Farewell 2010 Welcome 2011

I'm at home since my employer forced us to take a 1 week leave for year end. Like always, time flew really fast. I've waited for this leave and now is already Thurs 30 Dec. What I've done this year? The focus was the house. Everything else came second including work

1. My grandfather passed away in May
2. Organised a 1st family trip for in laws to Cameron Highland

Exercise vs slimming centres

 went to Bizzy Body yesterday to utilize a treatment voucher from Summerset Elite Club. I had set up my mind not to spend my money on their offers because they could really convince and talk you into signing up.
During consultation, i really felt that exercise is not the answer to my weight problem. They even said exercise would only worsen my worst area, the thighs. They explained that by exercising, it doesn't help the fat cells but only increase the muscle. The treatment however, helps to reduce the size of the fat cells by promoting high rate of metabolism via their treatment. When the fat gets smaller, it would flushed out through urine (fats, not fat cells).
At one point, I felt helpless. I remembered when my body just didn't respond to my exercise regime. The body didn't get any better, only more toned. The thigh didn't get any smaller. I nearly agreed to their statement but managed to get out of there without spending a single sen.
Now that i've googled on the topic ' reduce fat size thigh', top sites promotes exercises. You have to be careful with the type of exercise though. At least there's something we can do about it, not depending on the costly treatments!

THE PLAN

Here's the plan.... 3 areas to tackle. Food intake, exercise, commitment....
FOOD
I should take carbo out of the menu at least for 1 week. Then can slowly take minimum carbo if i really have to. Should eat more fruits. Prepare food for myself which no oil or use olive oil. Drink 2 litre of plain water.
Once i can control my intake, i'll start taking SD II to assist the metabolism.  I might take vitamins if i have money leftovers.

EXERCISE
I will get up at 5.30 am to exercise and cook. Exercises will be done on Mondays and Wednesdays which include:
10 mins of arm exercises standing
10 mins crunches (3 sets of 20)
5 mins of  arm exercises lying down
10 mins of thigh exercises (2 sets of 20)
I'll do some at night before going to sleep.
I'll go to the office gym on Tuesdays and Thursdays. Do more for the thighs.
I'll go for an aerobics class once a week. Choice of Cempaka Lake on Saturdays or Chantek nearby (still to find when is the class).

COMMITMENT
The hardest to maintain (if not, i would have i healthy lifestyle by now).  To be realistic, the timeline is 3 mths starting January through March. I shall keep a 3 mth diary to record the activities. I shall reward myself for every 3 kg reduced. Thus the target weight reduction is 9kg (now i weigh around 74kg). My commitment is to stay doing exercise at least within the 3 month period.


Today is 10 Dec. For the next 20 days, i will reduce if not eliminate totally carbo from my diet.

Help me!

Arghh!.... I'm losing it! I didn't get far with my effort on weight management. Just when i wanted to start, i was down with flu. Now it has been 2 weeks and i didn't choose what i ate. I just ate whatever that were laid on the table. Plus i couldn't help myself but to try authentic 'lauk kampung' in Perlis (kenduri adik ipas 'masuk jawi').... If i don't start now, i'll regret it....

Progress so far

I haven't progress much since the last post. Within the 2 weeks, i didn't really control the carbo intake. I had a full blown 3 eat-out days which i know is unhealthy. KFC, McD, Pizza Hut, Domino's Pizza....
I managed to start doing crunches and lifting weights. Sometimes in the morning, sometimes before i go to sleep. We also went to a public senamrobik on Saturday 8am, 13th Nov.

Since we have booked a trip to Sabah for October 2011, i think it's a very good powerful reason for me to lose weight. But then, there's another issue of whether to get pregnant or not. Should i postpone and wait until after the trip? Now, that sounds like a lame reason not to have a baby now. I can go on trips anytime I want (and why i didn't go before?) but should know that time doesn't let you to have a baby anytime that i want especially now that i'm already 35. The clock is ticking you know.... To postpone would mean having a baby in 2012 and i'll be 37. Isn't that a bit old for a fourth kid? Our target is to have 5 children.... Will there ever be a fifth child after 37? You can but it's a bit risky isn't it....

Start point

My target this week is to omit carbo completely from my diet. I weighed myself yesterday to know my weight start point. About 72kg.
I should have oat & milk for breakfast. I change the breakfast venue from home to office. Yesterday I had a half slice of banana cake and a spoonful of fried rice. Today, I had some munch-munch in front of the tv. The rest were fish and chicken.
I should start to do some fat burning activities known as exercise. It should be slow and steady but regularly over the next 3 months. There'll be a lot of non working days in December, maybe i can incorporate fat burning activities then. There's a new gym at work, Tuesdays & Thursdays are for ladies (for Friday is during lunch hour). The UKM Sports Complex in Seksyen 15 is a good venue too for the family to have a brisk walk on weekends. I should start on doing the cooking, gardening too. Some crunches in the morning.... I'll update whether I have managed to start all these :-)

Metabolism myth

Just found out I shouldn't have blamed my metabolic rate for the cause of me being overweight. I read it here.
Only have one article as reference but it does make sense because i've read somewhere too indirectly mentioned about it. Based on my body screening in late 2009 which i now remembered, my metabolic rate was not that bad. It was just me having excessive calories and didn't do any exercise to burn it off....

Tahlil arwah

Such an ad hoc plan! My neighbour had a kenduri doa selamat on Sunday. After the kenduri, the neighbours were lazing under the tent and to be polite, i joined them. Then my auntie without a serious note suggested me to hold a kenduri arwah since the tents were already in front of my house. The others agreed to the idea like always. Hate the fact that 'always talk and no action', i agreed to the idea too!
Then everyone was like 'serious ke?' and i said 'Yah! Betul lah. Chaq and Wa Din pun memang baru meninggal so kita buatkan la kenduri arwah'. Even my hubby was still on the road coming back from Perlis after receiving the news that Wa Din passed away on Saturday morning. Decision was made at aboout 3.30pm. I called my husband and he said ok. Then we started to make a list.

To me, as long as we don't need to cook, everything can be done! Thus a simple menu ordered from the restaurant and invited 'orang surau' and the neighbours. Wanted to order nasi lemak but they don't sell on Sundays. So i just ordered 'nasi goreng kampung', fried noodles and 'teh tarik' from Pak Ngah. Also ordered 80 pieces of 'roti canai telur' from Mat Kimbong'. The rest: 1 1/2 water melon and bananas, some currypuffs (from K Ela), roti puri, samosa, kuih kasturi as additional desserts. Then bought paper plates and cups and dustbin liners....The kenduri started after Isyak about 8.30pm

Finally, a kenduri at my house, just like that. I feel one of my burdens was off my shoulder. Remember my friends and neighbour have been asking me to hold a kenduri/makan-makan? And my husband appreciated it. To me what's important is 'niat' right.....

Dream body

I want smaller thighs

I want to look nice in slacks and work wear

I want smaller waist



Moaning

My weight is out of control! I don't dare to get on the weighing scale this week. I feel my tummy is bloated. My inner thighs hurt from frictions when walking. My undies and clothes feel tight. I wanted to stop having carbo starting Monday but i finished the leftover of fried rice. I wanted to stop having carbo starting this morning but i took 2 spoonful fried noddles in the morning and 4 pieces of fried banana in the afternoon.... Help! I seriously need help!

Of course i couldn't control the intake during Syawal and i thought 1 month won't hurt much. Unfortunately I can easily put on weight and very very hard to get it off. I should do a lot of things right now, but why is it so hard to start.

I really like the willpower i had during my A Level and university days. I exercised a lot and eating a lot didn't affect the weight. Ye la, metabolism was really high that i lost weight when i ate a lot. Those were the days.... Now i have a lousy metabolism that i have to depend on slimming treatment or slimming tea.... sob!sob!....

STOP MOANING! TAKE ACTION NOW! IF THERE IS A WILL, THERE IS A WAY!

I'm putting positive images to motivate me.... :-)

Big improvement

I feel like updating on the outcome of my biggest project this year. I love my home to bits now (except no bits to love yet, no money left to furnish...) Here's the before and after:

Remember i hate the garbage compartment

Now it's gone...

I want to have a pleasant view from the sliding door...

Now, the bicycles have been moved and it's clear

Things are obstructing the space

Now, it has a better landscape.

It even has a swing for the kids

Decided to removed the window and reposition the door

And I'm glad to make the decision.

Porch not tiled

Tiled and fresh new paint.

Alhamdulillah.....

Puding Pelangi

Easy peasy! I didn't know making agar-agar is so easy!
What prevent me from trying before is because i don't know the measurement. Pre blogging days, recipes in magazines are hopeless. Now i can use tried and tested recipes from websites and blogs. I got mine from MyResipi (search for 'Puding Pelangi')
2ndly, i have my own kitchen and a helper to do the dishes... ;-).... 3rdly, the ingredients are cheap.
Pudding is flexible and fun to make! I made the pudding 3 times within 2 months.... For my first try, i did exactly like the recipe. By the 3rd time, i incorporate my own idea into the presentation. Here's the recipe (enough for a family of 10 who like pudding):
The pudding requires 2 mixes:
Mix A
1 packet of string agar-agar (about 25g)
1.3ltr water
80g sugar
Boil water and once boiled, put in the strings. Once desolved, dump in the sugar.
Mix B
1 tin evaporated milk
2 spoon custard powder
2 eggs
2-3 tsp vanilla flavour
(I opt out the cocoa powder because i don't want chocolate flavour)
While waiting for the water/sugar to boil, mixed well the milk/eggs ingredients before pouring into the water/sugar mix. Make sure the water/sugar is on slow fire or your egg will curdle.

Once boiled (use your hunch whether the mix is cooked), you can now start the creative process.
Choose your colours and divide the mix according to your colours. And do whatever you like!
What i did with mine was to cut the hardened pudding with heartshape cookie cutter. I made this for a farewell party for a dear friend at the office. My mother enjoyed the unused cuts so nothing goes to waste (it also goes well with ice cream).

Have a try...Good Luck!

Open house/doa selamat/baca yasin

I didn't do open house this year (although my colleagues were asking me to). I didn't do doa selamat too (although my neighbour advised me to).... So, am i bad for not doing those things? What prevent me from doing?
1. Budget. We've spent a lot on the renovation, so we need time to recover.
2. Not used to. I've never done a baca yasin or doa selamat before. I don't have a helping hand as a first timer.
3. Niat. Not sure the reason why if i were to do them. Afraid it might associate with 'riak' because i want to show my renovated house? I may be sincere but people may think i am?

Thus, i just don't think i need to have the events yet. Maybe next year... when everything is old news. And when i don't feel the reason for doing is to 'riak'.

I'm thrilled

I didn't get to update on the outcome of my 10th year anniversary photoshoot yet. I received the CD on 2nd Sept. Milin gave me about 200+ pics and i LOVE LOVE them! (apart from my bulging tummy). It is exactly what i want and i just couldn't believe it... I thought my children really look adorable...
And now i know how the photographer does it. The venue is secondary, the important part is the photographer knows what to capture and the editing (skills)... Now i know if i really want to venture this hobby, i've to buy a DSLR camera :-)
I encourage you to book on a photo session for yourself or family. If you get your expectation level right, you'll be statisfied, guaranteed.... You can have it for special occasion or event (like me) or just have it for fun (whenever you feel pretty and want it to be captured artistically)....
Here's some of my favourites which cause me to smile and excited everytime i look at them:

Joy is captured!

Excited maybe

don't i look like a loving mum? ;-)

Reading is their favourite past time in real life

This boy can bring smile to anyone

Another 'loving mum' pose

This is the 1st time he's interested in books. Now i know you need to get boy books for boys. Pics of cranes, not bears......

Kluang Rail Coffee

We've never been there but the famous hang out place is only 45 min away from Batu Pahat. We hardly drive towards Air Hitam exit on PLUS highway when we 'balik kampung' to Batu Pahat so we took the chance when we came from Mersing where we had our family day at.

The place is not that hard to find. I was imagining a place with loads of people like everyone has described. When i got there, the kopitiam at the railway station was empty.

The menu

I thought i got the wrong place but it was the only kopitiam there. I got the place right but i got the timing wrong! It is closed on Thursday ok....

I shall then leave you with poses of my brothers in front of the kopitiam :-)

It's a sunny Saturday

Alhamdulillah, my maid came back as promised and now everything is back as usual. Baked a cake today, not sure how it will turn out. Hope it will be ok since i just used pre mix pack....hehe...

Rainbow

Somewhere over the rainbow
Way up high,
There's a land that I heard of
Once in a lullaby.
Somewhere over the rainbow
Skies are blue,
And the dreams that you dare to dream
Really do come true.

Someday I'll wish upon a star
And wake up where the clouds are far
Behind me.
Where troubles melt like lemon drops
Away above the chimney tops
That's where you'll find me.

Somewhere over the rainbow
Bluebirds fly.
Birds fly over the rainbow.
Why then, oh why can't I?

Maid's paperwork

I went to Indonesian embassy on 27 Aug for my maid's passport matters. I need to change the address on her passport to mine as temporary address or else she would have to pay a levy or tax or something (basically money out). The process is simple and you have to get there early to avoid long queue. I got there around 9 and the waiting area already full with people. The counters starts at 9.30am so we had to wait. Luckily it was not as packed as there were still available chairs to sit.
Everything settled by 1.00pm. I'll have to come back again next year to get my maid a new passport. So i did capture important notices to remind me of the process and cost.

While waiting around 9.30am

 The forms for updating the address.

 Documents needed to renew passport.

 Different costs for different purpose. Surprisingly the cost of a new passport is rather inexpensive.

I shall come back in May 2011 prepared.

Is she returning?

My maid went back for a 1 month Hari Raya holiday. She is supposed to come back this Saturday but i haven't received any phone call from her since she left although i specifically asked her to do so. Does that mean anything bad?
Keeping my fingers crossed....

Last week of Syawal

I had a blast last week. I love setting up (only now i realized how much i love the task) and was assigned to set up Finance's stall for Hari Raya celebration at company level as well as at division level. If only my KPI could include the efforts....Both event went well. I'll just put the pics here.....
This is the Finance table for company level celebration:

 Chicken pie, mini cupcakes and chocolate cake. All ordered.

 This is the traditional side of the 'international & traditional dessert' theme. Bubur pulut hitam and 2 types of kuih talam (suji & keladi)

 The centrepiece is a homemade carrot cake made by the CEO's wife.

 The international (or western) side of the table.

Another table to place the plates and bowls.

This are pics from Finance event:
I appreciate the support from my colleagues as it helped the tasks a lot. I just couldn't do it without them....