5 months of transformation

Well, we've passed February 2014 today. The New Year and Chinese New Year of 2014 just passed by *snap like that, in a blink of eye or whatever terms that describe time moves fast. Anyway, back to the story from the previous blog post, I've mentioned that I was transforming myself from the fat, geeky, boring dude into something new right?

Yeah, my old me. Back in 2012 when I was in a vacation with my colleagues at Cameron Highlands. Great place as always in my top vacation sites list. See that bump? That's a fat bump.

And now...

Jeng jeng jeng...

Sorry for not showing my front because it's still under construction. The abs and chest part is quite hard for me and that more effort and duration to build. Anyway, if you wanna know more (or peek on my frontals *gosh sounds awkward, just head yourself to my Bodyspace. All my progress including workout histories and photos are there for more info. It's like a Facebook place just that this site is for those who are enthusiastic about gym; let's say a gym freak like me. Yeah, I'm totally addicted to gym now.

From 95 kg, I dropped my bodyweight until 80 - 82 kg and I think I hit my limits as the measurement is more likely buffering at that range. The important one is that my bodyfat percentage has dropped from 23% to 16%. I've hit my target partially for my bodyweight but my bodyfat is still in progress as its goal is 8%. Fuh, another 8% to lose.

Not forgetting that I would like to thank to my new gadget for giving me opportunity to shot better pictures of my selfies. 

Why do I thank it while I'm the one who pay for it? *weird moment *move along

Nokia Lumia 1020. My latest addition in my tech family. 41 megapixels. And I'm still doubt its gigantic sensor but it delivers its promise though. More review next time on it.

So, back to my story. Ahem, where am I? Oh yeah, my brags about my 5 months of transformation. I'm currently on a program called "12 Weeks Daily Trainer with Kris Gethin" and I've almost going to enter the third month.

Credits to Bodybuilding.com & whoever 'patented' this banner

So far, the workouts are quite good, not that intense and I learned a lot from this program. Just that I need to maintain my motivation level up to par so that I won't give up easily. I have several times that those soreness from my muscle from hamstrings, calves and other parts of major muscles causes most of my weekends bedridden.

Practically, I can't go anywhere but to stay on bed while taking time to recuperate and having some casein shakes to improve my situation. When comes to that, we are gonna move on to my nutrition.

During October & November 2013, I made myself eating mostly fruits like apple and banana during morning and lunch while I was testing out fat burners. As I mentioned on my previous post, I've changed my fat burner to a better one (I think). Muscletech Hydroxycut Hardcore Elite.

This babe is a real deal and I would recommend this even for beginners. As long as you can tolerate high caffeine intake and the jitterish feeling daily, you will like this product. Back to normal intake, I added my nutrition with more fiber from oat. Uncooked oat to be precised. I just dunk 3 tablespoons of it into my cereal or shakes.

When I started my program on early December, I stopped my fat burner and move on into taking high protein. Hence, whey protein and casein come in.

Platinum Hydrowhey and Gold Standard 100% Casein from Optimum Nutrition. As planned, these proteins help me in building up lean muscles and possibly help me shred fat too. For your infomation, whey protein is a fast-absorbing protein which can be taken before or after workout and casein is a slow one and only can be taken before heading to bed. Both are proteins but different rate of absorption. They are not cheap but helps me a lot when comes to repairing micro tear of muscle fiber which causes the soreness and pain I had..

This fish oil supplement comes as an additional supplements. It's from Optimum Nutrition by the way. Well, that's wrap up my nutrition and supplements status quo from me. In future, I might add CLA and creatine and just see how my pocket money goes as expenses on proteins don't come cheap.

For now, I will keep going on and on as long as I kept my motivation level as I started from my transformation. My target:-

Jay Ryan's body is my current target. And his style too.

Hot, isn't he (and she)? Not to sound gay-ish but anyhow, I want to have such style. Soon!

So, just wait for another 4 months and finger-crossed that I will have that by then. Let's wait patiently and I will see you next post then. Signing off!

Me and my sister during CNY 2014

Transformation

Hey peeps. Another post from me in wee hours (practically the time now is 2.07 am) and I'm widely awake. I think it's due to something I started off in the early of this month that made me... erm... how should I put my word here?

Miraculously, insane, spontaneous decision?

I wouldn't think it will be in my 2013 to-do-list but in sudden, I decided to transform myself from fat to lean. Yeah, and believe of not, today marked me as the fourth week and I have set my goal within a year. I'm not sure how well I will go but I'm quite determined and persistent lately, perhaps due to exercise regimen which is practically everyday either I'm at gym (yeah, I go to gym now), swimming pool (don't sound surprised but I do know how to swim) and home.

I recalled my first gym session was during my varsity year, almost the end of my degree where one of my friend asked me to join him at campus gym. Back in those days, me and my friend were fat and well, overweight. So, I hit the gym twice a week but ending up I gave up due to muscle soreness, lack of motivation and I had a packed schedule with my final year projects and studies.

Well, I admit that I was lazy to go for an exercise. Maybe another reason I would blamed is the inadequate gym equipments in the campus gym as they have basic equipments, treadmills and a cross-trainer and sometimes, those equipments broke down.

Next, my sister enrolled herself to a gym which I would say it is (hopefully still) the best gym in town which located at Kinta City called Fitness Embassy. It has the most equipments I've seen so far and I was given privilege for 3 days free pass to go there. I was so excited until I worked out for almost 4 hours. My sister said that I was crazy and energetic. Anyhow, I ended up myself crash to bed after the gym session. Yes indeed it's cool to enrol there but when comes to the fee...

Yes, it's expensive and I don't have much money back then to hit such gym.

Afterwards, I kind of abandoning my exercise since then until recently. Maybe I made my decision to quick but I like to come out with unexpected ones as it gives me adventure. As I have started to work with UTAR, I didn't bother to go for an exercise or even a swimming session with my mum and sister. I was FB-ing a lot, taking sleeps on weekends, do my job on weekdays and the days just goes on and on.

In the early of this month, I've decided to make another life commitment: A transformation of my body.

I want to lose those 'spare tires' that I've seen since I was teenager.

I want to make my life better with healthy liver condition (I have a fatty liver condition btw).

I want my body to have lean, shredded muscles just like fitness model.

I want to look better.

But the word 'I want' doesn't come just like that. It's not a wishful thought anymore if I take the steps now, fast.

Hence, I told one of my good friend (also happened to be my colleague) to hit gym with him every Tuesday and Thursday. I make myself to go for a swim on Saturdays. I do crunches on the other days. In the end, this week has been the third week. I make myself to change diet until my parents worried and my colleagues teased me for being a sudden healthy freak. I even starved myself by resisting temptations from all around me. And heck, I still diet and exercise everyday in recent vacation.

I see results that makes me want more. More fat shredding. More lean muscle. At the same time, I had help from Bodybuilding.com by setting up a Bodyspace account. This account has tracked all my exercise regiments, giving me guide on which exercises that I should do and focus on and for the first time, I picked up a supplement. A thermogenic weight-loss supp.

What is it actually? Based from various info, it is a kind of supplement that helps you to metabolise fat whether you workout or not while curb cravings and give some kick during workouts and reduce lethargic effects after exercise session. I got this Musclepharm Shred Matrix a try for about 1/2 to one month supply and the price is fine but will it works?

So far, I did feel something but I'm not sure what I'm felt because it is my first time taking supplements for gym. I remembered the first time I took it, I felt the energy kick as it has caffeine. And it was just one capsule. The whole bottle has a strong scent of berry, hence from the ingredient of raspberry ketone. I dared myself to take two capsules during afternoon (suggested use is 1-3 capsules before 30/45 minutes prior to breakfast and lunch) and the kick stays. It happens to be my gym day so I took another one capsule before I hit for exercise and heck, it works.

The verdict is I don't feel hungry and lethargic after gym session. There's one thing I noticed that I took about 4 bottles of 1.5L water throughout the day. I was a bit worried because I didn't go for toilet to pee quite frequently as the product mentioned that it has diuretic effects. Anyhow, I sweat a lot more that day.

On the second day, it's Friday and I do crunches. Yes, the energy still there but I was a bit hungry hence I take addition small meals like few pieces of crackers and some juices. That day, I took 2 during morning and 2 during lunch.

For today (it's Saturday), I did go for a swimming session but I took an extra. Same as on Friday but I popped another 2 before I swim. That counts the maximum intake of the supplement as recommended. I feel good and my energy level reduce just a bit. Yet, I crashed on my bed at 8 and woke up around 12 am till now. I still feel the energy and maybe, or just maybe, I would like to do another crunch session later before I go to sleep again (for your info, I had a crunch session right before I go to swim). Crazy or what.

Anyway, I still widely awake but started to have some yawns. This product still under evaluation as it says and I quote, "Visible changes in less than 2 weeks". Well, hope it does as it said. I'm gonna pop 3 capsules tomorrow for breakie and lunch and see how my body response. For now, my throat feels the acid reflux and I need to quench some water to reduce it. Gotta stock up some apples tomorrow and pray that this product does the job.

Well, you can monitor my progress from my Bodyspace as I will track all the exercise thingy that I do. Just like Twitter but it's for people who are obsessed with exercise and muscle. That marks my point here to stop and actually I still have errands to do now in the middle of midnight.

This is guy (Adam Charlton) by the way that inspired me the most now. I hope that I can achieve such lean muscle in future and retain the result. Not too bulky but just some nice muscle and definitely the six packs. The kind of body that attracts people's eye on beaches or elsewhere that I can be half naked.

Farewell and cross fingers to my transformation.

Decisions

Hey guys. Another post has been delayed long time ago but feeling wanna spill my life event.

Since the last post, it has been few emotional months that I've been through. Decisions that would change my direction in my life. A sudden thought of migrating to Australia for better living and the plan has been stalled (notice here that I still have intentions to move out from Malaysia) due to immigration worries. Of course, If I'm moving out, it means I told my Master studies supervisor that I quit and ready to ditch a resignation letter to UTAR.

When this matter was over, me and my mom was planning to venture into food business as our main plan going to Melbourne is to open a cafe. Since my local area doesn't have such business before, it would be great to be the one. In the end, it turns out to be another stop. The price of a shop is darn hefty and cost a life. My mum couldn't afford to get one as predicted that the loan will be for life.

Anyway, in that period I was actually still giving myself the final decision: resignation. In the midst of packing up my things, my supervisor approached me and ask me to become her Master student again and she really have patience to let me decide again by giving me a month. I was puzzled, confused and worried with path would I choose.

Getting another job and leave my dream to have Master qualification or stuck myself, continue what I've done so far for 2 years, graduate again and find a new job? Indeed I want to look for other jobs as my career in UTAR has no job advancement and my salary increment is the least compares to my friends working outside with corporate and big companies. At the same time, my sister asked me to work outside for better salary, expand my career portfolio and get a Master studies in business and management.

In that time, I'm also worried that I'm not ready to face new challenge and have no new direction to look for.

Thus, I remained UTAR and proceed my studies as planned at the first place. Sorry for disappointing people who heard my news and those kinds of 'leaving' anticipation.

Last few weeks, there are few positive turnouts that I didn't expect to have.

Firstly, I'm going to get my first investment home in Kampar. This decision is made when I was looking rents which probably starts on upcoming January. My parents advised me to look for home as they would like to help to buy a house and become landlord instead of spending two or three years paying rents for a room. Yes, no more 'fake' surprises and it's in progress.

The second decision would be another life event. You might guess but I can't promise that this decision will be a success as I'm letting the nature takes its coarse and the decision that my fate lies.

That's it, folks. I might not be posting much but I hope I can do more in future. Anticipate more stories from me then and thanks for your patience!

After 12 years

Hey guys. I'm really into hiatus mode as daily chores and work keeping me up quite busy recently. Anyway, I would like to jot down something you guys for an update.

Remember my post about 'Pasion' that I wrote about myself regarding what I'm interested to do in the past and future? Yeah, I got myself something.

Something expensive yet I have waited for the past 12 years to get one on my own.

See something black there? Yeah, I got it. My 2013 bonus just cut half for that price tag. Why I choose it? Actually it wasn't part of my plan for 2013 but my colleague mentioned that he bought something from a local music store. CK Music. In December 2012, they were making a promotional period where items were discounted and I checked out the piano section.

They sell Korg brand which I heard of but not that familiar. I've played digital piano from Yamaha, Casio and Roland but not Korg. I checked out forums and sites about this brand. It turns out there are some quite good review as they are well-known stage musical instrument provider.

I looked on the list of digital piano they offered and I came out with my decision. Actually two. SP170 and LP350.

Differences? SP170 is much more affordable but it's bulkier, lesser sound preferences and effects, hidden preset where we need to press the keys to access modes like changing sound and tuning and this piano offers sustain pedal. Somehow, it's portable as I tried to lift the piano. It's light.

On the other hand, LP350 is more sleeker, space savvy, 30 sounds with reverb, touch and chorus selection, built-in metronome and 3 pedals. The 3 pedals are quite important to me if I want to go for music class again. I can't deny I like its design and there's one little feature that really look cool. The hatch that enclose the keys has a soft closure, meaning that we just close it halfway and leave it close on its own smoothly. Can't get it, see the video here.

The keys were weighed as if they were keys from upright or grand piano, giving out the real expression of touching almost precise, feeling of a real hammered key from uprights or grand piano. They called it "Real Weighted Hammer Action 3".

From the super duper long description above, it's clearly that my decision would be LP350. At the first place, I want the white one but after a few looks from the piano in the showroom, the dust is much more visible. They offered other colour which is black. The other colors which are not offered in Malaysia is:-

Red. As if it was made from lipstick.

Ivory white. This one is interesting as it gives out wheat white colour with leather emboss. And it's limited edition.

Why I chose a digital piano? Well, I learnt to play piano using a digital one and I felt better. They are much lighter compares to an upright. Digital piano does not require tuning and maintenance from pest like termite and fungal growth due to high humidity in Malaysia. Electric doesn't eat your wallet much compares to its maintenance. One maintenance costs more than changing your engine oil. Other words, the price for upright, cheapest is about RM 6000 to 8000. Even for those refurbished piano, they cost at least RM 4000.

Digital piano? The decent and stylish looking like mine just cost me not more than RM 3000. And it smaller and can give performance just like an upright up to its par. The only one thing that I can say bad about digital piano is if there's not electricity, it won't function and the piano goes off when its electronic parts spoilt.

So, I got it about one month and so far, the piano is indeed a new companion in my life. After await for 12 years since my mom didn't bought me one because I didn't passed on her expectation, finally I got one on my own. Why I want to get  it one now, this time? My answer: I don't know but believe it or not, it's like a calling for me to get one and this decision that I need to fulfil in part of my life.

For the next one, I think I won't be using my money that often as I have another major plan. Planning to get a hybrid car in another 5 years time where my salary can afford a loan for a RM 95k to 130k as for the price of a current hybrids.

These are my options:-

Toyota Prius c TRD Sportivo 1.5cc. RM 103,990.

Honda Insight 1.3cc. RM 99,800.

Honda CR-Z (M) 1.5cc. RM 111,488.

(If I'm still single)

Toyota Prius 1.8cc. RM 129,000.

The highest end that I can afford.

Why my next plan on getting a hybrid? First, hydrid save petrol usage which greatly reducing my money in paying the tank. Second, these cars are environmental friendly as they emits lesser CO2 combustion. Third, they can work alone as an electric vehicle, EV where they move quietly and no petrol use at least 10 km. Great for short distance travelling without using a single drop of petrol.

If Malaysia plan to get an EV with affordable price tag, I'm hoping for Nissan LEAF.

A total EV vehicle without tailpipe. Zero combustion, zero emission. I hope that this car can take more than 160 km per charge and battery replacement from using lithium to sodium. This would make the battery price drop significantly hence the price of the car.

I would like a time travel machine to see my future decision leads me to. One step another step I presume. Just like I get a piano after 12 years. So, I would like to wrap up here peeps. Good night and good day ahead for tomorrows.