thin and discipline oneself.

Next I am wondering how to build a little muscle without going to Gym. ;-)

Trip to Himavad Gopalaswami temple

This temple is about 15 kms from Bandipura forest. The uniqueness of this temple is that there will be water droplets falling on the idol around the year, due to condensation. I remember seeing that when I had been there 7-8 yrs back.
Starved of entertainment we were dancing in the bus, suddenly at the check post somebody suggested that we climb to roof. Yo the driver agreed, not many drivers take this risk. It was the first time I got onto the top of bus and it was fun when it was moving. The sights while climbing the hills where magnificent. The boys who were with me stated smoking, decided I tried fagging after many many years. I still don't like it, but took a photo of me smoking. Avoiding branches was fun at time
dangerous. My nose almost got torn off, luckily escaped with a bruise. The cool breeze in December made it even more wonderful. The climb was for about 11 kms.

When we reached the top of the hill what struck me was the smallness of the temple and beautiful backdrop. When we entered the temple, it floor was so cold it felt like I was walking on ice for a few seconds. I din’t get a glimpse of the idol this
time. By the time I went back too many people were there and statue was covered with screen. I surprised see 2 nuns visiting the temple.

We decided to trek to the next peak which was about a kms. All of us started. Almost of all of us reached and majority were exhaused. Now that I had tasted the pleasure of trekking after quite a few years, I decided to go to another peak which looked like it was the highest around. That was about 3-4 kms. It was almost close to 12 PM. We had come back for lunch and I was already hungry. I was determined to go for it. Few boys and girls wanted to join me, all first timers. I simply ran down the hill and I go lost in tall grass about 6-7 feet high. We managed to get of it and find a path. We could hear elephant trumpet from the valley below. We were all the more excited now. I just climbed with even looking for others. I was wearing
Brazilian football shirt. I quickly moved. One of the girls later described it as yellow flag which was drifting further away when ever they looked. As I got closer to the peak I started climbing faster and I realized that I was running out of breath. Guess climbing couple of Kms was not as easy as climbing the stairs on office. Paused took some deep breaths and continued and reached the top. There is a nice rock on the peak. It looked like an 7 feet erection. Sat on it relishing
sights and the cool breeze. Slowly after 10 min Prasanna the hyper active guy in the group with 2 girls Pallavi and Surabhi came up to the peak. They were all so excited. We were joined by another girl Veda. The girls were even more excited because there were 3 girls and 2 males. Not bad I thought. After seeing the girls reach the top 4 more guys decided to turn back and climb up. Finally the guys with cameras reached, fell exhausted. Surprisingly I hardly sweated in spite of climbing in afternoon under clear blue skies.Must be a combination of cool December breeze and the T-Shirt. Took lots of photos and started back.

We went back to the temple refreshed in ice cool bore well water in front of the temple.

Climbed on to the bus top. Initially while going back I was scared a bit looking down the valley, don’t know why, I am normally
thrilled. Got used to it and made ot back lying down in sun. Next 2 days skin on my face started peeling off.

Can Bandipur be popular with tourists?

I had been to Bandipura last weekend. I was excited about going to Bandipur after pretty long time. We landed in MC resorts late in the evening.
It was pretty basic with some cottages. It clean and freshly painted felt comfortable. Guess it was OK for the price they charged about Rs 700 for a double bed room.
The resort provided food which was not bad being far away from Mysuru or Bengalooru. We had asked for camp fire and music. Camp fire was ok with a basic portable player.
We were told that we will be going on a Safari for 1 1/2 hrs whereas govt rides was only for 45 mins. Wow I thought hoping to catch a glimpse of a tiger (Even though I knew that was unlikely in this season) and an elephant herd.
We started at 6:30 AM. We saw a peacock this raised my hopes and couple of deer and then it was nothing for another half hour. We managed to see a Indian Gaur herd. That was it. Finally after roaming for 1 15 mins we saw lots of deer and few more peacock. Well I almost fell asleep in between. What the hell I find sleeping so difficult these days and I almost dozed off, wildlife and nature interests me. It was good to drive in forest but for how long?

The point is in this season you don’t see animals. How would tourists spent time? Of course there is Himavath Goplaswami temple close by. A visit would take about 2-3 hours. Then what? The place can keep you occupied for 1 day max. If tourists are to come they need to be entertained. I saw 3 other resorts. Jungle lodges, Nilgiris resorts and Govt. guest house. All of them are similar providing a place to sleep and sit. How long can anybody sit after going on a safari during dawn and dusk? Sleep I guess. These private resorts which are outside forest reserve can have some facilities like other resorts to keep guest engaged. More people coming and spending more time means more bucks.
Trekking is a good option but no sign of it being encouraged anywhere.
I also see good business opportunity.

Or have I got it all wrong. Is it intentionally restricted? or are there better places which I am not aware of?

What’s wrong with Arsenal?

I got seduced by Henry and company about 3 years back and became a fan of Arsenal FC. The smooth flowing passing game with deadly acceleration towards the box and the orgasmic finish wowed me. Have been following these guys since then. The unbeaten run of 49 matches to retain premier league was great. Last season was a dampner and this only wrong way.
What’s gone wrong, losing to Fulham, West ham, CSKA, etc Bolton W have always been a pain. Well have not read what experts have to say. Here is my take. Lack of experience, earlier team was built around Henry, Viera, Bergkamp, Gilberto, Campbell/Cole (last 2 doubtful?). I was astonished when Viera and Cole were let go last season. Replaced by youngsters like Van Persie, Fabergas, Sendros (why hasn't he come back?), etc. These guys are extremely good. I have watched only 3-4 games this season one against ManU, liverpool, West Ham and Hotspurs. This team is pretty good but they lack the killer touch. They seem to lack confidence and arrogance of earlier team. The ability pierce open defense easily seems to have gone. Chelsea I find it does it most easily. They seem to lack the physical edge. Passion seems to have gone down (wonder if this is to do with lack of English players). Wenger almost never points to mistake of his team in public. Nice fella I guess.

Commentators mentioned that Wenger is building this team with future in mind. They would be a great team in 2-3 years. Hopefully it would, I was convinced in the match against Hotspurs. The board and fans must be pretty patient compare this Indian cricket team coach Chappel's attempt to build a team of future with youngsters.

I hope Arsenal will bounce back soon. There still hope in Champions league and FA cup (Liverpool is next). I miss their beautiful game. Will wait for it.

Oh, I miss Malleshwaram

This blog was done at 2:45 AM. I am hit by bloody insomnia these days. Daughter woke up to answer nature call at 1:30 AM. I am watching champions league match between Barcelona vs W Bremen. With Barca leading 2-0 early, Ronaldino & co look pretty comfortable and it boring for me. So decided to blog.

Being born and living in Malleshwaram/Seshadripuram for 34 years the decision to move to Sanjaynagar after buying house there I thought would be difficult. But surprisingly it was easier than I thought. Even my mother who lived in Malleshwaram for 40+ years adjusted surprisingly well. Sometimes I wonder why. The push factor was high than the pull factor. Listing out why we moved.
1. After the birth of my twins the 2 BHK house we lived became too small and the size of the rooms were pretty small.
2. Traffic and pollution on South End road became unbearable. It was risk for children who have started walking. With vehicle starting to move on footpath we decided to scoot.
3. Wanted to move to an independent house. Well we shared the building with aunties and cousins.
4. The heat in the summers. The house had large windows facing west which meant the house became an Owen in summers.

The area where we moved in to is Sanjaynagar, AECS layout. It has access from in one direction only, which meant very few vehicles on road away from pollution and relatively safe for kids. It also means they may not be traffic savvy. The house we moved is very cool, almost cold in winter. Well it is like old Bangalore.
This meant adjusting was easy.

I start missing Malleshwaram /Seshadripuram when I pass through the area, I feel like very uncomfortable and there is a knot in my stomach. So though I will try to put down what I miss, not necessarily in the order.
1. Watching people standing in the balcony, we could do it from 5 AM to 10:30 PM.
2. The number of banks and ATM which we close. I had account in 3 banks within 1/2 kms. Citbank had 4 ATMs within a radius of 1 kms from home.
3. The CTR hotel on 7t cross and Margosa road junction with it is delicious crispy bennae masales (the best masalae dosae you get). Only place where I could eat 2 of them.
4. Dil pasand and bennae biscuit from Brahmin's bakery on Link road, opposite to that the varieties of chow chows from misae angadi.
5. Good old Shetty angadis. I learnt shopping from there. Knew them well.
6. The Reddy petrol bunk at Nehru circle Seshadripuram, where we could be assured that we will not be cheated. i still go there for petrol sometimes.
7. The video tape to VCD conversion (this is a pretty new addiction)
8. Chandru who used to wash my car every day.
9. The hallimane and new krishna Bhavan.
10. Ganesh medicals with its friendly owner Ramesh.
11. The route South End Road, link Road, sehsdripuram which I have been taking from II standard till the day we left the place.
12. Off course, how easy it was to go to Sridhar's house in (kumara park) to meet my friends. Now it seems a looong drive.
13. Any part of Bangalore was about 15-20 Kms. Autos rarely refused any destination. Bus stop was 100 feet (though I never used it).
14. It shops of all sizes and you get almost any you wanted.


Well I guess I will get used to Sanjaynagar pretty soon. But somethings I have to live without. I hope to go back to old place after re-building. May be not, I can’t imagine myself staying in a flat.