Resolution #3: The Health & Fitness Renewal

Resolution #3

Get MOVIN' sista!

Why start in 2011?

As the final hours of 2010 bring us closer to the beginning of 2011, I'm going to do what I put off doing since the start of coming up with the whole 'Resolutions 2011' series for the blog - make a resolution to get fit, healthy and drop the lbs this year. 

But instead of just doing it the same way every year, I'm not going to just type 'Lose Weight'. I'm going to come up with fitness goals that I want to be able to measure and achieve throughout the year.


1. Improve on my timing of the mile. We all know that running is key to major weight loss, especially interval training, but I'm not going to just say that I will run more this year. A sure sign that I am improving in my fitness will be my ability to run the mile faster and more efficiently as the year progresses. Expect a page to track my progress on the blog!

2. Swim more! Swimming is great activity, especially for asthmatics like me, but my overall goal with swimming isn't to just swim more - it's to swim better! I hope to be able to learn to dive sometime in the future and possibly learn to surf! (But maybe only when I have amazing ab strength!!)


3. Keep active throughout the year! Probably the most important of all my fitness goals. Whether it is going to the gym, walking around, or just staying home and blasting through Jillian Michael's 30-Day Shred, the key to losing more weight is to keep moving about.


4. What would a fitness resolution be without a nutrition goal? Well, for this year, I'd like to eat less SUGAR and eat WELL-PORTIONED meals! 3 meals a day, 2 snacks a day and STAY HYDRATED with loads and loads of water! 


Here's to a happy and healthy new year!!


Peace lovies!


Til the next post!

Resolution #2: Financial Savvy is Sexy

Resolution #2 

Become Financially Savvy

Why start in 2011? 


1. I started working for the first time in my life in September of 2010. Since then I've had 3 paychecks and have done God knows what with them. 

2. I'm a financial retard. And I'm ashamed to say that most women, especially of my age who are not working in the banking and financial sector, are in the same boat. I don't understand money. And because I don't understand money, I don't do anything with my money besides SPEND IT. And we all know how bad that really is for an economy that isn't even out of recession.


3. I just got my first credit card. I'd like to make sure that I don't get into debt and be one of those people who end up with amazing shoes and no mattress. (Yes, people do sell their mattresses to get money to buy shoes. True Story.)


4. I'd like to share what I learn along the way with everyone. But that is pretty much the goal of this entire blog. 


Enough reasons for ya? XD


Peace lovies.


Til the next post!

Resolution #1 Learn Arabic

Alright everyone! With less than a week left in 2010, it's time to start thinking about 2011 and my NEW YEAR'S RESOLUTIONS! I had previously written that I would do a series of posts this upcoming year so that I can track the progress of my resolutions much like how I am tracking my weight loss endeavors. So here it is, first post of the series and FIRST RESOLUTION. 

Resolution #1

Learn Arabic

Why start in 2011?

I have always, always, always wanted to learn Arabic. It is the language that connects me to the roots of my religion (despite the difference in archaic Arabic and Modern Standard Arabic). To me, it feels as though, learning Arabic would be a spiritual undertaking as well as an academic one. Not to mention that I'll be better equipped to travel to places in the Middle-East.


Every vacation since the start of university in 2006, I always wrote "Learn Arabic" on my holiday to do list. Needless to say, I never got round to even starting to learn Arabic. 


Well. Procrastinate no more!!

I just signed myself up for an Introduction to Arabic class at Al-Marqaz, a place in Singapore that teaches Modern Standard Arabic (MSA). Classes are $200 for the 8-week Introduction course and subsequent classes at $300 for 12 weeks. They even offer certification courses in MSA that are based on the EU's CEFR for Languages (of which I am currently A2 certified in French). I know it's a financial commitment to learn a language but I am going to dedicate myself to this. 


I can't wait to report on the progress of this resolution!


Peace lovies.

Til the next post!

Highlarious: Antoine Dodson

It's meant to be serious, but it's just so funny it makes me giggle.

Movies: Black Swan

A psychological thriller set in the world of New York City ballet, BLACK SWAN stars Natalie Portman as Nina, a featured dancer who finds herself locked in a web of competitive intrigue with a new rival at the company (Mila Kunis). A Fox Searchlight Pictures release by visionary director Darren Aronofsky (THE WRESTLER), BLACK SWAN takes a thrilling and at times terrifying journey through the psyche of a young ballerina whose starring role as the duplicitous swan queen turns out to be a part for which she becomes frighteningly perfect.

Singapore Release Date: 17 Feb 2011

I have no clue why we have to wait til FEBRUARY to watch this here in Singapore. I might try finding it online. It looks amazeballs! How can we wait til FEBRUARY?!?! Injustice!

What's in an energy drink? | Her World Singapore

What's in an energy drink? | Her World Singapore

Belated Weigh In

I tried to step on the scale yesterday (Sunday) but I just didn't. 

Anyhoo. Stepped on the scale today before heading off to the gym and 

*drum roll*

LOST 2 KG :D

I have been on this new "diet" since Dec 2. And at first I gained weight but now I seem to be losing some weight!

ALRIGHT.

I am ecstatic. 

Although I am not ecstatic about my performance in Step Workout today. 

I felt so nauseous, dizzy, faint. My head was throbbing. I have no clue WTF happened. It just did.

I'm gonna get back up tomorrow for Step Workout again. And this time I AM gonna kick it. 

I am not gonna let the - 2kg get to my head and get cocky. 

I keep reminding myself that I am in this for the long haul and that I need to lose in order to WIN AT LIFE.

Peace lovies.

Til the next post!

The Budget Goal

So the goal for November was to LEARN TO BUDGET.

Honestly I think I  F A I L E D!

I really did try to budget. Somehow it got turned upside down thanks to me buying a gym membership and then this month when I renewed my facial package and went semi-mad at the POP BookFest. 

I think that money should be a serious New Year's Resolution for me. I think I should come up with a Resolutions 2011 series of posts for this blog. That way I can track my progress, much like how I can track my weight loss progress.


Which reminds me. Today is weighing scale day.


Peace lovies.

Til the next post!

Crown Brushes

Up until recently, my dreams of becoming a Makeup Artist (MUA) have been in the backseat thanks to graduating, finding a job and earning the money to buy myself an MUA kit. Well, since working, I've attended some makeup workshops and I am starting to buy myself a quality kit. 

No one likes to spend spend spend their hard earned money on just anything, which is why I love it when you get promo codes! 

Check out the Crown Brush 15 Pc Pro Set w/ Designer Case.

The original price is USD43.99 but by using the promo code KANDEE, you get the entire brush set for USD29.99 (~SGD39.99) which includes free continental U.S. shipping! The shipping to Singapore depends on how much vPost will charge me but I figure it'll less than SGD20.

The brush set includes:

Chisel Powder • Chisel Blush • Angle Blush • Foundation

Angle Blender • Oval Shadow • Blending Fluff • Flat Liner

Concealer • Lash Fan • Brow/Lash Groomer • Angle Liner 

Oval Lip • Mini Smudger • Round Crease • Faux Reptile Case

The brushes were highly recommended by Kandee Johnson, one of the best MUAs on YouTube. She likes these brushes even more than the ones by MAC and that is saying something!


I watched a video of hers recently and it provided the promotion code for the brushes and I thought, "Well, WHY NOT?!". I trust Kandee's opinion and the brush set is filled with 15 basic brushes that every MUA should have. 


There are 3 different brush sets to choose from, all with the same brushes. The only differences being the ferrules and handles of the brushes and the designer case that the brushes come in. 


I picked the bronze metallic ferrule with a matte black handle and a bronze faux reptile case. The other options include a black faux reptile case with glossy black ferrule and glossy red handles or a fuschia faux reptile case with glossy black ferrule and matte black handle. 


I can't wait to start doing makeup with these! I am particularly excited about the Lash Fan brush!


I'll post a review of the brushes when I get them!


Peace lovies!


Til the next post!

She lost 90 pounds in less than a year!

She lost 90 pounds (40kg) in less than a year.

Tips I got from her video:

Watch your food! It's alright to crave and want for food but you are on a DIET.

Exercise!!!! She mainly did Treadmill, Elliptical and Stationary Bike

Tone while you lose weight.

Total inspiration. I hope that in ONE YEAR I can show amazing results too :D

Peace lovies!

Til the next post!

Movies: When In Rome

This could possibly be one of the lamest ROM/COMs I have ever sat through. 

I predicted the plot. I did like that they tried to be clever with the plot and the characters and the twist but I called it.

Personally, there are loads better movies out there to spend your time on. And I don't mean that in a snob way. I meant it like, there are tons better ROM/COMs out there! Find a good one, cause this one's pretty nonsense.

Peace lovies.

Til the next post!

Movies: Despicable Me

In a happy suburban neighborhood surrounded by white picket fences with flowering rose bushes, sits a black house with a dead lawn. Unbeknownst to the neighbors, hidden deep beneath this home is a vast secret hideout. Surrounded by an army of tireless, little yellow minions, we discover Gru (Steve Carell) planning the biggest heist in the history of the world. He is going to steal the moon (Yes, the moon!) in Universals new 3-D CGI feature, Despicable Me.

I was initially told that this movie wasn't that great but now I know not to listen to the person who told me that ever again. 

This has got to be one of the best animation films this year. I mean it doesn't compare to How To Train Your Dragon but it's a great film! Filled with hilarious lines and oh-so-cute moments. It's a MUST WATCH. :)

Peace lovies.

Til the next post.

Quotes: Dreams

When a dream takes hold of you, what can you do?

You can run with it, let it run your life or let it go

and think for the rest of your life about what might have been.

- Patch Adams

Movies: My Life In Ruins

Um. If you haven't watched it, stop what you are doing and go watch it NOW.

Why?

1. It's set in GREECE > meaning awesome backdrop and background shots!

2. The guy she falls in love with is G O R G E O U S > a man who loves to dance and has a passion for what he does? sign me up please!

3. It is high-larious! Seriously. You will laugh.

4. It's also touching and heartfelt and will make you feel all goo-ey and warm inside. In a good way. Like in a molten cake way (mmmh molten cake).

I won't bore you with details. Girl has stressy crap life as a tour guide, learns to loosen up and has fun, falls in love with gorgeous dude, HAPPY ENDING. 

Awesome ROM/COM. 

Watch!
Go!
Now!


Peace lovies!


Til the next post!

Worst Week

I'm pretty sure 'Worst Week' is a TV show. I want to concentrate on this post so I'll Google that at the end of the post. :)

Anyway.

Guess what?

I gained weight.

My thoughts exactly.

W H A T ? !

So right after weighing myself I 'Google'd (how did that word become a VERB!) "why did I gain weight after exercising?" Yes, no joke. I actually did 'Google'd it. 

It could be thanks to

1. my body not knowing what the hell I've been doing all this time while exercising

2. me consuming more calories than I burn

3. sudden development of muscles

I honestly don't know which of those happened but maybe all 3?

My mom said maybe I unknowingly consumed more calories post-workout despite my efforts to cut sugar out of my life.

At first, I was all like, what?! No! How can that be Mom?! I have been eating less.

Or so I thought.

I realize, I may have cut sugar out of my life, but I haven't done it completely! So starting tomorrow (since I'm not eating anything after writing this post) I will be watching my diet like a hawk. Salad bowls here I come.


I honestly don't mind putting on more weight if I'm putting on more muscle. I know that muscle is necessary to burn fat off more effectively so I'm alright if this process means put the muscle (and the weight) on first, then burn that fat away later. 


I think I'll be alright with that.


I'm giving myself a chance to prove that I can stick to diet and workout for the last 3 weeks of holidays. If by the time January and the new year roll around and I'm still struggling, I plan to hire the help of a personal trainer. 


I know it's lame but I must be missing something. 


Anyways. Time to think about tomorrow's workout. Plan to do 3 consecutive classes. Don't know if I'll last but I sure do hope so. 


Peace lovies!


Til the next post


P.S. Worst Week is a TV show! I like the American version, never seen the Brit one (Worst Week of My Life). :P

I think the GYM is failing me.

I can't remember what I ate yesterday, although I have to say that it wasn't bad, and I didn't snack at all!

I didn't go for any classes yesterday, just the gym. I think the gym is failing me. The amount of calories burned on those boring machines really doesn't seem to amount to the calories I can burn in a class. Assuming of course that I am really burning all those calories in class!

Treadmill
30 mins
2.7% incline
2.5km
160 kcal burned (I think I could have burned more if I ran, but I hate running)

Stationary Bike
20 mins
6.84km
111 kcal burned (I also hate the bike. It sucks and is boring)

That was yesterday. Heading to KB class today. According to S, it's a really good workout. I can't remember the last time I did KB. At the CC? At NTU? Can't wait! Off to have lunch! :D

Step it up!

Food Diary

Breakfast

1 serving size packet of Cocoa Bixies (F&N/Sanitarium) w 1/2 cup of milk

Lunch 

1 bowl white rice
1 serving size of salmon (cooked with I have no idea what!)
1 1/2 servings of broccoli

Snack
1 cup milo (no milk, no sugar)
1 murrukku 
1 Mr.Bean cream cheese pan cake thingy


Dinner
1 bowl lamb stew
3/4 bowl white rice


Exercise Diary


50 minutes of Step Workout (Medium Aerobic Exercise/Step Aerobic Low Impact) ~511 - 550kcal burned!


How I feel today

I feel pretty good about everything today. The step workout was intense! Damn all these experts who go to a beginner class! Anyway, I had initially planned to attend the Cardio Latino class directly after Step Workout but I couldn't take it. Retrospectively, I feel like I could have done it but I'm glad I didn't overwork myself today. I want to burn calories everyday but not at the expense of overworking myself.

The plan tomorrow is to go to another Step Workout class and then maybe do some treadmill work, by which I mean, walk on the treadmill for 20 to 30mins at an incline. So sads. I could probably burn more calories if I ran but I really detest running. 

Overall. I feel pretty good about today.


Peace lovies!


Til the next post!

Horrible Day Mode

I had a horrible day today. I tried to make sure that I wouldn't let my stupid actions in the morning upset my day.

TBH, my actions weren't stupid. They were honest and optimistic. What did I do?


I stepped onto the weighing scale.


I hardly weigh myself. Even the decision to weigh myself was spontaneous. I woke up and thought to myself "I should know how much I weigh now". 


Not that weighing yourself is a bad thing. It's a good thing.


Well, it's a good thing if you're seeing the numbers decrease!


The last time I weighed myself was over A YEAR AGO. I guess the gain isn't bad for one year's weight gain, but to see those numbers. More specifically to see that number approach a certain rounded off number just gave me a bad case of "horrible day mode".


So I had a crap day.

On top of that I had to spend the entire day doing something I had absolutely NO intention of doing. Volunteered by my parents. Lovely.

On top of ALL THAT, I hear from S that since she's done her diets (starting 2 months ago) she's lost 3kg and 4 inches off her waist! I am so happy for her, truly I am. But I think we can all imagine the incredible guilt trip and disappointment that I am feeling right now.


Ok. Let's stop being negative and try to look on the brighter side of things.


I have another 4 weeks of holidays left to utilize and make the most of! I should work myself to the bone this month considering that I will be busy once work starts up again.


I haven't made any sacrifices. No input = no output. Maybe I should type that up and put it somewhere that I will see it everyday. No input = no output. 


I haven't tried giving up on the things that I love! S almost gave up all the sweeties and goodies in life completely! Maybe I should start with something!!! I shouldn't be allowed to eat rubbish sweets and get away with it! 


Alright, so, lessons of the day:


No input = no output! 

I need to make some sacrifices in order to achieve what I want. 

I want to lose weight and inches! 


I am going to make sure that every day from now will be a great day and that I won't be upset when I step on the scale again! I will take it with a pinch of reality and reflect on how much input I've put in to everything!


I will also have to start a record of my weight and measurements so that I can track how much I've lost!


Hopefully you'll be hearing great news from me in 4 weeks time!


Peace lovies.


Til the next post!

Fashion: Lukewarm...

 

Is it just me or does Drew Barrymore look a lot skinnier in this photo?

 Is it the angle of her pose?

Her chin looks suspiciously angular. 

Has it always been that way?

Is the the gorgeous satin-looking tapered pants?

Hm. Dunno.

But that sparkly top is sheer. 

Doesn't really look it cause her skin tone acts as a nice underneath layer.

I think she could've done a nude pump in the same fabric.

The belt could've had a bigger gold buckle.

And the earrings could be better.

Fashion: LOVE this!

 

Um..

What's not to love?

Nude heels.

Awesome black dress.

Lace bust that looks like her bra is showing.

Simple & gorgeous accessories.

Clean, neat hairstyle.

Thumbs up to Blake Lively's stylist!

(What?! You didn't think she put this together by herself completely?!)

Stretchy Stretch

I think I have GYM ANXIETY. I don't even know if it can be classified as anxiety but I can tell you that there is a part of me that seriously does NOT want to go to the gym.

I know, I know. Sounds like an incredibly convenient excuse NOT to go to the gym. 

But every time I plan to go to the gym, it's like something in me comes up with tons of reasons not to go. Then my heart starts beating faster and faster at the mere thought of going to the gym. 

I keep telling myself that as soon as I make going to the gym a  h a b i t , maybe my "anxiety" will go away.

And it usually happens, that after I go, I feel rejuvenated from the workout and I forget about the "anxiety" I had earlier.

I need to delve further into this weird issue of mine. (Like I don't have enough problems!)

Anyway, today I went for StretchFit (SF). Which is basically a stretching exercise class filled with yoga type moves but a little easier (or so I think). I planned to go to Kickboxing after but my knees and arms were a little shaky. The workout didn't leave me KO'd, but I figured it's probably better to take it a little easy in the beginning. Right?

So after SF, I did 25minutes of power walking on an incline on the treadmill. 


Lesson of the day: I need to bring my headphones EVERY time I head to the gym in case I just want to walk on the treadmill. Seriously. The only entertainment I had was texting while exercising and when that died off, it was some strange Chinese period drama about six teachers, a demoness and a dude, who seems important, who is in love with the alleged demoness. Yea - WHAT? 


K that's it for today lovelies! I think tomorrow I will go for SF again and then do some gym exercises - exercise bike and treadmill sound good to me right now :D


If only I could play Plants vs Zombies while exercising. Maybe I should get a good audiobook?


HMM.


Peace lovies!


Til the next post!