Cut Out Carbs, Lose Weight and Become Younger

I've just come back from a relaxing and rejuvenating trip to Goa, India where there're stretches and stretches of long beautiful beaches, breathtaking sunrises and sunsets just minutes away from our resort at Morjim.

House Boat along the Chapora River, Goa, India. [Photo Credit: Jedidiah Tan]

When we first got there, the locals thought that I was only 28! Can you imagine my glee...hehe (oh no it's bubbling up again, haha!)

And then, when my husband and I were out celebrating our 10th wedding anniversary on a house boat cruising down the amazingly calm Chapora River another couple on board said that we looked too young to have been married for a decade!!

Ah... what bliss! *G-R-I-N-S*

Celebrating 10 years of marital bliss. #familiesforlife #marriedforlife

Truth is, you can lose weight and reverse aging naturally when you cut out carbs. That's because carbs and sugar cause "inflam-aging" = inflammation + accelerated aging - a term coined by health experts.

Along with cutting out all manners and forms of sugary drinks from your diet, cut out carbs also because,

CARBS = SUGAR

So simply put, carbs and sugar do nothing but add to your weight and waist. Worse still, carbs are converted to sugar and they AGE our bodies like nothing else! In fact, some studies have shown that carbs and sugar feed and grow cancer cells in our bodies.

Carbs here refer to stuff like (this list is by no means exhaustive):-

bread - white, brown, wholemeal, wholegrain, multi-grain, corn, puri, bagel, baguette, pita

rice - bryani, rice cakes, glutinous, jasmine, basmati, paella, risotto, sushi-rice

noodles - all kinds, including bee hoon/vermicelli, tang hoon, yellow/laksa noodles, mee pok, kuey teow, kuay chap, mee tai mak literally translated to mean mouse or rat tail (I think you get the idea! And it doesn't matter if they're fried, steamed, baked, broiled, grilled, whatever!)

prata and its equivalent - in all its forms of cos! Thosai (dosa), tissue, chapati, naan

pasta - linguine, spagetti, angel hair, penne, fusilli, fettuccini, macaroni, lasagne, farfelle

potatoes - unless they are purple or sweet potatoes!

cereals  - (yes, you heard me right) wholemeal, cornflakes, muesli, honey stars, fruit loops, granola, oatmeal squares, oats (unless it's steel cut oatmeal)

popiah skin (doesn't matter if they're fried or steamed. Even though it's very thin, it's still carbs nonetheless)

soon kueh/peng kueh/orh kueh or yam cake/fried carrot cake (includes both black and white)

cakes - layered, nonya kueh kueh, coconut, gula melaka, cheese, coffee, carrot (carrots become carbs when cooked so I only eat them raw!)

biscuits - salted or cream crackers, jam sandwiches, vegetable-flavoured

pastries - financiers, madeleines, macaroons, macarons (and all of their fancy names)

waffles/crepes/hot cakes/pancakes

pretzels, crackers (including nachos and tacos), and chips

The list goes on and on so broadly carbs include anything and everything that's made from flour! (Might also be useful to note especially since Chinese New Year is just around the corner!)

But I hear you, those are staples! And leaving out the carbs is counterintuitive to the typical Asian diet where we usually eat a lot of rice or noodles with meats and veg. So instead of total abstinence, would it help that we just ate less carbs? And if really carbs are not good for us, what do we eat? What about the famous food pyramid, and the suggested food comb0 of  proteins and carbs and all that jazz about balanced meals that we ought to have?

Answers to these questions and more in my upcoming post, winks!

Love, 

Lynette Tan

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Weighty Issues

Believe you me, I've always had a weight issue. I'm serious.

I started dieting when I was 14.

It was Chinese New Year and one of my aunties, those you see only once a year (and for good reason cuz of their toxic tongues), said to me, "Aiyoh, girl! Why you so fat?"

Mind you, I weighed only 50kg at that time. But those words weighed a ton on my mind.

Self-consciousness took over and I was never the same.

Coke was the rage at that time but I didn't give two hoots about how I wouldn't fit in the crowd. I was on a mission. So, I first began by cutting out all sugary drinks in all their forms - sodas, fruit-flavoured juices, water chestnut, soya bean milk, chin chow, bandung, etc.

And after keeping this up for about two weeks, I actually lost 2kg! Just like that!
I haven't drunk sugary drinks since.

Then, I stuck to only three meals a day and cut out all snacks - potato chips (Jack&Jill, remember?), corn chips, including my all time fav - tapioca chips with chilli, mamee, along with biscuits, cakes, nonya kueh kueh etc. And I remember bringing my weight down to a healthy 45kg (I'm petite, so that's quite ideal for me).

Over the years, I've tried many other diets - Atkins, Paleo or Caveman, Blood-type, Macrobiotic, Liquid or Juice Cleanse, Okinawa, the all-carbs Starch Solution, Daniel's Plan and I was even a hard-core vegetarian for three years!

My weight would always hover between 45-48kg so I took it for granted that it'll always stay that way. But as age caught up, I started getting lazy. I stopped exercising, watching my weight, plus I ate to my heart's content!

I was just so fulfilled, everything was going great in my life and I was rewarding myself with good food, fine dining, great gourmet cuisine. I didn't realise that I had put on so much weight until I found a lump in my right breast - don't worry, it's benign, I got it removed and I've been given a clean bill of health!

But THAT, was my wake-up call to relook at what I'm eating and how I'm living my life!

At that time, I weighed 56kg! I totally filled up my jeans. I felt clumsy - always kicking over things or tripping over myself cuz my reflexes were somewhat slower, I felt I had little or no energy, my clothes were getting tighter, I was getting sick all the time and overall I felt really lousy about myself.

So how on earth did I get back in shape?

I'll tell you exactly how in my next few posts so stick with me! Winks!

Love, 

Lynette Tan

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The Truth about Chocolates

I have a renewed interest in chocolates mainly because of a new book that I had just picked up called Smart Fat. When I read that the authors advocated the eating of chocolates, I almost passed out! I've always loved chocolates, but I've stayed away from them on purpose because I just wasn't sure!

Chocolates was one of those grey areas for me. You know some people say chocolates are good, they contain lots of antioxidants, while others declare it a prohibited item in their kitchen.

And because I was two minds about it, it wasn't uncommon to see bars of gourmet, rum and raisin flavoured chocolates in my fridge from time to time. That is until I read the truth about chocolates.

So if you're in the same dilemma, get this straight once and for all - dark chocolates are good for you! Y-AY!!!

They do indeed contain lots of healthful antioxidants but just how dark have the chocolates got to be before they're considered healthful?

Ideally, they should contain 80% cacao. But if you're just learning how to enjoy dark chocolate, I'd say 70% is the sweet spot.

Since starting on my Smart Fat diet about two weeks ago, I've progressed from 84% to 92% and now to 99% organic dark chocolate! It's crazy I know but you know what?

Snacking on a piece dark chocolate never felt better!

I didn't feel hungry for a long, long time. It was as if the bitter taste of the dark chocolate quelled all the hunger pangs that I had, if any at all (I really don't remember having any food cravings, zilch, nada!).

So if you're looking for something to munch on at the office, minus the guilt, then I'd say snack on a piece of dark dark chocolate! Winks!

Love, 

Lynette Tan

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See the Good in Green Tea

I remember it was about four in the morning and I was lying in bed wide awake and staring at the ceiling of my rented apartment in St. Lucia.

It was my second year of uni and I had already finished my assignment but I just couldn't get to sleep!

Nope, I wasn't troubled. In fact, I didn't have anything on my mind that night so what in the world was keeping me awake?

Then I recalled having made and drunk bottles of hot green tea. I had just discovered it, and brought it home from Woolies. I was so gung ho I'd even add two teabags in a 1 litre bottle at any one time and let it steep for forever just for that extra oomph!

And that, in a nutshell, was my first experience with green tea. And that's how I'll never forget that green tea contains caffeine. Yup, the stuff that kept me awake that fateful night. LOL!

Over the years, I've learnt how to make green tea work for me instead of against me. I've progressed from teabags to loose tea leaves from Twinings to TWG cutting out all the sugar and the cream and here's why I still think it's important to incorporate at least four cups of green tea into your your diet daily.

Green tea:-

1. Ups your metabolism; helps you lose weight
2. Contains powerful antioxidants that delay aging
3. Improves brain function so you become smarter
4. Helps you live longer by lowering your risks of heart disease, and cancer

Personally, I'm not against coffee drinkers (I married one, although he lied about that...BIG TIME... when we were dating...haha! Anyway that's a story for another day) I don't drink coffee because that one time I did when I was a kid left a horrible stench in my mouth. I didn't like it. So, I was thrilled to find out that green tea contains natural antibodies that fight off bacteria in the mouth that causes bad breath. Plus, it may not be such a bad idea to have your coffee fix first and then wash it down with some green tea. In any case, green tea seems like a great drink to reach out for at the office especially if you interact with people, a lot!

Speaking of which, the best way to enjoy a cuppa green tea is to let it steep for three minutes, no more cuz that's the perfect amount of time taken for the flavours to be thoroughly infused and to brew the most delicious, healthful drink.

But if you're like me, worried that it'll keep you awake, drink your four cups of green tea well before 6pm and you'll be just fine! Winks!

Love, 

Lynette Tan

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Fuss-free Blended Meals

I have this theory… that as we grow older, things are supposed to get easier. Some would call that “an anointing of ease”.

Like can you imagine doing the same things over and over again but each time you do it, it gets progressively more effortless PLUS you do it quicker as you discover new ways of doing it and you get better and better at it!

Discovering how to pack all the nutrients and natural goodness, of all that earth has to offer, into a glass of smoothie feels just like that!

And I’m so eager to share this with you because eating or drinking this #smartfat shake for lunch is the quickest way to fill you up and keep you full for longer minus the hassle of having to thoroughly chew through your food.

The best part is, there won’t be embarrassingly loud farts that would normally result from having consumed incorrectly combined foods. And you don’t have to worry about falling into a food coma like you usually do after a heavy meal. In fact, you’ll feel more energised and ready to go!

This au naturel almond milkshake is especially great for when you have no time for lunch or when you don’t really feel like eating but you know you have to. So try this out when you have the chance to, it could be a real game changer!

Ingredients:-

1/4 cup Almonds (sprouted)
1 cup Distilled water
1 handful Kale (frozen)
1 cup Berries (strawberries, blueberries, boysenberries, raspberries all frozen)
1 tsp Chia seeds
1 tsp Flaxseeds
1 tsp Cacao powder (cold pressed)
1 tbsp MCT oil (this can be substituted with coconut oil or almond oil)

Here’s my favourite part, cuz it’s so darn easy…

Method:-

Blend all ingredients until smooth (this shouldn’t take more than a minute), and drink up right away!

Love, 

Lynette Tan

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Massage, the message

Maybe I was inspired by the first of its kind 'healing hands' massage I enjoyed recently at Yakson Singapore.

Or maybe I'm moved to finally do something after being mindlessly bombarded by hoards of anti-aging advertisements popping up everywhere every time I switch on my phone or computer. Or maybe, just maybe... it's the fact that I'm officially 40-something.

I feel now more so than ever the nagging need to hold on to my youthful good looks.

But how?

Massage, seems to be the message I'm getting. I find the idea of manually manipulating the muscles to promote circulation and improve overall health simply fascinating!

Plus it's au naturel!

Not only does massage facilitate the efficient elimination of wastes through our lymph, it also aids in the absorption of nutrients.

Just imagine how a quick three-minute facial massage, allows for the goodness of geranium essential oil combined with sweet almond oil, jojoba oil and vitamin E to enter your bloodstream directly through your skin.

While browsing the myriad massage oil concoctions, geranium was instinctively and intuitively chosen for its cytophylactic properties - which means it prevents muscles and skin from sagging by actively promoting the regeneration of new cells, optimising cell metabolism.

I learnt that only later, retrospectively, after I looked up "health benefits of geranium essential oil" on my home computer and it blew my mind!

Sometimes, we can't explain why we choose what we choose, we just have to trust that we made the best decision. And apparently, I did! LOL!

Anyway, coming back to the topic at hand, massage is the message and I intend to keep at it for as long as I can.

Will I be able to eventually look younger for longer... only time will tell, winks!

Love, 

Lynette Tan

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Yakson Singapore

With Yakson's founder Mr Lee Byung-Chul

I'll be emceeing at the Grand Opening of Yakson Singapore in a week's time. To make sure that I'm well able to accurately describe the Golki Therapy to the beauty bloggers and guests of the K-beauty house, I'm lying here on one of their beds, waiting for Jessica, my personal professional therapist, to apply her "healing hands" on me... I can't wait!

I mean, who doesn't want a slimmer, smaller face right?

With no downtime, no surgery, no painful injections nor artificial inserts, Jessica will (with her bare hands) attempt to stretch my facial skin, muscles, sinews, tissues, veins, and bones! Yes, bones!

Gulp! (But still, you know I'm always game to try to new things...winks!)

When she noticed that I had dry skin, she intuitively gave me the most invigorating and energising facial massage ever! I actually felt years younger after that...

Then the real massage began...

The Original Golki Therapy massage from Korea is nothing like I've ever experienced in my entire existence! The therapist was very skilled, and extremely experienced! A native Korean who'd spent many months  - before coming over - rigorously perfecting the art of manually stimulating living bones. It was only her fourth day in Singapore but she spoke enough English to carry a very decent and pleasant conversation with me.

I can't even begin to describe how the session went (you have to try it to know!)

Jessica, my healing hands therapist

All I can say is...after about 90mins, when Jessica suggested that I cradle my face with my palms...

Omigosh!!! My face really did feel different! I swear!

How do I know? Am I sure?

You see, I have an almost perfect heart-shaped face with super wide cheekbones. I don't even have to touch them to know they're there! LOL! They restrict and obstruct my expensive eyewear ever so often, especially so when I smile... so yup! Surely, I could tell the difference...

My face was rounder somewhat and I didn't look as fierce as I did before. It was like the rough edges were all smoothened out, if that makes sense.

I looked kinder, definitely!

A quick chat with the manager Nicole afterwards revealed that new customers would have to wait up to two months before they can start on their package! They are wildly popular! She also recommended at least one to two sessions per week to see lasting results - a smaller face is guaranteed after just 20 sessions!

So if you do decide to take that bold step and try this out, remember to have a small bite before heading over cuz it's best you don't eat anything two hours after - same principle as with not eating anything right after a rigorous exercise regime for fear of gaining too much weight too fast.


Love, 

Lynette Tan

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