Flat Belly Diet

Alright friends.

I'm back from a short hiatus. Work has been crazy. Life has been crazy. I got sick. And now I'm feeling a little bit better.

Being sick kinda made me think about why I get sick. Lack of vitamins maybe? (I don't think Vitamin Water can help me out there? Anyhow, I think it's going to all come down to nutrition. 

I borrowed this book called the 'Flat Belly Diet' by Liz Vaccariello (Editor-In-Chief of Prevention) and Cynthia Sass. Now, I haven't read it all the way through yet, but I get the gist. And once I get some more time to blog (like blog proper) I will be giving all the details of the 'diet'. 

So the first part of the diet is a 4-day detox to jump start and ANTI-BLOAT your GI tract (gastrointestinal tract) so that it's better prepared for the diet to come.

Part of the diet is that you have to keep a food journal after each meal and write down your thoughts/feelings etc. Guess where I'll being doing that?! Yup. Right here on this blog.

I will be shopping for the groceries needed for the 4-day anti-bloat tomorrow after work and hopefully will be able to get time to blog everyday about the diet. Apparently you can lose up to 7lbs (3kg) in just 4 days because of the anti-bloating thing! 

Also, I hope to report that I'll be back in the gym by Thursday! Almost one and a half weeks of no gym! The hole in my pocket has been burned and I am seriously not going to let anything get in my way now. It's almost FEBRUARY and I need to account for my Resolutions 2011!!

I'm off now to create the grocery list for the 4-day detox. 

Peace lovies.

Til the next post!

The 5-5-5 Workout

So my 'workout buddy' (yep, that's what she's called now) tried to find a more effective way to do cardio while using gym equipment. And she read that one of the most effective workouts would be to basically pump out everything you've got for 30 minutes without a pause or a break. 

10 minute segments on each of these three equipment: the treadmill (classic gym equipment), the elliptical (everyone's biggest nemesis but secretly your best friend), and the exercise bike (I hate the stationary bike. I don't know what it's positives are).

So that means 10 minutes on the treadmill, 10 minutes on the elliptical, 10 minutes on the bike. From what I understand that's the order you're supposed to do them in. No pauses, no breaks (drink water while moving between machines!), no slow-downs or cool-downs til the end. 

We did our own version of what I'm calling The 10-10-10 Workout - we did The 5-5-5 Workout version. Same deal, just for 5 minutes on each machine.

I was super surprised (and this is why this post is tagged as Resolutions 2011) that I could handle running on the treadmill for 6 minutes at 7.8 speed (who really knows what that means, it's just the number that was there). 6 minutes got me to about 800m. Which meant that if I kept running at the same speed, at the same pace, I would get to 1.6km (aka 1 mile) in 12 minutes.

Yea, yea. It is a pretty sucky time for a mile run but I have not run a mile in the LONGEST TIME. I have the worst stamina, the worst breathing - just the worst everything!! 

Anyways. I kinda like the 5-5-5 version of this workout. I think I might try the 10-10-10 version tomorrow after work. 

Let's see if I can do the mile in 10 minutes. Else, I better run the mile first and then switch to the other machines :)

Alright. Peace lovelies. It's Friday tomorrow. Get the TGIF banners ready!

Til the next post!!

It's all about the music!

It's Monday. 

I had pretty much nothing for lunch. 

I didn't want to workout. 

Like seriously, working out was the LAST thing on my mind even though I did bring my workout gear with me to work so that I could just head to the gym after work for SL's 3.30pm KB. 

After work. I literally CONVINCED myself that I would just go home and do nothing. I got on the bus and started listening to Like A G6 by Far East Movement. The song just kind made me want to workout. May sound weird, but I wanted to look fly like a G6. No joke.

Anyways. Finally made it to the gym. KB was amazing. I swear, the two times I've been to that class, I feel they've been my best sessions!


I tried to get myself really into but I couldn't. UNTIL.... Kelly Rowland & David Guetta's Commander came on the instructor's playlist. That song PUMPED ME UP! I swear it was a weird feeling. I started singing along in my head and I just got really into the workout. 


At one point, Fat Boy Slim's Rockafella Skank played as well! Got even doubly pumped!


Made me realize that the music you listen to, especially when you exercise, can have a serious effect on what you are doing at that moment! It can cause you to speed up, slow down, chill out, push harder. 


I am on the hunt for great workout tunes. Any suggestions?


Peace lovelies.

Til the next post.

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!

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!

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!
 

OMG I joined a GYM

Never thought this day would arrive but here it is ladies and gents (I'm imagining there are people who read this blog), I joined a GYM.

Which gym?

Amore Fitness at T1

What do I think of it?

Well I wanted to join last year but due to the lack of cash and a credit card, I decided against it.

So thanks to S joining the gym and bringing me along today, I decided that I would sign up eventually.

Didn't really think I would do it today but since today was the last day of the promotion, I gave it a shot. On the condition that I could pay off the amount in two payments.

How much did it cost me?

First let me just say I'm not trying to show off by letting everyone how much the package was. I am just trying to be informative.

For a 1 year (12 month) deal it's

SGD 1188

+

SGD 120 (registration fee)

+

7% GST

Which equals to

SGD 1399.56

Of which I've paid

SGD699.78

So there. That's what I did on the second day of my holiday!

The Step Workout (B) today was craaaazy! It's a great workout and it may have been a beginner course but phwoar!

Alright peace lovies!

Til the next post!!

Lovingly posted on-the-go using BlogPress from my iPhone :)