Week-end trip to Hardwar & Rishikesh

We decided to take advantage of the long weekend due to Shivratri and drove down to Devbhumi-Hardwar & Rishikesh.

It was simply awesome staying in one of the best properties available in Hardwar 'Haveli Hari Ganga'....we simply enjoyed the spiritual glow of the ganges which was at it's magnificent best.

On Saturday we drove to Rishikesh and a little further to get a feel of mountains.

The main highlight was some sumptuous shudh ghee food,bathing in the Ganges and the Har ki Pauri Aarti.

Valentines

It was one of the best Valentines we celebrated together.The day started with exchange of gifts and in the evening we went out for dinner.

We decided to go to our favourite restaurant in Gurgaon 'The Cafe'.....to our surprise we found the place totally decked up for the day with candle lights in each table,live bands and wonderful dance floor.

Thus,we ate chinese,dranked a bit and danced a lot till 1 AM.

The highlight of the evening was watching an old couple full of life who were totally in love and first one to start dancing and stole the show completely.

A true example of 'Togetherinlife'

I lost 4 Kilos

It all happened through a diet program called GM Diet

General Motors: Weight Loss Diet Program

The following diet and health program was developed for employees and dependents of General Motors, Inc. and is intended for their exclusive use. This program was developed in conjunction with a grant from U.S. Department of Agriculture and the Food and Drug Administration. It was field tested at the Johns Hopkins Research Centre and was approved for distribution by the Board of Directors, General Motors Corp. at a general meeting on August 15, 1985. General Motors Corp. wholly endorses this program and is making it available to all employees and families. This program will be available at all General Motors Food Service Facilities. It is management's intention to facilitate a wellness and fitness program for everyone.

This program is designed for a target weight loss of 10-17 lbs per week. It will also improve your attitudes and emotions because of its cleansing systematic effects.

The effectiveness of this seven day plan is that the food eaten burn more calories than they give to the body in caloric value.

This plan can be used as often as you like without any fear of complications. It is designed to flush your system of impurities and give you a feeling of well being. After seven days you will begin to feel lighter because you will be lighter by at least 10 lbs. You will have an abundance of energy and an improved disposition.

During the first seven days you must abstain from all alcoholYou must drink 10 glasses of water each day

Day One All fruits except bananas. Your first day will consist of all the fruits you want. It is strongly suggested that you consume lots of melons the first day. Especially watermelon and a loupe. If you limit your fruit consumption to melons, your chances of losing three lbs. on first day are very good.

Day Two All vegetables. You are encouraged to eat until you are stuffed with all the raw or cooked vegetables of your choice. There is no limit on the amount or type. For your complex carbohydrate, you will start day two with a large baked potato for breakfast. You may top the potato with one pat of butter.

Day Three A mixture of fruits and vegetables of your choice. Any amount, any quantity. No bananas yet. No potatoes today.

Day Four Bananas and milk. Today you will eat as many as eight bananas and drink three glasses of milk. This will be combined with the special soup which may be eaten in limited quantities.

Day Five Today is feast day. You will eat beef and tomatoes. Eat two 10 oz. portions of lean beef. Hamburger is OK. Combine this with six whole tomatoes. On day five you must increase your water intake by one quart. This is to cleanse your system of the uric acid you will be producing.

Day Six Beef and vegetables. Today you may eat an unlimited amount of beef and vegetables. Eat to your hearts content.

Day Seven Today your food intake will consist of brown rice, fruit juices and all the vegetables you care to consume.

Back from Lucknow

Just came back day before yesterday from Lucknow....

It was 5 day trip with the objective of relaxing and leaving Shoma to her parents place for a break.

Lucknow trip primarily comprised of having lots of tunde kabab's and quite a bit of shopping.
A surprise discovery was the fact that most branded showrooms have non-metro rates in lucknow and during discount season one gets further discount on them.

Thus this surprise discovery created quite a dent in my pocket.

I think the best part of a city like lucknow today is it maintains it's old world charm yet one can enjoy the luxuries of a big city.....as per me one should always spend some part of one's life in a smaller city.

Life alone without Pia and Shoma siddenly looks quite lonely....never thought a kid who didn't exist 1 and half years back can become so much a part of your life.

But i think with the time available to myself i should try and introspect and take certain long pending decisions on life.

What should i do with my life!

An article from the net has been copied...very interesting


Those who are lit by that passion are the object of envy among their peers and the subject of intense curiosity. They are the source of good ideas. They make the extra effort. They demonstrate the commitment. They are the ones who, day by day, will rescue this drifting ship. And they will be rewarded. With money, sure, and responsibility, undoubtedly. But with something even better too: the kind of satisfaction that comes with knowing your place in the world. We are sitting on a huge potential boom in productivity — if we could just get the square pegs out of the round holes.

Of course, addressing the question, What should I do with my life? isn’t just a productivity issue: It’s a moral imperative. It’s how we hold ourselves accountable to the opportunity we’re given. Most of us are blessed with the ultimate privilege: We get to be true to our individual nature. Our economy is so vast that we don’t have to grind it out forever at jobs we hate. For the most part, we get to choose. That choice isn’t about a career search so much as an identity quest. Asking The Question aspires to end the conflict between who you are and what you do. There is nothing more brave than filtering out the chatter that tells you to be someone you’re not. There is nothing more genuine than breaking away from the chorus to learn the sound of your own voice. Asking The Question is nothing short of an act of courage: It requires a level of commitment and clarity that is almost foreign to our working lives.

Welcome 2007!

Year 2007 ushered in today amidst fog and zero visibility in Delhi.

The last day of 2006 was spend quite eventfully starting with lunch with two of my School time buddies and family.My old friend Manickavelu from USA was in here Delhi for a day with his wife Anu.We caught up for lunch along with Krisnan and his wife.It was some great food at Moti Mahal,some old time reminiscenses....One realisation meeting my friends after many years was we are getting old and life moves pretty fast.In fact lookwise my friends have changed quite a bit in last few years.

The evening was more of a homely affair with bonfire in the balcony,a bottle of champaign,looking into the fog thinking back into the year,listening to some music and overall quitely stepping into 2007.

My key achievement in 2006 is primarily seeing PIA grow into a healthy lively child and being able to spend enough time with her.

My key failure is i have no great achievement to look at in professional life (an area i must completely change in 2007)

My key resolution for 2007 is to commit myself 100% towards personal development,live a life of focus and growth on a daily basis,bulid up a great body and mind,professionally take up more challenges,be more creative and innovative.

This year has to be the year for me to step into a better life which should clear the direction on which i plan to move for rest of my life.With action i should ready and commit myself into a great successful life ahead.

Kick Boxing!

I have just got hooked into kick boxing and had three sessions of initial training in last few days.

The main objective of getting into kick boxing is to...

1.get fitter
2.Self defence
3.Forcing myself to get up early in the morning

I can only say the first three rounds of training has made me convinced of continuing with it come what may.

Just to share with all an article on Kick boxing.....

Kickboxing

Are you looking for a total body workout that totally kicks butt? How about a way to increase your stamina, flexibility, and strength while listening to your favorite dance mixes?
If this sounds good to you, keep reading to find out what you need to know before you take the kickboxing challenge.

What Is Kickboxing?

Although the true roots of kickboxing date back to Asia 2,000 years ago, modern competitive kickboxing actually started in the 1970s, when American karate experts arranged competitions that allowed full-contact kicks and punches that had been banned in karate. Because of health and safety concerns, padding and protective clothing and safety rules were introduced into the sport over the years, which led to the various forms of competitive kickboxing practiced in the United States today. The forms differ in the techniques used and the amount of physical contact that is allowed between the competitors.

Currently, one popular form of kickboxing is known as aerobic or cardiovascular (cardio) kickboxing, which combines elements of boxing, martial arts, and aerobics to provide overall physical conditioning and toning. Unlike other types of kickboxing, cardio kickboxing does not involve physical contact between competitors - it's a cardiovascular workout that's done because of its many benefits to the body.

Cardio kickboxing classes are usually comprised of 10 to 15 minutes of warm-ups, which may include stretching and traditional exercises such as jumping jacks and push-ups, followed by a 30-minute kickboxing session that includes movements such as knee strikes, kicks, and punches. Some instructors may use equipment like punching bags or jump ropes.
After this, at least 5 minutes should be devoted to cooling down, followed by about 10 minutes of stretching and muscle conditioning. Stretching is really important because beginners can strain ("pull") their muscles, and slow, proper stretching helps relax muscles and prevent injury.

The Basics
Before you decide to jump in and sign up for a class, you should keep a few basic guidelines in mind:
Know your current fitness level. Kickboxing is a high-intensity, high-impact form of exercise, so it's probably not a good idea to plunge in after a long stint as a couch potato. You might try preparing yourself by first taking a low-impact aerobics course or less physical form of exercise and working up to a higher level of endurance. When you do begin kickboxing, allow yourself to be a beginner by working at your own pace and not overexerting yourself to the point of exhaustion.

Check it out before you sign up. If possible, observe or try a class beforehand to see whether it's right for you and to make sure the instructor is willing to modify the routine a bit to accommodate people's different skill levels. Try to avoid classes that seem to move too fast, are too complicated, or don't provide the chance for any individual instruction during or after the class.

Find a class act. Look for an instructor who has both a high-level belt in martial arts and is certified as a fitness instructor by an organization such as the American Council on Exercise (ACE). Also, try to start at a level that suits you and slowly progress to a more intense, fast-paced kickboxing class. Many classes call for intermediate levels of fitness and meet two to three times a week.

Comfort is key. Wear loose, comfortable clothing that allows your arms and legs to move easily in all directions. The best shoes are cross-trainers - not tennis shoes - because cross-trainers allow for side-to-side movements. Gloves or hand wraps are sometimes used during classes - you may be able to buy these where your class is held. Give your instructor a call beforehand so you can be fully prepared.

Start slowly and don't overdo it. The key to a good kickboxing workout is controlled movement. Overextending yourself by kicking too high or locking your arms and legs during movements can cause pulled muscles and tendons and sprained knee or ankle joints. Start with low kicks as you slowly learn proper kickboxing technique. This is very important for beginners, who are more prone to developing injuries while attempting quick, complicated kickboxing moves.
Drink up. Drink plenty of fluids before, during, and after your class to quench your thirst and keep yourself hydrated.

Talk to your doctor. It's always a good idea to see your doctor and have a complete physical exam before you begin any type of exercise program - especially one with a lot of aerobic activity like kickboxing. This is extremely important if you have any chronic medical conditions such as asthma or diabetes or are very overweight.

Moves You Can Use
Here are a few moves that you can try at home:

Roundhouse kick: Stand with the right side of your body facing an imaginary target with your knees bent and your feet shoulders' width apart. Lift your right knee, pointing it just to the right of the target and pivoting your body toward the same direction. Kick with your right leg, as though you are hitting the target. Repeat with your other leg.

Front kick: Stand with feet shoulders' width apart and arms at a 90-degree angle in front of your shoulders. Bend your knees slightly, and pull your right knee up to your chest. Point your knee in the direction of an imaginary target. Then, kick out with the ball of your foot. Repeat with your other leg.

Side kick: Start with the right side of your body facing a target. Pull your right knee up to your left shoulder, and bend your knees slightly as you kick in the direction of your target. The outside of your foot or heel should be the part that would hit the target. Repeat with your other leg.

Why Kickboxing?

Besides keeping your body fit, kickboxing has tons of other benefits. According to a study by the ACE, you can burn anywhere from 350 to 450 calories an hour with kickboxing!
Kickboxing also reduces and relieves stress. Its rigorous workout - controlled punching and kicking movements carried out with the discipline and skills required for martial arts - can do wonders for feelings of frustration and anger. Practicing kickboxing moves can also help to improve balance, flexibility, coordination, and endurance.

Kickboxing is also a great way to get a total body workout while learning simple self-defense moves. Kickboxing fans say the sport helps them to feel more empowered and confident.
So get out there and jab, punch, and kick your way to fitness.