FOOD CHOICES THROUGH AWARENESS

When we have put on additional weight, it’s perhaps time to stop and think, what and how much are we consuming that has led to the weight gain.  Are we yielding to a deeper hunger or emptiness that we are trying to satisfy through certain foods? The satisfaction in seeking comfort through food is only temporary and the end of  the day, one ends up feeling rather guilty to have consumed all those excess calories or junk food.  Food is for nourishment and our bodies deserve care and attention, not just on the outside but from the inside, by choosing foods our bodies truly need in balanced amounts. When we make food choices through awareness, we are being kind to ourselves from a creative stance to nurture ourselves. Reach out to a dietician to plan a healthy diet, or plan one yourself. Reach out to friends and family for emotional support. Start a workout regime three to five times a week. Spend your leisure time in activities that do not involve food as entertaintment. When out with friends at a restaurant, order salads or something that’s low in calories from the menu.

GOING GREEN WITH SALADS

Everytime I make salads which are quite simple, I feel truly joyful. What a visual treat and how wonderful on the stomach! Need I mention the nutritional benefits when everyone is quite aware of how good vegetables are for us.

The picture is a simple salad I made using lots of cucumbers, carrot, yellow, orange and green bell pepper , salad leaves and boiled chicken pieces (now the chicken I optional). You could use some mint leaves for some zest if you wish.

I love the colours of  the bright vegetables like cucumber, salad leaves, the different coloured bell peppers, carrot, corn, beans, purple cabbage. The sight of assorted vegetables gives me a high! LOL. I am not a vegetarian, but I have decided to include less of meat in my diet  and lots more vegetables. I don’t add any dressing to my salad to cut down on the calories. I am fine with salt and pepper, maybe a dash of lime. That’s it. I want to relish the natural taste of  vegetables. The whole world is turning towards green and clean energy. How about going green with food?

AG MART IN SALMIAH

Last week, I paid a visit to AG Mart, the newly opened hypermarket/ shopping centre in Salmiah, next to the Salmiah Palace Hotel building, near Sultan Centre.

I was quite intrigued by the wooden architecture that encompassed the interior of AG Mart. They have almost everything under one roof (electronics, clothes, toys, groceries, fresh fruits and veggies, kitchen ware, dairy, food, live baking counter,  a variety of artists' paints, stationery for school and office, gifts centre, artificial jewellery…..lots of stuff, which takes up the basement, ground and mezzanine floors. They are yet to announce the official inauguration of AG Mart. However, it is open to the public and a pleasant place to shop. I really liked their souvenir section that had a lot of interesting keep sakes of Kuwait.

‘AL KOUT FESTIVAL’ – AMERICAN UNIVERSITY OF KUWAIT

Here are some pictures I took at the AUK ‘Al Kout Festival’ at the American University of Kuwait, today.

It’s a beautiful, well organized event sure to captivate the interest of everyone. The variety of traditional Kuwaiti musical programmes was quite entertainting. The traditional 'Sea Bands' will give you an insight into the music that used to be practised by seafaring people of past. Be sure to tour the entire outer premises of AUK, as there are various events going on in different areas (venues). The National Museum exhibition is in the auditorium of the Liberal Arts Bldg.. The Sadu textiles and soveniers are quite impressive. There are a variety of food stalls that will cater to everyone’s tastes. Camel ride is available for the fun loving.  There is a traditional tent set up depicting traditional Kuwaiti family. A car show with a display of old cars is quite interesting. An impressive Arabian black stallion stands close to the tent. The Al Kout festival will be on until tomorrow, Wednesday 16^th March (from 12.30pm to 9.30pm) and will conclude with the thoroughly entertaining Fatoomah's concert. A must visit event!  Click Here for further details that was posted earlier, on Kuwait-Music.com.

WHAT MY WEIGHING SCALE REVEALED

Yesterday,  I got on my weighing scale, a bit apprehensive....It was day 16 of my dieting.

Voila!  I was so glad and relieved to see ‘72’ on my scale.

I pledge to faithfully stick to my low calorie diet and stay away from fattening foods and pastries. I haven’t started a consistent exercise regime. I hope to work out a plan for that as well, which is supposed to aid weight loss. But most importantly, IT IS an essential requirement for us to exercise to keep fit and healthy.

My weight loss statistics:

25.02.2011 - 76 kg

04.03.2011 - 74 kg

12.03.2011 – 72 kg

Total loss – 4 kg in 16 days

Those of you who wish to lose weight, your desire itself is a fuel to make it work. Do give it a kickstart and I promise, you will enjoy the 'journey of weight loss' and what you can accomplish. You'd be amazed!

BOUQUET OF ARTISTS - 'CELEBRATION OF LIFE OF A WOMAN' ART EXHIBITION AT TILAL GALLERY

It was a pleasure watching the continuous rain on Thursday. The enchanting fragrance from the wet earth filled the air. The evening dawned and it was around 7.30pm.  I told my husband, 'The rains have stopped, why don't we go for the Art exhibition at 'Tilal Gallery'. And I am so glad we could go.
Bouquet of Artists presents quite an intriguing and interesting series of exhibits by six artists. It's based on the theme 'Celebration of Life of a Woman'. An apt exhibition that commemorated with the 'International Women's Day'. I am an art enthusiast who likes to visit Art Exhibitions. If you visit the exhibition and observe closely, every painting 'tells a story', that brings out varying emotions in the observer. You can relate the paintings to various emotions and situations a woman goes through, relating to  real life or life itself.

I am not not going to post many pictures of the paintings, you must visit this wonderful exhibition at Tilal Gallery which is a beautifully designed spacious Art Gallery in 'Tilal Complex'.

Tilal Gallery is on the 1st floor right next to 52 Degrees. The exhibition will go on till Tuesday 15th March. I think it would be closed on Fridays and Saturdays. Call 22256101 to enquire for further details.
Timings : 10.30am to 2pm and 5.30pm to 9.30pm.

The Tilal Complex is quite close to the City Centre building. Here is the link for the map which I borrowed from Grapevine's blog.
http://www.grapevinekuwait.com/uploads/3/4/7/0/3470026/tilalgallerymap.jpg

CAN AND CANNOT

This was my breakfast on Thursday. This is what I CAN have and it's quite filling. A slice of brown bread “Multigrain Toast’, topped with salad leaves, sliced tomatoes and one sliced boiled egg. I would normally have 5 or 6 olives too. Had ran out of them. So I bought Spanish olives from Rumeithya Co-op yesterday. I love olives.

Now this is what I CANNOT have, but my husband can. He had these Arabic sweets with tea last evening. I am not going to feel sorry for myself that I CANNOT have what I devour – Sweets and Pastries. Practising the art of ‘Self Restraint’ is not all that tough as I thought. LOL !!!

Okay, now here is what I made for myself last evening...my own special coffee with milk and a teaspoon of sugar. (Maxwell House coffee). I used a hand whisk to get the foamy effect.

Tomorrow I shall be weighing myself to see if there is any weight loss. I really hope there is. Been working on my weight loss quite sincerely.

GETTINGS RESULTS ON A WEIGHT LOSS REGIME

One of the most asked questions while adhering to a weight loss regime is, 'Why am I not losing weight?' What does it take to lose consistently? The answer lies in smart eating and exercise.  Besides avoiding fried foods, sweets, pastries and so, portion sizes, a low calorie diet and having 5 meals is very important. Try to stick to a time frame when you would have your 5 meals everyday. It might be a bit difficult for working people, but see what you can do.

Do print out a calorie counter from the internet, which can give you an idea to calculate the approximate number of calories you consume each day. An obese person who needs to shed a lot of weight, can go on a 1500 calorie diet and gradually move to a 1200 calorie diet after two months. A person who is overweight, can go on a 1200 calorie diet, gradually reducing your calories to 1000 after two to three months.

For beginners, you would face withdrawal symptoms, as the body sort of refuses the new diet, you will face hunger pangs, a desire to eat more, cravings etc. Don't feel let down, stick to your diet for 21 days and your body gets used to the new diet. It take around 21 days to form a new habit! If you falter in between, don't lose hope, go back on your diet and exercise. Don't give up.

A sample diet I share here is a 1200 calorie diet (approximately).

Breakfast (bewteen 8.30am and 9.30am)-
Low calorie breakfast choices
1. One slice of brown bread with low fat feta cheese (or any cheese), tomato, salad leaves
2. Boiled or poached egg, and any vegetable salad of your choice (with minimal dressing)
3. Fried egg (with grated carrot, choppted tomatoes, onions, spinach) made on a non-stick pan or with very little olive oil
4. A small bowl of porridge (oats in milk) topped with 3 chopped dates and chopped fruits and few nuts (please don't fill your porridge with lots of nuts and fruits - 3 almonds or 3 cashew nuts should do and perhaps, half an apple or small chopped banana).
5. Any traditional breakfast of your country so long as its modified to a low calorie one.
*Breakfast should not exceed 350 calories.
*Those who like to have tea or coffee (black or with milk), DO NOT have it with breakfast. Have your tea between 7am and 7.30am or even earlier as per your office timing. Keep a  gap between you tea and your breakfast. There is no need to avoid sugar in your tea. You can use one teaspoon of sugar (which is around 15 calories)

Mid morning (around 11am)
Any fruit of your choice (banana, apple, orange..) should not exceed 80 calories

Lunch (1pm to 2 pm)
Whatever lunch you would like to have so you don't feel you are on a diet as such. Stick to a small portion. comprising of proteins, carbohydrates and vitamins. White meat like fish, chicken are recommended. Try to avoid red meat. You can have potatoes, rice or brown bread, pasta in small portion. Have plenty of vegetable salad to fill you up. There is a freedom of choice here and restriction is only for portion and calories. Your lunch should not exceed 400 calories. Avoid sweets or pastries for dessert.
*Your lunch should not exceed 400 calories.
* A lot of people avoid 'carbohydrates' like rice, pasta, bread for they fear of not losing weight. Our body needs carbohydrates in small portions. It will not prevent us from losing weight. Without carbohydrates in your diet, you will tend to get depressed, moody and irritable. Will discuss that in a later post.

Afternoon tea/coffee  (around 4.30 pm to 5.30pm)
With or without milk, your choice. Donot add more than one teaspoon of sugar

Dinner (7.30 pm to 8.30pm)
Any soup of your choice, or a small salad with or without a small slice of bread (like dinner rolls, french bread etc.) Should not exceed 300 calories

At night: (optional)
Only if you feel really hungry, have a fruit or low fat milk, half a carrot or a whole cucumber.

You can also have 2 to 3 cups of green tea throughout the day WITHOUT SUGAR. Nuts such as cashewnuts, almonds and peanuts can be had in moderation during the day (not more than 8, as they contain a lot of calories). Do refer to calorie counter on the internet.

Find time to exercise 3 to 5 times a week for an hour. For better results, 5 times a week is recommended. When we want something badly, we can make time for it right?

For those who have diabetes or any health issues, do visit your doctor or dietician  for a diet specially suited for you to lose weight. The diet above is for people who donot have any health issues and  not meant to replace any advice given to you by a healthcare professional.

Here's a quote I found on the internet sometime back, 'Diets don't work. Behavior Modification for life is the only answer. We know what we shouldn't eat, like any fast food, and once you start eating right, your weight problems will go away forever'.

HAPPY WOMEN'S DAY

Hope all you ladies out there had a great day!

Its a day to remind ourselves ladies, that we are special. Its always a pleasure to know and be reassured that we are appreciated. Now it does not happen always...but, .don't let that  slow you down or deter you from appreciating life, your routines, persuits, and following your dreams. Dear ladies, you are a superwoman and you're beautitful. Do treat yourself with kindness and love yourself, you deserve the best! HAPPY WOMEN'S DAY to us!

P.S. I couldn't post this any earlier....one of those busy days for a Woman....LOL....

MY DAY OUT AT THE AVENUES MALL

I had a different sort of time at the Avenues Mall on Sunday. I walked for an hour and half in the mall, covering the ground floor and first floor,  without stopping anywhere. I felt quite tired in the end and thirsty too. I needed to drink something badly. I went to 'Au bon pain' and had a delicious fruit cocktail of strawberry, mango and banana. I told them to pour the juices in layers, so that I could enjoy every sip with delight. ! That was really rejuvenating. I was totally lost in my cocktail, I didn't take a picture. I didn't feel like getting up from there, LOL! I went through their interesting menu and liked their list of salads and wraps. However I didn't order anything to eat. I deserve a pat on my back for resisting temptation, considering my love for food. I promised myself, I would be back one day, when I lose a certain amount weight, I would return to this place to treat myself to something healthy. Those of you who have not tried 'Au Bon Pain', do visit the place at the Avenues Phase II, they really have a nice menu and the prices are reasonable.

I went to a couple of shops and bought a few things I needed. The day went well, and what I was most pleased about is I did manage to get some exercise and also didn't get tempted to eat from any of those inviting restaurants, which I otherwise, would have. To pass each day with a feeling, 'Okay, I managed this day, devoid of temptation and fulfilled the promise I made to myself' is a wonderful feeling. Whenever I might get tempted, I hope a higher intelligence takes over me and I can exercise self restraint. The higher and lower intelligences all function within us and it depends which one we give more importance to or allow to guide us.

And to those of you who wish to lose weight, don't wait for tomorrow....start today! If you falter, no problem, don't worry about it, continue your diet the next day.

I saw this on the window of a shop in Avenues Mall ! ’Be careful what you wish for’ and yes we can do that as we always have the power of choice, Right?

IT'S A BEAUTIFUL DAY IN KUWAIT

I draw the curtains in the morning and what a beautiful bright day it is! The weather is too good to be in the house. My husband has gone to work and the house is quiet. Even when he is at home, I am the one who makes all the noise (doing all the talking! LOL!).

I make some  tea and sit on my favourite part of the sofa (LOL). I put on classical music that is peaceful and energizing. Sipping my cup of tea, I count the number of days I have been on a diet. IT’S EXACTLY TEN DAYS. I am not tempted to weigh my self, but yes I am curious, ‘Did I lose any more weight, after the 2 kg weight loss?’ I shall wait until Saturday and weigh myself. In the meantime, I should continue to be disciplined and stick to the pact I made with myself, to alter my food choices and follow a healthy diet that comprises of  fruits, vegetables, carbohydrates and proteins and eat in moderation.. I am just going to avoid the fried foods and sweets. Good enough!

And for my exercise, I will go the Avenues Mall in 2 hours time and walk up and down the ground and first floor until I complete an hour of walking and then treat myself not to food or sugary stuff that would be all around me, but look around in the beautiful shops of choice and even take some pictures. Oh I love taking pictures.

JAPAN CULTURE WEEK IN KUWAIT – JAPANESE DANCE

JAPANESE DANCE

I was so glad that my husband and I could go for the Japanese Dance held on Thursday 3^rd March at the Abdull Aziz Hussein Cultural Centre in Mishrif. They had also held Ichitaro’s Taiko performance (Japanese Drums) which I could not attend.  

I  have always been intrigued by the Japanese heritage, culture and tradition. I enjoy watching documentaries and travelogues on Japan. There’s so much to learn from them. I had a friend whose son worked in Tokyo and she would always share beautiful stories of Japan and the people as she made several visits to Japan herself. 

Anyways, coming back to the Japanese Dance, it was an amazing and totally entertaining event. Every dance left a beautiful impression, though I couldn’t understand the language or the songs, a leaflet given to us that described every dance, helped us understand what each dance was about. I believe language is not a barrier when it comes to enjoying music and dance of other cultures. I am certain the audience enjoyed every dance.

There were many dances that encompassed ancient tradition, humour, vigour, rhythmic styles, exuberance of youth, harvest, rejoice of catching fishes, happiness, dances using fan and umbrella, well dances for every celebration!. All the dances had an element of discipline as well as perfectionism. At the end of the show,  all the dancers came down the stage to where the Japanese Ambassador was seated and the Japanese Ambassador got up and danced along with them! Some of the audience too started swaying to the music. The dancers passed amidst the audience which really got the audience delighted. Later as people were leaving, many stood to take pictures with dancers who looked lovely in their traditional costumes. My husband took a picture of me with the the dancers as well. Hehehehe. I am not going to post that picture here, though.

We had a such great time. It was really nice of the Japanese Embassy to bring the Japanese traditional dance troupe ‘Kikunokai’ to showcase such a beautiful dance performance for the people of Kuwait,  as a part of the 50-20-5 celebrations.

I am sorry I haven't done justice to the pictures. In reality, the costumes were so colourful and unique.