How’s married life?

This seem to be the most common question that I get these days. I don’t think it’s any different from where me and Bubba was before we signed the papers but if there’s one thing which I notice rather glaringly is that I’ve been eating a lot more and not being that strict with my food intake anymore.

I guess there are times where I kinda let myself off but that doesn’t mean I have forgotten how hard I’ve worked in the past 1 year to get rid of those 13kgs and that I should never go back to my old lifestyle. If anything, I should be improving my lifestyle and the weight should be going down south. Guess I went on a eating spree after we got married but hey, sometimes a girl’s gotta cut some slack right? I haven’t forgotten my new goals, just that it’s taking off rather slowly.

After we got married, we went to Bali for a short trip, stuffed our face and got badly sunburnt. Bubba went back after spending 5 days in Bali with me whilst I stayed on and went to Komodo for a 6 day dive trip. Like all my dive trips, it was awesome. JJ was there and we buddied up on our dive trips. Water visibility was poor on most days but at least we got to see Mantas which was the main attraction of Komodo. Funnily enough, we didn’t even need to strap on our dive gears to see them, they were playing around on the surface one morning and we just jumped in and snorkelled and chased after them. Quite an experience – I gave a hug to our Dive Master later on for letting us snorkel at that spot! Needless to say, I got very sunburnt after this trip – Bali/Komodo is extremely hot, what more when you’re spending 6 days on a boat deck exposed to nothing but sun!

I went back to KL after my Bali trip and met up with long lost friends! People who I haven’t met for many years but we speak online every now and then. Met Damien and Joe – 2 awesome photographers who inspire me with their amazing photos. Stayed up really late one night, drinking cups of diet coke, milo ais, ice limau etc and we later proceeded to take some potrait shots of myself. Har har har and I’m quite pleased with the photo if I may say so myself. As Joe puts it … “it’s all about YOU“. This was taken somewhere between 1am – 3am

 

On a separate note, I signed up for half-marathon (21km) for the Kuala Lumpur Marathon this coming June! This is the craziest thing I’ve done. I’ve not completed 10km properly but god knows what made me sign up for 21km! I have no time-goal set for this. I’m only looking to complete the entire course whether it kills me and I’ll just have to make sure I complete it before the garbage truck comes to pick me up or sweep me off the road. Til then, it’s run run run fat girl .. runn!!

My Loss, Their Gain

The above title was named in our internal broadcast as “Her Loss, Their Gain” … Aptly titled by the Corporate Affairs people at the place where I work. Now that Project Loser is over, I’ve lost over 13 KG and restored sight to 20 people by raising S$1,000 for Seeing is Believing through my weight loss journey.

Here’s the extract of the broadcast. I’m no celebrity or miss-know-it-all when it comes to weight loss. In fact, I’m still learning but the journey has been fun even though frustrating at times. Perseverance plays a huge role in weight loss and there’s no shortcut to it, just like how there’s no real shortcut to having an easy life. So here’s the story … I’m extremely encouraged by the support and as mentioned in my previous post, this is not the end of it. You’ll definitely see a leaner me before my big banquet, that’s my goal.

If this is inspiring enough, then what are you waiting for? Get moving!!

Officially Married

Yesterday went by so fast that when it was all over, I turned to my new husband and said “that’s it? But I wanted the event to be longer!”. In actual fact, we were at One Rochester since 9am and the event was to kick off between 11am – 3pm. The solemnizer got a bit lost and only arrived at 12 noon when we were supposed to be solemnized at 1130. Oh well. Everything went really well despite the previous night hiccups/dramas which I’d rather not get into.

I was so calm and cool in the morning. It wasn’t until at 11am when I put on my gown that I realised “shit, this is it!”. I was so friggin nervous! I think  Edwin the photographer must have gotten put off because I was so tensed and he had to keep reminding me to relax. Hahaha. It didn’t help that Bubba was just as tensed and stiff. Whoever said posing for wedding photos was easy … If anything I’d give my hats off to the genius photographers for really capturing the moment when we less expect/notice them. I can’t wait for my photos. But I’ll share some which a few people took…

One Rochester

During the march-in

Favours which we specially packed

In monochrome

I have to thank my friends for helping out with the minor details. I kept it really fuss free for the day (I hope) so that it wouldn’t be that difficult to run the event. I suppose I took on all the fuss before hand because I packed 40+ favours and goody bags for the guest, kids and photographers. I personalised each goody bag for the kids according to what they like most and gave a snack/goody bag for the photographers to keep the hunger and thirst pangs away. Last minute stuff but was fun to realise that I never had this side of creativity in me. Reading a lot of Martha Stewart helps even though the hubby never understood why I must do so much for the favours when I could have gotten some bakery to make 2 macarons for each guest. I think personalising the gifts adds that extra touch!

I wasn’t planning to cry (then again u never plan such things!) but let’s just say the when the emotions gets the best of you, it just hits ya! I cried during the handover when I gave my dad a hug and when I was reading my vows … and to think that we wrote the vows and kept laughing at how corny it sounded 2 nights before!! Just hope the pics didn’t turn out ugly. Haha.

So now that the small reception is over, it’s time to plan the mammoth one. I need to find a date, hotel and start all over again except this time I would need to exclude the details so that I have less headache and stress. We are looking at sometime February 2011 so that means ….

NEW GOALS! (read: targeting 10kg more weight loss for 2010-2011).

Now that I’ve lost 13.4kgs, it’s a good way to kick-start 2010  with a new goal although I’m like 3 months late! Better late than never I guess. Looking at some of the photos, I realise my arms are still so big and it isn’t something that I like. And my frame looks a lot larger in the white dress .. sigh. But it also gives me something to work on this year. I also have to admit, in my 29 years of life, it was my FIRST time:

• wearing  make up
• wearing a full white dress, I don’t think I even own a white shirt?

I made the best decision to wear ballet flats because I knew I would be walking around a lot and even though I didn’t want to tower my husband, it was so much more comfortable. Funnily enough, my flower girls all had similar shoes with me even though we didn’t coordinate that!

Will write more soon. Have a great weekend!

The DAY!

Just a quick note before I run back to my wedding pile … tomorrow will be THE DAY. I’m getting married tomorrow and I’m all a bunch of nerves right now. I’m gonna just keep it calm and enjoy myself.

On another short note, I wish to announce that Project Loser, the reason for this blog has concluded and we have successfully raised S$1000 for the charity – Seeing Is Believing. I’ll share the details later in another post. Til then, wish me luck and that I don’t trip and fall flat on my face during the march-in!

Counting down …

I have less than 30 days (23 days to be precise!) to go before I sign on the dotted line and proclaim to the world that I’m no longer available in the market! Hahaha, it’s a mix bag of emotions I would say. As the day draws nearer, I find myself getting extremely stressed out but at the same time working hard to suppress my bridezilla moments.

I shouldn’t really fret because it’s only a registration. It’s not even the actual banquet and this event alone, albeit a small one, is enough to throw me off guard. You can’t blame me, which girl doesn’t want to look good on her big day right?

I haven’t been training much since I took a break just before the CNY holidays and then I went to Hong Kong for the weekend. BAD mistake – I can only blame myself because I’m up 1.5kgs. I soooo wanted to just kill myself at one point but if there’s anything out of this whole angry episode, I’m gonna make sure I get rid of it pronto and eye my damn food intake like a hawk. All the calories and carbs I’ve been consuming … I should be kicked in the bum bum.

On a more beautiful note, I’m due to do my gown fitting in the next 1-2 weeks – got WishOnline to tailor make it for me from scratch! I’m excited yet nervous! I’ve never worn white before, NEVER! I mean a white t-shirt, I would try but an entire gown in white … *horror*. I’m praying really hard I won’t look like a marshmallow on that day. It’s a beautiful dress I saw online and hoping the tailor will be able to replicate it – last minute work, as usual! Here’s a glimpse of it – the one on the right, that is.

Hell ride

In conjunction with International Fitness Week, the gym organised a spinning class aptly named “Hell Ride” today. It started from 12 noon to 8pm. And today I went for the entire 8 hours and can’t be anymore proud of myself! It was tiring but there were moments of “cyclist high” and it was awesome.

I finished all 8 hours, pretty much back to back with a 10 minute break after 3 hours. I burned an insane amount of calories – 3629 kcals. That’s an average of 450kcals/hour. I could have gone higher but I needed to pace myself to last the entire session.

I had gastric halfway but nothing a banana couldn’t fix. Am off to bed now. Have a good weekend all!

Welcome to Hell!

8 hours later, 3629 kcals burned

Breaking the barrier!

I counted. I stepped on the weighing scale 5x yesterday after my workout at the gym because I thought I was seeing things. But all 5x reaffirmed each previous weigh-in and I walked away with a silly grin on my face. I finally did it. I broke the blasted barrier, one that has been haunting me for so frigging long! I think the last time I went sub-[insert-number] was probably when I was in university (more than 10 years ago)!

I’m very happy even though it is literally touch and go but I’ll still take it. I’m not sure if its just one of those temporary thing but it’s a good sign nonetheless. I’m now trying to make sure I don’t lose it and continue focusing. I’m that much closer to achieving it even though this whole Project ends today :\ But this whole weight loss journey will not be a one-year event, it will be a long journey for me because I’m rediscovering my life, health and a whole new fitness level!

The next time you see me, I may just have solid 6-pack abs and not a beer barrel. Right now, it’s time to work my butt off because I’m getting registered on 27th March 2010. Need to look hawt on that day, ‘numsayin?

Being Lazy

I have my lazy days and it’s getting more and more evident these days. It’s because I’ve been going to the gym so often the past 1 year that I’m getting very very bored of it.

So I’ve been trying to spice my own workout and vary it so that I won’t be bored but nothing seems to work. That only leaves me with one option – the outdoors. I should pick up a new activity to keep me sane instead of confronting the dreaded treadmill every now and then. I also do have my TRX which is an awesome workout tool.

Today was one fine example of laziness. I was lazy to move my ass to the gym this evening for Tommy’s 90-min RPM class. I had all sorts of excuses running through my head and was tempted to go bury myself in a good dinner with Bubba. Guilt conscience crept up on me faster than I can say McDonalds and I dragged my sorry ass to the gym. But if there’s one thing about Tommy’s class is that it almost instantly perks me up. I’m not sure what it is but none of the classes that I’ve gone ever has that sort of effect on me! I’ve attended so many RPM class and none of them make me push as hard as I do in Tommy’s class.

I attribute this to his music selection which I will say is very much in line with what I have on my iPod to keep me running/biking. I absolutely cannot run with some rock or slow music playing. My mind just shuts off. Anyway, I got quite pumped up the moment class started and by the end of it, I tell myself it’s all worth it despite ending up walking like a penguin. Some joker said I kept going for Tommy’s class because I was after his (edit: Sounded so wrong after reading this again!) THE banana that he gave out at the end of every class. I will admit that I like to eat bananas but I’m not that crazy!!! I make it a point to have one prior to class anyway if I haven’t snacked on anything.

On another note, call me crazy, I actually dropped an email to Fitness Ridge to enquire about their rates and programme. Yes, I was considering signing up for a 1 month 24/7 bootcamp in Utah! Until their reply came back to me informing me that their next available slot is only in August 2010! Can you believe it!? It’s so popular that I wanna open one too! Back to the story – yes I was seriously contemplating it. I even asked Bubba for his opinion. Afterall it’s only 1 month, I was planning in my head on how to request leave of absence from work and I was ready to part with US$6K+ for 1 month of bootcamp training! I was looking so forward to it … but now, bah! Gotta think of something else.

I have this tendency to start new things without really completing what I’ve started previously. So I’ve been thinking for the longgggest time about getting a bike but since it ain’t no cheap bike from a supermarket, I ought to put more thought into it. I’ve been eyeing on a road bike but I have this fear about uncleating myself off the bike and end up crashing. Actually I think it’s the crashing part which scares me more than anything. Bicycle crashes used to be a norm when I was a kid and I’d come back with scars and blood somewhere or another. Then again, I’ve been a klutz all my life. Anyhooo, investing in a bike is like investing in stocks because aside from the money factor, I need to make sure it doesn’t end up as a poor investment decision

Going back to my earlier point about changing my routine, I’m also thinking of signing up for triathlon training – saw a few website that offers such training. This has been on my mind for a while but I’ve never put much consideration into it. So maybe it’s time I re-focus myself and sign up. Maybe I’ll like it? Bunny told me there’s a mini-triathlon – so tempted to sign-up but I think I should fully train for one first.

Boooo!

Hello! I’m alive! (As if I haven’t said that enough!). It’s been a month and I’m finally settling into my new home after months of waiting, days of packing and unpacking, cleaning and finally it’s more or less done. We had a few teething problem here and there but that should be very normal for most first time houseowners. So I’m really liking this new home of ours, not to mention how much nearer we are to the city (I know, it sounds crazy that most people would want to live further AWAY from the city whilst I’m doing the exact opposite!).

On the whole exercise/diet regime, I’m still doing alright. I’m happy to say I haven’t put on weight except it still fluctuates in the 2 kg range which I hate. Hoping to get it down by another 5 kg in the next 2.5 months.

On another note, we’re FINALLY getting married! Our solemnization date will be on the 26th March 2010. I have so many things to sort out now for the registration, I’m not throwing a huge party, something small for the family. When I’m done with that, I’ll figure out about the banquet part *headache*

In the meantime, I leave you with this video that appeared on TV 2 nights ago. If you don’t know who he is already, he’s my personal trainer – Adrian Tan (Website currently under construction). He’s an awesome trainer and friend and I’m saying it whole heartedly.

Preparing to return back to the grind …

I’m not quite sure what title I should give to this post. I don’t have anything particular to blog since I’ve been extremely caught up in the house renovation which is expected to be completed and hand-over by next week! My 2-week break is coming to an end and I’m back to the grind again on Monday I guess it’s a good thing, bumming at home, and not really working THAT hard at the gym is taking a toll on my fitness although I’m still very glad I haven’t piled on any weight

I still miss my holidays, in fact I still get up very early thinking it’s time to prepare myself and dive!Here are some pictures to share …

Me with a white tip shark

Sunset @ Mabul

Yours truly with the Barracudas

Mabul Island – where I stayed

Sipadan Island

As you can tell, I had the best time ever. Nothing would make me appreciate the beauty of the underwater world more than Sipadan and I hope to go back there every year! Here’s the video I made of our trip:

I’m gonna have a rough time adjusting back to the grind on Monday, that’s for sure! Have a good weekend folks.