…title suggested by Karen for the day when I attempted two different workouts and felt pain from both. Fail dot com dot my -____-”

270809
21-15-9 reps for time of:
Handstand Push Ups
Burpees
Knees-to-elbows
Results: 12:28 / 13:17 (plus 3 reps)
Enjoyed this short & sweet workout. My HSPU’s have improved slightly, I can go deeper now even at the 7th rep whereas previously I would have just done a shallow one after the first 2. Managed to steadily maintain proper form for burpees (high jumps & claps. wOOt!) as well as knees-to-elbows, so even tho my time isn’t very good, was satisfied with the form for this WOD.

Photo courtesy of Pushmore. Knees to elbows.

280809
Five rounds for time of:
15 Kettlebell/Dumbell Thrusters @ 35lbs/25lbs
15 Ring Dips
Result: DNF (Did Not Finish) Barbell @ 50lbs. Did two round within 6:50 but decided to stop as I could feel pain on my left shoulder. I think my previous injury has not fully healed 0.o

Attempted to do last Saturday’s workout of run 3 rounds of 1.6km. Took me about 5 mins plus to do 800 metres before my right knee started acting up again. The knee support didn’t help much. I guess the sensei was right when he said I shouldn’t put so much weight on it for the time being. There goes my participation in the next few running events. FML -______-”

Bleh. Since I couldn’t finish the two above workouts, I picked something which I knew I could complete.
3 rounds for time;
10 Deadlifts @108lbs
10 Chin Ups
Result: 7:08
Thought I was slower than the last time I did this (072209), but it turned out that my time had improved by 33 seconds. Yay!

30082009
Swam 20 laps x 25 metres. Didn’t stop as many times as previously, a sign that my endurance is getting a lil bit better? Or it must’ve been the caffeine high -__-”

Whoa! Its been a week since I last updated the fitness blog. I’m just gonna chuck in all the past week’s workouts into one post as I’m supposed to be finishing up some pictures now instead of blogging >.<

21082009
Swam for 20 laps x 25 metres after a looooong day of shoot. Didn’t realise it would but my right knee actually felt slightly painful even when I was swimming. FML 0.o Need to go check it again soon.

23082009
After a hiatus of more than 6 months, I went climbing. Yes! Headed to Camp 5 with Edm, Andrew, Ping and Ah Boy. I warmed up on the auto belay wall, climbed approx 6 routes there before heading to the leadwall where I cleaned 3 routes and lead 1 easy route. Good times but sore fingers >.< Thereafter we went swimming. Did 10 laps x 25 metres.

24082009
“Cindy”
In 20 minutes, do as many rounds as possible of:
5 Pull Ups
10 Push Ups
15 Squats
Result: 11 rounds + 5 Pull Ups
Did chest to bar for the pull ups. Was initially targeting for 15 rounds, but by the time I reached round 8, I was bloody tired!

25082009
Woke up in the morning and the weather was sooooo damn good that I decided to take the morning off work and went climbing. Seeing that it was my second year anniversary (yes, August 25 is the actual date :D), I told myself I deserved to take a break. Hah! Excuses, excuses.

Headed over to Nanyang Wall in Batu Caves with John-Son and Juan. The weather was awesome but by noontime it got quite hot and I actually turned 3 shades darker. Well, something like 3 shades anyway :p Cleaned 3 routes and lead one super easy route.

John-Son giving Juan a backrub? Nah, he was just applying sunblock for him ;p Talking on the phone while belaying? Luckily you’re not at Camp 5 :p

I’m starting a new fashion fad – “Towel Head Look” >.< Yes, it was THAT hawt! Literally

Headed back to work for a couple of hours before going off to Pushmore for the below workout,
“4500kgs for time.” (actual workout was from 21082009)
Bring a total of 4,500kgs (3,000kgs for women) from ground to overhead.
- You choose the weight and exercise. Kettlebells, dumbells, or barbell, your choice.
- Every rep must start from the ground and finish overhead.
- Example would be to do 188 reps of KB Clean & Jerk @ 24kg(188 X 24kg=4512kgs).
- Record total time, reps and exercise used.
Result: 53:11 (15kg x 223 reps of push press with barbell)
This workout was no joke. It was fun but the high repetitions got to me after the first half. Will definitely do this again in a couple of months time. Perhaps sometime next year ;p The DOMS that I got from this workout lasted ’til today. No joke.

26082009
Weighted Pull Ups
3-3-3-3-3
Result: 12, 16, 16, 17, 18.5kg
Threw myself into this workout even though there was no time element as I headed over about an hour before the noon closing time. The first 3 sets was ok and when I decided to upp it by another kilo, I struggled by the third rep. Took a break before the final set to do the below ab workout. Struggled like a stuck pig with the final weights but managed to complete the last rep with a weird kip.

100 Sit Ups For Time
Result: 3:10

It dawned upon me that it has been two years.

Two years since I said goodbye to the corporate rat race, two years since I leaped into the unchartered (by me anyway) waters of life as a freelancer. Personal sacrifices were made, lifestyle changes happened. Gone were the days where I had the security of a steady pay to cover my expenses, medical coverage to rely on and in rolled the days where I would be editing till the wee hours of the morning, shooting 10 hours straight with heavy gears, feeling absolutely sore after a full day shoot.

And you know what? I have no regrets AT ALL. Sure, like those who run their own businesses, I do have my down days. When those days happens, I mentally slap myself and remind myself that I have what I deem as one of THE best jobs in the world. Seriously.

When I reached my first year of being a full time photographer, I sent out an email to my clients. This time round, I decided to write this blog post for I not only want to thank my clients but basically everyone!

To my family who despite being far away, are supportive (and I hope proud :D) of what I do. To my close friends who have become my family away from home. To those who check out my blog and leave your kind words (or constructive criticism!), thank you for making my virtual world less lonely ;) To my clients who have given me the opportunity of being part of their big day and the honour of capturing their most intimate moments, you don’t know just how happy I am to be part of it all.

I know this sounds totally cliche (but since its my blog, I’m allowed to be ;p) but seriously, it is thanks to everyone’s endless support and God’s grace that I am blessed to be doing what I am doing now. I’ve had the opportunity to meet (and shoot!) so many wonderful people in the past two years and sometimes it seems like I’ve got THE best clients in the world.

I’m way far from being the best photographer in the industry (work in progress!), but one thing’s for sure. I love what I do with a passion. You know how it is when you feel like you’re about to burst with joy and you wanna hug someone and share the happiness? Well, sometimes when there’s no one around, I actually say ‘Thank you’ out loud. And I would be smiling to myself when I say that. Call me crazy but that’s how you make me feel and I feel so lucky at times that I’m afraid that all this is just a dream.

I used to think that only fools would believe that dreams come true. I’m glad I was that fool, for this, what I’m doing now, is a dream come true for me.

Thank you for sharing the journey with me. Here’s to many more awesome years ahead!

With Mucho Love & Appreciation,
The Cheesy / Corny / Crazy Photographer