Being sexy is just a state of mind: Hrithik Roshan

Courtesy:  Sarita Tanwar, TNN | Jan 19, 2012, 12.00AM IST

Hrithik Roshan

Everyone - from Hrithik Roshan's wifeSussanne to his friends and publicist - advised him against showing his "fat" picture to the public. Then he asked me, "What do you think?" I wondered which actor in his right mind would want to share an "ugly, repulsive picture" (his words, not mine) of himself.
Actors are vain by nature; it's part of their job to look good. "You are a brave man to even consider doing this," I told him. He explained, "Everyone thinks I am genetically blessed with good looks and a good body. I want to show people the real picture. I want to share my story and tell people that they too can change their lives. Ten weeks ago, I was terribly unfit, and now I look like this (pointing to his fit and fab picture) This picture was clicked yesterday." And he did this with a slipped disc. Read on to find out how he went from fat to fab.
When did you put on all that weight?
Two-and-a-half months ago. I started out from a very dark place. I was in deep depression because I was laid up in bed thanks to my back. I was eating all kinds of junk food - all the cupcakes and brownies that people were sending me to make me feel better. I was in a very bad state emotionally. With all the education I have about health and fitness, I didn't see a way out in the short time I had to prepare for "Krrish 3". Which is why I want to share this transformation tale with the world. I want to break the myth and tell people that we are all the same. We all can get in that state of rut, we all can get unhappy, but there is a way to bounce back. Being sexy is just a state of mind. My aim when I woke up that morning and took that "fat" picture of myself was to get so healthy that I would never be in pain again. I've lived through so many injuries and so much pain, that I can count on my fingers the days when I was pain free. I decided I needed to explore this possibility of the human body in a way that has not been done. My goal was to be pain free; the aesthetics is just a by-product of me wanting to be healthy.
Who is responsible for your transformation and how did you find them?
It's thanks to a couple called Kris Genthin and Maraica Johnson. Kris is a trainer and Maraica is a nutritionist. I searched on the internet, talked to friends, trainers, doctors, physiotherapists and told everyone that I needed help. There was a bodybuilding show being organised here by Sheru, and he got in touch with my managers and told me about this couple. Everybody gave the same feedback that they would be the right people. I thought I knew a lot about fitness, but what they brought to the table was incredible. What I have achieved in these 10 weeks was done in the easiest possible way. I haven't starved myself, I haven't been killing myself working out. In fact, I am eating more food than I ever have. It hurts me to see that people who want to get into shape or be fit, starve themselves and do all the wrong things. I want the truth to be out there and I want people to identify with me and learn from my experience.
Share the details. Now!
I do cardio for half-an-hour in the morning, and a one-hour workout during the day. I have a slipped disc so I don't do heavy weights at all. I've lost ten-and-a-half kilos, and my waist has gone down from 36.5 cm to 29.5 cm, all in 10 weeks. It's quite mind-boggling, as I eat eight meals a day! Basically, we eat the wrong foods in the wrong way. There are so many myths about food intake that need to be broken. I am eating more food now than ever, so this information needs to be out there. I feel like we are living in a matrix and we are being fed all unhealthy food through advertising, but there are tastier and healthier foods available here. I've been eating more organic food. I don't miss desserts. I've never had a craving. I was smoking for two-and-a-half years and I've given that up too.
You make it sound so easy!
It's not a sacrifice! In fact, all you have to do is take a little bit of time. You know, your body gives you feedback. The magic word is initiative. We all know we need to feel a certain way, but we don't take that initiative. It's not about being fit, it's about being healthy. If you just take that first step, it can change your entire life. This entire journey has been so inspiring that I want to do something with it. I want to make it available to the common man. Whether that means investing in infrastructure, building transformation centres... I want to make something big out of this. The idea is that even through nutrition you can get healthy if you do half-an-hour of cardio. I can't remember the last time I was so inspired. I feel like I can fly and I want everyone to know that they can fly too. I want to change the health and fitness scene in the country. It's so easy to be in the best shape of your life, but we just don't have access to the right information.
Isn't eight meals a day too much? Your metabolism needs rest, no?
You need seven-and-a-half hours of rest, that's it. And you get that when you are sleeping. The body is a machine, but an organic one. It' not made of iron, it is growing and changing at the same time. If you eat every two hours, your body gets used to digesting food more quickly and burning calories, and your metabolism stays high. I wake up with a lot of energy now. Initially, I would think I'll loll in bed for five more minutes, but now I wake up feeling refreshed. It's like I am in 'ready to attack' mode, but I need to calm down now as it's become a bit too much!
Please continue!
How many people complain about being unfit and unhealthy? They suffer, they starve. They have just one grape a day! I have seen my sister struggle with her weight all her life, and she too has lost two kilos in one week thanks to this method. She is allowed to eat all day. Your body is intelligent. So when you starve yourself, it thinks there is a famine and no more food is coming, so your metabolism slows down and starts saving fat for survival. So never starve if you want to lose weight. The most important thing to do is keep eating the right food every 2-3 hours and cut off the carbs in your meal. It keeps your metabolism high. I am concerned for my kids, my friends, and everybody who is soaking up all the myths around us. People look at me and think that I was born this way, that it's easy for me because it's genetic, but I want to tell them that it's not genetic. If I can do this when I had a double slipped disc and was smoking three packets a day, then you can change too.

Posture `linked to back pain'

Washington: Back pain is a common complaint which has many causes, including muscle strain, slipped disc, and spasm. Now, a new study has found that the condition has a direct linear link with a person`s posture.

Though the link was long suspected, this is probably the first study, led by Alex Ruhe of Murdoch University, to scientifically establish it. "Possibly (the) relationship was deemed of low relevance as few direct clinical applications arise from it," he said.


For the study, researchers recruited 210 patients with low-back, mid-back and neck pain.

They then asked the subjects to rate their pain on a scale from zero (no pain) to 10 (the worst possible pain).

Body sway was measured on a solid fore plate after patients closed their eyes and changes in weight shifts were recorded by pressure sensors in each corner of the plate.

The recordings of pain sufferers were compared to sway data from healthy people of a similar age, a university release said.

Ruhe said: "We discovered body sway increased with higher pain intensities and this increase followed a linear fashion. Similar results were observed for the three painful regions.

"In follow-up studies, we observed changes in body sway as pain decreased after a course of three manual therapeutic interventions at three to four day intervals. The results showed that sway was lowered as pain levels decreased, maintaining the linear relationship previously observed.

"Long-term damage or changes to the nervous system due to the pain appears unlikely because reduced sway in association with pain reduction was observed after just a few days."

The researchers say that doctors should now focus on pain control while treating patients. "This research marks an important finding for clinicians. It serves as an objective monitoring tool for patients suffering from back pain under treatment and rehabilitation," Ruhe said. 

Hypoglycemia and I suffer with it....Alok

Hypoglycemia

Symptoms

What are the key symptoms?

The tumours are associated with episodes of low blood sugar (hypoglycemia) that can cause an array of symptoms.

Low blood sugar levels can affect the central nervous system (the brain) causing episodes or attacks of confusion, panic attacks, and even personality change.

The insulin producing tumours can also affect the autonomic nervous system (that controls many of the organs, muscles, and systems in the body, such as heart rate) causing palpitations, sweating and a trembly feeling.

Patients with an insulinoma will find eating or drinking something sugary can quickly alleviate their symptoms.

Low blood sugar levels caused by the tumour can trigger:

• Confusion, anxiety, personality disorders and even aggressiveness
• Rapid heartbeat, sweating, palpitations, feelings of hunger, dizziness and drowsiness. You may look pale, (or grey if you have a dark skin), have a headache feel irritable, feel faint and suddenly weak
• If blood sugar drops very low or very suddenly it is possible to lose consciousness and it can even lead to seizures (fits)

·         What is an insulinoma?

·         Insulinomas are rare type of functional neuroendocrine tumours with an incidence estimated at 1 to 4 new cases per million persons per year. They are called functional because they produce insulin and cause blood sugar levels, to drop.

·         Insulinoma is one of the most common types of tumour arising from the islets of Langerhans cells (pancreatic endocrine tumours).

·         Estimates of malignancy (metastases) range from 5% to 30%. Over 99% of insulinomas originate in the pancreas, with rare cases from ectopic pancreatic tissue.

·         About 5% of cases are associated with tumours of the parathyroid glands and the pituitary (Multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1) and are more likely to be multiple and malignant. Most insulinomas are small, less than 2 cm.

·         The most common symptoms of insulinomas are confusion, sweating, dizziness, weakness and relief with eating. These symptoms are caused by low blood sugar known as hypoglycemia.

·         There can often be a delay in the diagnosis due to the vague and varied symptoms that these tumours can cause.

·         Most insulinomas are solitary and benign and therefore surgical resection can often result in a cure, but there is a proportion of insulinomas that become malignant so it is vital that the correct diagnostic techniques are used.

·         The role of the pancreas

·         In a healthy person the pancreas produces both insulin and glucagon. When blood sugar rises after a meal, beta cells in the pancreas release insulin. This helps sugar from food to enter the blood cells and lowers levels of glucose to normal.

·         If blood sugar falls too low then alpha cells in the pancreas produce glucagons that triggers the liver to release glycogen. This is converted into blood glucose, thereby lifting levels of blood sugar to normal.

·         What is known about insulinomas?

·         In most cases a single tumor develops in the beta cells (the insulin producing cells) within the pancreas. In a very small number of cases (1-3%) the tumour will develop in insulin producing cells that have 'escaped' into the abdomen. The reason why tumours form is not yet fully understood. They may be present form many years prior to diagnosis as the symptoms they cause may be confused with other conditions.

Signs and symptoms

Hypoglycemic symptoms and manifestations can be divided into those produced by the counterregulatory hormones (epinephrine/adrenaline and glucagon) triggered by the falling glucose, and the neuroglycopenic effects produced by the reduced brain sugar.

[edit] Adrenergic manifestations

• Shakiness, anxiety, nervousness
• Palpitations, tachycardia
• Sweating, feeling of warmth (although sweat glands have muscarinic receptors, thus "adrenergic manifestations" is not entirely accurate)
• Pallor, coldness, clamminess
• Dilated pupils (mydriasis)
• Feeling of numbness "pins and needles" (paresthesia)

[edit] Glucagon manifestations

• Hunger, borborygmus
• Nausea, vomiting, abdominal discomfort
• Headache

[edit] Neuroglycopenic manifestations

• Abnormal mentation, impaired judgment
• Nonspecific dysphoria, moodiness, depression, crying, exaggerated concerns
• Negativism, irritability, belligerence, combativeness, rage
• Personality change, emotional lability
• Fatigue, weakness, apathy, lethargy, daydreaming, sleep
• Confusion, amnesia, dizziness, delirium
• Staring, "glassy" look, blurred vision, double vision
• Flashes of light in the field of vision
• Automatic behavior, also known as automatism
• Difficulty speaking, slurred speech
• Ataxia, incoordination, sometimes mistaken for "drunkenness"
• Focal or general motor deficit, paralysis, hemiparesis
• Paresthesia, headache
• Stupor, coma, abnormal breathing
• Generalized or focal seizures

Tips on how to manage Hypoglycemia

Hypoglycemia, or hypo, is the medical term for low blood glucose levels – that is a blood glucose level of less than 4 mmol/l. This is too low to provide enough energy for your body’s activities. Hypos are one of the most common symptoms of having an insulinoma. It is caused because the insulinoma produces insulin.

What causes a hypo? A hypo can be caused by the following:

· too much insulin

· a delayed or missed meal or snack

· not enough food containing carbohydrate

· Unplanned or strenuous activity

· drinking too much alcohol or alcohol without food

· sometimes there is no obvious cause

Signs of a mild hypo

Most people have some warning signs when their blood glucose level starts to go low. These include:

· feeling hungry

· trembling or shakiness

· sweating

· anxiety or irritability

· going pale (grayish complexion if you are Black)

· fast pulse or palpitations

· tingling of the lips

· blurred vision.

Signs of a more severe hypo

· difficulty in concentrating

· vagueness or confusion

· irrational behavior.

Immediate treatment
Once you notice your hypo warnings, take action quickly or it is likely to become more severe, and you may become unconscious or have a fit. Immediately treat with a 10-20g of a short-acting carbohydrate such as:

· a glass of Lucozade or non-diet drink

· three or more glucose tablets

· five sweets, eg jelly babies

· a glass of fruit juice

The exact quantity will vary from person to person.

· If your hypo is more severe and you cannot treat it yourself, someone else can help you by: applying GlucoGel (or treacle, jam or honey) on the inside of your cheeks and gently massaging the outside of your cheeks.

· If you are unconscious, Glucagon can be injected if the person you are with has been trained to use it. Otherwise the people you are with should call an ambulance immediately.

Important: If you are unable to swallow or unconscious, you should not be given anything by mouth (including GlucoGel, treacle, jam or honey). Make sure your family and friends are aware of this. If you are unconscious, you should be placed in the recovery position (on your side with your head tilted back) so that your tongue does not block your throat.

Follow-on treatment
To prevent your blood glucose levels dropping again, you should follow your sugary foods with 10-20g of a longer-acting carbohydrate such as:

· half a sandwich

· fruit

· a small bowl of cereal

· biscuits and milk

· the next meal if due.

The exact quantity will vary from person to person.

Hypos at night
If you are concerned about night-time hypos, check your blood glucose between 2am and 3am when hypos are most likely to happen. Keep something sugary by your bed just in case. Alternatively have a snack before bed-time such as biscuits and milk, half a sandwich, fruit or yoghurt. If you blood glucose is low before going to bed ensure that you eat to raise your levels.

Hypos and physical activity
Physical activity lowers your blood glucose level so it is important to eat some form of carbohydrate before, possibly during and after your activity especially if it is strenuous or lasts a long time. Hypos can happen up to 36 hours after strenuous or prolonged physical activity so you might need to adjust your medication or carbohydrate intake to compensate.

Hypos and driving
Always test your blood glucose levels before driving. If you feel you may be going hypo, pull over, stop the car as soon as it is safe to do so and remove the keys from the ignition. Leave the driving seat and treat your hypo in the usual way. Do not attempt to start driving again until you are sure your blood glucose levels have risen again.

Hypos and alcohol
Drinking a lot of alcohol or drinking on an empty stomach makes a hypo more likely to occur. The outwards signs of a hypo are also very similar to those of being drunk. Always have something to eat if you are drinking alcohol, and tell the people you are with about your diabetes and what to do if you need help treating a hypo.

Important points to remember:

· Always have something sugary with you for use in an emergency.

· Wear some medical I.D.

· Tell your friends or family what signs you have when you go hypo and how to treat it, as you may not be able to think clearly when your blood glucose goes low.

· You will come to recognise your own hypo warning signs, but these may change over time, so be prepared to check your blood glucose level if you experience any unusual symptoms.

This information is from 9825/0110/a ©Diabetes UK 2010 it was produced in relation to hypos for diabetics. It has been reproduced here as it is perhaps the best advice currently available for managing and treating hypoglycemia for those with an insulinoma. 

Top 5 flat-belly foods

Courtesy http://in.lifestyle.yahoo.com/5-flat-belly-foods-090000492.html

Top 5 flat-belly foods

Realbuzz – Fri, Jan 6, 2012 6:00 PM IST

 

Dreaming of a flat stomach without hitting the gym? The good news is your dream may not be too far away. Whether you’re hoping to blitz away a muffin top or are battling with bloating, your diet is integral to shaping up this problem area. Start eating your way to a trimmer waistline with these top 5 foods for a flat stomach.

Flax seeds

Flax seeds (often referred to as linseeds) are nutritious seeds packed with monounsaturated fats (MUFAs) - which are actually a lot more diet-friendly than they sound. Monounsaturated fats, unlike saturated fats (the "bad" fats found in junk food), not only lower cholesterol levels but they can also help to reduce body fat. Liz Vaccariello, author of The Flat Belly Diet, advocates these healthy fats for those wanting to specifically target belly fat.
Not only will these super seeds tackle love handles, but they are great for those suffering from bloating. Flax seeds provide high levels of fiber and can help to keep the digestive system running smoothly, helping to banish bloating, constipation and other digestive problems. Try adding a tablespoon of freshly ground flax seeds to your morning cereal, lunchtime salad, or homemade smoothie to start enjoying their belly-flattening benefits.

Berries
Blackberries, blueberries, acai berries... what do these fruits have in common? They could all help you to squeeze back into your skinny jeans. Studies have suggested that those wanting to lose their belly fat should opt for fruit that is blue or red in colour (such as cherries, red grapes and many types of berries). In fact, it is the chemicals that are responsible for giving these fruits their colour (anthocyanins) that, according to recent research, also burn abdominal fat.

Yoghurt

Not only is yogurt low in fat and calories, so good as a weight loss food, but many yogurts also contain active cultures (probiotics) which promote the growth of good bacteria in the gut and help with digestion, excess gas and bloating. Yoghurt is luckily easy to fit into any diet plan as part of a meal or a snack between meals. You could also try combining natural yogurt, berries and flax seeds in a morning smoothie or bowl of cereal, getting you off to a great tummy-trimming start before you even leave the house.

Whole grains

Whole grains are great for weight management and shedding those excess pounds. Not only are they a low-fat source of slow-release energy but, due to their high levels of fiber, they will help to regulate the digestive system and also keep you feeling fuller for longer. Eating whole grains also helps to lower levels of cortisol (the stress hormone) and insulin in the body, both of which encourage fat to be stored around the belly.
Many people, however, instinctively opt for wheat as their primary source of whole grains, which is often not the best choice. Not only is wheat difficult to digest - which can cause bloating in some - but it is better to eat grains in their natural form rather than as a processed flour. Good alternatives to try are brown rice, oats, buckwheat and spelt. Quinoa - although technically a seed - is also a nutritious alternative that can be used in the place of grains such as pasta and couscous.

Water

While it's not technically a food, a lack of water in your diet could be the one thing still standing in your way of a flat stomach. Bloating is something that affects many women and the problem is often worsened - or even instigated - by a lack of fluids in the system. Drinking water will help to flush toxins out of the system, curb hunger, improve the digestive system and reduce fluid retention, all of which will leave your stomach looking flatter.
If you are aiming for a flat belly, it is important to drink a minimum of eight glasses of liquids a day. Although this does not have to be water, it is best to go for liquids that are still (fizzy drinks can cause bloating) and low in calories. If you don't fancy plain water, a good alternative is green tea - which is also rumoured to have fat burning benefits - or fennel, dandelion or peppermint teas, all of which can combat bloating.

TAKE CARE OF YOUR EYES

TAKE CARE OF YOUR EYES - YOU MUST READ!!!

............................................

During a recent visit to an optician, one of my friends was told of an exercise for the eyes by a specialist doctor that he termed as '20-20-20.'
It is applicable to all of us, who spend long hours at our desks, looking at the computer screen. I Thought I'd share it with you. 

 

Step I :-

After every 20 minutes of looking into the computer screen, turn your head and try to look at any object placed at least 20 feet away. This changes the focal length of your eyes, a must-do for the tired eyes.

Step II :-

         Try and blink your eyes for 20 times in succession, to moisten them.

 

Step III :-

Time permitting, of course, one should walk 20 paces after every 

20 minutes of sitting in one particular posture. 

Helps blood circulation for the entire body.

 

Circulate among your friends. 

They say that your eyes are mirror of your soul, 

so do take care of them, they are priceless.

 

Otherwise our eye would be like this...

check if we r damaging own liver

The main causes of liver damage.
1.Sleeping too late and waking up too late are main cause. 2.Not urinating in the morning. 3.Too much eating.4.Skipping breakfast. 5.Consuming too much medication. 6.Consuming too much preservatives, additives, food colouring, andartificial sweetener.
7.Consuming unhealthycooking oil.			As much as possible reduce cooking oil when frying, which includes even the best cooking oils like olive oil. Do not consume fried foods when you are tired, except if the body is very fit.
8.Consuming raw (overly done) foods also add to the burden of liver.			Veggies should be eaten raw or cooked 3-5 parts. Fried veggies should be finished in one sitting, do not store.
We should prevent this without necessarily spending more. We just have to adopt a good daily lifestyle and eating habits. Maintaininggood eating habitsand time condition are very important for our bodies to absorb and get rid of unnecessary chemicals according to 'schedule.'