Monday, July 15, 2013
How to make homemade peanut butter
All you need are :
-Peanuts (as much as you want)
- Food processor (I used Magic Bullet brand)
- Patience. Lots of it.
Steps :
1) Take a handful of peanuts and put it in the food processor.
2) Blend the peanuts. After blending it for a few minutes, you'll see that the peanuts will become a flakey/grainy/powdery consistency. Continue blending it and after a few minutes the peanuts will form into clumps, that means the natural oil in the nuts are starting to release. After awhile you will see that the nuts are starting to stick by the wall of the processor, don't worry, just keep scooping the nuts in the middle every minute or to and continue to blend. Keep blending it until it reaches your preferable consistency.
3) Repeat step 1-2 until you've come to a jar of your own clean eats PEANUT BUTTER!
So here it is, TA-DAAA. Your very own homemade peanut butter, with no extra nonsensical ingredient that you cannot pronounce! So it's good for those who are starting to eat clean.
Note that this jar of peanut butter will be tasteless as it hasn't been added any salt or sugar, unless you've gotten the salted peanuts. If you want to add seasoning to it, then add it while you are blending it, but if you prefer tasteless, then this is good for you.
REMEMBER to stop and let your food processor rest after every 5-10 minutes to avoid the processor being burnt. The whole process take about 20-30 minutes or longer, depending how dry your peanuts are. The drier it is, the faster the oil of the nuts will be released. Here's when your 3rd ingredient PATIENCE is needed.
Hope you'll try it out and like what you get.
Friday, July 12, 2013
No-no to skipping meals
I love breakfast! And lunch. And dinner. And snacks in between. So far, I've never skipped any meals unless it's necessary (e.g. If I've got no time) and most time when I do skip, or even late for my meals, I become this cranky old monster that just attack on everyone that ticks me off or even comes near me. It's ugly, and true.
I used to skip, when I was young, stupid, and naïve. I used to think that starving myself and doing cardio excessively can actually help weight loss and of course, I lost almost 1/5 of my weight(yeah, I calculate it) during the dumb period and guess what? I gained back all my lost weight and more. I restrained myself in such a stringent manner with my food and when I couldn't handle the starvation, here comes the monster that eats up your whole month of groceries. I feel so groggy, no energy, fatter and even more tired than before. Plus I got so sick of running every day and night(it's true I run every DAY AND NIGHT) that I just stopped working out at all.
Moral of the story? NEVER SKIP MEALS. Never mention skipping meals in front of me, because if you do, I will hate you.. but because I've been through it before and understand why some people would do it, I'll explain why it's never good starving yourself.
"Why is it easier to gain back all the weight when I'm starving myself?"
It is because when we skip meals, our metabolism slows down in order for us to avoid starvation. That is why many times, if you have ever experienced it, we get so hungry that we don't feel hungry anymore. You get it? No. It's not good. When your metabolism slows down, it means you're just going to get the opposite effect of it, or in other words, you're just sabotaging your "weight loss" result.
"Huh? What do you mean?"
It means our body doesn't digest and breakdown the food that we consume as easily or quickly as before anymore because our body doesn't want us to starve. Therefore, whenever we eat larger amount or stuffed ourselves with treats, our body stores those food as fats just in case it ever happens again. Hence, the massive weight gains.
"So you mean I have to eat more to weigh less?"
Yes and no. Moderation is the key. Eat more healthy food, less junk foods.Introduce weight lifting in your exercise routine with a mixture of cardio. Such as instead of just running or jogging, try cycling, swimming, or any form of exercise that can keep your heart rate up.
"Won't I get bulky if when I lift?"
If you are a girlm and most likely you are because I only heard this kind of question from them, so here's my answer. No. It's actually hard for us girls to bulk up because of the lack of testosterone hormone in our body. We are not men, so it's not easy to build big muscles for women therefore we have to workout extra hard for gains. Important FYI, muscles = better metabolism = better weight loss. So it's even more important for us to eat to feed our muscles.
"So does that mean I can eat more if I workout?"
Yes. But eating more does not mean one can eat whatever they like, for example McDonalds', Kentucky, or Carl's Jr or whatever. Eat healthier, proportionate food such that can meet your daily nutrients and macros. In other words, eat whole foods that consists of carbs, protein, fiber and etc, not processed foods that consists of weird, hard-to-pronounce ingredients.
So dear all, never skip meals. It will never bring any good but only madness, mood-swings, and fatigue. Ever since I started eating healthier and more, I feel happier, fuller, not afraid of gaining weight if I eat extra because I workout. Our body loves us, so why not we show some love back to it? Of course, I'm still a human, I still feel fat at times if I overeat or binged, but then, I've never skip meals in such a long time! And somehow, it feels like an achievement (:
Being healthier is definitely happier!
PS: I'm making peanut butter tonight so I might post it soon on the simple steps of homemade nut butter. YAYER!!
Friday, June 28, 2013
Just something to ponder by...
Life is ugly, which is why it's so beautiful.
Have you ever thought that maybe what we are looking at so beautiful, but in reality, it is actually hideous to the others?
The truth is, it is not the various and stages of beauty we see, but rather the different type of ugly we are seeing.
Alice thinks pink is pretty, but I think pink is disgusting because it resembles fresh skin that is healing. John adores robot toys but I think it's looks just different shapes forming into one body.
Different people have different perspective of what is beautiful, but what makes our mind perceive the beauty is only one thing, love. Without love, all we see is just plain, ugly, useless, unworthy, disgusting and all those negative words you can think of.
That is why, I believe that God is love, because we are all ugly people,we lie, we cheat, we kill, we steal, we curse, yet He still loves us enough to die for us. No this isn't a sharing about gospel, but rather giving example of what love means.
It's always so wonderful to have our minds lead us to what we think is worth perceiving as beautiful and what is ugly. But don't you think that if we were to fill our hearts with love, everything will be as beautiful eventhough it can be the ugliest on earth?
Just something in my mind I want to share. Cheers to whoever reads it.
Wednesday, May 29, 2013
I've got something I would like to share
Two years ago, I had a severe pain on my left ankle and right knee. It usually happens when I did excessive long-distant running or training, that the pain will occur. So it was shocking and terrifying that the pain came when all I did was walking and not running or whatever, and at that moment I wasn't active in sports, just basketball and light jogging couple of times a week.
The pain got so severe that my sister had to take me to the Chinese doctor to go for a check up. When the doctor was checking my ankle, he asked me if I ever join Taekwondo because my shin was in bad shape(not literally) and he said that the injury that happens on the shin are usually caused by excessive kicking. Nevermind about that. So, he found out that my knees are weak, and my left ankle, that caused me so much pain, was because of my old injuries. I sprained my ankle when I was playing basketball, but most of the time I just sprained my ankle while I was walking.
What scared me the most at that time was that when he was examining my leg, he frowned his face, and 'tsk tsk tsk' all the way. It wasn't long after he suddenly told me, " Your legs are SPOIL, you cannot do sports anymore." I was like, HUH?! He even said I couldn't climb hills, or excessive running and all.. But I love doing all those ):
Since then, my family has been trying to limit me not to be so excessive about sports, running, whatever that can hurt my leg. But that made me even more determined, determined to prove that Chinese doctor wrong. And guess what? I did so many more sports and workout much intended compared to 2 years before. I climb Broga Hill. Yeah, it's not much, but someday by next year, I am determine to be on the peak of Mount Kinabalu.
I never gave up on what I love, and I prove the doctor wrong. Now I know what I'm capable of, and that my body can only be as strong as I tell myself how strong it is.
Friday, May 17, 2013
I don't workout hard enough
It's not until today, that I'm feeling all worn out, slight ache all over my body, fatigueness and basically, sore. What depressed me most isn't the pain, but instead i wasn't making any progress in my results. It then resulted into irritation and minor depression. (i know, i know, i'm dramatic i guess) Initially (and probably in denial), I blamed my PMS that caused all those negativity. I gave myself excuse. How bitch am I, and I thought i was right. http://sportsmedicine.about.com/cs/overtraining/a/aa062499a.htm
It actually decrease performance of being physically active. So not only I am overworking my body, I'm actually sabotaging it?
And when I continue reading it, here it says;
Common Warning Signs and Symptoms of Overtraining Syndrome
- Washed-out feeling, tired, drained, lack of energy
- Mild leg soreness, general aches and pains
- Pain in muscles and joints
- Sudden drop in performance
- Insomnia
- Headaches
- Decreased immunity (increased number of colds, and sore throats)
- Decrease in training capacity / intensity
- Moodiness and irritability
- Depression
- Loss of enthusiasm for the sport
- Decreased appetite
- Increased incidence of injuries.
- A compulsive need to exercise
Hmm.. so MAYBE i was a little overboard with working out. Maybe mom was right, I should take things down a notch. But I'm still learning, nevertheless. Now that I know that my body can only take so much, it's logical for me to have one or maybe two rest days..
So, the lesson learnt today was,
NOT TO OVERWORK YOUR BODY, your body can only handle so much.
IT'S OKAY TO REST but that doesn't give you the reason to eat shit.
Continue with eating healthy, loving yourself, never deprive yourself from anything. As the infamous saying, YOLO, make sure you make full use of your life, because you'll never know when's too late.
Treat your body right. And here's a bible verse of the day.
1 Corinthians 6:19-20 -"Or do you not know that your body is a temple of the Holy Spirit within you, whom you have from God? You are not your own, for you were bought with a price. So glorify God in your body."
Wednesday, May 15, 2013
Energized
How do I start? Hmmm.. so the above is the workout routine that I created during work when I had nothing to do (in fact, i had no task today, i just went around helping and being nosey around my colleagues).
- HIIT - Running
- Walking lunges 4 X 10
- Push ups -10 - 8 - 5 - 3
- HIIT - Mountain climbers
- Weighted squats 4 X 15
- Donkey side and back kick
- Shoulder press & shoulder lift thingy (i don't know what's it called but someday i'll show it) 3 X 12 each
- (I didn't know what is it called too so I drew it) Your shoulder lie on the exercise ball, and your knee 90 degrees making your body parallel to the ground. Make your hips free and hold a weight (optional) on your hips.Slowly bend your hips down and push back up with slow breathing. 4 X 15
- (abs circuit) =
- mountain climbers X 25 each side
- bicycle crunches X 20 each side
- crunches X 20
- plank X 1minute
Tuesday, May 14, 2013
Undeserving
Probably the last thing that I could have thought of is that I deserve someone better in my life. I've never been so unworthy about anything until this point in my life. People whom treated me so well, who cherishes me and appreciates me, aren't the ones that I appreciate.. I'm always slaves for people who treats me like a used toy and rubbish, but I just wouldn't care, because one, I want to be loved by someone whom I love. Two, I'm just plain selfish. At this point now, I don't deserve anyone better, that is why I am torturing myself. Torturing myself thinking that if I treated myself low, having fun, then it would be my level of 'deserving' area. The last thing I want for now is a commitment in something far greater than just texting and caring.. Those are out of my league, I will never have that. That is why, now I guess I'm just a puppet, waiting for someone to just hold the strings, and play me away. Because if I deserve anything, that's what I deserved.
Thursday, May 9, 2013
Hello, office.
Oh yeah! I'm currently interning in a corporate company, and yes, being a Creative and Arts student, why am I in corporate? Well, coz I can't drive, and my sister works here. So that explains.
I've been feeling very afraid and demotivated by the culture in office, or as I call it, FIT GIRL'S HELLL. All everyone does is just sit, reply emails, sit, data entry, sit, sit, sit and more sit. It's only the 4th day and I'm already struggling not to stab myself with a pen, what more for another 3 freaking months?! ps: it's 8-6 kinda job ):
Now, my main concern is how to NOT get fat and less fit while working in the office. The culture here is just, well, everyone sits, and if colleagues happens to come back from vacation, SINFUL TREATS WILL BE DISTRIBUTED, then you fat die. How can I survive??
But everyday I kept telling myself, "Marissa, don't be pessimistic. You can do this! It's not over! Your goal is still there, the journey's merely just lengthen.". Then I remembered the bible verse, Phil 4:13 "I can do all thing through Him who gives me strength" , and I feel so much relief. I know I can do this! This might be just me, STILL motivating myself, but at least for now I know that it's not impossible because I know it's possible because in Him i can do this, and because He believe i can. Adding some time management and sacrifices, then it'll be perfect.
- change and RUN
- lift
Wednesday, May 1, 2013
I MISSED A WORKOUT!
Have you ever felt like you missed a workout, and you feel all guilty about it? Because I am now. I was too comfortable being in my bed that I didn't go for my usual morning run.
Buttttttttt, what I can say is that, we all need a REST DAY. I know that it might only sound like I want to comfort myself,but it is true! I deserve a REST. We all do.
Feeling guilty is normal, we are all human, aren't we. But it's not necessary either. Many times I have come to a point of minor depression(I know it's weird) because I thought I don't workout enough, and that rest is not needed. And then I realized that at some point, even our body needs rest. A body cannot function well if it is overworked.
There is a familiar quote for those fitness freak out there, "Results comes from 30% workout and 70% diet" and I can say, yeah, it is 100% true! No point working out like a machine and eat rubbish every single day.. You'll still be filling your body with things that ruin your body.
Treat you body right! If you start treating it right, results will come. And definitely missing one or two workout will not worsen anything. If there's anything that will come out of missing few workouts, it is good! Let your body rest, let your muscle repair.
Moderation is the key. LOVE YOUR BODY.
Friday, April 19, 2013
Getting back on the RIGHT track
- chubbier arms
- belly bulge
- the uncomfortable, bloated feeling
- fatter thighs
- pimples!
- procrastination
- CONFIDENCE
- motivation
- hair
- my OKAY skin complexion became BAD complexion

Thursday, April 18, 2013
Wednesday, April 17, 2013
You are beautiful just the way you are
Honestly, whoever have not in their life compare themselves with others? Many people tend to compare themselves in areas like their intelligence, their appearance, how polite they are, how well-mannered he is, or how confident they look. Well, we all do, especially me.
Since young, I've always compared myself with many girls that they are taller, skinnier, prettier, their hair are so long and thick and luscious, her legs are so long and smooth without cellulites and the list goes on and on and on and on..
The truth is, comparisons only pulls you down, unless you're comparing to motivate yourself and not whine about how she has the time or he can afford it or something. If you only feel so low and demotivated by the comparisons, then STOP COMPARING. Because comparing oneself with another does not make you any better or worse, it's like a wheel chair, you keep rocking and rocking but yet you aren't moving backward or forward. So what's the point?
Another truth is that every individual in life are different. No one is born the same (except identical twins, but they have different DNA!) and everyone has their own talents and everyone's body is different. Yes, some are taller than the other, some are chubbier than the other, some are bigger than the other, and everyone has different bone structure! So why compare yourself to Gwyneth Paltrow's body when you have Marilyn Monroe's? Everyone have their own beauty and flaws.
If there are ever a comparison made, it is with YOURSELF. You are your own enemy. You can either beat yourself till you're down the ground, or you can pull yourself up and be better than who you were yesterday. Nothing is better than to know that you are doing better than what you did yesterday. Focus on the TODAY, focus on the NOW, because tomorrow can worry by itself.
Matthew 6:34
"Therefore do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Each day has enough trouble of its own."
The reason why I post about this topic now is because for the past week, all I've been doing was comparing myself with some of my friends who are also in the same fitness journey. All I see in them (or on them!) was progress, progress, and MORE PROGRESS! That was the trigger. I have stop eating healthy, stop working out, lost all my motivation, and I've even asked myself, "What's the point?". It was stupid of me to do that, I should have known and remind myself, "SMALL PROGRESS IS STILL PROGRESS! I am doing this for myself, not to please others!".
Falling downwards is the worst thing that could happen. I have gained back what I lost over the one month plus, and even worse, I've lost my motivation and determination. But you know what? It is not impossible to get it back! Just tell yourself, I want to be healthier, I want to be happy! I know that it's those "Easier said than done" kind of thing, but hey, nothing worth being easy, right?
Getting back on track would be for another post, but as for now, just remember.. Comparing yourself with some other people are just a waste of time and life unless you're doing it as a motivation. Fitness is for yourself, for the body that you want, for the active life that a healthy person can have, because all these, though, aren't easy, but it sure is hell worth it.
Be fitter and healthier you!
Tuesday, April 16, 2013
Carbs are good but..
But if you don't want to feel sleepy afterwards, then it is best to avoid it!
It's not about avoiding it though but it would be recommended that if you are working or have errands in the noon, it is best not to consume or only have small amount of carbohydrates during lunch because as we consume carbs, it will then breaks down into glucose, which then makes people sleepy.
I hope it helps all of you who have trouble keeping yourselves awake during office hours or feeling fatigue all the time but never know why. Because personally I am having such problem for quite some time.
Healthy is Happy!
Monday, April 15, 2013
Sparkles
Oh, I miss it!
Though it only remains for less than any sleeping time for any normal human being, and though it is nothing near to being healed or cured or repaired, but one can feel freedom in that sparkle.
Just give me one more night, even if it means wanting more and more, just give me one more night..
And it'll all be fine. Just give me that one more moment, moment of being right for once.
That one spark, that became a million.



