I have been trying to diet without actually doing the crash diet but.
So this is what i always know and rarely give myself enough consideration about it, and what many nutritionist remind us of about eating habit.
Ever heard of the advice: morning meal, eat like a king/queen; lunch, eat like a princess and dinner, eat like a pauper?
The rational to take good high calory food in the morning meal aka breakfast is so that our body has enough energy to kick-start the day. The advice is to take high caloric food. Then midday (lunch) add some fibers into our plate with less carbohydrate. And another advice is, when drinking, dont take one gulp at once but drink slow. Of course at night, even less carbohydrate. Drink plenty of water of course.
Start meal with something simple like fruit as it provides enzyme secretions that is ready to digest other complex food. Oh yes! if we eat more vegies at the start of our meal, we tend to take less of others as well. Stomach is filled up somewhat.
And....food that can help reduce obesity: cereals, oatmeal, salad, popcorn and soup!
Simple right? Lets do it then!!
Wednesday, 28 March 2012
Tuesday, 13 March 2012
Secrets of Happy Couples
I just read about this from Yahoo! and thought this is worth sharing here. Let us see what are the secret:
1. They use terms of endearment.
- this is like many calls the spouse, 'Honey', 'Darling', 'My Teddy Bear', etc...
2. They do stuff together.
- cook, shop, clean the house, read....twosome. And enjoying every seconds..Time spent playing together, is an "investment in the relationship"; it provides a relaxed intimacy that strengthens the bond between two people. So even if life is impossibly frantic, make the time for play and do all you can to eliminate distractions.
3. When the going gets tough, they don't call Mom or Dad
- keep things between them. No need to tell family unless very very needed. Brace storms together.
4. They stay connected to their parents.
- but always know where attachment to parents starts and ends.
5. They don't nickel and dime about chores.
- everything is given at the best level, not even a 50-50 share but 150% share of commitment with one another and everything related.
6. They fight constructively.
- a psychiatry professor said: the way couples handle conflict is the most important factor in determining whether or not they stay together.
- In strong marriages, the partners take control of their disagreements by establishing ground rules.
- agreed-upon time-out if the conflict is escalating and unproductive, agreeing to continue the discussion after a cooling-off period.
- also truly listen to each other and won't prematurely try to solve the problem before they've heard each other out.
- Above all, no matter how angry they get, they don't resort to name-calling and insults -- key danger signs.
7. They give each other gifts.
8. They never lose their sense of humor.
9. They take 'for better or for worse' seriously.
Hmmm...what do you think guys?
Source: LOVEBOOK, Yahoo!
1. They use terms of endearment.
- this is like many calls the spouse, 'Honey', 'Darling', 'My Teddy Bear', etc...
2. They do stuff together.
- cook, shop, clean the house, read....twosome. And enjoying every seconds..Time spent playing together, is an "investment in the relationship"; it provides a relaxed intimacy that strengthens the bond between two people. So even if life is impossibly frantic, make the time for play and do all you can to eliminate distractions.
3. When the going gets tough, they don't call Mom or Dad
- keep things between them. No need to tell family unless very very needed. Brace storms together.
4. They stay connected to their parents.
- but always know where attachment to parents starts and ends.
5. They don't nickel and dime about chores.
- everything is given at the best level, not even a 50-50 share but 150% share of commitment with one another and everything related.
6. They fight constructively.
- a psychiatry professor said: the way couples handle conflict is the most important factor in determining whether or not they stay together.
- In strong marriages, the partners take control of their disagreements by establishing ground rules.
- agreed-upon time-out if the conflict is escalating and unproductive, agreeing to continue the discussion after a cooling-off period.
- also truly listen to each other and won't prematurely try to solve the problem before they've heard each other out.
- Above all, no matter how angry they get, they don't resort to name-calling and insults -- key danger signs.
7. They give each other gifts.
8. They never lose their sense of humor.
9. They take 'for better or for worse' seriously.
Hmmm...what do you think guys?
Source: LOVEBOOK, Yahoo!
Monday, 12 March 2012
10 Bad Money Habits
I am guilty of each and everyone of these. Even though i have handled money matters since teenage years still i find it difficult many times to do the very thing you MUST do: saving money. Anyway, these i took from Yahoo: Financially Fit section.
Let us see what are the 10 bad money habits we may inculcate into ourselves:
1. Contributing too little to your saving
The suggestion is to save some 10% of your take home salary. And we can start little first and eventually get to the percentage and perhaps with increase in salary, hike up the saving to higher percentage.
(i am really guilty of this for at this moment, i am unable to save at all...BUT i must now...my next salary will see to that and it is never too late to start anything!)
2. Keeping quiet at raise time
Men are four times as likely as women to ask for a raise, according to a study from Carnegie Mellon University. If you don't ask, you don't get, and the vast majority of people who do ask get something, whether it's a salary bump or another type of incentive. The more often you ask for raises (within reason), the more money you stand to make in the long run, which translates to more retirement savings, more college savings for your kids and a higher KWSP saving (if this is applicable to you), among other things.
(alahai, i am really guilty, guilty and guilty...i never really get involved with this at all. i let other people do the talking and i just get a hitch from there. But i suppose is because i work in an establishment where everything is already structured? But yes, when thing like SBPA came about, CUEPACS did all the talking, yes? )
3. Carrying a balance on credit cards
It's wise to live within your means and pay down your credit card debt. Suggestion: Pay the minimum balance on all of your credit cards except the one with the smallest balance-and put as much money as possible toward that one until it's paid off. Once that happens, take the money you were throwing at that card and put it toward the next-highest balance, and so on until everything's paid off.
(hmmm....i should try this....)
4. Using too many credit cards
When you spread your purchases out over multiple cards, it's tough to rein in spending. "It's harder to be aware of where your money is going," says one financial advisor. Instead, you spend a few hundred dollars here, a few hundred dollars there, and at the end of the month you owe more than you expected. Using a bunch of cards also may hurt your credit score. So stick to one or two cards with no annual fee and a good cash-back program.
(uhuh! agree to this and luckily i don't do this.)
5. Spending money without tracking it
More than a third of women spend more each month than they make, according to a survey by Financial Finesse. If you don't know where your money's going, you can't accurately plan to meet saving and spending goals. Paying attention to cash flow will make you more mindful of your purchases-and less apt to fork out dollars for yet another pair of shoes. Create an account on Mint.com and use it to track your day-to-day expenditures by category.
(right! i have always and in fact diligently track where my money goes but there are times when i just let myself go because i am tired of being too calculative about money...maybe, i should try Mint.com and see what that is all about?)
6. Skimping on emergency savings
If you lost your job tomorrow, how long would you be able to last on your savings? A month? A week? (Good question!) "An emergency fund is a must," says another financial advisor. You should have enough socked away (in a money market account, perhaps) to cover three to six months of living expenses-which should be less than three to six months of income, since income includes retirement contributions, taxes and money for unnecessary spending.
(i never put any thought about this at all. certainly, this needs to be thought, right?)
7. Skipping disability insurance
Your chance of becoming disabled is far greater than your chance of dying before retirement. Start with disability coverage. That will usually cover 60% of your base salary, not including bonuses or commissions. Consider getting a policy that replaces less of your earnings should you become unable to work. Some income would be better than no income.
(hmm...what say you? I have not bought any...)
8. Saving for college over retirement
It's great that you're putting money aside for your child's higher education. But if you're doing this instead of growing your retirement savings, you'll need to work for a long time to make up for it. remember: While there are a variety of ways for your child to pay for a degree-scholarships, grants, financial aid, part-time jobs-no one offers loans for your golden years. You should put at least 10% of your household income into retirement savings before you send the first cent toward college.
(Sounds reasonable to me. When we don't have enough now, how can we think of tomorrow? but of course, we always strive hard for the better...at the end, where is the reward? We put so much thought of our children way and above ourselves, but will they be thinking of us in later years? What did our parent do to us? Not many of us are privilege, born with silver spoon, many work very hard to be where we are...can we not teach the same to our children? Having said this, just because our parent did not provide us with money, we ignore them at their golden age? No...we don't. In fact, some cases, the one with silver spoon who always forget their parents! )
9. Buying high and selling low
This is all about investing. The advice is not to get panic when there is a shift in market value, do not remove all the funds, for we might miss some when the market rebound.
(am not into investment like this, once bitten twice shy...that's me. i'll leave this to people who knows what is good for them and having lots of fund, perhaps? But i do know of few people who did investment without spending a cent of his own !)
10. Letting your significant other handle all the money decisions
Many women aren't involved in every family money move. Day-to-day budgeting? Sure. Women are less likely to deal with big-picture items such as taxes, debt payments and investments. (i suka je....) The problem with that: What if your significant other is more aggressive with your money than you'd like to be? What if he's doing things that you don't agree with? If you're not checking in regularly, you're vulnerable if your spouse mismanages the family finances-or in a real mess if you get divorced or your spouse dies, since you won't know how to take over. Protect yourself by swapping roles periodically and having frequent money chats.
(hmmm....what if i am the one doing all the tough decision? I think i am not guilty of this issue. )
Let us see what are the 10 bad money habits we may inculcate into ourselves:
1. Contributing too little to your saving
The suggestion is to save some 10% of your take home salary. And we can start little first and eventually get to the percentage and perhaps with increase in salary, hike up the saving to higher percentage.
(i am really guilty of this for at this moment, i am unable to save at all...BUT i must now...my next salary will see to that and it is never too late to start anything!)
2. Keeping quiet at raise time
Men are four times as likely as women to ask for a raise, according to a study from Carnegie Mellon University. If you don't ask, you don't get, and the vast majority of people who do ask get something, whether it's a salary bump or another type of incentive. The more often you ask for raises (within reason), the more money you stand to make in the long run, which translates to more retirement savings, more college savings for your kids and a higher KWSP saving (if this is applicable to you), among other things.
(alahai, i am really guilty, guilty and guilty...i never really get involved with this at all. i let other people do the talking and i just get a hitch from there. But i suppose is because i work in an establishment where everything is already structured? But yes, when thing like SBPA came about, CUEPACS did all the talking, yes? )
3. Carrying a balance on credit cards
It's wise to live within your means and pay down your credit card debt. Suggestion: Pay the minimum balance on all of your credit cards except the one with the smallest balance-and put as much money as possible toward that one until it's paid off. Once that happens, take the money you were throwing at that card and put it toward the next-highest balance, and so on until everything's paid off.
(hmmm....i should try this....)
4. Using too many credit cards
When you spread your purchases out over multiple cards, it's tough to rein in spending. "It's harder to be aware of where your money is going," says one financial advisor. Instead, you spend a few hundred dollars here, a few hundred dollars there, and at the end of the month you owe more than you expected. Using a bunch of cards also may hurt your credit score. So stick to one or two cards with no annual fee and a good cash-back program.
(uhuh! agree to this and luckily i don't do this.)
5. Spending money without tracking it
More than a third of women spend more each month than they make, according to a survey by Financial Finesse. If you don't know where your money's going, you can't accurately plan to meet saving and spending goals. Paying attention to cash flow will make you more mindful of your purchases-and less apt to fork out dollars for yet another pair of shoes. Create an account on Mint.com and use it to track your day-to-day expenditures by category.
(right! i have always and in fact diligently track where my money goes but there are times when i just let myself go because i am tired of being too calculative about money...maybe, i should try Mint.com and see what that is all about?)
6. Skimping on emergency savings
If you lost your job tomorrow, how long would you be able to last on your savings? A month? A week? (Good question!) "An emergency fund is a must," says another financial advisor. You should have enough socked away (in a money market account, perhaps) to cover three to six months of living expenses-which should be less than three to six months of income, since income includes retirement contributions, taxes and money for unnecessary spending.
(i never put any thought about this at all. certainly, this needs to be thought, right?)
7. Skipping disability insurance
Your chance of becoming disabled is far greater than your chance of dying before retirement. Start with disability coverage. That will usually cover 60% of your base salary, not including bonuses or commissions. Consider getting a policy that replaces less of your earnings should you become unable to work. Some income would be better than no income.
(hmm...what say you? I have not bought any...)
8. Saving for college over retirement
It's great that you're putting money aside for your child's higher education. But if you're doing this instead of growing your retirement savings, you'll need to work for a long time to make up for it. remember: While there are a variety of ways for your child to pay for a degree-scholarships, grants, financial aid, part-time jobs-no one offers loans for your golden years. You should put at least 10% of your household income into retirement savings before you send the first cent toward college.
(Sounds reasonable to me. When we don't have enough now, how can we think of tomorrow? but of course, we always strive hard for the better...at the end, where is the reward? We put so much thought of our children way and above ourselves, but will they be thinking of us in later years? What did our parent do to us? Not many of us are privilege, born with silver spoon, many work very hard to be where we are...can we not teach the same to our children? Having said this, just because our parent did not provide us with money, we ignore them at their golden age? No...we don't. In fact, some cases, the one with silver spoon who always forget their parents! )
9. Buying high and selling low
This is all about investing. The advice is not to get panic when there is a shift in market value, do not remove all the funds, for we might miss some when the market rebound.
(am not into investment like this, once bitten twice shy...that's me. i'll leave this to people who knows what is good for them and having lots of fund, perhaps? But i do know of few people who did investment without spending a cent of his own !)
10. Letting your significant other handle all the money decisions
Many women aren't involved in every family money move. Day-to-day budgeting? Sure. Women are less likely to deal with big-picture items such as taxes, debt payments and investments. (i suka je....) The problem with that: What if your significant other is more aggressive with your money than you'd like to be? What if he's doing things that you don't agree with? If you're not checking in regularly, you're vulnerable if your spouse mismanages the family finances-or in a real mess if you get divorced or your spouse dies, since you won't know how to take over. Protect yourself by swapping roles periodically and having frequent money chats.
(hmmm....what if i am the one doing all the tough decision? I think i am not guilty of this issue. )
Sunday, 11 March 2012
Great employees
Great employees are reliable, dependable, proactive, diligent, great leaders and great followers... they possess a wide range of easily-defined—but hard to find—qualities.
A few hit the next level. Some employees are remarkable, possessing qualities that may not appear on performance appraisals but nonetheless make a major impact on performance.
Here are eight qualities of remarkable employees:
1. They ignore job descriptions. The smaller the company, the more important it is that employees can think on their feet, adapt quickly to shifting priorities, and do whatever it takes, regardless of role or position, to get things done.
When a key customer's project is in jeopardy, remarkable employees know without being told there's a problem and jump in without being asked—even if it's not their job.
2. They’re eccentric... The best employees are often a little different: quirky, sometimes irreverent, even delighted to be unusual. They seem slightly odd, but in a really good way. Unusual personalities shake things up, make work more fun, and transform a plain-vanilla group into a team with flair and flavor.
People who aren't afraid to be different naturally stretch boundaries and challenge the status quo, and they often come up with the best ideas.
3. But they know when to dial it back. An unusual personality is a lot of fun... until it isn't. When a major challenge pops up or a situation gets stressful, the best employees stop expressing their individuality and fit seamlessly into the team.
Remarkable employees know when to play and when to be serious; when to be irreverent and when to conform; and when to challenge and when to back off. It’s a tough balance to strike, but a rare few can walk that fine line with ease.
4. They publicly praise... Praise from a boss feels good. Praise from a peer feels awesome, especially when you look up to that person.
Remarkable employees recognize the contributions of others, especially in group settings where the impact of their words is even greater.
5. And they privately complain. We all want employees to bring issues forward, but some problems are better handled in private. Great employees often get more latitude to bring up controversial subjects in a group setting because their performance allows greater freedom.
Remarkable employees come to you before or after a meeting to discuss a sensitive issue, knowing that bringing it up in a group setting could set off a firestorm.
6. They speak when others won’t. Some employees are hesitant to speak up in meetings. Some are even hesitant to speak up privately.
An employee once asked me a question about potential layoffs. After the meeting I said to him, “Why did you ask about that? You already know what's going on.” He said, “I do, but a lot of other people don't, and they're afraid to ask. I thought it would help if they heard the answer from you.”
Remarkable employees have an innate feel for the issues and concerns of those around them, and step up to ask questions or raise important issues when others hesitate.
7. They like to prove others wrong. Self-motivation often springs from a desire to show that doubters are wrong. The kid without a college degree or the woman who was told she didn't have leadership potential often possess a burning desire to prove other people wrong.
Education, intelligence, talent, and skill are important, but drive is critical. Remarkable employees are driven by something deeper and more personal than just the desire to do a good job.
8. They’re always fiddling. Some people are rarely satisfied (I mean that in a good way) and are constantly tinkering with something: Reworking a timeline, adjusting a process, tweaking a workflow.
Great employees follow processes. Remarkable employees find ways to make those processes even better, not only because they are expected to… but because they just can't help it.
writer: Jeff Haden
A few hit the next level. Some employees are remarkable, possessing qualities that may not appear on performance appraisals but nonetheless make a major impact on performance.
Here are eight qualities of remarkable employees:
1. They ignore job descriptions. The smaller the company, the more important it is that employees can think on their feet, adapt quickly to shifting priorities, and do whatever it takes, regardless of role or position, to get things done.
When a key customer's project is in jeopardy, remarkable employees know without being told there's a problem and jump in without being asked—even if it's not their job.
2. They’re eccentric... The best employees are often a little different: quirky, sometimes irreverent, even delighted to be unusual. They seem slightly odd, but in a really good way. Unusual personalities shake things up, make work more fun, and transform a plain-vanilla group into a team with flair and flavor.
People who aren't afraid to be different naturally stretch boundaries and challenge the status quo, and they often come up with the best ideas.
3. But they know when to dial it back. An unusual personality is a lot of fun... until it isn't. When a major challenge pops up or a situation gets stressful, the best employees stop expressing their individuality and fit seamlessly into the team.
Remarkable employees know when to play and when to be serious; when to be irreverent and when to conform; and when to challenge and when to back off. It’s a tough balance to strike, but a rare few can walk that fine line with ease.
4. They publicly praise... Praise from a boss feels good. Praise from a peer feels awesome, especially when you look up to that person.
Remarkable employees recognize the contributions of others, especially in group settings where the impact of their words is even greater.
5. And they privately complain. We all want employees to bring issues forward, but some problems are better handled in private. Great employees often get more latitude to bring up controversial subjects in a group setting because their performance allows greater freedom.
Remarkable employees come to you before or after a meeting to discuss a sensitive issue, knowing that bringing it up in a group setting could set off a firestorm.
6. They speak when others won’t. Some employees are hesitant to speak up in meetings. Some are even hesitant to speak up privately.
An employee once asked me a question about potential layoffs. After the meeting I said to him, “Why did you ask about that? You already know what's going on.” He said, “I do, but a lot of other people don't, and they're afraid to ask. I thought it would help if they heard the answer from you.”
Remarkable employees have an innate feel for the issues and concerns of those around them, and step up to ask questions or raise important issues when others hesitate.
7. They like to prove others wrong. Self-motivation often springs from a desire to show that doubters are wrong. The kid without a college degree or the woman who was told she didn't have leadership potential often possess a burning desire to prove other people wrong.
Education, intelligence, talent, and skill are important, but drive is critical. Remarkable employees are driven by something deeper and more personal than just the desire to do a good job.
8. They’re always fiddling. Some people are rarely satisfied (I mean that in a good way) and are constantly tinkering with something: Reworking a timeline, adjusting a process, tweaking a workflow.
Great employees follow processes. Remarkable employees find ways to make those processes even better, not only because they are expected to… but because they just can't help it.
writer: Jeff Haden
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