Why Blog?

Color me stupid! This is what happens when I don't put things on my Google Calendar (and use a new email address with a faulty filter setting).

My sincerest apologies to Melanie Bowen, who tried getting my attention multiple times and was kind enough to be patient with me.

Now you all know I blog about my life and my random musings, nothing really technical or particular. I think blogging is a fantastic way to keep tabs on your own life and to keep others updated. We all want to leave our mark in the world, one way or another. Big or small, blogging about your life, your efforts, your achievements & even your failures is one way to go about it. It's a lasting account of who you are and what you've been through; something others can learn from and maybe even cherish.

Blogging also exposes you to a world of sympathizers and a network of resources that you might not otherwise have access to. You build a community with people who think like you, who disagree with you, who want to learn from you and who want to share their experiences and information with you. It's a support network, a place to get feedback, a way to get your word out, a way to get more and varied information.

There are many forums, organizations and websites that work as a virtual congregations for anything from motorcycle building to physics to health issues.

The Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance Blog is one such site that provides a platform for exactly those purposes (and others). It's good to see that people feel confident enough to speak about their struggles in a safe and comfortable environment. Without dialogue, there is never any progress. My best wishes to all the people involved with the Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance Blog.

Many people choose to create personal blogs to document their personal struggles with health issues. Alice Pyne and Criss's blogs, particular, got my attention and really touched me. They write with brutal honesty simply because it's their reality. I can only imagine the thousands of people who have been inspired and touched by their stories. The same must go for the community of people who are involved, in any capacity, with the Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance Blog.

Courtesy a Yahoo! article (for once) I came across another very compelling blog about a baby with Spinal Muscular Atrophy (SMA). I'm not one to cry too easily, but even I got choked up after reading the article. If this doesn't break your heart, I don't know what will.

Support what you believe in. Put your voice out in the world, because you never know where you will get help from or who you will end up helping. The larger the virtual world grows, the smaller our real world becomes.

Disclaimer: The views, concerns and accounts on the above sites/blogs are not my own, nor do I benefit in any way from mentioning them. These links are posted solely to spread awareness of their existence and that of the individual bloggers efforts & their stories.

Birthday wishes & 2012 Resolutions

Today I became a year older. I can honestly say that I am a year wiser as well.

It's been a year of introspection, self-discovery, and better understanding of who I have been, who I am and who I want to become. There's been a lot of emotional maturity, intellectual development and mental readjustment. All this change is just the beginning though. My birthday wish this year is that I can push myself a bit harder to move ahead quite a bit further. I'm hoping for good health, lots of wealth and a little bit of lady luck in all endeavors.

I'm using this last month of 2011 to wrap up loose ends so that I can start fresh in 2012. And to go with that fresh start is an ever-evolving list of Resolutions.

Making the Most of 2012
1. Put myself first. I have a hard time with this. Turns out I put everyone else ahead of me. Something I never consciously realized earlier. It's time to stop that and start paying attention to ME!


2. Personal goal. This one's very important, just not something I care to discuss on a public forum. I'm already working hard at it, and hopefully I'll be able to report my success sometime early next year (April-ish).


3. Lose 30lbs over the year. I've blogged before about this. It's partially a vanity thing. Mostly a health thing. It's time I got really serious about it. Pity this doesn't involve having my cake and eating it as well.


4. Go to India. This is as a reward for achieving success with Resolution #2. Since I haven't been to India since 2004, I can assure you, I am working especially hard on #2.


5. Clinical Rotations. Preferably in Chicago. It's the city I love. Clinicals are the best way for me to learn. So it'll be a win-win.


6. Explore my new city. Explore it thoroughly & exhaustively. I want to enjoy everything any city has to offer. There's a lot of history and culture in every place you go and I intend to make the most of my time wherever I end up.


7. Scrapbooking. I've got more WIP ideas than actual scrapbooks. Those ideas need to be translated into physical scrapbooks pronto!


8. Read. At least 4 books over the year (a book a season?) If I can push myself, 12 books. And by books I mean pleasure reads. Just for me, no expectations attached kind of reading.


9. Learn a new skill. Anything! No limitations. Just expand on my capabilities by learning something new.


10. Blog more often. At least 2-3 times a month.


11. 365 photo challenge. A photo a day - clicked, post-processed & posted. The posting might not happen on a daily basis, but I shall try.


12. Cross off 1 item from Bucket List. At least one. If I can accomplish more from my bucket list, that's even better. Additions to the Bucket List are also welcome.


13. Accomplish all goals on Resolutions List. That'll be a first!


Resolutions 6-12 are in no particular order of priority. I won't be dropping a single resolution from the list. The challenge is to accomplish them all. I may add. I may tweak. I don't intend to remove any.

Resolution #10 should work out just fine as I intend to update on the progress of my resolutions throughout the year. Resolutions #1, 2 & 3 are going to be the hardest.

Wish me luck! I'd love company through this process. If you're blogging about your resolutions for 2012, or would like to provide feedback and encouragement through comments, I'd love it!

*fingers crossed* Let's do this 2012!

Downsizing that Waist - Tips and Tricks 3

It is incredibly overwhelming to jump in with both feet into a completely new, healthier lifestyle. I'm ready to admit my weight issues can partially be attributed to a lazy attitude coupled with a love for food that wasn't all good for me. Since this business with a healthy lifestyle is two-pronged - diet and exercise - it can be a fairly drastic change to make.

I found it easier to take it in steps and take on the diet aspect first. I'm a complete foody so this is a daily challenge for me still, but since having started the whole healthy eating business I've found it's not that hard to keep up with.

The first step I took was to measure my BMI and my basal caloric requirements based on daily activities. Then I researched what caloric content of various foods to see what my healthiest options were. It was really good to see how many different and options there were and how many of them I was already incorporating into my diet.

Actually, I guess the first step is to recognize that the word 'diet' doesn't mean a drastic alteration in your food consumption where you're limiting yourself to certain foods or cutting something out 100%. Diet just refers to the types and amounts of food you consume. I'm not at all into diets that say I can only eat cabbage or have to cut out all carbs from my life. Med School has taught me enough to recognize that every food group is essential for the human body, it's just that the intake amount of each thing varies for every person.

It took a few days to get into the habit of getting healthier. It only took a week for my body to get used to consuming fewer simple carbs and limiting my intake of complex carbs to what my body needs. Now, when I deviate, my body gets very uncomfortable. I'm not going to lecture you on what to eat and what not to eat. That's something you have to do some research on and figure out for yourself because every body's requirements are different. Remember, it only takes 3 weeks (21 days) to develop a habit and get comfortable with it.

Once you get a handle on your eating habits, it becomes easier to jump into an exercise routine. Your body should start feeling healthier from the change in diet. As you pick up an exercise routine, you can adjust your dietary needs more easily.

Bottom line. Don't overwhelm yourself with a complete regime change. It's perfectly alright to go at it one thing at a time. Heck, I recommend it.

Oops... I did it again

Or rather I didn't do it again. These past four days have been very bad P90X days. After Thursday of last week, I've been out of the P90X mode. It's much easier to stop after a lax day, than to pick up and get right back at it.

Friday was my birthday - the 2nd most boring, sad birthday I've had in all of my 21+ years.

Saturday was rest day and I took it as that. And once I got into the (2-day) habit of not doing P90X I couldn't muster up the energy or care to start week 3 on Sunday and do jump into Plyometrics today. Horrible! I feel very guilty. It's much harder to pick up the self-created slack when there's no one doing it with you and encouraging you along. Blast!

But I'm motivating myself to get back into it tomorrow. I have to. It's my parents Silver Anniversary in a month and a weeks time. I am pushing myself to look my best for this big event. So, back to P90X it is. I'm going straight into the scheduled exercise of week three, despite having had a horrible start to it.

Downsizing Day 12 ... my waist size, that is.

I've been a bad girl. I skipped Day 11's workout. It was yoga day. I don't like yoga day.

Justification (excuse) ... my sleep cycle runs per a different time zone, as opposed to my physical location. Most people wake up at 6am; I hit the bed at that time. This leaves me disconcerted for part of the day. And I lose a lot of productive "business hours." I've tried changing my sleeping/waking times but I keep reverting to this odd schedule. Basically that leaves me tired and harried (still gotta focus on my studying too, after all). That and it's my birthday week. I'm allowed some leniency. So I am trying to convince myself anyway.

I also indulged in Chinese buffet for lunch - it was a birthday celebration with friends. I stuck to the soup, veggies, proteins and only had a tiny bit of the noodles. Ever since I've started P90X I've been even more conscientious about my carb intake and such. That tiny amount of noodles (2-3 forkfuls) left me feeling disgusting for most of the evening.

All in all, Wednesday was not conducive to working out, particularly yoga for one and a half hours.

Day 12, however, I brought it to Leg and Back and enjoyed getting back to exercising. I'll try to make up on the yoga on Saturday, which is rest/stretch day. I'll stick to the lighter moves. Curse the guilty conscience!

I didn't bring it to Ab Ripper X since I had to get ready for ... HARRY POTTER! Yes, I'm two weeks late, but I have a friend to blame for that. Anyway. The movie was AMAZING! Go watch it if you haven't.

Tomorrow is my birthday. And tomorrow is Kenpo day. I will do justice to both tomorrow :)

Downsizing Day 10 ... my waist size, that is.

I think it's time to invest in resistance bands. I don't feel the burn as much with most of the moves. Amazing. It only took a week for my muscles to say I can do more. Yay!

I'm able to do more and more as the days go by and that's exciting me.

So a week after P90X, I'm proud to say I've dropped 3.5lbs! I know water weight is the first to go, but it's progress so yay! Also, I've been drinking a lot more water (healthier choice!) so it's not exactly water weight that I've lost necessarily. Basically, I'm very happy to see the needle move down on the scale.

I'm really getting into P90X now. Sadly, my friend couldn't keep up, so I'll be doing Yoga solo again, but I'll try to get through the whole video this week.

Downsizing Day 9 ... my waist size, that is.

Exhausted, in a good way. As much as I hate it, Plyometrics is a great workout. I sweat the most on Plyo and Kenpo days.

I took my inhaler before starting the workout today, and boy am I glad I did.

My right hip continued to be a problem today, limiting me in range of motion on some of the exercises. My knees are also flaring up again, making squats a literal pain. These are the same problems I had back in the TKD days - ironically, I believe these problems developed because of TKD. The aggressive demands on these joints has led them to be worn down and out (not that any of the x-rays and MRIs support my understanding...my poor docs can't figure me out). I know there are people reading this blog (google stats tells me so), so if any of you have any suggestions as to what I can do to make it less painful as I try to maximize my range of motion, I would really appreciate it.

For now, I'm sticking to the low impact variations that Pam from the video demonstrates. Definitely helps keep the pain at bay, but I'd love to get more depth in my squats and lunges to max the muscle workout.

ps - I think I see a slightly slimmer face - the chin being one of the first places to show weight loss/gain. fingers crossed! I hope to have more visible results by the time I get home in 3 weeks (that'll be a month after having started p90x).

Downsizing Day 8 ... my waist size, that is.

It's almost funny when I realize it's another Ab Ripper X day. Almost. I need another week or so before I'll be comfortable with that realization. For now, a slight feeling of dread persists.

Chest and Back session 2 went well enough - a few more reps, some improvement in my form. If the first 30 days are to be a struggle, I'm happy with my progress in the first week. Of course, a part of me is anxious to see some physical change and disappointed when the same figure looks back at me. I just remind myself that this is no overnight miracle cure and that beauty is pain.

I'm doing P90X for my health (and some obvious, aesthetic enhancement), not because I'm into working out and building muscle. If the latter had been true, I wouldn't be in the position I am in today to begin with. Once I drop to my goal weight and size (not necessarily mutually inclusive) I will switch to a lighter workout. I'll have to fiddle around with what works best, but I'm guessing it will be daily 30 minute walks and 3-4 days/week of exercise, relying on what I have picked up through P90X.

But for now...still chugging away. Oh no! Tomorrow is Pylometrics. *cringe*

Downsizing Day 6/7 ... my waist size, that is.

Phew! That was another red-in-the-face, sweat-inducing work out. Take your inhaler!

Kenpo X really makes you work it. This workout was a throwback to my Tae Kwon Do days. The forms are very different and I found myself reverting to the "correct way" with my punches and blocks. Kicks were tough to keep up with - my right hip was in pain 15 minutes into the workout, which made kicks on either side that much more difficult. I've been saying it all week, so here it is again... that was hard and my muscles feel it. I'm sure my noodle arms and sore legs will be even grumpier tomorrow, but it's well worth it.

I'm skipping rest/stretch day. I'd rather stick to the program and get back on track than take a day off right now.

Time to get back into it with Chest, Back and Ab tomorrow... 1 week down, 12 to go!

Downsizing Day 5 ... my waist size, that is.

I missed a day of P90X yesterday. I blame it on Thanksgiving and the coma it put me in.

Today was Legs, Back and Ab Ripper X. I'm proud to say I was able to keep going through the whole thing, never pausing (I haven't for any of the days, though I do lighter versions of some of the workouts in order to keep up) and keeping up at almost the same pace.

I'm still doing the exercises weights-free, but I'm feeling the burn on my pull ups and other exercises (I model my arm movements for the resistance bands since that's what I'll be getting). I think I'll be ready for resistance bands in another week.

I hate Ab Ripper X because it's 15 minutes of intense workout and I still can't do half the moves properly. But I've noticed a drastic improvement since Day 1 so I'm loving that something, whatever it may be, is working.

Since I missed a day, I'll be skipping the rest/stretch day or combining it with Day 6 of Kenpo (Kenpo in the morning, stretch in the evening) and I'll jump right into week two after that.

Thank God I started when I did. All other holidays fall on rest/stretch days - karmic coincidence!

Looking forward to tomorrow's Kenpo; it'll be nice to get some martial arts related exercise going.

Downsizing Day 4 ... my waist size, that is.

I have to admit I gave up today. To be fair to myself, I quit half-way through today's Yoga session, which is still 45 minutes of sweat inducing exercise.

The Yoga portion of P90X is harder than I anticipated. I got frustrated because I couldn't even get into half the poses, let alone maintain them. I struggled with what should have been easy. I just have to keep reminding myself that this was my first day and it will get better with time and more effort. But Yoga is definitely one of the sections where I need a buddy doing it next to me to keep me motivated and going.

Boo to me on this one. Hopefully I'll have better luck next week. My friend will be joining me, so at the very least we can laugh at/with each other as we struggle through the poses.

Edit: Turns out there is an ab portion in the second half of the Yoga session. Guess I should have at least kept watching. Serves me right. Well, definitely something to look forward to next week.

Just keep swimming...

Rolling out of bed, walking, tucking my hair behind my ear ... it's all PAINFUL! Muscles that hadn't worked in years, if ever, are protesting to the sudden and vigorous exercise. And they make themselves heard loud and clear throughout the day.

Blogging is working as wonderful motivating tool for me. I feel like I've put myself out there and would be a fraud if I didn't continue with the P90X.

Thanks to the combined power of blogging and tweeting I've gotten some really positive feedback. It's nice when others take time out of their lives to provide encouragement.

Seeing P90X through? I really badly want to give up because of how much it hurts. But then I look in the mirror and I'm not happy. More than that, I'm scared of my future if I don't make the effort now. I gotta tell you, it's taking every ounce of determination and will-power to keep pushing. For the moment, I just want the soreness and pain to go away.

Downsizing Day 3 ... my waist size, that is.

I really, badly did not want to do today's workout. I almost said forget it. Between the sore arms and abs from Day 1 and the burning thighs from Day 2 I didn't think I was up for an Arms & Shoulders workout. But I didn't want to quit two days into the program, especially after having 'gone public' about it.

So I did it. And it wasn't so bad. Day 3 consists of an arms and shoulders workout which was less intense and difficult on my body, when compared to the high-impact workout Pylometrics had wrung out of me the day before. I definitely need to invest in a set of resistance bands (easier to pack since I travel regularly) soon!

Day 3 involved the Ab Ripper X again, and it was as intense as Day 1. But I found myself able to do more, so there is hope for the future.

Overall, today's workout actually helped wring out some of the soreness and pain from the past two days. I feel better about both having done the workout and having accomplished more on my third day.

Onwards and downwards!

Downsizing that Waist - Tips and Tricks 2

Food is an enemy. Well, it can be. If you're like me, eating healthy is hard. Part of the reason it's been so hard to lose weight is because of bad eating habits.

Here are some tricks and tips for when you go out grocery shopping:

1. Make a list, check it twice. Check your pantry. Do some research on how many calories you should be taking in to balance how much you expend during daily activities and exercise. Remember, out should be greater than in for weight loss. However, you also need a basic number of calories for general daily existence (this is dependent on your weight, gender, activity, etc.). Choose healthy alternatives for your bad habits (baby carrots instead of chips, 100% fruit juice instead of soda, honey instead of sugar, flavored yogurt instead of ice cream, ...). Go over your list to make sure you're getting the essentials and an indulgent old habit didn't slip back in.

Oh yeah, stick to the list!

2. Limit your time at the store. Get in, get out. Stick to a short time in which you can grab the items on your list and get out of the store. Extra time leads to extra browsing and a tendency to veer off the list.

3. Go with a friend. If you're exercising with a buddy take him/her along. Or go with the person who's providing you with emotional/mental support as you try to downsize your waistline into a healthier zone. This way you have a safety net in case temptation becomes too strong.

One last, general, tip: update your list periodically (as you run out of that item) instead of all at once. This way you won't forget anything and you will avoid adding unnecessary items. Use your phone, iWhatever, etc. to keep an up to date list that is on you at all times.

Downsizing Day 2 ... my waist size, that is.

Holy flippin' shit! Day 2 is not for the faint of heart...literally. If you're an asthmatic, take a couple of pumps of your inhaler before you start this one!

Ah! This one was hard! I mean muscle-burning, sweat-inducing, lung-working hard. It's all about jumping and squatting and lunging. My leg muscles haven't been worked this hard since Tae Kwon Do. In fact, after this workout, I know I can't even consider going back to Tae Kwon Do any time soon ... my muscles have gone soft and don't remember or appreciate the movements Day 2 of P90X (Pylometrics) demands of them.

Today had me doubting if I can go on at all with P90X. Fortunately I have a few big incentives in my head (health and better body included) that I really want to achieve, so I'm going to push myself to keep at it. But man did today have my questioning if I could ever get to the level that the people in the video are at. I want to see how much I can better myself. I'm just wondering where that's going to come from. Wooh!

Keep a towel, your inhaler and a bottle of water at the ready for this one; Day 2 is TOUGH!

I gave it as much as I could, but busted knees/hips and muscles that had forgotten these moves had me at a slower and shallower pace. I gave up a few times in between, just doing a slow jog to fill up the space while I cursed at the trainer. I just had to keep reminding myself that this was my first day with Pylometrics and the trainer's bazillionth. It's okay not to be nearly as good as the people in the video, you just have to keep trying and keep working.

Now, please excuse me. I need a hose and a trough. Or maybe I'll just fall into the trough.

Downsizing that Waist - Tips and Tricks

Exercising is a pain, literally and figuratively. I'm sure what I have to share is all stuff you've probably already heard. But maybe you haven't, or hearing it from my point of view and experience will help you.

1. Partner up. You don't have to actually exercise with someone else. I find the P90X videos to be quite motivating in and of themselves. I don't feel like I'm going at it alone. But it definitely helps to have a friend to talk to about the routine and get feedback or encouragement from. My friend is also doing the P90X program on her own, so we chat about our efforts and issues. I'm hoping we'll have some positive results to talk about soon.

Your friend doesn't have to be doing the same exercise program, or even any exercise program. He/she can just be there for emotional/mental support as you go through the exercise program for yourself. It's good to have someone encourage you along. If you don't have anyone in your real life who will fulfill this role, turn to the virtual world. There are forums you can turn to, or tweet or blog about your efforts and you'll find others going through the same struggles.

Or you can buddy up to exercise with someone. Sometimes the physical presence of a friend provides a comfortable and competitive environment in which you can try your hardest without feeling judged.

I'm starting solo, with a friend to talk to about my efforts and progress. We will try exercising together during week 2 and see if that works better for us.

2. Set your goals, be realistic. Do some research, find out what the ideal weight is for your height and ethnicity (yes, that does make a difference). Don't aim for an exact number, just go for a range.

Personally, I'm at 150lbs when I should be between 120lbs-125lbs. I'm not forcing myself to lose the 25lbs-30lbs within the 90 day program period. I'm just aiming for some weight loss. Some people have lost that much and more through P90X. Some people have lost less. I'm realistic. I haven't cut out all carbs, sugars, etc. from my diet. It's just more moderate and healthier than my previous eating habits. I'm not comparing my results to those of others who have done this program. I just know what my goal is and I accept that it might take more than 90 days for me to achieve it.

I'm ready to do P90X a second time over, if that's what it takes for me to lose the weight.

Don't impose time limits and weight goals. If you don't achieve them, you might get demotivated. No sense in imposing exact values that will work against you if you don't achieve them. Instead, go for ranges. The flexibility let's you work as hard as possible to reach reasonable goals.

I'm at 150lbs. My ideal weight is 122lbs, based on a height of 5'3". My personal end goal is a range between 115lbs-125lbs. I would like to lose 25lbs-35lbs in the next year. I will make a realistic time projection based on my results from one round of P90X.

3. Treat yourself. I don't mean indulge in a sundae. Set up goal points and treat yourself to a healthy gift/indulgence that will help you keep moving forward.

Here's my breakdown:

-5lbs - set of weights/resistance bands

-10lbs - weighing scale

-15lbs - mini-shopping spree

-20lbs - leather jacket

-25lbs - ?

-30lbs - shopping spree

-35lbs - shopping spree

My carrot is this set of incentives, the stick is the exercise program and my reflection in the mirror. I don't know what I'll do to indulge myself at 125lbs, but it's not my end target so I'm not going for the big shopping spree then. 

I'll update with other tips and tricks as and when I discover them. This is just the beginning of what I am hoping will be a very fruitful 90 days. Stick with me!

Downsizing Day 1 ... my waist size, that is.

I've got weight issues. That is, I weigh too much. I don't speak from a fashion and beauty point of view (though the boost of confidence I would get from a slimmer waist-line would be incredible). Rather, I'm coming at this from a health concern point of view. Genetically speaking I'm already at risk for developing diabetes, heart diseases and some other health problems. The environment has only added to the potential health risks in my future. As a doctor-to-be I want to be the fittest I possibly can, in order to avoid and escape as many health problems as possible. Diet and exercise truly are the key towards a healthy and balanced lifestyle. Trust me, I've researched every plausible alternative so that I can feel less guilty about a slice of cake or a day of bumming on the couch. Sadly, there isn't one.

So I started with diet. It's not that hard or bad to switch to healthy; there are actually a lot of tasty alternatives out there. I'll blog more about that later.

For me, the hardest thing was getting my butt moving and sticking to a real exercise regime. The evening walks and half-arsed yoga/basic work outs weren't doing anything for me. One late night of infomercials later, I was sold on an exercise regime known as P90X. I won't bore you with the details of the program. If you're interested, you can go out and read about it yourself. Instead, I'll be blogging about my 90 days, the struggles and strategies involved and the results I get.

Going from couch potato straight into P90X is a bit like jumping from fridge straight into the fire, completely bypassing the frying pan. It's an intense workout, as Day 1 proved to me. The P90X program starts with Chest and Back and Ab Ripper X. I haven't bothered to invest in weights, bands, etc. but today I didn't need them. Going through the motions for the various exercises was more than enough for my muscles. I'm embarrassed by how little I was able to do today. The really great thing about the P90X videos is that it let's you go at your own pace but also keeps encouraging you to push harder. Since each section repeats through the videos cycle, you have many opportunities to improve.

I didn't give my 100% today but I still felt the burn. Sadly, I felt the burn 5 minutes into the 1 hour 15 minute routine. It was a wake up call regarding just how badly out of shape I am. So, even though my arms and legs feel like overcooked noodles and I'm going to have very sore ab muscles tomorrow, I'm motivated to keep at it. Tomorrow is pylometrics. I have no clue what to look forward to. I believe a lot of jumping is involved. Thankfully, my downstairs neighbors don't hear anything.

Keep up with me as I go through the next 90 days of tough exercise and towards my weight-loss goals.

Anything to lose those lbs .. Anything?

I'm on twitter when I notice a tweet from a celebrity claiming he lost 11lbs in 1 week after following a diet he'd been considering. My first thought was that's unhealthy! and he should know that. Of course that was followed by curiosity, because weight loss is something I'm struggling with.

The link the celeb had posted led me to this. The results touted in this article were fantastic, and not in a good way. As someone getting her education in health care, the concept of losing 25lbs in 4 weeks not only screamed unbelievable, but also unhealthy to the point of dangerous. Doctors recommend weight loss at a rate of 2lbs per week, and here were reports of losses of 9-11lbs in a week.

I wanted to dig a little deeper, do some research, before I started flipping out at this news channel, so I googled. Pages and pages of websites with the words 'acai' and/or 'diet' later, I agreed with MayoClinic and WebMD; there isn't much honest, reliable, unbiased and objective research on the matter. Acai berries may contain more antioxidants than most other berries, but that doesn't make them a reliable weight-loss supplement.

How do you explain the accounts of weight loss mentioned above? I'm not sure. The celeb from twitter indulges in a healthy diet & work out sessions. Perhaps the acai berries along with a combination of these factors aided in greater & faster weight loss. I won't deny that there are benefits associated with the consumption of this fruit. However, based on comments by experts and my own (limited) research, I'd have to repeat that the berry is only so good. It's not a miracle fruit. You might have to consume more of other berries & nutritious fruits, but you'd get the same results as those yielded by consumption of acai berries.

The news reporter is an entirely different story. She's a fake! As is the website; try clicking on the links for world news or business news. They all lead you to the site for the Acai Berry diet pill the "article" endorses. That explains why all the comments were positive. I wondered why no one questioned how long the effects lasted, whether you had to continue to taking the pills forever to maintain the results (but then, wouldn't you also keep losing weight..?), etc. I'll admit, a part of me was hoping to find that this truly works. I'm close to saying anything to lose these pounds. But I'm not willing to waste hard-earned money on a scam. Thank you CNN & ABC for reporting the truth!

There are too many unanswered questions regarding acai berries and the affects of it's consumption. The benefits and side effects, both short & long term, have not been fully & properly explored. In matters of health I prefer to err on the side of caution. Research before leaping into a diet or a pill, you never know when you might fall for a scam. Personally, I'm disappointed that the AcaiBerry Diet ended up being a scam; I wouldn't mind a miracle pill. But, as with all things worth having in life, it's back to hard work and perseverance.

So about those calories...

So far, this has been an "epic fail" of a trial. It's mostly my fault. I'm sure you can say I'm finding excuses, especially since others down here find the time to jog daily or hit the gym pretty regularly. But here's the thing, when I do a breakdown of my 24hrs, I don't see time for the exercise.

9am - 6pm = School .. that's 9/24

1hr to eat/make 3 meals ... 1/24

1.5hrs shower/prep/primp 1.5/24

6hrs study (minimum!) ... 6/24

5hrs sleep (for basic fnctn) 5/24

= 22.5/24

That leaves me with 1.5hrs to relax, catch up on emails, do my chores...

Regarding the food... Like I said, I'll make an effort. But the whole food journal concept went out the window pretty much the second day, since I need the calories to keep me going through the heat (feels like 100s everyday).

It's not impossible to lose weight or lead a very healthy lifestyle on the island; I know many people who have/do. But it just doesn't make my priority cut right now. I need to study, for which even 6hrs is too little. And I need my sanity, for which 5hrs of sleep is absolutely necessary. Right now, I'd rather do what it takes to get me the grades and get me through the next 87days left on the island.

Weight Loss attempt - Take 2

So the last attempt at having a workout routine failed rather miserably. No shock there; I wasn't totally committed and was trying to introduce a new activity to the schedule during exam week.

This last visit back home was a wake up call. My weight went up by 3lbs, the first in 2+ years. 3 pounds sounds insignificant, but for me, it was the tipping point. I'm at a place where I am not happy with my body weight, size and shape. All of that must change. But how!? I've gotten all sorts of advice: cut the carbs, exercise more, go on a low cal diet, etc. The truth of it is, no one fad diet or out-of-the-ordinary effort is going to work (not in the long term, healthy way). In order to lose weight and keep it off, I'll have to incorporate bits and pieces from all sources.

As I'm doing research, it turns out that I almost never hit my target caloric intake. I'm usually either grossly below the mark, or above it (typically when I'm home for break). I'm not much into the whole low carb/high protein deal. I'd much rather eat my aloo paratha (which, incidentally, is only 290 cal) and work with the number of calories I'm taking in versus expending. The basic deal is, you should burn more than you consume in order to lose weight. If you consistently consume more than you use, you will end up gaining about 1lb/2weeks.

Honestly, so far, it's been quiet mind-boggling. I definitely can't figure it out for myself, so I'll be taking help from a friend who used to be a physical trainer. The goal here is to lose 20lb in the next 7 months. I'm hoping to greet 2011 with a leaner body, healthier lifestyle and still satisfied stomach (yes, I know the actual satisfaction is actually, only felt in the brain...).

First step in all of this is more research. I need to figure out where I can cut back and where I can add on, what foods are good for me and how many calories are in the 50+ pounds of frozen food I brought from home for this semester. Being Indian, it has been frustrating to figure out how many calories my daal-chawal, bhindi and chicken jalfrezi have. Recently, however, there's been an increased awareness from the public sector and people are finally doing the math and posting it online. Additionally, companies are becoming more health savvy and putting nutritional information on the maggis and frutis out there (doesn't stop me from eating that stuff!).

Second step is to adjust my eating habits as best I can (I'm eating Special K cereal with 1% milk - ew! - as I type this up). I'll also be keeping a food journal to keep track of my daily caloric intake - this will help in the adjustment part of things.

Lastly, I'll be adding more exercise and calorie-consuming activities to my routine. Did you know, you burn 11.4cals for every 4mts of brushing your teeth? Somebody's about to have really white teeth in 7 months ;) I'll also be cleaning my house more often, ironing more clothes and washing dishes for free for the entire neighborhood (just kidding!). It's amazing that the simplest things can burn a significant number of calories. Of course, those are just regular activities. I'll also be including about 1 hour of exercise into my routine. Yoga, Tae Kwon Do and jump roping for 20mts each burns about 430 calories. Add to that 45mts of (hard-core) dancing and you total a burn of 688 calories. Oh and I'll have to adjust the crunches and leg raises into that as well...I don't suppose they count as yoga? I'm suddenly starting to get concerned about the time limitations imposed by the little factor of attending medical school while I try to get my weight/size/shape under control. 24 hours just aren't enough!

The math is a little hard to work out since regular activities like putting on your clothes and shoes are part of the equation; the real trick is in figuring out how much goes towards keeping my body functioning throughout the day and how much "leftover" goes towards weight loss. I'm anticipating a second journal will be involved - hurray for Excel!

If I haven't confused you, you are amazing! For the moment, my cereal is finished, as is my brain's capacity to comprehend much more of this calorie in versus calorie out game. At 10-something, I'll call it an early night and get cracking on a fresh schedule on a fresh day =)