#55 - Kylie's Eating101: Basics of Healthy Eating Habits

I'm not sure if you have read this but recently I was featured on 

NTU's and inSing's facebook page

“If you freeze a very ripe papaya, it will taste like ice-cream.” 
NTU business undergrad and pageant winner Kylie Yuen tells HEY!
how she went from being a heavyweight of almost 100kg to a svelte 45kg today. 

Firstly, I wish to correct an unintentional error in the statement posted: 

I'm actually 54kg & I lost 45kg

and I am indeed within the healthy, acceptable BMI range

so I do hope viewers out there don't read too much into the weight issue 

and please always place health as top priority

I indeed feel blessed to be given such an opportunity to share my story to the readers out there

especially to the ones who share the same problems I used to have

I have blogged previously regarding my weight loss journey here:

#4: How I lost 45 kg, from the very beginning...

 There have been many readers sending me emails and asking me in the comments

for tips on how to lose weight and various problems met with your own weight loss journey

I must say that we are all different physically, genetically and thus our body function differently

Some of us gain/lose easily, some of us find it difficult 

and some gains muscle mass at a rate much faster than the average person

Some of us likes exercise, some doesn't

some of us live to eat, some eat to live

We all have our differences so there is no 1 for all miracle solution to solve everyone's problems

and most importantly, ask yourself if you really want to do it?

are you willing to give up whatever is stopping you from achieving your health goals?

if you say yes, then yes, can others help you as well 

Self-Discipline and Perseverance are the key drivers to losing weight

It won't be easy but once you get the hang of it, 

the new habits will become part of you

I'm quite an avid health article reader so I'll try to post as often as I can

about interesting new reads and facts :)

But to start off, here are some basic tips:

#1 - Exercise

Many asked me for my workout regime

Not everyone is a exercise-holic and we should respect that

by forcing yourself to do something you don't enjoy, you wouldn't last long

However this doesn't mean I recommend you to laze around and watch TV

Do still make an effort to walk, move, climb stairs and 'be active' in a sense

Maybe some group sports? I personally prefer badminton, swimming, cycling

Sports which I can do with my peers. Definitely boosts my endurance.

Currently I intend to take up some swing yoga classes 

with my girl friends once summer break starts :)

and for weight loss, it's definitely 80% diet, 10% genes and 10% exercise

so don't force yourself into the gym and plan a hardcore workout routine if it isn't your style

#2 - Eat Clean

i.e. Eating whole foods that are as close to its natural state as possible

vegetables, fruits, meats, seafood, whole grains

with that, I don't mean eating them raw

cooking is definitely fine! steam, boil, stir-fry, bake just not deep frying

Try to eat at home so as to keep track of what goes into your food

however if that is difficult, being Singaporeans, we are lucky to have food courts 

where real food are served affordable compared to the limited fast food outlets in some countries 

whether we make good choices or not is another thing

one suggestion is to reduce carbs and fill up more on vegetables and meats

#3 - Skip the Processed Stuff

avoid the man-made stuff, sugar substitutes, fortified, preservatives, flavorings

limit anything that has unpronounceable words in the ingredients list 

try to avoid 'convenient food' and snacks, sweet drinks

these things wasn't meant to be naturally disintegrated by your body

many researches are showing that these stuff have potential weight gain 

and additive effects, making you wanting to eat them more

such as zero calorie sugar substitutes, supposedly good for weight loss

but studies show otherwise

Making good eating choices not only helps with your weight

but also your mood, energy levels and complexion

Eating clean has improved my attention span, sleeping habits

& my friends compliment me for my glowing complexion

no foundation, just good lighting and eye make up

Your body is a temple so maintain it by eating clean as much as possible

a little treat occasionally isn't disastrous

& when you do decide to treat yourself, don't beat yourself up and give up previous efforts

just go back on track and you'll be fine, trust me :)

On a side track, school is really busy

Summer break starts in May and I really can't wait for it!

will be planning a charity event called Treasure 8 to raise funds for an old folks home

and also, to organize NBS pageant 2014 for the incoming freshmen

in between, I hope to slot in some time for personal holiday trips..vietnam?

p.s. feel free to ask me questions in the comments, I'll try my best 

take care, lots of love: Kylie Y.