My Diet Staples

I shared a few entries ago that I feel guilty whenever I eat. It feels like I'm getting back the pounds I have already lost. It's psychological most definitely. I have that fear of gaining weight whenever I eat no matter how small the amount is. I was even worried I might be developing an eating disorder.

Husband's words calmed me down, "you are managing your weight and not trying to kill yourself. So it's alright to eat." My daughter on the other hand will tell me to watch what I am eating so I won't bug her if I have gained weight or what.

I keep on reading success stories on proper weight management and I realized I am not alone in this kind of feeling. I was able to manage this feeling like what I have mentioned before by following the proper guidelines on the right kinds of food to eat side by side exercising.

I would like to share with you what mostly constitutes my daily meal or at least several days in a week.

Aside from fruits, it's wheat pasta. I toss in lean meat and crushed tomatoes or some vegetables like asparagus or broccoli. I just blanch them and mix in my cooked wheat pasta. Quick and easy. It makes me feel full. It serves as my lunch and my meal after working out.



I still eat white rice but very minimal. Just to satisfy a craving, half a cup a few times in a week is enough.

I take tea twice to three times a day and coffee, just once a day now. I would like to talk more about tea in my next posts as I have learned quite a number of facts about it. I prefer decaffeinated black tea and oolong tea.

At the gym, I look forward to my slice of banana bread and my oolong tea.


I also munch on cereal bars instead of chips and other junk foods. I do take a pinch of potato chips from time to time but it's very regulated, like five small pieces at the most. Just so I won't feel deprived. Haha.

I love chocolates so I chose the chocolate brownie flavor. A very good substitute. :)

***More food sharing at Picture Clusters and Food Trip Friday.

I Chased the Sun

I have a lot to be thankful for today but the top three would be: 1) I was able to join my very first run - Chase the Sun, Neutrogena Run, 2) I was able to attend my church duties after, 3) Hubby and daughter were able to accompany me in my run. They served as my official photographers. :)

Yes, I did it! I am so happy. I am still waiting for the results of my running time but looking at the watch at the finish line, I guess I did almost 45 minutes for a 3km run. That's slow I know. I walked when I reached 2km, slowed down and run again when I was almost half of the 2km course. I also made two short stops to drink water. But I am so happy I finished it.

I do better in the treadmill. I can make more than 4km in 30 minutes. Maybe not as fast as your average runner but that's an achievement for me at this point when I am only starting to run. Who knew I will be running in the first place?

I just hope running events will be on a Saturday and not Sunday. We have church duties on early Sunday morning that's why and also to have ample time to rest before another week starts. But I will definitely be joining a lot of runs not to compete but for the sheer pleasure of doing it. Maybe I'll compete with myself, break the time record on the last run perhaps. The adrenalin rush is a reward in itself.

We arrived at Bonifacio Global City at 5:45AM. The 15k has started. Gun start for the 3k group where I belong is at 6:05AM. I claimed my shirt and singlet after and had some picture taking with the hubs and daughter. We left the area at 8AM, went home, rest for a few minutes, took a shower and headed to church. My husband proceeded to his business while my daughter and I stayed at the church till 11:30AM. Talk about being hyper. I am really thankful for a supportive husband and a daughter willing to share adventures with her mommy.

While I was running, someone is busy in the trampoline.


My daughter definitely is not afraid of heights. She said she had goosebumps but it was tolerable. She enjoyed jumping here. You know what, she was talking about bungee jumping after this. No way. Haha.

I did some preparations for this run. Nothing over but I needed to prep myself because definitely running on the treadmill is different from running outdoors. I only had one run at the UP oval a month or so ago and after that, every run was done on treadmill. I'd be posting in my succeeding entries how I psyched myself up for my very first run.


I am proud to have chased the sun this morning. I love the wind on my face, the smiles of strangers I ran with and the sun shining as the day unfolds. Now the heat is a different story. :)

***Check out more weekend sharing at Pixel Bug Weekend.

No, I Did Not Take Anything

I am quite proud of my efforts in managing my weight. From February of this year up to this month of May, I already lost a lot of unwanted pounds, 2-digits, baby. I still need to lose some more to achieve my desired weight. My body fat decreased considerably. What I am so happy about also is that my BMI is just a hair's strand away from being normal. Yes! I'm jumping for joy! :)))

People do notice how I am getting slimmer. Modesty aside, I am flattered by their compliments. People who knew me when I was still very slim tell me that I am back, my body is back to how it used to be, slim and curvy. I am getting there, friends. Not still as slim as I used to be but getting there.

The thing is a lot also wonder what I did or have been doing. One even asked me pointblank what I took. Is there a slimming pill that I can share? NONE. NADA. Because I have always been wary of taking anything even if it means I will lose the fats in just a couple of weeks. I am afraid of the side effects they could bring. No way. I could have taken them years ago when my friends where all drinking this and that pill. But I am scared.

I got slimmer naturally. It's true for me - NO PAIN, NO GAIN.

* I sweat it out! I am focused on the end goal of achieving my desired weight that even if I am tired and feeling lazy going to the gym or do aerobics at home, I get over that feeling and proceed.

* Conscious effort to diet and eat the right kinds of food. I take at least two spoonfuls of food that I want but bad for the diet just to satisfy my craving and then I stop. No back sliding please. I maintain lean protein, wheat, oats, tea, energy bar and fruits in my diet.

* I am aware of what I need to do and how to do them properly. I read a lot about the right kinds of exercise, ask the trainers in the gym and do the exercises properly. I level up. I am starting to do weights now. I am definitely enjoying body pump.

I hope to join my first fun run on Sunday. :) So help me God and let this push through. I want to enjoy this. :)

I've been updating my wardrobe for the past weeks. I have been buying a few tops and bottoms since my old clothes are just too big for me now. I would like to keep a lot of gym clothes too. I thought of joining POC Sportacular's contest, Win a Nike Shirt for Women. Winning them will save me a few hundred pesos. I really hope I'll get them. Please, luck, be on my side and let me win, haha. :)

To Eat or Not to Eat?

One of the things that really bother me as I go through my weight management program is whether I should eat or not? Well, let me rephrase that - it's more like I feel guilty when I eat. It worries me that I will be gaining back the pounds and the body fat I lost everytime I eat. Yes, paranoid even if I eat moderately now compared to how I eat before.

My daughter told me once (oh well, several times), "Mom it's not like you will gain weight overnight." She's right. I just need to hear that. I read once that it will take 3,500 calories to gain a pound. That also calms me down. :)

I read a lot about weight management and working out. These are the things I learned and am now practicing.

1. Skipping meals will not make you lose weight because the body consumes the muscles when hungry and stores the fat. The best is to eat less more often, about 6 small meals a day.

2. I take in quick absorbing carbs, like a bowl of oats, two hours before work out (three hours if I'm doing yoga). This will give me the energy and the fuel I need to last an hour and a half of exercising.

3. I am moving on from coffee to drinking tea. I prefer decaffeinated. Tea has antioxidants and has zero calories.

4. Fruits, fruit juice with L-carnitine, boiled bananas and hard boiled eggs are included in my diet as well as wheat bread and whole wheat pasta. I avoid white rice and if I have some craving, I only give in to two spoonfuls or half a cup, maximum, and that should be good for one day.

5. I eat or at least drink juice a few minutes after a tough work out even if I am not hungry. The body needs nourishment to replace lost carb and helps repair protein which aids in better metabolism.

These are the random five important learning I have incorporated in my weight management. I have to psyche myself that it is alright to eat, in fact, I should eat...eat properly to achieve my fitness goals.

Crunch, Pump, Run

I am grateful, thankful that I'm consistently implementing my weight management plans. I've been dieting religiously and working out four to five times a week. I have been feeling the results. I want to jump for joy when I weighed in almost two weeks ago. I am right on track of losing one to two pounds a week. I get commendations for it. I am really motivated doing my exercises. Three activities I added in my gym sessions.

One is doing the reverse crunch. Boy, this is hard, at least for me. I have been doing this for two weeks now. I can manage doing up to 30 by this time, 4 sets with sit-ups in between.

I recently included body pump in my gym activities. Wow! That really stretched me. From Les Mills Global, "body pump is the fastest way to shape up and lose body fat. It’s a toning and conditioning class with weights and is for just about everybody who wants to add strength training into their aerobic workout".

And another milestone, for nearly three weeks now, I've been doing interval walking/running in the treadmill.

Funny because when I read the running for beginners module, I chuckled noting the instruction to do a ten minute brisk walking and then followed by a 30-second run. 30 seconds? 30 seconds only? Why 30 seconds only? That's easy! But I learned of course it wasn't easy. I panted a little. I increased the 30 seconds to a minute and I reached the maximum heart rate which is not good at all. I decreased the speed but increased the time I run. My heart rate didn't go ballistic anymore. Now I'm up to a minute of running every five minutes on a 30 minute treadmill interval run. My goal is to run continuously for 30 minutes even at a lower speed and incline at least 1% to 2%.

I took my running to the next level. Maundy Thursday night I joined two of my friends for a run at the UP oval. I understand the oval is about 2.2km. I was able to run two and a half circles of the oval. That's a little over five kilometers. Whew! It wasn't all running but good enough. We did brisk walking and walkathon in between. Still, that felt good! I want to do it more often.

One of my goals is to join a fun run soon. I will, I will. So help me, God. :)

***Picture used is from Getty Images.

Feeling Light

I was feeling lighter the past days. Most of my house clothes seemed to feel bigger on me compared to the past weeks. Some shirts look like they're hanging on my shoulders. I somehow know the diet and consecutive back to back work outs are working.

I weighed in when I got to the gym today. I almost jump for joy when the body analyzer printed my weight. I lost five pounds in the past two weeks. :)))) I am so near my desired weight for the month. It's been a month and three weeks and I have lost a total of eight pounds already. Just about right.

Work it, girl, work it!

I believe in visualization as I have proven this to be true in the past. So, boyfriend shorts, here I come. Target: April 2010.



***Picture lifted from this site.

Buff Women

And by buff here I mean having good muscle tone.

I attended a body balance class today after my cardio and weights. I like all the instructress so far but this one we had today sort of inspires me. She has a very cool, soft voice. It was so effortless when she gave instructions for the next poses. Most of all, I like her body contour. I like how buff she is but not too muscular. She still looks like a woman with very toned muscles on her arms, torso and legs.


Lately I've been finding buff women really sexy like those women above. I would have posted Jackie Lou Blanco's photo but I can't find any which shows her buff body.

It clearly shows how they take care of their bodies. They seem so strong and powerful. I love it! I want to visualize myself having this kind of body, and work on it at the same time. It's free to dream. If I reach this goal, it will be one of the milestones in my life which I can tell my future grandchildren with so much pride.

***Michelle Obama's picture from LA Times, Michelle Rodriguez' from Just Jared, Hilary Swank's from After Ellen.

Curves for Women

Disclaimer: 2.9.10. This post, as obviously stated in the content, relays the author's experience as a first time visitor of Curves located at BGC, Philippines. It does not aim to recommend this business for franchising or for your personal fitness program.

I received an email last week inviting me (along with a number of bloggers majority of which are also my friends) to visit and experience the newly opened Curves, a fitness center exclusively for women. It will be held on a Saturday so I am free. Also, at this point I am very much into physical fitness that was why I immediately replied and confirmed my attendance. I was particularly interested to know if there will be something new and exciting they will offer.

I know Curves is from the U.S. but I am not familiar with the kind of service they give. I did not even know they have a branch here in our country. I was very glad I proceeded to Curves last Saturday.


I met the manager and part-owner Ms. Fe and the center's media consultant, Miss Claire Agbayani, also the young and vibrant circuit coaches. One of the participants was the former beauty queen, Joyce Ann Burton, whom I learned also blogs. I missed her blog address but will ask Claire next time. I'd like to check out her blog.

The management team walked us through the background and milestones of Curves.

* Curves started in 1992 in Texas founded by Gary and Diane Heavin, considered as innovators of the express fitness phenomenon. It gained overnight success and expansion was considered to serve its growing clientelle.
* One accolade after another came Curves' way such as the fastest growing franchise in history and the world's largest and number one fitness franchise.
* As of 2009, it has nearly 10,000 locations and 4 million members in 73 countries. (I was clearly surprised with this data.)
* Curves is considered to be a one-stop shop where women can lose weight, gain muscle strength and increase metabolism all for 30 minutes at least three times a week.

I had to smile when I read from the press kit that Curves' unofficial motto is "no makeup, no men, no mirrors". It just emphasizes the straightforward training one can get in Curves.

From my assessment, the gym area is about 35 to 45 square meters. It can accommodate about twenty four persons at a given time per Ms. Fe.

The atmosphere is very zen. There is no clutter and the equipment are arranged in a circular pattern. It's quite intimate and looks very relaxing, not rigid. I checked each equipment thinking they are quite easy (but they're not). They are slim so unlike the bulky gym equipment I use.

There was body assessment for the participants during the presentation as well as the usual questions on medical history and the reason for going to the gym. After which the work out started.

The circuit coaches guided us on the proper use of each machine and the correct posture while handling them. The equipment are arranged alternately, one machine and one recovery board after another. There is a total of fourteen hydraulic exercise equipment you have to go through for two rounds or a total of 30 minutes.

It felt like we were in a group exercise because there is a cue tape which instructs us when to get off the equipment and transfer to the next. There is even an instruction to count your heartbeat. It's really fun! It's very fast phased and very engaging.

I have been a gym member for more than a year now and there are a number of differences I can state. What I like about Curves is the privacy, the intimate atmosphere yet laid back ambiance it lets you experience. It's like you're just home in your own gym.

Relating my own experience, the recovery board where one stands on and do some aerobic steps or dance steps, recharged me. It gave me a few seconds to breathe before going to the next equipment.

This kind of training disciplines you to stick to the required work out because you have to finish the whole circuit. I find it very interactive. My mind did not wander not just because a coach was guiding me but because I was focused on what I was doing. I could have easily stopped had it been the usual gym training. My body seemed to agree with this type of conditioning.

What I find a good offer from Curves is that there is no additional fee for the circuit coach and the weight management program. They are there to guide each participant and ensure they are meeting their required program and walk them through the achievement of their goals.


One of the poster guides inside the gym which serve as reference for participants.

Lateral lift, Squat, Chest/Back, Hip Abductor/Adductor

Doesn't the place look relaxing? The squares are what they call recovery boards.

Recovery stepper, Glute. The stretching equipment near the door is my favorite. I love to stretch after a work out.
Curves is located at 2/F Serendra, McKinley Parkway, Bonifacio Global City, Taguig, #828-02-08. Its operating hours are from 7 AM tp 10 AM, 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM, 3 PM to 7 PM. The closed hours are used for club maintenance.

***Check out more weekend sharing at Pixel Bug Weekend.

On Dieting

"Inside some of us is a thin person struggling to get out, but they can usually be sedated with a few pieces of chocolate cake." - Author Unknown

That quote above is talking about me I suppose. Just how hard is it to diet? For someone like me who loves food, it takes tons of discipline and will power to manage my food intake. I am a rice person and I love chocolate cakes. I cannot resist them once they are in front of me.

Like I always say working out at the gym is no problem with me. I make time for it, squeeze it in my schedule whenever tasks get tight. But it's the dieting that hampers my weight loss program plus the fact that I can't control eating during PMS.

I was able to shed off some pounds last January. I was really happy about it. I was still short from my target weight but I can adjust for February. It's only a matter of three pounds. February came and it seems I gained two pounds. Ha! But I am determined to still achieve my weight goal for this month.

I want to be totally committed to my diet that is why I am publishing it here...and everywhere. It's in my planner, it's in my phone's notepad, it's in my computer.

Let me motivate myself by accounting what I have been doing good consistently for about two weeks now.
1. Just 1/2 cup of rice in a day, one cup max.
2. No heavy meal during the night.
3. Breakfast is light - coffee or milk (bone strengthening variant), a bread with half sunny side-up or just one hardboiled egg.
4. Lunch is either banana, tuna sandwich or crackers.
5. Crackers as afternoon snack.

I noticed that I get easily full when I started my diet. It's like my tummy can only contain certain amount of food unlike before that I can easily devour two cups of rice in one sitting. I should be happy about this I believe.

I should discipline myself from the following:
1. Eating potato chips and chocolate cookies on some days.
2. Procrastinating on including more fiber in my diet - oats, fruits!

To further support my diet program I will do the following:
1. Religiously record my daily diet. I have checked a diet spreadsheet already and will adapt it.
2. Read journals about successful diet management.
3. Visualize myself in my ideal weight.

Next time I will be discussing my BMI and fat mass. I should be nearing my ideal range towards the end of the third quarter of this year. I will be chronicling here my fitness goals and achievements. I really need to do this. I want a healthy and fit body. I want to be true to my commitment to myself.

So help me, God.

***Picture used in this post is from Getty Images.

Jogging

My husband and I have always wanted to jog together with our daughter. There was never a concrete plan so it did not push through. But this year I have included this as one of my goals - a physical fitness activity involving the family.

I got the commitment of my husband and daughter two weeks ago. We were supposed to jog on January 23 but it was my aunt's birthday celebration so we forewent the plan. But last Saturday, all things were set, mindset included.

I was glad to note that hubby and daughter even woke up an hour ahead of me. I was so sleepy but I decided to go for it. Half asleep, I reminded myself of one of my mantras this year - MAKING THINGS HAPPEN. I got up and prepared myself.

We were at the UP Diliman grounds at half past six in the morning. There were so many joggers. The air was so fresh and really cool. I like the smell of grass and trees and green plants in the morning.

The atmosphere was really very ideal for brisk walking, jogging or running. I can't cope with my husband and daughter when they run so they have to wait for me and just do brisk walking so I won't left behind.


There they are, taking a quick rest before going back to jogging.


That's me and my daughter strutting our stuff. Take note of the message on the grandma's t-shirt by the way.


After an hour and a half we proceeded to a nearby Jollibee store for our breakfast. My daughter had chicken joy. She was really starving from so much walking and jogging. My husband's choice (and the only food he eats from Jollibee aside from their Jolly Hotdog) was corned beef, garlic rice and egg.


Much as I wanted what hubby ordered, I opted for a light meal because I am trying my best to manage my diet. I didn't even touch the syrup but I put on a little butter. But these Jollibee pancakes are just so thin, paper thin! Oh well, it filled me up somehow.


I am glad that my daughter enjoyed this activity. In fact she is looking forward to our weekend jogging. We plan to do this at least every other Saturday, just to be realistic about it. And in time, our jogging activity will be on a weekly basis.

Hot Flow

I am happy to note that I was able to attend my first yoga class yesterday. I thought I will not be able to make it on time but I was there fifteen minutes before the scheduled start of class.

It was supposed to be gentle flow but the yoga instructor mentioned that it will be hot flow. The room's temperature was upped to 37 degrees (100 F). I thought of leaving the room since this might be intended for advanced students. I might collapse knowing my low tolerance for heat.

My apprehension was appeased when she said there will be two of them in front. Her partner will lead for the advanced students and she will lead for the beginners. We will be doing easy asanas, the basic yoga positions. There were also lessons on how to make the body more flexible. From what I remember these were the poses we did - basic seated, basic standing, calming basic sequence. I was able to do some poses with little effort. I had to put great effort for most but one proved to be really challenging that I had to pause for a few seconds.

I was sweating all over but I did not mind the heat. I did not even feel suffocated nor irritated which are the two things I normally feel when temperature is high. This was really surprising. You mean I was that engaged with all the poses that I totally forgot about the heat? I was having fun, some sweaty fun.

I would like to note that I was quite comfortable with the seated twist, dog tilt, cat tilt, downward facing dog. I was surprised that I had a hard time balancing doing the tree pose. But when I got home and repeated it, I was able to do it properly. One proved to be a challenge which I was not able to do. I forgot what it is called but the forelimbs are slipped under the hind limbs and they will act as support in carrying your whole body. The palms are touching the floor which acts as the base. Whew!

My favorite is the shavasana. I understand it is always done at the end of every yoga class which aims to rejuvenate and relax the body, mind and spirit. I needed that after all my muscles were flexed and stretched. My muscles needed to unwind. I could very well attest shavasana did relax me. As if I did not do all the poses for the first time. I was expecting sore muscles but they did not hurt much.

It helped that I have been going to the gym since middle of last year. I am quite used to stretching and some muscle flexing. The greater factor is reading books which revolves on getting in touch with the inner self. I appreciate the importance of meditation and having a quite time. I know it is a learning process and I am very interested to adapt this in my lifestyle.

There were a few preparations I did a week before I decided to join the session. I read about yoga for beginners online. I watched a few videos and tried some of the poses. I also talked to L, my good friend, who is attending Bikram yoga for a few months already. She encouraged me to be patient. Do not compete with anyone nor be conscious of how I do the poses. It's natural not to perfectly achieve them in an instant. Let my mind focus on the breathing and relax myself.

To be honest I still have to practice my breathing. I sometimes commit some lapses at the exact moment I have to inhale and exhale. Yoga as I have read is fifty percent breathing. I will practice my breathing.

My realization is that if yoga is to be a part of my lifestyle, I should enroll in a yoga center and have a personal relationship with my instructor. I want to have a mentor. I want to maximize the benefits and put them to good use. Attending yoga sessions provided by the gym is fine for the moment that I am still exploring it. I am one hundred percent interested. I am very enthusiastic about yoga and how it can further improve my well being.

Thinking About Yoga

I'm home early but I have a few take home work to do, mostly project reviews. I want to get these done in an hour so I should not be lingering here in the blogosphere or in plurkdom. And I want to cook dinner. But I just have to post about my sudden interest in yoga. Maybe it's not sudden. The interest grew on me as I see it.

A good friend, Chats, is into yoga so I asked her last night where should I start. I don't want to be looking dumb contorting my body together with the experts or those who have been doing yoga for quite some time. She suggested I should join the gentle flow class. We have the same gym membership by the way. I'd like to check the schedule of the said class tomorrow.

Earlier, Yoga Jane plurked "Yoga is the great equalizer". I responded by saying I am just so intrigued as to what good effects it can do to a person. I am also wondering why is is that it's mostly women who do yoga. I only know of two men who are into yoga.

Just a few minutes ago, a close friend called inviting me to a dinner tomorrow. She seemed in a hurry and sounds like she's on the road. She said she's on her way to her yoga class. We have not been updated with each others activities lately so I was surprised to hear what's her after office agenda these days. We talked about it for a few minutes. Bottom line, its effect on her is being more patient. She can manage her temper better.

I have been reading books on getting in touch with the inner self. I am surrounded by people who take yoga not as a fad but a lifestyle. (My colleagues never miss yoga sessions.) I have a close friend who swears by its good effects on her attitude.

Synchronicity, meaningful coincidences. Maybe these are signs to go for it. My decision to try yoga is not dependent on these but they encourage me. Time for me to start reading more about it and join the class.

May the force be with me. Oooops, that's different I guess. :)

Morning Shift

My work schedule is hectic these days add to that the fact that I am still adjusting with the work load and the company's culture. Even so, I vowed not to stall my personal endeavors. I need a work-life balance, as I always say. One of the things that recharge me is going to the gym. I mulled over what is the best time to do my work out. Is it in the evening after my work or is it in the morning before I go to work?

Morning:

* I (together with husband) have to wake up really early because I prepare our breakfast and we bring our daughter to school at half past six in the morning. Too early to go to work. I still have ample time to kill. The gym would do me good instead of being idle for an hour or two.
* Most of the time I feel more energetic in the morning.
* I would like to start my day all pumped up.
* There are lesser people at the gym in the morning.

Downside is sometimes I get hungry a lot when I exercise in the morning.

Evening:

* Will I still have the energy to do my work out after a hectic day at work?
* Always, I want to go home after work and have dinner with my daughter, check her school work, watch television with her or just have some how-was-your-day kind of talk.
* When my friends and I decide to meet, it's always after at work, beyond five or six in the evening. It's not often that we have a get together. I wouldn't want to miss that.

I'm thinking maybe the evening gym schedule will also help me de-stress, will help me relax and take off my mind from all the work load, release all the stress while doing my cardio and some crunches and some stretching. But then again, I can't sacrifice my time with my dear daughter. That will stress me more.

Hmmm, can't think of any upside for the evening schedule. So the morning schedule is a no-brainer. I feel so ready to start the day after every gym session. :)

**********
Mood: Decided
Music: Astro, Radioactive Sago Project (the theme song of The Evening News)

Photo from Getty Images.

From the Gym to a Birthday Party

It was our second session at the gym yesterday. We spent almost two hours with our trainer guiding us with our workout. At the rate things are going, I am enjoying going to the gym and stretching, burning some fats. I don't experience sore muscles at the end of every session but on the following day. They're tolerable and as they say, no pain, no gain.

We are heading to a birthday party of my daughter's classmate after the gym so we decided to take a quick snack to fill our stomach. We do not want to be tempted and give in to the temptation of eating so much during the party. We dropped by the cafe at Fully Booked and ordered some healthy options.

Husband has his tuna and salad green. Notice the hand - the chips are soon gone. They are multi-grain chips so it's okay to devour them all. :)


I had pasta. Boy, I love this cafe's aglio olio. It has the most generous serving of basil. They're crunchy too. I don't know how they do it but it just gives a good feel in the tongue with every spoonful of it. This was supposed to be to go but I decided to eat this as husband was having his tuna.


After this we picked up our daughter and attended her classmate's birthday party. As always, the kids had a blast even if only a few of the invited classmates were able to attend. We actually left the party at half past seven in the evening. The kids enjoyed playing and dancing together.


I also had a pretty good conversation with the grandmother of my daughter's classmate. It was mostly our concern with the children's work load in school. This will be on another post.

How was your weekend? If my Saturday was full, Sunday was kind of laid back. Church in the morning and a little review of school lessons with my daughter in the afternoon. It's a new week ahead of us. Let's all have a great one. :)

********** Mood: Productive
Music: Shut Up and Drive, Rihanna

Of Leg Warmer and Head Band

We finally had our first day at the fitness center this morning. My husband and I enrolled in a gym a week or so ago. We just have to manage both our schedules so we can have at least the first week to go to the gym together.

My husband goes to the gym but he stopped late last year for various reasons, time being number one. He gained a considerable amount of weight for the last six months that even tying his shoelace proved to be a frustration at times. That belly is one big block. I, on the other hand, was encouraged to go the gym when I lost some weight because of my oral rehabilitation (adult braces in other words). It seems though I am gaining back those unwanted pounds for the last months.

Using the body composition analyzer, our body mass index, fat percentage, fat mass, etcetera were measured. I will not go into details but it's enough to say that we are overweight, especially yours truly. I need to burn a lot of my body fat to attain the desired weight for my age and height.

We are doing our best with our wellness program starting with the inclusion of brown rice, wheat bread, fruits, milk, more fish, oats in our meals. What we should be diligent about is our portion control. We are one in saying that we can never lose if we invest on our health and wellness properly.

The first day at the gym was fine, the trainer very helpful of course and welcomed each question I have. My husband and I were tired but enjoyed every second we spent in cardio and weights. Those were just warm-ups, an introduction in using each equipment. I like the leg curl, cardio and total abdominal work out the most. :)

One of the questions the fitness center representatives ask is what made us decide to enrol in a gym. This is really a part of our wellness program - we want to be fit and yes, vanity on the side is included. For one thing, smaller sized tops and bottoms are a lot cheaper than size 16 and up.

This motivation is good enough, what needs to be done is making this a lifestyle. The writing on the wall says it well.

I won't apologize for this but well, even if it's FloRida and T-Pain I am listening to as I post this, my last song syndrome right now is "let's get physical, physical, I want to get physical. Let me hear your body talk..." Think Olivia Newton John complete with leg warmer and head band.

********** Mood: Energetic
Music: Low, FloRida and T-Pain