Make THAT change NOW, or else...

Your Health, your Quality of Life depends on you making an informed change!!

What you do to your body NOW (when you are young) will AFFECT your Quality of Life in later years. Some young thing foolishly said to me "I don't need to take care of what I eat, I'm still young". I believe this is what many (young & not so young) ones tend to believe. Remember, much of the suffering at an older age is ACCUMULATED baggage from early years, although some are hereditary & genetic. But even then a bad eating/lifestyle habit will increase the chances of triggering these inherent bad genes.

We all know that NOT all people in the high risk group get cancer. Why? It's due to each person's own lifestyle -

• how/what we eat
• how we handle problems/depression/stress
• do you drink, smoke or exercise it away or laugh & keep a positive attitude?
• how much real rest/peaceful sleep do we get daily?
• whether we can forgive & forget, not get bitter & revengeful
  

I must admit that another reason for slacking in my blogging is that I'm battling the same problem I had 3 years ago - being overweight & unfit. Getting from 63kg (small frame) to 50kg was a challenge which I embraced willingly & excitedly because getting fit became a passion & that I had mountains of support (my personal trainer & other trainers at the gym & mom were my mountains). They stood strong & encouraged me on. Learning & looking for fitness info kept me focused on my goal.

This time it's different. I have the knowledge, the experience and yet somehow it's MUCH MORE difficult to lose half of the kgs that I've put back in these past few months.

Of course, firstly I can blame it all on my advancing AGE - past middle age, metabolism slows down. Next, is the ATTITUTE. It seems I'm getting complacent. Have lost part of the passion! Then, its also the AIM. Previously, the goal was just to get fit. No pressure. I was having fun doing it. Now, its panic setting in as my weight started creeping back & 'spare tyres' are becoming prominent.

A vicious cycle begins. I tried to focus on getting fit (which I believe I am, albeit very slowly, when I began my PT training again & more mindful eating) but my focus kept reverting back to the weight (fat) loss problem. How not to be distracted. All my clothes began to 'strangle' me & curves became bulges. Mom has started to vet my clothes, telling me not wear this & that because it emphasized my unsightly fullness. Feeling vexed & not so hopeful, I reach for the nearest thing to comfort me -- my fave foods! And guess what, after the initial 'high' & relief, I feel queasy & regretful for having stuffed myself. Then you try to work it off and frustration sets in and you feel like comfort food again.

Now, since the first weight loss, I have noticed my stomach having a smaller capacity, ie. I feel full (on normal days) even when I eat just a little. But when in depression mode, I can eat so much, yet I feel 'empty'!!

The only way out of this is to break the vicious cycle by 'FORCING' myself to go to the gym. It's because I get motivated (most of the time) when I am there. Partly due to the happy memories (even when now I've joined another gym) & also due to the physical benefits of exercise which affects the emotion. Something to do with cardio generating more endorphins(natural form of happy drug). http://zikkir.com/health/1249?wscr=1280x800

But just being there does'nt help much if you are not doing the right amount of workout & at the correct intensity & stimulating the correct muscles. Friends still doubt the benefit of a paying heftily for a Personal Trainer but I trust him (having talked to many before choosing my current trainer). I'm using technology (power plate) in addition to regular weight/strength training.

Coupled with mindful eating, ie. choosing lesser of two evils (eg. tosai over roti canai, plain water instead of iced tea) & portion control I hope it will do the trick. Let's face it. Like many, I'm addicted to eating out & to eating supper (late nite meal), so the only way is to eat less by sharing or bagging (ta pau/takeaway) half of what you order. I don't encourage leaving un-eaten food on the plate, just because you've had enough. It's a sheer waste as we should be conserving our limited natural resources. Unfortunately, food serving proportions in Kuala Lumpur are huge. Simple economics. When they give you a big bowl, they can charge you more & sell more & make more profit in a shorter time!

Change comes when there's HOPE and DIRECTION. We all need to find what gives us hope and I hope my blogs (and posts) can give you direction.