Summer Nail Polish Colors

One of the most exciting colors that is doing the rounds of various Fashion Weeks is fuchsia pink. Unlike last year, which was all about paler and softer shades of pink, this summer bolder fuchsia is very much in trend. Pink looks good on almost all skin tones and it is a fun way to make a fashion statement.

Splurge (Price range: $14 - $20)
Illamasqua Nail Varnish in Collide
Dolce & Gabbana The Nail Lacquer in Passione
Thakoon for NARS Nail Polish in Anardana
MAC Nail Lacquer in Girl About Town
Estée Lauder Pure Color Nail Lacquer Fuchsia Flame
Save (Price range: $2 - $5)
Rimmel London Lasting Finish Pro Nail Enamel in Posh Pink
Zoya Matte Velvet Lacquer Lolly
Verity Nail Polish Fuchsia Pink
Maybelline Color Show Nail Color in Pink Shock
Forever 21 Rose Blossom
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Coral
Last year it was red, but this season the hottest nail color is coral. An orangey-red with warm yellowish undertone looks great on almost all skin tones. On darker skin tones, coral literally pops and adds instant oomph. This color also looks great on olive and medium skin tones as these skin colors have yellow undertones. This citrus color works well for both formal and casual occasions.

Splurge (Price range: $14 - $23)
Dior Vernis Psychedelic Orange
Thakoon for NARS Nail Polish in Lal Mirchi
Lancôme Mini Le Vernis in Tangerine Tint
Laura Mercier Nail Lacquer in Sizzle
Deborah Lippmann Nail Lacquer in Lara's Theme
Save (Price range: $2 - $4)
Zoya Professional Lacquer in Arizona
Wet n Wild MegaLast Salon Nail Color in Heatwave
OPI Nail Lacquer in Tasmanian Devil Made Me Do It
Sally Hansen Insta-Dri Fast Dry Nail Color in Sonic Bloom
Wet n Wild MegaLast Nail Color in Heatwave
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Green
Most women are a bit apprehensive about wearing green nail polish, thinking that it will look too garish. But the truth is, the right shade of green can look absolutely gorgeous. From lighter hues of green like mint green and sea green, to intense shades like forest and olive green, there is a green that will definitely suit you.

Splurge (Price range: $14 - $32)
Estée Lauder Pure Color in Wicked Green
Lancome Le Vernis in Green Almond
Yves Saint Laurent La Laque in #7
Butter London Bossy Boots Nail Lacquer
Chanel Le Vernis in Jade
Save (Price range: $2 - $5)
NYC In A New York Color Minute Quick Dry Nail Polish in High Line Green
Deborah Milano Sense TECH 100% Mat in #04
Sally Hansen Hard As Nails Xtreme Wear Nail Color, Green with Envy
Nubar Going Green Nail Enamel in Forest
American Apparel Nail Lacquer in Hunter
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Blue
Teal, sky blue, azure, aqua, electric blue, turquoise; if it is blue that you fancy, then you will be literally spoiled for choice. Blue is one of the hottest colors this season. Blue nail paint is eye-catching and the right shade of blue looks gorgeous on almost all skin tones.

Splurge (Price range: $14 - $32)
Thakoon for NARS Nail Polish in Kutki
Estee Lauder Pure Color Nail Lacquer in Wild Blue
Yves Saint Laurent La Laque Couture Rouge Nail Polish in Bleu Cobalt
Le Metier de Beaute Bon Voyage Nail Lacquer
Bobbi Brown Nail Polish in Turquoise
Save (Price range: $2 - $5)
NYC In A New York Color Minute Quick Dry Nail Polish in Water Street Blue
Wet n Wild Fastdry Nail Color Teal of Fortune
Rimmel London Lasting Finish Pro Nail Lacquer in Marine Blue
New York Color Expert Last Nail Polish Teal Til the End
Petites Baby Blue Nail Polish
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Purple
Women who wear purple nail paint spell sophistication and understated glamor. You can choose from different shades of purple, from light lilacs to deeper eggplant. Intense shades of purple nail polish are ideal for evenings and muted shades as well as bright purples work well for daytime.

Splurge (Price range: $14 - $23)
M.A.C Nail Lacquer in So Rich So Pretty
Dior Vernis in Forget Me Not
Illamasqua Nail Varnish in Obsess
Thakoon for NARS Nail Polish in Ratin Jot
Butter London Nail Lacquer Vernis in HRH
Save (Price range: $2 - $4)
NYC Long Wearing Nail Enamel in Purple Pizzazz Frost
Rimmel London Lasting Finish Pro Nail Lacquer in Wild Orchid
Color Club Nail Enamel in Wild At Heart
LA Colors Nail Lacquer in Purple Passion
NYC In A New York Color Minute Quick Dry Nail Polish in Battery Park Purple
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Glitter

What could be better than glitter nail polish, for a touch of glamor on your fingers and toes? Glitter nail lacquers were considered to be best suited for teenagers. But the new collection of sophisticated glitter polishes are just right for women who are going for a party. Such nail polishes are best paired with neutral or pastel colors for a balanced look.

Splurge (Price range: $10 - $16)
Deborah Lippmann Nail Lacquer in Boom Pow
Deborah Lippmann 3D Holographic Nail Lacquer in Sweet Dreams
OPI Nail Lacquer Vintage Minnie Mouse Collection in Nothin' Mousie 'bout It
Butter London Nail Lacquer in Tart With a Heart
Rescue Beauty Lounge Nail Polish in Look Rich, Be Cheap
Save (Price range: $2 - $6)
LA Splash Nail Lacquer in Golden Seahorse
Color Club Beyond the Mistletoe Collection Candy Cane
Nicole by OPI Rainbow in the S-Kylie
LA Splash Nail Lacquer in Sparkling Apricot
NYC Sparkle Top Coat in Big City Shot
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Nail Colors that Flatter Various Skin Tones

For Dark Skin Tone
If you have a dark skin tone, then you are very fortunate because you can wear many beautiful nail colors, from the deepest berry to the richest red. However, you need to ensure that you do not opt for over-bright or neon shades as they tend to look artificial and garish. Dark pink, hunter green and burgundy shades look excellent on women with dark skin. Opt for nail paints that have intense pigments so that they pop against your skin.

Best Fuchsia
Sonia Kashuk Nail Colour in Ooh La La
Dior Vernis Electric Tropics Nail Duo Paradise Pink
Orly Va Va Voom Nail Lacquer
Best Corals
Tom Ford Nail Lacquer in Ginger Fire
China Glaze Nail Lacquer With Hardener in Orange You Hot
Essie nail polish in Vermillionaire
Best Greens
China Glaze Nail Lacquer With Hardeners in Tree Hugger
Rescue Beauty Lounge Nail Polish in Recycle
MAC Mischievous Mint Nail Lacquer
Best Blues
OPI Nail Lacquer in No Room for Blues
Butter London Nail Lacquer in Slapper
NARS Nail Polish in Koliary
Best Purple
Pixi Nail Colour in Very Violet
Lancome Le Vernis in Violet Groove
NARS Nail Color in Purple Rain
Best Glitter
Rescue Beauty Lounge Nail Polish in Frugalista
OPI Nail Lacquer It's Bouquet with Me
NYX Hot Pink Glitter Nail Polish

For Fair Skin Tone
Women who have fair skin should opt for deep pinks like fuchsia and berry that have a blue undertone. Blue-based nail paints which have a hint of shimmer will give your nails a fresh look for the summer. Medium to dark purples like aubergine also flatter fair-skinned women. If you want to opt for a blue nail paint, then veer towards aqua and sky blue, instead of navy or turquoise. These lighter blue shades work beautifully on fair skin.

Best Fuchsia
Essie Nail Polish in Mod Squad
OPI Nail Lacquer in That's Berry Daring
Dolce & Gabbana Intense Nail Lacquer in Shocking
Best Corals
Dolce & Gabbana The Nail Lacquer in Fire
O.P.I. Nail Lacquer in Y'all Come Back, Ya' Hear?
Illamasqua Nail Varnish in Gamma
Best Greens
Topshop Nails in Green Room
Butter London British Racing Green
Dolce & Gabbana Intense Nail Lacquer in Mint
Best Blues
Sonia Kashuk Nail Colour in Making Waves
China Glaze Nail Lacquer in Splish Splash
Color Club Nail Polish in Blue Ming
Best Purples
Rescue Beauty Lounge Purple Haze
Chanel Le Vernis in Paradoxal
Ginger + Liz nail polish in Chase Me
Best Glitter
Deborah Lippmann Glitter Nail Colors in Flashdance
Butter London Nail Lacquer in No More Waity
Deborah Lippmann Nail Lacquer in Happy Birthday

For Medium Skin Tone
Colors that flatter medium skin tone are those that have a yellowish undertone. Purples and blues look really good on women with olive to medium skin. Look for warm and intense colors instead of cool nail colors. Colors like crimson and cherry red should ideally be avoided as the pigments in these colors tend to look too loud and garish. Choose corals and other shades of orange instead.

Best Fuchsia
Sally Hansen Hard as Nails Xtreme Wear Nail Color in Fuchsia Power
Illamasqua Nail Varnish in Stance
China Glaze's Hang Ten Toes
Best Corals
Chanel Le Vernis Nail Color in Holiday
L'Oréal Paris Nail Color in Caught Red-Handed
Tom Ford Nail Lacquer in Ginger Fire
Best Greens
Illamasqua's Nail Varnish in Nomad
Borghese Rapido Nail Lacquer in Menta
Rescue Beauty Lounge Nail Polish in Bikini Bottom
Best Blues
Prabal Gurung for Sally Hansen Model Behavior
Dior Vernis St. Tropez
Rescue Beauty Lounge Nail Polish in Aqua Lily
Best Purples
OPI Nail Lacquer in Give Me Moor
Dior Vernis in Liquorice
OPI in Lincoln Park After Dark
Best Glitter
OPI Nail Lacquer in Too Good for Him
Love & Beauty by Forever 21 nail polish in Multi Glitter
Deborah Lippmann 3D Holographic Nail Lacquer in Ray of Light

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Best Nail Colors for Short and Long Nails

For Short Nails
Skin tone is not the only criterion for choosing nail polish colors. The shape and size of your nails also play a role on how a particular shade would look on your hands. Women with short nails with a wider nail bed should be careful not to apply very dark nail colors as it makes the nails look smaller. As dark colors tends to recede, they are not suitable for short nails. Colors that flatter short nails are mint green, sorbet shades like watermelon and raspberry and glitter nail polish.

For Long Nails
If you have long nails, then you are very fortunate as you can wear many different nail polish shades. Candy colors and neons look really good on long nails. If your nail bed is narrow and your nails are square shaped, then you can opt for dark berry shades and purples. Gold and copper nail polishes with a matte effect also look great.

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Summer Nail Polish Combos for Your Fingers and Toes

Many women are stumped when they have to decide whether to wear the same color nail polish on their toes and fingers or go for a different combination. Sometimes wearing the same shade on your fingers and toes can look too matchy matchy. So you can wear different nail polish colors. But to do that, you need to choose shades that look good together. One of the easiest and fail-safe ways to do this is to choose nail polish shades from the same color family. A darker nail color for your toes and a softer one for your fingers look the most appealing. If you are one who does not go by the rules, then there are nail polish combos that look great even when they do not belong to the same color palette. Here is a ready reckoner for you.

Metallics and Pastels
Pastels might look too tame for summers. But when they are teamed with sophisticated metallics like silver, dull gold and copper, they look stunning. Wear pretty pastels like lavender and candy pink on your toes and try metallics like iridescent gold or a matte bronze shade. A great combination that you can wear is Illamasqua Nail Varnish in Lament on your toes and Rescue Beauty Lounge nail polish in Starfish-Patrick.

Nude and Neon
Neon nail polishes are a tad difficult to carry off with panache. So it is best that you downplay this bright color with a nude nail paint. Step back from boring nude color options like beige and espresso and say yes to shades of gray. Gray looks chic and modern and it offsets the neon color brilliantly. Try Sally Hansen Complete Salon Manicure in Eel Skin on your toes and Estée Lauder Pure Color Nail Lacquer Fuchsia Flame on your fingers.

Sorbets and Glitter
Sultry summers are the perfect time to wear sorbets shades. Sorbet shades like watermelon, pistachio raspberry and peach are best paired with glitter nail polishes. Sorbet shades look better on short nails and are ideal for women who are not comfortable wearing neon nail polish. Wear Dior Vernis Nail Lacquer in Waterlily on your toes and NYX Cosmetics Glitter Nail Polish Forest Green Glitter on your fingers.
[ Index ]

This summer you can do your nails in these beautiful colors to look chic and stylish. Choose bright and cheerful nail polish colors that will show off your summer tan.

Summer is the time to be bolder with your look and don bright colors in your makeup. If you are a girl who likes to stick to a neutral color palette as far as makeup is concerned, then the perfect way to try the bright makeup trend is to try vibrant nail colors. Nail colors are the safest way to try out the vivid makeup trend and there are hundreds of nail polish colors that you can choose from. This summer, nail colors are all about bold hues like corals, fuchsia pink, turquoise and sky blues, emerald greens and deep purples. Glittering shades and ombre nails are also charting the trends. These bold and vibrant nail colors look fabulous when paired with summer dresses and delicate sandals. Although bright and sunny colors are all the rage, not all shades are suitable for everyone. Just like any other makeup product, you need to take your skin color and tone into account before you choose a nail polish shade.

INDEX
Hottest Nail Polish Colors for Summer
Nail Colors that Flatter Various Skin Tones
Best Nail Colors for Short and Long Nails
Summer Nail Polish Combos for Your Fingers and Toes
Hottest Nail Polish Colors for Summer

Fuchsia Pink

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Flee From Your Comfort Zone

There’s a reason why we tend to fall into routine. It’s safe, we know we can handle it, and we’re pretty sure we won’t screw it up. We as humans are hardwired to take the straight, sure path and avoid potential accidents, because it ensures our survival. But now that we’re not hunter-gatherers anymore, survival just isn’t enough.

Are you living, or are you existing? When was the last time you had an adventure? When was the last time you felt an adrenaline rush that had nothing to do with running late? Or do you spend every day doing the same things, in the same order, at the same times, working from the minute you get up to the minute you go to bed, still feeling like you missed out on something?

The secret to climbing out of your rut is to step outside your comfort zone. Force yourself to fake it ‘til you make it. Don’t worry about whether you can handle it, just force yourself to handle it. You’ll feel more alive than ever, and you’ll learn plenty about yourself.

Start With Small Things
On your commute home, turn left instead of right. Take a different route on your run tomorrow morning. Walk into a store you normally just walk by. Say hello to someone new. These small steps can land you in some of the most interesting places. Try exploring an adjacent town, or explore your own town the way a tourist might. Same place, new thinking, new perspective.

Learn Something
Pick an activity you know absolutely nothing about, and learn it. Don’t be afraid of looking stupid - you don’t look stupid, you look curious, and curiosity is a sign of intelligence. Never stop learning new things. Continued stimulation is one of the best ways to keep the brain young no matter how old the body is.

Do Something You Never Thought You Would Do
Write a book. Collect coins. Take up synchronized swimming. Think of something that has always seemed "not you", and try it. Not something you avoid for moral or legal reasons, just something you’ve always assumed wouldn’t appeal to you. You might surprise yourself. Read your son’s comic books. Listen to your daughter’s playlist. 

Face Your Fears
Afraid of spiders? Walk into a pet store and ask to hold the tarantula. Terrified of heights? Take an elevator to the top of a skyscraper and press your nose against the window. Coax yourself the way you would coax a kitten out of hiding - there is nothing to be afraid of here, just do it. Afraid of public speaking? Join Toastmasters. Afraid to fly? Schedule your dream trip to New Zealand.

Face Obstacles
Too often, we plan our lives around avoiding obstacles. Instead of avoiding them, face them head-on. Bust through them. Pole vault over them. Want your Master’s degree but don’t know how to find the money or time? Sit down and figure it out. Stop putting things off for 'when we have more money' or 'when we’re settled'. That’s not to say you should rush into any major decisions without a plan, but start the planning now. Tell yourself what you want, then figure out what you have to do to get it.

Accept Help
Whether we admit it or not, many of us are afraid to accept help. We don’t want to look weak, we don’t want to be needy, we don’t want to be anybody’s burden. But learning to lean on others can help you achieve what you want to achieve. Let your mom watch the kids while you go back to school. Let your friend come with you to hold that spider. Bring your teenager with you to hold your hand at the top of that skyscraper. There is no shame in accepting or asking for help.

It can be very scary indeed to step outside the comfort zone, but it is the only way to break out of a rut. You’ll find a renewed sense of confidence and even some new interests. More importantly, you’ll learn that fear is just you holding yourself back. Be fearless instead, and reach your true potential.

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The Recipe to Healthy Living ~ Love Yourself!

In school, we all tend to remember ourselves as people who are very different from the characters we are today. Some of us like to block out the events that took place in school because of who we were. For me, well I am the eternal optimist. I do not ever look back at even the worst experiences of my life with regret. I truly believe that I am who I am because of every single minute little thing that happened to me.

It was in a sixth standard literature class that I had learnt something: "Everything happens for our own good." And I believe it to the hilt even today. It makes me retain faith. So, in school I was this super playful, hyper, restless and very difficult to pin down kid who was loved by her teachers in spite of her restless ways. My teachers had only one complaint: "You have so much potential, you are so intelligent, if only you would study and work for better grades". Yeah, I got a kick out of that review. Never felt bad about it. I knew I could do it if I wanted to. But I was a conqueror even then. Once I got something I wanted, I lost all interest. Instantaneously. But, it was the review I got from my friends that always managed to make me proud and super buoyant. You see, I was a very tall (taller than other kids of my age) and thin girl who was feminine and athletic at the same time. So, the mothers of my friends always cited my example to them and said how covetable that was. It gave me such a high. I would smile all the time. But even then, in spite of my vanity related to my looks, I always managed to strongly believe that physical beauty can only carry you so far. It is what is inside that matters. Think I was naïve? Well, I still am. But we digress. After my thin and lanky stint at school, came my slightly healthy stint in highschool.

You see, by the time I went to highschool, I had stopped learning the Indian classical dance form of Kathak, stopped playing basketball, was operated on due to appendicitis and had stopped worrying about the way I looked. Really. But even then, I was never out of dates or guys who wanted to take me out. So, my belief in a beautiful inside was strengthened, which subsequently made me bone-lazy. Yes, I really stopped caring about my weight by then. And because I am genetically coded to put on weight from my mother's side, it did not take much time for me to weigh heavier on the scales.

By the time I was in college, I was in a super steady relationship. If complacence would find a place in the list of Sins, I would be listed first under it. Of course, Gluttony and Sloth being my other primary rotten planks. My guy was a very supportive person. He never complained about my weight initially and I took it as it should not have been taken. Love. What I never chose to see was that may be he is waiting for me to see reason and work on my mounting pounds. Anyway, with time came subtle complaints from him, the subtlety then gave way to clear whining which just became more intense, but me being me, I never heard him out. I snubbed him then and there. By the time I was in the University, 90% of my clothes did not fit. I wore huge sheets of cloth sewn together and still managed to justify myself. I had also started to resemble Captain Haddock. If he drank nothing but whiskey, I drank nothing but colas. I always had a cola bottle in my college bag. In fact, there was a family joke doing the rounds then, wherein my brother said that if anybody cuts open my hand, aerated drinks would spill out instead of blood.

By now, my father, who also happens to be my pillar and biggest supporter in life, was telling me to start going for walks and increase my physical activity quotient. I managed to just give excuses and get away for most of one and a half years. I was beginning to realise that things were not what they used to be for me. Also, for the first time in my life, I was beginning to get judged on the basis of my weight. It cut me to the core of course, but I kept up a very defiant and brave front. You see, I have never had a problem with criticism. I take it in and then build on it. As a person, I am never rude even when I am telling someone an unpleasant truth. I word my sentences very carefully. But when it came to me, people were outright rude and obnoxious. Some of the things they said was really cruel and that worked in the reverse way for me. I started my personal crusade to prove that there are still people out there who care about a good heart and not how fat you are.

Obviously, this belief had more to it. But, I did not realise it back then. You see, it was also stemming from the fact that I liked to gorge on food without monitoring it, I liked being lazy, and I was in a relationship with a devoted, loving person who cushioned every blow aimed at me as far as he could.

And then came October 2008. It was the month that knocked the air out of me. What happened you ask? The real story unfolds from here on.

You see, I was the part of a trio since college. Sanjana, Tanya and me were inseparable. Whatever one did, the other two did it too. And Sanjana suddenly decided to drop a bomb on us when she announced that she was slated to get married in January, 2009. I was happy and terrified at the same time. You see, I am gamophobic. The concept of marriage scares the hell out of me. No matter how I try to make peace with this marvelous institution, I always end up at the verge of getting institutionalised myself. And here, my best pal was doing it. After much ado and reasoning, I finally asked her what she wanted as a wedding gift. Her answer was gut-wrenching. Here are her exact words from that evening,

You need to reach your ideal weight in keeping with your height before my wedding on 29th January, 2009. I will buy clothes for you to wear on my special day which will only fit you if you lose weight and you can only wear what I buy for you. I know it sounds difficult and cruel. People will judge me for it. I do not care. I have a beautiful friend who is ignoring her health and she should stop. Now you take the call.

I sat there numb for a full 15 minutes and could not feel a thing. I was at that moment exactly 85 kilograms and to reach my ideal weight of 60 kilograms, I had exactly 95 days and no plan! Panic does not envelope you when these things happen. You just go numb. After some fuzzy rumination, I told her that I will do everything in my power to give her the wedding gift. I did not believe it.

I came back to Pune after that. I was mortified of letting my best friend down. She had never asked me for anything before this. More importantly, nobody had ever asked for a more queer gift in my life. Suddenly, I was the most important person in someone else's life. You see, after years of stubbing from others, you tend to doubt yourself. Thousands of people had criticised me for growing fat before this, nobody had actually taken a step forward to encourage me to lose those pounds. It was like people laughing at you for not being able to use the T9 option for mobile messaging, but not taking the initiative to teach you how to use it right then and there (this actually happened to me quite a few times, until Arjun, now an ex-colleague, taught me how to use T9 hands-on). Sanjana could have asked me for anything in the world. She just asked for my good health. This was the biggest push for me. Negative criticism never works for me. NEVER. This was the most exhilarating feeling ever.

But, the biggest problem remained. How do I do it? I did not have the money for gyms or dietitians. Neither did I want to coerce my dad for more money. I was a student, so I wasn't working. What was the course of action to be taken? Well, God does have his own ways of facilitating things for you when you really want something.

I had this other friend at the university who was actually fatter than me. She was huge really. We were super close friends and literally lived every second together. She had suddenly also woken up to her size and wanted to lose the pounds desperately. Her parents were very well-off and had gotten her in touch with this expert dietitian who took up her case. Now, our concept of a diet is very inhibited. The word "diet" immediately triggers a tendency to enlist the things we cannot eat. For my pal, she was surprised to know that she could consume everything - from burgers to chicken tikka to noodles to wine. The trick was to portion her meals and stick to meal timings vigilantly. Every week had a separate menu, so she never got bored of what she ate. For the first time in life, she was told about the importance of the number of colours one sees on one's plate. My friend was hooked. And the diet was doing wonders to her health. She was put on no drugs or shakes of any kind - herbal or otherwise. All she had to do was eat everything she wanted, but make it at home and portion it correctly.

When she heard about my case, she immediately told me all about the food she was eating. She gave me the entire chart week-wise and shared the tiniest tip her dietitian gave her. I really could not believe all this was happening. She knew I would never be able to pay her or share the cost of her dietitian and yet she held back nothing. She seemed more psyched than me about this entire thing. I did not understand it. Had I become that cynical about the nature of human beings that all good gestures seemed shocking? It was like the entire cosmos was conspiring to get me back to fitting into all my clothes.

The date was set. 11th November, 2008 was to be the day from which I was to change my gastronomical ways. On the night of the 10th, two of my other good friends - Prashant and Pareen - took me out for dinner. It was my last lavish meal before the days of abstinence started. I was allowed to eat everything that I wanted. Even with all their good wishes for the great sojourn I was about to jump into, they did show some doubts with regards to how far I would be able to crusade on. But I was adamant. Something in me had changed in the last few days.

And then it was on. The first week was the toughest of them all. I was actually struggling to keep myself buoyant and happy for the first time in my life. I had not realised over the years when from "Eat to Live", I had gone to "Live to Eat"! The reversal in the equation hit me hard. I had to come back from French class every evening, actually cook my dinner and eat. Eating out was not an option anymore. Neither was lethargy. I had to keep everything ready for breakfast the next morning. I had to go shopping for my larder regularly. I had to manage everything so that my mealtimes were never affected. Earlier, if I had a class at 9 am, I usually got up at 8.15, rushed through everything, skipped breakfast and arrived panting to class. Now, I actually had to get up at 7 am, eat patiently, chew every morsel a hundred times, cook lunch, do everything else peacefully and reach class early. Compromise was an extinct word for me. Of course, it was not easy. But then, who said life will always be easy? I loved the newer challenges with every pore in my body. The adrenaline rush was unbelievable.

Gradually and inadvertently, lifestyle changes started to creep in. Suddenly I had more time to do everything, was so much more alert and vigilant, doing everything on time which subsequently led to no leftover tasks. Most amazingly, I was always full of energy. I could climb a five-storey building and not pant at all! The feeling was Utopian.

Bit by bit, I started to notice the changes that were taking place all around me. I was saving money like crazy with controlled eating out. I decided to take this a notch upwards. I slowly started to walk to every destination of mine that was within a range of three kilometres. I walked to my French class everyday and walked back. So, three kilometres up and three kilometres down. I walked to my friend's house everyday. That meant walking another four kilometres. I walked to college, to movie theatres, to meet my friends and basically everywhere I could manage. This meant that I was walking 10 kilometres on an average on a daily basis. Not only was I saving on transportation money, I was losing weight fast and not at the cost of my well-being. I was on fire! Naturally, everyone else started to notice the changes all over. My skin was all shiny and my hair was not falling off in bunches. I was fitting into clothes that had not fit me for ages! And the best thing was that I could finally see myself being able to completely stay without junk food. No greed. People could eat food laden with cheese and mayo in front of me and I would not even feel the urge to take the smallest bite. It was not forced. The disinterest to live unhealthily was genuine.

The response was unbelievable. I got compliments all the time. From random strangers at times. My friends were shocked at the sudden change they saw in me. And I could actually shop to my heart's content with all the money I was saving. The truth was, I was in LOVE. In love with myself. I loved being in control of my body and my time and resources. By the end of December, I decided to go home to Kolkata for a week. Christmas day also happens to be my dad's birthday and I just wanted to be with him. As I got off the train and waited for my father to come receive me, it did not strike me even once that my father might not be able to recognise me. I saw him walking towards me and I smiled. I was glad to see the familiar face. But, wait. He just glanced at me and then continued walking past me without stopping. As if he did not know his daughter. Wait a minute! My dad could not recognise his daughter at 67 kilos!!! I called out to him, he turned slowly and the expression on his face was to die for. I will never forget it. It was shock and joy and disbelief and ecstasy all mixed together. He could not believe it. It was one of the best moments of my life.

You think awesome things can happen to you only once. But it happened to me again. You see, I went to meet my boyfriend the next morning. We were going to see each other after three whole months and I was a little nervous. And then it happened. My guy just walked past me and failed to recognise his girlfriend of 7 years! Oh, the joy! The Glory!

That week taught me a lot of things about myself. That I could go home, eat all the food my heart desired and not overeat consciously was a phenomenon unknown to me earlier. Here's how I did it - if I had a pastry outside in the evening, I would come back home and eat only three slices of fish for dinner. Nothing else. That way, I did not stay hungry, got to eat both fish and dessert - both of which I wanted to eat, and stayed true to my eating plan! I was not on a compensation diet, mind you. That simply meant that I was not asked to starve myself the next day if I overate one evening, just to compensate. I was allowed to feel happy about whatever I ate, make peace with it and carry on with life. No baggage. But I had become very judicious. I had gained full knowledge of how my body worked with food. You see, I knew fully well that once I went home, my mom would make sure that I consumed food she was dying to cook for me. In Bengalis, love manifests through food you feed. No arguments there. I was even scared that I would put weight back on if I ate without judgement. But my body automatically told me how to deal with the situation, keep my mom happy and make room for homemade delights that I actually craved for when away from home. I also kept myself from jumping on to the scales for that entire week. The day I returned to Pune, I weighed myself. Surprise, surprise! Not only had I not put on weight, I had actually lost a kilo from what I was before.

I became the talk of the entire extended family. In Jan, I managed to lose two more kilos before Sanjana's wedding. Of course how I made it to her wedding is a story for retelling on another afternoon, but I did make it to her wedding after heightened drama. She could not stop beaming when she saw me. Tanya's shriek on seeing me was the talk of the wedding really. Everything had changed for me. For the first time in my life, I realised that people will love you when you learn to love yourself. You see I had proof in black and white to vouch for it.

It has been sometime after that now and I did put on weight again. I had another surgery and major stress-related issues. I lost a lot of people in my life since that January and to fill up that vacuum in my heart, I did what I knew worked for me. Ate. I conquered and let it go. But I managed to carry a lot of things from that phase in my life. I recognised the only people who truly cared about me and never missed a chance to encourage me when needed. I realised the strength of my will power. It dawned upon me that beauty in any form makes life beautiful. If you are beautiful outside, it complements your inner beauty and peace and helps enhance it. I stopped judging people who encouraged me to lose weight for I realised that it would be a win-win situation for me either way. I tested the power of love and was shown that love always trumps hate that some people never fail to spew. I imprinted it in my subconscious that it is only me who has the power to pick up the strain of my story and decide that it will not have a sad, undesired ending. I know I can do it. Beauty does lie in the eyes of the beholder. For me, I am the beholder now. I am very happy with myself. I love myself the way I am. But I want it to get better. Here again I stand at the cusp of choices - I can either let things be and snub seeking beauty as the conspiracy of the vain or I can embrace this yearning for a better, fitter me and make the most of it. Staying this way will be convenient, of course. But here's the thing about convenience: it wears off. It won't be convenient for my body tomorrow with all these extra pounds if I do not do anything about it today.

The last three years have undoubtedly been tough on me. But now I can take responsibility again and say that I made bad choices which led to bad things. I let people get to me and chose to feel low and depressed about it all. I have learnt so much from all my experiences - good and bad. At the end of the day, life is what you make of it. Now, I do not need a friend's wedding to work as motivation. I can take myself to that point of victory which I had achieved three years back because this time, it is only me I will disappoint if I do not. I do not want to disappoint me anymore. I know some people will take it upon themselves to demotivate me. But you know what, my biggest learning from this entire episode was that hatred never sticks for long for there is always that much more love. Find that love for yourself. It will help you to find your calling.

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What Do Your Shoes Say About Your Personality?

Your soles are the window to your soul. Sorry. You are what your shoes are. Okay, apologies again.
Try as one might, it's really hard to shield the mind from the frivolity of judging a person's true nature on the basis of their footgear. Of course, nothing gives a human more happiness than being mindlessly judgmental. And what could be better than starting feet first?

There's nothing wrong with being judgmental, really. We can happily spend our lives doing it. Hey, there are some who earn their meat doing it. So when we stumble upon a theory based on a similar line of thought, it does snag some precious attention. Let's get straight to the point, then?

People at the University of Kansas wanted to embark upon a mission to demystify the human tendency to size each other up. Apparently, the fine art of being scathingly superfluous begins at the feet. So it only made fabulous sense to start judging people on the basis of what they wear on their feet. The results threw up some very delightful insights on every subject's personality. If you care to know, this is how they went through with it.


About the Research...

63 people viewed 208 photographs of different people wearing, what else but different shoes. The viewers were asked to describe the wearer's gender (really, now!), age and social status on the basis of the shoes they wore. Further, they were also asked to guess whether the wearers were liberal or conservative, extrovert or introvert, their emotional stability and other such exacting details. This is what they had to say:
Amiable people were observed to have a penchant for comfort when it came to picking shoes.
Ankle boot wearers were seen as dominating.
Those having issues with attachment in relationships had a thing for new and neat shoes.
Scruffy footwear was mostly found on the feet of free spirits.
People who wore "boring" shoes had trouble with their relationships, hardly caring about what people thought of them.
And the winner: Uncomfortable footwear was found on the feet of calm personalities.
A pat on the back for those of you who've avoided surreptitiously looking at their neighbor's feet immediately after reading this. For those of you looking at your own footwear, or better, at your colleague/roomie/friend's footgear right now, help's at hand. What follows is a mere interpretation of the above-mentioned research. This visual guide is tailor-made for those who can't discern their Huaraches from Hush Puppies, but still want to revel in the joys of judging.

A word of caution, though - it's hard to be fair while being judgmental, and it's no fun either. This is a strictly tongue-in-cheek look at things, so please keep a pinch of salt handy.

When Shoes Speak...
Let's Get High!
Need a shortcut to nirvana, ladies? Put these on, quick. While these may look super scary to some, the research noted that the wearers of visibly "uncomfortable" shoes fall into the cool and collected category.

And why not? They endure painful calves, hammertoes, bunions, tendinitis and bucketfuls of sorrow and yet manage to keep that Buddha-esque exterior intact. Leather cutting into your little toe? Smile. Ankles can't take the pressure? Relax. When confidence, happiness and good ol' pleasure is at stake, who cares about trivialities like these?

You're in vertiginous heels, so continue with the charade.

Look at Me!

It's a Louboutin alright, and for the uninitiated, this isn't just a shoe. She's got a name too, you know. It's New Decoltissimo. Women pay a cool $625 for these babies, and what does that make them? According to the research, they are flashy, extroverts and not to mention, loaded (duh!). But seriously, don't we often see young women bending over backwards to get their well-manicured hands on shoes like these?

The likes of Gwyneth Paltrow and Madonna may have these served on a platter, but for a regular babe-to-be, it may mean debts or starving, even. One can only wonder if we're ever going to stop associating women's empowerment with what they choose to adorn their feet with.

I'm Sensible

To some, this pair of shoes may appear simple and functional; to others, it may look like a vital part of an elaborately coordinated attempt at color blocking. The research duly associated pop colors with equally vibrant personalities. But does it end there? It would have, if all things concerned with the human psyche were so simple.

If this pair is a vintage, it could be expensive, even worse if it happens to carry a designer's tag, which would make the wearer...

... flashy, extrovert and rich, not to mention a shoe shopaholic.

So, So Comfy
Sneakers indicate comfort. They also say that the wearer is trendy and stylish. May be a college kid or thereabouts. We've gone beyond looking at trainers with their use limited in the athletic arena. Wearing sneakers in the context of this research could have several connotations.

It could mean that you value comfort over fashion - that puts you in the affable lot. Your shoes could be seen as "boring" by some, and God forbid if you've kept them spanking clean, so that makes you someone with intimacy issues.

Or perhaps, you could possibly, may be, just the tiniest bit be a borderline supporter of sweatshops and child labor?

The Free Spirit
Hippies of the world, rejoice! For once they have been understood for what they are, and who would've imagined their footwear to do the job for them?

Liberal people were observed to favor economical (read: cheap) footwear, for they are the ones who see footwear for what it is. No handmade Ferragamos for them, not even if they can afford them. They steadfastly refuse to pander to societal diktats by "dressing up" to make someone else happy, putting fun before fashion.

A move that's seen as liberating by them can just as easily be labeled tasteless by a harrowed fashionista, so there.

Indicators of Trouble
And finally, the logic-defying observation. Pretty adornments on your feet are indicators of your insecurity, apparently. The research says that you dress up your peds in an effort to spruce up your public persona, as a mask to hide your inner demons.

Lemons to it, then.

Seriously, did anyone even think that choosing shoes could be an extremely personal thing? That it may make the wearer happy? Or comfortable? Or just plain indifferent?

But no. We can do what we can, but scrutinizing people is something that is ingrained in the human DNA to a nasty extent. And as long as we shall live, we will be subjected to analysis. For every person who nods his head in agreement with this analysis, there will be tons of others who will dismiss this as utterly preposterous.
So, which side are you on?

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