My thoughts while reducing weight

I am trying to reduce weight and it is easier said than done. Everyone around feels that they know the scientific way to reduce it and it can be really frustrating and some people even lose their life but cannot lose weight till the end of their life! For example, Ricky Naputi. I have created a Wikipedia article on him as a reminder to myself that the fate is faced is not impossible for anyone if they will not take enough care.

I do not feel like talking anything scientific about the process of weight reduction here. Weight reduction is possible by using scientific ways is a fact and nutritionist will be able to tell more about it. They have that right and necessary training. Here I want to share how I am convincing my own mind to reduce weight. So how to achieve the scientifically possible goal and what mental attitude I am keeping is the topic of this post. While sharing this, I must declare what has helped me mostly in achieving this state of mind. Naidu sir and Chinmay Yuva Kendra and the discussions in Chinmay Yuva Kendra has helped me to think in this direction and the things you will read in this post and elsewhere has surely some impact of these things.

I have already reduced about 19 kg of weight primarily by calorie restriction and counting calories is the most effective way to know the mathematics behind weight reduction. Sometimes we are able to do that as well. We count the calories correctly but when it comes to restricting them, we have to fight a lot with our own mind and that becomes very difficult. I do not claim anywhere that I have won my mind or it is a easy task but it is surely a way for faster progress along with scientific knowledge. I am also writing this blog post as a loud thinking. It will serve as a reminder to me when I will forget what were my thoughts because of which I was able to reduce so much of weight. Because "thoughts get translated into action" is my belief. Hence doing work on the thoughts will bring multi fold results than working on behavior / external actions. Nayana (Dr. Abhay Bang) also says that the results of research are always multi fold than other methods like struggle etc. 

• If I will think that I was getting to eat a lot and now I have to reduce that for weight reduction, its painful. But if I will think that what I have to do is fasting and I am getting eat a little during that fasting, that will make me happy. Now is it safe to do fasting? In my opinion, yes for me at least. If you have some doubt about it, you should consult your physician.
• Unless I will stop food, the body will not start burning fats which it has stored. So giving it some opportunity to burn fats is very much necessary.
• If I am afraid of having some micro-nutrient deficiencies, I can always take a multivitamin tablet as mentioned by Dr. Roy Taylor in one of his conversation video with a patient.
• I claim many times that I can eat it and not eat it as well. If I have really achieved that state of mind, not eating it will be beneficial science tells me. So it is a time to exercise mind control.
• Telling mind that nothing will happen even if I will not eat is very very important. Our mind is so much clever that it provides us with all kind of logic to eat food but no harm will happen is a reality. In fact eating more will cause harm is a reality. 
• I am not running away from the food for the whole life. I can start eating normally (what normal means at that time is different thing) once my BMI is below 25 and will need to reduce the weight again if the BMI goes above it.
• Water is always there and I can drink it as much as I want (its not scientifically correct in fact because excess of water can also kill) and when I want.
• It will surely cause a little trouble but it is in best interest of me to take this trouble now so that it will avoid future troubles.
• Weight reduction should be priority of my life! Without being this as a priority, its difficult to achieve it. 
• Not overdoing it is the key. If it will start causing serious conditions, I know I have to stop, take some steps back and try again. Nothing wrong if I fail. 
• Eating proteins over carbohydrates delays the feeling of hunger for the next meal is my experience. Also eating proteins reduces the feeling of weakness is also my experience.

Thanks a lot for reading. A word of caution. Do not try to reduce weight if it is not needed. I would not suggest anyone to reduce weight if their BMI is already below 25. 

- Dr. Abhijeet Safai 

Science means learning to say 'I don't know'!

I read an article which is an interview with Dr. Ashok Vaidya which has this title and I am compelled to think on this topic because it is such a wonderful thought! 

We need to read the title carefully. The title does not say that science means saying I don't know. But it says that Science means learning to say I don't know.

Not knowing is neither crime nor a credit but generally people consider that if they will give this answer of "I don't know", they are making some crime and hence as per a source, people in India misguide instead of saying that they don't know if they are asked a question whose answer they are not aware of.

Saying I don't know does not mean shrugging off responsibility always. It can mean so many other things. It means that the person is honest. It means that the person probably knows something other but not this particular information. It also means that the person is not interested in that field and do not want to continue to think in the same line of logic.

One is not supposed to say that they don't know but they should learn to say it in a creative way. In the end no one knows everything and there is no one who does not know anything. So saying that we do not know simply means that we do not pass a particular standard of knowing about that issue in that field. It does not mean that we do not know anything at all.

My experience is, the more I say this sentence, the more I am inclined to solve that problem because I secretly feel guilty for not knowing something. Its possible that if some wrong answer is given, the person who asked the question will also forget it and the person who gave answer will also forget what he shared because he answered only for the same of answering. In contract a person who pauses and says that he does not know might think about it later and may take it up as a challenge to know the answer.

Saying I don't know is difficult. Hence people avoid saying it and give some wrong answer instead. We should throw away the burden to know everything.

I remember that when I met Himmatrao Bawaskar, he shared with me that if does not understand something about a patients symptoms, he asks them to wait and starts reading the book in front of them and tries to find out the correct diagnosis in front of patients! What a great level of honesty! I love such honest people from the bottom of my heart and my salute to them!!!

Let me tell you from my own experience what happens when you give this answer of I don't know. Nothing much happens most of the times. In most of the cases, the person asks you to find out the information. You request for some time to gain the information and next time you give information confidently. Let me share with you that in this process, people's trust increases on you. So though it might feel momentarily painful and embarrassing to show the ignorance, in the longer run, it is always the best policy. It prevents harm, it prevents damages arising out of actions one might take because of ignorance.

Naidu sir had said once that "No question is a silly question". So let's not be afraid to ask questions and when we are asked a question and if we are not aware of the answer, lets not be afraid to say (because we can always start the process of finding it anytime) - I don't know! 

The economic side of Dixit diet

When you eat only two times a day, it has tremendous benefits is a known fact now. It surely has certain limitations as well but in current situation for me I am finding more benefits. One of the benefits I overlooked is the economic benefit.

When you eat outside, you tend to eat more because the food is more attractive and tasty as well. The most important thing to consider here is that the food when purchased outside in hotels is costlier than the food prepared at home.

One can surely eat anything outside in Dixit diet but we can always parcel it and eat it at our home. Bringing the food home and then eating it will lead to increased monitoring of the food intake by other members at home. One can always do this bringing parcel home once in a while but the main diet is supposed to be at home as per Dixit diet which is a great money saver.

Hence Dixit diet is healthy as well as economic diet apart from a successful weight reduction technique. 

Demonetization

I cannot even begin to start sharing the greatness of a person named Narendra Modi who has shown the courage to do demonetization! I am a very small person to talk anything about politics and I am also not interested in politics at all. So definitely my liking Narendra Modi has no political connotations because I do not agree with all the statements made by him and in fact I have tried to ridicule him for some of his wrong statements. But I have become a die hard fan of Modi after and because of demonetization. 

I am not a person interested in politics hence do not tell me the issues with BJP because I agree with most of them. Also I am not an expert in the field so do not ask me fact and figures because you will need to study them if you are interested in it but I have this right to share that I love this person from bottom of my heart because of this one decision of demonetization!

I can see how much rattled some people are because of demonetization and we can guess the reason why. They are so much angry on Modi because of this but on the other hand they cannot even express this anger freely! Because the moment they will do so, they will get exposed of their own corruption! Yes, its as easy and simple as it is but it is so painful to accept that they are going to any level to prove that demonetization is a failure! I feel lot of pain when I see minds provocated for Modi hate by these people and I also feel bad that many youths are brainwashed with Modi hate only to prove that demonetization was not something great! 

I have few arguments to make. One is that demonetization has the capacity to reduce corruption and we can see corrupt people getting more afraid in our daily lives by it and second is it has pushed the digital economy which has helped India to grow. It has also brought more transparency in economical transactions as a result. Definitely terrorism has links with money and that too is affected is my speculation. 

Only time will tell if demonetization was a good or bad decision and my appeal is to wait for time to tell the facts but I am amused by the way in which some people are rattled so much! Why? Why they are so much rattled? Something must  has been moved very deeply at very high levels. I do not claim that I understand that but something big has moved at a very higher level and that too in a positive direction mostly is my intuition! As I am not a student of economics, I am forced to use the words like intuition which I do not like to use generally. 

One thing I have learned over years of debate is - if a person gets angry while doing a debate, he surely has some deep connection with the subject. Hence before getting angry on this blog post, please be aware that your intentions will be questioned if you just bash Modi and demonetization without giving logical arguments. But criticisms are always welcome as even Modi says! He himself says that criticisms are welcome then who am I to say that one cannot criticize demonetization? But I would like logical points for pro and against demonetization if you are really a student of economics. Please note that we can read intentions too while words are being spoken! Hence do tell me other positive things which have happened because of demonetization apart from criticism. I am very much interested in knowing other good things which have happened due to demonetization. I might be a critic of Modi for other things but he has won my heart by showing the courage to do demonetization!

I am extremely grateful to this medium of blog because of which a person like me who is a non expert in the field has his voice! I am happy that I can make my voice heard because of it. I am happy that you are reading this blog post. I was feeling suffocated by Modi hate of people rattled by demonetization. I might not be able to argue with those people because I am afraid of them but I am happy that my voice is reaching you apart from them! Feel free to let me know good effects of demonetization as well if you are a student of this field because I am bored of listening only negative remarks of so called 'experts'!

इतना क्यूं सोते हैं हम - प्रसून जोशी

इतना क्यूं सोते हैं हम,
इतना लम्बा, इतना गहरा, बेसुध क्यों सोते हैं हम ।

दबे पाँव काली रातें आती जाती हैं,
दबे पाँव क्या, कभी बेधड़क हो जाती हैं।
और बस करवट लेकर, सब खोते हैं हम।
इतना क्यूं सोते हैं हम।

नींद है या फिर नशा है कोई,
धीरे धीरे जिसकी आदत पड़ जाती है
झूठ की बारिश में सच की खामोश बांसुरी
एक झोंके की राह देखती सड़ जाती है,
बाद में क्यूं रोते हैं हम।
इतना क्यूं सोते हैं हम ।

खेत हमारा बीज हमारे,
हैरत क्या अब फसल खड़ी है,
काटनी होगी छांटनी होगी,
आज चुनौती बहुत बड़ी है,
कांटे क्यूं बोते हैं।
इतना क्यूं सोते हैं हम,

सबने खेला और सब हारे,
बड़ा अनोखा अजब खेल है
इंजन काला,डिब्बे काले,
बड़ी पुरानी ढींठ रेल है
इस रेल में क्यों होते हैं हम।
इतना क्यूं सोते हैं हम,

लोरी नहीं तमाचा देदो,
एक छोटी सी आशा देदो,
वरना फिर से सो जाएंगे
सपनों में फिर खो जाएंगे ।
चलो पाप धोते हैं हम,

इतना क्यूं सोते हैं हम ।

- प्रसून जोशी

My response to 'An Open Letter to Dr. Dixit'

Dear Sir,

Greetings!

The most important thing which I want to share is he is nowhere mentioning about two large meals. He is using the term ‘two meals’. The ‘large’ word which you are mentioning here and also in an article on alnews ( https://www.altnews.in/fact-check-dr-dixits-two-meals-a-day-diet-for-weight-loss-diabetes/), is a self invented word and Dr. Dixit is not mentioning it in my humble opinion.

I am not an MBBS doctor but I am a BAMS doctor who has got formal education and training in clinical research and I have got little experience in clinical and other health related research as well. I have liked your idea of writing an open letter to Dr. Dixit but you will be surprised to see that these kinds of letter are there for Ms. Rujuta Divekar as well.

You are mentioning that you are respecting Dr. Dixit but it seems that you are hurt by his emotional comments in the research article. If that is the case, the right place to counter him will be in the medical journals only and not in the open letter. Because the open letters will allow non experts like me in the field to give his opinion.

I can see your and his ideology and I can see that both of you are right at their respective positions. Please note sir that when he is mentioning that the doctors are looting, you need not take the brunt on you. I am sure that you are a good doctor and that is the reason it is paining you the most. Pain is a subjective feeling and it pains the most to the person who is most sensitive. So I can absolutely understand your pain and be sure that we really respect your knowledge. But that is also true about knowledge of Dr. Dixit and Dr. Jichkar and Dr. Jeson Fung and many others. No one has monopoly over knowledge.

The trial design you have suggested is really interesting and I would suggest interested people to conduct such trials.

I agree with you sir that activism and science should be kept separate. But we do we do that sir in our life? Do we keep it really separate? The book of Prof. Richard Dawkins, ‘Selfish Gene’ was used by rights and lefts also to prove their point. Medical science is also used by both the wings to prove their points.

Your this publication would have received much more value sir if you would have published this in a medical journal. Because then you will have to share your conflict of interest. Please understand that conflict of interest is not a crime but a position but which needs to be declared.

He is mentioning that he is not selling any product, meaning he is declaring his conflict of interests. He is a professor of community medicine meaning he is well within his rights to advice about health to a larger community. You are a physician, hence you are well within your right to treat individual patients.

I would have liked if you would have written something like — ‘Additional advise from a physician who are following Dixit diet / two meals a day’. That would have been much more beneficial. Is it wrong from a student like me to expect this from you sir?

Dr. Abhijeet Safai

Research Officer

Symbiosis International University, Pune

Link: https://medium.com/@abhijeet.safai/dear-sir-521579a739a0

मुझे तो लगता है - जावेद अख्तर

मुझे तो लगता है जैसे किसी ने ये साज़िश  रची है
के लफ्ज़  और मानी में जो रिश्ता है
उसको जितना भी मुमकिन हो कमजोर कर दो
के हर लफ्ज़ बन जाए बेमानी आवाज
फिर सारी आवजोंको ऐसे घट मठ करो
ऐसे गूँदो की शोर कर दो
यह शोर एक ऐसा अँधेरा बुनेगा
की जिसमे भटक जाएंगे
अपने लफ्जों  से बिछड़े हुए
सारे गूंगे मानी
भटकते हुए रास्ता ढूंढ़ते
वक्त की खाई में गिर के मर जाएंगे
और फिर आके बाजार में
खोखले लफ्ज
बेबस गुलामों की मानिंद बिक जाएंगे
ये गुलाम अपने आकाओंके एक इशारे पे
इस तरह युरिश (हमला) करेंगे
के सारे खयालात
की सब इमारत
सारे जज्बात के शिशाघर
मुन्नतिम (demolish) होक रह जाएंगे
हर तरफ जहन की बस्तियों में
यही देखने को मिलेगा
के एक अफ़रातफ़री मची है
मुझे तो हे लगता है की किसी ने ये साज़िश रची है
मगर कोई है की जो कहता है मुझसे
के है आज भी
लफ्जोंमानी के परिस्तारो शहादा
जो मानी को यु बेज़बाँ
लफ्ज़ को ऐसे नीलाम
होने ना देंगे
अभी ऐसे दीवाने है
जो ख़यालात का
सारे जज्बात का
दिल की हर बात का
ऐसा अंजाम होने ना देंगे
अगर ऐसे कुछ लोग है
तो कहाँ है
वो दुनिया के जिस कोने में है
जहां है
उन्हें ये बता दो
के लफ्ज़ और मानी
बचाने की खातिर
जरा सी मोहलत बची है
मुझे तो ये लगता है जैसे किसी ने ये साज़िश रची है
- जावेद अख्तर