The Split Screen

Recently, I got depressed about my fitness rut. I seem to have hit the wall and got stuck and unable to keep up with the goals I have been trying to sustain for the past months. 

I feel I shouldn't use my injury as an excuse, but yes it has indeed affected every single thing about my life. 

I prolly need to remind myself how far I've gotten so I can keep on pushing. Hence this post. 

As you can see I am the only one really big in the family. I was told that it was sort of a blessing/curse of my mom's side of the family. Each of them siblings had one kid who would be bigger and heftier than the others. I just happen to be "THE ONE" for our family. 

But I've done something about it. Still a work in progress but I know and I believe that it's worth doing as it is a gift for me.

Oh well, I am starting to get emotionally riled up by this.  But we all need THIS I suppose to keep going and going with life...

We get frustrated alright but that shouldn't be a valid reason to just throw in the towels and just give up.

So what keeps you going? I hope you find one reason enough to be worth all the trouble...

The Great Fitness Reboot...

So around early 2012, I involved myself in some intense fitness campaign with my buds from Mellow and we dubbed it as KPR..or Katawang Pang Romansa which translates to Body (fit) for Romance... Yes, I have dreamed of losing the gut, the flabs and the extra jigglies around different parts of the body.  And I would say, I have achieved quite a lot in doing so. Thanks to my awesome trainers from Sky Fitness and also from Elorde's Boxing Gym in Ortigas. However, things happened and I am unable to do those things anymore. But that's not to say and never reason enough to stop doing it all together. 

with my former partner in the show, DJ Marco

There have been many challenges that hampered my continued progress but thank god also for Envie Slim and Sculpt because at least they have consistently made it possible for my core to still take on the pressure and still be strong enough.

Anyway, following my 4 months and counting of rehabilitating my fingers, I am strong to my resolve to go back and gear up for a fitness reboot. I have to go back and realign my fitness goals. And I am slowly but surely going that way. I already convinced my co-worker/friend from my day job to take advantage of the free gym in our office building. We managed to do a couple of sessions already doing the almost non equipment workouts since there are only limited equipment in that said gym. And then there was a pool. Maybe, just maybe I can start building my confidence to learn to swim again.  Meanwhile, my former gym bud has invited me to try out body combat in his gym in Megamall. And oh boy, I couldn't express how happy I was especially that I have been missing boxing for so long now. 

So the day after that body combat boot camp, my body is feeling sore as of writing. The kind of sore that I want and miss. And yes, I'm doing okay and yeah, couldn't wait to check out some off my fitness list. 

Hopefully, in 3 months time, I am about 20 lbs lighter and stronger...Keeping my fingers crossed!!!

It's got to be done!!! And it will be...oh yeah, it will be!!!

Casting Call...

Nope. It isn't about any movie offers or the chance to hit it big in some big darn project. It's about a freak accident that happened early June of this year.

I woke up pretty excited for that trip like any other gatherings that would round up my workmates and friends at Mellow.

It was just a day trip and I couldn't even figure out til the last minute what to pack for the physical challenges that would be tossed our way at this year's team building event at Loreland Farm Resort in Antipolo.

We were already forewarned about how down and dirty this can get. I tried to prepare by bringing an old pair of sneakers so I wouldn't feel so bad if they get pretty soiled up beyond recognition. Literally soiled up. Funny thing was, I was just about to go down the hundreds of steps down when the left foot of the pair gave in and detached the foot bed from the rest of the shoe...soon after the right foot followed. Way too funny!!! Not for long did I end up in my trusty flip flops.  

Then came the challenges. First few were 'sisiw'(way too easy), but not until we lost and had to be the first group to cross the swamp of dirty water with a rope, ala Tarzan. Oh yeah, and this is where it all began.

I tried conquering my fears. Even though I had no prior workouts to assure that I had enough power in my arms, it was just pure adrenaline rush that got me to hang on for dear life on that really nasty big rope. Yes, I was a few inches short of the landing. I plunged into the murky swampy, stinky ugh water. But just when I thought that that was the only concern I had going, I felt some numbness to my fingers on my right. Frightened by the  
sight of my middle finger doing a 90 degree twist, I immediately twisted it back to position, hoping that would make it better. It sure did for the next 5-10 minutes. After that, I was just giving everybody the middle finger. It got swollen...talk about going big time!!! I was given first aid attention, well not much really, as it was just immobilized by gauze. I had to keep on changing the gauze because it was getting bigger and bigger. It was only when we got back to the resort receiving area on top of the hill when I had it iced. 

That freaky incident though never stopped me from participating in other events. I had my game face on and my middle finger up.LOL.

Just when I thought it was just a simple case of nerves getting entangled, nope- I had to brace myself for the unexpected.

When I got home, more pain felt. My mom insisted that I go to the hospital and have it checked. Off to the ER we went at around 10 in the evening.  And there I had it---the truth.

So my middle finger has got some serious crack going on. Oblique Fracture is what they call it. But the good news is, I made the right decision to twist it back immediately. The bad news is, I have to be in a cast for months or I could opt for surgery for an instant fix. At first, I had already accepted that surgery was my best bet, but everybody said I should just take it easy and give it time to heal naturally. After all, if there's any consolation, I had a pretty neat fracture. LOL.

For the next few days I was forced to do everything with the left hand, yes everything.

For somebody who's been right handed all her life, I did pretty good, yo!!! Even learned to put makeup and sign my name. What I couldn't do though, was drive.  Which was by far the most depressing thing to ever happen in my life.

27 days in a cast. 3 cast changes. Slinged for the most part. 

But oh, that's not all. The tricky part was I had 2 of my regular jobs going on plus, I took on a third one- sub-teaching for a friend in Miriam!

Talk about challenging...I was forced to go around. Discuss lessons, eat alone. Hail a cab. Whoaaa. 

But hey, I survived all those. I guess if you really put your mind and heart into it, nothing - not even a broken finger- can stop you.

I am still undergoing therapy in hopes of getting my fingers back in shape.

Actually my problem now isn't the middle finger but the fourth one which got neglected and now suffering the condition called trigger finger. It's contracted in such a way that I would be able to fully bend it like I used to and I couldn't lay it flat on a surface. It's always protruding. Argh. Not to mention, painful too when you stretch it out. Pffft. I've had 12 sessions of therapy and about to get more as of writing. 

Surgery would be my last resort. 

So far, my life is starting to go back to normal. And I am slowly picking up the pieces. (Naks)

But seriously, this event in my timeline really made a huge impact on how I see things. I have to always be prepared. It was depressing yes, but it will constantly remind me to not take things for granted and always be head and heart strong in facing whatever curve balls get thrown my way. 

The saga of the finger continues...hopefully a better ending!!!

Basking in the Afterglow!!!

I certainly miss getting that post workout glow... I like taking a selfie when I'm all sweaty but still glowing like so...I definitely should go back and box again!!!

Paleo Diet Redux

I have been having some weight issues again. I sort of have hit the wall. In an effort to do something about it, I have decided to do a revision to the Paleo diet or the Caveman Diet that I was hoping to change my body. With that I need to stop being lazy and instead be more creative and be more in control. 

I don't really believe in diets but I do know that my food choices will greatly affect my body transformation. So lemme just get into this for now and see for myself. 

Come on board my journey...Recipes will be shared, thoughts will be spread. This ought to begin soon!!!

Training Days, Here I come!!!

I have been struggling to get back to training.  The thing about my coaches is that they leave the gyms I go to...How cool is that?  First, twas Coach Migie from Sky Fitness Manila and then Coach Jun from Elorde's. I know for a fact that that should not stop me from training since I can always opt for other coaches, right? Well that's what truly baffles me to no end.  I don't understand why I could not get myself to just settle for a replacement, after all, they all just wound up taking the role of my coach because of pure circumstance. 

The last time I went boxing was around the last week of January... Hey, it's almost halfway through April.  I have been meaning to go and see my old coach in his new gym but my car just had to be fixed and I have to settle for my dad's and my brother's cars for my ride. I know, I know-- excuses, excuses!!! How come I got none of those back in the day? Was so well motivated that even if twas raining and even if I had a few hours sleep, I'd still show up in the gym? I feel horrible now...why I needed to write these things. To remind me...LOL. 

But it shouldn't stop at writing. I plan to take action. Yes, I would have to step it up again. My mom has been telling me that I am gaining weight. The weighing scale agreed that after two weeks of not going to the sculpt clinic to tone my love handles, I have gained pounds. Around 3 pounds in 2 weeks. The only good thing is that I gained muscle mass. So those 3 pounds are pretty ok. But I never lost any body fat either, so it's still bad and true enough, I feel bad and quite alarmed. I may revved up my  metabolism significantly but that's never enough to just sit down and expect the fat to just go away. It's a good thing that there are so many resources now available to do more research and take note of the things that I should be doing so that I could be well on my way to improving my health and well-being.

It's been more than a year since I began my healthy journey with Sky Fitness Manila, and I am pretty happy with the life-changing impact it has given me. I am truly excited about the opening date of their newest branch which would be nearer my office (day job). Couldn't wait to get my butt working out once again... Damn, it's been so long. My body is just looking for the pain and the challenge that comes along with the workouts. But of course, I have to be more conscious about the food I am about to take too... I need to come up with my food diary and find time to really prepare sensible meals. Again, there are so many information now available through the internet and so I have no excuse. 

But I'm still going to need all the luck...So wish me well, please??? Thank you very much!!!

Something Thinspiring!!!

 I have been "healthy" all my life...Weight has never been a deterrent for me. Until my eyes said otherwise.  Boom!!!

The Skinny on Things...

Running through old blogs, I come across a pic that was taken exactly a year ago. This was the first time I cut my hair after consistently sporting it long and yeah, unmanageable. I thought I'd like the much needed change. Fast forward a year later, hair length wasn't the only thing that would change...




It took a hereditary condition to finally convince me to be healthy.  It was late August last year when I was diagnosed with glaucoma. Apart from that, I also have astigmatism, hence, the glasses. Everything happened so fast. Literally,in a blink of an eye- I was to undergo laser iridectomy. 


It was quite a ride I tell you. Emotionally, mentally, physically. But I know what I'm supposed to do. I need to get better. And getting better is my great mantra in life now. 


With the help of my family and friends and new found friends, I am making headway in this journey. A new gym, a lifestyle change, new motivations...a worthy inspiration! 


The goal is not to be skinny but rather to be strong and healthy.   My main push is for me to be able to achieve my ideal weight by year end and be able to do a head stand or a handstand at least. Nobody said it's going to be easy and I know this only too well.
Many times I'd ask myself why I'm doing all these difficult, sometimes painful exercises.  The answer is always just sitting right in front of you...right across what you see in the mirror. You do it for yourself. You just go back to that person in front of you. Because you want to get better...because I WANT TO GET BETTER...because there are so many things out there to explore. Many more great adventures are to be had. Many more journeys to take...many more people to experience life with. 


When you're no longer happy to see the person in the mirror, then it's time to change...not just the hairstyle but also what you don't want in the person. Figure it out and be resolute. You can do it... the only person that would stop you from doing so is you...you are your greatest fear, your stumbling block. Not the people around you. It is you...so go ahead and do what needs to be done...not tomorrow, but today. There's no better day to begin than to begin today.

An