Power of social media: two sided coin

I have always been fascinated by the power of social media, and its increasing role in our everyday. With Twitter, Facebook and others, we are now in the generation of  instant updates and information dissemination. With all important news re-tweeted within seconds, the world is aware of current events within seconds. There has been a significant amount of discussion on how that has shaped our generation.

During the aftermath of the Boston bombings, this discussion has stirred up again. I was watching Fareed Zakaria GPS, where they had Eric Schmidt and Jared Cohen from Google as guests to discuss how online data has played a role during such events. They discussed how online information has helped them track terrorists with the help of phone data and how it has helped law enforcement focus their efforts. There is a wealth of information that governments can gather based on online history, such as phone records, websites visited, etc. People’s awareness and resultant activism has also increased in this social age. With CCTVs, Reddit users went through the images are tried to identify suspects- a seemingly time intensive activity which would have taken law enforcement a long time to go through.

But here is the other side of the coin: the sad story of Sunil Tripathi. By looking at grainy CCTV images, some Reddit users incorrectly identified the suspect as Sunil, a classmate who had taken a leave of absence and was missing. Along with Sunil, there was a rumor about hearing the name Mike Mulutega on police radio. This information was re-tweeted within seconds and Sunil’s Facebook page was overloaded with nasty comments. The following morning, the police confirmed it was Tsaernev brothers. But the damage was done- can we really Google either of them without getting all this information? It is a part of their online history for ever. The tragedy of the story is Sunil Tripathi’s body was found in a river a few days later- we won’t know if this misinformation has anything to do with it, but the anxiety to his family and friends is real.

This raises an important question in my mind- with everyone able to update any information, who is validating the information? Such information is defamatory and slanderous, and once it is out there, can we really take it back? Earlier this week, Associated Press news feed being hacked and incorrectly reporting news that White House was attacked and the President was injured. Within seconds, the stock market crashed even before the news was validated. It reminds me of how prone the online world is to rumors.

As online users, I think it is our responsibility to make sure we don’t spread news that might incite panic, especially when it is not validated.

Do you agree?

Surgery Diaries 2

Sometimes in life, slowing down and reflecting gives you some insight. I wanted to share some of my tips from 2nd ankle surgery experience:

1. Do your research- Read and find out all about your procedure. My big find was Health Boards, which really helped me- to share experience and tips with people who have/are going through the same thing is extremely valuable. I found the experience akin having a wide support network.
2. Manage expectations- I am not the most optimistic person to begin with, but to be honest, I find it my strength in this situation. I know that recovering from surgery is a long road, so I do celebrate the milestone achievements, but I don’t lose sight of the fight that it takes a lot to be back on my feet with no pain. I guarantee that you will have days when you see no end in sight, so managing expectations and making sure you have realistic expectations is crucial. My prior experience has taught me me that it takes 6 to 9 months to have that moment where you walk without any discomfort and pain- in the months prior, there are some blissful days when the pain is absent but as you move out of your comfort zone and try anything new, the pain is back.
3. Be ahead of the pain- Like most people I had been reluctant about medication first time around. But the key thing to remember is, once pain hits and you take a painkiller it takes forever to work. Your body is going through so much post surgery and you don’t want any additional pain. So especially for the 2 weeks right after surgery, follow a 3-4 hour painkiller schedule and set alarms to wake up and take medication. 
4. Plan a comfort area- Prior to surgery, plan where to sit/ sleep and keep things that you would potentially need close to you. For example, you could keep medication, books, blanket, TV remote, iPod, phone charger, etc in reaching distance. 
5. Ice, Elevation and Sleep- Ice helps with swelling, especially around the knee when the splint is on, so get a lot of ice before surgery. The surgeon tends to recommend “toes above nose” for ankle procedure for the first week after surgery so get a couple of large cushions to elevate. One tip is to tie the cushions together so they stay together and tie it to your foot lightly when you sleep because you don’t want to move them in your sleep. Also, you will be tired a lot initially after surgery so be ready to nap a lot! 
6. Make sure you have happy helpers- Especially when you are non-weight bearing, you will need help from family/friends to get your meals, getting around, etc. Most of us feel guilty about asking, so be appreciative and thank them for taking care. A gift or bribe may go a long way in making sure the helpers stay happy! 
7. Find hobbies and distractions- When you spend days on end in pain, you really need some distractions. My distraction during pain was actually the company of family- conversation and stories about childhood kept me distracted. Other things that helped- my online scrabble addiction, Grey’s Anatomy re-runs, HGTV! 
8. Get ready for random comments- I love friends and relatives who are concerned but I am often inundated by ridiculous questions. My favorites are:  ”why do you keep doing this to yourself?”, “you must be so bored, I would have gone crazy”, “what do you do all day, I would have cabin fever”, “I hope you don’t injure it again”, “check with the doctor is this is the permanent solution, some doctors botch these things up”. These may seem as valid questions, but when you are in pain, moody and irritable, such questions really push your buttons- not because you don’t see the concern, but because you get defensive. After all, no one chooses to get on medical leave and stay home in bed for 2 weeks! 
9. Post cast care- In terms of expectations, your leg would likely be thinner, skin looks gross and will peel off, it will be itchy as hell too. The best thing you can do is soak your foot in water for 20 minutes a day and pat dry, don’t peel off the skin. Aloe vera oil is awesome to soothe skin especially when it is itchy. Use loads of moisturizer and massage skin, but keep incision site free of anything but water and mild soap.
10. Milestones to walking crutch-free- My surgery involved 2 weeks of non-weight bearing cast, then 2 weeks of partially weight bearing cast,  fully weight bearing with crutches for 2 weeks, and then just ankle boot for 2 weeks. You need small milestones to recognize the progress you are making- whether it is walking in crutches for a block, to putting your foot down for the first time. Challenge yourself to try something more everyday and it will make you energized about the journey! 
11. Physio therapy is serious stuff- One thing I had a love/hate relationship with during my recovery from first surgery was physio therapy! It felt like paying a lot to feel pain but no results- in reality, it takes a while to see the impact physio therapy is having in your recovery. It is a commitment to focus on physio therapy and follow the instructions for at-home exercises. But at the end of the day, keeping the goal in mind keeps you motivated. 

Anyone else with the same experience? Please add to the list! 

The surgery diaries- 1

After a long hiatus, I am finally writing again- but beware this is a bit of a rant- or rather my attempt to convert my pain to humor!

If you recall, I had a rant about my ankle troubles. So in an attempt to solve them once and for all, I had ankle surgery 3 weeks ago. I had 2 never-ending weeks of non-weight bearing cast that weighed almost 10-15 pounds. But at  3.5 weeks, I am finally in a partially weight bearing cast, I got used to limping around in crutches. I was getting confident to go out after a few trips- I was buzzing with a lot more positive energy! So on a glorious spring day, I decided to head out for dinner at a friend’s house. But I was at possibly the most crowded corner in NYC-Herald Square and was hoping to find a cab to go to my friend’s house. I was prepared for some wait as it was evening time and there were hundreds of people on the street.

But after an hour of wait here are some of my realizations:
- Good ideas are often not practical- I thought subways are busy over the weekend so I thought I am smart in choosing to get a cab instead. Finding a cab on a Saturday evening is a nightmare.
- You forget your limitations-In crutches, you cannot run around behind a free cab. I realized now how limiting that can be!
- People don’t look when they walk- three times today people nearly stamped my cast. I waited by a pillar while my husband looked for a cab, but every time I hobbled anywhere people crashed on to me.
- It’s a ‘dog-eat-dog world‘-When it comes to stealing cabs, no one feels sorry for someone in crutches! Once someone ran up in front of me and got the cab.
- Moodiness, the friend that follows such days- In such stressful times, you become irritated and fussy with the one person who is helping you- in my case, my husband!
- Lastly, the most obvious realization-consequences of the adventure- once you stand 1 hour with crutches, your non-operated leg will hurt possibly more than the operated one. Also, your hands will be swollen from the pressure of standing.

As I sit on my couch, elevating my leg and taking painkillers, I can’t help but blame shows like Sex and the City for giving unrealistic ideas on how easy getting a cab could be.

Today ends with pain but tomorrow will hopefully be a better day!

Oscars 2013: The Fashion Rundown

Hi all! It is close to the end of the award season- the crown of all award shows- and also the last of my fashion posts, at least for 2013!!

My favorite looks of the night

Jennifer Lawrence (Source: Wire Image)

The style winner and award winner for this award season is Jennifer Lawrence- no contest!!! She is absolutely stunning in this Christian Dior couture ball gown. The strapless neckline accentuates her incredibly thin frame and the backwards diamond necklace adds that young touch! She totally owned the night!

Jennifer Garner (Source: Getty Images)

Favorite actress & person+favorite color+ favorite actor= PERFECTION! I love Jennifer Garner- she has such a naturally glowing face and has the perfect smile. She looks incredible in this purple Gucci gown. And I am obsessed with her Neil Lane necklace- unbelievable is an understatement!! And with Ben Affleck as her escort, it is the perfect look!

Naomi Watts (Source: Wire Image)

Naomi Watts was absolutely stunning in this embellished grey Armani prive gown. The neckline, embroidery, hairstyle were all incredible. It was something different on the red carpet, and definitely made an impression!

Jessica Chastain (Source: Wire Image)

Jessica Chastain was a hot favorite of all fashion websites in this metallic Armani Prive number- I love the dress but I am not a fan of her hair style. It was far too tame and stuck to her scalp. I would have loved this look if she did something more stylish with her hairstyle!

Kerry Washington (Source: Wire Image)

Kerry Washington looked incredible in this beaded coral Miu Miu gown. The beading and color were stunning, I only wish she did something better with her hair, but awesome look overall!

Amanda Seyfried (Source: Getty Images)

Amanda Seyfried looked incredible in this Alexander McQueen gown- it was a fantastic pick for her, I absolutely loved the embroidery.

Amy Adams (Source: Getty Images)

Best supporting actress nominee Amy Adams looked like a movie star in this powder blue Oscar de la Renta gown. Her hair and make up was flawless and she let the dress be the star with minimal jewelry.

Other popular looks of the night

Sandra Bullock (Source: Getty Images)

Sandra Bullock looked great in this embroidered black Elie Saab dress. She does look stylish but the gown looks really familiar. I feel like I have seen it before on the red carpet. And it is also a very standard look for Sandra Bullock, no surprise…

Catherine Zeta Jones (Source: Getty Images)

Catherine Zeta Jones looked fine in this Zuhaid Murad dress, but it is her face that brought the look down. For a Hollywood star, her makeup looks like it has been done by an amateur.

Jennifer Aniston (Source: Getty Images)

Jennifer Aniston wore a red Valentino gown to the Oscars. She looked great in the gown, but it is her standard look at all awards- California casual hair, tanned face and a solid gown. It was far too typical a look! And I don’t know if you will agree- but I think she went overboard on fillers and botox- her face looks puffy and plastic!

Reese Witherspoon (Source: Getty Images)

Reese Witherspoon looked pretty in this blue Louis Vuitton dress. The fashionistas love this dress, but I am totally not a fan- I really don’t like the bust style. It isn’t flattering even if you are a size A. But her face and hair are totally movie star quality!

Halle Berry (Source: Getty Images)

Halle Berry looks like a futuristic robot in this Versace gown. Normally a fashionista, she doesn’t score any points with this strange look.

Do you guys agree? Share your views below!

A Look at the Fashion at Screen Actor’s Guild 2013

Hi all! I am back, with my take on the Screen Actor Guild 2013 fashion.

Here are some of the noteworthy looks:

Source: Getty Images

The girl of the moment (and star of my new favorite movie Silver Linings Playbook) Jennifer Lawrence continues her perfect fashion streak with this beautiful navy blue gown by Dior. I absolutely loved her necklace too!

Source: Getty Images

Nicole Kidman isn’t the person I usually watch out for during the award seasons, but she looked incredible in Vivienne Westwood gown. The embroidery is absolutely beautiful!

Source: Getty Images

Continuing on my favorite blue theme, Amanda Seyfried looks fresh and pretty in this Zac Posen number. I am totally fixated on her Lorraine Schwartz medallion necklace- totally love it!

Source: Getty Images

Naomi Watts is stunning in this silver Marchesa number! Absolute perfection!

Source: Getty Images

Jennifer Garner continues to rock the red carpet, she looks incredible in this golden glittery number by Oscar de la Renta.

Source: Getty Images

Jessica Chastain was amazingly fashionable during last year’s award season. But this year, she continues to disappoint me. This red Alexander McWueen gown is not fitted very well- she is so skinny but this gown somehow makes her midsection an unflattering shape. I do love her taste in jewelry though!

Source: Getty Images

With Les Miserables, Anne Hathaway is the center of the award season. But her black Giambattista Valli gown is pretty blah! Totally unimpressed!

Source: Getty Images

My usual fashion favorite Sofia Vergara was a bit disappointing. This white Donna Karan number looks ill fitting on top, and just doesn’t work. Maybe she is trying to give a hint to her fiance, because the dress looks a bit bride-ish!

Do you agree? Weigh in with your comments..

Nirbhaya- catalyst for change?

Towards the end of 2012, one of the most disturbing stories that came out of India and became the biggest global story is the news of the gang rape of an Indian girl (she was coined the name Nirbhaya or fearless for her strength and courage) on a bus. The details of the rape were so brutal that it gave me nightmares for days. What followed was an uproar- women, men all over India were on the streets protesting justice. Anyone and everyone said their piece, and now that the dust has settled I wanted pen my thoughts.

• Firstly, a lot of articles claimed India has an epidemic of attacks against women- that there is something fundamentally wrong with the country. But I believe rape isn’t just an India problem- it happens everywhere. This post here explains that view better than I ever could. Link: Rape is not just India’s problem. I do recognize that statistics cannot be taken at face value because something like 65% of all rapes and assaults are not reported. But as an Indian, accusations of a mindset issue with Indian men riles me up- there is more to the story than a simple statement like “Indian society is messed up”.
• But I do admit that you do feel more unsafe and unsettled walking in India than anywhere else. In one talk show I watched right after the incident, the host asked the crowd how many women were assaulted or molested in a public bus and almost everyone in the audience had their hand up. Everywhere women go, they are inundated with cat calls, vulgar songs from Bollywood movies, and obscene gestures. In crowded public places, women have to have their guards up against mean groping and pushing up against you. Most Indian women have a defense mechanisms- from walking fast, to avoiding eye contact, to using handbags and umbrellas as weapons. But the question then is ” can’t a society protect a woman in a public place?”. Isn’t the first step of a civilized society is safety of a woman in public?
• I guess the next question is to say why do the Indian men act so reprehensibly in public? I can only hypothesize but my theory is women and men are raised very differently in some parts of India. Boys will eventually take care of the parents while girls are married away to another family, so there is preferential treatment to their eventual protector. They get more of a share with everything from the food, to the clothes they get, everything is different. I have seen it in educated families in urban cities. The boys have been raised looking at themselves as better than their sisters. But in the current age, when women are also working and supporting the family, shouldn’t their role in the family be equal to that of their brother in the family?
• Boys and girls are also raised without much interaction- they don’t play together, don’t go to the same schools, and by the time they are in college, they lose the social skills to interact. The only version of women that the boys imagine is probably inspired out of movies. It is my theory that by just having friends of the opposite sex, you don’t view every woman  as someone you want to fantasize about- they can be your friends, people you can play sports with or study with. The interaction is more relaxed and there isn’t all this tension.
• A big part of the problem is also the role Bollywood movies and TV serials play in brainwashing the youth. There are dozens of movies in Bollywood where the girl says no, and the boy harasses her continuously until she says yes. That becomes every boy’s fantasy! Women are pigeonholed into the traditional girl with values or the modern girl that needs to be taught a lesson by a boy to become traditional. The modern girl has no value or morals, and is therefore typecasted as easy. Any doubts- watch movies like Cocktail. Such movies and shows rile me up so much! And there are so many movies that show rape as a punishment to take revenge or for some other ridiculous reason, but emphasize the fact that the woman is left helpless and is often forced to marry her rapist. Again, are you kidding me? It is 2013, can we please get real? Can the media take responsibility for the world it is depicting? There has to be some sort of moral compass that even media should follow because for India, it is their aspirational life in the big screen.
• The idiotic politicians and self-proclaimed gurus tend to blame women, for being out late, or for being out with anyone apart from their father or husband, to wearing western clothes. I would love to ignore these nonsensical comments and say no one is going to buy their crap, but a big part of the problem is such troublemakers do have a following that believe every word coming out of their ridiculous mouths. Any woman, whether she is wearing a burkha or a bikini has felt harassment. So clothes cannot be the issue. And if you are telling us that we live in a society where women cannot even walk out in the evening, then we are not a free country.
• To me, another part of the issue is that no one is will to help a woman in danger. The victim and her friend were lying by the side of the road for half an hour but no one stopped to help. There have been instances when someone acted fresh with me on a bus, and most people stand back- rarely few women support you and help you fight back. But for the most part, you are on your own. People are afraid to help because they will dragged into court cases and want to avoid any such inconvenience. But isn’t that a big problem? Any man has a wife/sister/mother who deals with this everyday so wouldn’t they want someone to help them?
• I agree that we need to strengthen the judiciary and police protection in the country. A woman should feel safe to go to a police station and report her case without feeling pressured or judged and there should be an expedited process to address these issues. But I believe that just demanding death penalty to rapists dilutes the issues. It is too simplistic a solution- for every rapist to be hanged, every rape case must go through the judiciary process without delays so the rapists cannot intimidate the victim, the victims need to feel safe reporting such crimes, and there should not be any grounds for pardons. There are too many dependencies on systems that already seem broken. Besides, we should be focusing on making sure this doesn’t happen again.

Let us talk about rape in it’s entirety- solving it isn’t going to be a bandaid solution. It needs a systematic change. Let us channel this awakening for it to lead to something more meaningful, so we don’t need another Nirbhaya to wake us all up.

Golden Globes 2013- The Best and Worst Looks

Happy New Year (a bit belated) and welcome to 2013! I was on a hiatus from blogging, but I am back. And this post is just for Aishwarya, who asked me when I am writing about the Golden Globes fashion.

So let’s get started, first with the looks I loved, then move on to the ones that were absolutely awful!

Best dressed at Golden Globes: 

Emily Blunt (Source: Getty Images)

One of my favorite people to watch on the red carpet- Emily Blunt didn’t disappoint and stunned in this gorgeous golden gown by Michael Kors. One word- Beautiful!

Sofia Vergara (Source: Getty Images)

Another staple in all my fashion posts-Sofia Vergara wows in this black strapless gown by Michael Cinco. I love her red carpet looks- she always dresses perfectly for her body type.

Jennifer Garner (Source: Getty Images)

Sticking with the strapless theme, I loved Jennifer Garner in this Dior Haute Couture gown. Such a fantastic color, and it really makes her look radiant! I am also loving the earrings and bracelets– all in all, perfect look!

Anne Hathaway (Source: Getty Images)

Best Supporting Actress Winner Anne Hathaway looks sophisticated and elegant in this white Chanel number.

Claire Danes (Source: Getty Images)

Sticking with the red theme, which was a popular color on the carpet, Best Actress in TV drama winner Claire Danes stunned in this Versace gown. Can you believe she had a baby only a month ago!! Insane!!

The worst looks at Golden Globes: 

Jessica Chastain (Source: Getty Images)

OK starting with the look I was most disappointed with- during the Oscars 2012, Jessica Chastain was my best dressed. And given she is a strong contender to win, I expected her to bring her A game. This pale blue Calvin Klien gown looked absolutely ridiculous- it was a wonder how she didn’t have a wardrobe malfunction. But her hairstyle just pushed it to worst dress territory-slick hair back never works! Total disappointing!

Lucy Liu (Source: Getty Images)

The usually stunning Lucy Liu disappoints in this light blue Caroline Herrera gown. The design and prints look more suited to be drapes or tablecloth rather than a red carpet gown.

Rachel Weisz (Source: Getty Images)

Maybe its my personal bias, but I have never been a fan of the sheer arms and leg and solid middle trend. Rachel Weisz looks a bit drab in this black polka dot Louis Vuitton dress.

Hally Berry (Source: Getty Images)

The usually stunning Halle Berry looked out of place in this Versace gown, which seems more suited for the beach rather than a red carpet! The prints and colors are dull and the ridiculous ‘Angelina Jolie’ leg trend is the final nail in the coffin. Halle, I expected more!

Eva Longoria (Source: Getty Images)

And keeping with the ridiculous ‘Angelina Jolie’ leg trend, another red carpet hottie that I love to watch- Eva Longoria- disappointed in this black Emilio Pucci gown. The neckline, the leg and back- it was all a bit too much!

Do you guys agree with my picks?

Rant over Ankle Troubles!

I am hoping the title is self-explanatory: this is not a happy post, I am trying to rant about my cursed ankle and my life long struggle with them.

Let me give the history! As a child, I have always been a clumsy child- sprains and falls happened all the time. Everyone I knew was convinced that I don’t know how to watch or that I am always in la- la land. Every time I fall, I normally get the reaction “again?”.

So 6 years ago, I sprained my ankle with a stair accident but it never really healed. 8 months later, I tore my ankle ligaments while running. Apparently the original accident led to ankle ligament strain that never fixed. I also found out that all those falls and sprains could be traced back to one issue- hyperlaxity- my ligaments are over flexible, so they tend to bend more and every sprain makes it a little worse. I had ligament reconstruction surgery to fix the damaged ankle. After 2 months with a ginormous cast and bed rest, I finally could walk again.

Of course, during physio I realized the other ankle is weak- I did the exercises, wore a brace when possible. But it didn’t help much-I walk down the road and it would twist, I tried Zumba and it would twist. I went to a lot of orthopedics, and I always got two sets of options- physio and avoid high impact exercises or surgery. Being risk averse, you always think do you really want to be in bed rest for that long and put your body through a surgery- after all, I didn’t want to do anything crazy just normal everyday activities.

I went hiking in Vermont in June, the hike up was alright but it rained on the way back- and I pretty much twisted and fell the whole way back. The foot felt bad, but no swelling so I figured i escaped. But next day, I walked down the street and twisted it so bad that I couldn’t walk anymore. I had strained the ligaments on my unoperated good leg- which led to 6 weeks of soft cast, 3 weeks of physio and whole lot of limping around and pain. After it looked like it healed, I finally started exercises and activities that weren’t high risk. I started wearing orthotics and special shoes that are supposed to support the foot.

You would think that is when the story ends but no just when I was excited about losing a few pounds (view previous post), I was crossing the street on a Monday morning 3 weeks ago and I twisted it again. I couldn’t walk anymore, I had to limp on one foot to get across the street. I knew this was bad- and the orthopedic confirmed it. Once the sprain subsides, I should get the same surgery on the other ankle too. Of course, the second opinion doctor spent most of the time scaring me about everything that could go wrong and all likely issues and complications scaring the hell out of me. And to add to my relatively full list of troubles, I keep getting the reaction “you sprained it again?”, “how do you keep doing this?”– I keep wondering “don’t people realize do I not feel frustrated myself about spraining it again- shouldn’t you be more comforting?”. I am going back home after 2 years, I have planned trips to my dream destinations Goa and Pondicherry, I have to go to a friend’s wedding- and with a temperamental ankle that flares up without notice I worry about my trip. I also worry about the reactions I will get from the extended family- about the ankle, the weight I would have put back on from not exercising anymore and being couch-bound. It is all adding up, and ended up in this page long rant post!!

SO after this long story what is the point? As I wear a cast that pretty much ties up my leg straight, ice the ankle and eat painkillers periodically, I want to remind the world about how important it is to take care of small injuries and accidents- they all add up and get worse. When you notice a trend of injuries, go to a doctor and check for any underlying cause.

Since I am almost a veteran of sprain care, I wanted to make a list of after ankle sprain care:

• Rest
• Ice
• Compression
• Elevation
• Don’t dread painkillers- anti-inflammatory medicines help with the swelling and deal with the pain. But fair warning- a lot of the time, the reduction in pain makes you feel like you are better. So you will end up over tiring yourself so be careful

END OF RANT- I feel like it is almost cathartic to list it out. One of the joys of blogging to me is to write about things that are on my mind, and sometimes they become more easy to deal with after because it is out of my system. So I hope I wake up tomorrow, and my ankle cooperates and I will have the memorable trip to India that I have been dreaming about!

One month and 5 pounds later…

October was my mission month- I wanted to get in shape, so I cut out junk, ate healthy, and worked out in the gym. The mission had some success- I lost 5 pounds, and in an effort to document the journey, I found some rather interesting findings:

• The skinny b*@#h diet- I don’t know about you, but I struggled to wake up and get my butt to the gym. It takes a lot to get me there, and when I am there I am counting down the minutes. As I sweat, struggle and power through, I stare at the timer on my elliptical and I wait for it to hit an hour. At the point I look over, and there are these skinny, perfect figured women with perfect make-up and hair who make it look like working out is as easy as a walk in the park. And to make my humiliation complete, they keep going and going. Just as I think I should hit snooze, I see these girls and it motivates me to push further for another 15 minutes- peer pressure at its best!
• Why I don’t order nachos anymore?- One afternoon when I was at a waiting room, I ended up watching the show Dr.Oz show- he gave an eye opening talk about how to eat right at a restaurant. He explained that at a Mexican restaurant, as we scan the menu trying to decide which  appetizer or entree to get and munch on the free nachos, we are adding 500 calories. And the margarita adds another 150-200 calories. And then there is the actual appetizer, entree and eventually dessert. It was something I never really thought about- and once I read it I realized the bread at an Italian restaurant also adds to my unwanted calories. If I am pigging out, I would rather spend the calories on the dishes I actually want!
• Salad is my new best friend- The word “salad” was never my favorite- all my fitness conscious friends always ordered it and I would think why the dry salad when you could have so many better dishes. But I guess salads are an acquired taste- I hate the ones full of greens. I need to mix them up, add tomatoes, cucumber, corn, anything to make it more interesting. My husband convinced my dressing is not the way to go- but I have realized if I am having something 100% healthy, and I add a bit of dressing to make it more enjoyable, then it’s not the worst idea!
• Coffee calories?- I am a coffee addict; it makes my long boring work days tolerable. So I used to think multiple cups of coffee don’t affect my weight loss goals. After all, didn’t caffeine kick start metabolism? My husband made me realize that along with the caffeine came the milk and sugar- that add to the calories- so really a coffee cup becomes 150-200 calories. And trust me, once you realize it takes 15-20 minutes to lose 200 calories, you really start re-evaluating each cup of coffee!!
• Sugar=evil!- I have always thought that fried=bad, so I always tried to cut down on oily food in an effort to eat healthy. But I do have a serious sweet tooth, so everything from coffee to tea, to cakes and chocolate are all my weaknesses. Every now and then, on a bad day, I enjoy a cake/chocolate to make my day better. I try to cut down on the occasional cake/chocolate, but I never really added my coffees and teas sugar intake. So it took a lot of will power to finally say NO to sugar (well not completely, but definitely a smaller proportion)!

What are your fitness tips/discoveries?

Argo- My Review (SPOILER ALERT)

Let me start by saying Argo is one of the best movies I have seen in a long time. It was the potent combination of gripping drama, arresting story line and excellent performance.

We are in 1980 Iran, after the revolution and Iranians were filled with anger against US for sheltering their evil dictator. The Iranian student army wanted their dictator to be brought back to US and tried, and stormed the US army, taking hostages to blackmail the government. 6 of the staff escape by the back exit and take shelter in the Canadian embassy. The CIA is brought in to rescue the 6 escapees before the Iranians figure out they are missing. Tony Mendez, played by Ben Affleck, comes up with the idea that he will go to Iran as a sci-fi fantasy movie producer, scouting for locations and bring the escapees back as his crew. He works on making his film legit- he gets an office, script, director, costume designer, fake Canadian passport, even a trailer of the movie.  The rest of the movie is the nail biting drama of executing the plan in Iran.

The movie is based on a real rescue effort- nerd that I am, I tried comparing it with the real story. There were quiet a few inaccuracies- the role of Canada was trivialized, Tony really traveled with a fellow CIA agent, he received his Iranian visa in Germany not Turkey, the movie showed Tony separated from his wife but in reality his wife was the one who drove him to the airport, the airport escape was as smooth as silk in reality compared to the drama filled final scenes in the movie. When it was shown in Toronto film festival, Canadians criticized that the role of Ambassador Taylor in the escape was minimized, especially towards the end where it was stated that Canada was credited since the operation was classified. Personally, I believe it focused entirely on the rule of CIA, trivializing US’s mistake of supporting a sadistic and evil dictator, making that a 2 second introduction, and focused instead on the mob anger and violence- the mob had suffered decades of abuse, so their anger was justified.

But all the inaccuracies notwithstanding, Ben Affleck has directed an unforgettable movie, constantly moving and rarely predictable. The performance by each of the actors are incredible. Ben Affleck was amazing in movie, understated and brilliant as Tony Mendez!

Verdict: MUST SEE!