I'm Queen of my domain again !

Beginning of this week was a total mess. My mother's friend & her daughter came to visit (from UK) & stayed with us in our guest room for 4 days before moving on with their trip to Bangkok. They were nice & have fun stories but, I'm just not used to having so many people at home. Also I 'need' to behave nicely as the host- that's probably the thing that 'gets' me all edgy.

Our guests finally left yesterday. I took a day off today & felt as if I had won an all-expenses-paid, all-nude-all the time vacation in my own home! Ok... I didn't go walking around nude but at least I gain the right to leave my magazines, my sunglasses, my keys on the coffee table, safe in the knowledge that my mum wont scream at me to 'tidy it up' for the 'guests'!

I feel an unexpected calm today as if I was given a reprieve from everyone. It's not that I'll do anything scandalous than walking around with my face mask on, leaving used cups in the sink, but the air is filled with the idea that I could stay up all night blaring Adele, that I could sacrifice a live chicken in the bathtub if I want to. Know what I mean?
I'm Queen of my domain again !

Some fat burning food you should consider

1. Green tea
Green tea contains a chemical called EGCG which sparks a process in the body known as thermogenesis (aka "fat burning"). Research has also linked daily green tea consumption with increased metabolism and a smaller waistline.

2. Oats

Oats have a very beneficial effect on blood sugar and insulin, which can keep metabolism in fat-burning mode. They're also a rich source of fiber, which helps you stay fuller longer as well as slows the absorption of fat through the small intestines.

3. Chili peppers

Spice up your meals! Capsaicin, the chemical that gives peppers their fiery kick, has been shown to rev up metabolism. An UCLA study found that dieters who took capsaicin doubled their energy expenditure for several hours after eating

4. Lean meats

Protein is essential for maintaining muscle mass -- the more muscle mass you have, the more efficient you are at burning calories. Even better, protein requires more calories for your body to digest than either fat or carbs. Just be selective about your protein source -- only opt for lean meats such as skinless chicken and turkey breast and lean cuts of beef

5. Fatty fish

Fatty fish (such as tuna, salmon, mackerel) are rich in omega-3 fatty acids which fire up fat burning. These fatty acids lower levels of the hormone leptin in your body, which directly influences your metabolism: The higher your leptin levels, the more readily your body stores calories as fat.

6. Coffee

Coffee does more than perk you up, a cuppa also provides enough caffeine to raise metabolism. "Caffeine increases the release of fat from fat cells and boosts the consumption of oxygen and fat burning,"  Too much caffeine, however, has side effects including increased heart rate, so drink in moderation.

7. Water

Ok water is not food but it has a direct impact on many metabolic pathways.  Adequate fluid intake also helps prevent overeating. Much of what we perceive as hunger is actually thirst, You can demonstrate this for yourself by simply drinking a glass of water next time you feel hungry. Half the time the hunger will be gone in a few minutes.

Oh NO....Another research on weight loss again ???

We were having lunch & a new colleague just found out I have a blog mainly on topics about weight loss. Then looking pretty smug, he code some big time study (from don't know where & from a never heard of journal) that claim that inactivity & overeating will cause quick weight gain & excess body fat !

We stopped eating for a second to digest that. I was mid way through my banana muffin at that point in time. And was thinking ....wow.... this coming from someone with an MBA from UK ? Which group of researchers or scientists are so free to spent thousands probably millions of dollars doing such a research? To confirm something which everyone with some common sense would probably instinctively knows? Hmmm.....

my delicious muffin ....lol...

Now I'm wondering who would approve such a study in the first case. Well stranger things have happened...lol..

Are you kidding me ???? Another weight loss intervention?

Right if you have been reading my blog you would have noticed the last one we did,  didn't go that well- initially. BUT... after the 'struggle' of coming to terms with the whole ordeal , the friend in question, did in fact thank us, for: caring & taking the time & effort to help her.

Fast forward.... 6 months.... now , she's very fit. Eating well & healthy & having a nicer new boy friend- whom we all "approved" ...lol....

So that brings us back to THIS..... we have another candidate. The sister of one of the original "intervention group".
Profile: the girl is early 20s. Have been heavy since teens, but cute face. Low self esteem. So after one of our usual makan session, we were wondering should we do it again!
YES , another Weight LOSS intervention! Hmmm....... we put it into a vote & the out come is a "go-ahead" !!! Well that'll be coming weekend, wonder if we can do better this time !
Will update you guys:))

Buffets are sinful but super shiok !

Just attended a buffet yesterday & feel guilty like hell now! We tend to over eat during buffets , dont we? Worst if you go with buddies. They urged you to try this & taste that & before long you've tried everything. Because of these gatherings of old friends, you stay longer than usual, talk shop & eat endlessly just for fun. One of the girls even have to release her belt ! Planning to starve for the next 3 days to make-up for this indulgence !

Extremely sinful & very Shiok ....lol...

A weight loss intervention gone wrong !

Yesterday, a couple of my friends & I held a weight loss intervention for a close friend of ours! She just got dumped by a sleaze ball & she has been indulging herself with food to mask the pain. It has been a month already & she has put on so much weight & she don't care! Enough is enough, she shouldn't be harming herself because of one ungrateful guy.

We sat her down & talk to her. After like 10 mins she said OK & walk off & sent us the above image! What should we do ??? Hope she'll snap out of this asap! I seriously cant bear to see her like this !

Exercise vs Dieting

If you have to choose, which is more important? I ask many people that & even some doctors. Most people think that exercise is very important. Well yes it is, but when it comes to weight loss, healthy eating beats it hands down.

Say you eat lots of food including a fair amount of junk & you make up this bad habit with plenty of exercises. Experts said it wont help. You might as well cut out the junk, cut out the excess sugar & carbohydrates.

Having said that, need to point out exercises is still important for general health. However when it comes to weight loss, dieting cum healthy eating still reign supreme :))