I, Sisyphus

It has been almost a month since my lifestyle changed.

McDonald's and Jollibee are right outside our subdivision's gate, so it had become a habit of ours (my husband's and mine) to go to either one of those fast food restaurants (most of the time it was McDonald's) to get a bite to eat. They are called "fast" food restaurants for a reason. The sheer convenience of driving through the narrow drive-through alley, and talking to a box sure beats dicing, and slicing, cooking and then cleaning up after. So let's go back to a month ago.

About a month ago, I started exercising and making healthier eating choices. Three weeks ago, I started measuring my food intake, and just last week, I started walking for an hour, on days when I don't go to the gym. The first two weeks were the hardest. Every time I stepped on that digital weighing scale, it was like I was being judged for being fat. My weight fluctuated during the first two weeks. My husband knows this oh so well, as he sat there smiling just so, as I bitched and moaned to him about the futility of my efforts. "I'm starving myself to death! And for what?" I felt like Sisyphus trying so desperately to roll that boulder up a hill, only to watch it fall all the way down.

Down... that's exactly what I was feeling those first two weeks.  I had to give up sauces, and condiments, salt, sugar, processed foods, etc. And my weight still fluctuated. And then... I started losing weight. All of a sudden, I felt my efforts had not been for naught. I no longer have breathing problems, no more GERD, no more headaches, no colds.

I have my friends, my family and of course my husband to thank for this "newish" lifestyle. Without their love and support, this would have been a more arduous ride.

I have lost a total of 8.37 pounds in less than a month. I am extremely pleased. This IS the only way to do it. Like what my friend Joy said, "Slowly but surely, Ate Katy." ;)

Diet, Diet

Photo taken from www.burgerbusiness.com

So after a week of listing down everything I ate (no restrictions yet), I met with the nutritionist. She said my average caloric intake was about 1,100 per day, which was not bad. The problem was that there were days when my intake was less than that. Our goal now is for me to have an average intake of 1,100 a day, but that I would need to eat at least five times a day: something that I still have to get used to.

Yesterday, I bought a small weighing scale just to make sure I'm not cheating myself. I found out that 35 grams of anything is tiny to say the least! That's all I'm allowed to eat, 35 grams of fish, 35 grams of beef, 35 grams of chicken, and lots and lots of veggies. No condiments, which is hard, since we Filipinos love our sawsawan (sauce). No fries, pizza, burgers. Ayayay! Oh well, that's life. With half a cup of rice, fruit and water it's more than enough to fill me up.

Rubber shoes

Nope, these are not expensive shoes. I think I got them for just over USD25 at the New Balance outlet in Hong Kong last October.

I decided to post this picture to pay tribute to the shoes that cushioned my ankles (especially the right one) when I missed a step coming out of the gym's bathroom. And this was before my workout. Thank God no one saw me.

So, thank you right shoe. Hope there won't be a next time. Ciao!

Soreness!

Yesterday I took a big step. I made a very big commitment - a pact, if you will, with myself, to be healthier so I don't die before turning forty. My friends, Jamie and Joy (husband and wife) had helped convince me that now is the time to commit to a healthier lifestyle. So yesterday, I met with doctors and a nutritionist at a weight management center, to discuss how to go about losing the unwanted LBs. After meeting with a cardiologist, a rehab doctor, an endocrinologist, and a psychiatrist, I proceeded to spend about two hours at their gym. The whole program is for three months, and is about the same price you would pay a personal trainer for a month at the nearest Fitness First. It's not bad. But of course now I'm a bit sore, since my body had not exercised in a long time. I'm now keeping a food diary. There are no restrictions yet, apart from sugar, condiments, sauces, instant noodles, chips, nuts, and processed foods. (Yikes!) But, this is what I have to do to become healthier. So help me God.

The Threat of Summer

The thought of lounging at the beach with a tall glass of ice cold mango shake within arm's reach fills the minds of people all over as summer makes itself known to those of us living in Southeast Asia. Scorching heat and dehydrating humidity make even the simplest physical activity taxing. Despite the extreme heat and "inhumane" humidity, summer remains everyone's favorite season. In a country that boasts of only two - wet and dry, summer is, hands down, the better choice.

What some people might not be aware of is that the thought of summer scares the living mierda out of plus size divas like me. Two-piece bikinis, short baby doll dresses, micro mini skirts, spaghetti strapped tops and cheeky shorts are not exactly flattering to a plus size body. And in a country where people are not entirely accepting of people who may not fit the mold, summer poses a threat to overweight people all over.

I know, you might think "It's just clothes." But that's just it. It's just clothes - something very basic. Something everyone should have access to. But overweight people especially in Asia (where people are just naturally small) don't have the luxury to pick and choose and try on what they think looks good. They put on what fits. Looking good, sometimes, is not an option.

Designers and clothes manufacturers are slowly opening their eyes to the fact that overweight people are a group of consumers they should be taking seriously. Now they're beginning to realize that we feel the need to look good, too, the same as our skinny counterparts.

I hope shoe manufacturers here in Southeast Asia take notice - we need wider shoes people! ;)