Full Of Crap

Today we're going to talk about a rather unpleasant topic.
Constipation. (Or being full of crap, literally.)

City dwellers like you and I are faced with high stress, fast paced lifestyles. The direct consequences of this are irregular eating habits, unsound sleeping patterns, and aplenty illnesses and pains. Especially for women, the problem of constipation is one that plagues many. I have had this problems for many years (decades, even!) and so I'm totally qualified to share with you the remedies that work. I've tried medicine, exercise, alternative chinese medicine, etc. They are of little use. There are only two things that has ever work for me. Ever.

1) Drink water first thing in the morning
As one of the reason for constipation is the lack of water intake in the body, this results in the body absorbing the water from the digested food in the colon. Hence we must replenish the water loss. Drink (at least) a glass of water when you wake up. Let it be the first thing you do once you open your eyes -- before you brush your teeth, before you check your blackberry, before you figure out how you get home the night before.

Drink a glass of room temperature water. Forget warm water, or water with lemon. Or apple cider vinegar. Just plain water of any source (yes, even tap water if they are potable.) I place a bottle of water next to my bed and reach for it even before I hit the first Snooze button. Then when I finally hit the 63rd Snooze and ready to get out of bed, my body is well-rehydrated after the night's sleep. Your body absorbed this water quickly as it has been devoid of water during the your sleep. This water is imperative in preparing your bowel for the day's activity ahead.

2) Have oatmeal for breakfast
If you are like me who love having hot breakfast, then oatmeal is the best thing you can have! Oatmeal is full of fibre which is the nemesis of constipation. Insoluble fibre (like wheat and oat) adds bulk to the stools by softening them so they move easily through the digestive tract. Cook your oatmeal with lots of water so to make it into a watery porridge. Add two tablespoonful of condensed milk and you'll have a perfect healthy breakfast recipe! It's totally yummy! There are days when I wake up craving for the smooth warm cereal first thing in the morning!

Some days when I am lazy to cook, I'll have oatmeal for all three meals! I have a superb savoury oatmeal recipe that'll nurse my hungry stomach in matter of minutes! That's the time one takes to cook the wax-coated, deep-fried, MSG-laden instant noodles! I ♥ oatmeal!

Water and oatmeal have to work hand-in-hand to resolve the problem of constipation. Fibre retains the water we take in. So without fibre, the water we drink gets absorbed directly into the bloodstream or removed from the body as urine. So we need to increase the fibre we eat as we increase the water we drink.

I've never believed these methods when others encouraged me to try -- I'm a pretty skeptical person, you see. But out of desperation, I did. And it's changed my life forever. Two simple things you need to do to make those toilet trip more pleasant.

Remember:
Drink water first thing in the morning + Oatmeal breakfast
No more expensive colposcopy or Ducolax or sweat-breaking toilet trips.

Miss Say Reviews: The Pink Panther 2

I watched The Pink Panther 2 on the flight today. In fact, the flight seem so long I had time to watch two (and a half) movies, have my meal, play computer game, sleep, etc. Anyway, I decided to review The Pink Panther 2 because IT IS JUST SO HILARIOUS! I couldn't stop laughing all the time! I am normally well-behaved and very low profile on my flights, I promise you. After seeing how amused I was by movie, the girl sitting next to me told me she had to watch it too!

Alright, the movie plot may be a tad weak -- just like the first Pink Panther. But hey, it's a comedy so let's not get too serious! Steve Martin almost perfected the heavily French-accented English. It is frustrating just as it is endearing to watch him (as Inspector Clouseau) humiliate himself unwittingly. The jokes, omigosh, those how-did-you-come-up-with-that-stuff jokes got me rolling around the floor aisle in uncontrollable laughter. Steve Martin is a comedy genius!

Inspector Clouseau on finding the Pope's stolen ring: "Ah, the Pope's ring! His wife will be happy to have that back."

Inspector Clouseau to a late arriving member of the Dream Team: "Now let me bring you up to speed...We know nothing! You are now up to speed."

Say it with a artificial Frenchman's English and one has an instant formula for comicality! I am usually not a fan of slapstick dramas. Moreover, this movie was overwhelmed with negative reviews from movie critics -- just like the predecessor. But it reached #4 on its opening weekend. Quite good, I'd say. I'll add that I think the sequel is better than the original. Few other movies have earned that accolade from your truly.

Go watch it.

How To Be A Savvy Traveller

There are more than a few things I have learnt from my hundreds of flight experience. In the last four years, I have taken more flights than bus rides, ate more aircraft food than mom's cooking, slept in more hotel rooms than make my own bed in the morning. (Well then again, I do not get up in the morning most days anyway.) I could offer one more travelling tips than your hand-carry bag can pack. So I've decided to consolidate them and select the top quintessential-but-atypical tips for travelling. Now they don't teach you this in school.

1) Three pairs of footwear
- flats, for extended walking
- slippers, for beach and around hotel
- dressy heels, for fancy dinner and clubbing

When one travels, exploring the city by foot is not unexpected. So what better way to get around town then in flats. Vacation and heels are not friends, period. Ok, unless you are holidaying in Monte Carlos. Wear covered flats to protect your already exhausted feet from the harsh weather condition. Open toes/fancy slippers plus few hours of walking equals to blisters.

I never travel without my Havaianas. Even though most days I sleep once I reach the hotel, sometimes I also make use of the swimming pool in the hotel. Or I may decide to use the computer in the business centre in the hotel. Or go to the beach to chill and read a book (or the dudes-in-speedos). Slippers are the easiest way to get around in.

We never know where life will take us, especially when we travel! So even if you reckon you are set up for the most predictable evening of room service and early night, bring your fancy heels! One may make a new friend along the way and decide to dine in a restaurant. Or have a drink in the chicest club in town. Do not miss out on life's opportunity in fun and spontaneity because of inappropriate shoes!

p.s. If in winter condition, add an extra pair of boots.

2) Hair Conditioner
Four years of intensive travelling and I have never packed my own shampoo or shower gel. If one stays at a decent three-star and above hotel, the amenities in your room will surely include them. I've been lucky to stay mostly in five-star hotels, so the complimentary bath products have been in the L'occitane and Crabtree & Evelyn (eg. Hilton) range.

But please carry your own hair conditioner. This is the only toiletries you need. No hotel conditioner will get it right for your hair. Those complimentary conditioners are usually weak and useless in moisturising your hair. It's tough enough for your hair to adjust to the different water condition, the last thing you need is a useless conditioner. And you may not be able to buy that particular brand in the country even if you have the moolah. So heed my advice, leave the shampoo and bath gel at home. Save the luggage space for that hair conditioner.

3) Colourful clothes
Holiday pictures should look fun! So if you are not the best at striking interesting poses, or pretending you are having the best time of your life, my best tip is to wear colourful clothes. Bring lotsa summer dresses for that beach vacation. Bring a contrasting coloured scarf or multicoloured beanie for the winter holiday. Leave the blacks and the solid colours tops at home. Pack the fuchsia and the yellows so they brighten up the photos even when the background seems dull!

4) Bag with shoulder strap
Bring a neutral colour bag that will match with any colour clothes you may be wearing for the trip. And please make sure the bag has a shoulder strap. Messenger bag or waist pouch (I'll never be caught dead in one though!) are okay too. Arm-carried bags may seem manageable for an afternoon of window-shopping at home. But while on holiday and carrying in it your passport, camera, handphones, maps, guidebooks etc, you may start to hate that Gucci at the end of the trip. And you probably need both hands for phototaking. Shoulder strap bags only, please.

5) Shawl
A shawl is probably the best investment a girl can make in. It is thin enough to pack in your handbag everywhere you go, it is warm enough to keep you snugged. I carry my shawl in my bag even when I go to the mall or restaurants, especially when I'm wearing something sleeveless. When I go on overseas trips, I pack it in my luggage so I'll be ready in case of a sudden change of weather. I have used it as my winter saviour when I forgot Australia is winter in June. I have used it as an umbrella when a sudden rain poured on me in Hong Kong. I have used it to glam up my summer dress when a beach holiday in Athens took me to a classy restaurant in the evening. Oh how versatile is a shawl!

6) Sunglasses
For those who hate waking up in the morning and hate it even more to put on makeup on those early vacation mornings-- when no amount of mascara would make those sleepy eyes open! The best tip, don your sunglasses! I always choose my celebrity-style mega sunglasses that cover half my face. Instant chicness! Save the eye makeup, save the eyebrow trimming, save the blushers. Sunglasses are an essential holiday no-go, from beach holiday to blending in with the ultra-posh crowd in Upper East Side in Manhattan. Voila!

7) Moisturiser
I don't have to explain just how dehydrating the aircraft air is. Anyone who's flown in one before has felt that so-tight-I-don't-need-botox-anymore feeling on their face after a flight. Do yourself a favour and pack that ultra-moisturising face and body lotion and treat yourself to a rehydrating session in your hotel room. I usually pack a sheet mask in my luggage. After a flight, I'll drape the mask on my face before going to bed so my skin has all night to drink up the moisture its lost. Easy tip for lazy folks like me.

Travel light, travel smart. Universal adaptor? Umbrella? Most hotels would provide them at no charge. Whatever you can borrow, share, or reuse, do it.

This list started out with three tips. As I write on, I realised there are so many travelling tips I'd like to share! But if I could only pick my top tips, I say follow the first three tips. Three pairs of shoes, hair conditioner, colourful clothes. They will get you anywhere from Buenos Aires to Budapest to Bali, savvy traveller!