What Being 23 Feels Like

Being 23 And Leaving My Dream Job

I started this blog to document the journey of my life. And for the past year or so, I haven't been doing a good job of it. So now, I will write a blogpost every day. Today, I will tell you what it's like parting ways with your dream job.

But before you start I'll have you know this isn't a Before-After story. There isn't light at the end of the tunnel (yet) cuz I'm still in the tunnel. Let's begin.

Ever since I stumbled upon the Struggles Of Lefties article on it, I had found my love in BuzzFeed. I had been following the website religiously when I discovered that they were setting up shop in Mumbai, India. Mind racing, heart pounding, I applied for it. A few interviews and I was in. I had set foot in the magically sweet, cat-filled, the most glorious land on the internet – BuzzFeed dot com the website. 22 years old, I was living my dream. I wrote about food, love, celebrities, I poured my heart out and the views and shares didn't let me down. Being a part of this, this and this video, the feeling is surreal. Everyone out there who dreams of working with BuzzFeed, I hope your dream comes true. It is a place worth going to. A madness worth being a part of.

Like all good things come to an end, my stint with the most beloved company ended in a year. First one in, first one out. Sometimes you love someone to bones, but the relationship doesn't work out. Literally my BF and I had to part ways.

And so, here I am.

This time last year I had planned my life. I would be 90 years old and scouting photos of Hrithik Roshan, all ready to write a new article– 27 Photos That Prove Hrithik Roshan Basically Didn't Age.  I can still write said article when I'm 90 because BuzzFeed has a killer Community Super-poster but what's the fun in that? For me this was it. The last one, my the one. My Chosen One, if you will.

But the game of Life is unpredictable. I'm 23, where I'd thought I'd be Editor-in-Chief (hey, I'm allowed to dream), I'm at home. Writing this. Adding McDonald's Happy Meal to my XXL hips and collecting Minion toys with the last salary I got. I'd like to call the situation I'm in a dramatic pause. A very long one. Alan Rickman will be proud of me.

And you know what? I'm okay.

This isn't a story about me and BuzzFeed, no. This is me sharing a very important lesson with you– that you can have your life turned upside down, and you will feel like it's the end of the world, and it will still be okay. Do you hear me? You. Will. Be. Okay.

That's the thing about having everything taken away from you, then you have nothing to lose :)

Happiness can be found in the darkest of times if only one remember to turn on the light!

So smile. All is well.

Until tomorrow,
Karima

'Candy Crush' pain in the Notific-ass-tion? No more!

Countless people are updating status that more or less mean they hate Candy Crush and the request. More because it's the only Notification they get. Haha

Anyway, here's how you can stop that.

Make that fierce 'Enough is Enough' face and open your Notifications tab

Yell, 'Candy Crush where ya at?!' and 

Hover over that specific update to find an X and O

Click on the X

By this time I was obviously bored of all the blurring

Almost there...

Find Redemption

You're welcome, I love you back :)


~ karimuah

Rosalie and the remote

R0salie and the Remote

A day as beautiful as any other. Rosalie walked out of her house, into the backyard and smiled. She stretched out her beautifully long hands as if inviting the sun for the warmest of hugs. She took in a deep breath and let out a little giggle. It was only her that day.

'Good morning, sunshine' The old lady from next door yelled out to Rosalie in her shaky voice

'Good morning, Mrs. Montgomery. Isn't it such a beautiful day?'

'Yes, my love, it is! Pray, where is your family?'

'They aren't around. I've to get going. Have a nice day!'

Rosalie was going to do all possible things to avoid questions on whereabouts of her family. She went inside the house. Her brother's dead body lying on the sofa. He really shouldn't have fought for the remote last night. Why did mother have to be on his side like all the time? Why did father try to slap when there was an argument with mother? She really didn't like this daily routine. She did what any normal teenager would do. She went to the kitchen, open the drawers and brought out a knife. 

She stuck it into her brother's neck first - the bugger numbed her mind. She then went for the mother, who was sitting on the couch right next to him. Panicked, she stood up and before she could yell, the knife went through her heart and she collapsed. Her father came out in the living room tucking his shirt in. He looked up and started saying, 'Where is your moth...' the knife that killed the rest of his kin went through the stomach he'd just emptied. 

Rosalie reenacted the entire scene as though it was a choreographed action routine. Across the glass, a man and a woman looked at Rosalie in her white uniform, in the white room.

The concerned woman who looked so much like Rosalie asked, 'Will she ever get better?'

'No, the wound on her head is very deep. Your daughter's hallucinatory amnesia only seems to be getting stronger. But we're trying'
'Oh, it was only a TV remote,' said her mother and walked out of California Rehabilitation and Brain Research Center.

-End-

Note - There's no such thing as Hallucinatory Amnesia. Atleast I don't think so. Google :P

Thanks for reading! Leave your comments, I'd love to read it :)

Love,
karimuah

The Beautiful Killer

So, I wrote my first short story! Opinions welcome :)

The Beautiful Killer

‘If only looks could kill…’ they breathed when she walked past them. Every boy who laid eyes on that girl who had skin as though it was bleached by pearls. One of the three whistled - the sound as light as a whisper found her ear. The Jimmy Choos came to a halt. A soft rapt, a knife out, it darted across and the whistler was dead.

She started walking towards the other two, they ran for their lives. ‘One down, what number to go? Oh dear, oh dear’ The Louis Vuitton, full of little knives like these, dangled by her side as she walked her way again. She was too well with her craft, like the football at the professional’s feet.

‘May I help you, you pretty girl?’ A car had halted in the dark alleyway that she was on. Not more than 5 a day was her rule and she stuck by it. Since that one night that had changed everything. She’d just killed the 5^th one and it was only 8 pm. Did this one deserve to die too?

She looked at the car, the Jaguar was breath taking. Impressive, she thought.

‘It looks like it’s going to rain. You will ruin that pretty dress of yours. You don’t want that now, do you?’ She looked at her Dolce dress and then looked at him. Stereotypical schmuck, the words that perfectly described the stranger struck her mind.

He reminded her so much of the man who didn't know what a 'No' meant. A filthy rich hag who thought he could force on her, and force on her he did. The scars of that night and the nights after that when she was chained to his bed rushed back to her. What also came back was the satisfaction she got when she strangled him with the very chains she was bound to. It was a wonderful idea to pretend to give in and try something in the shower. This man was so much like him. He must be stopped.

She bent the rule that night. He took her to a hotel that night. She strangled him too, with the chains she carried. But not before she gave him the kiss he longed for. The kiss of death that came with her red lipstick. She grabbed the keys to his Jag, she would sell it for another Dolce, a Guess maybe.

Rage - a poetry

It erupts in my heart 
When I see what is mine, what could be, 

with the haunting past that takes you away from me.

The fire that spreads from bone to muscle but does not show,
inside me it steadily grows.

The expanding warmth grips me, breaks me,
making my sorrows extinguish, tears evaporate,
only leaving the seething pain that swallows me.

Rage, a rage called love
that you cannot help, that cannot be,
that the naked eye cannot see,
This rage might kill me but
I will take it.

Dying in its fire will trump living without love at all

100 Days, 250 Movies - Will I be able to do it?

I had the most absurd of thoughts right now. How would it be to finish watching IMDB's 250 Highest Rated Movies in 100 Days? And if some time still remains, I'd like to make a memento for each of them - a review, a doodle, a story, something to remember it!

Let's take a few things in perspective here - I have a full time job, I go to the gym, I travel to and fro from work for close to 3 hours. Squeezing in 2 movies a day is going to be difficult. I'll watch the left over movies during the weekend to catch up.

Yes, I have seen a bunch of the movies in the list already but I will watch them again.

Why such absurdity?

I am a huge cinema fanatic. I love watching movies to the extent that I've watched my favourite movies for months on end. Speed, The Mummy, Shrek 4, Wreck It Ralph, et all were watched every day after I came back from school/ college/ work for over a month.

My only concern is fitting in World Cinema (French, South Korean movies) and still keeping up with my reading list. (I've to finish at least 5 Novels by Stephen King, The LOTR series, A Song of Ice & Fire, Shakespeare)

Haha. 24 hours in a day. 100 Days.. 250 Movies. Keeping up with life.

You know what?

Want to succeed? Get off 9GAG

Don't get me wrong, I'm a huge 9GAG fan. Their memes are the funniest, it's user generated content at it's best. But, it can easily negatively influence you. I've been meaning to write this since January, when the time to make resolutions was around and people were trying to be better versions of themselves in 2014, when I these started appearing on my News Feed...

I took them as jokes but then the frequency of these increased and it started to worry me. To those who take it as a gag, brilliant. But what if someone starts taking this seriously? 

Being lazy, giving up, going to the gym on 1st and skipping on 2nd Jan is glorified. It came to point even I began to think, 'Wow, I'm going to give up anyway, why even bother trying?'

And this is just one example. There's others where 9GAG sort of preaches that it's good to be at home all the time, it's good to not have a social life and just gorge on food, it's okay to ignore your health, everyone is doing it anyway. So many such examples, think about it - you've liked these because they were relatable and you said, 'haha! I thought I was the only one!' There's a comfort in knowing that you're not alone, especially when it's about being awkward/ different than 'normal' people.

I'm not saying that 9GAG should become a motivational site and post only 'you can do it!' inspired content but then I'm only trying to bring to your attention, that be careful because subconsciously you might be getting affected. 

All I'm trying to say here is -

1. Look at it, laugh and move on. Don't think over it or even let it register in your head

2. Do not stop making resolutions, especially health ones. Like motivating FB pages and Instagram accounts so that you get a regular dose of how good fitness looks and feels.

3. If 9GAG has convinced you that it's okay to be socially awkward, don't settle with that. Try getting out of your shell, we weren't born with a set of rigid rules. We make our own lives and we can be however we want - personality and otherwise. If you're okay with not wanting to mingle with people, that's cool. But if you want more out of life, don't settle.

Most of this was beginning to happen to me. I was being sucked into that hole of having accepted my awkward and not working on it. Then I made a resolution to change this year and 4 months in, I feel like a much more successful person in all areas of my life. I've started working out, office is better, personal relationships are better because I've started expressing myself to loved ones and listening to them. 

We're young, we have access to ample information on the internet. We can practically mould ourselves into what we want. There's a youtube video for everything - so that we could be the best version of ourself. So let's not let lethargy take over and do something about it.

But first...

Get off 9GAG.

Review - Shuddh (NON)Desi Romance

I can't believe it. I'm sure swargwasi papa Yash wouldn't have approved this film. He is the original Father of Desi Romance and such movie being made under his banner stupefies me.

Wo hawa ka uski zulfun ke saath khel jana,

wo muskurate honton se uska mujhe choo jana

Wo dikhash adayein, wo ek nazar,

pyaar hai mujhe usse, tumhe bhi hai.. toh palat
[ voice over by SRK ]

[ DDLJ Score ]
[ Crappy Shayri courtesy - myself ]

Waiting for your love for 22 years in Veer Zaara, fighting Jesus Ji for 10 years to finally have to meet his love, romancing in the Switzerland, Kashmir and... marriage. That is Shuddh Desi Romance.

The movie in question catches the nerve - that Big Fat Indian Weddings are nothing but fake. And then it goes overboard. Raghu Ram seems to have drawn inspiration from Bhaag Milkha Bhaag. Gayatri maintains herself has the hot-mod-break up-et-al chick with a sensitive heart. Then there's Tara, I really can't place her character actually. The actress has nice hair :) Everyone seems to have nice hair in the film. hmm..

The characters are very vague. None knows what's going on. There is no pattern to the story. It promises a lot in the beginning and then just drifts into something where even I was scratching my head as to what was going on. I haven't felt this uneasy watching a movie ever.

MY FEELS:

MY RATING:

I give the movie 2/5. 

1.0 star for music, 

0.5 for Sushant Singh Rajput's expressions and 

0.5 for Rishi Kapoor who does a brilliant job as ever

Until next week,

Karima

Why are you looking out the window?

I hate this world.
I do like nature and forest and animals and tranquility - that is Earth.
I like people, my family, the best friends, the good friends - they are Humans.
But I don't like our parallel existence. Where the Earth and Humans combine, they make the World.

The more you try to narrow it, the more complex it becomes. My World, Her World, Their World, Geography. And somewhere they combine. They didn't teach us the Venn diagram for nothing. The World is indeed a large Venn Diagram. Each person moulded differently, they become different for different people - in accordance with the changing World.

Nobody gets it. They think it's all the same. Like the hamster running in a cage. The day progresses, the nights commence, the clock moves, the paycheck arrives at the same time each month. But it's not. You know it. You change as you swift between these Worlds. Why are we looking for answers in the Universe? Why are we searching for other dimensions? So many exist in your very life. Think.

Then why do I hate the World? It makes me nauseous. There is so much falseness, I see right through it. Like Bathsheba Sherman feeds off of Carolyn Perron, everyone wants to feed off of you. Demented, hollow, making you believe that's something that you are doing is wrong while you eat your iron supplements to treat the wounds.

Please, I beg you. Open your mind. Be better than being trapped in your money infested dreams. Open your World to better people and open yourself to your own World instead of being the highlight of others'. Free yourself from the trance of 'destiny' and make life happen.

I will hate the World till you come and tell me, "No, Karima. It's beautiful"

Until Next Time,
Karima

I have no idea what I'm writing. It's 1 AM and I'm half asleep. It is a high possibility I'm sleep writing. I've been itching to write anything since the past few weeks. Feels good.

PS: Please watch The Conjuring to understand Bathsheba Sherman references

Must watch funny Desi videos

YouTube 'funny videos' and you will presented with rib tickling English videos. I wanted to be closer to home and so, these are a list of Desi videos that will tickle your funny bone! Whenever you will be bored, make sure to watch these and laugh like a maniac.

#5 Eye to Eye

This is currently in trend and it's not as bad the ones you will face ahead. Sung by Pakistani singer, director, producer, model, actor, god, Taher Shah he sways and tries to entice you with his 'glorious, fantastic, spectrum eyes'

My eye, your eye, our eye, Battar flaiii! Flayblus eye!

#4 Silsila hai ye, Silsilaa...

Apart from using Silsila hai ye, Silsila about a 100 times, this video stars a few gori mems so you just HAVE to watch this. My money is on they are tourists and they got paid Rs. 500 for it. This video doesn't end, it's a silsila

# 3 It's my life, what ever I wanna do!

One man you need to watch out for is that producer in blue. He takes the music very seriously. This is a fail attempt at trying to make a video like 'Kolaveri' 

All said and done, he is a 'very good bad boy'

#2 Boom Boom World Cup!

I love this song. Boom Boom Up Cup, Cricket Cup, World Cup! What do I talk about it? From the mandap to the world class dance moves, this song has everything! It has a 'thriller' element too... watch out for the ghost girl!

It's the bat of the cup, it's the ball of the cup, it's the six of the cup, I'm sick of the cup

#1 Jab se hui hai mohobbat...

I'm not lying when I say this, I know this song by heart. I can absolutely sing it and I can do so in public very proudly! I found this video 3 years ago and it's still fresh in my memory. Ever so funny! I won't give out anything about it - you have to watch!

Until Next Time,

Karima

I like you

I think you're cute. I think I like you. I think that if you get to know me, you will like me too.

How hard is it to tell this to a person? Very. So, I'm doing what I do best - write.

I think you're cute. I think I like you. I think that if you get to know me, you will like me too. I like watching movies, animated ones at that. I know you like movies too. That's why I'd like to go with you to a movie. I don't know if you like dancing and I'd like to find that out about you. Maybe if you do, we'll go to a club later. I know you love food. I mean, who doesn't? So one day we could go food trailing along the city and have a gala time. Yes, I know - you're adventurous like that.

That's the thing isn't it? When you know someone a little, you want to know them a little more. It's never enough. I like you as you person. I think you have a kind heart. I see honesty behind that wicked smile and maybe that's why I like you. What makes sense to you? What is ridiculous? What is happy? Why do you think Harry Potter is average? (The last one so that I can change your perspective about it!) I want to know it all.

I like you. Maybe you will like me too. Mostly because we both know I have a good choice :)

New Girl: Nick, Jess and me

I have been rooting for Nick and Jess since I set my sight on them (episode one, obviously). I knew something was going to be there (everyone was). The weird attraction and love that they secretly carry for each other is very cute to watch. So when I saw, Season 2 Episode 15. I was like /shock /blush.

Oh, don't know what I'm saying? Watch this:

Everything about it is so beautiful! Mostly because we've all been waiting for this to happen for a full year and a half! I need a place to rant about this. Best 22 seconds of TV viewing. Especially when Nick says, 'I meant something like that' and then he just walks away.

He doesn't walk - he struts! There's so much mystery going on there. Like a man on who just completed a mission.

Then in the next episode, he's back to being Nick. Haha.

I love Jake Johnson :) I love Nick and Jess :)

Until Next Time,
Karima

/bye

I am Cursed

This post is the truth. Until now, I thought it was only in my head but it's true. I am cursed.

Once upon a time, in 2009, I had fallen in something people dub as 'love'. My only friend in the new town showed liking towards me and we were about to embark on a sweet journey together when he said that he had serious reasons because of which we couldn't be together. /shock. The New Year started with hopelessness and despair. Everything was a blur /blur, every time I woke up in the morning, I was going /floor. Then I found a friend who helped me get over it. This one knew I loved him so we were cool, right? Wrong. Time went on and my friend said he loved me. I was all /shock. I was already in love. With a pathetic asshole who got a girl for himself as soon as his college started. My friend went nuts and I was going  nuts too. He went to the limits of drunk dialing, gifts, chocolates (which I never accepted) and then it all went more crazy. So I'm guessing I got cursed by him that I will never find True Love because I broke his heart

Fast forward 2013. Somehow, after 2 years of struggling, I got over my so called love and dubbed him as a 'lesson' or 'crush'. This guy ultimately lost himself because his girl left him and he can't get over it (suck it, bitch) and he's being nice to me. My old friend (who totally doesn't talk with him and ignores me like the next big Fuck) is happy because he found someone who loved him more than I could ever even try. I'm hoping they get married and have children. I don't know if he'll invite me to his wedding, though. 

Then there's me. My story of a hopeless life continues. I like someone, someone else likes me and I think I like him too but then some other person who likes him as well.

Weird? Welcome to my life. I am Cursed.

Seven Cats and Me

Some people are plain unlucky. They end up with cats. I have seen my end, it is with cats. Maybe if my mom wouldn't allow me to get a real one, I'll make do with stuffed versions.

If you're reading this, don't. Change tabs, change windows but don't read this. This is my narration of how helpless and unlucky i feel. So helpless that even my backspace wouldn't work that I can capitalize the I in the previous sentence.

I'm sad because it seemed like I had a chance. We had a chance. I mean I'd have to walk over something I dearly love but, you gotta take rough decisions sometimes, no? I was ready to take that chance, jump off the hill with nothing but blind faith, nope. I have to hold back. Again. for the umpteenth time. I'm mentally and emotionally drained.

Go home, you guys. There's nothing to read here.

Sorry.

Karima.

The Woman with One Eye

This story is the true encounter of me and the one eyed lady. Brace your hearts, for a chill might just run down your spine.

It was like a regular day. Time. 7:15 pm. I'd said good bye to a colleague as she went on her platform on Andheri station and I went towards mine. I crossed the busy street and entered the middle section of Platform No. 1. There was nothing unusual about tonight. People bustling around me, everybody just wanting  to get home early. Nothing unusual about tonight, except for her.

I looked back and it was as if she was carved out of darkness. She chose to sit on the darkest spot on the well-lit platform. Adjusting within her own blanket sitting near a dog by her side over a heap of cement sacks. I felt pity at this unfortunate woman and since I had some leftover lunch, I decided to give it to her.

Mistake.

One step. Two step. It echoed in my head and I went by what I thought was right. I offered the paper bag to her. It was then she looked up. No eye. She looked like a pirate from Davy Jone's crew, to be precise. She put her hand behind, took out a stick, let out a little cry of anger and waved the stick at me.

All in one second.

I had my heart in my mouth. It was too crowded to run, so I merely walked. As fast as I could and climbed in my train and came home. 

Lesson: Never give food to who you think is a beggar. Only give to those who ask for it. 

Honestly, I was kind of counting on the Mayans!

It's that time of the year again where everyone starts making resolutions and only 20% of the mass actually pursues it. I think it's even less!

Anyway, so I want to put my two words on this too. I was sad when the calendar changed to Dec. 22, 2012. For once, I wanted Mayans to be right. Had there been signs:

1) I'd have told this guy I love him
2) I'd have prayed Daraze Umr's namaz :P
3) I'd have went and told people how they hurt me and I will boo at them from the windows of Heaven while they rot in Hell
4) I'd have been ready for death like Ignotus Peverell, who greeted death as an old friend.

But they days rolled ahead and we're at Dec. 30 today. My resolutions are same as last year and the only addition this time is that I will follow them. In Shaa Allah!

Got to work now. 'But Karima! It's Sunday!!'

There's no Sunday in Digital, bros. Thank you for your concern

Love,
Karima

Why You Must Work

I just checked my blog and I saw I hadn't written anything proper since my Driving 101 (thank you all for the overwhelming number of views to that one!) and I thought over the reason that kept me away from blogging - work.

In the past months, I have worked and earned. Spent all of it, yes, but earned none the less. One rainy day, I had to buy myself new headphones and it hit me, 'wait, a second. I'm buying this with my own money' I usually bought stuff but then never like this. It was always:

Me: "I need money"

Mom/Sister: "Why?"

Me:"My headphones died"

Mom/Sister: "Okay, how much?"

OR

Me:"I need money"

Mom/Sister: "What happened to the sum you were given yesterday?"

Me:"I spent it. I needed new headphones"

Mom/Sister: "Okay, how much?"

But that night, I just decided to buy a pair of headphones and I bought them. I went home and nobody asked me what I bought because I didn't ask for money. It was a feeling of... relief?

For the first time in my life, I got a taste of independence. I thought over it, every meal I bought, every place I traveled, every movie I saw, it was with what I had earned and it was a wonderful feeling. Your heart grows wings because of your brain and there is no comparison to owning that smile.

So here it is, TOP 5 REASONS WHY YOU MUST WORK

#1 Independence

The freedom of not having to give someone a detailed analysis of what you spent where is wonderful. If you spend 500 bucks in a day, buy something worth 2,000 the other day - no one will glare at you because you are spending your own blood and sweat worth of money.

#2 Secure Future

If your parents or spouse are big shot people who have a lot of money and you are sorted for the next two lives, still you must work. If you have that much money, save what you earn and give a bit of it to your mom. The sense of achievement of giving a contribution in your house is the highest of all! Save the rest for later. Maybe your family will need it, money lying in the bank never goes waste.

#3 Confidence

"So what are you doing?"

"Oh, me? I'm working right now"

There is nothing better than telling people you are working. You are contributing to the success of a company and giving your share in the world. The world exists because of you and they are paying you for it. Hold your head high and nose higher, you work!

#4 Escape :P

OK, this is wrong :P But I've used "I have so much work!" as an excuse to get out of so many family functions. I mean the ones I really really truly with all my heart wanted to avoid!

#5 Security

You secure yourself when you work. There is a positive inflow of green in your life. You want a Mercedes? You don't just wish for it, you are working towards it too. You are lapping every person who is praying for money.

They are praying for it, you are making it.

Think!

Anyway, it's time to get back to work for me. I love every bit of it. I hope you get a promotion at your work or maybe, even a better job!

May you always have money in your life,

Until Next Time,

Curry /bye

The 5 Bite Diet FAQ

1) What is the Five Bite Diet (5BD) and what to do in it?

- The ‘5BD’ is a diet created by Dr. Alwin C. Lewis and mentioned in his book ‘Why Weigh Around? Changing the Weightloss Strategy’. He tells us that people who want to lose their extra weight and Fast should follow this diet.

This is The Basic Idea

No Breakfast (as it stimulates appetite)
1 Multi-Vitamin
5 Bites for Lunch
5 Bites for Dinner
1 Bite of Protein

2) How do you follow the Five Bite Diet?

- My routine is fairly simple.

10 AM : 1 Multi vitamin
01 PM : Snickers Bar (2 oz)
05 PM : An Egg
09 PM : Snickers Bar (2 oz)

In between have Diet Coke/ Pepsi or water. I will admit that I have had my bad days while on the but Dr. Lewis says forgive your self and get over it.

Also, the gap between your two meals should be 4 hours, so my plan is according to that.

3) What is the science behind the Five Bite Diet?

- This is going to be long because I’m giving the gist of the book!

People who undergo Gastric Bypass surgery (which is getting operated to shrink their stomach) because of excessive weight problems are recommended to eat 9 bites of anything per day because the size of their stomach becomes so small, that 9 bites fill them up.

Dr. Lewis says, “If we can recommend eating as less as 9 bites per day to the least healthy members of the society, why can’t we tell this to people who want to lose weight without undergoing expensive surgery.”

Eating 10 bites per day, 5 bites at a time will automatically shrink the size of your stomach. Our bodies have a thing called ‘Hungerstat’. It is the regulator of our appetite and it’s very easy to adjust.

If you’ll eat 5 bites for lunch, 5 bites for dinner for 3 days, your tummy will start feeling satisfied from Day 4.

4) Why Snickers? Can I not eat anything else? Don’t Chocolates make you Fat?

- Snickers is the perfect size and volume of a meal. It has EXACTLY 5 bites and that is how much we should eat.
Naah, Snickers is not necessary. You can even eat anything but only 5 bites of it. My eldest sister eats sandwich, my second sister eats Cadbury 5 Star Fruit & Nut while I eat Snickers.

I read it on yahoo! answers, one woman would eat Big Mac but stop after the 5th bite, she still lost weight. (I’m trying to find that particular article, will link it when I find it!) [Found the article! This is it]

The Main thing is: Don’t cheat and Stop after the 5th Bite.

Chocolates Don’t Make You Fat. Nothing makes you fat. Only the amount of what you eat does. You’re smart enough to judge how much to eat what :)

5) What if I can finish a Big Mac in 1 Bite! I can have 5 more?! Bullocks, I will lose weight!

- Firstly, you’re cheating with yourself. Keep the Big Mac and a Snicker next to each other. Do you get the difference in one bite of a Snicker and one huge Big Mac?

A bite is perfect when you put food in your mouth and it doesnt give you chipmunk cheeks. Please, eat like a lady :) atleast until your goal weight is around the corner!

6) You’re still not getting me convinced. I think Five Bite Diet is starvation.

- *Sigh* It is not starvation. Everything you eat, even the spiciest chilly, gets broken down to get converted to sugar so that your body can absorb it. That’s why you eat anything it won’t matter- nothing but the size of what you’re eating.

Your stomach will get adjusted to the size of your food in 3 days. You’re getting your Vitamins and Minerals through the Multi-Vit. You’re getting your Protein and Carb with that Egg. Everything is there.

7) It’s my Day 1 and I am hungry!

- I empathize with you. I said your body takes 3 days to get adjusted. Day 1, 2 and 3 will be your test of self-control. Life after that will be as smooth as silk :) Just keep your UGW in mind and the scale will overwhelm you at the end of the week.
But if you’ve been failing, i’d suggest you to warm up by half of what you’re eating and saying NO to foods you think will make you fat. The warm up is for your self-control and not your body.

8) I’m past my Day 3, I’m still hungry.

- You’re not hungry. This is the psychological hunger because all your life you’ve eaten more than required or you’ve given in to temptation. This is time to tell your body that you’re the BOSS!

- Take a deep breath, pour some cold water in a glass, sit somewhere and drink it like it’s wine. Slowly, enjoying the taste.

- Prepare Iced Green Tea (Sugar Free) and drink it, it would curb your false hunger and PLUS it’s GREEN TEA! And we all know Green Tea aids weight-loss!

9) Did you Exercise while on the diet? How much weight have you lost?

Weight loss is 80% diet and 20% Exercise.
You run on a treadmill for 1 hour, you’ll burn 300 calories, you eat a piece of chocolate cake- your one hour on treadmill is lost in 1 minute.

Dr. Lewis says, “Exercise to keep your Head in the Game” Exercising while on the diet will do nothing but aiding your weight loss even more. You can lose upto 20 pounds in 2 weeks by just following the diet, maybe you can add exercise and lose more!

But CAUTION: Do NOT Exercise the first few days, especially the first 3 days.

After 3 days, if you feel good about eating less, then you may go on to exercise but start with moderation, please? Maybe just a li’l cardio or light weights.

About Me: I don’t exercise. I just walk about a kilometer locally and go nearby distances on my cycle. I’m following the 80% part of the weight loss, I’ll think about the other 20% later

Thanks to the 5BD, overall I’ve lost 17 pounds as of today: 12th May :)

10) I will Exercise on the Diet!

Good for you! You’r gonna get super results! But I’d rather you make some changes- try having chicken breast piece instead of an egg because you’ll need more protein for exercise.

11) What is the Modified Version?

When I re-begin my diet, I suck for a month and binge and crib. This happens with a lot of people and I’ve found a way out!

For a few days, instead of eating the Snickers ENTIRELY at once, have 2 bites and drink Diet Soda until you’re full.

Now later when you’ll feel hungry at 2pm or 3pm something, you can have 1 bite and drink loads of Diet Soda.

This way, you won’t binge and even follow the five bite rule and lose weight.

12) My question is not on this list. Email me at cardcaptor.karima@gmail.com I don't check my comments much!

Driving 101: Things Driving School Wallah Doesn't Teach You

It's been very long since I've written a post! I'll update you guys with the cool things in my life soon but first, let's have a few Driving Lessons.


Sadly, I don't have many pictures but I'm going to write clear enough that you get the gist of what I'm talking, even newbie drivers.


The downside of going to a driving school is their cars are 'special'. The passenger's seat also has a set of Accelerator, Brake and Clutch, so when you think you're driving nicely, you aren't.. it's just your 'master' who's making it easy for you. Also, driving your own car and the driving school car is very different. Your car maybe in top condition, theirs- maybe not so much. 

P.S: I've taught myself how to drive (ok, my sister taught me how to start the car) but everything else is my opinion what I've learnt so far and how I learnt. /nobigdeal

For Newbie Drivers:

#1: Pre-driving Check:

1. Adjust your seat to sit properly,
2. Arrange the Rear-view mirror, so that you clearly see through the back glass (and not the people who will sit at the back!),
3. Arrange the Left and Right mirrors such that you can see little of your car 
4. Check your gear is neutral: move it slightly and it should feel free, it should be  exactly in the center.

                     

YOU'RE SET! /wahaha

#2: Urdu wali A-B-C

In Urdu, you start writing from the right hand side of the page and the Accelerator Brake Clutch are placed Urdu Style

Before starting the car, keep your feet on them and repeat five times while feeling them: Accelerator, Brake, Clutch I'm not joking. Make your conscience used to this and you won't panic ever.

1. Now start the car, 
2. Release the hand brake (emergency brake), 
3. Completely press the clutch, 
4. Put your car in 1st gear and slowly lose the clutch. 

Voila! Your car is moving!

#3: "So, okay, my car took two steps and stopped" #Embarrassed

It's fine. Happens to me when in crowded places. People behind honk horns, auto wallahs curse you, passing by bikers say, "gadi chalani nahi aati" loud enough for you to hear, sometimes I'm in the middle of the road, that is the Worst Driving Moment Ever. The key is deep breaths. Siriusly.


When your car stops suddenly,

1. Take a deep breath, 
2. Shut your car, 
3. Press clutch fully, 
4. Put your gear on neutral,
5. Turn on car,
6. Try again.

If this still happens, you're panicking /blur and letting go of the clutch too fast. Fuck the world. You're learning, they were noobs once upon a time too. Try again, this time, when you start the car, accelerate to wake your car up and do all the steps again - Leave Clutch S..L..O..W..L..Y..

#4 Gears and Speed

"But teach me how to change gears!" I yelled at my sister
"Ok fine! I'll teach you. Let's go" She said furiously
I did what I was taught 2 months ago, starting the car. 2 minutes in and she yelled, "Change the gear now!"
I screamed, "How!"
"Stop! Stop! Brake daba!"


I was thrown out of the drivers seat, just like that. Lesson Learnt: None.

So here's the gear box made easy for you:

HOW TO GO TO:

N = Neutral,

Orange lines show you the way!

Gear ONE

 Gear TWO

Gear THREE

 Gear FOUR

Gear FIVE

 Gear REVERSE

I don't think you're going to need Gear 3, 4 and especially 5 but what's the harm in telling?


Point To Remember: Never take directly to Gear 2, 3, 4 or 5. You don't tell a baby to start running as soon as it's born! First you crawl, walk and then RUN (that's gears 1, 2 and 3 for you) :P

SPEEDOMETER and Gears (based on km/hr):

When in Gear 1: Stay within 10 to 20
When you cross 20, change to Gear 2


I usually dance between Gear 1 and Gear 2 so that's all I can tell you.

#4: Changing Gears Like A Boss

That thing they show in movies, the hero is fastly changing the gears and you're like WHOA! Me too! This is your moment. /wahaha

- When Taking Turns (Left/ Right Turns or U-Turns)

If your car is in Gear 2, Give your Signal (Right hand side of steering wheel) to which direction you're going in, well before the actual turn and slowly take your car in that direction.

The moment your car is straight, 

1. Change to Gear 1, 
2. Press clutch fully, 
3. Keep your feet lightly over the brake,
4. Fully turn your steering wheel,
5. Release Clutch S..L..O..W..L..Y
6. Now that your car is in the lane, steer your wheel in the opposite direction to make your car straight again.
7. Go to speed 20, if no or less traffic, Change to Gear 2

Great! :D


Same goes for left right turns, instead of taking a U, you just go left or right. Make sure your car is on either sides and NOT In the middle. You don't want to angry the people who're behind you

- Tackling Crossroads

Crossroads freak me out, especially the ones that have speedbreakers right before the crossroad but you can always tame them!

When you see approaching crossroad and you want to go STRAIGHT, 

1. Change to Gear 1, 
2. Press clutch fully
3. Keep the clutch under control and feet lightly on the brake,
4. Make sure your car is not in the extreme corners but somewhere in the middle (so that cars coming from other directions wont crash into you)
5. When you've managed to leave the road you were on and you're in the crossroad, you've passed, release the clutch slowly and accelerate to 20
6. Change to Gear 2

REJOICE!

#5: Markets and Careless Humans

Humans are careless. As soon as I get into my car, I become a machine and pedestrians become humans and humans are careless. 
One time I almost knocked off a small family of 3 on a bike. /no Thankfully, I had pressed the brake on time but the father had kept his feet on the bonnet, so he became the hero. I didn't mind it, the kid said, "Daddy saved us!"


Practice driving at speed 10 km/hr and press your brake from time to time, making sure your car doesn't stop. Take rounds of empty roads in that slow speed, again making sure your car doesn't stop. When you've are 15 km atleast like this, you're ready to take on the market streets. Till then, DONT. Humans are careless.


So that's all of driving I've learnt so far :)


I hope this post has helped/ will help you in your driving.


Until I learn more,
/bye
Currie