"Fast Eaters Get Fat!" - Myth or Truth?

Recently this interesting writeup from KermitKhoo's blog caught my attention - where she mentioned about how eating slowly can help one to slim down. And there was even research conducted and journal publications to justify those results!

OMG!!!! I am definitely one of those guilty of eating really fast! I usually gobble down a cheeseburger in 4-5 mouthfuls!

Decided to trawl the Internet to confirm this finding. By and large, majority of research and healthy living articles confirms that Speedy Gonzales eaters are more prone to getting obese as compared to their counterpart slow munchers.

Here's a quote from ZenHabits:

A growing number of studies confirm that just by eating slower, you’ll consume fewer calories — in fact, enough to lose 20 pounds a year without doing anything different or eating anything different. The reason is that it takes about 20 minutes for our brains to register that we’re full. If we eat fast, we can continue eating past the point where we’re full. If we eat slowly, we have time to realize we’re full, and stop on time. Now, I would still recommend that you eat healthier foods, but if you’re looking to lose weight, eating slowly should be a part of your new lifestyle.

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Mr.Keropok's Thoughts:

Well... Hmm... I'm still quite skeptical about this because there are many factors that causes a person to become obese e.g. no exercise, eating lots of junk food, genetics...etc.

BUT... definitely as part of healthy living and to reduce some stress in my hectic lifestyle, it would be worthwhile to slow down my eating pace so that I can enjoy the food and company that I am eating with.

Father bids $6,950 for MapleStory in-game weapon for son!

Gaming Fest Draws 250K
Source: Article and photo from The Straits Times, 25th May 2009

Three-day event ends with MapleStory charity auction, $18,230 raised.

MORE than 250,000 gaming enthusiasts thronged one of the biggest gaming and electronics fairs, Licence2Play, which was held over three days from last Friday.

After several days of gaming and cyberwellness talks, fans of the popular role-playing game MapleStory got to attend the official launch of its second episode yesterday at the Suntec Singapore International Convention and Exhibition Centre. They also picked up goodies such as in-game vouchers which they can use to buy decorative items in the game.

Student Patricia Eng, 16, had been trying to download the latest edition of MapleStory since last Wednesday, but managed to get it done only last Friday due to the huge number of people logging on.

At the fair, she bought two limited edition prepaid cards, which translate to virtual cash in the game. 'I'm very excited about Episode 2. It's now easier for me to kill monsters and complete quests.'

A MapleStory charity auction, where gamers placed bids to win five in-game weapons, also raised $18,230 for charity.

The money raised will be split equally between The Straits Times School Pocket Money Fund and the Muscular Dystrophy Association (Singapore).

A director of a construction company, who wanted to be known only as Mr Yeo, 39, placed the highest bid of $6,950 to win a Dragon Purple Sleeve, a MapleStory in-game weapon, for his 13-year-old son. 'Any parent would do the same for their son as long as it's within their ability,' he said.

The first Licence2Play was organised by Sphere Exhibits, the lifestyle events arm of Singapore Press Holdings. Asiasoft GameFest 09 organised the MapleStory Episode 2 launch, auction and various other game tournaments.

Sphere Exhibits executive director Chua Wee Phong said the event gave parents a chance to gain an insight into their children's interests. 'Parents see that gaming is actually not as bad as they perceive it to be if it is done right. It is a very different world today and we must have outlets for these kids to have fun.'

Mr Teo Ser Luck, Senior Parliamentary Secretary at the Ministry Of Community Development, Youth and Sports, who opened the fair, urged parents to ensure their children are aware of responsible gaming. 'I think it's more important to teach children what are the things they should or should not see. But you also want to leave the choice to them.'

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Mr.Keropok's Thoughts:

My Goodness!! Does this Mr Yeo knows what he is saying? I'm sure there needs to be an exercise of wisdom before just even doing anything "within their ability"!

Yes, the $6,950 will go down into the record books with great recognition of generosity. But in the eyes of the child, what message is being sent across to the 13 years old boy? That his daddy would splurge such a huge lump sum for him to buy a virtual item (which is just nothing but a bunch of 1's and 0's) - Does that mean Daddy encourages me to play and this is a worthwhile game to invest in?

Sometime a message in action sent across to the child like this is much more powerful than any processing that takes place later.

I'm keeping my fingers crossed and praying hard for Mr Yeo and his boy.

Kudos to Mr Teo Ser Luck for the statement mention.. that should be the way to go!

51 year old Mum runs 84km UltraMarathon!!

Impossible is Nothing to Her
Source: Article from The Straits Times, 20th May 2009

Madam Shirny Phoe will be the oldest woman to run the 84km adidas Sundown UltraMarathon this year.

COME May 30, Madam Shirny Phoe will attempt a feat that would put many younger Singaporeans to shame.

At 51, she will be the oldest woman to run the 84km adidas Sundown UltraMarathon this year. Mypaper reported that there will be over 10,000 runners participating in four race categories: the 84km ultramarathon, the 42km marathon, the women's 10km, and the team or corporate-challenge event.

Married to a Singaporean, the Indonesian-born mother of three has participated in nine long-distance races since she started running in 2002.

The tanned and toned 1.56m-tall housewife has a body that women 20 years younger would be proud to have.

She started training for the marathon three months ago and runs four times a week with her running mates. Her workouts vary from 8km to a 55km Bishan to Seletar route - not bad for someone who used to jog just 2.4km.

Her exercise regimen also includes tri-weekly sessions of yoga, body combat and aerobics.

Besides her love for sports, her family drives her passion for fitness. Watching her Indonesian mother battle diabetes and fly regularly to Singapore for treatment, Madam Phoe is determined to remain healthy for her own children.

Nevertheless, her 52-year old husband, Mr Vincent Lee, is worried. The electrical contractor, who will cheer her on during the night race, said: 'I don't know if she can make it. I'm not sure how I'm going to check on her during the race. Maybe I'll just wait at the finish line.'

But Madam Phoe remains unperturbed. Aside from the ultra- marathon, her eyes are already set on another feat: to complete a triathlon.

The unassuming woman's simple advice to other would-be marathoners: 'You can do it if you really want to.'

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Mr.Keropok's Thoughts:

Wow! I am just so amazed with Mdm Phoe and her determination in running the marathons and even the bigger dream of completing the triathlon! Puts many of us youngsters to shame man!

She's definitely an example of an overcomer and resilient person.

We don't need to run a marathon just to prove that we are good. But what matters is that in our daily living, she show that little bit more of determination in completing whatever we have set out to do - that's good enough for me.

I like what one of my youths quoted me, "I may be PES C physically, but I will not be PES C mentally!"