Valen’s Vanity Square

I suppose one of the reasons why people who wanted to lose weight healthily through exercise don’t persist, but just give up halfway, is that it takes at least one week of daily exercise to notice the weight loss effect.

That’s why most people who are thinking of rapid weight loss will resort to other methods to lose weight. Some people just drastically cut down on their food consumption or skip meals.

This could be dangerous to your health because it is as if you are cutting off your supply of energy and nutrients that power your body to function normally.

A better alternative is to slowly reduce the portion you eat, and when you eat, concentrate on eating healthy food only. It is very important that you eat to keep your metabolism going.

Taking weight loss products is also another popular means of shedding extra fats. Not that weight loss pills are bad products, there are some good and safe ones. Just that you have to be watchful about the products you take. If you are considering about lipozene, you certainly want to know if the lipozene scam is true or otherwise. So do proper amount of research first.

But rapid weight loss can be dangerous. It’s better to stick with slow but consistent weight loss by combining right diet and lots of exercise!

Went to my sister’s house and copied some movies and series, and thought that “Here it goes again, I’m gonna be a couch potato this weekend and become fat next week.” Haha!

But I think I might have just found one thing that motivates me to get up on the elliptical machine often. One of the video files I copied is the Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show series, hehe.

Yes, looking at those fat-less models on runway in the skimpiest of clothes - bra, undies and bikinis - may be just what I need to get motivated to work out more frequently.

I won’t be able to slim down to that kind of frame, of course, and I don’t think I want to be that skinny. I just want to be confident about my body shape. I don’t mind to be ‘meaty’, but at least I want a flat tummy, and well toned arms and legs.  ;P

So it is. This weekend I’m gonna watch Victoria’s Secret Fashion show AND exercising on the machine at the same time. Haha!

I realized that my life is pretty sedentary! Desk-bound in the office, desk-bound at home as well, haha! Diet wise, I’m eating pretty well though. Of course, occasionally I do indulge in cakes and all things fat and sweet.

The way to good nutrition is actually very simple. Most of us already knew deep in our heart what is good for us (such as veggies, fruits, good quality protein, wholemeal products, etc) and what we’re supposed to eat more and which we should touch less (e.g. fried foods, cakes and pastries loaded with sugar). Eat a variety of foods, and eat in appropriate amounts. Stop when feel full. Never deprive yourself of any food, because balance is the key.

A lot of people would rely on supplements to help them meet their daily nutrient requirements, that’s okay, because not everyone has access to all types of food in his or her neighborhood, or you may be simply very busy to cook well balanced meals for yourself often.

But even if you have the world’s best vitamins, won’t it be better to obtain your nutrients naturally? So try as much as you possibly could to eat freshly prepared, healthy and nutritious foods to give you the major nutrients, vitamins and supplements to keep you in tip top health.

Of course, you can’t dismiss exercise. It’s important to exercise regularly to burn off excess calories that you might have gotten from food, and also to improve blood circulation. Don’t be like me. I now have 4 kg to lose in order to get back to my ideal weight!

I have been subscribing to a number of health and weight loss newsletter. Today I received one about whether drinking tea can actually help to lose weight faster. The newsletter came from Isabel, the author of a very popular healthy weight loss program - The Diet Solution program.

Below are some extracts from the newsletter for those who are interested in the health benefits of tea drinking.

When it comes to Black tea, here’s what Isabel says…

“One of black teas greatest benefits is its high number of antioxidants, including quercetin, a substance found to combat inflammation and support healthy immune function. This is probably the best health benefit of drinking black tea…its ability to keep the immune system healthy and strong.

I enjoy a cup of hot black tea most mornings with a bit of squeezed lemon and stevia. It helps me start off my day energized and alert without giving me any of the jittery feelings I would sometimes get with drinking too much coffee…”

What about green tea? What is it about this tea in helping to lose weight?

“Many doctors and scientific studies have confirmed the incredible power of green tea when it comes to weight loss. Dr. Nicholas Perricone, world renowned doctor and author of 3 bestselling books stated, “…you’d lose up to 10 pounds in 4-6 weeks doing nothing but taking green tea. Green tea increases your daily fat burning rate by 43%”… The catechins in green tea have been found to force the body into thermogenesis, driving your body to burn fat as its energy source. Green tea has also been shown to cause carbohydrates to be released slowly, preventing rises in blood-insulin levels and keeping the body at an ideal blood sugar balance for fat burning.”

However, Isabel explains that drinking green tea to lose weight does not necessarily work for every one. We all differ from each other, and there many other factors in our diet and exercise program that can greatly affect the results of weight loss.

But I didn’t know until I read in this newsletter that another type of tea popular among Chinese - Oolong tea - has been shown to burn 220% more fat than green tea!

Weight loss aside, these long-consumed Asian teas benefit our health in one or other ways. They make a healthy addition to ones daily diet. But you just have to be very mindful of how your body reacts to the effects of the caffeine and adjust the amount used accordingly.

If you want to receive more interesting and informative newsletter on healthy weight loss from The Diet Solution program, you can always check out Isabel’s website.

Check out how great and fit Isabel looks, even after giving birth to a baby!

What to wear? That’s the last question I asked myself before I went to sleep last night. And the first question I had this morning.

To me, I will try to wear something more formal on the first two working days of the week. I thought I want to wear the new blouse I bought last month, which is a fake two-piece top that appears to have a collar shirt underneath a cardigan. It is quite body hugging, but looks okay above the waist.

However, the part around my tummy is no good at all, so obviously bulging. Doesn’t look nice with pants or skirt… I think it must be the PMS, I feel a bit bloated today. Or is it the creamy vanilla millecrepe I had yesterday?

Okay, no excuse. It’s not going to be about dieting, or taking diet pills that work. It simply means that I have to get on the elliptical machine once again. Tonight. 30 minutes. Must do.

A new week - a new weight loss plan. Haha!

Actually, I didn’t weigh myself to see if I’ve gained weight tremendously, but from the ‘tightness’ of my skirts and pants, I think I have! Made me so conscious about my bulging tummy whenever I stand, sit, walk, bend down, etc. I have to constantly remind myself - stand straight, head hold up high, tuck in the tummy - so mentally exhausted!

My plan, of course, will not involve any rigorous exercise regime (I’m just not an exercise person) or Over the counter diet pill. I saw a TV commercial on this K brand cereal, that replacing two meals in a day with their cornflakes for 14 days will help in shedding of some weight.

If following the simple plan given on the cereal box, it says that to eat the cereal with skim milk at breakfast, eat lunch as normal, and eat cereal again at dinner. And whenever I eat the cereal, I should also eat some fruits and vegetables.

Am I going to follow the plan 100%? Well, no, hahaha!

I will eat breakfast as usual, which comprises of half a cup of oatmeal and 2-3 slices of bread with peanut butter or ham. I will eat a well-balanced lunch (carbs + protein + veggie). It’s only for dinner that I will cut down significantly, perhaps a bowl of cereal with low-fat milk plus a very small portion of meat or clear veggie soup. I know this combination sounds weird, but will just try and see!

Hopefully 2 weeks later I could at least ‘feel’ some difference when I wear my jeans. Haha!

Hmm, the crunching sound on my left knee when I walk up the stairs has been ‘loud’ these few days. I certainly didn’t exert myself when exercising on the elliptical machine. May be it’s a ’side effect’ of my frequent shopping. Haha!

I can window shop for 2-3 hours non-stop. I won’t rest until I have bought all the things I need, or totally give up because I can’t find anything I like. May be that’s how I hurt my own knees because of this.

Besides my left knee is affected, usually I also feel a slight soreness on my hips. I’m just so prone to aches and pains all over!

That makes me wonder if I should start taking those glucosamine or chondroitin supplements, which are known to support better joint health. I know that prevention is better than cure. Before the problem gets worse, I should start taking care of my joints now.

I saw this website www.glucosamineandchondroitin.org that reviews glucosamine and chondroitin supplements. They have got some recommendations there. May be I should check out if they are available in my area.

But, I’m already taking a supplement Crowning Glory for healthy hair. I will be too lazy to take another supplement.

I realized that I’m using my spectacles more frequently at work nowadays. Usually I just wear them when I started to feel the strain in my eyes or when I have to squint to read the words on the computer screen or papers.

I just got my pair of glasses earlier this year, so it’s less than one year since I went to have my eyes checked. May be frequent reading and long hours on the computer makes my eye problems deteriorate faster! And you know what, I’ve got one eyes with shortsightedness and the other farsightedness. Haha!

My friends ask me to purchase contact lenses instead of making a new pair of spectacles. I know, contact lenses are convenient to use these days, some more they come in different colors, so one can changes her or his pupil color to, well, according to his/her mood, or to match the attire of that day. However, I just couldn’t overcome that fear of putting something into my own eyes. Eeeeks!

And of course, a gal without spectacles somehow looks more attractive than a specky gal, many people would think. Gals with glasses normally give people an impression of a nerdy personality, a bookworm of some sort. But I’m okay with it, I don’t mind people saying that I’m a nerd, as long as I know myself that I’m not!

Once in a while one may feel soreness in the arm or leg due to many reasons, e.g. overexertion of the muscles during certain physical activities, or, conversely, due to poor blood circulation as a result of long hours of inactivity, such as the arm being pressed by the body while asleep. These are normal situations, and there’s nothing much to worry about.

However, if it is a condition known as lymphedema, then it is no good news at all.

Lymphedema is a condition of where fluid retention and tissue swelling occur due to a problem of the lymphatic system. When one has this condition, he or she will experience symptoms such as:

• Swelling of the arm or leg (part of or the entire limb), including the fingers or toes
• A feeling of heaviness in the arm or leg
• Aching and discomfort in the arm or leg
• Hardening and thickening of the skin of the arm or leg

The areas of the limbs affected with lymphedema are also at risk of infection.

People who are at higher risk of having lymphedema are those who have undergone surgery or radiation therapy for the treatment of cancer, especially of the breast cancer. The lymphatic system is damaged due to the treatment. Most of the time, the patient with cancer won’t develop lymphedema until many months or even years after the treatment has stopped.

If anyone you know is suffering from this condition, the only treatment for them is to keep the condition under control, ie to reduce swelling and control the pain. What can be done include light exercises, special massage techniques, compression garments, wrapping your arm or leg, etc.

Compression garments are such as long sleeves or stockings specially made to compress the arm or leg. If you need to know more about compression garments, e.g. compression stockings information, there are a number of online resources to refer to. The purpose of compression garment is to promote the flow of the lymph fluid out of the affected limb, thus reducing the swelling. After that, one continues to wear compression garments to prevent the limb from swelling again.