July Update

Hi everyone~!

June has come and went. Dietbet has also come and gone, but I am still obsessed with collecting printable workouts~! lol.. It may not all be cute but I have a collection in my Iphone's photo album right now! Unfortunately, the temperature just got lower this month and I have been avoiding workout like the plague... Instead, I have chosen to hibernate in my cocoon of warmth. I wish spring would come sooner!!

Anyway, here are some of the printable workouts I have collected, some from pinterest and some from twitter. I haven't tried all of them yet but I will try... one day... 

Well apart from workouts, July is also the month that me and my partner celebrate our 9th year anniversary together. For our 9th year anniversary, we booked dinner at Amuse restaurant in East Perth. It is like one of the Top Fine Dining Restaurant in Western Australia, bagging Restaurant of the Year Award for 2013! Not to mention, the Australian Hot 50 Restaurant Award! I had to book like 2 months in advance for a Friday spot!! *fans self* Ok, enough with the Awe-Me-Good with their achievements. The restaurant itself doesn't shout out classy but it is rather humble, slightly hidden among high rise condominiums and houses. But the service is impeccable~!

Ok, cake from a different place but since it cost us $11.90 and it is incredibly yummy, I think it deserves a mention! From a new patisserie in Subiaco. 

At Amuse. 

Wine and menu. 

I do have to apologize though because I couldn't get a good picture due to the dim lights. And what good is it to pay like $130 pp for a dinner you couldn't capture on picture, right? So I tried... 

It looks horrible...

It was a wonderful dinner, especially since I got to share it with someone special. I think even if we don't end up with dinner in this wonderful place, we would have been content with a bowl of wantan. A lot of people tell me that 9 years together is not easy. That's so true. Looking back, there have been lots of down town but it makes us truly appreciate the good times and not take them for granted. I am really blessed to have someone that complements my strengths and forgives my weaknesses and I know he is blessed to have me too. *Hehe...* 

Masquerade Dinner

Last weekend, I had the opportunity to attend a masquerade dinner by the Engineers Australia. I was so excited with the concept of masquerade party after I attended one by my partner's company last year at a beautiful museum. They even decorated the fake dinosaur bones with a white veil and a fake bouquet of flower. lol...

But this masquerade party was a bit more down key. Nobody really wore their mask; one person even turned up with a HELMET! Confused much? So I decided to leave my mask at the table with my untouched camera. 

It wasn't an enjoyable night but at least the dinner is nice. :) 

My make up for the night...

After that, we decided to take a cool and relaxing walk down Mill Point Road. Isn't it beautiful? 

Some days, I feel like I don't have enough happiness in me to spend throughout the day. Sometimes socializing (especially getting to know new people when they already have their own  niche group) is so tiring. And this is one of those days. 

My July weight in

Hello~!

I just did my weight in for a diet bet I started with my partner earlier last month!! 

Before anything, I would show you how much I weight last month. I have really lost touch with how much I weight since I had my wedding last October. Good riddance~! But after a friend's death late May, I finally had this epiphany that life is really short and you'll never know when it is your time to leave. Why do we take health and being fit for granted? 

My weight in in June: 57 kg

In my earlier post, I ranted about others commenting on getting active and being fit. Well, it is not for granted. It hurts to push yourself; it sometimes goes against one's basic instinct (especially in winter) to push ourselves to our limit and to persevere. It takes a few weeks of omg-I-am-going-to-have-a-heart-attack cardio sessions and my-chicken-wing-muscle-is-going-to-die strength training to actually change my habit of coming home and just coming online. 

The truth is that, it doesn't get easier but the funny thing is that I am starting to like it. It must be the endorphin talking but there is just something satisfying about working out that I thought never existed. 

 My weight in on July: 55kg

I started my dietbet with the goal of losing weight but I've gained so much more. 

For one, exercise is really good in winter because it warms up my body. I noticed that the week that I had a good workout, the cold doesn't get to me that much. But I am nowhere near those people who jogs in the cold winter morning of 3 degrees with nothing but t-shirt and shorts. Looking at them makes me shiver. 

What?? 

Another thing, I have also gained a better appreciation for exercise and weight. I bought a body scale that also measures body fat, water and muscle %. I may or may not lose weight when I started working out because my fats are slowly replaced by muscles which is weight as well. But 1kg of muscle takes less space on you than 1kg of fats, so you will still look great. 

So bye bye old scale, hello new scale~!

Anyway... So I started up with 57kg and ended up with 55kg... Not bad for winter... 

Note: there is a slight deviation from the reading of my old scale, but since I started my dietbet based on the old scale... I pronounce myself the winner of my dietbet~! Yeay~! hahahaha....

Thoughts on June on Fire

Earlier last month, I was consumed by the goal to lose weight, eat healthy and get fit (a.k.a. June on Fire!).

I was so motivated by other people's before and after picture. I thought that person could be me! But in my mental picture, I don't need washboard abs or smaller waistline, I just wanted two things! I wanted lady muscles on my arm and I wanted my thigh gap to be complete. That's all I wanted.

And for this picture in my mind, I worked real hard. As hard as I could manage to push myself that is. I can give a thousand reason why this is hard but in the end it sounded lame in comparison to this image in my head. And it is true that I get tired and hungry by the time I reach home and oh-so-true that it is getting oh-so-cold dead of winter here. But a thousand reasons still cannot squelch that tiny voice inside reminding you of what you want, like a child throwing a huge tantrum and won't accept even a word of advise from their parents. I think sometimes I like and admire this kind of stubbornness. Some times.

Hard as it may seem to motivate myself to even move a muscle, I soon realize I have external pressure from others to handle.

I am talking about some that actually starts to feel resentful towards me. I mean how funny is it that people would actually feel resentful enough to make comments that getting fit and losing weight is easier for me because *insert adacadabra magic, please*. It sounds so obviously lame, right? If you're thinking of genetics, how many of us are actually genetically predisposed to be skinny anyway?

They act like I think I am better than them, making snide comments about my workouts as if I am planning an evil world domination. I don't know, all I care is working towards bettering myself. And I do not understand why I need to justify why I need to do this. Maybe it is something superficial like less flabbier arm and thigh gaps but my methods doesn't involve extreme measures such as starving myself and being bulimic, so go easy on me.

I am due to do my weight in next week, and honestly I haven't seen my full thigh gaps yet and my underarms still does the jiggles when excited so maybe all those snide remarks are unwarranted. Update next week~!

Top 5 Food: Eat Less but Still Feel Full

I have always had this issue. It always happened something like this...

Me : *Focusing intently in meeting*
Tummy: Let me play you the music of my people. :D

I know I am a big eater but then sometimes it gets very annoying especially when I am busy and I can't often stop to take a bite (especially one that doesn't last long). Other times, lower glucose level also strip me off concentration making me easily irritated and tired. After a few trial and misses, I would love to share with you top 5 food that left me feeling fuller for longer period of time. Please note that I have arrange it in no particular order.

(1) Oatmeal
One of the first thing that I tried was oatmeal and though oatmeal is bland, the combination of oatmeal with fruits, nuts, peanut butter, and/or savory makes it such a versatile meal. If you are lazy like me and couldn't be bothered to think straight out of bed, you will love the Uncle Toby's quick sachet range. My personal favorite is the apple honey cinnamon!

2 main selling points of oatmeal: (1) Oatmeal is high in fiber which means it stays in your tummy longer, keeping that feeling of hunger at bay. Apart from that, (2) it is well known to be able to lower your bad cholesterol level. Protect your heart and your waist line. <3 p="">

(2) Banana
One of the nasty side effect of growing up with dirty minded peers is that I don't ever dare to confess liking banana or even dare to eat banana in public. I know it sounds ridiculous but it is true. It is only up till recently when I started working and realize that I am no longer surrounded by dirty minded peers that I started eating banana! I know it sounds ridiculous but it is true! Now I regret not taking banana earlier.

Because if I were to start counting benefits in taking banana, I won't know where to start and when to stop. So, I will highlight what appeals to me. (1) Banana is a low Glycemic Index (GI) food giving longer and more sustained energy supply; (2) It is also high in fiber which means reduced hunger pangs and good for the digestive system; (3) Banana is also rich in potassium, an essential nutrient that helps the body's circulatory system deliver oxygen to the brain (and make you smarter~! A-hah~!)

(3) Eggs
Another favorite and simple breakfast that I absolutely love is egg!! Omg, just two 700g boiled egg can sustain my hunger for hours! Plus, I read somewhere that eating protein in the morning can curb food binges throughout the day.

Apparently, egg doesn't raise bad cholesterol in the body (according to recent health findings) but just in case they get it wrong again, eat some oatmeal too. Two birds with one stone~! :)

(4) Sweet Potato
Another awesome food I discovered is sweet potato!! Omg... I do not even know how to describe it. I think I ate like one fifth of a normal size sweet potato and I felt full enough to last me till lunch hour (which is like 4-5 hours?!?) Unlike its cousin the potato, sweet potato is a good source of vitamin, potassium, and fiber making you feel fuller and satiated.

But I heard consuming sweet potato can result in excessive gas, but I am not sure I felt that at all thus far.

(5) Nuts
If you just had to snack, then the best snack would have to be nuts. Not only is it rich in essential fats (something you should take when you are trying to lose weight) but also essential B vitamins.

My current favorites are walnut and pine nuts! I cannot stop wondering how something small can actually be more useful in satiating me than chocolate, power bars or cookies but it is true. 

So, if you are trying to eat more healthily or like me eat less but stay full or maybe you just want to lose weight, give these food a try for 21 days because that is how long it takes to adjust to a new taste. Or if you know of other food that also give that satisfying feeling without adding to your waistline, please let me know in the comments below. :)

Have a happy mid-week, everyone~!