Moderation Is The Key

Recently, a string of articles cropped up online like:
Marathon running is bad for you, and it's best to keep exercise to a maximum of 50 minutes a day say doctors - http://www.independent.co.uk/
Too much exercise may be bad for you - http://clovetwo.com/
Too much exercise may be bad for your heart - http://news.insing.com/

Researchers found that too much exercise can wear out your heart. High intensity exercise continued over hours and repeated regularly over years and decades “stretches” the heart, disrupting muscle fibers and causing micro-tears that do permanent damage. There are signs of damage after a single marathon but these rapidly return to normal after a week.  If the damage is repeated, however, it can eventually lead to scarring and stiffness.

Vigorous exercise is good for health but only if it is limited to a maximum daily dose of between 30 and 50 minutes. If you really want to do a marathon or full distance triathlon, it may be best to do just one or a few and then proceed to safer and healthier exercise patterns. A routine of moderate physical activity will add life to your years as well as years to your life. In contrast, running too far, too fast, and for too many years may speed one’s progress to towards the finishing line of life.

The researchers analyzed recent studies, particularly two that have been presented at major medical conferences that support their claim that exercise is best done in moderation. One study tracked the heart health of more than 50,000 people over the span of 30 years, finding that while the 14,000 runners in the study were more likely to live longer, those benefits were limited only to those who ran between five and 20 miles a week. The longer distance runners did not live any longer than the non-runners. The second study- based on 20,000 Danes- found that slow jogging can increase life expectancy.

You can have too much of a good thing. Like everything else, anything in excess can do you harm. It seems that it's true for exercise too. Before you say why bother to exercise at all, the take home message is "it's TOO MUCH exercise might be bad for you, NOT exercise might be bad for you".

Runner's High

A friend of mine sent to me the article featured below. It spurred me to write this blog post because I can totally relate to it. Firstly, I was one of those who thought that running for miles and miles is monotonous. I took up running with the initial goal of losing weight and getting fit. Now it has become a love affair. Secondly, I am constantly trying to progressively run farther and farther, pushing myself to the limit of my endurance to get that runner's high. 

Runner's high: is it real or just an exercise lore? Yes, running can make you high. You need to experience it yourself to believe it. I did experience it, twice, when I successfully completed 18 km in the Newton Challenge and 21 km during the Penang Bridge International Marathon. On both occasions I ran my farthest distance at the time. However, on both occasions, I recalled that the experience of high were not after finishing the race but somewhere during the race when I felt I could run effortlessly and endlessly. Unfortunately, the high disappeared 3-4 km before finishing the race. There is no surprise I always struggled 3-4 km to the finishing line. 

I will progressively increase my running distance. My next benchmark distance will be 25 km in the Newton Challenge Malaysia end of next month. This time I will try not to look at the distance marker towards the end of the race. Then maybe I could extend the feeling of runner's high to the finish line. My goal now is to run a full marathon distance of 42.195 km next year on the new Second Link Penang Bridge!

Some may ask why I want to run a marathon? I have a simple answer to that. Because I think I can!

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Long-distance runners lap up miles for the love of it

By Dorene Internicola

NEW YORK (Reuters) - Although many people begin running as a practical path to weight loss or fitness, for many it becomes a love affair as the miles increase.

Tom Holland, running coach and author of "The Marathon Method," tells his clients that running for 3 miles (4.8 kilometers) was horrible for him too, but farther down the road things changed.

"It happens for different people at different times and different distances: that runner's high," he said in an interview. Holland calls it a cardiovascular turning point where the run becomes exponentially easier. "There's a point where the run becomes enjoyable," he said. "Whether this happens at 8 (12.8 kilometers) or 10 or 12 miles down the road, it will happen," he said. A veteran of 60 marathons, Holland was set to run his ninth New York City Marathon earlier this month, until the 26.2-mile (42.2-kilometer) race was canceled in the wake of Superstorm Sandy. "Over 100,000 people apply to the New York City Marathon each year," he said. "There must be something there that people want."

Gregory Chertok, a sports psychologist with the American College of Sports Medicine, said many people are drawn to running because it's an uncomplicated activity. "Put one foot in front of the other and when you work hard, you improve," Chertok said. "Not everything in life is so simple. You could spend 10 years in a ballet studio and not become a ballerina." Few runners enter a marathon to win it, he said. "It's so rare in sporting culture for those who aren't physically or aerobically gifted to feel included in something that's competitive but not exclusive." While it's tough to categorize athletes, Chertok said, long-distance running seems to be appreciated by those who enjoy solitude - or periods of solitude - and are OK with monotony. Chertok differentiates external from internal motivation and said studies show that people who set goals based on intrinsic motivation are more successful. "People run with the initial goal of losing weight or getting fit, which are external goals, but during training they realize they love running, so they end up running for internal reasons," he said. Qualitative evidence for the runner's high suggests that for those prone to its euphoria, it probably contributes to running's addictive quality. "Those that have it swear by it," he said. Most sports medicine practitioners would agree that people are born to be mobile, he said, but not necessarily to run long distances. "Physicians will deter people from running marathon distances, but it's such a powerful allure that it becomes greater than risk of hamstring injury," he said.

Richard Finn, spokesman for New York Road Runners, organizers of the New York City Marathon, agrees that long distances do not suit everyone. "Running 26.2 miles (42.2 kilometers) is a big, bold brash undertaking," he said. "You've got to put heart, soul, mind, body in it for months. It's like climbing Mount Everest. Not everybody should be doing it." He said a runner is a runner whether you're doing a marathon or a five kilometer (3.1-mile) race. "We do running 365 days a year, since 1959," Finn said of the New York Road Runners. "Get those sneakers on and run, even on a treadmill. We're not elitist. We think running is good for you." Holland believes running also exposes our weakest link so he urges novices to start slow. "Running is an amazing cheap thing that can make us feel great about ourselves," he said. "But the secret to running is balance. We're born to run but we're not born to run six days a week at the start." 

(Editing by Patricia Reaney and Bill Trott)

Source: http://mobile.reuters.com/article/idUSLNE8AP01D20121126?irpc=932

First Half Marathon Completed

I am proud to have participated in the Allianz Penang Bridge International Marathon yesterday that was recorded as the bridge marathon with the largest number of participants in the Malaysia Book of Records. It was a record of my own as well: my first half marathon (21 km in 3 hours), the longest distance I have ever run in an event so far bypassing the 18 km Newton Challenge Singapore which I did 2 weeks ago. It was a good bridging distance before I attempted my first HM. My next feat will be the 25 km Newton Challenge Malaysia in about 6 weeks time. I will gradually progress my distance to 30 km and attempt a few more half marathons before I even contemplate to do a full marathon distance of 42.195 km.

The question is why am I pushing myself to an ever-increasing limit? I may seem crazy to the people around me but I can tell you this. Once you get motivated to run, you just want more of it! However, I don't recommend anyone to jump right into the deep end and attempt a full marathon without proper conditioning of your body. You will get into lots of trouble and may get yourself injured or worst case scenario may even cause harm.

My advice will be to start slow, build up strength and most importantly, listen to your body. Get a proper running shoes and learn the proper running technique to prevent injury. It also helps to get yourself connected with people with the same interest or passion in running like The Gaited Community on Facebook for inspiration and motivation. Believe me! This advice comes from a guy who had previously said "Running is boring". Yes, I used to hate running!

Photos:
Above; at the halfway mark.
Below; with few members of The Gaited Community right after the APBIM yesterday with our "gigit medal" trademark pose (from left; Hizwani, Izam, Franco, me, Lini, KZ & Kuya)

November Race Quadrilogy

28th October 2012 Newton Challenge 18km

4th November 2012 Powerman Duathlon 5.7km-32km-5.7km

18th November 2012 Penang Bridge International Marathon 21km

25th November 2012 JB Run 10km

That is my race schedule in October/November 2012. Crazy, isn't it? I may have been a bit too enthusiastic (an understatement!...)  in registering myself in races this year. Considering my first race (The BHP Run 11km) was only in July 2012, inexperience has gotten the best (or the worst) of me. Being a novice in running, I must admit I may have bitten more than I can chew and so soon after my knee surgery. I did not consider time for recuperation and recovery when I registered for the races. Actually I had forfeited two other races (Salomon Trail Run & Putrajaya Night Marathon) because of my operation.

The Newton 18 km Challenge took place at East Coast Park, Singapore. It was my first ever long distance race. Although my longest run is 21km on the treadmill, it was not the same running in a real race. Since it was just 6 weeks after a knee surgery I took it easy. I finished with a time of 2:26. This may be the beginning of many more races in Singapore. I discovered that races in Singapore are very well-organized and well-attended. . It is closer to travel to Singapore than KL from Johor Bahru. Most races in Malaysia are happening in KL. Moreover, there are not many races being organized in Johor Bahru anyway. What a shame!

The next race was my first endurance multisport experience, The Malakoff Powerman Asian Duathlon Championship. This race involved a run-bike-run format. I only registered for the Sprint event which required a 5.7 km first leg run followed by a 32-km bike leg and another 5.7 km second leg run to finish off (Long Distance Powerman involved a 11.4 km run- 64 km bike- 11.4 km run). My official result was No.295/411 2:47:30 2:47:21 0:38:23 0:04:06 1:08:20 0:04:08 0:52:25. I experienced signs of cramps during the bike-run transition so much so that I had to take it easy on the second leg run. I thought it was better to be able to finish rather than be carried away injured. It was a memorable experience, nonetheless. Call me Half-Powerman!

My next race will be the Penang Bridge International Marathon where I will run a half marathon 21 km. It will be followed by the JB 10k Run. Since a JB event is hard to come by, I registered to show my support even though I may still be recovering from my half marathon attempt in Penang.

Odd Things That Make You Fat

I just want to share a good online article I read this morning. These are the odd things that could make you fat. Weird saboteurs to your weight loss plan. Maybe some of us don't realise that we are doing some of the things mentioned in the article. I can relate to a few of them like late night TV, blasting the air-con and filling up the fridge at home. However, there are a few that I have already put into practice. When I travel for conference, I always make sure I pack my gym gears. I've mixed up my exercise routine with cardio and strength exercises. I've rid of my craving for any carbonated drinks, which I used to love.

I hope the article will be of benefit to everybody.

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It’s no secret that taking a months-long hiatus from the gym or indulging in dessert night after night can cause pounds to creep on. But many other less obvious things — from what time you go to sleep to how often you multitask — can impact your weight too. “Lots of women think they're doing everything right for weight loss, but habits that you've never even thought of may be unwittingly sabotaging your efforts,” says Karlene Karst, RD, author of Belly Fat Breakthrough. If you're trying to slim down, pay attention to these shockingly sneaky weight-loss saboteurs.


A Love of Late-Night Television
Staying up late may pack on up to two pounds a month, according to new research from Northwestern University. The study found that people who go to bed late eat more food (on average 248 extra calories per day), have worse diets, and are more likely to have a higher body mass index than people who tuck in earlier. Study researcher Kelly Glazer Baron, PhD, MPH, says both circadian rhythm and environmental factors may be at play. “Eating at night, when you're supposed to be sleeping, may cause you to process calories differently,” she says. Plus, the foods we often crave at night — Moose Tracks ice cream, anyone? — tends to be high in calories and fat. To ease into a new routine, inch your bedtime back by 15 minutes a night until you’re snagging seven to eight hours of sleep. When you get post-dinner munchies, opt for healthy snacks, such as frozen grapes or berries, air-popped popcorn, or high-fiber cereal (look for less than 5 grams of sugar per serving and more than 5 grams of fiber).


Traveling for Work
The more time you spend away from home, the worse off your waistline, according to a recent Columbia University study. After reviewing the medical records of more than 13,000 employees in a corporate wellness program, researchers found that those who traveled the most for work were more likely to have higher BMIs and a greater risk of obesity. Since 80 percent of business travel in the United States is by car, long stints of inactivity behind the wheel and unhealthy on-the-road food choices are probably to blame. Karst suggests filling a portable cooler with fresh-cut fruits and vegetables, sandwiches, yogurt, and bottles of water, and stashing some nuts (almonds and walnuts) in your glove compartment as a go-to healthy snack. At rest stops, choose sandwich shops (like Subway or Quiznos) where you can pick your fillings; order a 6-inch size sandwich made with whole-grain or flat bread and lean meats, and load it up with filling veggies. Keep a gym bag and a pair of sneakers in your trunk — you can hit the hotel gym if there is one, or at the very least, take a walk.


A Cardio Obsession
Ramp up cardio, burn calories and fat. Sounds simple enough, but the latest science on exercising for weight loss says otherwise. Classic cardio — walking on the treadmill, running, stepping, spinning, etc. — doesn't help you lose as much weight as you might think, says Jim Karas, a celebrity trainer based in Chicago and author of The Cardio-Free Diet. “People tend to do these things for hours, but after 20 minutes you actually start burning muscle, not fat,” he says. Instead of straight cardio, Karas recommends interval training — alternating one minute of working out at a high intensity followed by a minute at a slower rate — for 20 minutes, which burns more fat than staying at the same level throughout. And don't forget strength training. Muscle uses more calories to maintain itself than any other body tissue. For every pound of muscle you put on, you automatically burn an extra 22 to 36 calories a day, says Karas. Strength-train every other day to give muscles time to repair.


Blasting the Air Conditioner
A study in the journal Food Science and Nutrition theorizes that modern technologies — such as air conditioning — help keep our bodies in a “thermoneutral zone," a temperature range in which we don't have to work to stay comfortable, which decreases the amount of calories we burn. Also, when you're hotter you tend to eat less, so keeping your house cool may make you eat more. Study author David Allison, PhD, distinguished professor and head of the section on Statistical Genetics at the University of Alabama at Birmingham, suggests setting your air conditioner to the highest temperature you can tolerate, or turning it off altogether if you can stand it, though he stresses that this specific approach has not yet been scientifically shown to cause weight loss.


A Jam-Packed Fridge
Eating plenty of fruits and vegetables can help you stay trim, but if your fridge is so full that you don't even know what’s in your produce drawers, your healthy intentions may be falling short. In fact, produce comprises about 25 percent of the food we throw out every day, according to University of Arizona research. It’s easy to forget about food when it’s not staring you in the face, and then it goes bad before you've had the chance to eat it. Wash and cut up fruits and veggies as soon as you get home from the supermarket, then store them in airtight containers on eye-level shelves, suggests Karst. Keep a fruit bowl with apples, pears, bananas, or mangoes on the counter. And don't buy more than a week’s worth of produce at a time.


A Daily Diet Soda Habit
Reaching for a diet soda or a cup of coffee sprinkled with artificial sweetener instead of the sugary stuff makes you a virtuous dieter, right? Not necessarily. According to a study in the journal Obesity, over a 17-year period, people who downed drinks made with artificial sweeteners had a 47 percent bigger increase in body mass index (BMI) than those who didn't drink them. While artificially sweetened drinks certainly pack fewer calories than full-sugar beverages, over-relying on them as a weight-loss tool may backfire. Researchers theorize that artificial sweeteners stoke your sweet tooth and set off cravings that lead you to binge on high-calorie foods later. Craving something sweet to sip? Make ice cubes out of 100 percent fruit juice (try concord grape, pomegranate, or cranberry) and plop them into a glass of seltzer or iced tea. As the ice melts it will sweeten the drink and add healthy vitamins and antioxidants.


Constantly Multitasking
Your rapid-fire, doing five-things-at-once lifestyle has a surprisingly negative effect on your diet. Of course when you're busy it’s harder to carve out time for exercise or cook healthy meals, but new research suggests that serially switching tasks actually wears out your resolve and makes you more apt to give in to temptation. Emory University researchers conducted five different experiments on about 300 people and found that frequently toggling between different tasks can exhaust the executive function of the brain, which helps us regulate self control. “When you help your kids with their homework, then respond to a work email on your Blackberry, then go right back to algebra, you’re doing tasks that require very different mindsets, which is what we found saps self-control resources,” says Ryan Hamilton, PhD, assistant professor of marketing and one of the study’s researchers. Minimizing distractions may help you avoid a snack binge.

http://www.everydayhealth.com/

Rise, Shine, and Get Some Exercise

It has been 5 weeks after my knee surgery and I am making a speedy recovery. I have started brisk walking and running at a slow easy pace since last week. It has not been easy with the stiffness and lack of flexibility after 4 weeks of moving around with walking aids.However, today I managed to run at a pretty respectable pace and distance (6.9km in 59:14) Alhamdulillah! I am well on my way to getting myself ready for the races that I have registered so far.
1. Newton Challenge 18km Run in Singapore on October 28th (just a few days after Eiduladha)
2. Powerman Sprint 5.7km Run - 32km Bike - 5.7km Run in Putrajaya on November 4th
3. Penang Bridge International Marathon. I am running half marathon that is 21km on November 18th
4. Malakoff KL 12km Run in Kuala Lumpur on December 16th

Thanks to my work partner Dr Low who has been encouraging and supporting me. Furthermore, without him I could not participate in any races regularly.

Previously I shared articles on whether to eat before or after exercise and how important a healthy breakfast is. Today I am sharing an article on the benefits of morning exercise. Rise and shine peeps!

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We all know that exercise is good for us, but when faced with the choice of a little extra shut-eye or breaking a sweat first thing in the morning, who wouldn't choose the snooze button?

Not so fast, say experts. Before turning over and pulling up the covers, consider the fact that exercise — and morning exercise in particular — has special benefits that can last all day.


Morning Exercise: The Benefits

The advantages of exercise are obvious. It can do everything from decreasing the risk of certain types of cancer, cardiovascular disease, hypertension, diabetes, and obesity to improving sleep and lessening feelings of depression and anxiety. And yet, according to a recent report by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, only 45 percent of adults fulfill the surgeon general's physical activity recommendation of 30 minutes of intense aerobic activity three times per week.

Exercise at any time of the day is better than no exercise at all, but the benefits of a morning fitness routine are plenty.

Morning exercise revs the metabolism and jump-starts energy levels, actually accelerating your ability to burn calories. It gets the endorphins flowing so that when you're finished you have greater acuity, less anxiety, improved mood, and increased ability to concentrate, all of which contribute to a better day.

Practically speaking, people who exercise in the morning are more likely to keep up with their routine, as there is less chance for other responsibilities to get in the way as the day gets busier. Exercising in the evening can make it more difficult to go to sleep, whereas morning exercisers are free to relax with their workouts complete.

Morning Exercise: Tips to Stay Motivated

There are easy steps to help you stay on track.

Get in the right mindset. Realize that exercise is hard work. Don't get discouraged if you don't see immediate results. Set small goals and remember, slow and steady wins the race.
Get organized. Lay out shoes, socks, and workout clothes the night before to make the morning as easy as possible.
Make a playlist. Don't forget an iPod, and make sure it has a variety of songs to prevent boredom.
Rise and shine. Plug in your alarm clock across the room so that it can't be turned off without getting out of bed.
Exercise with a friend. It's tempting to skip a workout when it's just you, but if someone is waiting for you, you tend to feel guiltier about letting them down.
Have fun. Make your workout enjoyable so you don't dread it.
Adapt when necessary. Set yourself up for success and schedule your workouts, but if something comes up, be willing to be flexible.

Morning workouts may be great for jump-starting the day, but if a conflict arises, try working out at night instead or adding time to the routine the next session. Remember, the most important thing isn't the time of day, but that you are finding time to exercise.

By Kristen Stewart
http://www.everydayhealth.com/

A Healthy Breakfast for Weight-Loss Success

I just did my first 3.68km brisk walk on the treadmill (45:22 at snail's pace by comparison) since my surgery on 7th September, 2012. I was temporarily "incapacitated" for almost a month. My training was disrupted. I struggled just to move around and to do daily activities like performing prayers, bathing, getting up & down the stairs etc. I persevered because I chose to do the surgery. It was my own choice.

Alhamdulillah. Now I can flex and extend my right knees almost full range. I can walk unaided. I can use the treadmill again. I can ride my bike. Most importantly, now I can perform prostration (sujud) in prayer as usual. I have been doing it sitting down ever since the surgery and I can tell you the feeling is not the same. You don't feel as close to Allah as when you prostrate normally with your forehead, hands, knees and feet on the prayer mat.

I can certainly relate to the saying "You don't know what you've got until it's gone". Luckily, my predicament was temporary.


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Whether you prefer eggs, yogurt, or oatmeal, getting a healthy breakfast under your belt sets the tone for a day of weight control and fewer calories overall. In fact, research shows that people who start their day with breakfast make healthier choices and have a lower body mass index in general. The breakfast effect is even stronger for women than men.

"If we skip breakfast, we'll make unhealthier choices at lunch. People who skip breakfast eat more during the day," says Emily Banes, RD, clinical dietitian at the Houston Northwest Medical Center. This is partly due to a thought process in which people believe — incorrectly — that if they don't eat breakfast, they can eat more at lunch or dinner.

Here's the reality. On a physiological level, your breakfast choices — or lack of them — can set off a cycle of cravings and blood sugar spikes that spells doom for weight control. Better to start the day with stable blood sugar and ultimately fewer calories, courtesy of breakfast, says Banes.

Breakfast Calories: What to Eat

You may have to find your perfect breakfast food through a trial and error process. Banes advises thinking outside the breakfast box. It's fine if you prefer a small turkey sandwich or a hard-boiled egg to traditional breakfast foods, she says. Here are other ideas:

Consider whole grains. Whole grains are a good choice because they keep you feeling full, according to a dietary study that compared feelings of satisfaction between people who ate a hot whole-grain cereal for breakfast and those who ate refined wheat bread. Those who ate the whole-grain breakfast reported feeling less hungry over the following eight hours than the comparison group.

Opt for eggs. A study of people between the ages of 25 and 60 who were trying to lose weight found that those who ate two eggs for breakfast lost 65 percent more weight than those who ate bagels, and they also reported having higher energy levels throughout the day. Although this study showed no effect of egg consumption on cholesterol levels, Banes cautions that this may not be the right choice if you already have high cholesterol. Ask your doctor about egg-white alternatives.

Avoid high-sugar choices. Eating doughnuts, breakfast pastries, and sugary cereals may begin that cycle of cravings and blood sugar lows that can undermine your efforts.

Breakfast Calories: Ideas for Slow Starters

Not everyone leaps out of bed ravenously hungry.

"When you first wake up in the morning, if you are not a breakfast person, but you can eat two hours later, that's fine. Have a little yogurt with cereal in it, a little bit of peanut butter on some crackers, or a granola bar with a little bit of protein in it. It doesn't have to be traditional breakfast foods," says Banes.

Once you find the breakfast options that suit your diet and your taste buds, plan ahead so that these foods are on hand when you want them — and you can solidify a healthy habit that will last a lifetime.

Your breakfast choices lay the foundation for your entire day and your long-term health. But you don't have to stick with the traditional options.

By Madeline Vann

http://www.everydayhealth.com/

What's the Best Time to Eat - Before or After Working Out?

It has been 3 weeks since I had my knee surgery. I am recovering well but I just can't wait to run and cycle again. I just can't wait to run in my Newtons or take my Boardman for a ride. It may sound strange but I miss my running and cycling. However, I know I should not haste recovery. To start exercising again I will take it slow and easy. However, to everyone's surprise I was back at work on the 5th day postop. I was on call on the first weekend after surgery (which I insisted!). I managed alright although I was on crutches for the first 2 weeks. For the last week I have been using a walking stick (which I will keep for use in later life...hope the walking stick will last that long!).

I am doing my own physio exercise. Initially, it was painful and hard to bend and flex the knee. Now I can almost fully flex and extend my leg albeit passively only. I am still a bit unsteady without the walking stick so it'll a while yet before I can run. I have been doing lots of upper body exercises like sit-ups, push-ups, dumbbell curls and dumbbell flyes in the morning since I can't use my legs. In a week's time, I plan to start doing some exercise on the elliptical (low-impact) to get some aerobic exercise. All these while I am watching my weight (which remains around 80kg) by controlling my diet. I started using meal replacement for lunch to cut down calorie intake (since I can't burn calories doing aerobic exercise). I still drink plenty of water though it was hard to go to the toilet on crutches initially. I also started to take dietary supplements (vitamins, minerals, omega-3 & phytonutrients) to fill in the nutritional gaps resulting from reduced dietary intake and prevent nutritional deficiencies. Let's just say I am adapting to my limitations.

The surgery will not stop me dead in my track to achieve my goals. I may have given away a couple of race bibs namely The Salomon Run and Putrajaya Night Marathon but I still have The Newton Challenge, The Powerman Sprint and Penang Bridge International Marathon to strive for. I am determined to enter at least one or two of those events Insha Allah!

Here's an interesting article I'd like to share with you. Exercising in the morning on empty stomach works for me. I may have a fruit or a piece of toast with a glass of water 30 minutes before my long run or long ride. However, it may not be suitable for everyone as the article implies but for sure I will have a big breakfast after my exercise.

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We've always been told that breakfast is the most important meal of the day. Yet when it comes to exercise and weight loss, this advice might not be right for everyone.

Though weight loss should simply be the result of fewer calories consumed than expended, intriguing new research from Belgium shows there might be more to this simple math equation.

Researchers wanted to determine if exercising on an empty stomach could be more effective at regulating insulin in people eating a diet high in fat than exercising after a meal. Twenty-seven young men were fed a high-calorie, high-fat diet over a period of six weeks and divided into three groups. One group did not exercise. A second group ate a large high-carb breakfast before working out and then also consumed carbs while running or cycling. The third group did not eat before working out and drank only water; after exercising, they ate an equivalent breakfast to the second group.


Not surprisingly, the non-exercising group gained the most weight. Interestingly, however, the breakfast-before-exercise group also put on pounds while the breakfast-after-exercise group had almost no increase in weight despite eating a daily diet that was both high in calories and fat.

Eating Before Working Out: The Pros and Cons

Although this is only one study, the research does seem to indicate that not eating before working out may, at the very least, prevent weight gain — even if you’re eating a lot of calories throughout the day. The study opens the door to the possibility that you might boost weight loss if you break a sweat before breakfast. In addition, it might be more comfortable for some people to exercise on an empty stomach. “If you eat too much right before a workout, blood shifts from your periphery to your mid-section for digestion,” says Manuel Villacorta, R.D., a national spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association and creator of the Eating Free weight management program in San Francisco, Calif. “If you have eaten too much, this could make you sick.”

However, exercising on an empty stomach may not be for everyone. Food is our body’s source of fuel, and if our tank is empty we may struggle. “Some think it’s best to exercise on an empty stomach to maximize fat burning, but if you’re low on energy you may not have a good enough workout to help weight loss,” says Sarah Currie, a registered dietitian at Physical Equilibrium, a provider of personal training and nutrition management services in New York City. “If you eat something that provides energy, you’ll feel good and will be able to work harder, burning more calories.”

What to Eat and When

If you choose to eat before working out first thing in the morning, aim for an easily digestible type of carbohydrate and a small amount of protein about 30 to 60 minutes before exercising. Good choices include an English muffin with peanut butter, a bowl of cereal, or low-fat yogurt or string cheese and a piece of fruit.

When choosing packaged foods, be sure to read the labels. “Many yogurts are too high in sugar,” says Jessica Kupetz, a certified fitness trainer at Active Center for Health & Wellness in Hackensack, N.J. “The same holds true for granola bars. Every ingredient should be one you recognize. If you can’t pronounce it, there’s a really good chance it’s not ‘real,’ so don’t waste your calories.”


Keep in mind that finding what works best for you in terms of timing, quantity, and type of food may take some trial and error. Also, what may work for you before going cycling may not be good before running, warns Currie.

Whether or not you choose to eat before working out, make some wise foods choices after exercising. Protein is necessary to rebuild muscles, while carbs will re-stock glycogen, or energy stores, in your muscles. Eating within 15 to 30 minutes post-workout is ideal, but if this isn’t possible, aim for within 60 minutes. A turkey sandwich on whole wheat bread or a banana and plain yogurt are good, easy options.

Ultimately, when it comes to exercise and weight loss, remember that everyone is different so it’s important to do what feels right for you. “Also, it’s best to look at the big picture,” says Currie. “Calories eaten versus calories burned are what matter for weight loss and maintenance.”

You're the best judge of whether you need fuel before hitting the gym. Regardless of whether you nosh before breaking a sweat, always eat after exercising.

By Kristen Stewart
http://www.everydayhealth.com/

The Importance of Water in Your Diet Plan

Want a great diet tip? Drink more water.

Drinking plenty of cold, clear water is essential for your health and, in fact, for your very survival. You can live much longer without food than you can without water. Water is an important part of all body functions and processes, including digestion and elimination. When you’re on a diet, water also acts as a weight-loss aid because it can help you eat less.

"Drinking water is important during weight loss because it provides hydration without unwanted calories. Drinking non-caloric fluids like water before or with a meal can help a dieter feel full sooner," explains Donna Logan, RD, a registered dietitian at the University of Texas Medical School in Houston. “So in addition to not adding calories, drinking water may help replace or avoid unnecessary food calories found in snacks or extra servings at mealtime. Drinking water also helps flush wastes from the body, which is especially important during times of fat metabolism and weight loss."

Water: Drinking Enough to Boost Your Diet

Recommendations from the Food and Nutrition Board are for women to get 91 ounces per day and men 125 ounces from all sources — water, other beverages, and foods with a high water content.

When it comes to water alone, explains Logan, "A general recommendation is to drink eight 8-ounce cups of water per day, for a total of 64 ounces. This is a generalization only, and actual fluid needs are affected by diet, physical activity, body composition, and climate."

For instance, this number goes up if you exercise — a key to successful weight loss — and even more so in hot weather when it’s possible to lose about the equivalent of a quart of water in an hour, according to the American Council on Exercise. You’ll want to drink water before, during, and after every workout.

Don’t wait to feel thirsty to start sipping — that’s a sign that dehydration has already started to occur. You want to drink water throughout the day, on a regular basis.

Water: Four Tips for Getting Your Fill

Here are some easy tricks for getting enough water while dieting:

Use a water tracker. "A water tracker is merely a device which helps you keep track of how much water you drink. A water tracker can provide a graphic record of eight glasses of water which are checked off as they are consumed. For example, drinking a 20-ounce bottle of water would translate into two and a half cups on the tracker. Such trackers are available online or can be easily replicated," explains Logan.

Add water throughout your day. "People can use a variety of methods to help ensure they get enough water. Some carry a 64-ounce container of water and drink throughout the day, with the goal of drinking all the water before they go to bed. Those who spend time away from home may take a portable 16-ounce container, knowing that they need to fill and drink it four times throughout the day. Others associate drinking with routine activities throughout the day, such as drinking fluid at meals, before brushing their teeth, or after feeding the dogs," says Logan.

Get water through food. "Fruits and vegetables, especially those that are fresh and juicy, provide fluid to the diet. Like water, clear soups and broths help dieters feel full for very few calories, contributing to weight loss. However, beware of creamy soups that, while adding fluids, contain many calories. Skim milk, and low-fat and no-added sugar yogurts and puddings also help hydration and nutrition without excessive calories," recommends Logan. Melons and citrus fruits also have a very high water content.

Jazz up your water glass. "Many people find that adding low- or non-caloric flavorings to water, such as a wedge of fruit, helps satisfy their appetite cravings," adds Logan. This is also a very inexpensive way to make your own flavored water.

If you want your diet to work, you need to drink plenty of water. Water can fill you up, decrease your appetite, and help your body get rid of waste from that fat you’re burning. So what are you waiting for? Water is available right now from your tap, and it's free.

By Chris Iliades, MD
http://www.everydayhealth.com/

Easy Ways to Burn Fat

Here are 9 simple steps you can take to burn more fat summarized and adapted from an online article.

Everyone's metabolism naturally slows down with age. At 40, you could be burning 100 to 300 fewer calories a day than you did at 30. That can translate into a 5-10 kg of weight gain in a year. But you can counteract that slowdown and boost your body's fat-burning capabilities by making just a few tweaks to your daily routine. The following strategies will help you bust out of a weight-loss plateau and burn even more fat.

Take five
Do five minutes of exercise each morning. We all have a metabolic thermostat, called the metastat, that can be turned up or down, and morning is the best time to activate it. Each day, your metastat is waiting for signals to rev up, so the more signals you can send it, the better. Your best bet is a light, full-body activity like walking or push-ups.

Fuel up in the morning
Numerous studies have found that regular breakfast eaters are often leaner than breakfast skippers. Your metabolism naturally slows at night, but you can jump-start it in the morning by eating breakfast. And because both your activity level and metabolism decrease later in the day, it's a good idea to make breakfast or lunch your largest meal.

Fill up on good grains
Whole grains such as brown rice, wheat germ, dark bread, whole-grain cereal, oatmeal and bran leave you feeling full because they take longer to digest than simple carbohydrates. Overall, people who regularly ate the most whole-grain foods - about 1.5 servings a day - gained less weight than those who ate the least.

Pump yourself up
Muscle burns more calories than fat does, and decreased muscle mass can be one of the main reasons metabolism slows. Disuse can cause women to drop as much as 10 pounds of muscle between the ages of 30 and 50. Losing that much muscle means you'll burn 350 to 500 fewer calories a day. To build and maintain muscle mass, aim for two to three strength-training workouts a week. If you don't belong to a gym, try push-ups, squats, abdominal crunches and tricep dips off a chair.

Power on with protein
Add a little high-quality, lowfat protein, such as chicken, fish and egg whites, to your meals, and you'll help your body burn fat faster. Because protein requires more energy to digest, it speeds up your metabolism, and protein is necessary to ensure against loss of muscle tissue.

Get your vitamin "I"
That's "I" for intensity. You love to walk, but if that usually means strolling along at a snail's pace, your waistline will pay little attention. Instead, put intensity, or "vitamin I," into your stride. Pick up your pace so you're walking at 4 mph, or one mile per 15 minutes. Once you build up your cardiovascular fitness level, you can even alternate between walking and jogging. The key is to get your heart rate up and keep your workouts challenging.

Say yes to yogurt
In a recent study, women who ate three daily servings of lowfat yogurt lost 60 percent more fat than women who didn't. In another study, participants who ate three daily servings of dairy lost more than twice as much fat as those who ate less than that. Calcium-rich diets reduce fat-producing enzymes and increase enzymes that break down fat. Eat three servings of low fat dairy a day, like milk, yogurt and hard cheeses (Gouda, Cheddar and Monterey Jack).

Get active after eating
Your body's metabolic rate increases 10 percent after eating, and just a few minutes of activity could double that boost for up to three hours. Within 15 to 30 minutes of eating a snack or meal, do five or 10 minutes of light activity. Take the dog for a walk, climb stairs in your house or do some basic strength exercises.

Sip green tea
You might love your lattes, but if you switch to green tea, not only will you get a healthy dose of disease-fighting compounds, you'll also cut body fat. In a study, people who drank a bottle of tea fortified with green tea extract every day for three months lost more body fat than people who drank black tea. Researchers  believe disease-fighting antioxidants called catechins in green tea may help decrease body fat.

Surgery: For Better Or For Worse

There would come a time when one has to face with a sticky dilemma. Recently, I was faced with such dilemma myself. Ever since I change to an active lifestyle of running and cycling, I come to notice this lump at the back of my right knee, which may have been there for ages but only became more noticeable recently. It partially restricted the range of movement of my right knee causing tightness and sometimes aching. It was diagnosed as popliteal cyst or Baker's cyst.

The dilemma was whether to have the operation or just live with it. If I undergo surgery, I will not be able able to make it to the start of my race calender in October. If I don't, it could cause more problem in the future if the cyst burst. Come to think of it, it did give me problem way back in 2009 when it became inflamed and incapacitated me for a while. Finally, I decided to get it removed.

However, that was not the only dilemma. There were incidental findings on the MRI during the course of evaluation of the initial problem. I also have pre-patellar bursa and all these are due to osteoarthritis changes of my right knee. Retrospectively, I recalled that way back in 1989 at Rugby School, I sustained a horrific injury on my right leg. It was during a rugby practice when I was tackled which made my body twisted but my spike boots were stuck on the ground. I fractured my ankle as a result. I never thought years later my knees would sustain damage as well. The second dilemma was whether to have a second procedure done at the same sitting or not, which would increase the time needed for recovery.

I accepted it was fate. So I decided to deal with both problems at the same time. I went under the knife last Friday (7/9/2012). I underwent excision of popliteal cyst and arthroscopy of the right knee  under spinal anaesthesia. Thanks to my partner for erasing 2 hours of my life with midazolam. Honestly, I could not remember anything after I was turned prone. When I woke up clear-headed (thanks to flumazenil!), the surgery was over. Although I am still walking with the aid of crutches, I am already beginning to rehabilitate now as the surgery was uneventful and the repair was better than expected.

After the surgery, yet there is another dilemma. I was recommended to consider stem cell therapy for the osteoarthritis but I think I will put all my faith and fate to Allah. If Allah is willing, I will recover fully. I am on the road to recovery. I just can't wait to start running and cycling again and get on with my active and healthy lifestyle. My aim is to participate in Powerman at Putrajaya on 4/11/2012 followed by half marathon at Penang Bridge International Marathon on 18/11/2012.

Keep on running guys!

All About Metabolism

Alhamdulillah! Yesterday I completed the optional month of Syawal 6-day fast. So for the last 6 days it was like the month of Ramadan all over again but this time everybody else are eating except me. It also means I cannot start my routine morning exercise lest I fatigue myself for the rest of the day. So today I made a resolve to start my morning exercise routine and tried to make up for the whole week mileage. I managed to run 11km in 1:22 on the treadmill (since I am on call so it would be easier to get changed if I get called). Another good news is that today I officially weigh less than 77 kg (76.9 kg to be exact!). Another 2 kg to my weight loss goal. It seems easier to lose weight now maybe because I have boosted my metabolism.

Talk about metabolism. You may have heard of the term "metabolism". You pretty well know it will affect your weight, complain about your own slow metabolism and wonder how to get a faster metabolism to speed up your weight loss, but do you know what it really is?

In scientific term, metabolism refers to a series of biochemical processes through which your body converts food into fuel for the cells in your body in order to sustain life. Everything that takes place in the body like breathing, digestion, tissue repair and muscle function needs energy to work. We need to eat to provide our bodies with nutrients to be broken down and provide energy, repair body tissues and build new cells. The rate at which your body uses energy and expends calories is called the basal metabolic rate (BMR).

Our BMR can be affected by many factors such as genetics, gender, age, height, diet/nutrition, overall health and level of activity. While we cannot change the in-built factors, we can definitely modify the external, controllable factors. There are also evidence that stress and poor sleeping habits can slow down your metabolism. Lets take a look at all these factors one by one.

We may have noticed that some people tend to maintain their body weight despite their indulgence in food and lack of exercise. They are blessed with high metabolic rate, which is inherited. Unfortunately, slow BMR is also hereditary. Taller people tend to have higher metabolic rate than shorter people. Men also tend to burn more calories than women. These are the in-built factors that we cannot change. Another one is age.

After the age of mid-30's, our metabolic rate drop. As we get older, our ability to utilize energy and burn calories diminishes thus our metabolism slows down, partly due to less muscle mass in older people compared to younger people. Since muscle is like a furnace to burn calories, this translates to a reduced metabolic rate. We certainly can't make ourselves younger but we can make sure we are getting enough exercise, which many people tend to get out of the habit as they age.

Now let's look at external, controllable factors. I will elaborate on diet and exercise last because these two are the most important. Firstly, stress causes your body to release cortisol, a hormone produced by the adrenal system that is linked to weight gain. Learn to calm yourself down and deal with stress. Deep breathing, regular physical activity, pursuing a hobby or just do what you enjoy in life may be helpful. Talk to someone you trust or seek professional help if you cannot handle the stress.

Poor sleeping habit can slow down your metabolism. Lack of sleep can disrupt your metabolic processes and predispose to insulin resistance, which is a risk factor for diabetes. Insulin resistance has also been associated with obesity. It is recommended that adults should get seven to nine hours of sleep each night. But the number of sleep hours is arbitrary. You will know that you get enough sleep when you wake up feeling refreshed in the morning.

We should also take care of our overall health. You should do a health check up annually to detect any medical conditions early. Furthermore, as we age, we are predisposed to certain conditions like hypertension, cholesterol problem and diabetes. There are some medical conditions that can slow down metabolic rate, for example, thyroid problems like hypothyroidism (a condition in which the thyroid gland does not produce enough thyroid hormone) and low testosterone for men. Talk to your doctor for professional advice.

The two most important modifiable factors that affect your metabolism are diet/nutrition and exercise. Healthy diet/nutrition and enough exercise can boost your resting metabolic rate. There are certain types of food that purportedly can boost your metabolism like broccoli, asparagus, cauliflower, celery, zucchini and
high protein foods as they are low in calories but use more calories for the body to break them down. Spicy foods (capsaicin) and caffeine can temporarily boost metabolism to a small extent. Foods containing high antioxidants (berries, fruits and green tea) and omega-3 fatty acids (salmon, tuna or sardines) are also recommended. Do not fear fat because fat is needed by the body to build and repair cells. Choose natural healthy fats such as olive oil, avocados, various nuts, flax and natural peanut butter to receive your necessary fats. Avoid trans fat which is the bad fat. Foods containing complex carbohydrates such as cereals, oatmeal & wholegrain will stabilize your blood sugar levels and reduce sugar cravings. Drinking a minimum of 8 to 10 glasses daily will help increase your metabolism (by facilitating the metabolic processes in the body as all bodily chemical reactions requires water).

You may have heard the saying "we are what we eat". Healthy diet/nutrition is as important as healthy eating habits. So I may add "we are what we eat and how we eat."  It may be tempting to severely restrict your calories or skip meals to lose weight, but that may be a self-defeating practice. Cutting back the amount of food you eat through a fad diet or skipping meals can send your body into fat-storing starvation mode, slowing down your metabolism. To keep your metabolic rate up, you should also change your eating habits. Always eat breakfast, which gives your body an early energy boost and deters it from fat storage. Breakfast is the most important meal of the day because it gets your metabolism running in high gear. Your first meal sets your metabolism for the day and keeps it going. Eat many small balanced meals and snacks throughout the day (3-4 hours apart) to keep your metabolism busy burning fuel all day long. Meals and snacks should be balanced, meaning they should contain a complete protein, carbohydrates, as well as natural fat. Avoid skipping meals as it slows down your metabolism. To ignite your metabolism you need to be consuming the right foods in a balanced manner throughout the day. Do not eat close to bedtime when your body metabolism slows down.

Last but not least, exercise not only helps you expend more calories while you’re physically active, but it will also increase your resting metabolic rate. It is recommended that adults between the age of 18 and 65 years should do two and a half hours of moderate-intensity aerobic activity every week and do strengthening exercises on all the body’s major muscle groups at least twice a week. Aerobic exercise provides your metabolism a temporary boost, but it only lasts for a short time after the exercise has ended. The main role of aerobic exercise is to burn calories and influence your body's daily energy balance (calorie intake versus calorie expenditure). Aerobic exercise is also necessary for heart and lung health. Strength training is the form of exercise that can have an influence on your resting metabolic rate. Increasing your muscle mass increases your metabolism. In fact, that's why your metabolism winds down as you get older: as you age, you lose muscle. While muscle and fat weigh exactly the same, muscle is a metabolically active tissue - it burns calories. It is a good idea to keep changing your exercise routine. Try different types of exercise to work new muscles and keep your body guessing. Nevertheless, it is paramount that you listen to your body when exercising. Killing yourself with workouts is just as dangerous as not working out at all. Listen to your body and get proper rest. Don’t train if you are ill, still sore from the previous workout, or just simply too tired. Exercising in such a state can cause more problems than it solves.


Stay fit and healthy!

Before/After: A Reason To Stay Active

The month of Ramadan has come and gone. We are already a week into the month of Syawal. Eidul fitr is celebrated for a WHOLE month in Malaysia, which means open houses and gastronomic delights of Malaysian food. This is where Malaysians got it ALL wrong. They binge like there is no tomorrow. The benefits of fasting for a month is thrown into the wind in just a matter of days.

Nevertheless, ALL is not lost as long as one keeps an active lifestyle. I found this interesting article posted on Facebook which I want to share with everyone. Although it was just a preliminary finding (small sample size), it showed that "regular exercise, even when you don't lose weight, has health benefits."

We always gauge our success or failure by how much weight we lost during an exercise/diet program. We easily became disheartened and gave up when the weight did not come off. Maybe it is time we think outside the box and re-evaluate our long term objectives. Instead of losing certain amount of weight in a certain period of time, we should aim for the bigger picture; to stay fit and healthy.

The before/after photos are just to record my achievement so far. There are noticeable differences in my appearance. A lot of people notice it too. I look less chubby. I have lost around about 10 kg. I say "around about" because at one time I was near 78kg. I plateaued at 85kg and now 80kg. Abdominal girth is reduced from 41.5cm to 38cm. I had to take out my old pants which are 3 sizes down from the storage box. I even had to buy a few new pants. I feel GOOD!!! NO....I feel GREAT!!!! Just waiting for the six-pack to surface .....WAKAKA!

Exercise without losing weight

Most of us think we need to lose some weight, so we resolve to eat better and get more exercise. Often, though, that resolve vanishes before the pounds do. Heavy with resignation and body weight, we move on.

But Canadian researchers have reported study results that may mean all is not lost, even if the extra pounds are not.

Their small study included 24 middle-aged men who weren't in the habit of exercising. Eight were lean, eight obese, and eight others obese with type 2 diabetes. For three months, they followed a fairly rigorous exercise program that consisted of an hour of aerobic exercise (activity that increases your heart rate and makes you breathe hard) five times a week.

The twist was that they were told to eat enough to compensate for the extra calories they were burning so they would not lose weight. Outside of a study, many of us don't need to be told to do that. We chow down because exercise stimulates our appetites, and perhaps we figure that the added physical activity gives us some calorie credits we can safely use up.

The researchers made several measurements at the end of three months, but two stood out. In all three groups, the waist size of the men shrank by about an inch, and levels of interleukin-6 (an inflammatory chemical produced by fat and certain other tissues) declined. These and other results were published in the March 2007 issue of the journal Metabolism.

The main reason being overweight is bad for us is that fat tissue is metabolically active, producing hormones and chemicals that harm the cardiovascular and other systems. Fat tissue that accumulates in the midsection - the very stuff that expands our waistlines - is especially active. So it's meaningful that this study showed that exercise, even without weight loss, reduced both waist size (which serves as an easy-to-measure proxy for abdominal fat) and one of the chemicals produced by fat tissue. Still, this was a rather small, short study - an appetizer meant to whet the appetite for more research, not a full-course meal of proof.

Hardly a day goes by without some new finding about the benefits of keeping active. And there's really not much question that exercise that brings about some weight loss is better for us than exercise that doesn't. A number of studies have found that several inflammatory factors decline — not just one — when people exercise and lose weight.

But this study and many others underscore that regular exercise, even when you don't lose weight, has health benefits. We're making a big mistake if we use weight loss as the only way to measure our exercise efforts. We're making an even bigger mistake if by doing so, we become more easily discouraged, and give up on staying fit and active.

Long Lay Off

After watching the men's marathon event in London 2012 Olympics, which was won by a Ugandan Stephen Kiprotich in 2:08, I was inspired to run. But when I updated my running log, it looks like this:

Date KM Time
Aug 12 5 36:28
Aug 5 3.68 35:28
Aug 1 3.68 23:53

One thing for sure, I am not getting enough mileage this week. I am not gonna give excuses but I have good reasons not to clock the recommended mileage to be ready for an event at the end of September for the Salomon Run. Apart from, putting my training on hold for the month of Ramadan, I was preparing myself for Lailatul Qadr, which I believe happened last night. BUT only Allah knows best.

I realized that the month of Ramadan is like a BONUS month for all Muslims. It is a blessed month when the Quran was sent down. During this month, every good deeds is rewarded 70 times more than any other month. Most of all, on the special night of Lailatul Qadr it will be multiplied by 1000 months.

Another thing I realized was that the month of Ramadan is like running a marathon for a month. You keep a steady pace at the beginning, getting your body used to the physiological changes during fasting. Saving your energy for a strong finish. In the middle, fasting will get easier as your body is accustomed to lack of food and water during the day. Finally, you increase your pace (by intensifying your worshiping activities) during the final stretch to the finish line. Then comes Eidul Fitr to rejoice and bask in glory.

This may sound like a philosophical progress update but actually there's not much progress to update anyway! So the finish line is in sight. So sad Ramadan is near the end. We may or may not be alive to meet Ramadan next year but Insyaallah it's the journey that matters NOT the destination.

Inspiring Video

The lyric of this song has never failed to breathe life into me when I feel I need a perk up. I would like to share it with you together with the YouTube video above. It's about Ben, a guy who found a new lease of life when he started running. The video is aptly titled "My 120 pounds journey". He was morbidly obese and depressed to finding health and happiness. After he started running, he lost 120 pounds, run seven marathons, completed two Ironmans, and gone from depressed recluse to motivational speaker. He has an inspiring blog which I am starting to read from the beginning. I can TOTALLY relate to his story. I have also started a similar journey towards a fit and healthy lifestyle. It doesn't matter what your final goal is, be it to lose weight, to lead a healthy lifestyle, to run a marathon, to do Ironman or just simply to be happy.
It's not the destination but it's the journey that makes it all worthwhile!


There's a hero
If you look inside your heart
You don't have to be afraid
Of what you are
There's an answer
If you reach into your soul
And the sorrow that you know
Will melt away


And then a hero comes along
With the strength to carry on
And you cast your fears aside
And you know you can survive
So when you feel like hope is gone
Look inside you and be strong
And you'll finally see the truth
That a hero lies in you


It's a long road
When you face your world alone
No one reaches out a hand
For you to hold
You can find love
If you search within yourself
And the emptiness you felt
Will disappear


Lord knows
Dreams are hard to follow
But don't let anyone
Tear them away
Hold on
There will be tomorrow
In time
You'll find the way

Featured Article

In the name of Allah, the Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful.
All praise is due to Allah, Lord of the worlds.
The Most Beneficent, the Most Merciful.
The Lord of the Day of Judgement.
Thee alone do we worship and Thee alone we seek for help.
Guide us to the Right Path.
The path of those upon whom Thou has bestowed favors, Not of those who Thou has cursed once nor of those who have gone astray.

The translation of Surah Al-Fatihah sums up my thankfulness to Allah the Almighty.
Today is a proud day for me because my  article is featured in the New Straits Time Life & Times.
Thanks to Sharifah Sakinah from Columbia Asia HQ. Without her help none of these will happen.
There are more to come as I journey towards a healthy lifestyle.

Here are photos of the newspaper article:






Here is the link to the online version:

http://www.nst.com.my/life-times/health/fast-way-to-maintain-health-1.116257

Fast way to maintain health

By Kasmiah Mustapha | kasmiah@nstp.com.my

To help the body adapt to fasting with ease, Kasmiah Mustapha gets tips from two doctors

PICTURE BY K.M. CHAUDARY (ap photo)

5 / 5

THE month of Ramadan can turn into a month of indulgence. Just look at Ramadan bazaars and buffets, and it’s clear that some people equate fasting with feasting.

Prince Court Medical Centre medical services director Dr Abu Hasan Samad says hunger and lack of energy during fasting may cause some people to eat more, when they break fast. So it is not surprising that some people gain weight during Ramadan.

“The overindulgence is made even worse by the readily available sweet treats, drinks and food at Ramadan bazaars. There are also buka puasa buffets with food rich in simple carbohydrates and calories.”
There are two main aspects Muslims must consider when fasting:

• Lack of energy, which is reflected by low blood sugar (glucose). The body, however, will try to maintain its normal energy supply by mobilising glucose from other parts where the energy is stored, namely the liver, to ensure the individual can function as usual. The stored energy is replaced once the fast is broken.

• Lack of water results in feeling dry or dehydrated. But the body will try to preserve water content by reducing loss through sweating and urination. So we tend to perspire less during the day and the urine will appear concentrated and darker later in the day.

“There shouldn’t be any concern about fasting because the body will adapt and maintain its equilibrium. We can continue functioning as usual. There shouldn’t be any problem working a full day or engaging in simple exercises. However, for those suffering from or prone to certain illnesses, such as stomach ulcers or gastritis, there may be a worsening of such illnesses.”

Columbia Asia Hospital-Nusajaya anaesthetist Dr Norezalee Ahmad said fasting will change one’s physique and metabolism. However, this is not an excuse to throw caution to the wind and ignore the need to eat healthy meals.
Muslims usually make the mistake of not exercising, not eating healthy and not getting adequate sleep during Ramadan.

“A balanced diet, together with exercise, should help maintain health and fitness levels during Ramadan. It is also an opportunity for those aiming to lose weight to achieve their goal. They should take the advantage of reduced calorie intake during fasting and engage in some physical activities,” she says.

“It’s simple mathematics, less calories intake than calories burnt equals weight loss. As Ramadan is a spiritual month, it is also important to follow good time management for prayers and other religious activities as well as sleep, work and exercise. A good balance in the amount of time allocated for each activity will lead to a healthier body and mind.”

Fast and exercise

DR Norezalee Ahmad provides some tips on exercising during Ramadan.

MAINTAIN FITNESS: Put improvements — whether to lose weight, achieve muscle gain or increase stamina — on hold. Aim to maintain fitness and prevent yourself from going backwards.

REDUCE INTENSITY: Limit workouts to under an hour. Aim to stay consistent and continue to exercise.

GOOD COMBINATION: Combine cardio and resistance training into circuit training by doing three to six exercises in quick succession without stops in between. This way, you can complete in a shorter amount of time but still effectively burn calories. Avoid high-intensity interval training for now.

PICK YOUR TIME: Work out when it works. Listen to your body. Whatever time you feel your body allows you to burn extra calories without becoming fatigued is the best time to exercise. In fact, performing Tarawih prayers is also a form of exercise — both for the body and the soul.

HIGH ENERGY: Exercise when energy level is high. It is best to exercise when you can refuel and rehydrate after a good workout, which means exercising within the hours between an hour before dusk till dawn.

Guide to eating well

HERE are some tips on eating healthy during Ramadan from Dr Norezalee Ahmad and Dr Abu Hasan Samad:

EAT A NORMAL DIET: Your diet should not differ very much from non-fasting months and should be as simple as possible. It should be well-balanced from each food  group namely bread or cereal, meat or fish or poultry, dairy products as well as fruit and vegetables. Preferably, increase your intake of vegetables and fruit.

SLOW DIGESTION: Eat foods which are slowly digested such as fish, chicken, lean meat, legumes, nuts and seeds and fibre-rich foods. Avoid eating too much simple carbohydrates. Eat more complex carbohydrates like wheat, oats, semolina, beans, lentils, wholemeal flour or brown rice. You should also eat slowly because the brain requires time to perceive that the stomach is full.

MAKE A DATE WITH DATES: Break fast with dates as they contain very high amounts of potassium — a key rehydration mineral — a special blend of glucose and fructose providing short- and long-term energy, and a special nutrient called beta D-glucan which is a soluble fibre that can enhance satiety and digestive health.

MINIMISE SWEET FOOD: Reduce the intake of sugary or sweet food and take a balanced meal with plenty of fluids for buka puasa and sahur.

KEEP IT SMALL: Have small meals in the hours between breaking fast and sahur. It is one way to trick your body into speeding up metabolism.

WAKE UP AND EAT: Don’t skip sahur. It’s the most important meal of the day. Meals during this time should be wholesome, moderate and filling as well as provide the essential nutrients and energy needed to function during the day while keeping hunger at bay. An ideal sahur meal should be high in protein and fibre such as fruit and vegetables and low in carbohydrates, and with plenty of water.

LIQUID ASSET: Drink as much plain water as possible between breaking fast and bedtime so that your body can adjust to the fluid level it needs. Better still, keep a water bottle with you at all times after sunset, even during Tarawih prayers.

FOODS TO AVOID: Stay away from spicy and fried food, food high in salt, sugar and caffeine. Oily and spicy food can cause indigestion and heartburn. Salt and caffeine act as diuretics and can cause greater dehydration and increase thirst during the day.
DO NOT OVEREAT: Do not overindulge as it can lead to weight gain.

KEEP MOVING: Light exercise can still be performed either in the evening or at night. Too much rest or sleep makes us feel lethargic as the body tends to “slow down”.

THINK AND FOCUS: Stay focused on the intent and the true meaning of Ramadan and don’t treat it as an opportunity to feast. Prepare or buy only food that you want to consume for buka puasa and/or sahur and minimise waste. The general guide is to eat in moderation, have balanced meals and drink plenty of water.

Reasons To Stay Active

Times have changed. As automobiles, automation, computers, television, and other influences play greater roles in peoples lives around the world, people tend to become more sedentary. Today, modern technology and conveniences have made our lives much easier leading to inactivity and sedentary lifestyle. This is a BIG problem. Many of us are no longer getting the exercise we need to stay healthy. Here I will tell you the reasons for becoming more active.

For most healthy adults, the Department of Health and Human Services recommends these exercise guidelines: http://www.cdc.gov/physicalactivity/everyone/guidelines/adults.html/

Aerobic activity. Get at least 150 minutes a week of moderate aerobic activity or 75 minutes a week of vigorous aerobic activity. You also can do a combination of moderate and vigorous activity. The guidelines suggest that you spread out this exercise during the course of a week.

Strength training. Do strength training exercises at least twice a week. No specific amount of time for each strength training session is included in the guidelines.

Moderate aerobic exercise includes such activities as brisk walking, swimming and mowing the lawn. Vigorous aerobic exercise includes such activities as running and aerobic dancing. Strength training can include use of weight machines, or activities such as rock climbing or heavy gardening.

As a general goal, aim for at least 30 minutes of physical activity every day. If you want to lose weight or meet specific fitness goals, you may need to exercise more. Want to aim even higher? You can achieve more health benefits if you ramp up your exercise to 300 minutes a week.

Short on long chunks of time? Even brief bouts of activity offer benefits. For instance, if you can't fit in one 30-minute walk, try three 10-minute walks instead. What's most important is making regular physical activity part of your lifestyle.

Reason #1: Do It For The Physical Health Benefits

1. Lower your risk of getting heart disease, stroke, colon cancer, and type 2 diabetes
2. Lower or prevent high blood pressure
3. Possibly help protect against breast cancer
4. Improve your posture and balance
5. Reduce mild to moderate anxiety and depression
6. Promote psychological well-being
7. Help you handle stress
8. Help maintain a healthy weight
9. Make you feel more energetic Help you sleep better

Reason #2: Do It For The Fun

Most people who dance, swim, play tennis, or go hiking do it because they like it! But having fun also benefits your health. Taking part in an activity that you enjoy will help you relax and reduce stress. It will also help you feel good about yourself. The end result? Improved mental health.

What activity appeals to you? It makes sense to find an activity that you enjoy doing by yourself or with others, because you are more likely to stick with it. Find out what opportunities there are in your community to try new activities and learn new skills.

Physical activity doesn’t have to be hard to be good for your body. You don’t have to sweat it out at a gym if you would prefer to be outdoors or walking in a mall. Vary your activities, so you don't get bored. Use different jogging, walking, or biking paths to vary your routine.

Reason #3: Do It To Spend Time with Family And Make New Friends

Being active will give you opportunities to meet people and connect with family and friends. Your time is one of the most precious gifts you can give your family. Spend more time outdoors with your partner and/or children. The fresh air and space offer the freedom to leap, run, and climb. Walk the dog, play at the park, teach your children a game from your childhood, or listen to your grandparents’ stories as you wander through a museum.

Group activities at a community or recreation centre can provide you with social support and a sense of belonging. While getting the exercise your body needs, you can also make friends who can help you deal with the stresses of life. Check out programs that are available locally, and talk to your friends about activities they do.
Reason #4: Do It To Stay Independent As You Get Older

Physical activity helps you live better as you grow older. Staying active will help you reach, bend, lift, carry, and move around more easily, so you can continue doing the things you like to do. The more you sit or lie around, the stiffer your joints become. Stretching and strength exercises will keep your muscles and joints mobile and help to prevent falls and injuries.

You’re never too old to enjoy the benefits of more activity. Being active is safe for most people. Start slowly and build up. If you are unsure about how much activity to do, talk to your doctor.

It’s Important to Be Active!!!!

Being active is one of the most important things you can do for your health. When you’re active, your body works better, and you lower your chances of getting ill. Activity makes you feel good, gives you more energy, and makes you feel better about yourself.

Physical activity doesn’t need to be a chore. Do activities you enjoy a little more often. Set specific, short-term goals, and reward yourself (with something other than food!) when you achieve them. Make your activity a regular part of your day, so it becomes a habit.

Remember that feeling good on the inside and outside are just not about being thin, killing yourself exercising, or for that matter, not enjoying food or starving yourself.

Remember, it’s about a Healthy Lifestyle.