Archive for 2012

17
May
2012

Tips on How to be Motivated to Exercise
image from fitfinity.net

Although I’ve adopted this new lifestyle by changing my diet and working out regularly, I’m not about to tell you that being disciplined is the easiest MOST FUN THING TO DO! Giving up your favourite foods (ohh… chocolate, french fries, cake) requires some sort of grit. In fact, it probably requires some sort of strait jacket.

Then, when it comes to working out, it’s not all a bed of roses. Your favourite work out activity can seem like the most difficult thing to do when you’re exhausted after a full day of work. After tackling the flood of emails earlier in the day, I feel like I’ve already swum through a tsunami and getting into the pool is probably the last thing I want to do. But, if I’m going to crack the health code and go for gold, here are some tips on how to stay motivated to exercise (and keep that 25 inch waist line)!

1. Work out with friends
Whether you’re traveling light or working out, friends help ease the burden of your weight(s). Not that they’re there next to you carrying your dumbbells, but friends are a great source of encouragement to keep you going when your motivation is low. The more, the merrier! They’ll be your own personal cheerleading squad!

2. Think full-body wellness
Instead of focusing on how much weight you’ll lose when you go for that run or the muscles you’ll build, think about the overall positive impact of exercising. For instance, exercising promotes better blood circulation which brings extra oxygen to your skin, giving it a natural healthy glow. Then, with better blood circulation all around, you’ll feel more alert during the day too! It’s amazing what simple exercises can do for your whole body.

3. Start small and be realistic
Rome wasnt built in a day and babies learnt to walk before they started to run. This same principle applies to your workout regime. You’re not going to be able to carry 10kg weights or do 5 sets of the same exercise the first few times you start your weight training. A 21km run is probably going to seem impossible if 5km is already a challenge.

Constantly motivate yourself to exercise by building up your workout routine from the beginning, starting with small manageable bite sizes. These sizes should be palatable to YOUR body, not anyone else’s. I wasnt the strongest swimmer when I first started swimming, but I decided to do shorter laps and take more regular breaks. Now I can do longer laps without stopping and I’d have to say I’m definitely more confident in the water! Soon I might even be doing synchonized swimming. Haha. Small baby steps to a major breakthrough.

4. Write it down
Once you know where to start, whether you write it down, tweet it or log it in your phone, JUST. WRITE. IT. DOWN. The idea is to have a record of what you want to achieve, when you achieved it and how you got there. You’ll be able to look back and what works for you and what didnt. Which leads us to the next point…

5. Celebrate every small victory
You skipped on dessert during dinner yesterday? Pat yourself on the back. That’s a one less kilometer you have to run the next time. Make sure you recorded it. Went for a run today? Good job! Because that means you’re one step to being fitter and you’ll be able to run the same distance in a shorter time soon.

Celebrate every small step you make to getting the body you want because it all counts. With recording your fitness progress, it’s much easier for you to feel good about yourself when you look back and see how far you’ve come. When you go through at your records, you might really surprise yourself with what you’ve been able to achieve! At the end of all the small celebrations when you’ve finally got to where you want your body to be, it’s time to have a big party!

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11
May
2012

For the longest time, I’ve had long hair. Sure it’s pretty much standard protocol when you’re competing in an international beauty pageant. Whether or not your hair’s real (extensions hello!), as long as you had hair that Rapunzel would be proud of, you’re pretty much set.

Singapore Beauty Blog

I’m not complaining about having long hair; I loved all the crazy, sexy things you could do with it. But when I took up swimming as part of my new weight management program, something in the water told me that it was time to get a fresh new look. Split and dry ends were not the trend this 2012, and might possibly never be in years to come.

I’ve been wanting to chop my hair for the longest time but never really had the guts to go fully short. IT’S SCARY HAVING A TERRIBLE SHORT HAIR CUT! Yall know how crucial it is to have a good hairstylist cut your hair short for you. We’ll all been to that one salon that messed your hair up really badly and made you go OMG WTF.

Because I’ve seen other bloggers who’ve worked with Salon Vim by Chez Vous, when they approached me to be one of their ambassadors, I said “YES ME WANT!! Why yes, that would be very nice. Thank you very much.”

Salon Vim Singapore

Heidi Klum’s bob has always been the look I wanted. And sitting in the chair that day at Salon Vim, I was excited yet nervous. I may LIKE the look on Heidi, but it might not be something I could work with. If that hairstyle turned out horrendous on me, could I stick all the ends that were cut off back onto my head? I was cutting AT LEAST half of my old hair length off!

But Gary, head stylist of Salon Vim, was absolutely nice and reassuring. He looked through the visual I presented, consulted with me the exact hair style I wanted before proceeding to do any damage to my already damaged hair.

What impressed me most was the amount of detail Gary put into taking care of my hair. No thanks to chlorine from the swimming pool, my hair was as dry as the desert. Ironic how all the dryness came from the water. To help restore the health of my hair, he did a keratin treatment before another treatment, then he worked his magic. Snip snip snip and soon, TADAH!

Salon Vim Hair

NEW SHORTER LENGTH!

But Salon Vim wasnt finished yet. Drying my hair on “Medium heat” (what did I tell you about paying attention to details?), Gary decided that a natural perm at the ends near the front of the face would do nicely to frame my face. PLUS, that also meant I would never have to intentionally use a straighter to iron my hair out. Such a simple but clever idea!

Salon Vim

Just by drying it, without touching the ends, my hair is perfect all the time! Yey! I’m totally loving the new shoulder length. Absolutely refreshing! Now, should I go EVEN shorter, layer it up and maybe even do a Halle Berry? Hahaha. What do you think? Cant wait to go back!

Address:
Salon Vim
313 Orchard Road
313 @ Somerset
#04-07/08/09
Telephone: 6884 7757 / 6884 7767

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17
Apr
2012

Tips for Losing Weight
‘Cause I work out.

Whenever I mention losing weight to anyone, they look at me with incredulity and go, “What weight do you have to lose?!” Now now before you start the hate, I wasnt on a mission to lose weight. My recent dietary and lifestyle changes were more in pursuit of a healthier body. The weight loss came as a by-product of all that change.

Miss Universe 2011

Even when I hit my all time sexiest fittest in Brazil, Sao Paulo during the Miss Universe competition, it wasnt because I was trying to keep up with the rest of the girls. The reality is that I fell sick during the last week of the competition and lost my appetite. I ate much lesser than I normally did and ended up picking at fruits, a few leaves of vegetables or protein for all meals. That’s how I got so se.. skinny. Comparing my photos from the official Miss Universe Singapore photoshoot, I had significantly lost a whole lot of weight without even intending to.

Losing Belly Fat

For sure, I’ll probably never be that Miss Universe size again, and I thought I had put on a whole load of weight after stuffing myself silly in New York. But a recent date with the measuring tape surprised me! I’ve been a waist line 26/27-incher for the longest time. Mind you, that’s not considered fat by my height standards. But I have to say a 25-inch waist is pretty swell. HELLLOOO CURVES! Of course achieving 25 wasnt without hard work and resistance. I must be doing something right with my new work out and diet routine!

Throughout this time, there are a few things I’ve learned regarding how to lose weight. Losing weight isnt about starving yourself. I eat plenty and my friends will attest to the fact that I’m always hungry. A cornerstone of weight loss is being aware of what goes into your body. So, here are my tips on how to lose weight and get the better body you want:

Cutting carbs
Carbs give you energy and we all need it. It’s an important staple and I wouldnt do without it. I eat my bread, rice and noodles… Just not all of it. I’m not gonna start with all the calorie counting because we’re not all blessed to deal with Math. How I went about reducing my carbohydrate intake was to limit it to one bowl of rice (or equivalent) a day. If I had a full portion of rice during lunch, then that was a sign dinner was going to be purely protein and fibre. If my lunch was light, then dinner was the perfect opportunity to indulge in a bowl of ramen.

Of course, eating with friends and family will certainly help your cause. Because sharing is caring, instead of eating that whole bowl of rice by yourself, why not share it with someone else? That way you’ll also have more space in your bowl for the other goodies on the table.

Weight Loss Tips
Oh hello you pretty little thing. Get in mah belly!

Sugar, the innocent looking devil
This one is a real toughie. Considering how much I love my desserts (ohhh Red Velvet how you make my heart flutter), you’d probably have to straight jacket me before I completely give this up. I love my desserts: cakes, cookies, chocolates and all them pretty little treats.

But, sugar has got to be the sneaky little devil that creeps onto your belly without being invited. The worst part is the little devil refuses to budge! Unfortunately, you cant cut sugar out completely just like you cant not have carbohydrates in your diet. The trick to not eating sugar isnt to totally resist your favourite foods. It’s to be well aware of the hidden sugars in your food. Canned drinks, bottled juices, cakes, chocolates all have sugar in them. Choose water over bottled drinks, yoghurt over ice-cream, fruit over chips. When it comes to cakes, well, my best advice for cake fanatics like me is this: share them with someone so you only get half the amount of sugar but still all the goodness of that delish treat.

Tips for Losing Weight

Eat your breakfast
They say breakfast is the most important meal because that’s when you load up on the energy to fuel you through the rest of the day. The good thing about packing your plate with carbohydrates early in the morning is having the rest of the day to burn them up!

I find that eating a hearty breakfast helps me eat less throughout the rest of the day. I load up on cereals with milk, throw in energy rich fruits like bananas into the bowl and I’m good for the rest of the day… Until lunch time, that is. Hahaha.

Tips for Losing Weight
Ariel and her brand new human legs. Where’s the mermaid tail?

Work it out
I used to run 3 times a week until I took an arrow to the knee. Well, not literally of course. But I did sustain a knee injury no thanks to my heroic acts of floor work back in the days of dance. So now instead of running, I swim. And I couldnt be happier.

Not only has making the switch to swimming helped me overcome some sort of innate fear of swimming pools – I know, I know, it sounds crazy. I’ve done cliff diving and all that kinda crazy water sports, but swimming pools scare me. Maybe the Loch Ness Monster really lives in there – but swimming is a full body workout that not only helps with cardio, it also works to tone up your muscles! Add in daily light weight training and hello beach body!

Consistency is key in building a new habit. Having a fitter and better body is a combination of exercise and eating right! For sure, making dietary changes and embracing a new workout routine isnt always the easiest thing especially when old habits die hard. But incorporating a 30 minute a day workout is all it takes to getting fit. Just as brushing teeth becomes a habit, so does spending some quiet time with my weights become part of my daily routine. It’s the smallest changes I made and being highly aware of the choices I made that got me to the 25 mark. Now, 24 anyone? Hahaha.

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11
Apr
2012

I’ve been a long time paying customer of Aster Spring (previously known as Leonard Drake) since my friend introduced me to their services almost more than 2 years back. I’ve never actually written a review on Aster Spring (Leonard Drake) facials save for this one review where I tried out the Advanced Skin Hydrating Treatment after my return from New York in 2010. Now almost 2 years down the road, I come back and head straight for my regular facial again because the cold weather in New York City completely dried my skin out.

Beauty Tips for Good Skin

I’m proud to say I take pretty damn good care of my skin and am absolutely comfortable with leaving the house with nothing but sunscreen on. Going for regular facials is certainly on my list of good skin tips because it’s important to have a professional take a closer look at your skin. Judging by the number of comments I’ve received on the Leonard Drake facial review post, it’s heartening to know that a lot of people are also interested in taking better care of their skin!

Many have left comments or emailed me to ask about the facial packages price and I’ve never been able to fully provide details of the Aster Spring (Leonard Drake) facial package prices because I dont work for them. I thus, decided to do the next best thing on my last visit: whip my phone out and snap a photo of the actual package prices!

Click to enlarge
Leonard Drake Aster Spring Facial Package

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7
Apr
2012

The first time I went to New York City back in 2010, I was horribly confused by the New York transportation. Who would have thought traveling in New York would be so confusing when the entire city was planned in a grid-like manner. The x-y coordinates of the streets were easy to maneuver, but the web of train lines on the New York Subway map was a whole different story.

New York City Travel Guide

My first time in New York, I swear I spent about 4 days trying to figure out which train went where because those crossing lines on the map were probably meant to cross your eyes and scramble your brains. Walking would normally be a no brainer, but with a tight schedule you’ll want to save time by using New York transportation.

Despite being a no0b the last trip, I was traveling New York City like a pro this time around and decided to put together a New York City Travel Guide for first timers. Transportation in New York or in any country for that matter is highly essential. Getting about is when the excitement starts because you never know what you’ll discover at the next street corner!

New York City Taxis

1) Cabs to and from the airport are a flat rate of $45
I had thought this was one of the most expensive taxi rides in my entire life, but that was before I went to Sao Paulo where I got slapped with a SGD$90 fare for my trip from the airport to the main city area. By comparison, USD$45 is actually quite a reasonable price for traveling from the JFK airport to midtown Manhattan given it’s an 18 mile journey. The minimum taxi fare upon boarding is USD$2.50 so USD$45 is quite a steal for your first taxi ride in New York City.

You cant pre-arrange a pickup by a New York taxi, but taxis are a dime a dozen at the airport. There’s a tipping culture in the States and you’ll have to tip your taxi driver at the end of your trip. Therefore, be prepared to pay about USD$50 for your first taxi ride. If you dont have enough cash on hand, there’s always the option of paying by credit card in most NYC taxis.

New York City AirTrain JFK

New York City Transportation

2) Take the AirTrain from the John F Kennedy airport to Manhattan
If you’re on a budget and refuse to let your first “purchase” in the Big Apple be a USD$50 taxi ride, the other option of traveling from the airport to midtown Manhattan is via the AirTrain.

I’ve gotta give myself a pat on the back this trip because I actually dragged my 2 check-in luggage around instead of opting for the easier alternative of a taxi! From the AirTrain off JFK, I had to stop at the Jamaica Station to change to the regular Metro trains before reaching my destination in midtown Manhattan on 50th street! Phew! I conquered staircases and slopes, crossed uneven flooring in the Subway stations and navigated bumpy street pavements before I got to my 5 storey walk-up apartment in Hell’s Kitchen. NO LIFTS OMG. Achievement unlocked!

Traveling in New York

3) 24/17 is the magic number on the trains. Yes, 17.
Apparently everything in New York City does not sleep. Not only do the restaurants in the Big Apple open till late (think 10pm dinners), even their train system is a night owl. I love that the New York trains run 24 hours because that means you can get anywhere, anytime to make the best of your adventure in the City. There’s always something to see and discover in New York.

New York City Travel

But if you’re like me the first time I was there and had trouble figuring out the train system, keep in mind the number 17. Some of the train platforms in the Subway are on different streets. If you make the mistake of going onto the Uptown platform instead of the Downtown platform, you’ll have to exit to street level to get to the other platform. Not all platforms are all linked from the inside! So here’s the catch, you’ll only be able to enter the gates of the right platform 17 minutes later from the moment you first swipe your card. EVEN if you made an honest mistake.

New York Subway

4) Get the unlimited travel cards
When you’ve got so much ground to cover, the 7-Day Unlimited Pass will save you some time and money. Although the unlimited MetroCard will set you back USD$29, you dont have to pay USD$2.25 per ride, and it gives you some leeway for making some mistakes on the New York Subway (although you should definitely keep in mind the 17 minute rule when jumping trains).

For the week you have the train card, you get unlimited Subway and local bus rides until midnight, 7 days from day of first purchase. If you’re in the City for an extended period of time, there’s also a 30-Day Unlimited Ride MetroCard priced at USD$104.

5) There’s limited mobile connectivity on the trains
On my first trip to NYC, I instantly figured out why the whole iPod culture is incredibly HUGE in the States – they dont get reception underground. Keep in mind the New York Subway was constructed almost 100 years ago, it’s probably quite a feat that the trains are still in good working condition and you dont experience breakdowns.

As much the disconnectedness was unsettling at times, (maybe it’s because I’ve got some sort of soft addiction to the Internet), it was refreshing to have time to people watch and get a sense of your brand new surroundings. It’s definitely more fun to people watch when no one’s got their heads bent low intently peering at their phones.

On top of that, being unable to text or call anyone from underground will teach you a lesson on being punctual. Because you wont be able to tell your friend you’ll be late, you’ll have to make sure you keep your appointments or they’ll wonder what happened to you!

New York City Travel

Between the two trips, the only New York transportation that I havent really gotten acquainted with would be the local buses or interstate trains. I’ve walked, taxied, trained and even biked across Manhattan, I think I’m ready to take on New York transportation the next time again with more New York attitude!

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30
Mar
2012

With my recent escapades to nearby countries like Philippines and Jakarta in just 2 months, I’ve learnt how easy it is to flash-pack. Flash-packing is the new backpacking, only with some flair. It’s still about travelling light, but gone are the days where people lug a ratty-tatty backpack and rough it out in a hole in the wall room. The new aged flash packer is young, feisty, got some spare cash to burn and is plain ole up for a good time.

Tips for Traveling Light

With budget flights available at the click of a mouse button to this new generation of world travelers, a country a month over the weekend is not that difficult to achieve. Flash packing requires no check-in luggage. Just lug a couple of important things in your hand carry and say hello to a new culture a month. Because you’re just going for a short weekend away, you dont need that many things. So here are my travel tips for packing light:

• Go back to basics
In life, you’ll never go wrong with your basics – whether fashion, grammar, beauty or health etc, travel is exactly the same. Pack your basic tank tops in various colours with different embellishments, 2 pairs of your trusty jeans, flirty skirts and maybe 2 cute dresses for nights out on the town. Mixing and matching your tops and bottoms gives you several outfits options.

Accessories, such as scarves, I find always make a whole lot of difference. You’ll even be able to use them as hair accessories! When it comes to jewellery, pack statement pieces that you’ll be able to use with most of your outfits.

Shoes dont make for light travel packing. Honestly, you dont need that many pairs of shoes, just unless one for the road and a really dressy pair. Or maybe just one more cute one.. Just for an alternative. But remember, we’re trying to think about how to travel light. 2 pairs of shoes should do the trick for a 4 day trip, unless of course you’re packing for a photoshoot. Even then, on my recent trip to Jakarta, I packed a whole bunch of dresses and still managed to fly sans check-in with 4 pairs of shoes: 2 heels, a pair sneakers and sandals.

Tips for Travelling Light

• Use what’s provided for you
Whether you’re staying in a hostel, hotel or couch surfing in somebody’s apartment, always check what’s being provided for you. If you’re staying just for the weekend, it’s okay to rough it out and go without your regular conditioner. Use whatever is available so you dont have to carry an extra bottle. Skincare, however, is something I never compromise on. I always bring my own basic skin care regime overseas.

• Vaseline is your best friend
This little jar of petroleum jelly was once your best friend when you were a baby and now in your jetsetter days, it returns to be your best companion on board and abroad. There are an infinite things you can do with Vaseline but I particularly love it for tackling the moisture and hair frizziness problems you get when travelling!

• Wear as much as you can
No no, dont get me wrong, I dont mean cover up. When you have a 10kg hand-carry travel luggage limit, instead of packing all the bulky items in your luggage and weighing the scale down, flaunt that jacket and be the clothes rack for just a bit. Those pretty heels weigh more than your slippers, totter about in them until you get on the plane and then you can change out of them. Layer up if you have to because they dont weigh you!

How to Pack Light

• Sharing is caring
It’s fun to travel alone, but sometimes twice is as nice. When you have a travel buddy, it can be double the fun. At the same time, it also means a load halved. You can either arrange to share toiletries or your gadgets or even just dump your stuff in your buddy’s luggage which has more space! Hahaha. We share stuff with the people we love!

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