Your Blog to Looking & Feeling Good: Burn Fat, Lose Weight, Build Muscles, Transform Body, Boost Confidence Fast - burn fat fast, weight loss, build muscles fast, lean muscle mass, transform body, boost confidence, well toned muscular body Lose Weight Fast Build Muscles and Grooming Workshops

Your Blog To Looking & Feeling Good

Build Confidence Through Fitness, Grooming & Communication

Grooming Talk For Ladies At Ministry of Education (MOE)

Posted by: lionel on Apr 28, 2011

I’m happy to see some familiar faces at the Ministry of Education (MOE) HQ again today. The last time I was here in Jan 2011, it was for a health and fitness talk during their service excellence event. Today, I’m back here for a grooming talk for ladies. What makes it more heartwarming is being told by some of these ladies that they signed up simply because they knew I was the one giving the talk :)

Perhaps I have left them in indelible impression from the last talk? But I choose to believe it is much more than that – I have given them maximum value for their time invested with me.

Even though it may just be a 1 hour talk today, but for all my participants who have attended my past programmes, workshops and talks, they know that they really learn something. It’s not a 1 hour session where I do all the talking and you do all the writing. It’s more of a sharing session where everyone is given an opportunity to share and ask questions. Of course, throw in the group discussions as well and there you have my secret sauce for making each one tick.

In a sea of ladies who filled the room, I was pleasantly surprised to see one sole gentleman. I guess I must applaud him for his courage to sit in, as I was told thereafter that there were other gentlemen who were found loitering outside the room, hesitant to enter when they peeped in and saw their female colleagues.
In life, there’s no such huge distinction between men or women only. Even in a ladies grooming workshop, men will still be able to pick up useful tips to enhance their image quotient as there are some perennial topics that are common across both genders. Unless I choose to speak on topics on makeup, then I think men should steer clear? Haha…

It’s always interesting to have a gender focused talk or workshop as I can share more in depth about what the true concerns of each gender are.

So what did the ladies learn today? I focused on the topic which has plagued all women from time immemorial. How do you determine your current body shape and after you have done so, what kinds of clothes should you choose to enhance your assets while hiding your flaws?

Drawing oohs and aahs from the crowd, many of whom were spotted jotting down notes. It was like revealing the secret behind that pack of cards trick. Yet if you look at it from another perspective, it really cannot get simpler than this.

Love yourself, love your body. And once you truly understand yourself and your body, you will save money as you will never ever buy clothes that don’t flatter your body shape anymore.

I’ll see you at the grooming talk or workshop soon :)

Comment (0)

Celebrating 60 Organisations Trained And Counting

Posted by: lionel on Apr 26, 2011

Tagged in: appreciation

grooming_fitness_lifestyle_workshop_sg_img

Today marks a very important milestone in my life. There is every reason to feel happy and delighted. It's not an easy achievement but I've done it. And for that, I'm giving myself a pat on my shoulders :)

What started off as a bold ambition way back on 09 Apr 2009 when I first launched my website has now turned out to be a fulfilling journey. And it looks set to be even better in the months and years ahead!

With the completion of today's grooming workshop, I officially celebrate having touched the lives of staff/students in 60 organisations/schools & counting...

60 is no mean feat considering that many labelled me as crazy while others proclaimed me courageous when I chose to leave the comforts of a salaried job to pursue what I enjoy my twin loves - namely grooming and health fitness. Fast forward to 26 Apr 2011 and I know every step I took, every breathe I inhaled, every sweat I toiled has been more than worth the effort. I'm truly grateful to the corporations, organisations and educational institutions for believing in me and my programmes. Special mention must go to SIM which engaged me for a dinner talk. For those of you who have been following my blog and witnessed my growth, SIM was the first organisation to extend me the invitation to speak professionally as a speaker.

I enjoy what I do & the next number I'm looking to clock is the magical 100...With everyone's continued love and support, I know I can achieve that too!

Cheers,

Lionel

Comment (0)

Lifeskills Training Workshop For Ping Yi Secondary School

Posted by: lionel on Apr 26, 2011

Tagged in: motivation

In every programme, workshop or talk that I conceptualise, it’s always with the end in mind. And the chief question I ask myself is always this: what do I hope my participants will learn when they walk out of the training.

It’s been a while since I last trained a school but hey, I’m back. Yes, at least for today at Ping Yi Secondary School. I believe this programme is also a first for many of us – a first for me as the trainer developing the materials (after many rounds of consultations with the school teachers) and a first for the industry. I call my workshop a Lifeskills Workshop.

As the name suggests, a lifeskills workshop attempts to help participants be equipped with skills which he or she can utilize at any point in time in one’s life. Life is never a bed of roses. It is filled with many challenges of different shapes and sizes. Come what may, unless one is able to rise above them all, one will always be pulled along by the merciless societal tides.

ping_yi_sec_sch_lifeskills_training_workshop_img

When I used my life story as an example, the eight students simply didn’t believe the thin, scrawny, acne-ridden hermit flashed on screen was my previous incarnation. Coming from different backgrounds and facing different issues, we have all been slighted by others – be it our parents, family, friends or society at large.

If we were to spend all our energies and time to combat these labels thrown on us, our hands would have been too full to even cope with wanting to start living our lives. This is the essence of what living to live for yourself is all about. It is not about subjecting your moods to the remarks of others. It is not about wanting to do something to please others. It is not about feeling happy only when someone praises us. We derive our true worth by knowing our own self-worth. We hold our heads high and move with confidence, regardless of what others say or do. Frankly, I don’t give a damn about what you think or say about me.

It’s about my life and I live it on my own terms and I am responsible for it.

Although some grappled with this life changing concept initially, I was gratified that the students gradually came to appreciate this fact. Perhaps we can all take a leaf from the so-called celebrities out there whom we so idolize. Not all celebrities led so-called normal lives. Some came from broken homes, others were abused when they were kids, yet others had their dreams dashed only to learn how to get up again. If they can do it, so can we!

Meandering along familiar territories which also got the students hyper-excited were their dreams and aspirations. As a kid, I too loved to dream. Remember, dreams are free. Nobody can steal your dreams away from you. You have the power to conjure, dream and make it a reality. It’s how badly you want it. Nobody expected Susan Boyle to become a star but she dreamed a dream and sang her way into all our hearts.

It is completely understandable that some students are more hyper-active than others. But that’s what exuberance and ebullience is all about. It is about celebrating the energy in you and channeling it to something meaningful in life. Whether it is to master the art of horse riding, become a national basketball player by the age of 20 years old or simply do well in your examinations, this energy will carry you far.

at_risk_students_workshop_lifeskills_training_img

Simplifying my language to make it as easily understood and fun as possible, the students and I were treated to a shopping trip to Cotton On at Tampines Mall by the three teachers who chaperoned us. The challenge was this: to pick an outfit for a casual day-out which was below $50 in budget. And I was given the enviable task of selecting the winner of the Best Dressed Student who could then keep the clothes he or she picked (after the generous sponsorship by one of the teachers).

While some students stood lost in the store surrounded by the labyrinth of clothes, others knew exactly the look they wanted to project. The girls in particular were quick to pick pieces off the shelves and head to the changing room. The boys in contrast, needed a little more help.

After discussions with the teachers, we decided to reward two winners instead of one. And because we didn’t announce the results until we returned to school for the concluding part of the lifeskills workshop, that got everyone excited in the bus on the return trip.

The winning entry won because she was able to come up with a capsule wardrobe. Wearing a pale blue jacket over her bright blue tube dress, she could channel two different looks depending on the occasion simply by adding or removing the jacket. The boy too deserved praise for wearing a shirt which upped his boyish charm instead of relying on the norm which was T-shirt and berms for many others.

lifeskills_training_workshop_ping_yi_sec_img

Even though words only constitute 7% of our total image score, it is still important to choose our words carefully when we communicate with others so as not to hurt their feelings. Imagine if someone scolds you or labels you something, how would you feel? I’m sure you would feel hurt or dejected.

In this age and time, knowing how to present ourselves in the eyes of others is a lifeskill to master with finesse. Whether it is making a request or handling a rejection, how we handle it will make us stand out – just like how a true gentleman stands distinguished from a boy. And this, according to the teachers, was well executed as the students knew indirectly I was referring to some of their social behavior which left much room for improvement. Sometimes, it does take an outsider like myself to drum home the message more effectively than the teachers.

Wanting to leave the students with something memorable after half a day and which I’m very sure they have never done before, I got each student to do a short video recording of what they have learnt. And mind you, the students rose to the challenge and all completed it in one take. No NGs…Bravo!

at_risk_students_workshop_ping_yi_sec_sch_img

Comment (0)

Grooming Workshop For Daikin Airconditioning Singapore

Posted by: lionel on Apr 21, 2011

Tagged in: grooming

Look around us and we see so many brands that we are familiar with. Whether they be the brand names of the cars we drive, the watch we wear or the aircon we use. Speaking of air-conditioning, there’s one brand I’ve practically grew up with since young – Daikin. It’s always been the choice for aircons in my home.

So it really came as a pleasant surprise when I was invited by Daikin Airconditioning Singapore to give the staff a grooming workshop. And here I am today.

At the entrance to the hall, I was greeted by the friendly staff. And guess what? I met a familiar face as well. She was Sharon, winner of the inaugural Ms Amazing Plus Size Beauty Pageant 2010 of which I was one of the judges. To think that she could still remember me…Wow!

grooming_workshop_daikin_aircon_singapore_img

And stepping into the spacious auditorium complete with a stage, lights and all, I felt like a superstar preparing for a performance, especially with more than 60 pairs of eyes glued at me. Trust me – it really felt awesome the moment I planted my feet on the stage and spoke my first sentence :)

It’s been a very fulfilling journey thus far as I’ve had many opportunities, just like today, to speak at different companies and schools. And I treasure each and every speaking opportunity as not only does the learning help the participants understand the fundamentals of looking good, but it also gives me an unrivalled experience not attainable elsewhere. No two workshops are ever the same because the audience is different. And that’s what I’m grateful for.

As the Daikin staff were arranged in cluster seating (which I requested for easier and more efficient group discussions), moving from cluster to cluster to join in the conversations and answer queries too became more natural and comfortable. My philosophy is simple – if learning is to be effective, it has to be conducted in a fun and enjoyable environment. And I witnessed it today as the staff were willing to comment about themselves, all in the name of improvement.

daikin_aircon_singapore_grooming_workshop_img

To many, beauty is in the eyes of the beholder. This is so true. Our loved ones are the most beautiful gifts to us in the world. And should we not want them to have the best in return too? Of course, we should. That’s why I mentioned today that I would be more than happy if the Daikin staff shared their newly equipped grooming knowledge and skills with their loved ones. Only when we share and care, can this world truly be a more beautiful one. And of course, there is a personal purpose as well. If we are able to share what we learnt, that means we have retained the knowledge.

So whether it is being mindful of image destroyers, or picking the right clothes to look their best, or choosing the appropriate hairstyles; I’m sure the bubbly group at Daikin today would become subject experts in their very own rights as well :)

Comment (3)

Eliminating Back Pain Talk At Pfizer

Posted by: lionel on Apr 18, 2011

Tagged in: back pain

I can still recall some of those days when I was an ex-employee and kept complaining about back pain owing to long hours of seating at the desk and working at the PC.

Well, though those complaints are now long gone, but I know many office workers are facing what I used to face.

Blame it on our bad sitting posture. Blame it on the unnecessary stress placed on our shoulders. Blame it on the boss who keeps giving us unreasonable deadlines and more projects.

Whoever or whatever you want to start pointing finger to, remember you can never run away from back pain.

To put it simply, back pain can be generally classified into four segments – neck pain, upper back pain, lower back pain and tailbone pain. When the pain persists for more than 12 weeks, it’s called a chronic pain. If it comes and lasts for a short while, we name that acute pain. If it comes off and on, we term it intermittent pain.

Back pain is perhaps one of the most common grouses we hear our families, friends and colleagues complain. Well, this is not uncommon. Anyone standing, sitting or squatting in the same position for prolonged periods of time will and can be subjected to back pain.

This was what I shared with my audience at Pfizer Singapore together in my inaugural back pain talk. Largely an extension of my health and fitness workshop series, back pain is fast becoming a pet topic for many organizations which start to pay more attention to staff welfare and invest in ergonomical furniture for their employees.

As our back is one of the largest muscles of our bodies and especially since it is used to support our spine, it is of utmost importance to strengthen our back muscles.

Strengthening our back muscles can come in many forms, ranging from regular exercise to adopting a proper lifting posture when carrying heavy items.

No talk of mine is complete with any form of audience participation. Whether it is stretching backwards or touching one's toes or massaging your colleague, it's all in the name of good fun...while giving our back that stretch it so long deserves.

And responding to the popular requests from the audience, I demonstrated two floor body stretches which everyone can do anytime, anywhere...even in the comfort of your living room.

The first is the bridge, followed by superman fly. I chose these two as they are the most basic. Once you have mastered the two basic stretches, then we can move on to more intermediate ones. And please treat your back well :)

Comment (2)

Classic Mrs Malaysia International World 2011 Pageant

Posted by: lionel on Apr 16, 2011

Tagged in: pageants

It was definitely a night of glitz, glamour and girls. It is a gala event alright. But perhaps I need to make a slight correction here – I should call them ladies instead.

For standing in front of me were 16 ladies vying to be crowned beauty queen tonight. I’m at the Malaysia capital of Kuala Lumpur to judge the Classic Mrs Malaysia International World 2011 Pageant. The pageant is open to married Malaysian ladies aged 45 years old and above, and have at least one child.

I don’t know who will win eventually but one thing I know for sure and that is each of these ladies has put in a lot of effort.

But what proved to be the biggest surprise of the night was that the oldest contestant was 61 years old. Wow! Yet from the way she sizzled on stage, one could not really guess her actual age at all. At the age of 45 years and above, many would have thought of retiring and not actually exposing yourself to the limelight by coming forward to take part in a pageant like that as it takes a lot of time to prepare from the selection of the gowns to practising the catwalk, doing their portfolio to gathering their supporters to cheer them on. Yes, let alone 61 years old. I salute her!

I would like to share with my readers what I chose to wear to grace this event. I call it the creative black tie look. If you watched the Korean drama Winter Sonata, you may faintly recall an image similar to my style tonight. Although it was a look which I have never attempted, I think I looked glam enough to blend in with the rest, or perhaps steal the limelight from some?

With Mdm Liew Siew Cheng, winner of Classic Mrs Malaysia International World 2010 on stage

At the judge's table

Being a judge was more than just sitting at the judging table and watching the show from the sidelines. We were involved in the pageantry as well. There was a march-in for all the different title holders and I had the honour of being paired up to walk in together with Mdm Lim Siew Cheng, winner of Classic Mrs Malaysia International World 2010. Striding in on the red carpet and then up the T-stage and waving to the audience, it was a magnificent moment. Any jitters? No, I just soaked in the atmosphere and enjoyed myself :)

classic_mrs_malaysia_international_world_img

classic_mrs_malaysia_international_world_img

Ribbon cutting before the pageant kicks off...

Besides the mega-star like treatment which also involved me in the ribbon cutting on stage to symbolize the start of the official pageant, I relished the opportunity to mingle with the other title holders from both Malaysia and Singapore. It felt really heartwarming as I could tell everyone bonded well like one big happy family. And to have other Malaysian celebrities and dignitaries in the same room further boosted the star power.

Perhaps because I was a guest judge, I was given an excellent seat at the judge’s table. In fact, I was practically planted in front of the T stage. Thus it was not surprising to find all the media cameras and videos set up behind me as all were jostling to capture the best angle. Needless to say, I had an excellent view of the contestants as they walked the T stage and made the turn.

mrs_malaysia_pageant_judge_img

Surrounded by the media and fans

classic_mrs_malaysia_international_world_2011_img

Posing in their cheongsums

Sometimes when you take part in a pageant or a competition, it’s not about winning. It’s about having the courage to take part and the spirit to live life to the fullest. For the 16 ladies, it definitely was a night to remember. More importantly, it’s the journey from being a housewife, mother and grandmother to being a woman in her own rights who owns the stage. Most important is that each was happy and basked in the glorious moment. Well, opportunities like these do not come all the time so I’m truly glad for all 16 ladies.

From the moment they signed up for the pageant – going through the auditions to getting in to the finals is testimony of their growth. To be fully and personally engaged in each and every step of the beauty queen journey is a fulfilling one.

As with any pageant, besides aiming to win the main title, one also had the chance to win any of the subsidiary titles such as Mrs Charming, Mrs Most Beautiful Skin, Mrs Most Confident and Mrs Crowning Glory. In total, there were 15 subsidiary awards to be handed out.

beauty_pageant_evening_gown_img

Who will win the Best Evening Gown?

To be honest, having to decide the Best Evening Gown gave me the biggest headache as I personally had a few favourites. It was difficult to narrow down to the top two Best Evening Gowns simply because all the gowns were not something the ladies picked off the rack from the sponsor. Instead, each gown was the love labour of each lady who either designed or conceptualized before relaying their ideas to the gown sponsor. If you saw the lovely gowns that were paraded, you would agree with me that each embodied beauty, glamour and a touch of each lady’s unique personality.

For cheongsums, this was what I particularly liked - the silver number with peacock feathers as I felt it really made her look regal, like a queen.

beauty_pageant_cheongsum_img

My personal favourite

The lady who won the Best Physique is a mother of four. From her taut green spandex inspired gown, you couldn’t even detect any inch of fat on her. Someone get her an endorsement deal quickly!

I took a lot of photos. Naturally. Besides the ladies getting the fair share of my attention, the special performances too earned my praise. I loved this group photo with the four singer-dancers. In this age and time, versatility is the name of the game. And they certainly lived up to this tag as they performed everything from a musical number ala Burlesque, “Nobody” from Wonder Girls to “One Night Only” from Dreamgirls.

Do I look like their manager? Come on girls...it's showtime!!

I must also mention the other special performances such as the 9 year old boy whom everyone thought was just another boy. But when he opened his mouth to sing, our jaws dropped as he sang like a seasoned veteran.

But the focus of the pageant remains squarely fixed on the ladies who did quick wardrobe changes to deliver yet another splendid dance medley in their 1960s agogo inspired outfits.

beauty_pageant_1960_agogo_dance_img

Let's bring back the good old 1990s agogo days

Besides the evening gown and catwalk segments, the most refreshing inclusion had to be the talent performance segment. Taking a cue from other talent shows perhaps, the ladies’ performance ran the gamut from oldies; the “Big Spender” number to a getai inspired performance with her blue ruffled feathers; and a disco number from Cantopop queen Sammi Cheng.

Decision making is always difficult as everyone truly shone. This night belongs to them. Cheers were deafening and emotions ran high. But we the judges had to do our task and select the Top 6.

Fast forward to the Question & Answer (Q&A) segment and there I was again in action. Yes, some of us were allocated questions to ask the Top 6 ladies, depending on which numbered envelop she picked. Well, fate had it that 2 ladies chose me to ask the question. Oh well…LOL. And that’s when I saw the cameras panning towards me and my face screened on the walls in full exposure.

classic_mrs_malaysia_international_world_2011_winner_img

classic_mrs_malaysia_international_world_2011_winner_img

The eventual winner during the Q&A segment :)

Summing up my judging duties tonight, I would like to thank the Malaysians for their hospitality as we were showered with lots of attention and flowers. I was involved in every segment which I could be involved, ranging from walk-in of all title-holders to the introduction of judges on stage one by one to Q&A to presentation of appreciation in the form of final photo-taking with cameras clicking away non-stop. And just like the eventual winner tonight, I too felt like a superstar.

mrs_malaysia_international_world_2011_img

mrs_malaysia_international_world_2011_img

One for the memories with all the winners!

Comment (3)

Stress Management Talk For Mewah Oils And Fats

Posted by: lionel on Apr 13, 2011

Tagged in: stress management

Welcome to Mewah Oils and Fats – one of the newest publicly listed companies in Singapore.

I was told that these guys were super stressed (it could be because of them transiting to public listed company?) and I had the unenviable task of making them feeling less stressed. Well, with such a Herculean task placed on my shoulders, I sure had to give my 100% best, right?

Stress is that formidable force that causes us to become extra worried, excited or agitated. It can be a result of an internal or external factor. Some common tell-tale symptoms of stress include bad tempers, sleepless nights, hair loss, weight gain, weight loss, forgetfulness and other health-related diseases.

Some form of stress is necessary as imagine a world with no stress. It would be so boring. And productivity would surely be at an all-time low. With the adequate amount of stress, it challenges us to think out of the box, beyond our normal capabilities and rise up to the occasion. I firmly believe the universe only gives us big things to do if we show we are capable to solve the small things in life.

Like all my other programmes, talks and workshops, I emphasis on the doing above anything else. If I had to make the staff sit through a stress management talk without helping them, then it’s only going to heighten their stress levels.

I don’t profess to be a stress management guru. But I do employ useful techniques in my daily life to help me combat stress. After all, it’s common knowledge that as more people know me and my reputation grows, my schedule has become more hectic with more trainings and other engagements.

Sharing two of my all-time favourite stress busters – I started with deep breathing exercises. It's so strange but true that most of us (at least 90% in fact) do not know how to breathe! Our breathing techniques are so so wrong. That's why we get so easily stressed and cannot reach the state of zen. Breathing is so important for almost all our activities - from living to working out to being happy in life. Just like how the Almighty gave us life, so the same goes to the way we enhance the quality of our lives through prana. Prana, or simply known as breath, controls all our physical capabilities. This is the essence.

deep_breathing_exercise_stress_management_img

And following that, what I thought could be asking for the impossible turned out to be unfounded as all the staff gamely joined me to sit on the floor to prepare for our next segment - meditation.

Unknown to many, mediation is non-religious. All it does is to free our minds and allow us to connect with our inner true self here and now. There is no time element, no deadlines, no nasty bosses, no whatever. It's just me and my breath. Nothing else matters. Once you learn to calm your mind, you free yourself from all the hustle and bustle of the daily grind.

Once I checked that everyone was sitted comfortably cross-legged position, or for the more flexible ones, in lotus position, I asked for the lights to be switched off and soothing music to be played. I chose a piece from my favourite artiste Karunesh.

Namaste everyone...I sincerely wish everyone bliss and happiness in your lives. Be gone, stress!

Comment (0)

Grooming Talk For DDI Asia Pacific

Posted by: lionel on Apr 12, 2011

Tagged in: grooming

It's my first time checking out the Changi Business Park. Located a stone's throw away from Expo MRT station, it counts among its clients all the major banks and of course DDI Asia Pacific International which I'm heading to to give my grooming talk. A global talent management company, one would naturally be thinking real hard on how to break the ice as these guys are really corporate. And besides, how can I value add to their lives stuff that they don't already know?

With these questions burning in my mind, I walked into the boardroom and was greeted by the staff.

Surprise, surprise...But the DDI staff really were a very fun and bubbly lot. We clicked from the moment my first slide came on. It's also a first for me today training a room of different nationalities as we had both locals and foreign talent :)

At first, I thought our foreign friends might not understand some of the local connotations but it seems that they have been well assimilated. And there's nothing much to worry about as grooming is international , cutting across all boundaries.

What proved to be extra fun was when one gentleman shared why he was adamantly against ladies wearing platform shoes. After he shared, which got the room in laughter, I shared my views too on platform shoes.

Well, platform shoes do make one grow taller instantly - by 5 to 7cm. But try walking on platform shoes for long and one feels tired as it feels like walking on bricks. Worse, should you fall, you will fall flat on your face as it offers poor support.

So for the ladies who thought all was lost after I advised them to ditch their platform shoes, I offered a piece of advice which must have sounded like manna from heaven. Wear wedges instead!

Comment (0)

Start

Next

End

Your Blog To Looking & Feeling Good

Blog Archive