Personal Updates - 2 April 2009

Well, almost a week has passed and I'm still recuperating!! Well, I was almost okay already but since the last round of pump, follows by another 2 more combat session, I've hurt my knee again. So no choice, now have to 'guai guai' wait for my knee to be okay again. Guess I'll have to be more gentle and have more patience during these periods.

Well, 'idling' kill! During this idling week, I did not do anything constructive. Instead, I've just finished a HK series 烙神 from a website which my colleague has recommended. Nice one. Then nothing to do, I went to have my tat touched up.



This was the old tattoo of a ladybug which I had about 6 or 7 years back, which is already fading. Or rather, that artist is not that great, the color already looked fading since the 3rd month.






This is the new tat which I just did yesterday, on April's Fools Day! This new tat actually covers up the old ones. Nice?

Well, it's still a ladybug, dunno which tat to choose. Come to think of it, why ladybug at the first place? Butterflies too common I think.





The new tat will look like this, peeping out slightly on my right shoulder. I'll try to get a nicer pic, this is a self-portriat.

Anyway, I have my tat done up at Every Mother's Nightmare which is along AMK Ave 10. Check that out.

My new tat design is featured at this website by Sean.

Personal Updates - 23 March 2009

oh no... guess what? ... yes, you're right, I've slipped back to gym! haha. Well, I was on leave today to settle some matters and since I have some time in between, I attended the BodyPump. At the same time, was told that there are new releases coming up for all LesMills classes and new launches will take place at AMK Hub on 4 April. Hmmm... guess I'll at least hop on to the pump class. As for combat... let's see if I could get my leg fixed by then. *fingers crossed*!

LesMills BodyCombat 37

This is a clip of LesMills BodyCombat 37, which was released about 3 months ago and THIS IS what I have been doing in my BodyCombat class. Enjoyed this very much and definitely have been missing this exercise for the past 2 weeks! Enjoy!

BodyCombat 37

Personal Updates - 20 March 2009

It has been quite some time since I last update about my exercise routine. Well, I have been enjoying it so much that my routine is just a day in day out event. UNTIL now... I have been missing my group exercises for almost 2 weeks! Yes, my left knee finally gave way!

Actually I have been having this knee problem on off since September '08, about 2 months into my exercise routine. But since it is not that serious, and the pain has been bearable, after resting for 2 weeks, I pushed myself further to another level of fitness exercises. It is until about 3 weeks ago, I have my left knee locked during my dinner and all I did was crossing my left foot to scratch my right foot! Well, I have the knee 'unlocked' in a day's time and I was back to my routine again, only to have it 'locked' back again a few days later while lying on the bed to play with my baby! And this accident has kept my knee locked till now, and it has already been almost 2 weeks! Oh oh... imagine, no exercise, minimal movements for 2 weeks! I have even been walking with slight limping, as if I am having a long short legs! The feeling is so sickening, it's just like you are having a pair of legs that just do not belongs to you because it is not doing what you have wanted them to do or perform the way you wanted them to! Nah! I really hope this sickening moment will be gone SOON!

Anyway, I am due to see an Orthopedic at TTSH some time in mid May'09, after a referral from the polyclinic. Yah, that is such a long wait for them to confirm what is the real problem I'm having. While waiting and having hurting my knee, I have chosen to visit this Chinese SinSei I used to visit at Hougang but has now shifted to Serangoon North Ave 1 at Block 147. Well, not sure if this Chia Sinsei is good or not, or it's just my horrible knee is given a hell lot of problem, I have visited him 6 times now but only managed to see slight improvement after he did an acupuncture the last round. Well, I will give it another week or so, ie. 5 more sessions, before I'll take it with my hand. I CAN'T STAND ANY LONGER WITHOUT EXERCISES!!! Oh, the feelings is suck, now that I even pant just after climbing a short flight of stairs. Yes, that's how far my energy level has dipped!

Well, nevertheless, I am all out to have my knee cap fixed. Hopefully that Chia Sinsei is trustworthy enough, he said just to give it another 2 to 3 weeks and he can have that knee of mine fix! I'll give him the credit for now. BUT I am so tempted to slip back to gym now .... haha.

Some Fitness Myths You Thought Were True

Fitness misconceptions abound, and while some will prevent you from achieving your fitness goals, others can actually be harmful to you. Get your facts straight about fitness and differentiate the truths from the lies.


Doing lots of crunches will give you a toned midsection

If you're working out, one thing that you will definitely want is a toned midsection, be it a ripped six-pack for guys or a flat stomach for girls. This is one concept that is misunderstood. In our quest to achieve the former, we will do lots of crunches and sit-ups in hopes of burning away abdominal fat. You will find over time that you can never achieve your goals no matter how hard you try if you do not first reduce your overall body fat percentage. Doing lots of crunches does not burn fat off your stomach. You might see a slight tone or maybe an increase in your waistline due to the muscles growing underneath the fat but they will not be visible. The way to getting a solid midsection is to lose that extra layer of fat via cardiovascular exercies. You can achieve this with some great programs including BODYCOMBAT, BODYATTACK and RPM.


Lifting weights/ BODYPUMP will make women big

This is one very common myth that most women believe in. This is not true because firstly, the physical makeup of women makes it almost impossible for them to be muscular. Men have a lot more testosterone (male muscle building hormone) than women. Most muscular women bodybuilders are the exception. These are people who have specialized personal training, lots of supplements and maybe even steroids to help them achieve their physique. Programs like BODYPUMP, BODYVIVE and Cardio Sculpt actually have many benefits that can help you in your weight loss routine, such as increased bone mass and strength and, most importantly, gaining lean mass which will increase metabolism.


Source: Author - Kelvin, from Fitness First January/February 2009 issue

Being Tired Can Make You Fat

Getting short-changed on sleep probably won't cause you to eat bigger meals but it could prompt you to snack more, finds a recent study from the University of Chicago Medical Center. Adults who got five and a half hours of shut-eye ate 221 more calories from snack foods than those who slept for eight and a half hours. They also took in a higher portion of those calories from refined carbs. "If you're exhausted, your body will crave carbs to replenish its energy reserves," says Stephanie Clarke, a US-based nutritionist. Arm yourself with low-calorie snacks (like sliced fruit, microwave popcorn or low-fat yogurt) to eat on days when you're sleepy but can't squeeze in a nap.


Source: SHAPE March 2009

A Cuppa For The Waist

Want to lose some belly fat? Consider adding green tea to your diet. The soothing drink is reported to provide a boost to exercise-induced weight loss according to the Journal of Nutrition. In a study conducted by researchers at the Jean Mayer USDA Human Nutrition Research Center on Aging at Tufts University, 132 obese adults were kept on a consistent diet of fixed daily calories and all participated in 180 minutes of moderate exercise. One group consumed green tea with 625mg of catechins (the main antioxidant in green tea) every day, while the control group was given a beverate containing 39mg of caffeine daily. After 12 weeks, those who drank green tea lost 2kg compared to just over 1 kg for the control group. The green tea drinkers also lost more abdominal fat, subcutaneous abdominal fat and triglycerides.


Taken from SHAPE March 2009