F45 8 Week Challenge: Week 3, Inquisitive Me

I knew it, I tried to do a weekly post on my journey and second week in I already failed to keep it up. But in saying that, it was probably because I didn’t have anything to say.

I only managed to go train twice in week two. Sad.

Week three just passed, and I strived for better. I booked myself into a class everyday instantly so I will make myself go …

But training aside, I have a really big question mark floating in my head.

Am I just madly devoted to food or am I just born to be unhealthy? Or perhaps I’m just impatient. But three weeks in and I don’t get that feeling everyone talks about. The feeling I’m talking about is how my body feels so clean and refreshed and I will never go back to eating unhealthy again.

In fact, I may or may not be sitting here counting down to when I can go out and have a nice little treat. I may or may not have friends who contacted me to see when this ends so we can have a catch up over food…

But what I can understand is, if you do have a little treat – you could feel guilty and feel like crap for not being strong enough to give into temptation. But feeling cleaner? I’m not sure … Am I asking this question too early?

Guess time will tell and at the end of my eight weeks, when I go and catch up with all my friends over food I will have a better answer then …

Week three is all about questions. But I think I secretly know my own answer...

FOOD >> FITNESS || When you turn your back on food, you go and spend money on active wear instead 😂

A post shared by Cassie Leong (@jfromwithin) on May 15, 2017 at 9:31pm PDT

I’m born for the fat life, the struggle is real.

Until next time, aidos ~

F45 8 Week Challenge: Week 1, Done

If you follow me on instagram or facebook, you would know that I have taken up the F45 8 Week Challenge. I was thinking I haven’t been active on the blog for close to a year, so it should be fine if I don’t blog. But then, I remembered – the reason I started this blog was because I could write basically anything I wanted, not only my food adventures.

So, I welcome you all to my 8-week journey.

I’m not sure what I’ll be writing about, but perhaps just an online journal, back to the basics of how I’m feeling through the whole process.

Monday. Weigh-in day, as The Biggest Loser would call it. But it was more so, just a body scan to see my fat percentage and all the nitty and gritty inside information we seem to forget about.

Nervous as hell, I stepped on the scales – it wasn’t as bad as I expected, but of course there is plenty of kilos for improvement. But the next step was surely one to scare me most, the photos (Yes, they’re not going to be posted at all). I didn’t even have the courage to look at them until the next day, and I did only because I was forced to. But it is a good thing, cause now I know whenever I feel slack and don’t want to go to train, I’ll have this to tell myself: look at those photos and think again.

Thus far, every day training has been amazing. I have previously participated in F45 classes, so I’ve always enjoyed their circuit training. But the pain, the morning after the first day – I honestly felt like someone had used me as a punching bag.

Then there is food, my love for food is really being tested. Do I love food more or do I love myself more? Well, my usual answer would be:

Cassie, you love yourself so feed yourself what you love.

But no, that’s just taking the easy way out and making myself feel better for giving in. I guess, this is also a lesson for the power of the mind.

I apologise for the lack of photos in this post, as I realised I wanted to document this half way through the week. I’ll attempt for more imagery next week forward.

Until next week, adios~

i-Creamy, Sydney CBD

I haven’t been out much lately, as I guess everyone can see with the lack of activity here and the cob webs starting to form. But I do try to get out as much as I can. Last month, I did manage to sneak out and watch the much-anticipated Aladdin, we had purchased our tickets late last year and finally the day arrived. With much talk around it as soon as it opened, we knew we made the right choice months ahead.

So while having the chance to be out, there is no slipping up on getting in some foodventures along the way. So, this lovely Saturday afternoon we were standing in the queue-less i-Creamy for our rose ice cream.

Two flavours $6.90, Three flavours $8.90

There are only a handful of flavours to choose from for your rose ice cream, and these can be noted with the green four clover stands. On this lovely Saturday afternoon I went with the apple cinnamon and creaming soda. The apple pie had bits of dried apple inside, which gave you a nice little textural bite. The creaming soda is everything you would expect it to be, it really reminds me of the Schweppes creaming soda that you can get in Hong Kong, the yellow soda.

I-creamy really lives up to their name, as the ice cream is smooth and creamy.

Flavours do range, so you are always assured to get a different combination if you do revisit.

There is one thing I am sure of, this is one rose no lady will be decline… ok, I can’t speak for all ladies, but I know this isn’t one I will decline. Would you?

Watch below how the rose ice cream is made.

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i-Creamy Artisan Gelato
Skyview Plaza,
Shop 3, 537 - 551 George Street,
Sydney

High Tea At The Park Hyatt, Sydney

I have no real reason as to why I have fallen off the planet of the Earth for the last month plus, but when I think back, I also had no time to sit down and do anything for the blog. But alas, I have returned and I am excited to let you all know that I have decided to add in some videos for your enjoyment. Warning: Please be forewarned that I am awkward as this is the first time I am doing these vlog like videos.

Compliments to Ti Amo Partnership for my afternoon champagne high tea for two at the Park Hyatt, I enjoyed a splendid afternoon with my mother and aunty J.  We had a quiet corner where we could just enjoy the serenity of the Sydney Harbour as well as allowing us to move about and take as many photos as we would like.

Everything is instantly better when you are greeted with a glass of bubbles, and this glass of Moet did just the job.

I must say, this has been by far the high tea I have enjoyed the most. Everything presented was just so decadent.

The roe added a little interesting pop with the salmon sandwich. The cucumber and green apple slider was a fun touch; there was even a crunch factor from the green apple.

I jump to the scones next, the scones! I don’t even know where to start with this, the exterior holds a nice firm touch, and the insides were soft and fluffy. This is seriously one of the best scones I’ve ever had. I decide to hold off on having my second serve until later.

The cucumber sandwich was light and refreshing. Not usually one that eats tomato by choice unless it has been put in front of me, but the bocconcini and cherry tomato was great compliments with a light touch of basil pesto.

Now the strawberry and rhubarb tart was a very close favourite behind the scones. The soft and light texture worked so well with the tangy subtle sweet flavours, I could have more of this and not even realise what happened. The vanilla choux had detailing to the tee done right. The little detailing on the flowers were such a sweet touch, and made it hard to devour, however when you do eat the thin chocolate, it melts in your mouth easily. These sweet touches are perfect for those who don’t have a sweet tooth.

The slightly heavier desserts, however what has made this high tea even more desirable is the fact that all their sweets are actually not as heavy as you believe. Though the chocolate and peanut tranche looks and sounds completely rich and every bite making us all squirm with sweetness, but it was so light but the peanut flavours was still evident. The a la foile macaron had a citrus touch on the palate, that broke through the usual sweetness you get from a macaron.

I choose to end my experience with a pot of coquelicot gourmand tea, with subtle hints of poppy, biscuit and almond paste. The flavours were all soft and light on the palate but it was just the perfect way to end a splendid afternoon.

Have you been the to the Park Hyatt and where is your favourite high tea?

Watch my experience below, however a newb as I am – I forgot to check for battery levels. So I could only sneak in the snippets of food rather than my eating.

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Living Room - The Park Hyatt

7 Hickson Road, 
The Rocks, Sydney, NSW

Museum of Contemporary Arts, Sydney

There are those random days where I like to feel like a tourist in my own city. Just because we live in a particular city, it doesn’t mean we don’t get to go about and do some touristy things. We need to take in the beauty of where we live.

In saying that, I have always wanted to pop into the Museum of Contemporary Arts (MCA) for a while now, but I finally had the time to with my aunt a few weeks back.

The current exhibition running is New Romance, created by both Australian and Korean artists who inspires us with the thoughts of what the future may hold as humans. This runs until the 4^th September 2016 and is located on the Level 1.

Things that you will see in the New Romance exhibition includes:

The Digital Book Project is a symbol of human knowledge, Kang is fascinated by the way human lives between physical and virtual worlds. Quite fitting with the whole idea of Pokemon Go as of late …

Manoeuvres is creative, reminds me a lot of pacman as you chase the dots through each board. Baumann brings this piece to show her interest in the way emotions change and has brought this interest into her artwork with the use of colours and patterns.

Scroll is every non-morning person’s nightmare. 

A bunch of alarm clocks blinking simultaneously. However, Burns is inspiration for this work was drawn from morning talk shows on the radio and how it is interferes with our thinking.

Another exhibition currently running is Telling Tales located on Level 3, this will run until 9^th October 2016.

The Letter Writing Project is cute, three different Japanese inspired structures are available. A kneeling, chair, and standing cubicle is available for anyone to go inside to write a letter. The letter could be left unsealed or sealed – if unsealed, it is for anyone to open and read. At the end of this exhibition, these letters will be posted out to the addressed person.

And just some other artworks that are around the MCA that have captured my attention.

I am not sure why this ‘I am Human’ by Richard Bell was so captivating, perhaps it’s just the simplicity of this artwork and how it draws on just how we all feel most of the time – especially through the hard times.

The MCA cafe, located on the top level are have also created a temporary Korean pop-up inspired menu. Unfortunately, I could not try this however, if you are interested - be sure to check it out!

I had a really lovely day walking the entire Sydney CBD, and it felt great to just be a tourist for a day. If time allows, you should give it a shot.

Do you also like to feel like a tourist in your own city on some random days? Where do you like to go?