The Brunette Diaries

Bollywood Stars And Their Bikes

Many Bollywood stars have a fascination for superbikes. Just like them and their lifestyles, their superbikes are fast and furious too. From Salman to Shah Rukh to John, the kings of Bollywood have been on their two-wheel wonders, making women drool. Let us look at some Bollywood ‘super’ stars and their ‘super’ bikes.

Salman Khan

Salman has been seen riding bikes in many of his movies. In movies like ‘Ek Tha Tiger’ and ‘Partner’ he was seen riding limited edition sports bikes. He has a huge collection of superbikes himself and recently added The Suzuki Intruder M1800RZ to his collection.

Shah Rukh Khan

The Baadshah of Bollywood cannot hide his passion for superbikes. He was seen riding sports bike in ‘Rab Ne Bana Di Jodi’ and ‘Don 2′. Shah Rukh, in an interview, spoke about how he always loved riding bikes but his mother never allowed him since childhood. His dream came through in his movies itself. Talk about reel life fulfilling your dreams! Shah Rukh also has a huge collection of cars, but we’d say that bikes suit his personality more!

Fardeen Khan

This actor also has a crazy obsession with superbikes. He was seen riding sports bikes in many of his movies and owns a Kawasaki ZZR 1200.

John Abraham

Who can forget this Bollywood hunk and his character in ‘Dhoom’, where he rode a swanky Hayabusa. Two of his favourite bikes are Yamaha R1 1000cc and V-MAX 1700 cc.

Shahid Kapoor

This bike enthusiast owns a Yamaha MT-01. He recently bought a ‘Harley-Davidson Fat Boy’ and is only one of the few proud owners of the bike in India.

Foods that can cool you down this summer

The summer can be unforgiving these days. We wonder if the sun is pissed off. While we can’t do anything to change the sun’s mood, we can at least do something to cool ourselves down after a hot day. Let us look at some foods that can help you cool down this summer.

Watermelon

With a high percentage of water, this fruit is healthy, cooling and refreshing as well. It contains a mere 50 calories per cup, so it clearly isn’t stacking on your calorie count if you are one who takes special care of that. Watermelon has immense health benefits, and having it as an excuse to cool off is a wonderful idea. Not to mention it is tasty too.

Yogurt

Yogurt is healthy, filling and will help cool you down on a hot and humid day. Be it frozen yogurt or just the usual one, yogurt can be a healthy and cooling breakfast, lunch dessert or evening snack.

Cucumber

Besides being used to cool off your skin on application, cucumbers can cool off your body as well. Cucumbers keep the body hydrated, and help in digestion as well, all of which is of utmost importance to brace yourself against a hot summer day.

Ice tea

The thought of tea on a hot summer day is frightening at times. But what if it is ice tea? Try this over the normal tea you are accustomed to, to ensure that you aren’t dehydrated. Switch out your hot morning tea for a glass of chilled iced tea, instead.

Salads

Green leafy vegetables with a sprinkle of olive oil can be a great way to indulge in a meal without the fear of it being heaty. Salads can leave you feeling cool and energized before or after a meal, as a meal, or even as an evening snack.

So if you are looking to cool down those struggling and sweaty pores that have been working all day while you were outside, this is a cool way. Yeah, it’s a cool way!

Contemplating an arranged marriage?

You have waited for Mr. Right for too long and now your parents are pressurising you to look at some eligible bachelors they have in store for you. An arranged marriage is on the horizon and you can’t decide whether that indeed is the right option for you. So here’s an article that may help you decide whether an arranged marriage is the right way to go.

Full family support

An arranged marriage has family support. Mostly, families have prior meetings and then decide compatibility before bringing the two together. Thus, the family gives all the support since they have permitted everything beforehand.

Understand that it is a risk

Everything can be hunky dory at first; but remember, once personalities surface you may risk the possibility of lack of compatibility. It is a risk you should be willing to take. Hypocrisy is common when it comes to arranged marriage since nobody wants to face rejection.

Financial security is greater

Since families are involved there isn’t a risk of not being able to pay for your marriage and stand on your own feet after it. First of all, your family will make sure he is earning enough to take care of you even before they decide he is right for you to meet.

You have to live with your decision

You cannot blame someone else for the decision you have made. For instance, if the proposal has been brought by your parents, it is not imperative that you answer with a yes. It is your choice. Do not live to blame someone else for the choices which you make. Therefore, take your time and do what your heart tells you.

It is an inescapable fact that an arranged marriage has a higher element of risk than a love marriage. If you trust your instinct then an arranged marriage is alright, but do not live to regret a decision you have made.

Mistakes that can ruin new love

Comfort levels differ in the initial stages of love. Understanding may be present in the relationship, but being able to perceive problems and personalities early, may be harder than you expect. Usually, couples tend to ruin new love by getting into things too quick. Let us look at a few common mistakes that couples make in new love:

Let your feelings develop and do not force them

Asking for help too often

You can ask him for help once in a while, but if you do it too often, you may make him question your intentions. He may believe you are taking advantage of him. Do not behave like he is your husband already, this will scare him away.

Double dates

Double dating can be fun to show off your new boyfriend. But if you keep doing this, he may misunderstand you. He may believe that you want him around just as eye candy.

Overdressing

Do not be a diva every time you meet him. Men perceive this as fake. In a new relationship, it is important to be yourself and not fake so he is not scared away.

Cribbing

Usually, women have a habit of setting things straight right at the beginning of the relationship so that they are not taken for granted later. Men are repulsed by women who crib about things they do even without knowing them that well.

White lies

At the beginning of a relationship, it is important to build trust steadily. You cannot expect him to trust you from the word go. As you build this trust, even the small white lies that you tell can ruin this trust.

Physical involvement

Be slow when it comes to committing to certain things. Do not be hasty when it comes to being physically involved. Be patient, show that you love him and not his body.

When it comes to new relationships, be sure to take things slowly. For you do not know what you rush in to.

Tips to keep your kitchen healthy and clean

Ants, mouldy residue, dirty sink, dirty stove, and dirty food cabinets are some of the ways in which your kitchen can seem ugly. Usually, unless you have enough time on your hands, keeping your kitchen clean is not on the top of your agenda for the day. However, kitchen cleanliness is of utmost importance as it is the same place where your food comes from. Here are a few tips to keep your kitchen clean and protect against the following problems:

Let keeping your kitchen clean be at the top of your agenda

Ants

Ants can be a severe menace in your kitchen and they can infest the place if not taken care of in time. Usually, a solution of boric acid and water works like magic. Mix a tablespoon of boric acid powder in a cup of water and put the solution in a spray bottle. Spray the solution on the trail of ants, along skirtings and even in the corners of kitchen cabinets.

Spoiling food

If you aren’t used to keeping your food in the fridge all the time, don’t forget that food gets spoilt faster in the summer than in the winter thanks to the excess heat. Hence, it is important to keep your kitchen cool. Opt for a window covering that prevents harsh sunlight from coming in the house.

Trash

Usually, you are not required to change your trash-can linen every day; but in the summer, leftover food tends to rot faster. If you don’t change your trash-can linen, it can leave your kitchen with a foul odour.

Cleaning

Dusting of all the kitchen appliances is one more necessary job. Your refrigerator, microwave, food cabinets and your gas stove are places you must keep dust and grease free as this can be a harbour for bacteria.

Mould

The kitchen platform can develop mouldy residue if not cleaned well. Therefore, it is important to give it a wash before you turn off the lights each night.

Make sure you do all you can in your space of time and effort to keep your kitchen clean. Do not overlook this as it is imperative for healthy and clean food, and it lowers the risk of any disease.

Main causes of belly fat

Abdominal fat is an issue which most people struggle with. Most people want to look fit and fab, but everyone struggles with that flab around the tummy. Let us look at the main causes of this belly fat:

Improper digestion

Improper digestion will bring about a range of gastrointestinal disorders. Eating at late hours can cause your stomach to bulge and bloat. It is important to take all measures to ensure that you digest your food properly if you want to get rid of belly fat.

Genetics

Genetics play a role in belly fat as well. Some people find it harder to get rid of belly fat than most others because of genetics.

Stress

Several studies say that one can gain abdominal obesity due to stress. When you are stressed, the cortisol hormone is released, which triggers the fat reserve around the belly. At the same time, stress also makes you binge which results in excess fat accumulation.

Slow metabolism

Reduced metabolism rate is one of the main reasons for fat accumulation. When your rate of metabolism is low, you tend to burn lesser calories and hence fat gets stored in the most convenient place, which is your belly.

Alcoholism

Most people proudly talk about their beer bellies. But they know themselves they’d love to live without it. Alcoholism will contribute to higher calorie accumulation in your belly area.

Lack of activity

This is quite an obvious cause of belly fat. You need to involve yourself in some sort of physical activity that is in proportion to your food intake, to make sure you do not develop body fat.

Unhealthy eating

When you eat fatty foods, they accumulate in your belly area quite conveniently. Fast food is normally fried in excess oil and this is one of the main causes of belly fat.

How to lose weight without hitting the gym

Losing weight takes a lot of discipline and determination, whether in the gym or outside it. Some of us just don’t have the time for hitting the gym. Or maybe we are just not a gym-person. So how do we get rid of all the excess fat reserved in our body? Follow these steps to achieve your desired weight without sweating it out.

Smaller meals:

Not all of us are conscious enough to count every calorie, so try to make your meal portions smaller. And bunk the second helping altogether. You can take shorter lunch breaks at work so that you don’t over-eat.

Avoid too much sweet:

If you really need to have a dessert after your meals then try to swap the ice-creams and cakes with a piece of dark chocolate. It’s a healthier option to satisfy your sweet tooth without piling up on the calories.

Move your butt:

Having a sedentary lifestyle can make losing weight very difficult. Take regular breaks every 2 hours to walk around the office. Skip the elevator and start taking the stairs whenever possible. Enrol for a fun weekend dance class. The more you move, the faster you lose that weight.

Sleep:

Sleep is more than just a pretty-making mechanism. Your digestive system is also pumping hard to process your food, metabolizing carbohydrates and breaking down fats. Some studies have linked sleep deprivation to weight problems; so the bottom line is – if you don’t want your ‘bottom’ to grow bigger, hit the sack at the earliest.

Have sex:

That’s right; sex is a great way to shed the extra calories. An average sex session burns 150 to 250 calories per half hour – depending on how hot, flexible and athletic your session was. Now don’t be disheartened even if you aren’t extremely acrobatic in love-making, as sex naturally gets your heart rate up, which in turn improves circulation and burns calories and fat.

Laugh while you still have teeth:

Last but not the least – laugh more! Laughing heartily five times a day has the same beneficial effects as ten minutes on a rowing machine. How great is that!

Bollywood celebrities and expensive gifts

In an industry ruled by the rich and famous, ‘flaunting it’ is not a big deal. They say it isn’t right to put a price tag on a gift, but these gifts are so exorbitant that we couldn’t help but whisper it out loud! Let us take a look at a few expensive, glamorous and flashy gifts showered upon Bollywood celebrities and their loved ones.

Sanjay Dutt

Sanjay gifted his wife Manyata a car which anyone one of us could only dream of – a Rolls-Royce worth Rs 3 crore! Talk about lavish! He also gave his director a 10 lakh rupees watch for doing a great scene in the movie ‘Zanjeer’. Wouldn’t you to stick around this guy?

Shah Rukh Khan

The Baadshah of Bollywood has always been known to be generous. In 2009, SRK gifted an Audi 6 worth Rs 60 lakh to his kids Aryan and Suhana. Generous is something, but this is whoa! Besides this, Shah Rukh has also given lavish cars to his directors and co-actors quite often.

Raj Kundra

Shilpa is one lucky girl! On Valentine’s Day in 2009, Shilpa was presented a 48 carat heart-shaped natural white diamond ring worth a fortune! Raj also gifted her an apartment on the 19^th floor of The Burj Khalifa apartment in Dubai.

Vidhu Vinod Chopra

Vidhu Vinod Chopra was so excited to work with the legendary

Amitabh Bachchan in ‘Eklavya’ that he gifted him a Rolls-Royce worth Rs 3.5 crore.

Siddharth Roy Kapur

Hubby of Bollywood dame Vidya Balan, Siddharth Roy Kapur gifted his dearest wife a high end, luxury, sea facing apartment worth crores of rupees, in the plush Juhu area of Mumbai.

Salman Khan

How can we count out this bold hunk! Any Bollywood list and this man’s name is not going to be overlooked. When it comes to showering expensive gifts, Sallu knows how to do it! When Kareena didn’t take any payment for her item number ‘Fevicol Se’ (Dabangg 2), Salman returned the gesture with a swanky BMW. Sallu also gifted his sister, Alvira, a penthouse and a precious diamond bracelet worth a whopping Rs 1.25 crore.

Ways to get rid of cellulite

Cellulite is a condition in which the skin appears to have areas with underlying fat deposits, giving it a dimpled, lumpy appearance. Around 90 percent of women suffer from it in their legs, buttocks or stomach. There are ways in which you can significantly reduce the appearance of cellulite. Let us look at some of them.

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

Eat healthy

A healthy diet plays an important part in keeping cellulite at bay. Eat plenty of fibre and whole grain foods as well as fruits and vegetables, since they help to remove waste and toxins from the intestinal tract. Drink plenty of water as well. Water helps in shedding of fat and also in strengthening the collagen in your skin.

Exercise

Cellulite is basically fat. Excess body fat shows itself through cellulite. Exercising regularly can reduce this excess fat and get rid of cellulite.

(Try reading – Main causes of belly fat)

Massage

Massaging the area with certain tools available in the market will help in stimulating circulation and breaking up fluids beneath your skin, leaving a more even appearance.

Gelatin

Consuming gelatin helps in tightening loose skin and it also improves digestion. It is also rumoured to help reduce the appearance of cellulite. So, there’s nothing like trying.

(You may find this interesting – Fitness habits to establish in your 20’s)

Coffee scrub

Coffee scrubs can be beneficial in reducing cellulite as well. The caffeine in coffee helps in tightening the skin.

Kettlebell workouts

Kettlebell workouts are a great way to increase blood flow and reduce the appearance of cellulite. Known to be one of the most effective ways to build muscle and burn fat, Kettlebell exercises are especially good for your thighs, hips, buttocks and stomach area.

(Also read – How to lose weight without hitting the gym)

Omega 3

Consuming Omega 3fatty acids and fat soluble vitamins will help reduce cellulite over time. Besides, they are also good for various other functions in your body!