A healthier ME!

I remembered posting "My first journey to a hot ME" not long ago. What a catchy title but as always... No progress. Not only on the postings but also the journey.

That is so typical of me. Dragging it whenever it comes to health. Food wise is not that bad. I do eat a balanced diet which includes fruits & also vegetables. Not much into junks but I'm a big fan of cheezels ;-) My girls as HB put it do not enjoy their childhood to the fullest. I don't totally forbid them to eat such food but I just don't buy it for them. They have their shares at birthday parties or perhaps in school... (offered by friends sometimes. I pack food for them to bring to school daily plus an RM1 as their pocket money just in case something would happen to their homemade food. Cukuplah seringgit... though they have been asking me why do their friends get RM 4 extra?). Now where was I? Ooo.. Junk foods. One more thing, I have never made Maggie for them. Never!

Being healthy to me is a synonym to a balanced diet. The foods intake... but when it comes to the big letter E, I always find excuses. It's EXERCISE!

Today, however I managed to drag this lazy bum outside my house & jogged. Woohoo! 1.4km non-stop. Hey! Stop the cynical smile. That was really an achievement to me... ;-)

Frankly, I had been wanting to start exercising again (Err.... not sure whether again is a suitable word in that sentence. Can't recall when was it that I was actively exercising!). Ever since I got to know of a friend who jogs in her house simply because she is concerned over her heart, her health & the well being of her 3 children if something were to happen to her nauzubillah... (Yes Intan if you're reading, it was you! Owe you one... on this. Thanks dear.).

Another is a remark from my mom. I was telling her how HB had been wanting me to jog with him. And how I came out with hundreds of excuses not to. Simple but went straight on a bull's eye to this thick head of mine came her reply...

"Pergilah jogging. Badan sihat, pahala pun dapat sebab ikut kata suami."

It hit me OK. My dad has been a jogger as long as I can remember. He still does at the age of 62 & my mom without fail always accompanies him. Perhaps no longer jogging but more to brisk walking.

So now, I'm changing my intention of pursuing to exercise. No longer to become a hot me but for a healthier & happier me! But again a hot me, is a bonus lah... ;-)

Pssst... Day 6 is in the process. Do bear with me. Going rather slow...

Thanks little fishies!

I've heard so much of this latest spa done by little fishies but never had the time & opportunity to try. Yesterday however, after doing some groceries at Giant hypermarket, I came across a kiosk for this talked bout Fish Spa. Of course, didn't miss the chance...

We were there during office hours hence the place was empty. Once HB dipped his feet into the water, the little fish speed swam towards him. Hahaha! Check this out...

It sure was ticklish at first...

But you kind of get used to it & after a while, enjoying it. It is quite cheap really. RM12 for 20 mins & RM18 for half an hour.

This is yours truly's feet.

Compare that with HB's.

And HB's

And HB's.. hahaha! I have a strong feeling somebody won't agree to my posting these. ;-)

Balqis was with us & wondering what on earth were her parents doing. The girl in charged was so sweet for allowing Balqis to test her curiosity. Unfortunately, not even 1 fish nibbled on Balqis's feet..

According to the staff, the name of the fish is Garra Rufa. Never heard of it but once, I watched Ian Wright did the same spa in Globe Trekker, somewhere in Turkey if I'm not mistaken. Give it a try if you have the chance... ;-)

* sorry that the images are not sharp. My only toy at that moment was only my SonyEricsson 2mpeg cam phone .

Therapy

Shopping is sure a therapy. Extra therapy especially when the $ does not come from your own pocket... ;-) Well, that was exactly I did today. Shopping! I love to shop during weekdays. Hate the crowd.

Yasmin & Wardah are not schooling today. So, I'm rather free. Balqis, I still sent her to her kindy. Shopping is really a fuss free when that cunning girl is not around. The only turning off was that HB was on standby. Though it started only after noon, it still gave us the jitter whenever we heard his Spanish song ringtone.

MJ is having another special promo for its members. I don't know... I keep on telling myself not to go there. Try a new store! It feels like being hypnotized... & there I was at the ladies department again. Checked out EIC, then SB, back at EIC. I somehow was attracted to the clothing next to EIC. Picked one & tried it on. It looked good on me! Tried another. Again matched to my body. Hey! If you look good... buy! Even the girls said so. So what if they lied simply to please their mom...

The therapy works. Still, I do not feel relaxed. Something is bothering me. After falling in love with what I tried at that store, I came to realise that I now can fit "Plus Size Clothing"!! That was what I bought.. PSC!

I still remember when I was a mom of 2, admiring PSC. A promoter came over saying, "Sorry Miss, we don't have your size here." That made me proud. As a mom of 3, nobody said anything when I came touching the clothing. That made me panic. Now, a mom of 4... not only that I admired & touched. I actually tried it on, felt that I looked good in it & bought it! That made me.... hmmm. Ok! That's it!!! Where are my jogging shoes???

Exercise! Exercise! Exercise!

My journey to a HOT me is taking a break... Hahaha! That sounds so like me. Never takes sports seriously. But I mentioned a break not quiting. In case if you consider driving as a form of exercise... that I do a lot.

The inspired jog was on Thursday. On Friday with aching legs & HB was called up for duty (he was on standby), I made countless in & out the entrance. My neck almost suffered the same ache of the countless thank you nods I presented the security guards (that is exercise!). Okay, let me recall...

0730 - sent Yasmin to school
0800 - sent Wardah for mengaji & Balqis to her kindergarten
1130 - out to fetch Balqis ( Wardah gets home by van that we arranged)
& straight to Yasmin's school
1345 - sent Wardah to school
1430 - sent Yasmin for mengaji
1645 - out to fetch Yasmin
1800 - out to fetch Wardah from school

What do you think of that? Am so glad that I have my helper around. If not... I don't want to imagine "If not...". It is tiring yes. But I can't buy the satisfaction I won. Driving the girls around with a manual car, I am positive I can associate that as another form of exercise!

Saturday, HB was free from duty after 1400. We went out but left baby Nadeen at home with our helper. HB shopped for some new shirts (he has an interview next month). There I was running after Balqis & calling out (if we were home the better verb is YELL) for Yasmin & Wardah not to provoke their sister playing hide & seek even worse injecting any cunning ideas which might give me headache. Bet you are familiar with that situation! And that was the exercise on Saturday...

Sunday, was the day to reward myself of course. Attended a kenduri aqiqah & cukur jambul. Indulged myself in lamb, briyani rice, air batu campur & a rich slice of chocolate cake! On the way back, HB stopped by at a new Giant in Kinrara to get something. The girls chose to tag along & in the end all of us did, including baby Nadeen & helper. This exercise was the worst... I was in my high heels!

Monday. Short & sweet. Thought of jogging but it rained... Hehehe!

Today. HB is out of town. I prefer to jog with him around. Feel safer. But who knows... The day hasn't ended. I might jog around my side yard! Of course, if it does not rain... ;-)

My First Journey To A Hot ME!

The last thing I choose to do is to exercise. Yucks! I just hate it. It's not the sweat that hinders but the willpower. The willpower to engage in an activity continuously for the sake of losing weight, burn fats & even to build up muscles.

I was no athlete neither in school nor college. I associated sports with having fun. I used to go to driving range, used to bowl, used to play badminton, used to swim. Everything was for the sake of excitement. Never did it cross my mind far from my heart to consider those activities as a form of exercise.

Now in my thirties, I feel that I need not take my health for granted anymore. You're not getting any younger old girl! For a start the best I can do is to give in to HB's plea & join him for a jog. I couldn't believe myself that I actually did it. Today I jogged! Not far but a 1.1km was not bad at all... Really, I'm so proud of myself! I managed to drag this fat ass of mine all the way up to a km.

I'm telling myself to take this exercise thing seriously now. Please, please let this lasts. Not only that I hope for a fit & healthier body. Losing weight & back to my prenatal figure will definitely be a big bonus!!

Yeah sure now my legs are aching. Good thing my helper is a superb masseur. Hope I will feel better tomorrow & continue exercising.

My Confinement Meal

This was what served to me for lunch. Sometimes, kind of like the confinement period. Being treated like a queen! My maid is an elderly this time. She is rather particular about my meal in confinement (my mother might play her part there.... hmm). My meal is always on time & served with a very balanced diet. I have to thank my mom for teaching her to cook & also grateful to her for taking good care of me & the girls. (hubby.... I take care ;D)

Quail Soup (besides the protein it keeps my body warm)

Steamed Vegetables

Fried Garlic & Ginger (helps to expel wind in the body - my favourite & is served daily)

Oranges

Guess What?

I have a marvelous news to share. Have been planning for this for quite awhile. Though hubby was not really keen to the idea, being a headstrong as I am, he usually gives in. His losing phrase... "You always get what you want!" That is somehow true. I strive to get the things I dream of. A very determined person I am which hubby thinks stubborn is a better adjective. Maybe it doesn't really show to others but to hubby as my other half, it can really be a pain in his ass...!

So, back to the topic. As most of you are aware that I have 3 beautiful girls. Frankly, hubby is fine with 2 despite the gender. I disagree. 2 is less the fun & 3 is a crowd. To solve the matter, I think, I have got to make the number even. I am here to announce that I am in the family way again... Yes, I am exactly 4 weeks & 5 days pregnant. Really, really plan for this fourth round. I want to make sure that I will deliver during the school holidays. It will be unfair to my other girls if they are schooling & I do not want to trouble others. My EDD (Expected Delivery Date) is on the 15th of December 2007. That is almost perfect. Based from history, I normally deliver 2 weeks or 1 week earlier. School will reopen on the first week of January & by that time I hope I am well enough to chauffeur them to school again.

Everybody is excited. The girls keep on asking about the baby & little Balqis has been taught by her big sisters that there is a baby in mama's tummy. She simply imitates her sisters kissing my tummy over & over again. I know that this pregnancy is going to be fun. The elder girls are big enough to share stories about the baby's development & also to help me around. Hubby is of course enthusiastic with this news. Praying that this time we will be granted with a boy...

I hope that everything will go smooth. Of course I will keep on updating about the baby. I am yet to make an appointment with my obstetrician. Perhaps next week. As for now, I have been taking folic acid way before I was pregnant. Told you I am well prepared for this pregnancy!

Here is the pregnancy home test I did. The line in the test window is rather blur compared to the control window. But it is still considered positive... Hey, after all, I am a mother to almost 4!!

Medical check up

I've been postponing to get a check up for quite a while. The time has always been an excuse. Today, as I need to get my maid examined for her annual check up, I might as well get it over with.

The doctor, my best friend, suggested me to take the package of cholesterol,glucose,thyroid, liver & kidney test(I think so, that was all...). My blood pressure has always been at the low side. Today was 90/60. Quite low but rather normal to me. It's just that I get tired easily nowadays. Obviously the result will only come out after the Chinese New Year holidays. I'm quite concerned with my cholesterol level though. Well, will share you the result soon. Happy holidays!!