I never thought that there will come a time that I will be blogging about fitness and I, as the living testimony of it. My journey to a fit body is not exactly something that can wow others because there is no significant weight loss so to speak. From 120lbs, I am now down to 112lbs-113lbs. Losing that 8 pounds was a huge deal for me and it is not as easy as I thought it would be. I grew up to have that thin body but with a conspicuously bulging tummy. Back then, I can eat whatever I want, I would finish 2-3 cups of rice in one seating and would have desserts overload without thinking much on gaining a pound. I would brag about how fast my metabolism was. I have that I-may-not-be-sexy-but-hey-I-am-not-fat thinking mantra running around my head for years. It was during those months in preparation for the bar exams when I gained an incredible amount of weight. I drank milk tea everyday, I can't study if I don't eat a full meal,I ate 5x times a day during the review, and I literally sat the whole day studying. My once fast metabolism nose-dived like crazy. I did not mind gaining weight as I told myself "I have all the time to lose those pounds after being a lawyer but I do not have all the time in the world to study everything now". I thought it was easy like before. I thought after 6 would still work for me like when I was in college. When I attended a blogger event months ago, a blogger told me (insensitively) "Wag ka nang kumain kasi ang taba mo na!" She told me to stop eating because I look FAT. I really really wanted to tell her to start eating because she looks like SHIT! (pardon my french.. ) I kept mum instead but I got depressed with her comment. It hurts because I knew it was the truth and I am not doing anything about it. I knew that I gained a lot of weight when I fit my mom's clothes without even trying, and when Free sized clothes do not fit me anymore (I would usually go for small or medium but I was asking for Large!Seriously?). I was whining about my weight to my BF every now and then. I hate seeing myself in the mirror and I would pass off gatherings because I did not want to hear insensitive comments about my weight gain. I had the short term drive to do insanity exercise at home but it only lasted for 2 weeks because I incurred a new injury due to it. Then, I had the chance to have a heart to heart talk with my Tita. We talked through Skype and she saw that looked heavy and plump. She told me that BF and I will have a lifetime partnership. We should work as partners in keeping our relationship and we might as look good for each other. This conversation struck me.
The next day I enrolled myself at a boxing gym again, bought a new pair of gloves and went training thereafter. I also tried to have a no rice diet for two weeks but I eventually settled for small portion meals because I need that much needed energy for work and exercise. I do not go the boxing gym often because of my schedule. Thus, I decided to do at home exercises whenever I can but not insanity anymore. I downloaded the Nike Training App on my phone. This is the best exercise app ever.
Would you believe that I sweat more following these exercises on Nike App than the intense exercises of Insanity? I believe that doing each exercise properly (even slowly) have better results than performing rigorous workouts repeatedly.
The ever grogeous Michelle Phan have a video on how to reduce bloating and she shared great tips!
So here are my not so ingenious tips to lose those extra pounds:
Be determined. Losing weight is not a one night wonder. It will take months for you to see the difference, so drop that donut and fries right now because the best is yet to come. You may think that nothing is happening to your weight despite lessening your carb intake and daily jogging, do not lose hope. Persistence is the key. Believe that someday you'll be able to strut in that LBD confidently.
Do not ever indulge in crash diet or ever think of taking slimming pills or teas. Take things slowly. It took me months to control my diet. I love rice and sweets. Trying to get them out of my system was the hardest.
Stay away from soda and powdered drinks. I am still trying to control my coffee addiction but I know I will somehow learn to replace it with teas.
Move, move move!!!!Walk more. Take the stairs than riding an elevator or escalator if you can.
Lastly, don't be hard on yourself. You can eat a chocolate or bite into the goodness of a red velvet cupcake occasionally. Like my tita told me, Chocolates are good. They are a treat but they aren't a meal. :)
Here are my before and after shots after two months:
The first photo I was bending over (please do not mind the exaggerated pose) but evidently I have a bulging tummy.
My love handles were trimmed noticeably!! I can't believe it too. The after photos were just taken a while before I went to the cinema to watch Man of Steel. I was surprised because there was an apparent change.
Here is my no filter before and after shot.
I am not in anyway a fitness guru. Thanks to Jes Roque of jesroque.com and Phoebe of Phoebeann.me for enlightening me on how to lose weight the natural way. I am still trying to lose 12 more pounds. My dream weight is 100-105 lbs. I do not merely want to lose weight but I want a firmer body,toned muscles and a healthy life. At the end of the day, I realized that I am not doing this to make me feel good about myself or for my BF or for anyone but I am doing this for God's glory. My body is a temple of God and I have the responsibility to take care of it. Living a healthy life is a choice I took.
"Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies."
1 Corinthians 6:19-20
Goofing around with BF! I can fit in my younger sister's high school uniform without struggling!! yehess!!
I am truly happy for myself because I never thought that I can have discipline in my diet. I am speaking from the perspective of a person who loves food (a lot). I still have lots of things to do with regard my lifestyle and lots of habits that I need to drop. Please share with me your fitness tips!!!! please!!
When the tragedy happened, I became more prudent in handling my income. (or so I thought I became one). Savings come first more than anything. As my boyfriend always says, "be prudent!" I swear his voice kept ringing on my ear whenever I am in the mall. His words kept me from buying makeup or clothes impulsively. I already have an emergency fund (losing an entire house triggered me to pursue this and this is my so called "untouchable" as in hindi ko pwedeng galawin!) now, I am saving for a business fund and for my enrollment for makeup school. Ok, I know these things are not connected with the haul but I am simply justifying the fact that I do not go cray cray over sales and new products. Well, you know, I have my own weakness. Thus, an impulsive tiny haul from Essence. I know you would not believe me when I say that I imagined that I was strolling in Megamall and saw the Essence counter in the department. This imagination became true and it felt like deja vu! Well, BF was not too happy when he heard me say "Ayyyy Essence!!" and I briskly walk through the other makeup counter and left him behind. He knew that buying a new makeup was not in my plan.
I simply could not resist because I kept seeing other bloggers with their Essence haul and I was too envious not to cave in. So I stood there swatching everything I could for around 15 minutes. I swear I could have bought a few blushes and other stuff but BF was furiously waiting for me. hahaha I bought the fix and matte translucent powder because of the enticing review of Jolly (http://www.theredlippieadventures.com/). This only costs 259 pesos and BF was staring at this and said "259 talaga ito?" Oh well, boys can never understand.
I have been in search for a brow and this is such a steal for only 149 pesos. I have been using this since I got it and so far it tamed my brows very well.
I also bought the Essence Lip Liner in the shade "in the nude". This is very soft, creamy and pigmented. I was looking for a color same as the Nichido's lipliner in Rosette but they have none.This only costs 79 pesos. I want to collect all shades before doing a review about it. But I would probably just get two more color because of its price.
I finally decided to go back to boxing. I bought this gloves today and the hand wrap for 2735 pesos. I also enrolled at the boxing gym and had my training a while. I thought of passing out after 2 rounds of sparring. ( yun nga ba tawag dun?) Ohh the two hours was worth it. I even did the bicycle for 35 minutes and the machine said I burned 804 calories. That better be true because I was panting and catching my breath every now and then. Also, this is my second day of no rice diet. I also have a meal plan now. I am dead serious in losing all my flabs. DO not worry I took a picture of my bulging tummy in preparation for a future fitness post.
That's it.
What Essence product do you want me to review first?
Welcome to my blog! This is My Lucid Intervals where you will get a daily dose of my kakikayan and random life musings. My name is Donnarence and I am a full time lawyer, an eager beauty enthusiast, and a professional makeup artist (pag may time haha).
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