Injured

My hand ...again! Woke up one day and it's twisted! One doesn't woke up with a twisted hand unless one has sleep walking problems. So the most appropriate hypothesis is certain muscles are overworked until one day, they snapped. Countless OT and excessive texting haha....

So after 3 weeks of trying the age old remedy of rubbing deep heat, finally decided to see doctor in case something happened. The official diagnosis is de quervain tenosysnovitis. Ya, I don't know how to pronounce and what it means is, it hurts like the SOB when I pull the blankets, twist the key and carry a pot. Sux!

The best cure is rest and not using that hand. I told the doctor - not an option. So the next best option is to reduce usage of that hand. Dr also said to consider alternative treatment if it doesn't heal in 4 months time.

Holy crap, four months. sigh ~ I am trying to reduce usage so as we speak and nightly rub. Sometimes I got lazy and just paste a Salompas which have a placebo effect on me. When I plaster a Salompas I feel hand is less pain.

I have said this and now say it again. Definitely getting old.

Grow my bateria

This is going to save my gut. Apparently all my tummy troops aka good bacteria is dead and as result every time I eat even a little bit carbo I bloat like a python that swallowed a cow. At first I was worried it was gastritis or something coming back but it turns out I just need to grow some good bacteria.

So went to the pharmacy and got blown away by so many options out there. In the end decided to ask the sales staff for the strongest one and she suggested this one. This is probiotic powder. The good thing about this is you don't need to refrigerate it and OMG it taste so good. Like mouthful of vanilla. I can just eat the whole bottle in one go. Unlike the refrigerated ones where the bacteria is already cultivated (hence you need to fridge them), these contains the 'seed' where you need to grow them yourself.  Since I have no problem growing things like nails, hair, cholesterol or greenery I think growing bacteria is no hardship.

Yakult works too but I don't want to bloat for 1 month before I accumulate enough good bacteria. I only took 3 doses of this wonder powder and bloatiness immediately went away. Phew~

Low Cholesterol but Fatter Part 3

Dating time......

Bits: So darling, how's your blood test?

Me: My cholestrol is perfect.

Bits: That is good news!

Me: Yeah, but I am 5kg heavier. I am now 72kg!

Bits: Oh..... ok that is not good for health.

Me: Tell me about it, I have to eat grass like you now.

Bits: I did not eat grass dear.....anyway you are perfect. Weight is just a number.

Me: I thought it will be in your best interest to ensure my weight is manageable, after all you have to carry me.

Bits: Eeeek..... in that case.....erm... 60kg is a nice target to achieve.

Me: LOL...aha that means it is in your interest to make sure I exercise regularly..

Bits: Ok if you put it that way......

Me: We gotta continue the 30 day plank!

Low Cholesterol but Fatter Part 2

........so I am 5kg fatter than before and I asked the doctor how can I have lower cholesterol but fatter? The science seemed wrong. Is this all gas? I do feel gassy lately. Dr had a good laugh and send me home.

Later the day, when I was messaging Cousin Rain....

Me: Dr said my cholesterol level is perfect.

Rain: Oh that is great!

Me: Yeah but my weight is 72kg now. That is 5kg heavier than last year.

Rain: Aiyo...

Me: Ya lor... see la..every time go back hometown put so much weight. Sien lo..

Rain: Ah ah ah... you cannot blame all 5kg on it. 1 or 2 kg acceptable, the rest your own doing la.

Me: ... tsk!

Rain: The rest of the 3kg is your paktor fat la.

Me: ...tsk! Sien lo, gotta eat like Bits, all green and grill. Nothing fried.

Rain: hahaha.... pak tor will make people fat.

To be continue......

Low Cholesterol but Fatter Part 1

There should be a question mark up there. For the first time in my fat life my cholesterol is within limits. ALL of them except for Triglyceride which is borderline high for the first time. Although Dr said it wasn't anything I need to worry and my cholesterol has never been better, I still have to worry for there are too many family members dying of heart attack in my family. Dr said if you really need to cut anything, cut carbo and sweets.

Me : What do you mean sweet? I don't even have a sweet tooth.

Dr: Well, you don't really need to do anything, it is still within control.

Me: Hm...(not happy), will stop eating rice dinners on weekdays..

Dr: No need diet, just moderation.

Me: I..........OMG! I just remembered I have been eating Lindt Chocolates, like a bar every week.

Dr; HOLY COW! STOP THAT RIGHT NOW....

Me: Yah, you know they have this dark chocolate with a hint of sea salt. It's really savory and it doesn't feel like a sweet snack.

Dr: NO No.... I don't know if a chocolate should taste savory but you have to stop that.

Me : OK.. I swear I will not buy it anymore. Um...what's my BP?

Dr: BP normal.

Me: What's my weight?

Dr: Mmmmmmmm 72kg.

Me: WHAT THE HELL........ what's last year's weight?

Dr: 67kg.

To be continued.......

Yoga now?

Bit might not agree but someone know what they are writing here. Anyway hard to fault Bits as he said he said my eyes twinkled to him. My Eyes TWINKLED! How on earth he can see that in my small asian eyes. Never mind, may the twinkle overshadowed the pimple and poke marks all over my face hahaha....

Nevertheless since I can gain weight by inhaling air, I have started pilates on weekends. It was pathetic and I am pretty appalled at myself. I can't even touch my toes now! If Moo read this she will laugh. So in order to build more flexibility I bought a yoga video in hopes of getting more flexible.

Of course Bit's being a yoga student has everything to do with it.

All for health and love

Since I got back from Boleh Land, I have gained like 5kg! That and of course no swimming.Which prompts uncle to say...

Yes, yes. Uncle also said I shouldn't go home too often if I want to keep fit. I can't agree more but I have to go home in May again for a wedding dinner (not mine). After that I hope to reverse the situation where my family will come and visit me instead. We'll see.

To look good for the wedding dinner, I have to lost weight again! Going back to swimming helps. I am now covering 30 laps in 40 minutes. That is 900 meters. Not bad but I have to cover 1km in 1/2 hour if I want to achieve 2km by end of this year.

If you wonder why 40 minutes instead of the usual 1 hour that is because Bits now accompany me part way to the Bath. It's all part of our on-going effort to see each other more often. I suggested that but now it didn't seemed like a good idea as it isn't always easy to coordinate our time and to maximize talking time, we walk partway instead of tramming. Hence now I don't swim one hour anymore. Is this what they call sacrificing for love?

Sexy Lifesaver

Actually it doesn't come as a surprise given that I have family history and snore like an engine. So it's good to be finally diagnosed and get on with the right treatment. Basically I stop breathing in my sleep because my tongue block my airway. I have a small throat and NO that is not because I am fat. The doctor actually laughed when I ask if slimming down will help. Of course obesity will not help the case but I am not at that stage. 

If you know anything about sleep apnea, you would have heard of the CPAP machine, the most common non surgical treatment. It is a mechanical aid that helps keep the airway open by sending pressurized air into your airway. My results showed my sleep apnea is the most severe in the family. I stopped breathing about 80 times in 1 hour and I am still alive to blog this. Looks like my time is yet to come.

Anyway long argument short, I am send to the CPAP center to get fitted with my own CPAP machine. Lucky may not be the right phrase here but I am glad technology has advance to the point that there are a lot of automated function with the latest CPAP machine. The Airsense 10 comes with a special female setting - we have more sensitive nose after all, auto humidifier and temperature control and auto pressure setting. Gone were the days you have do trial and error to find the right setting for yourself. The only thing they can make it more feminine is to have a changeable cover with different colours. My only complain is the auto humidifier doesn't work very well so I have to change it to manual setting.

It also weighs 3kg (bag and all) but as it is classified as a medical equipment it is excluded from luggage weight. The machine keeps me quiet throughout the night and keeps me safe from my own tongue. As much as I hate carrying it around, it will have to do until a better solution comes up. 

The road to health

Is paved with many attempts and failures. Unforgivable! Just 2 months of not swimming and I bounce back.

C'mon! Cut me some slack here! Although I have not seriously diet or sports, I do believe I lead a healthy lifestyle. Unfortunately that cannot beat my body's efficiency in converting food into fat. If it gets any more efficient I will need to put that skill in my resume.

Anyway, Aunt has been after me to do abs targeted exercise and I finally decide to act upon it. Once a week I am doing Pilates again. Moo will be proud. I also think stretching is good for health and strengthening core muscles helps swimming.

I have also decided to get serious on getting the weight down in anticipation of May Balik Kampung trip. Resuming swimming is a logical choice since swimming activates all muscle groups and after chatting with fellow swim mate, I decided to put a goal to myself.

Our current lap pool is 30m long. Thus to complete 2km I need to swim 67 laps. I am currently swimming 24 laps per hour and that is 720m. The strategy is to be more efficient in swimming and adding in 2-4 laps per week.

Wish me luck!

Sinus wash

I have a complicated relationship with sinusitis and hay fever. I always tell people I suspect I have sinusitis but really this is all hay fever allergy reaction. Note: Hay fever is pollen allergy, you don't actually have fever but it can make life really uncomfortable. After consultation with the Sleep Doctor, I actually have sinusitis! Well I argued with doctor that it is hay fever. I don't know why I argue with him given he studied twice as long as me to get his degree. Anyway, we talk about treatment and he was surprised that I am using nose saline wash. He said it is the right thing to do.

Well, about 2-3 weeks ago, I was for browsing hay fever relief as uncle said I shouldn't be using the fact that I have Hay fever to work from home. Never mind the Boss asked me to work from home. Never mind I actually don't like working from home. To uncle, Work from home = slack. (T_T)

So back to my aisle browsing, Ms Pharmacist ( I now worship the ground she stands) recommended me the sinus wash after I told her none of those nasal sprays work. Before I go on, there are many brands out there but after discussion with Ms Pharmacist, I have decided to go with the cheaper brand Flo as there is no difference in ingredient.

Sinus wash means pumping the saline up one nostril, letting it drain from the other, and repeat on the other nostrils. There are explicit instructions on how to use hence not gonna elaborate here. The first time I use this, one word - geli! But after that, nose has never felt any fresher. With all the crap out of my nose, the nasal spray penetrated the sinus and hence no more hay fever!

Also, the right technique to spray is left hand spray right nostril and vise versa. Now I apply this daily and have never felt any better.I highly recommend this to dear sister and also Rain. Since we are going Japan together I am going to show it to her.

Sleep Dr also told me to tilt head to side for 10 seconds so that saline wash into sinus cavity thoroughly. I have yet to master the side tillting as some go into my ear, making it itchy and some flow down throat. But since I start using this method, I can smell shit a mile a way, so I put up with the dribble in ear. It will come out anyway.

Fatter and fatter and FATTER

It is time for the dreaded blood test again, as a Koala resident I get 2 free test per year but I might not enjoy this privilege soon if the new government pass the new bill. As such uncle asked all of us to go do our blood test. 

My results were overall great except for my lipids. IT HAS GOTTEN WORSE THAN LAST YEAR~ why why why? I thought I had lead a healthier lifestyle now with regular exercise and steam veggies.

On hearing pork belly is almost staple diet for me the doctor kindly printed out an info sheet on what to avoid for me. Though it is above the limit, Doctor said it is still not too bad- ask me not to beat myself up over it. Just need to reduce pork belly.

Hence, this month onward, I can only eat...

• 1 pork belly meal per month
• 1 fast food per fortnight

I wan to donate blood but I want Nite to accompany me as I am well..... scared. I wonder if they will put a warning sign on my blood bag - 'Full Fat Blood. Can only be transfused to BMI < 25'

Did I mention I had 2 pork belly this month. No pork belly next month :(

Keeping fit is hard work.