I was supposed to blog about my starting weight and measurements before I started with my new fitness program. But the numbers were so high that I was really embarassed to post them 6 weeks ago.
Now that I have reached 5 weeks, I am obliged to write about my progress and I have no choice but to post my starting weight and measurements. So here goes...
Starting weight: 189 pounds (whew!)
Week 1: 186 lbs. = Lost 3 pounds
Week 2: 185 lbs. = Lost 1 pound
Week 3: 183 lbs. = Lost 2 pounds
Week 4: 182 lbs. = Lost 1 pound
Week 5: 179 lbs. = Lost 3 pounds
Total pounds lost: 10 lbs in 5 weeks
Starting measurements: 42-41-43
New Vital Statistics: 40-39-42
Inches lost in 5 weeks: 5 inches
I must admit I'm still a bit embarassed with my numbers (especially my measurements), but 10 pounds in 5 weeks is a really good way to start. So, I should give myself a pat on the back.
I have struggled with weight problems since childhood. I am now in my 30s, married with two daughters, and I am determined to change my life by improving my health and fitness. I decided to document my experiences on the road to fitness.
Tuesday, October 18, 2011
Tuesday, October 11, 2011
Healthy Eating at the Mall
When you are following a nutritional program, people think that your choices in food are very limited. Though there may be some truth to this, you can still find a way to work around those parameters.
One of the most challenging places to eat is the mall. Most families spend their weekends inside the mall and it's always difficult to find healthy food in these places dominated by fastfood restaurants. But, believe it or not, there are a few restaurants that offer healthy choices.
For example, here's a list of restaurants that has some "good" food in their menu:
1. Kenny Rogers Roasters - their roasted chicken and grilled fish are good choices for a full meal. But don't forget to remove the skin from the chicken. For sidings, opt for the healthy corn and carrots or the veggies.
2. World Chicken - this would probably be your best bet at the food court. Their serving of grilled chicken counts for 2 servings of low fat meat minus the oil. One tip though, choose only one siding because if you go for 2 sidings, that would count for a lot of carbo servings.
3. Shakeys - avoid the pizza and the fried chicken and opt for their pasta coupled with one of their green salads.
4. Mang Inasal - My fave meal is PM 1 which consists of barbecued leg part plus unlimited rice. Of course, I don't ask for more rice and consume just half the cup. But the chicken leg serving minus the skin is a great protein choice.
5. Max's - you can order their sabaw viands like sinigang na hipon. Five pieces of shrimp equals one serving of low fat meat. And yes, you can eat rice with it, just half a cup though.
For now, I'm saying goodbye to Jollibee, McDonald's and the like. And I have no idea when my next visit to Yakimix will be. For now, I should just be content at making the right choices to reach my goal. At least I know it's not impossible to eat healthy... even inside the mall.
One of the most challenging places to eat is the mall. Most families spend their weekends inside the mall and it's always difficult to find healthy food in these places dominated by fastfood restaurants. But, believe it or not, there are a few restaurants that offer healthy choices.
For example, here's a list of restaurants that has some "good" food in their menu:
1. Kenny Rogers Roasters - their roasted chicken and grilled fish are good choices for a full meal. But don't forget to remove the skin from the chicken. For sidings, opt for the healthy corn and carrots or the veggies.
2. World Chicken - this would probably be your best bet at the food court. Their serving of grilled chicken counts for 2 servings of low fat meat minus the oil. One tip though, choose only one siding because if you go for 2 sidings, that would count for a lot of carbo servings.
3. Shakeys - avoid the pizza and the fried chicken and opt for their pasta coupled with one of their green salads.
4. Mang Inasal - My fave meal is PM 1 which consists of barbecued leg part plus unlimited rice. Of course, I don't ask for more rice and consume just half the cup. But the chicken leg serving minus the skin is a great protein choice.
5. Max's - you can order their sabaw viands like sinigang na hipon. Five pieces of shrimp equals one serving of low fat meat. And yes, you can eat rice with it, just half a cup though.
For now, I'm saying goodbye to Jollibee, McDonald's and the like. And I have no idea when my next visit to Yakimix will be. For now, I should just be content at making the right choices to reach my goal. At least I know it's not impossible to eat healthy... even inside the mall.
Wednesday, September 21, 2011
Empty Calories
A week on my nutritional program, I had my first meeting with my nutritionist. She reviewed my food diary for the week and found some points for improvement. Then, she handed me a reading on Empty Calories.
Empty calories are foods that are high in calories (energy rich) but low in nutritional value (nutrient dense).
Here are examples of empty caloric foods:
1. French fries, fried chicken, and all other deep fried foods
2. Hamburgers, hotdogs and pizzas
3. Candy and other sweetened packages foods
4. Beer, wine and other sweetened packages foods
5. Refined grains such as crackers, cookies, cakes and pastries
6. Chips
7. Sodas and other sweetened beverages (mostly carbonated drinks, but also include powdered fruit drinks, powdered and bottled iced tea)
8. Ice cream and other frozen desserts
9. Margarine, shortening, butter, lard and other saturated fats
10. Sauces and gravies
As you can see, most of these are staple foods in our diet. But we can learn to avoid these foods and manage our unhealthy intakes. Here are some tips:
1. Avoid deep fried foods. Instead of deep frying, you may use other cooking methods like boiling, baking, grilling or broiling.
2. Use non-stick pans to avoid use of oil in pan frying.
3. Avoid sweetened drinks and canned drinks.
4. Check out whole grains instead of refined ones. Whole grains are packed with beneficial fiber and anti-oxidants.
5. Snack on fruits and crunchy vegetables.
6. Check the nutrition labels for hidden sugars and fats.
7. Plan ahead. Think of what to eat before you leave for lunch or going out for meals. Know what you will be having throughout the day.
8. Bring your own home-cooked meals. Pack a snack.
Like all things in life, maintaining good nutrition is all about making the right choices. Before I started with my diet, I chose to eat mostly empty caloric foods. But, believe it or not, there are healthy choices out there. You just have to look harder.
Empty calories are foods that are high in calories (energy rich) but low in nutritional value (nutrient dense).
Here are examples of empty caloric foods:
1. French fries, fried chicken, and all other deep fried foods
2. Hamburgers, hotdogs and pizzas
3. Candy and other sweetened packages foods
4. Beer, wine and other sweetened packages foods
5. Refined grains such as crackers, cookies, cakes and pastries
6. Chips
7. Sodas and other sweetened beverages (mostly carbonated drinks, but also include powdered fruit drinks, powdered and bottled iced tea)
8. Ice cream and other frozen desserts
9. Margarine, shortening, butter, lard and other saturated fats
10. Sauces and gravies
As you can see, most of these are staple foods in our diet. But we can learn to avoid these foods and manage our unhealthy intakes. Here are some tips:
1. Avoid deep fried foods. Instead of deep frying, you may use other cooking methods like boiling, baking, grilling or broiling.
2. Use non-stick pans to avoid use of oil in pan frying.
3. Avoid sweetened drinks and canned drinks.
4. Check out whole grains instead of refined ones. Whole grains are packed with beneficial fiber and anti-oxidants.
5. Snack on fruits and crunchy vegetables.
6. Check the nutrition labels for hidden sugars and fats.
7. Plan ahead. Think of what to eat before you leave for lunch or going out for meals. Know what you will be having throughout the day.
8. Bring your own home-cooked meals. Pack a snack.
Like all things in life, maintaining good nutrition is all about making the right choices. Before I started with my diet, I chose to eat mostly empty caloric foods. But, believe it or not, there are healthy choices out there. You just have to look harder.
Falling All Over Again
I love dancing. If there's one thing I can do tirelessly inside the gym, it is dancing. When I joined Fitness First in 2009, I fell head over heels in love with their group exercise Retro. I loved it so much that I attended 3 classes per week.
Last Monday, I decided to attend a class again. It was nice to see some familiar faces who are retro-fanatics, just like me. I was a bit anxious when the class started. I thought that since I haven't been to a class in more than a year, it would take longer for me to get my groove back, so to speak.
And then the music played, and everything came back to me. I remembered how much I loved dancing. I remembered most of the steps and the music. Most of all, I remembered how good it felt to be moving my body that way. I fell in love all over again.
My love affair with dancing is something that would always be there. I may stop for awhile, for one reason or another, but I would always go back. That's for sure.
Last Monday, I decided to attend a class again. It was nice to see some familiar faces who are retro-fanatics, just like me. I was a bit anxious when the class started. I thought that since I haven't been to a class in more than a year, it would take longer for me to get my groove back, so to speak.
And then the music played, and everything came back to me. I remembered how much I loved dancing. I remembered most of the steps and the music. Most of all, I remembered how good it felt to be moving my body that way. I fell in love all over again.
My love affair with dancing is something that would always be there. I may stop for awhile, for one reason or another, but I would always go back. That's for sure.
Thursday, September 15, 2011
Getting Back in the Game
It was as hard as I thought. Getting back to the gym, doing exercise and dieting is no easy task. I'm having a hard time adjusting to my new diet and the exercises that I used to do with ease are not so easy anymore.
I am on my third day of dieting. I was given a daily allowance of 1,400 calories per day. The diet plan was very similar to what I had before. But coming from a very unhealthy eating habit, it was difficult to get back to controlling my portions and counting my calories. Of course, I had to remove all the "bad food" on my plate. So, no more softdrinks, no more junk food and no more dessert for me. *sigh* I am scheduled to meet with my nutritionist every Tuesday. I was required to submit my food diary weekly and my weigh-ins are also scheduled on the same day.
As for my exercise program, I've already had 2 sessions with my physical trainer. I can tell that my PT is taking it slow, careful not to put too much strain on me since it has been almost 2 years since I have become active. But even when she is pacing our workouts, it's still very hard to do some of the exercises. It's quite embarrasing to stop in the middle of a set just because I was already gasping for air or I was already feeling dizzy.
I have a long way to go but there's no stopping now. I just have to take it one day at a time.
I am on my third day of dieting. I was given a daily allowance of 1,400 calories per day. The diet plan was very similar to what I had before. But coming from a very unhealthy eating habit, it was difficult to get back to controlling my portions and counting my calories. Of course, I had to remove all the "bad food" on my plate. So, no more softdrinks, no more junk food and no more dessert for me. *sigh* I am scheduled to meet with my nutritionist every Tuesday. I was required to submit my food diary weekly and my weigh-ins are also scheduled on the same day.
As for my exercise program, I've already had 2 sessions with my physical trainer. I can tell that my PT is taking it slow, careful not to put too much strain on me since it has been almost 2 years since I have become active. But even when she is pacing our workouts, it's still very hard to do some of the exercises. It's quite embarrasing to stop in the middle of a set just because I was already gasping for air or I was already feeling dizzy.
I have a long way to go but there's no stopping now. I just have to take it one day at a time.
Wednesday, September 14, 2011
I'm Back ... For Real This Time!
In my last entry I promised that I would start going back to the gym, and I did... for one day. My daughter just turned 1-year old then and I planned to mix-feed since I've already been exclusively breastfeeding her for a year. After that one session in the gym, I found out that my daughter Darla had other plans. Her yaya told me that she wouldn't drink formula milk and that she hated it. For days I tried to feed her formula milk to no avail. I had no choice but to continue breastfeeding her exclusively. That also means that I cannot afford to lose my breastmilk supply which I was afraid would happen if I started going to the gym and putting physical stress on my body. So, I decided to "delay" my fitness goals, again, if only to provide nourishment to my daughter who probably loved the taste of my breastmilk so much.
It took a "Fitness-First-membership-renewal-fiasco" to put my a** back to the gym. Long story short, my corporate membership "lapsed" and FF required me to apply for a new membership that would require me to pay the full monthly rate and not the discounted rate for ABS-CBN employees. Of course, I couldn't let this happen, so I talked to higher management and cleared everything up. I took it as a sign from God that he wanted me back at the gym. Now, I'm back to being a member paying the discounted corporate rate.
What happens to Darla now? Well, the same day that I signed up for a new fitness and nutrition program at the gym, I was given the good news... Darla is now drinking formula milk! It's like everything was falling into place. There's really no turning back now.
So, I'm back, for real this time. No more excuses. I'm off to continue my journey to fitness.
It took a "Fitness-First-membership-renewal-fiasco" to put my a** back to the gym. Long story short, my corporate membership "lapsed" and FF required me to apply for a new membership that would require me to pay the full monthly rate and not the discounted rate for ABS-CBN employees. Of course, I couldn't let this happen, so I talked to higher management and cleared everything up. I took it as a sign from God that he wanted me back at the gym. Now, I'm back to being a member paying the discounted corporate rate.
What happens to Darla now? Well, the same day that I signed up for a new fitness and nutrition program at the gym, I was given the good news... Darla is now drinking formula milk! It's like everything was falling into place. There's really no turning back now.
So, I'm back, for real this time. No more excuses. I'm off to continue my journey to fitness.
Thursday, May 19, 2011
Back to Square One
It has been more than a year since I gave birth to my second daughter. A lot of things happened since. I was back to my weight before I started this blog, maybe even gaining a few pounds more. Yet, I couldn't be happier -- I am now a mother to two very beautiful daughters.
I have been exclusively breatfeeding my daughter for a little over a year now and without breastfeeding I could have gained more weight. But now that my milk supply is slowly depleting, I am gaining weight faster and I feel a lot heavier than 6 months ago.
I tried going back to the gym last January. I wanted to lose 15 pounds before the first birthday of my daughter. But a lot of things happened that did not allow me to focus on my goals. I attended 1 class in January and failed to return since.
My daughter turned one last April and that was my signal. Now I know that I should really commit to my fitness goals. I have a few more months before Christmas and I want to go back to my pre-pregnancy weight before the year ends. That means I have to lose 34 pounds from June to December. I'll be working on my stats next week and probably sign up for a nutritional program soon. I'll be doing this for myself and my family this time.
I have been exclusively breatfeeding my daughter for a little over a year now and without breastfeeding I could have gained more weight. But now that my milk supply is slowly depleting, I am gaining weight faster and I feel a lot heavier than 6 months ago.
I tried going back to the gym last January. I wanted to lose 15 pounds before the first birthday of my daughter. But a lot of things happened that did not allow me to focus on my goals. I attended 1 class in January and failed to return since.
My daughter turned one last April and that was my signal. Now I know that I should really commit to my fitness goals. I have a few more months before Christmas and I want to go back to my pre-pregnancy weight before the year ends. That means I have to lose 34 pounds from June to December. I'll be working on my stats next week and probably sign up for a nutritional program soon. I'll be doing this for myself and my family this time.
Tuesday, May 25, 2010
Worth Every Pound
My last post was on April 4. That very same night, I started feeling contractions and saw what seemed to be my water on my pants. So, hubby and I decided to go to the hospital.
I was checked at the labor room and the resident OB's found out that though my waterbag was still intact, I was 1cm dilated and I was also having contractions at a 3 to 5 minutes interval. I was admitted that night and my OB scheduled my C-section the following morning.
So, on April 5, 2010, at 7:10 am, Darla Bernice, my second daughter was born. She weighed 6.15 pounds and had an almost perfect APGAR score.
As one may have noticed with my previous posts, I was a bit anxious about my pregnancy. I was worried that it would take me back to where I started, gaining back the 30 pounds that I lost. And I did gain every pound and more. But, when I saw my daughter, I could only think of one thing: She's worth every pound. Just check these out:
I was checked at the labor room and the resident OB's found out that though my waterbag was still intact, I was 1cm dilated and I was also having contractions at a 3 to 5 minutes interval. I was admitted that night and my OB scheduled my C-section the following morning.
So, on April 5, 2010, at 7:10 am, Darla Bernice, my second daughter was born. She weighed 6.15 pounds and had an almost perfect APGAR score.
As one may have noticed with my previous posts, I was a bit anxious about my pregnancy. I was worried that it would take me back to where I started, gaining back the 30 pounds that I lost. And I did gain every pound and more. But, when I saw my daughter, I could only think of one thing: She's worth every pound. Just check these out:
Sunday, April 4, 2010
A Bun in the Oven Coming Very Soon
Ok. I know it's been a while since I last wrote in but I have a very valid reason. I am pregnant and it has been quite a challenge to keep fit during my pregnancy. In 6 days or so, I will be seeing my new daughter. I am excited but I must admit that this pregnancy has cost me a lot -- physical-fitness-wise.
I stopped going to the gym just before Christmas because I was getting heavier by the day and I was afraid that I was putting too much strain on my growing belly. After the holidays, I gained so much weight that, for the first time since I started my fitness blog, I was ashamed of facing the scale, even though I had a valid reason for gaining weight.
It went downhill after the holidays. I was gaining more than the expected and I got depressed, which only pushed me to eat more and crave more. Eating too much was the biggest challenge of this pregnancy. Other than that, I was fine. I was all geared up to be a mother again.
I cannot do much about my weight now. I am ashamed to admit my real weight as of writing. I may be able to write about it someday, but it's just too embarassing at this moment.
Anyway, even though I have been gaining a lot of unwanted pounds (not counting the normal 20-30 pounds weight gain of pregnant women), I had enough guts to have my maternity portrait taken. These pics were taken during my 7th month of pregnancy and maybe from these pictures, you can tell how heavy I've become.
In 6 days, I am giving birth via sceduled caesarian section. It normally takes 6 months to go back to the gym, as prescribed by my OB Gyne. But, I have spoken with her and asked her permission to go back to the gym by August, 4 months after I gave birth. She gave me her go on the condition that I will be doing only moderate aerobic exercises, no weight lifting and absolutely no abdominal exercises.
So, until then, you'll be hearing about better fitness news from me. For now, I promise to post pics of my new baby as soon as she comes out.
I stopped going to the gym just before Christmas because I was getting heavier by the day and I was afraid that I was putting too much strain on my growing belly. After the holidays, I gained so much weight that, for the first time since I started my fitness blog, I was ashamed of facing the scale, even though I had a valid reason for gaining weight.
It went downhill after the holidays. I was gaining more than the expected and I got depressed, which only pushed me to eat more and crave more. Eating too much was the biggest challenge of this pregnancy. Other than that, I was fine. I was all geared up to be a mother again.
I cannot do much about my weight now. I am ashamed to admit my real weight as of writing. I may be able to write about it someday, but it's just too embarassing at this moment.
Anyway, even though I have been gaining a lot of unwanted pounds (not counting the normal 20-30 pounds weight gain of pregnant women), I had enough guts to have my maternity portrait taken. These pics were taken during my 7th month of pregnancy and maybe from these pictures, you can tell how heavy I've become.
In 6 days, I am giving birth via sceduled caesarian section. It normally takes 6 months to go back to the gym, as prescribed by my OB Gyne. But, I have spoken with her and asked her permission to go back to the gym by August, 4 months after I gave birth. She gave me her go on the condition that I will be doing only moderate aerobic exercises, no weight lifting and absolutely no abdominal exercises.
So, until then, you'll be hearing about better fitness news from me. For now, I promise to post pics of my new baby as soon as she comes out.
Friday, October 16, 2009
A HUGE Bump Ahead
I have been on a blogging hiatus for more than two months now. I've got a very valid reason -- there's a big bump ahead, a HUGE one. I'm expecting my second baby. I found out that I was pregnant at about 6 weeks. I am now on my 14th week.
One of the last posts I made was about being stuck at 155 pounds. Now it's clear why I wasn't losing any weight that time. I had my suspicions when I found it a little too hard to control my food intake. I noticed that I was taking in larger portions and my cheat days were becoming more frequent. Then, I missed my period for two weeks. That never happened since I started working out.
So, on a Saturday in August, before I attended my step moves class at the gym, I decided to take a home pregnancy test. I was so shocked to see two lines. It's not that I didn't like this new blessing, I just didn't expect it to come this early. I was planning to get pregnant early next year. I was thinking that by then, I would have met my 50-pound weight loss goal. But fate had other plans for me.
When I went to my OB, the first thing that she told me was, "you cannot diet, you have to gain at least 1 pound per week." Perfect, I thought. Then, the first thing that I asked her was, "Can I still go to the gym?". My OB said yes, but I have to veer away from high-impact exercises. That means, no more running on the treadmill, no more body jam. Good news is, I can still dance retro and lift light weights.
Before I got pregnant, I would go to the gym 5 times a week. When I found out I was pregnant, I vowed to go at least 4 times a week. I wanted to be fit pregnant woman, but as fate would have it, this pregnancy is not a walk in the park. While my first pregnancy was very easy, this time I was experiencing all the bad pregnancy symptoms. Vomiting, nausea etc. What's even worse is, the only thing that stops me from vomiting is eating, so, yeah, I've been eating a lot too.
I wanted to blog about having a fit pregnancy. However, I don't think I could do that now. I've gained at least 10 pounds since I found out I was pregnant. And I'm expecting about 15-20 pounds more for the entire pregnancy.
I have to take care of myself but more than that, I have to take care of my baby. But as I promised when I started this blog, I wanted to make fitness a lifestyle. All I could promise is to start cutting down on the sweets, my only refuge from my vomiting spells and I would still go to the gym 2-3 times a week. For the past 8 weeks, I have been going to the gym once a week, and I definitely plan to do better than that.
My expected due date is on April 16, 2010. I will be breastfeeding my baby exclusively for as long as I can. But I would like to make another promise. I want to promise to start losing weight again, 3 months after I gave birth. I'd still want to meet my target weight of 130 pounds before the end of 2010. I want to be one hot, sexy momma! Watch me!
One of the last posts I made was about being stuck at 155 pounds. Now it's clear why I wasn't losing any weight that time. I had my suspicions when I found it a little too hard to control my food intake. I noticed that I was taking in larger portions and my cheat days were becoming more frequent. Then, I missed my period for two weeks. That never happened since I started working out.
So, on a Saturday in August, before I attended my step moves class at the gym, I decided to take a home pregnancy test. I was so shocked to see two lines. It's not that I didn't like this new blessing, I just didn't expect it to come this early. I was planning to get pregnant early next year. I was thinking that by then, I would have met my 50-pound weight loss goal. But fate had other plans for me.
When I went to my OB, the first thing that she told me was, "you cannot diet, you have to gain at least 1 pound per week." Perfect, I thought. Then, the first thing that I asked her was, "Can I still go to the gym?". My OB said yes, but I have to veer away from high-impact exercises. That means, no more running on the treadmill, no more body jam. Good news is, I can still dance retro and lift light weights.
Before I got pregnant, I would go to the gym 5 times a week. When I found out I was pregnant, I vowed to go at least 4 times a week. I wanted to be fit pregnant woman, but as fate would have it, this pregnancy is not a walk in the park. While my first pregnancy was very easy, this time I was experiencing all the bad pregnancy symptoms. Vomiting, nausea etc. What's even worse is, the only thing that stops me from vomiting is eating, so, yeah, I've been eating a lot too.
I wanted to blog about having a fit pregnancy. However, I don't think I could do that now. I've gained at least 10 pounds since I found out I was pregnant. And I'm expecting about 15-20 pounds more for the entire pregnancy.
I have to take care of myself but more than that, I have to take care of my baby. But as I promised when I started this blog, I wanted to make fitness a lifestyle. All I could promise is to start cutting down on the sweets, my only refuge from my vomiting spells and I would still go to the gym 2-3 times a week. For the past 8 weeks, I have been going to the gym once a week, and I definitely plan to do better than that.
My expected due date is on April 16, 2010. I will be breastfeeding my baby exclusively for as long as I can. But I would like to make another promise. I want to promise to start losing weight again, 3 months after I gave birth. I'd still want to meet my target weight of 130 pounds before the end of 2010. I want to be one hot, sexy momma! Watch me!
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