Having "Me" Time

It’s almost the end of January, I have a zillion things to do yet right now all I am thinking about are socks. Yes, you read it right. Socks. Those soft cushy things you put on your feet to keep warm and wear with shoes. What? Are you serious? Yes, I am. I am very serious. I have to confess, I have actually been thinking about socks for a few days now so it’s about time I wrote about it. It all started when I resumed my running schedule after a few weeks of rest. Most days, running is a bore and I do it just so that I can eat and have that delicant piece of sinful chocolate that melts in your mouth. However, one day a week or so again, I ran and ran and for the first time in a long time, I felt that running was enjoyable. It was fun, relaxing and I enjoyed feeling my feet pacing up and down on the treadmill. I felt bouncy and my feet were happy. I could run more than I had for awhile. I wondered if it was runner’s high, but it wasn’t. I thought that maybe it was because I had...

I need my sleep but sometimes I wonder, why do we sleep?  Do I really need to sleep? If I didn't sleep I could spend more waking hours doing a million more things. Why we sleep though is a question that has been asked for centuries and still no one really knows the answer.  I do not know why I sleep, but I know that if I do not get enough sleep, the next day becomes a waste of a day. I get headaches, feel groggy and my concentration level is low.   This lack of sleep is what scientists have been studying for centuries in an attempt to better understand why we sleep. Scientists study these various effects of sleep defiency to better understand sleep.  Without it,  our cognitive skills would be harmed and brain development probably affected. If you think humans sleep to save energy, the BBC article "The Science of Sleep" mentions that for eight hours of sleep, we only save about 50kCal which is very minimal.  One piece of my Peppe...

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...

Yes, the flood waters are moving closer to Bangkok.  Everyone is getting a little nervous, me included.  When it rains, I can't help but wonder if that will mean one more line of defense has broken and that soon the waters will rush into the inner city area.  Let's pray that there be no more casualties.  When stressed I tend to eat more than I should.  It's like my brain decides that eating helps relieve stress.  However, it only helps short term for it ends up making me feel worried about having eaten too much.   I end up looking for healthy foods to eat, which brings me to the third myth.  The myth that low fat foods are always good for you. I'm sorry to have to be the one to break the news to you, but low fat foods are NOT always good for you. It is important to always read the food labels when you buy food.  Sometimes, the food is indeed low in fat, but extremely high in sodium (salt) and sugars whic...

I just got my health check results today.  It's always a bit nerve-racking when you receive the results in a sealed package and have to open it.  It makes you wonder what will be written inside.  How will my cholesterol be this year? Am I going to have high triglyceride levels?   It's a time when you cannot run away from reality and the numbers are either telling you good or not so good news.  Getting the health check result is like getting a reality check. A reality check that tells you how well, or not well, you have been treating your body. A few years ago when I was at my "peak" (in terms of being overweight and unhealthy, not peak fitness level!), I never liked the health check results.  It was always had the same phrases on them:  "Lose some weight, eat healthier, exercise, cholesterol levels are high, avoid fatty foods and dairy products." Yes, I remember them all. It was always there ...

If you missed me the past few days, I have to admit I've been feeling a bit "under the weather."   I suppose it's a good phrase to use at this time of year when the weather in Bangkok is just plain bothersome.   It's extremely hot in the mornings and then in the afternoons, it'll rain cats and dogs out of nowhere.   Anyways, still a bit "under the weather" but determined not to let it stop me from doing what I love today (blogging of course!)  I thought I'd write a bit about "intention versus actions." This is something that took me awhile to understand and now that I do, I think it makes great sense. Thank you Alex.  Here's an example I think many of you can relate to.  It's something that's happened to me year in, year out. (Thank goodness I've gotten it over with..)   Every year I'd make the same resolution and somehow as the year passed it'd fade away quietly.   It goes like this. I want to lose weig...

If you are like me, somedays the discipline just goes on holiday and it takes awhile to get it back.  You start on a series of eating out with friends, then more and more reunions come your way, and before you know it, you keep wanting to eat more.    For the ladies out there, here's a tip on how to make sure you don't eat too much:  Wear Pants.  Wear Jeans.  or Wear Skirts with waists that do not expand. I'm a big fan of skirts and dresses and I love the ones without any waists.  They just flow over and then you tie it up with a little belt or a bow to finish the look.  They're comfortable, they're convenient and they are perfect for Bangkok's hot weather.  However, they can be quite dangerous if you eat out a lot when your discipline has gone on holiday.  You don't feel your stomach expanding and you can keep on eating till your heart's content.  As long as the mind isn't full, there is more room to grow (your stomach ...

Yesterday I started out writing with the intention of talking about "Dragon Fruits" but half way through I realized I was talking more about weigh scales.  Tonight I'd get straight to the point and talk about this relatively new fruit called "Dragon fruit." When I first heard the name I wondered what could a fruit look like to justify such a name?  Is it shaped like a dragon?  Is it large and full of fire with flapping wings ?  That's what I always think about when I hear the word "dragon."  I still love saying the name "dragon fruit."  It makes me feel like I am in a mystical land. Interestingly, it's a fruit that comes from a cacti plant that only blooms at night. What's more, it depends on pollination by bats and moths. Not exactly your ideal fruit that dangles from pretty looking trees, like apples that tempted Adam and Eve. However, after seeing the "dragon fruit", I can somewhat see why it's called so...

If you've been following my blog you can probably tell that my life revolve around traveling, exploring new places, finding good places to eat and then running it off.  One cannot have all the good stuff without some spending some time to exercise and take care of one's body.   One important factor to maintaining one's health is to also understand what we eat.  What goes into our bodies?  What ingredients are used to cook what?  How is a croissant different from a whole wheat bread? They are both bread aren't they? What's in a quiche and fruit tart? While baking quiche and making fruit tart over the weekend a thought hit me.  This was a wonderful way to learn and realize what really goes into our food!  Here you get to know all the ingredients! Croissant, a favorite of mine requires lots and lots of butter for it to get all those layers and soft texture.  Oh how divine it is to just sink your teet...

My breakfast discussion this morning concerned attitudes and how most things in life depends on how you view and see things.  Definitely true.  While bicycling later on this past afternoon at the gym I read an article on how exercise is about setting goals and believing you can do it. Also very true.  I've experienced it myself and I know losing weight for me required first and foremost a change in attitudes and the way I perceived things.  You may think that achieving is mainly about reaching the goal, but in reality, how you get to the goal is really a process that involves a lot of changes in attitudes and how you think. As we all probably know,  if you want to accomplish something, you have to set a goal.  What is it you really want in the end?  What is the end result?  This is simple enough.  To achieve anything we need a good and clear goal that is, of course, measurable.  Take for example losing weight.  I wanted to lo...

This morning I went running and still even though its been over a year since I started running, I still can't quite get the breathing right.  I take short breaths in and long breaths out.  I gasp for air and my legs start to go all wobbly.  All I can think is when do I next get to stop.  Oxygen isn't getting to me fast enough.  I feel like I'm suffocating a little.  I can feel my lungs heave against my chest.  I reach the end of my minutes and I heave for air. This is not how my breathing should be and it makes me tire more easily than I should.  There has to be a better way to breathe.  I can't quite get over my neighbour who is running along as if he were out on the countryside smiling, looking left and right.  His breathing is calm and relaxed.  His running looks so easy.  His feet are quiet.  I take a peak at his speed and he's running at 10.5 km/hour!  Wow. That's ve...

Now the year has started and the holiday festivities are slowing losing momentum (at least until the Chinese New Year) let's all start the year out being fit and healthy!    A lot of people start the year with a resolution to lose some weight and be healthy.  It often works for a couple months and then somehow the goal gets lost amidst all the work and whatever life brings us and we end the year having gained weight rather than having lost weight. That was me for probably more than a decade or so. No more.  It still feels surreal having lost 15kg (32 lbs).  This time last year, I was still working on my last few kgs. Wow. This year, for the first time, my goal is to just maintain my weight and I tell you it feels WONDERFUL. It's amazingly less stress and I don't have to start the year with a guilty feeling knowing I didn't make it happen last year and so I have to do it again this year.  I can move on with my l...

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...

You might wonder "What does a post about fashion have to do with weight loss?" Well, the topic popped up as I pondered the benefits of weight loss. We all know weight loss improves one's good health, lowers the possibility of heart disease..blah blah blah... we know the benefits all too well, but WHAT DO I REALLY ENJOY MOST? I know I've given a great gift to myself by looking after my health, but the truth of the matter is: I enjoy most being able to wear almost anything I want to . I like the feeling of walking into a clothing store, seeing a nice blouse, dress or pants that hit my fancy and then being able to try it on. I like asking for a size that the shops have and not having to squeeze myself into clothes that are too small for me. I like not having to come out of the fitting room, and realize that the nice dress didn't look good on me because of my size. I like not having to worry about finding clothes that will hide that "big thigh" or the ...

I got a lovely message from an old friend today who said that she was losing weight as a lifestyle change, which I think is very important, and that it is a process that she has taken very slowly in order for it to be healthy. I completely agree with her on this point and want to emphasize that we have to be PATIENT with weight-loss if we want the results to be sustainable . The National Institutes of Health recommend that a slow and steady diet should enable you to lose around 1/2lbs to 2lbs per week. In metric that is roughly 0.5 to 1kg a week. It took me roughly six months to lose 14kgs (31 lbs) so that averages just slightly more than 2kgs (4.4lbs) per month which is within the guideline. You could lose weight much faster through "Fad diets" but then you could also just easily gain it all back once you return to your normal eating habits. Like my friend, I didn't want to follow a "strict" diet of what you can and cannot eat. Healthy eating, coupled with...

We've all heard about Body Mass Index (BMI), but what is it exactly? According to the National Institute of Health it is " a measure of body fat based on height and weight that applies to both adult men and women. " It is one of the three criteria that the the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) use to evaluate whether someone is overweight or not. 1. body mass index (BMI) 2. waist circumference, and 3. risk factors for diseases and conditions associated with obesity. (These include high blood pressure, high glucose levels, cholesterol levels, triglycerides, family history of heart disease and smoking) I was surprised when I first calculated my BMI..I was borderline normal weight going on overweight! (Ok, I'll stop being in denial.. I was slightly overweight!) Check out where you stand at the following websites. Don't be in denial! http://www.nhlbisupport.com/bmi/bmicalc.htm http://www.nutritiondata.com/tools/calories-burned The latter...

It occurred to me that I didn't quite emphasize enough the importance of drinking enough water in my last entry so here goes: Our body is roughly 70 percent water which means that our cells need water to function properly. We need it to carry oxygen and nutrients to our organs, flush out the toxins, regulate body temperature and keep our joints well lubricated. So how does water help weight loss? Well for one thing, it flushes out the toxins in our bodies and excess salt, which we know makes our bodies store water. If you don't have enough water for your kidney to flush out the toxins, then your liver has to work extra hard and can't metabolize your fat as well as it should. So you end up storing more fat and water than you need to. Another important point is that water suppresses appetite. I realized that I used to eat when I felt 'hungry' when in fact I was 'thirsty.' Listen to your body and you'd be surprise. How much water should you drink? Recom...

Its March 16, 2010 and after having spent most of my roughly 30 years of existence dreaming about projects that for some reason never materialize.. This year, I promise myself that things will be different. Why? Because I KNOW that I can do it. Last year, I lost 14kgs over a period of roughly 6 months and it is a feat I am very proud of. It was NOT easy, but with the loving support of Alex (my boyfriend) who also acted as my coach, I DID it. Throughout my life, I had always been considered "Chubby" and at one point I was more than "Chubby," I was large. Luckily for me, things never got quite out of control but I had been carrying extra weight all my life and could never fit into clothes I liked at stores, hence the "conservative" me. Shirts and pants were the norm.. in various colors.... Here's a bit of what I learnt along the way: 1) To think you can do something, is not the same as actually doing it 2) Nothing is ever as hard as it first seems to b...