Spiritual Fat-Loss..

Finally I have decided to write about my journey of fat loss. People have been asking me and often and  I find it difficult to explain, I don’t have things to say what they want to hear about the fat loss. In this post, I will be taking you through my journey. It’s not necessary that this is the only way of doing it or it’s the right way. This is just my way, and I am sure there are various ways out there, you just need to figure yours.

Fitness, gym, good food has always been a part of my life as my mother owns a health club. I have grown up knowing the benefits of treating your body right. I have been working out since a very young age, but I was always this tall-heavy girl. I wasn't depressed or sad about it at all. I never missed onto anything because I was not of a particular shape or leaner /slimmer. I got the attention, I always stood out, had my own style and had a great set of people around me, no medical issues either and I was fit. So I never had any desire as such to lose weight for an external factor.

Spiritual journey

There are plenty of reasons behind our body types

-Hereditary

-Our lifestyle

-Medical issues

-Our mind-spirit-body balance

Many a times in spite of us being very particular about our eating habits and workout regimes and also medically fit we tend to remain over-weight, have we tried knowing what could be the reason? Here are some more reasons for our over-weight issues

-Not being able to let go of past

-Fear or trust issues

-Not making the required change when needed

-Blocked energies

In such cases, if we don’t release the blocks and break the patterns, the issues stay in our body in form of fat, for some people they get medical problems like high BP, heart problems etc, for some it reflects on their personal or professional life and for some it reflects on the skin or body fat or extreme weight loss too.

In around 2010 I got in touch with my spiritual side, I started working on myself, meditation, affirmations, crystals, releasing blocks, manifestations, balance, awareness etc. Mandalas have been a beautiful partner in this journey with me. While I was getting deeper into my being, I was as usual working out too. I had absolutely no goal or any fat/weight loss agenda. I was completely detached from the result of my workout. I did not put any conditions on my fitness regime. I just did my workouts and ate right. And as I started becoming more aware and as things started coming into balance, I started losing my fat too. Because of the awareness, I came in touch with my body, what it is, what is it saying, what suits it. Our bodies are very wise, if you are able to listen to what it says, more than half of our life issues would get sorted. Since then I have been spiritually inclined and now my work too is related to spiritual and healing aspects of life.

The workouts

As I mentioned, I have been working out since a kid, but since the last 3-4 years, I have been very consistent. I do cardio, weights, functional training and yoga. I have had phases, it started with 6-8 months of rigorous yoga, then I shifted to weights and yoga, later it was functional training and currently it is weights and cardio. I keep changing my workout regime every couple of months. The only thing I would suggest is that never do only cardio, always team up your cardio with functional training or weights. I listen to what my body wants and then I use my mind to chalk out the program and my heart to fully get into it with unconditional love, no goals, no targets, just fitness. As much as an expert you are about workouts, a trainer will always help. They help you go that extra mile. Keep trying new things, give your body a treat, your body too needs a change.

Diet

It is extremely important to eat right. NEVER put your body into a starvation mode, it will only take you downhill. No skipping of meals or avoiding carbs, no crash diets. Each body type is different, and to know your body type take help of an expert. I eat 6-7 meals a day and I am trying to reach 8. I eat rotis, rice also [not necessary brown, most of the times its white rice] I don’t take any health drinks or bars. My protein source is 4-5 egg whites every day, milk, dal, chicken, paneer, soya, curds etc. I don’t eat junk food, bakery items, nor sweets. [just once in awhile] I haven’t had sugar at all since 4-5 years. I don’t deprive myself from anything. Today my body has learned to eat what is good for it, so I don’t feel that I am missing anything. To achieve this, it takes time, but you can do it.  Nourish your body, eat lovingly, enjoy your meals.

Other tips

-          Get inspired by others, but don’t compare. Find your own way, don’t blindly copy anything. Make friends with your body. I actually talk to my cells while working out.

-          You did not gain weight over-night, you will not lose it over-night. Trust your body, give it atleast 6 months to acknowledge the fact that things are changing, patterns are breaking and now it has to get fitter.

-          To start with, I would suggest, join a gym or any group class, it gives you a feeling, that you are not alone on this journey and people are supporting you. This helps you boost your confidence and trust levels. Eventually, when you get on track, then your support system builds internally.

-          Always give your body one day rest from the workouts.

-          While working out, wear good fitting clothes, it helps you feel  good about yourself.

-          Right shoes is VERY important.

-          Always remember If you are fit, you can work towards rest of the things you want in life. What is the point if you have achieved it all, but are unfit to live your desired life.

-          Most importantly, only if you will accept your present self, you will be able to walk towards a better you. So don’t whine or criticize yourself, just be grateful of what you are and strive for what you want to be.

-          Prioritize fitness always, take out time for your body.  Start with 15 mins and soon you will be able to reach an hour.

This post is about my personal experience.  I wish all of you out there a fit and a happy life! Cheers!

P.S - I would like to thank my parents [for owning the gym!]

Bimlaji – who has been my trainer for a very long time [ I train with other trainers too but always get back with her!]

Prerna – For helping me with my spiritual journey

My friends – for complimenting me every now -n-then!

Tara – my maid, who helps me with my diet!

This too shall pass..

So here is the thing, cliché but true, running away or avoiding emotions does not help in the long run. This is how it happens –

A certain emotion [sadness/anger/etc] has entered your space.

Our first reaction is to run away from it or to avoid it, so what do we do? We distract ourselves. How?

 - Shopping

 - Partying

 - Taking a vacation

 - Eating/drinking [excessively]

And then? 

We are back to feeling miserable [maybe even more than what we were before]

So what I have learned here is, ‘feel it all up’ because unless you don’t release it on your own, it will find its own way of releasing, spoiling your health, illness, skin problems or reflecting on any other aspect of your life.

Its very basic, something that comes, has to release, either you give it a way to release or it will find its own.

So feel it up, feel it all up, cry it off, yell it away, feel the sadness or the anger.Its OK!  Yes you can choose to travel, but just a change of location wont help, as the issue is not external, its inside and its always as within, so with out. And trust that 'this too shall pass!'

The following line portray 'As within, so without' beautifully!

'Maine ye bhi socha hai aksar

Tu bhi main bhi sabhi hai sheeshe

Khudhi ko hum sabhi mein dekhe

Nahi hoon main hoon main to phir bhi

Sahi galat tumhara main

Mujhe paana, paana hai khud ko'

Breathe...

‘Breathing’ -  the very basic essential of our living. We are alive because we breathe. It’s the single most important thing to stay alive. And do we breathe completely? We just somehow manage to do the inhale-exhale activity.

And then when we realize this, we have to take out time and learn to breathe [meditate, deep breathing, healing  etc.] So basically we are taking out time from our life to live our life! [How crazy does it sound!]

My whole point here is, the very basic[breathing] here is half-hearted so are we really living a full-fledged life? We are constantly in search of something. We don’t even cherish our finds, because we immediately have to get on the search engine for something else. What are we racing against and why?

I would rather use the word ‘finding' than ‘searching’

Finding gives a completion, searching goes on and is never ending. I’d always say ‘I will find my way,’ instead of,’I am searching for a way’.  

And to be frank, we anyways don’t know what is going to happen; it’s insane to look out for guarantees in life. We apply conditions, evaluate, calculate, predict and after all this, does it sum up to what you had thought?

Breathe, breathe completely, let your stomach bloat up and feel the air passing through each cell of your body. With each complete breath, you will open up new avenues. To smell the fragrance of a rose or of your favorite perfume, you exhale completely, don’t you?! That’s how it is for life, you get the best when you give in completely!Live full heartedly, breathe like you are changing your world. Get your basics right, I too am trying. 

Exhale - hold - Inhale = Life

Who am I?

So who are we after all? Are we that sweet girl/boy or that girl/boy with an attitude? Are we that snob or are we the nerd? Are we the angry rebel or the easy going one? Are we all of these or none of it? 

I recently figured out, I have been an image all my life. An Image xyz person had about me, I have been that and if an abc person had a different image, I have been that one too. So basically, I have been just an image or maybe different images at different given time. 

And when I realized this [a few weeks back] It was absolutely mind-blowing and core-shattering! After I sort of settled in this new acquired knowledge about myself, I decided to do something about it. And I chose to be authentic! How simple it sounds, doesn’t it?! 

But truth be told, Its not simple, Its not very complicated either, Its just that when you actively make a choice, things start happening towards what you have intended and in this process, anything that is not a part of it, falls out. It could be anything, material possessions, relationships, own ideas/beliefs, patterns, likes/dislikes.

While this is happening, It does feel like your world is falling apart, but all you need to do is - trust, unconditionally trust that its all happening for only your best and nothing else. And as you start getting comfortable with your trust, you sit there, watch your life fall apart and you let it happen, you mourn the lose[its important, since you are on the path of authenticity, you definitely feel sad and lost, you cry if you want to, its just that you are doing justice to your efforts and your involvement with that particular object/person/attribute.]

And no more you will be anybody’s image, you’ll be who you are and you’ll have people around you, who also know what you know about yourself!And that would be great, because then you will have people who are authentic too! Well, that too has its own challenges, and I’ll find that out soon, but for now, let me just be authentic and drop what I am not and unapologetically and bravely embrace Me!

Awareness

So why is that we pray to God every now and then, even if we don’t actually sit in a temple, but most of the times, we are like, ‘oh God’ ‘hey bhagwan’!

I know these are just expressions practiced by us, but can you imagine how deep the idea of God has been marked upon us that we very naturally believe in the power of God. The power so divine and not seen in a particular form, as in we havent met God. [literally] We worship him through the idols, temples etc.
Wow, amazing belief![I do believe in God, I am not an atheist]

But when it comes to believing in ourselves [which is very much there, we can see,hear, feel and touch ourselves and we all have a form] we are so doubtful.

Why is it that we believe certain mantras in Sanskrit will help us more than simple affirmations?

Why does pujas done by pundits more helpful than simple symbolic things done with the right intention.

We are ready to wear a gemstone, but not sure about the easier and simpler things like oils or salts or crystals?

I think, we have been conditioned to accept things that we don’t understand and feel is complicated. So we don’t understand the mantras in Sanskrit or the rituals, hence its definitely going to do wonders.

Whereas, using an affirmation is just so simple, how can something so simple be effective?

Very easily we dismiss people saying, it wasn’t a good vibe, but the minute one has to understand the vastness and the role the whole energy system plays in the universe, the whole idea is dismissed.

Why is Spirituality not embraced, when at the end of the day all of us are spirits in our bodies?

Spirituality is not a parallel world or a different world. Its this world and we all are a part of it. Being spiritual is our natural being, which we simply don’t want to accept, because then how will we condition ourselves to have a complicated life.

When I say, lets be spiritual, I just mean, lets be all AWARE. No hidden meanings to this word.

I am a believer in God, the divine power, the magic of the mantras. I personally follow it all. What I want to insist is, only if we could have that kind of faith in our ownselves and the belief that we can shape our life the way we want!

The key to all is awareness!

Customize your fairytale...!

He swept her off her feet,

fought with the whole world for her,

they got together and live happily ever after!!

Aww! These fairytales I tell you!

I am not against them, I totally believe that all of us can have fairytales, I believe I too can have a fairytale or should I say, my fairytale begun when I was born. Yes, this is my version, C’mon if each one of us have the exact same story, how dull and boring would this world get.

What I am trying to say is - people don’t get depressed when the fairytale you read as I kid dint happen to you when you got in your mid-twenties[or any age] You are just looking and focusing at one part all your life.

Shift! Yes, plz make a shift in your focus.

Your story is unfolding every minute, there is magic and love happening around you, feel it, look at it! Shake yourself up thoroughly and ask yourself, do you really want to be in a position to be RESCUED by a prince charming? I mean if you are in a good place in your life and if you find someone who is in a good place in his/her life and if you people decide to share that space, laugh, be happy and walk together [not necessarily you in his arms!] Isnt this a good fairytale? Or is it necessary the damsel should be distressed and the prince should be some greek god? Can you imagine how much pressure this builds up on us.

The girl has to be sad [inspite of her having no reasons for it] So you literally spend so many years of your life, depriving yourself from all the happiness and fun that life has for you. You have the best of friends and a wonderful family who love you unconditionally. ‘Oh No! I cant be happy!’ You have a great job, you are a talented person, appreciated by everyone! ‘Oh No! I cant be happy, what if my prince comes and sees me happy and then just leaves, because there wont be any rescue work!’

And the men, well are constantly trying to prove that they are men. Here the definition of the man is – strong with muscles, rescue the girl [even if she doesn’t need to be rescued] behave like a guardian, even if she has a father, 3 uncles, 2 brothers, she might want a break from being guarded all the time, but who the hell cares, I am the man, I will be the guardian. Fight the goons, and abuse the others who flirt with her – hmm, hello, there are no goons and I like to flirt with others!

In this search of a fairytale life ,we loose a lot and if we happen to have it and then if it doesn’t turn out to be what we had imagined, we again loose it all!

So lets just believe that we all are having our fairytales, its unique. There is nothing wrong in having a prince charming, but if he isn’t in the picture, does not mean, your story is incomplete. And don’t be scared to be happy, people don’t create happy endings, its the understanding of your own happiness that will create your own happy ending!

Customize it and fit into it right!

People are intersections...

Road A is smooth goes straight, Road B is a bumpy ride  with plenty of speed-breakers, Road C has had its ups and down and lot of twists, Road D has been dug up and is a mess at the moment.

All these four roads, meet at the crossing, unless they don’t come to the crossing, they cant move ahead in their journey. Out of the long, tiring, happy journeys the roads have had, the intersection is just a small part. They all meet, spend sometime and move on, Some become friends and might move along parallel to each other and some are just on the other end.

None of the roads owes anything to any other road, each one is on their own journey!

And that is how I believe, it is for all of us. Each one of us are on our own journey. We meet people, make friends, lovers, companions and the integral parts of our journey are our families. But NONE of it is a constant. All of us are just a part of each other’s lives, not the whole life.

There is a reason, why we meet, there is a reason why we separate. And I feel that the reason must be honoured, but no one owes anything to anyone. Yes there are feelings and emotions involved, but those are by default, they come and go and are very free-flowing. You can not hold onto one particular emotion and live with it all your life, it is practically not possible. Its in such cases that we are not able to live our present.

We don’t easily accept this, because if we were to start believing that only we are responsible for ourselves, then whom would we blame for our miseries? How would we build up our sob stories? Where would the drama come from?

Man by nature is an intelligent being, we just choose to drop the intelligence and the responsibility. But you know what, when you see the bigger picture, whether you like it or not, life is happening constantly, it chooses to keep moving ahead, the ones who are sync with it, enjoy it, the ones who are not, find life unfair! Its in our constant need to stick to the past and the made-up idea of our future, we just happen to miss the magic that is actually happening with us and within us!

And it so happens is that, you be grateful to the rest, but its You to whom you owe, and you owe yourself a happy life!