October 2020 – Page 2 – HEALTH FREAK MOMMY

How To Be More Proactive With Your Health and Wellbeing

If you are someone who does not get sick frequently, you may find yourself putting your health on the back burner because you don’t have to think about it. When you don’t have critical health concerns, you may feel less inclined to pay attention to your body and mind; however, you may be making some common but detrimental mistakes for your health by not paying attention to it. You can take a proactive approach to your wellness and build your health up this season and put yourself on a healthier path.

Focus on Your Comprehensive Health

Many adults find themselves focusing on the doctor as their only point of contact for help and support. While your primary care physician or family doctor will be useful, you can take a more comprehensive approach to your health and wellbeing Boston MA by targeting specific areas. Everything from behavioral health to your teeth and your eyes can be an important part of your overall wellness.

Be Proactive With Your Care

A common mistake that adults make is only seeing a health professional when there is a problem. You can make a positive change by participating in preventative care. Annual doctor’s visits, preventative vaccines and other supportive health services can all be ways to take a more active stance in your care.

Start With the Basics

While there are professional services that can help you prevent issues, you can also take charge of your wellness with small changes. You can start with the basics like getting more sleep, managing your stress levels, improving your diet and introducing regular exercise. The daily decisions that you make play an integral part in your wellness journey, but it is up to you to make those adjustments.

If you are fortunate enough to have had good health, you may not be giving your wellness much thought; however, your lifestyle can vastly impact your health. Even if you don’t have to evaluate your wellness, there are plenty of steps that you can take to live a happier and healthier life.

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Steps to Open a Restaurant

If you’re a fan of all things cooking, then you might be pondering opening your own restaurant. It’s a great way to express your culinary creativity and run your own business at the same time. The menu, hours, and decor are all up to you! But before you buy salad bar equipment and panini presses, you should go through all the steps of starting a successful restaurant.

Brainstorm

The first step to starting a business is finding the idea that’s right for you. With a restaurant, this means considering the style of food, the atmosphere, and the type of clientele you hope to attract. For example, do you want to have casual Mediterranean, a fancy French concept, or a drive-through hamburger joint? Once you land on a type of food and atmosphere, you can start thinking about the menu. You’ll have to choose items that are cost effective, delicious, and easy to teach others to prepare because you’ll likely have a staff operating the kitchen. Finally, you want to take time to carefully craft your business plan. This is what you’ll show to the bank or potential investors to convince them to provide the capital you need to get up and running.

restaurant chefs smiling behind platters of food on table and ready for restaurant opening

Get Moving

Once you’ve established your business plan, you can secure the money you need to hit the ground running. You’ll need to find a building or space and obtain a lease to start working, as well as FDA certification to use your kitchen and equipment. From there, you can design the layout of your restaurant, secure a food vendor or suppliers, and hire the staff that will help you with day-to-day operations. When all that’s done, you’ll be ready to open and thrive!

Opening a restaurant can be easy if you follow these simple steps to success.

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Get a Head Start on Migraine Pain Identification

Headaches come in all variations of intensity and duration. One of the more debilitating on the spectrum is the migraine, which is actually a significant neurological condition. However, since a headache can assert itself as one of the symptoms, migraines can be difficult to diagnose. Here is how you can determine whether the cranial pain you feel is a migraine rather than another headache type.

Vision Change or Aura

If you experience visual signals within the hour before your head begins to ache, you are possibly on the path to a migraine. Squiggles in your field of vision or other sight disturbances can also pair with auditory changes at the onset of a migraine; however, not every migraine sufferer is susceptible to these.

Unilateral Pulsing Pain

Many headaches spread uniformly across your head or around the neck and temples. The pain is steady. In contrast, classic migraines manifest as a throbbing pain often on one side of the forehead. The pain often lasts between 48 and 72 hours. Because this pain is usually intense, it is essential to seek pain management Jacksonville FL to alleviate the symptoms as an ongoing remediation strategy.

Sensory Sensitivity

Before and during a migraine episode, you may experience heightened sensitivity to sound, smell, taste and touch. Food and airborne pollution may make you nauseous, and loud noises and bright lights will worsen the pulsing in your head; you may find retreating to a dark, quiet room will lessen the symptoms.

Family History

Somewhere in your past, you may have heard parents or siblings discussing migraines because they have experienced them at one time or another. Ask if any have been diagnosed with the condition (and at what age). If so, because certain migraine types are hereditary conditions, the chances are that head pain you feel is on the migraine spectrum.

Though any headache can be an inconvenience, migraines can make day-to-day activities impossible to fulfill. Therefore, if you suspect you have begun to experience them, it is essential to have your symptoms diagnoses and to create a pain management plan.

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CMCO Day 132 ~ Monday, 19 Oct 2020

Hubs called me for an unplanned breakfast today. These days we engage in quite a bit of business talks and brainstorming together as I’m assisting him in the bento box delivery department. Today he wanted to sample Western breakfast sets at a couple of cafes as he’s in the midst of introducing Western breakfast sets into his menu and at his best pal’s newly opened cafe. He also has some other business ideas in the offing, which needs some fine-tuning.

We shared a French breakfast set at the first cafe. Everything about this sublimely set suits me to a T and I loved it – from the specially executed French omelette to the ground Porcini mushrooms, the toasts and coffee. The lavish set comes with a befitting price tag too, which, in our opinion, would not auger well in the current depressing economic climate. Yes the food is sublime and supreme but the price does not go down well with most people’s pockets.

Then we sauntered to the next cafe, which is just next to the first. We shared a no-frills basic Western breakfast set, a plate of basic Mee Siam and a slice of butter cake. We were already pretty stuffed but hubs wanted to try other cafe’s items to compare with his shop’s.

From our observation, the cafe that sells no-frills basic breakfast sets at a budget price entices more customers than their higher end competitor neighbor. We drew a conclusion that between quality and price, regular wage earners still prefer cheap and affordable no-frills meals vs luxe meals!

Which do you prioritize – better taste and quality food at a higher price or basic no-frills mediocre food?

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Denim Skirts – Every Girl’s Wardrobe Staple

Since my teenage years up until now, I have an obsession with denim skirts. I especially love washed denim mini skirts. My perennial obsession with denim skirts have resulted in a good collection of this fashion item sequestered in my wardrobe over the years. I have outgrown some and the larger size ones were bought after the birth of my 3 babies. But I’m not giving them away just yet. Who knows I may be able to fit into the larger size skirts in the event I put on some weight 10 years down the road. And the smaller size ones are still waiting for takers from my girls. So far, none of them likes denim skirts 🙄

Denim skirt outfits have been around since the dawn of time. They are the least embellished and most worn of the many. It is not restricted by age, body type and skin color. Denim skirts are versatile, chic, playful, elegant, fun, evergreen and I can go on and on about the advantages of wearing them and why every girl should have a few designs of denim skirt in her closet.

While virtual window shopping today, I found a wholesale clothing online store that carries an amazing collection of chic, rugged, elegant, playful, classic and even trashy denim skirts. I’m drooling at the skirts now! I’ve shortlisted these few:

Side Hollow Out Skinny Blue Denim Skirt @ USD12.87 from Wholesale7.net

Button Fly Tassel Hem Ripped Denim Skirt @ USD13.87

Vintage High Waist Hole Denim Skirts @ USD11.29. I even like the cropped denim top but I think someone is going to pass some carping comments if she saw me strutting this out of the house! 😏

Retro Solid Irregular Ladies Denim Skirt @USD10.32

Which skirt do you think would suit a 47-year old petite lady? I seem to have a problem with decision making. Sometimes when I can’t settle with one, I buy all! At Wholesale7.net, there’s a Buy-4-free-1 promotion on selected denim skirts! Isn’t this a good enough reason to grab all 4 skirts? I can always re-sell them if they don’t fit me 😁

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CMCO Day 130 ~ Saturday, 17 Oct 2020

With the shitty pandemic not getting any better, wearing of face masks is set to become compulsory for at least another half a year. Even if it’s no longer mandatory by law to wear face mask in public, I will still be wearing one. Our girls and hubby too. Would you dare to take chances of baring your nose and mouth? Just put on a face mask for peace of mind. And since face masks have taken over my blusher and lipstick, I might as well wear one in my favorite color to decorate my face 😷 . Bright pretty colors often put me in a good mood. I really need something to brighten up my life in depressing times like now.

The Covid situation in our country is getting worse by the day. Everyday we read of new positive cases detected in a new shopping mall or office building. Today our country reported over 800 new positive cases. More businesses are now affected by this unexpected black swan event. Last week when the government announced that another CMCO would be imposed followed by cancellation of hubby’s catering events, my heart felt so heavy. I feel like our lives have been dealt with another big blow after we’ve just picked up the pieces and thinking that our lives are slowly returning to the norm.

“You’re not the only ones affected. The whole world is affected. Every business is affected” – this is what people always say to console us but the pain and frustration are overwhelming and it sucks, especially on the financial impact it has on us.

Besides reusable fabric masks, I’m also buying colorful disposable face masks to add to my collection. Apart from Medicos, I discovered two other made in Malaysia brands, namely Durio and Simply K and have bought these brands to add to my collection. I love them bright pretty colors!

My parcel of joy received today – face masks in bright purple ☺️

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Sending Flowers To Your Loved Ones During The Pandemic

Science has proven what many already believed, that flowers are good for your soul and mental well-being! Flowers are pretty, colorful, smell great and within their delightfully-delicate petals, our blooming buddies hold the secrets to make us feel happy. Flowers have the magical ability to lift our mood, reduce stress and depression and generate a more optimistic outlook in life.

With the recent global Covid-19 pandemic, there is a significant impact on every aspect of life, including how people live in the new normal. With many people impacted negatively by the pandemic, there are more reasons why we need flowers in our lives. Home quarantine and isolation can be a lonely and depressing experience; it can lower our mood and the vulnerable in society could have serious implications on their mental wellbeing.

If you are currently separated from your wife, daughter, mother, girlfriend, friends or loved ones because of border restrictions and social distancing, you can reach out to them from afar by sending them flowers via online flowers delivery services such as those from PlantShed NYC flowers, the best New York florist that’s around!

Fire Island Flowers

If you’re having many missed moments with your loved ones that you would have spent together if not for this pandemic, a beautiful bouquet or pot of flowers sent to them from a New York florist will make them feel loved though you’re miles apart from them.

Flowers are one of the best ways to spark some joy to the days of your loved ones during this drat pandemic. Sending flowers to your loved ones is a great way to connect and communicate and truly make an impact on your loved one’s mood in a way that’s otherwise not accessible due to social distancing and restrictions on traveling.

Sending flowers may be a simple gesture, but it is truly more than that. Flowers are an absolute delight to have. Stay safe folks!

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Cass’ High School & Alycia’s Plan Next Year

So Cass is now officially a confirmed student at the high school of her choice. The school emailed Cass’ student ID to us two days ago. This number will be a bespoke number incorporated on the school badge which will be sewn on her uniform, which she will wear for the next 5-6 years. Cass is a very happy camper! But we’re both having a cocktail of emotions on her choice of high school. It’s not going to be easy in this high school and I hope that Cass will sail through the high school years just like her Alycia che che.

Speaking of Alycia, we’ve been toggling between Senior UEC at the high school (equivalent to Form 6) and Pre-U/Diploma/Foundation studies in a private college. With so much uncertainties ahead of us because of the shitty pandemic and not knowing if she can even attend physical classes in college, we have now settled for Form 6. Classes will still be a dual mode of online classes and physical classes, depending on the pandemic situation. When this dang pandemic is under control with a vaccine in place, we can always switch her from Form 6 to private college to pursue her Pre-U/Diploma/Foundation studies. Next year is going to be an exciting year for our girls!

Our in-house chef Sherilyn whipped up some super duper soft, pillowy and fluffy Souffle pancakes for breakfast yesterday. This girl has magic hands in the kitchen. Everything that she cooks and bakes often turn out magical! These are the best pancakes I’ve eaten.

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Celebrating Plus Size

It’s a known fact that looking gaunt equates to being attractive. The societal benchmark of being ‘perfect’ are having good features, tall, skinny and flawless skin. In recent years, some women are breaking these stereotypes by embracing their plus sized bodies and redefining standards. But is it possible to be still healthy when one is overweight? Yes if you’re free from chronic diseases like hypertension, diabetes and other ailments.

Over the years, the number of plus size models is increasing as more women gain confidence in how they look. Ashley Graham’s name used to pop to mind when people talked about famous plus-size models. As diversity becomes an increasing focus in the fashion industry, more and more plus-size models are becoming household names.

While slim still continues to be the most envied and desired body type, plus size fashion and lingerie are catching up, thanks to plus-size models who advocate their bodies positively. It’s about time we see beauty for what it is and not what we think it should be. If you are a plus size, you can shop for an awesome collection of ladies plus size clothing and lingerie at HexinFashion. This online store has gorgeous plus size clothing and lingerie like the ones below ranging from size XL up to 6XL.

In the past, it’s difficult to find plus size clothing and lingerie that are fashionable, appealing and affordable. These days plus size clothing for both women and men are easily available at malls, fashion boutiques and online stores. Some of my plus size friends buy their lingerie at plus size lingerie wholesale prices when they buy in bulk from overseas online stores and then re-sell the lingerie to friends and at social media groups to make some profits.

There is no need to be self-conscious about one’s size anymore as nobody is perfect and everyone has small imperfections. Plus-size models are an inspiration to every plus size woman and thanks to them for advocating body acceptance that designers are paying more attention to larger sizes. Being able to wear anything they see on display is something any woman can now do, thanks to the change in designers’ attitudes.

HexinFashion carries an amazing selection of plus size clothing, sleepwear and lingerie for women at affordable prices. There are many styles and colors waiting for you to discover on this online platform. If you’re a plus size, celebrate your body just the way it is. Show off your seductive curves and flaunt your cleavage. Take advantage of the best plus size wholesale Black Friday Sale 2020 to save even more money.

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3 Great Tips for Staying Stress-Free During Challenging Times

Are you feeling overwhelmed by the state of the world today? There’s never been a better time to take stock of your stress levels, as they have a great effect on your quality of life. Here are three tips to stay stress-free during these challenging times.

1. Buy a Pet

It’s no secret that spending time with pets gives owners feelings of happiness and an overall sense of calm. When searching for a new pet, it’s important to take into account how your home can handle the animal of your choosing. It’s also important to purchase animals that are certified, as they’ve been bred in an ethical manner. If you want a companion that will give you comfort during these times, go with certified German Shepherd puppies and find your new loyal friend.

2. Spend Time Outdoors

Nature has a way of calming the mind, body and spirit. Luckily, it’s so easy to spend a little extra time in nature. Even enjoying your morning coffee on your front porch or in your backyard can help you start the day off right. Get outside and enjoy the fresh air and sunshine and you’ll be surprised at how much better you feel.

3. Follow a Routine

You may be surprised to know that following a routine actually reduces feelings of stress, which has a huge effect on your mental health. Follow a regular schedule for eating and make time in your day to exercise. In addition, try to get to bed at the same time every night and wake up at the same time every morning – prioritize sleep as part of your routine and you’ll feel more rested and refreshed.

It’s always important to take the steps necessary to improve your overall feelings of well-being. Follow these tips and you’ll get through these tough times and come out more resilient than ever.

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What’s All The Charm On Charms Jewelry?

Everyone loves charms jewelry and there are so many reasons to fall in love with these charming beauties. They are unique, eye-catching, cute, elegant, hip and of course charming.

Just a little short history intro on charms and why they are hugely popular amongst ladies and even gentlemen. The wearing of charms may have begun as a form of amulet or talisman to ward off evil spirits or bad luck. During the pre-historic period, jewelry charms would be made from shells, animal-bones and clay. Many years on, charms were made out of gems, rocks, and wood and worn as mementos of good times and given as souvenirs. The role of charms evolved over time from that of practical use and as a means of warding off evil, to a purely aesthetic one. Queen Victoria wore charm bracelets that started a fashion among the European noble classes. She was instrumental to the popularity of charm bracelets, as she loved to wear and give charm bracelets. When her beloved Prince Albert died, she even made “mourning” charms popular; lockets of hair from the deceased, miniature portraits of the deceased, charm bracelets carved in jet.

You can go creative and add anything from skulls to Lucky Cats, gold smiley faces, stars, angels and Halloween pumpkin. The choices are endless at Gnoce, a professional jeweler with high craftsmanship.

For a dog lover, she will surely fall in love with this super cute polished dachshund doggie charm pendant made from 925 Sterling Silver. Cass loves this doggie charm bracelet.

Halloween is just around the corner. You’ll be spoilt with choices of cute Halloween themed charms at affordable prices. These charms are made of 925 sterling silver and fit into all major brands of bracelets and necklaces. Get one or two Halloween charm for your trick-or-treating!

Though you may not be able to meet your sweetheart during a lockdown, you can still send your love to her with a super charming Hot Air Balloon Necklace made from 18k Rose Gold Plated 925 Sterling Silver.

At Gnoce, all of their products, including personalized jewelry, charms, bracelets and etc., are made from high-quality materials and are greatly appreciated in a variety of markets throughout the world.

Given the recent trend for statement dressing and millennials’ love of personalization, what could be more timely than to swank some jangling adornments of charm bracelets or necklace at a party?

There is surely a charm jewelry that everyone will love. Having a charm collection means that you’ll have jewelry for years to come, that can match with anything. You can change the look of your charm bracelet or necklace at anytime by adding new charms, so be sure to stock up for every type of occasion at Gnoce!

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RMCO Day 125 ~ Monday, 12 October 2020

Today marks another dramatic day in our lives. The Government announced that besides Sabah, KL, Selangor and Putrajaya will be placed under a Conditional MCO again, effective Wednesday, 14 October for 2 weeks. The 2 weeks here means that the situation will be reviewed and if daily new cases are still high, the CMCO will be extended, just like how it was in the past. We all know the drill after being in it for the most part of 2020.

Today’s announcement comes as a big blow to the hubby’s business. His income has been roiled during the initial few months of the first MCO and now comes the next CMCO. After the news was announced today, all his confirmed events and functions were postponed and cancelled. He was to go to Fraser’s Hill to provide catering event this Saturday and this too will be cancelled. We thought that the worst is over but it’s starting again and we’re back to square one. Back to ground zero again. It feels like we have been struggling to stay afloat in the deep ocean and just when we have finally reached the shore and can finally breathe with ease, we are now swept back into the rough choppy sea, struggling to stay afloat and gasping for air 😭

The days of MCO from March to May will be a repeat again. Maria our part-time maid will not be able to get into our condo once again. Our girls will be stuck at home and online classes will resume again. I shudder to think of cooking 2-3 meals a day 7 days a week and cleaning up the grease and mess after each cooking session. My right hand has just healed completely and here we go again!

I think I’m going to go homecooked just thrice a week and for the rest of the days, I’m going to order takeout. What the heck!

I am speechless and can only hope for the best. I know that God hears my prayers and if one door is closed, another door will be open. We’re going to get through this shitty MCO and pandemic.

As I had to bring Sherilyn to the dentist for her second tooth extraction for braces in the evening, I popped into the nearby supermarket to stock up on some groceries. When I was there, the crowd had just started and by the time we left, there was a long queue with panicked shoppers doing eleventh hour lockdown groceries shopping. Here we go again with long queues at supermarkets and hoarding of toilet papers, canned food and shelves sweeping 😱

My first virtual church wedding via Zoom on Saturday, to witness my cousin’s wedding.

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Trendy Apparel For Fall 2020

I’m sure you’ve had days when you struggle to put a nice outfit together. On such days, I find it easier to start with a top. Whether it’s a V-neck bra top, a plunging neckline top or a blouse with a cowl neckline, it helps to base my look on one piece. Then I pair the top with a denim skirt, a long pleated reversible chiffon skirt or an A-line skirt.

Now that some of you are working from home over Zoom, you can put more thoughts into the tops that you’re going to buy. With a major part of the world being crippled by a third wave of Coronavirus and everyone including me have been staying away from shopping malls, don’t you just love it that you can buy nice tops online from thrift stores like Ninacloak?

With fall around now, many of you have swapped your chiffon dresses and short sleeve tops with fluffy sweaters, cardigans and sweatshirts.

Ahead, I’ve rounded up 5 comfy fall tops and outerwear that I think you’ll love because I love them and wish I could slip into one. But not in our country’s billy boiling temps!

1. Unique collar long coat

With an elegant coat like this one, you can wear any layering tops beneath it. From fall to winter, this coat can be worn for multi seasons and is only $30.21 at Ninacloak.

2. Round Neck Plain Batwing Sleeve Sweaters Pullover

This sweater with batwing sleeves is both comfy and trendy and will be worn on repeat. We all need a piece of this item in our closet!

3. Long Sleeves Ribbed Cotton Tee

Throw this long sleeves ribbed cotton tee in pastel pink for a casual laid-back look.

4. Lapel Elegant Plain Long Sleeve Knit Cardigan

This lapel elegant plain long sleeve knit cardigan will be the talk of your meetings.

5. V-Neck Knitted Long-Sleeved Lace-Up Sweater Shift Dress

This sweater shift dress will be your go-to dress when you’re in a hurry. This dress is both comfortable and comforting—giving shape to an otherwise formless day.

The hallmark of fall fashion, sweaters and long sleeved tops and dresses mark the onset of crisp autumn days, and provide a cozy middle ground until coats become mandatory. From statement-making trendy sweaters to Zoom-ready knits, pick your favorite fall wear at Ninacloak at affordable prices this season.

No. of times viewed = 51

Cassandra’s High School

For those of you who’ve been waiting for my update on whether Cass passed the high school entrance exam that she sat for last Saturday, the answer is a….

No. She’s not going to the high school of MY choice…

but…

she’s going to the high school of HER CHOICE as she PASSED the entrance exam! 😐

And I guess this is also the high school of God’s choice as I’ve been praying fervently to ask Him to get Cass into a high school of His choice.

Is this a cause to celebrate yet? I’m not too sure.

Yesterday when Cass’ friend informed her via Whatsapp that her name is in the freshman list, we were both floored. Initially Cass was ecstatic. Then when the reality sank in that she’ll be going to this school with a tough dual examination system, she couldn’t decide if she should accept the offer as she’s not the studious nor disciplined type with the exception to novels. Thick books especially appeal to her! The thicker it is, the happier the girl is.

Actually I was quite confident that she would pass the entrance exam as she’s been in the top class throughout her 6 years in a Chinese primary school. But whether this school suits her or otherwise and whether she could persevere for 5 to 6 years in the school (depending on whether she’s taking UEC / Form 6 in Senior 3), this looks iffy. This high school was ranked as one of the Best Schools of Excellence by the Education Ministry in 2015.

Students at Chinese independent schools still sit for all national examinations such as PMR and SPM. The subjects are taught alongside the school’s own Chinese syllabus, and teachers dedicate lesson periods to teaching the government syllabus too.

Cass has until next Thursday to decide if she really wants to get into this high school that she’s worked quite hard to get into. She filled out the tedious online application forms and emailed the high school herself as I told her that if she really wanted to get into this school (which is not my choice), she’d have to submit the application herself. Registration fee must be paid by next Friday failing which the seat will be forfeited and given to a student in the long waiting list.

The only pull factor for Cass to want to get into this high school is her best friend and other good friends from her class who are also accepted into the school. She wants to be with her good friends since Primary 1 throughout her high school years.

This girl really needs to pull up her socks if she’s decided to get into this school. The school has a system that compels the student to repeat the entire year if the student’s average mark is below a certain grade. Usually those who are dealt with a letter to repeat the entire year will leave the school and apply for a transfer to a public school in order to progress to the next grade.

So our littlest rascal has her first important decision to make that will affect 5 years of her life in high school. I hope she makes the right decision and my only hope is that she will be very happy throughout her high school years.

No. of times viewed = 29

Innovative Workout Techniques To Remain Fit

Attending gym sessions is not always the best idea in your schedule when you decide to work out and stay fit. During the global pandemic, when most gyms are closed, your motivation to exercise diminishes quickly. However, you need to keep yourself fit and healthy to function correctly or face issues like laziness or obesity. Going to the gym is also not that inspiring, as you tend to get bored with the same routine without any innovation. To face this challenge, you need to have a workout schedule that you can use at home without going to the gym.

Going to the gym is indeed one way to stay healthy and fit; finding the time to do so is the tricky part. When you work during the day and need a relaxed time in the evening, you find it hard to motivate yourself. Home workouts give you enough time luxury than gyms as you have a scheduled time for everything else. You can take out a significant portion of your time after completing daily routine activities. Here is a list of some innovative workout techniques that you can apply at home during isolation.

Chair Squats
Let us face it; squatting is not easy. Mastering the form of squat takes time and is an exhausting exercise if not done correctly. However, the point remains that squats have a considerable effect on the strength of your legs, calves, thighs, and gluteus Maximus. Squats are also good for the core, helping your body keep a stiff balance between the upper and lower part. The addition of a chair adds to the correction of posture while giving you enough support to provide maximum effect. Stand with feet hip-apart and knees inside your toes and slowly lower yourself. Keep the torso upright and contracted while pressing your knees to stand back. Repeat this procedure for 2-3 sets with 8-16 reps each. The chair will keep your weight from concentrating on knees and supports your entire position.

Stairs Climbing
Nothing offers good cardio than climbing the stairs. Anytime you take an elevator, you do your body a favor. Besides cardio, stair climbing is also suitable for burning calories, producing endorphins, and improving overall heart health. You can use stairs at home or a climbing machine for your procedure. Climbing machine workout will give you a better chance of mimicking vertical stairs and work towards your major muscle groups simultaneously. An added benefit of the climbing machine is that it burns calories in less time than treadmills or exercise bikes, thereby increasing your metabolism. Vertical climbing machines offer a challenge to your body and push it to the limit. Your body will thank you for the work you provided and better blood flow to the body.

Box Crawl
Box crawling is yet another innovative yet easy exercise that most people discard from their daily routine. What they fail to realize are the effects it has on the body that enhances its core strength. The routing is simple, get on all fours and lift your knees slightly so that your hips elevate marginally higher than shoulders. Take support from the balls of your feet and crawl forward. Step with your right hand and left foot and then left hand and right foot. Additionally, crawl in a box formation with two crawls in each direction: forward to the right and then back to the left. If done right, the box crawl provides equal distribution of effort to the body’s upper parts for strengthening.

Sidestep Squats with Resistance Bands
Resistance bands are essential equipment to give your exercise an added layer of tension. The resistance you face makes you put in more effort and increases your endurance and strength. While standard and chair squat mostly target your Gluteus Maximus, sidestep squats with resistance bands targets Maximus and Minimus. Stand on a resistance band with a medium tension and hold it with both your hands. Keep the pressure on the bar, and take open your legs far complete. Start squatting and keep the stress on the band. Repeat it for 1-3 sets of 16 reps each.

Leg Raises
Leg raise is a simple and highly effective exercise for strengthening thighs, hips, gluteus, and core. Stand with your legs slightly apart behind a firm chair or column for balancing. Raise your leg slowly to one side and keep your back straight. Repeat the process for 10-12 times and then turn around for the next leg using the same procedure. It is a simple exercise that you can do anytime and needs no special equipment.

Acro Yoga
Yoga is a good exercise regime that couples the effects of meditation with workout efforts. Acro yoga combines traditional yoga with acrobatics and healing arts in one package. This fitness routine requires two persons, one of which acts as a base and the other as the flyer. The bottom has to lift the flyer in the air and hold them. It gives them an effective workout for arms, legs, and abs. The flyer has to maintain a yoga position while in the air. Both the partners receive considerable stretch and thrust for maximum training for the whole body. If working solo, use support equipment that works as a base while continuing with your flyer role.

Final Word
Fitness is an essential point of keeping oneself healthy and active in life. Besides the ones mentioned above, variations of different exercises can significantly change your body while keeping your mind sharp. Remember to keep a balanced diet with your routines to keep yourself energized and healthy.

No. of times viewed = 47

RMCO Day 117 ~ Sunday, 4 October 2020

Alycia will be sitting for the SPM Trials in less than two weeks. Her high school teachers are providing additional online classes on Saturdays and Sundays to complete the syllabus. Thus, the poor girl has not been able to join us for lunch for two consecutive Sundays. And the littlest brat is at the stage where she doesn’t like to follow us adults anywhere, except to the book store or to the nearby outdoor kopitiam to dig into her favorite fish paste noodles. It’s a pain to drag her out of the house to have lunch or dinner with us these days. I actually bribed her to get her to follow us out for lunch. I remember Alycia went through a similar phase at her age. Cass is now at the age where I see a lot of familiar hair-pulling scenarios that I had with Alycia and Sherilyn when they were at the hell-raising in-between age of transforming from a little girl into a teenager.

Oh well…

Thankfully Cass is my last and hopefully I don’t have to deal with anymore terrible phases from the 3 girls anymore! I remember their Terrible Twos, Terrible Threes and Terrible Tweens very vividly. Hopefully it’s now Terrific Teens all the way!

We had lunch at The Museum @ The Starling Mall to savour good old Ipoh food. It’s our first time visiting this mall but hubs had been here several times.

Ipoh Hakka noodles, crackling siew yoke and chargrilled char siew, Wanton noodles and Yuet Koong Hor aka “moonlight-style noodles”.

Teochew style porridge with fried fish head.

After lunch at Museum, we segued into Kam Kee Cafe 1967, a reputable Hong Kong F&B brand to get takeaway for Alycia, a fan of ‘cha chaan teng’ grub. Kam Kee Cafe channels the charm of a ‘cha chaan teng’ experience in a collaboration between a family of Malaysians and Kam Kee Cafe, Hong Kong.

This venue in The Starling mall is the first overseas outpost of Kam Kee Cafe, whose branches span Wan Chai to Tsuen Wan – Kam Kee is the legacy of a Teochew native who came to Hong Kong in the 1950s and started a food shop a decade later, during that era’s birth of Western-influenced, working-class cafes that serve affordable fare, from toasts to tarts. fried noodles to baked rice.

For takeaway, we got this Cheese Baked Spaghetti Bolognese with minced meat @ RM18.80 for Alycia, a portion of fried rice for our dinner and two Polo buns for the girls’ recess the next day.

We also ordered a Polo bun with spam meat, cheese and egg and shared it among the 5 of us, where each of us (who were already quite stuffed) had a small wedge to try.

When you dine at a Hong Kong ‘cha chaan teng’, you just have to order their ‘lai cha’ aka milk tea. I love the milky and flavorful evaporated milk that’s used in their milk tea.

The mil shared this almond tea with egg white with me and OMG, it is SO creamy, full of almond aroma and delicious! I requested for less sugar and this beverage hit all the right notes! One sip and I was sent to tong sui heaven 😋

This might be considered fast food, but it’s delightfully fulfilling here – from the choice of ingredients to the care in cooking. Now that we are all grounded in Malaysia with restrictions on traveling overseas, dining at Kam Kee Cafe brings you a slice of Hong Kong at prices that are affordable without having to fly to Hong Kong.

After lunch, we went groceries shopping at Jaya Grocer with Cass badgering me to hurry up so that she could have some time at Popular bookstore where there’s a clearance sale. Our bookworm is the happiest whenever she’s at a place surrounded by books (not academic ones unfortunately).

She found The Complete Stories of The Wizard of Oz Volume 2 selling at only RM29.90 for a really thick book and her mood instantly changed from one of sulky to beaming with joy when she saw all her favorite novels on sale 😅

No. of times viewed = 40