Bus journeys

This All Day bus ticket (now costing £4) was my travel buddy today.  I took two buses to get to church and two buses back.  So each journey was a Pound.  Worth it?  Hmm... not really.  Didn't like how I hit my left elbow off the metal arm rest at the very back of the bus (there were no other seats left).  Didn't like how I got off a few stops too early in fear of the 41 bus going a different route and ended up walking from George Square up to Watt Brothers on Hope Street (about 4-5 blocks away) whilst looking over my shoulder every so often in case my next bus arrived.  Didn't want to run or rush cos didn't like to get all sweaty and stuff before arriving at church.  Managed to arrive at bus stop across from church at 1PM sharp so got to do my PC/ Projector duty much on time.

After church service and later the meeting at church centre I waited at the bus stop on Gt Western Road for about fifteen minutes before a bus came that took me to town before I got off and onto a different bus (41) which took me home.  The 41 bus from Odeon was the first stop, so the bus sat there for about six minutes before it started it's journey.  From previous experience of taking the bus I remember it being common courtesy to leave the front few rows vacant for the elderly and mothers with prams etc.  So I sat on the second row behind the open space.  However, I must have grown some more since the last time I was on the bus.  Because my knees seemed to have felt squashed behind the seat in front and I had to sit slightly turned to the side.  LOL!

I almost got off the bus about three stops early because I started smelling cigarette smoke coming from the back of the bus.  The smoke is is something I definitely do not miss about public transport.  Yucks!!

Warning light

Managed to cut down the number of Fb photos to 560 from 919.  Was not easy I must say, took two days.  Lol!  Did most of it today, because I had so much spare time at home.  Not by choice, but only managed to teach one lesson today and cancelled another after the Fuel in Oil warning lamp lit up on my instrument panel.  Argh!!  That's the second time this has happened.  First time was back in May and the Ford garage performed an oil service and the light went off.  Surely it can't be the same issue again, and please, do not tell me there is another oil service required.  =(

So for now the car is parked across from the house and I'm not driving it until Monday morning when I will take it to the service department.  It's gonna mean taking the bus to church tomorrow.  And this weather, it's gonna suck!!  =(

Tag removal

Feeling vain tonight, so have started removing/ deleting tags from Fb photos that are not very good looking.  LOL!  Currently I have 919 photos that I'm tagged in.  Will take waaaay too long to finish tonight.  Haha!

Think I'll make it a project to do in the next two weeks or something.  Haha!  =P

Back after a while...!

Haven't posted for ages, since middle June, wow!  So much has been happening in my life, both good and not so good, but mainly good.  The Lord has always been good to me even though sometimes I forget to put blessings to blog, but I do my best to note down these blessings on my 'Grace Book'.  I must remember to give thanks for all that He has given me.  Our gratitude not only pleases God but indeed will be an encouragement to those who hear it, believers or unbelievers.  =)

Throughout the past few months I've been busy with work.  Work has had it's ups and downs as well.  The requirement of patience towards pupils and the endurance of working in a metal box under the blistering sun has never been greater.  Last summer I innocently worked wearing polo shirts and tee shirts and ended up with a tanned left arm whilst the right arm was noticably lighter.  Lol!  What's worse was, there was also a tan line difference from the top of my shoulder as well!  No, cannot have that!!  So this summer I've been wearing thin long sleeve tops whilst working.  It certainly adds to the heat at times, but at the end of my long shifts I don't remove my shirt to find horrible shades around me.  Haha!  Doesn't look good at the gym either all these weird tan lines.  However, having said that, I did get sunburnt at a recent barbeque in the back garden of a church auntie's.  I had put on sun factor 30 but that was apparently not enough to withstand the sun's rays between 3:30PM-8:30PM.  By the time I was about to leave some areas of my skin were in red shade and again noticeable to others who commented.  =S  Once I got home, my my, how red was I??!  Tan lines created by the singlet I wore to the barbeque.  I avoided wearing an ordinary tee shirt knowing the sun would be mega strong that Monday, so wanted to catch more rays.  However, I think my skin requires much higher sun protection.  SPF50 perhaps?   I cannot remember how I managed to survive Singapore, Malaysia and Hong Kong during my visits there.  And I didn't even wear singlets then.  Lol!  =P  Ah well, at least I have two long tanned arms and they are even in tan!  LOL!  =P

I'm now on Week 11 of a twelve-week training program called ATHLEAN-X and it has helped me lose lots of bodyfat whilst building more lean muscle and I have been so glad of this program.  It's definitely the first of it's kind to have such positive results on my body.  I am so proud of this program, it's unique ideas and the results it gives me.  I am frequently talking about this program to everyone I come across and I have bought all three of the ATHLEAN-X tee shirts and post up videos on my Facebook as well as it's well worth looking into for those who are interested in looking athletic.  I will definitely be sticking with and recycling this program as part of my daily workouts.  Due to my work schedule, starting at 10AM every morning (barring Sundays), I can only free up time in the early mornings somewhere between 6:30AM to 8:30AM.  I don't train for much more than an hour anymore like I used to.  The old concept was train longer, train harder, gain harder.  Nope, now my understanding has improved and my knowledge broadened to realise it is much more effective to train with high intensity in low time.  How does that work?  Well perform the sets and reps with as short breaks between as possible.  This keeps the heart rate ticking over thus burning up more calories and more fat.  And boy has it made a different to me.  The training program works on the whole body a lot and has two days of conditioning (not just conventional cardio) per week, leaving three days of training with weights.  It has helped bring out my abs as well.  Ooh yeah!  Having received some positive comments from people who noticed my shape also adds to the fact this program is great!  If anybody is interested to know more about this training regime, just give me a shout.  It is totally drug free and is great fun.  Just takes on average 40 minutes of your day five days a week.  How cool is that!!  =D

So I thank God for giving me the willpower, endurance and perserverance to get this far with the program.  The early mornings, getting up at 5:55AM when the buzzer alarm goes off, have not been easy.  Sometimes I do feel like giving up and flopping back down into bed and snuggling up.  But I push on and once I'm out the house the crisp fresh air helps awaken me and shifts me back on focus.  I thank God for the many safe journies to the gym each morning through the extremely quiet trip to the gym and the rush hour drive back home for breakfast.  I thank God for my injury-free training as well and I hope I am able to keep it that way.  I hope I can keep going from strength to strength both physically and spiritually.

The past few weeks I've been coming back to God as prior to that I let the busy-ness of work and working out distract me from spending time with God.  Finishing work late, having some light dinner, washing up, doing admin, spending 'some' time on Fb and before I knew it, it was nearing midnight and I definitely needed to sleep in order to get up at 5:55AM the next morning.  But praise God for calling me back by His side again.  A story which I shared regarding Psalm 127.  I hope everyone is encouraged by this verse and remember, no matter what stage of life you're at right now: whether it's enjoying summer holidays, seeking direction in life, job hunting, partner hunting, going through sickness or tough times, remember that Jesus loves you very much and God is in control of everything.  We must cast all our anxieties unto Him.  God is our Maker and with Him, through Him, nothing is impossible.  Seek first His kingdom and all things will be added unto you.  I was seeking and I have found... =)  God is able.  God is good.

Elated

Have not updated in a long while.  But since I have an unplanned four hour break I thought I might as well put thoughts onto paper, or in this case, onto text.  Haha!

I felt very happy last night.  The feeling of elation, the moments where everything seemed so nice, so peaceful and 'as it should be'.  It is hard to describe, but I'll try and break it down.  Hmm... where do I start though?  Lol!  Ermm... ok, dunno how to say this without sounding like I'm bragging, so I shall stay as level-headed as possible.

I had a reaaaaally nice dinner last night.  It was not just a run of the mill eating out dinner, but a home cooked meal.  The menu had what I like in it too: chicken (protein), egg (protein), tom yum (spicy), pork ribs (protein + fat) and later some home baked chocolate dessert too.  I'm not one for dessert usually, but boy was I taken in by the food presented to me.  Seeing the production process I could appreciate the amount of effort put into the meal.  It was not easy.  I think I would have been all flustered or struggled a bit.  Haha!

Each spoonful I had I ate with a smile which resulted in a funny looking face each time I chewed.  Haha!  I truly appreciated everything.  Helping wash up was the very least I could do in response to such kindness.  Immediately after dinner there was some musical performances too.  I enjoyed the music very much and whilst listening I was very impressed inside.  Wow!!  I was invited up to play some piano as well.  Was made a piano partner in a very simple piece but very nice.  Ok, my part was very simple, though I struggled to get my head around how to do it for the first five minutes, but once I got the hang of it, everything seemed to flow.  I am a slow learner you see.  I may take several shots at something before fully getting the hang of it.  But once I do, I stick to it and become better at it.  I think my personality is like that of a train - slow start up but with a very powerful drive afterwards.  Boom!!!  =P

Anyhow, those moments playing the piano, absorbing the air, listening to the music, laughing, smiling, focussing, making mistakes, starting again, laughing, making another mistake, finally getting it right... all seemed very very nice.  Hard to describe in words, but I think the word to use would be elation.  Yes, I felt elated.  I could just stay in that moment forever I think.  Haha!

All good things come from God.  God blesses us in so many different ways.  I truly felt blessed and I made that known to God at the end of the night.  These opportunities do not come by often, but when they do, I have to show appreciation to God and I have to give thanks to Him.  If it is His will, He will give other blessings to me too :)

Little pond?

He must have been a Godsend.  I think DD was right.  Maybe I have been looking in the wrong pond.  Big fish in little pond perhaps?  Time to move on I think...

It's amazing how God works though.  Just out of the blue out pops the question.  And of course, I gave honest answers.  I spoke my heart.  It's amazing how God can provide a counseller, a listening ear.  Someone to show concern.  I live at home with two women.  I don't have any senior guys to talk to conveniently.  After all, being Chinese as well, we are more 'conservative' when it comes to these things, usually.  I'm not that shy about these things, but just find it hard to find 'suitable' people to chat to.  So many people around me, all at different stages of life.

The prayer meant a lot to me.  Oh Lord, lead the way :)

Athlean-X Training System

On a different note, I have decided to change my workout regime and try out a new 90 program which is to help me develop more lean muscle mass.  Although currently I feel I am quite big in size and live up to my nickname Big G, I know I have a lot of body fat as well.  Too much in fact.  So this program, which has been vouched by thousands to have made a difference in their lives, is set out to give me different workouts every day for twelve weeks, along with an eating plan.  Follow it as closely as you can to get as better results as possible.  This would involve weight training Monday, Wednesday and Friday with conditioning (cardio) on Tuesday and Thursday.  Guess I can rest on the weekends.  Instead of slaving away at the gym for hours on end, each workout is designed to last about 40 minutes tops, leaving you more time to yourself yet having your heart beat just as much if not more than a long workout session.  The results should be seen within 3-4 weeks.  I am looking forward to this change.  New exercises to challenge the body and keep it guessing.

I will need to change some habits like try to get at least seven hours of sleep each night.  I will try to constantly drink water.  I will try to eat small portions every 2-3 hours of the day and keep my metabolism running high.  What else... erm... oh yeah, will continue using my mobile stopwatch to time my breaks between workout sets, making sure I don't slack when resting and take too long to get back into it.  Might mean no eating out for a good number of weeks too!

I took my weight this morning, one day before I start this program.  Most updated figures are:

212.2lbs - 96.2kgs - 15st 2lbs 

I shall update after a week I think.  Here's hoping I can get through this one week of training!  Haha!  If anybody is interested in seeing what this program is about, check out the link below!  =D

ATHLEAN-X

Hello again

Hey all!

Just thought I'd update a little post here since I've not said anything since.... 27th April!!!  Lol!  Time flies man!  27th April was two days before my 28th birthday!  Yes, my birthday was on 29th of April.  Oh my goodness!  I am 28!  That makes me one of the oldest member of the English Ministry in our church.  How amazing is that!  LOL!  Praise God though, that I am still of use in the church and can serve Him through different areas and I feel so honoured to be listed as one of the leaders of EM.  Sometimes time I feel so unworthy to be a leader.  I feel I have yet so much to learn and I want to develop my faith in the Lord.  I guess serving, seeking and learning runs hand in hand.  I want to mature in God as I mature physically.

In recent months I've been reminded of God's Sovereignty through devotions, how God's authority rules over all the Earth, that nothing and no-one can be more powerful than God.  Everything is in His hands, all things big and small.  It brings great comfort to know that the God whom I worship, whom I praise is the same God whom I can fully rely on and fully put my trust in.  I know no matter however my life unfolds, it will be alright, everything will be fine as long as I live according to His will, as long as I seek to please Him with all my actions.  So I have been a lot more conscious of how my verbal and physical communications can portray or display Christ.  I try to find ways to bring glory to God through what I do, what I say etc.  I can't say that I succeed all the time, but certainly He is on my mind a lot more these days.  And when my eyes are on Him more, I can certainly see His greatness and His Sovereignty displayed more and more around me and it is so encouraging!  =)

What else is new with me...?  Hmm... well I've just been working.  Oh yeah... work-wise, well the month of April was quite busy as it was my first month as an independent driving instructor, which meant I am no longer tied to a franchise agreement with a national driving school.  Been saving lots more in the weekly francise fee which equated to around £210 per week!  Yup!  Per week!  Regardless if I was working or not.  Well my weekly output these days are fuel and car washes.  How good is that!  I had spent lots on getting the car, the insurance, roof sign, business cards etc.  Basically to get myself started up.  So I need to wait a while before breaking even in that sense.  Saw the accountant last week for tax and accounts for Year 2010/2011.  Made a better profit compared to 2009/2010 but not good enough on paper to show banks for a mortgage.  He forecasts I should have a much better amount of income for 2011/2012 and should be able to apply for mortgages etc within two years, which is more promising.  Yes, two years sounds a bit far away.  My initial life plans were to be married, settled with life partner and a house by 30 years old.  Seems like that is not going to happen that way.  But then again, I submit my life to God and know that His ways are different from my ways.  So, Lord, take me, use me and mould me.  =)

Back to healthy eating again and getting more focussed with my gym training.  Been going to the gym at opening time of 06:30am nowadays.  It's much better going early when it's quieter (compared to after work) and then getting home early enough to have a decent breakfast, make packed lunch and even do devotionals before leaving for work again.  How I'd love to be able to do a workout, eat at the gym (nothing healthy there! and if I bring packed breakfast it will never be enough!) and then start work.  But that's not an option.  Guess morning is the only time I have for the the gym.  The time I have for myself.  Everyone else is in bed so I won't be disturbed and it is more of 'me time' before I start the day.  Take tonight for example, I finished work 9pm and got in at 9:15pm.  That's considered early, as I can be home as late at 9:40pm depending where the last lesson ends and if it runs over at all.  Anyways, Greens shut 10pm so if I don't go early hours I won't get any gym time at all!  =D  It feels great though to have the workout done early on so I can focus on the rest of the day and all foods that I eat will be burnt away due to increase in metabolic rate.  Does mean I get hungry oh so easily now!!  Haha!

So that's it really.  My life is pretty much focussed on these three things at the moment: God, work and the gym.  During the week I don't get to go out much as these three things fill up my week.  The weekends I get some opportunities to play.  Watch a movie in the cinema if I'm fortunate enough, might even have dinner with brothers and sisters in church after service.  It's nice to hang out and fellowship, to bless and encourage one another.  Thank God the weather has improved overall in the past few weeks.  No more blistering sunshine (which I am SOOO thankful for!) but enough light to give us longer bright evenings.  Lol!  Praise God!