How CoolSculpting gave me a bikini bod!

At the beginning of treatment with Halley Body Slimming Clinic, I set my aim at achieving a bikini body! If you haven't read it yet, here's the link. Yes, I envisioned myself gravitating towards the crash of waves, prancing confidently like a frisky mare in my bikini. Splashing in the cool waters, being part of the backdrop for the canoes that were plying up and down. 

I thought it wasn't possible and that I could only sit by the shores in my oversized tee and watch the waters ebb away rhythmically as the tide came in. But when I met Dr. Terence Tan from Halley Body Slimming, he gave me confidence that he was able to shape me up! He told me that statistically, we can freeze away up to 25% of fats due to CoolSculpting. He confidently assured me that I was able to see the curves after CoolSculpting. In case you are new to this, CoolSculpting is a non-invasive, non-surgical, no downtime fat reduction. It is the only US FDA-approved fat freezing treatment that uses the concept of cryolipolysis to freeze and destroy unwanted fat cells. Afterwhich, the fats will be discharged from the body naturally. 

Dr. Terence Tan sure did not lie! After a mere 6 months, my body fat did indeed go down! I commenced my first treatment in September and during the most recent visit in March, the below was my result

My waist circumference went down from 84.7cm to 77cm! It was actually 74.5cm during my last visit in November 2019 but it was either due to human error (likely) or that I had been eating too much during Chinese New Year hence the slight increase. Nonetheless, I can officially announce that I have dropped a size! My weight did not fluctuate too much. There was a loss of approximately 2kg which wasn't too significant. Prior to all these, I went on an epic trip to America and Canada in December and if you had seen how I had feasted over on my Instagram account, you would have been disgusted! Think American portions! So yes, all the loss is due to CoolSculpting! 

If you need more convincing, here are my before and after shots

I literally sang my lungs out (at home of course lest others think I'm looney) when I saw the images! I was jubilant! It was as if sunshine followed me everywhere! 

How many times have you looked at magazines and envied the model's figure? I'm definitely one of them. It's no crime to want to be slimmer. I don't want to be skinny because it will render me haggard. If you lose too much fats, naturally your skin will sag. That's not a tradeoff I'm not willing to sacrifice. Plus CoolSculpting is great as it allows you to choose where you'd like to freeze your fats! It isn't only targeted at your tummy. It can be your arm or even your double chin which you may freeze! I want to be svelte! I want my clothes to fit better. I want to be able to swim with my kids in my bikini without feeling self-conscious. And now I can! Look at the photos below and see my transformation.

At a recent wedding on 14 March 2020.

Another wedding attended on 7 Dec 2019

The picture on the left was taken in 2019 June. I was so conscious, I had to throw over a dress. In the picture on the right which was taken on 15 March, you can see that my abs are beginning to show!

As you can see, clothes fit me nicely now. I feel great carrying them off well. In fact, I have been getting a lot of great compliments for looking more shapely and slim. I went one size down too! I am so motivated to go on a shopping spree! Oh, and of course, I am going to the beach in my bikini! A great option amidst the Covid-19 situation! Sun, Sand, and picnic mat, here I come!

Halley Body Slimming Clinic

Address

277 Orchard Road, #03-16 orchardgateway, Singapore 238858

Tel: 62468806

Email: askhalleybody@halley.com.sg

www.halleybodyslimmingclinic.com.sg

facebook.com/halleybodyslimmingclinic

instagram.com/halley.body.slimming.clinic 

halleybodyvideos.halley.com.sg

Disclaimer: All photos are property of www.themishmashmess.blogspot. Please seek permission before reposting and give due credit when doing so. All opinions expressed are entirely my own and written according to my experience in using the products/ services. 

Review: How Bee Choo Origins helped my itchy scalp

DID YOU KNOW?

Our hair are actually dead skin cells? When I was very young, I remembered my dad always ticking mom off for wasting money on her dead cells. I didn't quite understand till I was much older. I thought dad was simply being rude. But truth is, the hair is alive within the scalp but once it reaches the skin surface, they are not alive anymore. So to ensure that your skin cell can age and come out to the surface beautifully, regular maintenance for a healthy scalp is necessary. 

It is considered healthy if one loses 50-100 strands a day but anything more could indicate a deficiency in mineral, stress and many more. Post-partum hair loss can be quite a bitch too. While it is said to be normal and temporary, the usual hair growth cycle is between 6-12 months and that's kindof long to tolerate if you ask me!

I had been relatively lucky with regards to my crowning glory. As you can see, my head is rather voluminous. I didn't get much of a hair loss after giving birth and things are still looking pretty alright. However, I do have a problem -- ITCHY SCALP! During my younger days, I was in fact, shy to wear black as it would look like I had snow on it. I had dry flaky scalp. So much so it looks like dandruff. Eczema, excessive secretion of oil and head lice are also common causes of an itchy scalp. Just last year, I was hit by the lice! Yup, after all these years! I caught it from Big K who probably got it from school. I thought after that episode, things would be better but nope, the itch persisted though I wash my hair everyday.

Apparently, stress and humidity can also be causes. Those aren't really within my control. I tried various methods but they didn't seem to alleviate things, so I finally decided to give scalp treatment a try. It wasn't quite the first to-go solution for me because I was afraid of being pressured into purchasing a package. Such tactic is a common place these days especially if they have state-of-the-art machines. But I am happy to report that after 4 treatments, the staff did no push me into taking up any packages. In fact, from my understanding, they hardly run promotions on packages. They happened to have one while I was there and it was very reasonable. 11 sessions for the price of 10 ($480). Alternatively, you can pay as you use and per session is only $48! Love how affordable it is!

When I was first introduced to Bee Choo Origin, I found it utterly familiar. Then, when I looked through their 7 locations, I realised I passed by one outlet rather frequently! The herbal smell often invaded my nostrils whenever I walked past and their racks of towels hanging out by their shop was a testament to how good business is. Yes, in fact, whether was it day or evening, the place seemed to be brimming with people. 

So here's my experience.....

I entered the shop and stopped in my tracks. It was filled with a room of old ladies. Momentarily, I was disturbed. Ok, I know I've just crossed a very big milestone but putting me with a bunch of grey-haired women and men with receding hairline did hit me in the face. Reality is, if you don't start young, you may have serious issues and by then, it may take a longer time to cure, if it's even curable! The receptionist was very reassuring though, telling me that a child as young as 3 year old can do the treatment and she had indeed handled such a case before! In fact, because there aren't any chemicals, it is also safe for pregnant women. 

They started by scanning my scalp. I was half expecting a reddish scalp filled with dried flaky skin. Phew! What I saw was quite the contrary. My pores did look a little clouded by an accumulation of oil but other than that, I was told that I had very healthy hair! A good pore situation would be that one pore will have three strands of hair. I'm proud to announce that several, if not all my pores have three strands! Many newborn hair could also be seen. 

Step 1: The first step of the treatment was the application of ginger hair tonic on the scalp. This step prepares your scalp for the next few processes and better absorption of nutrients from the herbal cream. Next, 100% pure virgin olive oil is applied onto hair ends to prevent and ease out split ends while improving condition of the hair. Then comes the highlight -- The application of their specially formulated herbal treatment cream. Their herbs are apparently boiled for 3 hours so you can imagine all that goodness going into your scalp. I must warn you however, that if it is your first experience with TCM, you are probably going to cringe your nose a little. I personally love the smell of dang gui and ling zhi. It feels really luxurious to have them on my scalp. Bee Choo Origin makes use of premium herbs in their herbal cream. Their signature herbal cream are freshly brewed with all natural herbs and ingredients. They include:

Ginseng

This has anti-aging properties and helps in new hair cell regeneration

Ling Zhi

Reduces itchiness and risk of infection

He Shou Wu

Slows down grey hair reproduction and helps restore hair pigmentation. I have taken them orally before as a soup and did not quite like the taste so having them on my scalp is such a welcome alternative. 

Chuan Xiong

Strengthens hair follicles, resistant to breakage

Dang Gui

Regulates scalp immunity

Next, the head is steamed for 45minutes. This step helps to open up your scalp pores to remove impurities and aid in absorption of the herbal ingredients into the scalp. 

Their cream is effective in solving hair loss, itchy scalp, oily scalp, dandruff, white/grey hair and post-pregnancy hair loss. 

Step 2: After all that herbal goodness is applied onto my head, a 45 minutes steaming process takes place. This helps to open up the scalp pores to remove impurities and aid in absorption of the herbal ingredients into the scalp. The steamer really gives it a nostalgic feel.

Step 3: Lastly, the herbal cream will be washed off and hair partially blown dry. I really enjoyed the wash which was accompanied by a short head massage. After the treatment, you hair will still smell of herbs and this will probably last for approximately 2-3 days. The people around me did not complain about the smell so I guess it was alright. My hair colour changed too. Because I have bleached hair, the herbs infused into my hair and changed its hue. It gave it a shinier shade and the overall effect made my hair look healthier! Some friends even thought I had dyed my hair. The colour will likely to stain your towel slightly after one wash.  One thing to note: Do not swim right after treatment! Your scalp may also be slightly itchy after treatment. The consultant explained that this is due to the blood circulation after the scalp has been infused with the goodness from the herbs. The irritation should go away shortly.

My "new" hair colour under natural light. Looks pretty good right?

See! 3 strands per pore! So clear!

After 4 sessions, my pores indeed were unclogged. the residues have been effectively removed and the PH level has been rebalanced. No more itchy scalp! Yay!

It is pretty amazing how this local brand has grew. The founder started out in 2000 providing herbal haircare treatments for a handful of customers experiencing scalp issues. Word began to spread and today, they have set foot in more than 12 countries! Wow! Madam Cheah Bee Chew even published a book to say it all!

With such expensive herbs used, one would expect them to charge exorbitantly. But nooooo, they are only charging between $34 (for men's short hair) to $70 for below the waist. As a guide, my length is approximately $40. The fact that the place is teeming with aunties and uncles, goes to show that it’s effective yet affordable.  Love such pricings which doesn't burn a hole in the pocket. Their array of products are also very affordable. 

photo credit: https://www.beechoohair.com/products

I personally bought hair serum crystal concentrate to try. It is essentially a beauty fluid with adds shine and silkiness to your tresses without getting it too oily. Enriched with Vitamin E and linseed extract, this bottle of goodness strengthens and increases your hair elasticity. I bought it primarily for Big K whose hair is terribly damaged because of swimming. Her hair is often in a tangled mess but I realised after a few applications, this serum did help to make it more soft and manageable. The best part, it's retailing at only $27!

Want a head of beautiful hair? Let your hair grow in a nutrient-filled environment by contacting them at 

www.beechoohair.com

Tel: 67423033

Operating Hours: 

Mon - Fri: 830am to 7pm

Sat, Sun & PH: 8am to 430pm

How did we conquer Herpangina?

So yes, life has heaps of curveballs. This we know. But a major one just bombed us whilst we were on the last leg of our recent roadtrip to Malaysia.

Never had i expect this to hit us. In all my 7years of being mom, i had always been pretty cautious and thankful that my children were not subjected to this evil disease.

Photo credit: Google

WHAT IS HERPANGINA?

In short, it is a variant of the dreaded Hand Foot Mouth Disease (HFMD). With hfmd, the symptoms are a lot clearer. For starters, an obvious indication would be the bumps which will blister on the hand, foot, mouth and sometimes groin area. While it may not be the case all the time, this symptom normally surface 3-6 days after incubation of the virus. The viruses that cause HFMD are spread through close personal contact, through the air from coughing, and the feces of an infected person. Contaminated objects can also spread the disease. Coxsackievirus A16 is the most common cause and Enterovirus 71 is the second-most common cause. There are no medication or vaccination for this. Simple pain medication such as ibuprofen or numbing mouth gel may be used but that’s as much as the doctor can do. In our case, the doctor did prescribe some antibiotics for the kids.

So ok, back to Herpangina. It is caused by the same virus but it only attacks the mouth. Symptoms include sudden fever with sore throat. We experienced this firstly with Big K who for no apparant reason, developed a fever on the 5th day of our trip. I spammed her big time with my Peppermint and Young Living thieves essential oil and she recovered the very next day. So i thought all was well and we went on to have fun. But come meal time, the would complain of lethargy and getting her to eat was a pain. 

Two days later, part two happened. Whilst we were at a theme park in Ipoh, we suddenly felt that Small K was not perspiring as usual. He usually would be drenched in perspiration under such excruciating heat but he did not. We feared dehydration and got him to drink lots of water. After a few rides, we sat down in an air conditioned cafe for a break. He was running about merrily when all of a sudden, i heard a loud wail. He hit his head and fell to the ground. At first i thought nothing of it as kids running and banging into stuff is perfectly normal. Plus, he was crying to loudly. I went to pick him up and gave him a pat. I tried to console him but he was arching back in a limp manner. Finally when he managed to hold back his tears, i fed him some water. Then, the scariest thing happened! As i lifted him over my shoulder, i saw what seemed like white foam coming out of his mouth and nose! I became hysterical as his eyes seemed to be flipping white. You know, 翻白眼. He had an episode of febrile fits (read here) before and I was tremendously fearful that history would repeat itself. I calmed myself down and tried to sit him up as he vomitted more. Only then i realised it was vomit and not foam. At that point in time, the husband and Big K were at another part of the cafe and cried as I might, no one came to my aid. A lady who was seated right next to us was oblivious and carried on listening to her earphones. I dialed for the hubs desperately whilst trying to keep my boy upright for fear that he would choke on his puke. He vomitted all over me. It was messy. Finally after what seemed like eternity, the hubs returned and calmed me down as I narrated the incident. We ruled out a concussion as vomiting spells should not be immediate. Just as we decided to zip back to the hotel for some medication, the cafe assistant asked if we needed the medic to come. Now then ask! But no, we didn’t go with a medic because Small K’s temperature immediately dropped after he vomitted. He was drowsy and though his temperature was a little lower, we decided to cut things short head back to the hotel where he napped for 2hrs! We were so worried because he hardly sleeps this long! Could it really have been a concussion? There were no clinics in the vicinity and to add oil to fuel, it was Hari Raya so all shops were closed! The reception at the hotel was not conversant in English and I couldn’t even manage a wee bit of Malay. Thankfully my medicine lasted till the next two days when the pharmacy opened. By then Small K’s fever had subsided and he was pretty much back to his old self. Or so we thought. He wasn’t a champ at the dining table and complained of ulcers. We dismissed it as being heaty and thought no more. 

The following day, we went as planned and drove up hill. Up to Cameron Highlands. It was then that it occurred to me that I should give their throat a check again. I did. And this time, i found numerous ulcers at the back of their throats and under their tongue. I was still in disbelief as I did not see any blisters. Shouldn’t the package come with blisters? Nope. Apparently not for Herpangina. The incubation period for Herpangina is usually 4days. So counting back, we probably caught it on our first day in Malaysia. The entire duration from incubation till recovery is from one to two weeks. It is contagious and we didn’t want others to be harmed, hence we stayed pretty much in the room. Well meaning friends were urging me to head home but the trip back with two sick kids and a sick mother would prove to be challenging. The rooms had been paid for in anycase plus there are no medication for Herpangina, so I thought why not just stay and enjoy the cold air plus room service. Going back home would mean I have to be a slave and I was certainly in no condition to be one. In fact, i had it worst. I had all the symptoms. Bad throat, fever, bodyaches and a tremendous headache which caused me to vomit.

My usually cheery little boy could not smile or talk. He could only whine. Every 5 seconds!

HOW TO CURE HERPANGINA?

Well, while there aren't any known cures at the moment, it does help if you ensure that they constantly sanitize their hands, gurgle with mouthwash and drinks lots of water although we all know how painful that is. The below are some other things we did to help speed up the recovery:

Ling Yan (Antelope's Horn)

This is a traditional concoction and the ingredients are found at most Chinese Medical Hall. Everything is packed nicely so you don't have to figure out what's what. Just pour one cup of water to it all and have it double boiled. It is typically used to cure high fevers, but an old granny told me that it is good for HFMD too so it was worth a try. It is extremely cooling for the body, hence I got both kids to share one cup. 

This was the double boiler I used. Cute right? Perfect size when I have to brew just one cup of anything. The boy hated the taste but to mask the bitterness, I added winter melon strips as well as some rock sugar. 

Fruits

FRUITS! lots of them! To provide them with the necessary Vitamin Cs to boost their immunity and to heal!. We received a shitload of organic Avocados and papayas from our friend who owns a farm up on Cameron Highlands. Wonder when are we gonna finish eating those Avocados!

Essential Oils

These were the oils which I used diligently on both Ks. It was a must especially for Young Living's Thieves which has anti-viral properties. I applied them on their soles periodically and diffused it around the house. Copaiba was applied to their throats to aid healing. ImmuPower is a powerful blend of therapeutic-grade essential oils that create a fragrant and protective haven while increasing positive energy. It provides healthy immune system support. A must-use during this period.

Green & White carrot (daikon) Soup

This soup is known for its detoxing properties and that is exactly what we all needed. It's really a simple soup to boil. Just add in approximately 300g of pork ribs and 5 pieces of dried scallops to 2 litres of water, bring it to a boil and add in the sliced carrots. I try to avoid adding red carrots as what some recipes call for as a TCM physician once mentioned that it will cancel out the effects of the daikon. This soup has a strange smell. Kindof like a fart so when I was boiling it, Small K actually asked me who farted. haha

Green Bean Soup

Another good one for detoxing the body. Remember to add those sago. Chill it and have the patient to drink. Though I'm not an advocate of cold stuff especially for kids, it goes easier on the throat and make them more willing to eat. 

China Barley

Barley. Not any kindof barley, but the China type. I think it is because it's more cooling? Some believe that these ulcers sprout out because of heatiness. While scientifically we know it isnt, it doesn't harm by taking some of these to aid the mend. Once again, you can find them conveniently packed and sold at the local medical halls. Just add water and boil for approximately an hour. 

Soupy but nutritious food

Mee sua soup which is easier to swallow. Even if they don't eat, try to ensure that the stock has heaps of nutrients by adding corn, carrots, ikan billis and meat. 

It was a nightmare feeding them during our trip. Especially Small K who didn't quite understood the repercussions of not eating and drinking. At one point in time, he only ate 3 slices of fishcakes! I wanted to cook for him so badly! Once back home, I whipped up whatever I could find in the fridge and he tried eating a little more. He even complimented my cooking. Awww this little one is so good with his words. Try cooking porridge but remember to sneak in those nutrients. I added in wolfberries and threadfin as well as dried scallop which made it extra tasty. Even Big K who hates porridge ate a full bowl. I made them egg mayo sandwich though it didn't sound like an easy thing to eat. But it was their favourite and hence, they braved the pain and gobbled down 3 slices! Yup, cook their favourites, that would certainly help!

After 2 weeks of tender loving care, the both of them have finally recovered. My cheeky little monkey is back with his antics, frustrating me every 5 seconds. But I wouldn't have it any other way!

Stay Safe, folks!

TOYTAG

Play is a very integral part of a child's development. In particular during their foundational years. As much as possible, I will go for quality and not quantity. Ok, who am I kidding. Anyone who has seen the mess in my house knows i go for both! haha. The husband can attest to that. Essentially, because there are so many quality toys to choose from! I have a soft spot for anything educational and was very excited to be introduced to ToyTag. A leading online toy vendor housing several of my favourite brands like Hape, Lego, Mattel, Osmo and many more. It even houses books from Epigram! TOYTAG started out with the simple aim of bringing the best toys from all over the world onto one platform for game lovers in Singapore to get their hands on their favourite games easily. They are one of the largest educational toy stores in Singapore and carries a wide selection of educational toys and games that are extremely popular overseas but slightly harder to find in Singapore. To add on, they also have their very own house brand toys, including the Brain Series Classic Chess Set, Hydraulic Robotic Arm Building Kit and Otis board game. These best sellers hope to inspire the creativity and encourage players to spend some time off your busy schedule to reconnect with your loved ones. 

It was easy to navigate as the toys are all categorized according to brands or ages. Saves you the trouble to think if it is suitable for a certain age. Makes it easy to buy a gift for friends should you not have a kid or have long forgotten which toy is age appropriate. I was drawn to the selection of Hape toys which were housed under TOYTAG. Since the beginning, we had favoured this brand of toys and was delighted to see the array on this site.

The Whirlpool we chose for Small K was extremely apt. We love wooden toys and the material of Hape toys are excellent. It trains not only his motor skills but also his creativity. Initially, I got him to follow the instructions. This boy isn't quite used to following instructions so it kind of frustrated him. After a while, he understood the mechanics and was engineering amazing structures.

 In fact, shortly after, he allowed his creativity to take charge and was soon building structures of his own. Even though this toy is more suitable for his age group, Big K was enticed too and played with it for a long while. Ahhhh respite! There were a number of permutations and this stretches their imagination which I like. When children grow up, their imagination is key to an untold world. Imaginations forges stronger neuronal connections in the brain and promotes social interaction. It is, in fact, proven by scientific studies to reduce risks of dementia. Children with more active imaginations may have better brain health and strive for more amazing things. Unfortunately, education these days are rather stifling.

Big K has always been inclined towards art and craft. I recalled about a year or so ago, we attended a Children's carnival at Garden's by the Bay and were rejected at a station which featured creations using a 3D pen. Big K wanted to do it so badly, but was deemed too young. When I saw the 3D Architecture pen set on TOYTAG, I knew I had to get it for her! She was delirious when she received it.

As it involved heat, we had to lend her a hand. We tested it out before guiding her. Sadly, the glue stuck too well onto the plastic sheet and could not be pulled out. We ended up doing it on paper which peeled off better. Eventually we figured that the mould worked better and it did! Big K couldn't quite control her strokes and I had to hold her hand for a bit. However, after a while, she got the hang of it and we made a few simple creations. Such things require patience and hence, apart from gross motor skills, this type is awesome at training a child patience! The refill packs are also sold on TOYTAG so I guess we don't have to worry when the colours run out!

There are several awesome online toy stores in Singapore and TOYTAG ranks second! Find out who are the rest over here. They have good deals every now and then as well, so do keep a lookup!! Apart from its online presence, TOYTAG also retails at Harbour Front Centre and APEX @ Henderson. Do check them out if you are looking for quality toys!