Some salt, sugar?

The more I browse the net, the more I'm convinced that blogging about this is a good thing.

One week in.

All this happened:

• Elections in India, and sadly, my vote was wasted.
• Peeps and I celebrated our anniversary. Its been 3 years since the day we got married. I was a bit of a killjoy and didn't really add any cheer to the day. Expectations, expectations! Poor Peeps tried his best. Any way, I made up for it in the following days
• I got a new car. My old car was recalled and since I'm in an 11 month lease, I could easily get a replacement. They even upgraded me :) I now have bluetooth and easier cellphone access in my new car, which I realize is table stakes these days, but good enough for me !

So, the week was rough, and as expected, I couldn't really fit half a workout in. I did get back this Saturday. Peeps and I went over to the gym and trained our behinds. I've moved over to 10 pound weights, which is big upgrade over the last few years.

I'm also excited to start a new experiment. I'm going to try to cut sugar out of my life, as much as I can. One week at a time. I don't really have a sweet tooth, but I'm aware that sugar finds a way in to my life through  sources such as the occasional bread, smoothies, chips, salad dressings. This week, I'm going to actively avoid these sources of sugar. I've read some interesting accounts of how some women greatly benefited from cutting sugar out, through not just weight loss, but also more energy, better mood and better skin. Of course, finding a breakfast option is now very difficult, as I used to default to smoothies from Panera or Jamba or just the cafe at my client's office. I don't really think I can cook at home, during the week, and its one of those things that I refuse to even try to do given how busy the work week gets.

Any way, excited to see how this works out (and if i can do this even for a week).

I also have a bit of travel lined up this week. To Los Angeles this evening, back to Mountain View on Tuesday and then to NYC on Thursday (for fun only:))

All right!

Why this new space? Why not :)

The idea is to document the journey, and the hours and days that make this journey, from major events to smaller projects.

We're in the States. We've been here for a little of 6 months. I love California. It was always going to be a good choice, so no surprises here. The right mix of great weather, vast and beautiful outdoors, tons of energy, and a lot of quality time for the two of us. We miss our families though. The West Coast is the best coast, but its also the farth-est coast!

One of my projects here has been to transform my body. Since we started the move, I've been on a relentless drive to become fitter, stronger and healthier. Being able to do things that I couldn't, when I was younger, gives me tremendous confidence, and is increasingly defining me in my thirties. It started with last June, when at the end of a monstrous project for a global junk food major, I not only gained some 4-5 kilos, but I also became lazy, and depressed. I've, over the years, been more fit than average, and generally quite outdoorsy. I hit a low point last year, and this was just 2 months before our move to the States was to happen. I was lucky that I didn't staffed on something very demanding after that, and I decided that we both sign up to climb the Kilimanjaro :o. Extreme measures. With a little bit of preparation- not a lot- we did it last August! It made us both proud, tired, and extremely strong.

And then soon after, we found our way at the other end of the world, in beautiful California.

Continuing this effort on, I've tried a number of new things here. the occasional 10 mile hike, regular yoga, short runs, and more recently, the Bar Method. I am definitely fitter and healthier than before, though I wouldn't mind losing a few kilos either (which has NOT happened yet).

Along with this, whenever I get time off my extremely demanding work, I enjoy cooking delightful, wholesome meals for us. Our professions make us behave the contrary- we end up eating out at work just so much, that our weekends are extraordinarily low key in the food zone.

That's the introduction. Just having this space is a nice motivation!