On the Road to Fitness

Checking my Progress: The First 5 weeks

2011-10-18T14:49:00.002+08:00

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.

Healthy Eating at the Mall

2011-10-11T16:13:00.004+08:00

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.

Empty Calories

2011-09-21T20:38:00.003+08:00

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.

Falling All Over Again

2011-09-21T20:28:00.002+08:00

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.

Getting Back in the Game

2011-09-15T20:24:00.002+08:00

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'm Back ... For Real This Time!

2011-09-14T17:27:00.003+08:00

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.

Back to Square One

2011-05-19T17:13:00.004+08:00

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.

Worth Every Pound

2010-05-25T20:01:00.005+08:00

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:

A Bun in the Oven Coming Very Soon

2010-04-04T06:21:00.004+08:00

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.

A HUGE Bump Ahead

2009-10-16T20:27:00.003+08:00

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!

Lifting Weights: Why Women Should Do It

2009-08-14T15:53:00.003+08:00

Many women refuse to lift weights with the fear to gain large muscles. Contrary to this, women have very different body composition from men and no matter how often we lift weights, we will never grow as big as those bulky bodies we see at the gym.

The importance of strength training cannot be stressed enough. Here are some reasons to convince you to start working those muscles:

* Strength training makes us stronger. Lifting weights trains our strength and enables us to do more extensive physical activities.

* Lifting weights improve our bone health. When we lift weights, we increase our bone density and our tendons and ligaments are strengthened.

* Strength training increases muscle mass. It slows down or reverses the muscle loss that we experience as we age.

* Increased muscle mass through strength training enables us to burn more calories even at rest.

* Improving muscle strength increases our flexibility and balance. Thus, chances of injuries during physical activities are decreased.

These are just some of the many benefits we get from lifting weights. And based from my own experience, I can say that I wouldn't have lost this much weight so quickly if I haven't been lifting weights and doing strength training 2-3 times a week.

So, even after I've used up all my sessions with my Personal Trainer, I pursued my stength training and continued losing those unwanted fats and gaining more muscles.

Eyes on the Prize

2009-08-14T15:35:00.002+08:00

I don't know but it seems soooo hard to lose that 1 last pound to reach my 30-pound weight loss. That's why today, I'm setting a new prize to motivate me in the days to come.

I used to reward myself for every 10 pounds that I lost. It seems so long since my last reward and it's time I set my eyes on the prize once more.

So, what will it be this time? Recently, my hair iron broke and I need a replacement. Hair irons, especially branded ones don't come cheap. But, it doesn't matter. I need some HUGE motivation to get me on my feet again.

I just came back from Crossings department store and I saw this Revlon Hair Iron which I tried and LOVED. It's worth a little over 3k, but who cares? That will be my next prize and I need to have that soon!

29 Pounds Ago...

2009-08-13T17:16:00.000+08:00

I lost interest in trying to look my best 'coz I knew that my best wouldn't even get close to how I would really want to look like.

I was afraid of cameras and dreaded looking at pictures of myself.

I would go straight to the plus size section of department stores to buy clothes. I wasn't too choosy, as long as the clothes fit.

I had a hard time wearing heels. It was hard enough to carry my own weight on flat sandals.

I stopped measuring myself. It was just too depressing.

I couldn't cross my legs.

I couldn't cross my arms.

I couldn't bring my knees to my chest while seated.

My husband could barely hug me. I was too big for his arms.

Events made me nervous 'coz I wouldn't know what to wear that would at least look "presentable" with my body type.

I ate anything I wanted because I wasn't worried about how much I would weigh the next day. I wasn't weighing myself anyway.

Mirrors are just for checking my hair and my face, not my body.

Shopping was not fun. It was simply a reminder of how bad my body shape was.

I kept on wishing I could go back to the gym, but I never did.

Stranded

2009-08-10T14:37:00.000+08:00

Whenever I stop losing weight for 3 or more weeks, I feel stuck in that weight. I initially wanted to call this plateau-blog, "Stuck at 155". But, I just realized that the word "stuck" has a very negative connotation, especially for someone who's only halfway to his or her goal.

I have been 155 pounds for 3 weeks. Today, I hope that changes. I hope my total weight loss totals more than 29 pounds this week. I really do hope that happens today. But if it won't happen today, I will not say I'm stuck. I'm just "stranded".

Checking My Progress: Weeks 21 to 25

2009-07-29T23:25:00.000+08:00

Slowly but surely... That's what I keep telling myself to avoid feeling frustrated. I've reached my plateau stage and my last progress check was not as good as I would want it to be. This time, it's a bit better. I've lost a few pounds and managed to avoid gaining any. It's getting tougher every week.

Here’s my weekly progress from weeks 21 to 25:

Week 20: 160 pounds (Reference)
Week 21: 158 pounds = lost 2 pounds
Week 22: 156 pounds = lost 2 pounds
Week 23: 156 pounds = lost 0 pound
Week 24: 155 pounds = lost 1 pound
Week 25: 155 pounds = lost 0 pound

Total pounds lost from weeks 16 to 20: 5 pounds

Total pounds lost in 25 weeks: 29 pounds

Vital stats reference (week 1): 39.5 - 39 - 42
Vital statistics from week 20: 37.5 – 35 – 39
Vital statistics at week 25: 37 – 34.5 – 38

Total inches lost from day 1: 11 inches

I would have wanted the total weight loss to be 30 pounds at this point. I don't see how it's sooooo hard to lose that last pound.

Anyway, I'm happy I lost 5 pounds for the past 5 weeks. Not bad for someone who's been on a plateau. And yes, I'm really happy I'm losing inches too!

Plus Size No More

2009-07-20T11:40:00.000+08:00

It's been a while since I have been in the plus size section of a department store. I used to go straight to the plus size section of any department store to buy my clothes.

Losing a lot of weight gave me the courage to explore other parts of the clothing section. I just found out one day that I could already buy normal-sized clothes. Then, slowly, I stopped going to the plus size section.

However, having a "gifted" behind left me with second thoughts about non-plus sized pants. So, I would go to the normal-sized section for blouses and to the plus size section for pants.

But, the other day, they had this great Levi's and Dockers sale. The biggest size they had was 32 inches for ladies' pants. I was 34 inches the last time I checked. Hubby told me to try the pants on. He said, who know's? It might fit. So I tried on the pants and... it DID fit! So, even if I had no plans of buying the pair, hubby convinced me to. I now own my first ever pair of Levi's.

And then, yesterday, I tried on another pair of branded jeans and it was on sale at 20% off. Lee jeans are not as expensive as Levi's but it's quite a quality product as well. And then, it happened again, it fits well! I now own my second pair of non-plus-sized pants.

So, I guess it's official. I'm completely saying goodbye to the plus size section.

The New Me

2009-07-17T00:43:00.000+08:00

Nope, this has nothing to do with Fitness First's "New Me" contest.

It's been more than a decade since I sported a short hairstyle. I was always afraid my face was too round for it.

But since I lost 28 pounds, people are starting to notice how slim my face looks now. So, last weekend, I decided to bite the bullet and got a short haircut.

So far, I'm getting nothing but positive feedbacks for my new look. What do you think?

I'm loving my hairstyle now and I love the fact that my face looks better on pictures. Losing weight can change one's life in sooooo many ways.

First Love Never Dies

2009-06-29T16:23:00.001+08:00

I LOOOVVVEE the retro dance class of Fitness First. I'm a self-confessed retro fanatic. I love dancing and attending the retro dance class gives me the chance to dance to my heart's content. It gave me the chance to dance to the beat of Buttercup, The Boss, Single Ladies, and yes, that theme from the Oscar-winning film Slumdog Millionaire sung by Pussycat Dolls. (Bear with me, I know the title but I don't know how to spell it.)

But, before I was a member of Fitness First, I became a lifetime member of Slimmers World. Slimmers World did not have retro dance classes, but they had step aerobics classes. And before I became crazy for retro, I was head-over-heels in love with step aero. So in love, in fact, that I would wake up at 7am on a Sunday and travel from our house in Antipolo to SM Megamall, just to catch the 8:30 am step aero class.

For years, I have missed that great love, and the first thing that I asked when I became a member of Fitness First is, "May step aero classes ba kayo?" Luckily, they did have 2 step moves (that's how they call it in Fitness First) classes on Saturday and Sunday. I tried attending those classes a few times and I almost gave up. I couldn't follow the steps and it seemed like I have lost my step grooves.

So, did I give up? Almost. In one of the Saturday classes, the step aero teacher asked me, "Is this your first time?", to which I replied, "No, this is my third time in your class but I never once finished a class". Then, she said, "Try to finish this one". It was hard but I was encouraged by her words. So, with much difficulty and struggle, I did finish the class and promised to go back for more.

Last Saturday, I went to the same class, and for the first time after a loooong time, I was able to finish the class and actually enjoyed it. And just like that, everything came back to me. I fell in love with step aero all over again. For sure, in the next Saturdays to come, I will be at the gym attending back-to-back classes of retro and step moves.

I guess it's true, first love never dies. :-)

Freedom Day

2009-06-29T16:09:00.000+08:00

I know it's been more than 3 weeks, but yesterday, I celebrated my own freedom day.

Yesterday, I cleared my closet and removed all my "fat clothes". I went through my wardrobe, piece by piece, to weed out my now oversized pieces of clothing. I haven't been wearing these clothes for a couple of months now since I lost a lot of weight.

Recently, I have been buying new clothes that fit my new body better. I needed room for these new clothes. Thus, a closet clean-up was necessary.

The activity proved to be quite liberating. I felt both sentimental and relieved to see my old double-XLs go out of the closet into a big suitcase that seemed like Pandora's box for me... hoping that I never have to open it again.

Checking My Progress: Weeks 16 to 20

2009-06-25T15:10:00.000+08:00

The last five weeks have been quite tough for me. As mentioned in my previous blog, I have been experiencing the dreaded “P” word – plateau. I was able to lose a few pounds on the 2nd and 3rd week, but I gained back half of what I lost on the 4th and was not able to lose it again as of writing.

Here’s my weekly progress from weeks 16 to 20:

Week 15: 162 pounds (Reference)
Week 16: 162 pounds = lost 0 pound
Week 17: 160 pounds = lost 2 pounds
Week 18: 158 pounds = lost 2 pounds
Week 19: 160 pounds = gained 2 pounds
Week 20: 160 pounds = lost 0 pound

Total pounds lost from weeks 16 to 20: 2 pounds

Total pounds lost in 20 weeks: 24 pounds

Vital stats reference (week 1): 39.5 - 39 - 42
Vital statistics from week 10: 37.5 - 35.5 - 40
Vital statistics at week 20: 37.5 – 35 – 39

Total inches lost from day 1: 9 inches

I only have 23 weeks to lose 26 pounds to meet my weight loss goal within my target deadline. I have to work harder from this point on.

The "P" Word

2009-06-25T14:10:00.000+08:00

Everybody who's into a fitness program and trying to lose weight dreads one word, and it starts with a P.

Plateau is defined by Webster's Dictionary as "a stable period". In fitness terms, what it actually means is that this is that stage in your fitness program when, no matter how often or how hard you exercise and no matter how strict you are keeping your diet, you still are not losing any pound for a relatively long period (say, a month or more).

Plateau is good when you've reached your target weight and you are in your maintainance stage. I have only lost 50% of my target weight loss. Plateau is not good for me.

Plateau happens. I heard it so many times from people who's been there or are still there. I knew it would happen to me (as it did so many times before), but I was never really ready for it. I'm trying my best to beat it but for the last 3 weeks, I have not been successful.

I guess, this is one of the challenges I must face in trying to lose weight. Wish me luck 'cause I really need it at this point.

When Work Gets in the Way

2009-06-16T21:29:00.000+08:00

I miss the gym. I missed my most-loved group exercise: retro dance. I miss dancing, sweating and watching the scale go lower as I lose more pounds each week.

I haven't been to the gym since Thursday last week. It's been 5 days and it's killing me! I want to go sooooo bad, but I can't. I have to finish a project at work --a big project and a huge pain in the a**.

I abhor moments like this. When work is eating more time from my life than it should. It's taking away my time to be with my daughter. It's taking away my own personal time to take care of myself.

A similar thing happened to me a few weeks back. I was barely able to go to the gym for almost two weeks. The end result? I gained 2 pounds! It took me a week to lose those 2 pounds that I gained. It's a definite setback to my goal. I mean, I could have lost 30 pounds by now if not for that setback!

I am scheduled for a weigh in with my nutritionist tomorrow. I will cancel. I just know I didn't lose any weight this week. I'll have to work doubly hard starting Thursday and hopefully catch up from my program.

I hate this. I absolutely hate this.

Got cake. Will eat.

2009-06-12T00:42:00.000+08:00

I had one wish for my birthday: to eat Alex Franco's famous prune cake. I know I deserved it after losing 26 pounds. So, I did, and boy, was it delicious!

I had 3 slices, just 3. I had to stop myself from drooling everytime I would open our refrigerator. I mean, who could say no to this:

If you're wondering, yes, I talked to my nutritionist about the cake. I just told her. I said, "Ness, on my birthday, I'm going to eat cake". She said, "Okay, one slice wouldn't hurt". One slice my ass! :-)

Now, I have to tell people in our house to finish the entire piece, or else I would have to lock the refrigerator. :-)

I'd probably be stuck in the gym for 5 straight days to burn the calories from the cake. But it's all worth it!

Halfway There!

2009-06-08T23:17:00.000+08:00

It's 2 days before my birthday and I have good news. As of today, I have already lost 26 pounds. That's more than 50% of my goal! 26 pounds down, 24 to go!

And since I was able to meet my goal of losing 25 pounds before my birthday, I am going to celebrate my 31st birthday with the best cake I've ever tasted in my entire life, Alex Franco's prune cake. I simply can't wait!

9 Days to Go!

2009-06-01T18:06:00.000+08:00

I'll be 31 years old in 9 days. 31! Whew! Time flies by so fast. I have just one wish on my birthday: that I meet my goal of losing 50 pounds before December of this year, maybe even more!

So far, I've lost 22 pounds. I've got 28 pounds to go.

To celebrate my birthday, I'll be eating a special cake, one that I cannot resist and one that I seldom have... Alex Franco's cake. Just one slice for my birthday. It's my gift to myself and a reward for being a good girl since February. That isn't asking for too much, is it?

I'll probably buy a new dress again too! I'll be attending a wedding on the 26th and I gotta look my best. Hopefully, by then, I've lost 50% of my weight loss goal. Let's cross our fingers.

Feeling Pretty Again

2009-05-21T16:26:00.000+08:00

For the longest time, since I gained a lot of weight, I haven't been taking care of how I look. I got tired of putting on make-up and dressing up nicely. I thought, whatever I do, I still look fat anyway.

Now that I've lost 22 pounds, a lot of things changed. I loved looking at myself in the mirror again, I started putting on make-up every now and then or at least 3 times a week and I can now wear my old clothes when I was a lot slimmer.

During our fifth wedding anniversary, hubby and I went on a date at Enchanted Kingdom. I tried on my favorite blouse that I haven't worn for 4 years. To my surprise, I can now wear it again, and sorry for bragging, but I still look good in it! Check this out:

Then, last Sunday, we attended a friend's wedding. I got all dolled up and would you believe... I wore a dress! I haven't worn a dress since ... I can't even remember! This is really a big thing for me so, bear with me but I have to show you the pics:

It's amazing how losing 22 pounds can change one's life, and I haven't even met my goal yet!

Checking my Progress: Weeks 11 to 15

2009-05-20T19:22:00.000+08:00

In a span of 10 weeks, I was able to lose 15 pounds. It was a pretty good pace for me and I wanted to maintain that. But sometimes, things happen beyond our control. For the past 2 weeks, I have been struggling to stay on my fitness program. Things don’t always go our way – it was the sad truth I had to face.

Weeks 11 to 15: The first three weeks were pretty good. I was right on track. I was losing pounds and inches and my body fat mass were dramatically reduced. When week 14 came, a big project came my way at work and I wasn’t able to go to the gym as often as I would have wanted to. I skipped my personal training sessions and I wasn’t eating on a regular 3-hour gap. All these took a toll on my program. I was glad I didn’t gain any pounds yet, sad thing though, my muscle mass reduced and my fat mass increased. I promised myself I would get right back on track as soon as that darn project is done.

Here’s my weekly progress from weeks 11 to 15:

Week 10: 169 pounds (Reference)
Week 11: 167 pounds = lost 2 pounds
Week 12: 165 pounds = lost 2 pounds
Week 13: 165 pounds = lost 0 pound
Week 14: 163 pounds = lost 2 pounds
Week 15: 162 pounds = lost 1 pound

Total pounds lost from weeks 11 to 15: 7 pounds

Total pounds lost in 15 weeks: 22 pounds

Vital statistics are the same as my last progress check.

28 pounds to go! I simply can’t stop now. I’m almost halfway there…

Big Day for the Big Girl

2009-05-11T22:23:00.000+08:00

May 15 is a very special day for me for two reasons. First, it is our 5th wedding anniversary. Yes, I have been a wife for five years already!

The second reason is (I just realized this today), that May 15 also marks the 100th day of my fitness program. 100 days and 21 pounds. How about that?

Of course, these two reasons call for a special celebration. Problem is, we have no plans yet. Hmm.... Any suggestions?

Cheat Days

2009-05-07T22:20:00.000+08:00

I heard people on a fitness program talk about this. They said everybody should have cheat days. I didn't want to try. I knew that if I started, I just might fall off the bandwagon. So, since February, I was, more or less, cheat-free. Until the day I cheated.

Well, it started last Sunday. It was my dad's 60th birthday. My mom commissioned me to buy the cake and the lechon. At first, I was hesitant cause I know that I wouldn't be able to get a taste of either of the two. But I obliged. Big mistake!

Up until lunch, I was able to control myself. I ate the only chicken dish in the buffet my mom prepared. I stayed away from the pork dishes and I said no to the softdrinks.

An hour before the party ended, they served the cake. Everybody told me to take a bite, and I did. That one bite was followed by another, and before I knew it, I finished the entire slice. Later that night, I ate another slice. And when they served the softdrinks, I couldn't stop myself from reaching for a bottle. I figured, I cheated already anyway. The folowing morning, I saw the lechon leftover which became lechon paksiw. I wondered if it was good, so i took a bite-sized piece and ate it. Then I took about 2 more of the same size.

In the afternoon of the same day, I worked my butt off at the gym. I attended the retro dance class and did some strength training on my own since I wasn't scheduled for a personal training session. Then, I did some more cardio for 30 minutes. That was clearly my guilt working out.

The next day was no different. I had to meet with my personal trainer and even if I was feeling a bit sluggish, I insisted on doing my strength training. I was scheduled for a weigh-in with my nutritionist the following day and I can't risk gaining a pound with all the cheating I did last Sunday.

Yesterday night (Wednesday), I met with my nutritionist for a weigh-in. I almost couldn't breath as I stepped on the digital scale. To my surprise, I lost almost a pound and my fat mass lessened by 2%. I almost jumped off the scale in happiness. My trainer was there with us when the results came in and we all shrieked out of joy.

So, today, I did some more cheating. I attended a baby shower and ate more than I should. I should really stop. AND I WILL. Tomorrow. After all, tomorrow is another day.

Reward: A Pat On My Almost Fat-Free Back

2009-04-30T18:00:00.000+08:00

In trying to lose weight, inspiration is equally important as perspiration. Rewarding yourself for every milestone reached is very important in sustaining your motivation to lose weight.

In my case, I promised to give myself a reward for every 10 pounds that I lose. Thus, everytime I'm working my butt off at the gym, I keep my eyes on the prize.

When I lost the first 10 pounds, I rewarded myself with a spanking new gym shoes... Nike Free version 7.0. I bought it on sale, but who cares? It's a Nike Free.

Now that I'm nearing my 20-pound weight loss mark, I'm thinking of giving myself a new reward. I first thought of eating in my favorite restaurant, Tokyo Cafe. However, I think that the 20-pound weight loss reward should be better than the 10-pound one. But I would still eat at Tokyo Cafe to celebrate the 20 pounds that I lost. That could be next week, hmm...

Right now, I still haven't decided. It's a toss up between a dress and a new bag. What do you think? Better think fast 'coz I'm almost there.

Not So Gaga Over Yoga

2009-04-24T22:34:00.000+08:00

I decided to try something new today. I attended the Body Balance class in Fitness First. Body Balance is a combination of Yoga and Tai-Chi.

Before today, I knew that I am not a yoga person. But I thought, what the heck! I can try something new just to check if I can do it. Well, I can do it and I did it... but did I enjoy it? Not a bit. I'm sorry to the yoga fanatics, but I just hated it!

I was bored and I thought everything was sooooo slow. I miss my dance classes where I can spin and grind to my heart's desire. The yoga experience was... just so sad. I missed the adrenaline rush. I missed the sweat dripping from my skin. I missed the heart-pumping beat of fast dance music. While I was doing yoga, all I could think about is the retro class scheduled tomorrow at 10am!

They said yoga was supposed to bring calm and peace to your body and soul. I guess I just didn't need that. So, will I try yoga again? Maybe not for the next 6 months. After that, who knows?

Food. Body. Mind.

2009-04-16T22:43:00.000+08:00

People are congratulating me for my 15-pound weight loss. These greetings are usually followed with questions like, "How did you do it?", "What keeps you going?". Or, people would sometimes compliment my determination and wished they have the same kind of motivation that fuels me to reach my goal.

I am thankful for all of these. I truly am. I am thankful for the people cheering me on. I am thankful for losing those 15 pounds. But, I still have a long way to go. And sometimes, I am afraid that I will falter. So, even if I want to give advice to those who want to follow my lead, at the back my mind, I feel that I may not be the best person to give advice since I still haven't reached my goal. I still have 35 pounds to go.

So, let me just quote the principles from Jenny Craig's fitness program. I have blogged before that I am following the success story of Valerie Bertinelli. Through her fitness blog, I learned the 3 keys to having a successful weight loss program. And, it actually corresponds to my personal experience in my fitness program. Here they are:

FOOD - A healthy relationship with food
You have to learn portion controls and healthy eating habits.

Having a good diet doesn't mean you have to be hungry all the time. I eat six to seven times a day, and eating frequently actually made me lose weight! The key is portioning and food distribution. I eat my assigned portions of food every 3 hours and no more than that. Doing this, I trained my body to consume faster thus, increasing my metabolism. I NEVER became hungry even if I was only allowed 1,200 calories a day. (Recommended intake for persons with normal weight is 1,800-2,000 calories per day.)

BODY - An active lifestyle
Gradually increase physical activity with a program that is personalized to your lifestyle and activity level.

You have to get up!!! Move!!! Exercise!!! The key to losing weight is burning more calories than what you take in. This is where most people are finding difficulty. Too busy, no time to go to the gym, etcetera, etcetera... YOU HAVE TO MAKE TIME! 30 minutes of brisk-walking 5-6 times a week, going up 2 flights of stairs rather than taking the elevator, there are lots of ways to move and sweat to lose weight. Choose the exercise program that's right for you or the ones that you enjoy. I love dancing, so I make sure to attend dance aero classes at least 3 times a week. And for days that there are no dance aero classes, I take the treadmill or the stairmaster while watching Ellen. I love watching TV so I can actually stay on the cardio machines for an hour without getting bored because my fave TV show is on.

MIND - A balanced approach to living
Stay motivated and learn to create more balance in your busy lifestyle.

It took me years to get back to the gym, more than 5 years, actually. People around me like my parents and friends are almost begging me to start going back to the gym to lose weight. In all those times, I didn't do it. I refused to go back to the gym. I would always find reasons to avoid getting back in shape. I'm too busy with work and my business, and when I had Dana, I said, I have to breastfeed and I have to take care of my baby... I had all sorts of reasons. Bottomline is, I didn't want to. I didn't want to diet, I didn't want to exercise. I was too lazy and I did not want to commit. I didn't want to start a fitness program half-hearted. But when I finally did, I was 100% sure, 100% committed, no ifs, no buts. Is it hard? Of course! But you have to look at your goal ahead and that would be enough to keep you going.

Checking my Progress: Weeks 6 to 10

2009-04-14T18:46:00.000+08:00

In weeks 1 to 5, I lost a total of 8 pounds and a few inches from my chest, waist and hips. You can see my last progress check here.

In weeks 6 to 10, I have experienced both triumph and disappointment. This time I knew how plateau felt and it brought me down. Luckily, I am the type of person that bounces right back. Maybe it is because of my "well-rounded" personality. LOL!

Anyway, here's my list of progress from weeks 6 to 10:

Week 5: 176 pounds (Reference)
Week 6: 176 pounds = lost 0 pound
Week 7: 174 pounds = lost 2 pounds
Week 8: 174 pounds = lost 0 pound
Week 9: 172 pounds = lost 2 pounds
Week 10: 169 pounds = lost 3 pounds

Total pounds lost in weeks 6-10: 7 pounds

Total pounds lost from day 1: 15 pounds

Vital stats reference (week 1): 39.5 - 39 - 42
Vital statistics from week 5: 39 - 37.5 -42
Vital statistics at week 10: 37.5 - 35.5 - 40

Total inches lost from day 1: 7.5 inches

Things are definitely looking up as my weight is going down.
Every pound lost is a step closer to my goal. I'm getting there...

Moment of Truth (Subic 2009)

2009-04-08T17:08:00.000+08:00

Two months ago, I made a promise to lose 15 pounds before we hit the beach on April 4-5. Well, I didn't meet the goal of losing 15 pounds. But, I lost 10 pounds, and in my book, 10 pounds ain't bad. I worked hard for those 10 pounds, so, bear with me if I strut my (almost) new bod. As promised, here's a photo of me, minus 10 pounds:

Not a bikini body yet, but wait till next year!

Not to be outdone, my little princess, Dana, also sported her new one-piece bathing suit on the beach. I must admit she's a winner in the swimsuit category.

In the past two months, I have been working hard to lose weight. It's time I have a little fun under the sun. So, this summer is not just about going to the gym and dieting. It's also about swimming, kayaking and spending some quality time with my family.

Last time we went to subic, we were able to experience water cycling. This time, hubby and I, together with my dad, tried kayaking.

This is probably the first summer I enjoyed to the fullest. I have another year before the next trip to the beach. Next year, hopefully, I will not be wearing the swimsuit/dress (though it looks nice and does well in hiding some flabs).

I am dreaming of Boracay, and I am dreaming of a two-piece bikini.

A New Role Model

2009-04-03T21:16:00.000+08:00

Since I was not able to go to the gym tonight, I just spent some time on the internet. I chanced upon Valerie Bertinelli's blog on Jenny Craig. I remember Valerie Bertinelli from the TV Sitcom Sydney. I was probably in high school when the show aired over ABS-CBN and I remember liking her. I didn't think anything was wrong with her and I never thought she's been struggling with her weight.

I first heard about Valerie Bertinelli's weight loss success on Entertainment Tonight and on The Today Show. She's been on the Jenny Craig weight loss program for almost 2 years and she was able to lose 50 pounds. I was like... wow! that's my goal!!! I saw the story a month after I started my own weight loss program and it just inspired me to work harder to reach my goals.

Now, as I was reading her blog, I became more interested and more inspired. I can totally relate to her blogs. My progress is not as quick as hers but we have similar experiences like feeling bad when we were not able to lose a pound and even gaining a pound back that made us depressed (for a day).

So, I'll continue reading her blog and read some entries back when I need some inspiration and when I feel like I'm on a slump. Here's the link to her blog:

http://www.jennycraig.com/successstories/blog/valerie

A Restroom Accident

2009-04-03T20:55:00.000+08:00

An hour ago, on my way to meet Ginger Conejero (she voices for my Miss Philippines plugs), I fell on the floor of the restroom near our office. My right foot slipped on the wet restroom floor and fell on my left knee. I couldn't stand for 5 minutes. My knee hurts like hell, I almost cried! I was just glad I didn't bump my head and even though I fell on my left knee, I'm pretty sure it was just the muscles and not the bone that took the beating. When I finally got the strength to get up, I immediately proceeded to meet Ginger.

After the fall, I thought of two things.

First, I felt bad that I will not be able to go to the gym tonight. My mind was set to attend the body balance class (yoga), but with my left knee hurting, I doubt if I'll be able to balance at all. And I'll also be missing the sauna. I was really looking forward to going to the gym tonight since I will not be able to workout tomorrow and on Sunday because we'll be going to Subic. However, I'd rather put it off than risk further injuries that would cost me more time off the gym.

Secondly, I'm sure I'm going to develop a big bruise on my left knee. This would have been fine if we were not scheduled to go to the beach on Sunday. And I just fitted my swimsuit this morning!

I did not meet my goal to lose 15 pounds before we go to Subic. But, 10 pounds is not bad. So, what the heck! I'm off to the beach in a bathing suit (it's more like a bathing dress, and you'll understand as soon as I post the pictures next week)!

My Days Aren't Always Sunny

2009-04-02T23:17:00.000+08:00

Dark clouds hovered over my head early yesterday. I wanted to exercise to release endorphines. Endorphines are happy hormones, and I wanted to be happy. But I was too sad to lift a muscle, and here's why:

I weighed last Monday and found that I didn't lose any pound. Hoping for better results the next day, I weighed again. I got even worse results. I gained a pound. I wanted to die! All that working out and dieting for nothing?!

Then, yesterday night, I met with my nutritionist, submitted my food diary for the past week and she evaluated my daily intakes. She also weighed me on the digital scale. There are 2 weighing scales in the gym. One is manual, where I usually weigh on my own. And the other is digital, where I am weighed with the assistance of a nutritionist or my fitness trainor. The digital scale also measures one's fat percentage and muscle mass, not just weight in pounds.

As I was about to step on the scale, I immediately told my nutritionist that I gained a pound. She told me that I did gain 0.8 pound and that just made me more disappointed. But before a tear fell from my left eye, Ness explained why I gained that 0.8 pound.

My body fat percentage last week was 44%. This week, my body fat percentage is 41%. For the body fat percentage, you would want a smaller number, and since mine decreased by 3%, that's not bad. As for the culprit to my weight gain, here it is: I gained 5 pounds of muscles! So, it is possible that I actually lost some pounds of fat and gained more pounds of muscle. More muscles mean leaner body and faster metabolism AND better ability to burn fats. So, there was no reason to sulk.

So, my Wednesday was not such a sunny day and my happy hormones were nowhere to be found... until I spoke to my nutritionist. Now I know, TOMORROW IS ANOTHER DAY.

Sulk now, workout tomorrow.

Fast Facts on Food

2009-03-28T00:07:00.000+08:00

*This article was copied from my nutritional plan guide handout that my nutritionist gave me:

=> Not all carbs are bad.
=> Fat has twice the energy per gram compared to carbs and proteins.
=> Alcoholic beverages have two calories less than fat.
=> A high protein diet does not ensure more muscles will be built.
=> Vitamin supplements do not provide more strength.
=> Eating two hours before working out helps enhance performance in exercises.
=> Carbohydrates dictate the amount of fat that the body will burn in a day.
=> When used for a long duration, high-protein diets cause stress to your kidneys.
=> Prolonged use of supplements will cause stress to both kidneys and liver.
=> Eat small portions but with more frequency. It helps in maintaining normal metabolism.
=> When eating out, have a snack at least an hour before you eat out, so that you will not be so hungry when it's really time to eat.
=> Carbohydrates prevent protein from being used as energy, which helps the body use protein to build more muscles.

So there... rice is not the culprit. In fact I am allowed 4 servings of rice or its substitutes per day.

As Scarlett O'Hara proclaims: I'll never be hungry again!!!

On My Plate...

2009-03-26T15:21:00.000+08:00

After educating me on serving amounts per food group, Ness, my nutritionist, prepared 2 menu patterns for my diet. Here they are:

SUGGESTED MENU PATTERN (WORKOUT DAYS)

BREAKFAST
1 Serving Fruit (ex. 1 medium banana, 1 medium apple, half slice of mango)
1 Serving Rice or Substitute (ex. 1/2 cup rice, 1 medium sweet potato, 2 slices of whole wheat bread)
1 Serving Medium Fat Meat (ex. 1 pc. egg, 1 pc. sardines, 2 tbs. tuna spread)
1 serving Fat (ex. 1 tablespoon of cooking oil used for frying, 1 strip of bacon, 1 tsp. mayonnaise)

AM SNACK
1 Serving Rice or Substitute
2 servings Fruit

LUNCH
1 Serving Rice or Substitute
2 Servings Low Fat Meat (ex. 1 chicken leg or breast meat, 1 medium sliced fish, 5 pcs of shrimp)
2 Servings Vegetable (ex. 1 cup leafy veggies, 1/2 cup whole veggies like carrots or Langka)
1 Serving Fat for cooking

PM SNACK (Pre-gym snack, 2 hrs. before workout)
1 Serving Rice or Substitute
1 Serving Medium Fat Meat
1 Serving Fat

WORKOUT

DINNER - POST-GYM SNACK (At least 30 mins after workout)
1 Serving Rice or Substitute
1 Serving Vegetable
1 Serving Low Fat Meat

BEFORE BED TIME SNACK
1 Serving Milk or Substitute

SUGGESTED MENU PATTERN (NON-WORKOUT DAYS)

BREAKFAST
1 Serving Fruit
1 Serving Rice or Substitute
1 Serving Medium Fat Meat
1 Serving Fat (for cooking)

AM SNACK
1 Serving Rice or Substitute
1 Serving Low Fat Meat
1 Serving Fruit

LUNCH
1 Serving Rice or Substitute
1 Serving Low Fat Meat
2 Servings Vegetable
1 Serving Fat (for cooking)

PM SNACK
1 Serving Rice or Substitute
1 Serving Low Fat Meat
1 Serving Fat for cooking

DINNER
1 Serving Rice or Substitute
1 Serving Vegetable
1 Serving Medium Fat Meat

BEFORE BEDTIME SNACK
1 Serving Milk or Substitute
1 Serving Fruit

Note: Interval between meals should be 2-3 hours.

All the Way to Fitness!

2009-03-25T15:50:00.000+08:00

It is official. I have a fitness team! I hired a personal trainer a few weeks back and now, I have a nutritionist to monitor my intake for 12 weeks.

Yesterday, I met with my nutritionist for the first time. She evaluated my food diary for the past 3 days to check what I was doing right and where I was going wrong with my diet. It was a diet that I created for myself, without the guidance of a nutritionist but with the stock knowledge I have or what I remember from my past diets. Here's what I did:

- Absolutely no softdrinks. Instead, I substituted it with Del Monte Fit and Right.
- I still drank 1-2 cups of coffee a day ... this I can't seem to stop.
- I had 3 servings of half a cup of rice distributed for breakfast, lunch and dinner
- I avoided pork and beef. I opted for chicken and fish instead. I still eat pork and beef but in matchbox size only, 2-3 times a week.
- I had six meals a day, taking smaller portions per meal: breakfast, am snack, lunch, pm snack, dinner and midnight snack.
- Snacks mostly contain fruits and other light meals like a cup of nuts (boiled not fried), corn on the cob and sweet potatoes alternately.

I was successful so far and managed to lose a few pounds through this diet plus 3-4 times of visits to the gym.

However, I still could not meet my goal of losing 2 pounds per week. There were weeks that I've lost only a pound and 1 or 2 weeks where I've lost 0 pound. I was not happy with these results. So, I had a talk with Ness, the nutritionist from ABS-CBN Fitness First. I told her my dilemma and I decided to hire her to help me.

Back to my meeting with my nutritionist. I had the surprise of a lifetime when I learned that my intake for the past 3 days (and for the weeks that I did not record on the diary), consist only of 600-700 calories per day! This was way below the required limit of 1,200 calories per day. I was taking only 700 calories and burning more than that with my exercise at the gym. How can that be bad, you wonder? Well, my nutritionist says that if we are taking less calories than what is required, the tendency of the body is to save the calories it has. This is some sort of defense mechanism of our bodies. In effect, metabolism slows down. Thus, your ability to burn fat goes down as well.

The right thing to do is eat the required meals (6 meals I mentioned earlier) in the right portions and nutrient requirements. This means, we need calories, protein, fats etc. , IN THE RIGHT AMOUNT and distribution.

I will discuss this diet more on my next post.

Bumps Along the Way...

2009-03-17T18:48:00.000+08:00

A little guilt trip this time...

I was not able to work out for 4 days! I feel so guilty! Did I have a valid reason for this? Sure, I did! There comes a time in a month when a woman doesn't feel like going to the gym, nor doing anything too physical. Well, that time in a month came last week for me.

I wouldn't be surprised if I didn't lose any pound last week. I just hope I didn't gain any as well.

The First Mile: Checking my progress

2009-03-13T12:38:00.000+08:00

I started at 184 pounds with a vital statistics of 39.5-39-42. In the past month or so, I have been going to the gym 3-4 times a week. I have cut down my food consumption to about 35% of my usual intake. I have avoided pork and beef, stopped drinking softdrinks, and ate more fruits and vegetables. It has been five weeks now. Here’s a list of my weekly progress:

Week 1: 181 lbs. = Lost 3 pounds
Week 2: 181 lbs. = Lost 0 pounds
Week 3: No record, forgot to weigh
Week 4: 177 lbs. = Lost 4 pounds
Week 5: 176 lbs. = Lost 1 pound

Total pounds lost: 8 lbs in 5 weeks
Vital Statistics: 39-37.5-42

Not bad. Not bad at all…

Reality Check

2009-03-12T21:04:00.001+08:00

I am obese. That's the painful truth I tried to ignore a thousand times. The pictures show it, and that's the truth that stares me in the face every time I look at the mirror. But let's not be melodramatic.

The fact that I'm obese doesn't stop me from being happy. I have a loving husband and a pretty daughter, and though my mother isn't too happy with my weight, I think my parents did a wonderful job in raising a daughter who, despite being obese, still manages to find confidence. And that confidence will lead me to achieve my dream of being fit.

Let me lay my cards on the table. When I had an awakening in the first week of February, I weighed a whooping 184 pounds! This was how I looked last Christmas:

I was so mad at my husband for not taking the time to think of framing. I thought, I look so fat in this picture. But, nothing could be farther from the truth. I am fat. The picture doesn't lie.

I also took my measurement before I started going to the gym again. At 184 pounds, here's my vital statistics: 39.5 - 39 - 42 ... not exactly a bikini body huh?

For the longest time, I have avoided looking at the numbers. I hated the numbers, so I refused to look at them. It must have been years since I last weighed myself and took my measurement. Now, I have to face the painful truth, because now, I am willing to change it.

The Saga that is My Weight

2009-03-11T20:02:00.000+08:00

Everyone has a history. Mine was an unending saga. One thing's for sure, my obesity did not happen overnight.

I started gaining weight at 8 years old. My mom thought I was too thin and put me on several vitamins, so that I would look "cute" -- as many moms describe a chubby child. And boy, did I become CUTE!!!

At 8-12 years old, they labeled my weight problem as "baby fats". Through my teenage years, a new label came about -- "chubby". When you're a teenager, you want to be like everybody else, wear clothes that everybody else is wearing. Of course, I could not do that because I was "big for my age".

A few months before I turned 18, my mom promised a grand debut party. She said I'll be wearing 2 gowns and a dancing dress for the party implying that I have to get in shape for those gowns. So, I started going on a diet. In the 90's "after-six" diet was big and so, I tried going for it. I ate breakfast, lunch and afternoon snacks. At dinnertime, I just ate one ripe mango. I did this for more than a month. The preparations also included dance rehearsals for the cotillon/discotillon. So, on top of the weight I was losing because of the diet, I was also losing weight from all the cotillon practices we were doing 2-3 times a week. I lost 15 pounds in less than 2 months, had a 25-inch waistline and a body that would fit the gowns my mom made.

After my debut, everything went downhill. I slowly gained back the pounds I lost and gained even more just before my college graduation.

Then, my mom once again, had a brilliant idea of a gift. As a reward for graduating from a premier university, and as preparation to my adult life, she bought me a lifetime membership in Slimmers World. She figured, since I had no work yet, I could spend some time at the gym to "improve my personality" read: lose some weight.

I just went with my mom. Back then, I would squeeze in walk-in applications and job interviews between my gym sessions. With no work and no money, I became addicted to working out. There were days that I spend 6-8 hours in the gym (which was strategically located inside a mall). Three months after I graduated, I still had no job, but I was 118 pounds.

Then, I found a job. I was slim and earning my own money. I couldn't be happier. Too happy, in fact, that I started eating again. Then, the law of gravity happened, for what comes up must come down. Only, for my weight, it was the other way around.

The demands of my job left me with no time to go to the gym as often as before. Countless overtimes and out-of-town trips also offered access to excessive eating. In no time, I was overweight again, but I didn't mind. Somehow, I got tired of watching the scale.

Even my wedding was not enough of an inspiration for me to lose weight. I did lose some weight but not enough to wear just any cut for my bridal gown. I had to carefully choose a cut that would look fab and hide the flabs.

Now, 5 years after the wedding and one baby later, the fitness bug bit me one more time. I'm now back to the gym and dieting. I know that the road ahead is tough, but it is a road I am willing to take. And so, the saga continues...

An Awakening

2009-03-09T16:44:00.000+08:00

It was February 2, 2009. My family decided to go to Subic for Summer and my task was to book everything we needed for the trip. As I put down the phone after booking our hotel, I realized how much I love summer but hated the fact that even though I enjoyed our summer trips, I hated how I looked in the pictures.

Baguio (2006) was easy. I just had to hide behind that knitted poncho:

A simple trick in Subic (2007): asking hubby to hug me to hide the fats.

Still in Subic (2007) No swimsuit for me. And look at my arms!
Note: I was a few weeks pregnant at that time and I didn't know!

Yet another trick in Subic: Do not come out of the water!

So, will it be the same this year? It was really up to me. It was at that moment that I decided to lose 15 pounds for the next 60 days.

Two days later (February 4), I enrolled in Fitness First in ABS-CBN and started to cut down on my food intake. I had a goal and I am determined to reach that goal. When I was enrolling in Fitness First, they had me fill out some questionnaires and these had me re-thinking my goals. 15 pounds in 60 days --- is just my short-term goal. I need to lose more than that if I want to lose the label of being obese.

This is a new challenge in my life and I'm determined to succeed -- for myself and for the people I love.