Why I Quit?

I quit smoking a month ago. I couldn't have done it though without my best friend. We were both smokers and we decided that it was time to quit. I put on a nicotine patch one time and it made my throat itch and I coughed a lot, and the nicotine gum, so gross! I had relapse twice in that one month, I knew it was bound to happen. But now, I really don't feel the need to reach for a stick.

I feel better, not running out of breath when I work out. Does food taste better? I don't know, my best friend says it does, but I don't feel the difference. My clothes and hair don't stink anymore!!!

My best friend got his teeth cleaned and whitened and I started practicing bikram yoga. We're both happy with the changes that we're making. Now if I can just convince him to go to yoga class with me....

People who smoke will quit when they are ready to quit. Nobody can ever force them. Even if you shove the disadvantages of smoking onto their faces, they will just ignore you.

Fit Fridge and Pantry

I am the only pescetarian in this household, I have stopped eating chicken, beef and pork but I still have to cook them. Grocery is my favourite kind of shopping. I love food, I love making them and I like testing recipes.

I stopped buying rice, I have pasta, quinoa, tortillas and bread as substitutes. We buy more veg and fruits since I started changing my lifestyle.

Grocery List: 

:: Dairy ::

Flavored Yogurt

I can't believe it's not butter

I can't believe it's not butter spray

Almond Cheese Alternative

Tofu

:: Frozen ::

Fudgsicle

Edamame

:: Drinks ::

Soy Milk Cappuccino

Lactasoy Chocolate

:: Breads ::

Wholewheat

Healthy Flour Tortillas

:: Whole Grains ::

Organic Quinoa

Barley

Millet

:: Breakfast ::

Oats

Granola

:: Oil ::

Canola Oil

EVOO

Light Olive Oil Spray

:: Canned ::

Rio Mare Tuna in Olive Oil

Rio Mare Tuna in Water

Black Beans

Chickpeas

:: Noodles ::

Whole Wheat Spaghetti

Udon Noodles

:: Fruits ::

Strawberries

Blackberries

Blueberries

Apricots

Melons

Nectarines

Avocado

Cherry Tomato

:: Vegetables ::

Cucumber

Celery

Kale

Carrots

Capsicum

Beans

Onions

Spring Onions

Aubergine

Potato

Sweet Potato

:: Seafood ::

Prawns

Squid

Scallops

Cod Fillets

Smoked Hammour

Tofu Fish Cakes

Motivation? Zzzzzz

There are times when we are not motivated at all. Days when we're like "Ahhh screw it I'm going back to bed" "I'm too lazy to work out today" "I don't want to do any kind of work". Yes, days like that. 

I'm not gonna do anything to motivate you though. It's your job to motivate yourself, no one else can force you what you want to do.

I for example just found out that TELLY makes me lazy (for sure it's not just me, TV is bad, really really bad :D) I just hate the fact that I was not able to do anything productive yesterday cos I started watching this Korean series "I Miss You", and it's just so hard not knowing what's gonna happen next, so you keep playing the next episode, then the next one, then next..... I did like 8mins HIIT workout though, which was better than nothing. But I didn't get to do anything that I would be proud of.

Anyways, back to motivations, there is nothing more you need than google and youtube! They're free! (internet is not though, you hafta pay for that) Read what interests you. Watch what motivates you. TV makes me depress and lazy, so I'm gonna have to cut back on that. I'm currently reading Robin Sharma's The Leader Who Had No Title after finishing The Monk Who Sold His Ferrari (the book that I bought almost two years ago, well I finally got through the ending!).

I started reading novels on my early teens, I read Nancy Drew, Sweet Valley High, I read Sidney Sheldon's when I started working. Then I stopped, not really sure why. Someone said reading a book is a waste of time. She's a 'b' for saying that. Book is the best friend of a wise. Read and absorb!

Here are some of my google keywords:

food i should eat (in the results you will also find 'foods you shouldn't eat)

motivational quotes > go to images

jessica biel's diet and workout

most read books

I should go, I was supposed to make a lot of calls today, but I didn't have the energy to do it cos I wasn't motivated. I will now get into my workout gear and start punching and kicking and jumping. Then wake up early tomorrow to face the day and work!

Dip Dye Weekend

I'm not a big fan of dark roots peeking through my coloured hair. It's been over a month and it was time to do some more damage to my chemically treated hair :-(

I was going to get that moussey stuff from Schwarzkopf, but I saw Syoss on the shelves and I have been seeing their ads along Sheikh Zayed Road, so why not *the power of lamp post ads*.

I bleached my hair before and I didn't wanna do that again so I used Syoss 8-6, which is light blonde? :-s Started on my roots, after about 40 minutes of developing time (I never follow the instructions that came in the box, who does?) I combed it through midway (cos my ends are damaged), waited few more minutes, washed, towel dried and used a semi-permanent aubergine colour midway. I'm loving it, it's a fun summer hair colour. I'd probably switch to pink and green, if I can find these colours.

Cheats and Eats

Started the weekend cheating! Had a late dinner at Caramel Restaurant & Lounge, shared a bottle of rose and visited Vu's at Emirates Towers for a night cap of margarita and mellow bubbles?.

Lobster Mash, Shell Fish Bisque, Chive Butter

(love, love love this mash!!! I made sure I got every little bit of lobster)

  Pan Seared Lamb Loin with Vert De Puys and Lamb jus (for him)

 Seared Chilean Seabass, Rock Shrimp Risotto, Lobster Broth, Tomato Basil Tapenade (for moi)

(I was in heaven devouring this fish.)

*Above photos are from their facebook page, was famished and we attacked our food as soon as it came to our table. What you see in the photos is exactly what you're gonna get :D*

Great food. Great conversation. Great Price.

 My best friend cheated big time with few sticks of cigs :-( he threw the rest in the morning :-) We vowed not to go out and drink next weekend :D He has to control his need for smoking when drinking.

Restaurants we want to visit soon, Picante and Sobahn.

CHANGES

Changes...big word!

The reason I started to make some changes was certainly not because I was diagnosed of any illness, because I wasn't. I just reached that point where I asked myself "What the fudge am I still doing in this planet?" There are so many factors that I want to discuss but I don't really wanna get too personal. So, after going nuts and losing it and taking a shower and deep conditioning my hair, I picked up a book that I bought like almost two years ago but never got through reading it. We had a whole shelf of romantic and thriller and fantasy and what have you, I don't know why 'that' book. Am so glad I did because that book totally changed my game. 

I have decided to stop smoking. My last cigarette was on the night of June 7, I woke up the next day and threw the rest of the cigs. I didn't even need to use the nicotine patches that I have, so I was really proud of that. Three days after (still not smoking), I vowed to be a pescetarian cos I think it would be too extreme if I go vegetarian in a snap. I am still deciding though whether to have a cheat meat day. Most importantly, I stopped eating rice! It is the biggest change! Hello, I'm Asian! I have replaced rice with organic quinoa.

I started getting up early, not at 5am (mostly before 6am) but I'm getting there. I am now doing a variety of workouts, I'm currently into barre, bikram yoga and cardio hip hop. I go to the gym after I meditate every morning, it's really important that you have a quiet time for yourself everyday.

The hardest change I'm going thru at the moment, is working on controlling my temper. I refuse to believe that I have anger management issue. Can't say anything more about this cos, I'm still trying to improve myself.

I encourage you all to start writing and change your game if you feel like you're in a rut.

FOOD FOOD FOOD

Since I can't stop eating...

I made a separate blog just for food :D

Would love to see you there! :)

FOOD

sweet game

...killing time before a movie at Reel Cinemas in Dubai Marina Mall

oh so sweet fried ice cream and a game of battleship on the placemat <3 p="p">