Guess Whose Back

Well well ive finally gotten around to making my first post of 2007.

I was on vacation end of december so didnt get much time to post. Its a new year and a new beginning for me and my family. I have accepted the job in Oman and will be leaving mid Feb for a two year contract.
SO its a new job, new country, new ppl, new everything. I am very excited but at the same time sad becuase im going to be leaving my family and friends and my beautiful Cape Town. But i guess change is good, keeps u stimulated, makes life a little more exciting

There is just so many things to do in such little time, im in the process of selling my car (any buyers), have to sort out my wifes and baby`s passports, cancell all my medical insurances, gym contracts etc etc etc.

Its amazing how many things and responsibilities u accumulate over time and u dont even realise it. So hopefully everything goes well and Il be outa here within a month

Im an Addict

Ive been sick for the past week, i dont mind being sick but whats disappointing is that i cant go to the gym. Its amazing how i miss going to gym, its like im addicted to it now. Yes i do have those days when i dont feel like going but i end up going. I havent being gymin properly for the past two weeks, i went to Oman so couldnt really gym and when i came back i was too tired to go and this week im sick. Its amazing how my life has changed since starting the Body for Life program, guess its for the better. We dont have like sweets and chocolates and chips and junk food at home, and i dont even know when last we had cooldrink in the fridge. Now its filled with fat free yogurt, low fat cottage cheese, fish, chicken breasts, lotsa bottles of water. Did i say i need to go to the gym, im startting to sound like an addict. I guess its becuase when u doing exercise ur brain releases hormones that makes u feel good, similar to when u take drugs so u like crave that feeling, Hectic. The best part of gyming and eating correctly is when u notice the changes in ur body, my pants are all starting to hang, some of my long sleeve tshirts all of a sudden seem too long for me, the sleeves like hang over my fingertips, and i can notice the shape of my body changing, i can see muscle in places i never thought would exist on my body.
So for those who are reading this try it out it works.
It jus means now that i have to add two more weeks to my 3month program :(

To Oman and Back

I went to Oman and im Back again. It was a really tiring journey. I left on thurs morning from South African and returned on Sunday.
I went for a job interview and i got the job. I am just awaiting the salary offer now to finalise my decision. Oman is a beautiful country, the people are friendly and i had a lovely time. The only thing is that it is really hot there. It is winter there now and its like 32 degrees. So if everything goes well my family and I will be leaving for Oman sometime in January. Its a 3 year contract so i wont be gone forever. Im really excited about going as it will be a new challenge, and i will be doing something i really enjoy doing. I will be training users on a computer application program. Its different being in an Arab country after living in a western country all my life, the best part is that everything is Halaal, u dont have to worry abt that, u can walk into any restuarant and just eat. It is a bit of a culture shock but i guess i will get used to it. I am just hoping that the change wont affect Nafeesa too much.
So all i can do now is wait.



Dubai Airport

Residential Area in Oman

Some of the Landscape

Oman here i Come

I am going to Oman for an interview next week yippeeeeeeeee. I will only be there for one day. I will arrive Fri even, interview SAT morning and return SAT evening. Talk abt international jet setter. I feel like a celebrity

I applied for a job at Sohar Alumunium, had to do an online assessment, then had a telephone interview past Saturday and now its a face to face interview in Muscat. Its happening all so fast. Im really excited about going, the only downside is that its a 14hr flight so il be dog tired by the time i return. I wont really get to see Oman as i will literally be there for a few hours but hopefully Insahallah if i do get the job i will be able to see more of it.

I will appreciate any tips or pointers with regards to interviews in the Middle East as well as any info about Oman that u think i should know.

Wish me Luck

Road to Guantanamo

Last night my wife and I went to watch the movie/documentary Road to Guantanamo. It was an absolutely brilliant movie, the way the director made the viewer involved with the emotions was excellent. Basically it is about 4 friends from Britain who go to Pakistan for a wedding. They eventually end up in Afghanistan to sight see and through whole lot of confusion they are in Taliban heartland. They get captured and sent to Guantanamo Bay. It shows the brutality and torture that they go through, the way the American and British soldiers treat them in an undignified manner, the way the Quran is thrown on the Floor and disrespected, how they caged up in their cells like animals and not allowed to even pray or talk.
Its a very emotional movie and you cant help but get involved emotionally. We always read about Guantanamo and the way prisoners are treated but we can never imagine the reality of it. I think this movie gives one a better understanding of what the reality is.
All i can say that they are 3 brave young men who endured so much for their age.
It is a must see for everyone. I give it a 10 out of 10

Week After

So it had been one week on Body For Life. All i can say is that it takes lots of dedication. The worse part for me is adjusting to the new eating habits. I have higher energy levels and i feel much healthier. The gyming is fine, im gettin used to the routine, went for six days last week. Body was aching in a few places and my legs were like beat. When i checked last thurs i has lost 1.2kgs which is not too bad. Its still takin getting used to, the food, exercises but hopefully soon enough i will be good at it.
We also went away for the weekend to a place about 150kms from Cape Town. It was a lovely weekend, spent quadbiking, braaing, go karting and swimming. It was eight of us and full of fun. Will post pics soon.

Body For Life

Today my wife and I are finally starting the Body for Life Program, I was supposed to start this program for as long as i can remmember but the day has finally dawn. Its gona be 84 days of hard work, dedication and commitment. Basically its a 3 month challenge where u set goals with regards to ur body and what u would like to achieve in 84 days. AFter the 84 days u do another 84 days with different goals and so on and on. Its like a 3month challenge at a time for lifetime. Its all about eating correctly and gyming. Its a change of lifestyle with the way u eat and train. In todays world people are gettin sicker at younger ages compared to people of previous generations. I still want to run and play with my Nafeesa for years to come, I want her to be proud of her father and also a role model for her to lead a healthy lifeatyle. yes when its time for u to die u will die but until then i want to be a healthy Husband, Father and person and also to look good for my wife.

To summarise:
-U eat 6 small meals a day every 2-3 hours consisting of one portion protein and one portion carbohydrate, u eat a portion of vegetables with two meals. A portion is the size of a clenched fist.
-U do weight training 3 days a week and aerobic exercises 3 days a week. Aerobic execises are done for only 20 min a session. SO thats 6 days in the Gym. U alternate upper body training with lower body and weight training should b no more than 45 min
-U can supplement ur meal with a nutrition shake
-There are authorised foods u can eat
-Drink 10 cups of water a day
-Sunday is a free day where u can eat anything u like

My body fat is way over the recommended limit (29.2%), it should be between 12 -15%. My BMI (body mass index)is more than it should be (32), recommended BMI is 20-25 and found out my blood pressure is too high. There is a history of high blood pressure in my family. I realised its time i take control of my body. MY long term goal is to bring down my body fat to 15%. Im not worried abt my weight because i am going to build muscle so it will make up for weight. Im really excited abt this and i have this picture in my mind of what i will look like after the program.
A real motivation was on Saturday, i have made friends with a Multiple South African Bodybuilding champion. His name is Nelson Benjamin (u can google him) and i went to him to advise me on a few exercises. He told me that my chest composition is the same as Arnold Swarzenegger. Imagine me and Arnie have the same chest HaHa. My friends are starting to call me Arnie. Dont get me wrong, i dont want to be a bodybuilder or look like a oversized muscle goon. I just want to have a good healthy body with some muscles u know LOL.
Yesterday my wife and I went grocery shopping and our trolley contained only health foods. It was weird cause normally it would contain everything but healthy. I have all these containers which i brought to work with my nutrition shakes and food. Thanks to my wife for preparing them for me altho she was sick last nite, and also for the support she is givin me with this program. I wouldnt be able to do it without her.
I just had my breakfast which was Low fat cottage cheese with no fat yogurt and two cups water (imagine me eating that). I never had coffee this morning as it is not an authorised food, and i think im gettin caffeine withdrawal. But its all good.

Wish me Luck for this program and i will keep u guys upated on my progress. I need as much support as i can get, but I KNOW I CAN ACHIEVE MY GOALS. I might post before and after pics but im not sure.

Please visit this website to find out more, its really good and motivating

http://www.bodyforlife.com/
Time for my nutrition shake yummyyyyyyyy ;)