S.i.s – getting the 10K steps daily

Posted in Good Things, Medicine/Health by

We are now at Day 34 of the challenge. Often, I find myself on a working day, choosing between spending my residual energy levels on a brisk walk or sacrificing other daily activities. The activities include cooking dinner, lying on the bed, scrolling social media, having a quick shut-eye with full consciousness after 5 pm, or getting groceries. Making dinner can be a tough choice as it requires considerable effort to prepare a meal for myself and the family. Hence, sometimes if I choose to walk, that usually means I will order GrabFood.

Juggling responsibilities and personal goals is tricky. Some things just have to give in. And you’d definitely have to do it TIRED. The mind must be ready to commit. Which explains why I would sometimes just hop on the walking pad with my work baju kurung and tawaf socks. This is to keep the momentum going because I know that once I lie on the bed, my energy levels would dwindle to the ‘not motivated’ category. If I wear my tawaf socks, I don’t have to wear my indoor shoes. They are thick and comfy enough to walk in.

The more energetic members of the team have been sharing tips to get the 10K steps. Such as walking around the car park upon arriving at the clinic in the morning. Or getting some steps in during lunch break at the gym (physiotherapy unit). Although, to be honest, I’d rather sleep. It’s pretty cool to see the different strategies. There were also fewer unethical tips that I’ve seen being done in malls, during courses or in the car. Which is shaking your hands that wears the smart watch? Of course, it works, but it does not align with my values.

If I feel that for that given day, I wouldn’t be able to contribute a star to my group for reasons such as excessive lethargy due to the first day of my menstrual cycle, busy with mothering activities at home or simply LOW MOOD, then I would just not do it. But once I’ve got a hang of 5K steps for the day, I would try my best to top it up to 10 K. Usually, making up the differences by using my walking pad. If my members prefer to shake their hands, they may do so. Just do not include me in the act.

This challenge is due to be completed in 2 months. I am thinking of getting new shoes for outdoor walks because my current footwear is sneakers for casual use. I could feel my feet burning from the friction when walking long distances outdoors. If I have additional budget, I might get one of those smart watches. Perhaps then, even after the challenge, I would still be motivated to exercise.

I get a small commission from Shopee if you purchase these anti-slip socks using my link: https://s.shopee.com.my/AAEOlTBavK

Teacher’s Day gift

Posted in Beauty Products, Good Things by

This year, the teachers are getting face sheet masks. I wanted gifts that are not only budget-friendly but also easy for my daughter to carry to school. It had a personalised note that I made using Canva. Unfortunately, my poor choice of coloured paper makes it look dull. I loop the card with a ribbon through the gap on top of the packaging.

I will do better next year.

I bought the sheets from Shopee with lots of extras for myself too! I even placed them inside the goodie bag for Mother’s Day.

Things I just knew from Michael (2026)

Posted in Movie, Reviews by

First of all, I was surprised to find myself enjoying this movie very much. He was a legend during his time, and although I was very young, I was still able to sing some of his tracks by heart. Including songs by Jackson 5, despite me not being born yet.

It was admittedly what the critics would describe as a polished version of Michael. I perceived him as a genius introvert in musicality. That was how I saw him based on the movie. Not only that, but I also came to realise a few things.

  • Jackson 5 was very successful. I knew they were famous, but before this, I did not fully comprehend the scale of their success. They were able to wiggle out of their lower socioeconomic status and upgrade their lives to stay at a posh residential space. They had a mansion with almost a zoo in it. Given the upgraded status, MJ was able to pursue a solo career as a global superstar.
  • I had no idea MJ loves wild animals. He had an ilama, a snake (that he brought with him to record ‘We Are The World’), a chimpanzee and God knows what other animals.
  • MJ talks like that in his daily life. I thought it was just a stage persona. This shows how accepting his family was of his unique personality. I’d probably be telling my son, ‘Can you speak up and talk properly? Why the sing-song tone?’
  • Producing music and talent back then required a lot of grit and networking. Nowadays, if you know how to use social media right, you can become a global superstar with just a click of a button. It can be a one-man show. Back then, you had to meet and talk to specific people in the industry. You need a team of people and money to get to where you want to be.

The movie was just above 2 hours, and I did not even get up for a toilet break. The actor was convincing as Michael. Well, he was his nephew after all. The songs and performances in it were great too. I was tapping to the beat and mouthing the words of the songs. I hope it’ll make its way to Netflix soon. I want to watch it again.

Mother’s Day buffet

Posted in Good Things, Parenting, Family and Relationships by

Mr Husband brought the mother’s in his family for a buffet recently.

It was a high-tea spread at Grand Swiss-Belhotel Melaka. The promotion was good. Mothers eat free for each ‘1 paying adult’.

I loved the food options. There’s definitely something for everybody. The kids get balloons from the clown, and family members get to participate in the cake decorating competition. I loved my meal. My sister-in-law brought a birthday cake, and we celebrated my husband’s and his younger brother’s birthdays too.

Cake decorating by my niece with the help from her cousins

I used to celebrate Mother’s Day on my side of the family. Now that mom’s passed, the celebration carries on to my husband’s side of the family. Next month is Father’s Day. We would probably have a meal with papitos, and the father’s on my side of the family. We will see how it goes.

10K steps a day – walking the talk

Posted in All in a days work, Everyday Life by

It has been 14 days since the Sihat Itu Saya challenge started. I am in a group made up of 20 participants. On most days, I can contribute one star for the team with a minimum of 10K steps a day. Since my job is sedentary, my phone could only pick up fewer than 1K steps for the whole day. Sometimes it is as few as 500 steps. This means that I’ll need to do my own walking at home till I complete my target.

While on the walking pad, it had me thinking. Would 10K steps from physical activity be as beneficial as putting 10K on a focused brisk walking session?

Since my side quest of losing weight is ongoing, obviously, I’d want to indulge in activities that would keep my heart rate up. The plan was to ensure that I get a complete 10K on my walking pad regardless of how much I got while working. However, I realised that time is an important factor to consider. Will explain more on that later. So the plan now is just to top up my steps till 10K. The most I managed so far is up to 11K.

The top performers in my team were getting more than 20K per day. They jog, play badminton and are known to be very active physically. They are the biggest contributors to our ranks. Any steps above 10K are rewarded one star. However, it is the average step of each team that determines the ranking. Thus, getting ‘gold’ is possible, but for the top ranks, all team members need to be active. At the moment, we are still in the ranks of 130 to 150.