PT Session 3: Lower back + more

The last post, titled aging grace, is a shout-out to all women out there to love yourself and your body, or try your utmost.

It’s sick to get sucked into the rat race, and not the beauty race now…

All our lives and at every phase of them, we always have had at least one thing about ourselves that we hate. Quit it man, seriously.

When we were young and impressionable, we worried about small boobies and being short. As we meandered into young-adult age, we worried about dark eye-circles, pimples and acnes, getting fat…and now, as we slowly usher in the middle age, we get concerned over cellulite on butt and thighs, excess fats in the back and armpits, dry skins, acne scars, fine lines and crow’s feet, freckles, weight gain etc.

When we will ever stop this seemingly elusive and endless race of perfection?

Love yourself, and glow will surface within.

Of course, i’m referring to women who have tried their best and yet failed to appear the way they wanted to be; not applicable to lazy arses, and definitely not applicable to short-cutters.

**

PT session 3 was great. Worked mainly on the lower back following 25 minute of cardio-work out; arms and abs towards the last 15 minutes. Had some physical progress, more evidently in the arms, commented M. M was testing on increasing the weights for second sets of each workouts but as the muscles have just recovered from the arduous exercise on Mon, it was unable to take further weight. Hence also more water breaks and rest in between.

Hail the weekend. I miss potato.

aging grace

PT Session 2: Lower limbs + more

I am enjoying and savouring every minute of liberty, both physically and mentally.

PT Session 2 was good albeit my aching upper limbs. The ab, biceps and triceps got really painful on Sunday but thank god, today’s focus was on the legs. Strong lower limbs but lack flexibility, says M. 3 sets on the inner thighs and lower thighs each, 3 sets of ab crunches, 3 sets of sides with pilates “ball” to work on my back posture. I’m not sure if i’m seeing things but i’m seeing some progress on my arms – tighter, slightly smaller and less flabby.

Headed down to the cathay for some shopping – oh by the way, two of my good friends are getting married! and I am excited for them!

I shopped at wood would, one of my favourite stores in the world (okay, singapore). I like the eclectic vibes of the store, beautiful things antique juxtaposed with beautiful things modern. I get that very gypsy-like feel, enhanced by warm orange lights and soft jazzy tunes. Best of all, I feel festive whenever I step into the store. The owner, a young woman at max about age 28, kindly shared with me that most of the stuff come from USA and Europe, and most of the furnitures and items not-for-sale (including one and only tiffany and co letters and envelopes bundled in a book-pad) are passed down by the her generation of families

Unable to succumb to my two greatest weaknesses, being beauty and creative art, I bought tons of irrelevant but eye-candy french-inspired letters, envelopes and stamps. Some random fortune-teller back when I was still studying in SP, told me that I will end up in a career that revolves creativity and beauty. If what he said was any accurate, that could explain my constant need, desire, and requirement to own and revolve around beautiful things and clothes, and be in a constant state of perfection. (almost, perfection)

Interestingly that this topic surfaced, it transported me back to Saturday afternoon, where the girls and I were casually talking about life-changing moments, about the physical act we bestowed upon ourselves to express our desire to make a significant change in our lives/ or depending on how you read it, psychologically satisfy that we are discarding our old lives for the new.

Which got me thinking: spending S$2,000 on a PT program to desperately motivate myself to get desperately back in shape and look desperately perfect could be the life-changing action for me. I got real this time.

One of my colleagues did a tattoo on her legs, and another snipped her hair super boy-cut short and dyed her hair orangey-brown.

What’s yours?

Boy, what eyebags ;)

Few minutes ago, I was staring at myself in the mirror after washing up. Studying my face, it suddenly dawned on me that things have changed quite abit over the years. The first thing I noticed about my face was my entrenching eyebags (fortunately, for this case). 4 years ago, all I could notice were the ugly red spots peppering over my face. I was transported back to 2005.

I battled an acne breakout when I first started university due to stress, thereby causing hormonal imbalance and weight loss. I hated the fact that I had to study 3 books and 3 times harder than the people in school to score relatively good grades. I secretly hated the intelligent people. Coupled with these few reasons, I also suffered withdrawal symptoms and only mingled with people within my comfort zone. I felt like an aloof being. I missed tanning, missed shopping because I felt insecure and ugly. I saw alot of beautiful people in school with big cliques. And each time i observed them at a distance, I got remembered about the old times when i was popular in secondary school and in the polytechnic.

The only consolation was that semester 1 results to me, were the set of results that I felt proud and euphoric in my entire academic life. But it came at a pricey cost as I never felt happy and never felt beautiful. I shied away from crowds and avoided looking at people in the eye. I wore make-up to sleep. I didn’t want to meet friends or go on dates. Adding to the blow was JY’s decision to remain friends. I plunged into depression.

Determined to start anew and find back my confidence, I began to take steps to control my breakout. I took pills specifically catered for women to control hormones. I studied less and slept more. I went for facial diligently to clear my face. Early 2007 was a turnaround when things were under control and that I only needed to clear the remaining blemishes and scars. I felt encouraged and confidence crept up.

End 2007 marked the end of my schooling chapter. I knew things were going to be better in 2008. Work stress, i must say, is so much more easier to deal with. Thanks to V&M and my facial auntie whom I patronised since I was 17 (whom diligently worked my face to near perfection), I am very glad and happy to say that my face is 99% spots-free (though I love my beauty spots – or mole- and intends to keep them) and with a hint of natural blush. I no longer wear make up when not necessary, and I even go nude en route to office. I go to facial once every 3-4 months. I no longer suffer from pre-menstrual breakouts as well. The potato says he likes me with little or no make-up because it makes me look au naturel pretty.

This entry might or might not ring a bell, touch a nerve, or tug a heartstring to everyone, but I believe women who has gone through that can resonate with how i felt. You’re not alone, and trust me, you will get over that phase one day. And I must say although I am no slimmer than I was in the past, I am still contented with the way that I look and the way that I am today.

For random bloggers/readers/friends who stumbled upon my blog today, whom are currently battling a mild/severe acne breakout, perhaps you can try Vardi & Migdal products. It was my miracle! I have one of the most sensitive skins on earth and if it works for me, perhaps it might work for you. That’s why friends know why I bear to cash-out lump sum money for good stuff. It’s always more than just about the money.

Indulging in pretty tools

Catching up on what I have missed all these years, I finally understood the women’s addiction to make-up. 

Now I finally understand the necessity of investing (spending/splurging) on make-up. In the past, I could never understand how women spend at least a minimum of S$100 on tools per month. Now i know. 

And on top of which, reloading on skincare products every 2 to 3 months is very detrimental to the pocket as well. 

SIGH. I went crazy on make-up earlier. I bought a customized palette of 4 while shopping with Winnie, filled 2, and leaving 2 empty for new additions 2 weeks later. 

I can’t wait for my Rose Gold shimmer eye-shadow, Pink Sugar shimmer blusher and the Lip Quads!