Happy World Environment day 2013: Think. Eat. Save.

"Oh today, I would love to eat this and that". My style of cooking starts with imagining the foods, neglecting the goods and ingredients that readily available in the freezer. I cook what I wish to eat, not what I should eat. After more than a year being a housewife, I just realized that I was totally wrong in managing household groceries. I should check the freezer and kitchen, what's stored in there. Maybe there's left over or goods that I can used to cook. Instead of buying new goods, I should make sure that none will end up in the garbage.

Image from here.

A little information on World Environment day. World Environment Day is celebrated every year on 5 June to raise global awareness of the need to take positive environmental action. It is run under the wings of United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP). This year’s campaign theme "Think. Eat. Save" rallies us to take action from our home to reduce food waste, save money, and minimize the environmental impact of food production. If food is wasted, it means that all the resources and inputs used in the production of all the food are also lost. For example, it takes about 1,000 liters of water to produce 1 liter of milk and about 16,000 liters goes into a cow’s food to make a hamburger. The resulting greenhouse gas emissions from the cows themselves, and throughout the food supply chain, all end up in vain when we waste food. In fact, the global food production occupies 25% of all habitable land and is responsible for 70% of fresh water consumption, 80% of deforestation, and 30% of greenhouse gas emissions. It is the largest single driver of biodiversity loss and land-use change (UNEP, 2013).

In celebrating the World environment day today, I pledge to change my current eating lifestyle. So THINK before we EAT and help SAVE our environment! Happy world environment day everyone!

My greatest gift: Welcoming our baby

Hello everyone! My name is 'Che Mat' (obviously not my real name)

The scent of Teddy is magical in my world. When I smell it again, it actually feels like the first time, never have I ever found anything comes remotely close to accurately capturing the aroma. Perhaps essential oils! I have been wishing for essential oils lately (hubby, where's my essential oil?). Welcoming my husband home with this sweet scent is my favorite time of the day.

To welcome a man in my life, I remembered a couple of things that I did. Change to the better (attitude wise), facial, appearance make-over, bought some sweet and alluring lingerie (you can buy the cheap and cute one online at Lovely Lingerie. They even gave you extra gift. Trusted site), put aside my career-chase (I once told my husband that marriage starts at 28. Boooo!), and many other small things.

This time, I am preparing myself to welcome our little baby, physically and emotionally. Physically fit, brilliant in time management, emotionally stable (say no to grumpy), reducing chemical usage by going green (will write this in another post), establish a good environment with lots of negative ions in our home (will write this in another post), and many more which I will share later. 

The first thing that we bought for our baby are books! Since both of us are Masters student, we got RM 250 book vouchers each. So we spent most of them on baby books. Research showed that an early exposure to music, math, and good nutrition (especially almond and Omega-3 which can be found in fish), can develop a healthy and intelligent baby. As a Muslim, we are encouraged to cite and listened to the beautiful verses of Al Quran.

My craziness towards bunny was finally cured when my husband bought me a bunny! (my model of the year). Cheap but super cute! I named him Che Mat before I pass it to my baby, later. There's a post from the Magic Onion (Waldorf inspired) on the importance of dolls. Go read them. Mine isn't dolls but bunny because I am not really in favor of human look alike dolls. Dolls are not the only imaginative toys that our children can play with.I think bunny or teddy are also good companions to our little one.  I guess that's it for the moment. Have a great day!

 It's me again with baby books

 This book belongs to..........(my soon to be owner, the brilliant one, hehe)

 Lazy me!

Mama once entered a story telling competition on Goldilocks and the three bears, with fake golden hair made from plastic rope and beautiful pink dress.

13th GE 2013

Can you see my baby bump? No? My little boy (InsyaAllah) is busy stretching his arms and legs in there. My sickness is not totally gone yet (though I am more than 5 months pregnant), but Alhamdulillah, I am pretty healthy on the GE day. I voted for the first time and it was a great experience, except for the long queuing and unbearable heat. Maybe I should ask for a wheelchair. 

I wish to write more, but I got dizzy everytime I focus on the screen. Vomit since morning, I guess it was the travel effect. Hopefully will get better tomorrow. Will edit this soon~

p/s: I suffered a terrible allergy during pregnancy where pimples pop out like crazy. Hm, thank you Nikon for  hiding those culprits in the image above, hehe. Conclusion? Don't trust the pictures.

Hibernation

Finally back to my rental house after quite a long hibernation at my parents' house. I suffered a terrible sickness with sadness and depression. There are many reasons why home is the best remedy. I woke up early in the morning just to breath the refreshing air, have a walk around the yard since we have a big yard planted with various kind of trees and flowers. Placid.

Now I am in my second trimester, and Alhamdulillah, I am getting better.The sickness and depression are not totally gone, but I am giving my best to embrace every moment of my pregnancy. When I feel terribly down, usually it will follow with bad dreams. Sometimes I found it a little difficult to share it with my partner. Lucky I have friend who experienced all these sickness, looking at how happy she is right now with her baby prove that these obstacles are just temporary. 

What's more? My baby is busy stretching arms and legs now! Like an endorphin, little by little the sadness is at bay. Thank you Allah for giving me chance to experience this miracle. 

Now that I am back, I have to submit an extended abstract for conference at Bogor, Indonesia, catching up all my laboratory works, scheduled my meeting with Dr. Richard, and resubmit my thesis to my supervisor. Priority would be laboratory works. As long as I manage to finish them up before August, then the other matters are at ease. 

It's a dream come true if I manage to get my masters while having a baby. Hopefully next year I will be graduated, and together pursuing phD with dear hubby. He may further his study oversea, which is great, yeay! I can go too! Together with our little one. Having this wonderful images inside my head, do make me feel like, yeah, I am making a right call. May He ease the way. More to dreams!

Till next time! 

p/s: My condolences to the family who loss their children in Boston.  

31 January 2013: Early pregnancy/ awal kehamilan

Minggu lepas (23-26 Januari 2013)

Mulut start rasa pahit-pahit macam nak demam. Badan rasa penat, cuma waktu ni tak ambil peduli sangat, mungkin letih prepare door gift untuk kenduri kahwin kak long. Biasanya bila tidur, sangat sensitif pada movement, kalau hubby datang or buka lampu, mesti terbangun, tapi this time tidur mati tak sedar ape-ape. Tak perlu tunggu lama untuk tidur, letak je kepala, in a few minutes, dah zzzZZZZ. 

27 Januari 2013

Minum nescafe susu yang mom buat, end up muntah balik. Pelik. Tapi yang paling pelik bila saya tak lalu nak makan ayam, which is my favourite. Tengok rasa nak muntah. Time ni memang dah bertekad, kena beli pregnancy test kit. So keluar lah ke Watson beli yang pregnancy test yang tak berape nak mahal. Sebab sebelum ni dah beli 3-4 kali, results negative. Rugi je beli yang mahal kalau result negative, kan, kan, kan? OK, alasan, memang kedekut pon =p

Pergi toilet, cek, and it turns out positive! Double line! Masa tu mata terkebil-kebil, cek balik belakang instruction pregnancy test kit tu, nak konpemkan yang double line means pregnant. Yeay, confirm! Keluar toilet, senyum sorang-sorang depan cermin, hehehehehehe. Then terus inform pada hubby. Suka tengok muka hubby yang excited and terkejut tu. Hihihihi, sambil taip ni pon senyum lagi ^_________________^

29 Januari 2013

Pergi ke klinik kesihatan Bangi untuk buat buku merah. Nurse tanya dah ada scan belum? Puzzle. Dalam hati, scan? dah boleh nampak ke? Saya jawab, scan? tak scan, saya cuma buat pregnancy test guna kit. Sebelum datang sini memang kena scan ke? Nurse cakap, biasanya ibu-ibu pergi swasta scan dulu, tapi kalau tak scan lagi pon xpe, doktor memang akan scan untuk awal kehamilan. Owh, so tak wajib pon scan di hospital swasta. Then bermula lah prosedur yang agak lama, beratur amik darah, urine, consultation dengan nurse, and jumpa dr. Husband boleh masuk bilik dr untuk tengok scan. Bila dr scan, just nampak kantung bulat and embryo yang tidak jelas, sebab masih kecil. Baru 6-7 minggu. So next appointment 15/2/2013. Hopefully dipermudahkan segala urusan :) Dr bagi folic acid, and pesan untuk minum susu 2-3 gelas sehari, rehat secukupnya,....dan yang lain saya tak paham tulisan dr dalam buku merah.

30 dan 31 Januari 2013

Bangun pagi, after berus gigi or minum air masak, akan muntah balik. Rasa lega after muntah. Kepala pening-pening and tak tahu nak makan apa. Pagi tadi makan sekeping roti with susu, OK, boleh terima. Biasanya kalau tak terima akan keluar balik. Rasa mual sampai ke malam. Bila rasa nak muntah tu, muntah je lah. Tadi saya tahan, and makan jambu batu. Konon nya untuk hilangkan rasa nak muntah tu, but end up keluar balik jambu batu tu. Gula-gula Vita C selalu dalam handbag, macam agak membantu menghilangkan rasa mual sikit. Nasi tak boleh makan lagi, siang tadi makan roti canai. Certain food boleh tolerate, certain tak boleh. Bila baca online, awal-awal kehamilan memang akan hilang selera makan. Nurse pesan kena paksa makan, kalau tak kena masuk wad sambung wayar air. Huuuuu. 

Setelah beberapa hari tak masak, tadi start masuk dapur. Tahan rasa mual and masak la sikit untuk suami. Mak pesan kena kuat, lawan rasa tak sihat tu, kesian suami asyik makan luar. After masak, mestilah food testing kan, kurang garam ke apa, after test tu, terus rasa nak muntah. So, muntah lah. Huuuuu.

Dugaan. Harap-harapnya fasa mual ni tak lama. Kena doa la kan, minta dipermudahkan. Ada orang tak rasa mual langsung, ada yang mual sampai ke 9 bulan. Lain orang, lain dugaan. Doakan yang baik-baik ya, terima kasih!

Happily pregnant

Alhamdulillah, I am happily pregnant (^_^), dan sedang cuba positif in this first trimester. Tak semua makanan boleh masuk, or end up muntah balik. Loya sampai ke malam. Lucky sebab sangat suka makan buah sekarang. Nasi memang tak boleh masuk, huuuuu. Rasa bersalah sebab dah beberapa hari dapur tak berasap. Tak suka suami makan masakan air tangan orang lain, huuu harapnya nanti akan biasa dengan perubahan badan. Jerawat naik, and muka macam dull, rasa macam tak cantik, but bila online, itu prekara normal. Happy2, positive, insyaAllah nanti merasa 'pregnancy glow'. Positive advices sangat-sangat membantu. Owh, cincin dah ketat, sebelum ni longgar je kat jari, kena mentally prepare sebab badan akan naik. Nasib baik info di hujung jari je sekarang, so tak perlu risau sorang-sorang. Kena amalkan diet yang sihat, nanti senang berat badan nak turun. Al-Quran kena jadi kawan baik sekarang. She, baca quran hari-hari!*ye!*

Research stop since last week. Esok masuk makmal balik, kena prepare sampel for TEM. Next week berguru on TEM preparation. Alhamdulillah, dapat guru/ mentor yang sangat arif dalam bidang palinologi. She, manfaatkan sebaiknya!*baik!*. My supervisor is one of the known anatomist (anatomy is part of botany) in Malaysia. Dia pakar anatomi dan ada buat a little research on palinologi, tapi bukan dalam expertise dia. She introduced me to Dr. Richard Chung, a well-known palynologyst. The only one in Malaysia. Lucky, right? He treated me like a protege, raising me to be a real palynologist. I am definitely in a good guidance. Both suruh convert to phd, but my recent decision, decline. Sebab? Saya rasa ilmu saya sangat-sangat kurang kalau grad with Phd tahun ni, and sebab kedua, saya malas nak deal dengan prosedur-prosedur yang complicated itu. Satu-satu lah, senang sikit. Ke guane? And sebab ketiga, nanti sambung phd, kena tambah subjek and tahun, kalau boleh tak nak berjauhan dengan suami lama-lama. For phd nanti, akan difikirkan kemudian, InsyaAllah, Allah bantu permudahkan urusan nanti. Simpan dulu impian yang meninggi itu, kena kejar satu-satu. InsyaAllah impian kanak-kanak untuk bekerjaya akan tercapai. Impian muda remaja untuk berkahwin and jadi suri rumah tercapai dulu, hihi. Allah Maha Mengetahui. Serah je semua padaNya. 

Apa-apa pon, doakan saya sihat-sihat selalu ya. Tak sihat nanti kak su kena buat TEM tanpa murid, tak seronok lah. Semoga dipermudahkan segalanya~

Rain check 2012

Salam and greetings. I hope everyone is in the pink of health. It's nearly the end of 2012, so I decided to have a check on 2012 resolutions. I wrote this on January 2012. So lets have a check, shall we?

New year resolution 2012

My new year resolution is more about improving myself. Not to mention i will be a wife, soon. So here's my list, which I also save it in my handphone. I will jot it down and hang it near my bed.

1. Jaga solat. Solat di awal waktu. Alasan tertido or bangun lewat is a big no no! Totally improve in jaga solat, toma'ninah dijaga, bacaan dijaga, cuma nak solat betul-betul awal masih belum terlaksana. Aigooooo~

2. Bangun awal, at least 6 am. Tidur cukup, can't exceed 12. Fail miserably. Tidur sebelum pukul 12 macam sangat jarang berlaku. Sigh.

3. Exercise backbone sebelum tidur. lalalalalalala, tak buat pom.

4. Minum air panas di waktu pagi Berjaya!

5. Jangan lupa makan supplement for backbone and etc. selalu lupa~

6. Jangan miss breakfast. Ada improvement compare to tahun sebelum

7. Jangan minum ais Berjaya kecuali teh ais

8. Rajin di makmal Rajin cuma ada masalah, tahun 2013 insyaAllah berjalan lancar

9. Rajin kemas umah@bilik Saya rasa saya rajin, tapi boleh rajin lagi

10.Rajin basuh baju Perkara paling malas in comparison to lain-lain kerja rumah, sebab baju dibasuh according to types, so, leceh, so, I all rasa malas sikit lah. OK alasan

11.Pakai sun-block sebelum keluar rumah. Ngeeee Bab ni rajin sangat-sangat

12.Pakai lotion sebelum tidur Lupa

13.Pakai selipar rumah. Kaki sensitif aih~ Pakai after dibebel suami

14.Shape kan body ala2 scarlet johansen gitu Scarlet Johansen ada selulit, I all takde, mane ade

15.Facial at least sekali semingggu  Sebulan sekali logik sikit kan, tahun 2012 tiada bajet untuk itu, 2013 insyaAllah ada

16.Baca news every morning Ada improvement, tapi politik luar negara lagi tip top kalau nak compare dengan dalam negara. Ibrahim Ali tu pon tak berape nak kenal, tapi tak kenal beliau pon takpe. Saya baca google news je, suami baca Malaysiakini

17.Baca buku sebelum tidur Awal-awal tahun sangat rajin membaca buku-buku Islamik, akhir-akhir tahun sibuk sikit, takde masa, OK tipu, saya tak peruntukkan masa untuk membaca sebelum tidur. Lagi prefer tickling my hubby, eh eh eh

18.Rajin memasak Rajin kecuali breakfast, kalut sangat. Better prepare bahan sikit malam before tidur, so pagi tu tak rushing. 

19.Jogging di hujung minggu Saya dah lupa bila last saya jogging, nasib baik masih kurus walaupun makan nasi macam 3 orang makan. Kelebihan Allah bagi, tapi kalau tak jaga, takut juga Allah tarik nikmat itu, so she, please jaga

20.Sentiasa pegang buku Selalu pegang planner, sayang sangat kat planner, banyak nota dalam tu

21.Hindar penyakit hati Takde, Alhamdulillah

22.Selalu senyum, jangan masam2 2012 banyak dugaan, selalu menangis. huuuuu

23.Sentiasa bersangka baik Agak susah especially bila terang-terangan you have been mistreated. Alhamdulillah, dapat mimpi separa sedar yang berbunyi.."takpe orang layan tak baik, yang penting kita sentiasa layan orang baik"

24.Menjadi isteri solehah yang terbaik untuk suami~ Sampai ke akhir hayat saya akan sentiasa berusaha!

More to come, have to start little by little.

Dear 2012, I welcomed you with arms wide open. Semoga Allah permudahkan segala urusan di tahun 2012.

So how's your 2012?

Love,

She

Inspiration. Dream. Life.

Life is short, live life the way you love it

I am currently surfing the internet on something that I craze.  My husband and I shared quite a different range of inspiration. I listen to opera because it gives me the sense of art, placid, and a fortress from any external annoyance while I am doing my work. Vintage describes me the most too. My husband knows best when it comes to my cups of tea. I thanked him for supporting my muses. Not the opera, he begs to differ.

Some people found sadness is an inspiration too. This time, I beg to differ. I can’t really blend in with sadness. Blank, silence, and solitary are all the results of sadness. Imagination and ideas fail miserably. I usually took a dormant period first before strike it all back. Sadness brings me to my private zone till I feel better.  So for those who can produce a masterpiece whilst in a deep grief, I salute you.  However, when my grandmother passed away, I was not spirited away like the usual She will. I still manage to cook, washing, cleaning, and et cetera. When I feel like crying, I went to my husband’s lap, toilet, or bed. After that, I continued my works. A little mature in embracing sadness, I guess. Or it is true that sadness is also an inspiration. Maybe I should learn to accept sadness as one the inspiration too, just like my husband did.

Inspiration may come via people too. My biggest influencers are the freelancer in Europe. Their surrounding environment, education, life style, mind set and others are main contributor to my inspiration. I had followed and keep in touch with a few of them for years. Sometimes, I shared my reading list with my husband and it excites me when he reads it too. It excites me more when he promised to take me to the opera house. Haha. He hates opera.  Owh, my husband is one of my inspirations too. That explained why he’s always in here. I just can’t exclude the word ‘husband’ in most of my writings.

Inspiration drives me to live life the way I love it. Do you know how many people out there don't really enjoy or happy with their life? I am a student. I have limitations but Allah's plan is beautiful. He gave me a man to lean on while I am pursuing more and more happiness in this temporary world. In exchange, I gave him happiness by being a wonderful wife. He once said that I am his greatest gift and I just can't be grateful enough to the Almighty. He bestowed me with happiness within my limitation. All praises to Him.

I am still not finish with my surfs as I wrote down this one.  It was a sudden feeling. I just feel like splashing my thought. Well, lots to read, more to get inspire.  Have a great day!

Daily life schedule/ Jadual waktu harian

Hari yang indah bagi saya adalah apabila saya pulang dari kampus, memeluk suami and said "I am having a great day today!" dimana ia bermaksud dari pagi (bangun tidur) hingga ke saat itu, I am having my ideal schedule of life. So disini, saya ingin share my ideal schedule of life dimana saya banyak merujuk kepada Dr. Michael F. Roizen dan Dr. Mehmet C. Oz, nutritionist, lain-lain sumber (kajian saintifik), dan yang paling utama, saya buat apa yang saya suka. I said this is my ideal schedule of life instead of my daily schedule because I am not that discipline in following them. I succeed sometimes, and also failed to do so too. Apa yang penting, saya berusaha kearah itu, because I love my schedule like hell. I think you guys should make one too! 

6:00 a.m - Bangun tidur. Jangan terus bangun. Relax, and do light movement. Solat Subuh berjemaah. Yoga (Asanas yoga, discard the ritual/ religious one) Saya pengidap scoliosis dan tidak mampu boleh melakukan senaman-senaman yang menekan tulang belakang. Ini adalah contoh yoga yang boleh dilakukan di rumah. Cari tempat yang tenang, bentangkan mat, and do it. Saya pasang opera sambil buat yoga. Just do it the way you love it okai. After that, mandi.

1. Standing twist. 2. Standing leaning stretch. 3. X. 4.Ladybug. 5. Tightrope. 6. Tree. 7. Stork. 8. Horse. 9. Goddess. 10. Triangle. 11. Cat back/ cow. 12. Extended cat stretch. 13. Thread the needle. 14. Lion. 15. Wrist extension. 16. Camel. 17. Lunges. 18. Down dog. 19. Cobra. 20. Diagonal reach. 21. Half frog. 22. Down dog one leg. 23. Roll and massage back. 24. Little boat. 25. Little boat twist. 26. Half boat. 27. Butterfly. 28. Half butterfly. 29. Corpse.

7:30 a.m - Make a breakfast. Pop pills (Vitamin C, Fish oil, Folic acid *untuk wanita yang merancang untuk mengandung* dan lain-lain supplement) yang disarankan oleh nutritionist. Paling penting, have a hot green tea/ coffee whilst reading book.

9:00 a.m - Di kampus. Catat need-to-do-works, check emails, say hi to friends at facebook, and read google news.

10: 00 a.m - Solat Dhuha. Start my laboratory works/ writing/ read journals.

12: 00 p.m - Take five to seven minute walk, lapangkan minda, and minum air (teh ais). Sambung kerja.

1: 00 p.m - Biasanya staff akan rehat, but I am a student. I don't follow these rules.Just berhenti untuk solat zohor/ lunch bila-bila masa in between 12-2 p.m =p

2: 00 p.m - Start my laboratory works/ writing/ read journals. 

5: 00 p.m - Home and meet my husband. Hug him should be in my daily schedule. Hee. Solat Asar berjemaah, and prepare dinner. In between, basuh baju ;). Kalau weekend, jalan-jalan di taman/ jogging.

7: 00 p.m - Mandi. Mandi sebelum maghrib biasanya lebih lama dari mandi waktu pagi. Lock myself in bathroom and being in meditative state. Haha.  Dinner with husband. Then solat maghrib berjemaah, cite Al Quran, and solat Isya'.

9: 00 pm - Quality time bersama suami. Aktiviti bebas, enjoying hobbies, having a hot drink, and etc. Prepare air/ keperluan untuk hari esok.

11: 00 p.m - Siap-siap untuk tidur. Ambil wudhu', lotion, cite surah Al Waqiah and As-Sharh. Minum air masak. Pkai Twin lovely night cream. Quick exercise. Urut, cium, dan minta maaf dengan suami, then zzZZZZZ. 

Weekend funspiration: Love. Home. Pray

1. When I am in a deep melancholic mode, I surf stuffs that can make me bubbly. I found a few quotes on life that boost up my confident. Gambar ini terlalu comel untuk tidak dikongsi. Cuteness keep sadness at bay =). Lupakan yang pahit-pahit, jalan lurus ke destinasi yang ingin dituju. To Jannah, InsyaAllah. 2. Finally, saya ke trek bersama suami! Walaupun hanya mampu berlari sebanyak tiga pusingan lengkap, I gave myself an applause for effort! Zaman MASUM ketika di universiti mampu berlari berbelas pusingan, sekarang stamina dah out. Owh, and this quote motivate and choke you at the same time ;) You don't get it by staring, wishing, drooling, and hoping. You don't get it easily. You get it by getting off your ass and working for it. 3. Suami buat burger bakar lagi! Sedap sangat. Endless love for you my dear. May Allah bless you 4. Make time for yourself, you are important! Obviously, I am stuck with housewife's duties and student's life. Because I enjoyed being a wife too much, sometimes I forgot that I need time to pamper myself. Nanti saya share my dream-schedule. 5. No one ever injured their eyesight by looking on the bright side of things! This motivates me to keep on pushing myself to the better. 6. Bersihkan rumah! Walaupun allergic habuk, I still enjoyed cleaning the house. I don't really know where is exactly the fun of it come from, but it's fun. Boleh buat sendiri the detergents. Sudah dimasukkan dalam aktiviti weekend akan datang ;) 7. Kumpul botol-botol cantik. Jangan buang botol/ bekas shampoo/ scrub/ shower foam/ wedding gift bottle yang cantik, recycle it =) 8. Pudding! Saya buat caramel and chocolate malt pudding. Suami hantu puding, thanks to kawan-kawan UPM yang hadiahkan pengukus. That's not the exact picture. They were all rested in peace in our stomach =) 9. I ended my weekend with green tea. Tenang dan mendamaikan. Jangan lupa amalkan surah As- Sharh dan Al-Waqiah sebelum tidur. Ya Allah, semoga urusan esok hari dipermudahkan. Urusan anda juga, InsyaAllah. Amin.

Makan buah-buahan untuk kesihatan

The picture's framework is like my weekend funspiration's style of arrangement. Enough to capture my attention besides its beautiful blend of colors. This one from dailymedicalinfo.com. Here in Malaysia, all those healthy fruits such as the berries, peaches, and many more are quite expensive. Our government is more likely to promote local fruits compared to imported ones. So that's why after attending meetings or ceremonies, water melon is a must-have fruit. Haha. I don't deny the benefits of it. Either it is imported or local, fruits are absolutely good for your everyday diet. If you are 20 plus of age, I recommend you to start take supplements. If you can't afford to buy it, then just eat fruits. Dietitian and nutritionist that I had met before are all recommended fruits over supplement such as Vitamin C. Satu lagi pesanan penaja, perempuan, sila jaga diet anda, OK ;) Untuk kesejahteraan diri dan keluarga.

Eat and live healthy with fruits

I believe everyone wish to stay healthy for the rest of their lives. The desire to enjoy life to the fullest, hike every single mountain exist in this world, travel from east to west are one of many examples that urge us to always stay healthy. Did your mountain-high wishes parallel with your effort? How is your health routine?

Well, do not seriously answer that.

Last weekend, I attended a workshop entitled  "Live healthy with fruits". It really gave me a big 'pang' as I absolutely know and aware of most of the information shared by the knowledgeable speakers. But I did not practice it in my daily routine. We have to eat fruits everyday, check, I knew it. Did I practice it? No. We have to eat various colors of fruits because each one of them contain different nutrients and antioxidant compounds, check, I knew it. Did I practice it. Again, no. Eat fish more than chicken and meat, check, but still I love chicken more. Sigh. Avoid trans-fat such as fast food and our palm oil in cooking, use olive oil or canola oil instead, check, I knew it! Exercise regularly, damn, everyone knew it. Did I practice it? Hell no. Big sighing~ 

The dietitians and professor really choked me back then. After the presentation, I personally greet the dietitians, introducing myself properly, and ask them a few questions. Supplements. I took supplements such as Fish oil, folic acid for pregnancy preparation, and Glucosamine-Chondroitin, is it OK to take those threes daily? I wish to take Vitamin C too for skin, and Evening Primrose oil (EPO) for hormone-balance. All of them function differently. Plus overdose Vitamin C will not accumulate in our body, as it will come out as urine or sweat.

Yes, it is OK for to take those three supplements. Fish oil and EPO are within the same group. I do not really understand about the fatty acid though. Forgive me. So, just take one of them, but studies had shown that fish oil is in the highest rank compare to others within the group.  The dietitians did not recommended Vitamin C in pill form. Yes, it is water soluble vitamin but instead of just Vitamin C, they ask me to eat fruits such as Kiwi and Orange which contain complex nutrients. I will gain more benefits, right? 

Those three supplements are enough for me. So I guess I have to eat fruits everyday and make it a routine. Eat fruits together with performing yoga are my solution to gain good health. Plus, I have to take care of husband's health too as I am the one who is cooking. I guess I have to change my method of cooking.

An apple a day keep a doctor away is just a saying. In comparison to Kiwi, orange, and other fruits, apple is high in fiber but not in vitamins and other nutrients. So I guess, a better saying is "A fruit a day, keeps a doctor away". Thank you Prof.

So lets eat and live healthy!

Ingin cantik: Jaga kesihatan kulit/ skin

"To all who radiate outer beauty because the treasure inner beauty"

Some say beauty is in the eye of the beholder, do not judge a book by its cover, or beauty is only skin deep, so stop linking outer beauty with inner kind. They are as separated as mashed potatoes and maple syrup. Is that what you think? Don't you find it cliché enough?

These popular beauty-based clichés argues that external beauty is unimportant and what matters is inner kind. Yes, inner kind is important but we can't deny the power of outer beauty. In fact, research shows that attractive people are judged more positively than unattractive people. The data show that attractive people are judged to be better liked, more competent, and more exciting. Research also indicates that external beauty is linked to personality and behavior. Either you are attractive or unattractive, in You: Being beautiful, everyone can treasures their most beautiful self by making choices and taking actions that will help you look the way you want, and most important, feel and be the way you want.

I read this valuable book and wish to share and simplify the information gained. It begins with looking beautiful, feeling beautiful, and being beautiful. The first part in looking beautiful chapter is the skin!

SKIN

1. Acne

Pimples. One culprit is inadequate intake of omega-3-fatty acids. Get adequate amounts of these good fats by consuming walnuts, avocados, freshly ground flaxseed, canola oils, or DHA supplements from algae. Another culprit is stress! Please do not squeeze your pimples as you will damage the skin by increasing inflammation and risk spreading the infection. Instead, wash your face with a course washcloth and mild soap to break open any pimples. Salicylic acid, benzoyl peroxide, azelaic acid, and vitamin A cream or gels are all simple and effective methods for reducing acne.

2. Eczema

This is a type of allergy reaction, and it's easily treated with inexpensive skin moisturizers. After your daily shower, do not dry yourself first, keep it hydrated, immediately apply Vaseline or cream such as Eucerin, Keri, or Nivea, so the moisture is locked up, and the rash-irritating dryness is kept out. For stubborn eczema, you might use moisturizer with lactic acid or a steroid or a prescription drug called tacrolimus. If all else fails, go get an allergist!

"Feed your skin with nutrients at night, and protect it from UV and toxins during the day!"

1. Check labels. Vitamins and supplements in skin lotions, creams, and potions usually have to be in the 1 to 10 percent range to really do something to your skin.The formulations also need to be pH balanced, and the active ingredients must be able to penetrate the skin (vitamin A works at a much lower concentration)

2. Cream it on. These are lists of the big ingredients. These are eight examples of skin-care ingredients that you can cream on with solid scientific backing:

Vitamin A (retinoids)

Vitamin B3 (niacin or nicotinamide)

Vitamin B5(panthothenic acid, panthenol)

Vitamin C

Vitamin E

Ubiquinone or coenzyme Q10 (small-molecule antioxidant)

Ferrulic acid (small-molecule antioxidant)

3.Eat for skin.

-Eggs (yolks, unfortunately), legumes, avocados, soybeans, and nuts. They contain biotin, an essential chemical for fat and carbohydrate metabolism. A deficiency may cause hair and nails become brittle and frail, dry skin, or dermatitis on the face

-Salmon. Astaxanthin, the carotenoid that gives salmon its pink color, which improves skin elasticity, and the good fat DHA-Omega-3, which also makes your skin and hair look younger and healthier.

-Green tea contains polyphenol that have free oxygen radical scavengers. These protect against photo damage and thicken the epidermis, and may help sun burn

-Pomegranates thickening the epidermis and prolonging fibroblast life to produce more collagen and elastin, it contains phytonutrients that seem to accelerate wound healing.

-Tomatoes will reduce chance for sunburn, so bulk up tomatoes with little lipid such as walnuts beforehand so the active ingredients are absorbed. Enjoy tomatoes rather than just a lycopene supplement.

p/s: Kebanyakan tulisan saya adalah dalam bahasa Inggeris. Saya masih berjinak-jinak dalam penulisan bahasa Melayu. Sorry for the inconveniences. Saya budak baru belajar ;)

Untuk pengidap scoliosis/ tulang belakang bengkok

Peringatan kepada diri sendiri dan pengidap scoliosis yang lain! Dibawah adalah konsultasi dari chiropractor yang bertauliah, Dr. Moira dari HSC Cheras.

1. Glucosamine Sulphate-1500mg for first three month. Stop one month and cont with 1000mg per day

2. Chondroitin Sulphate-1200mg for first three month. Stop one month and cont with 800mg per day

3. Exercise*follow the rehab procedures* twice a day

4. Medical device use with ice pax for 15 minutes at affected areas

5. Do not take spicy foods

6. Do not take acidic flavour foods or drinks

7. No tea and coffee

8. No long bean

9. No meat

10. No HIGH HEELS

11. Take milk, yogurt, and cheese

12. Sunlight (Vit D)

13. Water, 3L per day

14. Posture to wake up from sleep, practiced it till the day you die

15. Continue meet physiotherapist

16. No heavy work

Senaman untuk si badan pear

Epal dan pear! Kedua-dua kelihatan sedap bukan? 

Epal atau nama saintifiknya Malus domestica berasal dari keluarga Rosaceae. Epal merupakan antara tanaman yang paling banyak ditanam di dunia. Dibawah adalah contoh-contoh variasi epal yang terdapat di seluruh negara.

Mana satu pilihan anda?

Antara kebaikan epal adalah,

1. Epal rendah kalori dan lemak , rendah natrium dan mengandungi serat . Ini boleh membantu untuk mengurangkan berat badan .

2. Amalan memakan sebiji epal atau meminum jusnya setiap hari cukup untuk membekalkan khasiat bagi mengurangkan kandungan kolesterol dalam badan.  Kajian menunjukkan, epal mengandungi elemen kesihatan 'phytonutrient' yang boleh melambatkan pengoksidaan kolesterol yang tidak baik iaitu satu proses yang berperanan dalam pertumbuhan penyakit jantung.

3. Melindungi otak daripada bahaya penyakit Parkinson & Alzheimer

4. Kanak-kanak yang memakan makanan segera dan kemudian memakan epal atau meminum jusnya, sebenarnya menyeimbangkan kembali kandungan zat dan mencegah berlaku lemak dalam badan.

Pear atau nama saintifiknya Pyrus communis ('European pear') adalah berasal dari keluarga Rosaceae. Terdapat banyak variasi pear yang ditanam secara meluas di seluruh negara berikutan rasanya yang sedap dan juga berkhasiat. 

Tahukah anda, 

1. Pear berkesan utk melegakan sakit dada akibat batuk yg keterlaluan, contohnya akibat penyakit Tuberculosis (TB) atau batuk kering. Pengidap TB akan merasai sakit menusuk di paru2 setiap kali batuk yg berlanjutan. Pear dipercayai dapat melegakan kesakitan itu walaupun untuk sementara. 

2. Pear bersifat 'diuretic' dan 'laxcitive'. Ia sesuai untuk melancarkan sistem penghadaman terganggu akibat pengambilan makanan yg terlalu berminyak atau terlalu pedas. Oleh kerana ia mempunyai serat, pear baik utk alat pencernaan dan saluran makanan dalam tubuh seperti perut, usus kecil dan besar. Perut yg sebu akibat terlebih makan juga dapat dilegakan dengan segelas jus pir. 

3. Pear bersifat sejuk dan ini menjadikan ia sesuai untuk meredakan demam panas. 

4. Bagi wanita mengandung, ia dapat meredakan rasa loya akibat 'morning sickness' dan juga untuk mabuk perjalanan.

Jika anda bercadang untuk membuat sendiri jus pear, hampasnya jangan dibuang begitu saja. Ia boleh dibuat bahan dalam roti atau boleh dijadikan baja untuk tanaman.

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Disebalik khasiat dan kelazatan kedua-dua buahan diatas, epal dan pear merupakan simbolik kepada bentuk badan manusia. 

Perempuan terutamanya amat mengidami badan berbentuk jam pasir umpama Adriana Lima, Angelina Jolie, Eva Mendez, Monica Belluci, dan ramai lagi.

Bagi mereka yang mempunyai bentuk badan seperti buah pear, amalkan senaman dibawah untuk mendapat bentuk tubuh yang ideal.

a) Kerusi bayangan

1. Berdiri tegak sambil bersandar pada dinding.

2. Rehatkan tangan pada dinding dan turunkan badan perlahan-lahan. Turunkan badan sehingga kedudukan badan seperti sedang duduk. Bayangkan anda sedang duduk di atas kerusi.

3. Bila anda sudah ‘duduk’, cuba bertahan selama mana yang anda boleh sebelum anda berdiri tegak semula. Kebanyakan orang hanya boleh bertahan untuk beberapa saat sahaja pada permulaan. Setelah membiasakan diri, anda pasti akan dapat bertahan lebih lama.

4. Pastikan badan anda tegak semasa ‘duduk’.

5. Cuba capai 10 saat pada permulaan, dan bertahan sehingga 1 minit setelah melakukannya beberapa kali. Lakukan 5 kali setiap hari.

b) Pergerakan menggunting

Latihan ini menumpukan bahagian peha sebelah dalam. 

1. Baring atas lantai dengan kedua belah tangan di sisi.

2. Angkat kedua belah kaki lebih kurang 45 darjah.

3. Bayangkan pergerakan gunting semasa memotong kertas. Silangkan kaki anda dengan kaki kanan bersilang di atas kaki kiri. Kemudian, tukar kaki kepada kaki kiri pula bersilang di atas kaki kanan. 

4. Ulang langkah ini 12 – 15 kali untuk setiap set. Anda akan dapat rasa tekanan di otot-otot bahagian peha anda.

c) Pusingan bulatan

1. Baring mengiring di atas lantai dengan sebelah tangan anda ke atas (baring berbantalkan lengan anda) dan letakkan tapak tangan sebelah lagi di atas lantai di hadapan perut anda. 

2. Angkat sebelah kaki ke atas setinggi yang boleh. Tarik nafas, dan pusingkan kaki yang anda angkat itu mengikut pusingan jam. Gerakkan seluruh kaki tanpa menggerakkan pinggul anda. 

3. Buat pusingan jam sebanyak 5 kali sebelum ulang langkah tersebut menggunakan kaki yang sebelah lagi pula. Lakukan sehingga 10 set jika boleh.

d) Pakai kasut tumit tinggi

1. Memakai kasut tinggi boleh membentuk otot betis dan peha. Walaupun kita kena beringat yang amalan memakai kasut tinggi ini boleh memberi kesan buruk kepada kaki dan postur, oleh itu anda perlulah berhati-hati! Kajian mengatakan bahawa kita tidak sepatutnya menggunakan kasut tumit tinggi yang melebihi 2 inci!

2. Kepada pengidap scoliosis, jangan sekali-kali memakai kasut tumit  tinggi!

e) Melompat diatas trampoline

1. Melompat di atas trampoline ini sangat baik untuk peredaran darah dalam badan, pembakaran lemak, meningkatkan metabolism, mengurangkan selulit dan membentuk kaki yang cantik. 

2. Lakukan aktiviti ini selama setengah jam dapat membakar hampir 200 kalori dalam badan. Ia juga aktiviti yang sangat menarik yang anda boleh lakukan bersama keluarga mahupun rakan-rakan anda!

3. Sukar untuk mendapatkan trampoline? Cubalah 'skipping'! Terbukti mampu menguruskan badan. Mulakan dengan tetapan 10-20 kali 'skipping sehari. Jika mampu, amalkan sebanyak 100 kali sehari. Selamat berusaha! 

"Eat.Real.Fruit."