Last two weeks were eventful!

I rounded up an India trip including a short visit to my home. I also spent late hours working in and off the office as well as landed up in a few parties with my colleagues.

The whirlwind speed with which this all transpired, didn’t let me breathe until I got back on the plane to SF. As I spent a few hours contemplating on the visit and going through the days in my mind, I reflected on some chats with a common thread.

This common thread was the choice of food. Unintentionally, in some or the other way, I spent quite a while talking about it with a friend, with a couple of cousins, and with a few colleagues.

Since the last few months, as I have started following a disciplined regimen of daily exercise and a calibrated nutritional diet, my body has had to adjust with this new routine. It had gotten used to eating a lot more junk and bigger portion sizes during the beginning of this year. Now, it suddenly had to expect less and make do with it.

My body adjusted to this reduction made by me just fine, and in turn rewarded me with burning through the fat deposits. As I wished for!

Maybe my mind has also fallen in line. It has made me control myself better. For whatever reason (I am still investigating), it stopped thinking about food every now and then and in fact, actively sends me signals to ensure I don’t again overload myself.

On this entire India trip, every time I overate, my body actively discouraged me from within. My mind has stopped sending me any hunger signals if it senses there’s still calories to be burned. And my own discipline meant I spent a fair number of days in the hotel gym. These all obviously helped me.

While talking about this with friends/family/colleagues, they also relayed the same experience. If they decided, their body and mind cooperated and helped them in their journey. The positive effects in turn helped them stay the course. And the body and mind tuned in more.

As I reflected on my way back, I realized that this is true not just in matters of the culinary kind but even in other aspects of life. I have experienced this at work, in business, and in relationships too.

What we choose and how it helps us – positively or negatively, is usually a function of our choice. If it is positive, we get reinforcements. If it is negative, we only see pitfalls.

What still surprises me though is how we fall of this curve at times and derail ourselves. Perhaps, it is because we don’t accept the choice wholeheartedly. Or maybe we take it to the other extreme, where things become boring and we miss simple pleasures of life and eventually get off the track.

Any which way, what I learnt is important is being conscious about making these choices and then sticking to them for as long as we can…