Kindle Fire Review

As a proud owner of one of the earliest versions of Kindle (when it was just a simple ebook reader for book lovers - with epaper / eink- technology) I have always tried to keep up with the latest models of Kindle. So it was with some awe and frustration of the head nodding kind that I saw the launch of the latest version of Kindle Fire. Kindle is no longer just an ebook reader from Amazon. With Kindle Fire, Kindle is prepared to go the distance to be a complete tablet. Amazon itself is slotting it as "A Tablet from Amazon" and "More than a tablet". The biggest plus point for Amazon's Kindle Fire seems to be the new HD screen. The sizes, options and features come in a mindboggling range. The screen sizes range from 7" to 8. 9 " and the storage space from 8 GB to 32 GB. The highest end model is enabled for 4G technology while there is Dolby audio in most models. The price range is equally wide - from $159 for an entry level Fire model to $ 499. The lowest priced Fire HD model is $199. One thing may bug book and movie lovers - ads on your screen.
Go to this Amazon Kindle page to find out more about all the Kindle versions,

Kindle Fire Latest

A Game of Badminton

It was time for a game of badminton. Got to play 3 games with a friend. Good bit of running and sweating and full body cardio. The best thing about playing baddy is that you have to do it with a friend - so not boring! Followed it up a 1 km run. Ended up with a headache the next day. Wonder what that was for? Scared me - waking up with a migraine middle of the night!

How much Calorie Does Badminton Burn - 30 minutes of badminton would burn about 200 cal.

Here are some interesting facts on the health benefits of playing badminton.

http://www.badminton-information.com/health_benefits_of_playing_badminton.html

Way to Diet

Reading about all these diet plans has made me terribly hungry!

I have zeroed down on two options after some initial research. Taking a weight loss supplement like amway  / herbalife, etc or going on a lemonade diet.

Diet supplements are apparently high protein low carb products which supplement your meal plan. Let me check out more on the exact content fibre content and price of the products.

A lemonade diet seems to be a much cheaper option - only needs harder work. Drink fresh lemonade every day with cayenne pepper and maple syrup. However I have to see whether maple syrup and cayenne pepper are available on the shelf in my town! While internet may have wiped out the distances between continents and you get as much information in New York as in Nuaghat - there's still a long way to go in getting physical products conveniently...sigh. What could be the Indian and locally available substitutes for maple syrup and cayenne pepper?

A 10 Day Diet

I am seriously considering going on a ten day diet. My weight loss efforts have been frustrating so far - with this month showing no dip in the scales whatsoever. But why blame anyone/anything? My keeness on biriyani, golgappa (gupchup), singada, aloodum dahibara and all the variety of junk food out there has to show some effect somewhere - and unfortunately - they are settling down in nice neat tyres on my waist.

There seem to be a whole lot of FREE DIETS out there. With so much of free advise from experts out there - whats the need to go to a professional;-). Livestrong has come up with some options on first search. Let me see if shedding 3-4 kgs by the end of the month is possible. After all I have done the hard work of gymming the entire month so far. Let me find something...will jot it down and the results (if i get around to dieting!)

A good day at the Gym

500 Calories, 51 minutes and 5 kms. A good day at the gym.

Using Gym Vibration Plates

Our gym has two brand new vibration plates. The gym trainers are advocating the use of those plates a lot. In fact one trainer suggested using the plates for 10 minutes would be equivalent of 100 push-ups. How true is that? I have no idea - but I doubt it. Yesterday I tried to do some upper body workout on the plates, kneeling down with the elbows on the plates. The body seemed to get a proper jingle - but I felt my brain pop out too! I think I will stick to standing on the plates and let my hips wiggle :-)

PS - Have been doing some more research on Gym Vibration Plates. While some dismiss the current vibration machine fad as a scam - there are many others fitness experts who are swearing by its efficacy.  The Russians apparently used it in their Space program and managed to stay for the longest period in a closed vehicle. It helped them lose less muscle mass and keep fit.

While the above is proven fact - I guess its the quality of machines, proper use that make the difference. Apparently the machines also assist to reverse osteoporosis!! So ladies it appears to be a much needed fitness equipment!

The price ranges from USD 200 to 2000. Check out some Vibration plates at Amazon here.

How Much Calories is There In an Innocuous Biscuit?

Being a Mom of two growing boys - I always have well stocked boxes of biscuits at home and around. So it is quite easy to snack on biscuits when one is hungry or bored. Lately I have developed this habit of taking a packet of biscuits with me to the workplace to satiate my mid - morning hunger.  However looking at the product information on one of the packets gave me a shock. A packet of Rs 5 Britannia Butter Cookies packs in as much as 240 plus calories (the information on the pack says 100 g has 488 Kcal) - equivalent to one hour of power walking or 30 minutes of jogging. So Rs 5 and 3 minutes undos whatever effort one has put in at the gym in a day...pity, when one can so easily do without those biscuits. No wonder I never seem to lose weight!

Apparently even the Britannia Marie Gold or Sunfeast Marie Lite have about 440 calories per 100 gm. (I am yet to study their packs - this information is from the web). So much for healthier biscuiting options! The bottomline is  - please dont follow a biscuit and water diet for weight loss - its NEVER going to work.