What Happened When You Gain Weight

Hi Fellas,

Before: Would be my current weight after I gained 8kg. My after would be my normal and original weight that now would be my target.

Spoiler alert: This  post is not a very happy ending or cheerful post like my usual post.

I am gonna share with you my bad news.

A month ago, I weighed myself in a friend's apartment. Turned out I gained 8kg or around 17pounds. I was stressed out. There are a lot of things happen because I gained weight.

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There are several things I noticed happened or changed with my body and my attitude. It might be different with every person and every case, but these are what happened to me;

1. Short Breath
I usually able to walk longer or dance more without hyperventilating.

2. Lazy Movement
I have never been a zombie, but it might feel like this if I was one. The excess weight gave me more burden when I lift up my hands or feet.

3. Double Chin

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For me this is really annoying because when I took selfie or picture, my chin will be the first thing people see.

4. Muscle Cramp or Spasm
It happens more often than you would think. Every time I decided to do a little warm up or work out, I almost always got it. Mostly happened on my upper arm. I still can't figure out why it happens. My guess would be, cramp happened more often now that I have excess weight that sometimes it is harder for me to reach out my hands. I can't even reach out to my back. Every time I tried to reach my back (during shower or putting on a dress with zipped) I always get cramp. Sometimes, people call it "fat cramp" because it happens more often in the torso are or upper arm area.

5. Can no longer Fit in My jeans/pants/skirt

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At one point, a button pop out from my shirt and my pants. I don't mind button pops out from my shirt. It happens all the time in boobs areas. I already made my peace that I could not wear button down shirt due to my C size boobs.  But, the day one button popped out from my jean was very upsetting. I tried to find and buy a new jeans. But I hate shopping for jeans due to my short legs. I asked mom to fix my jeans to our tailor.

6. Boobs getting bigger
Originally my bra size is C, now I have to at least have an emergency D cup bra. I prefer C and B cup tho. But C cup would just be perfect for me.

7. Weaker Immune System
I feel like i got sick more often then when I was fit. I checked BMI (Body Mass Index) and it declares that I am now 'overweight'.

"Obese people find it harder to fight infections, and a weakened immune response may be to blame, suggests a new study from Boston University researchers." Source

8. I feel 'Heavy"
Enough said.

9. Roller-coaster Moody Moment

I feel like I was more emotional, I was more angry than usual. I used to be or I still (sometimes) a happy-go-lucky girl.

10. Worst: Deflated Self Esteem

11. Possibility of Higher Blood Sugar Level or Cholesterol Level

I am not new to yoyo style diet. I was so not organized nor discipline. I did my diet halfheartedly. But this time, I want it to be different. Because my target is no longer to look skinny ( I am so pass that desperately wanted to be skinny moment). I just wanna feel good about my body again. I want to be more comfortable in my own skin. I want to start having a healthier lifestyle. I want to live longer and healthy life.

So I decided to start a diet like 3 weeks ago. I have been doing good for 2 weeks. I am using Noom coach and application from Android. You can get it Here

I didn't join the Noom Pro at the beginning and I still lost 2kg in the first week and another 1kg on the 2nd week. I was pretty happy with the result. So i decided to join the Noom Pro like a week ago.

Noom suggested (based on my data that they collected on my age, lifestyle, habit, weight, height, etc) that my calories intake per day would be 1200 and My target steps (walking steps) per day would be 2000 steps. Recently Noom has increased my calories to 1250 and my steps to 2150 steps.

Then I kind fell of the wagon for a bit on weekend during a trip to the beach and this weekdays due to PMS. I have a tendency of craving for a lot of things during PMS. I have been abusing my calories intake per day. I was too cocky with the 3kg that I just lost. Noom pro suggested me to join a group on the app. The group has been wonderful and very supporting. The members of my group are really nice and we try encourage each other. We share our step by step of our diet plan and we even share recipes.

One thing I start to feel during this process is that my cramp does not happen too often. My walking feels slightly lighter. I don't feel as 'heavy', but still not my best.

Friends have been saying that I look like my usual weight. I am really thankful for the positive feedback. But I think I do need this diet and I do need to adopt a healthier way of eating. I wanna start taking care of my body and pays attention to what it needs.

Oh, I am a bad plain water drinker. I never managed to drink 8 glasses of water per day. I promise you guys, that I will start to drink more and to get my target per day achieved.

If you are doing the same thing I did. Do let me know. Maybe we can encourage each other. I support your decision as long as you are doing it for a healthier you. Please don't get discouraged by the media and surrounding about how you should feel about yourself. You are beautiful the way you are.

See you,

Suci Park

Uber Comes to Jakarta

I was uber-virgin before and tonight out of spontanity, I ubernized myself. It was a great short experience.

I downloaded Uber app yesterday but decided to use it 5 minutes before i went home from Plaza Senayan.

The app was a little bit confusing but once you get use to it, it is pretty simple and neat.

It says my Uber Cab will come in 4min. But i ended up waiting for 40min. I understand it tho, since the car has to make a re-route due to 3in1 and traffic jam was really bad. Well you can imagine Friday night. Seriously sometimes I am that impulsive. I wish I tried Uber Cab any other day especiall daylight, so i can take plenty of selfies.

The app is kinda cute. The small black car moving toward your direction on Uber Map, operated by Google. Tho the time estimation missed the correct timing, but you can see where your car is from the map. I called the driver tho, just in case he get confused where to exactly pick me up and I check his position. It was spot on just like the map said.

When the car getting closer, the app will snooze to let me know. There is option for sharing too there. The coolest part is that you can share the taxi fee with your friends if you are sharing a cab. Uber will split the bill and charge it to both CC. Yeah Uber (for now) only available to CC. I hope they will come with membership card soon.

The fare is surprisingly very affordable. Just like regular taxi. 7000 rupiah as starter and 500 rupiah/minute. From Plaza Senayan to Benhil only have to pay 31.000 rupiah which is the same amount of money with other taxi during trafic jam/friday night.

But during this month only, June 2014, Uber gives us promotional code 100.000 rupiah for your first Uber experience. Here is the code "UBERONJKT" or "sucif" you can applied it on Uber app. Available on Android Google Play, Apple store, etc.

I used the code and i don't have to pay anything. Too bad it was only 31.000 worth of trip. Should have used it later next weekend to a birthday party. Sigh.

It must be great to make a dramatic entrance with a cool car.

The interior of the car is really sleek and comfy. The driver was polite and friendly, not so chatty if you are not in the mood, but didn't mind engaging in conversation if you feel like it. Just the perfect amount of friendliness.

Gosh, so much to tell about this Uber experience. I typed this from my cellphone. I will see if I can write and share more about Uber after my trip to Bira Island this weekend.

See you again soon,

Eager Jakartan, Suci Park

My 20+ (something) Birthday, A Day Closer to 30

A week before the big day:
Gyaaaaaaaaaa
I am gonna be a day closer to 30 and I haven't reach to a place where I wanna be yet.

2 Days before:
I think I am gonna have a lonely birthday. None ask me out for dinner party nor preparing a surprise birthday party for me. I am no longer in college, none will do that here.

A day before:
I don't think people will even remember.

The Day:

Morning;
Someone left a gift on my doorstep with a cryptic note saying "TO: 나의 사랑하는 진구" which means " TO: My lovely Friend"
I found a really cute wooden color keys and rubber strap. The note says that this might be a key to open door of my happiness or any other fortune door. I love the concept. Totally romantic. I know it then, that my day is gonna be great. I can feel the air of greatness.

It doesn't say who sent the gift. But I could guess. It must be a friend from college who stays in the next dorm. And I was spot on. She admitted it. Love her sweet gesture and looooove the gift.

Morning in the office;
A friend of mine who sat right in front of me and whose face I saw everyday gives me a really cute jar. I was so happy because I am collecting cute jars now. I have always been a fan of cute packaging and jars. I started collecting it after a trip to Singapore where I found small jelly jars. Her gift was the perfect addition to my collection. Also I love flowery pattern.

Afternoon;
Boyfriend has been sulking since last night. He said everyone trying to steal his thunder, first with the first one to congratulate me and now with the cryptic yet romantic gift. I didn't notice he was plotting something. Until the security in my office said that there is a package waiting for me in the front desk.
Turned out he ordered cookies set from my fav bakery in town, The Harvest.

Love the classy packaging and colorful cookie jars. Another addition to my jar collection and I am sure it will taste great. Tho I will try not to open it till July 28th for Ied Day. I am sure everyone in my hometown would love to try this cookies.

Evening after office:
I spent an hour dinner with my boyfriend's mom. She was a sweetheart. We talked about the house, her trip, my trip to Bira Island this upcoming weekend, and about his son/my boyfriend. We shared a lot in common like our favorite chicken part is the leg or how we like tempe, etc. It was fun. And I get to play with the adorable cousin whom her laughter will lit up any room she is in. Love this little girl.

Night:
Earlier this morning, my fav hotel called me to congratulate me. I was surprised because it has been a while I haven't visited that hotel. To my surprise, they said they want to send something. I have them sending it to my home. I thought it was probably some merchandise.
When I came home, my 'mbak' said there is a package for me and she put it in the fridge. Turned out it was a huge Strawberry Cheesecake. They also came with a note of congratulation. They wrote it with pen and they signed on it. I can feel the sincere of it. How nice of them to send me the cake, write handwriting note too.
I must have talked a lot about this hotel and brag a lot about it. How could I not if they are this sweet?

Intercontinental

I decided to bring it to the office. And now, everyone has been urging me to cut the cake. I think it is gonna be all gone by the end of the day.

It was a perfect birthday. I got so many wishes on all my socmed account, not to mention the personal message on almost all of my chatting app. I feel blessed and loved. I wasn't even thinking about how old I feel like. If being 28 years old is gonna be this amazing. I will embrace it gracefully. The first day of 28 has been awesome!!! I am proud to be 28.