Photo by steve caddy

Yesterday I attended Jonathan Wong's seminar on fat loss with a friend. I could bring another person for the price of one because I'm a subscriber of his newsletter, so I had been trying to get some people who are always complaining that they are fat but never got around to do anything or do the wrong things (so they are still fat). I was willing to pay half the cost even though I already pretty much know most of the content of the seminar.

I had tried to ask a few of my colleagues to go, but there was no response. A few of these colleagues are trying to lose fats by spending hours and hours on aerobics and slow jogging round and round the track. These are also the same people who are in a weight management programme organised by the company with an external party. I don't have anything against the external party, but I certainly don't agree with some of the things they preach or say (this will be another post another day).

I told my colleagues about HIIT, about eating 5-6 meals a day, about eating more protein, about weight-training, but I was basically ignored. I thought maybe it was because I had no credibility as I was not certified or anything. So when I knew of this seminar, I wanted them to listen to someone who is a professional and had been-there-done-that. Still, they ignored me. Oh well. It's their loss (and it's not their fats), not mine. From then on, I had stopped correcting them. I tried but nobody wanted to listen. Instead, they prefer spending hours doing things that are not effective.

Enough of the bitching and back to the seminar. In my opinion, it was very useful and practical, especially to those who had tried various ways of losing fats but never succeeded. This is the seminar that slimming centres and slimming pills manufacturers do not want you to attend.

Also, before the talk started, Jonathan made us do an interval circuit training using body weight:-

• Squats
• Pushups
• Jumping jacks
• Alternating lunges
• Side bridge (L)
• Side bridge (R)
• Jump squats
• Burpees

30s each, 1 minute rest, 3 sets.

I had no idea that we were going to do this! Otherwise I would have brought a towel, a bottle of water and a change of clothes. It was fun though; I liked it! It was only 15 minutes, but it made us pant like a dog after each set. This should give some people some idea that you really don't need an hour to get some decent cardio exercises done.

I have finally succumbed to peer pressure and signed up a Facebook account.

I only have one thing to say - it's a super time-waster!

But I'm gonna invite people to waste time together with me anyhow. Heh.

At 9 months post-op, I am finally discharged from physiotherapy. My physiotherapist did some tests - Biodex and Hop Tests - on me and she was satisfied with the results. It wasn't ideal, but satisfactory. My right quad is still weaker than the left, but the right hamstring is strong than the left. Weird, but that's all right. I have long learnt to live with all the quirkiness in my right leg and will continue to build strength in both legs.

For those of you who still have healthy knees - or healthy joints for that matter - take care of them while you can.

1 year ago today, I tored my ACL during a game organised by my company. Contradicting as it seemed, it was an effort by my company to get us off our butts from our office chairs and into the field for some action.

2 days ago, when I casually remarked that Sunday would be my first anniversary of my ACL injury, one of my colleagues asked if I hated the company for the mishap. Why should I? Accidents happen. And I believe everything happens for a reason. If I didn't get injured during that event, I might get injured in another game I played outside the company. Who would have known, really?

I guess it's easier to say all these now, because the first few weeks after the injury, I was totally depressed. I thought I would never be able to walk properly again, let alone play sports. It was a difficult time. Fortunately, I managed to bounce back because I started to see results after going for a few physiotherapy sessions. I was determined to work my ass off to build all the strength possible in my leg in 4 months before my surgery. Post-surgery rehab was even tougher. Not only did I have to start from zero again, I had to deal with swelling, lack of flexion and extension and the constant fear of re-tearing the delicate graft.

1 year post-injury and 8 months post-surgery later, I'm proud to say I'm physically and mentally stronger than I ever was. I have learnt so much from this injury. I'll never take any part of my body for granted again. I go to the gym for full body strength and muscles building 3 times a week now, and on top of that I started playing badminton and swimming weekly. I realise now how important muscles are. They absorb impact, protect your bones and joints, help burn fats and of course, make you look good.

As with any setbacks in life, once you manage to bounce back, you'll emerge stronger and better.

I didn't know that by doing 3 sets of 20 box jumps could hurt my abs as much as 3 sets of 20 crunches would. Eureka!