Tuesday, December 18, 2012

You Are What You Eat



The easiest way to approach the transformation to a healthier you is to start with your food choices. So many girls think crash dieting or starving themselves for a few days (especially before weddings) is the best way to lose those extra pounds. Trust me, I know how frustrating it is. I’ve gone the GMC Diet, the Liquid Diet, Juice Diet…you name it, I’ve tried it. It’s in our nature to prefer the easiest and fastest way to get what we want; but how many of you found out that taking shortcuts actually makes the route longer?
The same goes with yourself, why look for temporary solutions (we all know how fast we gain back what we lost from those crash diets) when you can get rid of the problem once and for all?

Short cuts are just a distraction from the main issue. Instead of punishing yourself with crash diets, try switching to healthier choices when it comes to what you eat.



What’s in your fridge?

Take a look, what’s inside your fridge? Make a list. The food on the list is what represents you. Are you satisfied with it? If not, cross out the unhealthy and replace it with a healthier choice. For example, replace soft drinks with fruit juice. Keep this list with you whenever you go grocery shopping to remind you what you need. Never go without a list, you will end up buying things you don’t need.

Want to eat out? No problem. Almost all restaurants in Kuwait have healthy choices; you just need to ask them to prepare it for you. Baking Tray and Lofat are two examples of restaurants I like. Baking Tray is a vegan restaurant, while Lofat offers all your favorite meals for fewer calories.

Take a look at their menus on 6alabat.com:


No More Excuses!


The gym at Sahara Club, Kuwait

Exercise. 
The word some people fear, others dread, and many avoid. Forget that image that popped into your mind when you first read that word; exercising doesn’t have to be such a terrorizing matter. YOU are in charge. Make it what YOU want it to be! 

Customize it

Some people may be satisfied with a tough workout at the gym, while some may prefer an outdoors activity with a group. Whatever it is you find best suits you, the main focus is that you are working your body while enjoying it. It will be a bit challenging at first, don’t give up- if it doesn’t challenge you, it won’t change you!

Here are some ideas to get you started:
  • ·      Brisk walks
  • ·      Aerobics
  • ·      Pilates
  • ·      Bicycling
  • ·      Squash

Bring it home

For those of you who still seem to come up with excuses to avoid exercising, think again! Too busy to go to the gym? Traffic as issue?  Well, I’m happy to inform you that you don’t need to worry anymore. Thanks to Wii Sport, order now, you can bring the outdoors indoors to the comfort of your own home!

Here's a video of how you can be more active at home.




I really hope I tackled all of your hesitations. If anyone needs help or is unsure which form of exercise best fits them, just include your problem in the Comments section and I’d love to help! Don’t forget to share your feedback and stories regarding your accomplishments, either!

Are you taking care of your body?
Fill out this survey to find out.

Monday, December 10, 2012

F Behind The F³ Life


Who's behind the blog?

Starting off with a brief bio of myself, my name is Fatma. I was born on the 4th of June 1991. I’m currently a senior at Gulf University of Science and Technology in Kuwait. I’ve lived in Kuwait for most of my life, with a few years spent in England and the US back in the 90s. I consider myself an active person. My hobbies include:
  • ·      Horseback riding
  • ·      Reading
  • ·      Swimming
  • ·      Volleyball
  • ·      Photography

I’m also crazy about animals. They have a way to soothe the soul. They give you unconditional love that's rarely found nowadays with people. Our farm has a variety of animals, some of which include deer, sheep, ostriches, and horses. My first pet was a Siamese cat, followed by two dogs: a Golden Retriever named Casper and a Pomeranian named Duchess.

Casper striking a pose

Duchess out for a car ride



 Why did I start blogging?

 A couple of years ago I decided to change the way I live. I was tired of short-term diets and my fluctuating weight. I started off with making healthier food choices, followed by increasing the number of times I workout weekly.  More people are becoming health-consious as this topic gains popularity, and blogging would be the best channel for me to relay tips &advice while expressing how I feel about different aspects of my lifestyle, and the lifestyles of those around me. Unfortunately, Kuwait has a reputation of being the 5th most obese nation on Earth. That is a result of all the fast food restaurants that continue to fill the country, and the harsh weather conditions. On a brighter note, I am happy to say that thanks to globalization and raised awareness, more and more people are becoming health conscious, and blogging would be the best channel for me to relay tips &advice while expressing how I feel about different aspects of my lifestyle, and the lifestyles of those around me.

In this blog I will be discussing the importance of living a healthy lifestyle by following the 3 most important Fs: Fitness, Fun, and Food. Many people worry that making changes will be difficult, but on the contrary, when taken a step at a time, there will be nothing to worry about! As Robert Urich said, “A healthy outside starts from the inside.”

 I would love to hear your feed back and interests on the different topics I will be discussing here, so please feel free to contact me on my Twitter, Facebook page, or just comment bellow.

Stay tuned!