Want to lose weight? No need to diet!!

Are you one of those:“I am on a diet”? There is a simple solution to this problem and don’t worry it doesn’t include starvation or even low fat food.

First and foremost, do NOT skip meals. Eat thrice a day at the right time; breakfast, lunch and dinner. Not brunch, supper and midnight meals. It is also important to drink at least one glass of water before every meal so that a part of your stomach is full before you dig into your meal. Eat slowly and with small bites. That would take more time to eat and the brain will have enough time to analyse when you are full and to give you a signal to stop. DO NOT OVER EAT!! Sleep early and wake up early. It is the key to a healthy life

Have breakfast like a king. Eat a very heavy breakfast.It sets the tone for your day ahead. It is the meal with which you start your day so your body needs all the nutrition that it can get. It improves your performance in a classroom or boardroom. Various studies have proven that breakfast skipper weigh more then breakfast eaters. Those who eat their breakfast will feel less hungry and make better choice of food at other meal times.Another theory behind the breakfast-weight control link implies that eating breakfast is part of a healthy lifestyle that includes making wise food choices and balancing calories with exercise. For example, consider the successful losers followed by the National Weight Control Registry, all of whom have lost at least 30 pounds and kept it off at least one year. Some 80% of the people in the Registry regularly eat breakfast (and also follow a calorie-controlled, low-fat diet).

Have lunch like the King’s adviser: Have lunch but it shouldn’t be as heavy as your breakfast. Rather it should be medium heavy. You have gone past half your day so it is imperative that you have not too much but not too little a meal.Active people tend to get hungry at least every 3 to 4 hours, so if you eat breakfast at 7:00 or 8:00 am you’re generally ready for more fuel by 11:00 am or noon. Skipping or skimping on lunch can easily lead to problems: inadequate calorie replacement; poor quality afternoon exercise bouts; ravenous hunger and cravings for sweets, usually triggering a high intake of “junk food” later in the day; and weight gain due to overcompensating in the evening.

Have dinner like the king’s servant: It doesn’t mean you eat very little but it should be less then your lunch, quantity wise so that your food digests as quickly as possible and you don’t go to bed with a heavy stomach. A full stomach with food undigested may result in forming a pouch. Eating heavy in the morning and light at night will help you get to sleep easily. Also, you should have dinner as early as possible. This also helps you have a btter sleep

You should try to eat many meals as possible at the table with your family. It is better to have a quality family time while eating instead of a quick burger or eating while watching TV or working on the computer. This was you get to concentrate on your food which you can’t do otherwise.

Follow these simple tips and have a healthy life.

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5 Spices and Herbs that Heal

Ever heard your “nani jaan” (grand mother) telling you different “todkaz” for a cure to a cut or burn or for a fairer skin? No, this blog isn’t about what my “nani jaan” tells me but rather those herbs that are in your pantry. Here might be a little more then what you know about them:

1. Basil: Holy basil or tulsi is said to be a great de-stressor as it “reduces levels of serotonin,” Maithili says. Try a tea made of basil leaves and ginger for relief from indigestion, headaches and fever.  Chewing on leaves of basil could also reduce symptoms of bronchitis and asthma.

2. Cinnamon: A commonly used ingredients in various desserts and coffee, it does more then adding flavour to dishes for your sweet tooth. It lowers level of high cholestrol and reduces blood sugar level. An additional good news for woman is its used in your diet will encure less painful cycles.

3. Turmeric: This is a common but a valuable spice for uses other then just cooking. Nutritionists claim that it is a powerful healer. It can prevent cancer as it does not let the cancer cells to grow in your body. It is also said to prevent Alzheimer and  reduce severity of pain caused due to arthritis. It also heals swelling caused due to pain as it has anti-inflammatory properties. It helps in keeping a low cholesterol.

4. Ginger: Ginger is an instant cure for nausea and motion sickness. It helps maintain your blood pressure by regularizing your blood flow. it prevents stomach sickness like flatulence and improves your digestive system.

5. Mint: IT helps in easing the syndromes of irritable bowel syndrome. Application of mint paste on acne and pimples can help cure it. Mint oil soothes headaches if applied on forehead.

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Anarkali frocks


Anarkali frock comes under a very famous phrase: “old is gold” . Yes, it is the latest hype in Pakistan and other South Asian countries. The pakiland designers have given this traditional dress a hint of culture and history.

Also called pishwas, these dresses have a fitted bodice, and wide sized frock. It can be worn with choridaars, capris or straight pants. They may be embroidered over all, or just on the bodice or just on the hem. It is a blend of striking yet beautiful colors that makes a woman look extremely beautiful and elegant. They may be sleeve-less or full sleeved or three quarter sleeves, it totally depend on your comfort and preference.

In Pakistan, just a few seasons back they started off with knee length frock and capris beneath it. As seasons passed, the size of the top and the pajamas increased gradually. So much so that the frock length went down till the ankles. However, today the trend is a mix of both, some wear knee length, some go for ankle length frocks . As for the pajamas, they can be straight pants and choridaars.

 

The unique cut gives you a feeling of royalty. You can play with your favorite colors and try different types of embroidery. Just brighten the place you will be.

Enjoy till it lasts.

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Almond Cookies

Almond Cookies
Ingredients
300 grams plain flour
1 egg
2 grams baking powder
12 grams corn flour
37 grams milk powder
100 grams almond flakes
125 grams icing sugar
250 grams butter
Salt to taste
Icing sugar for garnishing

Method
In a bowl, include 300 grams plain flour, 1 beaten egg, butter, 125 grams icing sugar, 12 grams corn flour, 37 grams milk powder, 2 grams baking powder and salt to taste and mix it well together to form dough. Form it into a shape of a biscuits and coat it with 100 grams almond flakes and in a tray, place biscuits with some distance on it. Bake it for 6 – 7 minutes in already 200 degree heated oven. Garnish with icing sugar. Almond Cookies are ready.

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Pasta Rasta

Ingredients
Chicken breast cut into slices 2
Tomato (cut in thick julienne) 1
Capsicum (cut in thick julienne) 1
Onion (cut in thick julienne) 1
Mushrooms sliced 6
Boiled pasta 3 cups
Black pepper 1 tsp
Salt 1 tsp
Garlic paste 1 tsp
Wooster sauce 1 tbsp
Soya sauce 1 tbsp
Ketchup 1 tbsp
Chili powder ¼ tsp
Oil 2 tbsp
Cheddar cheese 2 tbsp
Butter 2 tbsp
Ingredients for Sauce
Stock 1 ½ cup
Corn flour (mixed with ¼ cup water) 1 tsp heaped
Soya sauce 1 tbsp
Ketchup 3 tbsp

Method
Marinate 2 sliced chicken with 1 tbsp ketchup, ¼ tsp chili powder, ½ tsp black pepper, ½ tsp salt, 1 tsp garlic paste, 1 tbsp Wooster sauce and 2 tbsp oil, heat 2 tbsp butter in a frying pan, add the marinated chicken, cook for 5 minutes then add remaining ½ tsp salt, ½ tsp black pepper, 1 tbsp soya sauce and 1 tbsp ketchup, toss for 2 minutes then add all the vegetables with 3 cups boiled pasta, also add in the prepared sauce, mix well, serve garnish with 2 tbsp grated cheddar cheese and garlic bread.
Method for Sauce
Put 1 ½ cup Stock, 1 tbsp Soya sauce, 3 tbsp Ketchup in a pan cook till boiling, thickens sauce with corn flour paste.

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Chatkharay Aalo

Chatkharay Aalo
Ingredients
1 kg potatoes
250 grams yogurt
1 finely chopped onion
1 capsicum
Clarified butter or oil for frying
1 tsp hot spices
1 tbsp turmeric
1 tbsp red chili powder
1 tbsp crushed red chilies
1 tbsp salt
2 tbsp ginger garlic paste
Whole hot spices as required
Water as required

Method
Firstly, peal 1 kg potatoes and cut them into four pieces and boil with pinch of salt in water. When potatoes are boiled, take it out of water. Then in a pan, heat oil and fry boiled potatoes until they are golden brown. Then finely chop 1 capsicum and 1 onion. In a different pan, heat a bit of oil and cook 2 tbsp ginger garlic paste. Then add hot spices as required and chopped vegetables and stir it for 2 to 3 minutes. then add 250 grams beaten yogurt, half glass water, 1 tbsp turmeric powder, 1 tbsp red chili powder, 1 tbsp red chili flakes, 1 tsp hot spices powder and 4 tbsp tomato puree in it and leave it to cook on low flame with closed lid. Then after 8 to 10 minutes, add fried potatoes and increase flame to let water evaporate. Delicious Chatkharay Aalo is ready.

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Trick to Long Lasting Make up this Summer.

 

The challenge is not just to look good under those hot sun beams but also to reduce skin exposure from the sun rays. These tips would help you look fresh and beautiful throughout the day.

 

Applying Foundation: Use sheer makeup in summer to let your skin keep humidity blocked in but breathing as well with an SPF factor of 15. The foundation so applied on hot days must be seasonal along a light sun block moisturizer. Skin tone turns darker in summer that’s why make up foundation for summer must be according to that.  First apply cream or SPF moisturizer over face then use liquid foundation, it assures make up staying power on face even in hottest days.

Applying Face Powder: To avoid a heavier look on your face when applying face powder, always remember to dampen the sponge before applying for better and fresher results. A bronze translucent powder would be ideal to give your face a radiant glow. Also work some of that concealer under your eyes to enhance your beauty and style in the hot weather.

Applying Eye Makeup: Use lighter and/or neutral but shimmery eye shade colors, like beige, faded green, yellow , silver and golden. At the same time, enhance the eye lashes. Use thinner coats during day and heavier coats during  night time. Use eye liner pencil of appealing colors like black, aqua, slate grey or chocolate. This would make your eyes broad and wide.

Lipstick: The trick to keep the lipstick on all day long is to apply a coat of face powder on the lips and then apply the lipstick. This way the lipstick would stick to the powder and won’t wear off through out the day. The festive lip colors this summer are shimmery fuschias, frosted pinks and golden glosses.

Good luck looking hot this summer!

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Trouble in Paradise?

 

Malika Arora Khan and Arbaas Khan

Rumor has it that Malaika Arora, wife of actor- producer, Arbaas Khan has moved out from their house to her mother’s place after a nasty brawl with her husband. However when the alleged husband was asked about it by the Mumbai Mirror this is what he had to say:

“I don’t understand where all this news comes from. Everything is well between me and my wife. This is just a ridiculous rumour. We are like any other healthy couple and people should just be concerned about what we do professionally and not interfere in our personal lives”

He furiously also declares that “ “What happens in my private life is not for public consumption. It’s sad how we (celebs) are subjected to give a clarification about our personal lives and the integrity of our relationship every time. And if ever we try not to react or comment; it still puts a question mark on us.”

It is important for Arbaas to realise that celeb’s personal wife make the juiciest gossip. And this Khan family have been pretty high since winning the National Best Film Award for “Dabaang”.

Arbaas has always been known to ignore any gossip shot his way but when it came to his relationship with his wife, he clarifies, “I and Malaika are very much together. There is no such situation between us that would cause her to move out. Kindly ignore this gossip,”.

Well Arbaas, with all due respect, we wish you a happy and a long lasting marriage!!

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