Well, after two weeks of indulging in food, alcohol and gambling, Chinese New Year has finally come to an end. Indulging in all my vices can't be good.. I'm glad to say I tip the scales at only 1kg weight gain.. NOT GOOD..
One thing I didn't give up on was training.. I love training.. I'm addicted to training.. it's absolutely "free-ing" to push your body to the limit and see where it takes you. I used to think that adrenaline was over-rated.. but not anymore.. I look forward to training every single day.. sometimes I wish I was training everyday and not just every other day!
But I'm glad for the training this Chinese New Year.. cos it only means I could indulge more with food and alcohol.
So what did we do to close the Chinese New Year period? Why.. we held a party of course! It was a pool party which supposed to start at 5.00pm.. but true fashion of Kuching-ians.. people didn't start showing up until past 7pm. By then, the pool party ended and the BBQ has started... I love BBQ.. nothing better than charred food on your plate I say! (No I'm not being sarcastic!) It was an awesome party, with steak, hot dogs, squid, vegetables.. plenty of yummy food to go around. Or so I thought, until we totally ran out of food for late comers.
That's me and Karen.. Frankly speaking.. I was so wasted I had no idea when that picture was even taken.. I had so much fun.. drinking whiskey and chatting to people.. when suddenly the spiked jelly (spiked with 750ml of Rum!!!) hit me and I started getting dizzy.. thus that's the end of the party for me!
But what an awesome day.. first was the Colored Rush Fun Run, then the pool party when I got thrown into the pool.. twice.. then the BBQ.. we let off some fireworks at the end of the night and that was how we closed Chinese New Year.. with a bang!
I realised that many of my posts recently do not have any pictures.. that's probably due to my aversion for cameras.. don't like being in pictures unless I can guarantee that I look hot in them :) Probably should carry my camera around with me more often.. but for now, my blogs shall remain pictureless..
So recently I took part in the Colored Rush - Fun run... which was a 5km run around Kuching city. It's a charity run for the World Children Cancer Foundation and we each had to pay RM30 to participate, and we get a free T-Shirt with that. I took part mainly because it was a stepping stone towards running 10km, and I wanted/needed to test my stamina...
I trained hard.. mostly on the treadmill (well, only on the treadmill) and found my stamina pretty good.. I could run 5km in about 45 minutes.. not the best time.. but still pretty good! Can you believe that after 2 months of training, I've grown so much stronger and my stamina is pretty damn good..
So anyway, this Colored Rush was the first time ever that it's done in Sarawak. What makes it colored? No no no.. it's not a multi-racial run.. although there are people from all walks of life there.. it's colored run because each participant is given a bag of colored powder, and before the run, everyone sprays their powder around so each person will end up covered in different color. I wasn't too keen on getting dirty.. but it's all part of the fun. We couldn't wait to get colors on each other, but was told to hold off until the final countdown.. but the crowd was over-energized that the countdown never happened.. it was awesome seeing the cloud of colors going around though..
After a 30 minute delay.. we finally set off on the 5km run, which took us from Civic Centre, past the General Hospital, up Batu Lintang, down Bampflyde, past Sarawak Club and back to the Civic Centre. I started jogging at my pace.. but my pacer was way in front of me so I had to run faster to catch up.. and that was the start of the end.. midway through Batu Lintang.. my legs gave up. I couldn't run anymore.. my mind tells me to do it, but my body just shut down.. my lungs were bursting, my legs were aching.. I just couldn't do it anymore... I had to walk... so my pacer walked with me and I said I'd start running again when we reached Bampflyde.. the nice part was when we past Batu Lintang, I saw PrincessBling and hubby with Hunter.. watching us jog/walk past... it was such a nice welcome. Anyway.. back to the race.. when we hit Bampflyde, I started jogging again.. but alas, it wasn't to last very long.. I just couldn't do it anymore... I've hit a wall and my legs could not go on. I was so disappointed with myself.. most of all, I let my pacer down.. and that kills me.
In the end.. it took us 45 minutes to complete the fun run.. not a bad time.. but with all the training, it should have been better.. but now I know.. running on the road is very different to running on the treadmill. I need to start training on the road more often than on the treadmill... given the actual environment (the heat and the humidity) compared to working out in a full air conditioned gym.. I might make it a habit to run one day every weekend.. in the evening.. sadly.. I'm not prepared to wake up that early in the morning to run.. not yet anyway :)
On a side note.. colored powder given was NOT WATER SOLUBLE! I had my face dyed purple for the rest of the day and I'm still picking out red dye from my ears.
Overall, I had fun, but I don't think my pacer will sign up for any more runs with me for now.. haha he hates running and only did it for me.. and to disappoint him like that.. I need to train harder and push my body to the limit. Next time.. quitting is NOT acceptable.
Recently we had a long break due to the Chinese New Year festivities.. I love Chinese New Year.. it's the season to drink, eat and gamble.. when else can you participate in all these vices and have an excuse to do it?
Chinese New Year Eve
Every year for the past 4 years (or was it 5?), our family heads down to a family dinner at Toh Yuen (Hilton) for a family reunion dinner. Not much of a reunion since we see each other every night for dinner at home.. haha.. but it's always nice to get out of the house and be served by others and have a night of fun and chatters..
Then it's home time when we exchange Ang Pows (us unmarried ones waiting eagerly) and then we wait til 11.55pm to set off the firecrackers and fireworks! I'm not sure how this happens but each year, it seems that I'm delegated to light the shortest fuse for the firecrackers! That's why I'm sorta fearless now when it comes to lighting the crackers.. and I'm always the one lighting the fuse for the fireworks! I love it when midnight strikes.. when the night skies get illuminated with the bright sparkles of the fireworks, when the air is permeated with the sounds of boom from firecrackers being lit to scare off evil spirits..
We let go 3 firecrackers and 5 fireworks that night... before finally calling it a night and drifting to sleep amongst the boom boom bang!
1st Day of Chinese New Year
We always have an open house on the first day of Chinese New Year. That's when everyone is invited to our house for lunch.. I love entertaining people.. although when it gets busy.. I tend to hide in the comfort of the bar area (NOT drinking.. just having a barrier between me and the people!) and chat to the few who came to hide out there with me.. hahaha..
Pigging out on all the food because today is NO PALEO DAY! YES! I had permission from Muscleman to go off Paleo for that one day!
After our house 'closed' for the evening, we headed out to Aaron's place.. he has this beautiful mansion on top of the hill overlooking Kuching. That's when things got messy.. with the combination of too much alcohol and not enough food.. but I had a great time there! I had a great conversation with MuscleMan and it was nice.
2nd Day of Chinese New Year
This is when we pay back visit to those who visited our open home on the first day of Chinese New Year. This year, we visited 8 houses from 10am to 4pm... OMG were we exhausted by the end of it.. I was happy collecting Ang Pows (yes.. I still get them!) but it was hard not to binge on food, especially since I was on the Paleo diet again... once we got home, I took a half hour power nap, had a shower and was off to Johnny's house at 5pm for his open home party. That was always fun.. loads of booze and food..and great company.
I left at 12am.. and then started the drunken walk from home to Justin's house for gambling.. I didn't last very long.. and had to be accompanied home (I insisted that I was alright to walk home alone) but ahhh... another great way to end the day.
The first two days are the most important days for Chinese New Year in our family tradition.. by the time it came to the third day, most of us were just enjoying the holidays and going off doing our own thing.
Me, I started training for my 5km fun run on 23rd February 2013. Muscleman has offered to run with me, and it's going to be a challenge because I'll be running the entire 5km.. no more running 1km and walking 4km.. I'm challenging myself and giving myself a run time of 45 minutes or less. So hence the training begins...
It's been a week since I started this Paleo diet. To recap, Paleo diet pretty much cuts out all carbs, dairy and legumes.. so no rice, no noodles.. just meats and lotsa vegetables! So how did it go?
Well, firstly, giving up noodles is a big deal for me.. I mean.. I'm Asian.. how to go without my daily fix of Kolo mee or Laksa? Am I crazy for doing this Paleo diet? I'm not a big rice eater but I love pasta (fear food).. I'm a noodle person. In fact, when I first started training at the gym, I told my PT that there was no way I'm giving up noodles... so dear readers.. what on earth am I doing getting on the Paleo diet track???
Soooo.. after a week of absolutely no noodles and rice.. I've lost another kg!! How awesome is that? That's 2 kgs in about 3 weeks.. a little slow for my liking though.. I wish the weight would just evaporate instantly! hahaha.. but that's the thing.. it's not really a diet cos I'm not cutting down on food intake.. I still eat as much as I use to.. which means.. starting week 2 of the Paleo diet, it's time to cut down on intake. I have given myself another 2 weeks to lose an additional 2 kgs.. Just in time for Chinese New Year.. where I'm sure I'll gain back about half the weight I lost! hahaha
What do I eat each morning now then? Well, I have soup with meat and lotsa bean sprouts.. technically I can even have Laksa without the noodles.. substitute it with bean sprouts, like what my PT does.. but yeah.. coconut cream is just as fattening so I'm avoiding that!
Do I crave for noodles? Sure I do.. I stare at PrincessBling with jealousy each day as she gobbles up her morning noodles and I sit pitifully drinking my soup... but the thing is.. I feel so much lighter and less bloated without the noodles sitting in my stomach like a lump of coal.. it's actually so much healthier without the noodles.. and I don't feel as full as well.
How long am I planning to go Paleo? Until I reach my goal weight I suspect.. but I do let myself cheat once in a while :) Who can resist the odd chocolate now and then?? But for now.. no noodles for me. I suspect a big cheating session coming up on Chinese New Year though.. and unfortunately for me, I have not been able to go without beer for a period longer than 4 days so far.. so I still get my carbs from there.
But after Chinese New Year, who knows.. Paleo could be the new way of life :)
I just signed up for my next marathon, which will be held on 5th May 2013. This time, the marathon will be held in Kota Kinabalu.. which excites me because I've never been to KK before. This marathon is called BORNEO INTERNATIONAL MARATHON - THE BEAUTIFUL RUN and I will be participating in the 10km women's run.
Typical rules apply, and you'll get a finisher medal if you manage to complete the run before 2 hours, and at the rate I'm going.. I'm going to try finish it just a little after 1 hour.. hopefully I can do it with Sean's help.
This marathon will be different because PrincessBling will be running with me.. this being her very first marathon.. think she caught the bug after hearing me talk about my running escapades! Let's hope she doesn't set her expectations too high.. cos 10km is pretty far..
I'm excited for this run because of the training that I will do.. I'm excited to see how much better I can run it in this time.. (anything less than 1 hour 40 minutes is an achievement cos I beat my previous time!).
Now KK is a beautiful place (so I've heard) with great beaches and seafood! I'm in for the seafood! haha.. not too fond of snorkeling and stuff like that because:
- Fish bites
- Water is cold
- It's boring....
So you can see my aversion for snorkeling and water sports.. I just can't stand the cold!!! I did snorkeling for the first time in Langkawi in 2010.. lets just say I was out of that water in 10 minutes and sun baking on the sand instead!
Well, let's hope my training does well and I reach my goal.. then it's off to the next marathon and who knows.. maybe I'll be completing my very first 21km (half marathon) goal by the end of this year!
Exciting....
I realized what a boring life I have right now.. it's all revolving around the gym.. I swear! I mean.. I spent the last weekend just going to the gym and sleeping.. gym/sleep.. that's all I did for 2 days! Wow.. I better get a life man!
But to recap what a boring life I have.. I made a new goal at personal training session today. My new goal is to be able to RUN the entire 10km track for my next marathon, which is on 5th May in Kota Kinabalu. Yes.. no more running 1km and walking 9km.. I'm going to be running the entire way, which will pull down my time to just over an hour to finish.. what an awesome goal that is huh? So now my personal trainer is going to give me a list of workouts to do to strengthen my core and hamstrings and to increase my stamina as well. I can't wait!
See, my life is now revolved around gym.. it revolves about me finally taking care of myself.. working out is great.. it gives you adrenaline and endorphins which makes you happy, and when you see the results.. you get even happier.. conclusion.. you can only get happier going to the gym :D
I think I'm going to start with a paleo diet.. for the next 3 weeks before Chinese New Year.. it's time to lose more fat and change the body shape! A paleo diet includes no carbs, no dairy, no legumes... which means it's going to be meat meat meat and lotsa veges for me! No problem since I haven't taken rice in awhile now.. but my greatest challenge would be giving up noodles.. I LOVE noodles, I crave for it when I don't have it for breakfast.. which means I'll have to get it out of my system.
Well, guess I'll check back in a few days to let you know how the paleo diet is working.. I'm already doing it for lunch and dinner.. now to throw breakfast into the mix!
It's mid-January... so how has the progress been so far? Well, since I started training last week, I can already feel myself getting toner.. and I have lost a grand total of 1kg! WOO HOOOOOOOOOO.. I'm well on my way to reach my goal! What's that goal again? Why.. to lose 10kgs by June 2013! At the rate I'm going, it's definitely doable.. don't you think? :)
I feel great after all the workout.. but I'm doing more weight training.. than cardio, so I'm doing cardio on my own during the weekend.. well, there is that dreaded 4 minutes of cardio at the end of every training session, but I don't feel right until I get atleast one hour of cardio a week. I tend to do that on the weekends.
So what else is in store, what's been happening?
Well, Chinese New Year is coming round the corner.. hoping to shed a few more kgs to look good in my red CNY dress that I bought from BCBG in the States. Which means I'm really going to have to watch what I eat for the next 3 weeks. I've pretty much cut out carbs after breakfast, but maybe I should think about cutting carbs out completely for the next 3 weeks. I can't wait for Chinese New Year.. we're having "open house" again and I can't wait to do the entertaining.
We're still facing payroll issues at work, so it looks like a trip to Bintulu at the end of the month for me! Usually I don't mind staying there for a couple of days.. but definitely not longer than 5 days.. I'll absolutely die of boredom.. and probably ending up drowning my sorrows in Hoegaarden!
Nothing much has been happening, it's been a rather quiet month so far.. just focusing on being fit and shedding the weight. So I've got nothing interesting to tell really... unless if you wanna hear all about my gym escapades!
PrincessBling and hubby has jetted off to Singapore for the weekend leaving me alone .. I feel that I'm sticking to my resolution because now.. rather than think "yes! I can go HH in the weekend!".. I'm thinking "when can I make time to go to the gym?" EKKK.. I've become a gym nerd!
Well, AlanHarperIsMyIdol and CryptKeeper.. who knows.. the next time you see me (hopefully in August 2013).. I'll be trim and fit and hopefully showing off a six pack :)
