The Joys Of

The joy of having your own personal space:

1) Your own rules. And no one else's.

2) Privacy. To do whatever you want - read in the bathtub (as I sometimes do), brush your teeth in front of the tv (yes... im a mutant).

3) Dancing with absolutely no reservation.

4) Wanting to paint the walls flashing red? No problemo.

Fitness Updates:

I've established more of less a stable, regular routine. It consists of cardio and a bit of stretching and strength. My aerobic capacity is definitely not like it was, but I have little doubt that should I return back to my favorite sports I would not have that hard of a problem staying on.

On days when it is raining, and the gym is closed I run up the stairs of my condo up till the top floor (19th floor) and take the elevator down to ground again. The first time I did it, the guards stopped me, suspicious. But then they note that I was a heavy gym goer and use the pool often and always wheel my bike out past them or jog into/and out past the guard house. They let me go.

Health updates:

Sleep times are stable. I have been getting 6 hours of sleep now. I take power naps of 10 minutes tops... never more. I try to eat healthily (TRY, TRY) but only this morning I walloped two polystyrene sized nasi lemak ayam goreng (breakfast, then lunch) and then half a slice of blueberry cheese cake... and then like about 5 Reese's Pieces. GASP! I blame the whole day meeting with the Engineering team.

Ok, gotta go and do work.

Magnummmm

This is a video taken on the way to Annapurna Base Camp and just short before I suffered the Altitude Sickness. I was asking one of the many porters going uphill whether to go straight up or wait until the sheep cleared. It was fun going up the trail!! I enjoyed this so much, right up to the scene of a dude peeing against the huge boulder rock (not in video). I saw one of the baby sheep with its two legs broken and it was literally just dragging itself downhill :( I cried a lot during this trip... Nepal would always remind me of animal abuse/torture.

 I'm slowly easing back into running and everything else this week. With swimming, cycling, karate, in-line skate, there's just so much equipment and rules you have to chug along or abide to. I always have to diligently pack the equipments for all the above sports the night before and my workouts could be ruined (or canceled altogether) if I forgot even one of the things. Running requires so little that I always feel so so so relaxed when it's my running day instead of any other day.

 I've discovered my pit-stop refuel: Magnum Almond. Ever since starting running slowly and really working on my meals and upping up my yoga, my appetite's been ravenous. Whenever I go for a nice run, especially with hills, I always reward myself with a stick of Magnum Almond. I couldn't believe it - when I was in university I couldn't even finish ONE. And now I could eat 2 in a row! Well, after a tough workout, that is. 

 I discovered the heavenly power of these Magnum Almonds in the middle of my bike rides with the uncles. It was scorching hot and I was downing plain water to no avail. A stop at the rest and relax had me beelining to one of the stalls for a nice mug of Milo Ais and what is this... Magnum Almond? Looks tasty.

 AND YES it is. Yum yum yum.

And now I have it all the time, after a swim, after a tough yoga class, kickboxing, what have yous. I even have it on the couch watching The Good Wife bonked on my cough medication. Simply eating it relives the moment when I worked hard to conquer the hills, the last km, the final lap, the excruciating pose, the tough kick punch combo. It tells me that I deserve this, every single tasty sweet, creamy drop of it.

 Damn.... I'm craving for one right now. Thank God I have the Magnum Minis in my fridge.

2 deadly sins

Ever since coming back to my parent's house just 45 minutes from the city last Thursday, I've been doing nothing but committing to gluttony and sloth. I've never felt so guilty and to be honest can't wait to get back on track and face the daily monotony of work and routine. But at the same time this self-indulgence of food and sleep and inactivity and nothing else doesn't really happen often, so I'm trying to force myself to enjoy it as much as I could because come Monday, I'd be back to square one again. 

 Only I've been a glutton and a sloth since Thursday, and I am starting to feel restless. The only form of 'exercise' I did was accompanying my parents on their daily morning walk for like maybe half an hour before treating ourselves to a hearty breakfast of nasi lemak and roti canai! Granted the walk is about 4-5km daily (its about 2.5-3km to the town and back again) but still. The rest of the days I'm either lounging on a bed reading, eating, sleeping and then talking to my parents while they potter in the garden. 

 And the food... let's not talk about it. I think I've had stuffed turkey, mashed potato, dendeng, kari ayam, ayam rendang, and today me and my sister baked a cheesecake and chocolate brownies. Can you say gluttony? To relieve my guilt I keep looking at my training calendar that will start this Tuesday and will continue on through the 3 weekends since I've 'punched card' with my folks this week. 

 Ignore this totally pointless post. Bet nobody noticed the 2 4-5kms I did amidst all the heavenly food and desserts hahahahhahaha!