I think I was in the worst shape of my life mentally and physically around 26–28 years of age.
When I say shape, I do not mean a number on the scale, I mean my life, and the way I was experiencing it through my body and mind. I ate things that I did not even like so much, I drank a whole lot of alcohol to not deal with my feelings, I was always stressed and in deep turmoil inside my mind. Nothing I did, I did to really enjoy the moment, I just kept doing things to keep life interesting.
Now, I know I like to talk about the mind a lot, and it is a deeply fascinating subject for me, but today I want to focus on how much I have ignored my body for the greater part of my twenties, and how I learned to treat it better. Nobody told me that the body is indeed our most precious gift of all, after all.
You see, many of us are unaware that a lot of things that go on in our minds have a direct correlation with what is going on in our bodies. Anxiety could be triggered by certain physical conditions, mild symptoms of depression start to show when your hormones are out of balance, stress can get heightened on certain days than others depending on how our bodies are feeling on that day. I have realized that our bodies control our minds more than we were taught to believe or would like to believe. The mind controls our thoughts, thoughts shape emotions, and day-to-day emotions decide the quality of life we live. So, yes, it all starts with our bodies.
I am no doctor or nutritional expert, but I regularly see women around me let their physical health down in more ways than one. I get it, I was exactly like that. I used to think there are more important things to do, more interesting things to do, with my time, than prioritize my body.
Well, turns out, I was a fool.
In this blog, I simply want to share five tiny things I changed in my lifestyle that have had the most immense benefits in my day-to-day life. I will also tell you where I picked this up, or how this change entered my life. Even if it helps one woman, I will be happy I was of use. Five simple habits for self love and better health.
#1 Watch the first thing you eat.
Eat 4–5 almonds/Raisins/1 small Banana within fifteen minutes of waking up.
I dedicate this life-changing hack to nutritionist Rujuta Diwekar.
I have been a self-proclaimed tea addict all my life, and yes, I love my morning cup of perfectly brewed ginger tea. For too long, I told myself and every person who would listen to me about how I would absolutely die if I did not start my day with the perfect tea, how I would walk around with a headache if tea were not the first thing I consume.
Wrong again. Turns out I can have my tea 10–15 minutes after I eat my almonds, and still be alive, and guess what, no headaches. Yes, of course, I still enjoy my full cup of ginger milk with sugar, but not letting it be the first thing I consume has worked wonders for me.
Almonds are a good source of healthy fats, Vitamin E, manganese, and magnesium. It boosts brain function and improves cholesterol. Eating on an empty stomach helps our bodies absorb these nutrients better. Raisins aid digestion, boost iron levels and keep the bones strong. If you do not have either of these, just grab a banana. It is a great pre-workout snack and will give you the energy you need to start your day, and a simple habit and a dose for self-love
Benefits: Improved focus, fewer hunger pangs, fewer headaches, fewer PCOS symptoms, reduced fat levels (and weight loss), and the unmatchable feeling of starting your day with something good for your body.
#1 Watch the first thing you eat.
Eat 4–5 almonds/Raisins/1 small Banana within fifteen minutes of waking up.
I dedicate this life-changing hack to nutritionist Rujuta Diwekar.
I have been a self-proclaimed tea addict all my life, and yes, I love my morning cup of perfectly brewed ginger tea. For too long, I told myself and every person who would listen to me about how I would absolutely die if I did not start my day with the perfect tea, how I would walk around with a headache if tea were not the first thing I consume.
Wrong again. Turns out I can have my tea 10–15 minutes after I eat my almonds, and still be alive, and guess what, no headaches. Yes, of course, I still enjoy my full cup of ginger milk with sugar, but not letting it be the first thing I consume has worked wonders for me.
Almonds are a good source of healthy fats, Vitamin E, manganese, and magnesium. It boosts brain function and improves cholesterol. Eating on an empty stomach helps our bodies absorb these nutrients better. Raisins aid digestion, boost iron levels and keep the bones strong. If you do not have either of these, just grab a banana. It is a great pre-workout snack and will give you the energy you need to start your day, and a simple habit and a dose for self-love
Benefits: Improved focus, fewer hunger pangs, fewer headaches, fewer PCOS symptoms, reduced fat levels (and weight loss), and the unmatchable feeling of starting your day with something good for your body.
#2 Meditate. Or at the least, try.
Meditation is a deeply personal and confusing journey. Even after three years of active pursuit, the art of meditation eludes me. But then by now, I know enough to know that the journey is bittersweet and showing up to meditate is the only act I should focus on.
I use the app Headspace, but really you can use any tool or guide you want. Isha Foundation has some powerful guided meditations, and there are a lot more on YouTube. The key is finding something you can connect with, and just show up to it every day. Headspace has been an instrumental tool in helping me understand meditation better, and there is just something about Andy’s voice.
Benefits: Improves clarity, reduces anxiety, drives you crazy but the act of showing up always makes you feel a little better than before.
#3 Find a movement that works for you.
Over the last three years, I have enrolled myself in classes to learn Krav Maga, Kathak, Functional training, Strength training, and more recently Bollypop. I had a head injury and had to quit Krav. COVID ruined my Kathak and functional training pursuits. Then I chanced upon something called Bollypop on Instagram, where my trainer makes us move our body with simple steps to upbeat Bollywood songs. As someone who hates Zumba and aerobics, I think Bollypop is the perfect combination of activity and fun, and it has none of the mindless jumping.
My point is, do what works for you but MOVE. Hit the gym in full glory when things get better, but for now, keep experimenting with new things. If you do not like it, move on. You are no tree, and you are chained to nothing. It is a lot better to try something and quit than be stuck with many excuses.
Benefits: Improved mood, positive feelings, improved energy, a reason to wake up early, strength, toning of muscles, better sleep, and of course weight loss as a by-product.
#4 Eat things because you like them
From being a self-confessed foodie to striving to be a mindful eater, I have come a long way. This is the only thing I learned. Food is sacred. Food is magic. Food is sustenance. It has the power to make people happy. It connects families and traditions and whole cultures. So, love the food you eat. That is, it. That is the key.
Eat things only because you love them, and because your body loves them. Do not eat because you are meeting your friends, do not eat because someone is insisting, do not eat because someone’s feelings are going to get hurt, do not eat when you know you do not like a dish, do not eat because you are bored, or sad or have access to food.
Yes, there are days when you crave a brownie and rich pasta, and yes you deserve it. But make sure you order it from a place you really love and will absolutely make your soul happy. Then, every morsel you eat is worth it.
Benefits: Eating only things you really like helps you value your food and avoid unhealthy habits and relationships in your life.
#5 Switch from refined oils to clarified butter/ghee or cold-pressed oils
We have heard this so many times from so many people, and it is still amazing how very few of us make this switch. Especially women suffering from hormonal imbalances like diabetes, PCOS, thyroid, refined oils in every meal can create havoc in your system. To save a few hundred bucks, we are ready to do life-long damage to ourselves and our bodies.
Make the change. Your body deserves good quality things. Cold Pressed oils are expensive, but there are plenty of local options available at a pressery near you in any market.
Benefits: Better hormone regulation, better cholesterol levels, Improved digestion, better skin, and fat loss.
Well, these are some changes I made that have improved my life dramatically, and I am certain it will help you too. The beauty about these is that they are such tiny hacks but offer great rewards. Do you have anything else that has worked for you, and you would like to add to this list? Let me know in the comments below.
Great Dear. All the best in your journey. Keep going .success is just round the corner.
God Bless.
Thanks uncle! : )
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