Fave Feasts

It’s been quite a while since I last wrote something in my blog. Work has been crazy and by the time I get home, I feel extremely spent (but in a good way). I just happen to get an idea on what I want to write about after browsing through my photos in my phone. I noticed that I had a lot of food pictures. It has been a running joke in this era that the meal ritual starts with taking a photo of your food before saying “grace”. It’s not true for me. I say ‘grace’ first then I take my snapshot.

I’ve been living in Singapore for 2 years and they were really fast years. I love the comfort, the transportation system, my job (ehem… yes, I do), my bed, and the food. I’ve tried lots of delightful meals from the ones I concoct out of the grocery, hawker centers, and fine dining. I’d like to share some food spots I’ve seen myself going back over and over again, and  or wanting to go back for more.

I’m not a cuisine connoisseur. I just let my taste buds lead me. So here are my fave food spots (not in order):

• Medz 

To be honest, the food here is just okay but they have a lot of Mediterranean choices. Plus they have a bar with a selection of 200 beers. I just put my hands on their apple ciders.

Just mediocre but it went really well with apple cider

Of course!

• Roadhouse

The meat here is great however, I think they attract people with their Terminator Challenge. Finish this 1 kg juicy Wagyu burger in 20 minutes and it’s on the house. Considering it’s about 50 SGD+, the effort should be worth it.

1 kg of Wagyu beef – there were days when I think I could finish that monster.

• Wild Honey

I love breakfast. It’s the best meal of the day. If I could have it with a nice glass of wine at any time, then I’d be giddy. Good thing this restaurant had that in mind because it’s a breakfast all day joint with a nice atmosphere.

Norwegian breakfast

Stephanie’s Sandwich – really… it’s called ‘Stephanie’s Sandwich’ (steak)

• Morton’s Steakhouse

I really don’t recommend eating in Morton’s unless there’s a really really good occasion to spend for. It’s freaking expensive but then like what I said, if there’s a celebration, it would make a good excuse to splurge (perhaps once a year?). Their steaks are really good because the essence of the flavor is in their meat and not on whatever sauce poured on it. I unfortunately don’t have a picture of our steak but here’s the dessert we ordered –  a delicious chocolate pudding.

Chocolate oozes out

• Robert Timm’s

My new favourite coffee shop. I actually never had a favourite coffee shop but this one’s a record breaker. I love their liquor coffee plus the fact that I get smiling bunnies when I order them. Their meat and meals are pretty awesome too.

My bunny on Kahlua Coffee :3

500gm steak – 2 people finished this (just have to say that)

• PS Cafe

This is the only place I’ve been in that serves their burgers on a skewer. The truffle fries are nice.

You can actually see that it ‘was’ a burger

• Serenity

Another freaking expensive restaurant. Not because of the food quality per se but because the servings are small for the price. I like the Spanish ambience when we can get a table at the back because we can see Sentosa (with fireworks at night). Their sangrias are wonderful.

Could get me drunk if they weren’t so ‘effin pricey.

• Yoshimaru

OMG – best ramen in Singapore. I’m going to fight on its behalf for the ‘best ramen’ title (until I can find a better one). Too bad it’s located somewhere away from the central area.

It’s also fun to grind those sesame seeds, though not as fun as popping bubble wraps

• De Burg

Burgers are my Achilles heel. When I started my new healthy lifestyle, I mourned for my burgers. My separation from it gave me weeks of withdrawals but then, I do make it a point to treat myself from time to time. This burger joint is one of the best and cheapest in Singapore. If only I can find where they are located now (sad panda).

400gm burger vs 200gm burger

• XO Fish Soup (hawker center)

Who would’ve thought I’d recommend fish soup? I hate them but I love this one – perhaps because it’s added with cognac? Yup, an alcoholic soup but don’t let it fool you. It won’t get you drunk and there’s no fishy taste at all. I forgot which hawker center we go to for this. I’ll ask my officemates then I’ll let you know.

This looks so innocent

• 4 Fingers

I can write four more paragraphs just talking about how I love these chicken wings. I’ve mentioned it in my previous entry so I think that says it all. Never ever bribe me with this food – because you can. 😉

My first love chicken wings

Just because I’m more watchful over what I eat and the fact that I do more rigorous physical training, doesn’t mean I’ve kicked out the foodie in me. Like what I said before, I love food. I’ll never stop loving food.

There’s a time to enjoy everything and I’ve always believed that when it comes to sustenance, it should be wonderful all the time. No food is bad food – only when consumed too much.

So if you’re on a diet, step out of your routine and give yourself a break at least once a week. Trust me, it can even help you lose more weight. I kid you not.

Belly Belly True Fact

Here’s something I’ve learned as I’m populating my “weight loss” archives. It’s one of the most important facts that linger in my conscience almost everyday. Ready?

Stress = Belly Fat

I know you’re thinking, “there’s nothing new about that. I’ve heard that from somewhere”. No. Really. You gotta listen to this.

I have to confess that I’m a happy person – well I am most of the time – and well I think it’s because of too much exercise. It does make sense that I could be more bouncier (in a figurative sense), because of the endorphins I create through my physical activities. For those who don’t know what this is, endorphins are happy hormones. This awesome free and safe private narcotic is within us and can easily be acquired by just doing a lot of activities. It’s like having weed brownies only, you don’t pack up calories. Don’t ask me how I know this.

I’m not a doctor or some science guru but from the way I see it, and here it goes, the chaotic wingman of endorphins is ‘cortisol‘. It’s like Donkey from Shrek. It helps get the job done but it messes things up most of the time.

He’s a buddy but he’s a pain in the a** too – just like cortisol

Cortisol is a steroid hormone created by our adrenal glands and triggered by our hypothalamus whenever we are stressed. Hypothalamus is the headquarters of our emotions – this is our emotions’ control center. What cortisol does is that it regulates your blood pressure and immune function and it helps you tap your energy reserves so you could fight off infection. So when the hypothalamus says, “hey body you have a problem so I want you to feel sad and anxious“. Your adrenal gland then hears this and let’s a lot of cortisol zerglings free.

For non SC players… it’s like this… ew?

The thing is, whenever you’re stressed, your body will think that it’s under attack therefore it’ll shut down some areas to prepare for an invasion. When we are chronically stressed, our body will think we’re in constant danger therefore it protects us – which is a good thing in general. Evolution would point it back to our ancestors who needed this physiological reaction because they would stress out on famine or when predators like T-Rexes hunt for them.

So what does cortisol have to do with your belly fat? A lot. Cortisol’s main function is to increase blood sugar- and a very general knowledge in dieting is that the more sugar you have, the more fats you gain. Yeah… that candy bar, or chocolate, or piece of pie you had just bloated you with more fat cells. The worst part of this is that cortisol mainly causes fat deposits to be in your abdominal area. Look at the bellies of financial CEOs or Mafia bosses. They stress out a lot and most of them (or are portrayed to) have big tummies.

I like the Sopranos.

There are a lot of people who work out and do proper dieting but are having difficulty flattening their bellies. That is because regardless of their efforts, they still lack sleep, they get stressed at work, or probably they’re carrying a lot of emotional baggages. We read plenty of of “how to’s” on getting flat abdomen and we usually get the same advise – doing crunches, going on a diet, do pole dancing, etc. But here are some of what I’d like to contribute and in my opinion, works like magic to lose belly fat:

• Meditate. I’m not talking about just you crossing legs and humming, “ohmmm” (though that could work). Give yourself a time to just relax and not think about anything. Bask in your existence by listening to your breathing and feeling the air around you. If it helps, imagine inhaling positive things and exhaling negative baggages. I usually do this by representing the positive with cool green air and the negative as the dark and dense air. Whatever floats your boat should work as effectively as what Buddha did.

Meditation is quiet time. It’s you just being your own consciousness.

• Sleep and steal a nap. Sleeping is important and I thought just because Margaret Thatcher survived with just 3 hours of sleep a day, I could do that too. As a gamer before, I didn’t want to waste time by sleeping . Don’t do that. Sleeping is when fats are burned as primary fuel so having enough of it will optimize your fat burning process. Not only that but it relieves you from stress and makes your body feel rested. However, keep in mind that oversleeping will also cause you to gain weight because you become less active. It’s also associated with diabetes and heart problems. I would say an average of 6-8 hours of sleep for adults a day is just right.
• Bye bye coffee… not really. I’m sad to share this but coffee accelerates cortisol production. Coffee has a lot of other weight loss benefits like giving your metabolism a temporary boost. However it will mostly be a disadvantage if you’ve become dependent on it. People drink coffee because they need a kick in the morning to become active and I was one of those people. I didn’t want belly fat so instead, I opted to just have green tea and almonds to jumpstart my day. They provide the same results. I also drink magnesium supplements before I sleep but please, consult with your doctor or nutritionist before you do this too. (UPDATE) However, coffee is only a problem for people who are chronically stressed. It can actually be healthy as it acts as a diuretic and antioxidant. Just don’t have too much of it or else you’ll get addicted.

I love coffee. But sometimes… love hurts. 😦

• Listen to music and immerse in humor. I have these two drugs when I work and when I jog. Music has a calming effect and funny things pump up endorphin production. They ease tension and both help you breeze through the day. Try it out but just be aware when you start skipping to work. Unless you don’t mind the curious stares, this shouldn’t be a problem.
• Evade stress. For people who are especially working, you can’t prevent occupational burdens. Whoever said you can’t dodge stress? Whenever you feel like your boss is poking needles in your brain or that guy behind you is literally throwing paper at you, just stop. Stand up, walk outside and relax, meditate if you can for about 10 mins, or drop everything and go home. I’m serious. Ever since I’ve started treating my job like this, I got better at it and I’ve become more productive. Not only that but I’ve started to love it more. Your work should give you the life you want and if it’s hindering you from improvements, then there’s something wrong with it. I don’t want to sound like a nagger but work is generally easy if you manage your time well.

The grandma is your job and the dog is you. Get out of the car now.

• Be happy. Happiness is the cure for EVERYTHING. If you research about it, you’ll only see positive outcomes with zero side effects. Your days will be brighter, your heart will always feel like it’s in love, and your smile will become infectious. You can achieve this even if your life is filled with drama. Try by being grateful for your blessings. Count up to 10 blessings then get past it when you’re done. You’ll be surprised that you’ll start to feel better. The best part is, you’ll lose your belly fat.

Exercise and dieting are big factors in giving you a flat tummy but they’re not everything. Personally, I would say that those are just about 30% of the solution. The 70% comes from the tips I just shared. I’m a huge proponent of a lifestyle change and I would recommend that over the mechanical “to-do’s” of weight loss. I had a waistline of 34 inches before I decided to take on this new adventure. I now have a 26 inch waistline.

This is a pretty long blog post now but I do hope I’ve been helpful somehow. Just remember that on top of everything, the most effective solution for fat belly reduction is real HAPPINESS.

Here’s a toast from me to you. To happiness!

—-

References:

• http://www.prevention.com/health/emotional-health/how-lower-cortisol-manage-stress
  
• http://www.maxworkouts.com/articles/entry/3-ways-to-lose-belly-fat-if-diet-and-exercise-arent-working
• http://alwayssick.com/2011/02/19/the-dr-oz-belly-fat-cure-how-stress-and-cortisol-affect-belly-size/
• http://www.livestrong.com/article/259751-how-to-reduce-cortisol-belly-fat/

A Real Life Gamer

This entry is near and dear to my heart, so please allow me the privilege of writing a slightly longer content.

You see, I’m a gamer, and I have been sober for about a month now. For friends who have known me for years, and for my dad who caught me when I was a teenager hiding underneath the PC table at 3 am, perhaps you’re wondering why I would give up my gaming.

I’m not. I’ve just shifted to playing a real life game.

I’ve started playing games when I learned how to press a button, any button. My era was when game and watches (if you don’t know that, I know what you’re thinking so quit wondering how old I am) were the “in” thing. It took me a while to get my own however, while I was maintaining the cadence of my regular fits to my parents in giving me one, I made my own out of folded paper. I drew some trees where this little stick man cut-out would appear to move along whenever I slightly tap each sides. Anyway, this is not a biography so I should really stop with the details. What I’m really saying is, I think I was born to play.

Oh the good old days…

I loved the stories of the Role Playing Games (RPG) I played, I easily get immersed in it. I would feel that rush whenever I face a very difficult boss, my palms get sweaty and my knees shake when I jump through ledges, and I would feel the best form of addictive exhilaration whenever I’ve discovered a rare loot.

Playing Neverwinter Nights and having a girly crush on Aribeth – I mean c’mon, even gay gamer guys can relate.

I always make time for my games. I have even spent 18 hours straight immersed in an MMORPG. I would rush home after work, have a quick dinner then play the whole night. Looking back at those days makes me question my decisions. Don’t get me wrong but I never regretted being a gamer, after all, It gave me my career. However, that interest of mine seemed to have spawned from deep within me – an uncontrollable urge I cannot drive.

But maybe I was wrong. Maybe ‘gaming’ isn’t really an irrepressible trait instead, a form of inherent passion channelled only to playing digital entertainment.

If I reminisce my days as a handsome winged archer and a sexy badass hunter, I would remember:

Left: I was the hunk; Right: those were my abs.

1. I waited until 2am to find a group outside a cave so someone could help me with my first dungeon run. I wanted the crossbow reward so bad.
2. Girls were flirting with me… errr.. well my avatar. When guys found I was a girl, they flirted with my avatar too
3. My first Territorial (Clan War) was f#$%#*% epic.
4. I finished my repeatable quests (called “punishment quest” – for a good reason) by myself most of the time. It involves killing hundreds of mobs.
5. I was temporarily appointed the the leader of our clan, which I resigned from in a short period of time. I wanted to run away from the drama.
6. I managed loot a rare material and was able to luckily craft it to a really epic bow – plus plus hunky points for my archer.
7. I rolled and I won a chopper (thanks to a generous friend).
8. I rolled on raids and I got more rare loots.
9. I woke up earlier than usual on Saturdays just so I could join raids.
10. Deathwing toasted me when I was passing through Badlands, I saw Thrall before he started wearing a skirt, and I sat on the Lich King’s lap.

I confess, getting killed by Deathwing was on purpose; I wanted to get Thrall’s autograph but he ignored me; okay okay, so it wasn’t me who was on Arthas’ lap – it was Jenn.

I miss those days, and I think I always will. However, these experiences made me realize that there’s more to us gamers than just sitting on our chairs and getting the thrill from well programmed algorithms with colors. We, my fellow nerds, can rule the world. Yep. But we can begin this global domination by starting with our own lives.

As I look at what I’ve been through as a gamer, I learned that…

• I can make time for my passion – always. Regardless of my busy schedule, there was never a hindrance in doing what I love.
• I am an achiever. I’ve never failed getting the rare loots I want for as long as I dedicate my time on it, even if I have to spend 18 hours straight doing the same things over and over again.
• I am a leader. I tanked dungeon runs, for goodness sakes. Do you know how hard it was to lead a group of noobs?
• I’m competitive and I fight to win. You should see me thrash my mouse and keyboard when I do battlegrounds.
• I’m dedicated. I can spend years being committed to my passion. In fact, I can do it forever.

You see those qualities I’ve mentioned? You have those too, my gamer friend. I’ve known people who are 10x more a gamer than I am and that speaks a lot about their characteristic as a human being. They’re overflowing with attributes that make greatness real. As what The Script sang, “you can be the greatest, you can be the best, you can be the KingKong banging on your chest…” – uhhh, just listen to this song as I finish up my post.

My fellow gamers, we are more than who we think we are. We can do more than what other people think we can accomplish. I can attest to what I said because in the past year, I did what I thought was impossible and that is to change physically and mentally. I’ve shed the most weight I’ve ever lost in my life and I’ve gotten back up from depression (but this is another story). I’ve decided to head off to a higher level of difficulty this year and make a badass character out of me.

Bad Photoshop cropping but you get the point…

I’m a real life gamer now. Everyday for me is an ongoing quest. I’m working on achievements that I can ‘ooh’ and ‘ahh’ on my stats. I’m in search for the gears and weapons I’ll use to conquer an epic real world boss – my dreams.

I’d like to end this post by sharing this video. This is from a TED Conference and it was the speech done by Jane McGonigal, a game designer who sees the potential in all of us as a powerful element in changing the world.

I challenge you… no… encourage you to be a real life gamer.