Crazy August

Have I seriously not written anything in a month?! August has been extremely busy.

Two bridal showers
...both from 6:00 PM until the next day - but of course I only stayed until the night! Cinderella ang peg ;)

One of two showers I attended this month.  Obviously the theme was The Great Gatsby ;)

I'm no fashionista so I get so stressed out with themed/costume parties, thank God for friends willing to lend me stuff!

CRUZ-MA NUPTIALS, the 2nd in our barkada of 12!

Girlfriends of over 10 years! <3 ...and the boys :)

Bride is the one in the center, in her beautiful Edwin Tan gown, turned short dress.
(One Esplanade)

Adrienne, my BFF who is home from New York (but leaving tomorrow, I cry) // Dianne // me in a gown made by a co-teacher/co-ICAN, Mia Syson <3

Eating out almost every weekend :O
...with the barkada since 3 of my friends based abroad were home for the said wedding.

Here's our first brunch with Aids who just arrived the night before ;) 

(Cafe Breton, Podium Mall)

Long runs.  
I've ran up to 16KMs already, 2 more weekends and my legs will be ready for the October 6 half-marathon! As for finishing it sub 2, that's another story.

Trying to lose more of the weight I put on in the pregnancy.  

September 2012 and August 2013

A difference of about 30-40 lbs.

I'm still about 10-15 lbs away from my goal.  I told myself, I will only register for Condura Skyway (42km) 2014 if I reach my goal weight by the time registration starts! Ughh how much time do I have? Maybe 1-2 months? :|

Checking papers, exams and finalizing grades
Of course, doing the teacher work I dread.  I mean, I love being in the classroom but the checking just takes so much time! Because I teach religion/Christian Life, most of our assessments are in essay form and handling 7 sections is not an easy feat! That's about 40students x 7sections = 280 papers to check! :p Phew.  And I am writing this entry because as of present time, I'm done with all papers to check and grades to finish! Praise God.

So, yes, life has been busy but it's been good.  Had some super duper stressful moments but never without God's Grace, so I survived.  But still...

I'm so glad August is over.

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!

Hello Again UP!

So today, Leslie and I revisited an old friend - the UP Acad Oval :) Of course, ever reliable Greg was there with us, too.  Since we weren't going to run a far distance (we were thinking 10km max but ended up with just 6kms haha), we said we wouldn't go too early - we were there by 6AM.  Surprisingly, considering it was Holy Thursday, the place was packed! Even saw good friend Mitz (whom I haven't seen since she left school for her maternity leave), her hubby and baby Aaron (finally!).

Chill/relaxing run.  Not bad, considering I did lunges and squats just yesterday :p

Oh, look who's ecstatic to have both mommy and daddy home on a weekday(s)!

11 months and a week old