Sick As A Dog

Occasional sniffing.  Check. 
Runny nose (now when did it ever learn to jog?). Check.
Watery eyes that ironically feels hot.  Check. 
Coughing (barking is more like it) that hurts the throat like hell, at the same time inducing a mild headache or side stitch.  Check. 
Aaaachoooooo!  Check! 

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Badminton and a Bit of Rain

badminton 3.1.2008, originally uploaded by Pazit Polak.

I suppose, badminton and some light drizzle wouldn't have conflicts with each other...that is if you're playing indoors. I was playing badminton with a colleague barely a half hour ago in the basketball court. It's not a covered court so you're exposed to the elements. It wasn't very windy so the shuttle cock don't have a problem with wind resistance. But just thirty minutes of playing, here comes a light drizzle. I would have continued to play as I'm not one who's prone to getting sick with a little rain. I actually like the feel of those tiny rain drops on my skin...But my companion called it quits already as she's afraid she might catch a cold or have fever.

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On Prayer

If we've ever needed You..., originally uploaded by kelsey_lovefusionphoto.

I have just been to the company clinic early this morning at half past 6am to have my blood pressure checked. It's been going haywire for three weeks now and I suspect, it has been like that for even longer. It shoots up to as high as 160/100, going down to only as low as 120/80. If I am probably in my 50's, I wouldn't wonder and would probably accept it as age, lifestyle and genes finally catching up on me. But I am still a long way off from that! It's too soon, even if it runs in the family. What I find harder to accept is that I have always thought I am fit.  To be proven wrong by those two numbers is something that can be really frustrating.

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140/100

That's my current blood pressure.  Quite high at my age.  They are right about high blood pressure being a silent killer.  I didn't feel any different.  Or maybe, the changes may have been so subtle for me to notice.  It's a wake up call for me to once again review my lifestyle.  My biggest culprit so far, from my view, is the food I eat.  I have been keen on having fruits and veggies but I think I'm not having enough of those.  Plus the fact that I eat out several times in a week.

I took the first step today, as advised by the doctor who examined me yesterday.  So this morning, I had blood drawn from me for blood chemistry.  That's to check for FBS (fasting blood sugar), lipid (cholesterol content, I guess)  and other two tests.  I'll know the results later this afternoon.  No medications prescribed yet.  And I have no intention of having maintenance medicine so I really have to be serious about the lifestyle change I am embarking on.

My goal is to maintain my blood pressure at 110/70 mm Hg.  Tough, but knowing my risks, I have to do something or I won't reach my other goal...to be a centenarian! 

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Of Leaves, Air, Mountains & Rivers

Last night, Lao Shi seemed to be in the lecturing mood.  That is a nice break after doing Tai ji Chuan 68 steps twice.  I just realized that it's a 30-minute drill! No wonder most of us were tired after that.  Tiredness doesn't come to me during class, but rather when I am already half way travelling home.  I feel sleepy and ready for bed and sometimes, I do fall asleep.

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Yoga Again?

I remember I was in second year high school when we had our first yoga lessons.  First time I heard of those asanas, the different positions done, lotus, cobra, tiger-face and I don't know anymore what you call the rest.  Last night, my office mates and I tried to attend a class.  It was cheap, so what do you expect?  We gave it a try.  They seemed to enjoy it.  As for me, the workout is good with all that sweat.  Or was it just because the room wasn't airconditioned?  Problem is that with too many participants, you can't see well what the instructor was doing.  The space was not big enough for us, about fifteen plus.  Would I continue with this?  Maybe give it a few more sessions before I decide on it.  I was actually just after the gym that is still due to open up tentatively in two weeks' time.  I hope so.  Anyway, it's a far cry from my Tai ji class.  The instructor in yoga is good, but he's no expert at all, which is a good thing.  At least he wouldn't introduce us on the meditation aspects of yoga.  If that happens, am out of it....Not coming back if that happens.

Photo by lululemon athletica

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Fit or Fat?

Am I fit or fat? That is the question I am asking myself right now.  I could pinch something around the middle so maybe I had to lose a bit there.  I am within my body mass index (BMI) but I suppose it's the fat distribution that's the problem.  I just don't know why all these fats get concentrated on where I don't want it.  Sometimes I wonder if I could will those fat molecules to migrate somewhere more appealing.  Hahaha!  Maybe my body fats behave that way to alert me that I am not being very nice to my body.  And so, I am embarking on a quest to trim down my waistline to 26 inches.  You might be wondering why not 24 inches?   I'm just being realistic and I would probably look pitiful with such a small waist. Could it be done? I'll go back to this post in a year and see.  Same day next year, my answer should be "Fit!" without batting an eyelash.  But of course all these things am saying cannot just happen by sheer willpower with no works.  Here are steps I'm planning to take on within the next 12 months:

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