It does not happen very often and not certainly in the current crop of commercial Indian cinema, where the actors rises above the material, brings an amount of respectability, the much needed 'gravitas' that makes the role more believable and endearing. Usually the trend is to parrot whatever is on paper, get the job done and move on to the next one. Essaying a role simply meant that - portray a character as it was concieved than go the extra length and be that character. The blame does not entirely lie on the actors themselves as the roles that they often get to perform are not very much different from one another - angry young man, angry lover, angry anti-establishment guy, angry guy fighting against the anti-social elements and the like. In those rare cases, when the actor does rise above the mediocrity of the material (like Atul Kulkarni in Rang De Basanti), it certainly makes one wonder what he would have done and where he would have gone with a stronger foundation. That is not to say that a good material is any lesser or inferior to a good performance, but in some cases, it provides just the right platform creating enough room for the actor to stretch his limbs, while feeling the character out. The material serves the sole purpose of triggering the motivation and steps out of the way while the actor takes over from there and starts playing the role in ways he feels right, than merely following the printed word on paper. Situations such as these allow the actor to bring his toolset and interact with the role in all the different ways possible, creating a believable impression as though he is living and breathing the character. And in that rare moment when both the actor and the material disappear in the role, movies like Iqbal take shape.
Consider Naseeruddin Shah's performance, the lone one of the holy trinity (sharing the honors with Om Puri and Shabana Azmi) still eking out a living in the commercial medium. His role in Iqbal is etched out in pretty broad strokes - a fallen from grace drunkard, initially forced but later willingly volunteers to help a deaf and mute kid realize his goal. In the hands of a lesser actor, the role would have been reduced to a parody of sorts. The role is just one step away from becoming a filmi cliche. Talented drunkard - lot of scope for brooding and wallowing in self-pity. Turned away by the system - ample room for displaying the Hindi film staple role - anti-establishment angry man. Turns his life around and helps somebody realize his lifelong dream - over the top theatricality against loud bombastic background score. With such seemingly obvious pitfalls all around, Shah's performance stands right and bright, walking along the path of redemption one step at a time, allowing the material to slowly transform his character into what he finally becomes. It does not seem forced, it does not seem rushed and it does not feel artificial in the least bit, when the character finally sobers up and gives up his licentious ways. This is definitely a feat, considering the movie length is only around 2 hours. Sure, enough situations could have been created for establishing the character even more allowing him to live, breathe and grow, but in such restricted space and time, to convince the audience of the genuineness of his intentions and motivations is a direct reflection on the capability of the actor more than the way the role is written. A classic example of the actor rising above the material.
Another gem of a performance among the other glittering ones - Shweta Prasad, the actor portraying the sister of the deaf-mute. She plays Iqbal's voice to the world; she also doubles as the world's voice to Iqbal. In between she has the job of playing the role as more than just an interpreter. Shweta Prasad takes up this difficult proposition with so much enthusiasm, so much life and so much vigor, that the movie would still have worked, had it been named "Khadija" (her character's name, instead of Iqbal) for all intents and purposes. There was an interesting sequence in the movie Roja, when Madhubala stops a state's parade midway to confront a minister and find out about her kidnapped husband's whereabouts. Here an interpreter starts translating her language into Hindi to the minister to make him understand her plight. After a couple of statements, the minister simply asks the interpreter to stop, as he clearly understands the distress that Roja was going through, even though he doesn't quite understand her words. Very powerful and moving moment, that. In just the same way, the scenes where the brother and sister communicate in sign language when they are alone (without any subtitles or a voice-overs explaining what exactly they are talking about) and the way silence sometimes communicates more than the signs and words is just exhilarating film-making. Shweta plays the role without looking down upon her brother, show any pity or act in a condescending way as the issue of her brother's handicap is never played into the equation. To her it is just like speaking another language with another person, only this one does not involve any words. Contrast her performance to the over-played and over-wrought role of Manisha Koirala in Khamoshi, and one would realize the sea of difference between playing a role and portraying a character.
Nagesh Kukunoor deserves all the accolades that come along his way with Iqbal. Ever since Hyderabad Blues he seems to be struggling with finding a middleground between his independent way of film-making and the regular commercial fare. Though not in a completely artistic way, his movies did try to step away from the mainstream, even though most of the themes that he tried in Rockford, Bollywood Calling, Teen Deewarein are pretty much regular commercials. With Iqbal, he makes another attempt at yet another genre fare, the underdog story, but this time, it appears as though he respected the mainstream format and tried to tell his story with those paramaters. The result is nothing sort of refreshing. With the performances more than making up for the gloss and the glitz of the regular fare, Nagesh's output both in the writing and the directing departments finds a perfect tone, that is neither too commercial nor too artistic, but is a fair balance between mind and heart (as he points out through one of his characters, if everything is in the right place, mind and heart are in fact one and the same). Another interesting choice is the way Nagesh remains completely oblivious to the handicap of his main character, instead of harping on the issue and squeeze out some more symapthy, indicating that any handicap, be it physical or mental, is only as obstructing and physically restricting as one allows it to be. Pulling off that aspect in a movie about a majorly handicapped boy is indeed a miracle, like the miracle that happens where Andhra does in fact win the Ranji Trophy in the end, in the movie. Three cheers!
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
Rags to riches.. & There will be blood
Rags to riches stories generally gain halos around them with the passage of time. People never get tired of listening to them and media never gets tired of writing about them. For all intents and purposes, they are the contemporary fairy tales. There once was a man who was poor and destitute. He failed at everything he tried. Until, fate dealt him a hand that he bet big...and won. And the rest is history, as they say. The factual aspect of the story has a great deal of drama already built into it, that fits quite nicely into the standard three act structure. Setup - poverty stricken character, has been trying for long to get that break, until he finally stumbles on one. Conflict - how, braving all elements, he swims against the tide, against conventional wisdom and emerges victorious. As he reaches the top, the same traits that have helped him survive the competition and stay ahead of the pack, start working against him, causing him to tumble down from his throne. And finally the resolution - how he overcomes the adversity and redeems himself. Take any public figure who has risen through the ranks to becoming the kingpin in his field. The stories of Dhirubhai Ambani selling his fabrics door to door before he founded Vimal, the lore of the media baron Ramoji Rao peddling his pickles on his bicycle, the legend of Nirma Washing Powder are all public knowledge. All these stories celebrate the indomitable spirit of the human nature. It is not somuchas sticking it to the system, as it is the joy of seeing somebody succeed against all odds, through sheer effort. It is the reaffirmation of faith, reassurance on a set of principles. It is the very reason why the public hangs on to their every word, and even a badly written book by one of them becomes an instant best seller at the newsstands. As a wise man who once said "a rich man's joke is always funny", so can be said about the profoundity in the cliche of a self-made millionaire. People believe they earned their right be boorish and boastful, and so the nouveau rich remain the permanent fixture on the celebrity circuit.
But what about all the things that happened on the path from rags to riches? Surely, fate has not spread a bed of roses in their path, making it easy and convenient at every important juncture, and paved the road to success all by itself. What actually happened behind closed doors, the boardrooms, across the negotiating tables? Was it all fair, just, right and moral? In a world with limited resources and unlimited players, is there room for rectitude, or is it even the right strategy to remain straight? When two players contend for the same item, where does wisdom lie - in going hard at it regardless of the ground rules and winning it or recognizing the futility of the exercise and shortcomings in the approach and giving up the race for the right reasons? On whom does time bestow the title of victor - the winner or the just? The phrase 'creation of wealth' is a misnomer for most of the times. Like the energy conservation principle, the creation of wealth always comes at the expense of something/someone. It could be a loss of friendship/relationship or it could come at the loss of oneself. Convenience calls it 'compromise', instead of preferring the more direct 'loss'. A man compromises with his principles, trades his values, and makes a deal with his beliefs, and society lauds it as entrepreneurship. At the end of the journey, after he finally made it to the top, the question would remain whether he is the same person who was at the beginning of the journey. The concept of capitalism muddles the water even further. Rarely has an idea shook the foundations of society and fundamentals of humanity, by celebrating and promoting a culture of selfishness in the name of betterment/advancement, than capitalism. Now if this underbelly of the game, the actual machinations of what really goes behind 'fair' trades and practices, is exposed to the public, would it still put its billionaires on the high pedestal and regard their word as the next commandment from God?
"There will be blood" is a searing saga that examines the effects of growing weight of wealth on a person's psyche, at the turn of the 20th century. Set against the early days of oil exploration in Southwest America, the movie steadfastly remains with the protagonist through all his twists and turns, his choices, his tough trek, his grand rise and his eventual fall. What is interesting in "There will..." is how a set of characters in a desolate place, far flung from the rest of the suave civilization, behave when confronted with new found wealth, particularly when rules guiding the conduct under such circumstances, weren't even set. As a contrast, consider the current times' scenario of a super store opening in a local community. The first act is a Public Relations campaign undertaken by the super store management, wherein it goes above and beyond allaying the fears of locals, assuring that it would usurp the local competition, in fact, it would promote it for the eventual benefit of the customers, goes ahead and makes contributions to the local causes, charities and congregations, and of course, the politicians. Once it is firmly entrenched in the neighborhood, it goes ahead and does exactly opposite of what it has promised - eat up the competition, stifle the opposition, and takes the usual route of lobbying to safeguard its interests, all in the name of standard business practices. Using a similar setup for the movie, the maker relocates the situation to a hundred years ago, and observes how his protagonist deals with a similar dilemma, of rallying the local population around for his cause of drilling an oil well in the area. If it is political demagogues that need to be bought out now, it was religious demagogues then, that need to be placated. The promises were the same then as they are now - new money in the community would usher schools, roads, hospitals, better standards of living - anything for the benefit and welfare of the community, of course.
The brilliance of the direction is how the maker does not reveal the true character of his protagonist until midway, whereby the audience is lulled into believing that all practices the protagonist had been indulging in his rise to the top, is nothing but good business, even if it is at the expense of a little morality. After all, what is morality, if it comes in the way of a good opportunity, and what is opportunity, but the basic building block of the capitalistic society. The dramatic turn which reveals the true identity of the protagonist, as one of cunning, selfish, jealous, and even cruel behavior, blends in nicely with the nature of his work, to the point that it becomes impossible at times to differentiate between the two - his real nature versus his business sense, impossible to figure out, if he is, in fact, enjoying his vitriolic act in the name/line of duty. "There will be blood" is as much about the businessman, as it is about the business itself. In commenting on the lives of the people that built this nation, it offers an uncompromising social commentary on the contemporary society. As the title indicates, a closer look of the underpinnings of the society reveals a gory and a ghastly detail.
But what about all the things that happened on the path from rags to riches? Surely, fate has not spread a bed of roses in their path, making it easy and convenient at every important juncture, and paved the road to success all by itself. What actually happened behind closed doors, the boardrooms, across the negotiating tables? Was it all fair, just, right and moral? In a world with limited resources and unlimited players, is there room for rectitude, or is it even the right strategy to remain straight? When two players contend for the same item, where does wisdom lie - in going hard at it regardless of the ground rules and winning it or recognizing the futility of the exercise and shortcomings in the approach and giving up the race for the right reasons? On whom does time bestow the title of victor - the winner or the just? The phrase 'creation of wealth' is a misnomer for most of the times. Like the energy conservation principle, the creation of wealth always comes at the expense of something/someone. It could be a loss of friendship/relationship or it could come at the loss of oneself. Convenience calls it 'compromise', instead of preferring the more direct 'loss'. A man compromises with his principles, trades his values, and makes a deal with his beliefs, and society lauds it as entrepreneurship. At the end of the journey, after he finally made it to the top, the question would remain whether he is the same person who was at the beginning of the journey. The concept of capitalism muddles the water even further. Rarely has an idea shook the foundations of society and fundamentals of humanity, by celebrating and promoting a culture of selfishness in the name of betterment/advancement, than capitalism. Now if this underbelly of the game, the actual machinations of what really goes behind 'fair' trades and practices, is exposed to the public, would it still put its billionaires on the high pedestal and regard their word as the next commandment from God?
"There will be blood" is a searing saga that examines the effects of growing weight of wealth on a person's psyche, at the turn of the 20th century. Set against the early days of oil exploration in Southwest America, the movie steadfastly remains with the protagonist through all his twists and turns, his choices, his tough trek, his grand rise and his eventual fall. What is interesting in "There will..." is how a set of characters in a desolate place, far flung from the rest of the suave civilization, behave when confronted with new found wealth, particularly when rules guiding the conduct under such circumstances, weren't even set. As a contrast, consider the current times' scenario of a super store opening in a local community. The first act is a Public Relations campaign undertaken by the super store management, wherein it goes above and beyond allaying the fears of locals, assuring that it would usurp the local competition, in fact, it would promote it for the eventual benefit of the customers, goes ahead and makes contributions to the local causes, charities and congregations, and of course, the politicians. Once it is firmly entrenched in the neighborhood, it goes ahead and does exactly opposite of what it has promised - eat up the competition, stifle the opposition, and takes the usual route of lobbying to safeguard its interests, all in the name of standard business practices. Using a similar setup for the movie, the maker relocates the situation to a hundred years ago, and observes how his protagonist deals with a similar dilemma, of rallying the local population around for his cause of drilling an oil well in the area. If it is political demagogues that need to be bought out now, it was religious demagogues then, that need to be placated. The promises were the same then as they are now - new money in the community would usher schools, roads, hospitals, better standards of living - anything for the benefit and welfare of the community, of course.
The brilliance of the direction is how the maker does not reveal the true character of his protagonist until midway, whereby the audience is lulled into believing that all practices the protagonist had been indulging in his rise to the top, is nothing but good business, even if it is at the expense of a little morality. After all, what is morality, if it comes in the way of a good opportunity, and what is opportunity, but the basic building block of the capitalistic society. The dramatic turn which reveals the true identity of the protagonist, as one of cunning, selfish, jealous, and even cruel behavior, blends in nicely with the nature of his work, to the point that it becomes impossible at times to differentiate between the two - his real nature versus his business sense, impossible to figure out, if he is, in fact, enjoying his vitriolic act in the name/line of duty. "There will be blood" is as much about the businessman, as it is about the business itself. In commenting on the lives of the people that built this nation, it offers an uncompromising social commentary on the contemporary society. As the title indicates, a closer look of the underpinnings of the society reveals a gory and a ghastly detail.
Saturday, July 5, 2008
Weight Gain Tips
Weight gain is as difficult as losing it, if you are naturally thin. Gaining weight is a problem for many people. They complain that they can't put on any weight. Following are some tips to follow to gain weight. You will take some time to gain the weight you need, but be patient.
Consume more calories than you burn. Choose healthy foods to add calories.
Drink healthy beverages to add calories.
Eat healthy food frequently, 5-6 times a day - 3 larger meals and 3 smaller meals alternately. Separate them by at least 3 hours so you can digest each meal fully. Don't go without food for 5-6 hours after having a major meal.
For example, if you wish to consume 3000 calories a day, you may eat 3 larger meals of about 650 calories and 3 smaller meals of about 450 calories.
Have a balanced diet.
Exercise regularly for healthy weight gain. Some thin people think that exercise is not good for them. This is not true, it keeps the metabolism high. Remember that eating alone is not sufficient. You don't want to gain fat but lean mass, so exercise is important.
Resistance training exercises will help to increase your muscle mass, which in turn will increase your metabolism. Learn to distinguish between weight gaining exercises and weight loss exercises.
Note that if you do not get enough amino acids during exercise, the existing muscle may break down. Amino acids come from protein rich foods.
Weight Gaining Foods
Protein is the key for the muscle mass. Without adequate protein, muscle gain is not possible because weight training demand for amino acids (which comes from protein).
You should daily eat about 2.2g of protein per kilogram (1g per pound) of your weight. For example, if you are 50kg (110pound), then you should eat 50x2.2=111g of protein spread over 5-6 meals in the day. Include high protein foods in your diet. Your protein intake should be from foods rather than from supplements.
Good sources of protein: whey, fish, dairy products (low fat variety), meats, unroasted nuts and seeds (almonds, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds).
Milk is one of the best muscle foods.
The milk contains two high quality proteins, about 80 percent whey and 20 percent casein. Whey is quickly broken down into amino acids and absorbed into the bloodstream. Whey is very good to consume after workout. Casein is digested more slowly and provides the body with a steady supply of protein for a longer period of time.
Milk nutrition
Healthy fats: Avoid fatty foods. Most mothers, especially in India give too much ghee or butter to their children, thinking they will gain weight fast. But ghee is mostly saturated fat which is not a healthy fat for any body. Healthy fats are monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats and omega-3 essential fatty acids.
Good fats: cold pressed oils (olive, sunflower, linseed, canola, best cooking oil)
Complex carbohydrates is also needed.
Some people think that drinking beer helps gain weight. But it is not true, it accumulates in your abdomen, making it fatty.
Don’t take protein supplements. Consult your doctor for protein supplements.
Weight Gain Diets
It is not a good idea of Increasing intake of junk foods and fatty foods to gain weight. You should be eating calorie dense yet nutritious food. Your calorie intake should come from foods that are healthy for you. The weight gaining diet should include high protein foods, high carbohydrate foods and healthy fats. Include these in your diet.
Example of weight gain diet
Breakfast: Banana and milk or banana shake or smoothie, whole-grain toast, fruits, granola, nuts. Eat more fruit and drink less juice.
Do not give milk mixed with ghee to your child. It is not healthy.
Lunch: Roti/chapatti/wholegrain bread, rice, green vegetables, paneer (cottage cheese), dal, chickpeas (chole), black-eyed beans (lobia), rajma, whole wheat pudding (dalia), etc Dinner: Similar to lunch
In-between meals:: fruit, sandwich, yogurt (curd), milk, cheese, salad
Avoid deep fried snacks like samosa, pakodas, bhujia etc.
Avoid fast foods including donut.
Consume more calories than you burn. Choose healthy foods to add calories.
Drink healthy beverages to add calories.
Eat healthy food frequently, 5-6 times a day - 3 larger meals and 3 smaller meals alternately. Separate them by at least 3 hours so you can digest each meal fully. Don't go without food for 5-6 hours after having a major meal.
For example, if you wish to consume 3000 calories a day, you may eat 3 larger meals of about 650 calories and 3 smaller meals of about 450 calories.
Have a balanced diet.
Exercise regularly for healthy weight gain. Some thin people think that exercise is not good for them. This is not true, it keeps the metabolism high. Remember that eating alone is not sufficient. You don't want to gain fat but lean mass, so exercise is important.
Resistance training exercises will help to increase your muscle mass, which in turn will increase your metabolism. Learn to distinguish between weight gaining exercises and weight loss exercises.
Note that if you do not get enough amino acids during exercise, the existing muscle may break down. Amino acids come from protein rich foods.
Weight Gaining Foods
Protein is the key for the muscle mass. Without adequate protein, muscle gain is not possible because weight training demand for amino acids (which comes from protein).
You should daily eat about 2.2g of protein per kilogram (1g per pound) of your weight. For example, if you are 50kg (110pound), then you should eat 50x2.2=111g of protein spread over 5-6 meals in the day. Include high protein foods in your diet. Your protein intake should be from foods rather than from supplements.
Good sources of protein: whey, fish, dairy products (low fat variety), meats, unroasted nuts and seeds (almonds, pumpkin seeds, sesame seeds, sunflower seeds).
Milk is one of the best muscle foods.
The milk contains two high quality proteins, about 80 percent whey and 20 percent casein. Whey is quickly broken down into amino acids and absorbed into the bloodstream. Whey is very good to consume after workout. Casein is digested more slowly and provides the body with a steady supply of protein for a longer period of time.
Milk nutrition
Healthy fats: Avoid fatty foods. Most mothers, especially in India give too much ghee or butter to their children, thinking they will gain weight fast. But ghee is mostly saturated fat which is not a healthy fat for any body. Healthy fats are monounsaturated and polyunsaturated fats and omega-3 essential fatty acids.
Good fats: cold pressed oils (olive, sunflower, linseed, canola, best cooking oil)
Complex carbohydrates is also needed.
Some people think that drinking beer helps gain weight. But it is not true, it accumulates in your abdomen, making it fatty.
Don’t take protein supplements. Consult your doctor for protein supplements.
Weight Gain Diets
It is not a good idea of Increasing intake of junk foods and fatty foods to gain weight. You should be eating calorie dense yet nutritious food. Your calorie intake should come from foods that are healthy for you. The weight gaining diet should include high protein foods, high carbohydrate foods and healthy fats. Include these in your diet.
Example of weight gain diet
Breakfast: Banana and milk or banana shake or smoothie, whole-grain toast, fruits, granola, nuts. Eat more fruit and drink less juice.
Do not give milk mixed with ghee to your child. It is not healthy.
Lunch: Roti/chapatti/wholegrain bread, rice, green vegetables, paneer (cottage cheese), dal, chickpeas (chole), black-eyed beans (lobia), rajma, whole wheat pudding (dalia), etc Dinner: Similar to lunch
In-between meals:: fruit, sandwich, yogurt (curd), milk, cheese, salad
Avoid deep fried snacks like samosa, pakodas, bhujia etc.
Avoid fast foods including donut.
How to Gain Weight
If you can't manage to eat your usual quantities of food or you're trying to gain or maintain weight, there are ways to add more energy (calories) without having to eat more food. If you don't feel like cooking, quick meals or snacks can provide the energy you need. If you have trouble eating your usual amounts of solid food, food-type nutrition supplements can provide energy.
Adding more energy
You can increase your protein and energy intake by adding extras to your basic foods at meal times.
While you are underweight or struggling to maintain your weight, eating extra amounts of fat and sugar won't hurt you. It is only unhealthy when you eat more of such nutrients than your body requires.
The following tips may help:
Try to have a small snack and/or nourishing drink every two hours if your appetite is poor or you are unable to manage big quantities.
Treat food like medicine -- something you have to have. Try using a timetable to help you have frequent meals and snacks.
Make sure what you eat and drink is nourishing, e.g. milk rather than cordial, biscuits rather than lollies.
Use full-cream milk and dairy products. Use milk instead of water in porridge, soups and so on. Enrich milk with milk powder.
Add milk powder to cereals, sauces, desserts, mashed vegetables, soups, drinks and egg dishes.
Add cheese to sauces, soups, vegetables, baked beans, casseroles, salads and egg dishes.
Add barley, split peas, soup mix, dried beans and lentils to soups.
Melt butter or margarine, or drizzle oil, on vegetables, pasta or rice.
Spread bread or toast thickly with butter or margarine.
Put cream or ice-cream on puddings, pies, fruit or use in drinks.
Use sour cream on meat, potatoes and other vegetables, or in sauces.
Fry meat, chicken, seafood and vegetables in oil, butter or margarine; if tolerated.
Use mayonnaise on sandwiches and in salads. Try oil-based salad dressings.
Use sugar, golden syrup, honey or glucose powder on cereal, fruit and in hot or cold drinks.
Relax low-cholesterol restrictions. Eat eggs, full-cream milk, meat and cheese if you want them.
Eat what you like, when you want it. It's fine to have a snack at 2am, breakfast cereal in the afternoon or ice-cream at morning tea.
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Quick meals
Here are a few ideas for quick and simple meals:
baked beans on toast with melted/grated cheese
sardines on buttered toast served with fresh tomato
fried fish (bought prepared) or fish fingers with chips and fresh salad
canned creamy soup made with milk and served with buttered toast
grilled lamb cutlets, mashed potato with margarine, served with peas and carrots
crumpets or muffins toasted with cheese, followed by fruit
a sandwich with a glass of high-protein milk with flavouring such as Aktavite, Milo or Horlicks
toast with cheese or peanut butter, followed by sliced banana and yoghurt
salmon, tuna or egg with salad and mayonnaise, served with a buttered bread roll
scrambled or poached egg on buttered toast and a glass of orange juice
a ham and cheese omelette with salad and buttered bread
pasta with cheese or a ready-made sauce
take-away foods such as barbecue chicken, a hamburger, pizza or doner kebab.
If you have a freezer, prepare casseroles, soups and desserts and freeze them in individual portions. You can heat them on days when you don't feel like cooking.
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Snack ideas
Here are some suggestions for quick snacks:
Cheese and crackers
Celery and cream cheese
Cheese or peanut butter on toast or bread
Potato crisps or corn chips with dips
Jaffles and sandwiches. Good fillings are peanut butter, cheese, avocado, egg and mayonnaise, cold meats, salmon or tuna
Creamy soups
Hot chips
Hard-boiled eggs
Instant noodles
Leftovers from previous day
Milk puddings, such as junket, creamed rice, custard, mousse and instant puddings
Dried fruit and nuts
Fresh or tinned fruit. Serve with custard, jelly, ice-cream or cream
Fruit cake, muesli and health food bars, sweet biscuits, cakes and slices
Buttered pikelets, scones, muffins, fruit buns, finger buns, raisin toast
Yoghurt and ice-cream
Milkshakes
Nutrition supplements.
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Food-type nutrition supplements
If you have trouble eating your usual amount of solid food, drinks can provide nutrients. Nutrition supplements such as Ensure, Sustagen, Resource or Build-up are a meal in a glass if you aren't eating well. Most contain a good variety of nutrients, particularly energy (calories), protein, vitamins and minerals.
Nutrition supplements can be used to boost a small meal or snack or to replace solid food. Check with a dietitian or doctor about how best to use food-type nutrition supplements. They come in liquid or powdered form. There are many different products available. The powdered forms are usually the most economical.
When you first start using supplement powders, mix with water to make it easier to drink. Start off with a small glass and build up to 1-3 glasses a day. If you enjoy milky drinks, you could then try mixing your supplement powder with milk for extra nourishment.
There is also a range of glucose powder supplements, which only provide energy (calories), not protein, vitamins or minerals. These should be used to give meals and snacks extra energy and not as a meal replacement. Glucose supplements can be sprinkled on cereal and fruit, mixed into foods such as mashed potato, gravy, stews, casseroles, scrambled eggs, custard, hot and cold drinks and soup.
Adding more energy
You can increase your protein and energy intake by adding extras to your basic foods at meal times.
While you are underweight or struggling to maintain your weight, eating extra amounts of fat and sugar won't hurt you. It is only unhealthy when you eat more of such nutrients than your body requires.
The following tips may help:
Try to have a small snack and/or nourishing drink every two hours if your appetite is poor or you are unable to manage big quantities.
Treat food like medicine -- something you have to have. Try using a timetable to help you have frequent meals and snacks.
Make sure what you eat and drink is nourishing, e.g. milk rather than cordial, biscuits rather than lollies.
Use full-cream milk and dairy products. Use milk instead of water in porridge, soups and so on. Enrich milk with milk powder.
Add milk powder to cereals, sauces, desserts, mashed vegetables, soups, drinks and egg dishes.
Add cheese to sauces, soups, vegetables, baked beans, casseroles, salads and egg dishes.
Add barley, split peas, soup mix, dried beans and lentils to soups.
Melt butter or margarine, or drizzle oil, on vegetables, pasta or rice.
Spread bread or toast thickly with butter or margarine.
Put cream or ice-cream on puddings, pies, fruit or use in drinks.
Use sour cream on meat, potatoes and other vegetables, or in sauces.
Fry meat, chicken, seafood and vegetables in oil, butter or margarine; if tolerated.
Use mayonnaise on sandwiches and in salads. Try oil-based salad dressings.
Use sugar, golden syrup, honey or glucose powder on cereal, fruit and in hot or cold drinks.
Relax low-cholesterol restrictions. Eat eggs, full-cream milk, meat and cheese if you want them.
Eat what you like, when you want it. It's fine to have a snack at 2am, breakfast cereal in the afternoon or ice-cream at morning tea.
| back to top
Quick meals
Here are a few ideas for quick and simple meals:
baked beans on toast with melted/grated cheese
sardines on buttered toast served with fresh tomato
fried fish (bought prepared) or fish fingers with chips and fresh salad
canned creamy soup made with milk and served with buttered toast
grilled lamb cutlets, mashed potato with margarine, served with peas and carrots
crumpets or muffins toasted with cheese, followed by fruit
a sandwich with a glass of high-protein milk with flavouring such as Aktavite, Milo or Horlicks
toast with cheese or peanut butter, followed by sliced banana and yoghurt
salmon, tuna or egg with salad and mayonnaise, served with a buttered bread roll
scrambled or poached egg on buttered toast and a glass of orange juice
a ham and cheese omelette with salad and buttered bread
pasta with cheese or a ready-made sauce
take-away foods such as barbecue chicken, a hamburger, pizza or doner kebab.
If you have a freezer, prepare casseroles, soups and desserts and freeze them in individual portions. You can heat them on days when you don't feel like cooking.
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Snack ideas
Here are some suggestions for quick snacks:
Cheese and crackers
Celery and cream cheese
Cheese or peanut butter on toast or bread
Potato crisps or corn chips with dips
Jaffles and sandwiches. Good fillings are peanut butter, cheese, avocado, egg and mayonnaise, cold meats, salmon or tuna
Creamy soups
Hot chips
Hard-boiled eggs
Instant noodles
Leftovers from previous day
Milk puddings, such as junket, creamed rice, custard, mousse and instant puddings
Dried fruit and nuts
Fresh or tinned fruit. Serve with custard, jelly, ice-cream or cream
Fruit cake, muesli and health food bars, sweet biscuits, cakes and slices
Buttered pikelets, scones, muffins, fruit buns, finger buns, raisin toast
Yoghurt and ice-cream
Milkshakes
Nutrition supplements.
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Food-type nutrition supplements
If you have trouble eating your usual amount of solid food, drinks can provide nutrients. Nutrition supplements such as Ensure, Sustagen, Resource or Build-up are a meal in a glass if you aren't eating well. Most contain a good variety of nutrients, particularly energy (calories), protein, vitamins and minerals.
Nutrition supplements can be used to boost a small meal or snack or to replace solid food. Check with a dietitian or doctor about how best to use food-type nutrition supplements. They come in liquid or powdered form. There are many different products available. The powdered forms are usually the most economical.
When you first start using supplement powders, mix with water to make it easier to drink. Start off with a small glass and build up to 1-3 glasses a day. If you enjoy milky drinks, you could then try mixing your supplement powder with milk for extra nourishment.
There is also a range of glucose powder supplements, which only provide energy (calories), not protein, vitamins or minerals. These should be used to give meals and snacks extra energy and not as a meal replacement. Glucose supplements can be sprinkled on cereal and fruit, mixed into foods such as mashed potato, gravy, stews, casseroles, scrambled eggs, custard, hot and cold drinks and soup.
Gain Muscle, Not Fat
If you think you're too thin and want to gain weight, don't just sit on the couch and stuff yourself with food. Weight gain should always be in the form of muscle, not fat. To build muscle, start a weight-bearing exercise program. Go to a gym and learn how to do the weight training circuit. Build up those arms and legs! As you exercise, your appetite will respond to meet your needs. It only takes 15 extra grams of protein a day to build a pound of muscle a week -- so you really won't need to eat a lot more. Muscle weighs more than fat.
It's never too late to start a weight training program. Underweight older people look and feel frail because they have lost most of their muscles, not because of lack of fat. If you are inactive, you lose muscle mass to the point where you are unable to carry out daily activities -- climbing stairs, getting up out of a chair -- because your muscles are not strong enough to move the weight of your own body. Don't try to add fat to a weak body. Overweight older people often have the double burden of weak muscles AND 20, 40 or more extra pounds to lug around with them every day.
Once you are exercising regularly and gaining muscle, your appetite will probably increase and you will eat more without any conscious effort. Most muscular people and heavy exercisers will eat plenty to meet their calorie needs. The training tables for football teams are piled high with every kind of food.
Don't worry if you lose a lot of weight because of a temporary illness. You will recover your appetite and return to your normal weight, gradually, without overeating. However, unexplained weight loss is a serious concern and should be reported to your doctor.
It's never too late to start a weight training program. Underweight older people look and feel frail because they have lost most of their muscles, not because of lack of fat. If you are inactive, you lose muscle mass to the point where you are unable to carry out daily activities -- climbing stairs, getting up out of a chair -- because your muscles are not strong enough to move the weight of your own body. Don't try to add fat to a weak body. Overweight older people often have the double burden of weak muscles AND 20, 40 or more extra pounds to lug around with them every day.
Once you are exercising regularly and gaining muscle, your appetite will probably increase and you will eat more without any conscious effort. Most muscular people and heavy exercisers will eat plenty to meet their calorie needs. The training tables for football teams are piled high with every kind of food.
Don't worry if you lose a lot of weight because of a temporary illness. You will recover your appetite and return to your normal weight, gradually, without overeating. However, unexplained weight loss is a serious concern and should be reported to your doctor.
GLAD TO BE A WOMAN -
Today, March 8, is International Woman�s Day. It�s time to celebrate the fact that you�re a woman. Here are just a few of the reasons you should be glad that you belong to the female of the species!
BENEFITS OF BEING A WOMAN
We got off the Titanic first.
We can scare male bosses with mysterious gynecological disorder excuses.
We get to flirt with systems support men who always return our calls, and are nice to us when we blow up our computers.
Our boyfriend's clothes make us look elfin & gorgeous. Guys look like complete idiots in ours.
We never ejaculate prematurely.
We can be groupies. Male groupies are stalkers.
We can cry and get off speeding fines.
We've never lusted after a cartoon character or the central figure in a computer game.
Taxis stop for us.
We live longer, so we can be cantankerous old biddies wearing inappropriate clothes and shouting at strangers......
Men die earlier, so we get to cash in on the life insurance.
We don't look like a frog in a blender when dancing.
Free drinks, free dinners.
We absently hum tunes from musicals without anyone being suspect of our sexuality.
We can hug our friends without wondering if they're gay.
We can hug our friends without wondering if WE'RE gay.
New lipstick gives us a whole new lease on life.
If we're not making enough money we can blame the glass ceiling.
It's possible to live our whole lives without ever taking a group shower.
No fashion faux pas we make could ever rival The Speedo.
We don't have to fart to amuse ourselves.
If we forget to shave, no one has to know.
We can congratulate our teammate without ever touching her butt.
If we have a zit, we know how to conceal it.
We never have to reach down every so often to make sure our privates are still there.
If we're dumb, some people will find it cute.
We have the ability to dress ourselves.
We can talk to people of the opposite sex without having to picture them naked.
If we marry someone 20 years younger, we're well aware that we look like an idiot.
There are times when chocolate really can solve all our problems.
We know which glass was ours by the lipstick mark.
We can fully assess a person just by looking at their shoes.
We'll never discover we've been duped by a Wonderbra.
We'll never regret piercing our ears.
STAGES OF A WOMAN�S LIFE
Age 3: Looks at herself and sees a queen!
Age 8: Looks at herself and sees herself as Cinderella/Sleeping Beauty.
Age 15: Looks at herself and sees herself as Fat/Pimples/UGLY (Mom, I can't go to school looking like this!)
Age 20: Looks at herself and sees too fat/too thin, too short/too tall, too straight/too curly-- but decides she's going anyway.
Age 30: Looks at herself and sees too fat/too thin, too short/too tall, too straight/too curly -- but decides she doesn't have time to fix it so she's going anyway.
Age 40: Looks at herself and sees too fat/too thin, too short/too tall, too straight/too curly -- but says, At least I am clean, and goes anyway.
Age 50: Looks at herself and sees I am and goes wherever she wants to go.
Age 60: Looks at herself and reminds herself of all the people who can't even see themselves in the mirror anymore. She goes out and conquers the world.
Age 70: Looks at herself and sees wisdom, laughter and ability, goes out and enjoys life.
Age 80: Doesn't bother to look. Just puts on a purple hat and goes out to have fun with the world.
Maybe we should all grab that purple hat earlier!
Every Woman Should Have...
Enough money within her control to move out and rent a place of her own even if she never wants to or needs to.
The realization that she is actually going to have an old age and some money set aside to fund it.
A skin care regime, an exercise routine, and a plan for dealing with those few other facets of life that don't get better after age 30.
Eight matching plates, wine glasses with stems and a recipe for a meal that will make her guests feel honored.
One friend who always makes her laugh and one who lets her cry.
Something perfect to wear if the man of her dreams wants to see her in an hour.
A purse and a suitcase that she's not ashamed to be seen carrying.
A youth she's content to move beyond.
A past juicy enough that she's looking forward to retelling it in her old age.
A good piece of furniture not previously owned by anyone else in her family.
A resume that is not even the slightest bit padded.
A solid start on a satisfying career, a satisfying relationship, and all those other facets of life that do get better.
A feeling of control over her destiny.
A set of screwdrivers, a drill and a black lace bra.
QUOTES
And finally, here are some great quotes by success, funny and wonderful women with attitude and a zest for life.
'In politics, if you want anything said, ask a man; if you want anything done, ask a woman.' - Margaret Thatcher
'I have yet to hear a man ask for advice on how to combine marriage and a career.'- Gloria Steinem
'Some of us are becoming the men we wanted to marry.' - Gloria Steinem
'You see a lot of smart guys with dumb women, but you hardly ever see a smart woman with a dumb guy.'- Erica Jong
'I want to have children, but my friends scare me. One of my friends told me she was in labor for 36 hours. I don't even want to do anything that feels good for 36 hours!' - Rita Rudner
'Never lend your car to anyone to whom you have given birth.'- Erma Bombeck
'If high heels were so wonderful, men would still be wearing them.' - Sue Grafton
'I think, therefore I'm single.'- Lizz Winstead
'When women are depressed they either eat or go shopping. Men invade another country.'- Elayne Boosler
'Behind every successful man is a surprised woman.'- Maryon Pearson
'Nobody can make you feel inferior without your consent.'- Eleanor Roosevelt
BENEFITS OF BEING A WOMAN
We got off the Titanic first.
We can scare male bosses with mysterious gynecological disorder excuses.
We get to flirt with systems support men who always return our calls, and are nice to us when we blow up our computers.
Our boyfriend's clothes make us look elfin & gorgeous. Guys look like complete idiots in ours.
We never ejaculate prematurely.
We can be groupies. Male groupies are stalkers.
We can cry and get off speeding fines.
We've never lusted after a cartoon character or the central figure in a computer game.
Taxis stop for us.
We live longer, so we can be cantankerous old biddies wearing inappropriate clothes and shouting at strangers......
Men die earlier, so we get to cash in on the life insurance.
We don't look like a frog in a blender when dancing.
Free drinks, free dinners.
We absently hum tunes from musicals without anyone being suspect of our sexuality.
We can hug our friends without wondering if they're gay.
We can hug our friends without wondering if WE'RE gay.
New lipstick gives us a whole new lease on life.
If we're not making enough money we can blame the glass ceiling.
It's possible to live our whole lives without ever taking a group shower.
No fashion faux pas we make could ever rival The Speedo.
We don't have to fart to amuse ourselves.
If we forget to shave, no one has to know.
We can congratulate our teammate without ever touching her butt.
If we have a zit, we know how to conceal it.
We never have to reach down every so often to make sure our privates are still there.
If we're dumb, some people will find it cute.
We have the ability to dress ourselves.
We can talk to people of the opposite sex without having to picture them naked.
If we marry someone 20 years younger, we're well aware that we look like an idiot.
There are times when chocolate really can solve all our problems.
We know which glass was ours by the lipstick mark.
We can fully assess a person just by looking at their shoes.
We'll never discover we've been duped by a Wonderbra.
We'll never regret piercing our ears.
STAGES OF A WOMAN�S LIFE
Age 3: Looks at herself and sees a queen!
Age 8: Looks at herself and sees herself as Cinderella/Sleeping Beauty.
Age 15: Looks at herself and sees herself as Fat/Pimples/UGLY (Mom, I can't go to school looking like this!)
Age 20: Looks at herself and sees too fat/too thin, too short/too tall, too straight/too curly-- but decides she's going anyway.
Age 30: Looks at herself and sees too fat/too thin, too short/too tall, too straight/too curly -- but decides she doesn't have time to fix it so she's going anyway.
Age 40: Looks at herself and sees too fat/too thin, too short/too tall, too straight/too curly -- but says, At least I am clean, and goes anyway.
Age 50: Looks at herself and sees I am and goes wherever she wants to go.
Age 60: Looks at herself and reminds herself of all the people who can't even see themselves in the mirror anymore. She goes out and conquers the world.
Age 70: Looks at herself and sees wisdom, laughter and ability, goes out and enjoys life.
Age 80: Doesn't bother to look. Just puts on a purple hat and goes out to have fun with the world.
Maybe we should all grab that purple hat earlier!
Every Woman Should Have...
Enough money within her control to move out and rent a place of her own even if she never wants to or needs to.
The realization that she is actually going to have an old age and some money set aside to fund it.
A skin care regime, an exercise routine, and a plan for dealing with those few other facets of life that don't get better after age 30.
Eight matching plates, wine glasses with stems and a recipe for a meal that will make her guests feel honored.
One friend who always makes her laugh and one who lets her cry.
Something perfect to wear if the man of her dreams wants to see her in an hour.
A purse and a suitcase that she's not ashamed to be seen carrying.
A youth she's content to move beyond.
A past juicy enough that she's looking forward to retelling it in her old age.
A good piece of furniture not previously owned by anyone else in her family.
A resume that is not even the slightest bit padded.
A solid start on a satisfying career, a satisfying relationship, and all those other facets of life that do get better.
A feeling of control over her destiny.
A set of screwdrivers, a drill and a black lace bra.
QUOTES
And finally, here are some great quotes by success, funny and wonderful women with attitude and a zest for life.
'In politics, if you want anything said, ask a man; if you want anything done, ask a woman.' - Margaret Thatcher
'I have yet to hear a man ask for advice on how to combine marriage and a career.'- Gloria Steinem
'Some of us are becoming the men we wanted to marry.' - Gloria Steinem
'You see a lot of smart guys with dumb women, but you hardly ever see a smart woman with a dumb guy.'- Erica Jong
'I want to have children, but my friends scare me. One of my friends told me she was in labor for 36 hours. I don't even want to do anything that feels good for 36 hours!' - Rita Rudner
'Never lend your car to anyone to whom you have given birth.'- Erma Bombeck
'If high heels were so wonderful, men would still be wearing them.' - Sue Grafton
'I think, therefore I'm single.'- Lizz Winstead
'When women are depressed they either eat or go shopping. Men invade another country.'- Elayne Boosler
'Behind every successful man is a surprised woman.'- Maryon Pearson
'Nobody can make you feel inferior without your consent.'- Eleanor Roosevelt
SPARKLING EYES -
Your eyes are the windows to your soul. And healthy, sparkling eyes are the sign of a well-adjusted, happy, human being. Needless to say that this is a very attractive quality as well as a sign of true beauty. Something that every person aims for.
Now how does one go about achieving this? It�s quite simple really. One must try to remain calm and relaxed in the most adverse circumstances. Life does not always go the way we want, but always works out best in the long run. If we are accepting and content with our lot then our path automatically smoothens out. But this is the way to true inner beauty. Let�s see how we can handle these windows to our soul externally.
The easiest way is through make-up. You can always emphasize or intensify the shape and colour of your eyes with the help of a kohl pencil, eyeliners and eye shadows. But the best way to maintain that inner sparkle is to take care of your health. Avoid long hours and do not overstrain your eyes.
How Should We Avoid Eye-Strain
One of the most common causes of eyestrain is inadequate lighting while reading or even doing housework, like cleaning, mending or sewing. This causes a weary, dull feeling that can simply be avoided by proper lighting.
Another common fault is the angle at which you tend to hold a paper or book while reading. People generally tend to hold it too close to their eyes and strain them in the process. The correct method is to hold the book about ten inches away from your face. i.e. neither too close nor too far. The same goes for watching television or when using the computer.
Lastly, if none of the above tips seem to help, then you must consult an optician to check your number. Do not worry as you can go in for contact lenses. In any case, nowadays spectacles have become a wonderful accessory. If you already have spectacles, then make sure you get your eyes tested every two years or so in order to keep a check on your number.
Simple Home Remedies For Tired Eyes
1. To soothe tired eyes, dip cotton pads in chilled milk and place on closed eyes for 10 minutes. Now relax completely.
2. Alternatively, you can place slices of cucumber or grated cucumber on closed eyelids for about 10 minutes and relax completely.
3. To completely relax the eyes and the surrounding muscles, close your eyes and think of something that is pleasant or soothing and at a distance. Now gently open your eyes and look into the distance. Next focus on an object at arm�s length. Do this extremely relaxing exercise four to five times a day.
Make Your Eyes Sparkle
Soak 1 tsp. dry amla in one cup of water overnight. Next morning strain it through a muslin cloth and then add one extra cup of water. Splash your eyes with this solution each morning and watch your eyes sparkle.
Problems With Puffy Eyes
All you need to do is grate a potato with its peel and apply on your closed eyelids for about 20 minutes and relax completely. You may even take a nap. You will wake up feeling extremely fresh.
Tips For Dark Circles
1. Apply cucumber juice below your eyes every night just before going to bed.
2. Mix the pulp of a quarter tomato, turmeric powder, lemon juice and gramflour (besan). Apply this mixture on your dark circles and wash off once it dries.
Now how does one go about achieving this? It�s quite simple really. One must try to remain calm and relaxed in the most adverse circumstances. Life does not always go the way we want, but always works out best in the long run. If we are accepting and content with our lot then our path automatically smoothens out. But this is the way to true inner beauty. Let�s see how we can handle these windows to our soul externally.
The easiest way is through make-up. You can always emphasize or intensify the shape and colour of your eyes with the help of a kohl pencil, eyeliners and eye shadows. But the best way to maintain that inner sparkle is to take care of your health. Avoid long hours and do not overstrain your eyes.
How Should We Avoid Eye-Strain
One of the most common causes of eyestrain is inadequate lighting while reading or even doing housework, like cleaning, mending or sewing. This causes a weary, dull feeling that can simply be avoided by proper lighting.
Another common fault is the angle at which you tend to hold a paper or book while reading. People generally tend to hold it too close to their eyes and strain them in the process. The correct method is to hold the book about ten inches away from your face. i.e. neither too close nor too far. The same goes for watching television or when using the computer.
Lastly, if none of the above tips seem to help, then you must consult an optician to check your number. Do not worry as you can go in for contact lenses. In any case, nowadays spectacles have become a wonderful accessory. If you already have spectacles, then make sure you get your eyes tested every two years or so in order to keep a check on your number.
Simple Home Remedies For Tired Eyes
1. To soothe tired eyes, dip cotton pads in chilled milk and place on closed eyes for 10 minutes. Now relax completely.
2. Alternatively, you can place slices of cucumber or grated cucumber on closed eyelids for about 10 minutes and relax completely.
3. To completely relax the eyes and the surrounding muscles, close your eyes and think of something that is pleasant or soothing and at a distance. Now gently open your eyes and look into the distance. Next focus on an object at arm�s length. Do this extremely relaxing exercise four to five times a day.
Make Your Eyes Sparkle
Soak 1 tsp. dry amla in one cup of water overnight. Next morning strain it through a muslin cloth and then add one extra cup of water. Splash your eyes with this solution each morning and watch your eyes sparkle.
Problems With Puffy Eyes
All you need to do is grate a potato with its peel and apply on your closed eyelids for about 20 minutes and relax completely. You may even take a nap. You will wake up feeling extremely fresh.
Tips For Dark Circles
1. Apply cucumber juice below your eyes every night just before going to bed.
2. Mix the pulp of a quarter tomato, turmeric powder, lemon juice and gramflour (besan). Apply this mixture on your dark circles and wash off once it dries.
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