As a last desperate act of battling the weight gain, I finally gave in and register my self to an acupuncture program last week. Tee hee.

I got the name of the clinic from my friend and with a swollen pride I went there to confess that I have problem in controlling my appetite. The doctor was very nice. All his explanation seemed to make sense and I felt comfortable right away. So I decided to be brave and adventurous to start the program right there right then.

First, I was asked to lay down with my face up in a small bunk bed. And then the doctor made several injection of electrolytes into body parts where the fat build up most. And then after that he sticked a lot of needle in the body parts which had been injected and one behind my ear. They said it is to help reduce the appetite (oh how I wish the needle could stay there forever!). And then the nurse came in and placed cables into the needles. I felt a little tingling sensation as the electricity current went through the needles to the body and I strangely felt very relax. So I started to look around.

In a several bed next to mine, there was an old lady with needles and cables all over her face. It made her look like Davy Jones! Yikes! I think it has something to do with reducing wrinkle or releasing tension. But it sure looks weird having needles sticking out her face like that.

In another bed, a young lady laid down only in bra and panties and have needles almost all over her body looking like an electrocuted slim hedgehodge. I starred at her for quite a while for she has a great body already. Very slim and fat free. Her skin was creamy and smooth so I was wondering what was her problem? But then again, probably she did not look that way when she first came. It was very heartening.

From another bed, another lady woke up and starting putting her clothes on when the nurse hurriedly came and remind her that the doctor had not perform the vitamin c (or botox? I could not hear quite clearly through the humming sound of the machine) injection on her face. She then laid down again until the doctor came and injected her face in several areas. Hmm…

Then I looked down at my belly which was covered with needles and cables and suddenly realized that this place is really like chamber of torture! Why do we, women, made our selves go through this? What happened with healthy diet and exercise regularly?

In my case, I want instant result. I am bored with my useless yo yo diet due to lack of self discipline. By paying certain amount, I hope it could motivate me to be more discipline. No fried food, no deep fried coconut food, eat as little carbohydrates as possible, eat fruit more and exercise exercise exercise. I hope I could reduce the fat and tone more muscle.

The program is suppose to be to set me in the good eating habit. Egg and bread in the morning. Meat/poultry product/fish, vegetables and little carbohydrates at noon. Meat/poultry/fish & vegetables only in the afternoon before 5. Nothing is allowed in between other than fruit.

Once the program is finished, it is hoped that I can continue the balance diet thus maintain my reduced weight. A week has passed since I visit the chamber of torture and I have lost 3 Kg. I feel lighter and my clothes seemed to fit me properly now. Yay!

Pray for me, will you?

With 2008 peeked around the corner let me reflect all the damage I have done in 2007:

1. Leave the place that have groomed me for the past 9.5 years

2. Leave everything I have loved and treasured there to welcome a completely new challenge

3. Leave the long working hours to a less (might still be long) working hours

4. Leave the long commuting time (yippie!)

5. Colored my hair with blonde, burgundy and brown color and still have the courage to come to the office on the next day

6. I did not miss Pascal’s 2nd birthday and Mika’s 6th birthday this year (Yippie!)

7. Pascal went to pre-school and Mika went to elementary school

8. New love

OK, now if you excuse me, let me sing this old mellow song on the top of my lungs (with a little bit tweaks here and there to overcome the gender issue):

And now, the end is near
And so I face the final curtain.
My friend, I’ll say it clear,
I’ll state my case, of which I’m certain.

I’ve lived a life that’s full.
I’ve traveled each and every highway;
And more, much more than this,
I did it my way.

Regrets, I’ve had a few
But then again, too few to mention.
I did what I had to do
And saw it through without exemption.

I planned each charted course;
Each careful step along the byway,
But more, much more than this,
I did it my way.

Yes, there were times, I’m sure you knew
When I bit off more than I could chew.
But through it all, when there was doubt,
I ate it up and spit it out.
I faced it all and I stood tall;
And did it my way.

I’ve loved, I’ve laughed and cried.
I’ve had my fill, my share of losing.
And now, as tears subside,
I find it all so amusing.

To think I did all that;
And may I say - not in a shy way,
No, oh no not me,
I did it my way.

For what is a (wo)man, what has (s)he got?
If not him(her)self, then (s)he has naught.
To say the things (s)he truly feels;
And not the words of one who kneels.
The record shows I took the blows -
And did it my way!

I have not fully recovered from the muscle pain I gained from the previous TBOSIET training and intensive pilates exercise when I was hit again with one full day outdoor activity during HR team building.

It was a 2 days activity from 14 to 16 Dec at Rumah Jambuluwuk which is located in Bogor, Ciawi. The place is nice, the air is refreshing, the acquintances are fun and the food is great. What a perfect combination.

But what ’refresh’ me most was the whole day trekking on the second day. When I asked my friend who was the committee about the activity, she told me that it would be very low impact as our boss was very concern about our safety. And the fact that we brought 3 security guards, 1 policeman, 2 our own fire extinguishers with us seemed to prove this point. Moreover, the place where the game would be held will be a kid’s play ground. Yeah right.

The trekking was no low impact at all. It was started quite easily at first where we still can chat and giggling endlessly. But when we start entering the padi fields area that’s where my pink nike shoes really face challenge. The trek was muddy and seemed to be an endless up and down, not to mention that it was slippery. Thank God the team was solid and we really looked after each other.

The only dissappointment was the instructor. He was no help at all. Of course he is not suppose to help but the way he answered our question was really hopeless. The instructor kept on asking “Do you have any questions?” and later on answering any questions with the monotonous zombie tone, “Read the instruction”. One of my friend finally explode and saying, “So what kind of answer that you can offer us?? You are not helping at all! I don’t want to see you here!”. Hihihi… 

After that, we went through series of physical games where our endurance was really challenged. One of the toughest game was walking on the block where our balancing capability was really tested. There goes personal embarrasment as we were required to literally hang on to each other. Body to body. Head to toe. Sweat to sweat. So much for personal hygiene.

Other than that, it was really a fun 2 days that gave me the opportunity to know my new colleagues better. We sang and danced endlessly and at this point, I felt really lucky to join this group. They are a bunch of fun people who are easy to be with. And now I have to deal with the physical pain.

Note: after that event, I went straight to Bersih Sehat and had an hour body massage. And the next day I hit the gym again. Surprisingly, my insomnia seemed to fully recovered. I guess I really do have to exercise.