Answered Prayer

God answered my prayer! Today, He gave me a new yaya for Liam! With just enough time (4 days) to get the little boy familiar with her + teach her the basics of being Liam's nanny.  I go back to work on May 2, BTW.

Sooo, what does this mean??? I can now go back to running! Oh running shoes, how I've missed you so! See you soon, ICA-XS loop, UP Acad Oval, BGC and maybe Ultra! As for official races, I'm thinking RU 10km (June) and Adidas KOTR 16.8km (July).  Yes, just races below 21km.  What about marathon #2? I think it would have to wait til next year - Condura Skyway 2014.  We'll see.  As for now, I'm just really grateful I have a yaya.  I guess God just wanted me to have enough time on my own with the little boy before I get the yaya ;) God does know best!

Out For A Run

I wish!!!

Although it can get a little too tiring sometimes, I do love all the Liam time I have now that I don't have a yaya and it's summer time.  However, I miss RUNNING :( Like I really, reaaally do.  So please, if you can recommend a good and trustworthy yaya... Please do :( In addition to missing running, I also have to go back to work in 2 weeks' time!

My New Best Friend = Naps

If you have ever been a mom to a kid younger than, say, 5, then you would know what exactly I am talking about.  As I am typing this, the little one is still napping and I've already accomplished so much!

I fixed our shoe rack, fixed one side of the cabinet (maybe the other side for this afternoon's nap), took a nice shower and now writing an update! Hah! ;) ...he's stretching now so it's only a matter of a few minutes before I get busy again but at least I'm happy I used his nap time well!

Yesterday was Liam's real birthday.  Since we already had his birthday party the previous day, we just had a quiet day yesterday.

- Heard mass with the little one (we usually don't bring him along but since it's his birthday, we decided to bring him.  Tsaka wala rin namang yaya, who am I kidding).
- Ate lunch at Yabu :D ...where the birthday boy just napped (thank God I could eat in peace, at least for 1/2 of my meal) and then woke up and ate monay which I bought from a kiosk outside.
- Walked around the mall where daddy bought shoes and guama bought Liam some birthday gifts from Mothercare <3

Thank God we went home after! We played around a bit then he fussed from about 3:30 PM to 8:00 PM! I hate teething! :(( All 3 of us slept early because we got so tired entertaining him so he wouldn't remember the teething pain and burst into tears! Too bad no amount of cajoling and dancing and singing would make him completely forget.  Xylogel, ice cream and the frozen teether could only do so much.  Did I mention how I hate teething? Hoping his upper teeth come out sooner than later! According to this timeline, at 12 months, he should already have about 4-6 teeth out! He only has 2! I have a feeling that when the next tooth comes out, it won't just be 1! Probably why he's in so much pain.

Well, today we woke up to still no emerging tooth so I'm still praying!

PS He is still napping!!!

Liam is 1!

And so today we no longer count months.. We start counting YEARS.

Happy birthday to the #1 game changer! The only one who can make me speak in hushed tones (when he's napping), make me not mind staying home all weekend and the one who makes each day a struggle to become a better me.

I promise to always be there to hold your hand tight when you feel scared, give it a gentle squeeze in ouchie moments..but also to let go when the time comes, so you can grow and be the man God wants you to be.

Daddy and mommy love you soo very much!

Photo: April 21, 2012 and April 20, 2013

Liam's 1st Trip!

So last weekend, Liam went on his first trip out of town.  Apologies for the late update, my laptop's charger died on me and I could not find a convenient Powermac/iStudio branch with the specific model.  Thanks to a friend who lent me her old charger (saves me the money, too!).

Anyway, I was so worried about this trip for the following reasons:

1) First airplane ride for the little one

2) No yaya with us

3) I will be the only girl - brother, dad, husband and baby

I'm so glad it's over and done and in all fairness, although I was dead tired by the end of the weekend, I do feel pretty happy knowing my grandma, Liam's great grandma, finally got to see him.  

Here are some photos from the trip:

Almost the Weekend!

Say hello to my new baby! ;) This elliptical was delivered right at our doorstep Monday of this week.  As mentioned in a previous entry, I bought this from Toby's.  It cost me Php 10,490 (something like this) + Php 300 (delivery free) = Php 10, 790.  Not bad considering it doesn't need electricity to work so at least my mom will not nag me about wasting electricity.  So far, I've been on it twice this week! Tuesday (since it came late Monday afternoon) and yesterday, Thursday.  Yesterday, I wore my Garmin + heart rate monitor and found out I burned about 255 calories in 55 minutes.  Take note, I noticed that my heart rate monitor was not worn properly already 25 minutes into the workout.  So at 25 minutes, it read that I had only burned 8 calories, LOL! So I most probably burned more than 255 calories.  I plan on using this elliptical 4-5x a week.

I am also currently downloading Shaun T's INSANITY work out.  Supposedly a high-intensity workout that lasts for 60 days.  More info on that here.  I'm going to be doing it with running buddy Van, starting on Monday when we get back from Cebu.  Not sure if I can do this while going on the elliptical 5x a week.

Wish me luck, it's supposed to make me, well, insane.  Will tell you about that after Day 1.

photo from the internet

On eating healthy, I have been eating a lot of cottage cheese, yogurt, Fitness cereals, fruits and vegetables. Been trying to avoid pork and beef, hence, sticking to chicken and fish.  So far, so good.  I'm not weighing myself (I find this to be too stressful for me), just observing my clothes and how much better they fit ;) I have to keep reminding myself, it is not OPERATION SKINNY but rather, OPERATION STRONG AND HEALTHY! ;) I can't say I eat healthy 100% of the time, I cheat once in a while but when I do, I make sure to take in controlled portions (i.e. Had a serving of plain Ruffles just the other day.  The pack says 1 serving is 7 chips so I only had 7... I chose the bigger cuts, haha).

Tomorrow, we head off to CEBU! ;) Staying in Crimson Spa & Resort, Mactan.  It was originally Shangri-La but since I figured we've already been there, why not try something new (and a bit cheaper, too)? I've also heard a lot of good things about this resort.  Photos look amazing! (photos from the website).  

Chip Thrills

I've always been a fan of chips.  I remember years ago, when my mom and I would go grocery shopping, we would always bring home 3-4 big bags of those imported chips (Lay's, Doritos, Ruffles). More than sweets, mas ma-chips talaga ako.  I'd finish maybe half the bag and save the best for last  - my flavor-filled fingers! So tasty! LOL.

Since I've been going on a diet technically since Liam, I have tried hard to cut this off my diet.  The last time I had chips was Cheetos Jalapenos (yum!) last April 1 ;) I've found a yummy and healthy (or healthier) alternative, though! Something crunchy but not as salty with only 150 calories per pack!

Why it's awesome: 150 calories per pack (as mentioned), made with whole wheat (as you can see), no added MSG (as they claim) and yummy white cheddar cheese flavor! <3 It's flavor is light and tasty, not walang lasa like some of the chips in Healthy Options, hehe.  And only P7.50 per pack ;)

Also, in the hopes of living a more healthy lifestyle, I have also successfully cut out milk tea from my diet! I used to have a "2 glasses per month" rule which I have now dropped.  It's been over a month since my last milk tea <3 So happy! 

Now thinking, what's the next thing to be removed from my diet? 

Fitspo?

I've been following a lot of fitness/fitspo (just recently learned about this term.  Short cut for fitness + inspiration = fitsopration) accounts on Instagram and seeing before/after shots just really motivate me so well to reach my goal! An example of what I see on those accounts:

Although sugar is really the least of my problems, since I've already cut this from my diet since October of last year.  So if you want inspiration to stay fit (or become fit) and eat healthy, follow these accounts for daily reminders ;) j_foreverfit, fitspooration, healthyfitsporation.  Medyo natuwa ako eh, kaya ang dami.  The photos posted by these users balance out all the #foodporn posts from friends, haha!

Speaking of fitness, I went out yesterday and bought myself an.. tadadada.. elliptical machine! I figured that for running, the roads will always be there.  But on days when I just want to sweat it out and do some cardio without leaving the house, an elliptical would be perfect.  I asked my husband if I should get one and he told me to go ahead and gift myself with one ;) So that was my go signal.  Will post a photo of it when it arrives on Monday.  So excited! In addition to being able to do cardio in the comforts of my own home, I am also looking forward to my mother getting on the machine.  She says she will, so let's see.  But I won't hold my breath ;)  

On dieting, it's Day 6 tomorrow of - NO: rice, soda, pork, beef + having carbs only for breakfast.  I weighed myself this morning and found that I had not really dropped any significant weight yet.  Which is strange.  Maybe I gained muscle from the free weights? Or maybe it's just too early to be expecting results.  Will weigh self again after exactly a week since I started (Monday next week).  Until then, #tiisganda haha!  

Project WW!

WW = Wedding Weight.

To be completely honest, here are the figures: (in smaller font, so as not to shock anyone too much, haha)

Heaviest pregnancy weight: 198 lbs.
Current weight: 155 lbs.
Wedding weight: 130 lbs.

Pounds lost: 43 lbs.
Pounds to go: 25 lbs.

Can I do it? I can do it!

Due date for losing 15 lbs.: May 2
Due date for the other 8 lbs. (or more): June 1

How I intend to accomplish this?
- workout 5x a week (run, go on the elliptical, do weights, yoga at home, squats, push ups, lunges, take care of baby..haha)
- diet diet diet (no sweets, no rice, no carbs after breakfast, no soda, no chips or anything junk, no fast food, no pork, no beef)
- lots of water, veggies, fruits, fish and chicken

I've been 'dieting' since I can remember but I've never been THIS determined.  And I say dieting with ' ' because it's never been really consistent, haha.  Probably because I didn't have the right motivation then.  Before, it was so I could wear a bikini without having to be avoid sitting down (because the flabby tummy would appear).  I don't really imagine myself, a mother and wife to be wearing a bikini anymore (plus, don't want the world to see all the stretch marks haha) I just want to be fit and at a healthy weight.  I promise, I will not make the pregnancy/baby my excuse for all the fat I've accumulated.

I started with Day 1 today and here's what I ate/did:

8am - oatmeal, a slice of cheese
1230pm - fish with some sauce made with egg, a piece of chicken adobo (breast part), Coke Zero (hehe), about 10 pcs of Cheetos.  I've been seeing the bag of Cheetos on the breakfast table and I thought to myself, "Might as well finish this on Day 1 so that I won't have to see it again!" hahaha.  Weak moment right there.
4:30pm - another slice of cheese
7:00pm - 2 frozen bananas with milk

Did 3 reps of lunges, squats and leg lifts.  30 minutes yoga video and push ups (honestly, I can barely do a set of 10, my arms are so weak.  But I gotta start somewhere, right?).  Running tomorrow morning.

Save for the Cheetos and Coke Zero... Not bad, it's 11:30 PM and I feel somewhat hungry but not to the point of not being able to sleep (I think).  I guess I should hit the sack soon before hungry turns into starving!