This article deserved to be in my blog.
1. Stand and Deliver
Chained to your desk? Get an adjustable-height work station so you can stand for part of the day. Your posture will improve, and you'll burn a third more calories.
2. Dial "C" for Calorie
Get a headset and walk while you take calls. An extra 500 a day burns 25 extra calories--in a year, you could drop two pounds without changing your diet. Sure, coworkers might make fun of you. But you can laugh all the way to the beach....
3. Schedule Snacks
Minimize mindless eating by booking snack appointments in your calendar. When an e-reminder pops up, step away from work and enjoy your food. If you're aware of what you eat, you'll be less likely to nibble all day.
4. Lean to the Left
If you have an emergency stash of Kit Kat or Lays, keep them in a left-hand desk drawer. Researchers found that we're more likely to reach for things to the right of our field of vision regardless of handedness. Even better, keep fruit on your desk in a prime right-hand spot so it will be an obvious snack choice.
5. Go Green
Fill your mug with green tea. People who drank oolong tea fortified with green tea extract every day for three months lost 2.4 more pounds than people who drank plain oolong tea. Catechins, antioxidants found in green tea, may stimulate the body to burn calories and decrease fat.
6. Put a Lid on It
Give your willpower an assist and keep candy in an opaque dish. A study found that workers dipped into chocolates 71 percent more often when they were in transparent containers. Or switch to hard candies: They're lower in calories and they last longer.
7. Smell Success
Break out the air freshener. "Just having the smell of a green apple on your desk could suppress your hunger
8. Place Your Bets
Strike up a weight-loss competition with your cube mates, if anybody interested!
Tuesday 30 December 2008
Thursday 25 December 2008
Jon & Kate plus 8 - continues
As i said. I have a love/hate relationship with this tv show. I would never had 8 kids in this life, thats not going to happen. Infact its too late now to have 8 biological children. I envy her for having them all. Although it can be overwhelming to look after these kids, but they are hers and nobody could ever take that away. Those beautiful kids belongs to her, they come to her with unconditional love, no matter what. She also get to hug them and kiss them good night every night. No matter how hard it is I still consider her very lucky. Of course its not an easy job but these children are a gift. Of course she doesnt have time to do anything else, she even quits her nursing job to be a stay at home mom but the pleasure to see these children grow up day by day is such a blessing. I am sure when they all grow up they gonna be so thankful for their mom for giving them a good life. I am just thankful to have one but to have 8 children is such a blessing.
I feel like I know them so well. I know the names for each one of them, what they are like, what they like and dont like, their favourite animals, what they eat for breakfast or dinner. Its like seeing your own children grow up. And today there was a marathon of it on tv. It started at 8.30am this morning and just finished off one hour ago. Thats alot of Jon & Kate on tv! There will be another marathon tomorrow and I bet I ill be there on tv again, i can count on it.
Anyway, I just wish the show will go on until the kids all grow up and fly the nest. I dont know if thats going to happen, since I know Kate doesnt like it very much to have the camera at her house all the time. Who does? There sure is no privacy in her home with the camera crews and everything. But what she does is good, she wants to show everyone the reality of having these multiples, the good, the bad and the ugly....
We will see how it goes on the show. I think in a way the show has given Jon and Kate a celebrity status already, not to mention wealth and money. I've read the show is very successful in the USA, and i am sure they are given tonnes of money for it. Thats a good thing since I am sure it is always a struggle to pay for a family of 10. People also give donations, give them lots of free stuff. Jon even had a hair transplant for free for his resceding hairline so good for them.
Anyway, today is the start of my long weekend. Its christmas day today so its a public holiday for everyone. Tomorrow is Company force leave, another holiday and then the weekend. Monday is another public holiday for new year Hijrah. So I am gonna chill and have a good rest, well.. just a bit. We need to sort out the insurance for the BMW tomorrow and thats another chore that we need to take care of. Today we went to the mall to buy my girl's shoes and among other things. Had lunch at Pizza's Hut, as usual ordered our mushroom soup and garlic bread, our favourite. The mall was packed since its government pay day yesterday. But we were there bright and early to beat the traffic and the flock of people.
Wednesday 24 December 2008
Jon & Kate plus 8
This is by far my most favourite tv show at the moment. Its about one American family who has 8 kids, a set of twins and a sextuplets. I see it on tv almost every week and sometimes even the repeats or the reruns. I enjoyed the show immensely. In fact i have a love/hate relationship with this show. This lady has 8 kids, she has such a busy life and now a very successful reality show in America. I bet they are now new millionaires in the USA. I wonder how her every life feels like to look after 8 kids. She struggles every day but she manages by the help of her husband, her family and her friends. They are such cute couple. They compliment each other very well. And the show is very real. They dont hide anything, they dont hide how they treat each other and how stressful they sometimes are. They yell and swear with each other when the stress too much, and thats the reality. Its not easy to be with 8 kids day in and day out.
The kids are now getting bigger. The twins are 7 and the sextuplets are 4. They are at the age where they cant seem to stay still, very active, naughty and so cute. They dont like a typical American kids since Jon is half Korean so it shows. Ahh.. cute.
Will continue later.
The kids are now getting bigger. The twins are 7 and the sextuplets are 4. They are at the age where they cant seem to stay still, very active, naughty and so cute. They dont like a typical American kids since Jon is half Korean so it shows. Ahh.. cute.
Will continue later.
Monday 22 December 2008
Diet Tips - 10 food rules you must ignore!
Found this from webmd and its very interesting to know.
Ignore 1. - Eating at night will pile on the pounds.
It's the total calories you consume over a 24-hour period -- and more often, over a week -- that is what causes you to gain weight, and when you eat those calories doesn't matter. That said, because you may be more tired at night, your resolve may be lower. So you may tend to eat larger portions, or more high-calorie foods, than you would during the day. But as long as you keep an eye on calories and portion size, feel free to set your hunger alarm to the time that suits your lifestyle.
2. It's best to eat at the same times every day.
Eat when you're hungry, not when the clock says it's time to eat. While it can help to keep some consistency to mealtimes, forcing yourself to eat when you're not hungry -- or forcing yourself to wait when you are -- only makes it harder to stick to your diet. If you must eat at a certain time - say, during a designated lunch hour at your workplace -- cut yourself some slack the rest of the day and eat only when your stomach says it's time.
3. Dieting with a buddy always makes weight loss easier.
No one doubts that companionship and common goals can pay off for dieters. Not always the case! .If one buddy fails and the other doesn't, it clearly upsets the balance, and could cause tension and embarrassment. Ultimately, weight loss is a personal journey. If you find it's easier with a friend, remember to compete only against yourself -- not each other.
4. Dietary fat keeps you feeling full longer, so you'll eat less.
This was a well-accepted food rule for many years but it is not true. It has shown that while fat does take longer to digest, it's actually the least satiating of any food group. The foods likely to stave off hunger the longest are protein foods, followed by carbohydrates, then fats.
5. When you blow your diet, you might as well wait until the next day to get back on track.
Nope, every meal matters, so if you ate that big old piece of birthday cake at lunch, get right back on track with your next meal. You don't have to have a full day of healthy eating in order for it to count.
6. Refusing food at a party or when visiting is rude.
If you had diabetes, or a severe food allergy to something, you wouldn't think twice about turning down a food you weren't sure of -- and you should feel that same sense of priority in turning down a food that you know will blow your diet.
7. Skipping a meal every now and then will help you lose.
Skipping a meal means you will be so hungry at the next meal that you are likely to overeat. Not only that, skipping meals can actually help lead to a slowdown of your metabolism, meaning you'll burn fewer calories.
8. Bread is fattening, nuts are fattening, pasta is fattening.
It's not what you eat that contributes to weight gain,it's how much you eat that matters most. Whole-wheat bread, for example, is a great source of nutrients, and it won't make you gain weight more than any other food with the same number of calories.
9. All calories are equal.
While it's true that 1,400 calories is 1,400 calories no matter how you slice the cheesecake, experts say certain foods have a greater ability to fill you up before they fill you out. These tend to be fiber-rich, water-rich foods, like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. All calories are equal if all you're doing is counting calories to lose weight, but if you care about how you are losing weight, or controlling your hunger, or the health of your body, then no, all calories are not of equal value.
10. If you don't clean your plate, you're wasting food (don't forget those starving children Mom told you about).
Tying emotions to eating (like when you feel guilty about leaving food on your plate) sets the stage for emotional overeating. If you've been taught that cleaning your plate is the best way to show appreciation for a meal, instead show your gratitude with verbal praise, by asking for the recipe, or by sending a thank-you gift or note the next day. Food is simply a source of fuel for the body -- not an emotional payoff or payment. If you just don't feel right leaving the table until you've cleaned your plate, she says, underestimate your hunger and put less food on your plate to begin with.
- Do these diet truisms ring any bells in your mind?:
- Don't eat before bedtime or you'll gain weight.
- Skipping meals will help you take off the pounds.
- If you want to stay on a diet, eat at the same time every day.
Ignore 1. - Eating at night will pile on the pounds.
It's the total calories you consume over a 24-hour period -- and more often, over a week -- that is what causes you to gain weight, and when you eat those calories doesn't matter. That said, because you may be more tired at night, your resolve may be lower. So you may tend to eat larger portions, or more high-calorie foods, than you would during the day. But as long as you keep an eye on calories and portion size, feel free to set your hunger alarm to the time that suits your lifestyle.
2. It's best to eat at the same times every day.
Eat when you're hungry, not when the clock says it's time to eat. While it can help to keep some consistency to mealtimes, forcing yourself to eat when you're not hungry -- or forcing yourself to wait when you are -- only makes it harder to stick to your diet. If you must eat at a certain time - say, during a designated lunch hour at your workplace -- cut yourself some slack the rest of the day and eat only when your stomach says it's time.
3. Dieting with a buddy always makes weight loss easier.
No one doubts that companionship and common goals can pay off for dieters. Not always the case! .If one buddy fails and the other doesn't, it clearly upsets the balance, and could cause tension and embarrassment. Ultimately, weight loss is a personal journey. If you find it's easier with a friend, remember to compete only against yourself -- not each other.
4. Dietary fat keeps you feeling full longer, so you'll eat less.
This was a well-accepted food rule for many years but it is not true. It has shown that while fat does take longer to digest, it's actually the least satiating of any food group. The foods likely to stave off hunger the longest are protein foods, followed by carbohydrates, then fats.
5. When you blow your diet, you might as well wait until the next day to get back on track.
Nope, every meal matters, so if you ate that big old piece of birthday cake at lunch, get right back on track with your next meal. You don't have to have a full day of healthy eating in order for it to count.
6. Refusing food at a party or when visiting is rude.
If you had diabetes, or a severe food allergy to something, you wouldn't think twice about turning down a food you weren't sure of -- and you should feel that same sense of priority in turning down a food that you know will blow your diet.
7. Skipping a meal every now and then will help you lose.
Skipping a meal means you will be so hungry at the next meal that you are likely to overeat. Not only that, skipping meals can actually help lead to a slowdown of your metabolism, meaning you'll burn fewer calories.
8. Bread is fattening, nuts are fattening, pasta is fattening.
It's not what you eat that contributes to weight gain,it's how much you eat that matters most. Whole-wheat bread, for example, is a great source of nutrients, and it won't make you gain weight more than any other food with the same number of calories.
9. All calories are equal.
While it's true that 1,400 calories is 1,400 calories no matter how you slice the cheesecake, experts say certain foods have a greater ability to fill you up before they fill you out. These tend to be fiber-rich, water-rich foods, like fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. All calories are equal if all you're doing is counting calories to lose weight, but if you care about how you are losing weight, or controlling your hunger, or the health of your body, then no, all calories are not of equal value.
10. If you don't clean your plate, you're wasting food (don't forget those starving children Mom told you about).
Tying emotions to eating (like when you feel guilty about leaving food on your plate) sets the stage for emotional overeating. If you've been taught that cleaning your plate is the best way to show appreciation for a meal, instead show your gratitude with verbal praise, by asking for the recipe, or by sending a thank-you gift or note the next day. Food is simply a source of fuel for the body -- not an emotional payoff or payment. If you just don't feel right leaving the table until you've cleaned your plate, she says, underestimate your hunger and put less food on your plate to begin with.
More tips coming soon.
Saturday 13 December 2008
PMB result is now out - And we are so proud of you!!!
Exciting time. The moment the whole family is waiting for. My girl's PMB result was announced today. Precisely this afternoon, her friends informed her by text that the result was out but we didnt know what my girl result was. We waited anxiously for further development, any development. More texts, excited friends telling her of their results. But what about me???, my girl was grumbling, nobody could answer her except one friend who told her that she passed. But what did she get, was the next question.
We actually waited for the sms facility being introduced recently by DST whereby the result will be texted to you by phone if you register through MOE. We did that but no text coming. So we decided to go to her school because I am sure the result was there somewhere, maybe being displayed on the notice board or something. The moment we entered the car, her phone beeped and there it was! She did so well and we are so proud. My girl was so happy with the result and she didnt expect she did that well in the exam. We were all so happy. So big big CONGRATULATIONS to you my baby, my girl, Ayang, mommy is so proud of you. And we all love you so much!
I know this is just the begining of your future, it is all in your hands to shape it. I am just your mother, i can only advise and guide you but the rest are in your hands. I am just so happy that you are a sensible girl and knows how important education is. May you will get more success in your future, Insya Allah.
Me, your dad and the rest of your family wish you all the best and may success be with you always.....
Love,
Mom
Friday 12 December 2008
A big makan night.
Last night was crazy. My youngest brother treated us for a big makan night. The whole family minus the small kids went to Bob Kitchen in BSB. We arrived there around 7.15pm and the place was already packed. I heard this is a very popular eatery in town. It was so hard to find a parking space and luckily we got one along the roadside. We ordered so many food and in large quantities. We digged in like no tomorrow, and we were loud too. I bet other patrons at the place were eating their hearts out and said how annoying we were! Well.. its not everyday we got to meet our family and had a big blast from it. We had fun and we went home with a very full stomachs. I can say that to everyone except for myself of course, i always very cautious and controlled what i ate. I didnt actually ate as much although i wished to. That was so hard, wished i could just ate like anybody. I am considered a plus size and imagine how i would look like if i dont control what i eat.
Anyway, some pictures from last night.
My family having a good time. 
One of my brothers with his son, Haadii.
One of my brothers with his son, Haadii. 
Thursday 11 December 2008
Robbie...
My girl got her pet yesterday, her 2nd pet actually. A cute and fluffy rabbit, she named him/her Robbie. We dont know if its a girl or boy yet! Though for now we just assumed Robbie is a girl??? Need to find that out soon maybe at the vet? She is 3 months old and was born in September 2008. I got her from our for sale website, from a young girl working here. Hubby and I picked her up from KB yesterday and brought her all the way to Bandar. Reached home around 6.30pm, got her cage ready, filled up the bowl with food, some hays and off he/she went into the cage. Robbie looked scared last night. She might be tired too after the long journey and she didnt want to eat or drink. I think Robbie needed a few days to get used to her new surroundings. We gonna give her that so I asked my girl not to try to touch or stroke her for a few days until she is comfortable. This morning i was glad to see she has eaten some pillets and drank all the water.
Here is the picture of Robbie when I first saw her and we fell in love right away. I've snapped some pictures of her too at her new home but thats coming up soon.
Monday 8 December 2008
Holiday is almost over for me.
Well, tomorrow is the day i must get back to work. So not looking forward to it all. Its been a blessful 9 days without having to worry about office, work & the driving. Its back to reality again. I wish the time stands still and i can just stay home, enjoy with nothing to worry about and be with my little family and our home. But thats not reality and everything will get back to normal, tomorrow.
We went to a short holiday in KK, it was awesome although some plan didnt materialise. I didnt mind, as long as me and my family were together thats all that matters. And we are all back home safe and sound. I wish we could do that more often. But i am sure there will be more holiday in the future for us. Anyway, my girl is getting nervous now with her result coming up very soon. She has registered to the MOE SMS result facility. Its just a matter of time now when the result is announced. We all cant wait how well she does. More of that when the time comes, so watch this space....
Oh its public holiday today so Selamat Hari Raya Aidil Adha to all Muslims, family & friends. We dont have any close relatives who perform hajj this year so we really dont do any celebration today. But i watched one show on tv about hajj which was very good, the programme was from BBC Manchester and it showed how muslims in Manchester performed their hajj day to day in Mekah, Madinah & Mina. It was a wonderful experience for them and for me too. I wonder when is my time to go there and perform this 5th pillar in Islam. Insya Allah, it will come.
Thats it for now, need to do some preparations for lunch & work tomorrow.
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