It is back to full days at work and I am finding it a bit difficult to do all the cooking and packing in the morning. I get a lot of help from hubby ,in spite of it I am finding it very strenous. My food is very different from what hubby and my son eat and this is making things even more difficult. I have lost 10kgs in 4 months since I started following ‘Natural Lifestyle’. The consultants at the helpdesk of ‘Natural Lifestyle’ say that the body will stabilise at a particular weight and what is important is to be healthy. Yes, I do feel good other than the weight.
Read the news that Locusts swarms are wreaking havoc on the vegetation in many states in the country. They had arrived from Pakistan to Rajasthan and then moved to Gujarat and Maharashtra. They supposedly move with the flow of the wind and don’t know where they are headed next. A lot of food crops have been lost and this is very dangerous for the future supply of food.
A couple of weeks ago , we had a lockdown potluck lunch with my Sister and Brothers family. The lunch venue was out stilt floor which is more of a garage with lot of space. We washed the whole area using a normal water pipe and found it very difficult to clean the whole place. It was then that I wanted something that would help on washing floors faster.No sooner i came across this product on Seniority.in and immediately ordered it.
Will unbox the package ,use it and will write a review of the product this weekend . Yes, I am very excited about this item :).
Spent the whole day editing a video that I made on how to season a Soapstone Utensil.
Here is the link to the video –
This is a very ancient cookware that was used by several civilisations all over the world since thousands of years.
It is carved out of Soapstone by hand, Supposed to be soft and porous.
Cooking in this cookware has several benefits –
The material is mostly inert and hence does not impart any flavour to the recipe.
Food cooked in this Utensil stays hot for almost 3-4 hours.
Contains essential nutrients like magnesium and calcium which leaches into the food.
It is long lasting if handled well and can be passed on to several generations.
Any type of food can be cooked in this utensil. Both vegetarian and non-vegetarian recipes can be cooked. Deep frying is not advised.
Food cooks evenly in the container.
Does not react with acidic foods.
I enjoyed the whole process of seasoning this Utensil which took 13 days to complete. This process hardens the stone and makes it long lasting.
I also prepared my first dish in this utensil yesterday , called ‘Mukkala Pulusu’ which is a famous recipe in Andhra Pradesh. It was definitely tastier than the dish that i used to cook in a steel utensil 🙂
However, the one I bought was of medium size which is small when I want to cook for more than 4 persons. I will be buying a bigger one soon.
Love this creation.
These can be bought online from various online stores.
You can find dosa pans, paniyaram pans, kadai , lamps , mortar and pestle (small) etc. The most popular model in which any kind of gravy recipe can be cooked is called ‘Kalchatti in Tamil or Rathi Chippa / Rachippa in Telugu).
Usually found in the southern states in India.
It is surely making a comeback .
Can be used on Gas stove , Oven and wood fire too.
I Bought this Cookware on Amazon. If you are interested , here is the link:
Been a while since I updated on my Multiple Myeloma.
This is the 9th year after my Stem Cell Transplant. I have been taking only Ayurvedic Medication for the last 4 years.
There are other detailed posts in the past where I wrote all about in detail.
I am continuing to take Circumin, Ashwagandha , Satavari , Tinaspora Cordifolia as per the advise of my Ayurveda Doctor.
I also take few Allopathy medications like Folvite ( for better absorption of Iron), Renerve (for peripheral Neuropathy), Antoxid HC (Multivitamins) and Feburic 20 (to regulate Uric acid) .
Apart from the above , I also have been following the lifestyle prescribed by ‘Natural Lifestyle’ , since 4 months. I have lost some weight due to the restricted diet. I do feel healthy otherwise. Just that I can’t physically exert myself a lot. Able to manage quite well even during the lock-down period doing all household chores with support from hubby and son 🙂
I did the routine Blood tests 2 months ago (just before the lock-down) and the reports say that all is well.
However, it is 1 year 4 months since I did the Bone Marrow test. I feel it may not be necessary as I feel good and my routine tests including Serum Globulin levels were normal in the recent tests.
I am also back to work in spite of all the restrictions and risks.
I am dependent on my driver whenever . Doing my best to ensure that my Driver is also healthy. Provided Masks, Face Shield, Sanitizer , Liquid soap and gave him instructions on maintaining social distance and washing hands frequently.
Getting used to co-exist with the C-virus. With a little care and attention it should be possible to deal with it.
Harvesting curry leaves in my tiny garden :
I was all the while assuming that the curry leaf plant should be allowed to grow as much as possible before we start harvesting the leaves. I recently learnt that the branches should be cut frequently so as to encourage further growth of new stems.
So, I decided to cut off one of the biggest stems today. Here it is-
I then separated all the leaves, washed them well and dried them well.
This is usually how i prepare curry leaves before i pack them in an airtight container and store them in the refrigerator.
These leaves are going to last me more than a week. Feels so good to be able to grow your own food ,that too organically grown 🙂
Several passenger trains started towards various cities from Delhi. Several citizens are stuck in other cities/towns during the lockdown and with this step they have some hope that they will finally reach their hometowns and meet their families. There are strict thermal screening tests at the Railway Station. Some of the destinations may insist on the passengers being quarantined but that would be next to impossible. Most like passengers will be told to self quarantine at their home for 14 days.
Meanwhile the number of COVID positive cases are continuing to rise while the number of positive cases that are recovering are also rising.
Mr Modi has addressed the nation and encouraged all to go local and be vocal. He also stressed on being self reliant. There is no other option but to go local and all countries eventually will do the same. That we should go ahead with building the economy while taking all precautions.
A lot of Migrants also moving to their hometowns by whatever means they can. They are even walking hundreds of kilometers. Unfortunately some have even lost their lives on the way.
Decided to harvest Mint leaves from my tiny garden. The easiet greens to grow by a beginner who wants to grow food is Mint leaves. Can be grown in very small spaces and in containers too.
I also made a short video on my Mint harvest. Here is the link –
There was no more space in my tiny garden to sow any more seeds. There was no way to buy some containers/pots too as none of the plant nurseries or online sites were delivering these items. Looked around the home so I can reuse/recycle some stuff and convert into containers, and came across some plastic rice bags.
Containers made with empty rice bags
I had red soil , sand , some cocopeat and manure and quickly took help of hubby to fill these emptly rice bags with this stuff. Before putting the soil I made small holes at the bottom of the bags.
Very happy to see these Lockdown Container s :). Am yet to decide what I will be sowing in these.
I am continuing to work from home and experiencing the busiest days in my life 🙂 .
The results of my Blood Reports were sent to my mail id and i quickly opened the pdf file which had almost 12 pages.
As I was scrolling page by page , I was surprised to see my results unfold.
My Hb crossed 12 for the first time since my transplant.
My Thyroid levels were back to normal.
My ESR level for the first time was showing 26 . It was always more than 50 or 60
My Uric acid levels stabilised.
My Creatinine was always at 1 and now reduced to 0.9
My B12 was in the normal range too . I do take a supplement daily.
My Vitamin D3 levels was in the medium range.
Most importantly my Serum Globulin was perfect.
Woww , I couldn’t believe what I was seeing. All this with the simple diet and lifestyle that I was following for two and half montths. The only ‘side effect’ of the new lifestyle was that I lost 5 kgs in those two and half months.
I was prepared to look skinnier and be healthy rather then be sick and look chubbier.
I then decided to stop the medicine I was taking for Thyroid. I also started taking only one capsule of Shallaki for knee pains instead of two.
I continued the same diet and still continuing and intend to continue for ever.
I wrote a mail to Sarita ji and gave her my feedback and requested her to show my results to Acharya ji. She replied after a few days and said I should continue the same diet and I can continue to ask any further doubts.
I am allergic to dust and once during this period I had mild cough and bronchitis attack . Before I started following this lifestyle I used to take a herbal powder for my cough and take allopathy for the Bronchitis. (Much before I started Ayurveda medicines , I would take Antibiotics very frequently) . Whereas this time i did not take the herbal powder too , instead , as recommended by this lifestyle , I went on a liquid diet (White Chart) for 2 days and used the ‘Patti’ for four times each day and did the Enema 2 times each day. I also put my feet in warm water at night. I was miraculously fine on the third day 🙂
Kept watching the videos by Acharya Mohan ji and also the feedback given by many of the followers of this lifestyle. Very positive feedback given by those who had been suffering from Hypertension, Diabetes, Thyroid, Asthma, Constipation, Skin problems etc. I too have finally experienced the Miracles of a ‘Natural Lifestyle’ and hence wanted to share with all.
I feel quite energetic and continue to do simple chores like cooking , gardening and going to work.
I have been taking Ayurveda Medication like Curcumin, Ashwagandha , Tinaspora Cordifolia , Satavari for Multiple Myeloma since last 5 years and continuing them even after I started following ‘ Natural Lifestyle’ . I dont think I can stop or reduce these right now, but hopefully in future I should be able to reduce the dosage.
Will share my actual diet (Yellow Chart) and daily routine in my next post :))
Was happy to know that Acharya Mohan ji said I should go ahead with their prescribed diet. It was already one month since I had started following their diet.
Along with the diet they recommend wearing a ‘Cotton Patti’ . I was using some towels at home for this purpose. This consists of wetting and wearing a coarse cloth around the stomach , the neck and the head. One can order this set of cloth pieces from their organisation and I finally decided to order. This process increases the blood circulation in the body.
They also recommend non-violent enema twice a day. After reading and watching several videos on this ,I decided to order one . They insist on enema as they believe that unclean bowels are one of the main causes of all diseases.
I continued the diet .I was losing weight. I lost 2kgs in one month. My colleagues noticed and commented. I explained what I was upto.Surely they would have concluded that I was messing with my body 🙂 .I tried convincing them that what I was doing is right. But who would want to give up all the yummy food and start eating all the bland food that I was eating :). We would all have lunch together and they did notice what I was eating.
I was into the second month and one day received the patti set and the enema set. The patti was comfortable and I started using them twice a day. After a few days I got the courage to use the enema kit. It did feel clumsy for a couple of days and I soon got used to it.
They also recommend ‘Surya snaan’ every morning. One has to wear minimum clothes and spend some time exposed to the early morning sun rays . I was unable to do this and all I could do was to spend a little time in the Sun after I went to my office.
I now felt that I am following the complete Natural lifestyle as advocated by Acharya ji.
I successfully completed two months and lost 2 more kilos. My energy levels were normal. I was able to manage work and home with the help of my maid ,cook and driver.
My body was feeling much cooler than it ever was and also lighter.
Around the mid of 3rd month of starting this diet I felt that I should do my routine blood tests like LFT, CBP, RFT , Thyroid, ESR, HB, Uric acid, B12 etc. It was also one year since I did the Bone Marrow test. Last year in Jan 19 my Oncologist said I can do it after one year. I wanted to first do the routine tests and then go for the actual test.
The Thyrocare guy came home and took the blood samples.
Wanted to share my new diet with all for a long time. So, here it is –
I had come across a video by Subah jain via WhatsApp , sometime in the last quarter of 2019. I then looked her up on youtube and found two popular videos of hers. After watching them I was 50% convinced about what she was saying regarding cleansing and healing the body.
The methods and discipline recommended by her were very tough to follow. Requires a lot of self control and faith.
I would also read the comments on her videos to get some feedback on what others thought about the methods she was advocating. Someone had commented that she is following the diet prescribed by Acharya Mohan ji. I did some more digging and found videos by Acharya Mohan ji. Started watching his videos on youtube. He had started an organisation named ‘Natural Lifestyle’ and is based in Delhi. I watched many videos on their youtube channel. I would watch a few videos again and again till they made some sense. I then came across their Sunday live program on YouTube that started at 8am and went upto 1pm. This used to be a comprehensive program with a lot of details in a systematic manner. I watched this live show for several weeks. I then came across their 4 day residential course happening in Delhi. I wanted to meet Mohan ji and ask if I should follow his diet and whether I would benefit. I also wanted to attend the residential program. It was exactly during this time that COVID was making its presence felt all over the world. Hence I cancelled my plans of going to Delhi.
I started following their diet to check how it feels and whether I will be able to withstand that kind of a diet. I did feel very weak after a week , as if my body would collapse. In one of the videos Mohan ji did mention that this is a common symptom and one should not give up at this stage. I held on to the diet and within few more days I began to feel stronger :). This gave me the confidence to go on. After a month I started calling their support team to clear some doubts . I also mentioned my case history but none seemed interested. I hung on and luckily found Ms Sarita who listened to me . I told her I want to talk to Acharya ji and that I would have attended their residential course if not for this new virus. She gave me an email address and told me to write and ask all my queries. I did get a reply and called Sarita ji again . I was very happy that Acharya ji did see my message and said I should continue this diet. Felt wonderful.
Uploaded my Video to my YouTube channel last night. This is a recipe for preparing slightly different style Scrambled Eggs. Learnt this recipe from a cook in my parents house.This was way back when I was in college. This lady belongs to East Godavari district in Andhra Pradesh and her name is Ammaji. I call this dish ‘Ammaji’s Scrambled Eggs’ . There is a slight twist in this preparation and that is the use of water.
Here is the link to the video –
I uploaded another video today ,which I recorded yesterday. This is a composite Roti or Vegetable Roti.
Here is the link. –
I have been eating composite Roti’s for the last three months and they are quite filling. They are healthier, tastier and easy to digest. I learnt this recipe from ‘Natural Lifestyle’.
Appears I am getting addicted to recording and uploading videos. Recorded another video today 🙂
Making videos is a nice hobby :)…. Sharing some useful and interesting stuff with all. Does require a lot of planning, the actual recording , editing , uploading and then watching the number of views the videos are getting.
Lots of ants in my garden ,sucking on all the flowers . I see small ridge gourds growing but they soon turn yellow and dry up. I see lot of ants going up and down these plants.Saw a few videos on how to get rid of the ants and saw there are many solutions too. This evening i did the easiest thing . I sprinkled talcum powder on the plants.Talcum Powder is supposed o suffocate the ants. Got to see if it makes any difference. Fingers crossed. Feeling very upset that my gourds are drying 🙁
Of late I have been watching a lot of videos by Anita Moorjani.
Currently watching videos of Louise Hay. Louise Hay says that feelings of Resentment , Guilt, Fear and Criticism cause disease and by certain affirmations of gratitude and love, one can get rid of these feelings, thereby getting healed.
Both Louise and Anita emphasise on loving ourselves and give lots of practical tips on how to actually love ourselves , something that most do not know and are not even aware of the importance of self love. Self love is not the same as vanity or narcissistic.
I have been watching their videos repeatedly and every time there is something new in their talks that makes sense to me and is more acceptable.
I am also enjoying the meditation videos by Louise Hay.
Louise and Anita are a boon to humanity. Both of them beat Cancer and are doing great service by sharing their healing experiences and methods with all.
Apart from all the medications one takes to heal the body, it is equally important to have a healthy mind which in turns helps in healing. Strongly advise everyone to read their books and watch their videos.
I recently came across a practice of ‘Chanting’ . A particular branch of Buddhism has popularized chanting ‘Nam Myoho Range Kyo’. A colleague introduced this to me. The mantra is the essence of Buddhism which says that every individual has the ability to overcome any suffering , any situation. By chanting this mantra , one’s faith increases. Simultaneously the universe also aligns with our efforts, thereby one can achieve their goals.
I also came across a video about ‘Grounding’. A new concept which requires an individual to sit and place their bare feet on the ground, preferably surrounded by nature , for maybe 10 or 15 minutes or more. Then imagine roots growing from the bottom of the feet and going deep into the earth. The imaginary roots then help in absorbing the energy from the earth and into the body. This process helps in calming the mind, relieving stress and in centering the mind.
Anything and everything to stay heal yourself and stay healthy 🙂
