DocDivaTraveller: January 2021

Title: Finding your way: How to navigate yourself back from Depression, Personal crisis & Life's mistakes

Author: Drake Taylor

Genre: Self Help, Motivation

Pages: 156,quick read

God help those who help themselves. I have found this to be true always and when I am feeling really low, this sentence is my motivation to move ahead. I was going through the most difficult phase of my life when my friend Vandana sent me this book on the mail. It's strange that she had no idea what I was going through and magically a much needed, easy read book landed up to be read when I needed it the most. It definitely has put me in a better headspace and therefore you would find it useful too.

This book has been penned down by the author when he was going through the darkest phases of his life. He was almost on the verge of ending his life; therefore he can easily relate to what people in tough phases are going through. He has talked in the book like a friend and mentor would. It's imperative that you follow the exercises that he has mentioned in every chapter.

My best takeaways from this book:

Everything you want out of life, lies with that first step of getting out of bed each day. Each day you stay in bed, you slowly killing your dreams or put them further out of your reach.

Our mindset determines how each and every one of us live our life.

Forgiveness isn't merely to allow the other person to move on from wrongdoing. It is to allow you freedom from hanging on to negative emotions, so you can live your best life.

Holding onto hate is like holding onto a hot coal; the only person you burn is you.

What I loved all the more in this book: Appendices.

The appendices can be considered a solution in a nutshell. There are 7; (from A to G) and constitute

A: Self Reflection Questions: The first chapter motivates us to answer these questions honestly; because there is no way out in lying. After answering these honestly then only it would be beneficial to move forward in reading because it would become clearer on which aspects do we need to work on ourselves.

B: Importance of reading and Suggested Reading List: It's undeniable that we need to read to motivate and keep pushing ourselves.

C: Workout routine: I can't stress the fact enough that exercise is the world's most underrated anti depressant. Working out or even moving the body releases endorphins into our blood stream; which makes us feel good. I constantly motivate my patients to workout daily but when it comes to myself, I am unable tp practice it because of lack of time, energy and privacy. I so want to change this.

D: Dietary Suggestion: Some healthy meal plans

E: Road Map. This is so very important. You got to have your life planned out. Make a list of your goals wrt Money, Home, Lifestyle changes, personal relationships, Fitness, education, job, career, travel, parents, children, passion and the list goes on.

You can jot them down under the following headers:

Name of goal

Current status of goal

Course correction or New Projected Goal

Steps to get there

Milestones and Deadlines

eg Task 1 Accomplish by

F: Planning Calender :.It's so important to have a schedule. Your goals have to SMART: Smart: Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Realistic, and Time Bound.

Everything should follow a pattern and calender would remind you.

G: Inspirational quotes when you need strength. Reading these quotes time and again definitely clears and freshens my mind.

I definitely suggest reading this book; even if you are in a content state of mind because there are so many more things to learn.

1/30/2021 18 comments

Weight is one attribute that we all might have struggled at one point of life or the other. And we all women crave for that perfect booty. Although weight is pretty flexible (in the sense that height cannot be changed after a certain age) losing weight becomes tougher as age increases. In order to know about weight loss or heavy butts, it's important to discuss why does one become overweight in the very first place. I am talking about adult obesity/overweight here.

1. Constitution: Some people are overweight right from childhood. Usually they have parents who are broad boned and overweight too. Not much can be done in this case as this is 'normal'. Pear shaped bodies have heavier butts.

2. Underlying disease: Many systemic disorders cause increase in weight. In girls, the commonest is hypothyroidism i.e lack of Thyroid hormone and increased Thyroid Stimulating Hormone which causes slowing down of metabolism and hence weight gain. The second commonest in girls is Polycystic Ovarian Disease or PCOD. Other diseases can be Cushing's syndrome, Insulin resistance (leading to accumulation of fat in body), Prader Willi syndrome etc etc.

3. Faulty diet: Overeating or indulging in too much junk food on a regular basis can cause drastic increase in weight. This is commoner in the affluent society because of unhealthy eating practices. So when does one gain weight from eating? When the calorie intake exceeds the calories burnt, the extra calories keep on accumulating and finally turn into fat deposits. Unhealthy eating habits like taking too much oily food, diet loaded with sugar, etc also lead to weight gain and accumulates in the buttocks region.

4. Sedentary habit: Our body needs to be moving to boost metabolism. Also we should keep on taking multiple breaks in our daily schedule to shake our circulation time and again. Some people are sedentary due to multiple reasons: they have a sitting job, knee problem or other joint problems that don't permit to move around, any surgery or injury that restricts movement or plain laziness...all these factors lead to weight gain.

5. Post natal stage: Again one of the commonest in females. During pregnancy, a female's body undergoes through a lot of hormonal changes so the new mom finds it quite challenging to lose the baby weight. Coupled with physical restrictions, lack of time and increased calorie requirement for breastfeeding, it is an uphill task to lose the baby weight.

Now how to get the toned lower half? There are many ways to do so but you should always opt for means that are natural, healthy and long lasting. I mean you can lose hundreds of grams from a sauna session but that isn't permanent! It's just water weight. So here I am enumerating a few healthy ways to tone your lower half which would last.

1. Healthy diet: Well the hard truth is weight loss/maintenance is 80% diet and 20% exercise. I know...how terrible does this sound especially for foodies like me? The fact is that in order to lose weight, one has to burn more calories than what is consumed. So it's easier to consume lesser calories than trying to burn out hundreds of them. It's not even feasible. Avoid sugar, too much salt, oily food and restrict carbs. Although one should definitely consult a dietitian before taking the plunge as dietary requirements are different for everyone. A feeding mom trying to lose baby weight needs a different approach altogether from a man who is suffering from Type 2 Diabetes.

2. Exercise: As cliched as it may sound, exercise is fundamental in reducing weight. It can be yoga, gymming, swimming or even brisk walking. You need to burn those stubborn fat... ain't it? Also regular exercise helps to maintain the lost weight too and also protects us from various diseases. And that endorphin rush? The high which you get can match no other happiness. But always remember to consult your doctor before starting any regime.

3. Medicine: There are hundreds of medicines in the market that 'claim' to reduce weight/firm body/tone butts...but how effective/safe are they?

4. External Applications: What if we don't have time for exercise and need an easy and quick fix?

Well our prayers have been answered as the renowned brand Namyaa is here with their revolutionary Brazilian Bum cream.

Their powerful formula shapes and smoothens the buttocks and gives a firm and plump appearance.

So no butt implants or strenuous squats, get fuller and firmer butts in an easy way. Works for flat butts as well.

What are its ingredients?

Chamomile, Nutmeg, Macadamia seed oil, Glycerine, Anemarrhena asphodeloides (Root) Extract.
It is free from any kind of harsh metals, harmful chemicals, pesticides, synthetic fragrances, artificial colours, fertilizers or any kind of harmful additives.
How to use?
Take required amount of the ‘Namyaa Brazilian Booty Lift Cream’ on your palms and apply it over your buttocks.
Gently massage the area for a couple of minutes till the cream gets completed absorbed. Allow it to dry for some time.
Repeat the process twice a day, once in the morning and once at night before going to bed for the maximum of benefits.

For best results, use the ‘Namyaa Brazilian Booty Lift Cream’ twice a day daily for a span of at least 6 weeks.

Price: 1200 INR for the pack

Packaging: Excellent. Comes in a pump bottle. Vey easy to dispense.

Recommended Duration of usage: 6 weeks.

For even better results:

Stay away from too much sugar, oily and fried food.
Take fibre rich food, probiotic food and lots of water.
Exercise daily

Namyaa Brazilian Bum Cream is the secret to more toned and attractive lower body. Have you tried it yet?

1/26/2021 27 comments

Travelling is soothing for the soul but taxing for the body, especially your skin. The changed environment, different microbial flora (changes every place) , dry air of airplanes (especially if you are on a long flight), general adventure nature of the trip and so many other factors have an adverse effect on our skin in one way or the other. However if we are careful and take care of our skin diligently, we are able to indulge in our trip without having to worry about breakouts and all! Hence following a healthy skincare routine (Ayurvedic face wash, SPF, adequate moisturising etc) is a mandate. So here I am presenting a cheat sheet which would make our skin not only fuss free but healthier too!

1. Don't forget to wash your face!

We often are too tired at the end of the day (especially after a long day of exploration) to wash our face and go to sleep without washing our face. This leads to accumulation of dirt and dust and grime on our face ; which our skin readily absorbs during sleeping. Not to forget the caking up of make up that we slather on before any excursion. It's not called 'Beauty Sleep' without any reason. Our skin heals during those hours and it is our duty to nourish it as much as possible.

I highly recommend a natural face wash for the same; as natural products are devoid of harmful chemicals and stuff. I personally rely on an Ayurvedic face wash like the Vicco Turmeric Face wash. Turmeric is a natural antiseptic and an anti oxidant and plays a massive role in preventing acne and black heads. This Ayurvedic face wash with foam base is my favourite. It leaves my skin glowing and has such a pleasant fragrance! Also it helps to cure minor wounds and heals them, treats minor cuts and small injuries as well. Removes microbes and pollutants from the innermost pores leaving the skin fresh & tingling. I particularly love the fact that it is vegan and cruelty free.

Similarly when we take a shower in the morning, it is important to incorporate a face wash before we step out of the hot shower. A clear face glows more beautifully and also takes up make up more efficiently.

2. Hydrate. I can't stress on this point enough. Our skin needs water to drink more than we do (yes we consume in various other forms like drinks, fruits, etc) while our skin gets water from the glasses we chug down.

3. Cut down on alcohol and caffeinated drinks. We all love to indulge on a trip but we want perfect pictures for our albums too. So restrict your alcohol intake to one drink per day or just avoid it completely. Don't drink too much caffeine, it can lead to breakout.

4. Don't forget your greens on a trip. We all love to experience local cuisine but we should reserve one meal for healthy food. The easiest way to do this is to have a big plate of salad and a fruit at one time of the day.

5. Don't forget sun protection. Irrespective of the weather, you have to slather on SPF on all your exposed body parts and reapply it every four hours. Also carry a wide brim hat, sunglasses and scarf with you when you are visiting a sunny destination.

6. Don't forget your supplements! Correct nutrition may be unachievable during a trip (who's complaining anyway). So if you pop a vitamin everyday, you don't have to worry about your skin or hair!

After exploring 23 countries of different terrains so far, these are the tips that I have collected and happily pass them on to my readers and patients. Do let me know if you want to add more!

1/05/2021 14 comments