For those Ladies out there who think that they need to lose some...

Wow, it's been a good long 10 months since my last posting. Even I didn't realise it. It still amazes me how fast time flies by. Have been really busy with my own endeavors, but more on that on my later postings!

Anyways, a quick one on what I wanted to share which hopefully will inspire some of you who have been wanting to do it, or is trying to do it. The much aspired issue of "Losing Weight".


Firstly, am going to share some graphical pictures here to which I am not proud of, and would normally BURN TO A CRISP! (I am ONLY doing this for those ladies out there, for those who have been there or are still there and for those who had asked me to....) These are pictures of me during what I would call my "poofy-est" times, Year 2008 where munching on too much chocolate bars and Baskin Robbins coupled with work stress had finally done me in from a 48kg to a 55kg.

Note: Viewer discretion necessary. 

For those of you who think that it isn't a lot, it is for me, especially when I had to change my entire wardrobe of clothes in order to accomodate for the extra inches around the belly. No more work pants for me, only skirts as they were easier if alterations were necessary. And yes, Year 2008 was the year that I even had friends asking if I was pregnant. *sheesh*  AND, NO, I WASN'T PREGNANT, "just fat"! =P

One thing to note is that every woman's body is different. Or should I say that different parts get fat before other parts do. So know your body well before you do any change to it. For me, it is obvious that the spare tyre becomes a full tyre, before the arse and bust kicks in, and then the face balloons. And yes, I took as little full body pictures as possible in Year 2008, and pictures that I took mostly had me either in baby doll clothes covering the full tyre, or a bag in the way. 

And how much of a difference, from then till now. I've found a picture of me wearing the same darn top, and so here it is......

See a marked difference? Those who know me and seen me recently will know how much I have slimmed down. Note that those pictures have not been edited or skewed.

I had that weight of about 55kgs for Year 2008 and in that year, had kept on telling myself that I wanted to lose weight. It wasn't only just the looks that waivered my confidence, but I started getting health problems - knee problems identified by the specialist as being early arthiritis. So much so, that it really hurt when I walked too much or even walked down a flight of staircase. And then I was prescribed, glucosamine ~ the exact same pills that my own parents takes! Old before my time, god no!

I had to lose weight. I figured that if I wasn't fit, healthy and sexy in my 30s, there would be a very high probability that I wouldn't ever be after that. 

My reasonable target was to go down to a healthy 47kgs, and almost impossible, ideal target was 45kgs which was during my college years. By June 2009, I had already achieved my 47kgs and maintained it for the rest of the year. Right now, it's harder for me to put on weight than to lose weight, and in fact have to eat more to maintain it. (And yes, am privilaged now to have nasi lemak as my dinner!) Am currently at my ideal weight of 45kgs without even trying, and yes, I can wear back my college years skirts. 

In fact, now I need to gain weight as 45kgs is seemingly too thin. But I am stronger than before, able to do at least some pull ups on the exercise bar attached to the door frame. Have in fact, slacked off in the last two months without any exercise but have still maintained my weight. That would have been impossible in the past.

How the hell did I do it? Even I surprised myself that I could, and did. 

Am not advocating any "quick-lose-weight-diet" plan or scheme but just the good old fashion, change and watch what you eat and some good old exercise. 

I always hear ladies saying how they are skipping dinner as part of their diet plan. This isn't a healthy and long term way of losing weight. Skipping meals causes puts your body in starvation mode, and causes your blood sugar level to crash, hence, the tiredness and grumpiness. And when we eat the next meal, we will tend to overcompensate for it. Definitely NOT healthy!

What worked for me was that I started out with some light but interesting exercise in the first month (only once a week). But what really made a difference wasn't the light but interesting exercise, but the food that I ate. Like what a guy friend adviced, it's 70% food and 30% exercise (or was it 90% food and 10% exercise??). He introduced me to eating rolled oats in the morning with fruits to make it more pleasant to the tastebuds. And yes, I cut down on eating carbs, ie rice. Oats in the morning, sandwich (wholemeal not white!) in the afternoon, and just normal meals with double veg portions and normal meat portions but without rice. Of course it takes time to get used to not eating carbs with being a Malaysian and a nasi lemak fan. But it actually worked. And yes, totally no sugared drinks. And also plenty of fruits. After about 3 to 4 months of that, I actually lost about roughly 4 to 5kgs. 

Then the hard work came! I sweated it out at the gym for about one and a half months. Started out at 10 minutes at the treadmill, 30 situps, another 10 minutes at the cycling machine, more sit ups, then 10-15 leg raises, then another 10 minutes at the step machine, and lastly, some weights training for the arms and shoulders (a must!). It was a dreaded first week when I started. Gym previously was boring to me, hated the running in the same place sort of thing. But I brought a book along, and when I couldn't read, oogled at the men showing off (haha..no not really..well maybe sometimes), and looked in the mirror to check myself out. Do what you can to keep yourself entertained. After the first two weeks, it started getting easier and I found myself wanting to go to the gym. Something to do with sweating being sexy. =P At the end of June, 47kgs. 

For those ladies interested, at the end of the month at gym, I was doing about 25 minutes at the treadmill, 25 minutes cycling, 25 minutes step machine, and I think a total of 60 to 80 situps in the whole period. Keep increasing your time at a reasonable pace and amount! Try to do a little bit more at every session where possible!

Moral of the Story:-

1) Do not give into that evil voice in your head saying, "oh, just a small bite of that fried chicken or nasi lemak" (at least not for the first 3 months to 6 months). Learn how to say "NO!" 

2) Cut down on Carbs and Sugar but do it slowly and in stages. (And yes, less oily things too)

3) Exercise for overall weight loss! If you hate the gym, go join pole dancing or some other exercise (sorry, not yoga, it's not vigorous enough in the beginning for that and p/s: be ready for a smaller bust size after your entire healthy regime)

4) Exercise more for specific weight loss! For eg, if you have a full belly like me, you'll have to do more situps or leg raises

It is POSSIBLE to achieve your targeted weight loss without paying loads of money but make sure it's a healthy targeted weight loss and that you're not instead underweight for your height and frame. And oh, it helps to read up on nutrition as well.

Also, do note that after achieving your targeted weight, you will need to start eating back more carbs and sugar to maintain the weight *yippie*nasi lemak back again!*, but still do watch what you are eating. It doesn't mean going back to old eating habits. Remember that everything needs to be done in moderation. 

I hope my personal story is an encouragement for those of you who are in it to persist through and for those who should start, to start! Good luck and cheers to healthy eating and exercise!