Diabetes Code - A quick summary/review!

 

Essentially book talks about diabetes as an epidemic. and how it has grown to it.

1. One central claim is most of Dr treat it in the wrong way.  Often patients find that over the period medicine dosage goes on increasing and often there is no respite from disease.

2. Book says it's not a body disease, but caused by diet n hence can be reversed or treated by only diet.

3. It explains the technical mechanism of how it occurs in the first place.  

4. Systematically it shows how it's not a sugar problem but is caused by insulin resistance.

5. Very persuasively and with a lot of research, it shows oral medication and insulin don't solve the problem. But in fact, enhances it. As it doesn't address the underlying cause. (I kind of agree as I see many folks around me). Insulin or medicine that secretes Insulin results in weight gain. The author argues that Insulin is a lifesaver in type 1 but not a very effective remedy for type 2. 

 

6. It advises an LCHF diet that's low carb n high fat. (I bit disagree here on high fat, though the book advises natural fats. But I feel it may be bad for cardiac issues). It shows the below analogy. So, stop/reduce the input of Sugar in all forms (even via carbohydrates), and existing/stored body sugar – shall be eliminated with Fasting.  

                                                   (Image - Taken from the book)

 

Lastly, it advises intermittent fasting. Almost alternate day. In severe cases, up to 48 to 72 hours. I am not sure here whether this is doable. It advises it under medical supervision, particularly if you are taking medication. See below the sample meal plan this is with 36 hour fasting. Book has multiple such meal plans. 

                                                  (Image: From the book)

 

One diagram in the book – compares how much sugar increases in various foods – it almost enlightens why Rice has got a bad name!  

                                                    (Image: From the book)

 

One interesting note in the book is that fructose is much worse than sucrose. Both are found in Sugar in equal amounts. Because Fructose goes directly to the liver like a guided missile.  

I personally have two issues with the argument. 

1. Just with the idea of fasting - I start craving for food and feel starved. 😢 

2. Book cites lot of research, This book itself is published in 2018. However Dr. Neal Bernard's book published in 2006 isn't referred or cited in the book nor the Dr. Dean Ornish research. Both is relevant to this subject. 

Finally a disclaimer note: 

Disclaimer: I am not a medical or healthcare professional, this post is a summary/review of Dr. Jason Fung's best-seller "Diabetes Code". So anyone who want to follow the book suggestions – please consult your doctor or healthcare advisor!

Studying Gita - Step by Step!

 

Bhagavad Gita (referred as Gita). 

A sincere sadhak Vinba Bhave had referred to it as Gitai (Gita + AAI – Mother Gita – AAI is a mother in Marathi).

I always had a longing to study it.

Even I bought a couple of editions – including explanations, etc. in English. Even have three-volume sets of Swami Ranganathananda’s writings on Gita. 

But somehow, I never had an appetite to read it. 

Then I worked on a seminar course (during my doctorate) on Karma Yoga.

Again, I felt the deep need to at least read and get the crux of what Gita is. [Karma Yoga origins are in Gita]

But it always sounds monumental task and slipped away.

Moreover, I don't have any Sanskrit background. I feel it is a handicap.

I think such Everest may be conquered with some structure.

And I came across the Chinmaya Mission course on Gita. 

It's 30 sessions spread over 15 months, each month two lessons. Details are available here:  https://chinfo.org/home/course/bhagavad-gita-course-online/9  .

It is written for beginners and thoroughly in English.

I have decided to take it up.

I plan to start on the Gita Jayanti on 3^rd Dec.  [Suggested by Fellow reader]

Long back -while in college I did Chinmaya Mission’s basic Vedanta course developed by Swami Chinmayananda. Not only I enjoyed that course in the pre-internet era (lessons used to come by post – a snail mail), but I learned systematically the basic building blocks of Vedanta.

Making it easy for me to approach other spiritual literature & discussions with confidence. [Incidentally, a friend who did the same program, became a monk and pursued spiritual life] 

Hence it makes sense to look at the Gita course – also developed by the same Institution.

I am certain - structure and chapter-wise lessons will help me to take learning steps slowly but confidently. 

You can find the detailed syllabus here: https://chinfo.org/uploads/include_files/course_9_Bhagavad%20Gita_Syllabus.pdf 

Though the course is paid, if someone has difficulty paying, then you can write to homestudycourses@chinfo.org to make your case and get funding/help. 

Any long or short journey becomes enjoyable if you have companions on the path.

Fortunately, few friends are willing to join the journey with me. 

( If you are also interested in joining this study group – do let me know.)

As of today, we have decided that - learners/readers

1.       Will join this Chinmaya Mission Course mentioned above. Subscribe/buy or get access to it before 3^rd December.

2.       Will read and study. The guideline says one lesson in 15 days. Sample lessons are available online. Please take a look. It shall be comfortable to study one lesson in 15 days.

3.       We have a WhatsApp group, but the group will be strictly used to talk about the readings on Gita and nothing else.

4.       We may schedule group discussions. 

5.       If the number of group members increases, we may think of scheduling additional activities related to Gita Study.

Do connect!

Thanks!

 

How to "Make Time" for your dream project ?

We carry a dream in our hearts.

We cuddle that dream occasionally in the hustle-bustle of life. 

This dream may be an item on the bucket list, a trip to take, an article to publish, a book to write, or a venture to launch. 

But we don't find time for it. It gets lost on the back burner. 

And it never reaches the front seat. 

How do we "Make Time" for our pet projects, bucket-list, articles, books, or ventures? 

Often answer boils down to better "productivity" or "time management." 

Long back, I attended a myriad of time management sessions. 

And now, as a teacher and trainer, I teach/talk about time management right from MBA students to professionals and executives. 

"Productivity" and "Time management" are the sine qua non of every development workshop and intervention. And as a book-lover, I have read sizeable literature on it.

 

At one end, some experts may tell you to split the day into 15 min or 30 min intervals- a perfect epitome of micro or nano management. At another end of the spectrum, experts claims, time is unmanageable. Time is uncontrollable - instead, manage your energy. And in between two extreme ends, there are a lot of self-help books like 

• First things first by Stephen Covey.
• Eat That Frog by Brian Tracy
• 18 minutes: Find your focus, master your distraction, and get the right things done. by Peter Bregman
• The Power of full engagement

But most of these books are written in the non-internet/non-mobile era. This era has made us "always connected" and hence "always distracted." The issues are well discussed in few books like

• Focus - Daniel Goleman
• Indistractable - Nir Eyal
• Digital Minimalism - Cal Newport (Detail Summary available on this blog itself). 

Either you read all of these books and make sense of your problem in their prescription. 

Or Easiest is read "Make Time"- by Jake Knapp & John Zeratsky. 

(Image: Amazon)

"Make Time" - has a straightforward argument. However, it has not cited all these books (Few are). It certainly is mindful of ideas and tips from all of them. 

Book is perfect blend of ideas from various sources, served in perfect homogenous mix - undetectable and perfectly digestible. 

It boils down to them in a simple system that can easily apply to whatever your project is. The system has just four steps. 

1. Decide dream project. Split it into steps, make a step for each day's highlight. 
2. Block time for day's highlight. And ensure Laser-like focus during it. 
3. Ensure your energy is high and maintained during that blocked time. 
4. Reflect each day on what worked and what didn't. 

That's it. The book is full of tips and techniques (actually a total of 87 tips). 

That covers interesting tips like. 

• Only two cup coffee is required in a day, with no coffee after 01:30 to 02:00 pm. 
• Lunch plate - shall be half-filled with salads.
• Walking is the best exercise, and anytime doable! 
• And the myriad of tips for managing net distractions, smartphone addiction, and email disturbance. 

This system roughly looks like the one in below one-page summarized sketch. [One more such one page summary is here] 

I have started including the content in my sessions and workshops. Being repeatedly useful, I gave it Five Start (5 * ) on Goodreads.  

Book is easy to read, accessible, and worth your desk/library/collection.  

Paperback or hard-cover copy is highly suggested - it has an excellent design with simple sketches to explain the points. 

So go and grab a copy before you embark on your dream. 

(Schematic - One Page Summary of "Make Time")