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Saturday, 23 February 2013

#30: How to Lose Weight and Get Healthy - The Crushing Truth

Good Sunday Morning!
waking up today realizing that I don't have to go to work on Monday morning (Y)


so just wanna give some tips on losing weight today
since that's what alot of people have been asking me about! :)

LET'S GO
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Losing weight isn't easy
It requires dedication and effort for a long period of time until you're satisfied with the results All you see on TV about miracle weight loss pills, liquid cleanses & pretty much anything on Dr. Oz, is all crap
When I tell you the secret to weight loss, you'll probably just get annoyed because you know I'm right


1) Don't Procrastinate With Excuses
               "I'll start it Monday."
                                "I'll do it right after my birthday."
                                                   "Well, we do have that wedding, so right at that."
This is all wroooong
If you turn down all of the special fancy food at the beginning, 
it should be a bit easier the next day when you're just looking through the fridge for breakfast If you turned down wedding cake and fried chicken covered with sauce, I'm positive you'll pass on the slice of cold pizza in the fridge

2) Quit Drinking Alcohol
Alcohol is detrimental to any weight-loss attempt
And depending on your tolerance to it, it's even more detrimental

Studies showed that alcohol consumption often comes hand in hand with junk food
Take the empty alcohol calories plus whatever crap food you find
and you can easily rack up an unhealthy balance

Before your body can go back to burning fat for energy, 
it has to start with all of that alcohol you drank before it can start again

I'm not saying quit altogether, and maybe you can have a glass of wine here or there,
but the more you go without it,
the more you realize your weight-loss progress is working and you're more full of energy,
getting better sleep, and waking up at the crack of dawn ready to start your day

3) High-Protein/Low-Carb
I'm a strong believer in this way of eatingI know there are the haters of this, and people on both sides that are for and against,
but it's hands down the best diet to help you lose weight
It's not just piles of bacon and cheese that you live on

That's insaneThink lean chicken, broccoli, turkey meat, shrimp, etc.
I would cut all of this up, boil/roast/stir-fry it, and it would be what I mostly ate for months
Eating will turn from something you feel bad about doing,
to something that is just a necessity of your day
It's just like putting gas in your car


To better stick on your new way of eating: Go Grocery Shopping!
I always follow my dad to the supermarket on weekends:) 

When shopping, here is some key advice:
Don't go down the aisles at the grocery store For this way of eating, everything you need is on the outskirts of the grocery storeIt has the meats and veggies that you need
Maybe head down a spice aisle for stuff to add to so you don't get bored
What I really noticed after being on this type of diet is how it rewires your body's reaction
to the food you are more accustomed to (processed foods, chips, white breads, sugar)

If you go from this diet, and then cheat for a day and order pizza, or eat high-carb food,
your body will almost immediately react to it
Think of walking to a street corner in a brand-new suit or dress,
and then a car driving past and splashing mud and gutter water all over you

That is how you will feel 

Your heart will beat fast, your skin will feel grimy, and you'll feel depressed and tired
This change in your way of eating changes you
I told a friend of mine who went on this diet, not because she wanted to lose weight,
but wanted to compete in a pageant & when she had a cheat day after the pageant
She was shocked at how bad she felt after eating pasta
This diet instills in you the feeling to stay the course
If you mess up, it will further kick your butt back to stay on track

4) Water
Drink a LOT of it
It cleanses your system of toxins through your kidneys, liver, pancreas, lymph nodes, and so on Some people may be different from me, but when I wake up every morning or exercise,
nothing is better than a big glass of water
Nothing compares to it, and I mean nothing

Think about being the thirstiest you have ever been
I mean, to the point that swallowing is painful
You slowly walk to a table with two pitchers on it
In one pitcher is ice-cold water with condensation dripping down the side,
and the other is ice-cold lemon sports drink. What do you choose? 
Your body and mind will choose the water. That is what it needs above all else
No drink is better than water, and none ever will be


5) Don't Check Your Scale Daily
Some people have the tendency to weigh themselves every single day of their diet
and end up being distracted by the numbers
You feel like you lost a pound but then you jump on and you gained one
These things happen

It all matters --
the time of the day you weigh yourself, and the fluctuations that your body goes through
Weigh yourself every other week or so, but also notice how you feel
After a few weeks you'll notice your clothes getting looser, you face getting thinner,
and the way your body is changing

This realization, this feeling, is better than any high you can experience
It's that feeling of accomplishment


6) Set Goals and Write a Food Journal
A beginning rock climber doesn't list Mt Everest as the 1st mountain he's going to start climbingIt has to come in steps
If you have to lose 20 pounds, make your first goal five pounds,
then the next goal five pounds, and so on

Writing a food journal helps you keep track of what you ate, and most importantly,
will let you diagnose changes that must be made to overcome the eventual weight-loss plateau
that will hit everyone at some point

Also, write down what your workout routine is
Try not to keep doing the same exercises. Change it up!
Cardio is important, but a variety of free weights and machine exercises are equally important
And the best part of working out is when you finish,
the last thing you want to do is stop by and get a cheeseburger from the local fast-food place

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It's hard to do all this, and failure and setbacks happen
One musn't let distractions get in the way because it becomes a domino effect
When you mess up, and a few months go by, you'll think,
"I would have been healthier and in better shape if I stuck with it."
Well, pretend you just went back in time to where you shouldn't have stopped, and start anew


Take it slow and don't be too harsh on yourself regardless
Kylie.

Tuesday, 19 February 2013

#29: CNY Updates! & Last Week of Internship!

Day #0: CNY Eve!

The day where the family gets together for a reunion dinner! 
and what better place to reunite other than HOME 
This year we had it over at a close family friend's house though, the more the merrier~

 Lo Hei personally constructed by yours truly :)
With smoked salmon + abalone slices + lots of veg shreds!

Amazingly delicious dishes done up by the parents
1st row: Cold Spinach with sesame paste, Stir-fry prawn-scallop-pepper-pineapple, Tea Eggs
2nd row: Braised Beef Muscle (my dad's specialty, ultra lean protein), Braised Duck, Roasted Cod
3rd row: Braised Beef Tripe, Stir-fry eel-garlic chive, Stir-fry Bitter Gourd

I never knew cod tastes sooooo heavenly! New found protein love 

'Dessert': 8 Treasures Glutinous Rice + Chinese Dumplings! wrapped by ME ^^
hopefully doesn't look too bad yeah? hahahaha

Day #1: Lunar New Year 初一 

To avoid over-feasting, my family focuses on one main meal a day to indulge
For the 1st day of the new year we decided to have it the simple way - STEAMBOAT with....

Poon Choi/Pen Cai/盆菜! from Marina Mandarin Hotel's Peach Blossom Restaurant
a traditional dish originated from Hong Kong where various ingredients are placed 
into a claypot and braised with superior stock
Gosh I have a mad obsession with mushrooms. 
the bigger, the juicier, the better 

and hmm... 
ingredients for the steamboat tend to fall to the healthier side of the food scale 


Day #2: Lunar New Year 初二

Had dinner over at my parents' friend house :)
No matter what, most homemade rendition of dishes are always healthier than eating out
Dishes were singly cooked up by the granny! *salutes*
and everything came in pairs for easy sharing :)
双双对对,双喜临门
 - end of food spam -

This week is officially the last week of internship
YES I CAN'T WAIT~
had been applying for various universities and it'll be quite some time before I enter one
so...I currently have some plans in mind for this long break:

1. I took up a private certification course (exam coming up soon in March, gotta study for that)
2. Taking up some modelling works...*fingers crossed* if not just various jobs, to earn some $$
3. Overseas trips with my friends and family? :)
4. Learn driving..had been procrastinating for the longest time. THE SCHOOLS ARE SO FAR.
5. Try to update my blog more often
6. Catch up with friends whom I haven't met in ages!
7. SHOP AND PARTY 

Monday - counting down 4 DAYS
Tuesday - counting down 3 DAYS
 2, 1, 0!! I'm smelling freedom already.
not that internship was terrible, in fact, I really enjoyed my duration there
had the chance to work with a team of smart and friendly individuals whom I had learnt lots from
but I have plans in mind and other dreams to achieve right now...
will try my best to exploit all opportunities while I still have my youth :)

Wish me the best of luck! and take care everyone ^^
♥, Kylie



Sunday, 10 February 2013

#28 - 农历新年快乐

Warmest Greetings to Everyone!

HAPPY CHINESE NEW YEAR

Time of the year to feast & collect hong baos! HUAT AH. 


No intention to dampen the whole festive mood but.....

Here are some calorie facts for some cny goodies! 

  • 5 Pineapple tarts = 2 bowls of rice ( 1  tart = 85 cal )
  • 5 Love Letters = 4 slices of bread ( 1 letter = 55 cal )
  • One slice Bak Kwa = 3 slices of bread ( 1 sheet, 90g = 370 cal)
  • 1 Shrimp Roll = 47 cal
  • 1 Peanut Puff = 40 cal 
  • 1 slice of Kueh Lapis = ~200 cal
(adapted from yahoo.sg & healthguru.sg) 
nutrition info may not be 100% accurate but whatever it is, NONE OF THEM ARE LOW IN CALORIES

well, you still can eat them if you want to. 
just make sure that you don't exceed your calorie limit too much. 
approx 2000 daily for ladies, 2500 for men. 

you can also calculate your calorie limit based on the amount for the whole week instead of daily, 
if you are expecting a few days of over-feasting. 
that works fine too & this method is less strict & much easier to abide to :)  

Another Tip: To save some un-needed calories, pour less plum sauce & oil over yusheng! Better yet, swap it for honey & lemon juice instead. enjoy less of the deep fried crackers. instead, indulge on the omega-rich salmon for it's wonderful benefits. research shows that it fights belly fat! 


Also, move around & try to help out your family with the chores more!
and you may even get a bigger red packet as a reward ;P

Enjoy the long weekends everyone!

kylie.