3 days at home

Roti-Dimer Kosha, Baingan Bharta, Pulao, Machher Matha diye lau, Mochar Ghanto, Doi-Machh, Chicken Biryani, Paneer Butter Masala, Kosha Mangsho, Parota, Keema'r Ghugni, Musur Dal, Phulkopir Tarkari, Chicken Sandwich, Rajbhog, Rosogolla, Kalojam, Lyangcha, Chamcham, Shon-papri, Mishti Doi, Ice cream, Himsagar Aam, Lyangda Aam.

Not mentioning the quantities. :D

A near-fatal tread

"Hello, so you are back again?" I neglected the sarcasm in its voice and the sneer in its face, pressed the 'Quick Start' button and looked up. I was determined today - and decided not to fall prey to these rather caustic remarks the treadmill was making. It was perhaps speaking out for about a dozen of its brothers in Hyderabad, Chennai, New Jersey and New York - who had to uneasily bear my weight (pun intended) over the last 3 years. But never for more than 6 weeks at a stretch - and once, even for just a single day.

If you plot my appetite versus my exercise routine on a graph, you would surely come up with the solution for my staggering weight increase. Just today, someone - though a bit more on zeal than reason - called me a "200 pound godown of flesh". I need to get back to this person sooner than later. Hence, there was more reason for me to ignore the treadmill.

Anyways, the last time I went to a gym was in May and I tried to repeat something close to what I used to do then, in my first day today. So, there I was, panting my heart out after running for 10 minutes continuously at 10 kmph. I could not - despite taking 5-minute breaks in between exercises - complete either the cycle or the cross-trainer. One minute into them, my heart was fighting for space with my tonsils and I had to give up. It was not before a full ten minutes of sitting flat on the floor that I could regain my composure.

I was in luck. In this gym, the cardio and weight sections are in different rooms altogether and the trainer stays in the latter room. So when I, still breathing heavily, entered the room and he asked me if I was done, I could conveniently nod a yes before saying I had a call in 10 minutes and, unfortunately, had to leave. "See you tomorrow," I told him.

While coming out of the gym, I closed my ears tight and ran across the length of the cardio room. I did not want to hear the treadmill speak again. Knowing it and its like, I was sure it was bidding me farewell already.

Body blow - blowing out of proportions

Back in India, I did an assessment of what all tasks I need to be doing. To my surprise, the list turned out to be quite a long one. But topping the list of personal, official and miscellaneous to-dos in big bold letters is something that starts and ends with myself. Well, it is my ever-expanding girth that I am talking of here. All those midnight digs at the tempting ice cream buckets have left an impression on my being. Not to mention the well-researched plans for the weekends, always ending in lavish, multi-course meals. The aftertaste is gone, the after-state remains. The second thing that anyone I met here said, after the usual hi, was 'You have put on so much weight' or the more friendly 'Have you been eating all through your stay?'

So I put across this plan to get back in shape by the end of March. I'd keep the details of the plan to myself for proprietary reasons. But to assure the legions of fans of my magical appetite, cutting down on food has never been in my scheme of things. The eating will continue in the same spirit, would just try to incorporate some healthy habits and exercise in my static routine.

P.S. - The snap is of a typical Friday evening dessert ration, that would be over by the next Wednesday. :)