Tuesday, June 29, 2010

Crazy, Sexy, Beautiful

I was thinking of these three words while I was watching TV, no, not Desperate Housewives nor the hot vampires in True Blood, but those contestants on The Biggest Loser. I wondered how it is even earthly possible to coax their 400lbs bodies into doing jumping jacks or running up torturous inclines when I can't even do those in my way-less-much-much-way-less-than-400lbs body!?

So I thought, these people must be just plain crazy, sexy and beautiful because of their sheer will and determination to lose the pounds. And one day, at the end of the show most likely, they will not be crazy anymore. Just sexy and beautiful. Of course, it helps to have the toughest, hottest trainers around in the form of Jillian Michaels and Bob "am-I-gay-or-am-I-not?" Harper. Man, I'd lose that much weight just drooling at them!

Inspired by that precise thought, I decided to buy this DVD from the Apps Store. It's a series of exercise routines (in 3 Levels, depending on your current state of fitness, or lack of) by Jillian called the 30 Day Shred. The exercises are quite simple and take only 20-30 minutes of your time a day. She bases her workout on the 3-2-1 method: 3 mins strength, 2 mins cardio, 1 min abs. If you religiously follow them every day for 30 days, you're supposed to lose something ridiculous like 20lbs! That's like, 9+ kilos, man. Crazy, sexy, beautiful you definitely will be.


Well, I'm pleased to report that I've actually viewed all of Jillian's exercise routines. However, before you jump to ask me the crucial "how much lost" question, may I just insert the disclaimer here that I watched her video in the comfort of my own BED. All wrapped up in warm blankies and well-worn, holey pyjamas. So no pounds lost yet. 

But hey, tomorrow's a new day and there's hope in there somewhere. I mean, I'd really, REALLY like to have abs like Jillian. Who'd be crazy not to??

Thursday, June 24, 2010

SCB Charity Run 2010 - Brunei

I registered to join this event, and received my still-glossy donation card today. So, on 8 August 2010, hubby and I will be running in the 10km individual category, the reg fee of which is BND20 per pax. My friend, LAZsie wanted to join in the 10km Challenge where you can run blindfolded with a friend or partner (who's NOT blindfolded, btw, or else you two are doomed!). While she was enthusiastic, I was just worried that she might get preggers by August and who will be left holding my hand then?

Another fashionasti friend, who's fit enough to run a full marathon and back (I believe so), is still undecided whether he wants to run and help charities OR whether he wants to fit in one last getaway party weekend before Ramadhan rolls along (mana lagi yang banyak pahala?). Oooops, did I just say that? Heheh, you know who you are and I know you're not mad at me for saying this in public. In fact, I know you're used to it and will still be my friend.

Of course, with this intent having been made official, I now have to raise some funds. The causes are all good and legit, so I don't mind running for these:  Pusat Ehsan Al-Ameerah Al-Hajjah Maryam, Persatuan Kanak-Kanak Cacat (KACA) and Standard Chartered Bank’s Seeing Is Believing Programme.

Upon registration, these are what you'll get:
• Exclusive Standard Chartered Run Shirt
• Donation card to help raise funds for charity
• Chance to win great prizes in a lucky draw
• Chance to win fun prizes for fancy dress and Spot-the-Liverpool-shirt during the Run
• Certificate of completion when you complete the Run

Obviously there are cash prizes for the winners in each category, but I don't really care about all that because I'm definitely not going to win and besides, this is a charity event. We somehow have to be gracious and look past things like prize-money and such. Of course, if I was fit enough and think I have even a glimmer of winning, then I would publicise the prizes here! Haha, what a hypocrite.

Right, now's the time I find out who are my friends and who are really my friends. Don't forget to SPOONSURE me, y'all..... and sponsor me GOOD! It's all for a good cause, I repeat.

Never Stop Exploring: The North Face 100

About the North Face 100®

The North Face 100® wants you to run further than you ever have in 2010! Promoting the genuine spirit of exploration since its kick-start in 2008, The North Face 100® is growing into a regional trail running series of six Asia-Pacific countries in its third year: China, Australia, Philippines, Japan, Singapore and Thailand. Whether you are an aspiring trail running beginner or a seasoned racer looking for new challenges, unparalleled experience is offered in each competition of this region's largest trail running series. Push your personal boundaries, and Never Stop Exploring.

Here's the website: http://thenorthface100.com.sg/
For those out there who are interested in running a trail race, you should be looking to register for this annual event scheduled to take place in Singapore on 9 October 2010. It's really a test of personal endurance and there are several categories depending on your level of fitness and wallet size, I suppose.

Early Bird registration Fees are valid till 1st August 2010.

I'd love to join this one day when I'm fitter and can run at least a half-marathon with ease. If I were to join this, I would probably sign up for the 50km Duo and then move up to the 100km Duo (running partners, anyone?). As for doing the 100km Solo along an unknown trail which could darken anytime (it's a race that spans up to 18 hours, after all), let's just safely say that I don't think the race organisers are ever going to invite me to be a participant of that one!

Schooze Schmoose

I haven’t updated this blog for over a week now due to several reasons:

On the fitness front, I’ve done pretty much shmutz-all last week and I wasn’t really motivated to write about the adventures of a fat-arse couch potato, interesting as that may sound to be.

When I connected my Phillips activity monitor to get my assessment plan, I found out that I had to UP my activity level from 590+units to 798 units per day if I wanted to reach my 3 topmost goals which are to stay fit & have more energy, look younger (if that’s at all possible at this stage in time!) and be happy. Ok, freaked out and froze out, basically!

Although I love to be fit and can be quite motivated about it most days, to be honest, I just don’t like doing it alone. It’s not fun, more like torture, and sigh, it’s downright boring to write about, let alone expect others to read about it! Geeesshhh….

So anyway, what I’ve been doing though, to fulfill my Wellness Points – a system I created within myself and only I can fully understand – is to clear up my clutter. I’m talking about physical clutter here, which in actual fact and in all honesty, is a reflection of the state of my mind over the period when I’ve accumulated all the things. And my gosh, I have soooo many THINGS!!

I started with my ‘study’ that had magically turned into a hoarder’s fantasy room over the last 6 months or so. In fact, the room had started to smell funny and I found out later when I managed to locate the floor that there was a dead lizard buried underneath all the stuff…. Yuckkzaa!

I thought the place had looked good when I last tidied it up, but oh how it filled up fast. And with such junk, it took me 3 large, black plastic bin liners to haul all the rubbish out. At least I know I’m not a clinical hoarder because it was so easy to throw out everything. No tearful clinging to things I don’t need (like my former work stuff…haha) and no anxiety pangs throughout the whole process. Just a feeling or relief and cleansing at the end of it.

Once I’ve reorganised the room, this is what it looks like. Pretty, kan?

This is where I get to lounge around in my free time, which nowadays is close to ALL the time… yeah, curse me!

My son came in and commented on how many shoes I currently have. I say ‘currently’ because unbelievable though it seems, I do give away or throw away my shoes at least twice a year. Yes, you read correctly….. I said TWICE. Tons at a time. For the life of me, I’m not sure how there still are plenty more pairs left, so I know this is definitely something that I’ve got to work on. (More Wellness Pts = Less Material Stuff = More Inner Fulfillment). Well you get the gist.
This is one corner of my Shoe Stash.

This is another corner….

Under my table.

…and another batch…

Finally, my perennial favourites – flip-flops.

PS. There are also my hiking shoes (at least 3 pairs) and my 5-inch heelers which I’ve refrained from showing here for censorship reasons. These are harder to get rid of and to get a feasible explanation of why that is, I’d probably need to see a therapist.

Runtching Session

This was us. Well ok, not really, but we're going to look like this...SOON!
 
Promised with Ah Moi to go to Tasek this morning and together we worked up a sweat running-walking-bitching (new term: Runtching) along the flat paths. No aunty aerobics or Tai Chi sessions this morning, but plenty of runners so we didn't feel like we were the only ones there.

No photos were taken to prove we were there. To me, it seems that only tourists or foreign workers on their days off will bother to bring along their cameras in order to upload their sweaty beings straight onto Facebook.

All in all, I was happy I/we managed to do an hour++ of activity, it didn't seem so hard when we had so much to "update" each other on. But wait! I had forgotten to wear my Phillips monitor... Horrors... There goes all that sporting activity for today totally unrecorded. Will my Virtual Coach say something and dish out an apt punishment?? Hmm, maybe I should just refrain from logging into the programme today ;-).

Breaking Past My Wall

I decided to register for the Adidas Sundown run back in December 2009, not knowing what to expect, least of all from myself. Then on 29 May 2010, I did the unimaginable - I ran a whole 10Km in 1hr 24mins, with absolutely NO serious training, wearing a brand new running shoe (definitely a no-no) and coping with a fever and very sore throat.


To cut the story short, I was amazed I managed to finish the run at all, and more amazed that I wasn't injured or struggling to breathe or anything (thank you, painkillers). The only thought going through my mind at that time was, I've just got to finish this, I know I'm strong enough to do this. I had this mental picture of my baby waiting for me at the Finish Line, and I couldn't let him wait too long because it was a very hot evening and he'd be hungry soon.... so just suck it in and RUN, dammit!

Yeah, I must say that I exceeded my expectations and was proud of my achievement. Out of nearly 5000 runners, I was ranked 1709! How cool is that? To prove that I really did it, here is the evidence in pics.
All smiles with my baby before the run. That smile would soon disappear at about 3km.



The sea of runners. Can you spot me? (Clue: I wasn't in this shot)









My lucky bib



My finisher's medal.... yeaaayyy!










All sweaty but immensely happy at the end.

Btw, my friend FL also participated and we were supposed to run together but due to some technical glitches, she started late and couldn't catch up. There's always next year.... except that I'm more ambitious and want to run the half-marathon (21km) instead!

To kick off the training programme, I've started running (well, more like a slow jog) yesterday and this afternoon. My baby cycled while I ran beside him, an hour each time. I'm not sure about the distance covered, but I resolve to be more professional about this running thing and utilise my pedometer next time. After all, it's been sitting in its box long enough.

Footdiva That I Am

Well, if running and sports have anything to do with moving my feet, then I definitely shower my feet with plenty of TLC, thus making them - my feet, that is - Diva-like (should this blog be renamed Feetdiva, then? Naaaah... one Foot is definitely more catchy).

Plus, I have a huge propensity to buy shoes... any types, for sports or for torturing oneself in! So what do ASICS and Louboutins have in common? Absolutely nothing. For variety and spice in life, let's just keep it that way.

Strictly for sports and not a fashion statement. Currently, I've 10 pairs of trainers and counting...

W(h)iiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii.............

Speaking of virtual activities, my morning has been reduced to a sports marathon versus my 6-year old on Wii Sports. We sparred, raced and tossed balls at each other. I can’t say it burnt a hundred calories even, but hey, it’s better than lounging around in bed all day!

The Wii Warriors before the duel

Table tennis
Slice-in-the-direction-of-arrows game

Virtual bowlers in action
This sad ass needs to get out more...

Cycling round the island - yeah, with our hands, baby!

For the record, we also jet-skied and did some fancy-footwork fencing. Yawnnn… now I’m off to bed for a power nap.

Phillips DirectLife - Virtual activity programme

When I was in the States last month, I bought myself this tiny, white gadget called Phillips DirectLife. What it is is actually a programme, subscribed to and monitored online for 12 weeks and the ultimate goal is to have a fitter healthier lifestyle. How??

Well, you're supposed to wear this little gadget on your person (or body lah) for the duration of the programme, and it will monitor your current activity levels and recommend a customised programme based on your current health, age, weight, etc... leading to Voila! - a total wellnessness of your new self.

The programme comes with an online coach and motivator (I haven't met mine yet, but I'm hoping he/she is a combination of Bob and Jillian from The Biggest Loser). Also, nutrition recommendations and a whole community of DirectLife users who can share tips and be your "buddies" on the road to Wellness. Btw, I checked out users from our region here and could only find 3 from Singapore and none from Malaysia and Brunei.

That's not really my coach... she doesn't look gazumphfah enough for me!

We can access our personalised website and see our plan, target and activity levels, like this:


Well, I only activated my device today... so let's see if this programme really works, ok?

How I came to my senses

I came across this quote yesterday, and I found it profound enough to want to start a new blog (or two) today:


"The great art of life is sensation, to feel that we exist, even in pain."

- Lord Byron

How true is that for most of us, if not all of us? I guess I better elaborate a bit on the recent chronology of my life leading up to this blog..

28 May 2010: Quit my job

29 May 2010: Ran 10Km at the Adidas Sundown Marathon event, Singapore

3 June 2010: Was a finalist in the 1st National Cooking Competition, Dessert Category (didn't win, but next time)

7 June 2010: Started this and my other blog, FooDiva's Kitchen and wanted to change the world with my words... haha.

Sooo.... I'm waiting for a flash of inspiration on what to write. Mainly, this blog will focus on my fitness and wellness activities and interests. If you want to know more, just follow me on my journey to nirvana!