CHITRANNA: 2012

Sunday, 30 December 2012

Healthy way of losing weight

chitrannaa.blogspot.com

The earliest memory of me checking my weight was when I applied for a job at the age of 18. I was 5.2" with a weight of 52 kgs. I had always been conscious of my weight since then, both from the point of looks and health, and have been steadily monitored it. Even after my two pregnancies, I had taken care to get back into shape once the children started growing up. But then suddenly I lost control. Though I was aware that I was putting on weight, as invariably happens once you near forty, I just could not control it. Suddenly one day my weighing machine showed 71 kgs and I panicked.

Never skip breakfast

Then started my rigorous journey of exercises, experiments with diet, trying every trick of the trade, but to no avail. The first thing I did was to skip my breakfast and eat light which proved counterproductive as the early morning empty stomach made me weak and moody and in fact my weight increased.

Walking and Jogging

Then I started walking and jogging. Both my friend Kalpana and myself would set out in the morning at 6 o'clock to Krishna Rao park and jog. Alas! Being very beautiful and attractive ( seriously :-), when we started jogging, we not only had the company of dogs wagging their tails running behind us, but some grandpas also started to accompany us to every corner of the park trying to show off their wrinkled biceps! We were in no mood to pamper and provide free entertainment to these oldies a la Ashok Kumar in Shaukeen and soon did a disappearing act.

Aerobics

After Ashok Kumar, came Rekha. Yes forever young rekha, a great inspiration to us with her aerobics practiced sexy and lustrous body. Off came Jane Fonda and her DVD, (of course she was an inspiration for REKHA too ) and there started the aerobics dances at home. No doubt it gave some free relaxation and entertainment to my hubby, who would sit behind me with his coffee cup when I practiced in front of TV. It kept me extremely fit and energetic, but weight loss? No sir. Sorry.

Liquid diet

So it was back to basics again. My father had once narrated, how during his young days, on the advice of some Ayurvedic doctor, had survived on a liquid diet for a month and had lost almost 20 kgs. But there was a hitch. Every morning you have to drink one spoonful of castor oil on an empty stomach which was supposed to cleanse your system. Not only the taste of the castor oil but the failure to attain weight loss has left a bitter taste in my mouth.

Weight loss fads and gimmicks by clinics

Then came the wonderful advertisement from VLCC, a health clinic which promised an assured weight loss of 5 kgs for 5000 rupees in 10 days. What is 5000 rupees compared to a sculpted body? Off I rushed to their center and was thrilled to bits when I lost 750 grams on the very first day. Yes sir that's how they measured - in grams! I calculated in my mind, if this is the result in a single day, where would I be after 10 days! All my tight dresses pushed at the back of my wardrobe started dancing in front of my eyes. Ha! Only dreams are made of such stuff. What was actually being done in the clinic was, like in a physiotherapy lab, they would connect low voltage wires with pads to our body and make us lie down for 45 minutes. Immediately on coming out they would ask us to urinate and then check weight. Naturally, when your body is heated, the fluids would dry up and the body would lose some weight. After coming home, I drank lots of water and ate one small custard apple and maintained the diet chart they had provided. Next morning I was aghast when the scale tilted to an additional kg. Instead of admitting the shady deal, they had the audacity of admonishing me for eating a custard apple. So the crux of the matter was, had I stopped eating and drinking life long and continued with their ironing, I would have lost a lot of weight. But the better sense prevailed and a bid a hasty retreat.

Yoga - Pranayama - Holistic treatment by Baba Ramdevji

Every cloud has a silver lining. It came in the form of Yoga Guru Baba Ramdevji. One morning when I was surfing through Aastha channel, I came across the live telecast of Yoga Shivir being conducted by Ramdevji where the participants were sharing their experience of losing 5, 10 even 15 kgs of weight. As I was always inclined towards Indian system of medicines, Yoga and Ayurveda, and also impressed by the rhetoric and impressive oratory skills of swamiji, I thought to give it a try as I had nothing to lose except weight! I ritualistically started practicing the yoga and kapalbhati pranayama as propagated by him every day. When I first checked the weight after one month, I could not believe my eyes. The scale which had almost stuck at 71 showed 70. It inspired me so much that every month on the same date I had a steady date with the weighing machine and it never failed me. Each month it was a reduction of a minimum of one kg. After I reached 61, I have been maintaining the weight. I know if I push a little harder I can go down by another 3-4 kgs. Mmm. Will do it soon.

Maharshi Patanjali - The Yoga Sage from India

It is an ancient breathing technique taught by Indian sage Patanjali, a breathing exercise for our internal organs. Just the way we do push ups and bending and stretching exercises for our external body, the pranayama is for the naval and heart centers. It activates the cells, removes toxins and fights obesity in abdominal region and helps digestion and tones down the abdominal muscles.

What is kapalbhati ?

The method of doing kapalbhati is simple. Just sit in sukhasana or padmasana, any comfortable position, hold your thumb and index finger touching and resting lightly on your knees with palms turned upwards.Sit in a calm erect position closing your eyes. Inhale slowly and exhale forcefully through your nose. This will cause the abdomen to contract and activate the inner organs. Repeat this process in a cycle of ten rounds of ten and gradually increase to a batch of 5 or 10. In the beginning you may stop at frequent intervals but with practice you can do a hundred counts and can go on increasing. Check your weight before starting this regime, do it daily for one month and check the weight. You will definitely lose weight in a most healthy way. But those with high blood pressure or heart disease should not do this.

Advantages of Kapalabhati

The added advantage of kapalbhati pranayama is that not only does it cures the body ailments and drastically reduces the weight scientifically, it is also a great mind healer, making you emotionally strong and at peace with your inner self and also with your surroundings.

The points to remember is that this pranayama should be done on an empty stomach and at your own comfortable pace. Once you gain confidence with your practice, you can increase the duration to 15 to 20 minutes. The results are instantaneous.

So go ahead. Tone up your mind and body with yoga and pranayama. It will remain your friend for life.

Saturday, 24 November 2012

plant jokes and gardening humour | How I caught my plant thief | funny anecdotes about my plant thieves

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This extended festival of lights has always enchanted and enthralled me since childhood. Amma would say " keep some crackers for Tulsi Lagna" and we would obey, eagerly waiting for the D day. I would invariably ask amma whom Tulasi is getting married to and she would smile and say " Damodara i.e Krishna ". Then she would narrate the story.

This is the story of Vrinda, the daughter of giant named Nemi and the faithful wife of demon Jalandhar. Being born in ocean, Jalandhar claimed supremacy over the ocean and all the treasures churned out during Samudra Manthan. He declared war over Gods and could not be conquered because of the boon that he would be free from death till his wife Vrinda was chaste. Vishnu, in order to kill Jalandhar, assumes her husband's form and beguiles Vrinda. When she realises this, Vrinda cursed Vishnu to become a stone ( Saligrama ). Vishnu regrets his action and in admiration of her impeccable chastity and piety, transfers her into the sacred Tulasi plant and promises to marry her annually on this day of Kartik month.

The story is registered in my mind along with the heavenly aroma and the taste of laddige prasada amma would prepare on that day. ( yeah, I will give your the recipe!.)

The Tulasi plant and Parijatha flower connected with our rich culture and vibrant heritage have always remained my favorites. Parijatha with its divine and pristine beauty and Tulasi with her love for Lord Krishna and with the her medicinal value have been on the top of my priority list of home plants. It has been my cherished dream to have a big Parijata tree in my aangan along with rows and rows of Tulasi plant.

Alas! I always proposed and thieves disposed. On many occasions whenever I chanced upon Tulasi seeds, plants or saplings at resorts, gardens and friends' houses, I would beg or borrow and bring them home. Living in a west facing house, I was always forced to plant the seeds and saplings on the compound in planter box.

I would squeal in delight when rows of saplings would take life. But invariably in a week or so, to my chagrin, my saplings would start disappearing. I had neighbors who would put up beautiful pots and plants on footpath without any problem and here I was losing every single sapling to these thieves. But like a never- say-die Trivikrama and Bhageeratha I would go on and on with my efforts and face the same results!

As if this was not enough, I had this " Gow Matha ", always pulling out my little "babies", if by any chance left by those thieves with her long tongue right in front of my eyes, disregarding my shouts and threats. I am really dismayed by their attitude and judgement! I have seen in many areas, besides their huge gardens, these "RICH(?)" people will occupy footpaths with mini gardens and these "holy cows" sitting by the side of these gardens lazily munching with semi closed lids, never daring to even glance at the plants. Is it fear of "RICH N POWERFUL"? Naah! Methinks she just loves the taste of our little angels, put up with all the love of our heart and soul !

I would try to deter her with some prickly boundaries. No sir! She would care two hoots for such silly tricks! As a last resort one day I put some big glass pieces as boundaries for my planter boxes. Hey! Don't look so flabbergasted! Genuinely I meant no harm, just wanted my kids to grow! Don't take side with her, she was not as innocent as she looked. I stood there when she arrived and we both stared at each other. She would look at me and then at the glass boundary and at the plants beyond ! Did I see a glint of amusement, sarcasm or was it an indulgent motherly look at we selfish human beings in her eyes? Whatever - she decided not to pursue and left me alone with my plants since then.

Before I could heave a sigh of relief and hope that all is well, this extraordinary incident happened. One evening around 7.30, both myself and my husband Prakash were talking in the balcony in the first floor. Suddenly Prakash looked down and exclaimed " Look! somebody is lifting your Tulasi pot!" This fellow beat everybody else in the game! Instead of plant, he had lifted the whole pot and before I could come out of my dismay and shout, he just coolly walked off !

I pulled Prakash's hand and dragged him down, pushed him on to his bike and hopped behind him in my nightie.For 5-10 minutes we had totally lost any trace of him. But soon we could spot him walking in the next cross, holding the pot to his chest. As Prakash drove his bike by his side, I jumped from the bike, ran across and held him by the collar of his jerkin like a Jhansi Ki Rani!

All the anger and frustration towards my unknown thieves came surging as I gave him a sound piece of my mind. So stunned was he at being caught and at my verbal tirade that he even forgot to close his open mouth. By this time a few passersby had gathered, who were both angry at his misdemeanors and bemused at my histrionics and heroism! Like a trophy I carried my Tulasi back home a midst much fanfare from my husband and kids. But since then I have almost given up the hope in the face of such onslaught by these "petty" thieves, and my dream of having my little rows of Tulasi has remained just that... A dream...

One day... May be one day.............

LADDIGE ( Groundnut and Hurigadale Laddu )

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This is sych a dekicious and mouth watering dish, hardly time consuming and so easy to make that even beyond this festival, I always prepare it which is relished by my family and friends with delightful glee.

Ingredients :

Roasted and pounded Groundnuts : 2 cups ( They should be pounded into big pieces,size of hurigadale )

Hurigadale : 2 cups

Jaggery powder : 1 1/2 cups

Ghee : 1 cup

Elaichi powder : 1 tea spoon

Preparation :

In a thick bottomed kadai heat ghee and jaggery powder only till jaggery melts. Remove from the heat. Add elaichi powder, ounded groundnut, hurigadale and mix well. Wait till the heat recedes and then roll into laddoos.

HAPPY UTHANA DWADASHI !

Methi Pulav - Avarekalu and Menthe Soppina Pulao

Nuchinunde and Sandige Huli recipe | steamed lentil dumplings and huli | dal dumplings | Nucchina unde and Sandige Huli recipe

Deepavali.. With Besan Undi, Chakkli and chooda !!!

Spinal Surgery

Tuesday, 18 September 2012

NATUROPATHY- NATURE CURE HOSPITAL

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UJIRE-DHARMASTHALA-SOUTH CANARA-KARNATAKA- INDIA

This is an in depth analysis and guide for the Nature cure hospital at Shantivana - Ujire - Dharmasthala - Karnataka - India.

Dhanyosmi! This was the overwhelming feeling I had about the noble souls who had envisioned and started this Nature Care Hospital for a holistic treatment. They had a vision, a noble cause and a yearning to serve and guide the society towards a healthy living.

I had first heard about the nature care hospital at Dharmasthala way back may be in 2006-2007 when my friend Sujatha from Tumkur, who had been there for treatment narrated her wonderful experiences. She was all praises for the service oriented treatment meted out there. It had always remained at the back of my mind that I should visit the place. In fact just a month back when we programmer friends at the monthly meet were sharing our health and stress woes, we were sort of planning that at least once we should skip this daily mundane and escape to Dharmasthala. I, in my wildest dreams, would not have imagined that exactly one month later when all my colleagues were attending the meeting, I would be here in Dharmasthala indulging in a holistic treatment for the body and soul.

Yes. That is what it is. I think there is a wrong notion that one should visit this place only when one has health issues or obesity problems. Contrary to this I feel that once one reaches 40, it is a place one must visit ( But of course, there is always heavy demand and one has to book the rooms very well in advance and generally, very healthy persons are not solicited, as they want to address the problems of the patients first.)

The accommodation in Ujire has been made to suits to all pockets and budgets. There is a general ward for Rs.300 per person per day, a special room at Rs.450 per day on twin sharing, Deluxe rooms on twin sharing at Rs.700 per day which has TV and AC. Then there are cottages which cost Rs.1250 per day per person,wherein the occupants have the advantage of having some of the massages and food in their rooms. The rent includes the room rent and food charges.For additional treatments they charge a nominal fee which works out to approximately Rs.1000 for a stay of ten days, with two treatments per day.If one needs further treatments like acupuncture, physiotherapy, then it costs about another 50 rupees per day.

The procedure of admission is quite simple. The rooms can be booked over phone, but well in advance. Immediately on arrival, an in-house doctor will check us, prescribe further clinical tests needed, if any, gives us a diet scheme depending on our body constitution and health problems. These notes will be recorded on a card which will be updated everyday by the doctor visiting us. We are supposed to carry this card for all our treatments, juices and foods.

Well, talking about food, this could prove the ultimate boon or bane for our stay. Here is the real catch. Those who have a strong will power and self-control over their food habits need not worry. For weak minded, or those who love food ( then, who would not!? ) this is a strict no-no. We are not supposed to carry any eatables from home. At the entrance gate itself the security will whisk us and take away any eatables found on us. Once we enter inside, other than the food provided by the staff, we will get ABSOLUTELY NOTHING. Forget tea or coffee, even milk is out of our reach. But if you have some funny bones, you will thoroughly enjoy the sights there at the dining area!

It will be a sight to watch how people used to indulge in sumptuous meals looking longingly at a hot chapati or a person weighing more than 100 kgs holding his cup of papaya gingerly and take half an hour to eat it or the girls who are officers back home in their towns, but are on juice diet at the centre pouncing on the plates of persons who are allowed rice.

There are three varieties of diet foods provided here : boiled diet, raw diet, and juice. The taste every day for every food remains just the same ( In fact I always wondered how could they prepare it exactly the same way everyday. If you have tasted it for one day, then you have tasted it for all days! ) The boiled diet consists of rice boiled with a little green gram dal, a few vegetables and just a hint of salt and pepper. A few boiled vegetables, which would be cucumber, ash gourd or sorekai – thats it! - again with a hint of salt and pepper.

You have a choice of soup or buttermilk. Hello don't jump with joy. Soup means the vegetable stock of the above mentioned vegetables and buttermilk without salt or sugar ! Plus a cup of papaya or one apple.

The evening food will be the same type of vegetables with two dry chapatis instead of rice and everything else will remain the same. For raw diet, it is a salad of cucumber or carrot – I would rather not use the word salad because except the cut vegetables, it has no other ingredients – and on occasional lucky days you will find finely chopped apple or pineapple in it. No salt or khara ! And if the doctor thinks that it will be more food for you, they may just prescribe one apple or one cup papaya along with buttermilk or soup. Mind you, if you feel instead of buttermilk let me take soup – sorry madam, you have to get doctor's permission – who will be available in the dining hall - before taking the plate. Once you cross that point, even if you beg, it cannot be changed. Sorry.
And for those less fortunate souls, who are overweight,it is a glass of juice four times a day ! Don't feel so sad, at dinner and lunch time, they will
keep the juice made from lime and honey and you can have an extra cup or two! Other than that if you complain of tiredness you are advised to drink lots of water. Don't worry, you will get used to it and in extreme situations, doctors are there round the clock to take care !

The food picture looks extremely bleak – is it ? No that is not the case. If you feel you will not be able to sustain or feel weak, you can approach the doctor next day who will switch over the diet from raw to boiled or increase the number of chapatis or fruits. But then forget about the weight loss ! But for the fortunate few who need not worry about the weight, there is a choice of ragi ganji at 9 am. and sprouts with cucumber slices at 4 pm, plus a cup of milk at 9 pm. BUT FORGET ABOUT THE TASTE, SALT AND SUGAR AND SPICES! It is the principle of the hospital that not only should you eat SATWIK food, but control your craving for food too.

The daily routine is : getting up at 5 in the morning, go for a walk, yoga and pranayama from 5.30 to 7 A.M. At 7.30, it is juice – whichever the doctor has prescribed for you , it may be line and honey, carrot, ash gourd or bitter gourd. Then back to rooms where everybody will sleep for a mud pack on their eyes and tummy for about 20 minutes. Immediately after, rush with your card to the treatment area where you will be given the treatment which your doctor has prescribed for you.

These treatments any day beat the best of spas' treatment. It includes a variety of water treatment like hip bath, spinal bath, cold or neutral water immersion bath, jet bath, whirlpool.... There are still many more. Or steam bath, sauna, reclining steam bath, oil massage, mud bath, haldi pack... you name it and they have it. Essentially it is back to nature - an idea of treating us with five elements earth, wind, water, fire and the sky. I must never forget the attitude of the staff involved in the treatments. They always have a smile on their lips and a spring in their feet. They are virtuous to a fault.

Each treatment is given with such a sincerity and dedication that you will feel like you are in the lap of your mother when the personnel share your pain with a sympathetic understanding and rejoice at your relief.

We were fortunate to be at this place on 15 th August and in the serene atmosphere on a bright and sunny morning we witnessed the flag hoisting and sang the National Anthem with a pride. After the ceremony we were no less than the school children when trays filled with some covers arrived at the venue. There was excitement all around and murmurs of laddoos, chocolates, sweets filled the air. You should have seen the face of all the recipients when they opened the covers and found that there were two dry dates and two tiny pieces of rock sugar in it! What a healthy way of celebration!

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Though the entire building is spread over a vast area, a french architect has designed it so well that from every room, hall and window you can view a garden and rain.
If this is the photo of our bathroom window you can very well imagine how the entire building is built. The rooms, treatment and yoga centre are all a midst greens and gardens and throughout your walk from one end to the other, there is proper shelter so that no rain or sun can dampen or hamper your spirits.

There is a swimming pool, a gym,a hillock to walk and indoor games and library. But library and TV will be available only at free or rest time so that nobody misses the treatments or sessions. The yoga and pranayama are taught with utmost proficiency and personal care.

There is a personalised treatment and care for every inmate and on the last day we would be given a follow up chart and advice for our treatment and diet back home. That day, we will be given passes to visit Sri Manjunatheshwara Temple which entitles us a direct entry to the sanctum sanctorum.

I have a greatest sense of gratitude towards Dharmadhikari Sri Veerendra Hegde, The Man behind this noble venture and when I had the fortune of meeting him at Dharmasthala, I made an humble request to him to start one such unit in our very own Bangalore. My joy knew no bounds when he informed me that the land has already been purchased on Tumkur road in Bangalore and the treatment centre may come up there soon.Amen!

Sunday, 2 September 2012

holige recipe | obbattu recipe | bele obbattu | puran poli karnataka style recipe

chitrannaa.blogspot.com

The Gowri festival is fast approaching and THE sweet for this festival, of course, is obbattu. I had been following up with my mother, many of my friends and relatives, and there are as many recipes. And there has always been that confusion over maida or atta, kadle bele or togari bele and akki hittu or kadle kai enne. Now I got the perfect recipe from my friend Padmaja, who over several experiments had arrived at the perfect, healthy and tasty recipe of obbattu. The method is simple and moreover if you have a sweet tooth, you can prepare and keep the hoorana ready in the fridge and make obbattu at a very short notice too. I tried it today and the result was mind blowing. Sure you would love to prepare it and enjoy!

Ingredients :

Maida 2 cups
Atta 1 cup
Turmeric powder 1 tablespoon
Salt 1 teaspoon
Groundnut oil 1 big cup
Water to mix 1 1/2 cups
Kadale bele (chana dal) 2 cup
Togari bele (Tur dal) 1 cup
Pounded Jaggery (unde bella) 3 cup
Yalakki (Elaichi) pudi 1 tablespoon

Method :

Mix maida, atta with a tablespoon groundnut oil, salt and water and knead thoroughly. Set aside for 3-4 hours.
Separately cook kadale bele(chana dal) with a lot of water and togari bele(Tur dal) with equal quantity of water.
When cools down drain the excessive water.
In a thick bottomed kadai, mix dal and jaggery and cook, stirring continuously while monitoring the heat.
Once it is cooked evenly and all the water is absorbed, mix elaichi powder and let it cool.
Once it cools, grind to a nice paste. If you are doing the aloo paratha, you know that the consistency of this should be as of the stuffing.
Make little balls of the mix (hoorana) and set aside.
Separately make small balls of the atta, roll into small puris and stuff the hoorana and cover like a paratha.
Do this for all the puris and set aside.
Now roll the obbattu on a plantain leaf or holige paper dipping the dough in rice flour.
Cook on a tava putting generous quantity of oil.
Lightly cook on both sides.
Serve hot with ghee and milk.
The Best way to eat obbattu according to my grandpa is to put hot milk and ghee in a cup, dip hot obbattu into it and eat.
Forget the calories for a day!

CHITRANNA

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Sunday, 30 December 2012

Computer programmer

Life Insurance

How to lose weight with Yoga and Kapalabhati Pranayama

Saturday, 24 November 2012

plant jokes and gardening humour | How I caught my plant thief | funny anecdotes about my plant thieves

Methi Pulav - Avarekalu and Menthe Soppina Pulao

Nuchinunde and Sandige Huli recipe | steamed lentil dumplings and huli | dal dumplings | Nucchina unde and Sandige Huli recipe

Monday, 12 November 2012

Deepavali.. With Besan Undi, Chakkli and chooda !!!

Saturday, 3 November 2012

Spinal Surgery

Tuesday, 18 September 2012

NATUROPATHY- NATURE CURE HOSPITAL

Sunday, 2 September 2012

holige recipe | obbattu recipe | bele obbattu | puran poli karnataka style recipe

Thursday, 1 March 2012

Recipes for Kids

Saturday, 25 February 2012

BITTER SWEET LIFE

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