J: SUMMER LAUGHIN' (TOP 5 COMEDIANS)

After a very long day at work or finding work, it's really relaxing to have a very good laugh. It has been said that laughter is the best medicine, just look at laughter yoga! Laughter yoga really does exist and I bet it's one heck of a yoga class! But, if you want to have your own session of laughing trip at home, may I recommend these 5 comedians I always watch on youtube!

Warning: Don't watch videos at work, it may cause really shaky shoulders from stopping yourself to burst from laughter ;)

1. Matthew Perry

We all know him as Chandler Bing from "FRIENDS" but he has been having a lot of airtime on "The Ellen Show" recently and I really feel like falling off my chair the first time he did this very questionable joke about the man who has a peach for a head and then Ellen started a survey if the joke is funny or stupid, but funny. And then some other jokes followed and it's just funnier than the last one. I know this clip of a Matthew Perry joke that I will attach here may cause some kind of a confusion but I really find it hilarious, sound off in the comment box what you think, we would love to hear your comments ;) Meanwhile, ponder and enjoy this clip of Matthew Perry's latest joke on "The Ellen Show"

2. Gabriel Iglesias a.k.a Fluffy

This video is just one of the thousands videos on youtube by Fluffy and he's funny as hell! Especially, when he makes so many sound effects and different voices! He is HILARIOUS! He loves sharing stories about his friends, especially Martin, and their funny mishaps; may it be on their after-shows or on the road with cops. I find it really fascinating how an over speeding stopover can turn into a comedy scene with this guy! Just watch the clip and you'll see what I am talking about!

 

 

3. Jeff Dunham

Jeff Dunham is a ventriloquist, he does stand-up comedy with character puppets like Peanut, Bubba J, Achmed the terrorist and more. I watched Jeff Dunham for the first time through bebi A, she really has this super power to find funny videos on youtube since we were in college. I just started looking for funny videos recently.

So, obviously, Jeff's approach to stand up comedy is something really new and unconventional because he's like bringing so many different characters in his shows and it's really incredible how my mind flows away from the fact that he's still the voice of these puppets and just laugh so hard when he starts arguing and talking with them! And, he really has skills because you can barely notice his mouth moving when it's already the puppet talking! He has skills and humor! And, he can give you a good hearty laugh whatever kind of day you're having ;)

 

 

4. Noel Fielding

I have been into watching British comedy shows recently like "Never Mind the Buzzcocks"* and "The Graham Norton Show" and I just recently discovered the very funny Noel Fielding! I stumble to one of his videos while I was watching a clip of Russel Brand, they used to do shows together, so, like Russel Brand, he's also very charismatic in a sexy kind of way. He also has a weird sense of humor but that's just British humor, isn't it? He's really stylish as well! He has this charming and straightforward way of doing comedy, it's like he can say something really racist or whatever but he delivers it in a very sarcastic way, it becomes funny! He also does this very weird songs about just anything!

*I know this show is quite old. I don't even know if  is still on in UK, but it's a really fun show!

 

 

5. Kathy Griffin

 

I love Kathy Griffin and her foul mouth!! He takes on every issue that catches her attention, grabs the heart of the story and turn it into a comedy frenzy. She is crazy and fearless! I am, like, obsessing over her comedy specials. I really want to watch them all and listen to her dish about different celebrities, politicians and various prominent people. I love how she says things as it is, it's like she has no censorship and that's what makes her stories raw, real and very funny. Some might find her offensive and all but she's a comedian! She's getting paid to make fun of things and besides why take anything seriously that's off from a comedy special! Just watch her and laugh as she dishes out different issues in Hollywood and more! ;)

 

 

 

 

And, there goes my top 5 youtube comedians. Just remember to not take life too seriously! When the going gets tough, just have a good laugh and not worry about it a little and maybe after clearing everything out of our minds, we can find the solution to all our problems. ;)

 

 

And if I may share my favorite quote from Audrey Hepburn: "I love people who make me laugh. I honestly think it's the thing I like most, to laugh. It cures a multitude of ills. It's probably the most important thing in a person."

 

 

Having the ability to loosen up and laugh a little amidst adversaries is just straight up brave and wise!Just laugh it all off!

 

 

Spread the love, happiness and positivity!

 

 

 

-J

J: JOB HUNTING ESSENTIALS: TIPS AND TRICKS

So, let me start by saying that I am not the perfect person, daughter or friend that I can be and I know that, I have my own shortcomings and selfish moments. With that, I may not be the best in dealing with myself as well. See, I have been in between jobs for some time now and quite frankly, if you look at the length of my job experience, it’s not that competitive but I know that those time I spent with the companies I worked with, I worked my butt off to deliver the best of what is expected of me in that certain position; when I was a journalist, I made sure I covered at least two events per day. When I was a corporate communications associate, I always do my best to beat the deadline for all my projects.

So I haven’t been that much of a help at home, financially, and I can’t give my friends any gifts or whatnot, because I don’t have the moolah. It’s such a shame to admit but I am still living with my parents and very much dependent. My situation is really not that different from a fresh grad, well except that I am older and should be accomplished by now, it’s kind of the same situation and we all want one thing: A STABLE CAREER. I mean, the graduation season has already passed in the Philippines and in other parts of the world and the so called ‘real world’ is now ready to take in these aspiring professionals.

DISCLAIMER: I may not be the best person to give you any employment advice, but I've been in my fair share of job interviews thru my CV and I am just sharing some tips that might help.



BUILDING YOUR CV

The Curriculum Vitae or CV is the selling point; it’s the first thing that a potential employer will see and it will determine whether or not you will score a job interview. I know it’s hard to express the quality of work in the CV, because of the limited space and it tends to focus more on the quantity of your work, but I may be able to share some tips regarding this.


1. ACCURATE AND UPDATED PROFILE
Your profile is essential and I know this is very simple and kind of dumb to even mention. But, little things like this are the ones we often overlook. Make sure that the focal point of your CV is your name and contact details, so the employer will not have a hard time searching it for your mobile number or email address, because if they don’t find it in a snap, there’s a big possibility that they will disregard it despite your impressive work experience.

2. EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND AND DETAILS OF YOUR WORK
It’s essential to include the university you graduated from, the year you graduated and your course. It determines your specialization, what you’re most likely to excel in and what you can bring in the company. It also gives the employer your education level, obviously. If you already have an employment background or you already finished your On the Job Training or OJT program, never forget to make a simple bullet phrases below your job titles describing what kind of work you did for the position and your significant accomplishments as well.

3. K.I.S.S. (Keep It Short & Simple)
Short and Simple CV is the key. You don’t want you employer to be nauseated by your CV’s ocean of words. They might disregard it just because it has too much going on and they really don’t have the time to go through that 3-full page CV of yours. Include only the important things, keep it at par with your major work and accomplishments. The other things you got going on, maybe you can just discuss it during the interview if the need arises. Also, personally, I try to keep my CV up to just two pages. Keep it short but informative.

4. REFERENCE PEOPLE
It’s good to have credible reference people. Pick the people that you know will stick by you in this employment journey, it’s also important that you inform them that you’ll be using them as reference so they won’t be baffled when their phone rings and a person is asking so many things about you through them. It is best for the employer to catch them prepared to talk in your behalf instead of the employer asking them about you and does not remember you at all.

5. COVER LETTER
The cover letter is the first one the employer will see, especially if you’re applying online or thru email. The cover letter will be your message and the brief of your CV so that the recipient will be interested enough to download your CV and review it afterwards. It should include your intention to apply for a position in their company, what makes you eligible for it and how do you plan to uplift the company’s present state in 3-4 sentences. It’s kind of a challenge but it should be captivating enough for them to click on that download button in their computers.




HOW TO PREPARE FOR A JOB INTERVIEW

I’ve been in my fair share of job interviews. Heck! Two of them even made me land a job that I really wanted. It’s normal to have jitters and be seriously mental with the thought of going to a job interview; where a person will ask questions about yourself and dig your profile and then judge you. It’s totally normal to be nervous before the interview, but when that interviewer enters the room, you should be able to impress them and here are the things I do to prepare for an interview.


1. PLAN YOUR OUTFIT AHEAD
It is better to plan what you’re going to wear a day before the interview so you won’t have to sweat or stress it on the big day and you can focus more on other things like eating a proper meal and doing your makeup or hair. Also, less stress before the interview means calmer nerves and a fresher look. It’s important that you give an impression that you take things seriously and always ready but never forgets to take care of yourself as well.

2. RESEARCH! RESEARCH! RESEARCH!
Gather whatever you can find about the company and the position you are applying for. It’s good to be equipped when the interviewer asks what do you know about the company and what interests you to join them. It’s nice that the interviewer gets the impression that you are really interested in the job and you have a compassion for the company’s cause and industry. Remember the two things that keep a person in doing their jobs are passion and income. Also, it will really impress the interviewer if you have some question of your own regarding the company and their projects, which will show your perseverance and seriousness about joining them.

3. BE ON TIME!
Never, ever, ever keep an interviewer waiting. Be there at least 15 minutes before your schedule, so you’ll have enough time to catch your breath and do a quick touch up so when you enter that office you’ll look your best as if you’ve never travelled through a half hour traffic.

4. KEEP CALM AND SMILE
Once you do all the catching of breath and touch ups, seat there calmly, clear your mind and smile. This is your moment to impress, being calm helps you be at your best state and think more quickly. Remember to stand up, greet and give your interviewer a firm handshake with a smile when they enter the room and impress them with your personality. ;)



To all my fellow job hunters and fresh grads: Good luck in choosing your career path and finding that dream job!

Spread the positivity and love! ;)

-J

A: HOW I HAVE COME TO LOVE GAY PEOPLE

Mother earth  = MOM

Wiz                   = NONE/NO

Wit                   = I DON’T WANT / I DON’T LIKE

Corrected by   = RIGHT/AGREE

Yesterday        = YES

Don’t be confused, the words on the right really are the definitions of the words on the left. Well, at least in the (Filipino) gay lingo, they are. And I find that words like these, along with many others belonging in the gay lingo dictionary, just make talking to close friends a lot funnier. Especially when a trying-hard-gay-lingo-speaker like me does it. Haha!

One of the many things I am thankful for about being Filipino is that gay guys and girls in my country don’t need to hide their true gender preference (well at least most of them don't). Although there still are some uncalled for judging and criticisms here and there, compared with other places, gay guys and girls in my country can freely dress the way they want to, go out with whoever they choose to, and pursue the career they dream to have. Now before you all start thinking that I am writing this as a “coming out” entry, you are wrong. I am 100% straight (unless having a major girl crush on Youtube’s Chloe Morello is considered being gay), I just happen to always meet gay guys who later on would become important people in my life, and through the years, I’ve seen just how special they really are and why they should be treated like the normal human beings that they are.

Since the beginning of my adult life, I don’t know just how many gay guys have been a big part of who I am and how many have contributed to the crazy that I am now. Gay people, specifically gay guys are the best guy friends one can have, in my opinion. Why? Because though they may act like a girl, they can think like a guy, and can be strong as a straight guy. And that, to me, is a good equation to living a less complicated life.

I really wish I can go ahead and name names here. But sadly, I have some gay friends who still cannot leave their closets as they don’t want to hurt their parents’ feelings. And I totally understand that. However, I do know some ladies-at-heart who could care less about what other people say about their gayness. And for today’s entry, I’d like to share why I have come to trust, respect, and look up to gay people.

Gay people are talented

Entering college, I can say, was the biggest turn around of my life. It was then when I realized that I am no longer a “baby”, and that I either go hard or go home in my studies and extra-curricular activities. And because I wanted to become not only a student, but also a performer in college, I joined the cheerleading squad of the school. And there is where I met, the most talented gay person that has been part of my life; our coach.

He (well…she) was not only our teacher, he was a friend, a critic, a sister, and a mother to all of us. He opened my eyes to a different definition of belonging to the third sex. He erased the stereotypical thinking that I used to have; that gay guys are just good at putting make up on and doing other people’s hair. He proved to me that a person’s gender preference has got nothing to do with what he can be good at, and to who he can be. And I can say that I will never have the deep respect that I have now for gay people if it wasn’t for him. It was him who showed me how equality should look like, and how to take pride of who and what you are, how to show humility beyond your accomplishments, and why you shouldn’t let other people push you around.

Backstage for Ms. Earth 2007 production number with my coach, Joe Abuda

 

Gay people are funny

Now how many can totally honestly say that not once in their lives has a gay person made them laugh. I doubt there is going to be any. In Hollywood, we have Neil Patrick Harris (who is popularly know as Barney Stinson in the series How I Met Your Mother), Wanda Sykes (an Emmy award-winning stand-up comedienne), Ellen Degeneres (the host of her self-titled daily talk show and recipient of numerous People’s Choice Awards), and some local talents who magnet people to go to comedy bars and drive people to watch their TV shows; Allan K (born as Allan Quilantang; a singer, comedian, entrepreneur, and is part of the longest-running noontime show on Philippine television, Eat Bulaga), ate Gay (who is known for his great impersonation of the Philippine super star, Nora Aunor), Pooh (who was first known through his hilarious impersonation of Filipino pride, Manny Pacquiao), among many others.

And while there are some people who find Filipino humor in comedy clubs offensive, there are still those who enjoy some good laugh through the witty jokes and hilarious slapstick acts from our awesome gay stand up comedians.

Gay people look fabulous!

Let’s admit it, ladies, don’t we all just hate the fact that most handsome, witty, talented, and smart men are gay? Ugh! 

Photo source: 9gag.com

But I think it is innate in gay people, I think they have this hormone that just continuously tells them that they have to look gorgeous all the time. To name a few, we have:  

 

Photo source: www.mediabistro.com

Anderson Cooper (CNN’s Anderson Cooper 360°)

Photo source: www.goldderby.com

Ricky Martin (Livin La Vida Loca! Need I say more?)

Photo source: topnews.in

And showing some lesbian pride; Portia De Rossi (Australian model, writer, and wife of the hilarious Ellen Degeneres)

I love gay guys

Oh I miss them sooo much. I have made many good friends with many gay guys from college and from my previous work places. And through these friendships, I learned what gay people really are: THE SAME AS EVERYONE ELSE. Gay people are the same as straight girls and guys if not even more fun to be with, more sincere, and more real. The gay friends I have have stuck with me through whatever, and are still always there for me even with the distance we have right now. And I am really lucky and blessed to have them. Because of the gay people I have in my life, I became aware of another freedom I have; the freedom to be straight. Never has a gay person looked down on me because I like people of the opposite sex. And none of my friends has asked why I "became" straight. They just let me be straight, and I always return the favor.

Gay people make mistakes, they too have their fair share of people they have hurt and wrong decisions they have made, but those things don't define them as gay people, those define them as human, just like all of us. 

I am from a country where gay people can freely be gay, but, there are things that are still far from their reach, like being legally married to a person of the same sex. And while I wait for the day that my gay friends be given equal rights in my country, I will continue to be grateful that my life is just a lot more colorful because they are in it. So those who hate them may continue to just hate, but yes, the world will continue spinning, and they will continue being gay. Deal with it. 

Equality, Positivity, Love! - A! :)

A: NO-GYM WORKOUT: Love your body! (First week update)

I thought writing what I plan to do for the first week of this workout month is difficult, I would have never guessed that giving an update on the “progress” of my workout is a lot tougher to do. But here it goes.

So for those who just started reading entries from our blog site, last week, I started my NO-GYM WORKOUT for the 2-month lose weight challenge we gave ourselves. You can refer to this link (YOUR NO-GYM WORKOUT) for the entry. And so today, as planned, I will share how both difficult and easy my first week of “fitness and health” was. There is not much update to give as it has only been a week, but here are the ups and downs of the past week:

 

MONDAY (8 April 2013)

I want to start with the most-loved day of the week on my update, because it was this day when my back hurt so much that I could not laugh nor sneeze without complaining about the pain. And it was because of this day that my entire week was compromised. And since the days following Monday have already been compromised, this week of workout got easier to summarize.

MORNING JOG

While I was writing my previous entry, there was a part of me that doubted whether or not I could really stick to what I was planning to do. I got to be honest; I am not one that really is too disciplined to always strictly follow a plan. I always find alternatives, easier way of doing things, and sadly, reasons why I can just do it “tomorrow”. Ah tomorrow!

I do not know how many times I hit the snooze button of my alarm and just how long I stared at my phone thinking whether or not I should jog. During this entire week, I only did my morning jog twice. I didn’t have to drag myself off my bed on those two days, but there was some hesitation because I know I should just be resting.

Following what I said I would do for my morning jog; I woke up early, stretched, jogged, brisk walked home, and then prepared for work.

6AM jog: ×

DIET

I will keep this past short and simple. I did not strictly follow my diet plan, but I did make sure that I still had lower carb and calorie intake, higher protein, and more fruits and vegetables. It would be nicer if I have a food journal to present, but I don’t. I promise to have one on my next entry.

Healthy food: ✓

EVENING WALK

You know those days when you don’t need a cab ride to work and you see tons of available cabs drive past you, and then those days when you need to take a cab and you cannot find a single one that is available? That is how most of my evenings last week were. Before we started with this workout month, I always just went home straight from work. There weren’t many places I needed to go to, and so I thought walking home would be a good thing to include in my workout routine. But odd enough, last week, I always had to be somewhere; hence, I only got to walk home once. And that was it.

7PM walk: ×

Now, if you think this blog entry will just be all “bad” news, then you are not-so right.

SOME GOOD NEWS

Because I made sure I ate healthier food, I learned that if I just set my mind to what I need and can eat, I can really survive with just fruits, and egg, meat, and a little bit of rice, and yes, no ice cream.

Unlike before, for the entire week last week, I ate breakfast. And it may not be as heavy of a breakfast as what is on the food plan, the breakfast meals I had were good enough to make me feel full and energized, and to endure me until lunch time. What I am really happy about  is that, I didn’t crave for rice for lunch and I didn’t feel so hungry that I took time to eat my meal, took slow bites, and just enjoyed my meal.

My mind and back were not the only enemies I had when I tried to do my workout last week, nature also participated. There were times last week when it suddenly drizzled just when I was ready to go out and jog (people in Singapore would know how unpredictable the weather here is). So what alternative I found for that? YOUTUBE VIDEOS!

Thanks a lot to DENISE AUSTIN of BeFit, I got to stretch, shake, kick, and work my body in the comforts of my room. I think I sweat more while following her on her fat-burning workout than when I was jogging out, and that was with the AC and fan in my room switched on!

Back condition:

I have mentioned my back and back condition earlier and here is a more detailed explanation why I kept on using it as an excuse:

Monday last week, my back hurt so bad I had to go see a doctor. The doctor I first saw said that it’s muscle sore, but after one day of rest, and taking in all the medications he prescribed to me, the pain still did not subside, and did not lessen a bit. So I sought the advice of a different doctor, and this second doctor told me my back condition; SPONDYLOSIS. I don’t know if there are types of this back/spine condition, but I had to be injected with a fluid at my back/spine to help lessen the pain and I guess to “grease” the joints/bones/spine (see how many slashes I have to use for something I really cannot explain? Sorry) so that it will not hurt anymore when I move. That injection did help. He also scheduled me to have a lumbar x-ray done and advised that while we wait for the results of the x-ray, I CANNOT do any form of exercise aside from the ones done in water.

Yes, he said, I cannot jog, brisk walk, do aerobics, or anything that will make me carry my own weight. If I need to exercise, then swimming will be it. And since I really wanted to go on with my no-gym workout plan, and I really also wanted to see some results, I still tried to exercise for a number of days last week, but yes, I did not stress my back too much.

So I guess what I want to say is, while I wait for a clear explanation about my back (the second doctor I visited said that the condition has been there for years now, and whatever activity I did last weekend may have just triggered for my back to hurt), then I will not try to force myself into doing any strenuous activities yet. I will, however, make sure I still eat healthy!!!

FYI: I am still on 56kg. 

Stay sexy! – A!

J: Fitness month update + A very useful iPhone app as your fitness pal!

I’ve had a setback, and it’s not making me happy. But, it does not discourage me at all! Oh no! I am using this as a motivation. Everybody has to undergo a setback of some form, right? Well, I did and I am rising against it.

If you could recall in my previous post my starting weight was 109kgs and I wasn’t able to go to the gym for three days and was only able to do cardio at home for 15 minutes per day. That should be quite fine, right? But the problem was I ate too much junk foods and chocolate after it, eventhough I knew it wasn’t smart. Well, I weighed last night and saw that I gained 1kg. So I am really pumped up to go back to the gym now!

MY MINDSET

Here are some of the things I think about to motivate me to continue this journey no matter what heck of a setback I go through:

- I need to be the healthy one to be able to effectively take care of my parents.
- I need to do this for myself and my health.
- My mind is stronger than my body.
- What I think, I can be.
- I need this to live long enough to find the path God wants me to take in life.


MY WEEK IN THE GYM

Here’s how my last week unfold.

I went to the gym last Wednesday and I followed my updated workout plan:

7AM - wakeup, fix my bed, prepare for gym
8AM - hitch with my mom and let her drop me off the gym (on the way to her workplace)
8:30AM-Arrive at the gym
 - 1hour Cardio (Treadmill and Cross-Trainer)
 - 30mins. weights machine (20 counts, 3 reps with 30kgs. workload for leg press(inner and outer), 5kgs for shoulder press, arm extension, back press and 10kgs for abdominal crunches)
  * join group exercises, if available.
 -  5-10mins. Sauna Bath
10:20AM - Shower at the gym
11AM - Eat Breakfast!

 I felt good afterwards! It was really refreshing, some muscles ached but that’s just part of it. I ate consciously the whole day! In fact, I wasn’t able to finish my humongous tuna sandwich, because I felt full already. Here’s how my breakfast after workout looks like:

Green Tea w/ Mint and my humongous Chef's Tuna sandwich!

MY FITNESS PAL

I’ve also been using this iPhone app, My Fitness Pal, where I have been storing my food and exercise diary. It, then, calculates my calorie intake and stores how much calories I’ve burned during the workout. It also predicts how I would weight if what I ate for the day will be the same everyday for 5weeks. I set it on a 1300calorie/day goal. It’s a really helpful tool. And, here’s a glimpse of its interface, it’s totally free too!

THE TEMPORARY SETBACK

But then, the weekend came and I decided I’ll just start working out again on Sunday. Weekend here in Doha are Fridays and Saturdays, then Sundays will be the first day of work; meaning I can hitch with my mom again in the morning. During the weekend we went out and ate at this Italian resto called “Le Vesuvio”, I managed to control my eating there because their pesto was soooo good! Though I didn’t finish the whole thing because the serving was ginormous, but then we moved to this other funky place called “Chac’Late” for dessert. And, you know what that means, we; had a white chocolate fountain and skewers of mallows, fruits and waffles! It’s so delicious I forgot my health yet again. But I made up for it the next day by going on the cross trainer for 15mins :)

The Temptations! The cause of my setback! A very delish chocolate fountain!

GOING BACK TO THE GYM!

So with that said, I’ve set an every other day gym schedule (Sun, Tue, Thur) and that’s the schedule I will be following this week. The days in between I’ll spend 30mins per day on our cross-trainer here at home.

As of writing, it is still Sunday here and I just got back from the gym. I am still managing to follow my workout and meal plan J No setback for me today! I also managed to snuck in a little snapshot of how the gym I go to looks like :)

Finished my 45-min elevated sprint at the treadmill here

Just began my 15-minute jog at the cross trainer

1-hour cardio: Done!! Off to the ladies' free weights section :)

So, I guess the lesson I learned here is that it’s okay to indulge as long as I give my body a break sometimes to sweat out and maintain my health balance.  

Must continue to fight! Never give up! Never give in!

Motivate yourself and always spread the body and self lovin’! J

-J

J: Spring back to health | Maximize that gym membership

Before I say anything about this whole fitness month thing, let me just say that I will probably have a very hard time the whole time we’ll be doing this, but I’ll do my best to fight through that, just sayin’.

Since I’ve been back here in Doha, as always, we’ve been eating out every day and we always leave that restaurant super full, like our tummies will just go exploding anytime! And, what I’ve been eating is not healthy at all and that became really evident when I stepped on the weighing scale. See, I am a big advocate of loving your body in every size, embracing your true self, but I don’t promote obesity or being unhealthy. I have been obese for a very long time now and it’s really not healthy, I have been diagnosed with borderline Type II Diabetes before and I snapped out of it when I lost weight, fortunately.

When I was diagnosed with diabetes, I immediately enrolled in a weight management center in the Philippines, I had a dietitian, personal instructor, weight management doctor, the works! And I lost almost 100lbs. without starving or depriving myself, I went from 280lbs to 180lbs. I was in a better shape back then, I eat whatever I wanted in moderation and I also give my body some good sweat by working out atleast 3-5 times a week. But then I got too comfortable and before I know it, I gained back my weight! And now, I am really frightened that my diabetes would go back as well.

So, even though this month would be really tough and I would need all the will power and strength that I could muster, I will really take this seriously.

Maximize that GYM MEMBERSHIP

So, I’ve been a member of Fitness First here in Doha and I haven’t been there for ages! So my mom’s paying this gym fees all for nothing. This time I am planning to maximize that gym fee. I don’t have a personal trainer, but that’s okay! They have those ‘red shirt’ (free assistance) people anyway.

THE WORKOUT PLAN

So, I am currently in between jobs right now and I am still waiting for feedbacks from all job applications, so technically, I have all the time in the world. The first thing that I would need to do is to develop a healthy sleeping habit. Lately I’ll be up until 4am and then sleep until 12nn, which makes my days very unproductive! So, beginning this month, I’ll set a bedtime, around 11pm, and wake up at 7am. And, before doing anything, I’ll fix my bed! Because you know what they say; ‘The state of your bed is the state of your head!’

 And like what bebi A said, I think it will be much better to work out in the morning. So, here’s my planned workout timeframe.

7AM – Wakeup, fix my bed and prepare to go to the gym, eat a light meal

8AM – Hitch with my mom and let her drop me off the gym (which is on the way going to her office)

8:30AM - Arrive at the gym!

·         1 hr. Cardio (Treadmill and Cross trainer)

·         30 min. free weights (I would still need to consult the red shirt people in the gym for a routine, I’ll update this once I get to talk to them.)

·         15 min. cool down (treadmill)

*If available, join group exercises

·         5 min. Sauna bath

10:20AM – Shower at the gym, then go home

11AM – Eat breakfast

I will do this every other day for two weeks and gradually ease in to 5times a week.

Slowly, but surely.

THE MEAL PLAN

Light Meal (before going to the gym) – Egg sandwich, fresh fruit cocktail and green tea juice

Breakfast – Salad, pasta/tuna sandwich/slice of pizza, hot cup of tea

Lunch – chicken and bread/half cup of rice

Snack – Fresh fruit cocktail

Dinner – Salad, green tea juice

Before sleeping – Hot cup of tea

*of course I am setting my weekend as cheat days! One indulgent food per day J

INSIDE MY GYM BAG:

Rubbershoes (Nike+ Free Run 2/Nike Dual Fusion)

Allow me to explain this rubbershoes indulgence, I originally only have the Nike+ Free Run 2, but when we flew out to Doha, I left it under my bed in our house in the Philippines. It’s really a bummer because I also have my Nike+ chip in the shoes already. So, even if I buy a new Nike+ shoes, it will be useless unless I buy another chip. With that said, It is being shipped to Doha now, but I still need to have something to use going to the gym while the other one is still in transit. And that’s when I bought this Nike Dual Fusion rubbershoes, I have to say it’s not as comfortable as the other one but I can make do with it. And, besides maybe it just needs some breaking in time.

Socks

I'm such a Nike girl, but ironically I have Adidas socks because I can't find Nike socks like these. LOL.

Of course, a pair of socks should be a staple for a more comfortable and no-stink workout. Because I have to admit that maybe because of my weight or hormones I already have a sweat issue on a normal day, and it turns extreme when working out! So, I avoid the stinking feet in the locker room by bringing a pair of socks!

Water Bottle

As a member of fitness first, along with the kit they provide is a plastic water bottle. It comes very handy, especially because I like bringing my own green tea juice with it.

iPhone & earphones

For great music to keep me going and to provide that ‘Let’s do this!!’ vibe. Also for when my Nike+ shoes arrive, so I could use Nike’s app to record my running details; such as the distance, heart rate, calories burned, etc.

Scrungees (for my messy hair)

Toiletries

Extra set of Clothes

THE GOAL

Current weight: 109kgs.

Target weight by the end of April: 90kgs.

I know this is a long shot! But, I am planning to shed off around 2kgs per week. This may be too much, but you see, it’s all about will power and if I don’t hit my target as long as I shed off some weight and I feel good about my health, then I will be alright ;)

This month isn’t really about the aesthetic effect but mainly for health reasons. The external body effect is just like the whipped cream on my frappe! It’s just a good plus for trying to live healthier.

I’ve already done this before, and I can do it again now!!

Love your body!! Spread the love and positivity!!

-J