Friday, September 10, 2010
   
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Your Blog To Looking & Feeling Good

Burn Fat, Lose Weight, Build Muscles, Boost Confidence Fast

Lose Weight By Getting Up Early

Posted by: lionel

Tagged in: lose weight

Weight loss can be a very tedious process. And for those of you who have been harbouring such agonising thoughts or even been through it, you will agree with me that it's often a case of watching the figures on the weighing scale.

For most people, it is always when you start to lose that first kilogram that gets you excited as you know your efforts have paid off.

To lose weight is very realistic for almost everyone, and is achievable though some small changes in diet and incorporating more exercise. The vast majority of people, with their busy schedules, get little or no exercise, so even a small bit of regular exercise should be able to achieve noticeable results. If we don't have time to exercise a great deal, though, we're going to want to maximize the effectiveness of the exercise we do get, and a great way to do that is by exercising in the morning. 

There are three main reasons why you can more weight by exercising in the morning. Firstly, exercising first thing in the morning is much easier to build into your daily routine. One of the keys to losing weight by exercise is to do it regularly, which many people find difficult. Their most common excuse is almost always "it's hard to find time". Yet ask these same people and they actually have time to sit in front of the TV or idle their time away with gossip. As far as I'm concerned, I advise my clients to exercise in the morning so as to get it over and done with. Then you will be free for the rest of the day to do what you want to do!

Secondly, when you exercise in the morning, you'll have very little distraction. In many ways, you are literally "making time" for the exercise by starting your day earlier. What's getting up 30 minutes earlier each day if it makes you healthier in the long run? And trust me, you actually feel fresher and more alert throughout the day. How's that for raising productivity? Two thumbs up!

Thirdly, exercising in the morning is more effective because you will be burning calories from fat already stored in your system. This principle is based, of course, on the premise that you don't eat before you exercise. The way you're going to lose weight is by burning fat, and when you exercise your body normally burns both fat and carbohydrates. Now it gets a little more complicated: your body's main and preferred energy source is carbohydrates, so when you exercise you will (more or less) burn carbohydrates first, and then your body will dip into its fat reserves.

This is interesting but true. As carbohydrates come from your meals, when you exercise at a normal time of the day, your body will have plenty of carbohydrates to burn. So in order to lose weight fast, you have to burn fat instead. This can only be achieved by exercising in the morning on an empty stomach. Simply by making this switch, you're burning energy at a time when your body's carbohydrate levels are the lowest, and therefore more fat will be burned with the same amount of exercise. Research studies have suggested that over 250% more fat is burned when you exercise in this state.

Give it a try & update me on your weight loss journey. I'll be more than happy to hear from you!


Grooming Workshop for PCI Limited

Posted by: lionel

Tagged in: grooming

To be honest, I was a little taken aback when I walked into the seminar room today. Half anticipating a normally subdued crowd that needed some warming up, it was definitely not the case this time. Instead, I was bowled over by a super high energy group of about 43 participants from PCI Limited. And I was secretly happy because a high energy audience attracts a high energy trainer!

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I applaud companies like PCI Limited as it allocates the last Friday of each month as their in-service day. This is the time when its staff are given opportunities for personal growth when external trainers, like myself, are invited to share with them our areas of expertise.

Maybe it had to do with the casual dress down Friday as almost everyone was in jeans that contributed to the relaxed mood from the onset. But whatever reason it was, I felt good doing the grooming workshop today. Despite comprising both ladies and men in the audience, it was evident that besides the high energy, the staff had a very good rapport, joking, cajoling and teasing one another when it came to group discussions and sharing sessions. 

But amidst all the fun and laughter, the participants were getting to know themselves better. Because only when you thoroughly know yourself can you look your best!

There's no need to be dressed in the latest fashion or to the nines as most of us do not find the latest fashion trends (think spring/summer collection or the recent fall/winter collection) suitable for office wear, weekends or daily wear!

Here's one important tip for everyone - Wear something occasion appropriate and that flatters one's body shape. That's how you can leave a positive first impression on others. You will then be your own style paragon!

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He managed to make everyone laugh...I remember what he shared :)

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Sharing on behalf of her team & getting all smiles around

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First, check if the jawline is an angular or curved one

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Joining in the discussion...

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One group photo for keepsakes

The Secret To Success In Life Is Training Smart

Posted by: lionel

Tagged in: motivation

The big secret in life is that there is no secret. Whatever your goal, you can get there if you are willing to work. Yet for many of us, despite working and working, we still don't produce the results we aspire. Very often, that's the result of working hard. I know there's nothing wrong with working hard. After all, our forefathers slogged hard and long hours before the next few generations got to enjoy the fruits of their labour.

But in this new economy where everything happens in double-quick speed and everyone is talking about multi-tasking, there really isn't much extra time to waste working hard.

If you ask me, I'll still ask you to work. But work smart! Yes, that's right. Gone are the days when you need to work hard in order to see results. My philosophy in life is simple - if I can get the same job done in half the time, and yet produce the same results or even better that, would it not be something great? 

Let me be rhetorical and answer it myself. Of course! 

Some people spend 2 hours or more in the gym working out. I applaud your tenacity but unless you are a professional bodybuilder going for a fitness competition, I think there really isn't any need to do that. All you need is a good 45 minutes to an hour of solid workout. And by this, I mean you really perspire after the session and not still look good in your attire. There's no time for chit-chatting or checking out other people in the gym. It's just focused, focused and more focused training.

No one goes to any battle planning to fail. The only people who don't succeed are people who fail to plan. And that's because on the spur of the moment, they walk into the gym and then look around, imitating the workout routines of the better-bodied ones there. What they fail to realize is that everyone has a different fitness goal in life. Even if you want to imitate, you must copy smartly. Chief of them all is to understand the rationale behind why each exercise is selected and done in that particular sequence. In order to win your own battle, you need to know with exact precision why you are doing that particular exercise and how it will benefit you.

Here's bottoms-up to everyone for achieving their fitness success in life. And that's because we are SMART. Don't hesitate to write me if in doubt :)

Here's what the participants at my recent 1 day 'Visual Art of Looking Good' grooming workshop had to say after attending it...Sit back & enjoy :)




Fasiha's Testimonial
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=93KrFUZq3Ks)



Rabia's Testimonial
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vhIaC5KCWzg)

Tampines Secondary School Grooming Workshop Video

Posted by: lionel

Tagged in: grooming

Each grooming workshop holds special significance in my heart simply because the participants are the ones who make it come alive. It tells of tale of our growth and sharing, of how we can all become style paragons in our very own rights as long as we know ourselves very well. After all, it's the confidence that matters at the end of the day.

This video is dedicated to the beautiful girls of Class 4N2 from Tampines Secondary School. Thanks again for the memories :)


4 Day Grooming Workshop for Tampines Secondary School
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8i12qvKbVDM)

 


I've just finished another public run of my 1-day grooming workshop titled "The Visual Art of Looking Good." And from the happy faces of the three ladies who attended the workshop, I can tell they had lots of fun while discovering more about themselves which they never knew before.

All ladies aspire to be hourglasses. But the truth is that it seldom is the case. So it's important that we come to terms with reality and accept ourselves for whatever body shape we are. With the aid of my measuring tape, I helped the ladies determine their unique body shape. This was then followed by precise fashion advice as to what they should wear and what they should avoid. After all, measurements don't lie! 

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Like what I always share with my workshop participants, it's not difficult to leave a positive first impression on others. It really boils down to how well you know yourself. 

Bearing that in mind, today's workshop was really a self-discovery journey for these ladies. Each step of the journey was an exciting one as there will always be little surprises along the way!

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Everybody was all smiles after the workshop. Transformation for everyone starts the very moment they leave and put into practice what they have learnt :)

If you are keen to be like these ladies who are ready to blaze the trail, do join the next batch and sign up for the forthcoming workshop scheduled on 24 Sep 2010.

Putting On Makeup In Public

Posted by: lionel

Tagged in: grooming

When you next take the public transport (either the bus or train), do look out for some interesting moments that will entertain you. Seated behind this lady in the bus, I was literally invited into her world as she sought to put colour on herself. Don’t get me wrong for I wasn’t being rude and I certainly wasn’t intruding. Yes, she was applying makeup in the bus!

Looking at the way she applied powder, then the blusher, mascara and lipstick, this probably is not the first time she has been transforming herself in the bus. Never mind that the journey was less than smooth always and the bus screeched to a halt sometimes, her expert hands never failed her. In less than five minutes, she was done. One last look and she was satisfied with what she saw in her pocket mirror.

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To me, applying makeup is a very sensual and intimate affair. If I were a lady, I would never ever do it in full view of the public. Why would I want others to know what brand of cosmetics I use and how I go about transforming myself from plain Jane to pretty lady? Just imagine if I were a novice and the bus halted suddenly, my less than skilful hands would mess up my face, and perhaps give me a crooked red smile thanks to the lipstick direction gone wrong instead of the full lips I had anticipated.

The biggest no-no has to be this. No lady on her way to work should be seen with her bedroom face. As I always share with my participants, this is one of the perennial image destroyers for a lady. If you show the world your bedroom face (which in essence is sans makeup), it just goes to show how lazy and sloppy you are. But I’m not asking you to get all dolled up like a geisha or Lady Gaga. All ladies need to look presentable is polite makeup – powder and lipstick. This is the minimum standard. And all it requires is just five minutes. Have your makeup on before you leave the house.

One last thing ladies – if you need to touch up quickly, please excuse yourself and do it in the washroom. This is basic social etiquette

It really takes just one-tenth of a second to leave a lasting first impression. Had I seen the lady with her makeup on, I would have been left with a positive first impression. But because I had witnessed her metamorphosis, I really had to deduct first impression brownie points from her.

Grooming Workshop Video Testimonials

Posted by: lionel

Tagged in: grooming

After learning how to use the new video converter software, I finally finished the first batch of videos which some of my past graduates have recorded. I know they are long overdue...but as the saying goes better late than never...Besides viewing it on my blog, they are also available on Youtube.

Here's two of them, from Jayasri and Bryan. Both of them attended my two-day grooming workshop "The Visual, Vocal & Verbal Art of Looking Good". I thank them for their truthful and inspiring comments as they have truly benefited from the workshop. This is testimony that one weekend is all you need to transform your life both inside out and outside in through the grooming techniques that will be shared. 

Watch this space - there will be more coming. If you like the videos, please spread the word among your friends....Enjoy!!



Video Testimonial from Jayasri
(http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4YNXNNaCi_4&NR=1)