Monday 30 December 2013

Chateau Pichon Longueville Comtesse De Lalande, 1982, Pauillac, Bordeaux

 
Property of Mr Flabby Less
Chateau Pichon Longueville Comtesse De Lalande, 1982, Pauillac, Bordeaux

Bright light red in colour. Medium bodied. Great floral nose. Taste of cigar/tobacco, cassis, cedar wood, truffles and ripe dark berries. Tannins are soft and elegant. Surprisingly clean finish. Well balanced and rounded. Elegant and silky smooth textures. Long and highly pleasurable finish.

This wine is the first Second Growth to receive 100 points from RP. Very impressive, if you ask me :-)






Saturday 28 December 2013

PT #22 (Chest & Front/Side Delts)



Machine pectoral flye
47kg x 20 reps x 2 sets
61kg x 10 full reps x 15 partial reps x 4 sets


Machine incline chest press
20kg each side x 10 full reps x 15 partial reps x 4 sets

Flat dumbbell chest press
14kg each aide x 10 full reps x 15 partial reps x 4 sets

Low incline cable pectoral flye
10kg each side x 12 reps x 5 sets

Superset standing lateral raise, front raise and shoulder press
8kg each side x 10 reps each x 4 sets


Tuesday 24 December 2013

PT #21 (Back)



Assisted pullup
45kg x 12 reps x 5 sets


Seated wide reverse grip pulldown
40kg x 12 reps x 5 sets

Seated wide grip cable row
40kg x 12 reps x 5 sets

Seated rope cable row
40kg x 12 reps x 5 sets

Racked deadlift
90kg x 10 reps x 4 sets


Friday 20 December 2013

Non-PT #30 (Legs, Arms, Chest & Front/Side Delts)


Smith machine squat
40kg x 20 reps x 3 sets

Dumbbell bicep curl & tricep kickback
10kg & 12kg x 12 reps each x 4 sets 

Machine pectoral flye (10 seconds break between each set)
47kg x 10 reps x 5 sets x 3 giant sets

Incline dumbbell bench press 
18kg each x 10 reps x 8 sets 

Pullover and push-ups
20kg and body weight x 15 reps x 10 reps x 4 sets

Superset military shoulder press and upright row
25kg x 10 reps each x 4 sets



Monday 16 December 2013

iHerb.com- delivery via DHL

I've been ordering lots of stuff from iHerb.com (so far over 10 times) and if my orders are >4lbs, I would split them up into <4lbs each. 


Why the magical weight of 4lbs? 

Well, for orders <4lbs, I'm able to use Global Priority Mail by DHL and the delivery charge is only USD4 flat per package. This is the most economical way of shipping your online purchases to Malaysia. The down side is that delivery can take up to 3 weeks long. For non-urgent stuff and if you are willing to wait, it's not really a down side and 3 weeks is no biggie so long as your package arrives.


For orders >4lbs, you'll need to split your orders into <4lbs each to be eligible for Global Priority Mail by DHL. Otherwise, you'll have to use DHL Express or UPS, which delivery charges correspond with the total weight of your package.

Just last week, I ordered a few things for my family from iHerb.com and the total weight was slightly over 7lbs...7.1lbs to be exact. I wanted to break my online purchases into 2 <4lbs packages and pay a total of USD8 flat for both packages but being a curious cat, I decided to check how much I would have to pay to have them delivered via DHL Express.

"Wah, only USD11.27?!?! Excellent!!!"


I was pleasantly surprised that it wasn't much. USD11.27 for shipping and handling charges for delivery via DHL Express. With a small difference of only USD3.27 (or approximately RM10.50), I could receive my online purchases within a week and not the usual 3 weeks. Why didn't I try this earlier? It's a such no-brainer. 

Immediately after I'd confirmed my orders, I was sent an email by iHerb.com with a DHL Express tracking number. I was thoroughly impressed when I clicked on the tracking number as it actually showed me every step/process that my package went through before arriving at my intended destination. There was even a record showing "delivery attempted, recipient not home". That was very professional of them. I was thoroughly impressed. My package arrived after 8 days of making the online purchases.


Surely there's a twist to this nice and dandy story. Well, yes :-)


I'd to pay an additional RM46.20 to DHL for the delivery. WTF?!?! RM10.50 + RM46.20 = RM56.70. If I'd split my orders into 2, I would have only paid approximately RM25.60 (USD8) for delivery charges. That's more than double! Sigh... 



So, let that be a lesson to me. From now on, it'll just be orders <4lbs per package. Global Priority Mail by DHL is afterall the most economical way of shipping your online purchases to Malaysia. No point reinventing the wheel. Why fix if it ain't broken?

If you would like to give iHerb.com a try and order something from them, please provide my referral code QUW344 when you make your online order. You will receive an instant USD10.00 off your first purchase of USD40.00 and above or USD5.00 off orders below USD40.00.



Friday 13 December 2013

Salvatore Ferragamo clutch bag

Property of Mr Flabby Less

I was feeling generous so I decided to get a clutch bag from Ferragamo for Wifey. Since we both like stuff from Ferragamo (yes, brand loyalty), it was easy to zoom straight in at the Ferragamo outlet at KLCC.

Wifey was previously looking at some clutch bags so being the good husband (and doting father too!) that I am, I decided to give her a surprise. This bag is made from snake skin if I remember correctly and the beige colour is quite versatile IMO. Also, it would be a good addition to Wifey's portfolio of bags as she didn't have similar colour or type.

This little gift is to recognise her many sacrifices to the family especially to the kids and for being a wonderful and loving wife. She thoroughly deserves to be pampered!




Sunday 8 December 2013

Natural Factors 7 Day Total Nutritional Cleanse- My 7 Days Detox Experience


After procrastinating for the longest time (bought the Natural Factors 7 Day Total Nutritional Cleanse many moons ago), I've decided to face my virgin detox. My gut has been feeling bloated and congested (thanks to almost constant good food and fine red from Bordeaux) so I reckon it's the right time and there's no turning back.

Property of Mr Flabby Less
Step 1 RevitalX (Days #1 to #4)

PLUS

Property of Mr Flabby Less
Pills provided in the detox kit

Day #1

8.05am- 20oz water
8.25am- 1 scoop RevitalX with 15oz water
10.10am- 1 pear
10.55am- 20oz water
1.40pm- 1 scoop RevitalX with 20oz water and pills
2.25pm- some raw almonds and 20oz water
3.30pm- 15oz water and 2 small ripe mangoes
5.00pm- 1 apple, 1 carrot and 15oz water
6.45pm- 20oz water
7.00pm- chicken breast, pumpkin and carrot soup with toast
8.45pm- 20oz water
11.00pm- 15oz water
Total #2s- 4x

Comments: My starting weight was 96kg. I didn't enjoy the taste of RevitalX- funky mixed powdery taste of banana, orange, peach etc. I started feeling tired and sleepy around noon. After the second doze of shake, I felt slightly dizzy and my legs felt somewhat weak especially when ascending stairs. I was generally feeling hungry from late afternoon right up to dinner time. My hunger pangs made my moody but sugar from the ripe mangoes helped perked me up!

Day #2

8.30am- 15oz water
9.00am- 1 scoop RevitalX with 20oz water and 1 small ripe mango
10.00am- 1 apple
11.30am- 15oz water
12.45pm- 1 scoop RevitalX with 20oz water and pills, some raw almonds and pumpkin seeds
4.25pm- 25oz water, 1 apple and some pumpkin seeds
5.45pm- 15oz water
7.00pm- 20oz water
7.30pm- grilled salmon with salad
9.30pm- 15oz water
11.00pm- 15oz water
12.45am- 10oz water
Total #2s- 2x

Comments: My legs felt weak and wobbly from morning onwards but felt better after "lunch". Overall, I felt better than the previous day and there was no more dizziness. I wasn't moody anymore. I felt a sudden surge of strength at about 10pm and couldn't sleep so ended up watching a horror movie. Finally slept at about 1.15am.

Day #3

8.15am- 10oz water
8.30am- 1 scoop RevitalX with 20oz water
9.00am- 1 Chinese pear
10am- 14oz water
10.45am- 8oz water
1.20pm- 1 scoop RevitalX with 18oz water, some almonds, pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds
2.10pm- 14oz water
5.30pm- 1 Chinese pear, 1 apple, 8oz water
6.15pm- 14oz water
7.45pm- 20oz water
830pm- brown rice with steamed chicken breast, steamed broccoli and vegetable soup with tofu
11.00pm- 15oz water
Total #2s-2

Comments: I felt "normal" and it was more or less business as usual. I was quite surprised that I felt quite energetic despite the low calorie intake. Experienced hunger pangs around 7pm+ but it was manageable. Experienced a very mild headache late in the evening. Forgot to take the pills with the shake for "lunch". Drat! Will differ this packet of pills to Day #7 in the morning followed by another packet during "lunch" on the same day- yes, 2 packets of pills in 1 day. I doubt there's any harm. Well, no point keeping an extra packet of pills post the 7 days detox, right?

Day #4

8.30am- 1 scoop RevitalX with 25oz water
9.00am- 1 pear
10.30am- 14oz water
11.55am- 14oz water
12.50pm- slightly less than 3/4 scoop (that's all that's left) with 20oz water and pills, some almonds, pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds
2.15pm- 8oz water
3.05pm- 6oz water
3,25pm- 1 apple
5.00pm- 1 apple, 14oz water
7.45pm- half a grilled salmon head with fresh salad
8.50pm- 20oz water
11.25pm- 25oz water
Total #2s- 2

Comments: No complaints save for feeling hungry occasionally throughout the day. Not too bad though, manageable. The manufacturer should provide adequate or slightly more RevitalX and not shortchange its consumers. Had constant thought of yummy and sinfully delicious food! :-) 3 more days to go...need to persevere.


Property of Mr Flabby Less
Step 2 Detoxitech (Days #5 to #7)

PLUS

Property of Mr Flabby Less
Pills provided in the detox kit

Day #5

8.30am- 2 scoops Detoxitech with 25oz water
9.00am- 1 apple
10.00am- 14oz water
10.20am- 14oz water
11.20am- 8oz water
12.00pm- 2 scoops Detoxitech with 25oz water and pills, some almonds, pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds
1.00pm- 8oz water
2.00pm-  2 scoops Detoxitech with 25oz water
4.45pm- 14oz water
5.00pm- 2 small pears
6.00pm- 14oz water
8.00pm- 18oz water with some raw almonds
9.00pm- brown rice with steamed long beans and tofu
11.15pm- 16oz water
Total #2s- 2

Comments: Detoxitech tasted like funky and powdery green pepper and definitely better than RevitalX, IMO. Felt quite energetic throughout the day. Almost no hunger pangs during the day largely due to 2 shakes of Detoxitech in the afternoon. Felt rather full thereafter. But felt very thirsty and was constantly drinking water. Could largely be due to Detoxitech. Felt extremely hungry from 6.40pm onwards...could have eaten a cow! Can't wait for detox to end. I want and need real food!

Day #6

8.30am- 2 scoops Detoxitech with 25oz water
9.00am- 1 apple
10.20am- 14oz water
11.30am- 14oz water
12.00pm- 2 scoops Detoxitech with 14oz water and pills, some almonds, pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds
1.10pm- 8oz water
2.10pm-  2 scoops Detoxitech with 20oz water
3.00pm- 8oz water
5.20pm- 6oz water

6.20pm- 6oz water
6.30pm- 1 apple and 1 Chinese pear
7.00pm- 8oz water
8.00pm- steamed chicken breast with stir fried vegetables and 16oz water
10.00pm- 8oz water
12.00pm- 10oz water
Total #2s- 2

Comments: Pretty much the same as the previous day. Nothing unusual. Countdown begins! 2 more days to go to completion of this detox programme!

Day #7

8.30am- 2 scoops Detoxitech with 25oz water and pills
9.00am- 1 apple
10.00am- 14oz water
11.15am- 10oz water
12.00pm- 2 scoops Detoxitech with 20oz water and pills, some almonds, pumpkin seeds and sunflower seeds
1.30pm- 6oz water
2.15pm- slightly less than 1 scoop (that's all that's left) Detoxitech with 12oz water
2.30pm- 1 small pear
3.15pm- 8oz water
3.30pm- 1 Chinese pear and 6oz water
4.40pm- 15oz water, 1 palm raw almonds
6.15pm- 20oz water
6.45pm- 15oz water
7.20pm- brown rice, steamed minced pork with egg and steamed fish
9.30pm- 20oz water
11.45pm- 20 oz water
Total #2s-3

Comments: Yahoo! The grand finale! Can't wait to "break fast" after the detox programme. My weight in the morning was 91.9kg...that's a loss of 4.1kg or 9lbs since starting the programme 6 days ago! It should be even lower by tomorrow morning. Pretty sure it's at the expense of my muscles as my muscles feel less defined. Daily calorie intake has been very low so I guess this is expected. I'll have to regain my muscles at the gym next week. Just like RevitalX, the manufacturer should provide adequate or slightly more Detoxitech and not shortchange its consumers. For the record, I didn't do any form of exercise during this detox period. My stomach is now flat feels comfortable and very clean. No more bloated feeling. Will I attempt this detox again? I don't see why not. But it won't be so soon...maybe next year. Let me enjoy myself first :-P




Wednesday 4 December 2013

PT #20 (Chest & Front/Side Delts)



Machine pectoral flye
54kg x 15 reps x 4 sets


Incline cable chest flye press and pushup
11.25kg per side and body weight x 15 reps each x 4 sets 

Incline barbell chest press and Incline dumbbell flye
60kg and 10 kg x 10 reps x 12 reps x 4 sets 

Machine decline chest press close and wide grip
20kg per side and 15kg per side x 15 reps each x 4 sets 

Machine pectoral flye
40kg x 10 reps x 10 sets, 30 seconds rest between sets 

Dumbbell lateral raise and dumbbell front raise
8kg per side x 10 reps each x 6 sets, 30 seconds rest between sets