September 08, 2007

Dear Super Sis,
I have two problems. 1-- I want to learn the guitar. I have checked the internet a lot of times but all the guitar learning websites either demand money or membership with address, phone no., etc. So can you please give links to some guitar learning websites, which are free of cost and membership and also provide very good and effective lessons?

2-- I want to start a heavy metal band with four members. Lead guitarist and vocalist (me after I improve my guitar skills), bass guitarist, rhythm guitarist and a drummer. Please give me some advice that where i can find these and how to start it. Thanks.

Faatih

Faatih, while you certainly can get online guitar lessons, you might also want to check out your nearest musical instruments’ store. They usually always sell tutorials on CDs/ cassettes that you can purchase at very cheap rates. Apart from this, www.guitarnoise.com is a website that provides free guitar lessons. You will also find http://guitar.about.com/library/blguitarlessonarchive.htm a helpful page to look up while www.guitartricks.com also caters to the same purpose.

As far as starting a band is concerned, well, first you need to know how to play something. You’re already planning to start work on that bit. Secondly, you can’t just ‘find’ band members like that; you make it sound like you’re trying to ‘find’ a pair of shoes for yourself! No. The proper way to go about establishing an underground band is to begin via word of mouth. It’s like playing Chinese whispers. Just tell your friends and classmates that you’re looking forward to start a band and if they know anyone who might be interested, ask him/her to contact you. Your friends will then pass the word on, and that, in most cases, is most effective.

Besides, once you start developing your musical skills and publicly displaying them at small scale functions/ school concerts etc, people themselves will take notice of your talent and who knows, you might be approached without the effort of conscious advertising.

If you want to really get out there and start a band quickly and cheaply, well, you could print out flyers and advertise on local soft-boards or hand them out among kids. If anyone’s interested, they will find you themselves.

And finally, before your email me any queries, kindly at least run a spell/grammar check on it so that it isn’t so harsh on my poor eyes. Please be careful in the future. Good luck .


Dear Super Sis,
I am 13-14 year old girl and this is the first time I am writing to any magazine my weight is 59 kg and I want to reduce it to 30-31. I do no aerobics or exercise. Please help me!

H       

H, we couldn’t censor your weight because we need it to clarify exactly where your problem lies. I hope that keeping your identity and diet confidential is sufficient.

Yes, at the moment you certainly are over weight, but you are again keeping an abnormally low target weight for yourself. You shouldn’t aim or hope to become 31 kg. That’s retarded! A good, healthy weight for you would be in the early 40s, with ample variations of course, as you haven’t revealed your height to me at all.

From what you tell me about your diet, you haven’t been eating the right kinds of foods enough. You are starving yourself, and that in itself reduces your body’s metabolic rate, which prevents you from burning calories quickly. The result is that you put on more weight all over again. It’s a vicious cycle.

No, sweetheart, this isn’t the right approach to it at all. Haven’t you read the countless times I have discussed the being-overweight issue? I’m sure you have; you certainly sound like you’ve been reading my column for ages. Then why aren’t you doing any physical activity at all? Your whole approach to this problem is wrong. Starving won’t help you. Rusk and chapaatis won’t reduce your weight. What’s inside you will stay there unless you start moving.

If you’re reluctant to go out and walk/run/play, well, get a hold of a skipping rope and do a little leg pumping at home. Resort to your room for 20 minutes every day, and skip for a while. Take breaks when you feel tired and lightly walk in one place (still walking). Regain your energy and start skipping again. Continue this routine for 20 minutes and do not overdo it at all. Play some music to push you along and take tiny sips of water to keep your throat from getting dry. Once you’re through with skipping, cool down and stretch your muscles to prevent cramps.

As far as diet is concerned, yes, do cut down on junk foods, but do take three proper meals daily and intermediary snacks to keep your body geared up to burn energy. If you starve yourself like you are presently, your energy levels will fall so low that you will feel lethargic and sick all the time and it won’t help your weight either. It can also pose long-term health threats so quit this practise, okay?

Finally, once you start on this new routine, give it time. It will take you at least six weeks to see any visible changes in yourself, so be patient and steady in your approach towards a slimmer self. You’ll get there. Cheers!