So... this morning I received the SMS of Doom ™ , and that was after I had woken up at 6AM for god knows why (stupid insomnia) and couldn't sleep for the next hour... and bestie whatsapps me at 6.54AM which jarred me out of my semi-consciousness... and the SMS finally came at 7.10 AM.
This post contains my grades and stuff so if you want to see it read on.
Monday 28 May 2012
Sunday 27 May 2012
[Insomniac] The Five Stages of Results Day
Another article I wrote for FASS Insomniac:
On the morning of the 28th, many NUS students will awake to the SMS of Doom™. After just a month of summer vacation, this blissful break is rudely interrupted by your results. For some, the results may be good. However, for many, it tends to be below expectations.
Thus begins the first stage of receiving your results – Denial. As you roll around in your bed groggily, grasping your phone, staring at the SMS that you have received, you’re telling yourself: “No, this can’t be happening. Not to me. I’m still dreaming. Yes, a dream. That must be it.” You put your phone down, close your eyes, and will yourself back to sleep. You want to get back to the ludicrous dreams you were having of flying around the world on clouds, saving your romantic interest from fatal situations, or getting into the Dean's List.
You wake up several hours later, feeling more refreshed, alert… and BAM! You remember that odd dream you had earlier of receiving bad results. “What a bad dream! Lucky it was only a dream! I should have gotten at least a B+ average given the effort I put in!” You reach over and pick up your phone and have a look for the SMS of Doom™.
Your bad grades stare right back at you.
“Noooo!” You let out a bestial roar which no one in your house notices because you make that sound every morning when you wake up anyway. You toss your iPhone into the corner of your room as you enter the stage of Anger. “Why me?! I worked so hard! It’s not fair!” Then you remembered that you’re not using a Nokia anymore and rush quickly to check if your iPhone is alright. Then you go back to punching your pillow to vent your rage.
To continue reading, click here.
Results are coming out tomorrow, and that means grief for some. Alan Teo will take us through the 5 stages of grief of results day... and perhaps a silver lining?
On the morning of the 28th, many NUS students will awake to the SMS of Doom™. After just a month of summer vacation, this blissful break is rudely interrupted by your results. For some, the results may be good. However, for many, it tends to be below expectations.
Thus begins the first stage of receiving your results – Denial. As you roll around in your bed groggily, grasping your phone, staring at the SMS that you have received, you’re telling yourself: “No, this can’t be happening. Not to me. I’m still dreaming. Yes, a dream. That must be it.” You put your phone down, close your eyes, and will yourself back to sleep. You want to get back to the ludicrous dreams you were having of flying around the world on clouds, saving your romantic interest from fatal situations, or getting into the Dean's List.
You wake up several hours later, feeling more refreshed, alert… and BAM! You remember that odd dream you had earlier of receiving bad results. “What a bad dream! Lucky it was only a dream! I should have gotten at least a B+ average given the effort I put in!” You reach over and pick up your phone and have a look for the SMS of Doom™.
Your bad grades stare right back at you.
“Noooo!” You let out a bestial roar which no one in your house notices because you make that sound every morning when you wake up anyway. You toss your iPhone into the corner of your room as you enter the stage of Anger. “Why me?! I worked so hard! It’s not fair!” Then you remembered that you’re not using a Nokia anymore and rush quickly to check if your iPhone is alright. Then you go back to punching your pillow to vent your rage.
To continue reading, click here.
Saturday 26 May 2012
Fitness Journal #5 - Stalled!
There is a term in weight-lifting known as 'stalling', which refers to when you are unable to progress on a particular weight on a progressive weight programme.
For example, in my routine I try to increase the weight I lift by 2.5 KG every session, with 5 sets of 5 reps each time. Then let's say in one session I am unable to complete all 5 sets (e.g. 3 or 4 reps only one on one of the sets) then I have 'stalled'.
I started my routine about 2 weeks ago, following the Stronglifts 5x5 program (go Google). I started light, with 20kg for bench, squats and 15 for barbell rows, and 30 for deadlifts(only started this one week in, because I was scared of doing it wrong).
I've recently began to add additional workouts because 3 exercises just didn't feel tiring enough and I didn't feel my body was getting a workout. And I wasn't observing and size gains, etc.
My current weights for the exercises are:
Today I tried 40kg for Bench for the first time... and in my third rep of my second set, I suddenly couldn't lift it ! I let my arm relax slightly and I suddenly felt the entire weight pressing on my chest and felt a wave of panic surge through me. It's like being pinned down and you cannot move!
I quickly recovered and did a Roll of Shame to get out of it. Whew! Uninjured.
For a quick video of what a roll of shame is:
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOCKsP7G6AE]
It was odd as I completed the rest of the sets : 5 3 5 5 4 (completed 5 reps of 3rd and 4th set), so I'm not sure why I couldn't finish the 2nd set. I think I was doing it too slowly and trying to feel the strain as I used to always do.
I'm going to try 40KG again next week, hopefully I'll be able to do it without stalling again. Any one wants to gym with me to be my spotter? I go to Toa Payoh / Hougang ClubFitt gym on Tues, Thurs, Sat, 12PM!
For example, in my routine I try to increase the weight I lift by 2.5 KG every session, with 5 sets of 5 reps each time. Then let's say in one session I am unable to complete all 5 sets (e.g. 3 or 4 reps only one on one of the sets) then I have 'stalled'.
I started my routine about 2 weeks ago, following the Stronglifts 5x5 program (go Google). I started light, with 20kg for bench, squats and 15 for barbell rows, and 30 for deadlifts(only started this one week in, because I was scared of doing it wrong).
I've recently began to add additional workouts because 3 exercises just didn't feel tiring enough and I didn't feel my body was getting a workout. And I wasn't observing and size gains, etc.
My current weights for the exercises are:
- Squats (40kg) (Still can increase, I think my 1 RM (max) is about 50-60?)
- Barbell Rows (22.5kg) (Still can increase)
- Deadlifts (35kg) (Still can increase waaay more)
- Overhead Press (20kg) (Stalled for one session, next session was easy)
- Bench Press (37.5kg) (Still can increase)
- Yes I know they're all very low I'm a small and scrawny guy okayyy
Today I tried 40kg for Bench for the first time... and in my third rep of my second set, I suddenly couldn't lift it ! I let my arm relax slightly and I suddenly felt the entire weight pressing on my chest and felt a wave of panic surge through me. It's like being pinned down and you cannot move!
I quickly recovered and did a Roll of Shame to get out of it. Whew! Uninjured.
For a quick video of what a roll of shame is:
[youtube http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wOCKsP7G6AE]
It was odd as I completed the rest of the sets : 5 3 5 5 4 (completed 5 reps of 3rd and 4th set), so I'm not sure why I couldn't finish the 2nd set. I think I was doing it too slowly and trying to feel the strain as I used to always do.
I'm going to try 40KG again next week, hopefully I'll be able to do it without stalling again. Any one wants to gym with me to be my spotter? I go to Toa Payoh / Hougang ClubFitt gym on Tues, Thurs, Sat, 12PM!
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