Can I eat healthily during World Cup?

World Cup is a time when the temptation to eat poorly is at its highest. It’s a time for junk food, we all know that.

The reason why we have the need to munch is due to stress and nervousness, as we are afraid our fav team will not make it, but the main reason of all is when the game gets a bit boring ie. when there’s no goal to be happy & excited about. That’s when the urge to munch on something arises. When there’s a goal, you wish to celebrate, you eat and drink. When your team loses, you feel the need to eat and drink to cheer yourself up. And if we are not careful, we will end up binging every night for one whole month.

Hence, I make it a point to stock up the house with lots of fruits, “healthier” Japanese tit bits such as seaweed, green pea or green bean with wasabi, dark chocolate (in case I get the cravings for something sweet), cuttlefish/sugarless chewing gum (to keep our jaw busy chewing), soya bean drink, etc. I also stock up the fridge and bread bin with yoghurt and bread (for mid night snacks when hunger hits). And we always ensure we watch the match in the house.

Even with all the above food readily available at home, there is always this urge and craving for the unhealthy stuffs, all the time during the match. Fries, icy coke on a hot night, a McD sundae ice-cream, roti canai, teh tarik, pizza, etc, but at least, at the point of craving, if we have no choice, we could reach for something healthier which is at hand, and by the time the game ends or reaches half time, the craving would have passed.

I try to reserve the unhealthy food consumption for the semi finals and finals for celebration purpose, and once every now and then, not thru out the whole month.

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World Cup News Up-date from a local scene

2 weeks plus into the world cup, we now take a look at some of the daily world cup stories, scenario, the mood and the feel of the whole game up till now.

So far, for hubby, the WC has been progressing well. As long as his favorite team Brazil is still in the game, he’s a happy man.

Same with me, but then I have a lot of favorite teams, those with hunks are my fav, those with good players, are my fav too, teams that are good, are also my fav. Sometimes I get so confuse I’m not sure which team to support. Maybe I should just support the player will do.. :-D

I was at home, one week day afternoon when hubby text me and said he was walking briskly towards someone’s office, his mind elsewhere, when his feet hit an uneven slab stone on the ground and he fell like one of those football player who tripped & made a dive or something. He was in his formal working clothes. Luckily no one saw. Under normal circumstances, this sort of thing only happens to me.. :-D

Hubby’s favorite phrase since WC started : "Huh what…? Take out the garbage? I’ll do it this weekend…" That will include last weekend’s garbage.

My face is now like a garden for pimple.

Office hour, when I’m supposed to be working on my lappie, first thing I do is I check the result online in the FIFA.com website for the 2.30 am match. After which, the result will determine the mood & productivity of the whole day...

Task list for the week... ?  What’s that….!?!?

In the evening after shower and cleansing my face, I put on my moisturizer……, followed by the toner. Oh yeah, yesterday…., I forgot to wash my hair.

Some days I can have 2 cups of coffee, coz I forgot whether I had one earlier or not.

My FIFA.com website avatar was wearing Netherland’s jersey, and I wanted to change it to Argentina, coz Argentina was playing that night. As usual, when the game started, the internet network gets congested, and half way changing the jersey, the pc hang.

So my avatar was naked for like about 15 minutes.

See, I told you she was naked………. :-D

And those time when 2 of my fav team plays against each other, my avatar wears 1 team's jersey for 1st half, and then the other team's jersey for 2nd half. But more often than not, she's naked.. :-o

Comment from my furball?

No eye see...

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Smart Anti-Ageing Tips & Practices (part II)

As mentioned in my earlier blog dated 21 June, smart anti-ageing practices should start at early age, and involves only 4 main areas/points, which you should try to cultivate into habits.

Proper & Healthy Diet

a)      Drink plenty of plain warm water. Never skip breakfast.

b)     Consume a Mediterranean diet (lots of veggies, fruits, grains, nuts and good fat), and don’t forget your low fat milk/soy milk.

c)      Remember, eat moderately and in small portion.

d)     Do bear in mind that healthy/poor diet shows on the look of your face, skin, hair, nail and mood.

Exercise

a)      Exercise is one of the most effective forms of anti-ageing in the long run.

b)     Cardio exercises (any activities that increases your heart rate) or yoga (that encourages deep & slow breathing during stretching) is good.

c)      If you are a person who simply hates exercise, then ensure that you walk briskly at least for 30 mins, 3 times a week. Find a park to walk while you enjoy the scenery, the cheerful chirping of birds on the trees and the soothing water in the lake (if there’s one). Or go for leisure cycling. Alternatively walk or cycle to nearby shops.

Good skin care habits

a)      Protect your skin from damaging UV rays and de-hydration (especially if you have dry skin).

b)     Skin protection regime should start around the age of 20, in my opinion. You don’t need complicated skin care product range until you reach the age of 35. So as long as you practice the basic step 1, 2 and 3, it’s good enough. Never ever over do things. Your skin would still need minimum sun light or UV for the production of Vitamin D.

Sleep

a)      Insufficient sleep can lead to mental health problems, such as mood swings & depression, failure to concentrate & focus, memory loss, unable to enjoy or appreciate present moment in life. This is the hardest to achieve, as we progress in our life and career, but it’s good to know and to learn to manage it.

b)     Maintain a healthy sleep routine. Avoid becoming mentally over stimulated before bedtime.

c)      Jot down your thoughts, to off load your mind.

d)     Dim down the lights. Do some yoga poses to wind down & relax your body, mind & breathing.

e)      Bear in mind that I’m talking about “quality” sleep. You should get about 8 hrs of sleep. Best time to hit the sack is from 10.30 pm – 6.30 am, coz your body starts repairing itself around that time.

Don’t believe me? Look at what happened to Michael Jackson & Heath Ledger.. get it?

If you find the above a bit daunting or too much to achieve, try this. Take one step at a time. Start in one area for the first 3 – 6 mths until it becomes a habit, and then incorporate the next point for the next 3 - 6 months.

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Quote of the day

Good communication is as stimulating as black coffee, and just as hard to sleep after - Anne Morrow Lindbergh


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Happy & comfy sandal

Love these  from Yoga Sandals!! I googled it after having seen it in Yoga Journal mags. Such happy sandals, don't you think? Makes me feel like packing my bags and head to the beach for some sunshine.

 Would love to have them, but will probably have to order online.

If I wear like this and go play football with the guys, I think I can put in 5 goals and theirs 0 hor...? What do you think?


Here's some more pix of similar designs.

Last one... this one the feet not so nice, but the sandal is so so pretty..

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Five facts about me

1.       I love cats, but I ONLY “adopt pariah" cats.

2.       I hate facial treatment, spa, massage and hair salon.

I have no patience sitting/lying in there for hours. My hair stylist had to loan me his lappie once during re-bonding, just so that I won’t stress him out with my constant stare and silent plea to end my misery.

3.       I am TERRIFIED of snake. I can’t even look at pictures of snake.

4.       I am a dreamer. I day dream 24x7 and beyond if there is such a thing. 

5.       I am always hungry. If I am not hungry, then I’m sleepy.

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Smart Anti-Ageing Tips & Practices

In my younger days, I used to walk to school (15 – 20 mins away, to and fro), play in the sun all the time (I love outdoor activities), walked to places (friend’s house, to nearby shops on errands, tuition classes, in and around Uni campus, etc) without any sun protection (not even a cap or umbrella).

My sun protection regime only started at the age of 35, can you believe it?

That’s becoz I have never had patience carrying an umbrella. No one told me about the damage the sun could do to my face (maybe someone did but it never bothered me then), and I never read any ladies’ magazine (they never interest me). I was a tomboy up till quite a late stage, you see, and like boys, whatever goes in the right ear, goes out the left ear.. :-D

It was only at around the age of 30 that my skin care specialist warned me about brown spots, and that also took me another 5 years to start the habit of using sun protection. The very thing that finally got me started was when I saw with my own eyes, the brown spots on my cheeks in my close-up pictures. I had spotless skin before that.

In my early career days, fruits, veggies or dairy food were never considered in my diet. My mom has passed on at that time. Hence, I ate becoz I had to eat.  I will just gobble down whatever that is available out there, without any concern of its nutrient content. And I hardly drink water.

Having gone thru all the above, I feel that “preventive health care” at the early stage is something which no one should ignore. I’m not talking about something very complicated here, don't worry. It’s just some practices, which you need to cultivate into habits, that’s all. An effective smart anti-ageing program basically involves 4 important & simple areas/points and they are :

1)      Healthy diet

2)      Exercise

3)      Proper skin care habits

4)     
Sleep

Check out my next blog for a few pointers on the above four areas.

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Lazy Sunday

Despite eating more than my normal portion & frequency this week (due to the WC thingy + school hol), I've not put on extra weight. I weighed myself this morning, it has remained the same (pheewh....). That's becoz I did 4x treadmill session this week, just to ensure there is some balance, in what comes in and what goes out.. :-D


I'm now planning my lunch menu for this week. Because some great matches are held at 7.30 pm, more often than not, we will be having our dinner at 6.30 or 7 pm. So this week, I'm gonna boil soup (twice this week) ABC soup and "lou wong gwa" (in Eng, I think it's called winter melon, which helps to reduce body internal fire due to late nights or insufficient sleep). World cup month mah..


So it will be rice, meat & vegies (in the soup). That's it. Let's hope hubby won't suggest adding on 2 extra dishes from outside, something he is most capable of doing.


ST wants to hit the pool this afternoon. Time to get some sun. I will be putting on my sun block, sun glass and hat and hit the deck chair at the pool with a book/magazine.. ;-)


Pix above was taken at Delifrance in KK. See my car out there? See it? Too far away?  


Here's a clearer one... he..he.. cheers!

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The Cabinet

Went to Mid Valley for a haircut, and came across the L’Occitane counter near center court. Saw this lovely little cabinet, which I like so so much. It’s so country like, reminds me of the countryside, wildflowers, bicycle with basket, picnics, fresh fruits, etc.. 


The color and natural pattern on the wood truly gives it a character of it's own.

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Snapshot of the day - my pick

This beautiful pix is taken by a friend of hubby (Christopher Harriot), who stays in Penang. 

He seem to have an eye for the most tiny thing in this world, while blocking out all the other life's clutter. After all, life is in the details.. ;-)


Love this pix. Love it one thousand times and will still love it another thousand more.


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Superstition in the football world

Stumbled upon this site (http://www.fifa.com/worldfootball/news/newsid=1053700.html) where they highlight a selection of the most bizarre rituals practiced by football players from around the world. I’ve chosen a handful funny ones to be featured here.

One ritual practised by footballers the world over is wearing the same underwear for matches, such is the case with Romania's Adrian Mutu or former Colombia shot-stopper Rene Higuita, whose undergarments always have to be blue. That means, they go back, wash, dry and then wear it again, right?

Skipper Laurent Blanc, must kiss the bald head of keeper Fabien Barthez before each game.  


Don't believe, here it is..... 

Yuuucckssss....!! See, I told ya.....

And you got to hear this about Argentina keeper Sergio Goycochea, who earned worldwide fame for his penalty-saving heroics at Italy 1990. He puts his beliefs down to urinating in the centre circle, blocked from view by his team-mates, prior to shootout victories over the former Yugoslavia and Italy in the last eight and last four respectively. 


Yeah, you heard right, urinating... eewwh….!! Can't find a pix of that in the internet though...

Gennaro Gattuso of Italy and AC Milan during the 2006 FIFA World Cup. "Every day I wore the same sweater that I'd worn the first day of the competition. I was sweating buckets and in a terrible mood because I couldn't bring myself to take it off," 


Wonder if his team mate will start to run the opposite site whenever he approaches,  throughout the tournament.. :-D

Former England internationals Bobby Moore and Paul Ince, both insisted on being the last players to leave the dressing room and only putting on their shirts as they ran onto the field. Arsenal's Kolo Toure, meanwhile, earned himself a yellow card in a Champions League tie against Roma after stubbornly refusing to leave the dressing room before fellow straggler William Gallas, who was receiving treatment for an injury.

Chelsea and England captain John Terry says, “ I always sit in the same seat on the team bus, I always wrap tape round my socks three times, I listen to the same CD on the way to the stadium and I always park in the same spot before every game at Stamford Bridge."

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Jalan-jalan cari makan

We needed to drop by our office one night, and due to that, we found an excuse to check out an eating outlet in Kota Damansara. The place is called "The Wok", it sells nyonya food. Location wise, it's near Sunway Giza.

This is their nyonya specialty, ikan gulai tumis, it's a whole fish. Delicous..!!!

                Click on pix for a clearer view, you'll drool..esp next pix


Loh bak.. the best that we've ever eaten here in Klang Valley..

The kang kong belachan is nice too. 

For dessert, we ordered the sago melaka, which is lovely..

And only after they brought us the dessert, they told us that we get free dessert, one each. This is the free dessert.

After dinner we had to walk around the whole place to help the food digest, coz we were so full...!!!


Recently I discovered a place where I can get a really balanced breakfast, and it's not too heavy. Love it, it's at Paddington House of Pancake. My favorite is the PHOP's flap jacks, consisting of 2 bacon bits, mashed potato pancakes with fried egg, baked beans and chipolatas. Yuuumm....!!!

If you're there for lunch and you're a pancake lover, you should try the Classic Buckleberry. It's the best..!


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Favorite World Cup theme song

My favorite is the FIFA World Cup 2002 theme song for Japan/South Korea, by Vangelis. So inspiring...


Can never seem to get enough of it.


This is followed by the FIFA World Cup 2006 theme song for Germany. So invigorating..!!


And the 2010 FIFA World Cup theme song....? Actually I'm not sure which is the one but I found this after hearing it on the radio. It's sung by Shakira, called Waka Waka (This Time for Africa)... beautiful video and of course, she's beautiful too.. :-D



Latest up-date from the newspaper, Shakira's Waka Waka is supposed to be the official theme song, but it does seem that in general, people prefers K'naan - Wavin' Flag to be the official them song. Well, whatever..


Oh, here's another hunk to add on to the list..


Player no. 11 - Vincenzo Iaquinta of Italy

And here's another pix of Yoann Gourcuff of France (ref my previous blog, player no. 10)

--moon


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Hey, check this out!
1) World cup news up-date from a local scene

World Cup Hotties...

The list of WC hunks continues............

This 2^nd batch of hunks are hot…!!!

And I know, I’ve said it before, that me and Ronaldo C is not “ngam” due to the “winker” issue, where he got his United team mate Rooney sent off in the 2006 quarter final match, but… I will not be swayed by emotion. When I googled for the hottest footballers in 2010, his name appeared first. When I asked hubby who’s hot, his name came up first. Even after I eliminated his name in the first round, it still came up in the second round, and I’m sure, in the third too. Well, if he’s hot, he’s hot, so here goes...

Player no. 6 – Christiano Ronaldo from Portugal

Nice, eh? Want some more...? Here's another one.......

Oooh... pheeeeeeeewiiit.............!!!! Nice bod..

Player no. 7 – Heath Pearce from USA

Player no. 8 – Lukas Podolski from Germany

Here's another one.. 

Wow..... **drool**

Player no. 9 – Iker Casillas from Spain

The killer look..... He look at me like that, and I'll go to heaven..  ;-)


Player no. 10 - Yoann Gourcuff from France

Another one...

Oooh.. la..la.....




Short Note

In view of the world cup season, which is all about football, we shouldn’t forget our own Malaysian great legends who brought us our glory days, people like Santokh Singh, Datuk Soh Chin Aun, Hassan Sani, James Wong, Shukor Salleh, the late Mokhtar Dahari & R Arumugam..

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