Read!!!....Don't lose your mind.....lose your weight--- Rujuta Diwekar.

I had this book on my book shelf for almost 2 years...until I decided I had to read it. My husband read it and recommended it to me. But why will I listen to him on the first go itself. I was in Poona...where I have to blame the good climate for my weight gain...the coolness in the air in the morning and nights, the easy access to wada pav's, dabeli's and bhajjis. In addition... the huge expressways all embracing with the youthful green on both sides along with the beautiful panorama that entails a happy story...a story which ends happily ....they ate and lived happily ever after. Yes...these rascals...these reasoning's are the cause of my putting on weight. Um hummm....PooJa ...who are you kidding....you can't just blame others for your own eating disorders and major lousy eating habits. I had to do something about it.

I know the word 'dieting' in and out. So what is it that is lacking. I even know what exercising does for you. I know one is not supposed to eat fried food to lose weight....I knew everyyyyyyyyything....I was loosing my mind...but not loosing any weight.....tadaaaaaaa.....this book flashed in front of my eyes...I was on a mission...a mission to read and loose weight.

Rujuta Diwekar (RD) is the dietician who was responsible for making Kareena Kapoor fit in a size zero outfit. Not only fit...but even making her look healthy with her face...not like the anorexic models look like. Starved!!! I mean. Reading this book made me realize that  our body is designed to eat ....but eat right!
Our body only functions aptly when we eat right and at regular intervals. I got excited as and when I learnt so many things about food, weight loss and nutrition from RD. There are some key points from her book that I will share with you...my intention being you get magnetized from the gold in this blog that you go and buy this book for yourself and perhaps even for someone whom you care for and want them to make lifestyle changes in their day to day life. Very soon I am going buy this book for my Maa...as it is also available in Hindi....and boy......she needs to change so much...all her airs of 'She is eating so right' will diminish with every page she reads.

RD shares 5 basic rules to increase nutrient intake:
1> Eat food that is prepared fresh.
2> The smaller the number of people the food is prepared for, the better its nutrient level
3> Eat your vegetables and fruits whole instead of cutting them into pieces, because you lose vitamins from their surface.
4> Remain loyal to your genes and eat what you have been eating since childhood.
5> As much as possible, eat local produce and seasonal food.
6> Maintain a calm state of mind.

It will be amazing to learn the reasons RD gives as to why we should follow these rules. In between she keeps giving insights about her role as a dietician. She mentions about her family in a very funny way...they say... how can your clients be so dumb as to pay through their noses to hear from you...that you should exercise regularly, say no to fried food, drink water, get up early to drink warm water lime with honey. Everyone know that. One would be a fool to pay you and then follow it. That is where her role as a dietician comes in the picture. We know the ground rules. But how many of us have the awareness and follow them regardless of loosing weight or even for just being healthy. I guess the answer would be very very few of us.

Ok friends don't sleep as yet.....exciting broadcast ahead!

RD further entails a very intelligent version of cooking wares and utensils.Our traditional kadhai's and pans should stay in our kitchen. Using alluminium cookware is dangerous as all the AL leaches from the pot or pan makes its way into your food, and finally into your body. It increases the risk of having ulcers. Using iron tavas or cookware is a great way to improve the iron content of your food, and its also a safe metal to use.

Further on RD contributes to her book by shaping 4 most basic principles of eating....
1> Never wake up to tea or coffee--my folks whose bowel movement depends on drinking either tea or coffee the first thing in the morning....please please do read as to why it is disastrous to do so.
2> Eat every two hours-- Just imagine a dietician asking you to eat every two hours, that means what you comprehend...is that one can easily eat 8 - 10  times a day. And she logically explains how we can eat and loose weight at the same time. And by far that is the only way to lose weight and being healthy.
3>Eat more when you are more active, and less when you are less active--Need not stress on that...nature in its own way...makes you eat less when we get older .....as we are less active then.
4> Finish your meal at least 2 hours prior to sleeping--My Jaini friends, your culture is much appreciated in this book. Not because you might earn bad karma...but because eating late earns you bad health.

RD has been a mentor to many distinguished faces...like Samir Bhatia, Anil Ambani,Kareena Kapoor, Karishma Kapoor, Amrita Arora...and many more. She vouches that all her buyers of gyaan...chased a few fundamental steps towards adopting a healthier lifestyle.
Step1>> Wake up closer to sunrise--She gives a very sound math...says vitamin D plays a very important role in the functioning of our body. Read her book please for more.

Step2>> Eat within 10 minutes of waking up--Mummyyyyyyyyyy are you listening???????? All the mothers...whether working or home makers.....you got to eat early in the morning to work like a power house and fulfill your never ending tasks. Beautifully she explains when we sleep we have eaten a while back and do not eat until 2-3 hours after we get up. Our blood sugar levels drop and oxygen does not reach our brains enough for us to make decisions. Need I stress any more???

Step 3>>Within an hour of meal 1 , eat nice, home cooked breakfast -- Anything that is home cooked is beautiful. RD even says the best time to eat oily and calorie rich food is the mornings...between 8 to 10 am.Can you imagine....being on a diet and eating puri aloo sabzi for your naashta.

Step 4>> Eat every 2 hours after meal 2.

Step 5>> Eat your dinner within 2 hours of sunset.

Step 6>> Sleep at a fixed time.

Now, one would tell me if they have to adhere to so many rules and steps....what is the fun in this???
RD makes this easy by penetrating the foolproof reasoning's for a better health in your brain just as Bhagwad Gita instills good deeds in your daily life are important for peaceful soul. Although even after reading so much gyaan from RD's book...it is not easy to imbibe all that she says...but even if we try to adopt a few stuff from her gyaan life will be easier and healthier for us.

Eat healthy and stay healthy!!!