What happens at Bootcamp?

I have had a few questions from readers asking me what is Bootcamp like and what happens during training session?

Well, the best way I can describe it is that it is like the exercise routines and circuits they do in the tv show 'The Biggest Loser'.

We start with a warm-up, which consist of jogging, sideway gallops, walking lunges and big arm circles. The we break up into 3 groups and do different exercise sets. When we finish with one instructor, we move onto the next.

During my first bootcamp session, I really thought I was going to die after the warm up. 3 weeks later of 3 sessions a week, I can feel a big difference in my fitness level. I still think i look like a dying squid sometimes (seriously, kadang-kadang rasa nampak macam sotong nak mampus)

but I have no choice but to keep going.

The biggest benefit of bootcamp training is that I feel you get better results than if you just go to the gym. There is no way you will push yourself this hard at the gym.

I haven't checked if I have lost any weight yet but when I asked one of the trainers about how much weight I can expect to lose, he replied, 'you probably won't lose that much weight according to the weighing scale. The reaon for this is because your muscles and bones will become stronger and more compact thus weighing more than fat. But you will tone up, become a lot stronger and fitter.'

And my favourite trainer via dvd Tracy Anderson has just launched 5 new workout dvd's, but I will only receive them sometime in February.

Doing bootcamp training is good but I still feel I need to do more stretching and toning exercises on other days of the week. I haven't done much additional workout stuff besides bootcamp training this month but my plan is to include doing the new tracy anderson dvd's on my days off for better results.

Bootcamp trainin focuses a lot on cardio, endurance and working the large muscle groups. Tracy Anderson workouts focus on smaller hard to reach muscles. So my personal logic tells me that i need to work my muscles in as many different ways as possible.

For more info on both, go to http://www.bootcamp.com.my/ and http://www.tracyandersonmethod.com/

Hope this helps!

too much lah!!!

As I was doing some 'research' on hermes bags on the internet, I found a blog posting about a woman named katherine who has about 77 hermes bags in her collection!

When I looked at the pictures of this woman's collection, I don't feel envious or jealous at all....

Realistically, you could buy a car for the same price for each one of these handbags. I actually look at these pictures and think 'what a waste of so much money'. I can understand wanting a few in different colours... but this... too much lah!

Victoria Beckham is rumoured tohave 100 hermes bags.

I doubt I would ever buy that many... even if I did have the money for it, I would buy a piece of land and build an animal shelter for stray cats.

Reebok

This photo was taken at the recent Reebok event at One Utama.

I am also very proud to share that I have been signed on

as one of Reebok's ambassadors for 2010.
I can't wait for the new gym to open at Bangsar as they

will have Jukari Fit to Fly classes there,

an exercise method designed by Cirque du Soleil. Yay!

Birkin and Kelly : what is the difference?

For quite a while I wondered what the difference between a Kelly and a Birkin is. So I did a little research and I found a blog with interesting info about both bags as well as the differences.

About both bags:

• Prices for both begin around $7,000 and can go well beyond $50,000
• Part of the price of all Hermès bags is the privilege to bring it into any boutique to be sent to Paris for a “spa treatment” where the bag, no matter how old or abused, will be bought back to the best possible condition…for an additional cost of several hundred dollars
• Both bags can be customized to the buyers specifications
• Locks and keys are number-coded
• Lining is usually made of goat skin that matches the color of the exterior skin
• Identifiable by their metal-tipped clasp, which can be closed with a tiny padlock (and the clasp’s hidden key often dangles from the handle in a leather sheath of its own)
• Not sold online and never ever will be
• Famous for their waiting lists – Remember on Sex and the City when Samantha used Lucy Liu’s name to score the red one faster?

The Hermès Kelly Bag:

• Named after Grace Kelly
• Became famous in 1956 when Grace Kelly (then Princess of Monaco) used one to shield her pregnant stomach from the prying eyes of the paparazzi
• More formal than the Birkin
• Comes in 5 different sizes (although possibly more from looking at the Fall runway show)
• It takes a single craftsman about 18 hours to make one

The Hermès Birkin Bag:

• Named after Jane Birkin (who has an interesting history with the company)
• 5 Birkins are produced a week at the Hermès Atelier in Paris
• More casual than the Kelly & has a slightly younger more bohemian appeal
• With an open top, it is easier to open than the Kelly
• Both Jay-Z and Lil’ Kim have both rapped about the Birkin

From what I found out at the boutique, the waiting list for the Birkin is about 3 - 5 years and for the Kelly it is 1 - 2 years. Even that is the minimum. Could be longer.
Crazy isn't it? I don't understand why they don't just hire and train more craftsmen to meet the demand.

duke is much better now!

I took this picture of Duke last night and he is so much better now and much happier he doesn't have to wear the plastic collar thing!

A 30th birthday present for myself...

One of the most iconic bags ever, the Hermes Kelly bag. Victoria Beckham is rumoured to have the biggest collection in the world. A vintage one would be nice. As far as I know, the vintage ones are the made from a smoother finish leather than the ones now.

I like how Mary Kate and Ashley Olsen styled their look and accessorized with what looks like vintage Kelly bags.

The Hermes orange colour is a very iconic colour and looks great on the kelly, but not an easy colour to match with clothes... unless you have a lot of orange clothes!

Anyway, I would love to be able to buy one of these as a 30th birthday present for myself this year which is in September. I know it can takes years to receive an Hermes Birkin after it has been ordered but I don't know about the Kelly. Will do some research, and start looking worldwide for a cool vintage one. I love having the internet!

AVATAR - The movie

I went to watch Avatar recently and when the movie finished I wished I could be one of the Navi people. Imagine living in a place where the forest glows at night! How gorgeous!


I was a bit disappointed with the 3d effect though. I was expecting the visuals to be coming out at me, instead the 3d was more in the depth not in the foreground. But one thing is for sure, 3d movies is going to start becoming the new normal in movie cinemas in a few years...

poor little duke

Poor little Duke! In his short life and the time he has been with my family, little Duke has suffered some really bad injuries cause of a really mean stray cat in the area.

First he had his eyelid torn and had to be hospitalised for 5 days.

Then on new year's eve, he was attacked again and had to be rushed for emergency surgery and had stitches across his stomach. The tear from that horrible cat that attacked him was 3 inches long!

But despite all this, he is such a happy cat! It's almost as if he doesn't think anything is wrong with him. He is becoming bigger and stronger, and slowly his two big brothers, Lord and Loco are getting used to him.

Happy New Year.. a time to reflect and look ahead..

How time flies....

Another year has gone...

So much has happened..

So how will I remember 2009?

Well it was definitely a year I did everything I didn't even dream about a few years ago.

DANSA - the Malay and English version of the documentary was shown on both TV3 and NTV7. I published my first book based on the documentary and the whole DANSA project received a fantastic response. It was even nominated as one of the top 5 documentaries of 2009 at Anugerah Skrin. We didn't win the award but the recognition of being nominated alongside other prestigious documentaries such as Jejak Rasul and Majalah 3 made all involved in DANSA very proud.

I got married to a man I consider my best friend.

I have 6 cats at my parents house. When I was

a child I always wanted lots of cats. :)

The youngest one who my brother and I found in the rain about 2 months ago is now named Duke Orsino. My mother named him. :)

And poor Duke has been badly attacked by a stray cat in my area. The first time he had his eyelid torn and the second time he suffered a big 3 inch tear and 2 smaller ones and had to be rushed to the animal hospital by my brother for emergency surgery on New Year's Eve. The poor thing is now walking around the house with half of his stomach stitched up. But he is still such a happy kitten. Loves attention and has learned how to climb up onto the kitchen counter using the drawer handles as a ladder. Smart...

I was in London just before Christmas where it snowed. YAY! It caused havoc for the locals but I was enjoying it.

So what now for 2010?

The first thing on my list every year for the last 10 years has been to become fitter, stronger and healthier. To help me this year, I have joined Bootcamp training, held 3 times a week. Today is session two and I hope it works! I expect to see some results in a month.

I will also continue to appreciate what I have.

As for all my other plans, I will see what happens as I go along.

I feel so happy and so blessed.

I will update with some photos soon. There is also a Reebok event this week and Anugerah Juara Lagu this Sunday. Again I am thinking what to wear. I am trying to avoid wearing a long dress this time for a red carpet event. hmmmmmm...

Happy New Year to all of you.

Hope you become a few steps closer to all your dreams.