Adopting healthy habits, why do this to yourself?

So I've been feeling pretty unfit lately, always bogged down by niggling aches and pains, or light ailments like a runny nose (only thing about me that seems to enjoy running) or a fever. 

credits to happybirthdaycake2015.com

So this got me to thinking, I should start working out and get myself fitter. Obviously, the many many multi-vitamins I'm taking each day isn't working. I even wonder if I mistakenly am taking skittles and M&M's instead. Maybe I should start taking M&M's. The peanut butter ones are really good. Damn I got to go buy some now. Brb.

so so good... burp.

Sorry for the delay, they actually do melt in your hands. This is Singapore, warm and humid, no idea why I thought they wouldn't. Had to clean up my keyboard, and had to restrain myself from licking the keyboard to clean it too.

Ok, back to the lifestyle change. I know in my earlier posts I already adopted a lifestyle of jogging and table tennis and all that, but I got injured/ill/lazy and so stopped most of that. And it's a horribly vicious cycle, once you slack, it's really hard to get it back. No, not talking about the communications software, I mean actually slacking off on your workouts.

I still do go to yoga, or rather am now doing it more regularly. But more importantly, I am also starting a new morning regime after gaining inspiration from my new favourite manga, Onepunch-Man. Btw, season 2 of the anime is finally out.

I'm not insane, or even free enough to do this daily. But for a start, I am doing 30 Push-ups, 30 Sit-ups and 30 Squats every morning before breakfast, just to get the body and mind awake once I get up. And I'll tell you what, I actually feel better even just after 3 days. I mean the muscle aches are starting to appear, but at least it's through working out as opposed to stiffness from sleeping in a wrong position.

Also, I have decided to severely reduce my alcohol intake. This is definitely helped by me suddenly finding that lager beer is too sweet for me. I understand, this part (for those who read this far) is absolutely shocking to those who know me as their usual beer tanker. Sorry guys, I'm not even a beer bicycle any more, it's making me fat.

So I saw some guy online chronicle his daily Onepunch-Man workout, and I'm doing the same for my reduced version.

Day 3

Let's see how I'll look after 30 days, although I haven't started jogging yet. Had a bit of a health scare last year so I'm taking it slow for now. Just to let you know, even the repetitions of 30 is enough to get me sweaty in the morning. Once it stops being tiring I'll ramp it up to 40. Might take a while to get there so dun hold your breath.


Signing off,
KJ

Fun Fact: Onepunch-Man takes only one punch to kill his enemies!

Only 5 dollars needed to travel overseas!

Yes everyone, you heard me right! Simply use S$5 to travel overseas!

What I mean is, I saw some videos on FB showing people who save every single $5 note that they have in their wallet, and at the time of the travel date, use that wad of bills to pay for their travels. I thought worth a try, since I really suck at setting aside savings.

So here's what I did; look for kopitiam food costing around $5, then use a $10 note to pay. Add in the coins if it costs above $5, and this should get you a $5 note in change. SAVE THAT NOTE.

It all adds up, like that shot of soju you gulped down in between your beers. Without realising it, you are totally blanked out with no idea what happened the rest of the night. The $5 note method works like that. Damn sneaky.

Also, I'm very ashamed to say that I received ang paos during CNY this year, at the ripe old age of 37... Compare that to my parents, who at the same age were bringing around two kids, aged 9 and 6. I brought my gf. Not quite the same level, but I think the family was really happy to see her. Cos she is very sociable, super lovely and also because they want to stop passing me ang pao.

Anyways I recalled the significance of the $5 travel money plan cos I was doing some spring cleaning, and managed to dig out some old travel photos.

Despite my strong insistence that I still look exactly the same...

recent photo for comparison

See, not even lying, I look identical. But despite that, I wish to be fitter and less onion-head looking so we have started playing table tennis and going for jog/walks more often. It's a good break from the usual dinner/drinks date night out. And I think we're both seeing obvious results of it!

So the next trip is to a beach resort, cos we can unashamedly flaunt our bodies for a nice tan, and guess what, in the 3 months that I started the $5 note savings plan, we've saved enough for a 3D2N weekend at a nearby island. Money that I would have spent without thinking twice!

Also, speaking of photos I dug out.. 

My cool parents visiting me at Pulau Tekong

I value privacy, cos briefcases and purple umbrellas are embarrassing

While I know I will never ever reach that shape ever again, it's nice to see what my body once looked like, and I'll do my best to be close to that. Without looking like a pua siu peng (sickly soldier).

Signing off,

KJ

Fun Fact: CNY goodies are really baddies to your body. 

Real Monday mc also macam chao keng

Yes I said it. Even though you might be sleeping on the floor beside Death's bed, people's first thought is 'Chao Keng' or skive. Second thought would then be 'Long weekend hor, sibeh good idea' and then next Monday will be their turn.

Since I mentioned death's bed, side story coming up. My favourite Death character is the one from Terry Pratchett's Discworld series. He didn't actually need a bed, He just had one so that He could try to relate to humans.

he speaks in small caps, makes you imagine reading a booming voice in your head

Here is the order to enjoy his books, and many a times have I laughed out loud in public transport just by reading them. Most of our libraries will carry a couple of his novels, so do borrow one to start reading. I dare say that I have picked up the joy of writing by trying, and not succeeding in any way, to replicate his writing style. 

May you rest in peace Sir Terence David John Pratchett OBE (28 April 1948 – 12 March 2015). You are an inspiration, a motivation and an institution all by yourself. I will be purchasing and displaying the full set of the Discworld series once I move into my own home. No jokes here, his books are beyond awesome! 

As I was saying, reporting sick. The unfortunate stigma of taking mc on Monday is that people associate it with Monday blues, instead of you being actually ill. Then again, with most clinics seeing more than double the number of patients on a Monday morning, it does lend some credence to that misconception. 

imagine you trying to fake an mc

But of course, not all doctors are like that, some are actually sympathetic and choose to diagnose you with the benefit of (Monday) doubt. My personal doctor takes his treatment really seriously, and I'm so thankful he also almost always ignores the strong alcohol smell that engulfs his consultation room when I'm there.

if doctors kept it real

I can totally imagine a no nonsense doctor telling this to you should nothing be found wrong and you just need the mc to sleep the day away. That would totally suck. And hilarious too if you needed a water cooler story. 

Of course, some doctors will actually find something wrong with you, even though you thought you were: (a) there cos you keng or (b) having a yearly checkup. This is where a lot of tact and light humour will do wonders to lessen the blow of bad news.

i bet the smile helps too

Of course I would never wish for anyone to be of ill-health. Good health is more important than all the wealth in the world. If you are terminally unwell, ridiculously rich, and was touched to tears by my well wishes, pm me for my bank account so that I can literally show you that all that wealth in your world didn't make you any happier. And if you feel happy seeing others happy, what are you waiting for with that pm? 

So then doctors would ask more questions to determine how any current conditions came about, and I recall what was recently asked of me during the blood donation (refer to earlier post on squirting nurses).

honesty isn't always the best policy

The cute doctor was probably sniggering inside when I was describing my non-existent sex life, albeit in a slightly different conversation from above. Although in my head, I imagined her asking me in a way that overlooks her appearance and highlights her professional qualifications.

I wouldn't have dared said this out loud though, kind of why my blood is ridiculously safe for blood transfusion, apart from the high alcohol content. Oh woe betide me. This is where I am looking for female volunteers to assist the doctor in the diagnosis. Anyone?

So to conclude, unless you are really unwell on Mondays, try to avoid taking that mc. And if you still decide to get one, at least take for 2 days to make it a shitload more believable.

Signing off,
KJ

 

 














Fun Fact: I've been told I'm condescending. That means I talk down to people.