STEPPING STONE TO STARDOM

TNN|Dec 10, 2012, 11.50AM IST

SHARE AND DISCUSS http://feminamissindia.indiatimes.com//articleshow/.cms http://feminamissindia.indiatimes.com//articleshow/.cmsTweet (L-R)Aishwarya Rai, Sushmita Sen and Diana Hayden

From ordinary women to global stars, Miss Indias have won 34 international titles, making the country the second-most successful participant at beauty pageants around the world

Indian women have traditionally been considered among the most beautiful in the world. With their combination of beauty, grace, poise and intelligence, they have been the embodiment of the perfect woman. No wonder then India has been one of the most successful participants in international beauty pageants.
Over the years, Indian participants have returned with 11 main title crowns in international pageants like Miss World, Miss Universe, Miss Earth, and Miss Asia Pacific. They have also come back 23 times with second and third positions. With an impressive 34 wins across various categories, India has been the second-most successful participant at these beauty pageants. Among the country's many achievements are:

Capturing the second highest number of Miss World titles — five, to be precise. Beauties like Aishwarya Rai (1994), Diana Hayden (1997), Yukta Mookhey (1999) and Priyanka Chopra (2000) have made the country proud over the years in the Miss World competition.

The historic moments when Sushmita Sen (1994) and Lara Dutta (2000) were crowned Miss Universe during their respective pageants. Besides Sushmita and Lara, participants like Yasmin Daji (1966), Madhu Sapre (1992), Manpreet Brar (1995) and Celina Jaitley (2001) were also triumphant in their pageants. They won the third runner-up, second runner-up, first runner-up and fourth runner-up positions, respectively, for the country.

Zeenat Aman (1970), Tara Anna Fonseca (1973) and Dia Mirza (2000) winning the Miss Asia-Pacific crowns.

Nicole Faria winning the Miss Earth crown in 2010.

And this is just a summary. Giving wings to the dreams of beautiful young women who aim to make a mark in the world of glamour, the institution of the Miss India pageant has acted as a stepping stone for many of today's global stars. Armed with dreams and determination, aspirants from the remotest corners of the country have made it big through the platform, while also bringing glory and respect to the country.

This year, the Miss India contest celebrates 50 years of its achievement-filled existence. To commemorate this special occasion, the country's leading facecare brand, Pond's, has joined hands with the pageant for the Pond's Femina Miss India 2013 to invite and encourage contestants from across India to participate.
Auditions have been initiated from all regions across the country. Seven city pageants are being held, out of which four have already been concluded in Pune, Goa, Indore and Bangalore. The next city on the list is Chandigarh, followed by Delhi and Kolkata in January 2013, which will culminate into the grand finale in Mumbai. The winner of the city pageants will get a lifetime opportunity to get fast-tracked to the finals at the grand finale of Pond's Femina Miss India 2013.

To apply, log on to http://feminamissindia.indiatimes.com and send your pictures on feminamissindia2013@gmail.com.

Pond's Gorgeously Alive
International celebrities who swear by the brand include singing sensation Kylie Minogue, who reveals Pond's as the secret of her glowing and youthful skin. Minogue has admitted she has started using it every day following her mother's advice. "It's really changed my skin," she said. "It's all I really use to look after my skin. It's such an old classic."

Pond's was the first sponsor when the Miss India pageant toured India with a fashion show and is now back with the Miss India pageant in its 50th year.

 

Effective Ways to Lower your Cholesterol Levels

Effective Ways to Lower your Cholesterol Levels

By Shraddha Yawalkar

The lifestyle of today is such that people always have too many balls in the air and are competing with time. However, that is no excuse to eat junk food on the go all the time. It leads to obesity and high cholesterol levels which are harmful for health. Even though awareness regarding this has been generated, the number of people suffering from high cholesterol has continues to increase steadily over the years. High cholesterol can easily be managed by following a few basic rules. Read on, before it’s too late.
1) Diet: The types of food you eat and they way they’re prepared can have an immense effect on the cholesterol levels in your body. Certain food themselves contain cholesterol which are known as dietary cholesterol. Some examples of such foods are kidneys, eggs and prawns. However, the as compared to saturated fats, cholesterol found in such food has much less effect on the level of cholesterol in your blood. It is essential to cut down on saturated fats in order to reduce your cholesterol levels.
i. Fats and Cholesterol : Saturated and unsaturated are the two main types of fat. Consuming foods that are high in saturated fat can raise cholesterol levels in the blood. Foods high in saturated fat include ghee, cheese, cream, cakes, biscuits, fatty cuts of meat and foods containing coconut or palm oil. Unsaturated fat can actually help in reducing cholesterol levels. Foods high in unsaturated fats include oily fish, nuts, seeds and vegetable oils and spreads. As nuts are high in calories, only a handful is enough per serving. Include nuts such as almonds, hazelnuts, walnuts etcetera. Fish contains omega-3 fatty acids which are very good for the heart. Finally, reduce the total amount of fat in your diet by avoiding fried and roasted foods. Steam, boil or grill your food. If you must use oil, use olive oil.
ii. Fiber and cholesterol: The two different types of fiber are soluble fiber and insoluble fiber. Soluble fiber can be digested by your body whereas insoluble fiber cannot. Foods containing soluble fiber include oats, beans, peas, lentils, chickpeas and of course, fruits and vegetables. Bananas are an excellent source of fiber. Soluble fiber can reduce the absorption of cholesterol into your bloodstream.
iii. Another important point to be considered is the size of the portion being consumed. Try to eat 5 balanced meals, containing small portions, a day. Reducing your intake of caffeine can also help in lowering your cholesterol levels.
2) Exercise: Studies have shown that exercising even 3 times a week can reduce your cholesterol levels. The best form of exercise is to go for long walks. It doesn’t require anything and can be done anytime, even in between your work. If you are looking more vigorous activities then you can try cycling, running, dancing and go to the gym. The most important thing is to enjoy what you do.
3) Drink Water: Try to drink at least 8 glasses of water per day as drinking more water keeps the body fitter as it reduces fats. Our kidneys also do not function properly if adequate amount of water is not supplied. Moreover, it also eliminates water retention properly. It makes the endocrine gland function properly which helps in balancing our body’s electrolytes, minerals such as sodium, chloride and potassium, which regulate body temperature and control blood pressure. Finally, it helps in the transportation of water-soluble vitamins and nutrients such as protein, minerals and vitamins across the body.
4) Quit Smoking: Smoking not only increases the LDL (low density lipoproteins, the bad cholesterol, while decreasing HDL (high density lipoproteins), the good cholesterol levels. This damages the arteries. The nicotine in cigarettes can also lead to heart palpitations. Smoking also makes the blood stickier by raising fibrinogen levels and platelet counts. Carbon monoxide from cigarette smoke also raises blood cholesterol levels. Research has found that giving up smoking leads to the rising of the HDL levels and depleting of the LDL levels. Within 24 hours of quitting, risk of a heart attack subsides. Due to all the above, it is proven that it makes sense to quit smoking.

MID TERM EXAM

HHHMMMM . . . .. Must be a farm boy like me!!!

MID TERM EXAM........I thought this was rather "cute".............

Students in an advanced Biology class were taking their mid-term exam. The last question was, 'Name seven advantages of Mother's Milk.' The question was worth 70 points or none at all. One student, in particular, was hard put to think of seven advantages However, he wrote: 1) It is perfect formula for the child. 2) It provides immunity against several diseases. 3) It is always the right temperature. 4) It is inexpensive. 5) It bonds the child to mother, and vice versa. 6) It is always available as needed. And then the student was stuck. Finally, in desperation, just before the bell rang indicating the end of the test, he wrote: 7) It comes in two attractive containers and it's high enough off the ground where the cat can't get it.

BE THANKFUL

I truly believe lasting happiness comes from being grateful for everything you already have...even the things that are tough to deal with bring with them gifts, if you look long enough. I know my biggest pain has provided also my biggest blessings and I share the following to extend the Thanksgiving Spirit at least another week! ;-) BE THANKFUL By Author Unknown Be thankful that you don't already have everything you desire. If you did, what would there be to look forward to? Be thankful when you don't know something, for it gives you the opportunity to learn. Be thankful for the difficult times. During those times you grow. Be thankful for your limitations, because they give you opportunities for improvement. Be thankful for each new challenge, because it will build your strength and character. Be thankful for your mistakes. They will teach you valuable lessons. Be thankful when you're tired and weary, because it means you've made a difference. It's easy to be thankful for the good things. A life of rich fulfillment comes to those who are also thankful for the setbacks. Gratitude can turn a negative into a positive. Find a way to be thankful for your troubles, and they can become your blessings. ~I'm very thankful to my friend Jan for her love and support and for sharing this with us...Happy Thanksgiving! If you like this email, I encourage you to Share it with someone you care about and join me on my mission to encourage millions of people around the world.

 

Fat Burning Foods

Fat Burning Foods

By Shraddha Yawalkar

This article will make every girl’s dream come true. According to Janet Starr Hull, there are certain foods that burn fat before it can before it can be stored in the body. Hence, calories in fatty foods are reduced. This is also because the amount of calories required to digest these foods is more than the amount of calories you gain eating these foods. So read on and eat your way to a thinner and fitter you!

Fruits

Fruits are an excellent fat burning food as majority of them are low in calories and contain a lot of fiber. Fiber helps to burn fat in 3 ways: it helps in speeding up your metabolism, aids in slowing down digestion and helps in extending a person’s energy. Due to this reason, you can combine them with fatty foods like cheese and meats to prevent weight gain. Apples, oranges, limes, grapefruit, tangerines, raspberries, grapefruit, blueberries and guava are an excellent source of fiber. Moreover, eating watermelon eliminates toxins from the body and removes excess water. Have it when you feel bloated or have consumed high sodium foods.

Vegetables

Most vegetables contain some form of natural fiber. It is of two types: soluble fiber and insoluble fiber. Soluble fiber forms a gel in the digestive tract while being digested. This gel not only requires energy to be digested but also helps you to stay full longer. Vegetables rich in soluble fiber include carrots, artichokes, eggplant, broccoli, tomatoes and celery. On the other hand, insoluble fiber moves quickly through the digestive tract taking waste and toxins along with it. Eating these foods when you’re feeling overfull or constipated helps relieve these symptoms and burn excess calories. The vegetables which contain insoluble fiber are spinach, mustard greens, kale, green beans, legumes, Brussells sprouts and cabbage. You can reduce the gas caused by some of these foods by cooking them.

Proteins

Most of the fat burning sources of protein is found in seafood. Fish and shellfish are the two sources of protein that require a lot of energy to burn. One 4 oz. fillet of tilapia has 93 calories and four large shrimp have 22 calories all together. However, there are other types of protein that are fat burning. These include crabs, clams, mussels, lobsters, oysters, shrimp, sea bass and flounder. Team one of these up with a fat burning vegetable cabbage or spinach to create a healthy meal.
Additionally, there are quite a few foods which are high in protein that help burn belly fat. These are both vegetarian and non vegetarian options to choose from. Lentils, broccoli, kidney beans, corn and baked potatoes are all excellent sources of protein. If you prefer non-vegetarian food, then there is an array of meats to choose from such as lean hamburger, fish, tuna, broiled beef steak and roasted chicken. Plenty of other foods such as dairy products, rice, whole wheat bread, eggs and tofu also contain significant amounts of protein. Mix and match the ingredients while cooking to get the best results. The key is to make sure that your sources of protein are lean and very low in fat.
Follow these tips and experience the difference fat burning foods can

Public Speaking

One of the most important components of public speaking is the sound of your voice. It influences the impact of your message, and might even make or break the success of your speech. Fortunately, for many people, good voice quality can be learned.

Instructions :

1. Breathe from your diaphragm – Practice long and controlled exhales. When you speak, use breath to punctuate your point. For example, take a breath at the end of each phrase whether you need to or not. Use that opportunity to pause and let the listeners absorb what you say.
2. Use pitch – Lower pitches generally are more soothing to hear. However, modulating your pitch for emphasis will keep your listeners engaged. Develop your pitch by practicing humming.
3. Moderate your volume – Find out if you speak too loudly or too softly. When you begin speaking, ask your audience how your volume is (each situation is different). Try to stay at the appropriate volume throughout your speech.
4. Moderate your pace – This one is also closely related to breath. If you speak too quickly, people can’t keep up. If you speak too slowly, people will lose interest. Record your speech to determine if you need to change your pace. Get feedback from others.
5. Articulate – Try exaggerating your lip movement to reduce mumbling. Practice articulating tongue twisters and extending and exaggerating vowel sounds. Become an expert at articulating tongue twisters as quickly and crisply as possible. Focus on the ones you find difficult.
6. Practice your speech in advance and determine where you want to pause for a breath. For more emphasis, pause for more than one breath. Mark your breathing points in your notes.
7. Loosen up before you begin. Look side to side. Roll your head in half-circles and roll your shoulders back. Shift your rib cage from side to side. Yawn. Stretch. Touch your toes while completely relaxing your upper body, then slowly stand up, one vertebra at a time, raising your head last. Repeat as needed.
8. Posture – Stand up straight and tall to allow full lung capacity and airflow.
9. Record your voice repeatedly using different ways of speaking. Determine which one is most pleasing.
10. Practice breath control – Take a deep breath, and while you exhale, count to 10 (or recite the months or days of the week). Try gradually increasing your volume as you count, using your abdominal muscles—not your throat—for volume. Don’t let your larynx tense up.

STUPIDITY

Spread the Stupidity

Only in This Stupid World

......do drugstores make the sick walk all the way to the back of the
Store to get their prescriptions while healthy people can buy cigarettes at the front.

Only in This Stupid World

.....do people order double cheeseburgers, large fries, and a diet coke.

Only in This Stupid World

.....do banks leave vault doors open and then chain the pens to the counters..

Only in This Stupid World
......do we leave cars worth thousands of dollars in the driveway and put
Our useless junk in the garage.

Only in This Stupid World ............do we buy hot dogs in packages of ten and buns in
Packages of eight..

Only in This Stupid World .....do they have drive-up ATM machines with Braille lettering.

EVER WONDER
...
Why the sun lightens
Our hair, but darkens our skin?

Why don't you ever see the
Headline 'Psychic Wins Lottery'?

Why is
'abbreviated' such a long word?

Why is it that
Doctors call what they do 'practice'?

Why is lemon juice made
With artificial flavor, and dishwashing liquid made with real lemons?

Why is the man who
Invests all your money called a broker?

Why is the time of
Day with the slowest traffic called rush hour?

Why isn't there
Mouse-flavored cat food?

Why didn't Noah
Swat those two mosquitoes?

Why do they sterilize the
Needle for lethal injections?

You know that
Indestructible black box that is used on airplanes? Why don't they make the whole plane out of that stuff?!

Why don't sheep
Shrink when it rains?

Why are they called
Apartments when they are all stuck together?

I like this one!!!

If con is the opposite of
Pro, is Congress the opposite of progress?

If flying is so
Safe, why do they call the airport the terminal?