Lovely morning on a Saturday? What are you doing for the weekend? If you’re free, do drop by Jaya One and support this amazing campaign called Don’t Duck It by Passionately You, a voluntary collaboration between Assunta Hospital, Asia Assistance, Jaya One and Pj Live Arts founded to encourage the community to support the cause for cervical and breast cancer awareness and early detection.

Don’t Duck It Party at Palm Square, Jaya One

To kick start the party, they have DJ quizzes and game stalls. For the ladies, there will also be FREE breast examination and on-site vaccination at a special promo price throughout the day. Both activities will be conducted by the professionals of Assunta Hospital. If you’ve always been shy to learn about breast examination, this is the perfect time to come and find out more. After all, you won’t be alone!

Don’t Duck Breast / Cervical Examination!

To have a better idea, here is the itinerary of what will be in store for the whole day on 22nd of October 2011. Best of all, entrance is FREE.

Itinerary

Not to forget, there is also a flash mob happening at Don’t Duck It Party. Check out the very informative video below and look out for hints at the end to find out what time it’s happening. If you can, learn the moves before you go so that you can be part of the fun!

Flash mob tutorial

For more information, check out http://www.dontduckit.com/ and pledge your awareness!

Earlier this week, I wrote about the Perfect Mother’s Day gift that Saucer and I got for his mother. The Osim uMama Warm is a portable massager that works on the neck, shoulders and back, while warming the tummy at the comfort of your own couch. After exploring and finding out how to use this device, we were excited to pass it to his mother to let her experience it for the first time. When she saw the unit, she immediately recognized since it appeared on the Andy Lau Osim uDivine TV advertisement as a free gift.

Osim uMama Warm Back Massager

We were at my mother-in-law’s place for dinner yesterday, so after dinner, we sat her down and put the unit on her. I even took a video of her putting it on for the first time!

Osim uMama Warm Experience video

Trying uMama Warm for the first time

“It felt like those massage chairs in the shopping malls where we had to put in one buck!”, she said enthusiastically.

Posing with the uMama Warm massager and enjoying it

When she was done with it, I took the liberty to try it out on my own too. Putting it on was pretty easy since the unit seemed to shape itself around one’s body nicely. For me, the back part of the massager sits nicely on my lower back, just below my waist area, while the shoulder massager fits the back of my neck.

Experiencing the uMama Warm back massager

The massage experience was as if someone was thumping you from the back, in a rhythmic movement. There was a option to choose either Shoulder massage, Back massage or Shoulder + Back massage by pressing the button on the panel. I tried the Shoulder + Back massage and I could feel the massager thumping me starting from my shoulders then to my lower back and back to my shoulders, repetitively. To change the rhythm of the thumping, I experimented with the Relax/Rhythm button, with 7 different patterns of massage installed. On top of that, I could also adjust the strength of the thumping. I found that the Medium strength works well for me while my MIL prefers the Hi strength.

“How do I work this?”

My nephew-in-law, Hanson, was intrigued by the massager and wanted to have a go at it too! We helped him put it on since it’s quite heavy for his small-size, but the adjustable strap at the back allows the back and shoulder massager to fall in place nicely. He started to explore the buttons on his own and enjoyed the massage.

Exploring the buttons

Look at his pose once he was satisfied with the options he chose! Such a relaxed and comfortable look on his face! For someone small and bony like him, I’d recommend to use the Lo strength option for maximum comfort. After using it for 15 minutes, he said he had this ticklish feeling at the back, which is actually common because all the massage acts had caused improved blood circulation that resulted in a ticklish sensation.

Rest and relax in a bliss

Soon, it was his sister Heidi’s turn. She was smaller so the unit looked like it was bigger than her. Fortunately, the back could be adjusted such that the shoulder and back massage pads fell into place nicely.

Heidi and the uMama Warm massager

Before long, she was enjoying the massage while watching TV. She found the Lo strength massage to be most comfortable while the Medium strength was a little too hard on her. After her 15-minute cycle was up (the unit stops automatically after 15 minutes), she requested to do it again! It seemed that she was enjoying it very much!

Watching TV while being massaged

After the massage, I saw her scratching her back because of the ticklish feeling she experienced, too. It was quite a funny sight. The feeling only lasted for a couple of minutes, after which she wanted to do it again. It looks like my MIL would have to share the unit with Heidi!

A face of bliss

Overall, here are some of the comments from all of us after using the uMama Warm back massager:

Pros:

1. Easy to operate with straightforward buttons. Even a young child is able to use it without supervision.

2. Seven types of massage patterns/rhythms available.

3. Comfortable padding on the back and front.

4. The massage improved blood circulation which was apparent from the ticklish feeling.

5. A massager suitable for all ages.

Cons:

1. Position of the control panel faces front, which means we have to twist the panel towards us to see the control buttons clearly.

2. Only thumping massage was available. It would be good if there is kneading motion incorporated in the future.

So, if you’re interested to purchase this massager, I would suggest you to get it during the Mother’s Day promotion period (11th April to 8th May 2011) to get the best deals. There are two deals available to get the uMama Warm massager:

Mother’s Day promotion for uMama Warm massager

The second deal of RM888 for uMama Warm + uVision Pro Eye Massager is quite worthy, since the original price for both is RM699 + RM368 = RM1067. To save an extra RM30 (making the package price to be RM858), you can join the Osim Facebook page and search for the Promo Code there! It’s quite easy. If you still can’t find it, email me.

Happy Mother’s Day!

Well, this is my suggestion for a Mother’s Day gift. What’s yours? Happy Mother’s Day to all the mothers out there! You’re all the best!

Yes, before we know it, Mother’s Day is around the corner again, reminding us of how very special and unique our mother is. It is also the day for us to show mummy dearest how she much she is loved for bringing us into this world and for making us who we are today. What are you planning to get for this wonderful lady on this special day where she gets to be pampered and treated like a Queen? Well Saucer has always been wanting to get a massage chair for his mother since she has gone through a hard life bringing up 4 children on her own (his father had left this world many years ago). But we all know how expensive massage chairs can be, with the cheapest one costing at least RM5,000 or more.

uMama Warm Mother’s Day promotion

So when I came across this new product from Osim called uMama Warm Back Massager, I instantly thought how perfect this gift would be for her. The uMama Warm is a portable massager that works on the neck, shoulders and back, while warming the tummy at the comfort of your own couch. Sure, it is not a massage chair but it serves the purpose of massaging and pampering a tired body, at a fraction of the price of a massage chair.

uMama Warm box

Unboxing the uMama Warm

My first impression of uMama Warm was how heavy the unit was. Further inspection revealed that most of the weight lay on the back part of the massager where the rollers are, which actually works to give more pressure during the massage.

uMama Warm in a box

Apart from the weight, I was absolutely impressed with the quality and the feel of the material used! The beige-coloured outer layer felt just like leather, but upon inquiry, it was actually synthetic material that is high in quality. I thought the material was soft, smooth and nice to touch, not to mention the light pastel beige colour gives it a certain elegance and class.

uMama Warm front view

The unit was straightforward to use, with only a control panel attached to the front and a power cord attached to the back. There are 5 buttons with different functions:

1. Stop button
2. Shoulder/Back button – to choose among Shoulder massage, Back massage or Shoulder + Back massage
3. Relax/Rhythm button – to choose among the 7 modes of massages available
4. Heat button – to turn on/off the warming function for the tummy
5. Strength button – to choose between low, medium and high strength for the massage

Love the pseudo-leather material

5 buttons

The unit seemed easy enough to operate, with various options to cater to different needs. Of course, we’ll have to let Saucer’s mom try it out to know if it’s easy for her.

Smooth and soft material with padding within

A closer look at uMama Warm

The back of the uMama Warm is fully padded with the shoulder and back area filled with rollers where the massage takes place. I like the adjustable centre portion that allows one to adjust the position of uMama to massage either the upper or lower back, just by grasping the straps attached to the sides of it.

Back view of uMama Warm

Side view of uMama

The front straps are also padded and soft, giving one a comfortable hold, something to hug even.

Seven modes of massage as seen on the manual

In conclusion, here are some of my views on uMama Warm massager, based on first impression:

Pros:

1. Lovely leather-like material and feel, soft and smooth to touch
2. Well-padded and comfortable to lean on
3. Easy to use with only 5 buttons to control
4. Strength of massage can be adjusted
5. Almost like a portable massage chair
6. Warming effect to the tummy is very comforting

Cons:

1. Quite heavy especially for someone with smaller built
2. Length of power cord is limited

Searching online, we found that the Osim uMama Warm has quite a number of benefits as shown below:

Benefits of uMama Warm

Well, I can’t comment on that yet as I haven’t tried it out. We are meeting Saucer’s mom (my mother-in-law, in case you didn’t know yet ) this week and we can’t wait to let her try it out! Watch out this space for my next post on her comments and feedback on our Mother’s Day gift!

For our mom!

Finally, it’s the third and final instalment of my Osim uKimono journey. Both Saucer and I have tried this slimming belt for a month now and we are now ready to share the results. Initially, I was very skeptical because I never thought one could lose inches just by wearing a belt, but I was proven wrong. Let me show you Saucer’s measurements from Day 1 until Day 28 (4 weeks later).

Day 1 – 39.7 inches

Day 14 (2 weeks) – 38.9 inches

And last but not least, Day 28…

Day 28 (4 weeks) – 38 inches!

What do you think? Almost 2 inches in 1 month, I am impressed! Of course, it goes without saying that we try to follow a healthy diet by avoiding oily and deep-fried food, as well as increasing our fruits and vegetables intake. Someone at Osim also gave us some tips – Drink a glass of milk a day to increase metabolism. Not sure how well it works, but we do it every few days. Most importantly, we were disciplined. We followed the required routine strictly by using the belt twice a day for 15 minutes each. It became very convenient for me as I usually wear it while blogging or watching TV.

Slimming while blogging

The results sheet below only has records of up to Day 21.

Record sheet

As for me, I have lost about 2 inches too (but I’m too shy to show my measurements) . Let’s just say that my measurement now is still above 25 inches That’s why I’m still going to use it religiously until I achieve my target.

If you’re interested to purchase the uKimono…

Before I end, there is good news for those of you who are interested in purchasing the Osim uKimono slimming belt! The people at Osim were pretty satisfied with my product review and decided to give a special offer to readers of iamthewitch.com. This offer is available through online purchase only. What you need to do is follow the steps in this pdf file, and you’ll receive the free gift of an Osim uWalk worth RM120.

Osim uWalk – FREE gift

Studies have shown that walking 10,000 steps a day can trim your waistline by 2 inches, lose 10 pounds (about 4.5kg) and reduce high blood pressure by 34%.

For my previous reviews: Part 1 & Part 2.

Once in a blue moon, I write articles related to Beauty or Health, which explains the existence of these categories in my blog. Recently, I happen to attend a very interesting personal care product launch known as FuGen, short for Future Generation – a product that is made from all natural ingredients for a toxic-free lifestyle. Held on a Saturday morning, the event was graced by a few VIPs and celebrities, including the Deputy Minister of Finance YB Senator Dato’ Donald Lim and model Steve Yap.

Do you know who is this beauty queen?

According to the Managing Director of Life Regen, Dorph Peng, “FuGen is our export quality personal care product range formulated without known carcinogens, neurotoxins, allergens, hormone disruptors and other toxic chemicals.”

FuGen is the future generation of personal care products

Launch of FuGen

The highlight of the launch was the product showcase by celebrity models including Cassandra Patrick, Steve Yap, as well as Madam Lai Meng. Gosh, I grew up watching Madam Lai Meng on TV! And she looked just the same now.

Product showcase by celebrities

Enough about the launch now, what exactly is FuGen? Currently, there are 6 products under the FuGen umbrella, each of them boasting to be free of chemicals and made from natural ingredients.

FuGen line of products

LUSCIOUS – a natural citrus healthy scalp shampoo recommended for itchy scalp and combat dandruff. It is suitable for all age groups, even newborns and for all hair types. I have tried this before and found that my hair did not fall as much after that. Pretty amazing.

REVIVE – a natural citrus antioxidant body wash that’s gentle with antioxidant enriched formulation that gives extra benefits to those with skin problems and allergies. Suitable for all age groups.

RADIANT – a natural citrus antioxidant facial cleanser made from botanical ingredients rich in healthy aging combating properties. Radiant also helps to smoothened fine lines and wrinkles. Its dry cleansing foam helps reduce acne and regulates and maintains skin natural moisture balance. Suitable for all age groups.

HYDRATE – a natural citrus skin protection moisturiser suitable for dry and scaly skin, and skin damaged from overexposure to the sun. It protects skin from free radicals that cause accelerated aging and skin damage. It has natural antibacterial, antifungal and antiseptic properties, hydrates and softens skin.

FEND – a natural citrus antibacterial hand wash.

GUARD – a fluoride free natural bamboo salt toothpaste formulated with patented bamboo salt premix to prevent gingivitis, periodontal and gum disease. It has whitening effects with colloidal ball structure and natural herbs. This was pretty interesting – the toothpaste is actually salty! It would definitely need some getting used to.

It looks like the trend now is moving more and more towards a health-oriented lifestyle. But as with everything else that has something to do with health, the price ain’t cheap. The FuGen price range starts from RM48 and above. For more info, check out their website at http://fugen.life-regen.com/.

Still remember my first post on the discovery of Osim uKimono slimming belt? Well, that was about 2 weeks ago and I suppose it’s high time for a quick update! Both Saucer and I have been religiously using the belt for the past 2 weeks, daily, for about half an hour each. I’m telling you this belt is just so easy to use! It’s now my habit to put it on whenever I’m sitting on my couch watching the TV. A caution though: ALWAYS empty your bladder before using it! Don’t say I didn’t warn you!

Putting on the Osim uKimono

Slimming comfortably

Now many have asked me the question on whether this product works or not. We have used the uKimono for 2 weeks now and we’re happy to report that both of us have lost about 1 inch each so far! Just to show you Saucer’s measurement from 2 weeks before, it was about 39.7 inches.

Before – 39.7 inches

And now, the measurement tape says 38.9 inches.

After – 38.9 inches

And here is the detailed report card on his measurements for the past 2 weeks:

Report card measurements

What do you think? Bear in mind during the past 2 weeks, our eating habit has been normal (no intentional cutting down on food) and also, we’re ashamed to admit, we didn’t exercise. Now I’m not saying that this slimming belt is an alternative to exercise because it’s definitely not. I would think of it more of a shaping instrument, to complement a healthy eating habit and lifestyle.

We still have about 2 more weeks to try out this product, making it a complete one month period. Stay tuned to find out if we continue losing any more inches in my last installment of Lose the Inches with Osim uKimono!

Joy oh joy! Recently, I was given the opportunity by OSIM to review one of their slimming products called uKimono, basically a next-generation slimming belt with amazing features that help to break down fatty tissues in the tummy, butt and thighs as well as creating a perfectly trimmed body when combined with an effective diet plan. As a food blogger, I almost never say no to food (although I do exercise control) so eventually, the inches started crawling to all the hideous parts of my body – the thighs, arms and worst of all, tummy! You may not notice it (yet) but my pants are not fitting me as well as they used to. Ever since I started the culinary journey, there was no turning back (in terms of weight, that is). So, when I had the opportunity to review a revolutionary slimming belt, I immediately jumped to it.

Osim uKimono

But before that, it should be noted that this is in fact, a product review and not an advertorial. I am personally very keen on trying this product but I still have my doubts on whether it works or not. Therefore, the people from Osim are loaning the items for me for a couple of weeks, while I follow their instructions and record my measurements on the ‘report card’ provided. At the end of 2-3 weeks, we will all see whether uKimono can really make us lose inches. I promise you, I will be transparent and I won’t modify the results.

Osim uKimono in a box

uKimono mini for the arms, uKimono for the other parts of the body

Unboxing the uKimono revealed a rather heavy slimming belt which is padded with a soft surface, AC adaptor, a control panel as well as a carrying case.

What’s inside the box

Bright red uKimono slimming belt

When I tried to hold it using one hand, I could feel how heavy it was! It was perhaps, around 4-5kg? That’s my guess! Anyway, the weight proved to be useful later on for it gave the massages a little bit more momentum and force – break the fats!

A heavy bundle

Operating the uKimono is quite a breeze with the control in hand. One could use it to slim the butt, tummy or thigh area, or just to massage the lumbar area.

The remote control

uKimono mini for the arms

Look at the ‘report card’ that I had to fill in! The instructions were pretty simple – I had to do it twice a day for 15 minutes each and subsequently measure the tummy area before recording it on this paper.

The ‘report card’

I know, some disillusioned people might still think that I’m too skinny and I don’t need this, so to make things fun, I’m asking Saucer to join the experiment with me! Fair enough? Just to get things started, let us see the measurement for his tummy before he started using the belt. It looks like 39.6inches from the picture below?

Measuring the tummy at 39.6 inches

After that, I helped him to put on the belt and operate the control, which he learnt in no time. There are 3 levels of Massage Strength to be chosen, but he started with Level 2 first.

Massage Strength Level 2

Looks like he’s enjoying it!

“It feels like being punched, but in a good way”

Of course, I had to try it out too! The “Tummy” program was quite interesting. It started with a few minutes of excessive shaking, followed by some kneading action, and then a bit of punching sensation too. These processes repeat until 15 minutes is up,  before automatically stopping.

Trying out the uKimono

There are many other areas that uKimono can be used on, so I tried experimenting on them as well.

The tummy

Trying to place it around my thighs – it’s heavy!

Fastening the strap

uKimono for thighs

uKimono for the lumbar – this basically just massages the back and has no slimming function

uKimono for the butt

While using uKimono for all the other areas of the body allows me to sit down and relax, the butt area is a bit of a challenge. So instead of standing for 15 minutes, I chose to lie on the bed, face down and let uKimono work its magic on my butt.

uKimono on the butt

According to the website, uKimono has 4 Auto Massage Programmes Developed by Japanese Shiatsu Massage Expert.

“uKimono helps to break down fatty tissue, enabling the effective and efficient burning of fat.” – Dr. Koto Takayoshi (M.D.) Professor Emeritus, Tsukuba University, Japan.

Whether it’s true or not, we will find out in a couple of weeks. I have named this series “Lose the Inches with OSIM uKimono” so watch out next week to check our report cards.

Ever since I started blogging about food, many people have been asking me on how I manage to stay in shape all the time! Yes, I do enjoy eating (who doesn’t?) and I have to admit, delicious food is usually unhealthy. “Oh, that Tiramisu is to-die-for” (while thinking what the mascarpone cream is doing to my waist) or “The Pork knuckle melts-in-your-mouth!” (fat goes through the lips and stays in the hips). But really, not all delicious food need to be unhealthy! The following are 5 Tips to Eat Healthily that I follow (or try my best to) every week in order to enjoy my food without the guilt (and the extra inches).

1. Nothing Off the Can

And that means instant food. Anything that is processed, canned or frozen can never be good for your health. Take for example, instant noodles. Easy to prepare and definitely delicious, this pack of devil is usually deep-fried during the manufacturing process, resulting in high content of saturated or trans-fat. Also, the seasoning that comes together with the noodles has high content of salt and monosodium glutamate (MSG), which are detrimental to health if taken in excess. The same goes to canned soup, in which the main ingredient is almost always MSG. Therefore, whenever possible, I will stay away from instant food and cook my own soup instead. Or I could opt for the delicious yet healthy  home-made Soup of the Day from The Salad Bar. Hearty and generously portioned, this soup is the perfect comfort food without the unnecessary additives.

Soup of the Day – Mushroom (RM3.50)

2. Cordial is not “Juice”

More often that not, when I order Orange juice from a restaurant, I would be served with a glass of orange liquid masquerading as Orange juice, but is really sweetened coloured concentrate mixed with water. No, that is not good for your health! It is the same as consuming sugar, only it’s worse because now there’s colouring involved. Never settle for any juice substitutes other than freshly-squeezed ones. The right way of making fruit juice is to squeeze them fresh upon order, with no additional sugar or water. Just 100% pure fruit juice. Again, The Salad Bar triumphs in this, for the orange juice I ordered was concentrated, thick and very delicious!

Orange Juice (RM4.50)

No water or sugar added – 100% fruit juice

3. Vege, vege and more vege

I’m sure this is not something new to you – vegetables are good for health. But I have to admit, I’m not a vegetable-lover growing up, because I found them to be neither tasty nor appetizing. Vegetables are almost the best food for your body, for they are low in fat and calories, yet high in vitamins and dietary fibre. That means eating vegetables can fill up your stomach quickly without the additional calories. Results? A healthier and slimmer you. But not many people can make delicious salads, including myself. Bear in mind, salads with the generous Thousand Island or mayonnaise dressings are not healthy even though they make vegetables taste more delicious.

Bowl of Salad

Fresh vegetables are good for you

Thankfully, there is Salad Bar to the rescue – a place which prepares wonderful salad with delicious home-made dressings and a wide variety of toppings. Toppings are essential to make the salad more appetizing and less boring. Best of all? We get to pick the toppings we like as well as the leaves! Now I have no reason not to eat more salad, have I?

Tropical Fruits Salad (RM6.90/Half portion)

Tropical Fruits Salad is perfect for those who do not have a large appetite and love a sweet twist to their salad. This salad was bursting with juices from various fruits, most noticeably the juicy plump pomelo sacs and the sweet mango cubes.

Very refreshing salad with sweet pomelo and mango on top

For something more filling and appetizing, the Spicy Salad works perfectly with spicy teriyaki chicken and a generous amount of chili and balsamic vinegar. In fact, I found the vinegar a little too generous since it became too sour to stomach at one point, but that’s just me.

Spicy Salad (RM6.90/Half portion)

Spicy teriyaki chicken and spicy vinegar dressing

Even though I just had a bite from the High Energy Superman Salad, I thought it was my favourite of the 3! It was topped with generous amount of cornflakes that gave it a nice crunch, as well as savoury chicken sausages.

High Energy Superman (RM6.90/Half portion) – Crunchy cornflakes and Chicken sausage

CONTINUE TO NEXT PAGE