Coffee Lam's advanced level workout challenge - FAIL

Yes you didn't see the blog post title wrongly - CY has failed the workout challenge. I was on track by completing Day 1 and Day 2 challenge (and felt like dying after that). However, I was intimidated by the 55 minutes full body cardio for Day 3 challenge, and I started looking for excuses to not proceed with Day 3. The fact that I actually GAINED 1kg further demotivated me from taking up the tough challenge - no obvious results seen after pushing myself out of comfort zone. Rationally, I am aware that I am facing weight loss plateau and daily body weight fluctuation could be contributed by numerous factors including diet and sleep (and it's actually just 1KG... Not a tremendous weight gain). 

But you know..... Human beings would behave irrationally at times. Weight loss is one of the measurable results for exercising and not achieving that even after adjusting the intensity of workout is discouraging. Being unmotivated, I skipped my exercise routine for 2 consecutive days, convincing myself that I was overwhelmed by work and required more rest time. Interestingly, I felt uneasy for not working out and just wasted my time on phone. It felt so incomplete if I give up half way without attempting the remaining workout challenge. My friend who maintains a workout routine every two days told me this happened because workout has become our habit, which is a positive sign! 

After 2 consecutive rest days, I made a comeback and proved that my guess was right - I couldn't complete the Day 3 challenge. I gave it a try but was unable move on with the second cardio video due to low stamina. I admitted that bothered me some time as I was unsure if the workout was too challenging or just me not putting enough effort as per last week. Upon reflection, I recalled my first attempt of the cardio video - my heartbeat rate accelerated insanely, I couldn't finish most of the steps that involve jumping and I had to take few breaks in between. I might be unable to complete the 55 mins cardio workout, but this didn't undermine the fact that my stamina is slowly improving. 

With the mixed feeling of me failing to complete the cardio challenge and me actually had achieved a small improvement, I continued trying out the upper body workout challenge, which went pretty well! I decided to try completing the cardio workout at the day I tried out the full body workout challenge, but unsurprisingly failed because I couldn't even survive the 45 minutes full body workout challenge! 

Allow me to explain - the Day 6 full body challenge was made up of 2 crazily difficult workouts. The first 30 minutes full body workout was a record of Coffee Lam conducting a live stream workout. Probably excited to have someone to workout along with her, she was being unreasonably excited and accelerated her time counting! (It's actually immensely tough to even follow her normal time counting, so please imagine how deadly we are with her abnormally faster time counting... Girl you need to calm down) The latter 15 minutes full body video workout has an extremely high intensity level as the workout flow is designated to achieve a quick fat burning effect within a short interval, hence needless to say, it's full of jumping aka my nightmare! I vividly remember my first attempt of both videos - being out of breathe after few minutes. Therefore I didn't push myself hard and unexpectedly, I managed to complete the second video! 

The above well concluded me struggling with completing the advanced level of Coffee Lam's workout challenge but eventually failed. The experience of failure allowed me to understand my weakness in terms of mindset and physical ability. Being perfectionist, failure used to have traumatic impact on me and had stopped me from stepping out of my comfort zone. As time goes by, I realized failing always happen no matter how hard we attempted to avoid it. We gonna learn (forced) to embrace failure and recover from failure. 

Admitting my failure openly in my personal blog (although not known by many people hahaha) is one of my way to accept recover from my failure. The journey of building a healthy lifestyle through exercising is not ended (I haven't achieved body weight loss yet!), and I had customized a Coffee Lam's workout challenge for myself! It involves more cardio and full body workout as I still hope to get shredded. I am also planning to try other YouTubers' workout challenge, considering either Pamela's or Chloe Ting's.

- Wear black when you workout as it's a funeral for your fat -

Completed Coffee Lam’s intermediate level workout challenge

I couldn’t believe I survive it! Intermediate level workout plan did sound daunting, especially some of the videos would definitely not my pick if I am allowed to decide my workout routine. Nevertheless, the purpose of following a workout schedule is to try more varieties of workout at different fitness level. Repeating the same workout routine could cause our bodies to adapt to the stress over time and results in weight loss plateau. To yield more favourable workout performance, stepping out of my comfort zone is the key. Hence, I’m amazed at me being courageous to challenge the workout videos as I thought I would give up halfway! 

The following are the videos which I was afraid of but yet decided to give it a try last week: 

1. 12 min High Intense HIIT Workout 

I have 1 simple rule when deciding my workout video - whenever I see “intense” or “HIIT”, I ignore! (Probably one of reasons why I love Coffee Lam’s workout videos - lower intensity) HIIT workout experience could be unpleasant due to my low tolerance level and rapid heart rate. Besides, weak people like me hate jumping in workout. Therefore, when trying out this video, I tried not to force myself completing the workout perfectly and I realised that I couldn’t sustain the steps for an extended period of time. To improve my muscular tolerance, I would consider incorporating HIIT workout into my routine in future. 

2. THE BEST 10min PLANK WORKOUT for full body burning 

I never knew I could do plank because it sounds like only a shredded man can do it. After beginning home workout, I become more familiar with planking as most of the workout videos include plank exercises with variations. Plank is arguably one of the best fundamental exercises. Without moving much, plank engages our whole body and burn a lot of calories. Due to my weak core muscles, my first attempt for this plank workout video only lasted few minutes. This time, I tried watching Kpop performance videos while holding a plank to distract my attention and fight the idea to surrender. Not sure is my distraction technique working or my endurance level has improved - I completed the workout! This achievement was totally unexpected and I hope this is not something that only happened once. Keep improving!

3. 20min Slow Abs Workout Challenge

Building abs is one of the common goals for girls to workout. But not for me as I find abs workout hurts more than the other workouts and I dislike the abs muscle soreness after the workout. To get abs, it requires a combination of cardio and abs workout to lower fat percentage. Hence, it’s easier for me to see effects of workout on my other body parts, unfortunately not abs. Therefore, this slow abs workout challenge wouldn’t be my normal choice and personally I reckon slow workout is more challenging as it takes more effort to control my muscles. Anyway I still did it and I sweated so much without much movement and jumping. I assured you that it felt so good at the moment I completed the final step, but not when I was trying out the steps. Perhaps it’s time to not skip abs workout to train my core muscles. 

4. 15min Back Workout 

Back exercises do sound easier than the other workouts, yet underrated as girls tend to focus on body parts that provide the most obvious slimming results. Strengthening back muscles could prevent injuries and improve posture to make our appearance more attractive. Surprisingly I struggled a lot throughout the back workout, most likely because I always neglect my back during workout. Strengthening my back should become my workout goal in future too. 

5. Get the splits in one month 

You wouldn’t believe me screaming more while trying out this stretching video than the intense workout videos! I had a common myth where it’s impossible to get splits if we don’t start training from young. In fact, adults can stretch consistently to improve flexibility and get splits, provided that they are willing to put effort into it. Although getting splits is not my goal as of now, I do recognise the endless benefits of practicing splits. While watching the video, it looked like another stretching video to me until I really tried it — GOSH WHY HAMSTRINGS SO FREAKING TIGHT! My tight hamstrings had prevented me from completing the steps, and this would be something to improve gradually in future. 

Tomorrow onwards, I will start another round of Coffee Lam’s workout challenge at the advanced level! Let’s see if I could survive! Fighting! 

Completed Coffee Lam’s beginner level workout challenge

Small achievement today — I have completed Coffee Lam’s Workout Plan for beginner level! Coffee Lam is my favourite online fitness instructor and she has changed my perspective on workout. During my teenage years, I deemed exercising as a crucial self torturing activity to take off weight and maintain a lean body shape. However, Coffee Lam’s sharing of her body transformation experience has taught me that exercise isn’t meant to fix imperfections. Workout could be one of the best self care gifts to ourselves which leads to a more disciplined, healthier and happier life. 

I started home workout since MCO 1.0 and I usually picked the workout videos myself instead of adhering to a workout plan. Back then, picking up home workout as new habit was still an thrilling idea. A day without hearing Coffee Lam’s voice or touching the yoga mat would make me feel uneasy. My home workout routine was disrupted after I embarked upon my working adult journey. Working became the best excuse to skip workout — there are more relaxing and interesting pass time alternatives, especially when we were allowed to get out of our home! 

To stay active, I resorted to walking around my neighbourhood or park. Being outdoor is a more pleasant experience — I could enjoy fresh air, leafy park, breathtaking sky and the warmth of sunlight on my face. I never felt so alive and relaxing during the pandemic. I even participated in my firm’s KakiJalan contest to motivate myself to walk more!

However, the spiking Malaysia’s COVID cases had made appearing at public spaces a high risk activity, albeit the intention of me leaving my home is to exercise and build a healthy lifestyle. As we are back to a new version of lockdown (MCO has a new brother — FMCO!), home workout happens to be the best method to stay physically active. I reckon following a workout plan would be more motivating this round as I’m always overwhelmed by reluctance to workout when I was choosing workout video. Besides, a well structured training plan works out our different body parts on different day to avoid overtraining and provide better rest for our muscle. I’m used to incline to emphasise on full body and leg workout, which could be exhausting and demotivating if I am planning to incorporate  home workout into my routine. 

Hence, I decided to take Coffee Lam’s 2021 workout plan as a challenge during this FMCO. Her workout plan consists of 3 levels — beginner, intermediate and advanced. I kick started with the beginner level as I recognise that start small is the correct technique to build habit (Just like how I recently started writing short Chinese blog posts to resume blogging). In fact, the beginner level workout isn’t as easy as it sounds and has indeed made me sweat like crazy! 

In comparison with the other workout videos, the beginner level is less intense, involves lesser jumping and more detailed guidance (the more she explains, the more rest tome you get!). I have taken this opportunity to improve my breathing and correct my posture during exercise. Proper breathing and posture sound uncomplicated but they are actually essential in minimising injuries and muscle strains. Hopefully this helps when I challenge the advanced level. 

So new start for tomorrow — intermediate level! Never give up!

故事真的是纯属虚构吗？——《火神的眼泪》

第一次质疑影片开始前的“本故事纯属虚构，如有雷同纯属巧合”的声明，因为这部剧的故事太真实了。这不是部纯歌颂消防人员的英雄剧，更像是讲述了他们在职场上所遇到的困境和心酸。在第一集开头就是一场火灾，吃瓜观众一股劲在火灾现场充当内行指导消防人员怎样救火？这不都像极了我常在网络看到的键盘侠吗？我尊重言论自由也支持大家对于社会课题发表意见，但我觉得大家的言论至少是有建设性，乱骂或外行装内行真的是在帮倒忙。就如之前我国发生地铁列车相撞事件，看到网民在网上骂怎么受害者没戴好口罩，真的觉得过分了，发生意外的当下想必大家都是懵的，而且困在火车里也有可能面临缺氧，或因为恐慌而呼吸急促，相信他们也不希望自己染疫。他们在那个时间段出现在火车多数都是上班族，在疫情严重的时期冒着生命危险去上班，还倒霉遇到意外，怎么大家就不能有点同情心呢？在道德制高点指责他人也要酌情而定吧。

好，有点离题了，说回这部剧吧。令人惊喜的是，这部剧在短短十集里探讨了比消防人员的职责更广的议题——消防人员如何兼顾家庭、如何最大化地利用有限的公共资源、官商互相维护、救护人员面临创伤后遗症、职场上的性别歧视、父母不理性地紧张子女，连同志课题都有提到，仿佛同志就生活在我们身边，也是消防员拯救的对象之一。我喜欢台剧已经不再是我童年里认知的偶像剧而已，而是不断地尝试更广泛的题材，让大众对民生社会课题有更高的意识。我们常常批评市面上的作品，其实市场所提供的就是为了迎合我们的口味，虽然像《火神的眼泪》这类型的题材不好下饭，但如果大家都不爱看，我们以后只能无缘看到这样的好作品了。

这部剧最触动我的是小配角国胜学长的两句台词——“只有消防员死了他们才会重视”和“这是用义阳的血换回来的”。义阳是剧里不幸殉职的消防人员，在他殉职后消防人员装备有问题的情况才被重视。可悲的是，之前大家都很努力地争取预算，但被上层用各种理由拒绝或拖延，直到发生了悲剧，引起媒体关注才加速了批准预算的过程，所以才说是用他的血换回来的新装备。

这两句台词和我关注接种疫苗的新闻的感触是一致的——人都是不见棺材不落泪。不管你多努力地用数据来说服人民接种疫苗，都不够确诊、急诊和死亡人数来得有说服力。明明可以更有效地预防，但人就是要等到出事了才来着急（不过还是比出事了也不在乎的态度好）。更可悲的是，人是善忘的。我们会慢慢习惯了现状后把惨痛的教训抛诸脑后。就如黑格尔说，人类从历史学中学到的唯一教训，就是没有从历史中吸取到任何教训。网络普及后我们每日接触上万的资讯，热点新闻发酵一阵子后，又有多少人记得？

疫情爆发后，大家对前线人员的贡献与牺牲有了更深刻的体会，相信《火神的眼泪》的导演也希望通过这部剧能让大众了解消防人员的辛苦，对在前线奋斗的人有同理心。比意外更可怕的，是刁民。所以我们能做的，就是心怀感恩和做好自己的本分。我心目中的美好社会，大家都不需要有伟大的贡献，而是做好自己的本分足矣。

P.S.

《火神的眼泪》主题曲《因为是你 Just Stay With Me》是韦礼安唱的！很好听！还有发现虽然我看的台剧不多，但我看的剧都刚好有温升豪诶——《我们与恶的距离》、《俗女养成记》和这部！

原来我们的生活，也可以是轻松欢乐的喜剧 —— 《俗女养成记》

一开始片名和豆瓣上的超高分让我感觉这是部爱讲大道理的励志女性成长剧或让女生恐婚的丧剧，看到它被标签为喜剧也是将信将疑，想着反正就十集，如果在工作日看一部太多集的剧又怕不小心废寝忘食地看而影响工作，就随意点开看看。

没、想、到！这部真的真的是部让我笑到像颠婆的喜剧哈哈哈哈哈哈哈！没有任何的大道理！就是很戏剧化地呈现了我们的生活琐碎片段，连婆媳问题都有，但它就是很好笑！！！也很真实感人。不熟悉闽南语的我竟然听着方言找回了我们在成长中无意丢失的东西。方言虽粗俗但是包含了我们文化的精髓，这部台剧如此接地气的部分原因也是因为演员都用台语对话，真的让我感觉自己此刻不在钢骨水泥的城市，而是在生活简单又平静的乡下（真的好想去旅行！）。

我最喜欢《俗女养成记》很真实地呈现了女性在这父权社会下的样子。每个配角都让我引起共鸣，爱斗嘴互相嫌弃的公公婆婆，因憨厚老实而吃亏又怕老婆的爸爸，爱唠叨又总是任劳任怨的妈妈，忧愁你嫁不出去的三姑六婆，爱攀比的大人们，不就是生活在我们身边的叔叔阿姨的缩影吗哈哈哈哈！看完这充满鸡毛蒜皮的剧竟然莫名被治愈。生活本来就是这样，从来都是一地鸡毛，没有《三十而已》那么狗血，也不可能像偶像剧里那么浪漫（除非你有钱！）。

真正的英雄主义，是看清生活的真相后依然热爱它。

P.S.如果硬要说这部剧有讲述什么人生大道理，就是结局里俗女的一段独白吧！

又刷了部好剧 ——《棋魂》

没想到我竟然也会迷上青春漫改剧！虽然正值青春年华，但我对青春校园剧真的完全不感冒，尤其是看到成年演员扮演中学生实在是令我观感不适。感恩《棋魂》里的角色都是由适龄演员扮演，让观众比较容易有代入感。

胡先煦饰演的时光真的像极了曾经青涩的我们，有梦想但常常三分钟热度，遇到困难会自暴自弃但最终会战胜困难，和朋友总爱嬉笑打闹但关键时刻总会挺身而出，想独立却不知自己很依赖妈妈，最终长大了才发现原来很多事情一旦错过就不再。一开始我以为男主角拿到的是一路开挂的围棋天才剧本，没想到这是部每个角色一起成长的故事，大家对围棋的热枕唤起了昔日在社团和战友共同进退的日子，曾经的青春回忆啊。最喜欢等片尾曲响起，我鸡皮疙瘩都起来了，似乎在我如一潭死水的平静生活乏起了一阵涟漪。

我觉得这部剧最精彩的部分就是群像戏。我们都知道主角一定会披荆斩棘成为最终boss，但现实生活中的我们都只是平平无奇的存在，不得不为五斗米折腰。我们就像是剧里的何嘉嘉，龙彦，棋盘厂的员工，兰因寺的师父，他们无法像褚嬴心无旁骛地过围棋人生，但他们过的是有围棋的人生。可以在人生找到自己所热爱的，也是一种幸福。

剧中最劝退的应该是褚嬴的造型，我个人最不能理解他的眼妆，但演员张超对于这位棋痴的演绎真的很好！他消失后的几集比我看过爱情剧里的分手戏催泪多了。很喜欢褚嬴在消失前的那场独戏，这部剧还是原音演出，证明演员的台词能力真的很好！

“有的人循规蹈矩

有的人离经叛道

有的人悬崖勒马，为自己下出乾坤逆转

有的人却为别人做活一片青天

有的人即便曲折，终会拨云见日

还有的却无悔于人生

有的人十年落拓，初衷不改

还有的人志在远方，匠心不变

有的人参透世间万物

有的人悟尽人生几何

有的人他为冠军而生

还有的人会被众多人铭记

有的人壶中藏日月

有的人袖里能定乾坤

有的人，春风桃李，俯首甘为火种

有的人浪子回头，成为星河里最亮一颗

有的人，高山流水，凌云揽胜，一生只为一盘棋

而有的人，冥冥之中只为你而存在，正在上天，为你选中的对手

有的人是你的开心果，是你的催泪弹，是你牵肠挂肚的小欢喜，是你割舍不下的小业障，更是你三十修来的福分，换来这一段相识，相伴，形影不离”

愿在现实生活中磕磕绊绊的我们也加油！相信时光会把你雕刻成，你应有的样子。