25 February 2008

I'm Underweight!

Wouldn't you know it, I'm in the underweight class!

My company is having a health week and there were several booths from direct selling companies (Pharmanex, HerbaLife, etc) peddling their wares. HerbaLife was offering a free body stat measurement so I went for it even though I knew it won't be accurate after lunch.

Well, accurate or not I'm grinning from ear to ear because according to the results I'm in the small frame class for my height. I really didn't know how the salesgirl was going to spin their products but apparently, HerbaLife protein mixes can help you lose weight, gain weight, improve complexion, and save the world. It was an enjoyable spiel but I kept a clear head. Perhaps if I was put in the overweight category I would have been more tempted to buy!

At any rate, here are my stats for my personal record and gloating:
Weight: 73.8kg
Body Fat: 15.7% (how come my home reader never goes below 19%?)
Body Water Range: 61.7% (Good)
Muscle Mass: 59kg (must... make... it... higher!)
Basal Metabolism Rate: 1792 (equiv. to an 18 year old!)
Bone Mass: 3.2kg (Good)
Visceral Fat: 6kg (Approaching danger zone - must monitor)

Seriously though, I do need to gain more muscle mass and definition. There's the love handles to worry about, but I think it's more important to build first, then lean down.

18 February 2008

A Little Break for My Knees

(This post is a little incoherent and severely unedited, sorry)

For 2 months, Dec & Jan, I actually taught another aerobics class in Greenlane. Jastin and I did the usual stuff from our Thursday class but participation didn't pick up and we decided to hang our boots (Nikes?). A major reason is that participants had to pay RM20/month and I guess that turned them off. So at one point I taught 3 classes a week and it was really hard to arrange tracks so I don't get bored. I really admire full time instructors who can teach the same playlist 5 times or more every week.

Anyways, I was down to 2 classes a week and this past week I took leave from my Friday class at the company gym. They're renovating the entire place and building a new multi-purpose exercise hall (finally!). That means when I come back after a 2 month hiatus I won't have to teach in that cramped space anymore.

So now I'm down to 1 class a week, and I'm trying to enjoy it while I can. My knees still feel a bit weak at times, but they rarely hurt. This will be a good time to catch up on choreographing my next musicals-themed release. Musicals, you ask?

I love musicals but I've never watched actual stage productions, just movie interpretations. My appreciation started with Moulin Rouge and continued most recently with Hairspray (what's there not to love?!?). I've yet to watch Sweeney Todd, but from what I've heard it's quite the dark masterpiece.

So I decided a few months back after watching Hairspray for the second time to do a musicals-themed release. It'll be a dance-based workout filled with songs from musicals, and it's turning out to be harder to choreograph than I thought! The very first issue is to actually select suitable tracks. Here are a few that I've chosen, but I'm expecting you to contribute a few suggestions of your own!
  • Overture/All That Jazz from Chicago (great warmup & isolations)
  • Hindi Sad Diamonds from Moulin Rouge (Bollywood, what else?)
  • Several songs from Hairspray (add-on block, ~20 mins!)
  • Something from "Phantom of Opera" for recovery or cooldown. Thinking of either "Music of the Night" or "Think of Me".
I might want to squeeze in something from Dreamgirls, but was hoping for something more Broadway-esque in my playlist. Anything to recommend? I haven't watched enough musicals to know any better.