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Active Slim Program – 5 Tips to Reduce Weight and Maintain It!

I hope you have been following my slimming journey with Halley Medical Aesthetics. If not, you can scroll to the bottom of this post to read all the posts on CoolSculpting and Active Slim Program which has helped me to sculpt slimmer thighs, reduce weight and get back my confidence.

Active Slim Program provides nutritional counseling and adds on meal replacement for healthy weight loss. I learnt the right ways to cut down my excessive weight to a healthy BMI, all thanks to Jean Tong, my nutritionist at Halley Medical Aesthetic.

So far my statistics have been satisfying. From the first visit to the last, below are some encouraging numbers, nothing drastic but steady and healthy numbers:

● Weight – reduce by 3kg over 6 months (without medication)
● Muscle weight – increase by 0.8%
● Body Fat – reduce by 3%
● Waistline – reduce 7cm

One may expect that weight loss is the obvious indicator of slimming success, but it would be more accurate to take in the holistic numbers like muscle weight, body fat and final BMI. In fact, from Active Slim program, my waistline actually decreases by a whopping 7cm, which I think is really amazing! I am happy that muscle weight has increased, body fat has decreased and hence I am not so bothered about my final weight. The truth is that my target weight falls short of 1 kg. However, 4 months after the program has ended, I am still able to maintain my weight 4 months ago, and I think this is an incredible feat to celebrate about!

Below are the ways that I want to share with everyone how I managed to reduce weight and most importantly, maintain the healthy weight!

1. Meal Planning

Here is how my typical day meals look like. This helps me to achieve a healthy diet of 10 CHO (Carbohydrate Exchange).

Breakfast at 730am: Half a cup of low-fat milk (I used to take Milo but it is high in sugar level compared to Low fat milk), 1 slice of wholemeal bread with cheese (no sugar-added jam)

Lunch at 12pm: Salad with 2 tbsp Quinoa with palm-sized chicken breast meat and bacon bits with 1 tbsp Yuzu Soya sauce at least twice a week, plus an Apple.

Mid-afternoon snack: one cup of red date with wolfberries drink or a cup of low-fat yogurt or a serving of fruit

Dinner at 7pm: 3 tbsp of mixed brown with white rice, one serving of stir fried vegetable, one palm size of stir fried or steamed fish, 1 palm size of steamed egg, 1 serving of orange or watermelon.

The above helps me to achieve the needed nutrients in a day. Choosing a healthy mid-afternoon snack is good to ensure that I am not too hungry to eat more than what I need for dinner.

For days that I do not take salad and choose to eat out with my colleagues, I will ensure that I walk more that day or cut down calorie snack for mid-afternoon snack.

2. Taking care not to take empty calories and it is OK to indulge in SINFUL Foods once in a while!

Jean told me that we should avoid empty calorie food such as desserts, sweets, food that has no nutritional value. However, in order to be able to sustain on the weight loss journey, it is also alright that we indulge in our favourite but sinful foods once in a while. It does not have to be a strictly boring diet. Sometimes, due to social reasons, it is perfectly alright to eat out of the normal meal foods.

3. Reading Labels

Do you know how to read labels and beware of how marketing tactics can mislead consumers?
Some food for thought:

Zero fat = healthy? Not really if it is high in sugar.

Trans fat free = healthy? Not really, one serving of the food can contain up to 0.5 grams of trans fat, according to the law, and still be labeled trans-fat-free. In fact, there are healthy fats such as canola oil and olive oil, which taken in moderation, do no harm to our health.

Cholesterol = fats? NO, cholesterol is not a type of fats. There is good and bad cholesterol. Don’t be misled by labels that say Cholesterol free! In fact, we should aim to eat foods that provides high HDL (High-density Lipoproteins) cholesterol to get rid of bad cholesterol and reduce risk of heart disease. Foods with high HDL cholesterol includes fatty fish, olive oil, beans, whole grains, flax, nuts, chia seeds, avocado, soy-based products. We should take more of these!!

When you read labels, you should be comparing against the 100ml nutritional list instead of a per serving list. The highest composition will top the list. Hence, if you see sugar high on the list, it means that the product contains high sugar level.

Beware of different names that mean sugar, for example, fructose, dextrose, lactose, maltose, brown sugar, cane sugar, corn syrup solids, galactose, carbitol, etc etc etc… 100 over names to represent sugar!

Try choosing the healthier choice labels, it helps in your decision to consume a healthier option. Take note that it doesn’t mean that the product is healthy, but rather it means that it is a healthier choice compared to another brand that does not carry the label. So, you can even see the label on ice-cream! It does not mean that ice-cream is healthy, but it may mean that this product contains a smaller percentage of unhealthy ingredients compared to another brand.

4. Exercise

We can’t avoid exercising when it comes to nutrition and healthy eating. We need to ensure that we have Calories Out after we consume Calories In! Otherwise all In and no Out, in no time, we will be growing in size! A rule of thumb is 150min of high intensity exercise level per week. I know, I know this is difficult. Well, we need to start somewhere. Perhaps start by brisk walking 2-3 times a week, add on swimming or light jogging. Certainly, it beats NOT EXERCISING at all, isn’t it?

5. Cut Down on Snacking

I find that removing unhealthy snacks from my work desk is very useful. No biscuits, no crackers, no titbits. There are no distractions for me to munch unnecessarily. I keep healthy snacks like fruits and low fat yogurt in my office. I drink plain water when I am thirsty. I try not to think of drinking coffee, milk tea or hot chocolate. If I really want to, I will add less or zero sugar to the tea or coffee. Such intentional lifestyle habits help in maintaining my weight.

So far, the above tips have served me very well. Occasionally, I gain 1 or 2 kg after an overseas trip. But as long as I keep to what Jean has taught me in the Active Slim Program, I am able to return to my weight quickly. I really benefited lots from this educational program. It helps me to be self-sustained in eating healthily, and even planning healthy meals for the family. I am glad that from now on, I have this blog post to show whoever wants to slim down the healthy way.

Thank you, Halley Medical Aesthetic, for the wonderful slimming journey and the chance to gain back my confidence in carrying myself!

Join me on my CoolSculpting Journey with the below posts!
1) Achieving Slimmer Thighs With CoolSculpting at Halley Medical Aesthetics
2) My CoolSculpting Journey – What to Expect on Day of Treatment at Halley Medical Aesthetics
3) Active Slim Program – Losing Weight by Nutritional Counseling at Halley Medical Aesthetics
4) My CoolSculpting Results of My Thighs

More information:
If you are interested in the Active Slim programme, please click here.
Price of Active Slim Programme – $800
Price of a box of Optifast of 7 sachets – $18.50

277 Orchard Road #03-15
Orchard Gateway Singapore 238858
T: 6737 8233
halley.com.sg
facebook.com/halleymedicalaesthetics
instagram.com/halleymedicalaesthetics
blog.halleymedicalaesthetics.com

The Sound of Music Musical in Singapore

The Hills Are Alive, With The Sound of Music…. what a genius piece of work from Richard Rogers (music) and Oscar Hammerstein (lyrics) which captures the hearts of young and old for decades! In fact, all the songs are amazingly touching! Remember Do-Re-Me, Edelweiss, Sixteen Going On Seventeen, So Long- Farewell? Now, to introduce your kids to Musicals, perhaps SOUND OF MUSIC is a good first step because the songs are catchy, cheerful and the 7 children of the von Trapp family are so endearing!

The Hills Are Alive, With The Sound of Music…. what a genius piece of work from Richard Rogers (music) and Oscar Hammerstein (lyrics) which captures the hearts of young and old for decades! In fact, all the songs are amazingly touching! Remember Do-Re-Mi, Edelweiss, Sixteen Going On Seventeen, So Long- Farewell? Now, to introduce your kids to Musicals, perhaps THE SOUND OF MUSIC is a good first step because the songs are catchy, cheerful and the 7 children of the von Trapp family are so endearing!

We watched the movie some months ago and I must say it helps a lot with the understanding of the musical for the kids. The movie is a much longer version (about 3 hours) compared to the musical which played for 2.5 hours including intermission. Rest assured the kids will not get restless because every scene holds onto the attention of the audience as they anticipate the next familiar song to sing along.

WHAT IS THE STORY ABOUT?

If you do not already know the story of the von Trapp family and Maria, the main character, as the governess, I shall briefly introduce here (extraction from wiki and official press release):

The story is based on the memoir of Maria von Trapp, a true story with altered details for the musical and movie. Maria takes a job as governess to a large family while she decides whether to become a nun. She falls in love with the 7 children, and eventually their widowed father, Captain von Trapp. He is ordered to accept a commission in the German navy, but he opposes the Nazis. He and Maria decide on a plan to flee Austria with the children as tensions rise before the outbreak of World War II.

With its unforgettable score, THE SOUND OF MUSIC touches the hearts of all ages and contains some of the most memorable songs ever performed on the musical theatre stage including My Favourite Things, Do-Re- Mi, Climb Ev’ry Mountain, Edelweiss, The Lonely Goatherd, Sixteen Going on Seventeen, and of course the glorious title song The Sound of Music.

The original 1959 Broadway production of THE SOUND OF MUSIC won five Tony Awards, including Best Musical, and was

Rogers and Hammerstein’s biggest success. The 1965 movie starring Julie Andrews as Maria won five Oscars, including Best Picture, and remains one of the most popular movies of all time.

SINGAPORE YOUNG ACTORS AND ACTRESSES

It is interesting to know that 6 out of 7 von Trapp children are young actors and actresses from Singapore, with 3 children to alternate each character. These 18 children come from all corners of Singapore and will perform in rotation throughout the season as the small and cute Gretl, the brothers Friedrich and Kurt, as well as their sisters Marta, Brigitta, and Louisa.

We enjoyed the beautiful stage props which my kids were in awe at the automatic appearance of the tables and chairs which stopped in precise locations. The voices of Maria, the nuns, the children, Captain von Trapp are powerful and an enjoyment to close your eyes for a moment to let the notes sink into your eardrums. While I was watching, I love to pay attention to the standing positions of the actors and actresses. I pointed out to the older kids on the details of the stage performance, including the synchronised steps, looks, speeches with precised timing. It is often with such attention to details that make a performance beautiful and flowing.

We totally love the musical and encourage to let your kids watch the movie before heading to the musical. It is a good start for appreciation of the performing arts for the whole family with such a timeless classic musical.

Sound of Music is currently showing at Mastercards Theatres at Marina Bay Sands till 3 December 2017. It will be a good holiday family activity to look forward to.

More information as follows:

When: 7 November to 3 December

Performance Times: Tues – Fri 730pm; Sat 2pm & 730pm; Sun 1pm & 6pm

Ticket Price: From $65 (Excludes the booking fee of SGD$4 per ticket)

Bookings:

INTERNET: www.MarinaBaySands.com/ticketing or www.sistic.com.sg

PHONE: +65 6688 8826

IN PERSON AT:

Marina Bay Sands Box Offices (Museum, Theatres, SkyPark, Retail Mall and Hotel Tower 1

Lobby).

For more information please log onto – www.MarinaBaySands.com

Disclaimer: We were invited to the musical for the purpose of this review. Thank you Base Entertainment Asia and Sliding Doors Entertainment for the kind invitation. It was certainly 2 thumbs-up for this wonderful musical. I am sure the story will leave a good lasting impression on the kids 🙂

Legoland Malaysia – 5th Brick-Versary + Water Theme Park Review

Do you know that Legoland Malaysia is celebrating 5th birthday this September? It means that it has been providing lots of fun opportunities for Singaporean families to enjoy a short getaway across the causeway for 5 years already! Time really flies! Each time we visit Legoland, we have a different experience mainly due to the fact that the kids grow up and progress to different kind of activities and also Legoland Malaysia adds new attractions now and then! So here we are again, to celebrate the 5th Brick-Versary and I hope you will enjoy as much as we did!

The line up of events of the 5th Brick-Versary starts from 21 Aug to 30 Sep. Here is the show guide:

Once you enter Legoland Malaysia Theme Park Entrance, you will be given a Brick-Versary Goodies Coupon to scratch and win for each admission ticket. You may get to win LEGO sets, annual passes, LEGO Minfigures. If you are really lucky, you may win the top prize which is an all-expense paid trip to Legoland Japan for the family. Do look out for the below activities too!

• Jumbo Minifigure Trade – Go on a Jumbo Minifigure Trading craze with 1,000 kinds of Minifigures and
challenge your kids to see who can collect the most Minifigures from the park’s Trading Hut
• Giant LEGO® Birthday Cake – Who can take the best iconic shot of themselves with a Giant LEGO®
Birthday cake made up of 150,000 LEGO® bricks?
• Fifth Brick-versary’s Edition DUPLO® Bricks – Are you a true blue LEGO® fan? Find out more about the
activities that lets you win one of the fan favourite limited edition DUPLO® bricks
• Brickdance by 12 LEGO® costume characters – Mums, dads, boys and girls, get ready for a dance
showdown. Battle it out with the adorable LEGO® costumers.

This is the first time we tried to cover 2 parks in one day and also the first time we visited the Water Park. We spent a good half of the day at Water Park first and head on over to the Theme Park in the late afternoon. It started off with a cool breezy day and we tried to cover all the Water Park attractions before the heavy dark clouds loomed over us and poured. We managed to cover almost all the attractions before the rain caught us in time for our late lunch.

BUILD-A-RAFT RIVER

The moment we got changed into our swim wear and put our belongings in the locker, which we paid MYR40 for a big locker, we were undecided which ride to hit for a start. In the end, we decided to do a rest and relax activity before getting our adrenaline high with the rides. Build-A-Raft River, here we come!

Legoland structure — There were many LEGO structures everywhere in the park as well as lifeguards who kept watch on the park goers.

You can build with huge colourful Duplo blocks while floating on the river!

JOKER SOAKER

No kids will miss out this interactive playground with a bucket of 300 gallons of water splashing down on them. There are slides suitable for the little ones and more challenging slides for the older kids and adults. Most little kids can stay here for hours. Our youngest did not want to leave until we encouraged him to join all of us at the rides.

RED RUSH (Minimum height 102cm)

Everything doubles the fun when you play with fun company. We were happy to have the company of the kids’ cousins to join us for the rides. We headed on to RED RUSH, which is suitable for 6 people to sit in a doughnut float. It was the first time my youngest sat on such a ride. We were happy that he had crossed the minimum height to take the ride. He was initially afraid, but seeing that his same age cousin would be accompanying him to take the ride, he put on a brave front so as not to lose out to a girl, LOL! In the end, it was so fun that we took the ride a few more times!

SPLASH N SWIRL (Minimum height 107cm) and Brick Blaster (Minimum height 107cm)

These 2 rides are side by side. Splash and Swirl can allow 1 or 2 people to take the ride. It goes through a swirling and splashing a few rounds depending on how heavy you are before entering an exciting tunnel. I took it with my No.2 and we swirled 3 rounds before I wondered if we were going to swirl there forever and then we were brought into the entrance of the tunnel eventually. It was really fun and No.2 went again on his own.

Brick Blaster could take up to 3 people. It swings and sways in the tunnel. My hub took it with our youngest.

LEGO SLIDE RACERS (Minimum height 107cm)

To me, this must be the most exciting ride! You take a mat and slide into a tunnel which make several turns before exiting into a plunge down the steep slides. Not only that, we were able to race together in 5. The heaviest of all will emerge first. The only hard part is to climb up the many steps to take this ride but it is worth the effort!

Then it started to rain when we climbed up the steps for a 3rd time. The lifeguards and staff blew whistle to signal everyone to take shelter. It was also a cue for us to take a break. While the elder kids were having fun playing on some of the exciting rides, the younger ones were busy building their boats nearby! They could put their boats to the test and challenge each other on whose boat can travel faster.

LEGO WAVE POOL

When the rain got really big, everyone headed to the lunch area at Beach Grill in front of the LEGO Wave Pool. There was a free screening of Ninjago movie at the Wave Pool. All the kids were kept occupied by the movie while the adults ordered lunch. The rain soon stopped and the kids jumped into the Wave Pool.

After lunch, we bathed and wanted to go over to the Legoland Theme Park next door. Unfortunately, it started to really pour heavily and we were stranded at the entrance of Water Park. We bought a Poncho and the kids’ uncle braved the rain in the poncho to bring some umbrellas from our cars parked at Somerset Medini Apartment. That’s when the rain subsided and we made our way to the Theme Park with our umbrellas. I am pretty sure, to the kids, walking in the rain was one of the highlights of our visit that day.

LEGOLAND THEME PARK

We had 2 hours left to play at this Theme Park. So, we chose the most popular attractions. Due to the rain, most of the attractions had no queue and we were able to enjoy multiple rides in such a short time.

But before we started for the rides, we must take this photo for a memory keepsake in this special 5th Brick-Versary celebration!

LEGO NINJAGO THE RIDE

We started with LEGO Ninjago The Ride. This was our first time at this attraction. We were not too sure what we were in for. We just knew all of us could play including the youngest. For those of you who had tried this ride before, it is a battle of who is the best Ninja in throwing out fireballs, lightning strikes, shockwaves and ice. It is kinda interesting as each ride transports maximum of 4 people and we had to use our hands in parallel movements above the sensors in front of us to throw out elements to kill the Great Devourer. There was a score board in front of us. We were able to compare our scores at the end of the ride. Amazingly, all the younger kids could do better than the older kids and adults!

LOST KINGDOM ADVENTURE (Minimum height 80cm, 2yo)

This is a shooting hunt ride and it is suitable for families. Nothing too complicated. Just take out the gun, aim at the green lights and pull the trigger. It looks easy but not so when you need precision to take aim at the targets.

THE DRAGON APPRENTICE (Minimum height 100cm, 4yo) and THE DRAGON (Minimum height 100cm, 6yo)

This was also the first time No. 3 rode on a roller coaster. I was initially worried about whether he could take it. I really need not be. He loved it! This really made it easier for us to bring him to try out more adventurous rides in the future. Now, we just need to wait for him to grow up to meet the ride requirements to get on the challenging ones! I am happy that Legoland is designed with little ones in mind as The Dragon Apprentice is catered for them while The Dragon caters for the older kids and adults.

MINILAND

These Minilands and structures are simply amazingly built to life! Some have interactive buttons to spurt water and make sounds.

We ended our trip with our family photo at the same old spot at the beautiful Castle Stage. Look how we have changed and how the kids have grown up with each photo!

Before we left for dinner with the grandparents, we managed to catch the Awesome Parade for the 5th Brick-Versary celebrations.

We were very lucky that despite the rain, we were able to maximise our visit to the 2 parks. Legoland Malaysia, we will certainly be back! You have already become a memorable and favourite place for our family, especially when we have witnessed how Legoland Malaysia has been a part of our kids’ growing up years!

HAPPY BIRTHDAY to you, LEGOLAND MALAYSIA! May you always be as AWESOME a place for all of us as ever!

More information:
Park Opening Hours –
Water Park – 10am to 6pm daily
Theme Park – 10am to 6pm (Mon – Thurs), 10am to 7pm (Fri – Sun)
Do check here for ride closure and maintenance schedule before you book your tickets over here.

Disclaimer: We were invited to celebrate Legoland 5th Brick-Versary. Thank you Legoland Malaysia and the organisers for the awesome fun we have together.

My CoolSculpting Results Of My Thighs

Slimming is a nervous business. I was nervous when I decided to entrust my slimming journey to Halley Medical Aesthetics (I have not walked into an aesthetics clinic before!). I was nervous on my first visit of consultation due to shyness. And I was even more nervous on my last review to see the verdict!

But I really shouldn’t be because I can already feel the awesome effects of the CoolSculpting by Zeltiq before my last review was up! But still, there is always the element of anxiety on what the doctor will have to say.

If you have not been following my CoolSculpting journey, you may read my first consultation with Dr Terence Tan and what to expect on the CoolSculpting day.

A recap on what is CoolSculpting:

CoolSculpting by Zeltiq is a treatment to reduce stubborn fat bulges that may not respond to diet or exercise. It freezes and eliminates stubborn fat by delivering precisely controlled cooling to gently and effectively target the fat cells underneath the skin. These treated fat cells are crystallised (frozen), and then die.

Over time, your body naturally processes the fat and eliminates these dead cells, leaving a more sculpted silhouette. Further, the sub-zero freezing does not damage the skin or surrounding tissue. The CoolSculpting effects are long term as the treated fat cells are gone for good. It takes as early as 3 weeks and mostly around 3-6 months to see the full slimming effect.

What happened after just 1 and only session of CoolSculpting?

First month

There was no obvious visual change in the appearance of my thighs after the first month. But I could feel that my jeans were slightly looser.

Then, there was a gradual transformation of my thighs from first to fourth month that increases my confidence by the weeks!

Now, I must add that the transformation that was happening has to be complemented by a healthy diet. Remember? I mentioned before that CoolSculpting has nothing to do with weight loss? It is to sculpt a slimmer silhouette.

There is no point to binge and consume calories freely while expecting that you maintain slimmer thighs. If you eat unhealthily and excessively, the fat cells grow in size and you will look bigger size. And these fat cells will reduce in size if you choose healthier eating options. I truly believe in the effectiveness of the Active Slim Programme that Dr Terence Tan prescribed for me. The nutritionist, Jean Tong, educated me on what constitutes to a healthy and sustainable diet. Without gaining knowledge on the right diet, I would not be able to see the positive results on the 4th month!

4 months later

I measured my thighs immediately when I came home on the day of CoolSculpting session. They measured 24 inches each. 4 months later, the measuring tape showed 21 inches. Whoa! That’s 3 inches or 8cm off each of my thighs! No wonder I can now slipped into my jeans so easily! My legs look better with shorts and dresses. And that is just my thighs.

After going through Active Slim Programme, I start choosing less calories options and reduce to occasional snacking for these months, my muffin tops are gone too! I have to put on belts to hold on my shorts as instead of squeezing out fats on the sides of my waist, they now slip to my hips! I really feel that I have got back my slimmer body that was forgotten with child-bearing years! To one ex-colleague, I replied when he commented that I looked slimmer, “You are just looking at the same me 10 years ago!”

I went back for a review session with Dr Terence Tan at the end of the 4th month. We went through our before and after photos together.

If you noticed, the After photos were taken slightly close up, nevertheless, you are able to spot the bigger thigh gap in the inner thigh, as well as, less bulge at the outer thighs.

If there is one thing that I regret, it must be not going to Halley Medical Aesthetics early enough. Now, friends remarked that I have slimmed down and some commented that I looked prettier than before. I guess my looks still stay the same, it is the confidence which exudes when I carry myself in a slimmer and lighter body that makes the glow.

Walking out from Halley Medical Aesthetics Clinic 4 months later, I regain the confidence of my self-image. Shopping for clothes now is a happy experience. I am also not afraid to stand near the camera when taking wefies! What I am going to do from now, is to maintain my healthy eating habits and exercise regularly to keep my figure and health in shape!

Join me on my CoolSculpting Journey with the below posts!

1) Achieving Slimmer Thighs With CoolSculpting at Halley Medical Aesthetics

2) My CoolSculpting Journey – What to Expect on Day of Treatment at Halley Medical Aesthetics

3) Active Slim Program – Losing Weight by Nutritional Counseling at Halley Medical Aesthetics

277 Orchard Road #03-15
Orchard Gateway Singapore 238858
T: 6737 8233
halley.com.sg
facebook.com/halleymedicalaesthetics
instagram.com/halleymedicalaesthetics
blog.halleymedicalaesthetics.com

Song-Cho Magic Quick Cook Pressure Cooker – Busy Mum’s Saviour

Tell you what. I may be maidless soon by choice. Well, as what a good friend advises, I shall need good appliances in the house to help do the work in half the time to free my precious time after work for the kids. Cooking is certainly one of the areas that I will need good appliances. As a FTWM, I want to be home to cook in time and allow the family to have hot soup everyday. So how to make it happen? I discovered that the Magic Quick Cook Pressure Cooker by Song-Cho can cook soup in 1/8 of the usual time needed! Yes, just 1/8 of the time! Unbelievable, isn’t it?

Tell you what. I may be maidless soon by choice. To prepare the busy days ahead, I shall need good appliances in the house to help me do the work in half the time so as to free up more time for the kids. Cooking is certainly one of the areas that I will need good appliances. As a FTWM, I want to be home to whip up dinner in time and allow the family to have hot soup everyday. So how to make it happen? I discovered that the Magic Quick Cook Pressure Cooker by Song-Cho can cook soup in 1/8 of the usual time needed! Yes, just 1/8 of the time! Unbelievable, isn’t it?

I used to have the fear that Pressure Cooker may explode if not handled properly. Hence, I have never dared to try using one. But after attending one of Song-Cho cooking demonstration, I learnt that the Magic Quick Cook Pressure Cooker has 5 safety features to keep the user safe, namely the handle lock, filter, balancing weight, and 2 safety valves. That gives me a peace of mind.

Here is what I normally do when I cook my favourite ABC Soup (Corn, Carrot, Potato):

1. Prepare the ingredients
2. Fill up water to the minimum level (or Bean Level) or more depending on how much soup you wish to cook
3. Put in all ingredients, be careful that the total water level does not exceed maximum level
– Close the lid by sliding the handle lock inwards and matching the lid’s arrow with the pot’s arrow
– Slide the handle lock outwards to reveal the Safety Valve
– Place the balancing weight upright
4. Turn on fire to high
5. When the balancing weight starts to shake and some noise is heard, turn down the fire to low for 10-15 minutes
6. After 10-15 minutes, turn off fire
– Wait till the Safety Valve comes down at the handle lock, this may take more than 15 minutes depending on the contents in the cooker
– Once the Safety Valve drops, open the lid and remove the lid upwards (Here the Safety Valve protects the user from opening the lid prematurely. Without dropping, user will not be able to open the lid.)
7. Add salt and serve

To be exact, the total cooking time using the Magic Quick Cook has to add on the time to start to heat up till balancing weight starts to shake + 1/8 cooking time (eg. 10-15 minutes the usual recipe recommended time using normal cooker) + time for Pressure to release fully. This can take about an hour depending on the volume and contents in the cooker. So it isn’t really just about cooking 15 minutes from start till end. So far, we have been using the Magic Quick Cook Pressure Cooker to cook soup daily. It saves us time and saves gas consumption because we do not need to turn on the gas stove for full 1.5 – 2 hours and we do not need to watch out for spills.

With the Magic Quick Cook Pressure Cooker that can cook in such a short time, we can have last minute cooking and still able to serve up yummy soup. One of my favourite desserts is Red Bean Soup. For those who have tried cooking Red Beans will know that it takes a long time to cook till the beans are soft and paste-like consistency. Now that I have this Magic Quick Cook, I only need to 15 minutes cooking time to have soft red beans!

As we love to host dinners to family and friends, we have the 8L Magic Quick Cook to cook enough for everybody. If you are only cooking for just your family, a 6L Magic Quick Cook will suffice.

How much is a Magic Quick Cook Pressure Cooker?

8L Magic Quick Cook – S$262.40
6L Magic Quick COok – S$238.40
With every Magic Quick Cook purchase, you will get a free stainless steel powder, trivet & glass lid that you can use for reheating the soup + Free Cooking Class

Eco Clean Oil Dissolver – another Busy Mum’s Saviour!

This Eco Clean Oil Dissolver is really awesome! You have to try it to believe how effective it removes oil residue! It saves water, saves time, saves your hands from harsh dish washing chemicals. Just a few sprays (2-5 sprays) directly on your oily wok or pan or pot, then use a sponge, cloth or paper towel to lightly scrub the crockery, rinse with water and you will not feel a single bit of oiliness! It is as simple and amazing as that!

The Eco Cleaner is sold in 250ml which is really a small handy bottle. I would have thought that it will be used up in no time and I even wondered why they do not come in big sizes. However, seeing how little of it is used everyday to clean my wok and pans, I have been using it for close to 2 months, and there is still half a bottle left!

I have 2 bottles to giveaway with compliments of Song-Cho! You have to try it yourself to believe what I said! I bet you will be returning to buy more bottles after that!

Head on over to my IG @kidsrsimple and FB page to participate! The giveaway ends on 3 Sep 2359!

More information:

Song-Cho are having some ongoing promotions which you can find in store as well as online, including:

1) Ideal Wok @ $148 –> Bundle deal with Induction Cooker (UP $128) = $276 (saves $38) + Free Cooking Class

2) Magic Quick Cook (6L $238.40 & 8L $262.40) –> With every Magic Quick Cook purchase, free stainless steel powder, trivet & glass lid + Free Cooking Class

3) Soup Maker @ $199 –> With every purchase of Soup Maker, free Dessert Maker (SC-FDM01) + Free Cooking Class.

4) Bread Maker promotion price @ $99 wef 01 July 2017 + Free Cooking Class.

Meanwhile, you might like to read reviews of other Song-Cho products (some posts are coming soon):

Ilovedefamily – Rice Cooker
Mummy Ed – Ideal Wok
DinoMama – Magic Quick Cook 6L
Universal Scribbles – Bread Maker
Xavvy-licious – Soup Maker

Disclaimer: Thanks to Song-Cho, I received an 8L Magic Quick Cook Pressure Cooker for the purpose of this review, and have a chance to attend their cooking demo and witness how effective good kitchen appliances can help save time tremendously and make cooking seem so much easier!