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

J: Women's Week Special: My Curvy Body Image Warriors

Being the fat girl in the playground, the chubby high school student, and the voluptuous kolehiyala, I absolutely know a thing or two about how the public’s perception of "normal" can unnecessarily alter the character and self-esteem of a person. We have to be honest that subconsciously most people think that it is a little bit harder for fat people. And, that is where they’re wrong, because we have our own way of doing things, it may be a bit different from what the status quo considers normal, but that doesn’t mean that it is harder or wrong. Because of this so called “norm”, I became a child who always sought for the approval of others, that chubby high school student who always starved herself to be accepted and recognized in school. And that is never good nor healthy because we should not forget that what we see on the outside should never overpower the purity and the goodness we have inside. We should not change who we are to be accepted.

I did not overcome all of these struggles alone, I am very lucky to have very supportive parents who never failed to make me feel that I am loved. But sadly, when I was a teenage, that didn't just seem to be enough. I sought for something else which will validate me in a larger scale and that is when I found these role models. I hope that I can inspire you the same way they inspired me.

Stacy and Danah Gutierrez a.k.a Plumpinay, Bloggers

source: http://facebook.com/theplumpinay

The Plump Revolutionaries in the Philippines!

I never knew such revolution, if I may indulge, existed until I stumbled upon an article in a newspaper about these twin sisters blogging about plus size body love in the Philippines. I knew I’m going to love their blog immediately and I definitely did! Through them I have come to begin to love my body. It’s nice to have a role model, it’s nice to have someone to look for as an inspiration in a pool of model-esque, super fair, and super thin famous people in magazines and other forms of media. They have even launched a plus size swimwear with “I Love Koi”. They’re really ruling this positivity battle! They made me realize that it’s not about being thin or being fat, their cause is about being self-assured and being healthy. That acceptance and love is not just for what the society perceives as beautiful, women of all sizes and form deserve to be loved and accepted, flaws and all.


An inspiring poster made by Stacy Gutierrez:

source: www.plumpinay.com

Tess Munster, Plus Size Model

source: http://instagram.com/effyourbeautystandards

She is the founder of “effyourbeautystandards”; I guess no further explanation is needed for that! ;)

I found Tess Munster through the Plumpinay Facebook page and I am so glad that I did! She is doing what she loves to do, to model; it just so happened that she’s a curvy lady as well. And, that is what I really aim for, to be able to do what I love. And she doesn’t give any “eff” to what the status quo said that curvy women can and cannot wear or do. She defied all of them and she’s inspiring ladies all around the world while doing so. The point is no hindrance or no one should ever stop you from pursuing your dreams. And that, to me, is what Tess Munster embodies.

Adele, Grammy Award-Winning Singer

source: Google Images

 I know Adele as an incredible singer and an outspoken role model. She’s had her own share of ups and downs because of her weight *Ahem! Karl Lagerfeld! Ahem!* but she just shrugs it off and said this; 'I represent the majority of women and I'm very proud of that' and I do believe that that’s all there is to it, really. All of us have insecurities but don’t let a single negative comment backtrack everything that we have already achieved. And, besides she also said that she does music not for the eyes but for the ears and she is definitely nailing it in that area. Her voice is divine and that’s all that matters. Body size should never outshine talent.

Kat Dennings, Hollywood TV Comedienne (2 Broke Girls)

source: Google Images

Kat Dennings or Max from the hit TV show “2 Broke Girls” is very outspoken and proud of her curves. She’s very funny, witty and sultry. She’s not a size zero but she can look sultry and sexy just the way she is. Sexy is not measured by the dress a woman wears, sexiness is how a person feels inside and it will radiate in the eyes or body language, no matter if you’re skinny or fat. If you feel sexy inside, it will radiate on the outside, and that is what Kat Dennings is doing. Even her role in her series is very relatable. Her character, Max, is an average American woman leading a very colourful and not so easy life. She faces every struggle with wit and humour and she gets out of them each time. She may have never been categorized as skinny but she will always look sexy with that personality. And that is what every lady should realize, as long as you keep your body healthy, no matter what size you are, you can be sexy! Never ever starve yourself to lose weight or eat too much that it could already cause harm, everything should be done in moderation.

Jordin Sparks, American Idol Winner

source: Google Images

Jordin Sparks is a very talented singer and she just recently lost 50 lbs. within 18 months. It may seem drastic but she shared that her weight loss secret was putting priority on her health and not her jeans size. She also said that she never felt like she was suffering in eating less and exercising more, also she found an exercise she enjoys doing for her to stick to it. See, she never complained about her weight but she decided to lose it for herself and for her health. She really serves as an inspiration when she stepped out with her new body; she looked really good because she did it in a healthy and natural way. She inspires people in many ways, she mainly inspired me through her music with songs like “Faith” and “God loves ugly”, I am always lifted and these songs really hit me hard and really inspire me and put music to my soul.

Here are the songs: 

God loves ugly

“You said that I wasn't pretty,
So I just believed you
And you said that I wasn't special, so I lived that way
With critical gazes and brutal amazement
And how my reflection could be so imperfect
With all of my blemishes, how could somebody want me?
But God loves ugly
He doesn't see the way I see
Oh God takes ugly
And turns it into to something that is beautiful
Apparently I'm beautiful
Cause You love me”

Faith

“Cause when the sky's the darkest, you can see the stars.
And when you fall the hardest, you find how strong you are
Close your eyes, rest awhile, It’s been a long, long day
So come on, baby, baby,
Have A Little Faith ”

To wrap it all up, I guess the sole message that I want to send across here is that no matter what size we are in, the main point is that we stay healthy. Never starve our body, eat whenever we feel hungry and exercise enough to strengthen the body. Everyone is beautiful in our own way, and everyone should learn to accept and love whatever size or form they come in, because we must learn to love ourselves first, before we can give out love and receive love ;)

Keep healthy and always be kind to yourself!


-J