I have to say, Denise Austin has a body to die for! Look at those abs man! They have been the driving force for me to workout harder and achieve my fitness goals! And surprisingly, despite my recent slowdown of fitness activities, I still lose weight. That’s a good thing. Now I need to keep them off. I want to challenge myself. Before fasting month, I must reach my ideal weight and gain back those muscles in my arms. A few months back, I workout so hard, pumping up my arms that there were stretch marks there. I dont know if its a good thing or a bad thing, but I guess if something unnatural happens then your body is telling you something. So I cut back and let the body adjust first before doing more vigorous activities. But all I’ve been doing is well, aerobics at home. And some tone ups. Go from flab to fab! Or at least that’s what Denise said heheheh.
And you know what? I regained my inspiration when I watched The Simpsons yesterday or the day before. Homer Simpson was working out for two months at the gym and eat nothing not in bar form and especially lots of power apple sauce. He actually gained muscles in his arms! Now thats for some weird inspirations!
Now I know I’ve been lacking exercise and need to readjust, but I still want to get at least 3 days of exercise a week. 6 would be the best since I need at least one day off for the muscles to work and stuff. I just did some exercise even. At night, before dinner just now. Its better if you eat after you exercise because once you have worked the msucles, they boost up your metabolism and processes the food faster. The same thing with having bigger and stronger muscles. I’m working towards that since after I start Swinburne, I need to readjust my exercise routines.
I know, Ive been the doing the same routine over and over and I do get bored. But that’s sacrifices. No pain no gain, even if its in the form of boredom. The only "pain" I get from exercising is the pain of getting started. What a pain! It almost takes all of your willpower to get off the chair and put on your exercise gears! Beta-endorphin high is quite a sensation you know, hehehe. About doing the same routine, Denise advises us to change routine after 6 months. Thats what I did, but instead of changing routines, I just took a long sabbatical hehehehe. But now I mix up my routine. And although your muscles commit muscle memory after some time, I still do some routines I read in the book. Sacrifices. Feel hungry, drink. Feel tired, sleep. Feel lazy? Exercise! Everything comes with a price! Only those whos willing to pay the price will get the results. So, gambaremasho~!
Today I had IT Word Practical Exam. Meeps! It was bad! I messed up a lot of stuff, but I was among those who made it to question two. Yep, some people never even went pass question one. There were certain things I dont know how to do and how to do it properly. So instead of fussing over those, I concentrate in those I can do, and do them well. That’s a lot better, right? What is more frustrating? Make mistakes on something you know how to do or make mistakes on something you’re clueless on? Obviously the first.
Focus! That’s the point here. Focus and you’ll save a million frustration.
Another thing about IT is the lecture. Its so damn boring. Especially if you sit at the back and hardly pay attention. At first I was among those who filled the front seats. But after a while, I followed a friend and sat at the back where she was obviously not listening to the lecture but was listening to the radio through her phone. To be honest, I wasn’t comfortable but I got used to it by ignoring the lecture and went on drawing in my book. (It kinda makes it look like I was writing down notes even though I’m really not :P). But the lecturer knows people at the back are not paying attention and suddenly gave some review questions. Now Im done for! I hate having stuff I dont know what to do, especially concerning IT because I took that subject in high school. Needless to say, I was clueless. But luckily it was just lecture exercises we just have to do and not submit.
But I’ve had it. I am not going to join those at the back. How come during other classes, even though I sit at the back, I’m willing to pay attention but not IT? And why is it when it comes to studying for IT, its like looking into a dark bottomless hole? You dont know what the heck you’re supposed to study and where to find them. I thought I was an IT student in high school. Then how come I cant even do these exercises?
I heard that if you have problems studying, one of the ways you can try is to learn using all of your five senses. Or at least more than one. You’re listening to the lecturer, so thats one. But is it enough? So during our last lecture, I sat at the front, with those I know are paying attention. I took out my notebook and starts jotting down notes like in my econs class. I prefer reading from my little rojak notebook than the lecture notes themselves. So Im listening, writing and discussing it a bit with my friend Winnie who sits beside me. So that’s three senses. I dont care if my hands are tired out or I miss some of the notes on the presentation. Victor likes talking a lot so I have plenty of time to copy down. I know, I know, I can get those slides from the learning materials in the Blackboard site, but will I read it? I hate reading stuff off the computer other than scanlations and opening up learning materials of every week and reading them one by one. I mean, I cant actually bring those notes to the library and study them right?
As if aware of my readiness, Victor(the lecturer) gave us some questions at the end of the presentation! He called up names to answer the questions and since I was paying attention, I know almost all the answers! I was amazed - at myself! (then again, I always amaze myself hehehehe nahh I want to brag a bit ;)) I was ready in case he calls my name, but he didn’t! I think he knew we at the front were paying attention so he called up unfamiliar names of people sitting at the back. When the lecture actually ended, I feel fulfilled. I know even though the lecture was boring, I try to make it not boring. I paid attention and write notes. That kept me busy. And I dont have to waste my time outside of class to read up the notes later. I mean, I would rather spend my time outside of class doing things I enjoy like drawing or reading or workout. So why should I, instead of doing these things I enjoy, sacrifice my time to do something I’m supposed to do in class right? That’s just stupid. Class time is study time. That’s what you’re there for. Outside class is my time. If possible, I want to study only in class, but that’s rather impossible. Although I am tempted to try out my class memory. You know, sit for tests without extra studying. Hehehehe. But naaah, I devote time to study now.Thats a time slot on its own. And I enjoy doing it because I know if I do it (studying) I will get a pay off. And its a good thing.
Actually, I made the decision to pay attention in class and ditch my back of class partner (who, during that lecture, skipped class altogether) and sat in the front rows beside Winnie, and behind two others who are also well-known front seaters, after reading someone’s blog about Time is Money. *snickers*. I thought, even if I pass my time during IT for drawing just to make the lecture more bearable, its still wasting time. When am I going to study for IT? I thought I wanted to score HD for all subjects including IT? I wasnt happy with my attitude with the lecture so I changed. And in the words of Robert Frost, "And it has made all the difference."
In addition, I also feel like I get the berkat or ‘blessing’ of the teacher you know. And that’s a good feeling. During exam seasons in my previous school, we used to go around asking forgiveness from our teachers and peers(I guess I did learn something from my old school eh). I refer to it as a certain ‘rite of knowledge’. I believe that if the teacher has a grudge against you and wants you to apologize but you didnt, and the ill feeling remains, it will affect your exam (like you cant remember how to do this question and such). That’s why its important to honor and respect your teachers.
Knowledge, is sacred.
And all that was achieved with a change of attitude, and mindset. Because time is precious, I dont want to waste my time in class. Boring or not, time flows. Its up to you on how you want to spend it. Most(or all) people who walk out of the lecture said its boring. Maybe it is, but I dont have time to think about it being boring. The only thing I can think of is that, time is flowing and in the words of God: "In the name of time, verily humans are in a loss," Yes Omar, I borrowed it from your blog. I’ll give it back later, It might be a little wet though, just dont mind it. *grins*
Although, like you, Omar, and like a lot of us, I’m still in a lose. So I try to make full use of the time I allocate to certain things. Class time is definitely study time, and workout time is workout time. And sleep time, is sleep time. Want to get that 9 hours would be a little hard, but 8 hours at least I can manage. If you’re sleeping, just sleep. Stop thinking and go to bed. Whatever problems that cloud your mind will disappear…and solutions will come to you in the morning. Despite being asleep, our brain is most active when whe’re asleep. Funny huh?
So tomorrow is fasting day to me. I just bought some DVDs today. Mostly movies I missed in the cineplex. Tomorrow I’m going to watch them. I have decided tomorrow as relaxation time after such a hectic week. So make full use of relaxation time. No studying. Well, we still got quiz on Monday, but I can study on Sunday. I will be cleaning my room that day, but only a few hours of study is fine after that. My friend said the quizzes are easy so it should be okay. By Monday, my room shall be clean! And after class on Monday, I can start studying for other things. Like the econs test 2 the next week!
Yay.
Its test man! Its not supposed to be fun! I cant easily go YAY! unless I’m that confident. I found out that the best way to keep up with your results is to always be on your toes. You need a little feeling of nervousness. If you’re always feeling insecure about your results, you’ll study till days end. But if you’re confident,(by looking at past results) you will do minimal study because you think you can easily pull off the same results.
Such is not always the case. A giant enterprise keeps growing because they keep the spirit of a start-up. In this context, Ray Kroc’s (founder of McDonald’s) word holds true. If you’re green, you’re growing. Once you ripe, you start to rot.
I’m trying to keep green by instead of looking at stuff I already know, I look at stuff I found tricky and study them. Then I know that there’s still a long way to go and Im not "there" yet even though I got good marks for this subject before. You got me? ¬_¬
You should have seen the look on the DVD store’s tauke’s face when I asked for a discount, she looked like she just swallowed something bitter. Blehh. You still make profit anyway! I study business, I know, you know! 
Now is where I go to bed. Good night!
Now what did I watch yesterday hmmm? Started off with The Pacifier, then Miss Congeniality 2. Both with police undercover themes. Both funny hehehe. After breaking of fast, yeah I was fasting yesterday. I watched Charlie and the Chocolate Factory. Its a DVD 5. Dont ask - I dont know how it got into stores. But the sound quality isnt that good. It feels like you’re watching the movie through someone else’s computer. When there’s IM alerts, you cant stop them. Yes - there were IM alert sounds coming from the movie.
