I’M FAT!!!???? NOOOOO..........

Yet another truth about me...only difference is that it surfaced only today.

I’ve overweight now.

Not that I was slim as a twig before, but I always managed to weigh normal for my age and height…OR my body managed it…I always ate alike, right from childhood to the present day. And I never looked like an obese. When ever I complained about my weight, people comforted me saying “it’s just right for your height”. I have never tried to drop my foodie tag nor to gain weight .I always wanted to lose weight, for I’ve always thought I weigh more than needed. And now it has been confirmed...

BUT THIS IS HORRIBLE!!!

I’m FAT?????? OH NO…. :( :’(

Well, let me explain how all this started…

I confined myself to my home for the past 2 months… I finished my final graduation exams in April. I’ve been killing time at home for the past few months. My post graduation classes commence only in August which means, I’m still home, full time…all I’m doing is get up, eat, watch TV, sleep, read and then again watch TV, eat and then sleep. So that explains why I have gained weight….Today I went to a near by hospital to consult a physician to get my medical fitness certificate, only upon its submission will my MBA admission procedure get completed. It had all these fields asking for name and other basic info. Then my height (5.6), weight, things which I’m allergic to (I honestly don’t think I’m allergic to anything except raw wood dust and being silent), blood group and medication details. The doctor greeted me with a ‘Hello madam’ when I stepped in and showed me a seat. I was kind of both startled and impressed with it. He prescribed for a routine blood test to check for abnormalities in my blood cells count...I was sure there won’t be any signs of anemia or other deficiencies for I’m eating really well ,even more than enough now a days. And then I had to wait for more than an hour to get my blood test reports. According to the report, all was well. I was happy. No need to take that iron smelling, blood coloured tonic to increase my hemoglobin levels (once upon a time, I was made to take it regularly).

Now I’m at the consulting room. He asked for my name and other details to fill in the form. He paused at ‘weight:’ And then went over to ‘height:’ I haven’t checked my weight for months now and height for years. He asked me to stand on weighing machine. I tried to look down the meter but was immediately told to keep my head straight. The doctor was reading the fitness form the college sends me and so asked several questions about my graduation and PG while my weight and height were being measured. The nurse murmured the weight to herself. It was good that I didn't ask, for I would have fainted there itself not making it to measuring my height. I know they got my height wrong...Coz her measure said 166 Cm which unquestionably is not right, since it makes only 5.4 and I’m 5.6. I was then asked to sit and wait while the doctor fills in the details. I was asked about my present physical state. I used to be asthmatic... As a kid I was extremely exposed to frequent illness. But over years I have developed resistance to such problems and my Mother no longer panics as she used to even at a single ‘aahh..aahh..hachee ‘.

After completing the procedures with his official seal, the Doctor handed over the certificate to me. Without any delay I checked my weight. I was traumatized with what was written in blue link next to ‘weight:’

Any guesses???

I WEIGHT 68 Kg TODAY! ARRRGGGG…no no no…

That’s so close to 70!! And I’m just 20. My weight always bordered within 55-58 Kg. And now it went straight up to 68!! When the initial shock ceased, I enquire to the doctor if this was normal. He took his mobile. I sat confused. Why is this guy taking out his phone? What? He wants my contact number? Or he just got a call? Sorry man, this is a consultancy; you cannot use your mobile here.

Then after seconds he showed his mobile to me. His mobile had Body Mass Index (BMI) Calculator on its application directory... And I read what was written across the display...It was my BMI. It would have appeared really funny to anyone but me…

In a comical manner, it said ‘FAT!!’

I stared and stared, I stared as he stuffed the phone back into his pocket.

“You’re done”, he finally declared.

I said a ‘thank you’ and walked out.

I was back home only around 4 in the evening and didn't even bother to help myself with a cup of tea to cope with the heavy rain outside. My mother called to know if I was back. I answered he call and told her the breaking news. There was silence for a moment and then she said. “Don’t worry; you’ll lose it soon since you’re going to live in a hostel”Mother’s are always comforting. Aren't they??

My father was laughing at the ‘breaking news’. He will never mind if I complain that I’m becoming increasingly plump, he’ll say,”Oh, It’s just baby fat” and will encourage to ‘eat well’. He still can't admit I’m grown up and 20. For him I will always be the little girl who sat on his lap in a yellow frock for the first ever family photograph. His school of thought is that girls tend to eat well as long as they are under the care of their parents. Once they move out and set up a family of their own, they’ll no longer bother to keep their tummy full.

I will not starve. But I’ll eat wisely. My strategy is going to be

1. Give up eating sweets and fries.

2. Eat salads at least once a day.

3. Absolute ban to junk food.

4. Climb the stairs up and down 20 times a day.

As a beginning,I’m going to make that stupid machine point its needle to a clear 60 (which is normal for my height ). YES I AM.

Guys…PLEASE help…any tips on losing weight by eating appropriately???

Yep.. I’m a foodie…

Another characteristic of mine... And most of my friends know that don’t eat to live but i eat to enjoy the food!! It’s like I live to eat !!

I know, u r grinning now… I don’t have a clue why I’m writing this… ...A Post on my food habits? but I think being a foodie gives u the right and courage to think, talk and write about food, 24x7..

if its dull then please excuse..

Literally speaking, most of the things we do affect others around us in one way or the other and we are often influenced or compelled. we cook, study, work, even sometimes live for others(now that’s something really worthy to do, no questions there) and I consider eating as the only thing we do for ourselves in its entirety(minus expectant mothers of course;) ).. So why should one be ashamed that he/she is a foodie??? :D

I love food...I love cooking and eating. The things I cook can be called ‘divya’s creations’ rather than by a particular name for each, coz most of the times, I invent the dishes and I tell u, it’s a really difficult job for me to name them.. So most of the times they are called ‘holy cauli’, ‘wonder deluxe’ or simply ‘vegetable tries’...

I try to introduce a distinction in the traditional way of cooking a particular foodstuff by testing with diverse ingredients, without evicting the basic ones.

My area of specialisation is salads…I a fan of salads…give me salads all three times a day and I’ll eat happily... :D My favorite among my own preparation is the cabbage-carrot-peanut salad which I eat like a cow. Chewing and chewing…its crispy, crunchy and sometimes yummy too because of the milk-cream I add for extra taste…and saucy coz of the pepper and lemon... mmmm…

Recently I was searching for a chaat recipe...India’s own chaat... and it crossed my mind... Why it is that street food tastes the best??? Always!!! No matter what it is... Let it be vadapav, bonda, vada with coconut chutney, pani puri, hot samose with chutney, chaat, or dosa or idli …..Whatever, it always stimulates my taste buds. (I donno the case with hot dogs coz I’m a veggie and I have never left India) One advantage of being a foodie is that you always know and get the best to eat. And you’ll always know where to go for the best and the tastier. And I give eating the same status as cooking. Both are arts that require dedication, a creative mind and loads of skill :D. Street food was many times a topic of discussion among us friends… and we have wondered why it always tastes like heaven… and then one day Aparna came up with the thought that street food gets that taste because its unhygienic… oh no. she made my day… I kept thinking about that all the way home. Usually on my way home, I used to steal a look through the restaurant windows on the either side of the road, inside people helping themselves with snacks and drinks when I was outside with an empty stomach, hoping that I may find something really delicious to eat at our kitchen shelf.But that evening i was totally unenthusiastic to throw a look into my usual places of interest...but it lasted only for a few days..within a week i was back to my usual self.. but i still continue to be bit nervous about eating anything i feel is 'from-the-streets'.

Everyone will agree that homemade food is the most hygienic and safe. Because we always know 'whats cooking'.And our chefs at home- our dear mothers always want to give their children the best,food which will give them the best of health and keep them away from illness..Mothers are obviously the best chefs in the world...even though i do often fight with Amma for not making my favorite food and going with my father's preference.. ;)

Speaking about fathers and cooking, sometimes fathers turn out to be better chefs than mothers.Well thats how it is at my home..i have inherited the tendency to experiment with cooking from my Appa..we often work together at kitchen playing chefs..and its really fun..the only part i hate is that when often orders me to bring things like salt and pepper and other such flavorings while he himself sits idle... he acts as if he's the head-chef and treats me as a sidekick..and that is when i push him out of the kitchen and take over control as the head..

The only sad part is the fact that my food interests and habits are limited to vegetarian food. I was born into a complete veggie family and follow the family footsteps. So I cannot stand the smell of cooked or uncooked fish, meat or any such thing that is otherwise mouth-watering. So I cannot and will never explore non-vegetarian food. But I’m not complaining. There are still loads of vegetarian dishes out there which I have never tired. I'm looking forward to taste it all someday.

Happy Eating. :)