FISAF Personal Trainer & Fitness Leader Course

June 2011 was a busy training month for me with various fitness trainings from Zumba to Skipping (Oh yeah! Btw, I'm also a National Heart Foundation skipping instructor!) to taking up the FISAF Fitness Leader &  Personal Trainer certification which I've put off for some years now.. I'm proud to say that I have every single internationally recognised FISAF certifications there are available under my belt from the Core program to Group Aerobics to Fitball & Core Stabilisation to Aqua Aerobics to Personal Training to Working with Seniors. 

This June saw me taking time off from my classes and PT sessions for further education to complete this round of training where I had taken the time to lecture again at the Group Aerobic course and to assist during the Group Aerobic practicals.

Not alot of pictures during the time that I was out of action during this time as training saw me at our usual training venue at Ngee Ann Alumni building from 730am till 6pm for PT training and continuing to stay back for more during the Group Aerobic course till 1030am each night. It was a gruelling 2 weeks with ended with a final "Working with Seniors" instructor certification. I zombied my way home each night, worked till 3am planning my personal training prescription for my "mock client" which we did each morning with a new "client" course mate, slept for 3 hours and woke up early again for a whole host of information bombardment complete with physical boot camping.

Yeah, the things we instructors and personal trainers go through to ensure we are always up to date and of quality standard before we lead the way for our students and clients. This course was one of the tougher ones for me as it was not only physically challenging, it was mentally & emotionally challenging for me too.. plus I had to contend with some injuries along the way too. 

Day 1 saw us doing circuit work in the muddy fields and running then to adjourn to lecture to learn about ATP and nutrition. Then I went off to lecture, train and drill the Aerobic instructors for the night.

Day 2 saw us practicing assessing blood pressure, caliper fat testing, functional movement, core work, VipR, battling ropes, balance discs, bosu, swiss balls, sandbags and my favourite "torture" of any of the courses which never fails to be done was the uphill slope run with a partner with the elastic band wrapped around your waist while you pull your partner up run... *kill me now but I survived*

Day 3 started off with our first PT prescription with our first mock client, assessments, lecture about proteins then a kettlebell segment which I ended up with a shockingly sprained wrist that we had to ice for the rest of the day.

Day 4 started again with yet another PT prescription (which we had to plan, rehearse, print and present at 730am before we began our "training"), learning about minerals, doing Yoga which I found seriously challenging as I was already so physically tired with my muscles bunching up, it was hard to stretch out fully then we went on to various stretching techniques, PNF and then took some time to do some group study (yes, we had a long 4 hour written exam at the end of it all - Imagine after all that we still needed to study the super thick textbook amidst all this)

Day 5 was a final PT prescription, learning about nutritional programming, functional movement testing, dynamic stretching, track work with sprints and Fitness business 101.

Day 6 saw us doing the Bukit Timah Hill explosion plus our 4 hour written exam in the evening. Yes, I call it an explosion simply because it was an insane blitz through what I would consider a very challenging area to be physically tearing & sprinting through in such a short period of time. Picture above was pre-BT hill where everyone was still relatively fresh before boarding the bus.. the 2nd picture was us just beyond the first major incline (which is one of the more challenging areas of the hill because if the steep incline).

At the top of the hill after we took our group photograph to commemorate the first part of the run, we did even more ground work on the mini hill. Crawling up on all 4s like spiderman up the muddy hill side, sprinting up and down, waddling about, squatting and so many other physical combinations that I really cannot remember but it was completely exhausting!!!

Some of my coursemates, Adeline, Hester and Evelyn managed to take a group picture during this time and we were so poofed already!! However, I understand the need for the physical push. If we, the instructors don't know the limits to how hard we can push ourselves, how can we expect our students and clients to do like-wise? So push on we must...

And of course since we're supposed to be the fit fitness trainers that we are, after all that mud work, we must still run through the remaining of the whole course and run like mad we did, through the scary vines & trees of the forest, squishy mud paths with fallen leaves and concrete slab stairways. For awhile there, we were all going so fast (like we were running away from some rabid animal that I was totally in The Zone...my ears could only hear my own heartbeat as we flew through the trail - I couldn't believe how fast we were going!!).... until a point where I hit a mental wall 3/4 way through the trail. BAM!!!!

The days of minimal sleep, physical taxing routines, brain draining lectures, late night crash studying and the lack of really good food all took its toll on me....

At one point, course mate running right behind me yelled "you can do it Pam! keep on running!!" and I suddenly felt an overwhelming huge burst of emotion - I burst out crying while running with the group and continued to sob as we moved along. My tears flowed un-abandoned as the experience seemed so un-real at that point. Everyone chanting encouraging words to one another because we could see that we were all so drained but we were all determined to finish the trail.

One by one, we slowed abit to catch each others hands and pulled each other up the concrete steps, shouting out "we can do it! we can do it!!" and at the end of it all, we finally all met again at the end of base of the hill once more. Accomplished. We had conquered the hill.. in breakneck *plus crying* speed.

I am thankful that I had such an amazing group of course mates for this training. Everyone was very encouraging. There were awesome people and I am looking forward to crossing paths again with every one of them one day... Keep the spirit and power to all of you... Thank you for an experience of a lifetime.. FISAF rocks!! If you ever had thoughts of becoming a fitness trainer, this is the place to go to be trained amongst the best.. :)

Sunflower Surprise!

On Saturday, 11th of June, a group of Zumba instructors and myself took part in a dance competition to feature Zumba as our presentation. More about that in another upcoming post but that day itself was crazy crazy with the many classes I ran earlier in the day and having all 10 instructors in my Zumba class rocking the dance floor before we all adjourned to the locker for a makeup-dressup frenzy. And in the course of all that chaos. I lost my ipod and didn't realise it. 

It was only the next day when I was prepping for another dance class where I realized that it was missing and had to use my daughter's ipod temporarily. It was a flurry of calls to everyone and to places where it could have been lost and I spent the day moping for my lost ipod who seemed like it could never be found. I suppose I was really depressed over the loss and something came via delivery to cheer me up! Imagine my surprise when the doorbell rang...

My girlfriend, Charlotte was being a darling and decided to send me a little ray of sunshine to pass me a smile and lift my spirits. It was such a lovely surprise! 

Excuse the non-makeup, I was trolling about the house whining about my lost ipod and then this came! Thank you Charlotte, it was very thoughtful and sweet to have thought of sending this to me. :) Even Misty - my kitteh thought the green foliage was tasty too! *munch munch munch*

Thank you for the flowers and thank you to those who offered to chip in to buy me another ipod!! Eventually 3 days later, it was recovered and is now safely back in my possession. Whats an aerobic instructor without her music right? Tools of trade for sure. (hugging my red ipod now with a big label w my contact number on it)

Videos Don't Lie... 100kg Pam

Pictures can be edited with photoshop to make it look almost immaculate but a video, not within my control so it shows everything in full unadulterated flubbery. Some people have exclaimed "you couldn't have been that big!.. did you make your pictures look fatter?" No... but to prove that there was such a time... heres a video which the hubster found buried in his hard drive.

We played it on the mac the other day and when we saw when I walked out of the room to my cake in our old residence in this video, we were all in shock and screamed "oh my god!!!" So yeah.. that was me.. when I was 100kg. Yeah.. believe it now? What falls in my control now at least, I will never make myself grow back to that level of obesity. That blue pants were a size 48 stretchable. Equivalent to a 5XL.

Why feel bad about myself and look unhealthy when I can stay the way I am now or smaller? :) Click on the pictures below to check out each respective picture sets taken by C. En Yung. I think I'm due to have a phootshoot soon... must think of location in Singapore or theme.. Suggestions anyone?

What Do You Want To Be Recognised For?

When the question was posed to me, it got me thinking and wondering... what do I want to be recognised for? What?... I stared out of the window on the bus and looked at people passing by and wondered... what do THEY want to be recognised for? Although it sounds somewhat morbid, but did I want people to recognise me for something while I'm still alive or be someone and do something that only makes a difference when I've passed on?

A legacy perhaps? Even more so now that I have pre-teen daughters (who are my biggest & precious miracles EVER).. will I live my life to strive to LEAVE a legacy for them or to be one while I'm still around... and so I thought somemore...

What have I achieved so far that I'd like people to know about and that I'm proud of... perhaps it was studying part time to complete my tertiary qualifications while working full time hours and keeping 18 hour days due to that for 2 years and still come out of that surviving? Well... I had my husband, a willing mother in law, understanding children who missed me like crazy and a Dad who paid for my school fees who pulled through that phase in my life but then again.. that was just a phase that was challenging but not something extraordinary that no one could have done with the support I had. I took my papers in Marketing, Advertising and Design and came out that 2 years proudly holding 3 certificates with higher merit! Was I proud of it considering that I'm was never a very academically inclined person. Heck! I was damn proud of myself and thankful for everyones support! But to be recognised for that.. not really necessary..

But being in that line begged another question, was it because I felt that I needed to share my creativity and give impact to more people through such means of mass communication? I trained in it and even started a business with it.. and yes, that business is still alive to this day albeit running a little in the background at the moment.

Then came the point where I started to go on my weightloss journey. I stepped on the scales on day in 2007, uninspired and unmotivated and saw 100kg flash before my eyes. I stand at only 163cm. That kind of weight for that height was outrageous! I was only 28 years old - obese and unhappy. Much details of that went into my blog as it became a place where I charted my journey. The journey that initially lasted an intense 1 year where it saw a weightloss drop of 33kg (before & after video here) and then through the years after it was a constant challenge to drop a couple more kilos off, tone and integrate a change in lifestyle for long term maintenance... with the weightloss also came alot more interesting aspects of my life like acting -locally and internationally, various photoshoots and product endorsements.. all videos/pictures can be found on my blog.

It surely made quite a difference and the weightloss journey was certainly something that was an integral point in my life to make it what it is today. The story around it was published in Shape Magazine too and helped inspire others and kept me motivated. It gave me a great sense of satisfaction to know how I could show others that something as daunting as losing weight can be possible once you have set your mind and decided on it.

It then occurred to me as I developed that I had a different calling that added up through the years of experience. Experience from the creative side of me, to dealing with people from many walks of life, to emceeing, working with various talents and even BEING a talent myself! Yes, I can facepaint, glitter tattoo and balloon twist too!.... I looked around and realised that I had naturally surrounded myself with people who were.. strangely - instructors! People who lead others and usually in groups and this lead me to want to take the next level up. I wanted to become an instructor too! My husband - Karate Coach. My sister - Spinning Instructor and many of my friends - Group X instructors and lecturers in their own right and specialty. How co-incidental is that? Strange!

Through the weightloss journey - exercise was an important and integral focus point in my life and for me - it was dance that motivated me to keep active. Finding a natural flair that shone outwards when I hit the dance floor was amazing. It seemed like it was just dormant and lay there till I realised that I had a natural talent to move as well as I could now. So to answer a question that many have asked me "were you a professional dancer before?" - Nope.. unless you count dancing on my sofa and coffee table at home as something.. :)

I went into training after training. From Group Aerobics, to Zumba, to Aqua Aerobics and Fitball training. I exposed myself to as many workshops, intructors and peer sharing as I could and soon after certifications, I threw myself into the waters of commercial teaching and then it hit me.

This was what I wanted to do. For as long as my body will let me. This was what I want to be recognised for. What I can do to impact as many people's lives in an intimate way. To share and be active in their life in a meaningful manner. To envoke joy and wellness in their life with their interaction with me while I strive to creatively make each point of contact something that gives impact to them at this point in time. To be a positive influence and to give them something to make their lives better. This was it.

In another way, it became a way to show my daughters through action that we need to live doing what we enjoy doing and to make a difference in this world while making a positive impact to those around us. And this inevitably will give satisfaction.

Later, with more involvement and active participation - I became a lead key trainer lecturing modules for Aerobic Instructor Certifications for new instructors. I also sat as a key reviewer and examiner for their practical examinations and the immense satisfaction that comes out of grooming passion is incredible. My heart bursts with joy and pride with each moment I get back into contact with these new batches of instructors and see their improvements, their progress and developments into their own teaching styles and how they too, realise how much of a positive impact they have given to their students by being the shining light in their class. Those that I groom and mentor personally are those that make everything worth it.

My need to make a difference, although somewhat indirect to others through my fellow instructors and with my students and personal training keeps the fire burning in me. To see them improve, whether its their health and wellness is something precious to me. The rewards of seeing their genuine smiling faces are golden. My clients who have stay loyal and dedicated to me and to themselves for their training. My students who I never fail to see them week on week, ready and raring to get moving with me are testament to what I want to be recognised for.

Someone who has made a difference. Have I made a difference in your life today?

Why am I so reflective this time and opened up as such? Well as with the beginning of the post - the question was posed to me... What do I want to be recognised for? Frankly, I'm not a person of many achievements or accolades.

Most importantly, what I strive is to be able to give something that truely means something to someone. Life is short. Making meaningful connections and relationships are all that matters. Not the never ending housework. Not chores. Not work. Just people. How many people have hugged today? How many you have let known, that you were thinking about them and that you still care and know that you're thankful that they are your friends & family. If they matter to you, let them know.

Heck! Even through my blog, I try to reach out to you. You, the one reading and the ones who forward my post to others. Perhaps it will be important or at very least entertaining to someone at one point in time.

The question was posed by Aviva with their "You are the Big Picture" campaign. And it got me thinking. I appreciate the efforts in realising that its people and their desires that makes things work and a campaign that reaches out with this idea in mind can only be a good one and I will share what I can to support it.

Aviva, a british company, is a leading provider of insurance, investment, health, and retirement products who insures 53 million customers in 28 countries. Thats a heck alot of people to impact isn't it? · Whilst they’ve been known as ‘Aviva’ in Singapore since 2001, their history spans over more than 300 years. Wow! How many generations have been covered with 300 years!?

Aviva is one of the biggest providers of employee benefits and healthcare in Singapore. This includes protecting SAF servicemen since 1983. Aviva is also the appointed insurer for the national ElderShield scheme in Singapore, insuring 50% of all new members. Aviva is the pioneer general insurer in Singapore to offer solutions solely via the internet ONLINE, so customers can enjoy simplicity, convenience and cost savings.

Thanks for reading and spending the last couple of minutes with me. If you are interested, you can read about what more people want to be recognised for over at the Aviva facebook page. Go Like the group to join it and maybe even post your own story. There are 6 ipads left to be won for the 3 entries with the most "Likes"... Contest ends 28th November 2010! Go post your entry today!

You Know U Should Work Out Regularly, But Do YOU?

Do you? I know several people who just need that extra push to get started or even maintain a regular workout session. Its for your own good whether you're aiming to lose weight or just stay fit! Does this sound LIKE YOU?

Even if you're a regular gym bunny or a person without a gym membership, you can still come join us for some exciting bootyshaking action! *Not limited to females only BTW! Males welcome too! We have guys in the class btw! No need to be shy!*

POINT TO NOTE: You DO NOT NEED to know how to dance to come to this class. If you can dance, you just make it look nicer. If you can't and feel that you have 2 left feet or 2 right feet? GOOD NEWS!! You will be able to complete the class.

Come, let down your hair, leave your inhibitions at the door and HAVE FUN!

Move to the beats with a little salsa, merengue, cha cha, cumbia, bellydance and alot of latin hip hop - reggaetton!

Surely over time, you will be more familiar with the moves but experience and learn in your first few classes with me. You'll get it in no time and will be shaking hundreds of calories away with each session.

For those who have not already been notified or have not placed yourself under my mailing list for my upcoming ZumFit classes. Let me know if you're keen on coming! honeymeow@gmail.com

For those who have been dancing with me for a while, you know my style. For those who are new to workout sessions with me. Prepare to come and sweat it out with simple but intense moves that would give you a great cardio workout set to the beat of infectious spanish music.

Something to end your work week and start a great weekend with...

715pm - 815pm on Friday evenings

In the meantime, please email me at honeymeow@gmail.com to indicate your interest and confirm your attendance and I will be sending out registration forms this week. I need your confirmation, ladies and gentlemen... update me.

(UPDATE: Registration Forms are now available - honeymeow@gmail.com for details)

Sessions will be held from Dance on Us Studios located at No. 8 Claymore Hill, Claymore Point. (5 mins walking distance from behind Pacific Plaza / Shaw Centre). Map to location can be found HERE.

If interested, enquire for trial and package rates through honeymeow@gmail.com please.

What you need? Fitted workout clothes, towel, track shoes, flats/dance shoes and a bottle of water.

I will also be conducting Aqua Fitness classes update everyone on the mailing list once I have found a pool suitable for longer term use. If interested for Aqua Fitness sessions, honeymeow@gmail.com

Feel free to invite a friend or family member whom you feel may be interested to join you and come together! Classes start soon! You know you need to work out and you should be working out and I guarantee that you WILL get a workout. *Evil laughter* But...its for your own good! *wink* Total Body Workout Twice a Week.

honeymeow@gmail.com

:) Bootyshakingly Yours, Pamela

So You Wanna be a Gym Instructor huh?

I do! Dreaming Reality hasn't been updated as regularly in 2009 as last year but its because I've been busy busy busy! And this year has been filled with more quality interesting discoveries than little wonders... discoveries that take up more time to experience and do.. so do kindly forgive me if you came and refreshed and refreshed only to realise.. eh! Still same post! How come?!... but don't worry! More to come in the coming weeks. Keep me on your favourites list! :)

So what have I been up to the past week? I've embarked on fitness instructor training! Yep! My mom very very graciously sponsored the program for me! *love love*

Finally I'm on a training course towards being a certified instructor as opposed to only volunteering my time and efforts at the gym *since I work out there so much anyway* just because I didn't have the relevant paper certifications and fundamental knowledge to be one officially. Very soon, it will be a different path for me where I move from being a enthusiastic participant to leading a group class of my own and I'm damn bloody excited!!

I'm now undergoing a Fitness Instructor Core Course conducted by Fisaf which is required of all fitness professionals in the industry to ground themselves with the basics such as body physiology, ie muscles/bones and how the body works, human kinetics, exercise methodologies, communication guidelines, exploring the various types of teaching methods and personal training methodologies etc...

And it was conducted over 5 full 830am to 7pm days. For personal reasons, I was only able to commence on day 2 but I was given a one-on-one session to cover the topics I had missed on day 1 and caught up without a hitch.

I was expecting lectures obviously and perhaps some demonstration work and practicals but I was NOT expecting the course to be literally BOOTCAMP STYLE.

Frankly, I have not worked out for SO LONG and SO MUCH in my LIFE. Even when I went for 3 classes a day, it was not as intense as this. And the first day literally shocked the hell *and a hell of alot of calories* out of me. It was like doing 6-8 hours of continous workout with a smattering of 1 hour of lecture & discussion that was inserted ever 2-3 hour intervals of exercise. At the end of each day, we were all sticky and EXTREMELY smelly. It was hilarious how we all used jackets to "try" to mask our stink but we all knew.. the PONG from our group WAS A KILLER.

Throughout the day, we ran around the stadium tracks, did core muscle work, worked out with various types of resistance equipment, bands, balance discs, swiss balls, bosu *which is those semi circle ball like equipment that you may see at the gym, practiced body weight resistance, did 4 point circuit training and balance training.

I was practically DEAD on the ground at the end of that day! Insane!! My legs literally wanted to detatch itself, drop off and run away and never come back.... *sobs*

Other than Diane Haslam who was the master trainer and the person who represents and trains all Fisaf certified instructors, various other reputed fitness professionals also came in to take and lead certain topics. For day 2, we had Joan Liew who is a National Body Builder and also runs Fitness Factory. She covered Nutrition topics.

Above are my classmates with Joan. Having gone through the program with them, I wish them all the best of luck towards their career in the fitness industry. Perhaps one day you might have one of them as your trainer! They're all nice people.

From Left to Right:
Sophie, Annie, Michelle, Ashton, Me, Roy, Joan.
*I forget her name bc she only came for 1 day & had to leave because her father died that very day*, Sarah and Raohan.

Day 3 was filled with a group exercise class which was really my kind of workout. Did some dance, did some aerobics. Worked with some floor exercises and did many group discussions throughout the day on various body functions like the heart, respiratory systems, dietary systems, blood pressure calculations and heart rate calculations.
The man below in blue was with us for 3 days conducting theory segments of the course. His name is Luc Tai and has an impressive built! He even SOUNDS like Arnold Schwarzeneger with that accent. And he personal trains national and international athletes! I was very impressed with his level of competence and knowledge that he was able to impart to us and not to mention.. he is pretty hot.. hahahaaha! *smacks & blinds self*

Day 4 was just as challenging workout wise but still a huge workout day with Aqua Aerobics all morning, sprints and hill runs where we literally strapped ourselves with our partners and sprinted up and down slopes and hills with the bands on our waist. *Can die larh! Pant! Pant Wheeeze! ~thud~* then we had the rest of the afternoon till late evening in the weights and machines room doing personal training analysis, weight training and spotting methods and learning the correct use of equipment.

Day 5 was exam day. I was dragged up from the sofa where I passed out from exhaustion the night before, CJ cleared up the table and turned on all the lights while he amused himself by watching me study "so funny lah! this reminds me of when you were doing your "O" levels!".... -.-'' That was like.. SO MANY years ago can!

We had a light morning of further theory on energy systems and further group discussions before we had a session of Qi Yoga/Pilates with Antoinette Chang and her son, Theodore. While I am sure the various types of yoga/pilates is gaining popularity, this session confirmed that I will never be a yoga practitioner. Not because of flexibility, I'm quite flexible due to my regular dance classes and stretching sessions. But also because it was just so S....L....O....W.... *snore*

I am not a person who would like to take in holistic healing or slow therapeutic movements to heal my "inner organs" and "balance my Qi". Seriously now.. I'd rather shake my Qi all over the place and go for a massage instead. Me + Yoga? = Not in this life baby... Pffft...

"do you feel relaxed? can you feel your body as one?" NO. But I won't mind taking this time to ....*zzzzz....snore...*

And with that, I'm pretty sure I passed the exam, I learned SO MUCH the past couple of training days and now I'm waiting for the 5th to the 10th of April 09 for the commencement of my Group GX Aerobic Instructor certification training where I would be immersed in the dynamics of a group class with its structure, planning and execution and then its ...

COME SWEAT N'SHAKE UR BON BONS with PAM SESSION! It'll be fun! Check out the video of the creator of Zumba Beto Perez and his master trainer, Tanya Beardsley below and you'll see what I mean by ZUMBA ZUMBA ZUMBA!!... if you don't know how to booty shake.. you will after a few sessions with me. :)

Any takers? EMAIL ME! or leave me a message and I'll keep you on the list when I start classes! That being said.. I have a Hotel Review Package coming up at the end of this week and news on Group X training after I've completed it! Wish me luck! :)

What I want for my Body in 6 months.

I was reading a couple of before and after weightloss blogs and some thoughts crossed my mind to what I want to see achieved for my body over the next 6 months before I hit my next birthday in July 09 which are achievable.

Esthetically, I want...

• To have reached 55kg.
• To have toned arms so I won't be waving bat wings anymore.
• To have a toned torso and leaner hips.
• To tone my legs and do something about the cellulite.
• To tone my ass. 'nuff said.
• To improve on my complexion *I can do with slowing down the visible signs of aging like freckles, wrinkles and pigmentation*

Physically, I want...

• To be able to do proper sets of pushups on my toes instead of on my knees.
• To be able to plank well without trembling like a human sized vibrator and build a stronger core.
• To be able to dance *with a partner* well. I can dance solo but partner dancing is very different!
• To increase overall lean muscle mass and lower body fat.
• To increase my flexibility to make my dancing look better.
• To wear a short skirt without feeling conscious & have ALL my clothes MEDIUM or smaller.
• To fit into a NORMAL size calf height leather boot! I still can't zip up those damn boots!
• To go roller blading and not feel conscious about the flab flapping about around the bikini.

I know I can achieve all this but I felt that writing it down now would help keep me in line to what I want to get done. Onwards we go... :)

Workout Music: KernKraft 400 Zombie Nation

Yes, I listen to techno/house too. It helps me keep pace when I run so here's sharing my latest running track on my player. Really good for interval running as the beat is constant for most part of the song and heavy hitting and speeds up for short bursts once in a while.

If you're adverse to listening to techno, I'd advise not to click on this. This youtube clip up there is just the song actually without any moving visuals so you can sit back & listen, not be distracted by the moving images and see what I mean by a good track to keep pace. If you don't mind techno then check it out, this would be a good one to add to your running tracks.

Its on mine! Enjoy. :)

Simply Musing...

For the past couple of weeks, I've gotten to know quite a good number of new people through dance class or out of studio at the gym floor. And I'm revelling and musing in the SAME shocked look on their face everytime each of them first talk to me.

The realisation that I'm NOT a swinging mid 20 something single girl which they ALL ASSUMED I was but a married in her 30s woman with TWO school-going children.

I would literally have to pull out my phone just to prove that I have kids by flashing my daughters photos and then there would be "oooohhhs, ahhhhs" and "you've maintained yourself well" but little did they know that maintenance like this only came recently literally through blood, alot of sweat and tears.

And in a sense, it makes me feel very justified and encouraged in the effort that I have made to take up the challenge to lose all weight to "regain" the youth that comes with looking healthier.

Indeed, when you're fat, you tend to look older. With much appreciation to everyone who has helped along the way like my hubby, CJ and my dance instructors, Rashidah & David which have given me guidance and motivation to keep on going. I still have 17kg more to go before I hit 55kg but I'll be monitoring myself along the way and record my journey here in this blog.

Reactions like these feel like a reward to those years of bringing up 2 babies on my own when I was in my early 20s and looking like I'm over 35 years old during those years. Much less having a very undesirable body that was a total disgrace for someone in their 20s. So feeling rejuvenated in my 30s and being mistaken for my 20s is all sitting very well with me now.

I hope this also serves as motivation to those on their own journey right now to work towards achieving their goals and find that along the way, your efforts will provide you with the sense of achievement and provide you the satisfaction that would keep you going towards maintaining healthy lifestyle. If I can do it, so can you.

Even now, no one believes that I'm still 72kg thereabouts. My girlfriend Jo. made a point which I thought was highly amusing and actually makes quite alot of sense! I mentioned this to some dance mates and they agreed that her theory might actually be correct! Hahaha!

She said: "Your boobs are around 5kg. So you're actually a 67kg sized woman with a 5kg chest"

What do you think? I think.. she might be right. :)

NSFW: 100kg Legs Vs 74kg Legs

Disclaimer: While this picture is NSFW: Not Safe For Work. Do bear in mind that while there is more flesh/skin involved. This before & after pic is only for reference on my blog only. I will not bear any responsibility for any nausea, sickness and/or negative reaction that arises from viewing this post.

If you feel that you are not prepared to view me in less than usual amount of clothes, there is that little red cross button that you can use to exit NOW. ------>> LOOK UP THERE. [X]

GO GO GO... BEFORE you continue reading on.... EXIT [X] NOW... or seal ur fate and don't come telling me that your eyes are bleeding okay!

Anyway lately, I've been noticing my pants have been getting looser and fitting alot better than before. I'm going to be switching down to a size 32-33-34 shortly as soon as I feel that my size 35 jeans are not wearable and exposing more than necessary underwear on a daily basis.

I attribute dancing to getting so much more toned than before and I'm looking forward to everything really firming up over the next couple of months. From my shoulders to my arms *heck! I don't have that roll of meat that hangs out at the end of my elbow anymore!!!* to my torso down to my legs. Amazing. No wonder dancers have such great bodies.. I ALSO WANT!! Now still flabby on certain parts but still so much better than before!

So today, I grabbed my camera and took a picture to see whats going on down over at leg city *peek down* and then I dug up an older picture of me at 100kg and WHOA LAO EH... WTF. Seriously. WTF.

I know a person at 74kg can't have great legs yet but its SO MUCH BETTER than before. Esp the hip area, the inner thigh area and even the calves... AIYOHHHH!!!..... even the lumpy cellulite is not so bad already!

So... are you ready? ..... check it out.....

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don't say I never warned you ah!!...
you can still click to exit now. [X]

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Oh.. and please don't message me and tell me that you don't believe the "after" pic is me. Whatever okay *rolls eyes*... believe or don't believe.. up to you.. but I can safely say.. I'm loving it. *peek down at legs*... Next leg shot.. 55kg.

4kg lost in 2 weeks.. Not bad lah...

Yet another, 100-104kg (Aug 07) vs 76kg (Aug 08) picture. The day will come where I will have 3 side by side when I hit within the range of 55-65kg. Soon soon... It will be soon.

After all these couple of months since my filming and I hit 76kg back then, I went off my low carb plan due to sickness and my exercise level dipped for whatever reasons *excuses* I had. My weight slowly crept up to 78-80kg and maintained the level.

I made sure that it didn't go over 80kg as much as I could so when I finally recovered from all the bugs that were making me sick, I restarted my regime 2 weeks ago.

It started with a 3 day liquid detox where I was completely on a liquid diet. Liquid meaning everything liquid from orange juice, milk, water, Ribena, Soy milk and milo for 3 days. And frankly, that really can fuck with your mind. I was seeing food everywhere. Even my own hands looked edible. I resisted and resisted and completed it. However, I would like to say that this shouldn't be done if you do not have someone monitoring you. CJ, my hubby is a coach. So he monitored me to see if I had any ill effects and would not hesitate to pull me off if he saw that I was getting too negatively affected.

Since then, a new regime began in complete weekly schedule and I'm pleased to weigh in today at 76kg again! 4kg lost in 2 weeks. While I'm not surprised, I'm pleased. Another 4-6 more kg to hit before month end and I can go into my TVC filming looking alot better. I'm not surprised if I actually am 75kg now actually because I know I've built muscles. Muscles weigh more than fat... anyway... just take the current reading first.... 76kg is good for now. Phew!... watch this space!

Oh.. and another thing.. its our 9th Marriage Anniversary today! 9 years liao! One more year and we're a decade old married couple... :) Love love... *big kiss to my lao gong* ... whats even more amazing too is that our Couple Anniversary *our BF/GF Anni.* is 12 years already! Time flies...

GAH!! IS THAT ME?!

*FAINT* Yes.. that's me. Both of them...

Or should I say.. the left side WAS me. 12 months ago to this date.. and the right side is me now.

Exactly one year ago in 2007... CJ took this picture of me at my office desk. Sitting there at perhaps between 100-104kg? Its like 2 different people altogether. Where the F**K were my eyes?!?!

But... *shudder*...horrible... I think.. this is motivation enough. Not to return to this size.

Ever. *screams! look at those arms!!!!*

Picture Update & the Million Blog List.

Hi everyone. Just a picture update taken over the weekend.. no weight update either.. still wavering from 76-78kg depending on what I've been eating lately.

Haven't felt very up to working out either ever since I fell sick some days back. Need some new workout music and motivation and some serious vitamin M$M. They say stress hinders weightloss. I take it that I'm not going to be moving the scales alot for a while. Moving out of the office in a couple of days and feeling very crappy about it. I'm going to miss this place. Alot. *sigh*

Don't stop reading yeah... :) Oh and btw.. have you joined the Million List yet? If you haven't, check it out here. I'm number 470. Whats your number?

Or click on this and register your blog...

*cough* yah lah its yet another experiment but if you have a blog.. why not lah... Out~.

MOTIVATE ME!

HOLY COW!!!! *no puns intended hor!! no offense to anyone either...*

The link finally works. After years, I finally find a working link for this site.

I KNOW ITS AN OLD FLASH LAH BUT ITS BACK!!!

We found this link some years back and found it so **EMPOWERING**!!

CLICK ON THIS!! THIS IS MINE!! and turn on your speakers too lah!! LOUD!

And you can customise it to your own name too!

CLICK HERE to customise this flash with your name and play it daily man!!

Whooohhoooo!!!!! Time to mess my mind!!! Whoooooot!!!

RRROOOAAARRRR!!!! I. AM. MIGHTY!!!!! *beats chest* ~õuch!~ -.-''

Try it!!! oooooooooohhhhhhh!!!!