Health Blunders You Must Avoid to Stay Fit

Today is World Health Day, and if you are aiming for a healthy life, pledge not to make these health blunders.
1. Avoiding checkups 
One may think that medical tests are mandatory only for middle-aged or old people. But it’s people between the age group of 18-25 who are more prone to diseases of the heart, liver and lungs, “Youngsters should get regular health checkups done. Lipid profile for cholesterol, sugar fasting for fluctuating sugar levels also the vitamin B12 and D3 tests are very important. An annual eye checkup too is mandatory due to high stress levels faced by today’s generation.
2. Not getting enough sleep 
It’s necessary to get enough sleep to recharge our system, “A good 7-8 hours of sleep is essential. Lack of sleep can lead to increased levels of stress, restlessness, fatigue, loss of appetite and also weight gain, as one tends to indulge in binging at odd hours.
3. Thriving on Junk Food
” Junk food is empty calories. “Burgers, fries, pizzas are great for taste, but are devoid of carbohydrates. It’s essential to include fruits, vegetables and lean meat like fish and chicken in your diet. Also, avoid junk food at night as your metabolism is low at night. If one wants to indulge, then daytime is a better time.
4. Going on Crash Diets
” It’s a myth that if one stops eating they will lose weight. “Many people stop consuming visible fat like oil, ghee, butter, etc. Five to six spoons of fat consumption is essential every day. Omega 3 and fatty acids are essential for the brain, else one tends to feel tired and suffer from lack of concentration. Staying Hungry can give you dull skin and a weak immune system.
5. Pairing meals with aerated drinks 
It’s best to avoid aerated drinks and artificial juices along with meals as they are high on sugar and contain empty calories. “These drinks wash away the benefits of all the iron and vitamins that we gain from our food.
6. Not exercising daily
It’s not only important to exercise daily but to exercise in a right manner. “Half an hour of exercise daily is the mantra to good health. It’s not necessary to hit a gym. One can go for a 20 minute jog or brisk walk.
7. Guzzling alcohol
Partying hard often means drinking lots of alcohol for youngsters, which lead to serious ailments. Once you cross the safe limit (14 hard drinks a week for men and 7 hard drinks for women), you are prone to fatty liver (100% people get it), which leads to liver inflammation, and even liver failure.” 
8. Not kicking the butt
Smoking is one of the greatest causes of premature deaths. “The number of chain smokers, specially young women, is increasing at an alarming rate, resulting in dangerous health disorders”. Bad lungs, chronic cough, asthma, stomach ulcer, and even lung cancer are common consequences of smoking.
9. Ignoring burnout Symptoms
Unrelenting stress can result in a burnout — a state of emotional, mental, and physical exhaustion. You could feel worn out, detached, and defeated. “A large number of young people are suffering from burnout, and are not even aware of it. It’s important to watch out for the symptoms, and seek professional help.


Source - HT City, 7th April 2012

How Harsh Arora helps youngsters choose their career

I love talking, meeting new people and dropping pearls of wisdom. So I decided to make a career out of it. My previous stints in various capacities with ICICI Prudential, Wipro, Spectramind, Hutch and American Express made me realise that I wanted to be involved in training and counselling. In order to follow my passion, I quit my executive job at AmEx and donned the entrepreneur's hat in 2009, all my anxieties about chucking a secured job be damned. 

The problem was that I neither boasted relevant experience, nor a client base and a brand. Whatever HR-related experience I had was limited to stints at Hutch and AmEx. Undaunted, over the next few months, I got in touch with leading training companies who were loaded with projects and willing to give a newbie like me a chance. 

I stated a partnership concern called Improve Life and immersed myself in freelance training. Over the next year, as my experience grew, so did people's trust in me. In January 2010, I finally cut the umbilical cord and took the next big step, I registered Improve Life as a private limited company. There's been no looking back, and I've been offering career, personal and relationship counselling ever since. 

Helping Hand 

I strongly believe that you never face problems in life, only situations. If these situations are not handled with the right attitude and skill, they magnify into problems. My role is to help people in getting rid of the situations, helping them in finding different avenues of solutions so the situation does not spiral out of control. 

So you'll find me giving lectures and conducting workshops in schools and colleges as well as corporate offices. However, the counselling and training sector in India is still at a nascent stage; only recently have people started slowly opening up and sharing their personal and relationship issues. 

Juggling Roles 

My current project involves career counselling in 50 schools in Delhi-NCR. But I have not limited myself to the metros alone. In fact, I mainly concentrate on the Tier II and Tier III cities, because although the spark is quite obvious in students there, they lack the correct exposure. For close to three years now, I have been travelling to schools and colleges in remote towns of Haryana, Punjab and Gujarat to help students figure out their careers. 

When I meet children from these parts of the country, I realise how a small interaction can help them shape their career decisions. They have passion and the requisite knowledge but are unable to leverage that in the right direction. This is where I come in. I point students towards the vital piece of the jigsaw, which sets them on the right course. 


I also work with companies to provide training on work-related issues. For instance, Hindalco had hired me to train its workers at its plant in Renusagar, around 200 km from Varanasi. The workers were being promoted, and my job was to make them understand the nuances of their new roles. The initial response was one of scepticism, given my age, but I was able to win them over. By the end of the workshop, some of them even approached me for advice on issues concerning their children's education. 

I also mentor budding entrepreneurs as part of my Entrepreneur Development Programme. In today's world, no matter what kind of hobby or passion you have, it can be converted into a business. And I can help. Currently, I am mentoring seven people with ideas ranging from a home decor business to a concept cafe. While some need a lot of hand-holding, others come to me just for guidance on how best to go about starting their businesses. 

Building a Brand 

Apart from an online presence, I have never done any aggressive marketing; I have always bagged clients through word of mouth. I believe this is the most powerful form of advertising, and it does not cost anything. If you contribute positively to somebody's life, they will spread the word. 

My clients are my biggest brand ambassadors. I am also particular about not diluting the Improve Life brand, and that's precisely why I'm not focussing on expansion. I believe that as brand grows, it loses its personal connect. The Harsh Arora brand is more important to me. 

I'm not in it only for the money, either. I derive satisfaction out of meeting new people everyday. It feels good to hear them out, solve their issues and show them the right path towards a more successful and contended life. Money is just a byproduct. Till the time my work gives me satisfaction, it is worth doing. 


This article was published in The Economic Times, a leading National Business Daily on 23rd Oct' 2011. The direct link of the article is:
http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/news-by-industry/jobs/how-harsh-arora-helps-youngsters-choose-their-career/articleshow/10454772.cms?curpg=1