Get Instant Energy

Source: RD YOU September08 edition

YOUR BODY CREATES ENERGY from nutrients, oxygen and invigorating stimuli, such as fragrance. Natural mood, beauty and body boosters such as these suit our increasingly busy lives because they provide an instant life and are so simple to do each day.

Massage your ears. According to traditional CHinese medicine, stimulating acupressure points on your ears increases blood circulation, and thus energy. Vigorously rub your ears all over for about a minute. They should start to feel hot and, almost immediately, you should feel more alert. Start at the lobe and massage to the top of the ear.

Taking a power shower. Sprinkle eucalyptus oil on the floor of your shower before stepping in. Stand under steaming hot water and rub your body with loofah. (I just realized that loofah is a washing sponge. Well, I just learned something new.) The eucalyptus scent stimulates your brain, while the hot water and the rubdown increase blood flow, sending oxygen to your cells where it’s transformer into energy.

Wake up with a break. Your body can only handle about 45 minutes of sitting without becoming fatigued. Get up and march around briskly for three to five minutes, or do some quick stretches or squats. (Yes, I truly agree with this one~)

Make a splash. Dip a face washer in cold water and wet both the front and back of your neck. Then gargle with cold water for a couple of seconds. Your neck and throat are rich with sensitive nerves, and by stimulating them with the cold water, you shock them into the ‘fight-or-flight’ reaction, which temporarily shifts more blood towards your brain. (Perhaps I gonna try the neck washing tomorrow when I feel kinda tired – Get Instant Energy!

And Yes, I’m still on Yong Tau Foo (YTF) routine~

But today, I didn’t manage to turn away my craving for Hotdog-Fries meal…

Fear not, for I am ready for tomorrow…

Ready to make splash at the swimming pool!

Massaging my ears…

Fletcher

Vanity vs Health

Into my 5th day of having vege-only meal during either lunch or dinner, I managed to stay in course with the goals that I set – eating vege-only Yong Tau Foo (8 pieces) at least once a day until this week ends.

As dinner is approaching, I felt a sense of achievement in terms of the discipline that I have integrated into my daily life, especially this week. With a well balanced swimming and yong tau foo days, I think after this week ends, I might even develop a habit of having Yong Tau Foo meal at least once a day! But perhaps, there will be an additional tinge of flavour by adding a little bit of fried stuffs and “mie sua”. As I had said in my previous post, I wouldn’t want my friends to see me as someone who over-indulged in nutrional diet (Guitared body).

Health is the priority here. There must be times when flowing tempation grew in us to eat more sinful meals. But fear not, once we have got into the groove of eating Yong Tau Foo a day, losing weight wouldn’t be a problem. There’s a famous saying, “An apple a day, keeps the doctor away”. In my case, “A vege-only Yong Tau Foo meal a day, keeps the fats away”. At least, that is what I believed in till now.

Though my goal of eating Yong Tau Foo for the 5th day were accomplished, I still have to monitor what I eat during the day. But I believe if hunger kicks in during tea time, we can always pamper ourselves a ice tea-milk or ice yuan yang. Most probably, if you try this nutrional diet, you will get hungry when the clock reaches 6pm. Well….that’s exactly what I am feeling now.

So, till next time folks! =)

I would say…Perseverance is Key

“It’s always One More Stroke – To Anything”

On The Go

Fletcher

Vanity extends its wings

I have lost a kg. (Hopefully, it’s the belly’s kg that I lost)

There is an old saying, “Behind every successful man there is a wise woman”. In my case, I would like to say, “Behind every fat loss routine, there is a Yong Tau Foo (vege-only meal)”.

Into my fourth day vege-only routine having Yong Tau Foo for either lunch or dinner, I have managed to lose a kg. I can sense that I am getting lighter by the days. But it’s still a long way to go – to get approximately a Song Seun Heun/Bae Yong Joon body type.

However, it is impossible to get this routine going without putting effort and discipline. But first, we have to get rid of the excuses such as, “I think I can’t get full if I just eat vegetables”. Therefore, to mitigate our many thoughts of finding excuses for ourselves, I suggest that we and myself to eat Yong Tau Foo vege-only meal (8 pieces) during lunch time.

When the clock reaches tea time, we can pamper ourselves a tea milk/coffee to sooth and rejuvenate our body systems to get more things done.

The reason on why I suggested to have Yong Tau Foo for lunch was because if we happened to eat Yong Tau Foo at night, we tend to get hungry around 11p.m. Thus, tempted to rummage for food. In my case, bread – soft meal bread with nothing spread on it to minimize my calorie intake.

Anyway, I will try to maintain this routine until the end of the week. I will stop after this week because I won’t want my friends to be shock over my “guitared body” the next time we meet.

Vanity extending its wings to men?

Perhaps…Perhaps…Perhaps…

Fletcher

Dealing with Excuses

You don’t have enough time to work out. You’re not feeling well. There will always be excuses to skip a workout. You need to be your own Excusinator and blast those excuses into oblivion. The next time you want to skip your workout, write down your excuses on a piece of paper. Now cross them off one by one and write some solutions. “I’m too busy” becomes “I’ll just do 30 minutes on the treadmill and leave.” “I’m not feeling well” becomes “I’ll just work out for 10 minutes and see if I feel better.”

<Source credited to Never Say Diet, The Daily Motivator>

Today, I managed to swim 15 laps. Felt really great after that. Prior to swimming – wake up, switched on the computer, played Mafia Wars in front of the computer, straining my goldfish”ed” and panda”ed” eyes, totally neglecting the *normal* routines and what’s happening surrounding me. Because of that, I almost succumb to my “laziness” to work out.

However, after reading this NeverSayDiet article, I thought, “I’ll just go down to the swimming pool, stretch well, swim slow and see what I can get from that.” When I reached the swimming pool, I did just that. But the pacing got much faster, reached the end of the lap earlier and I felt the adrenaline pumping inside me. Then the thoughts came into me, both the goals to shed fat loss and the desire to feel the after effect of Swimming – REJUVENATION.

I believe in getting things done, we have to begin within ourselves. We have to find the deep reasons of doing “something” , to constantly remind ourselves that by not that “something”, we have nobody to blame, but ourselves. But if we do successfully do that “something”, we will increase our self-worth and thus, feeling happy that we have achieve that goal.

Furthermore, isn’t life is about how we seek happiness and how we deal with dips of our life? So, let’s achieve our short-term goal on daily basis, to build incremental improvement for our long-term goal.

Work Hard, Play Hard, Exercise Hard

Eat Well, Rest Well, Sleep Well

Fletcher

Coffee Breaks

I found this article very interesting coming from RDHealth March09 edition. Here you go~

MOUNTING EVIDENCE suggests that coffee drinkers have a lower risk of developing Type 2 diabetes, gallstones, Parkinson’s disease, cirrhosis and certain types of cancers.

Hundreds of compounds, including antioxidants, seem to be responsible for coffee’s many protective benefits. A Harvard study revealed coffee drinkers had a lower risk of ding of cardivascular causes than nondrinkers. A Norwegian study found that a typical serving of brewed coffee is richer in antioxidants tan a serving of blue-berries, raspberries, or many fruit juices.

BRAIN BONUS: Coffee might help the mind as much as the body. One study found that sleep-deprived rats were much calmer simply after inhaling the scent of roasted coffee beans.

SIPPING TIPS: Still, many dietitians recommend drinking in moderation – only one or two cups of coffee a day and without the added whole milk and sugar (which jolt only the waistline). If you drink, much more than that, the caffeine can dehydrate you or raise your blood pressure. Pregnant women should limit their intake as well, since coffee can boost the risk of miscarriage.

If you’re worried about high cholesterol, stick to paper-filtered coffees. Unfiltered coffees contain more cholesterol-raising substance called “cafestol.”

Black Coffee, Anyone?

Fletcher

Incorporating Healthy Daily Habits – Trial Sessions

If you’re like many people, the start of the day isn’t your favourite time. So here are 14 healthy habits you can sneak into your routine without much effort. Try at least one of these tomorrow…(or maybe even today~)

Source: <http://www.readersdigest.com.au/healthsmart/healthy-daily-habits/article121024.html>

1.Stretch every extremity for 15 seconds. Try this before you open your eyes. Lift your arm and begin by stretching each finger, then your hand, then your wrist, then your arm. Repeat with the other arm. Then your toes, feet, ankles and legs. End with a neck and back stretch that propels you out of the bed. You’ve just limbered up your muscles and joints, and enhanced the flow of blood through your body, providing an extra shot of oxygen to all your tissues.

2. Cuddle your kids. Few things are more stressful than waking up an overtired ten-year-old or snoring teen. Yet this is one time when parents can show affection without copping attitude. Sit on his bed and gently smooth his hair as you softly wake him. Such a moment will send a surge of joy through your day.

3. Eschew any Decisions. For truly relaxing mornings, reduce the number of choices and decisions you make to zero. Either make your decisions the night before – what clothes to wear, what breakfast to eat, what route to take to work – or build routine into your morning as much as possible. Really, there’s no need to vary your breakfast, timetable or bathroom ritual every morning.

4. Drink a glass of water. Remember, you’ve been fasting all night long, so you wake each morning dehydrated.

5. Spend five to ten minutes listening to music or just sitting and thinking. This allows the creative thinking that takes place during the night to gel and form into a plan of action, grounding you for the day.

6.Prepare an emergency outfit in your wardrobe, right down to socks/stockings and accessories.

On mornings when you sleep through the alarm or simply need an extra ten minutes, you can just pluck it off the hanger and go.

7. Kiss all the people you love in your house (including the dog and cat) before you leave. Connecting with the ones you love soothes stress and gives a positive start to your day.

8. Keep a basket for yourself and one for each child by the front or back door. Into it go keys, wallet, school bags, letters to be posted, etc. This will prevent a frantic last minute search for lost items.

9. Brush your tongue for one minute. There’s no better way to rid yourself of morning breath and begin the day minty fresh. Hundreds of bacteria take up residence in your mouth every night, so just a quick brush isn’t going to vanquish them all.

10. Split up in the morning. That means you use one bathroom and your partner uses another. (If you have only one, take turns.) Even if you’re still madly in love, bathroom time should be private time. It makes for a calmer, less stressful start to the day.

11. Check your morning calendar. This is a large calendar or whiteboard you’ve hung in a prominent position in the kitchen. On it, write everything you need to know for that day. Check it each morning as you sip your coffee or tea – it will help you avoid the stress of forgetting something important.

12. Wash more efficiently. Try using two-in-one products such as a cleanser that also moisturises or a shampoo/ conditioner combination.

13. Set your alarm 15 minutes earlier so you don’t have to jump out of bed and rush through your morning. You can begin your day by lying in bed, slowly waking up. Stretching. Listening to the news headlines. Mentally ticking off the decisions you made beforehand about what you’re going to wear, what you’re going to do, what you’re going to have for breakfast. These precious few minutes are all yours.

14. Hop on the treadmill for 30 minutes. Studies have found that people who work out in the morning are more likely to stick with their exercise regimen. That’s because they get their work-out out of the way and don’t have all day to come up with diversions and excuses to avoid the gym. And, as an added bonus, this early burst of activity means you’ll produce feel-good endorphins that will last most of the day.

Doing 3 sets of 20 Push ups

Sitting and thinking with background music ON

Fletcher

Cucumber I-N-G

Cucumber for Eyes

It is believed that cucumber helps in reducing swelling around the eyes or the big dark circles under your eyes. This is world-wide treatment which is being used to its maximum extent.

Cucumbers are the most wonderful and natural eye pads you can find for yourself. The puffiness and the tiredness in your eyes may just leave you, if you do this in a relaxed fashion. These natural eye pads do wonders after a long days work.

Thoughts: Yes, it made my eyes fresher to start sharing this.

Cucumber for Skin

If you want a happy skin, then cucumber is the answer. As cucumber and the skin share the same level of hydrogen, it becomes easier for cucumber to mask all the problem areas. It helps in soothing and softening your skin which can get you relaxed in no time.

With so many useful ingredients in cucumber it can help you in treating so many skin problems. It has become part of daily beauty product into face packs, facials, juice and many other things which can affect your skin.

Due to its cooling effect it can be termed as a magic wand for all your skin problems. The cleaning and cleansing property helps your skin tremendously making it soft and supple.

The regular intake of cucumber juice is very useful both internally and externally.

Thoughts: I think I will try cucumber juice later~

To have a healthy glowing and smooth skin use this recipe

+ means optional

+Blend 4 – 5 leafs of fresh mint.+

Peel and deseed the cucumber. (Do we really need to deseed it?) *pondering…

Add mint leaves to the cucumber to make a puree.

+Beat egg white and keep it separate, then add this egg white to the cucumber mixture.+

Apply this evenly on your face for 20 minutes and then rinse it with water and pat it dry.

For those people who are busy, I recommend you to eat “Non-Fat” Yogurt after which its residue can be used for the face. NOTE:*You wouldn’t want your face to become more oily after applying yogurt.

TIPS: A friend told me to not apply cucumber everyday as it can dry up our skin. Therefore, I think doing this 2-3 times a week is pretty reasonable. Especially for oily skin like mine.

This source is adapted from Cucumber benefits:

<http://www.disabled-world.com/artman/publish/cucumber_benefits.shtml>

Ready to wash up

Fletcher

Love potion number 9 – July edition

My 9 potions of Love:

1. I love the determination that I put into getting slimmer;
2. I love the determination that I put into writing blogs;
3. I love scheduling my time for the friends that I care;
   
4. I love walking at the malls and at the same time, increasing awareness on what’s happening around me;
5. I love (well…not every time)  listening to a friend who never stops talking about dynasty warriors, power rangers and morning musume;
   
6. I love the way some people look at me. Their eyes…believing me…it’s as if everything that I do is for the best. It makes me feel like a superman who can overcome anything.
   
7. I love watching Korean dramas, K-pop, Japanese dramas, J-Pop, TW-Pop and some of Taiwanese dramas;
8. I love reading nowadays. Usually after reading about 15 mins on “Discover Your Inner Economist”, I will yawn…But today, at Mos Burger, I finished reading a chapter~ I think by sleeping earlier, waking up earlier, along with adrenaline pumping gymming and swimming have helped me to focus better;
9. I love the feeling of listening to Jack Johnson – Sleep through the static, in the morning.

All these Loves have been motivating me to go through the days with a Happy Face. So together, let’s find them, write them down and share them.

Enjoy~

Sitting through the 4:10 show

Watching Jack Johnson – Sleep through the static

Fletcher

The Seven Deadly Sins (or Not)

How did you start your day? I assumed that you did the exercises that I shared with you on yesterday’s post. Right now I gonna share with you what my seven deadly sins are that most of the time prevented me to do what I hope to do. The solutions have been quite responsive so far.

The 7 Deadly Sins

1. Sleeping late
   Solutions: I have marked the latest sleeping time for me – 12.30a.m. I think that’s a reasonable timing, not too early and not too late. Perhaps I can go to bed at 12. Then INDULGE in my phone, SMSing, talking, put on some music, lazing around on bed. Pretty relaxing moment for a Pre-Sleep, don’t you think so?
2. Waking up late
   Solutions: I put my phone far away from me so that when it rings, I have to get up and put it into sleep. After that, I will try (Trust me, this needs a lot of WILLpower) to not laze around the bed, get myself to brush my teeth. Looking at messy me in the mirror…sometimes Wake Me Up.
3. Not focusing on the things that I am doing
   Solutions: On the computer, focus only on a few things that I want to do. Don’t open too many tabs, thus overloading yourself with tabs. Yes, only tabs, not information at all. Because you won’t know where to start. Well….i felt that, unless you are very good at multi-tasking. So for me, I will need to go one by one to be more productive and efficient.
4. Lazy to go out
   Solutions: Research have shown that going out in the sun does help to boost your vitamin D intake. This means 39% less likely to die of colon cancer. So once in awhile, do go out. *Note: Try to avoid the mid-day sun though.
   Hope this story will give you a boost to do go out and have a look on what’s really happening outside. Taking a slow walk will be good too. Okay, I have a friend whose father is already retired at 70. But, he’s always not at home. He’s always on the outside, taking care of grand-children, playing soft balls with them, keep himself intact with the readings. He never spent his time on a couch, watching tv for 4-5 hours. Jim Rohn said, “Go See, Go Look, Go Do”. The more we go out, the more we see. Furthermore, it will even make us feel fresh, after closing ourselves up at home or office.
   Even if we are an otaku, we can always afford to spend some time buying food outside and eat there for a good 1 hour right?
5. Calling 62-35-35-35 Pizza Delivery~
   Solutions: Well, I don’t really call for pizza. But I do get so lazy that sometimes, I just cook a noodle at home and eat it in front of my computer – Alone. Best still, if I do have….a CUP NOODLE!
   Occasionally, I think it is a fine thing to do, but overtime, don’t make this as a habit. Even if you are alone, you should go out and BREATHE new air. Don’t you agree?
   These few weeks, at least I can see the changes in myself, both interior and exterior. And I’m Lovin It!
6. Be a couch potato, watching series after series of dramas
   Solutions: Call up some friends and make outings. Be the the person who controls the environment. Not the environment who’s controlling you. Let’s make something happen! Well…at least don’t be a couch potato~
7. Laze around, feels that everything you do is meaningless for the day—> Long N.A.P—> Dinner Time
   Solutions: Go for a 24 mins power nap. I think I have read somewhere that said 24 mins is really a good power nap. Not less, not more. I think you got my drift here. Less is More. With that power nap, you will get a more refreshed mind and you are Ready to Go for a Task or More.

You will notice that All these 7 Deadly Sins are linked together. One thing lead to another. So, what’s your 7s then? How do you overcome them? Let’s tackle them early in the week~
And don’t hesitate to share your opinions here:  __________

Mobilizing my Inner Sportsman

Jogging on a NaBloPoMo09 track

Fletcher

Discovering Your Inner Sportsman

IS IT possible that there’s an Inner Sportsman in every human beings? The answer is yes – the science of sports actually can make for a better life. Sports offers an understanding in The Art of Living Well, the incentives that drive people to be successful in life.

I believe all of us seek Healthiness in life.

This can be achieved as long as we have the will to change our lifestyle. Ok, here’s a simple challenge.

I used to be someone who slept right through the days even though I have had enough sleep (10-12 hours). But this has changed because of the regular sports routine that I have scheduled once I woke up. *Note: 8-9 hours of sleep is really good enough, the best you can get from your sleep.

I was told by a personal trainer that If we sleep late at night and wake up late in the morning – impending big tummy will be coming our way.

ON THE CONTRARY, this will be something that we all wish for. It’s easy~ Let me equate this for you.

Sleep Early at Night + Wake up Early in the Morning = Lose Weight easily

On top of that, 10-15 minutes exercise daily is needed to live a healthy lifestyle. Let’s take that leap of faith and start your day with a Fresh Mind. This simple exercise would give you a kickstart in discovering your inner sportsman.

Ok, this simple exercise is adapted from David Kirsch.

1. Let’s stand up together (I’m standing with you too)
2. Close your eyes
3. Move your arm up as you Big Inhale
4. Move your arm down as you Big Exhale
5. Do this slowly 3 times.

Yes, we did it! We don’t need any fancy equipment to unleash our inner sportsman~

We only need one thing – The Will to Change our Lifestyle for the Better.

Right beside bed

Connecting to my body, mind and soul

Fletcher