11st Jan 2014

Reflected on the year gone by... Time flies. Yet another yr older. I feel so old -.-

Once again, thking abt where my life should be going. No new yr resolutions.. just a few things to put into perspective. 

Most important thing, health. Trying to get back into my exercise regime. Been slacking off quite abit. Need to stay with eating healthier 80% of the time, and avoid gluten and dairy whenever possible. And sleep early. Definitely need to sleep earlier. 

Next on the agenda, learn trading. Been busying trying to understand how to trade Forex and Index. Still trying to find a system I can easily use for trading forex.. And maybe I have found something. Need to study further. Been sleeping late the last few nights, looking at the Index -.- Strangely, I seem to feel more alert on 6hrs of sleep, as compared to maybe 7 or 8. Perhaps I should juz sleep for 6hrs from now on... I need more time! 

Third, stop buying clothes. There is definitely no more space for any more clothes in my wardrobe. Im going to wear every single piece of clothing I own, at least once, before I let myself buy anymore. Thats gonna take... awhile... 

Fourth, travel. Other than the upcoming trip to Korea in Mar, Im still pending for the trip in Sept. Where shall I go, that I've never been? Hmm...

Fifth, love life.. Or the lack of it. On one hand, I think its great to have someone to share your life with... But I have yet to find that someone. On the other hand, the idea of giving up singlehood, is scary. If you've been single for a while, you would know what I mean. The taste of freedom.. having alot of Me time. Doing whatever you want, whenever you want, without having to be accountable to anyone... 

The question is, is a RS worth it? Maybe, but only with the right person. And somehow, I've yet to meet him.. yet. 

27th Dec 2013

Time flies, 2013 coming to an end soon. Been busy the last few months... Busy tweaking my life to be healthier... Exercising frequently, clean eating. Added and will be adding more superfood to my diet : Kale, Quinoa, Maca, Cacao, Raw honey, extra virgin coconut oil, cinnamon, sea salt.. etc 

Some thoughts on clean eating and healthy lifestyle...

I love clean eating, but that does not mean I dun eat other things. Just that generally, I opt for more nutrient dense superfood whenever possible. I mean, why would you want to eat stuff that does not benefit, and in fact might harm your health? 

And no, healthy != unappetising -_-

Apparently, when you tell people you eat clean.. you start getting those "looks"... Most people equate healthy with unappetising, yucky food. 

EH HELLO... Seriously, if you even think about it : If the food doesnt taste nice, no one wouldn eat it. And if healthy/organic/gluten food really taste that bad? No one would buy it... Those companies selling them would have closed shop long ago -.-: 

The reason why organic / gluten free / healthy food business are still around, its becos they taste good and are healthy.... Just that you probably gotta pay more for it :)

Also, the food that I eat, may be uncommon here in Sg, but its very commonly eaten in other parts of the world -.- Eg, Quinoa, maca... Staple food in some parts of the world. So if healthy means unappetising.. The part of the world where its commonly eaten.. Are they eating unappetising food all the time? Anyone with a bit of common sense should know that can't be true?

There are many reasons that push people to start looking at what they eat. Usually its only when they start having serious health problems, body breaks down, etc, before they would acknowledge that they need to eat healthier.. and start exercising.. 

Ultimately, lifestyle choices are very personal. No one should be judged for choosing healthy / clean eating ;)

And seriously, I love what I eat! Now I just need to add some high grade organic matcha to my list and I will be done :D Yum :9

Other than healthy living, Im learning about fundamental analysis for stocks, Technical analysis, and also Forex. 

Looking forward to 2014! Gonna be a few busy weeks while I learn more about using Price Action on Forex and Stocks. And also my upcoming trip to South Korea in Mar 2014 :D

7th Oct 2013

It's been a busy month, with all the birthdays celebrations and stuff. One more birthday to go, this Thursday, then I'm gonna start on my gluten free/dairy diet. Or rather gluten/dairy avoidance diet.

I had been monitoring how my stomach feels when I eat certain food. Like pasta(>90% wheat), my stomach tends to churn... I had been eating alot of bread recently, which is full of wheat, and my breakout went crazy(I've always been breaking out, but never like this...) stuff like soya sauce, also tend to make my stomach unsettled. I don't get the runs from eating all these food with wheat, just my stomach feels indigestion / churning / unsettled.

Milk on the other hand, gives me really bad stomach churns, and definitely the runs. Definitely lactose intolerant... But not all milk. The milk I had in Japan on my last trip was fine.... And tasted good too. The condense milk in the milk tea I drink, doesnt affect me as well... I really duno why...

Read about gluten and wheat, its really bad for ur digestion. Since Im not really a fan of bread, and pasta is not my staple food, I can definitely avoid them since they do not agree with me. Fried food is normally full of wheat/gluten too. But I rarely eat them, so its fine. Soya sauce, on the other hand is quite commonly used in the food i normally eat, and hard to avoid. But I guess the impact should be minimal.

In Singapore, this diet is not that hard to keep to.. Since I'm not strictly gluten free... The only problem I will face, is when I travel.... Definitely face more problem than a vegetarian... Ha...

Got myself addicted to reading again.. Haha... Started on the first book of the series in September, I think. Finally finished reading the 7th book in the StarDoc series. Another 3 more to go, can't wait to get my hands on them!

The love Duncan has for Cherijo in StarDoc, reminds me of the love Jack has for Rose in Titanic. They both do everything in their power, to save the love of their life. In every way a person can be saved. I wonder if I will ever meet someone like them.

29th September 2013 Sunday

Today marks the 10th yr in my current job. And another yr older since yesterday... Also, mid way through my yearly break in Sept/Oct...

The goal is to spend a day, relaxing. Its been many yrs since Im in Orchard on a Sunday. Firstly, because 90% of the time, im working on a Sunday... And the rest, Im simply overseas or slacking at home :P

I realised, I still dislike weekends in general... Crowded train, slow intervals. Crowded everywhere Else. I don't feel peaceful or relaxed outside.. at all. Given a choice, I would rather work weekends, n have more weekdays off.

Pretty sure, not many Ppl would say this, but.. I really wished for Sunday to end, and Monday to come! :D 

4th August 2013

Its been an eventful month for me. Somehow. Been actively working out, and tweaking my workouts to fit my life.
I really think that there are no reasons for not exercising. Unless it's health related, where you can't exercise. Anything else is just an excuse, seriously.

If you want to do something, u will find time. If you are just not that keen or you don't think it's important enough, you find excuses... Thats just human nature... ;)

In order to fit my exercise routine in my life, I've been waking up real early. Shifted my waking time to 6am-6.30am. Sometimes even before 6... And sleeping before 11pm if possible, Else latest 11.30pm.

I could never wake up early previously. Due to having to wake up real early for a Batam trip last month, I realised it can actually be done... I guess I was always afraid of not getting enough sleep if I wake too early. Imagine trying to get through 12hrs of work when sleep deprived! Nightmare!

Now all's good. Even on Offdays I wake up around the same time.

Next thing in progress, healthy diet. Still a trial and error. Trying pescetarian for this month... Then tweak from there... Cut diary too. Not sure if I'm imagining things, I'm feeling Alot better after cutting meat n diary... Hmm. Not sure if it's the diet, or the exercise.

28th July 2013 Sunday

Strangely, no travel plans for upcoming Sept / Oct, and I don't feel the least bit restless. Think the last trip made me so tired.. probably killed all enthusiasm of travelling or photo taking for awhile -.-: I'm still not touching those photos from my last trip. The thought of going through them.. Is simply tiring -_-: 

Been more than a month since I started my exercise routine in an attempt to become healthier and have more energy in general. Pilates and Yoga, each 2-3 times a week, weight lifting once a week and cardio... which is still pretty inconsistent. About 1-2x a week. There is only so much time, and the only way I could fit in cardio, is by waking up at 6am to do it before work. And that didn't turn out so well. Not to mention the muscle ache I get from from time to time, rendering me really too achy to exercise on some days...

Made a decision to go pescetarian for a month. Started two days ago. Trying to see if cutting meat will give me more energy... We shall see... The biggest challenge is getting enough calories and iron from good food in a day... quinoa will be featuring alot on my meal plans, when I could find time to cook...

Time.. Thats the one thing I could never have enough of >_<

16th June 2013

Went for my trial at Pure Yoga last week, and I love that place~ I wished they offer Pilates....

My goal currently, with regards to my exercise routine / health, is to squeeze in 30min cardio, yoga, pilates, 3-4x a week.

Options open to me now:  

1. Fitness first membership, $125/mth for gym, yoga, pilates classes. 24Mths commitment. This was my first option. Having everything under one roof, sounded really gd to me,not to mention cost saving. I could go for pilates, yoga, and then 30min on the machine for my cardio. Location was gd too. Islandwide 13 outlets currently , the next one at Jurong east opening Dec 2013.

But I'm really not impressed by the classes I tried.

Facilities also lacking. Had trouble getting hold of a hair dryer. Alot of lockers, but not enough shower rooms, not enuff dressing tables, mirrors... In short, everything lacking  -_- Classes were also too packed for my liking. 

For yoga, it could be dangerous if done incorrectly. If classes are too packed, n instructors had no time to go around correcting u, you could be doing it wrongly and injure yourself....

And I tot Fitness first was one of the more premium fitness center in Singapore... Hmm. 

2. Sadhana Sanctuary, $95/mth - $116/mth for yoga and pilates classes. 12-24Mths commitment. Facilities also lacking. Had to q for showers during peak hours... But at least classes are good. Instructors went around correcting us when needed. Will just have to go for classes during offpeak hours, which I normally do anyway... 

But need to pay for separate gym membership to get my cardio. Of course there are always the free cardio options. Hmm. 

3. Pure Yoga, $156/mth for 18mths commitment. Very good facilities, good class size, good location. Loved everything abt it~ They even provide tea for members to enjoy, and newspaper too... Plenty of couches, with comfy cushions for you to sit n enjoy the hot tea after yoga... I had Ginger tea after my Yin yoga session when I went for my trial ...

Problem, it's a huge premium to pay for just yoga alone.... If they had Pilates, I would already have signed up~ Sure, it's the most expensive among all options, but it's really nice n peaceful there. That's what yoga should be all about~

But they dun... so need to pay for separate Pilates n gym membership -_-

After much considerations, decided to take up Sadhana, they offer yoga and pilates. I really like the Pilates lesson there.. Sadhana was the place where I discovered Pilates and fell in love with it ~ Going down on Tues to sign up. 

Was researching on my Cardio options, and came across this activity called, Aqua spinning or Aqua bking. Its like a regular spin class, except done in water. Sounds like fun to me, classes start at a rate of 40-50 / session. Haha. Even more expensive than my Pilates reformer classes... 

So many activities I really wanna try. When will I finally get to do them all...