"Safe space" doesn't exist anymore!

Not even Twitter! It's so hard that I can't rant or rave about anything on Twitter anymore. I mean, I can't even post how proud I am of my weight loss without sounding like I am trying to fish compliments from those who can read my tweet.

Anyway, I really am proud of how I look now. I've been working really hard and I've sacrificed a lot of free chips, free cakes, and free steaks for me to reach my goal and I'm finally here! I tried on a few clothes I've been holding on to since I got pregnant in 2010 and they look better on me now than they did before! Now I just have to firm up (eh?) the pregnancy flabs and I'm good to go.

I'd post photos if I weren't too self-conscious of how Haggardo Versoza my face looks like. Also, my room is too messy to show the world.

I need new clothes! Universe, if you're reading this, I terribly need to get that opportunity...of course, not only because I need new clothes but also because... I just need it and you probably know what it's about 'cause I keep on talking to you and God about it.

Diet and Exercise: Round 129834987409834092735.

After a couple of months of relapse on working out and dieting, I decided to start on  building those two habits all over again partly because I got inspired by my friends' progresses but mostly because I can't find a single t-shirt in my closet that won't show my pregnancy/beer belly; which is unfortunate for me because that's all I want to wear whenever I go out. I mean, with a pair of shorts and sneaks, you can never go wrong, especially with the kind of weather we're having...but that's not really the point here.

Anyway, I've found the perfect workout for me since the Nike Training Center didn't really work for me - I don't enjoy doing squats and push-ups, okay - and the running thing is not a regular thing because I just have a lot of conditions when it comes to that. Since my Tatay and my brother bought an Xbox, I asked them to get a dance or workout game that I can use. They got me this:

I started yesterday and I got so addicted to it, I probably danced for more than an hour. I love the fact that the music that they used are mainstream ones so everyone can relate to it. There are hiphop beats (Superbass, Nicki Minaj), pop (Call Me Maybe, Carly Rae Jepsen), dance (On The Floor, Jennifer Lopez) and some old school music, too (My First, My Last, My Everything, Barry White)! Livin La Vida Loca is on the line-up, too, but it has a weird dance routine. It's as if they're making fun of Ricky Martin.

Aside from dancing, I've also changed my diet quite a bit. Dinner now consists of a cup of fruits and oats and several glasses of water. Plus, I am limiting my rice - and other sources of carbs, for that matter - intake to one cup per meal (breakfast and lunch). Beef, pork and chicken remain on the diet since I am leaning towards fish lately anyway so I guess it won't cost me much. Beer and other alcoholic beverages will remain part of my diet as well, since I don't consume it on a regular basis. Since I'm not really a fan of sweets, cutting back on it will not be a problem. Chips and McDonald's french fries will be the hardest to give up but as Malia said, disiplina lang. Cutting 'em back to once a month EACH. Guess I've had my fix for both for April.

Official weigh in is at 127lbs. I'm planning to lose at least 17lbs. and to flatten my tummy. Deadline is on my birthday, September 15.

Sigh. Losing weight has never been a problem for me in the past. #AnyareSatin

Short-Term Goals.

I know I said I won't set any goals for this year; that I will just grab any opportunity that will present itself to me but a part of me just can't let the goal-setting thing go, even for just a year. I mean, 3 months into the year and I'm already setting a "short-term" goal for myself to accomplish.

Anyway, I put quotation marks on short-term in the paragraph above because I have a rather unconventional short-term goal. Most people consider getting a car a short-term goal but my idea of a short-term goal is actually buying my very own condominium unit. Preferably a one-bedroom unit somewhere along/near EDSA but a studio apartment works, too.

I don't see myself renting a space unless it's rent-to-own and that is one of the things the babydaddy and I argue about during those rare moments we actually talk. Rent money goes nowhere. At least if I pay for, say, Php10k per month for a one-bedroom unit for a couple number of years, I know that in the end, the place is actually mine.

It's going to take a whole lot of discipline, hardwork and resourcefulness for me to accomplish this goal in 5 years' time but I am currently looking for other sources of income because this writer thing is just enough to cover my and Brianna's basic needs.

Welcoming 2013 with arms wide open.

2012 would've been a big blah if November and December didn't turn out the way they did. November was the lowest point of last year but December proved to be the superhero and saved the day - err, year! If we were in a basketball game and were teammates, I would've patted 2012 hard on the back (and on the ass because basketball teammates always do that to each other and it looks fun) for the spectacular end-game performance. Come-from-behind win ang peg!

I am excited for 2013 despite not having set any goals (yet) and passing up on the resolutions. I take this as me, grabbing all the great opportunities that will be presented this coming year. I haven't done this in years and maybe this is exactly what I need to turn things around.

Happy New Year, everyone!

Planning a diet/exercise plan...

There are a lot of beach trips lined up for me in the future that is why I'm doing this. Also because I saw my college bud's, Kizia's, blog post a few weeks ago (Yeah, mostly that because I only have one trip lined up and I don't even have a plane ticket yet). I don't want to call myself a gaya-gaya because I actually want to start going on a diet... I'd want to believe that I got inspired by her determination to lose weight and actually become healthy.

Being a true believer of the 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, the Law of Attraction and the PSI teachings, I will make this diet plan a S.M.A.R.T. goal.

S(pecific)?: I've achieved my 110-pound weight goal and a barely-there beer belly/post pregnancy flabby tummy by June 25, 2013. 

M(easurable)?: Yes, it is. The weight limitation makes it measurable. 

A(ttainable)?: Yes, definitely! A lot of people have lost 10 pounds in 8 months. Some lost it at 2 months... 

R(isks/obstacles)?:

• Procrastination
• Lack of self-discipline
• Lack of motivation (Yes, being sexy again is not motivation enough, apparently.)
• Cravings (I am having a hard time giving up my potato chips and cigarette addiction.)
• Laziness

T(imebound)?: Yes. June 25, 2013.

Now that the S.M.A.R.T. goal is set, I need to know what exactly I will do to make this one possible.

1. Start running again. Three times a week might be enough because I am committing to a 7-day per week, one hour a day exercise program. Preferring to run in the morning but I plan on working out during the morning so we'll see.
2. Drink as much tea as possible. No, not the bubble tea that everyone's raving about (To be perfectly honest, I don't intend to start drinking it). I mean legit tea. Like the ones they serve at Chinese restaurants.
3. Eat smaller meals. Since I've been chowing down so much carbs lately, I need to start eating in smaller but frequent doses.
4. Download phone and computer applications to help me keep track of my progress. I think keeping track of my progress is one of the motivations I need to help me get through this.
5. Download exercise videos that I will use everyday. Currently leaning towards Zumba (just 'cause it's uso), hip-hop and aerobics.
6. Limit myself to one stick a day (I'm on two a day now) on my first week towards a healthier lifestyle and not get tempted to smoke when I go out/drink.
7. START EARLY AND HOPEFULLY MAKE IT THROUGH THE FIRST 20 DAYS.

As of now, that's it. I just need to know one thing: Do I need to wear a pair of rubber shoes when I exercise at home? It would feel silly but I will if I need to.

I can exceed my limitations!

Before 2011 ended, I made a goal for myself to finish on 2012. I went as far as converting it into a S.M.A.R.T. goal. The goal is to run (and of course, finish) my first ever 5k marathon. I kept this goal in mind every single day since 2012 started and everyday, I would do little steps that would help me achieve this: I (online) window-shopped for running shoes, I actually purchased my first "official" running shorts, ran a 3k fun run, all those stuff when finally, an opportunity to run 5k presented itself.

My cousins and I were talking about joining the Outbreak Manila fun run back in April 2012 in Nuvali. Long story short, we forgot to register. The great thing about it, though, after a couple of months, they've announced another Outbreak Manila run that will actually happen in Manila. Outbreak BGC happened last July 28, 2012 at the Bonifacio Global City open grounds (near Mercato). I have my experience chronicled here.

I didn't know that Outbreak BGC was a 5k run prior to the event. I just heard the emcee of the event say it when my sister and I were waiting for our wave to run. It was a pleasant surprise and right then and there, I knew that I wanted to finish this run more than ever.

It was a great run except I didn't get to verify if I was one of the top finishers right away. August 3, the Outbreak Manila Facebook page posted the final list of the top finishers and...well...

That's me on number one! And I even have a medal to prove it:

Not only did I finish my first 5k this year and attained my goal, I even finished on top! Talk about exceeding my limitation!

My most favorite sports enthusiast as of the moment has got to be Kuya Kim Atienza. The guy suffered a heart attack last year and a year after it, he ran a full 42k marathon. As if that wasn't enough, he participated in the Cebu Ironman a few months after his 42k! You wouldn't even think that he had a heart attack if you only knew of his achievements this year. If he could exceed his limitations having had a heart attack the previous year, those of us who have healthy hearts could definitely do it, too!

I bet that Kuya Kim, too, takes his odor protection seriously and that is one of the reasons why he can focus on his workout. Good thing, I take this one seriously, too. Imagine an unhygienic me, running the course of Outbreak BGC... I bet the zombies would run for their lives (Wow, how ironic).

Safeguard Active won't let bad hygiene distract you from exceeding your athletic limitations and in beating your personal best! To prove that, a bunch of people have been dared by Safeguard Active to beat Coach Rio's 20-meter dash record. Watch this #BeatCoachRio by Safeguard Active video to see if someone actually beat his 2.3-second record:


Since 2010, I've been a firm believer of goal setting and the impact of the Law of Attraction. My personal experience as well as these people's experiences are proof that whatever it is you put your mind into, you can achieve. You just need to have the determination and the perseverance to make it through and you will make it through.

One Race. One Family. One La Salle 3 (OROFOLS3) Race Results

I've just seen the race results for yesterday's One Race. One Family. One La Salle 3 fun run. Here are our results:

The time on the right one is the official time while the one on the left is the total chip time.

For people who didn't train for the race and who jogged for the better part of the race (teehee!), I think we did good time. I mean the last person to finish 3k finished it in an hour, 55 minutes.

Race results can be seen here: http://strider.ph/events/25/. The winners were really fast, though.

Now, where to find the official event photos...

One Run, One Family, One La Salle 3 (OROFOLS3): Running Towards the Next 100 Years

In line with one of my goals this year, I ran the One Run, One Family, One La Salle 3 (OROFOLS3): Running Towards the Next 100 Years fun run at the SM Mall of Asia this morning. I know I had my goal set to 5k but I registered too late so the slots for the 5k run has run out when I arrived at the Alumni office last Wednesday morning so I settled with 3k because there's no way in hell I am running 10km without any training.

Anyway, I ran with Trish this morning and we were laughing the entire waiting time because of Albie Casino and the students who were in the venue who were wearing their singlets but were wearing a pair of denim shorts and Chuck Taylors. I am not being mean but who runs with those, right? It just makes it obvious that their classes just require them to be in the event (DLSU and CSB froshies who have PE classes this term were required to attend the event) and that is the sole reason that they are there.

In all fairness with Trish, she actually ran and she loved doing it because her body surprised her (and me) by craving for more physical exercises after the run. Our bodies, though, have different reactions to the run. After we've cooled down, Trish had the strong urge to rest while I was so hyper that I was talking non-stop and I even wanted to go malling after.

All in all, my first official fun run which took too long to happen was a great experience, especially that it has something to do with my Alma Mater. I think I just waited for One Run, One Family, One La Salle 3: Running Towards the Next 100 Years to happen for me to actually join a running event. I mean, what greater way to start a healthier lifestyle than with a community I love being a part of right? Now that my back is sore and my legs feel tired, I think I am going to make this running thing a daily thing. I want to completely run my next fun run and I want it to be 5 kilometers long this time.

Damn you, Ronald McDonald!

I was on one of my depression streaks these past few nights. How I Met Your Mother and a bag of chips would usually put my foul mood on the backseat but last night, the depression was so stubborn, a bag of chips wasn't enough to make me feel better. So instead of sleeping it off (which might be the perfect remedy for such a thing, anyway), I ordered a McChicken sandwich, LARGE fries and orange juice from the McDelivery website at friggin' 12 in the morning. It was that bad. I got so guilty after finishing everything (in 10 minutes) that I got up early enough to join my parents run at Boni High Street thus my first EVER run since 2009.

Of course, I brought Brianna with me. It's added exercise for me (and my huge arms) and it's another day out of the house for her.

After running, though, we went to McDonald's 32nd cor. 5th for breakfast and I ended up finishing one full order of the Big Breakfast and a 2-piece pancake meal plus one whole hash brown.

Damn you, Ronald McDonald. Mark my words: I will eventually get tired of the food you serve but until that day comes...DAMN YOU.

Nestle Fitnesse 14-day Program

In line with my 110-pound weight goal for this year, I have decided to try this 14-day program of the Fitnesse product of Nestle. Actually, tonight's my second night on the program. If this works out well for me after 2 weeks, I might just stick with it.

For tonight, I had bananas with my cereal. I know I didn't really follow what was written at the box but I was really craving for bananas! Tomorrow, I promise to follow the instructions as stated here:

Woohoo! Let's go, Ale! Oplan Megan Fox-like body 2012, here I come!

Run my first ever 5k marathon.

This is one item for my 110-pound weight goal for 2012. I wanted to join one this year but I was too scared my battle wound (i.e. my cesarean wound) would open up so in 2012, when my wound completely heals, I will train and be part of a marathon.

To make this one a goal rather than a dream, I will make it a S.M.A.R.T. goal.

S(pecific)?: I have run my first ever 5k marathon in Manila by September 15, 2012.
M(easurable)?: Yes, 5 kilometers.
A(ttainable)?: Yes.
                             By who?: By a lot of people.
R(isk/Obstacles)?:

1. Fear of failure

1. Lack of self-discipline

1. Procrastination

T(imebound)?: Yes, September 15, 2012

One of the many goals for 2012 is set.

Let's do this.

Goal setting for 2012.

I've yet to finish my goals for 2012 because as of now, I only have 2. Get back to 110 lbs and look like it and get a job. And as of now, I still haven't converted these goals into S.M.A.R.T. goals because I feel like I still have half a month to do it.

Ah, procrastination, you are the bane of my existence.