Jakarta in Gridlock

Photo taken in Jl.Antasari at 4 PM, flood everywhere, we were stuck in the same street for 3 hours.


Yesterday, the traffic in Jakarta was like hell! Flood almost in the main streets and caused huge traffic jam until midnight. My plans to give tutorial, then gym, then meeting old friend at FX were all canceled.

The heavy rain didn't stop for 3 hours. The Mother Nature really cried, pouring all her sadness to Jakarta. I was still lucky that my sister came to my house and gave me ride to my student's house. On the way there, we thought the rain would be like 10-15 minutes tops. Because that's been happening recently. So we were positive, nothing to worry about. Well..it didn't.....

Traffic was totally a huge gridlock!! For 45 minutes we didn't move a single inch. Took us nearly 2 hours for distance just 1 km. Many sedan cars pull over, because of the flood.

In the car, we tried to make the best of it. We sang, we played games, and thought about positive things.

We didn't make it home, the traffic was so bad, my sister couldn't drive any further. We checked in to the nearest small hotel and checked out 4 am.

What a night and what an experience...surely unforgettable.

PS : When I read the newspaper this morning, there was an earthquake in Sumatra, a volcanic mountain in Jogjakarta is going to erupt soon,many have been evacuated and it happened yesterday the same time when almost all Jakartans stucked in traffic. And somehow...I'm grateful..I'm still luckier..

I Need Some Serious Dancing


Yeap, I need some dancing here. It has been too much weight training and just body combat. And this week was supposed to be "dance week" for me. But I only made it one, which was last Monday.
On Tuesday and Thursday when I usually have my dance classes, the instructors are covered with lame ones. So, I didn't bother to join. However, I used my time in the gym to do weight training.

Today is Sunday, I very often go to the gym on Sundays..but today is just so boring and I don't feel like carrying my heavy gym bag. It's been many weeks of Sunday I have never absent going to the gym and do Body Combat. Now, I get too fed up and I need dancing!!

My mood hasn't been good as well. I really need dancing. Dancing releases my stress, express myself, somehow dancing is the bond between me and friends. Dancing is always been good exercise for me.

Ohh..I need dancing, especially hip hop. I saw Step Up 3D the other day and how I want to dance.

Losing Weight and Weight Training

I see lots of people, especially women gone through a rigorous cardio exercise for hours and hours. Well, I was one of them too. My belief that time, in order to lose weight fast is join lots and lots of aerobic classes. Two years later, weight training came to my life and I lost weight by doing weight training.

You see, losing weight involves many aspects, not just hours on treadmill, counting your calories intake, or starving yourself.

Let's say you happen to be quite obese and you have a high percentage of body fat. I used to be in that situation; I know what it feels like. Underneath that body fat you actually have a very strong skeleton and strong muscles. Your body has built up those muscles in order to carry all of that extra body fat when you move your body. Just the very act of standing up, walking across a parking lot, going up a flight of stairs or lifting your arms requires more effort when you're overweight, especially if you're obese. So the heavier you are, the stronger your muscles have to be just to allow you to do basic, everyday things.

Now this can actually work to your advantage -- if you manage to keep all of that muscle mass and bone density in place while you are losing body fat, then you can maintain the high metabolism that's associated with that lean body mass even while you are dropping body fat. But if you starve yourself, you're going to lose all the muscle resources you already have. It's a mistake a lot of people make. They try to lose body fat by starving themselves, and as the body fat vanishes from their body, their muscle mass also disappears. Why would the body get rid of muscle mass? Because, frankly, it doesn't need it.

The solution to all of this, the strategy I want to focus on here, is to engage in strength training while you are losing body fat. If you do this, then you will be able to maintain the muscle mass that you already have underneath your body fat while you are in the process of losing the fat. This will leave you with a greater proportion of lean body mass to body fat, meaning that you will be slimmer, yet you'll have the muscles that you had when you were overweight.

If you get rid of enough body fat in this way, then those muscles may begin to show -- if you're a man. If you're a woman, don't worry. You're never going to bulk up. A lot of women are mistakenly afraid of strength training. They think that if they pump a few weights they're going to turn into Lou Ferrigno overnight. They think they're going to have this competition muscle-bound body from lifting a couple of weights. Believe me, that is not the case at all. Most of those bodybuilding women are using steroids, and they've trained for years, even decades, just to produce that kind of muscle mass. Women are not built to puts on lots of muscle mass, so don't be afraid that you'll bulk up. Women who are afraid of exercising because they think it's going to make them look bigger have it all wrong.

The benefit doing this is that strength training will greatly increase the speed of your weight loss effort. It will double the effectiveness of any weight loss program you're on. Losing weight by calorie restriction alone is very, very difficult. In fact, personally, I've never been able to do that. The only way I've been able to lose body fat is to engage in exercise that includes both a strength training component and a cardiovascular component. My belief is that you cannot keep weight off just by modifying your diet alone, unless you happen to be extremely gifted with just the right genes that don't ever turn on the hunger signal for you. If you're in that situation, good for you. But you should probably think about exercising anyway, because of the other cardiovascular health and brain chemistry benefits that are derived from frequent exercise.

Find a way to start strength training today, and your body will immediately start showing results

What To Do After Workout?


Many of us have a great workout routine. We drink plenty of water, warm up, stretch, work the entire body, and even get in some cardio. Then, after the last exercise, we promptly head back to the locker room, change, and journey home.

But it's not just that, what happen after minutes and hours after workout? The way you treat your body after workout might has direct effect on muscle soreness, strength, and growth and staying hydrated.

Here are what you have to do after workout :

Cool Down :
This brings your heart rate down at a slow and steady pace, which helps you avoid feeling sick after a workout. Walking on a treadmill for five minutes is a good and easy way to cool down.

Stretch: Stretching allows your muscles to rebuild, growing bigger and stronger, and thus allows you to get the full benefit from your efforts.

Drink Water
:
It's recommended that you drink another 2-3 cups within two hours after you have finished exercising.


Exercise Extra: The longer you cool down after a workout, the less sore you will be the following day. So before you head home, make you sure you do what suggested above for maximum result of your training.

To get maximum result of your exercise, keep in mind to do the things above before you head home.

How Can I Resist Burger King?


Call it as guilty pleasure. Last night, after 2 hours of exercise and 1 body combat class, the power of Burger King was calling me. My feet instantly moving to the restaurant.

Yep, I know..it should've been exercise first then have those junk food. But, I haven't have junk food for 2 months now. So I guess it's alright *justifying myself mode*

I know too that Burger King is not a healthy choice for dinner. It's high in sugar ( free flow of frozen coke, with same price ),high in simple carbohydrates, high in fat, high sodium. None of them are good for the body.

In my defense, now I go to the gym 5 times a week. So having guilty pleasure it's fine once and a while. As long not everyday or every week..make it like every month or so.

OMG I Haven't Been Posting Anything!!!!

Ohhh my gosh...shame on me...claiming myself has a passion in writing but has been ages not to post in my own blog. Shame...shame..what a shame. But at least I have valid reason why I haven't been posting :

1. Simply because I ran out of ideas what to write
2. I was too lazy to write
3. I've been busy to write

A news flash for you people...now I'm teaching salsa and kickboxing for my fellow colleagues. Well..umm...the money not so good, but it's a good experience and challenge to teach something that I really like. However, how to teach salsa and kickboxing are in my list what of I need to learn.

90 Days Motivational Program : Day 2

Now I'm on day 2 of my program. I gave a little twist to my usual routine exercise. If even during holidays I go to the gym in afternoons, today I did it in early morning, 8AM. A new experience and good to avoid boredom.

I'm working on my lower body parts, which are gluteus, hamstring and quadricep muscles. Training with machines still convenient for me instead of free weight. Before, working on the targeted muscles, the very must thing to do is 30 minutes cardio and wrap up with 15 minutes to cool down.

I'm still having fun with my motivational program and the hardest part of this program is maintaining the motivation and enthusiasm to focus with my exercises.

90 Days Motivational Program

The program is designed exclusively by me and used by me. Although it's still in scratch, the countdown starts as December 27, 2009. Since today is Sunday, where I usually spend hours and hours in the gym. The kick-off, I think, it's pretty awesome. I started ecliptical machine for 15 minutes ( high resistance ), as my body got warmed up, I focused on my chest, back, triceps, abs and a bit of shoulder muscles.

Lots of time spare before Body Combat class, I broke down my exercises into :

Chest :
- Smith incline chest press
- Inclined dumbell chest fly
- Dumbell chest press

Back :
- Barbell good morning
- Rowing
- Back up

Abs :
- Ball sit - ups
- Torso rotation

For shoulder I only did shoulder press. And when I looked at the time, I stil had 1.5 hours before my Body Combat class. So, I used 30 minutes walking on the treadmill and 1 hour to rest.

I'm pretty happy with my exercise today and feeling positive about my own motivational program.

Oh yeah, you must be curious what's this all 90 Days Motivational Program ? Well, people I'm going to UK next March for 2 weeks holiday. Yaaaayyyy!!!!!!!!! And I want to look stunning in all my pictures.

So, I have 90 days, which is the very sensible time length to see the outcome.
Wish me luck, peeps!

Cheap Entertainment

Need some good time? Just go to the gym, have a exercise!..Yeah..yeah...we've heard that for many many many times. Yes, I even have to drag myself to go there, going up on those machines for warming up or burning some calories. But in the end..I feel good about myself.

I don't go to the gym just for losing weight, it's something that can't be stopped. It becomes a habit. If I don't go for one week, I feel my body very heavy, lazy, bored, depressed and very lazy to move.

Again it's about giving a kick in the butt, don't let the lazy mood get over you. And you will find, exercise is the cheap entertainment, healer for body and soul. Why so? Imagine the amount you pay for clubbing or buy foods, then think about the impact to your body? It's just temporary. But, exercise? with the monthly fee you pay, you can go exercise any time you want. The result...healthy feeling, detoxicated, you'll sleep better and who knows you'll lose weight.

It's better to be healthy, faboulous, fit and less sad right ?

Getting Back On The Track


Whether you are just recovered from your illness, been lazy going to the gym, birth of a chile hitting the plateau or anything that stop you from exercise. Going back is a challenge. You either can be unmotivated or very eager to start.

Although long long time ago you were a top athlete or top gym freak, your fitness level won't be the same as you were before. Your muscle mass is different from now and then. Your metabolism has changed. Thus, it's wise if you consult with physician before you start, especially for those who has just recovered from an illness. For the first goal for your comeback, just make exercise as a habit first.

Starting easy, don't be too hard on yourself. You'll get your pace.

Do some gym walking, perhaps your old gym already a little bit too rusty. Perhaps there are new gyms that just opened.

Find out why you stopped going to the gym earlier? Discover new you by making fitness program that suit you. Hire a personal trainer if necessary. He/she can help you when things get rough.

And don't forget to keep track of your progress.

Welcome back to healthy life.....






You're Going To Get Beat Up Along The Way

Life is not a success-only journey. You're going to get beat up along the way

I found this quote while writing my journal, then on the way to the gym, I thought that this quote can be applicable on losing weight or keeping fit. Well, it's not literally that you'll get beat up during your losing weight process or maintaining you weight until you have bruises and stuffs.

Here's the thing, after the long hours of exercise and training, I attained my losing weight goal. But turn out it's just one success, it must be followed by maintaining it, and that's what I interpretation of "to get beat up along the way. "

How so? Because maintaining my success story is the hardest part. Imagine when I hit the plateau. Imagine when I'm soooo lazy to go to the gym, no motivation. Imagine when my crave for fatty food is extremely high.

The journey of losing weight and/or keeping fit doesn't stop just when we reached one success. Just consider we have reached one level then we continue to the next level. Another challenges come along. And that's the time for you to get beat up along the way.

But that's not you should worry, take it as a challenge, take it as "the rainbow" of your keeping fit journey.

To Walk For


For some walking is an exercise that considered not important. You might say, this type exercise only burn little calorie. But don't underestimate the impact of walking. If you don't know how to begin to exercise, walking is the very first step.

It's the easiest exercise, low risk of injury and very cheap. You only need a pair of comfortable shoes. But I do wear sandals for walking to the bus shelter. The biggest challenge is motivation and developing a habit. Well..I get bored of walking sometimes but I always put in my mind, this is for my own good and try to enjoy the morning air.

Like all types of exercise, the key is start slowly and increase gradually. Try with short distance and short lenght of time. After you have formed a habit, you might want walking all the time and the distance you have passed so far will seem very short for you.

To maximize your walking, keep your posture right. Think of elongating your body. Tighten your abs muscles and buttocks.

Have a nice walk!

Want To Lose Weight? Spare Some Time

"I don't have time to go to the gym"
"The gym is too far"
"I'm busy with work"

Those are the excuses that we often heard from people who actually want to lose weight. And it's just too bad. From 24 hours, you only need to spare 30 minutes from your daily activity each day to exercise.

And during that 30 minutes, you don't need to go to the gym. It can be just walking or jogging or cycling around your neighbourhood. There are different options to maximized your effort, take a walk to your office. If you have to take vehicle, ask your driver to drop you couple of kilometers before your office or park your car little bit further. Take your dog for a walk.

You need to take time for your own health. Try to do it for one week and see the result.

One Saturday To The Old Town That Once Called Batavia

Today's post is not about health but more to leisure after tiring work. We went to one of Jakarta's sightseeing Old City Batavia where you can see lots of Dutch heritages especially the buildings. All of us had great time and the pictures taken were 144 but I just put some.

Welcome to Batavia!!!


Ok..ladies listen! Here are our itineraries for today

Woooohhhoooo....Batavia.....!!!


In front of the museum


On the steps


It was great ...now it's time to go home






It's Been A While Again

It's been a while again after my last post. Busy with school work as usual, many things going on. Glad it's at ease now, at least can breathe again and no more sleepless nights thingking about what to do.

I can workout in the gym now. Start the low carb diet, start jogging and start doing the routine workouts that I have left for couple of weeks. Over all, I'm happy that the issue passed smoothly.

Good night.....gotta work again tomorrow...my students' performance, portfolio, semester exam and report...

New Saturday Morning Routine

This is what I can quote "When one door closes, the other door opens "..yeap..my breakdance instructor is very busy and cut some of his classes ( oh no!! ). So last week, I decided got up early just to go to the gym. What do you know, it was good!

It's been two Saturdays and I've been enjoying it so much. Enjoy the 30 minutes on ecliptical machine, weight training for 1 hour and relaxing with Body Balance.

Ahhhh...what a life.....

Starting On Breakdancing

Yeap, it was popular in 1970's and it's popular again these days. Breakdance it's street dance based which involve body movements, coordination and style. It's a also known the oldest version of Hip Hop. You might want to thank James Brown and Michael Jackson to bring all these breakdance moves.

Like any dances in the world, the very basic element you need is music. Hip Hop is not the only option. You can choose 70's, soul, funk, some people even use jazz tunes. My favorite is Beastie Boys.


Learning breakdance is quite tricky and can cause injury, thus having knee pads and elbow pads are essential. Just for the info, my knee got swollen practicin the moves. But if you are too shy or you think you have good flexibility wear long pants to cover your knees from bruises.

Breakdance considered as exercise, make sure you do some warm up before you hit the dance floor.

Another important element from breakdance is FASHION! I don't mean to advertise certain brands, but Nike and Adidas have very stylish dance clothing line.
The clothes and the color you choose should show your own personality. Wear t-shirt that fits but don't restrict the movement. Buy some good socks, 'cos breakdancing is lots of footwoork.

So far, the benefits that I get from breakdancing are ( apart from the happy feeling and look cool ) I gain more flexibility and of course found a new to train my core.

Happy Breakdancing!

Confessions of A Nikeholic

Some confessions from ( my new discovered nickname )Nikeholic :

1. Bought another new pair of Nike from its dance clothing line ( love that golden logo print ). Since I'm into breakdancing and oldskool dance. Well, the outfit sort of draining my salary..but what the heck..I'm brokenhearted ( again ) and gotta look cool when dancing!


2. After for nearly 10 days splashing the swimming pool, kinda miss my gym. So yesterday, I was back in action as gym rat went to different clubs in same day. From Body Balance, Body Combat, Breakdance and wrapped with Street Jam!

3. My old love to my Spanish instructor, Xabier ( too bad he's gay ) is blossoming...I miss his classes and really enjoyed his Body Balance yesterday. Will come again for sure babe!

4. In love with Body Balance, feel enlighted with this exercise.

5. Dreaming about this latest edition of Nike..( oh god ). It's red and orange and can be synchronized with iPod....( hhhmmmm....I have the iPod but I need the SHOES!!! )

6. Making excuses to buy those Nike shoes, eventhought I'm broke..( wish I'm filthy rich..I would buy the whole store, if possible I'd buy the Nike company ! )

One Year Celebration

Wheewwww...how time flies..! My blog is celebrating its first anniversary this year. Like all anniversaries or birthdays, I do have wishes for my blog. I hope more people enjoy reading my blog. I hope my writing skill can be improved. I hope myself to be stay healthy so more things to write.
Ok, I'm still tired from hip hop class and still having bad flu..so again...HAPPY FIRST ANNIVERSARY MY DEAR BLOG!!!!

Diet with Patience



Our patience will achieve more than our force
-Edmund Burke-


For almost couple of weeks, I've been taught the art of patience, including about food. I'm a woman with huge apetite of eating. I'm also an emotional eater. As for this year, I made a promise to myself that my fasting should be better than last year.
So far, I have lost 2 days of fasting due to my bad sore throat. However, I learn really valuable things. I thought I could never live during this fasting month. I thought I would fail again. More temptations to just swallow those food.

But you know, as time to break the fasting comes, all those foods who seem calling me to eat taste ordinary. And I'm telling to myself "Hey..that wasn't so bad after all".

It takes a courage to be patient in dieting. Patience to wait for the result. Patience to resist all the temptations ( fatty food, deep fried etc ). We may fall during our patience, and when you fall you don't stay on the ground but get up and find that patience within you. If it applies in everyday living then it should apply in dieting as well.