#health Archives

Posted on August 5, 2022December 6, 2022 by Mycoffeeweather — 1 Comment

Vipassana

Reading Time: 5min

“You shoot me down but I won’t fall I am Titaiiiinnnnniiiiiuuuumm!” if you have not heard this song by David Guetta feat. Sia ..then you won’t get my emotions for why I wanted to go for Vipassana Meditation.

Physically I was doing everything in my power to be at my best— No Sugar (10+ years), Vegan (4 years), Gluten-free (4+years), Workouts, Active time, Fuelling well, Hydration, Fasting, Pranic Healing, Gut health— I went all out. Whereas, my mental game was not where I wanted it to be.

In movies have you seen the protagonist being dragged on the ground with a rope tied to a vehicle/horse on the other end; with the villain in the driving seat? I felt like in my life-story I was being dragged like that, helplessly by some extreme situation, that was unexpected or against my expectations. First I would try and control the villain, in my case the situation, or my environment. If it was not in my control, I would give up my senses and be at the mercy of the situation. My mindset in these moments let my emotions take over me.

I tried many approaches—Yoga, Stoicism, Landmark Education, Vedanta, Bhagwad Gita, Self-help books. It was insightful and transformational— it added a huge jump to my mental growth graph. Still, there was a missing link of ‘HOW?’— ‘HOW’ does one live in the present moment continually? HOW does one not have any attachment? HOW do you be compassionate? HOW do you ‘Be Positive’? And HOW do you create these mindsets permanently? Sometimes it seemed impossible to put to action when the villain came to play.

One day it suddenly occurred to me that this Vipassana meditation has been on my bucket list for about 15 years now (I’m big on learning and growing so my bucket lists are a bit unusual). Why not do it now? I did not think it is going to be the thing I have been looking for, waiting for, seeking. A tool to create that mindset.

So here I was, in middle of July 2022, a Chennai evening, sweating profusely (because I wasn’t dressed for the weather) in a hall with approx. 60 determined women.

Challenge yourself

Some people told me “Are you sure you want to do this? It is not for the faint-hearted.” I actually went in, not knowing it will be that tough. For me, the challenge was sitting for 10+ hours and not having writing material for 10 days. I was actually memorising the things I want to write, once I am given my stuff.
10 Days of zero communication with the world – The not talking bit was absolutely beautiful, as I was quite entertained by myself. Quite enjoyed my conversations with myself not being interrupted by work, people, noises or anything. Just me and my thoughts— I relished every second..
On the last day when we all got our phones, for 2 min I was looking at the object in my hand and wondering— ‘Oh! Yes, I have to unlock it, but how? How do you use this thing?’ It is beyond me how the mind can be altered in profound ways. The things you gain when you challenge yourself is the beauty of growth.

Pain is a part of life

Oh yes, on days 6-7 I was missing my mom hysterically. Also the reason I stuck to her for 4 hours when I got back. During meditation, I did have some huge soul-scratching moments, had me battling with the 5-year-old me, sometimes facing those emotions (that scrolling on Instagram made it stay in the background) and I was left dumbstruck by the nightmares, I used to have as a kid. It was still beautiful, the tears and all.

Managing your expectations is the real maturity

Before writing here, I wanted to wait and see if I slip up on what I’ve learnt after I come back. I was at Dhamma Setu, Chennai and there they had a whole South Indian menu. Which I love. So I had a good experience, even being Vegan and Gluten-free wasn’t hard. Still, I did not expect that we would be allowed a single serving of only one fruit every day. On a regular, my body depends on fruits (natural sugar) so I told myself it is just 10 days. My goal is different, so I can accommodate.
Been about 2 weeks since and after I got back I could sense a few people looking at me with an evaluating eye— ‘Did she get enlightened?’ Silly NO! I learnt a new technique and that’s it for now. If I put in the work and practice what they taught me I know this will be the reason why my life turns to better roads. To have new tools is exciting and to be able to up-skill is even more so. If you are fit mentally, many people will be saved from the drama that you bring in their lives. If you are looking to upgrade your Mental game—that’s it you are home.

What exactly is Vipassana then?

This course is no time pass, it is simple HARD work and it is scientific, methodical and has a very systematic approach to understanding the mind-matter phenomenon. The technique will help you see through to the beginnings of your patterns, equip you to break those patterns, tools to automate living in the present moment and get clarity. It is a science that can be practically experienced and I just got a sip of this understanding. A great discovery by Gautam Buddha sitting under a tree and meditating in Bodh Gaya. It is what Buddhism is all about— it really made me change my perspective about Buddhism, I truly felt this is a universal scientific discovery and it should be taught in schools.

After having to follow a strict schedule of waking at 4:00 AM, meditating for about 10 hours a day, eating 2 meals and a snack (as being served) and following complete silence and no communication with anybody, not even eye contact. Here I am yelling in my head now— “I did it!” just like I had many years back when I overcame the fear of falling from a plane mid-air. This is Vipassana, excruciatingly beautiful and it is GOLD!

I attended the course with about 60 women, (men in the other quarters don’t have a count) each of them very different from the other (age, language, occupation, etc). I don’t see why YOU cannot do it. It is for everyone. If we can, You can.

To Being bulletproof!

Buddham Saranam Gacchami।
Dhammam Saranam Gacchami।
Sangham Saranam Gacchami।

Special Credits to S.N. Goenka for getting this technique back to the world and how! This man will make you laugh every day and get you to do the work. To the Sangha for supporting his work and letting the Dhamma spread to one and all.
Susheela Chudiwala- Facilitating Teacher
Kaali, Maala, Aditi- Dhaama Servers
All my fellow Vipassana inmates
Chennai Dhamma Setu
July 2022

LINK To START RIGHT AWAY: If you can spare 10 min every day
https://www.dhamma.org/en/about/mini_anapana

LINK To Read more about the Vipassana Course:
Vipassana Meditation

An old post from September 6, 2018 , where I tried to just be silent for a day, because I never thought I would be allowed to go for this course. (I still was not allowed).

A meeting with Silence

Posted on August 13, 2019August 13, 2019 by Mycoffeeweather — Leave a comment

Brew it like Tisané (Recipes)

Every morning I stand on my mom’s head for making her have tisané (brew recipes) and stop having her morning cup of milk tea for the caffeine kick. It is really bad and why I have mentioned in my previous post of Tisane Over Chai. I prefer these healing brew recipes anytime and I’m not a pro-coffee or Anti-Tea person (Just because its called mycoffeeweather you thought I’m a convert? No.) So I’ve been very unsuccessful and I’ll still keep trying to help her kick the habit to switch to herbal brew recipes. Below are a few more brew recipes with herbs and spices (tisané):

Go-to-Bed Tisané

—Turmeric is a boon to mankind. If you asked your grandmother or even granddad, they’ll know at least one home remedy with this ingredient. Brew Recipe: Bring a glass of water to simmer and then add a pinch of turmeric and a smaller pinch of black pepper. Turn off the flame and add the smallest pinch cinnamon. Just pour it into a cup and grate the lemon peel over the cup. The zest is only on the upper yellow layer, so grate and keep checking you don’t want the white bit getting into your tea (it tastes bitter). A tiny bit is enough to get the smell. This brew will help in keeping your immune system on guard, especially in the flu season. Liver health will improve as turmeric in combination with pepper has its own list of benefits. Lemon zest is a bomb of Vit C and Cinnamon helps in moderation.

Garlic brew for the flu

So after doing everything if you still caught the flu, because of “sheer dumb luck” then you’ve got this cracker. I was repulsed by the idea of garlic and tea, and mildly surprised when it tasted like Chinese soup. It’s just quicker to make. I was inspired by The Herbal Academy for this brew recipe (Just tweaked it and made it caffeine free). Boil a glass and a little more of water. Add some smashed ginger (3-4 slices fresh) and one smashed clove of garlic. Let it boil for 10-15 min. Cover with lid. Strain the water, add a pinch of black pepper powder. Taste, if you need add some Honey/ Black strap molasses (vegan option). I had this tea and in less than twenty-four hours the cold and flu went AWOL, and thank gods for this website.

The Cramps Reliever

I have died and come back to life a few months of my periods due to cramps. Hot bag and instant meds are a savior, but if I do anything natural it is this. I remember having this for cold too and helps with constipation and bloating. Bishops it is. Bishop’s weed or Carom seeds in English and Ajwain in hindi is the tip. Start sipping on this from day one of your chums, in between meals. Recipe: Boil 1/2 table spoon of Ajwain in 1 and a half glass of water for 15-20 min. Remove from the stove, strain and add a pinch of Pink Himalayan salt/ Black salt. I make a lot together so I can keep reheating and having it 2-3 times.

Fennel Shennel

I love fennel seeds at anytime and I don’t see why people don’t use it all the time in all their recipes. I’m going to share an amazing recipe soon with fennel seeds you’ll love it. For now- This ones a refresher. Brew Recipe- Half teaspoon of fennel seeds in a cup of boiling water. Strain or don’t. This is a lazy person’s go-to Tisane for sure. I do this when I have no time to do the whole process. This helps with digestion and bloating. If you want to be exta then go ahead and add some Dhanya (coriander seeds) and Jeera (cumin seeds).

Rosemary Brew

This is another tisane you can make when you’re lazy and just need a waking up. Its great for digestion and hair growth. Its my poison off-late. The cold weather makes it very complementing too. Just dry some rosemary leaves in the sun or in your oven. Powder it and store it in a jar. Use a teaspoon of leaves for one cup. Same process as fennel but this one I prefer straining.

Curry leaf Brew Recipe

Curry leaf tea is a South Indian natural remedy used for centuries to treat many ailments such as constipation, morning sickness, diabetes, nausea, high blood pressure and diarrhea. Brew Recipe: Bring a glass of water to a boil and remove it from direct heat. Add 15 to 20 curry leaves to the glass of hot water. Allow the leaves to soak for a couple hours. Strain the brew to remove the curry leaves. Add honey and lemon to taste. Drink the tea on an empty stomach.

Hibiscus Cinnamon Clove

brew recipe for hibiscus, cinnamon and clove

This is a surprise combination. Trust me I never thought I’ll like the taste of this until I made it and got addicted to it. It helps in boosting immunity, promoting better skin, lowering blood pressure and cholesterol, managing inflammation, and improving digestive issues. Hibiscus tea has diuretic and choleretic effects, thus controlling blood viscosity by reducing blood pressure and enhancing digestion. So go ahead and brew a cup full of goodness! Add 2 tablespoons of dried hibiscus flowers (buy at a store, online or just pluck from the garden ad dry it) to boiling water (2 cups). Add a clove crushed. After the colour changes as per your taste switch the flame off and strain, add a pinch of cinnamon powder and mix it. This can be a little sour to some. Give this recipe a brew!

Lemon grass brew recipe from ‘Sharan india’

Ingredients: Mint leaves + Grated ginger + Crushed whole pepper + Lemon grass. Method: Boil water. Set aside and add the ingredients to be infused. Take enough of each to extract the right amount of flavour. The quantity of ingredients can vary according to taste. Cover and wait for five minutes. Strain and serve. This concoction can be made in a large quantity and preserved in the fridge for three or four days to have it handy when needed.

Some more links- if you want to be extra

How to Make Exotically Scented Jasmine Tea at Home

https://www.huffingtonpost.com.au/2016/02/28/diy-herbal-tea-recipes_n_9324248.html

Posted on July 2, 2019 by Mycoffeeweather — 2 Comments

Everyday I’m (not) Hustling

If you don’t workout at all then this read is going to make you super happy to join the fitclub; If you’ve just started off, then maybe you can learn from my mistake; If you’re a crazy hardcore killer-of-workouts, breaker of PRs and mother of all flash diets then you definitely need to read this.

Every time I go on a holiday the first things I pack are my fitness gears. People think of vacation as a complete break but I was never able to go without workout 3 days in a row (unless I’m not well). I barely feel awake the days I stay in and don’t actively move around. There are times I question myself—Is it a craving and obsession? Am I being too compulsive about it? Or is it discipline and giving my body what it needs? There’s a thin line and I was on the wrong side of it for a few years of my life, but now I’m learning to ‘listen to my body’. (FYI I used to think people are crazed when they said that.)

Before listening to my body:
Most of my mornings would start like this “Common one more rep! You can beat the time! Go for it!! Don’t give up! Go Go Go! No pain no gain!!!! Show up everyday! Give your 100% or go home! Puke but don’t stop! Its all in the head! The body can do more than what your mind is telling you.”This and a million other fitness slogans, that are basically not worth hearing, not worth following and totally not worth living by. All about the Hustle life—over exerting my body more than its current need and capacity; going all-out crazy in every workout and gassing out, no recovery and drained of energy but still push hard, using workout to pound myself as an escape from life’s stress (BIG NO); running the mad race without a fixed goal.

Pointers on why not to hustle all the time—

High rate of injury
DOMS –Delayed onset of Muscle Soreness
Causes Hormonal Imbalance
The stress of your life has to be dealt with, an hour of escape everyday is not getting you out of the problem, it will just be an escape.
Without a Goal there cannot be any results, you’ll just be wasting a lot of energy.
To get freaked out read this – https://www.businessinsider.in/What-too-much-exercise-does-to-your-body-and-brain/articleshow/63821723.cms
Adrenal fatigue, Yo-yo dieting, Detox diets (links given at the end) are just a few which you have to know about even before you start the basics.

Now that I’m crazy too, telling myself to listen to my body:
There is absolutely no need to HUSTLE is what I realized! (That might be totally contrary to what you’ve almost heard everywhere.) I don’t put an alarm to start things off. I see how my body feels moving from my bed to the washroom; if I’m feeling energetic, lethargic, sleep-deprived, sore, too fit to care, or just a bundle of excuses. Then I take a call what I should do that day and just make sure I’m doing something- yoga, swimming, running, walking, weight training, group class at (The Outfit currently). Also when I have a super active day, unlike my normal desk-job hours, I make sure I’m not doing a taxing workout. Incase I have had a very lazy day I throw in an extra evening walk. Basically instead of using the tracker, fitbits and apple-watch to complete the red circle of activity, I just waste time in being aware of how my body is feeling …… (like how it’s supposed to be). Discovering the importance of rest, pacing myself and not letting the drive, drive me down to fatigue. Giving my body the time it needs to recover. Slow and consistent progress is always better than quick fixes.

So now there is going to be the famous problem of choice because this article is on the internet and so are 20 million other articles which are going to contradict this. If you google any nutrition/fitness related question on google you’re going to find both a ‘Yes’ and a ‘No’. We know about famous combos like Elixir Coconut oil vs Harvard Professor, Karin Michels and Keto fad diet vs Rujuta Diwekar, India’s leading nutrition and exercise science expert. If they all belong to the fitness industry and spring from one concept of good health, then why are facts not the same for everyone? No two trainers have the same idea on the ideal way to stay fit and no two nutritionists promote the same eating habits.

I guess no two bodies are the same and hence, it brings me to only one conclusive thought-— your body knows best. First decide what you want as a goal, or multiple goals. Then, speak to the right people, learn as much as you can, don’t be afraid to try new things and based on how you feel achieve them with a paced out and balanced approach. You don’t want to end up with any side effects. Its easy to fall prey to people pushing you and coaxing you, but it’s up to you to find your balance.

Note: You should read about LISS (that’s going to be the next ‘trend’).

Disclaimer: I’m not a Fitness GURU! I’m just sharing my personal experience on my personal blog about my not-so-personal-anymore life, so you can get some perspective!

MUST reads:

1. This article is very useful on understanding Adrenal fatigue and how you can avoid it and the concept of metabolic reserve:)

2. Please read this before someone misleads you!- about the YO YO effect!

3. DOMS

Posted on August 16, 2018August 16, 2018 by Mycoffeeweather — Leave a comment

Mental Rehab for Injury

This is my second time getting injured (I’m not proud of it), and I just felt like the referee telling me to sit out a match without even getting a red or yellow card, no warning. Just wait till the next match, or probably when I’m fit to play. Any injury while playing, working out and sports can cause a lot of physical pain. There is a lot on the internet on how to avoid an injury and all the dos and don’ts. This time though it was more of a mental challenge. Getting fit is a journey and you need to have an open mind.

Acceptance plays a huge role in the mental work post an injury. A lot of people just like to deny it. It’s a part of your journey- It happened, and now you need to accept it, so you can do something about it. The minute you deny it (to avoid the cost of recovery, the missing-out of workout ‘high’-endorphins) you will land yourself into trouble. It could even become chronic.

We want everything quick, right? Food can be heated quicker- microwave, message can be sent quicker- Internet, and you expect the human body to be at the same pace. Recovery isn’t magic and we haven’t invented anything that can get you out of an injury within minutes. Be smart with the time instead. I plan it -lots of reading, movie binging, catch up with friends, doing everything in that workout time I couldn’t do before. Make It fun! You may even forget the pain for a bit.

That lazy voice in my head tells me its okay if I don’t see the physiotherapist or doctor (orthopedic), and I’m glad now I don’t listen to it. Getting a professional opinion or two saves you the trouble of guess work and trial and error. You can be sure of your road to recovery and that boosts your confidence.

It’s easy, almost very easy to just blame your trainer or the place, the lack of people supporting you, yada yada. I have done it. All it does for you, is cloud the right perspective. Even if this was someone else’s fault, you don’t realize that it was up to you to not let it happen. You could have totally avoided it. What is it that you needed, to avoid it? Many people miss out on this question and keep falling for the same mistakes. Take it from me- Lack of stretching.

You need to discuss and talk about it. A lot of times I thought its something to be ashamed of. “How could you get an injury?” I don’t know whose voice rang in my head but, Hey! A lot of fit people I know didn’t get away with it either. Once I was more vocal about it, I got that its not “periods” which you can’t talk about in public (pun totally intended). Its normal. I’m learning and I’m allowed to fall as long as I’m learning from it.

Post recovery is another phase I totally suck at. I’m getting scared of this honestly. I have no idea if a lot of people do this but you just forget you have had an injury and recovered. Go all out and forget about those rehab movements you need to continue doing. Now you need to do some special movements which the group class won’t be doing with you. Lazy brain, time constraints, and the yada yada yada setting in. Its just a little extra stretching or strengthening. Just because its recovered we cannot conveniently forget about it.

On the other end I know of people who just quit workout all together, – “oh exercising causes injury”. No! (bubble popped for some). Wrong form causes injury, wrong posture causes injury, Inadequate knowledge about your body (e.g. flat foot) causes injury, lack of stretching causes injury, lack of proper warm up causes injury and may be lack of strength in a few tiny muscles could cause injury. If you have figured all of the above, you could have an amazing body and exercising would be the culprit. Don’t quit. Just take it slow.

So as I was trying to wave off all the clouds stopping this perspective, I just had an insight, that may be my injury just taught me something and I don’t need to feel all that bad about it. All you dying soldiers out there, with battle scars and broken limbs I feel you! (exaggerated much?). Join the club and let’s get educated and spread awareness so others don’t need to suffer! No worries, take all the help you can and smile!

This Ted talk will get you thinking though

Posted on June 10, 2018June 10, 2018 by Mycoffeeweather — 3 Comments

Tisane over Chai

“Tea is anything that comes from the camellia sinensis plant, so if it’s herbal it’s called a tisane,” tea master and founder of Tea Masters Australia, Sharyn Johnston, told The Huffington Post Australia.

Samosa and Chai in this beautiful rainy weather is a lethal combination taking you straight to heaven, but we cannot do this all the time because- health. So why is milk tea- “CHAI” unhealthy anyway?

Flavonoids in tea, called catechins, are beneficial for the heart. A group of proteins in milk, called caseins, interact with the tea to reduce the concentration of catechins.
The caffeine interferes with the iron absorption in the body.
Disrupt your metabolic system due to imbalance of acidic and alkaline substances in the stomach.
It is diuretic in nature which means that it removes the water from our body.Excessive dehydration will eventually cause muscle cramps.
Tea can cause erosion of enamel because of the presence of sugar.
Milk tea is calorically dense it doesn’t help the weight watchers.

Tea/tisane was initially used for medicinal purpose and not used to feel awake and alert all the time. Choose to have tea without milk/sugar. These are the teas that I’ve tried and loved. Its easy and you can have the ingredients in your kitchen garden and backyard.

My No. 1 tea is Tulsi-ginger-honey! Considering the beautiful Bangalore weather and the allergies that come along, I swear by this. For 2 cups- Just boil 3 cups of drinking water, and add 15-20 green ‘tulsi’ (Indian Basil) leaves, 1 teaspoon ground ginger. Let it simmer and reduce to 2 cups. Strain, add honey and sip.

Lemon grass tea: My mom introduced me to this. Just boil 2 cups of water and add Lemongrass (washed and chopped). Make sure you don’t mess with this grass its got blades invisible to the eye, I had an incident which I can tell you about another day. Its excellent for digestion, bloating and it is packed with antioxidants. Strain and sip. Okay I’ll just tell you, I rubbed the lemon grass behind my ear because it smelled so good I thought it will leave some of the perfume on me. Don’t do that. Cuts.

Spearmint-Pudina-Tea: So I bought this spearmint green tea from Tea Monk a while back and I wanted to enhance the minty-ness of it, but not have it tasting like “pudinhara”. So boil 10-15 (freshly plucked only) Pudinaleaves in 2 cups of water. Let it cool to just warm to drink and then strain and use the Spearmint green tea bags from Tea Monk. This is to die for. You need to grow pudinain your kitchen, it’s the best thing you could do for yourself. If you’re going decaf, then avoid using the green tea and just go for pudina
Basil Tea. This is the Thai basil, which grows easily in the Bangalore weather in my backyard. Just pluck 4-5 leaves wash, break it roughly with your hands. Boil 2 cups of water, take it off the stove and once it’s a little hotter than lukewarm add the leaves and cover for 10 min. You could leave it longer as per preference, I like it mild as these leaves are really strong. Strain and enjoy.

Floral teas:

Aralia/ Firangipani/ Temple tree flower tea: Boil 2 cups water, take it off the stove to cool to luke warm. Add washed flowers 5-6. And cover with lid. Strain in cups and don’t forget to smell between each sip, its like liquid perfume. I’ve sometimes added some basil leaves to make it taste fancier. Temple tree flowers attract the ants so shake it off and wash well before use.
Rose-Fenel-Mint tea: This is a cracker! Recent and I took it out for a picnic! Boil 2 cups water, take it off the stove. You don’t have to cool this one. Add some fennel seeds, 10-12 plucked fresh pudina, and petals of 1 rose. Cover this for longer as the rose really needs to get in there. Strain and may be leave a few petals in the cup. Make sure the rose petals are not wilted and if its freshly plucked nothing like it. This is from FOREST ESSENTIALS tips! <3

My next article is going to have more teas coming, till then try these and you could use the tips below!

Tips:

A) Use only lukewarm water for store bought tea leaves and tea bags as they can make more than 2 cups in one use, as with boiling water it becomes too strong and the essence is lost. B) Don’t use lemon in hot/warm/lukewarm water it has a capacity to erode your enamel and your dentist will hate you for it. C) You can always add cinnamon or honey in any herbal tea as per your taste and heath, as cinnamon regulates insulin and honey could have other side effects, add as per your bodily requirement. D) Don’t over-do just one type of tea. I keep changing it as per my mood and weather. E) Don’t use stems in any recipe as they give a bitter taste to the tisane.

Continue reading Tisane over Chai

Posted on May 20, 2018May 21, 2018 by Mycoffeeweather — Leave a comment

The Auto-mate (Circadian system)

I had no clue why I felt sleepy by 9:30PM and woke up exactly after 7 hours without an alarm clock everyday. The idea of feeling thirsty had become alien to me at one point. I thought its all just to do with habits, but there’s a whole science to this. Meet our built-in programmer- the circadian system. (pronounced as: sir-kedi-un)

For all humans, plants and animals it is synchronized with the Earth’s rotation. The circadian time is ideally in sync with sun-time and its a 24-hour clock. It is the time keeper for our body temperature, sleep, metabolism, release of hormones, hunger, thirst and all physical functioning of the body.

It is vastly influenced by light. It varies for individuals depending on genetics, habits, food, emotions, activity levels, etc. Seasons and weather also affect this biological clock system.

It can be altered by consciously changing one’s exposure to light, meal time, temperature controlled showers, water intake, activity level, etc.

Early morning showers help the body to release more white blood cells, which help with a good immunity. You could make it fancy by taking a eucalyptus shower it helps you feel fresh and wide awake.What I do: Put some water and eucalyptus oil mixed in spray bottle. Spray it on the walls of my shower. Switch on the shower to the hottest and let the bathroom steam up for a few seconds, adjust the temperature to have a bath and it is the best thing on earth.
Less light during the day makes your body produce less serotonin, a hormone for regulating the mood. It also affects the melatonin production in the brain, in turn altering your sleep cycle and stress hormone. Less natural light can thus cause mood fluctuation and make you feel aggressive or irritable. Making sure you get exposed to enough sunlight can help your circadian rhythm to function better. If you are exposed to light at the time your body needs to sleep the brain will get signals that its still not time to go to bed. Cut screen time around bed time to get better sleep. I’m still working on this one.
Losing weight with some fad diets can prove useless if your circadian rhythm is out of whack. Natural hunger patterns help your metabolism to be in check and the digestion is also at its best. Keeping a time schedule for eating everyday at the same time can create a new habit and eventually make you hungry at that time (I’ve tried that). You need to consult with your grand parents for the right meal times if you’re confused.

The suprachiasmatic nucleusis a patch in the brain, a control room of the circadium system but each cell has its own clockwork. The individual cells are affected by genes thus the circadium system depends on how each of these genes express themselves with age. Babies develop their circadian system only after 3-6 months and there is a loss of rhythm in many of these genes in older people.

The environment and your habits have a huge role in getting our circadian rhythm balanced.

So I guess the age old saying “Early to bed early to rise makes a human healthy, wealthy and wise” now makes sense.

RESEARCH

Posted on August 5, 2016December 26, 2016 by Mycoffeeweather — 3 Comments

How to get started #getfit

How do you get started? Getting straight to the point:

Have a Goal

Ask yourself ‘why do you want to get fit?’ Make it as detailed as possible. List down all the reasons (even if it is peer pressure) that are forcing you to work towards fitness. Without a GOAL you will not have a purpose and you may lose the interest.

Join a fitness club or gym

If you’re enrolled in a gym or club, you know you’ve paid for it and you will mostly stick to going there. Seeing many people heading in the same direction will also motivate you to keep up with your goal. The environment will set the tone for your fitness goal. Talk to the instructors and get to know more about what you should be doing, ask questions to understand more.

See a Nutritionist

I used to always feel like I can read up and not visit a nutritionist but I feel if you’re starting up its best to meet a professional at least for a one time session to get an idea about the food you need and don’t for your body. It’s important to understand that a nutritionist can gauge your current situation and give you the exact information you need to get started.

Watch a few Movies, Videos and Read books

Watching a few sports related, fitness related and needn’t be all serious but just watch a few movies and videos to help you get an idea what your in for. There is so much information on the web so tap on it.

Review your GOAL

Time to have a real Goal. Once the above is in motion we know a little bit more about what we really want so if we review our goal we can make it much easier to fix on it. We may have met people at the gym who have many other goals and may have given us ideas, the nutritionist may have changed our minds about what we want, all of which needs to be considered. You can have short term and long-term goals based on everything learnt.

Gear up

Every workout is different and we need to understand the basic requirements- SHOES! It’s not really important to spend in every gear available and get it all, but as it goes we can invest a little every now and then, which also is a huge motivation to workout. So start of with a really good pair of shoes, without which you will face injuries.

Plan your day

Before you go to bed just take 10 minutes to think what you’re going to do tomorrow at the gym, how you’ll fit it in your schedule and if you need to prep and list any food, which meal you’ll need to have to take with you to work to avoid eating out. It’s a whole lot of things to think about but if you just give 10 minutes it will make a huge difference. Also a friend of mine suggested me to watch a lot of videos before you sleep so you can’t wait to get started the next day- totally worked for me!

Sleep

Probably work hours don’t allow you, other responsibilities come in the way, family time eats away sleep time, the TV plays a huge role in life post bed time, you need to catch up on some friends. Whatever the reason is please keep in mind a good 6-7 hours sleep is a priority for any human being. If you’re cutting corners on sleep you can forget about because physically your body isn’t designed to allow that kind of cheat. I put a ‘Go To Sleep’ alarm on my phone 7 and a half hours prior to my wake up time, so I know I have half an hour more to do what I have to- so finish whatever is priority.

Think of your goal as you wake up

As you wake up think of what your goal was and GO FOR IT!

I know all this seems like too much but once you get on with it, it’s like a part of the routine. If you fall back anytime due to any reason, get back, as long as you get back to the routine every time nothing will stop you from achieving whatever you have in mind.

Continue reading How to get started #getfit

Posted on July 26, 2016July 26, 2016 by Mycoffeeweather — Leave a comment

Fitspiration Much?

Do you find yourself in need of someone to tell you to be active, to stop giving-in to your cravings, remind you to have enough water, push you to workout and basically get fit?

To get FIT all you need to do is look around and take inspiration. Trust me I do it like a continuous process, doesn’t have to be your favourite movie start getting fit, just look out at your gym, at work, friends and people in your lives, there is “fitspiration” all around you. Just hunt them down and interrogate how they got fit! This is what I got:

What is fitness to you in one word?

Who is your fitness inspiration?

What is your fitness mantra?

How many years have you consciously been into fitness?

How do you make time for it?

What food is a complete no no!?

How much water do you drink in a day?
Are injuries unavoidable? Have you got any and how did you cope with it?
What is your current goal for your fitness journey?

Is it okay for women to have muscles?

If so many people from different walks of life can make fitness a priority in their lives, it shouldn’t be impossible for us and everyone should take inspiration and make efforts to become fit.

Posted on May 4, 2016July 29, 2019 by Mycoffeeweather — Leave a comment

Mission H2O

We are all aware of all the facts about water and why we should be drinking it. Why has it been a challenge for many to keep up even to an 8-glass rule then? Why has this habit been really not that easy to inculcate? Should we drink water only when thirsty?

In my experience I’m the biggest cheater when it comes to drinking water. A few months back, there were days where I wouldn’t have had even a single glass. I have been doing my homework to get myself to drink 8 glasses of 300ml a day and it has been the whole of April and I haven’t failed. Yes you can clap for me. 😛

There are a host of things to help you, like for me it was this app called Plant Nanny, it has all the best features to keep you motivated to drink sufficient water throughout the day. It’s the best water app I’ve come across.

You can even keep a written track near your bed and record the number of glasses you have consumed every day. When you miss out 2-3 days by just one or two glasses you wont feel too good about it and that’s going to motivate you to do better the next day.

If you never feel thirsty, it doesn’t mean you’re well hydrated, it could be over-eating or your body has just gotten used to getting in less water, which causes a lot of bloating and water retention which means your body thinks its getting ready for drought. So it’s best to meet the measured and recommended requirement of your body even if you’re not thirsty. I can see the difference it made to me and I do feel thirsty automatically now.

Nutritionist Nikita Suresh suggested me to have a glass of water 10-15 min prior to every meal so that I can get 3 glasses in easily. I started off with that tip and it has been such a boon. Water is essential, but how we drink it is also important. Grandma Tips that I’ve heard is ‘drink water with closed teeth’ probably so you don’t fill up your mouth by expanding your cheeks. I have yet to do my research on this but it seems to make me more consciously drink every sip and be aware that I’m having water. On a general day when a person’s thirsty they would just gulp down 2 glasses without even realizing what they’re doing.

You could flavor your water by soaking a few cucumber slices, lemon slices, or mint leaves over night. It is super refreshing and needs to be consumed by the next day or it gets too sour. You cannot forget to have it then. Detox water is different and requires a certain diet to be followed with it.

Lime juice has become my best friend this summer 2016. I have it first thing in the morning with a spoon of honey mixed well. In the day (I got this recipe from a friend for) Chia Lemon juice, a brilliant concoction to keep cool. I didn’t add the sugar. Also sometimes when I feel too full after a meal I have a lime juice with some black salt (pink colour) after a gap of 10 min. Easy to get hydrated with some taste and Vit C.

So far so good, I’ll be honest I haven’t become all glowy or there hasn’t been a drastic change in my appearance as I’ve read in a few articles, but I feel less lethargic and drowsy, don’t get dehydration head-aches, muscles cramping has reduced, lot of people telling me I’ve lost weight and the best thing is at least I feel thirsty now.

Oh! Oh just one more, having water from the earthen vessels just got cooler with Mitticool selling these earthen clay water bottles, it’s the best thing that could happen this summer! Love the taste of the water once its been in the clay bottle. You can find it on amazon!

For more questions do connect by email or message on Fb, I would love to share whatever little I know from my experience.

*Tip before the monsoons cools off everything, keep some water out for the birds, our little part we can do to give back.

Go-to-Bed Tisané

Garlic brew for the flu

The Cramps Reliever

Fennel Shennel

Rosemary Brew

Curry leaf Brew Recipe

Hibiscus Cinnamon Clove

Lemon grass brew recipe from ‘Sharan india’

What is fitness to you in one word?

Who is your fitness inspiration?

What is your fitness mantra?

How many years have you consciously been into fitness?

How do you make time for it?

What food is a complete no no!?

How much water do you drink in a day?

Are injuries unavoidable? Have you got any and how did you cope with it?

What is your current goal for your fitness journey?

Is it okay for women to have muscles?

If so many people from different walks of life can make fitness a priority in their lives, it shouldn’t be impossible for us and everyone should take inspiration and make efforts to become fit.