How I got here…… Part 1

Do catch me on your local malaysia Cinema in Fist of Dragon on the 23 Feb 2012

I guess everyone have to start somewhere and mine was plain simple. I don’t like to be bullied… lol. Hence I started carrying my 1st DIY Milo dumbbell at 11 years old. It was fairly easy to make since I’ve seen dad’s in construction and I’ve seen him mix the cement. Milo is such a common household item and we had unwanted fabric wardrobe so I salvage the metal rods. I begged mom to get me a dumbbell and her answer was, “POT KONG AH?!” (Hakka language – gone mad?) So what you can’t get you just have to make and I’ve been learning to make my own stuff since young cause the things I asked for can be very, i mean REALLY EXTRAORDINARY!

So begins my weight lifting hobby until sweet age of 15 that I was spotted by girls during sports day in my singlet with my visible latissimus dorsi and I heard heavenly cries. *wink* I’m at the age of wanting to be the center of attention so what do I get? A RM80 Arnold Schwarzenegger encyclopedia of modern bodybuilding. So i started to focus more on building muscle rather than just raw strength. Like what dad likes to call it, “Train so strong for what, to be kuli?” (kuli = labourer or slave) Anyways, I got more technical with the guidance from Arnold’s book and managed to improve  my physiques. But diet was still a problem. I work hard, play hard and eat hard. So I was never in condition or so shredded. Just muscles and all. Then I met by buddies after O’Levels who are hardcore gym freaks. I started pumping harder and at high reps too. Challenging each other twas was a great motivation. But i guess the diet was still wrong and so was the workout. We got bigger not shredded. And at that time i was so involved in basketball that with all the exercise, I was practically active more than 12 hrs a day with 9 hours minimum cardio with basketball daily.

And the unfortunate had to happen. Few years down the line, I stopped bodybuilding due to personal reasons (a gal who didn’t like the idea other gals looking at my body) so there goes 6 years and during which I injured both my ankles which i’ve to limp for 2 1/2 years. Mom was so worried I’ll be disabled the rest of my life. I’ve seen tons of doctors, physicians, traditional masseur, and all sorta healers yet non helped. Spent a bomb there. Anyways, I gave up on them and after the break up I did a research on physiotherapy and conducted my own program to heal myself. And so my mom’s worries was cleared and I managed to heal my legs which I can press 15 sets / 8 – 12 reps of 550lbs on a leg press machine now.

But I weren’t fully back to the gym. Call it procrastination or laziness or even I’m not ready and I’ve to pick myself up after wasting so much time. So i took more years off to prepare my finances and get back on my two feet. I traveled a little bit before i came back to Malaysia to study again. I guess after opening my eyes again, I saw a lot of things and having both my parents health not in the best condition I decide to look into supplements to improve their health. I did lots of experiments and testing on myself to see the effects and often I’ll overdose myself just to find the outcome of overdosing it if it’s dangerous or not before introducing it to my parents.

Again, seeing more and more of my friends getting diagnose with sickness and read lots of news on the longevity of the human kind being cut short due to our unhealthy lifestyle I started looking into this area and found out that most of the time it’s the food that we consume. Stress and habits plays a role but I finally come to a conclusion that “YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT” is true. Hence I started to looking into food and dieting. I was a little looney and determined so I marked a day and told myself I’m not gonna say, “tomorrow” but it’s gonna be today. Most people fail because they keep pushing it and procrastinating it. So it was on a sunday that I decide and I cleared out all my supplies and gave it away. Rode my bike to Tesco and got all the healthier selections. Vegetables which can be eaten raw. I totally changed my diet on a monday and not addressing my cravings to the max. I had plain vegetable salad with lemon squeeze and olive oil as the dressing for a whole month without cheat. I forbid myself from cheating because 1 cheat meal will push me to be psychologically depressed because I’ll start missing the food and crave for the taste. So my plan was to kill my taste bud…..

….. to be continue……….

Temptations

Escapade Brunei – the sushi Trail

I’m after human too and I’m bound to temptations as everyone else. But the thing is that I take control of my urges and lust and believe that I will gain more by stepping out of my comfort zone. And furthermore, if I can control myself in this situation, that means I can discipline myself for everything else. It all start with a simple, “Yes I can and I’m going to start now!”

Chicken Chop – emm…

Well, hanging out with friends is a common activity. Everyone need friends. I’m no anti-social. Well, sometimes I lock myself up before competitions or photo shoot just so I can avoid late nights and snacking inappropriately. But it’s not because I can’t control myself from eating the food. Its just to avoid eating extra portions. But I’m not asking you to do the same. Just play smart when you are out there be it in the restaurant or cafe or hawker stalls. Anything looks greasy means it’s oily and u know what fats look like and deep fried usually means a lot of flour or starch. You can always enjoy the gatherings without sacrificing your diet. What do I do? usually I bring my own snack and just step out of the restaurant to snack before I come back in case there is nothing on the menu which is suitable. Food court is the best options as I can just take out my container while my friends take their meals. And I always go for the greens if I’m to order.

KFC – chicken breast

Home is where you control everything but what if you are not the one cooking. I won’t expect everyone else to follow my diet as everyone have their rights to follow what they believe. Believe me, I come from a family of food lovers and when it come to food on the table, we know how to enjoy and appreciates them. So knowing this you should know it took a lot of effort on my side to change my diet totally.

Well, I’ve a couple of choices here. I strike a deal with mom to make sure that there is always a vege dish which is lightly done with less oil and everything else or I make my own meals at times. I only take 2 spoons worth of rice and sometime nil. The look on my mom’s face was classic the 1st few times she saw how I ate. Kept telling me that I’m eating too little and I’ll ruin my body but the thing is she didn’t know I’m eating 8 meals a day. Now she has learn to accept it. I usually only consume 1 meal prepared by mom and I prepare my meals throughout the day myself. I enjoy the companionship of family but it’s hard to convince them that I’m on a different diet at times.

During family hangouts and gathering outside? Well, I just choose the right food to eat as always.

Cafe Au’Lait bandar – healthier choice of breafast on the go

Work place seems to be the worst for most due to schedule and time management. I used to work in events and yet, I managed to pull it off. Just have to be creative about it. Get a loose pants so you can stuff lots of food inside. I’ve both. A nice loose pants with a backpack which I’ve food and water. Ready for action anytime any place.

During one of my experience, I’ve to eat while on a 4 story Scaffolding fixing up cables or chewing and swallowing the bread like a snake while I’m fixing up the projector or even taking bites in the washroom. Just a quick bite and I weren’t doing anything else other than stealing a couple of bites. Like I say, just have to play along with what you can and always store dry food for easy access and portability.

Wywy Restaurant – asked for something else but i got something else.. lol

Never say never. No, I’m not a fan of Justin Bieber. But if you keep saying that you can’t due to this or that you can never get it done. And never tell yourself that you will start tomorrow cause it will ever happen until you finally realize that it’s ages ago since you start the 1st procrastination. Food is the main ingredient for you to look good. Know this, “YOU ARE WHAT YOU EAT!”

Tesco Damansara – shopping for my own ingredient… weeeeeeeee

And don’t be lazy. go out there and do your own grocery. It’s tons of fun and you get to choose what you put on your plate.