BREAK FREE…

Here’s Jay Chou’s latest album, Capricorn – Mo Jie Zo, with the song Dao Xiang – Fragrant Rice.

I think that this is a very relevant and meaningful song, encouraging us to move on even when facing difficult circumstances. This is especially meaningful in today’s economic crisis, and the bell rings closer to home. A great reminder that fame and success isn’t the ultimate goal. We need to add bright colours to our life, paint LOVE in our favourite colour, cherish our loved ones, and be happy!

Just enjoy the simple things of life, and know that we are blessed. Enjoy the song!

Here’s the lyrics in English translation for those who don’t understand Chinese like me!

If you have too many grievances towards this world,
Having fallen, you dare not move forward
Why must people be so weak and fallen?
Please turn on the television now and see for yourself
So many people bravely fighting for a better life
Shouldn’t we be content,
Cherish all we have, even if we don’t possess them

I still remember you said home is your only castle
Following the paddy fragrance, the flowing stream, I continued running
Smile, I know the childhood dreams
Don’t cry, let the fireflies take you away, escaping
You will always find serenity in folk songs
Go home, go back to the happiness at the very start

Don’t give up so easily, just like what I said,
For dreams you can’t achieve, just switch it for another and it’ll be fine
Add bright colours to your life
Paint LOVE in your favourite colour
Smile… fame and success isn’t the goal
Let yourself be happy. That is the whole meaning.

(Just like how) I finally found my lost childhood innocence
What is happiness? It’s chasing dragonflies in the fields barefooted till we’re exhausted
Picking fruits without permission and getting scared from being stung by bees, who’s sniggering?
Leaning against the scarecrow, enjoying the wind, singing songs till I fall asleep
Oh~ Oh~ In the afternoon, the guitar chords sound more crisp amidst the cries of the insects
Oh~ Oh~ The sunlight shines on the road so there’s no need to fear a heartbreak
Cherish everything, even if we don’t possess them

I still remember you said home is your only castle
Following the paddy fragrance, the flowing stream, I continued running
Smile, I know the childhood dreams
Don’t cry, let the fireflies take you away, escaping
You will always find serenity in folk songs
Go home, go back to the happiness at the very start

Capricorn 2008 (CD) (Regular Edition) JAY CHOU (SONY & BMG)

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Time flies by really fast… and suddenly, I find that it’s been two whole hazy months that I haven’t hit the gym! And… how do I know that?? Well, thanks to my trusty little Workout Log which I keep pasted on the fridge!

For those of you not into an exercise routine, you may wonder what’s a Workout Log. Well, it’s simply a chart that you tick off each time you go to the gym to keep track of your progress. Well, sorta like a silent personal trainer who keeps track of your going to the gym, a glaring reminder of how often (or less frequently) you go to the gym. Also, with so many things going on in my life, my brains are jam-packed with other important things that I need to remember, and I’d rather tick off on the Workout Log what exercise classes I’ve been going to, else I’d be gravitating towards those easier classes and neglecting the tougher ones.

(We always tend to avoid pain … and seek pleasure. – according to Mr. Anthony Robbins)

For those exercise buffs, each of us would already have a set of routines that we stick to. A workout log just tracks our progress, and makes sure that our exercises are balanced on the whole, and not just concentrated on one part of the body. (You don’t want one part of your body to be disproportionately bigger than the rest, regardless what part that is!)

I have friends, like Eleen, who swears by Body Pump classes to keep her body in shape. I have guy friends who love weights, and those bench presses, dumbbells and curls. A specific exercise routine targetted at specific muscle groups. (Ouch.)

Personally, I prefer group exercises, as I find it not so boring, especially if the instructor is hunky and charming! The class exercises can be divided into 2 main categories, one is to burn fat, and the other, to build muscle.

Fat burning exercises are the slower more fluid type of exercises, such as walking, dancing, etc. My fat burning arsenal is my latin and jazz dance classes. These classes are fun, sexy and not tiring. We burn fat as we swirl and twirl with the music, relaxing the mind as well as the body. Lovely!

Muscle building and toning exercises are the high impact type of exercises, my favourites being Body Combat and Power Jump. After just a couple of weeks of not missing classes (3 classes a week), I can see my body toned right back into shape. Body Combat targets mainly the upper body. With repetitive movements, the arms are firmed up, and the torso into a V-shaped 6-pack. Power Jump targets the lower body. It targets the lower abdomen, butt and thighs. Beautiful.

The best strategy is to combine both fat burning classes and muscle building classes into a workable plan.  The best is to alternate one fat burning exercise of your choice, with a muscle building exercise of your choice. That is where your Workout Log comes in handy. Plan out your most effective strategy and stick to it. And then stick your Workout Log somewhere you can see it prominently! It can be on the fridge, on the mirror, on your door, or even on your car dashboard. Let it be a silent reminder… to get off your butt and go workout!

You can DOWNLOAD A FREE PRINTABLE WORKOUT LOG HERE.

In this Free Printable Workout Log, I have given you 2 examples of how to define your exercise objectives. One Printable Workout Log for the upper body, and one Printable Workout Log for the lower body. And one BLANK Printable Workout Log for you to write in your own favourite exercises, which may defer from mine.

HAPPY EXERCISE!

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Somehow, I can relate to some of my friends’ issues with their Capricorn boyfriends. After having an interesting relationship with a Capricorn man for close to a year, I have discovered the dos and don’ts on how to keep a Capricorn man.

Essentially, the Capricorn male is steady, faithful and dependable. He is very practical and down-to-earth. As such, when it comes to daily life, deal with him with your left brain. He likes strong women, who are dependable, intelligent, charming, elegant and responsible. Most importantly, a woman who is sincere and honest whom he can trust. Yeah, I know it sounds like a tall order, but if you want to keep your Capricorn man, you must win and keep his respect.

For me personally, I rather enjoy our stimulating intellectual discussions of books, politics and issues in life. In disagreements, try not to throw a temper tantrum. It would make him withdraw, and make the discussion of issues difficult.

The Capricorn manlikes it when we can discuss matters coolly and calmly with logical reasoning. He needs an understanding and reasonable woman.

He has very strict moral principles, and hopes to find these qualities in his mate. He looks forward to building a lasting, fulfilling relationship, that can stand the test of time, without becoming dull, or taking each other for granted. However, he is very cautious in his approach, taking his time and making sure that he is certain and does not to give any empty promises that he may not be able to fulfill.

If you want to keep your Capricorn man, you cannot expect him to sweep you off your feet with roses and romantic words of sweet nothings. This is a man that will be able to give you a shelter over your head and keep you warm in winter. But don’t expect all those fancy fluff of romance. If you need something, don’t just hint… don’t give him big hints, don’t even give him obvious hints! Just tell it to him. Spell it out, if you have to! He will be more than happy to meet your need.

There is however, a more tender side to this typically detached Capricorn man. He needs your affections badly. He needs reassurance of your love consistently. While he may be reserved and finds difficulty in showing his feelings, he needs your tenderness, and once his defences have fallen, he will show himself to be infinitely affectionate and attentive.

And…. if you manage to keep your shy sweet Capricorn, you will feel secure in his steadfast love. He would definitely not want to intentionally cause hurt in any way. This is a man worth keeping for the long term.

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