The Brunette Diaries

How to avoid office politics

Office politics is an unavoidable situation in today’s competitive world. When your colleagues interact with you do you find them trying to put you down? Unsatisfied employees are as common as stars in the sky. Salaries, work environment, positions are some of the common reasons for office politics. Try and stay away from it as much as possible.

Office politics often involves power struggles and conflicts of opinion. Steer clear of gossip and refrain from non constructive criticism of others. Try to master a strong work ethic that does not involve denigrating others to move up the ladder of success. Stay focused on the goal that is at hand. Here a few more tips to avoid office politics:

Focus on the goals given to you

Try not to get distracted by what others say and stay focused on what you have been assigned to do. An idle mind is the devil’s workshop. Keep yourself busy and you will not find yourself getting involved in office politics.

Go out of your way to be a good employee

Try to not let another person point a finger at you. Stay clear of any criticism by being the best you can. If you still manage to get into some sort of office politics, do not feel guilty because you know you have done your best.

Avoid gossip yourself

Gossip is like choicest morsels. Everyone loves to gossip. It makes conversations interesting. It is difficult to stay away from it, but you must. People who gossip with you have a high probability to be gossiping about you!

Follow a role model

Find yourself someone who is respected in the organisation and observe how he/she relates to the others. Someone who is already made it to the top. Try and be like him/her. These individuals usually avoid office politics by maintaining a positive attitude and dealing truthfully with people.

Steering clear of office politics is a demanding challenge. But you need to understand that office politics does nothing but stunt your growth and maybe the growth of others as well, which is morally wrong. Do not compromise on your ethics and you will see that reaching the top is far sweeter with hard work.

Dos and don’ts of office romance

People often fall in love with someone with whom they spend hours on end, and share the same passion as them. Office is one such place where spending long hours bring two people close to each other. If you already like a person at your workplace, it is important for you to know certain dos and don’ts. Nobody wants to end up with a broken heart or join the list of unemployed people because of their carelessness.

Don’t pounce on married people

You might be attracted to a colleague who is married and you may even find him/her best suited for you. But leave this man/woman alone. It is important to hold on to the principle of not breaking a marriage for selfish reasons. Fancying someone and trying to own someone are two different things. You can fancy anyone and everyone in your imaginations, but you cannot have them in real life. So, better keep the idea of dating a married colleague at bay.

Cautious flirting

Flirt cautiously. Others could be watching you!

It is important to make sure you keep your desires behind closed doors. Brushing past the person or giving away broad smiles even for a lame joke lets the cat out of the bag. Remember that you are not the only one at work. Your colleagues can easily notice your unexpected enthusiasm for only one person. You should never create such unwanted speculative atmosphere; it brings you close to being the topic of office gossip, not love.

Look forward to responses

There is no point if the flirting continues only from your side. Unless you get a response you will not be able to confirm the feeling to be mutual. Try becoming friends with that person. Many people put on their friendly mask at office, so it is likely that the person might not even notice your existence at work. Therefore, laying the foundation by making yourself visible is essential.

Beware of your company law

Each company has its own policies, which is why it is crucial for you to know your company rules and regulations. The last thing you want is to lose your love and job at the same time. Allegations of misconduct can be made. Therefore, read the contract thoroughly before you end up in trouble.

Don’t indulge in lustful sessions at office

Keep your sexual encounters away from the office

There could be some rooms in your office that are vacant more often than not. This does not give you the liberty of using that room for your sexual escapedes. What if someone enters the room during one of your sexual encounters? You wouldn’t want a random colleague, or anyone for that matter, to see you offering your bosoms to your lover-colleague, right? Also, avoid stealing a kiss or using the parking lot for momentary pleasure. These are all risky, especially in a professional environment. So, keep your passion in control when you are in office.

What if someone sees you stealing a kiss?

Are you the only one?

What is the guarantee that the person is not flirting with other colleagues as well? It is very easy for them to take advantage of their sex appeal and try flirting with multiple co-workers. Therefore, ensure that you are risking for the right person. No one wants to end up embarrassed for being fooled with false emotions. Confirm each other’s love to be mutual with no other interference.

How to avoid weight gain due to a desk job

So it’s been a crazy-busy couple of weeks. You step on the scale one morning and, yikes! You’ve gained five pounds! How the heck did that happen? Well, research shows that what you weigh isn’t just the result of eating too much and exercising too little; it’s also linked to your feelings, your experiences, even where you live. Any change in your life circumstances can produce changes in eating and exercise, which leads to weight gain. This is more popularly known as ‘emotional eating’. Getting married and having kids are obvious triggers for weight gain, but there are other, more surprising transition points that can also influence your weight. This guide will see you through them all.

Also read: The expert’s guide to office makeup

You recently got promoted

The good news is that you love your new gig. And the bad news is that the big job is calling for a wardrobe in a bigger size! Chalk it up to stress, which prompts our bodies to release the hormones and insulin, which stimulate hunger. Usually in tense situations, we ignore the voice that tells us to eat healthy, and instead turn to high-calorie comfort foods. There’s only one solution: outsmart it. Bring a high-protein, fibre rich, fresh produce lunch, for instance; chicken salad, almonds and a orange, or yogurt and berries. The key is to choose foods that are satisfying.

Also make time for exercise. Yes, we know you’re too swamped, but we mean it. Working out or having an active lifestyle makes you more energized and helps reduce stress. If you don’t have time to hit the gym, go for a 15-minute brisk walk after lunch. Stand up and walk around for five-ten minutes at least once an hour. By moving frequently, you keep your major muscles working, which may ward off the negative effects of being sedentary.

Get Fit In 15 Minutes!

Sometimes you don’t have all the time in the world to just take care of your fitness. Here we list for you a few easy 15-minute workouts that will make you look fabulous in no time.

Dumbbell sumo squat

If you want proper shaped legs, back, shoulders and also a great-looking posterior, this exercise will work wonders for you. Stand with your back straight, toes pointed out and your feet shoulder-width apart. Grab two dumbbells of equal weight in each hand. Squat down with arms extended keeping the lower back taut and upright. Keep on holding the pose for a few seconds before you lift yourself up to the starting position again. Repeat this process three times.

Burpee

If you are running short of time but need a full work out then this is the apt exercise for you. Stand straight. Then come to a complete squat down position with your hand placed in the front, and your knees near your chest. Now spring like a frog and push your legs behind as required for push-ups. Do a push-up and now go in the reverse order to reach back to the original standing position. This workout tones your arms, shoulders, legs and endurance. To reduce the difficulty level, you can avoid the standing part of the exercise.

The reverse plank

This exercise is much harder to do than it looks, but it is advantageous as it tones the abs, triceps and posterior muscles in your body. Sit down on the floor and place your palms beside your hips. Pressurize onto your heels (toes up) and palms to lift your frame. Keep your body in a straight line as you continue to look up to the ceiling and hold the position for 30 seconds. You might not be able to keep the straight position for more than two or three breathes in the beginning. It’s only normal!

You Can Dance To Lose Weight!

Are you one of those people who find hitting the gym or doing yoga boring? Are you looking out for an effective way of losing weight the fun way? Then, why don’t you try dancing! That’s right! Dancing works on the whole body – be it hands, legs, back, tummy. Moreover, you can choose a dance form that you’ll enjoy. Here we have a few dance styles that are popular for their calorie-burning, body toning characteristics.

Groove on Bollywood style

Bollywood dance is your Mecca if you love groovy numbers! Look no further than the Bollywood style of dancing to shed those extra kilos. Since this dance form is groovy and peppy, it is taking the world by rage. A combination of Bhangra with a little hip-hop and other modern Indian dances combine to form a pulsating session of workout.

Salsa for the lovebirds

There is nothing better if you have your beloved bucking you up at every step? Match him step-for-step while keeping him close as you both start on salsa lessons together. This dance form is perfect for keeping you fit. Through this you can meet new people or capture some memorable moments with your loved one. This cardio-intensive workout, with its many movements, will help you lose 10 calories by the minute. Thus, by the end of an hour, you would have lost an awesome 600 calories, and got some titillating moments with your loved one.

Go Zumba!

What about partying to lose weight and ditching your workout regime? Sounds interesting right? Add some spice to your daily workout schedules with Zumba. Imagine learning a little bit of salsa, calypso, belly dancing, samba and many such dance forms in just one amazing dance exercise. Zumba helps in cardio exercise blending all dance forms in one.

Put on your Ballerina shoes

Taking an inspiration from Black Swan? Make the best use of your ballerina shoes to good use and enroll in a ballet class. Improve your posture, get more flexible and build your hips, abdomen and thighs with this amazing dance form. Ballet definitely sounds more fun than lifting weights at your gym.

Post Workout Mistakes You May Be Making

No matter how much effort you put into your workout, if your post workout habits are inappropriate, you’ll be losing out on your desired results. Pretty soon, you may find yourself de-motivated to work out and give up on your health goals. Therefore, it is necessary to maximise your workouts by paying attention to healthy post workout habits. Here we take a look at a few unhealthy post workout habits that you have.

(Also read – How to burn fat without losing muscle)

Cooling down

Post workout aerobics can help you cool down

Letting your heart rate and blood pressure return to normal levels cuts your risk of injury, according to experts. We hardly ever pay attention to this and return to our regular chores after a rigorous workout. The best solution is to end your workout with a light aerobic exercise to bring back your body to the normal resting levels gradually.

(Try reading – Benefits of push-ups)

Stretching

You must stretch to prevent muscle soreness

Stretching can prevent muscle soreness on the following day. Less soreness will mean you can hit the gym the sooner than ever and get back to working those muscles to attain your dream body!

Nutrition

Nutrition helps your muscles repair after a break-down workout. A combination of carbs and protein, like yogurt or a handful of nuts, is a great post workout snack to revitalize your body!

(You can also read – You can dance to lose weight!)

Hygiene

Make sure you take a shower and change your clothes after a workout

This may or may not apply to you; however, there are some people out there who don’t change their clothes or wash their bodies after a workout. Gross as it sounds, it obviously has more to it than just plain dirtiness. It can lead to yeast infections!

Sleep

Most people do not find the time to rest their bodies adequately due to hectic schedules. But what is important to note is that a good 7-8 hours of sleep is imperative for a person who works out.

(Also read – Get fit in 15 minutes!)

So the next time you think that skipping any of these things is fine, think again. Workouts can be good for you, but don’t let it affect your health!

Bollywood celebs who went from flab to fab

A lean figure is something we all desire, and when we look at some Bollywood celebs, we tend to think they had it easy. Well, not always. Some stars had to work their asses off to tone down to look fab. Let us look at a few.

Alia Bhatt

This sexy chic was not always slender like in the movie ‘Student Of The Year’. She had to go on a weight loss spree to get rid of the excess weight. She lost an enormous 16 kilos before facing cameras for the movie! Quite an inspiration!

Sonam Kapoor

Even Anil Kapoor’s daughter did not get everything on a platter. She had to work out a lot to get the slim figure she enjoys today. She had to lose 30 kilos to slim down from her initial weight of whopping 90 kilos!

Adnan Sami

Singer Adnan Sami once needed a wheelchair to move around because his weight, at an unbelievable 230 kilos, was too much. That very man burned around 150 kilos to look fit and fab!

Parineeti Chopra

Having a cousin like Priyanka Chopra in the industry was motivation enough for Parineeti to try. However, she had to lose considerable amount of weight to get into the industry. Parineeti went from chubby to chic in about ten months of a strict diet, yet she was criticised for being shapeless. For months she was adamant that wouldn’t want to lose any more weight, but after constant criticism she finally gave in and restarted her weight loss regime.

Arjun Kapoor

Arjun initially looked nothing like the star he is today and his weight loss story was indeed a life transformation. He is now rated as one of the hottest Bollywood actors in the industry!

Kareena Kapoor

The actress who made size zero a trend in India wasn’t always slim! In fact, for her item number in ‘Don’ (2006), she was criticised for her inability to maintain her figure following which she took up the challenge and transformed!

Zarine Khan

This chubby actress lost weight before entering into the Bollywood circuit. She lost so much weight that Salman Khan even asked her to put on some weight for one of her movies!

Sonakshi Sinha:

Our very own Rajjo, Sonakshi Sinha never thought she can be an actress. She was quite on a heavier side and was planning to pursue her career in Fashion Designing. However, Salman Khan told the 90kgs Sonakshi to lose weight and enter Bollywood. She lost around 30 kilos in 2 years and became a perfect heroine to star opposite Salman in the film ‘Dabangg’.

Jackky Bhagnani:

Well, his six-pack-abs were the talk of the town when he made his debut in the film ‘Kal Kissne Dekha’. But, not many know that it took 2 years for Jackky to get that body. The actor was around 130kgs before he thought of making his acting debut.

Karan Johar:

Karan Johar is surely a great filmmaker, but if you would have seen him few years ago, you wouldn’t have recognized him. He was fat and weighed 120kgs. However, he decided to lose weight and you can see what he is right now.

Bollywood celebrities who went under the knife

That perfect look is what most of us strive for. But what really is that perfect look? Bollywood has a major influence on the youth today, but it isn’t that these Bollywood celebrities are blessed with amazing looks. With the kind of money that they earn and the nature of their job, it isn’t a surprise that Bollywood celebrities themselves have gone under the knife to achieve that perfect look. Here we take a look at some of them.

Shilpa Shetty

With an awe-inspiring figure which we all long for, this Bollywood diva was always obsessed with perfection. She went ahead and fixed her nose which she thought was too flat.

Mallika Sherawat

Well, Mallika Sherawat is synonymous with hot and sexy, and there is no prize for guessing which part of her body she has surgically enhanced.

Sridevi

This evergreen dame had pictures splashed all over the web to indicate what was rumoured to be a boob-job. However, one thing is for sure is that she has got a nose job done.

Poonam Pandey

Bold as she is, she went from being a nobody to a some-booty after her asset augmentation.

Sherlyn Chopra

Another diva who caught eyeballs with her voluptuous figure and surgically enhanced body is Sherlyn Chopra. She was rumoured to have silicone implants although it isn’t certain.

Koena Mitra

Here’s an example of why you shouldn’t think of plastic surgery. After surgically enhancing her face, things went from bad to worse as she had to go through several corrective surgeries following a bad first attempt.

Katrina Kaif

Kat flaunts plumper lips thanks to her doctor’s efforts. Well, Kat we loved you anyway.

Priyanka Chopra

Piggy Chops did not like the way her upper lip grazed her nose while smiling and hence went under the knife to correct it.

Anushka Sharma

After her recent appearance on ‘Koffee With Karan’, Anushka Sharma faced severe criticism for her lip job. The actress chose to blame the lip enhancing tool she was apparently using at that time for an upcoming film.

Kareena Kapoor

The chubby cheeked Kareena Kapoor went under the knife to lift her cheekbones and sport a chiselled jaw line. The difference is clearly visible!

Karisma Kapoor

Another Kapoor Khandaan actress who went under the knife was Karisma. First she got rid of her bushy eyebrows and the next in line was her lips.

Benefits of push-ups

There are numerous exercises that you can do to help build muscle, but fitness experts and personal trainers agree that push-ups are among the best. This exercise can be performed comfortably in any living space, in the comfort of your own home, a gym or a park. The biggest plus of the push-up exercise is that you can perform it anywhere you like and you do not need gym equipment for it. While you may adopt push-ups as a last resort exercise in the absence of equipment, they are perhaps one of the most effective workouts for strengthening and building muscles in your upper body.

Listed below are a few more benefits of push-ups:

Stretch

The biceps and the back get a good stretch when you do push-ups. Hence, along with building muscles, you are also toning them. This helps keep you limber, and gives a good shape to the muscles you develop.

Cardiovascular health

Push-ups help to circulate blood throughout the body and are great for your heart and overall cardiovascular health. A healthier heart supports a healthier and long lasting life.

Human growth hormone

Push-ups help increase production of human growth hormone (HGH) which helps your muscles grow. If you are having a tough time bulking up, push-ups will certainly help you.

Posture

Push-ups protect you from injury by improving and correcting your posture. However, this is only true if you do them correctly. If you keep your back straight while doing push-ups, your body will keep that posture more often.

Compound exercise

Push-ups work out a number of different muscles in your body. They involve a large number of muscles, some of which we rarely use for other activities. This is one reason why people find it hard to do push-ups.

If you are looking to getting fit and maintaining good health, then push-ups can be a good start for you. Push-ups won’t make you bulk up like most gym exercises that include weights do, so it is a good option you can rely on for overall muscle toning.