Having "Me" Time

I love this myth. This is a myth that says one should not eat after a certain time if one wants to lose weight because food eaten later will turn into fat.  I think at a certain time during my chubby days I too tried this and guess what? I stayed chubby.  I still ate a lot and did not exercise and so yes, I remained chubby no matter what time I ate. Now the myth works for some people, because they end up eating less.  They tell themselves not to eat after a certain hour, and so mindless snacking is avoided.    Especially if you lived in an apartment like I did, the fridge was just convenient and easy access.  Watching TV, I could see the fridge and when you have nowhere to walk, (because the space is small)  you walk to the fridge.  You open the fridge and peek inside. A snack, a piece of cake, a chocolate catches your eyes and before you know it, it's in your stomach! Some say, however, that eating late...

I want to write about so many things, but I cannot do it all in one night so today I thought I'd write about a little revelation I had today. It has to do with clothes. Yes, girls never have enough clothes, shoes bags and accessories.  We love our little fashion items and do not hesitate to buy more even though we have closets full of similar stuff at home.   Then we run out of space and need more. Today I went to pick up a suit I had made.   On the way out,  I passed by some stores and spotted several nice dresses.  Thinking to myself that I am always wearing the same style of clothes, a dark skirt and a shirt,  I thought to myself that I should get something different.  (I suppose that's the excuse I give myself.) I went in and tried on dresses, pants and shoes.  I eventually bought myself a dress and a jacket. Yes, I now have something new for this holiday season. I am happy. Upon returning home, as I always do wh...

It's Friday and what a flooded one it is in Bangkok.  Yes, I am back in town to recieve the flood and it is somewhat stressing me out. It inches closer every hour.  I'm sure it is stressful for many others also so tonight let's change topic and instead continue on with our myths.  Myth 5: Drink 8 glasses of water a day.  Clean water, not the ones that come with Bangkok floods. I have to admit this is a myth that I also believe in and one that is seen everywhere.  It is a myth if you believe it is a miracle cure all that will cure illnesses and give you wonderful health.  If, however, you see it as a recommendation on how to keep yourself hydrated then it is fine. According to nuitritionist Alannah DiBona, we don't really need 8 glasses.  This was an easy way to tell people to avoid sugary sodas and other drinks.  She says that one should take one's body weight in ounces of water and divide it in half. Th...

It's official, Bangkok will flood.  Bangkok Post this morning tells us to "Brace" ourselves for it.   This evening some of my relatives have evacuated and others are looking after their houses.  Colleagues rush home to safeguard their homes against water while others wait in anticipation of the coming flood.  We get real time updatest through facebook and twitter.  I feel like I'm in a war where I know not about the enemy.  I feel blind.  The enemy is large and furious, yet we are like mice running around looking for a way to survive. Experts say that the flood will last over a month. Everyone is worried we will run out of clean water and food.  The supermarket by my house has run out of local water, eggs and bread.  It's been like this for over a week now.  The only water on the shelves are imported Evians and Perrier that cost more than double our average drinking water. Even then, they are finally being snatched up....

The world has gone bananas.  Bombings, shootings and phone hacking scandals are what dominate the headlines.  Everywhere I go, those are what people are reading about.  The world has indeed gone bananas.  If you can't already guess by now, I thought today I'd write about how good it is to actually go "bananas."  No, don't take me literally and go crazy,  what I want to say is eat bananas. The past few weeks, I've returned to my healthy snack routine at the office which involves daily does of fresh bananas.  I bring along two each morning.  One for my mid morning snack and one for the mid afternoon snack.  Some days if I anticipate long hours, I bring an extra banana.   They are great especially if you are looking for a healthy alternative to chips, fried chicken or the grilled pork skewers that set up shop outside the office building. Bananas are rich in fiber and so they keep you filling full.  If you n...

There is a hidden secret that was discovered by a colleage a few years back right and one that I truly enjoy visiting. Thank you na ka.  It's a little coffee shop called "Vivi The Coffee Place" located right next to the river of Kings and it is somewhere that is perfect if you want to stop by and have a little rest after a visit to the Grand Palace or the Temple of the Reclining Buddha.  It gets hot and humid and having somewhere to just chill and relax by the river is ideal.  Or if you just need a little hideaway, this place too is the perfect place.  It's quiet, it has a gorgeous view of the Temple of Dawn, an ancient fortress and you can spend a good number of hours just reading away.  Away from all the crowds of people you usually find on streets and shopping malls.  Here you are at peace. The Coffee shop is part of a boutique hotel called "Aurum" which in itself is a beautiful building that makes you wonder if you are...

Here's a light story to start off the week and welcome March!  February is just saying farewell after a mere 28 days.  Don't you love it?  For those who look forward to getting their salary, this is a great month :) It comes early :)  The story I want to tell today is a true story that you should all take note when you visit Vienna or any other German speaking country.  It's about two very simple yet very important words:  Herren, Damen . I remember this like it was yesterday.  I was sitting at Central cafe with a group of friends I had just taken for a walk around the Stephansdom and the Hofburg.  We were tired and what better place to rest than at Central cafe.  We ordered hot chocolate, coffee, and apple strudel. While waiting one of my friends had to go for natured called.  I waved her towards the bathroom and didn't think much about it.  It was just behind the painting and easy to find.  The rest of us sat...

Happy Friday :) It's the first Friday of the month, and the first Friday of 2011. Somehow I feel like it has already been a few months since the New Years.  There is so much to do.  This year also sounds futuristic and as if it came from a sci-fi movie.  Nevertheless, it is here and ready for us to embrace.  The office opposite my building is certainly embracing it.  For a few hours now, they have been partying with food, music and dancing. It sounds fun.   The New Years is also a time for us to get organized and clean up our living space.  I've been trying to clear up my accumulated junk, but the pile seems to come out from Mary Poppins' bag.  Once I take things out of drawers and shelves, they suddenly blossom and grow in size. I have piles of things I have to donate, piles of things waiting to go into storage, and piles of things I have to sort.  The piles of things to sort is just so lar...

With all the festivites going on, Christmas and New Years is undoubtedly one of my favorite time of the year.  I get to meet friends, catch up over lovely meals accompanied by weather that is nice and cool in winter. It doesn't snow in Thailand, but the temperature drops to the mid-twenties (celsius).  It's lovely and cool.  Perfect.  And as one of my friends put on her facebook status it is the "perfect weather to get fat."  I think this perfectly describes how we all feel. A lot of activities during Christmas and New Years undeniably revolve around eating.  We meet, we eat.  We celebrate, we eat.  We travel, we eat. Then we sleep in between those "meets" and "eats."  Oh how easy it is to pack on those pounds that won't just go away.  Nevertheless, do not fear them...there is a way to overcome them and one tip is to Plan Your Meals . I used to never plan my meals.  I'd just eat what I felt like eating each meal a...

With the holiday season knocking at the door, it is always a challenge to keep fit and healthy.  To maintain one's weight during the year is not so easy for most of us, let alone maintaining one's weight during the holiday season! All that turkey and holiday parties are extremely deterimental to one's waistline. So today I want to share with you a little secret on how to stay active and burn away a little of that holiday eating.  I realized this was something I had only begun doing recently since I began my weightloss journey over a year ago.  Now it has become a part of my routine.  What do I do?  It's easy.  I eat first then I shop. Didn't I say it was easy?  Now the important part is implementing it.  Before in my much much chubbier days, which I am happy to say is now behind me,  I didn't give a slight thought as to what I'll eat and when I'll eat it.  I'll eat when I'm hungry and t...

Going out to run the other day, I tried something different with my laces.  Usually I just pull it at the ends and then tie the shoes without much thought to it.  I mean, I've been tieing my own shoe laces for almost three decades and at this age, who can't tie their shoe lace?  I never gave much thought to it until one day I realized my shoes weren't feeling as comfortable as they should have. Some days I felt like they were just an extension of my body and I could run easily.  Some days they felt big and bulky.  So in an attempt to discover what's making me feel so different, I slowed down my pace and carefully tied my shoes.  Instead of just pulling the ends, I went through the middle of the laces and pulled them tight with both my fists.  I pulled it up all the way to the end which made the shoe seem to fit a bit more and then I tried to make my bow looked good. Surprisingly, it made a huge difference to how my shoes felt on my feet a...

Happy Friday! Five friends of mine were born on this day according to my FB contact list. This must be a record for a single day. :) I don't know about you, but for the past few years, my birthday month has always been the month I start getting myself on the path to being fit. I guess its something about getting old that makes me want to be fit for once in my life. Usually my goals will end up resulting in a couple months of yoga classes and a few trips to the fitness. Perhaps I'll get a few weeks where I manage to hit the fitness 3 times a week. By the time I hit Thanksgiving and Christmas, all my intentions somehow fade away. Lost in oblivion. Lost amongst all the celebrations. This year is different, I've actually reached my goal since last year and have been able to maintain my weight without fluctuation for the past half year. Let's continue to keep it going this well even a few years from now. To help those who want to be healthier and fit, today I thought I'd...