Eat Fats!

Since I was diagnosed with this one little health problem by my doctor 3 weeks ago, I had been reading and buying all things natural and healthy. I need to watch over my diet and start eating clean food if I wish to stop the problem. I admit, all my life I have never really bothered about my health, especially since I was 19 years old, being away from home cooked meals. I used to be one of those people who don't really like eating out - My mom taught us well on eating good food and vitamins, etc. But then living in a hostel just made it kinda hard to eat healthy meals somehow. And until today, I got so used to eating out, and having fast foods, greasy meals and so many other junks that I put into my mouth...that got me into this little health problem today. Sigh. (Thank God it's nothing really alarming, but it's just something that I need to take care of)

Anyways, I find myself going to the Jaya Grocer spending 200 to 400 bucks every week now, buying whole foods and natural/organic products. I hate that healthy/organic foods are quite expensive..but I do love seeing my fridge having lotsa fruits and vegetables!

I have also starting to buy lots and lots of pure essential oils for the skin and body! I need the healthy fats in my diet. Well actually.. WE ALL DO. Our bodies need fat, not just me. It's just the way our bodies were created to function. And that means consuming real, whole foods the way people used to consume, a hundred years ago! So one thing I learned throughout my nutrition and health research is that, one of the most dangerous fads to hit the media is the “low fat” and “fat free” way of life! 

Our minds have now become so programmed to view the fat free yogurt, fat free milk, egg whites, and margarine are the healthy alternatives to their natural state-fat and all. A misguided fallacy that persists to this day is the belief that saturated fat will increase your risk of heart attacks. Guys, this is simply just another myth that has been harming your health for the last 50 years!  Pfft. The truth is, healthy saturated fats from high quality minimally processed animal and vegetable sources provide a concentrated source of energy in your diet, and they provide the building blocks for cell membranes and a variety of hormones and hormone like substances. The health of our bodies is determined by the balance of essential nutrients we give it, fat being one of them! So with not enough healthy fats in our diet, could make our bodies suffering the consequences! Like I do now... I used to buy so many fat free butter spreads, yogurt, milk, etc etc thinking that they're healthy! T___T

Stocking up some healthy oils/fats in the kitchen! Virgin Coconut Oil, Avocado Oil, Olive Oil, etc! These are the essential food I take every day now..

When you hear healthy fat, think of balance, stability, and total nourishment. Healthy fats give you incredible energy, they keep the appetite regulated, and they make cells strong and healthy. It is the raw material that is needed to produce and maintain proper hormone function! So ladies with the hormone problems, eat more fats okay? Because hormones are produced using good fats and cholesterol, so if your bodies are not getting these nutrients, hormone problems arise simply because the body doesn’t have the building blocks to make them. The body needs fats for rebuilding cells and hormone production. This is especially important for the female reproductive system. - Foods like butter and coconut oil are full of short and medium chain fatty acids that our body turns directly into energy, and does not store as fat. Eating these fats actually speeds up your metabolism and balances the hormones! ^___^

Healthy fats are a key component to healthy, glowing skin too! Hence, when I found out about this, I quickly purchased a lot of pure essential oils for my skin and hair! Like Hemp Seed Oil, Almond Oil, Jojoba Oil, Argan Oil, etc! I love using coconut oil especially! (I am completely obsessed with all things coconut!) I eat with it. I slather my skin with it. I shampoo my hair with it..and many more! Why? Because it has SO many beneficial things in it! 

I have started incorporated coconut oils into my cooking and food...and even in drinks! I love the fragrant and the taste of it! 

If you ever wanna start buying coconut oil, make sure you buy the organic, unrefined, extra virgin and cold-pressed forms yeah! They're the healthy ones. You could also buy some other healthy fats like butter from pastured or grass-fed cows (I like Kerrygold brand), organic full fat goats milk, olive oils, nut oils like macadamia, walnut, almond, etc, avocado oil and cod liver oil. 

Take a listen to this doctor!

So the next time when you wanna go for some grocery shopping, leave the margarine, or the butter spreads, or those hydrogenated oils, the canola oil, corn oil, vegetable oil, soybean oil, sunflower oil, safflower oil and rice bran oil!! They're the evil oils! They're toxic to your body! Buy only natural, healthy fats, ok?! I will share more of the healthy things that I know in the next post..

P/s: When you think saturated fat, think glowing skin, balanced hormones, and a healthy body!


XOXO,
Shazzy.

Whisper's Guide to Menstrual Cramps!

Do you experience cramps regularly during your period? Well, you're not alone. Like many women, I too suffer from menstrual pain during those first 2, 3 days. My doctor told me, that the cramps are caused by uterine contractions and can be aggravated by emotional stress, which then tend to cause headaches too. Gosh...the pain is unbearable sometimes, that I just want to be in bed and sleep for hours! It's like sharp, throbbing, burning kind of pain at the lower abdomen, right? I can't imagine how women in labor get through with the contractions and all! Oh, they're so strong! - Women are just so amazing...and definitely superheroes!

Anyway, last week I got my period and was whining for 3 days about my abdomen pain.. Seriously it was too painful! :( Poor my husband, had to hear all that grumble and fuss I made about my tummy pain and acne and feeling bloated and all.

As if having period is not hard enough, now we have to deal with cramps on top of the hormonal imbalances and the regular side effects as well, right?! Sigh.. Being a woman is tough, man! I mean although we get periods for years and years already, it still doesn’t change the fact that periods are uncomfortable! These crippling, can't-get-through-your-normal-day kind of cramps can be really hard to deal with, especially if you are working and have meetings and whatnot. Really troublesome.
And you know what's worse? When you feel icky, and always have to check your back for stains or leakage! Ugh..I really hate it when I see my favourite panty got that red stains that's hard to clean! -___- That's why you need to choose a really good and quality sanitary pad! Like Whisper!

By the way Whisper has come up with their new range of pads, the Cottony Clean. It’s Whisper’s softest protection ever! With the cotton texture with the blue-lock core, it locks in fluid for all-sides, comfortable and cleaner protection! With this pad, you will never have to worry about seeing those red stains and feeling icky down there!

So while some women take pain meds to deal with their menstrual cramps, some just take a bed rest. But I was told that cowering back under the covers won't do much to you, but doing simple exercise will relief the pain!

Exercise will revive you the most!

So last Saturday, Whisper has sponsored me and other fellow bloggers to attend a yoga class as part of the physical exercise to learn how to  help alleviate the menstrual cramps. Yoga is particularly effective in easing your lower abdomen pain. So during my yoga class at mYoga Plaza Damas last week, I learned that yoga incorporates deep breathing, which helps relieve the effects of oxygen deprivation to the tissues, one of the main causes of cramps! And doing simple moves and exercises like yoga, can really help alleviate the cramps as this will increase blood flow which will help the pain to go away!

So you may want to try yoga instead, next time when you get your menstrual cramps! It works!

Well...this looks like a simple move. But try doing it for a few minutes! haha.  

Stretchhhh that muscle! 

You don’t have to worry about leakage in the yoga poses either, not with a pad like Whisper cottony Clean. So give these yoga poses a try, since getting your body moving can really help with cramps and overall wellbeing. You should feel good and take care of yourself while on your period!  

Thank you Whisper for this lesson and opportunity! I'm so gonna start doing yoga from now on! ^__^

XOXO,
Shazzy.

Acne sucks!

Okay....some of you might think that this post is rather silly (as there are a lot of other important things in life that we really should worry about), but I really don't care, because acne does suck MAJORLY! It's ugly, it's painful, it's unnecessary, it's yellow, it's gross and it's super annoying because no one really needs some huge bumpy thingy on their face for some extra accessories! T___T

To those who are lucky enough not to have pimple ever in their life, might not understand the feelings that we, the pimple sufferer would feel each time we see some bumpy little thing in the morning when we wake up. Sighh... Having pimple really, really does affect my life and my mood! :( I know they're just pimples. And it doesn't seem like a really big matter to some people...and they would rather fix their car problems than being worried about some petty little things in life. But well... for me, every one's "matter" is different. Being a beauty freak that I am, to me..acne IS a big problem! Because why? Acne affects my life! I am not 100% myself when I get acne on my face. It made me so conscious about everything. It made me shy and embarrassed. It made me feel uncomfortable. It made my self esteem so low. And it made me sad too.

A study published in the British Journal of Dermatology found that acne patients experience social, psychological, and emotional ramifications at the same level of those with chronic health problems, such as epilepsy, diabetes, and arthritis! Yikes! O____o

The study also showed that an overwhelming number of teens deal with skin problems and of that group, a majority had feelings ranging from mild depression to severe which in some cases, even lead to suicide! - Depression and anxiety are more common in those with acne than the general population. (Well.. I am grateful that my case is not so severe like some people who even thought of suicide because of acne! But of course, in a society that places great emphasis on appearance, acne often made us feel uncomfortable or embarrassed...right? =/ )

Well...I don't know about you, but having acne makes me feel insecure when talking to people sometimes, you know! I know that acne does not mean it is the end of the world, but I gotta say that acne really affects my social life. I feel embarrassed to go and talk to people. I feel like people are looking at my pimples (and judge me) when talking to me, and not actually looking at ME. -- I'm imagining thoughts on me like "Euww...What a nasty person this girl is! What is thatttttttt thing doing on her face? That yellow-green thing looks SO disgusting! Did she even take her bath or wash her face every morning? Why does she have thattttt and I don't? What is it that thing anyway??" - Or something like that... (that was bimbo talking by the way. hahah. -- I know people might not even think that way and no one really notice it, and it's just me who feels that way, and so perasan...but, I just can't help not to feel SO conscious about it because I used to have a crystal clear skin! And now...my skin is not as perfect as last time! T__T )

Anyways, my point is...acne really makes me feel unpretty and disgusting human being. And what's worse is that, acne could even make me feel depressed sometimes (severe case!). I don't know whether I get acne because of depression, or having acne made me feel depressed?? - But I think, it is a bit of both! Cuz I definitely feel sad when I get acne (more than 2, that is). And most of the time, when I am stressing out, acne started showing up on my face!! Because even though I did change my skin care regime sometimes, I know that that is not the main cause for my break outs. - my face is not really that sensitive to products, but my face is sensitive to my hormone and stress level, I think! Haihh... T___T

And right now...I kinda feeling really stress lately. There's something really bothering me...and I can't help not to feel sad, which....as a result, acne started showing up on my face as a sign of asking me to calm down....which actually made it even more depressing for me! :(
Ohh...why can't I just feel sad..and not have to have these "side effects" of being sad?? Ishhh. Leave me alone, acne!! You're making me even more stress now! Yeeeesh. >__<


I read somewhere that under stress, the growth of nerve fibres near sebaceous glands is stimulated, which in turn contributes to the increased production of sebum — the fatty substance that combines with cell debris and dead skin cells, to form those familiar pustules! Eeeeeek. And in a study done by Statistics Norway, it was found that there is a linear relationship between mood and acne! It was discovered that the more severe the acne was, the worse the depression symptoms were as well!

I know I only have a moderate acne, and there are people who suffer more worse than me! But mine are like the huge ones, you know! And this is making me really conscious, although I know that this is just temporary..and I'll get my clean face soon, but...I still can't help not to worry about it! :(
Hmm...I guess, this would be a really good time for me to go for a holiday, and leave my worry behind...and just be happy about life!


Of course, I don't like having acne and  I hope they will be gone soon. But as weird as this sounds, I am still glad somehow that I had the experience of having acne, because it has helped me to be more sympathetic to other people who have other various problems in life. (though I really wish I just had that experience for a day or two instead of weeks! :p )

Anyways, before I end my sad entry here, let me share with you what someone so dearly to me used to tell me... Whenever we get problems in life, remember that all of the experiences, make up who we are in life. He said, there are no problems...only solutions and how we deal with it. So even though some things are hard to deal with, he asked me to please try to find the good in the bad. And he said, someday we will all be free from the problem, and in my case, acne free (or whatever it is that you're facing in life) - It's just a matter of time. And we will all have the memories of our experiences and those memories will influence how we look at life. :) Hopefully we will be more understanding of other people's differences and be a better person for having gone through what we did.

If you can think of a "good point" of acne, please share it with everyone so we all can handle it positively! hehe.. Now...I gotta see my doctor soon. And wear the right skincare treatment at this crucial time! Take care girls! :)


XOXO,
Shazzy.

Inherited Acne or Cosmetic Acne?

Why do you get acne? Why do some people didn't suffer from acne at all throughout his or her life? And whyyyy, do you still have acne although you've done so many things already, to get rid of them? Why? 

Well... I don't know exactly why some people get acne and others don't, but I do know that certain people are born with a genetic tendency to develop acne prone skin and some just plainly blessed with perfect skin no matter what they do or put on their skin. Oh, SO unfair! :(

Just like others, I suffer from acne every now and then too! Sobs...

So why do you get acne?

Well, there are many myths about what causes acne. Some people blame their diet and foods for their outbreaks. Some think that it's their skincare that made their complexion looks so bad. Some think that dirty skin causes it. And some may even blame their parents for their acne! Figuring out why you get acne is one of the best things that you can do for a successful acne treatment! It's not really easy to know whyyy, as there are so many factors that could cause it, I know.. and once the skin is clear, you may still not know the exact reason behind all the pimples on your skin! However, understanding the common triggers of acne will help narrow the search for a clear skin solution, and you stand a better chance of fixing them!

First of all, what is acne?? Acne is a form of skin disease, which is caused by sebaceous gland blockage, and is caused by a build up of dead skin cells combined with oil and bacteria inside the pores. Which then leads to many different types of blemishes! - You might experience blackheads and whiteheads, pustules and nodules, or a combination of inflamed and non-inflamed lesions.
There are many different reasons, that could cause acne! But one thing I remember what my doctor told me last time, that acne is actually inherited as a dominant characteristic - which in other words, it's actually genetic! So if your parents both had acne, there's a 70% chance that you will have it as well!! Oh no.... T___T

So knowing your family's acne history can be helpful when trying to get clear skin. You might think that acne is caused by dirty skin or poor hygiene. And, you've probably heard that chocolate or greasy foods make you break out too. But oh well...there are so many myths about acne that may prevent people from getting the help that they need! So understanding the causes of your acne will help you make educated decisions about the best treatment solutions for your skin.

Well, both my parents had acne when they were younger. My mom actually had a perfect skin throughout her teenage years..and only had her pimples after having a bad break-up in her early twenties. - Hormonal changes I guess.. And my dad on the other hand, suffered from acne throughout his teenage years and until his mid twenties. But they both now are free from any skin disease and my mom especially, have so beautiful skin...I'm jealous! =/

And now, since I'm in my mid twenties, so I guess it's my time to suffer from acne as well?! Oh, thank you mom and dad! haha ;p

Surprisingly.. both my sisters and my brother, did not suffer from acne at all. In fact, they all have perfect skin! And I don't know whyyy...I am the only one who inherited my parent's acne! tskk... I have acne since I was 21 by the way. Hormonal changes, I guess?? Sigh. - I used to have a clear skin that even a stranger would stop me and ask about my skin...but these days, I don't know how and whyyy, every now and then I get acne on my face! tskk..

One thing for sure, having acne doesn't make anyone feel pretty or confident at all (at least for me!), and it can negatively impact your quality of life! So that's why it's so important to seek treatment right away!

"I want a blemish free skin, please!!"

Although the main causes of acne are genetic, many other factors can contribute to break outs, and certain personal habits might be making it difficult for you to get clear. But the most common causes of acne are listed below:

• Genetics
• Hormones
• Bacteria
• Skincare or Cosmetics
• Food allergies and sensitivity
• Poor diet and nutrition
• Poor cell turnover rate
• Skin picking/pimple popping
• Underlying health problem
• Stress
• Lack of sleep
• Overly active sebaceous glands
• Toxin build up
• Others

Do keep in mind that the causes of acne are different for each person. That's one reason why it can be helpful to get a customized treatment plan from an acne expert! Seek a dermatologist and ask as many questions as possible for better understanding about your skin. And also, when you're isolating the potential causes of your acne, you have to treat the process like a science experiment. - Keep track of everything: what did you put on your skin, what did you eat, how you're feeling before and during you have your acne, where you get your acne on your face, when did you break out, whether or not the pimples hurt, their sizes/how big they are, write down your menstrual cycles, etc, etc! Keep a diary of this,  and keep track of everything for a good 2-3 months or so...so you can get a better understanding of how your skin works, how it reacts, and what it likes or doesn't like!

There are many effective treatments available that can get your skin clear. If you have acne, don’t rub or touch your pimples. Squeezing, pinching or picking at them can lead to scars or dark blotches. Trust me, I know what I'm talking about! haha ;p
Gently wash your face with a mild cleanser twice a day, and after heavy exercise. Don’t use strong soaps or rough scrub pads, because they may make the problem worse!

Acne prone skin should be cleansed with a gentle cleanser that does not irritate skin, because this is to prevent the acne from worsening. Also, you should choose the skincare products that are oil-free and without irritants. So avoid using cosmetics, sunscreen or other skincare products which have irritants such as fragrance which may clog your skin. – It is recommended for acne-prone skin to use water-based or non-comedogenic products. – I would definitely recommend Papulex for this! This brand is from France by the way, and only sold to the dermatologist/clinics and selected pharmacies.. Their product is specially made for acne prone skin and their new range of acne care products is clinically demonstrated to be effective for all forms of acne!!

Anyways, several over-the-counter medicines can treat mild acne but it's always best to seek a doctor and ask his/her opinions for products that you should take/use on your face. It may take up to 8 weeks before you notice an improvement. So be patient! For more severe acne, talk to your doctor about the options and solutions!

And lastly, remember this....no matter what treatment you are on, always, always remember to wash your face morning and night and exfoliate weekly!

Talk more on acne soon! Take care girls! ;)


XOXO,
Shazzy.

Spa Drinks

Do you know that drink you drink after you had your body massage at a Balinese Spa or something? Those gingery tea...or herbal ginseng tea...and that super wangi smelling tea that tastes so refreshing and spicy?

Yup. That tea.

Nice, isn't it?? I've always loved that kinda tea.. The kind of tea that makes you feel so..... calm somehow after taking the first satisfying sip! The kind of tea that just makes you wanna say "Ahhhh....." or "Mmmmmm...this is sooooo gooood!". Well, I've always been a coffee person, but I can never say no to herbal, gingery tea. That warm, spicy and tingly taste just feels good.

Teh Jahe is quite popular in Indonesia.. They brew it differently than our normal Teh Halia I guess...that's why it tastes so good. I heard that they charcoal-broiled the ginger first before brewing it together with the tea..and then they mixed it with a special sugar called Gula Aring - Not too sure about this part though, gotta check with my maid later! Anyhow, whenever I'm in Indonesia, I won't miss my Teh Jahe....especially when I'm at Martha Tilaar Spa! Ouh...so amazing tea!!! ^___^

Fortunately, great-tasting herbal tea is sooo easy to make at home, that you don't necessarily have to have it at your spa centres! And there are lotsa recipe over the internet that you can get these days to make the perfect cup of ginger/herbal tea!

So anyways..today I'm gonna share with you what I did for my sore throat and cough last week..It's a recipe I found on the internet that could help with your cough ;)

It's the Magic Drink, I call it.. haha

I didn't use tea in this drink...but it definitely tastes something similar to the kind of tea I'd drink in the spa centres! hehe. And also, this drink didn't make my cough go away in an instant...but at least, it does soothe my throat a bit.. So that's good enough!

So what you'll need?

• 1 teaspoon of black pepper
• 1 teaspoon of turmeric  
• 1 tablespoon of honey
• 1 cinnamon stick
• Water
• (you can add ginger too if you like - but I didn't use it the other day)

Smash the black pepper and cut the turmeric into small pieces. 

Put them into hot, boiling water..together with your honey and cinnamon stick.

Stir well..and brew it for a couple minutes. And then drain the liquid into a mug using a drainer and discard the leftover spices.

You can add fresh lemon juice to the drink as well if you like.. Or add more honey if you think the taste is funny...or strong...or whatever! hehe.

Try it! it's good for your cough! ;)


Hope everyone will have a good day and week ahead! Happy Monday! 

XOXO,

Shazzy.

Sick Girl..

Alhamdullillah, praise to God.. I'm all well now (umm...just a lil' bit of coughing, but that's alright) - If you didn't follow me on Twitter or Instagram or Facebook, the reason I was being away for a week is because I had a terrible fever since Monday. I've been down for the whole one week. I didn't know what I did wrong... I mean, this is the first time I had a fever all of a sudden! Normally I'd get some signs like...a few days before, like maybe coughing or having sore throat first...or flu..or whatever.. But this time, there's no signs of it coming at all! I had it right after I got back from Pavilion (happily buying some Christmas set while drinking my Toffee Nut Latte. heh), and then on my way back home, while driving...I felt weird, and my temperature went straight up! I checked my temperature the minute I got home, it was about 39 or 40°C! I was sooo hot, that I couldn't believe my temperature stick cuz I thought it was damaged! haha.. So anyways, that night I slept with 3 clothes on and one very thick jacket (so 4 tops on me), and I wore a wool pajama pants (for winter), socks and slept with 2 blankets on me.. with no fan nor air-cond that night... - And I was still shivering! tskkk... Gosh I hate fever. 

So I was in bed all the time since then.. Only on Wednesday night where I got out with my sister, to watch the special screening of the Twilight Part 2 that my sister got from Nuffnang. I thought I was recovering and doing okay that night..because my body didn't seem to be warm that day... so I decided to go out for one night since I've been in bed for the whole 3 days already, hence I thought I needed a break..? (I only went away from my bed for eating at the kitchen, or toilet and solat break). So 90% of my day was spent on the bed...with no laptop or iPad whatsoever entertainment for me.. - Do you know how stressful it is to be sick and stay in bed doing nothing but sleep?! It's torturing me. That's why when the sister asked me out..I said yes.

I thought I was okay. But my body lied to me that night. The next day I was back to having a fever again! Until Friday.. Went to the clinic twice this week. The doctor suspected dengue...but thank God it wasn't dengue! I just had some viral infections or something like that.. Couldn't really remember what the doctor said. But one thing I know for sure is that I had a swelling tonsil. And damn...it hurts so bad! T___T

So anyways... by the time it was Friday, the medicine that my doctor gave me (antibiotics, paracetamols, etc) has already finished..  But my fever, cough, flu, etc didn't seem to go away..and I couldn't stand it anymore..cuz it just sucks being sick, although my mom used to tell me that being sick is God's way of forgiving our sins...and that I just have to sabar a bit..

But one week in bed is really torturing me.. I needed to do something. So on Friday morning, after taking my medicine, I went out to the pharmacy near my house..

...and I took whatever medicine I see on the rack that I thought would heal me..

I bought a few there, but I only took two medicines (Although the pharmacist did say I could mix some of the meds here) - so I took the Mucosolvan and the Panadol Soluble... The rest, I kept it in my medicine box for future use..

And man...I gotta say, I LOVED THIS MEDICINE!!!!!!

I stopped coughing when I take this! And it has only been about two capsules now! It's working! I could sleep peacefully since Friday night!! So happy!

^_________________^

Breacol or the doctor's cough syrup didn't work for me. But this one does! And I love it!!! I had terrible, teribleeeeeee cough the other day.. (I cough until I puke...and I cough so hard until my muscle around my tummy hurt so bad that it feels like I just did a 100 sit ups) So that's why I'm in love with this medicine..because it gives me minor coughs now... And it's bearable. - It's more like a sexy cough! haha ;p

Anyways... here's to a new, fresh week ahead!! I'm all better! No more fever, no more weakness. Only sexy cough. LOL ;p So let's hope for a bright, happy week for all of us, insha Allah! ;)


Take care girls! Salam.



XOXO,
Shazzy.

A Healthy Yummy Breakfast

I like having breakfast. I'm the kind of girl who has to have her breakfast every single day. My mom trained me, since I was in Kindergarten to have my breakfast for every single day.. So..until now, I can't leave the house without having a bite of something in the morning. Just by drinking some hot milo or coffee or whateverrrr... cannot be called as 'having breakfast' for me! I need to have some decent meals i.e. cereals, sandwiches, pancakes, waffles, some toast, nasi lemak, fried noodles, fried rice, etc etc.

Anyways..

I made a healthy breakfast set for myself the other day! hehe. It's really really yummy...and best of all, they're easy peasy!

A glass of chilled beetroot juice, my yummy hot coffee, a bowl of Caesar salads, a plate that consists of: turkey ham sandwich, 2 pieces of black pepper sausages. some beef salami, and a sunny side up

Why is it healthy? Because I did not fry any of these hams/sausages/etc.. I only sautéed them (with olive oil).. and I don't use any dressings as for the salad.. Well, you can, if you want to (try French dressing, instead of Mayo or Thousand Island or something..) 

Ohh...and I also used a whole wheat bread instead of white bread as for the sandwich...

Mmm...

Do try it at home! It's very simple! All you need are some slices of hams/beef salami/etc, eggs, bread, and lots and lotsa veggies/salads! And that's it! You can feed your kids and your husband before they're going to work/school! hehe



Anyway.. this is another yummy recipe that I like so much! Mom called it a Honey Mustard Chicken sandwich..

And this is one of the steps to make it.. But, I will share with you the recipe in here, soon!

Have a healthy breakfast everyone!

XOXO.
S.

Be careful guys..

Malaysia is no longer safe!

Read here and here!



=(

P/s: I just recovered from my flu. I suffered for 2 weeks! isk. Alhamdulillah dah ok. Lepas ni kena beli mask, just in case!

XOXO.
S.

What's wrong with me??

Do I Have Insomnia??

For about one and half weeks now, I haven't been able to sleep properly. I feel tired and sleepy at a relatively normal hour,around twelve or after midnight, but when I go to bed I can't fall asleep. I lay awake for hours, and then when I do fall asleep, I only sleep for an hour or so before waking up again. It is soo anoyying! I feel so damn sleepy and tired but I couldn't sleep!! And lately I've been avoiding coffee and soda. I do not take caffeine at all and not taking naps during the day. I did see my doctor, and all he gave was my sleeping pills. If I don't take them, I couldn't sleep at all.
Oh, what's happening to me? =(

And I even wear my silky sleeping mask in order to force my eyes to close and sleep! But still, this didn't work!! and sometimes I take milky drinks right before I sleep.. and put some lavender fragrances or read some boring materials, hoping that all these could help me drift off..

The only thing that could make me sleep is my sleeping pills! But I don't wanna depend on my pills. It is not normal! iskk..
Oh, what should I do?



In search of a cure for my sleeplessness, I decided to search sleep disorders on internet. I always thought that insomnia was just not getting enough asleep.
One interesting definition that I found described insomnia as the 'perception of poor-quality sleep'. This seems to indicate that it can almost be caused just by a person thinking that they aren't getting enough sleep.
Insomnia can refer to difficulty falling asleep, trouble staying asleep, problems with not sleeping late enough, or feeling unrefreshed and tired after a night's sleep. Insomnia can cause such problems as sleepiness, fatigue, difficulty concentrating, and irritability. It can be divided into three main categories, transient, chronic or intermittent.

Transient insomnia is if it lasts from one night to four weeks. If transient insomnia returns periodically over months or years is becomes intermittent. It is chronic insomnia when it continues almost nightly for several months.
Transient and intermittent types often do not require more treatment than an improvement in sleep hygiene.

Insomnia is the body's way of saying that something isn't right. Things that may cause insomnia include stress, too much caffeine, depression, changes in work shifts, and pain from medical problems, such as arthritis.

Many people have insomnia. People who have insomnia may not be able to fall asleep. They may wake up during the night and not be able to fall back asleep, or they may wake up too early in the morning.

There are many factors that can contribute to insomnia, and different issues trigger each type of insomnia. Transient and intermittent insomnia can be caused by something as simple as the sleeplessness that occurs just before a big test, and are very common and considered a normal stress reaction that will typically go away. Depression, internalized anger, anxiety and behavioral factors are the most common reasons for insomnia.
The most frequent behaviors include consuming too much caffeine, alcohol or other substances, excessive napping, or stimulating activities such as smoking, exercising or watching television before bedtime.
Insomnia can often be linked to mental illnesses or other diseases; for example, chronic insomnia is usually caused by depression. When a person is having sleep problems because of something else, it is called secondary insomnia.
Environmental factors, such as discomfort or excessive light, and changes in a normal sleeping pattern, such as jet lag or moving to a new time zone, also cause transient insomnia (1). When none of these factors are contributing to a person's sleeplessness, they are considered to have primary insomnia, or insomnia that isn't caused by other obvious causes.

People who have insomnia tend to worry about the fact that they are not getting enough sleep, and sometimes their daytime behaviors contribute to increased lack of sleep.
Worrying and stress will only increase insomnia, and habits developed to make up for a lack of sleep can delay the return of a normal sleep schedule. These behaviors include napping during the day, giving up on regular exercise, or drinking caffeinated beverages to promote staying awake or concentration.
In order to regain normal sleeping patterns, insomniac have to practice good sleep hygiene.

Sleep hygiene consists of basic behaviors that promote sleep and try to change behaviors that might increase chances of insomnia. These habits include going to sleep and waking up at the same time, not taking naps during the day, avoiding caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol late in the day, getting regular exercise but not close to bedtime, not eating a heavy meal late in the day, not using your bed for anything other than sleep or sex, making your sleeping place comfortable, and making a routine to help relax and wind down before sleep, such as reading a book, listening to music, or taking a bath.


hmm...

I think I should start take a hot milk everyday just before my bedtime and read some novels while listening to Kenny G's and take a warm bath b4 I sleep.. And I should buy a new pillow la.. Duck feathers or something.. Or maybe Getha latex pillow would do just fine.. hmm..

Give it a week la.. Hopefully everything's gonna be okay. Or not, kena pegi specialist la..heh.


XOXO,
S.