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

A: Workout month: YOUR NO-GYM WORKOUT

Disclaimer: The blog content you are about to read will contain tips from a NON-EXPERT.

Now why the need for me to post a disclaimer? That’s because starting today, until the end of May, BLAAAAH will be all about getting rid of unwanted pounds. I am no expert on this, and so this will be a challenge for me too. Whether or not I will be able to achieve my desired weight after two months is for you and me to find out.

This is YOUR PERFECT NO-GYM WORK OUT.

For those who do not have the time to hit the gym, or those who are not a fan of membership fees, then you and I can probably share this exercise routine and diet plan. I will share with you what I plan to do for the next six days, the things I would need, the food I will eat, and the time and money it will cost me. So let’s get started.

THE WORKOUT:

I work on a 9am-6pm Monday to Friday shift. If it isn’t too busy in the office, then I normally get home around 7:10PM. Now that is not too late yet, that still gives me the time to do a 30-45minute jog outside. However, I am not a fan of exercising after work. Once I reach our unit's doorstep, my energy level just drops to negative zero and I am expected to be just too lazy to lift a feet. BUT, I can be upbeat in the morning, and I would really prefer to start the day by exercising. So here is the target for this week:

Wakey wakey and prep:      5:40AM

Stretch:                                  5:55AM – 6:05AM

Jog time:                                6:05AM – 6:35AM

Brisk walk home:                  6:35AM – 6:50AM

Rest for 10 minutes then prep for work.

Now I mentioned that I am not a fan of doing any kind of exercise once I get home, BUT I am open to the idea of doing it WHILE on my way to our house. So here’s the very simple plan:

I will not go all the way. Now, now, clear your heads off its nasty thoughts. I take the bus going home, but instead of alighting at the bus stop in front of our house, I will get off 6 bus stops away, and then brisk walk my way home.

THE DIET:

So here comes the even more difficult part of it; including a healthy diet on your routine. I cannot go deep on this one, but here’s what I plan to have for the next 5 days:

Breakfast: Rice, egg, meat, and fruits or fresh fruits plus yogurt.

Lunch: Egg plus meat

In-between meals: Fresh fruits or cashew nuts

Dinner: Two slices of bread or fruits or both

And for two months, I will stay away from:
1. Soda
2. Junk food
3. Iced tea
4. Way too much rice
5. Ice cream (the only reason why I am thinking twice about this 2month challenge)

THE THINGS I NEED:

1. Rubber shoes

We all understand that in every type of sport, there is a right type of footwear to use. So for this workout routine, my running shoes would do the trick. I have yet to find some new pair that I will love as much as I love my current pair, so for now, I am going to go for the aid of my good old ADIDAS CLIMACOOL.

Photo source: www.kicksonfire.com

What I look for in my rubber shoes?

a. Looks

As superficial as it may sound, I like my rubber shoes to be, “pretty”. Why? Because having nice footwear gives me an added push to go and exercise. It makes me look forward to wearing and showing them off. Haha!

b. Comfort

You are going to use this footwear for some really tiring activities, so the least you want to happen is to want to end your exercise right away because your feet are killing you. Having sore feet can hinder a good workout performance, and a good way to prevent that would be through shoes that nicely fit your feet. 

I always make sure to go for a pair that has an at least 1 inch allowance from the tip of the shoes to the tip of my big toe. It should also be wide enough to give enough support and comfort to my feet when walking or running. When looking for rubber shoes, always try to walk around the store with it on. Trying to motion your feet as if you are running will also help check how flexible and comfortable the pair you have on is.

c. Cost

I have tried really affordable rubber shoes, and have tried the more pricy ones as well. And though at the time of buying the cheaper shoes, I did get to save a lot of money, the pair I purchased didn’t even last a year, so I had to buy a new pair, and ended up spending more. On the other hand, my more expensive pairs grew old with me. Spending on a good pair of rubber shoes under some trusted brands can be worth every cent. I bought my Climacool about two years ago. I have used ‘em in sunny and rainy weather and aside from its bright pink color on the suede part of the shoes fading a little, nothing about its quality has changed.

2. Backpack

I have told you at the beginning of this entry that I plan to walk the last 6 bus stop to our house every afternoon after work, and that means I need to be in my proper workout clothes. However, I am expected to report to work in corporate attire Mondays to Thursdays, and that would mean that I need to bring my extra clothes and my rubber shoes with me to work. And here is where backpack will come in. 

I just do not like the idea of not having both my hands free when I walk home. I like to swing my arms back and forth when brisk walking, and holding a handbag on one hand will not make that easy. And yes, I don't really care much if I'm in a shift dress while carrying this violet with pink polka dots Jansport backpack. Haters gonna hate! :D

Some other essentials:

3. Pony tail (to keep hair away from your face)

4. Towels (for when your fat cries haha!)
5. Water bottle
6. Earphones and a good lineup of upbeat music

TOTAL MONEY SPENT (so far):

So how much have I spent so far for all of the things mentioned above? Well, aside from the food, I already have all the things I listed, so I didn’t really need to buy anything.

Total: $15 or Php495 (for groceries)

 
THE TARGET WEIGHT. THE most important part.

Current weight: 56kg

Target weight by the end of April: 50kg

Special thanks to my housemates for the weighing scale

No matter how cheesy it is, I believe that I can accomplish anything I will put my mind into. And I can proudly say that I was succesful the first time I tried to lose weight, and like my first attempt, I know I will achieve my goal. I was around 65kg when I was in my first to second year in college. My arms basically looked like legs. And I used to ask for size "L" for the clothes I try on in malls. I was one of the very few "chubby" girls in the cheerleading team. But I focused on training, and on eating healthier food, that I shrunk down from 65kg to (I think) around 50kg in just one and a half months. And though my exercise routine this time may not be as vigorous as the one I had before, I know that if I just focus, 50kg shouldn't be too difficult to see on my weighing scale.

FYI: The boyfriend will follow the same routine that I will do, but instead of walking home, he will cycle, and he will NOT change anything on his diet. That means he will have lots of soda, rice, junk food, and anything he would want to eat. So we will see how his workout works out.

CANNOT STOP. MUST NOT STOP.

Good vibes! Healthy vibes! Spread the positivity! -A! :)