30 July 2009

Lean!!

So happy right now. It's 11pm and I'm sitting in the living room with mum watching "The Master of Tai Chi" (aka 太極) tvb drama. It was a drama from last year, broadcasted in Hong Kong when we were there but we didn't get to watch it cos we were out every day. Haha! Anyway, I downloaded this a while back but didn't start watching it until a few weeks ago. Usually mum does not like watching martial arts and period dramas, but mum has taken into this drama so far mainly due to it's family story lines and that it's not over-filled with kung fu or tai chi. Yes, it is quite good so far, starting Vincent Zhao and Raymond Lam etc.

Anyway I am happy not because of this drama, but because of a good workout tonight. Before I went to the gym I was a little down. Thinking about my career path, thinking about money, thinking about other stuff that's been bothering me. But setting foot in the gym, stepping on the treadmill and running, I felt a sense of release from the things bothering me. I look at the mirror I see is a body sculpted from two years of hard work. Of studying the right things to eat, what to avoid, studying of how to exercise, how to keep in shape. I see the product of investment of time and money and discipline. It's true - the type of bodies you see on magazine covers takes so much time and dedication. It's hard work, but when you see the results, everything seems to pay off. Every minute spent in the gym was worthwhile. The fat is stripping off and the muscles are more defined and more evident! :) The body I see now is not magazine cover look, but it is much more pleasing to myself than a few years back. If I did not find it inappropriate to go topless online I'd def put up before and current pics. But that's not gonna happen, so you'll just have to take my word for it. =P

Last week work was quiet so I went onto health forums looking for information on six-packs. Came across more information on nutrition and read what mistakes people who want to get lean make. Exercise is important, but what about the diet? Not about being "on a diet" but just eating habits. Having read more about white carbohydrates like white bread, white rice. About trans fats in fried foods, especially chips and fries. Stuff that will offset any hard work you put in at the gym.

So I started my new workout routine today with new changes to my eating habits and workout. Instead of running for long periods of up to 50 minutes on the treadmill, hoping to burn as many calories as I could (I think the most calories was 717kcal in one run), I am reverting back to High Intensity Interval Training as the highly variable intensity training actually works muscles in a more resistive fashion, stimulating a higher residual metabolic effect, hence burning more calories in the post-workout period compared with steady pace cardio. I've started two new exercises targetting the abs: renegade rows and hanging leg raises (the latter being one I used to avoid for the discomfort it brings in execution). Beware though that ab exercises alone do not burn as much fat as you'd think. Whole body exercises are much more effective, like squats and deadlifts where your whole body will work together in execution. Squats and deadlifts works the core muscles too (abs!) and burn fat all round!

As for eating, I will continue to avoid crisps (since March 2008!), sweets and chocolate. The new things I will avoid now are chips/ fries (too much trans fats - bad for heart!), sugar in tea and even margarine in sandwiches, unless it is olive oil margarine. Artificial sweeteners are just chemicals which is not good for the body so will not be used to take the place of sugar. But instead, tonight for example, I put a teaspoon of natural honey into my tea for that bit of sweetness. Would rather something good for you than sugar which has not nutritional value. Fizzy drink will be dropped in place for fruit juice or water. :)

All this might sound restrictive to the common person. "Why put yourself in such situation?", "Why can't you eat what you want?". Well, in actual fact, I'm at the stage now that I don't feel it is restricting. I feel liberated. I feel what I choose to eat will be good for my body rather than eat chips etc with everyone else and then worry about its effects. I know, having carrot sticks as part of my Boots Meal Deal will be better for me than a packet of Walkers Sensations. I know drinking water will keep me hydrated longer than Irn Bru (sugar actually makes you thirst for more!). So yeah, I have never felt better physically and I encourage everyone to start making lifestyle changes in order to bring out their potential. Even if you don't do regular exercise, changing to a more healthier eating habit will improve your mood (hormones) and will improve your skin. These are only two exterior examples, not to forget help you go down in size for those who feel the need to. But it will do wonders for your heart and your respiratory system.

God gave us food, just like He gave us everything else in this world. He gave us authority over everything. We can eat whatever we want. Whatever animal or plant in this world. Choose the best and healthiest, my friends! =D

(4118)

13 July 2009

Farewell weekend for Ling :)

Dinner at Loon Fung restaurant ~ Sat 11 July 2009


All guys with Ling


All girls with Ling


Ming, Wing and Ling - siblinghood picture

Group pic after Toby Carvery ~ Sun 12th July 2009
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(3917)

08 July 2009

Dear Diary

This is my entry for myself, not for anyone else, so I shall write it like a diary entry.

Sigh… I can’t believe it’s only Wedesday today. It sure does feel like a drag. Mum said last night that it’s probably because I’ve been out instructor training so much. And it’s true. Right now there is no excitement in my life. My girlfriend ain’t here. My friends are out having fun, every day it seems, and here I am working, training, sleeping. What’s the point? Do I ‘work to live’ to ‘live to work’?

I’m getting slightly peed off. Yesterday was the first time I really did not want to leave the house to meet Ann. 6pm I was watching Sky News – the Michael Jackson memorial was on live, as was on BBC2. The interview with his friend and personal trainer Lou Ferrigno gave a better picture into what a good man Michael Jackson was. During this time how can one think of his “bad” things and what he was charged with etc. I really wanted to sit and watch the live broadcast. This was a worldwide event, as some people described: “bigger than Elvis and bigger than Diana”. I was secretly hoping for a call from Ann saying she couldn’t make it for whatever reason and I would have been glad to say ‘ok’ and just sit and watch. But no – I had to move my ass at 6:15pm and drove away reluctantly. The streets were quieter than usual. Was everyone else watching the memorial? Even the Real Radio presenter asked, “Is anybody even listening to our show tonight?”

Training went ok. Usual stuff. Yes, I am getting better at finding her faults and actually found five out of five in the second phase and fixed them too. However, I realised I missed out on TWO good things for the three hours of practice. The first was the advanced showing of “The Proposal” which I am glad I gave the tickets away cos it would have gone to waste and I’m glad the movie was enjoyed. :) The second was the memorial. However, I was glad to find it available on BBC iPlayer so I will try to catch it tonight.

I’m not moaning for the sake of moaning. I am not moaning because I chose this career path. I am moaning because I don’t have time for myself. I don’t have time to do my own thing. I know if I’m a qualified instructor I can work 9-5, or my current 8:30am-5pm each day. Some days can be longer than others, but no way will I then train or do anything that requires so much concentration again after work. I finish work at 5pm, go home for some light dinner – can’t eat a lot cos sitting in car for 2hours+ with a heavy stomach is bad – then train between 6:30pm-8:30pm. Who am I kidding. We NEVER finish at 8:30pm!! I’d be very lucky to drive off at 8:45pm and get home for 9pm to then have a cup of tea and sit down to go online or play PS3 or just talk to mum.

Sake man! It’s ok for Ann. She is not working right now after redundancy back in the end of April, so she basically has the WHOLE DAY free to do what she wants before meeting me. Shopping, sun bathe, play with her grandchild etc etc and even cook dinner for her family before she comes out. She has a choice in her daily activities. Whereas I have no choice but to work until 5pm and although I have told her I don’t mind starting training at 5:30pm in order to finish earlier and give her more time to drive back to Carluke, she said 6:30pm would be better so she can get dinner ready for her family and I’ll have time for some dinner too. Well, yes, we can all have dinner before we come out. However, there are times when mum or Cat cooks dinner and it’s very nice, but I can’t really enjoy it for watching the time or watching what I eat cos if I eat till I’m full then I’ll have to sit with a seatbelt over that stomach and it’s uncomfortable. So basically, on the days I meet Ann I leave the house just after 8am for work and don't officially get home until 9pm+!! =O I need to sleep by 11pm you know?! Well, I TRY,

Ann’s test is tomorrow (9th July) and tonight will be our EIGHTH night in a row working through the ten PST (pre-set tests) in order to be full ready for our tests. If it weren’t for her test tomorrow (if she had postponed it as I had hoped last week), then we would not meet with such frequency or such intensity. But to make sure she has covered all ten by her test, I even offered to come out last Sunday. I hope she appreciates this man. More so, I hope if she passes tomorrow she’s not gonna ditch me and leave me to practice myself. I have thought about it. Tomorrow I’m definitely NOT meeting her. She’ll have her test at 1:05pm, it’ll be all done within 2hrs. After work I’m going to go to the gym – do something for myself. Run, stretch, abs, chest, back, arms, shoulders, whatever, just not driving stuff.

Friday I will meet her AGAIN, not for her benefit, but for mine. Cos I want to hear what the test is like and what to expect. What to do as well as what not to do. I think I’ll tell her tonight that on Friday it’ll be a short meet up cos frankly I’m getting tired, mentally drained. Nobody understands. Nobody feels me. It’s worse when I see and hear everyone else having fun, but I’m enduring this kind of stuff. Yes, it’s a choice. All a choice. I think after tomorrow the very most I'll meet Ann is 2/3 days a week, if I'm in the mood. Screw it man! It's time I prioritise myself and what I want. I want the gym ok? I miss my gym so much! Elaam will be back soon, 20th in fact and I'll hope to spend more time with her too. Damn me if I still do my training like this and forsake my loved one!

Saturday I will meet my instructor, Ronnie. Meeting him I know will be productive AND we’ll finish within the 2hrs time slot. Cos he is a busy man, and time is money to him. One day that will be the same for me. You see, the amount of time I dedicate into work currently (working full time then training), if I do the same once qualified, I will make mega bucks. But now I see no reward. If I spent this much time at the gym I’ll either be half way to entering Mr Universe or looking more like the handsome Ryan Reynolds who has a perfectly ripped body. I’m not saying money will make me happy. It shouldn’t. But right now I’m dedicating so much time for….what?! Give me something to see!!! I need to see something come to fruition!!

(3852)

07 July 2009

The -Ing's

Picture taken during dinner at Ling's place on 6th June 2009.


(left-right): Bing(chao), Ling, (hei)Ming, Ming, Ting and Wing

:)

(3835)

03 July 2009

Bored with myself!

I'm finding life quite mundane right now.

Right now, at 12:35pm, Friday 3rd July, I am sitting in an extremely chilled office I wanna blog about my boring self. Not much has changed since my last post from a week ago. Life is still pretty much: Work - drive - sleep, work - drive - sleep.

Last Saturday I watched "Year One" which I quite enjoyed. It was quite funny with jokes quite often. Then I watched "Blood: the Last Vampire" on Sunday after church. Dire, I tell you! I had expected maybe an Oriental version of Wesley Snipe's "Blade" movies. But no, I'm afraid this movie was a strange mix of "Kill Bill" (sword-welding with Japanese theme) and "Sin City" (strange colours) and "Buffy" (vampire-slaying). I came out quite disappointed and had it not been for the twenty minutes towards the end where all the action comes out, I would not even mention it.

Monday I went to work, then had AA practice.

Tuesday was the start of the extraordinary heatwave, when Glasgow was up at 23C at one point. I wasn't in a good mood on Tuesday. PLUS the fact that once I got into the stuffy humid changing room in the gym I discovered I left my contacts in the car. I contemplated whether to walk all the way back down from the third floor with my bag and then come up again (and risk sweating more!) or just leave the bag there and walk down and back up slowly. I decided to bring my bag down with me - you never know who might dip their hand inside whilst it's unattended, and I didn't want to waste 10p for a locker just to open again in 5mins. So I went down to the car and thought 'what the heck' just go! I went to the cinema instead! Yes, I did something spontaneous and my was it a good decision. I had initially thought of watching "Public Enemies" as I saw the time in the listings, but when I got there I saw it was out the next day!! So the next film I wanted to see was "The Hangover" and I was skeptical of the film being "best comedy of the year". I was impressed! I was cheered up by the end of the movie and I now am considering getting the movie when it comes out for sale. Yes, it was good!! People who have seen most likely feel the same =)

Wednesday I went to work, then had AA practice. What was different about this day was, in the morning my workmate Ian sorted me out with two free tickets to watch the new rom-com with Sandra Bullock and Ryan Reynolds, called "The Proposal". I've seen the trailer a few times and it looks good. The tickets are for advanced showing of the movie and will be Tuesday 6:30pm at Odeon at The Quay in Glasgow. Tuesdays are either training days or gym days. Now, my buddy Ann has her final examination on Thursday 9th July and we have yet to finish practicing over all the different Pre-set Tests (PST). There are ten in total and we are both working through each of them every time we meet. She's doing PST1 through to PST10 and I've been doing PST10 working up to PST1. With the timing of our meetings, we will both reach our tenth PST on Wednesday 8th July, which meant we will have to meet as regularly as possible until that day. Ann had said she considered putting back her test to a later date as she feels she is not ready to sit it, but will wait till Thursday (yesterday) to decide as she will meet our trainer Ronnie who will have a better analysis of her performance.

Thursday (yesterday) I met her with the secret hope that she would tell me she will rebook her test for a later test. Nope. She said Ronnie told her to sit the test anyway and she'll be fine. It's not that I'm nasty, that I wanted her not to sit her test, but I was disappointed that it would mean I will miss "The Proposal" AND I will meet Ann after church on Sunday for the first time, as I don't do Sundays. But cos her test is on Thursday, the only way we will cover all the PST's would be to meet every day until then.

Today I will meet Ronnie and hope he will see improvement with my teaching and my techniques. He has so far said he admired our dedication in meeting up. I moan to my mum about life being so mundane and boring and the amount of time spent in practice. All the stuff that is not found in the small print when they advertise for driving instructors, telling you you can be your own boss etc. Mum encourages me that all my hard work will pay off in the end, when I sit my final test, at the end of July. I really hope I make it first time. I'm getting tired mentally from all this practice. It will be less intense when I am actually teaching but whilst preparing for this final exam it can take a lot out of you, especially when I take whatever I do seriously.

I wake up 7am for work and first thing I do is check my Facebook for contact(s) from Elaam. That's how I start my day. Facebook'ing Elaam is as exciting as life gets these days. It's good to hear from her, that she has been enjoying her work and having fun etc. Though there is a time difference of 7hrs between us, we make efforts to remain in contact via Facebook, emails and even calls. I'm so glad I have such a cool girlfriend. I just hope that once she's back in just over two weeks time, that I will spend enough time with her. Miss her lots. In fact, once Ann's test date is over (7th July), our training will be less intense and if Elaam is in Glasgow I will definitely make time to see her.

I am not looking forward to instructor training tomorrow, Sunday, Monday, Tuesday AND Wednesday. But I'm definitely taking Thursday off as that's Ann's test and I'll chill out. Otherwise I might burn out!!

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