Many of you who have overweight or obesity problem must have tried diet pills. I have to confess, that I have used different type of diet pills, not just pills, the slimming tea, and even laxative. Anything that says "melt away the pounds", "fat burner" I would buy it. Did they work? Yes, but only for short term! When I stopped consuming those pills, I gained more weight and my body become resistant to the pills.
The funny thing is, I lost weight by doing low carb which I design to my own need. So, I came to a conclusion, the actual fat burners are come from real food!
Herbal diet pills, even though they are "all natural" can have potentially dangerous side effects depending upon their ingredients. "Herbal" does not necessarily means "safe".
However, I still curious what's inside the diet pills. Why they can make promises losing weight so quick? When you read the ingredients are you familiar with the names ? Most diet pills mainly contain of these ingredients below :
1. Orlistat ( Xenical ) - is used as fat blockers and remove excess fats through the intestines. These drugs also reduce the body's absorption of essential vitamins and nutrients.
2. Sibutramine - normally used as appetite suppressants stimulate the sympathetic nervouse system, which can raise blood pressure and heart rate.
3. Ephedrine - Many use this drug as dietary supplement to purpose weigh loss and body building. Consuming too much of this drug will cause stroke, and heart attack.
4. Norepinephrine and epinephrine - are chemicals that dictate metabolic responses within the body, such as oxygen release in muscles, blood vessel dilation and constriction and raising blood pressure. They are commonly used to treat depression.
( In my opinion )these drugs probably consumed to maintain "the happy feeling" so we can stick to our exercise.
Surely, diet pills are not a magic solution for weight loss. If you can eat real food why bother taking diet pills?
Recovery After Exercise
We are all know that getting enough rest after exercise is essential to a high level performance, but many still feel over train and feel guilty when we are taking a day off. Rest is physically important so that muscle can repair, rebuild and restrengthen. In worst cast scenario, having too few rest can lead to over training syndrome.
Building recovery time into any training program is important because
this is the time that the body adapts to the stress of exercise and the
real training effect takes place. Recovery also allows the body to
replenish energy stores and repair damaged tissues. Exercise or any
other physical work causes changes in the body such as muscle tissue
breakdown and the depletion of energy stores (muscle glycogen) as well
as fluid loss.
If you’re just starting out in exercise, it’s
important that you build into it slowly to allow you’re body to adapt to
the demands of sport. Maybe try exercising on two consecutive days, but
have a rest on the third day. If you just keep going, without any rest,
your body will soon start to fatigue and you’ll find it difficult to
complete any exercise sessions.
If you have just started physical
activity or performed a new exercise for the first time, you might be
feeling a little sore or stiff but don’t start doubting all those
promises of feeling better for exercising just yet. In most cases this
is a reaction from your body as it tries to adapt to the new experience.
Starting exercise or performing a new movement pattern can result in:
• Severe muscle soreness
• Muscle stiffness
• Decreases in strength
• Decreases in skill levels
• Muscle stiffness
• Decreases in strength
• Decreases in skill levels
For those who are more experienced exercisers and are maybe training for an event, rest and recovery is also vitally important.
Plan your training carefully, include rest days where you let you’re
body recover from the stress and begin to adapt to the training. Try
thinking ahead to the race/event date, plan different sessions for each
week. Maybe do a couple of weeks of more intensive and hard sessions,
but follow that with an ‘easy week’ where you’re body can adapt to all
the hard training you’ve been doing .
There are things you can do to help you recover after exercise :
1. Sleep is one of the most important forms of rest and
provides time for the body to adapt to the physical and mental demands
of training.
• Make sure you’re getting enough sleep (8hours per night is a good guideline)
• Ensure your sleep is good quality, make sure the room is dark, quiet and peaceful.
Passive resting such as reading and listening to music are great ways for the body to relax, both physically and mentally.
• Make sure you’re getting enough sleep (8hours per night is a good guideline)
• Ensure your sleep is good quality, make sure the room is dark, quiet and peaceful.
Passive resting such as reading and listening to music are great ways for the body to relax, both physically and mentally.
2. Cool-down routines are important. If you cease exercise immediately,
without cooling down, blood lactate buildup in the muscle tissue won’t
be flushed away as efficiently, resulting in muscle soreness and
swelling. Cooling down after exercise gives your muscles time to buffer
the lactic acid, and it keeps the blood flowing through your
capillaries, which reduces lactic acid buildup.
3. Rehydrate yourself after exercising.
Post-workout dehydration causes several unwanted conditions:
- Waste products will remain in your muscle tissue, increasing your post-workout muscle soreness
- Thicker blood stresses your cardiovascular system
- Dehydration significantly reduces mental and physical performance
- Nutrients, especially the serum amino acid needed for protein synthesis, will not be delivered to your muscle tissue as efficiently
Your recovery from exercise is dependent upon re hydrating
yourself after working out. This is the most important step you can
take. If you neglect re hydration, your recovery will stall completely.
Last Day of 2011: Being Healthy Never Waits
Accompanied by the sound of rain from outside, my cup of sugar free coffee and I thought it's a perfect time to write an article.
So, today is the last day of 2011, a lot people are already preparing their new years's resolutions. Same like last year, this year I didn't wait until 2012 to start a better and healthier life. When I decided to start then it starts, I don't wait.
Starting a healthier life doesn't wait the day to pass by, the minute you realized it, the right minute you start. Don't say.."oh..I'll start my diet tomorrow and today I'll have my favorite cake" or "Tomorrow I'm going to start dieting, so today I can have anything I want".
The opportunity to live healthier is given each day, there's no special day to start a healthy life. You might not start at all. New Year is only one of moments to kick start, but why not start earlier ? Don't wait for 2012 or 2013 or the next years to have healthy life.
Happy New Year Anyway...
So, today is the last day of 2011, a lot people are already preparing their new years's resolutions. Same like last year, this year I didn't wait until 2012 to start a better and healthier life. When I decided to start then it starts, I don't wait.
Starting a healthier life doesn't wait the day to pass by, the minute you realized it, the right minute you start. Don't say.."oh..I'll start my diet tomorrow and today I'll have my favorite cake" or "Tomorrow I'm going to start dieting, so today I can have anything I want".
The opportunity to live healthier is given each day, there's no special day to start a healthy life. You might not start at all. New Year is only one of moments to kick start, but why not start earlier ? Don't wait for 2012 or 2013 or the next years to have healthy life.
Happy New Year Anyway...
Abs Are Made in The Kitchen Not in The Gym
The title above is inspired by one of Dave Zinczenko's tweets ( he's Men's and Women's Health Editor), and somewhat true. It's a wake up call for everyone who is doing hundreds of crunches for flatter abs, and yet still wondering why those fats still hanging happily in your belly.
Doing too many crunches at the expense of other, more comprehensive movements can lead to the dreaded “aerobic abs.” That’s the term celebrity trainer Steve Maresca coined to describe the distended stomachs of those who focus only on the rectus abdominus muscles targeted by sit-ups and crunches.
Thousand times of crunches and longer core exercises won't make your abs flat if you don't eat the right food. Now, the right food sure comes from the kitchen right? So, what to eat ?
Start cooking low carb food, embrace the good fat such as; olive oil, avocado, fish etc, avoid deep fried food as often as possible and try to reduce the sodium intake.
The man made his points though, I don't do much sit-ups ( 20 reps maximum ) for the last 4 years, I'm more focus on the food intake, how my food is prepared. I need to know what ingredients are in my food. I spend a long time doing my grocery because reading all the nutrition facts. When the food contains a lot of carbohydrates, sugars and sodium, I skip them.
The Flat abs starts in the kitchen!
Doing too many crunches at the expense of other, more comprehensive movements can lead to the dreaded “aerobic abs.” That’s the term celebrity trainer Steve Maresca coined to describe the distended stomachs of those who focus only on the rectus abdominus muscles targeted by sit-ups and crunches.
Thousand times of crunches and longer core exercises won't make your abs flat if you don't eat the right food. Now, the right food sure comes from the kitchen right? So, what to eat ?
Start cooking low carb food, embrace the good fat such as; olive oil, avocado, fish etc, avoid deep fried food as often as possible and try to reduce the sodium intake.
The man made his points though, I don't do much sit-ups ( 20 reps maximum ) for the last 4 years, I'm more focus on the food intake, how my food is prepared. I need to know what ingredients are in my food. I spend a long time doing my grocery because reading all the nutrition facts. When the food contains a lot of carbohydrates, sugars and sodium, I skip them.
The Flat abs starts in the kitchen!
I'd Rather Be Low Carber Eater Than Burning Calories
When you consuming
something, especially food that contain trans fat, sugar and salt, ever thought
how to get rid of the calories that stay in your belly? or the effect caused
after you consume them? I don't mean to scare people off, but seriously when
you find out how much calories you have taken and the effort to lose them, it's
probably won't worth at all.
Here are some rough
examples and the estimated of calories you'll consume :
- Muffin : 1 muffin is equal to 300-350 calories, 43.1
gram carbohydrates, 22.7 gram sugars.
- Donut : 1 original donut is sames as 200 - 250
calories, 39 gram carbohydrates and 18 gram sugars. Bear in mind that the
numbers of calories, carbohydrates and sugars are increase along with the
type of glazing. If you take jelly glazed donut, the calorie intake will
reach to 350 calories per 1 donut.
- Cookie : 1 cookie carries 66 calories, 8.4 gram
carbohydrates, and 3.5 gram of sugars. Yes, it's only 1 cookie, can you
imagine if you eat up until 10 cookie chips? Just multiply the numbers !
- Noodles : A 160gram of noodle contain 221 calories,
40.3 carbohydrates and 0.6 gram of sugars.
- Croissant : 1 plain croissant is equal to 270 calories,
28 gram carbohydrates and 4gram of sugar
Now let's calculate how
much effort you have to do when you eat the food above : To burn 300 calories
you need to run at least 5km with average pace of 8.5km/hour, do 45 minutes of
high intensity aerobic and the tough deal is even 500 times of crunches will
not make the calories to go away instantly.
 |
| Having one donuts will have to run 5km with pace 8.5km/hour |
Just another note, the
healthy daily intake for carbohydrate is 300 gram/day
( that's maximum ! ). I mention the sugars on purpose, because sugar is type
of simple carbohydrate. So,if you eat 1 muffin for breakfast, the total
carbohydrate that you have eaten will be 65.8gram. Now,in order to lose weight,
you need to reduce your carbohydrate intake to 100-200gram each day. If you
have just one muffin in the morning, it will only leaves you to 35-135gram
carbohydrate (hmm...not really a good news eh? ).
The more calories you
take, the harder you have to exercise. If you have exercise too hard, will
cause you over training, and not good for your body.
Conclusion ? Yes, I'd
rather be low carber than I have to work hard on burning calories. I want to
maximize my training by limiting my carbohydrates intake. If you don't fancy a
gym, reducing carbohydrates will help your diet.
Healthy Food Gone Bad
I was strolling the supermarket yesterday, I was hungry and I was looking for some energy booster as I was going to exercise. I needed something fulfilling, yet still in low carb. And what I found out was not appealing at all..
The healthy foods that suppose to support our diet can go bad for us. We all know carrots, apple, peanuts, lemon, fish, chicken breast, oats, grains, shrimps and even water are really good for us. What make them bad is the additional ingredients. The number one is sugar, sugar can be used as preservatives or flavor enhancer. Sugar is easily absorb by the body, and change into energy. I've seen power bars that claimed to be good for you, but contain lots of sugar. Yes, it is really powerful before you go exercise, but when checking Another example is oat biscuits. We all know oat is good carbohydrate and high in fibre, but then the manufacturer add some sugar in it, then the oat biscuit become dangerous for your health.
As for drinks, I see many packaged drinks are loaded with sugar. Especially green tea drinks. Yes, green tea is very good, rich in nutrients, works as antioxidant but then the sad thing is the manufacturer add more sugar in it. So, the green tea which suppose to give us all the benefits turn into guilty drink, because the added sugar.
I had to put away the muesli bar and green tea, I looked for another option, peanuts and pumpkin seeds. Again, I was disappointed when I read the nutrition fact on the back, sadly the manufacturer put sugar and salt in it. Even the peanuts now have great deal of carbs.
Secondly, is salt. Same as sugar, salt is often used as preservative and give flavor to food. But when you have it too much, your blood pressure will increase. The high sodium food can be found on canned food or processed food.
Thirdly, deep fried food. Anything that goes too much will ruin your health and diet. I love dory fish so much, but when you fry it in deep oil or make it into fish and chips, your good fat turn into bad fat ( trans fat ).
So, let's maintain our food healthy and eat wisely. Cut back the sugars and salt. Might taste bland, but your body and taste bud will adjust. Make sure you read the nutrition facts before you buy anything.
At the end I bought apples and mini Babybel cheese and they are worked like a charm.
The healthy foods that suppose to support our diet can go bad for us. We all know carrots, apple, peanuts, lemon, fish, chicken breast, oats, grains, shrimps and even water are really good for us. What make them bad is the additional ingredients. The number one is sugar, sugar can be used as preservatives or flavor enhancer. Sugar is easily absorb by the body, and change into energy. I've seen power bars that claimed to be good for you, but contain lots of sugar. Yes, it is really powerful before you go exercise, but when checking Another example is oat biscuits. We all know oat is good carbohydrate and high in fibre, but then the manufacturer add some sugar in it, then the oat biscuit become dangerous for your health.
As for drinks, I see many packaged drinks are loaded with sugar. Especially green tea drinks. Yes, green tea is very good, rich in nutrients, works as antioxidant but then the sad thing is the manufacturer add more sugar in it. So, the green tea which suppose to give us all the benefits turn into guilty drink, because the added sugar.
I had to put away the muesli bar and green tea, I looked for another option, peanuts and pumpkin seeds. Again, I was disappointed when I read the nutrition fact on the back, sadly the manufacturer put sugar and salt in it. Even the peanuts now have great deal of carbs.
Secondly, is salt. Same as sugar, salt is often used as preservative and give flavor to food. But when you have it too much, your blood pressure will increase. The high sodium food can be found on canned food or processed food.
Thirdly, deep fried food. Anything that goes too much will ruin your health and diet. I love dory fish so much, but when you fry it in deep oil or make it into fish and chips, your good fat turn into bad fat ( trans fat ).
So, let's maintain our food healthy and eat wisely. Cut back the sugars and salt. Might taste bland, but your body and taste bud will adjust. Make sure you read the nutrition facts before you buy anything.
At the end I bought apples and mini Babybel cheese and they are worked like a charm.
Hello Again Low Carb
 |
| Low carb post workout meal : stir fry veggie, egg, plain yoghurt with fresh fruits |
The trick to be succesful low carb is cut the sugar and sodium, which is quite tough because they are hidden in processed foods, drinks and claimed low fat. Being low carber, you have be good friends with the good fat, such as butter, olive oil,etc. Your other best friend doing low carb is proteins, swap your mash potatoes, rice and other carbs with proteins to fill you up. To be really honest when it comes to food, protein and fat are the best mix. Fat makes your food tasty without have to add sugar or salt.
So, does low carb can be successful if you have sweet tooth ? Nothing is impossible, so the answer even if you have sweet tooth, low carb can be your success diet. How ? I chew on carrots for something sweet, or I'll blend plain yoghurt with kiwi fruit and strawberry. Have the sweet taste from fresh fruits, especially low carb fruits such as apple, kiwi, and berries. You may have little twist with oranges or grapefruits. Another trick is you can take dark chocolate to satisfy your sweet tooth.
 |
| Have these yummy food without worries! |
Being low carber, it is something for long term not just temporary. It's changing a habit, breaking the ice and exploring something new. After 4 years as low carber, it's much easier to control the craving, more sensitive towards sugar and salt. Whoever invented this diet, I salute you. It's the best diet ever!
It's Full 4 Weeks Holiday!! and I'm Going Gym-ing!!
The time for holiday is finally arrived, and it's full 4 weeks holiday! I'm staying in Jakarta for the whole holiday but I'm looking forward for the total fun in the gym. I'm making gym as my favorite hang out, my mecca ( okay..that's too much ).
As a start, I will work on my running techniques, endurance and hopefully I can increase the time on the treadmill. Another program I want to work on is more on flat abs and reducing body fat. And the fun stuff for me will be is more time to join the dance classes!
My holiday will filled by improving my health for the future and yet I'm still having fun..hellow holiday!!
Exericising at Home
What a bugger for this morning, woke up early and ready for my gym. I defeated my laziness by still keeping it positive and march to the gym. I imagined running for 3km, and do total body workout ( because it's Sunday, and usually the machines are not used by so many members ). It was probably not a good start, when I got there the gym was still closed and there was a notice says "Will be open at 14.00"..I was like 'oh mann...'
I didn't want to wait until 14.00, so went back home and just decided to have exercise at home. My mind was already set to exercise,so when the gym closed, it didn't stop me at all.
For a start, I opened YouTube and checked up some dance exercise,and I found Ritmix 17 Flamenco is very interesting to start. So, I did that for 30 minutes. Then, I continued with abdominal exercises, from stand up crunch, obelique, and lower abs exercise. Finished with the abs, I did another 30 minutes of Body Combat ( I have downloaded some of Body Combat videos from YOuTube ), then wrapped my exercise with good morning for my back.
Considered what I've done today, I guess there should be no excuse not to exercise. You don't really need to go to gym just for exercise. It's simple, low cost and easy to do.
Adieu Vidal Gomez..It Had Been Six Amazing Years of Dancing
 |
| Vidal's farewell party 4/12/11 |
 |
| Vidal's last class at Celebrity Fitness PIM 2 |
 |
| Last class at FX |
Adieu Vidal Gomez....six amazing years of dancing!!
Week 2 - Muffin Top Challenge ( My Confession )
As I'm entering the week 2 for muffin top challenge, the challenge itself become tougher. And it's getting tougher to cut the carbs while you're on PMS. The urge to munch and eat a lot is increased. The body is bloating and nothing I feel beside feeling exhausted all the time.
Today,I cheated ( Yes..I confess ). I took so some potato crisps, not the whole portion, just tiny bit, and I had sugary meal on the way home. All
of them satisfied me a lot and seriously divine!! Luckily I could stop myself not eating them too much.
However, this week is really challenging. I miss my Nescafe coffee so bad. I don't mind cut the carbs for the whole two weeks but my coffee?? Ohh..it's killing me! It's my toughest challenge. I haven't have my coffee for 2 weeks now. It's like missing your boyfriend unti it hurts ( okay I probably exagerrating ). Don't know what will I do if this challenge finally accomplished.
Well, anyway..my diet is not compeletely ruined, I had grilled chicked salad with avocado, kiwi fruit, and not to forget my fat fighther : Lemon Water!! Cheers!
Today,I cheated ( Yes..I confess ). I took so some potato crisps, not the whole portion, just tiny bit, and I had sugary meal on the way home. All
of them satisfied me a lot and seriously divine!! Luckily I could stop myself not eating them too much.However, this week is really challenging. I miss my Nescafe coffee so bad. I don't mind cut the carbs for the whole two weeks but my coffee?? Ohh..it's killing me! It's my toughest challenge. I haven't have my coffee for 2 weeks now. It's like missing your boyfriend unti it hurts ( okay I probably exagerrating ). Don't know what will I do if this challenge finally accomplished.
Well, anyway..my diet is not compeletely ruined, I had grilled chicked salad with avocado, kiwi fruit, and not to forget my fat fighther : Lemon Water!! Cheers!
Muffin Top Challenge - 3 Days Recap
Although I can't really put my progress in daily basis, I'm proudly announce that my waist line is slimmed down. I haven't measured yet, have my trousers as my bench mark. Most of them are loose already, I think I'm back to my normal size. Now, I don't need to squeeze my abs to button my trousers.
I still have more clothes to fit on before I actually stop my muffin top challenge program. It's still going on, until I can fit to all my old clothes.
During my challenge, I found three new besties, they are avocados, edamame and lemon. Boy, they are my savior. Everyday, I take lemon water and to make my meal fulfilling I add extra avocados. They are tasty and divine. Avocados are good for anything, mix with chicken, tossed in salad, or as a dip.
I take edamame as my snack or whenever I have crave to munch something.
As for lemon, it really helps me burn more fat and great thirst quencher. I still have 10 days to do low carb ( limiting less than 100g each day ), by the time I finish with 2 weeks low carb, I will start gradually consume the good carbs.
Staying positive! Expect nothing but the result.
I still have more clothes to fit on before I actually stop my muffin top challenge program. It's still going on, until I can fit to all my old clothes.
During my challenge, I found three new besties, they are avocados, edamame and lemon. Boy, they are my savior. Everyday, I take lemon water and to make my meal fulfilling I add extra avocados. They are tasty and divine. Avocados are good for anything, mix with chicken, tossed in salad, or as a dip.
I take edamame as my snack or whenever I have crave to munch something.
As for lemon, it really helps me burn more fat and great thirst quencher. I still have 10 days to do low carb ( limiting less than 100g each day ), by the time I finish with 2 weeks low carb, I will start gradually consume the good carbs.
Staying positive! Expect nothing but the result.
Going Bold for 2 Weeks Total Low Carb Diet - Day 1
After 1 week decreasing my carb intake to just 175g per day, I'm rising the bar to a very low carb diet for just 2 weeks.
Today is the first day, for the first time after years and years I give up my favorite Nescafe French Vanilla *ouch* . Very tough indeed, I feel soo sleepy. My brain is not connected to real world, I felt not awakened yet. I hope that's just my mind set. I don't feel hungry, just very sleepy because I have to really give up my Nescafe french vanilla.
For breakfast, I ate lettuce with pan seared beef patties, tofu cubes and beansprout. Quite fullfiling although I missed my coffee.
At snack time, I had raw carrot sticks, canned tuna and lettuce. Because I couldn't help myself not having coffee, I changed my coffee to just semi black coffee with no sugar, just some tiny drops of low fat milk. Oh boy..I'm awakened already.
My lunch meal still consist of high protein and no carb. It was only sauteed beansprout, spinach and tempeh. If I get hungry among the 3 main meal times, I just much peanuts or carrot sticks.
My first day on very low carb is quite daunting, but I stay positive and just get on with it.
My Guilt Free Snacks
Having an appetite like a wolf, I often get hungry in within 2 hours. And because I low food so much that I don't want to give up my food like that. So what to do ? I had done browsing and reading what food I can eat without gaining weight and deliciously fulfilling. Here are my favorites :
1. Edamame
Also popular with the name green soy bean, vegetable bean or beer bean whatever you want to name it has many health benefits and very easy to prepare ( with just 2 minutes to cook in boiling water ). The soybean is a complete protein containing isoflavones and filled with antioxidants. Edamame has no cholesterol, very little saturated fat and has higher protein than other soy beans.
Edamame is also great addition for your salad or side dish. I love the natural flavor of edamame so I won't add any flouring, not even salt.
2. Peanuts
When the needs of something crunchy, I munch for peanuts. The delicious taste and crunchy texture is the reason why I love this snack. Peanuts can lower your cholesterol level and low in carbohydrate.
3. Cheddar Cheese
One slice of Kraft Cheddar Cheese can boost my energy before exercise. I often buy the single pack, because it's very easy to carry and can go with anything from just salad, tuna, beef and even fruit ( love the mixed taste of cheddar cheese and kiwi fruit ). If you miss the taste of dairy products then cheddar cheese is something you can grab.
4. Kiwi Fruit
Seriously, I can never get enough with this fruit. I can have 2 kiwi fruits each day. Kiwi fruits is very rich in vitamin C, lower carbohydrates than apple (kiwi has 11g carbs and apple 16g of carbs ). The refreshing taste ( and little bit of sour ) really fits my taste bud. Beside high in vitamin C, Kiwi also another great source of antioxidants and potassium. Cut the kiwi into half and just scoop it out!
5. Apple
The old saying one apple a day keep a doctor away is really true. Consuming an apple each day can fight the bad cholesterol. The other benefit is apple can reduce the risk for breast cancer and colon cancer. The pectin in apples can lower the insulin level and may help for those who suffer diabetes.
6. Carrots
Eat them raw or cook it into soup or toss them into salad, carrots is just good in any way. The sweet crunchy texture, high in beta carotene, respectable calcium content is top notch for fat fighting. Recent research from Harvard University eating carrots five times a week, can decrease the risk of stroke.
So, there you are my favorite guilt free snacks to keep your body fueled. Have them in any way you like, but make sure to exclude sugar in the process and limit the salt.
1. Edamame
 |
| Boiled edamame have it cold or warm |
Edamame is also great addition for your salad or side dish. I love the natural flavor of edamame so I won't add any flouring, not even salt.
2. Peanuts
When the needs of something crunchy, I munch for peanuts. The delicious taste and crunchy texture is the reason why I love this snack. Peanuts can lower your cholesterol level and low in carbohydrate.
3. Cheddar Cheese
One slice of Kraft Cheddar Cheese can boost my energy before exercise. I often buy the single pack, because it's very easy to carry and can go with anything from just salad, tuna, beef and even fruit ( love the mixed taste of cheddar cheese and kiwi fruit ). If you miss the taste of dairy products then cheddar cheese is something you can grab.
4. Kiwi Fruit
Seriously, I can never get enough with this fruit. I can have 2 kiwi fruits each day. Kiwi fruits is very rich in vitamin C, lower carbohydrates than apple (kiwi has 11g carbs and apple 16g of carbs ). The refreshing taste ( and little bit of sour ) really fits my taste bud. Beside high in vitamin C, Kiwi also another great source of antioxidants and potassium. Cut the kiwi into half and just scoop it out!5. Apple
6. Carrots
Eat them raw or cook it into soup or toss them into salad, carrots is just good in any way. The sweet crunchy texture, high in beta carotene, respectable calcium content is top notch for fat fighting. Recent research from Harvard University eating carrots five times a week, can decrease the risk of stroke.
So, there you are my favorite guilt free snacks to keep your body fueled. Have them in any way you like, but make sure to exclude sugar in the process and limit the salt.
My Week 1 Progress (3 Weeks Muffin Top Challenge )
I didn't realize it's been one week that I decided to back on my low carb diet and with well planned exercise. For the record, I'm really happy with my result. There's no significant result on the weight but I'm cheering for the 1.5cm disappearance of my muffin top! Woot..woot...Though I've had done low card diet before, doing it again now is still a challenge for. The first day is the toughest of course, the second day my body start to adjust and the next days are just easier for me to do. On the day 1, I only consume 250g of carbs, next day I lowered down to 200g, on the next day 175g until now, I maintain to 175g of carbs each day.
I go to the gym 4 times in a week, with combination of weight training, running and dancing. If I don't have my dance class, I run for 3km if I have class, I don't do running. Saturdays is my cardio day, when I have 3.5 running and 2 dance classes ( with 2 hours rest before my dance classes ).
This result surely motivate me to do more. Get myself more active, learning the right techniques when doing weight training, eat more sensible food. By the way for the last one week I've been tracking my food intake on www.livestrong.com.
Since today ( Sunday ) is my whole day to rest my body, I limit my carbs intake just until 150g and more on protein.
I have 2 weeks to go to shed some kgs and banishing my muffin top. Wish me LUck!!
When Life Gives You Lemon..
Just simply squeeze it and make it into juice and if you are too lazy to squeeze a lemon then cut into 2-3 slices and make fresh lemon flavored water! Daily consumption of lemon can make huge difference for your skin. It acts as anti-aging remedy and can remove wrinkles and blackheads ( bye bye expensive skin treatment ), lemon also contains vitamin B, riboflavin, calcium ( who would ever thought? ) and magnesium.
Lemon waters works like wonder to control your blood pressure consider the content of potassium in it. Lemon water can treat a person who is suffering from cold, flu or fever. It helps to break fever by increasing perspiration. The very best of lemon is it is good for weight loss !
So, don't be afraid when life gives you lemon, simply cherish it!
How Far Would You Go To Lose Weight?
Yes..how far would you go to lose weight? Starving yourself ? Never ending exercise? and if you have extra money perhaps you would go for surgery to get rid off the fats. I think those that I mentioned above are the common examples how women is very determined to lose weight. And...I thought the things I mentioned are already extreme enough. I wouldn't go there,definitely not.
While I was browsing about diet trends, foods and exercise, I stumbled upon to more extreme diets that actually exist in this world. The articles and the video how these diets are really shocking. The shocking part is there are actually people who are doing it.
I put top two extreme thing that people will do to lose weight. First is HCG diet. When I read and watch the video on YouTube about this type of diet, I was dumbfounded..I was like..'seriously?' It's a hormone injection. But not just any hormone, but it's hormone from pregnant woman's urine *straight face*. So this diet only allows you to eat just 500 calories a day! And you inject this hormone to make your body thinks you are pregnant ? *please correct me if I'm wrong*
The second one is tongue patch diet. Now this is also interesting, would you dare yourself to have a mesh to be sewn on to your tongue? and you can only have liquid food? what if you want to eat solid food? Will you be craving some more? Again, in the name of losing weight many still doing it.
If we have given the opportunity to do the both in order losing weight, would you dare to try it? I would not if you ask me. No matter the temptation to lose weight fast, I'm not going to do it. Well, yes..I need some improvement in my other body parts, but I don't think to go that far, do I ?
Yes, would be nice if you are thin then you can wear anything. But then again, will you be willing to pay big bucks just for the numbers on the scale?
What matters is being healthy and by being healthy you can stay happy and positive!
While I was browsing about diet trends, foods and exercise, I stumbled upon to more extreme diets that actually exist in this world. The articles and the video how these diets are really shocking. The shocking part is there are actually people who are doing it.
I put top two extreme thing that people will do to lose weight. First is HCG diet. When I read and watch the video on YouTube about this type of diet, I was dumbfounded..I was like..'seriously?' It's a hormone injection. But not just any hormone, but it's hormone from pregnant woman's urine *straight face*. So this diet only allows you to eat just 500 calories a day! And you inject this hormone to make your body thinks you are pregnant ? *please correct me if I'm wrong*
The second one is tongue patch diet. Now this is also interesting, would you dare yourself to have a mesh to be sewn on to your tongue? and you can only have liquid food? what if you want to eat solid food? Will you be craving some more? Again, in the name of losing weight many still doing it.
If we have given the opportunity to do the both in order losing weight, would you dare to try it? I would not if you ask me. No matter the temptation to lose weight fast, I'm not going to do it. Well, yes..I need some improvement in my other body parts, but I don't think to go that far, do I ?
Yes, would be nice if you are thin then you can wear anything. But then again, will you be willing to pay big bucks just for the numbers on the scale?
What matters is being healthy and by being healthy you can stay happy and positive!
Months, Weeks, Days, Hours, Minutes and Secondss
After months and weeks and days I haven't updated my blog with deepest sorry that I have to lose my title as "Suddenly Slimmer" and turn to "Suddenly Chubby" for couple of weeks. This happened because I'd been trying my old trousers again..and what came to surprise that they are all tighter than before. Well..I'm not supposed to be surprise if you see me eating like mad even though I still go to the gym for dance classes and running.
Just on Sunday, the force to getting back on track, eat the right food, planning my exercise, getting all motivated. and finding the spirit back. I'm back on doing researches about latest exercises, food, everything that I need to support me back as "Suddenly Slimmer".
So with motivation and determination as my allies, the journey is begun.
PS : this is not just for dieting and exercising but everything in life..
Just on Sunday, the force to getting back on track, eat the right food, planning my exercise, getting all motivated. and finding the spirit back. I'm back on doing researches about latest exercises, food, everything that I need to support me back as "Suddenly Slimmer".
So with motivation and determination as my allies, the journey is begun.
PS : this is not just for dieting and exercising but everything in life..
Don't Like Being Sick
Yesterday, first thing in the morning, I felt my tummy hurts, forced myself to work. When I got to work, I started to feel nausea, feverish and head spinning. I knew,I wasn't well. I finished the day feeling miserable. However, since I've brought my gym bag and I didn't want to waste it. I put my whole the rest energy to join 2 dance classes. Well..I ended up nearly fainted.
Today, I went to the doctor the result..my blood pressure is very low. She suggested me to take some rest. I know, I haven't rested enough. I had been juggling among dancing, practice for running and doing chores. So I guess this is time to rest my body.
Nobody like being sick. I can't go to the gym. I miss my dancing classes already. I couldn't dance to the max. I couldn't run longer enough.
Hopefully..I will feel better tomorrow.
Today, I went to the doctor the result..my blood pressure is very low. She suggested me to take some rest. I know, I haven't rested enough. I had been juggling among dancing, practice for running and doing chores. So I guess this is time to rest my body.
Nobody like being sick. I can't go to the gym. I miss my dancing classes already. I couldn't dance to the max. I couldn't run longer enough.
Hopefully..I will feel better tomorrow.
Challenging Myself
Having new love for running, I am very keen to educate myself the whole thing about running. For example, what food is best to consume before running and after running, how to run for longer duration without getting exhausted, how to avoid injury during running and still many more. I do really visual myself to be a better runner.
Another goal is..my holiday to Bali which is in 4 weeks time. The bikini body program is starting already. It's still contains running and weight training. To avoid over training, I have to sacrifice one of dancing days. It's sad, but I only miss 1 dancing day and hopefully it will work as expected.
Today, as I have done some researches and some recipes, I've made work out plans, eating plans and even resting plans. So basically, today is the official kick off for the challenge.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)