yeah yeah!!

Following is the email I got today

Dear Kiran Sawhney,

Our editors recently reviewed your blog and have given it a 7.0 score out of (10) in the Health category of Blogged.com.

This is quite an achievement!

http://www.blogged.com/directory/health

We evaluated your blog based on the following criteria: Frequency of Updates, Relevance of Content, Site Design, and Writing Style.

After carefully reviewing each of these criteria, your site was given its 7.0 score

Please accept my congratulations on a blog well-done!!

Sincerely,

Amy Liu

Marketing Department

amy@blogged.com

http://www.blogged.com

Fashion

I saw the movie Fashion by Madhur Bhandarkar today. It is a bollywood Hindi movie based on the fashion industry, the glamour field. How the models lead a very fake life. All that glitters is not gold. Although, there is a disclaimer in the beginning of the movie saying that none of the characters have been taken from real life, you can distinctly point which character is taken from whom in real life. Kangana is Carol Gracias with wardrobe malfunction. There is a character of Rohit Bal, Suneet Verma, etc.

Most of the problems shown in the movie are related to doing drugs, coke, excess smoking, drinking and most of the designers are shown as gay.

While all the above is true, Director of Madhur Bhandarkar repute, who is known to do thorough research on his story, ignored/neglected the other aspect. I would have liked to see models being obsessed with their weight. Anorexia, Bulimia, Cosmetic surgery, nose job, boob job, liposuction, permanent implant.

The Director just showed a girl spending Rs. 50,000/- for a portfolio and going on to become a supermodel. He wanted to expose the glamor industry and show what lied beneath. Was he successful in doing so?

I deal with models and designers on everyday basis. I know their pressures. It is not just about doing drugs etc. It is something much more. Wish that angle had been exposed too.

Mobile version of Dreamfit

Nischal wrote a wonderful post about Mofuse in his blog. Click here to check dreamfit.blogspot.com from your mobile.

So now even my mobile phone readers would have a fast loading mobile version of my site.

My first award on this blog

Thank You Agnes for giving me this award. Love it.

Russell Peter, Madonna

Today I went for Russell Peter live show which was held in Sirifort. I loved it. But I had gone with my two teenaged boys and it was a bit embarrassing to be with them and hear him constantly swear. Rest we had our dose of laughter medicine.

My client today asked me as to what Madonna does for her workout.

Madonna is really old, but she's in amazing shape! She can put young girls to shame with her toned body. Madonna is a devotee of Ashtanga Yoga, which is a particularly strenuous form of yoga. Kareena Kapoor who achieved size 0 also claims that power Yoga helped her achieve that. Madonna is regularly spotted cycling to the gym. That's two workouts in one! A healthy diet is also part of Madonna's game plan. She barely touches junk food, preferring a diet of natural unrefined foods, like whole grains and tons of vegetables. Similar statement about diet plan was also made by Kareena.

Power Yoga is really strenuous. Unlike other forms of Yoga, this is not static. It is dynamic. You continue to move and hence there is cardio and strength training involved. My clients who have done this form with me, absolutely agree that it is a killer workout. It burns about 800 calories in an hour approximately.

I have recently launched a DVD of one hour of workout of Power Yoga which is selling like hot cakes. Many people are working out at home along with the DVD and emailing me that the weight loss which is happening is "to be seen to be believed". No equipment required. No gym, no trainer.

I am ecstatic with the feedback.

Happy Diwali Everyone

My friend Jhoomur Bose is in Melbourne. She wrote in her blog, how much is she missing Diwali in India/Delhi. Jhoomur these pictures are for you and for all of you who are away from home and missing India's Diwali. I hope you can feel at home ( just a bit) by seeing these.

Past few days have been lots of Diwali parties, visiting friends, distributing and receiving Diwali gifts, bad traffic jams on Delhi roads and lots of fun.

Right now I am in my room, with my lap top and I can hear Dhol (drum) beats and crackers on the road outside. Soon it is going to be Puja time.

Thats my Mandir ( Puja Room).





This is the passage to my fitness centre. Jhoomur I hope you remember this one.



My Home

Wedding Affair article

This article, written by me appeared in October issue of magazine- The Wedding affair. It is a nice, bright, glossy, very popular magazine meant for people about to get married. I write regularly for this magazine. This article is titles- Festive Fitness and gives tips on keeping trim during Diwali festivities. I always model for my own article. In one of the pictures, you also see my adorable dog who appeared in print for the first time and is on her way to becoming a celebrity dog. Ha ha.

Yes taking your dog out for a walk is an exercise in itself.

Sun, Vitamin D, SAD

When I was a young kid, most of my afternoons, after coming back from school, were spent on the terrace of our house, basking in the sun. Mom would keep hot meals ready for us and we would enjoy vegetable pulao, hot and fresh, with curd and pickle. We would do our homework there and sometimes I would sleep with my grandmom, there, till the time it was evening, and sun had gone down. Mind you, we were very unaware of sunscreens and all, at that time. Yet, we had the best possible skin, hair, nails and health.

Similarly, at night we did not have AC. We would sleep on the terrace, in cool breeze, gazing the starlit sky and listening to my grandmom's stories. We would wake up when the Sun started hurting our eyes. At times at night, when it started raining, we would quickly have to get up, fold our sheets and run down, with our pillows in hand.

Such things are unheard of now. I have not seen any of today's kids ever experiencing this. They would not compromise their AC rooms and sun would not disturb them early morning because the rooms are covered with heavy drapes. They would mock, if you tell them to have an afternoon meal at the terrace.

Recently, I spent two months in US. I noticed how weather was a general topic of discussion amongst everyone there. Plans for the weekend depended on weather forecasts. We seldom discuss weather in India. It is October in Delhi. Yet it is not winter. I still enjoy nice beautiful sunshine. In US, I was freezing in the month of May, June. In India, I am wearing a nice floral skirt even in October. Now I think, India has the best weather. Yes we do have polllution, but we also have SUN.

Do you know that Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD), a mood disorder, is caused by the lack of light in winter? It is a specific type of major depression. It can appear as the onset of major depression in the fall (September through November) and the symptoms abate in late winter to early spring (March through May). Also, the frequency of SAD can vary depending on the amount of sun in relation to the geographic location. The lack of Vitamin D may contribute to chronic fatigue and depression.

The benefits of Vitamin D

Vitamin D is critical to the proper formation of the skeletal structure. Its purpose is to maintain blood levels of calcium in the correct, normal range and to tell the body to absorb more calcium from food as needed.

Osteoporosis is strongly associated with low Vitamin D. Maintaining normal storage levels of Vitamin D in your body helps keep bones strong and may help prevent osteoporosis in elderly, non-ambulatory individuals and post-menopausal women.

Food sources of Vitamin D include: Milk, which is fortified with Vitamin D. However, it is important to know that dairy products such as cheese, yogurt and ice cream do not contain Vitamin D.

Blog

I am elated. I am on top of the world. I am overjoyed. I am flattered. I owe all this to Shalu, who has written such a cute blog post about me. Please do read it. Thanks Shalu. You are a star.

http://seizetheahamoments.blogspot.com/2008/10/entrepreneurship-passion-persistence.html

and Pushpanjali has left such a nice comment for my previous post.

You both have given me my best Diwali present. Thanks girls. Thanks for being what you are.

Aaj main upar aasman neeche....

Diwali Time

Diwali is so close. Everyone is in festive mood. People are shopping, exchanging gifts, etc.
My clients are still doing their fitness sessions religiously. Strangely they are not making any excuses about traffic jams etc. Everyone seems to be sticking to their fitness regimes. I am also keeping a very tight check on their diet. No one is allowed to binge on extra sweets, chocolates etc. Yes they have late night parties and sleep is getting affected but thats about it.

These days spend extra time, cleaning up your houses and making them spic and span. Visit beautiful fairs that are going on. I particularly like Akshay Pratishthan in Swiss Embassy. Then I also went to Blind School Diwali fair. These are huge fairs where the crowd is great and I do all my Diwali shopping of beautiful candles from. I must confess I am very fond of aroma candles, Incence sticks, reeds, etc. I also host amazing Diwali party for all my friends where I like to decorate my house with fresh flowers, floating candles and serve traditional home cooked food.

Various good malls are hosting flee markets and creating another festive ambience. Try not to indulge in heavy sweets. Enjoy the festivities in healthy manner. Refrain from burning crackers. They spread pollution and are hazardous. Meet up with friends. Go to parties. Dance all night but do not have calorie loaded drinks.

Spread Happiness and Cheer and Wish You all a Very Happy Diwali.

My Blog Worth is Increasing

My blog is worth $6,209.94.
How much is your blog worth?

Worth of my blog

Inspired by http://www.chronicwriter.com/

I checked the worth of my blog

My blog is worth $5,645.40.
How much is your blog worth?

Nike Run Club

Running is a great Activity. We are going to have Airtel Half Marathon in Delhi. The official sponsor for the same is Reebok. But parallel programs are being run by Nike. And they are the ones which are really good. I have been hired by Nike to train their members who enroll for their run club.

Unlike Reebok, who train people only till the marathon, Nike Run club, would continue all year round. It is already a huge success in Bangalore. In Delhi, we have started our training on Wednesday and Saturday- 6-8 AM in Leisure Valley in Gudgaon. It is very dedicated and professionally managed club. We have kiosks where we register, give Nike shoes for trial runs, have security deposits for runners who want to leave their car keys, cellphones etc to run, serve refreshments, water etc and we also record each member's pace, timings and email them individually. I am responsible for each member's warm up, cool down, calisthenics, any questions they may have about their training, health, fitness, etc. I also push them to run and achieve their maximum potential. They are all training for half marathon and enjoying it so much that they would continue this all year round. We are soon going to spread to the other parts of the city as well.

Nike also has a partner in this event called runnersforlife.
I had heard of Hash House Harriers. They also have the same club in Delhi. But what Nike is doing to promote running is the best that any company is doing.

So if you are wanting to run with me and train with me, join me in the Nike Run Club.

Healthy Drinks

What are the options of healthy drinks when you go out.
Lets have a list of some here
1. Iced Tea
2. Fresh Lime/lemonade
3. Fruit Juice
4. Ginger ale
5. Smoothie
6. Green Tea/ Jasmine Tea
7. Kombucha
8. Turkish Mint Drink
9. Fresh fruit juice/ vegetable juice
10. Mango panna
11. Buttermilk/ mango lassi/ lassi
12. Flavored seltzer. Carbonated, but zero calories.
13. Apple cider. Has 120 calories per cup, but packs a tangy, substantial flavor.
14. Ovaltine made with skim milk. It’s chocolaty, fortified with vitamins and minerals, high in calcium and protein and 170 calories per cup.
15. Soya Milk shake
16. KVASS
Kvass is a very refreshing Russian beverage which is made in many Russian households about once a week. Kvass is a lacto-fermented beverage made from stale rye bread. It tastes like beer but is not alcoholic. Kvass is considered a tonic for digestion and excellent thirst. It is also recognized that kvass is safer to drink than water.
Kvass protects against infectious disease, there is no worry about sharing the glass. In wealthy households, various kinds of kvass were made either with rye bread or with currants, raspberries, lemons, apples, pears, cherries, bilberries and lingonberries.
17. non-alcoholic mojito!
To make non-alcoholic mojito (nojito) you need:
Fresh mint
1 lime
1 packet sugar substitute
Crushed ice
6 fluid ounces lime-flavored sparkling water
Crush a sprig of mint in the bottom of a cocktail glass. Squeeze the juice of one fresh lime into the glass. Add 1 package of sugar substitute, crushed ice, and 6 ounces of lime-flavored sparkling water. Garnish with mint and serve.
Or you can try this variation of nojito (mojito) recipe:
crushed ice
8 mint leaf
3 ounces lime juice
1 1/2 ounces sugar syrup
2 ounces club soda
garnish with mint
Fill a pint glass 1/3 full with ice, then add mint leaves. Add the lime juice and sugar syrup. Lightly mash the leaves together with the liquid using a muddle stick or wooden pestle, careful not to tear the leaves. Fill the glass with more ice, then add club soda. Garnish with mint, serve, and enjoy!
18. Coconut Water
19. Milk shake (your choice- mango shake, vanilla shake, strawberry shake etc)
20. Granita
21 Rooh Af Za
22. Sherbet, Thandai and squash made sugar free ( from crushed almonds etc)
23. Soups
24 Barley Drink
½ cup hulled barley
• 1/4 cup leafy green water
• 2 cup water
• Pinch of turmeric
• Pinch of cinnamon
• Pinch of cardamom
• 1/4 tsp bibhitaki powder
• 1/2 tsp honey
Method
1. Bring water to boil in a medium pot. Add barley, cover, and simmer over medium heat for 2 hours. After 2 hours remove from heat and allow to cool for 10 minutes.
2. Place a colander in an empty pan and drain barley.
3. Combine resulting creamy barley water with spices, herbs, and vegetable water.
4. Simmer over medium heat for 2 minutes and allow to cool for 5 minutes, add honey and serve.

Now you add your suggestions/recipes about some healthy options (preferably non alcoholic) that you either make at home or go and have outside at some particular place.

Gardens, Parks & Picnic Spots in Delhi

Ajmal Khan Park
Near Karol Bagh, spread over an area of five acres, has musical fountains run by Delhi Tourism that provides a refreshing getaway from the bustle of the city. The scintillating lights synchronised with music, and the cascading water turn this complex into a quiet heaven, particularly during the heat of summer. The musical fountain is in operation for two hours every day after sunset except on Tuesday.

Buddha Jayanti Park
Good picnic spot. In commemoration of 2,500th birth anniversary of Lord Buddha. Get there from the Ridge Road, Shankar Road or Sardar Patel Marg.

Children's Park
Near India Gate, has swings, slides and an aquarium.

Deer Park
A paradise for morning walkers, has huts for staying and is approachable from Hauz Khas Village, Safdarjang Enclave or near the Delhi Lawn Tennis Association courts side.

Dhaula Kuan Complex
Near Dhaula Kuan. It has an artificial lake, hanging bridge, playground and waterfalls. A cooling experience especially during the summer.

Idhah
Green area around the Idgah in Hauz Khas Enclave.

India Gate Lawns
Beautiful lawns over a large area, a popular evening location. Ice cream and other snacks available from mobile vendors.

Jahanpanah
Ideal place for bird lovers in Chirag Delhi. It also has well developed forests.

Kalkaji District Park
With lakes and beautiful terraced gardens a quiet spot near the Nehru Place office complex. Kalindi Kunj
Near the NOIDA border near Apollo hospital, a good getaway with fountains and colourful lights during the night.

Ladakh Buddha Vihar
A closed area next to ISBT on Ring Road.

Lodhi Gardens
Another picnic spot and a joy for morning walkers with lots of greenery and trees. Access from Lodi Road and near Khan Market.

Mughal Gardens
Located in the Rashtrapati Bhavan complex, it is open to the public only during February and March.

Mehrauli
On the outskirts of Mehrauli near Qutab Minar, the Phool Walon ki Sair is held there in October every year.

Mahavir Gardens
Located on the Ridge it is named after the founder of Jainism, Lord Mahavir.

NDMC Lake Park
Has a musical fountain and is located near the Safdarjang Flyover in Lakshmibai Nagar.

Nehru Park
Near the Ashok Hotel in the Chanakyapuri, it is spread over an area of 85 acres landscaped. Popular picnic spot.

Okhla Dam
Near the Yamuna Canal it has facilities for fishing. Close to the Holy Family Hospital it is a picnic spot.

Rose Gardens
There is one at Shantipath in the Diplomatic Area, Chanakyapuri and another in Hauz Khas opposite Safdarjang's Tomb.

Yamuna Water Front
South of Rajghat, it is a 4 kilometre long boulevard with green lawns and a floral clock.

Zoological Garden
Designed by the West German zoo specialist, Hergenbeck it is between Purana Qila and Humayun's tomb. Closed on Fridays, it is a good picnic spot.

Sports- Delhi

If you are looking to pick up some sports activities in Delhi, there are many options available. Lets see one by one.

For Horse riding, there is a riding club in Race Course.

There are two fantastic Sports Complexes in South Delhi, which have variety of sports. Sirifort and Saket sports complex. These are managed by Delhi Development Authority (DDA). In Sirifort, there are Total 12 tennis courtss including 8 synthetic courts, Tennis practice wall, Indoor Multipurpose Stadium, Badminton, glass back wall Squash Courts, Table Tennis, Billiards/Snooker, Basket Ball, Hockey, Cricket, Cricket Practice pitches, Football, Jogging Track, Children Park, Skating, Golf Driving Range, Pitch & Putt Course, Olympic Size Swimming Pool, Toddlers Pool, Air Rifle/Pistol Shooting Range, Aerobics, Yoga, Taekwondo, Fitness Centre, Naturopathy Centre, Health & Nutrition Centre, Reiki, Sports Shop, Snack Bars. A Multipurpose Indoor Stadium has been recently added.

In South Delhi, there are also other Sports Complexes, situated in Jasola, Vasant Kunj and Munirka.

For Golf, choices are Delhi Golf Club, Classic golf resort (Gurgaon), Qutab golf course, Jaypee Greens Golf Resort (Noida).

For Bowling and Go Karting there is 32nd Milestone.

For Tennis, there is DLTA.

For soccer best place is DIFL

With so much happening in Delhi, you can easily take up a new sport of your choice and make it a part of your fitness regimen.
Which sport are you interested in? Where do you go to play in your city? Share a few words about your choicest sport and about the facility you go to.

Buy Organic Vegetable in Delhi

I am quite particular about the quality of food I eat. I am a vegetarian and the quantity I eat is really less. So I rather make sure that the quality is very good. I like organic fruits and vegetables. One place that I can recommend in Delhi for buying organic products is Namdhari. They have one shop in Green Park Extension and the other in New Friends Colony.

They would have most exotic vegetables and other grocery items. Despite the fact that they have organic fruits and vegetables, their prices are reasonable.

Earlier they were in Green Park Market and also had amazing salad Bar. Talking about the Salad Bar, I would highly recommend Nirula's Potpourri in CP, where they have the best spread of salad buffet for lunch.

Another place worth mentioning is Modern Bazar in Vasant Vihar. I like this because I get everything that would not be available anywhere else. A variety of cheese- low fat, fresh Mozarella, some imported herbs and spices, snacks for my growing up boys to pack in their tiffins, etc.

Similarly there is Morning Store in GK-I, M block Market. These are bit expensive stores but known for their variety.

Fasting

Today is Karva Chauth. For those of you who are not from India, let me tell you that it is celebrated mostly by North Indians. The event of Karwa Chauth is growing bigger with each passing day. Along with traditional items such as henna, beauty products and fashionable clothes, the demand of special eateries are also gearing up. Nowadays, Karwa Chauth is more of fun than a serious festival. The festival of Karwa Chauth provides an opportunity for all married women to get close to their in-laws. It possesses a tremendous social and cultural significance.

In Hindu Dharam, the goal of life is Self-realization or the attainment of God and fasting has been a much sought after path to attain this. All Hindu fast have a deep spiritual and religious significance. According to Hindu scriptures, fasting helps create an attachment with the God by establishing a harmonious relationship between the body and the soul. This is thought to be imperative for the well being of a human being as it nourishes both his/her physical and spiritual demands.


'Karwa Chauth' is a ritual of fasting observed by married Hindu women seeking the longlife, well-being and prosperity of their husbands. Married women keep a strict fast and do not take even a drop of water. It is the most important and difficult fast observed by married Hindu women. It begins before sunrise and ends only after offering prayers and worshiping the moon at night. No food or water can be taken after sunrise. The fast is broken once the moon is sighted and rituals of the day have been performed. At night when the moon appears, women break their fast after offering water to the moon.

Importance Of Fasting

Hindus believe it is not easy to unceasingly pursue the path of spirituality in one's daily life. Therefore a worshiper must strive to impose restrains on to get the mind focused. And one form of restraint is fasting. However, fasting is not only a part of worship, but a great instrument for self-discipline too. It is a training of the mind and the body to endure and harden up against all hardships, to persevere under difficulties and not give up.

Medicative Properties

The ancient Indian medical system of Ayurveda sees the basic cause of many diseases as the accumulation of toxic materials in the digestive system. Regular cleansing of toxic materials keeps one healthy. By fasting, the digestive organs get rest and all body mechanisms are cleansed and corrected. A complete fast is good for heath, and the occasional intake of warm lemon juice during the period of fasting prevents the flatulence.

10 questions

Once again I am inspired from keshigirl for this post. And I am posting 10 questions for my readers to answer

1. What do you do as a part of your fitness regimen? (e.g walking, yoga, tennis, aerobics, etc)

2. Which meal of the day is most important to you and why?

3. Which fitness fads have you followed in the past which proved to be useless?

4. What is your fitness goal? (e.g loose weight, build muscle, get more flexible etc)

5. Do you think hiring a personal trainer makes sense? Do you have one? If you don't then why?

6. Which is your favorite brand of fitness apparel, shoes, gear?

7. What is the most wierd advice you have got till date as far as fitness/beauty/some beauty product/ some particular exercise, is concerned? Or share any myth that you heard.

8. What all changes in your body have you seen when you start exercise?

9. Which food items are you addicted to/ crave for? What is your favorite cuisine?

10. One fitness tip that you would like to share.

Pimples

Another pill worth mentioning to cure acne is Diane 35. Diane-35 is a contraceptive pill that doubles as a very effective acne treatment.
Diane-35 provides contraceptive protection as reliable as other pills while it also relieves acne, greasy skin and hairy skin.
Essentially, Diane-35 works by regulating your hormones: estrogen and progestogen (reproductive hormones) and androgen (which can cause acne, by prompting excess oil production in your skin).

When can you start using Diane-35?

When taking the Pill for the first time or after being off the Pill for a while, you should take Diane-35 on the first day of your period or menstruation.
In this case, contraceptive protection is provided from the first day of Pill intake.

How is Diane-35 taken?

A package of Diane-35 contains 21 Pills. Start with a Pill marked with the correct day of the week. You should take one Pill each day following the direction of the arrows.
After the entire package has been consumed, take a 7-day pause during which you will have your periods. Menstruation generally comes 2-4 days after the completion of the pack. You will notice a more regular, shorter, lighter and less painful menstruation compared to periods before using the Pill.
Start your new package exactly after the 7-day Pill-free pause, even if menstruation has not stopped yet. Thus, each new package is started on the same day of the week as your previous one, making it easy to remember.

How soon can contraception be achieved?

If Diane-35 is started on the first day of your menstruation, then its contraceptive effect is immediate. Contraception continues also during the 7-day Pill-free period.

How do you remember to take it every day?

For best results, make it a daily routine and take your Pill at about the same time / occasion every day (e.g., after breakfast, after brushing your teeth in the morning or at night). Keep your Diane-35 pack in a place where you will easily notice it.
Always have an extra pack of Diane-35 available so that you will not run short of Pills (you may leave the new full pack over the Pill-free period at the same spot so that you will remember to start the new cycle exactly after 7 Pill-free days).


How does Diane-35 work in treating acne?

As an acne treatment, Diane-35 works by blocking the effect of androgen on your skin. Receiving no stimulus from androgen, your skin produces less oil -- thus reducing the formation of new spots and blackheads. After regular treatment with Diane-35®, your acne clears.

The special hormone in Diane-35, Cyproterone Acetate (CPA), attaches itself to androgen receptors in the skin and then blocks the receptors ("like the wrong key jammed in a lock") . The androgens then cannot affect the skin.
Additionally, as a contraceptive pill, Diane-35 also reduces the activity of the ovaries, so that much smaller amounts of hormones, including androgens, are produced.

Pimples

This post is dedicated to mea culpa, who in my previous post asked me about treatment pimples (acne). Years back, I also had this acute problem of acne on my face. It used to really bother and concern me. I had tried everything possible with my limited knowledge (basically all the home made packs recommended by my mom).

Some people told me to drink extremely bitter neem juice. I even did that (foolishly). I used to think that it was due to excessive sweat that I had because of my workout. For quite sometime, I would pacify myself thinking that only teenagers had it, so it was a sign of me being forever 16.

Finally I was training a client of mine, who told me about a dermatologist, whom she was consulting. I took his name and number and consulted him. He gave me a prescription of a drug called Roaccutane. That time, only the imported one was available in Indian market and it was very expensive. Now there is Indian version also available called Isotretinoin. This drug miraculously helped me have a very clear skin. But I must confess that it made me gain tremendous amount of weight which I had to deal with later.

Roaccutane capsules contain the active ingredient isotretinoin. (NB. Isotretinoin capsules are also available without a brand name, ie as the generic medicine.) Isotretinoin belongs to a group of medicines known as retinoids, which are derivatives of vitamin A. Isotretinoin taken by mouth works by reducing the production of the skin’s natural oil (sebum).

Acne occurs due to an excessive production of sebum from over-active sebaceous glands in the skin. The sebum blocks the sebaceous glands, which prevents the oil from flowing freely out and causes an accumulation of sebum under the skin. The bacteria associated with acne thrive in these conditions. They feed on the sebum, and produce waste products and fatty acids that irritate the sebaceous glands, making them inflamed and causing spots.

Isotretinoin decreases the size and activity of the sebaceous glands in the skin, which reduces the amount of sebum that is produced. This stops the glands becoming blocked, and means bacteria are less likely to thrive. It also reduces the inflammation in the skin.

Isotretinoin can have serious side effects and its use must be supervised by a dermatologist. It is reserved for the treatment of severe acne (such as nodular or conglobate acne or acne at risk of permanent scarring) that has not improved with standard treatment involving oral antibiotics and topical medicines.

Be aware of some expected side effects of your Acne Treatment.
Whilst on Roaccutane, you will experience some side effects. These include dryness in several parts of the body and possible tiredness of the muscles and bones.

ROACCUTANE can cause birth defects.

Under absolutely no circumstances should Roaccutane be used by pregnant women or by women who intend to become pregnant - during treatment and for one month after stopping Roaccutane therapy.
All possibility of pregnancy must be ruled out one month before and after you start your Roaccutane treatment. This should include the strict birth control methods.
One month after you've finished your treatment, life can continue as normal, only better.

Who's suitable for ROACCUTANE

Roaccutane is suitable for any person (male or female) with acne, regardless of age. The only people who shouldn't take Roaccutane are pregnant women or women who are breast feeding.

Home Made Face Packs

My Mom always recommends using home made face packs from her kitchen. Though I personally find them quite useless, I must share what all she does recommend.

1. As a teenager, when acne started erupting like a volcano on my face, she told me to grind moong sabut dal (pink colored), mix it with water or milk and apply it. Must say that this was the worst face pack I have ever ever applied.

2. She used to tell me to apply milk with cotton. She said it works like a cleanser, toner, astringent.

3. Multani mitti (clay) was another recommendation.

4. She still applies tomato pulp, cucumber paste, lemon juice on her face, just as she religiously applies mehendi (hena) to color her hair and keeps it overnight. This she does on weekly basis.

5. I also used to apply a paste of chandan (sandalwood) and haldi (turmeric). That was not so bad. At least it smelled OK.

6. I know a guy who applies a juice of potato on everyday basis on his face and swears by it. He says that it takes care of his pigmentation.

Which all products do you use? Do you prefer home made face packs or the ready made ones? Have you tried any that you found great/ridiculous/awesome/awful? Share your experiences.

Sholay

I Just saw this song from our very famous Hindi Movie Sholay. So many people have watched this. It is a blockbuster. Do view this once again. I find both of them so GAY. Wonder why has anyone not noticed this ever. Every move, action, wording of the song is GAY.

Origins

Another product I like is Origins.
I have tried quite a number of their products and they all seem reasonably good. One of their face pack is Out of Trouble® 10 minute mask to rescue problem skin



I use it as a quick fix to clean my skin and feel fresh. The color and texture is like a toothpaste- very white. But in 10 minutes, it does its job well.

Then I have Active charcoal mask



It feels very warm on the face and I decided to use it only in winters. It does not work well in Delhi summer heat. Here you need something cooling and refreshing.

This is a black colored face mask. It helps to clean up even the clogged pores. With lots of pollution in Delhi, it does work well.

Recently I bought Getting Warmer™ Purifying clay mask.



For body, i tried Ginger body smoother



Must say is a great scrub with mesmerizing fragrance.

Their sensory therapy is another exquisite.

What I am not particularly fond of are their cosmetics like mascara, lip glass etc.

But They have one of the best sun screen and eye cream that I have ever tried.

Srinagar pics

Shalimar Bagh



The beautiful Fountains







Entering Mughal Gardens





Very Unusual Tree



Distant view of Pari Mahal



Gate of Mughal Garden



Entering Pari Mahal



Helipad seen from Pari Mahal



Dal Lake and Chaar Chinaar





Shakracharya



Golf Course





House Boats



Shikara Ride

T shirt slogan

At the Airport, I saw someone wearing a T shirt which I must mention here. The slogan on the T shirt said-

Never Go To Bed Angry
Stay Up And
Plot Your Revenge.

I found it amusing.

I will be putting up the pics of beautiful locales of the Kashmir valley soon.

Awesome Beverage

The promise was to dedicate this week to beauty products. But I had a quick trip to Srinagar. And I must dedicate this post to the most awesome hot beverage that I had there. And that is Kashmiri Kahwa.

I am a person who has never tasted tea or coffee in my life. So when this was offered, I outrightly refused. But my host told me that it is not regular tea. It contains kashmiri green tea, saffron, cardamoms, almonds, cinnamon stick (dalchini), cloves (laung), sugar or honey. I found it so refreshing and healthy, that I actually lost the count of number of cups that I drained.

It is served in a samawar which has burning coal in its centre, which keeps the kahwa piping hot. Confession: I have come back addicted to it.

My new title image

Guys if you have noticed the change in my title image, it is all thanks to Abhinav. Do check his blog at http://thephotoshopper.blogspot.com
He has been very helpful with giving me a new logo. In fact, following were the logos he suggested and then mutually we agreed to the one above. If you have any suggestions, they are always welcome.

Initially I liked this one the best