Gym Adventures

Yoga, My progress so far.

2011-08-23T04:20:00.000+08:00

I have been practicing Yoga for almost a year now.

I will allocate about 30 mins for my Yoga as a part of my cool down regime, after my hyped up cardio and interval training.

Yoga is a practice that allows you to communicate with your body. It's an intimate communication, and a gentle persuasion, a great coorperation as it goes beyond what you think your body can do.

So after almost a year practicing, I finally are able to do some of the simple intermediate poses.

Like the One Leg Pigeon Pose :

Chakrasana (Wheel) :

Plough :

and Sarvangasana (Shoulder stand) :

There are a few more but I have work to do now. :D...

Be at Peace. Do Yoga!

Hiatus? Not.

2011-07-15T03:47:00.000+08:00

Nope, I was not on a workout hiatus.

The last time I was on one, I gained 5 kilos. I would never do that again.

I went to the doctor last two days. I told him that I have been feeling tired and it affected my workout in a big way. I suck at burpees and I just feel exhausted after every workout.

I also told him that I have crappy sleep for several weeks now. It's either I overslept, or I slept for 3 hours and then would be awake for the whole day.

He smirked and scribbled something on his notepad.

"You... my dear, is exhausted. You are drained. You need to rest."

I cringed for a second before saying :

"You're serious? I am frikkin' exhausted? What?"

Maybe it was, slightly ignorant of me to think that only celebs suffer from exhaustion.

"You need sleep."

I requested for Valium, at least at a lower dosage. Surely that's ok.

"Nope. No Valium. But I can give Rameron."

I cringed again. In all gloriousness of my dark undereye bags, I just don't want to subject myself to extra grogginess and crappiness, the side effects of rameron medication.

I rejected the offer for drugs from the doctor. I paid the consultation fee and walked out thinking that I might be tricked into using my medical insurance for such a stupid diagnosis.

But I have to say, I do agree with the doctor's advise. He advised me to have 8 hours sleep, eat more carbs so that my body can accommodate my daily workout. I am consuming waaay too little calories for my kind of interval training.

On a happy note, my muscles had never looked so awesome.

And my thighs looked less like a blob now.

Ok then... I will rest.. more... and eat.. more.

Myths about diets, workout and training

2011-06-11T04:17:00.001+08:00

People would usually tell me that I am pushing it a bit too much.

They said that training 6 days in a week is not going to be good for my form, that my diet is not enough for weight loss etc.

What they fail to see is that I have become stronger than they are,and also, I have lost the weight that I want to put off, and that they are still pretty much, heavy.

Now I am not someone who is all positive sun shiny, birds chirping kind, crack driven, jumpy, WE CAN DOOO IT kind of person, but I am not one to discourage people from doing something that is right.

And I would usually say this to the people who thought 'I am pushing it a bit much';

"Yeah. You are still fat. I am not."

Yes.. I can be pretty mean, but only to people who are trying to discourage me.

So *Cracks fingers*... let's put these myths that these muthas had been telling me all these while down shall we?

1) You will have to eat less, and exercise more, then you will be 'kurus' (slim)

Tried. And this is bonkers!

How do you expect to exercise (I would prefer to use the term, train) when you don't eat enough.

Of course, I failed to see this during the initial point of my training and I ended up exhausted half of the time. My performance was bad as well. I would give up at 5 counts of knee push up and that's... embarassing.

So, I decided to eat... and eat. 5 times a day of eats. I loaded on fruits like bananas, wholemeal bread, nuts and lean protein. I up my fibre intake with a side of fresh salad (no dressing for me, except for a squeeze of lemon or lime. Pretty good I might add.) and cut my junk food comsumption (well... not when I have a sudden menstrual related craving for some cocoa).

I am not as extreme as like some people I know and I hate protein shakes (The taste is yuk!). That's why I still have baby (Yeah right) fat.

2) Weight training will give you muscles like Malek Noor / Arnold Schwarzenegger

I would like to ketuk any baluk who come up with this. Unless you take certain body building supplements, this is NOT going to happen. You have to have a high protein diet for that kind of ~~scary~~ form. With a moderate diet, your muscles will form better, your sagging bits will be firmer and you will look and feel stronger. It will also help in your core training and this will result in awesome looking papan cuci (Washboard) abs.

3) Run faster, lift heavier... then you will lose weight

NEVER go over your personal capacity, unless you want to end up with severe sports injury. Overdoing it could have dangerous outcome. If you can only run 3 minutes in a stretch on a 8.0 treadmill speed, then be it. You can add on by a minute every week or every day. It will build up in time.

4) 1 hour workout in bad form compared to an excellent form 12 minutes workout, is NOT better.

What I meant with form here is how these exercises are performed. A lunge is technically not a lunge if it's not done properly and if your glutes are not feeling a damn thing. This also had something to do with the intensity of the exercise. You can lose say, 300 calories in a 2 hours run and I can lose the same in a high intensity 30 mins training.

5) You must feel pain after workout to know if your workout worked

Well, to me, if I feel pain after a work out, that would mean that I did something wrong. It's either I didn't warm up long enough, didn't cool down long enough or that my form was incorrect. Something's gotta give. Plus, the last thing I want is to be in a state of pain that would cause my my daily workout. So NO... you should not feel pain after your workout, a little soreness is always a given, but certainly not pain. You should however, feel rejuvenated, and have that awesome 'Whoah... I did that today.' kind of feeling after your workouts, not the 'Aw crap, I think I will have to pee standing today.' feel.

Comprende?

What's shakin' and bakin'?

2011-06-02T01:38:00.000+08:00

My fats... :D

Anyway, I have been busy with work and charting my progress for my workout that I honestly do not have the time to update on this blog.

Have been doing a little bit of soul searching, had a massive PMS attack earlier this week and was out of the gym for 2 days and hopefully, I am all ready to rock and roll in the Yoga class I have scheduled later and also to kick ass in the 300 rep ~~nightmare~~ challenge.

Owh.. and I am at 63 KG now. :)... I love it when I can see results. Hopefully I will be able to be at the 61 kilo marker by the next 2 weeks.

Wish me luck!

Workout Journal (05/04/11 and 05/05/11)

2011-05-05T22:59:00.000+08:00

05/04/11

Pre workout meal :

Low fat milk
Cake (Shhhhh) - There was nothing that I can eat in the fridge, but cake, so cut me some slack -_-

Post workout

Beef soup (I cooked extra)
Water

Raisins for snack.
Black tea, no sugar.

Workout :

Lunge Back Press Up & Squat Leg Lift with dumb bells :

15 reps x 3 rounds

Rocket Launchers

15 reps x 3 rounds

Kick Ups

15 reps X 3 rounds

Jump Lunges/Mountain Climbers

15 reps X 3 rounds

(This was nightmare!!!)

05/05/11

Pre workout meal / breakfast :
Low sugar milk tea
Kellogg's fitnesse cereal, raisin and low fat milk
Post workout
Caesar salad
Water
Black tea, 1 tsp sugar, crackers and raisins for snack.

Workout :
Weightball (18 lbs) Swing

1st round : 20 reps ; 2nd round : 25 reps ; 3rd round ; 30 reps

One Leg Half Squat with balance ball and weightball (18lbs)

15 reps x 3 rounds
Forward/Backward Lunge

10 reps x 3 rounds

Exercise Combo for Butt and Core

10 reps x 3 rounds

Workout Journal (04/29/11 - 05/02/11)

2011-05-04T01:02:00.000+08:00

My weekends was packed.

My usual agenda would be breakfast with my two best friends at 8 am and just walking around in selected malls on Saturday.

Joyce wanted to go and find maternity clothes so we went to One Utama right after breakfast on saturday.

Before going off to The Scotsman's for a relaxing weekend.

The good thing about the last weekend was that The Scotsman and I went to the gym for two days in a row thanks to the long Labor day weekend.

05/01/11

Side lunge, skip and push up : 15x 3 reps

Surfer : 0 (I was working out with The Scotsman, and somehow, I want to control cun)

Back lunge plus kick up with weight (8 lbs dumb bell) : 15x 3 reps

meal :

Breakfast (In bed :)) :

Toast
Tea

Lunch

Chicken rice (The first in .... 1 year) - To compensate for my usual rice dinner.
Laichi iced

Dinner :

Pasta with red sauce
wine

=_=... very romantic but defeating the purpose...

05/02/11

Side lunge, skip and push up : 15x 3 reps
Surfer : 0 (Still controlling cun)
Back lunge plus kick up with weight (8 lbs dumb bell) : 15x 3 reps

Reptile plank : 10x 3 reps

05/03/11

No workout. I was exhausted from the weekends.

Meal :

Breakfast : Banana + K protein bar + water

Lunch : vegetarian mock mutton curry + mock grilled fish with sambal + ice lemon tea

Dinner : Beef soup with potatoes + water

Workout Journal(04/28/11)

2011-04-29T04:42:00.000+08:00

Woke up late. Raining. Tight muscles.

So I didn't work out today.

Diet :

Chicken kebab with grilled vegetables and water

Whole wheat crackers.

Need to wake up at 11 am from now. @_@

Workout Journal 04/27/11

2011-04-28T03:17:00.000+08:00

I am proud of myself today.

I have succeeded in perfecting the exercise moves for yesterday's workout.

I know that I am supposed to be doing the Hot Mess work out from Zuzana's BodyRock website, but I didn't want to move on to another workout without getting this one right first.

So this is my record for today :

Side lunge, 3x push up plus 5x skip lunge - 10x 3 reps

Surfer - 5x 3 reps (Very excited!)

Backward lunge with dumbbells and kick up - 10x 3 reps

The workout targets my thighs and bum plus being that it's a whole body exercise, it's a good cardio workout as well.

I was sweating and I loved it.

I will be focusing on this workout for the whole of this week, before I move on to my second attempt at Hot Mess workout.

Diet wise, pre workout meal was weetameal crackers with Soy while I finished a whole plate of grilled chicken salad at Delicious.

I really can get used to this whole pushing my body to unknown limits thing.

;)

If You Really Want More...

2011-04-27T02:17:00.000+08:00

So, this year, I met a man that for now, is my weekend partner.

We don't usually meet during the weekdays.
The man that I am with, LOVES his food. He is this white guy who enjoys his curries and rice. It doesn't matter to him because :
a) He is a guy
b) He is not fat. He does not have his own bum country.
For me though, it's a tough challenge. With him, it's all about indulging. I have to constantly do a BOLO for something that is healthier and carries lower calories.

The last time we went to a Mamak, I opted for a plain thosai, while he ordered two pieces of paratha, with mutton curry.

He feeds me his food, which is sweet and all but not when the person who is being fed happened to be on a strict diet.

Anyway, I got some exercise during the weekend from grocery shopping and also from walking in water at the pool. It's harder than it looks, actually.

On Tuesday, I got into my gym gear and went straight to Fitness First.

After 5 minutes of 8.0 KM/h jog on the treadmill, I walked up to the free exercise spot and did this work out.

It was an awesome feeling to finally be able to get some of the moves right. I am still slow on the surfer workout, but hoping that I will get better at it.

This work out is not so bad. I didn't have an interval timer so I did each in 10x 3 reps each.

That alone is enough to leave you sweating like a pig!

Tomorrow... Hot Mess work out, will blog more about my progress! ;)

I want my abs back!

2011-04-25T15:22:00.001+08:00

This is my third week back at work. And the only exercises I’ve been doing since are Kegels and pulling my belly button inwards.

Good news is, I went to see Mr. Trainer last week and he said I can continue my 1:1 sessions with him from last year. Yeay! And being the trainer that I knew, he will not say that I did a good job losing my pregnancy weight! Ha ha ha ha… But that’s okay. It’s his job to make sure people like me feels that there are more things to do.

Anyway, yes, I manage to loose almost all my pregnancy weight. Last weight I recorded was about a month ago at 62kg. That is almost to my pre-pregnancy weight which was 61kg. However, I still have far to go, as I plan to go back to my pre-wedding weight which was at 58kg. And I know I can do it, provided I start to get moving.

Being absent for almost a year from the gym, it’s a challenge to restart. However, I have come out with a plan. For this next few weeks, I will concentrate on rebuilding my core again. And I’ve found a good link as a start:

Going up and down the stairs several times a day at home also has help me rebuild my muscle around the buttocks and thigh area. I do my best to remind my self to tuck my tummy in every time I go up the stairs. I still forget most of the time.

One thing for sure, taking care of a baby really burns fat! I’m sweating when I’m bathing her, I’m sweating when I dress her and I even sweat when I’m putting her to bed! Bathing the baby, I have to support her weight on my arms. Dressing the baby, I’m sitting crossed leg or half-squatting. Sometimes I’m getting up and sitting down and getting up again, because I forgot to take things from her cloth drawer. Putting the baby to bed, I’m walking the room to get her to settle down and sleep. At times, I do side squats to imitate swinging move, with some benefits for me. And by the time she sleeps, I’m beat. I could hardly summon enough energy to do my nightly beauty routine!

Workout Journal (04/20/11 & 04/21/11)

2011-04-21T19:37:00.000+08:00

I decided to take it slow yesterday.

So I did Yoga at home. By the end of the 60 minutes, I was sweating.

10 Surya Namaskars (warrior variations) and a few seated positions later, I was a flood of salty sweat.

I feel energized and powered up. And I was craving for tuna in sunflower oil.

And roasted chicken.

So my meal for yesterday was :

Meal #1
Weetameal crackers and low fat milk

Meal #2
Roasted chicken (Breast)

Guava juice

Snacks

Black tea and crackers

Chewies

--

Today I had to come in for work at 2.30 pm. Not having enough sleep is disastrous for me so I decided to sleep and woke up at 1.30 pm.

That said, I did not do any exercise.

Meal #1 :

Meatballs
Egg tart

Water

Yes.. I am ashamed... =_=...

Workout Journal 04/15-04/18 & 04/19

2011-04-20T01:32:00.000+08:00

Well.

Obviously because I have some other agendas going on (My weekend schedule changed drastically because of The Scotsman), I was not working out during the weekends.

But it was replaced with the amount of walking we did to and fro to Pavilion for food and night walks at the Bukit Bintang/Sg. Wang area.

The Scotsman is one to indulge in good simple stuff, especially where food is concerned.

It's enough that he makes mean Tomato sandwiches, he also makes GOOD fried bread. That was a major calory and cholesterol laden meal.

Fried Bread had a health hazard warning from the government of Britain in the 70's. And so I am not being paranoid.

But, I want to see The Scotsman happy. He is happy when I eat his cooking, so I smiled and ate the whole damn thing. I keep my guilt to myself of course.

Plus on Sunday, we hung out by the pool and got a tan and he had a swim while I floated at the sidelines (I can't swim... shameless eh?)

I only started my workout today and this is my routine :

Warm up
5 minutes brisk walk and 10 minutes jog.

Workout
Side lunge and push up combo - 10X2

Surfer - 10X2

Back lunge and weights plus kick up - 10 X2

Cool down

Yoga :

Surya Namaskar

Pigeon pose

Infant pose

Plough pose

--

Post work out meal :

Toast and Soy

Mid day meal :

Tomyam Vermicelli

Water

Snacks

Fruits

Raisins

Workout Journal (04/14/11)

2011-04-14T15:50:00.001+08:00

Alas, I am still not working out.

I am pissed off at myself for not able to do this. Today is a perfectly good day for exercise and yet, I am not able to do so.

The pain has subsided a bit. I am hoping that I am going to be healed, completely by tomorrow (Staying optimisitic, crossing all things that I can cross.)

Because I have to be in the office earlier today, I was not able to prepare my first meal today. I am thinking of going out to have some food later. I just need to take care of some stuff at work first before I can do so.

I am thinking of having a warm salad over at Delicious. Balsamic vinaigrette dressing and loads of greens and nice medium well beef filets. Yumm... and of course, water to go with that.

Plus, I am perfectly aware that I would need to go to the grocer to get some supplies for the kitchen. Greens, lean protein and fruits.

I am looking forward to my workouts next week. ;)

Injured - Workout Journal 04/13/11

2011-04-14T02:30:00.000+08:00

As luck would have it, I sustained muscle injury after that fateful Monday's workout.

I didn't really know what went wrong, to be perfectly honest. I warmed up, and I cooled down.

And I do my stretches, so I don't know what is the deal.

I dread going up the stairs or even getting up from my seat. I feel Bleagh because I am not able to work out.

The mistake that I did was to go to the gym on Tuesday, because muscle soreness after workouts are actually normal, but not this one.

The pain is concentrated on a few areas, the one that I highlighted in red :

The Scotsman told me to take it easy, to not move too much.

And I am like, right, me not ...move much?

And that he will take care of me during the weekends... (LOL LOL LOL)

The pain I can take, not working out, that I cannot take. -_-

So, reluctantly, I have to sit out from the gym today.

My food for today was :

Cajun Chicken Sandwich with Mango Juice

I can't resist from having a grande soy latte though. @_@

and two low cal chewies after 8 pm. I forgot to bring my raisins and nuts.

Drink of choice - Water of course.

~~Of course I am not going to mention the inch of pizza I took when I was at home with Joyce... =_=~~

Wish me a speedy recovery!

Workout Journal (04/12/11)

2011-04-12T22:48:00.003+08:00

Today, I have to take it easy.

My hamstring was in pain due to yesterday's workout. Even going up the stairs was a chore. My ankle was not making things better too. I had accidentally twisted my ankle 4 years ago, and it wasn't treated properly.

As a result of that, I can't over exaggerate my lower body exercise.

So today, my anke was wobbly.

I decided to concentrate on upper body instead.

The gym was unusually full today, until I looked at the clock and realized that I came in late. The after 5 crowd was coming in and looking for a spot of my own was a challenge.

So this was what I did today :

10 minutes on Rowing machine

30 bicep curl with 7 lbs dumbbells

30 tricep curl with 7 lbs dumbbells

30 reverse bicep curl with lbs dumb bells

30 secs bridging (Front)

30 secs bridging (Side, left and right)

Yoga :

4 salutation to the sun (Surya Namaskar) (with warrior 1 (Virabhadrasana I)variation)
Tree pose (Vrksasana)

Pigeon pose (Kapotasana)
Plank (Arda Chaturanga (I Think))
Chatturanga

The truth is, I can hardly remember the sanskrit version of the many poses. I would describe these positions as loosely as I can; like; the pose that requires me to literally bend backwards, elongating my spine in doing so... what's it called.. I don't know.

Thank God for Google... Hahahaha....

And then I also attempted a little arm balancing, the easiest, which is the Scale pose.

My wrist needs a little more work.

Food wise, I am trying to eat 5 times a day. Because my time clock is the total opposite, I woke up, prepare breakfast, which is also my pre workout meal at 3.30 pm in the afternoon.

For today, I have decided to cook egg white omelette with 1 egg yolk served with stir fry tuna flakes + 2 slices of bread.

Had snacks in between of cashews, raisins and grape and decided to go for Mihun Sup (Vermicelli Soup) for dinner +Post work out meal.

So far, the diet and workout plans are in motion. Can't wait to get right back on intensive core training again! :D

Workout Journal

2011-04-11T22:47:00.000+08:00

Jade introduced me to an awesome home workout website a few months ago.

I have it linked to this site as well as my own blog ;

http://www.bodyrock.tv/

The awesome thing about the site is that it packs everything on one single website. The workouts were explained and easier options were given to beginners.

I am not a beginner. I have been working out since earlier last year and so, I go for the standard full workout.

I can say this... it made me want to cry.

However, it did make me sweat and I like that part.

So today I did the Hot Mess work out consisting of :

Part 1 :

10 get ups

Part 2

20 backward lunge with weights

Part 3

20 weight squat

Part 4

10 burpees

--
The workout was supposed to be a build up from part 1 - part 4.

That means by Part 2, you are supposed to be doing part 1 + 20 backward lunge all over again.

It's my first attempt so I decided to do it a little differently so that it won't give my body a shock. I will build up the intensity over the next few weeks.

I have recently gain a bit of weight as I haven't had the time to work out that much.

My previous weight had been lingering between 58 - 59 kilos. I was in the middle of straightening out some stuff at work and by the time I was done with work at 7 am, I would normally feel so tired that I wouldn't have the strenght to go to the gym.

So when I found out that I am a staggering 64 kilos now (That's a whopping 6 Kilos add on), I was shocked!

The fact that I can (well, I don't really have a choice, actually) to fit in an S/size 8/Size 10 dresses, tops and pants are I guess, no indication to my ballooning weight!

I knew then, that I MUST FRIKKIN' DO SOMETHING!

I refuse to be the fat person that I was.

So, I started my workout with a 15 minutes jog on the treadmill before going off to the training area. The first round was ok, but by the second round ( and I am kind of embarrased by this.) I was already swearing and huffing.

But I went on with it. I was sweating, I was breathless and my knees almost gave way.

I brought along with me my workout plan for this week for me to note down my progress. It may look like nothing now, but this piece of paper is going to help me a lot in my weight loss plan.

Aside from that, I also thought that the other reason why I gained weight was because I seemed to crave for all kinds of traditional dishes for the past couple of months. Things like curry, fried rice and all kinds of fattening stuff.

So it is time, I must say, it saddens me to even type this, STOP all this and get back on the healthy eating wagon.

So for today, my pre work out meal was plain pasta as I need the energy for me to do the jumps and stuff, my snack in between was Jacob's weetameal crackers and green tea, I had water during my workout and my post workout meal was O'Brian's Chilli chicken wrappo and guava juice.

I also brought a tub of raisins in case I get a case of sweet tooth at work, cashew nuts which packs a huge amount of energy, Quaker's low cal chewie bars and a ready to eat salad for my 4th or 5th meal of the day.

My drink of choice for the next few months would be H2O.

I have planned out my weight loss carefully. I have never been a believer of fast weight loss. I believe it takes time for the body to adapt to the new weight.

So by April 30th, I target to lose 3 kilos to 61 kilos and then another 3 kilos by end of May.

My weight should go back to 58 kilos by then, hopefully.

It is not something impossible as I have lost more than 5 kilos in 4 weeks before. All I need to do is to take care of my meals and put in more intensity into my workout.

And to not slack off.

Wish me luck!

My Confinement Story

2011-03-03T09:26:00.001+08:00

CONFINEMENT. The very word suggests immobility, trapped, caged, etc. If you googled the word and look at the images returned, 90% of them are really, really sad.

I am almost through my third week of confinement. Today is the 20th day. In the first week, I was still weak from the hard work on the 11th, the idea of total rest and inactivity is totally welcomed. Starting from Monday, 14th of February, I began my massage therapy session. For the first week, I am a body that needs recuperating.

Second week came, and it started to get tough. Though we had our first taste of outdoor after twelve days of “house-arrest” it just left me with wanting for more of the polluted air! Ha ha ha… How exhilarating it was to be able to be out there, and feel normal again! Within this week, I got a little bit emotional, especially when people started to criticising that I’m cheating on my confinement.

The rule was, to wear socks day and night, to cover the head day and night, to wear sweater day and night. Initially I was okay with it, but the weather got too warm and I started to feel suffocated. I am eating meals with black pepper every day, day and night, combined with the humid weather it got too much. I didn’t realise I kicked off the socks while I was sleeping or let the head scarf loosen. I was supposed to block my ears with garlic, but I didn’t get around to doing that; it is said that it will expel wind from the body and to avoid post partum depression, or meroyan as known amongst the Malays. I had to sleep with 4 pillows under my head for the same reason. I tried, oh, I did my best, but my coccyx started to ache and the pressure was too much for my back. So, I took it upon myself to only use two pillows earlier than prescribed.

Into the third week, I started to make myself comfortable, and I believe Mak does not want to put too much pressure on me. For I have been eating right all the time, with few exception where I asked her permission to eat a little sambal goreng… I do my berganggang (sauna) every morning, I do the hot stone therapy (bertungku) every day even when Cik Yati does not come for massage session. Instead of wearing socks I use a pair of hotel slippers. I have decided that for me to get through this confinement period, I need to feel comfortable and relaxed. So, I’m changing my mindset; My confinement period is my spa holiday and the time to bond with my beautiful daughter. It is working well so far.

What’s also helping is my massage sessions, which are continuous throughout the confinement period. I have 18 sessions altogether and have completed nine sessions so far. I’m also taking herbal drink at every meal; akar kayu that taste like tea without sugar. Luckily I’ve been sugarless tea drinker for quite some time (green tea, chinese tea, floral tea) so this herbal tea is just like one of those. I’m taking herbal pills too, three times a day. And every morning, I drink a shot of turmeric juice with a dollop of honey. Yummehhh!!! My tummy, hands and legs are also covered with herbal concoction in the morning, not to mention pilis for the forehead. I am allowed to remove the residue once they are dried. A plus, coz need to kiss my hubby before he goes to work, kan?

When I weighed myself at the doctor’s office last week, I have actually lost 8kg! 6kg more and I’ll be at my pre-pregnancy weight! When I look at my pictures during the first week, my face was so pale. But now, I can see the difference, my lips are getting redder (surprise!) and my skin is brighter. My tummy, is getting smaller and smaller every day, I know for sure because the corset (bengkung) I’m wearing is getting narrower every day. Mak has to alter the bengkung to make it smaller. And this is only after 15 days! So, whoever says that pantang is an old wives’ tale, they better get their facts checked.

All in all, my confinement is not so bad, as long as I don’t entertain the need to be out and about. The food, I’m loving it. I have baked fish, baked chicken, poached fish, all served with sour sauce. They are all cooked with black pepper, ginger and garlic. All my favourites! Only thing is, I miss eating spicy food, but apparently I can still eat curry (cooked with milk, not coconut milk), so seriously, confinement food, they are not bad at all! I’m following the rules where I cannot eat beans, potato, anything watery or windy, etc. So the only vege that I can take is sawi, pak choy, and their siblings.

I have 25 days left. 25 because I delivered Baby Hana at night. I’m determined to loose all the pregnancy weight, at least. Get healthier and be more vibrant. So I can take care of The Hubby and Baby Hana. :-)

[Reposted from my personal blog]

According to my confinement lady, I should not go to the gym for the next six months after my confinement finishes. I’m pretty sure she meant more on the heavy duty exercises. I believe, like my co-author does, simple basic yoga moves should be okay, since they are not stressing the body at all. In fact, it’d be a good time to start regain and reshaping all the muscle, right?

So, I hope I will not bore people with stories of me new baby. I am determined to stay in shape and be fit even with a baby on tow. ;-)

Updates

2011-03-03T06:57:00.000+08:00

I know that I have not been updating this blog as often as I should.

My co author recently welcomed a baby girl, so like any self respecting new parent, she will now be blogging more about her baby and her experiences as a new mother.

As for me, I am still single and still working out trying to maintain my weight, if not constantly trying to get slimmer, more toned and stronger.

I am still trying to figure out how to eat right so that I would get enough strength to keep up to my cardio and weight exercises. I don't eat rice as all the starch is bad for my system. Bear in mind that the reason I lost weight was because I stopped eating rice for the whole 6 months. That and exercise 7 days a week.

No pain no gain. I love the feeling of fitting into a size S dress and to be able to carry off a bikini with confidence.

Looking at co author, I was wondering how I would be handling it if I ever get married and got pregnant. I have a feeling that I will freak out looking at the scales pointing to a frightening 69 kilos which was my weight when I started off. I am now at a healthy weight of 56 kilos and I still think I am fat.

I am bottom heavy so I think all big butt-ed girls would attest that no matter what weight you are at, if your butt can form its' own country, then chances are we would feel fat most of the time.

Which is a far cry to our so called confidence, but what the hell. We are human, which human is completely satisfied with their body?

I hope in the next update, I will be able to be more constructive and encouraging. Trying really hard to.

Live life hard. Salud!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!

2011-01-01T18:57:00.001+08:00

Another few hours to the end of the first day of the new year. But it’s still not to let to wish everyone a very happy new year!

May this year be more prosperous and more exciting with lots of happiness, love and money! All the best everyone!

Image was googled.

Several hours before 2011... I Feel like...

2010-12-31T16:13:00.000+08:00

Eating...

But... I don't know what to eat...

Right about now... a plate of pasta would be......... Nais...

BUT... I am lazy to cook.

Maybe...

Owh bloody hell... I don't know what to eat...

Wedges!!! But... buttttt... have to draive!!!!!

DAMMIT!

I will come up with a seconds after New year post tonight... while at work... with my friends and colleagues...

Until then...

Squat and Lunges

2010-12-29T16:21:00.001+08:00

Two more moves that can be done, with great care, while one is pregnant are:

Squat
Lunges

(Honestly, I hate them. But they really do work wonders… But that does not mean I have to love them. I still hate them. I complain every time Mr. Trainer asked me to do it. The more he knows I hate them, the more he ask me to do them.)

Why do I say “WITH GREAT CARE”? Because, as you grow into your pregnancy, your balance and equilibrium are challenged. If you were not exercising frequently before, and do movement that increase your ability to balance and increase your muscle strength, you will wobble when you perform these two movement.

I am happy to say that my balance is still good at 34 weeks of pregnancy. I can stand on one feet, and I can still do the yoga tree pose! Yeay for me!

To help with balance, while doing squat, you could hold on to the back of a chair, or if you are really a beginner, support your back by standing against the wall. Make sure you have chairs on your right and left side to hold on to, just in case.

When doing squat make sure your knees are bent at 90 degrees angle. Do not let your knee to move further from your toes. Go as low as you can. As much as you can, keep your back straight, that’s why having a wall behind you is easier. Otherwise, let your body bend forward only slightly. I find putting my arms at 45 degrees angle helps to better position my torso as well as balancing. You might want to try that. For extra resistance, hold on to a pair of light dumb-bells.

Lunges is more of a challenge as you get heavier. Use support if you are not sure of your balancing ability. Seriously. Use it.

Although this movement looks simpler than squat, trust me it’s not. Again, be careful not to over-extend your front knee. Make sure it is at 90 degrees angle. If you cannot bend as low, it’s okay, just go to the maximum you can. As you progress, you will in time, improve.

So, these are some of the moves that I do to keep my legs strong, and hopefully to ensure my thighs do not enlarge more than they need to! I have big task in front of me once I finished my confinement next year. My target is to lose all my pregnancy weight within three months and go back to my pre-wedding weight (between 55kg – 58kg) in three months after that.

I know I have to be patient. It takes me 9 months to complete the full pregnancy weight gain, so it’ll take me as much to lose them. But I can speed it up with good diet and consistent exercise. I must.

Inspiracionale!

2010-12-28T17:26:00.000+08:00

Recently, my co-author YM'd me a and we were OMG-ing on Kelly Osbourne.

She is the cover girl on January's Shape Magazine and she looked AWESOME.

I mean, look :

Unlike her mother, Sharon Osbourne who had to undergo a gastric bypass, she chose to exercise and to eat right. You don't have any idea how much that has inspired me.

Seriously, to see another fellow female to achieve such drastic change, feels good because in turn, it can give me more inspiration for me to follow suit.

This is my progress as of now. I have been slacking a lot, due to my hectic job schedule and all, but compared to back then (I do not take any photos in a bikini or gym bra when I was fat), this is a HUGE change for me.

Of course, I still have fat on my tum tum, ass, hips and the irritating sag under my arms... but I am hoping I will be able to zap it all off in time.

My co - author thinks that I have done enough. I think I just need to re-educate myself.

Re-educating...

Do Your Kegel!

2010-12-15T16:54:00.001+08:00

I have been absent for a long, long time. My co-author feels it is such a waste that we have the blog here and I’m not updating it. True, I must say. But in my defense, more of an excuse actually, my current condition makes me “lazy” to update this blog. Just because I no longer visit the gym.

You see, I am now into my 32nd week of pregnancy. And I have not been to the gym eversince my trainer kicked me out when I went to see him, with gym bag on my shoulder, and told him I have a bun in the oven. :-p

Anyway, for this post, I’d like to share with you one exercise that any women can do, even when she’s pregnant. Yup, you know it! The Kegel Exercise.

Kegel is something that you can do anytime, anywhere. No one will know it but you. What you do is actually do a muscle contraction as if you’re stopping your urine flow. If you have not done this exercise before, it’s best to practice while you’re doing your business… Seriously. MayoClinic explains in detail including how to recognise which muscle to activate. But easier method is to practice while you’re in the loo.

Anyway these are amongst the benefit of doing Kegel:

Strengthen your pelvic floor muscle which supports the uterus, bladder and bowel
Said to enhance experience in the sack (he he he)

So, you can see why this exercise is beneficial for pregnant women too! This matter was stressed by the nurse in the antenatal class that I attended.

Food Journal... Shournal!

2010-11-04T00:54:00.000+08:00

One of the things that I kind of (sort of?) resolved to do in FB was to come up with a food journal.

Yes. A food journal detailing every single thing I ate for every single day, for every single meal.

That was two weeks ago. So far, I have only managed to come up with two journals on FB.

I continued on writing on my FB note, not of my food journal, but on things that don't matter.

IE --- Talking cock.

Yesterday, I was seen at Ikea racing through my meatballs dish because I was feeling lightheaded.

Light headed because I realized that I didn't eat for the whole entire time I was at work from 9.30 pm - 7 am and from the time I woke up from 3.30 pm - 7 pm.

Except for some butter crackers and a big mug of milk tea, I didn't have anything in between.

Suffice to say that I SUCK at planning my meals.

Most of the time I missed my meals because I was busy with work, tired with work and / or just plain clueless on what to eat.

If I ever decided to go out for my meals, I would stand there in the middle of nowhere, trying to decide on what to eat.

"Let's see now... Char Koay Teow? No, don't feel like having seafood... Ooh... what about steak? Too heavy... RICE... errr.. no, conflict of goals, coffee... bagel... wait is that food...=_=..."

Yes, I do need help. All the more now that I am supposed to start my Muay Thai again next year.

Food journal... what to journal about when I don't have FOOD...

Oi Vey!

Eat, Pray, Love, YOGA

2010-10-14T05:44:00.000+08:00

Good morning everyone.

To all Yoga practitioners, have a slammin' Surya Namaskara everyone!

Puasa workout

2010-08-27T20:42:00.000+08:00

Ramadhan work out

2010-08-11T01:58:00.000+08:00

It is a great big misconception that people has to stop working out during Ramadhan (Fasting month).

Although, we do have to stick to a less vigorous workout routine.

For me, Yoga is my first choice.

My visit to the gym will be pretty much minimal this month. It doesn't mean that I am going to stop completely.

Are you kidding? I would lose my sanity if I stop. Working out is a way for me to destress, like how I am using my 10 mins break right now to update this blog.

So to all the Muslims, don't let the Ramadhan be in the way of keeping yourselves healthy. Afterall, you must be healthy if you want to 'beribadah' right?

Have a blessed Ramadhan everyone!

SHAPE Night Run update and Emotional Health

2010-08-04T00:49:00.000+08:00

Update on the Shape Night Run.

Unfortunately, due to some unplanned events on the familia side, I won't be able to join Mas and Jade despite having suggested it in the first place.

I was mad because well, I did pay and I have been training my ass off to get ready for my first 5K run.

Plus I felt guilty that I was not able to follow through with something that I have planned in the first place.

On the plus side (although it didn't really help me with my guilt), Jade managed to redeem my goodie bag for me. Still, I wanted to run, I was so looking forward for the event.

On another note, lately I have been focusing so much on physical health, that I sort of forget about my emotional health.

Being single for about 4 years now, I found myself to be a reluctant recipient for any relationships.

I guess anyone who is single would agree with me that sometimes, not having anyone to fall back to is just plain, depressing.

Years ago, I have never had an issue about getting anyone. Dates were something of a normality and although the dates would usually have a disastrous end, I was open and totally, well... accepting that some men are just bad at dates and I have yet to find men who can be comfortable with me.

Now, I don't even get to meet men. Most of the men who came on to me turned me off and those who actually had the guts to ask me out on a date failed miserably in a sense that all they were interested in was to get into my pants, faster than you can say G-Spot.

Also, my relationship with my family had been stagnant.

I didn't grow up in the typical loving family kind of sense.

Sure my parents loved me, but we don't express our love that openly. I always wondered why is it that during solemnization ceremonies, why was it that the mother /bride/father would cry their eyeballs out. They should be happy, right?

I can't relate to tears of happiness, only tears of sadness and frustration makes sense. I don't even cry at funerals.

So does that make me abnormal in terms of my emotions? I have an unhealthy emotional upkeep and a fit physical exterior.

I am hiding behind a wall that I built as a defense mechanism because my last relationship experiences had been nothing short of a pathetic attempt at not being myself?

I don't know. I can be wrong at this of course.

I know what I need to do as far as physical health is concerned. Looks like I won't be having quite a normal emotional health for many years to come, unless, I guess, if God is going to be kind to me.

Of the 'desire' to lose weight...

2010-07-20T23:57:00.000+08:00

Once in a while, my friends would complain to me about their ballooning weight.

They told me about their fear of turning to Roseanne Barr or John Goodman.

They will also tell me about their diets. The meal skipping, the 'eat nothing but a god damn apple' for the whole day and wallop a big plate of pasta for dinner (Before 8 pm nevertheless), the boxes of diet supplements they take to make sure that their ass do not form their own country.

And everytime they told me of these 'attempts', I would smile and say :

"It will not work. You might lose the weight, but you will never be able to sustain the loss... unless you exercise."

I am a big believer of exercise. I did lose 12 KGs after busting my ass in the gym for the last year afterall.

I was 68 kg when I first started. Now I am a healthy 56 KG. I have been at this weight for the last 4 months. I intend to lose 2 more KGs. My ideal weight is at 52 KG.

Of course, it took a lot of effort. I don't eat rice everyday, substituting it with Durum wheat pastas, oats and vegies. I don't eat fast food often (Actually, I try to stop eating it altogether.) and only cook my meals with Olive oils.

I work out in the gym 5 days a week and now I am trying to get back to the normal 6 days a week routine. Instead of focusing on weight loss, I am now concentrating more on muscle sculpting and toning and also core strength training.

I buy all kinds of fitness magazines, mainly for all the exercise moves they have in it and the healthy living tips articles.

I know this is cliched but it does feel good to be healthy. Of course, I have my problems.

I still have difficulties getting 8 hours of sleep everynight (or day, considering my schedule), of eating enough food to fulfill the 2800 cal/day to fuel my workout (I am known as anorexic mainly because sometimes, I really seriously do not know what to eat and therefore would just NOT eat... which is bad.) and I still have difficulties running the extra mile without getting muscle pains and sores.

That said, I seriously do not believe that any other methods could actually work. Exercise and a balanced diet (Not starving yourself, mind you.) is the best option.

I would also tell my friends that if they have the 'desire' to lose weight, they should have the 'determination' to do it 'properly' too.

To stop complaining and be deluded with fad diets and false claims of supplement boxes would do them well too.

Fuh.. fuh... Flat... -__________-'

2010-06-23T15:07:00.000+08:00

The first time I succeeded brisk walking on the treadmill for 3 KMs, I was astounded.

I finished at 30:31. That was faster than even I would anticipate, at 6KM speed.

To me, 3 KM seemed like a big deal. I know friends who's been doing 7 KMs everyday on the treadmill. I have always been in awe of that.

But me, I have never been a brisk walker/runner. In my previous post, I reflected at how I actually hated running. All my life, I would avoid my turn at the 100 M sprint by faking a headache or menses cramps.

And oh how I hated the cross country shit my boarding school used to have on a weekly basis. If you are a Johorean, that you would know that running through a kampung backroad from Teknik Perdagangan in Tasek Utara, coming out all the way at Sek. Tun Fatimah, pass the Asrama Putera, going up the wretched hill pass the education ministry..... is a BITCH!

I hated the seniors at school for having us run so that they can walk. I hated the school for having that stupid activity every week!

So when I see my time for that mileage, I was stunned. I found myself thinking... wth.. 'vart' am I doing??? Am I high on something?

Except for the 100 plus I would usually ~~gurgle for fun~~ drink in the gym, nothing that would get the narcotics suspicious.

I remarked in my FB how I am now crazy over shorts and short dresses... I love the way my legs look like now. They used to be nicknamed 'Thunderthighs'...

Now they are maybe mini Thunderthighs.

I still need to keep on working on them. I can't just sit and be satisfied with my huge weight loss. Weight loss is one thing, I would like my body to be toned and my fitness level up!

... So that I can look back and say that I am just glad I did this. :)

Progress... running's a bitch!

2010-06-19T01:43:00.000+08:00

I have been running on the treadmill for 2.5 KMs steadily for the past two weeks.

I started with a brisk walk of course.

I hated running. You see, tennis doesn't really require you to run that much. With softball, I am pretty much the pitcher/catcher. I hate being the batter.

Because... I am bad at running.

So it was a big decision when I enrolled for a 'run'. Mainly because, I am really just bad at running.

I don't have any breathing problems but I do have ankle and knee pain when I am running. I hate that.

A 5 mins run is torture to me. So when I actually ran for 8 full minutes at 7.0 KM speed, it is a big deal.

So far, I have clocked at these times for a standard 2.5 KM run.

20:14
20:16
21:05

This means, I should be able to complete a 5KM run, at an average of 6.5 KM speed, at 43 minutes max, that's less than an hour.

This is a really big deal to me. Once upon a time ago, I took 2 hours to complete a 3 KM run.

But then, it was also because, I did not really run the run... I walked. I didn't even brisk walk, I just walk... the leisure no rush walk. The window shopping kind of walk.

And there were people who finished after me. :D

So now, after working out for a year and lost a chunk of weight, I am now attempting something that I have never liked.

Running. And it's a bitch!

Yoga-ta be real la

2010-06-18T07:05:00.003+08:00

I practiced Yoga the first time around because I was told that it could help me with my body.

See, I have always wanted to be fitter. I grew up being pampered in a way by my parents. We love to eat. And so, one thing leads to another. Although I was reasonably active as far as group sports are concerned, I hated any other sports that requires me to run faster than I should.

My first yogi was a middle aged Indian man. He thought us how to breath, how to control our bodies. Bhujangsana and all kinds of other positions that I cannot remember now. For a short 5 months, I did Yoga and enjoyed it immensely, although I didn't know if I was any more fitter than I was.

After that, I changed jobs and was involved in a bit of a mess and so I quit.

That was my mistake.

I was not really thinking of having a hobby or doing anything else when I moved to KL. I was kind of... depressing back then.

All changed when I decided to change my lifestyle and started gym.

The gym has all kinds of group exercise classes that we can join. One of the classes being Yoga.

So I got re-acquainted with it in gym. However, after that, I concentrated on my PT (personal training) sessions and had no time to join the class.

Now my Yogi is a man in his 50's or 60's, with an easy going disposition who enjoys kind of 'shocking' newcomers to the wonders of Yoga.

Yoga is more difficult than it looks. And painful too, but not if you are used to it.

Somehow, my body quickly recognizes the old movements that I used to do back then and I did it with zero difficulties.

I am seeing stars again. Oih...

2010-06-12T05:02:00.001+08:00

To prep for the run in July, I started to test my ~~lame~~ stamina by training more than usual.

Things was going fine for a while, and then my period came.

This time, the pain was a bit too much even for me to take. I was weak, my back was killing me and my tummy felt hollow, together with migraine. And of all times, I also got ulcers in my mouth. I felt tired all the time.

My moodswings... murderous.

Strangely, my hair looked fab.

I missed training for about 4 days now. I don't know if I am able to train on the weekends. If the pain subside, then maybe I would just be in the gym. If not, I am afraid I will have to reset my training plans.

I am however, loving the way my arms have turned out as a result of intensive upper body workouts. It's my favorite workout, biceps, triceps, lat and shoulders. My shoulders look gorgeous and my collarbone fabulous!

I still have friends who thinks working out is a waste of time. They kept on telling me that it is way easier for people to just go to all those weight management clinics to lose weight.

What they don't understand is that losing weight is not my only priority. I want to be toned, healthy, fit with a reasonable looking feminine muscles to show off.

My idea of an awesome body?

Now these are awesome bodies. Stick thin models don't rule my world.

Test run (Literally)

2010-05-31T20:05:00.001+08:00

My last run was a charity marathon for an event that I forgot in JB.

This was about 5 years ago. It was a 7 KM run and at that time, I was actually kind of forced to go because the company I worked for sponsored some of the prizes. It also served as a division activity that our Boss enrolled us for.

I didn't care if I get there first or last. I was huffing and puffing, and cursing! All the way! All that mattered to me was to get to the finishing line so I can just STOP running.

Of course back then, fitness was the last thing on my mind. I was preoccupied with a sucky boyfriend and relationship. I was the last thing in my mind, which is kind of pathetic, come to think of it.

So because I am now a brand new person with new priorities which has nothing to do with men, relationships, sex or whatever crap that I was so stupidly obsessed with, I decided to join this :

*Image taken from www.shape.com.my

This means that I have to prep for the run. I have to up my workout and get ready in 2 months. I have to improve on my cardio and strength training. I want to take it seriously this time, and as much as I think it would be fun having a running mate, I would like to try to at least be less playful.

And no cussing while running! I figure if I can make a 1.5 KM in 10 minutes on the treadmill, it wouldn't be a problem for me to finish a 5 KM run.

Plus... I know it will be a whole load of fun. I asked around in my FB if there's anyone interested to join.

This would also mean I would have to go to Jalan Hang Jebat tomorrow to register. And no... I don't know where that is.

I don't know how many people read this blog... this is the info on the run :

Or go to www.shape.com.my for more details.

Oh by the way, there are RM 300 worth of stuff in the goodie bag that you stand to get when you sign up. :)... I am sure any woman wouldn't say no to heaps of free stuff!!!! Take it as a motivation to join. Hahahahaha!

Yes, I am going!

2010-05-26T17:28:00.001+08:00

Yes! I am going to the gym today.

It looks like my buddy Sarcy is like a speedy bullet train when it comes to gymming! And I am like a choo-choo. Hinsh! And being married has nothing to do with it. Just because work takes me far away from the gym vicinity.

So, since I am in the office today, I cannot let the chance pass me by. I am committed for an hour of cardio and weigh training.

I did not call Mr. Trainer this morning to arrange for a session. Because I am almost sure he will not be available. It seems like he's not excited to train me anymore. Everytime I call for a session, he has his hours booked. Hmm... Time to change Mr. Trainer? I think he's just given up hope on me. And I still have about 20 sessions with him!

So, see your sweats later!

p/s: I own a new pair of sports shoes; lighter and more comfortable

:P

2010-05-26T15:13:00.000+08:00

I think... and I think....

I kind of overdid the weights yesterday.

My biceps are sore and I am currently wearing the medicinal muscle plaster.

That's why I decided to take a day off today. I think there is a possibility I might just lose my footing on the treadmill during my usual 2 minutes sprint.

Sprint... heh... that's a joke. Hopefully by this time next year, I will be able to join a marathon challenge of more than 5 kilos.

Hey... I am working towards that goal kan.

Fitness plan

2010-05-21T18:50:00.000+08:00

I have always hated how I would feel so tired by the end of my day (My day is everyone else's night) that I wouldn't have the strength and energy to work out.

With a reason too. I love working out. I hate missing one day of gym. (The other thing would be because I don't believe in paying for something without using it).

So I planned to buy some food stuff to put in the office.

Things like bread, cheese, cold cuts, oatmeal, cereal low fat milk, soy. Energy boosters I can prepare before I leave the office and head on to the gym.

I don't want to take breakfast outside because breakfast outside always got me more tired and lazy.

Yesterday I worked with only a can of Iced lemon tea as sustenance. I didn't even realize it until the end of the day.

Not good. I need to eat to workout. Rule of thumb numero uno.

On the road to a bikini ready bod... ;)

2010-05-18T01:05:00.002+08:00

My

Bum

Hurts...

Ugh!

2010-05-10T09:25:00.000+08:00

I hate it when my monthly 'flag' comes.

I feel slobbish, I feel heavy, I feel tired and I feel bitchy! I had to drag myself to go and do my stuff and I can't exercise...

That's the worst thing. I thought exercise is supposed to make me feel better.

*Crying.. sob sob...*

Ugh!

Hmm

2010-05-07T09:47:00.000+08:00

I hate cardio.

I am not much of a runner... so huffing and puffing at speed level 7 for a 2 KM run on the treadmill is torture enough for me.

My short term goal? To finally be able to run at speed level 7 for 6-7 km is good enough...

But I still would not stop hating cardio. :(

:P~

2010-04-30T19:55:00.000+08:00

Three days of turbulence training...

That's exactly how my face looked like sideways after a 30 seconds bridging.

:P~

Just a thought...

2010-04-25T10:02:00.000+08:00

1) Chocolates fight UTI (urinary Tract Infection). I will have to force feed myself chocolates then (Yes... might one of the women in the world who never cares about chocolates, guessing, that's less than 15-10%)

2) Ironically, cheese (Taken in moderation, of course.) fights heart disease and actually blocks cholesterol build up.

3) People thought that people who goes to the gym are on cayenne pepper and lemon diet. Gym goers eat. And we need to eat a lot. Unless we want to attract unwanted attention by fainting on the treadmill.

4) Weights don't churn uber muscular arms. Just nicely toned carved out healthy and delicious Nike mannequin looking ones.

5) Yoga, does calm you down. And Namaste at the end of the session means 'NOTHING' whatsoever. Namaste is the equivalent of our salam, which literally means it's a greeting.

6) You can only be in peace with others when you are in peace with yourself.

Have a great fit day everyone!

Satu Usul...

2010-04-19T12:36:00.000+08:00

For those who works out in the gym.

If you find more than two people walked away from the stretching area because you happened to be in the same area (say... 5 feet radius?), I hope you will ask your friends if you have Body Odor problem.

Seriously, I am a fairly tolerant person, but when it comes to inhaling your overpowering acidity content...

I am only human. There is only that much I can tolerate.

To Keep Going On

2010-04-18T13:38:00.000+08:00

The Hubby says that I look hotter and gorgeous these days... Ehem... This must means whatever it is that I'm doing is working. OR he is just being a nice husband that he is to make me feel better. Ha ha ha... But I'm all about being full of myself, so I shall take the former as the truth.

Honestly, I hardly eat dinner these days. If I feel hungry, I make a glass of hot milk. And maybe just a slice of bread. Plain without any toppings. I try to take fruits everyday. A banana a day. Otherwise I'm drinking more juice.

I am not a saint. I treat myself constantly whenever I feel like it. Cheese cake. Smoothies. Ice cream. Name it, I eat it.

My gym session is reduced to maybe once or twice a week, sometimes none, depending on my work location. Haih... But maybe starting from next week, it will be more coordinated and I will be able to schedule the sessions properly. Hopefully.

When I'm at the gym, knowing how infrequent my visits are, I do my best to push myself as hard as I could. Cardio and strength training. Everytime. I do lots of squat movement. I try to do more reps with medium weight.

It's time to resume my kick boxing workout, actually. Mr Trainer has voiced his "concerns" few times already. :-p

Yumm

2010-04-17T23:54:00.000+08:00

If you are like me who goes to sleep at 10 am and waking up at 8.30 pm, your 'breakfast' would be :

Kellogg's Fitnesse cereal and bananas plus soy milk.

I huff and I puff.. Never mind as long as I stay skinny

2010-04-14T09:30:00.000+08:00

Okay, maybe skinny is not quite the 'right' word.

Make it.... healthier...

Or... Slimmer.

Yes.

Had a good workout. 10 minutes on the treadmill, 8.0 gradient and 6.0 speed.

Worked my arms, abs, thighs and buttocks.

I can lift an 8 pounder now while doing full lunges by 20 reps.

Not that is anything by a fitter person's standard.

Must rush... am using the gym's free broadband!

Daaaa!

I am GUILTY!!!

2010-03-24T12:10:00.002+08:00

I have been guilty.

Not only because I have not being updating this blog. BUT also for not going to the gym. NOPE!! I have not been doing my gym regime regularly. And I have a reason (EXCUSES!!) for that.

For the past several weeks, I have not being 100% happy, because my other half is outstation. He still is until probably middle of June. So, yeah, my emotional state has not been at its optimum condition. And then, there's the job. My current schedule is so crazy that I do not know when I will be in the office.

Anyway, excuses aside, I need to set new schedule for my gym sessions. I cannot consider weekend, since there will be a lot of things to be done during that short two days. So, I still need to find time during weekdays. I will make it work somehow.

:-(

Counting calories is no human instinct..

2010-03-23T16:10:00.001+08:00

Nope.

If there were any cave woman who actually counted calories, please do tell me, because I need to know.

Since I started gym, I have been getting these sudden cravings for stuff that I used to have everyday, without even thinking about the repercussion of what it might do to my body.

Things like this sinfully delicious steamed Hainanese Chicken Rice.

I grew up loving food. My family is a mix of both spicy Malay and Chinese food. I love my spices as much as I love my garlic.

I had to cook an entire meal at dinner because my Mum used to work and only came home after 7 pm. Rice is a staple dish that we had and on days when I wouldn't feel like cooking, I would walk down to the chicken rice stall and bought packed rice for my siblings.

My Grandma was possibly one of the best cook I knew. As a child, I remembered going over to her 'warung', where she would pick me up to sit on her counter, and almost always, my grandparents would make sure I have my drumstick. Huge, greasy... yeap... I was a happy fat kid. (I think).

Rice is somewhat my comfort food. When I was working in the pressure cooker of a profession a few years ago, I sought solace in food.

When I first moved to KL, intense training had me eating rice for lunch and dinner. Also I was living with my auntie, who is a great cook and saying no to her cooking would be, I guess at that time, sheer madness.

Afterall, would you say no to steamed rice and the fattening glory of 'ayam masak lemak cili padi'?

This was me, a couple of years ago, I was the one in the purple sweater :

I looked like I have had 6 kids.

So you can't blame me for counting calories now. After losing all the KGs and have defiantly fought all odds, this would be the last time you would see me looking like a mess.

True enough.. this is what I look like, now, lighter, saner, albeit, healthier :

So, I might have the Hainanese steamed chicken, without the skin, with glass noodles and loads of salad and having it with green tea.

Life is unfair... face it. However, it is unfair because it was trying to be fair.

Think about it.

Counterdepressant that is exercise

2010-03-17T03:27:00.001+08:00

Last weekend was the breaking point for me.

One, I was at work from 4.30 pm to 2.00 am and then had to come in again because of emergency at 4.30 am.

Really, having a blackberry changes your life. It sucked to have one, at the same time, you are dead if you don't have it.

Two, I was also at the same time scrambling to move to the new place. I was not having enough time to pack my stuff and was far from packed.

Three, well... this happened on Sunday and is totally not worth mentioning here.

But the fact remained. The whole work issue got me feeling depressed and I was walking around feeling like a classic fool. I was questioning my credibility at work and my ability and whether or not I am actually good at my work... or not.

I went through the bloody interview with my boss's boss for crying out loud. Apparently I impressed that guy so much that I was picked.

But... yes... I was depressed. I took Xanax and can hardly smile or laugh. Heck... can't even cry properly.

Thankfully, the moving really took my mind off stuff. The climbing up 2 storeys for maybe a combined 7 times to and fro tested both my mental and my stamina. All that wearing a 1.5 inch wedges and halter neck dress.

I carried all 20 boxes of my shoes, my whole collection of handbags and messenger bags, my books, bookcase, comforter, pillows and other stuff that I have accumulate during my stay at the old place.

I was, for once... sweating like a pig. Seriously.

I feel like I have thighs of steel by the time the whole moving was done.

Of course it would be madness if I am to go for gym the next day, so I didn't. And yes, I was still depressed. I was still feeling like one big bag of messed up shit. So later that night, after a fucked up episode, and banana leaf rice session, I took valium and went to sleep.

The day after, while on break and was staring down 16 floors from my office, I was actually thinking how it would feel like to... well.. jump. How it'd be like to just fall.

Well.. I was curious.. didn't think of it as suicidal. Just thinking how it would feel like. Yes I was still depressed, but was not thinking about ending my life and shit. Maybe I should bungy jump one of these days, or slack the tension during wall climbing.

The next day, thanks to whoever it was cooking tonnes of dried fish downstairs, I woke up and was awake for a good 20 minutes before deciding that I should go to the gym and make good use of my awake time.

So... I did :

- 50 floors of stepper in 10 minutes,
- 1 rep of 20x on leg press (weight : 70KG) and single leg press (30KG).
- 1 rep of 20x arm press (weight : 7 pounds) on Bosu pad
- 1 rep of half push up on bosu pad : 15x
- 1 rep of half push up : 10 times
- 1 rep of alternate leg kicks : 10x

I was pressed for time so, hence the 1 rep of everything. And also because most machines are occupied and there were a lot of people in the gym at that hour and I was starting to feel a bit... suffocated.

And after a vegan wonton noodle meal, I felt so much better. I was even thinking about cutting down on meat and re-starting Yoga.

And while I admit that I am still very much dependent on my anti depressants, exercise is.. ladies and gents, one of the things that work if you want a 'peace of mind', to help keep you sane.

The temple is my own

2010-03-11T23:00:00.001+08:00

I forgot how much I enjoyed working out.

I have been slacking for the past couple of months. I have been busy at work and due to my new position in the division, I have to put in more hours just so the division would be running just the way I'd like it to be run.

But I decided that slacking around and feeling fat is no way to live. So recently, I started to go the gym more than the usual 2 days a week routine, which was actually a major cutdown from the normal 6 days a week routine I had before I was promoted.

I decided to double my workout and make it more intense. I sweated out it out doing double reps of core strength training and double my cardio workout as well.

I love sweating. If you know me in person, I don't sweat as much as I should. So the expression, sweating like a pig honestly does not really apply to me that much.

Initially when I started gym, I was quite conscious about my surroundings. I was concerned about how other people see me.

Now, the gym is one of the few places aside from my office that I would have no qualms going to without having any shred of make up on my face. Au Naturel, that's me in the gym.

Besides, my only purpose in joining the gym is to make me a lean mean machine. I don't need to meet new people and most of the guys who goes to the gym are gays anyway.

My motivation nowadays is knowing that I am responsible for my own health and my own body.

My body is truly my own temple.

2010-03-08T16:09:00.000+08:00

Today's work out :

Stairmaster 50 floors in 13 minutes.

Bicep curl and Lat curl : 2 reps of 16s
Tricep curl : 2 reps of 16s (having problem with left hand though... particularly tough)
Lunges with 8lb weights : 2 reps of 16s
Half push up on Bosu Pad : 2 reps of 15
Half push up without Bosu Pad : 2 reps of 10

Reclining Tricep curls on ball : 2 reps of 16's each horizontal and vertical
Full squats with ball : 2 reps of 16s
Bicep curl on machine : 2 reps of 16s each side
70lbs thigh reclining exercise on machine : 2 reps of 16s.

Tread mill, slow jog at 6.5; 5 mins.

On my 2 GB MP3 player :

Alicia Keys :
Wreckless love
I need you
Love is Blind

John Legend :
Green Light - Feat Andre 3000
No Other Love - Feat Estelle
Satisfaction

Joss Stone:
Bad Habit
Music
Tell me what you Gon' do - feat Common

Jay - Z :
On to the next one
Alicia Keys

Beyonce :
Get me Bodied
Upgrade U

Seriously, great music gets you going like an Energizer bunny!

Don't Cheat!

2010-01-22T16:20:00.004+08:00

Well, people! I am back from my wedding vacation, and may I confidently say that I looked good in my wedding get-ups! However, festive vacations normally will destroy your diet plans and obviously your exercise regimes! I did not work out for almost six weeks and it showed!

As soon as I was able to get back to the gym, I renewed my personal training sessions. This time I bought 25 sessions which also include kick-boxing sessions. I don't have regrets eventhough my whole body is sore every time. Kick boxing really proves a total body workout!

I still have 4 free sessions from the last package and 6 more additional sessions for this time around. I am going to make the most out of these sessions!

Let me share with you a little insight.

NEVER CHEAT YOUR BODY!

This is a rule that I made up for myself. When I say not to cheat, it is not related to eating. If you tell yourself that you are going to run for 10 minutes non-stop, do it. Never run more than 10 minutes, and never run less than 10 minutes. Treat your body and your mind like children. Don't cheat or lie, because if you do more than what you first planned, you will not achieve your target.

So what I do is, when I get tired or bored or lazy on the treadmill, I tell myself that I'm going to complete the 10 minute set and rest for 30 seconds to one minute. After the rest period, I will start running again. The moment I start to feel lazy, I again tell myself that I will complete another set. By doing this, I keep on moving, and did not realise the distance and timing.

These days I try to make sure I run at least 2 kms everytime, but mostly I will be doing 3kms. I try not to look at the time so much, because I will start thinking that I've worked enough when in fact, I don't burn much calories yet!

This time around, I have decided to slot in gym time every day during the weekdays and alternate with the personal training. I shall keep you posted!

no training yesterday...

2009-12-03T17:59:00.003+08:00

My gym session was canceled yesterday because the management "did not allow training for PT clients, only new clients".

Hmmm...

Nanti melayang kena tiup angin

2009-12-03T13:49:00.000+08:00

Hehe...

That was what my best friend in JB told me.

We were trying out jeans and stuff in Dorothy Perkins in JB. I asked her if the size 10 jeans looked good on me.

She said, well... it is smaller than the size 18 that she had.

I somewhat being drama and whiney said:

'Gosh Kak! I don't know whether to buy or not... or wait until I am a size6?'

My friend looked at me in disbelief and said :

'Nok! melayang kena tiup angin tau. Nanti aku jalan sebelah rangka!'

That was hilarious, in a way. My relatives were saying the same thing. My weight loss is an issue because they have never seen me this small before in my adult life.

But hey, I aim to be this small. I guess they will just have to bear with me.

Yelah kan.. they wurrrve me... so they wouldn't wurve me lesser albeit me being lesser in fat and calorie count.

Muaks! Wurve you!!!

I feel good..! tralalalalala....

2009-12-01T15:44:00.001+08:00

On Monday, I went to my session in the afternoon. I missed to sessions last week. Once because I was feverish and another for Eid.

So, on Monday, Mr. Trainer sorta doubled my session within one hour. Crazy.

I managed to lift overhead 30lbs bar bell and do squat 20 times. 3 sets. Within the sets, I also hold on the bloody heavier bar bell (Mr Trainer is crazy); which he added 10lbs on each side for the 2nd and 3rd set. Holding it, I did forward bend and straighten myself up while squeezing the butt. Do it right, you should feel the muscle work on both legs AND butt.

Others, 10 minutes on Cardo WAVE machine with resistance setting at 10. Squatting.
Some abs works. And of course the triceps and biceps moves.
More squatting. Step-squat.

Looking forward to tomorrow's session. Also in the afternoon.

The Progress

2009-11-04T23:43:00.000+08:00

I have been neglecting this blog for quite some time.... It's not because I don't work out anymore. Let me tell you I work my butt off every other day at the gym.

After two months of hardwork, a little slower during the fasting month, I have only lost a little weight. BUT. BUT. I have lost inches and inches AND inches!

I have decided not to monitor my progress by weighing myself. It does nothing to motivate me.

So, I monitor my progress by the loosening pants and flatter tummy. I monitor my progress by looking how my T-shirts are looking better and better on me. I also monitor my progress by... urmm... standing in my birthday suit in front of the mirror. I LOOK GOOD DARLINGS!!

My arms are more toned now. Less jiggly puff! Yeay!! And my butt... ahhh... it's getting tighter and tighter each day. Loving it! No more wiggly and bouncy like jell-o. And my pants look so much better.

I look so much better than when I first dragged Sarc into True Fitness. And I'm loving it!!

I am a food creature. I love good food. I love to eat. Therefore, it's very hard for me to control what I'm eating. I do cut down on rice as much as I can. Which means, I have to work extra hard during my session. These days, to warm out, I will run at least 25 minutes at at least 7.5 km/h. Some would say I jog, but as long as I burned almost 300 calories and ran more than 3km... I feel lighter each time.

I still have to work harder on my stomach muscle and my left arm. Both are still weak. And I hate feeling weak. There's this un-fulfill feeling each time I'm working the abs and the left arm. I need to get them stronger. I still have a month with the trainer, plus the complimentary sessions (six of them!!). And I intend to fit into size six sexily by then.

On the 4th day of Eid...

2009-09-23T14:53:00.000+08:00

It's the 4th day of Eid and I just got back from the gym! I am impressed with myself.
I was happy that people actually noticed I'm slimmer. And I am even happier to notice that I've lost inches; which means I fit into that A-line skirt that I asked my aunt to make for me, much better. Although now, it keeps on riding up, because it doesn't have any place to sorta hook itself to. Ha ha ha...

I planned to only do cardio today. So I ran for 2km, in 15 minutes (a better time for me so far) and then I did the stepper machine for 5 minutes. I got bored and thought that it was far from enough. So, I did weigh for another half an hour. And now, I'm beat. Ha ha ha... In a good way though.

I don't want to weigh myself. Because I see little difference. And, small changes in the numbers, demotivate me. So, I rather not. All I know, I feel healthier and fresher now. So, that's a difference, that's what keep me going.

During Eid, I eat every day, every meal time. BUT, I was able to limit myself and stop before I become too full. That is an accomplishment for someone who likes rendang and sambal kacang very, very much. I'm hot during Eid. Now, I'm going for sizzling hot on my wedding day.

When you see results, that's when you are at your proudest

2009-08-10T16:23:00.000+08:00

I have been working out for about 3 months now. I started sometime in June and now, in August, after hours of sweat and agony and muscle pulls, I am getting results.

My thighs are firmer, my biceps and triceps, harder, and my energy level is better than ever. I can brisk walk for about 7 KMs now in about 1 hour, which is amazing. Although I am having difficulties trying to jog because my feet could not take the impact.

And what's amazing is that I can even see results on my abs. I am so happy... and I am so proud of myself. :)

See, there's no slimming product or services that could work better than working out. I think I would rather spend 2 grand on a trainer and 100+ a month on gym than eating all those slimming products.

I just finished a one and a half hour session of pure body weight and resistance training. I feel better than ever.

The Drama in my head

2009-08-03T14:53:00.000+08:00

Hmmm... I am hungry... and it is lunch time.

Banana Chocolate pie... it's frikkin' banana chocolate pie...

Oh... the joy of tasting the beautiful chocolatey taste of the pie... Just a slice... no... a bite would spring me up to never neverland.

It does have thousands of calories that would cost me my whole week of workout.

oh... but it IS banana chocolate pie... it will go so well with my fabulous low fat Cappucchino I ordered.

I know counting calories is no way to live, but unless I want to look like Roseanne Barr by the time I hit 40, it is something that I can't really compromise on.

So... not wanting to look like Roseanne Barr trumps that gorgeous, delicious, SINful Banana Chocolate Pie!!!!!

AAAARRGGHHHH!!!

Gym rule numero uno!

2009-07-20T14:43:00.001+08:00

Sometimes I would sit at the gym lounge seriously thinking that I pulled a muscle... or even a nerve.

When you work out, you shake every possible part in your body, so... shocked after being in a state of passive ordinance for such a long time, you can practically hear your muscles screaming in pain.

But to be honest, I am pretty much used to this. If you want to over exaggerate, I mean, by all means... go ahead.

No pain no gain, for sure. So, the fact that your muscles are kind of sore is another indication that your work out, works.

I lost another two KG after a week. I am delirious.

I have a personal motto when it comes to working out.

'ALWAYS DO THE STUFF THAT YOU HATE TO DO, BECAUSE MORE OFTEN THAN NOT, THE THINGS THAT YOU HATE WOULD BE THE THINGS THAT WORK!'

You don't expect things to go your way all the time do you?

Day 3

2009-07-13T12:18:00.000+08:00

It was Friday.

Mr. Trainer again started me off with 15 mins on the treadmill. I was all sore okay, and walking was already a strenuous work-out for me. I did informed him about my condition, and what do you know? No more sympathy. Ha ha ha.. Instead, he made me jog, not giving any pity to my screaming muscles.

And the torture began again. These are the things that I did, don't really remember the nitty gritty details, but for each, at least 15 to 20 reps, and always, always 3 sets.

Jumping jack
Lunges
Biceps curl with 2kgs dumbbells
Triceps dip
Abs crunch
Stepper

I also did about 10 minutes on that evil wave machine. Huwaaaa... This is a real torture, but it helps to tone up your legs, ladies! Thighs, inner thighs, calf muscles. Lastly, 10 minutes on the cross trainer. Mr. Trainer kept on asking whether I was sweating. Hell yeah, I was! Couldn't he see that I was drenched?

Just before I went off to shower, he weighed me and check my body composition. Obviously my weight is still scary, and my fat, dem... 31% okay! According to him, I should lose about 6 kgs and control my food habit to reduce the fat. And I'm supposed to drink more and more water. Hmmphhh... I thought I've been drinking lots of water, I feel like a water balloon!

What's needed for a hot bod is discipline...

2009-07-12T17:41:00.000+08:00

One fine afternoon I was texted by Jade about this blog.

I think it is a great way to inform and also to record our 'investment's' progress.

So this is my first entry on my gym activities.

In case you are wondering, I decided to join because I decided that it is about time that I do something about my body and also with the fact that I do have a lot of time on my single hand.

I joined in late May, since then, I lost about 6 Kilos. I was losing weight only during mid of June. the first two weeks, I was still trying te reconstruct my stiff muscles and nerves.

I also signed on for Personal Trainership. I have the good luck of having a trainer who clicks with me instantaneously. Before that, I was given a butch who doesn't really know anything about trainer-client relationship and how to sustain that.

According to my trainer, I don't have a lot of losing weight to do, however, I do need to tone up. I agree and told him, yes... torture me. I want to look hot by this Eid.

I just finished my training with F.

Cardio
- 10 minutes on cross trainer.
- effort level set to 8
- Pace no more than 120

Today's training was focusing more on body weight resistance training. So F had me do lunges with 2 Kilo dumbbells, lunge jump and more lunges.

I hate doing lunges, but then, working out is not about preference, especially when you want result. Your trainer would know what would be best for you and your physical make up. Eversince I started on intensive training, my arms looked more toned, my inner and outer thighs feel firmer and I just feel .... hot.

Each lunge is repeated on a 10 rep. Lunges are a mutha I can tell you that much.

After the body weight resistance training, we went on to abdominal training. F had me doing cross legged crunch at 15 a rep, straight legged crunch at 15 and half bridge at 30 seconds.

He suggested that I continued cardio on treadmill for 30 minutes, first 10 minutes on 2 Gradient, adding 1 more at each 10 minute change.

So today, I worked on my cardio strength, I toned my hamstrings, my bum, my calfs, my abs and my flexibility.

My weight is decreasing steadily, and my level of hotness, increasing.

Just imagine getting great looking biceps, triceps. But looking healthier appeals to more.

Let me preach on the effectiveness of working out, it works... period. You want to look different, get yourself used to a lot of discipline, challenge yourself constantly because there is nothing that you can't do.

No darlings, diet supplements don't work if you want to lose weight. A balanced diet and a work out plan do.

Wait for the next performance chart!! :P

Day 2

2009-07-09T16:47:00.000+08:00

Today's work-out was very easy. I was only doing cardio. Kept it very minimal since I did not want to over-do after a very, very long sedentary lifestyle.

30 minutes on the treadmill. Power walk and jogging. Max speed: 8.5 km/h.

10 minutes on the climber. Resistance: 5.

10 minutes on the bicycle. Resistance: 10.

And my legs were jelly again. I hope to grow stronger again. I couldn't stand being weak like this. It is not a nice feeling.

Day 1

2009-07-09T16:28:00.001+08:00

Mr. Trainer started me off with walking on the treadmill. While I was walking at the speed of 6.5 km/h, we talked. He actually asked me if I'm straight! Didn't I already mention to him that I'm getting married in December? :-p

After 2 minutes, he increased the speed to 7.5 km/h and I started to jog. I jogged for almost 15 minutes before he stopped me and asked me to follow him. In my mind, now, the real torture starts!

We went to the stretching area and I was instructed to squat with my back against the wall. Legs hip width apart bent at 90 degrees angle. I have to hold this post for 20 counts, 3 sets. In between the squat set, I have to do lunges, 15 reps, 3 sets. At set number 2, my legs started to give away. At set number 3, my head feels woozy.

Next, I was on the cross trainer. I was feeling a little light headed and Mr. Trainer looked worried. So he handed me some sweets and while munching it, I continued the movement. He asked me to rest a while after 5 minutes. After a minute, I continue on the cross trainer for another 5 minutes. This time, I manage to get the momentum back.

After, came the biceps and triceps torture. Couldn't really remember the machines used, but I remember I did very well at the triceps dip. He he he... But I was feeling sluggish and weak. It seemed as if I never exercised at all (okay, I admit I have not been active for quite a long time, but yesterday seemed ridiculous to me!). We also worked my quadriceps and butt through the stepper movement.

Lastly, the abs crunch. By this time I was like a jellyfish and I couldn't hold the pose for long. Felt like screaming, but I'm gonna save that for the day Mr. Trainer and I have bonded better. I knew he was being gentle this first day, but I am very sure it will not continue to the second session.

Must. Look. Like. Nicole.