Monday, June 16, 2008
Saturday morning I woke up excitement and elation as at approximately 4:55 I would be leaving New York in an airplane to Chicago for my cousin Rutul’s engagement party. Other cousins whom I have not seen for a long time, including Shimul and Tejas, whom I remember meeting when I was 9-10 years old, were going to be there as well. This was going to be the largest family gathering to date.
I spent the day packing, answering emails, and performing small chores and tasks throughout the day. One thing that did bug me was what I was going to eat at the airport and hotel. Every time I go on vacation, my diet goes down the tube. So my strategy this time around was try to eat as healthy as possible, to make up for all the junk I was bound to eat at the actual engagement party.
I decided not to train on Saturday, as I wanted to train my cousin Sagar on Sunday. Besides, Sunday night was going to be a bhangra party, so I would be burning off all the junk either way.
The drive to MacArthur airport was quick and easy. Two highways and a left turn later, we were in the long-term economy lot ready to unload. Just as my mom was asking how we would be able to walk all the way to the actual airport, a shuttle stopped right in front of us offering a ride. Within 15 minutes (or what seemed like), we were in our gate an hour and a half early for our flight.
My mom started eating the fried junk and sweats she had brought with her. I rolled my eyes and went out to explore some healthier options. The healthiest thing I could really consume was coffee. So I ordered black coffee at Starbuck’s knock-off, then went to the book store to grab my reading material. I bought a book about PR 2.0, which really didn’t turn out to be that great of a book simply because I already knew everything presented to me in the book.
My mom yelled at me for grabbing the coffee. I took out my almonds and started snacking. I eat almonds the way most people eat potato chips. But unlike potato chips, you really don’t feel like eating any more after the first 10 or so. You get your health fats, and you get some satisfaction.
Fast-forward to our connecting flight in Baltimore. Because my mom wanted to fly cheap, we bought tickets from Southwest. What my mom would find out later as we’re stranded in Baltimore with over an hour delay of our flight is that you can either get good service, or you can get a cheap flight ticket, but you can’t get both. As I sipped on a protein-packed over-priced smoothie and ceaser salad, my mom tried distracting her mind by doing a word-search puzzle. This was the reading material she had bought.
I passed the time by texting my cousins on our flight status and watching Comedy Central on the airport screen. We finally boarded at approximately 9 pm, and were in Chicago at 10:45. My cousin’s Nihar, Umang, and Sagar came to pick us up, most likely because they were all bored sitting at my cousin Rutul’s apartment looking at their engagement video from India.
Long-story short, the engagement party was a blast! Lincolnshire Marriot Resort is a bangin’ hotel, although extremely expensive. My uncle bought Sagar and I a beer and there was an open bar at the party, however I could not bring myself to drink in front of my mom. Even if I could, the only thing I know how to order is a beer.
Run-down of training:
Sunday June 15, 2008 – 9:30 AM
Warm up with Turkish Get-up – I taught Sagar the simple way of mastering this movement. Within 10 minutes, he was Turkish Get-up pro. I also taught him the Dumbbell Snatch and the Renegade Row. However, he was not able to perform the rows due to a wrist problem.
My Workout:
Dumbell Snatch 30 pounds 10-20-30
Renegade Rows 30 pounds 10-20-30
Time: 22:13.76
Sagar’s Workout:
Dumbell Snatch 20 pounds 10-15-20
Push-ups 10-15-20
One-arm Dumbell Rows 20 pounds 10-15-20
Time: 11:22.45
Evening: 9:00 PM
Intense Bhangra – Dancing is the best form of cardio. My cousin Umang kept coming up to me and asking me to show him some new moves. Bhangra has three basic steps and is much more rowdier than Garba. Think hip hop with a lot more jumping.
Umang and I invented some moves on our own and I’ll be trying come up with some new ones to display at the upcoming YJA (Young Jain Assocaition) convention that I’m speaking at.
Run-down of Diet:
Saturday, June 14, 2008
Breakfast: Half package of oatmeal with 1 scoop protein powder and milk. Handful of Almonds
Lunch: Two bowls pasta. Each bowl topped off with two tablespoons of olive oil.
3:30 – Handful of almonds & Coffee (low sugar, low milk)
8:00 – Ceaser Salad & Protien Packed Fruit Smoothie
10:00 – Indian food – Puri, Shak & Rus – Basically ate very little Puri (fried bread) and Rus (sweetened crushed mango paste) and capitalized on the Shak (Vegetables)
Sunday, June 15, 2008
After working out, my cousin and I showered and decided to go out to eat for breakfast with our other cousin Rachana. The rest of the family planned a useless ride to the temple (where they have free food). They dropped the three of us off at the pancake house (forget the name). The place was packed due to Father’s day, however we were in the places within a half hour.
Breakfast – Baked vegetarian omelet, Tea & Juice – Meal cost $33 for 3 people. Better food and better price than what the marriot was offering.
Went back to hotel and started walking around. We ran into our uncle and aunt, along with our Cousin’s Tejas and Shimul whom we haven’t seen since 9-10 years old. Darshan Masa (Uncle) bought Sagar and I a beer and we sat around cathing up on old times. I found out that Shimul was a great health cook and asked her if she would send me some quick and easy recipes.
We didn’t have much to eat the rest of the day. Sagar and I walked around and checked out the tent the engagement party was going to be held. Then we walked back to our hotel, took a nap until 3:45, then had some hotel room coffee as we walked around watching our cousin’s work their butts off while we just stood around pretending to be busy. Our jobs were to make sure that the place names were straight.
4:45 – Sagar and I were dressed and ready to move. Sagar had taught me some great useful things about how to tuck in your dress shirt, how to wear a tie, and how to get rid of the lint off your pants without a lint roller. Good exchange of information. Sagar gave me his grooming knowledge as I passed on my intense training knowledge.
6:00 pm – The entire family is out on deck taking pictures. Rutul and Shalvi (Rutul’s fiance), are out posing behind, next to, and in between trees for two rambunctious camera men. At one point they had all the male cousins lift Rutul up off the round as he was laying on our hands.
This session was followed by greasy apettizers, of which I did not eat much of at all. I just kept it on my plate as a strategy so that Pana Masi (Aunt) would not make me get any food. I also broke my soda fast of 6 months.
7:30 pm – The speeches had begun. The speaches were mostly about roasting Rutul and asking the million dollar question: How did a kid who grew up tormenting young children get such a cute, well-spoken Indian girl?
The speeches were followed by dancing. Rutul couldn’t even do simple side-to-side club dancing and here he is throwing his two-left feet out the door and performing three bollywood songs in front of a surprised audience of family and friends.
After the dances, we had a quck dinner, followed by the bhangra music. As I mentioned earlier, Umang and I invented a few dance steps and at one point entered „the circle“ to have everyone wooing at us. I taught the step to Rutul, who did a great job of executing such an advanced move.
Monday, June 16, 2008
1:15 AM – Sagar, Apurva, Umang and I are gathered around in the weight room watching TV and sitting on stability bells. The hours are ticking until my 6:00 AM flight, and we just want to revel in each other’s company for the last few moment. We’re also REALLY hungry and end up going on a pointless food hunt. Well, it’s wasn’t pointless. We walked around the entire perimeter of the hotel and I was able to see where my potential YJA session may be held on July 4&5.
It was a great weekend!
I took Monday off to unwind and sleep and will be starting my diet and training program again on Tuesday.
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