Of the 'desire' to lose weight...

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... -__________-'

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!

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

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...

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)

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!

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