are we healthy enough to stay away from sickness?

for the first ever time my trip to Genting wasn't about having fun but thoughts and reflections

for accompanying my grandparents to Genting for a short trip,

I experienced both WEAKness and SICKness

A vacation suppose to be relaxing, fun and happy time spending with each other;

but for my grandparents, it wasn't easy even to travel up the hill just to 'relax';

in fact, they had really tough time surviving the cold breeze over there and the overcrowded place

As for me, I think I've underestimated my 'long lost friend', asthma.

I catch a cold before we depart to Genting and asthma hit me middle of the night in the hotel

At that time, I do not have any medicine with me; yet not ready to tell my parents about the sudden sickness

as I do not want to be the third persons that needed their full attention at all time

________________________________________________________

 I took care of myself and my asthma was slowly recovered;

yet, my mum insists to send me to clinic for a checkup,

wanting me to have a better sleep tonight

of my hesitation, decision to be hospitalized was finally confirmed around 11pm

because it has already past 9:30pm and the clinic is closed; emergency room in GH is the only choice

My visit to GH was pathetic

I was horrified by everything I saw although all the scenes were suppose to be expected

Case 1:

A patient laying on the bed with one hand restricted by a handcuff, accompanied by 2 quite-big-size persons sitting near to him chit chatting.
At first I was frightened, as I thought both of them are gangsters (or the patient's friends).

But then my mum explained to me that purple color robe that he is wearing indicates prisoner; and two of the big sized men might as well be the police men or related officers. 

Case 2: 

The Asthma Bay was overcrowded with patients;

YET the counter was overcrowded with staffs chit chatting

All the patients looked extremely weak. They are using all their strength just to take in a puff of air. Any second for them was critical, suffer, and unfortunate

ON THE OTHER HAND, the doctors and nurses seemingly enjoyed their sweet time together paying no attention to the dying individuals with their hopeless stare

Case 3: 

After awhile being ignored, I get attended by an assistant. Instead of showing me a warm concern like asking me how do I feel or what's my condition is; he came to me asked me whether I've registered (what the hell?)

*fyi: actually I felt so much better compare to yesterday the sleepless night. Just that my mum afraid that my asthma will get serious again to disturb my sleep. Therefore, I'm temporarily 'all fine' to be hospitalized unless my condition really get serious at the mid of the night* 

I super scared that I'll be shooed out of the hospital under the accuse of "having no sickness" (haha)

But then I was over-worried.
The assistant straight away passed me a oxygen mask after he checked my heartbeat with a stethoscope. It seem to be too easy for me to get a treatment from him without being asked any question. I mean my case is definitely mild, he can either yell at me of having too much time to come to them with a not-so-sick body OR I should suspect that their stethoscope is not functioning (at least it can't tell whether i'm really sick)

I was relaxed awhile for being able to bluff through. But I realized I was totally wrong when he came back to the patients to insert a needle on their hand. Is that a 'tradition' they practice over here, in GH? (are you kidding me)? He approached one by one and slowly to the patient besides me. I immediately hide my hand and whispered to myself: "don't you dare simply cucuk!". At the same time I'm preparing what should I do if it is my turn? The best solution I can figured is to throw him the oxygen mask saying: "I think I get better now. ciao!" But luckily there isn't my turn (what a great relief? =D)

Case 4:

There were 2 young patients (babies) admitted into the hospital. They seem fine when they were being carried in their mum's arm into the hospital. From their innocent faces how I wish I can be like them, worrying nothing about what kind of pains they might have gone through. At least they won't be suffering from the moment while waiting to get an injection or the fear of pain for the surgeries.  

But eventually they still cried out loud for the uncomfortable feeling when their tiny bodies were being injected with a needle. It was so heartbreaking to see them having to go through the unbearable pain at the young age.

Yet, I can see double pain, triple tiredness and infinite worries in their mums. 

Now that I can totally knows how it feels being a patient or a guidance
either one fall sick both will have to suffer

 It isn't easy to STAY HEALTHY; and it isn't easy as well to STAY AWAY FROM SICKNESS

body image

Coming across fashion trend,

a desirable body image is what symbolize by those who cat-walking on stages 

for female, we need to be as thin as model or those Korean stars like Girl Generation; 

and for guys, those bulked up dude with zero body fat seem to be the hottest items nowadays.

As showed in the picture, G.I Joe and barbie doll represent the ideal body image for both male and female. 

However, dreaming of having this 'perfect' body size has actually claimed to be unhealthy. 

when we're blindly chasing for what society regards as 'perfect'
we've overlook the facts which Korean stars going for plastic surgery, model starve in order to keep them thin; guys took steroid for rapid muscle growth; and photo shop

No one is perfect,
people born with different height and weight, depending on genetics. And later their development will be greatly influences by upbringing and nutrition intake.

Therefore, if EVERYONE is to transform themselves into ONE ideal person, that's simply illogical.

if you're to transform the REAL you into an IDEAL you. 

well, there's a lot of ways out there to be tried out

However, if the goal is too hard to achieve or the result is too slow to show up. People somehow may just give up half way or choosing a shortcut (believe to be an easier way for greater result in shorter time)

Give up half way isn't threatening, aside a waste of time, money and effort; however, if oneself taking a shortcut,  they might not realize how risky they have just bet their life onto

restricted eating causing malnutrition; pills that messing up the biological functioning of the body; plastic surgery that bringing side effect and etc

It is so dangerous, even to think about it. 

Have you notice Hollywood is no longer fancy about the chopstick body size? instead, they train themselves (including female celebrities) real hard for a healthier looking body shape

Seriously, i rather look healthier than to look skinny

I don't mind if my arms look big; I am satisfy with my muscular legs

I love all types of sports, eating a healthy diet; and pampered myself with my favorite food - dessert

I just can't stand  it why should I restrict myself from eating the foods that i like. Life is too short to miss out such a big part of life enjoyment over these

On top of these, it doesn't mean I do not fancy about keeping a good body shape.

It's about changing my perception

As i always believe a balance diet and regular exercise are both the vital key determinants to keep a healthier lifestyle and a good body

sad fact is, sometimes a balance diet and a regular exercise are just too 'luxurious' as we can't being particular on what we're eating and doing at all times

cook for every single meal; bringing lunchbox to office; hitting gym everyday as in there's no extra works or people bothering us after working hours; avoid from stress eating 

these perfect routine are yet perfectly impossible to be maintain 

that's why people always fail in term of maintaining a healthy lifestyle and keeping a good body

I need a nutritionist as my mother and a fitness first instructor as my father! 

heart health

I found myself falling in love with Dr. Hera again!!

After taking Health Psychology with her last semester and now I am taking Psychology of Eating with her! I am glad to have the opportunity to learn from her again.

I just love the subjects, the combination of the course structure, assignments and most importantly the lecturer. When she was giving her lecture today, I feel so emotional attach to every detail she said and my eyes shine with hope! It's like i can see my future, i know what's getting me so passionate - the healthy life.

I want to know more about the healthy life, what the advice or recommendation available, explore the reasons why keep people away from staying a healthy lifestyle and implement the strategies for a healthy lifestyle.

And one of the assignment is Food Diary, it's some sort of diary that recording down everything that we have eaten throughout the day, calculating the calories of it, and reporting our feeling when consuming the food.

Although it needed high discipline and commitment to record it all the times (and our family and friends might just think we are going insane keep writing everytime we eat); but it sound interesting! i can't wait to start the assignment and i'd love to see how my eating pattern is.

If you feel excited for me too, don't worry, i will post up the result after this sem and share with you my thoughts of it. If you feel like trying that too i can teach you how to do and we do it together, k? :D

Health Psychology

Health Psychology is one of the elective subjects lecturing by my favorite lecturer, Dr. Hera Lukman

Before I start on any, let me briefly introduce you Dr. Hera Lukman as you might read quite a few of my posts talking about her

Dr. Hera Lukman is a health psychologist with research interests in the ares of eating disorders and health communication. She is also a registered Chartered Psychologist with the British Psychological Society 

[information taken from http://www.help.edu.my/uprofile/103]

Additional notes: Dr. Hera discussing about body image and sex, want to know what she'd said? click on the link below *wink*

http://lifestyle.malaysia.msn.com/Relationships/article.aspx?cp-documentid=4112013

Dr. Hera Lukman is also a lecturer in HELP University College from Psychology department.

I took few psychology related subjects lectured by her:

Introduction to Psychology, Biological Psychology, Health Psychology and Psychology of Eating

Her lecture is inspiring, which always made my eyes shine with hopes in every of her class

Now, Let's me share with you what I've learned :)

Do you know?

How much servings of fruits and vegetables are actually enough?

How often should one exercise per week and how long per session?

Fruits and Vegetables

Fruits and Vegetables should be taken at least 5 servings per day, best with mixture of 5 different colors such as red (apples, cherries), yellow (banana, orange) purple (grapes, blueberries), green (leafy vegetables) and white (garlic, mushrooms). However, we are advisable to go more than 5 servings per day, just not to take extreme on one type of color of fruit or vegetable.

So how much is consider as one serve?

From what have showed above, 1 serving simply means 1 medium size OR to be more accurate, 1 cup of chopped fruits or vegetables approximately about 100g.

Exercise

You might always wonder. We have actually done a lot of exercise indirectly in our daily routine.

For example we walk everyday from car to office; walk up stairs; lifting heavy documents or carrying heavy bags around;

giving our car a bubble wash once a week; helping mummy to do some house chores

So is that consider as exercise, no?

Actually, those are consider as labor; not exercising

if it's consider as 'exercise' also it can barely replace the real workout

Physical exercise is not only a bodily activity; but to enhance and maintains our physical fitness and wellness. 

It's can be flexibility training; aerobic and anaerobic exercise

so stop thinking life is such easy! 

indoor or outdoor - get yourselves out of the house and start sweating :D