Work out & Drink Up
If you want to live a long and healthy life, you're probably trying to eat right, exercise regularly and get enough sleep. Good steps. Now how about adding a little alcohol to your regimen?
Could drinking alcohol have a benefit similar to that of exercise?
If you don't want to exercise too much, can you trade it for one to two drinks per day and be fine? The answer may be yes and that finding, not surprisingly, has proved to be a crowd pleaser.
There are a number of reasons a drink can be such a tonic. First, alcohol and exercise affect your heart health in similar ways. They help increase good cholesterol, or HDL [high-density lipoproteins], and clean the circulatory system's pipes. HDL helps remove fatty deposits, created by bad cholesterol, or LDL [low-density lipoproteins], from blood-vessel walls. The higher the HDL, the less likely vascular disease becomes. The lower the HDL, the more likely.
A survey done on 12,000 people over a 20-year period found that exercise and drinking alcohol each had an independent beneficial effect on the heart and a compounded effect when practiced together. The investigators got even greater insight when they separated the study participants into four categories.
People who don't drink at all and don't exercise had the highest risk of heart disease. People who drink moderately and exercise had a 50% lower risk. Tee-totaling exercisers had a 30% decreased risk, as did moderately drinking couch potatoes.
This study is part of a growing body of work that makes a medical virtue out of what was once seen as a vice. There is evidence that alcohol in combination with caffeine can limit the damage to your brain after a stroke, even though it may not lower your risk of having a stroke in the first place. Other possible benefits include lowering your risk of diabetes, improving insulin sensitivity in postmenopausal women and decreasing dementia rates in older adults who had been consuming one to six drinks per week.
Before you rush off to hit the bar after your workout, keep in mind that your age matters. Alcohol may do you no coronary good until you reach the age at which heart disease becomes an appreciable risk. You wouldn't advise everyone to drink. You shouldn't even think about doing it until age 45 or 50. There's absolutely no proof of a preventative and protective effect before age 45. Also, younger women who have a higher risk of breast cancer and anyone who has a family history of alcoholism should pass on the pint and order a soda.
And remember, moderation is everything.
For myself, I only drink on Friday nights, on other days, only a glass of red wine.
Quicktip: Eat Your Breakfast
Quicktip: Eat a bowl of banana cereal because foods like banana & honey replace lose nutrients, increase metabolism and activate alcohol absorption.
I love my banana nut crunch 
Eat it with soy milk!
Shopping @ Victoria’s Secret!
Guess this settles almost everything in my Christmas wishlist!
How do you get started with a workout routine?
When I was out of shape, all I felt was insecure and the depression led me to eating more than I need. I knew I had to start losing weight but every morning I wake up, my body suddenly starts to ache from sitting in front of the computer too long or from walking around in heels too much... or so I tell myself. In other words, when it comes to exercise, it's been awhile.
The hardest part about running is getting up and doing it. I didn't just just get up one day and start running for an hour and doing so everyday. I first started out in-line skating.
The trick is to begin with a sport that you love. We often focus on reasons why we can't, or won't exercise. Yet the most important thing is WHY you do want to. Are you trying to lose weight? Build strength? Or improve your overall health?
FOCUS. Keep your mind focused on WHY you want to start working out when you feel your motivation waning.
START SLOWLY. Begin your workouts gradually, or you risk burnout or injury. Begin walking a mile or two, then gradually increase your pace and distance. After you feel your body beginning to shape up, you can start with other forms of higher intensity exercise.
BE REALISTIC. Be realistic about what to expect and you'll begin to feel changes in your body and endurance within a few weeks. Set goals you know you can achieve in the next few days after you start working out and when you're seeing results, I promise, you'll only be addicted.
FOOD INTAKE. You cannot expect to lose weight if you're working out AND still eating fried food and sweets. The way around this is to avoid these foods on days you are working out (say, weekdays) and only have A DAY (or two) or eating only what you crave (say, on weekend/s).
I understand it is hard at first. Especially the part where I have to give up my sweets but trust me, it's worth the temporary sacrifice!
Bloating
Whenever that time of the month comes near, my stomach starts to bloat. Major bloating. I also tend want to eat more than I need to and crave for sugar. So why is there a problem about a bloating stomach and why do you feel so uncomfortable? Bloating is the subjective sensation (feeling) that the abdomen is larger than normal. It can be caused by too little sodium intake, though it isn't the only possibility. Basically the bloating pain and the gas is caused by your gut bacteria digesting whatever food your body didn't absorb once it has passed through your small intestine.
You can stop gas and bloating by taking a few precautions and eating the right foods.
Here are some tips to avoid this embarrassing problem:-
1. Make sure that you do NOT talk too much when you are eating- as you also swallow a lot of air which only adds to the problem!
2. Always eat slowly and sit down!
3. Make sure that any ill fitting dentures are changed so that you eat more efficiently and that includes the important task of chewing which is vital for good digestion.
4. Drinking water after consuming dairy foods can help with the bloating effect. Hot tea or any warm drinks helps.
Avoid These Foods
Legumes: Especially dried beans and peas, baked beans, soy beans, lima beans.
Milk Products: milk, ice cream, cheese.
Vegetables: Cabbage, broccoli, Brussels sprouts, cauliflower, cucumbers, sauerkraut, kohlrabi, asparagus
Root Vegetables: Potatoes, rutabaga, turnips, radishes, onions
Fruits: Prunes, apricots, apples, raisins, bananas.
Cereals: - Wheat and flour products.
Everybody is different and their digestive system will react in a different way to the above foods. To really solve the problem, you would have to stay off some of the above foods for a time and experiment.A person with a healthy digestive system will experience far less bloating, even with foods that commonly cause bloating. Eaten raw, these foods cause more bloating than when they are cooked.
Practical Advice To Stop Gas And Bloating
Most people find that if they eliminate wheat and flour products, their bloating nearly always improves. Many of us lose the lactase enzyme as we age making us susceptible to gas and bloating when we drink or eat dairy products so avoid these if you are lactose intolerant. Today there are several products in the marketplace which are lactose-free or can help lactose-intolerant people to digest lactose.
With love, Fay Hokulani
First Day of Shooting for Okto
The day started very early as I reported at Hoods Inc. office at 8am. It's the first day of shooting for Okto Channel and I'm doing an arts entertainment program called SCORE. The show will probably start airing on January 17th, 2009. So exciting!
I got home at about 5ish and I was beat... Ate some salmon and tofu and fell asleep. I didn't expect shooting to be quite draining! It was absolutely fun though as Jibby, my co-host, and I learnt about recycling and danced a little bit. Ohhhh the first episode is so embarrassing as we both had to wear like a ballet outfit. Anyway, gonna have dinner now and rest up for tomorrow!
With love, Fay Hokulani
Workout Music & Losing That Stubborn Flab
I don't know about you but I just can't concentrate working out without music playing in my ears. Once my iPod Shuffle died after just 15 minutes of running Several studies have been conducted to show the effect of music on workouts. One study showed that upbeat, hard-driving music can increase your strength and intensity, while another study revealed that music has been shown to increase pain tolerance during a workout.
So here's my workout music playlist:
Prodigy - Smack My Bitch Up
Prodigy - Breathe
Prodigy - Firestarter
Prodigy - Serial Thrilla
Yelle - A Cause Des Garcons Tepr Remix Tecktonik
Paul van Dyk - New York City
DJ Tiesto - Love Comes Again
50 Cent - Ayo Technology
Justin Timberlake - SexyBack
Pussycat Dolls - When I Grow Up
Senses Fail - Calling All Cars
Samantha Moore - Replace You
All-American Rejects - Dirty Little Secret
Jimmy Eat Word - 23
Yeah I kick it off with a bit of hardcore and cool down with some rock. It really plays a part in my performance.
Next, let's talk about flabby arms. When you are overweight, fat is stored in several areas of your body. Men typically store fat in their mid-sections while women store fat in their thighs, buttocks, and hips. Flabby arms can occur in both men and women. There are ways to tone up the back of the arms but before you get started, there are some important points to consider.
We all know you cannot spot reduce the back of the arms, or that stubborn extra flab on your belly. There is no such thing as spot reduction for any part of the body and this is important to know. Even if you did push-ups until the cows came home, you would still have flabby arms if you did not reduce your overall body fat. Don't waste a lot of time with exercise unless you adjust your diet - which leads to the next important point.
The KEY is body fat reduction. When you have a layer of fat surrounding your muscles, there is no way for tone and definition to appear. You must adjust your diet by cutting back on high fat, high calorie, junk foods and focus on healthy foods like fruits, veggies, lean proteins, and good fats (EFA's - essential fatty acids.) No exercise plan in the world will work for you unless you change your eating habits for the better. Find out what a healthy body fat percentage is for you and work towards it. Only then will all of your hard work exercising pay off to rid yourself of the flab in the back of your arms.
Once you have your eating habits in check, the next step is to work on some useful arm exercises which focus on the tricep. The stronger you become with your tricep exercises, the back of your arms will begin to tighten up, and you'll be closer to your goal of losing the flabby arms/belly.
REMEMBER, you cannot spot reduce the back of your arms and healthy eating habits are so important to reduce your body fat percentage. Only then will the arm exercises you perform really begin to pay off!
A Poem For Every Woman…
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ....
enough money within her control to move out
and rent a place of her own even if she never wants
to or needs to.
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ....
something perfect to wear if the employer or date of her
dreams wants to see her in an hour.
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ...
a youth she's content to leave behind.
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ....
a past juicy enough that she's looking forward to
retelling it in her old age.
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ....
one friend who always makes her laugh... and one who
lets her cry.
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ....
a good piece of furniture not previously owned by anyone
else in her family.
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ....
eight matching plates, wine glasses with stems, and a
recipe for a meal that will make her guests feel honored.
A WOMAN SHOULD HAVE ....
a feeling of control over her destiny.
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
how to fall in love without losing herself..
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
HOW TO QUIT A JOB,
BREAK UP WITH A LOVER,
AND CONFRONT A FRIEND WITHOUT RUINING THE FRIENDSHIP.
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
when to try harder... and WHEN TO WALK AWAY.
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
that she can't change the length of her calves,
the width of her hips, or the nature of her parents.
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
that her childhood may not have been perfect...but it's
over.
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
what she would and wouldn't do for love or more...
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
how to live alone... even if she doesn't like it.
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
whom she can trust,
whom she can't,
and why she shouldn't
take it personally.
EVERY WOMAN SHOULD KNOW...
what she can't accomplish in a day...a month...and a year.
And what she can.
The Fairytale Life?
Princess kisses a frog. Feel like your love life falls short of a fairy tale? Frustrated in your search for The One, Prince Charming, your own Happily Ever After ending? If you're looking to improve your chances of dating and relationship success, you may first need to debunk some common love myths.
The following are common relationship myths, followed by simple reality checks:
Myth #1: The Rescue Fantasy
Are you waiting for your perfect partner to swoop in and rescue you from your life? If so, you may be waiting forever. The truth is, in order to be a truly successful single, you have to first save yourself. That means not waiting for your perfect partner to come along before you resolve unpaid debts, emotional baggage, or any other area of your life where you are unhappy. If you think you might be buying into the rescue fantasy, you first need to take a long, hard look at your life and ask yourself what you're waiting for your perfect partner to fix and/or provide. Once you get your answers, you owe it to yourself to take steps to resolve those issues and problems on your own. In doing so, you rescue yourself and become a truly successful single. As a result, you will most likely start attracting more suitable and satisfying potential partners. Love that!
Myth #2: The Fairy Tale Trap
Once upon a time, little girls everywhere were raised on the notion that one day Prince Charming would come along and sweep them off their feet. If you're still waiting for your Prince Charming, stop. There is no glass slipper, no magical kiss, no storybook ending. And that's fantastic! In the new millennium, love is not a fairy tale. Don't expect your dating life to be picture-perfect. Just as you are human with all your fabulous flaws, the people you date are equally human and equally flawed. By celebrating your own strengths and weaknesses, you'll be better equipped to celebrate the wonderfully flawed individuals you date.
Myth #3: Someday My Prince Will Come
In the past, have you found yourself on a date with someone who was nice enough, but was a far cry from your laundry list of potential partner qualities? Did you discount their positive qualities and instead focus on the negative? If so, you may have talked yourself out of getting to know someone who could have been really terrific. In 2008, with Iinternet dating, speed dating, instant breakups, and instant hook-ups, it's all too easy to discard one potential partner for another. While having lots of dating options is good, it can also make genuinely connecting with someone more difficult. In the process, your prince may just come along...and go! Do yourself a favor and slow down, pay attention and give yourself permission to date less-than-perfect people. You may just find someone who is perfectly imperfect for you.
Myth #4: The One
If you think you may have met and discarded The One, don't despair. The good news is there's no such thing as The One. In fact, along your journey toward happily ever after, you will meet lots of potential Ones. Your job is to stay open-minded, be your best self, and learn your valuable lessons from each and every person you date. That way, when good Ones come along you can spot them, date them, and decide if they're the One for you.
Myth #5: And They Lived Happily Ever After...
Once you meet your perfectly imperfect partner, you can sit back, relax, and live happily ever after, right? Wrong. The truth is real relationships, unlike fairy tales, take work. Finding your perfect partner is just the beginning. Learning to check your emotional baggage, being willing to compromise, and communicating in healthy ways are all part of the deal. In order to do so, you've got to first be healthy and happy on your own two feet. That way, you're ready, willing, and able to attract a healthy and happy partner. Ultimately, your version of happily ever after will be uniquely yours. And that's better than any fairy tale you'll ever read about!
By freeing yourself from the fairy tale, rescuing yourself, and creating realistic views of love and relationships, you're well on your way to attracting your perfectly imperfect partner, because you too are perfectly imperfect.
Chasing the sun across the globe, starting from Singapore to California, Florida, and now Kuala Lumpur.
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