Fat Girl No More

Growing up I was always told to finish my food. Being the obedient girl that I am, I always did. In fact, I even often ended up eating my sisters leftovers, as well as my moms because I believed that it was a “sin” to leave food on one’s plate. I held on to that lesson as a student would have held on to what was written in his or her textbooks. It was set in stone. So even if I was full or could barely manage to finish everything, I would force myself.

On one hand, teaching kids to finish the food on their plates is a very important lesson. However, I began to realize by staying in the Clean Plate Club was adding to my obesity, especially when I order food in restaurants. At home I am able to be more conscientious about getting what I can finish, but outside I have no control over that.

While I feel a bit guilty about leaving food on my plate, I realized that I should really quit the club for good. So that’s what I’ve been doing lately, not because I’m wasteful, but more because I’m mindful of my own well-being and health. As much as I can, however, I try to have whatever leftover wrapped for my Bubba so at least it doesn’t go to the trash

A few months ago, I was able to go check out the Nurture Spa Village in Tagaytay City and my golly, I fell in love with it! It is such a serene and beautiful corner of the world and being in such a place is truly nurturing to the mind, body and spirit. The Spa Village is actually not just an ordinary spa, but is a prime venue for total health and wellness. From holistic, non-traditional medicine, to recovering from cosmetic procedures or even for weight loss programs, the spa has a package that is bound to suit your needs.

When we (some bloggers and I) spent the night there a few months ago, we were able to try out some of their treatments but what I enjoyed a lot (yes…despite my trepidations, I did it!) was the Qi Gong session we had.

Suffice it to say I had a wonderful experience at the Nurture Spa, however short it was. If I could only afford it, I would love to enroll in their weight loss programs, which includes a 4-7 day detoxification and cleansing program. This also includes a specially designed regimen of not just diet and exercise, but also herbal remedies and various therapies that can help in achieving one’s desired weight. What I’d like most, besides that support system of course, is being in such a place of beauty and calm. I love the whole ambiance of the place:  from the rustic wooden chairs to the traditional Ifugao huts, and the classic ceiling fans (kinda like those Casablanca ceiling fans), and of course, the abundance of nature all around makes this a truly special place.

Wouldn’t Spa-ing my way slim sound like such a fabulous way to go?!? *sigh*

I finally found the perfect workout for me!!!

Okay, okay, besides swimming that is. I’ve always said I’m not the running type of girl and no matter how much I would try to will myself to run (or even jog) it wasn’t really an option for me, so I’ve really been trying to find a good workout for me. I’ve tried tae bo in the past and other kinds of exercise videos, but I always got bored with them. What I realized is that for me, I have to have a workout that doesn’t “feel”  like a workout, such as playing with the Wii. While others like catching waves with a surfboard, trying out wakeboarding, or even lugging around skis and snow sleds up and down a mountain as their form of exercise, for me, the perfect workout partner is this:

Hehehe….seriously though, since I’ve been prancing around in 4-inch heels these past three weeks, I’ve noticed how much more toned my legs have gotten. And I swear: walking around in these is a big challenge!!! By the time I get to where I’m going, I’m so sweaty and breathless! Keeping one’s balance in these things is also no joke, so you kinda have to watch your posture and suck in your gut a lot!!!

Apparently this Project Prettify me doubles as a workout hehe…just another reason to keep at it!

Remember I said I will be goal setting?

Well….5 to go before this!!!

However, since the weather is kinda unpredictable nowadays, I may have to switch goals 1 & 2. Sayang naman if we go to the beach and it’s rainy, right?

On a recent grocery trip, I came across this new juice drink, Smart C+ Pomelo Grapefruit Juice Drink. While I recognize juice drinks can actually be full of sugar and actually be somewhat fattening because of it, I decided to still give this a try. Compared to other juice drinks, the nutritional stats showed lower calorie counts anyway.

I loved it. It was not too sweet and had just the right tang to it. It did really taste like pomelo, or as we know it better here in the Philippines, suha.

Smart C+ also comes in two other variants, Orange and Lemonade.

I’ve always known I’m an emotional eater and today, for all intents and purposes, is challenging me to the highest level.

I am so frustrated with many things right now to the point of wishing I had a pint of Haagen Dazs Cappuccino Truffle in one hand and a spoon in the other.

Even though I know that pint of ice cream won’t really take away those feelings of inadequacy and incompetence, but it sure will make me feel very happy even for a little bit.

So there…this is my struggle today.

*sigh*

Please excuse this very self-indulgent post:

photo credit: Fedoran of The Black Fedora Blog

I guess Project Prettify Me is going places, huh? hehe.

I realized that pulling my hair back in a tight ponytail can make a difference in the way I look. It just takes forever to tie up my super duper long hair into that!!!

Lemme ask you: hair down or tied up? Whatchathink? Leave me a comment!

By the way: read more about The Body Shop’s Stop Sex Trafficking Campaign here.

A few days ago I found a new item on the grocery shelf: Nestle Fruit Selection Yogurt + Jelly.

It looked like an interesting new find, so I didn’t hesitate grabbing one of each flavor. The new yogurt variant comes in strawberry and buco pandan. Each cup contains about 2/3 yogurt and a third of jelly on top. The jelly is kinda sweet, but not too sweet so it’s a nice mix with the sourness of the yogurt.

The verdict: it was an interesting mix. I do prefer the regular Fruit Selection yogurts though.

Nestle Fruit Selection Yogurt + Jelly retails for Php 20.00.

A few months ago, I bought this really cute yellow dress from a blogger friend of mine. Sadly, it was a wee bit tight in the boobie area.

Today, I tried it on….

Guess what?

It fits

Day 3 to Project Prettify me and I swear…it’s more challenging than I thought! Today I decided to wear white to school and as expected, I managed to get myself dirty before lunch. A quick kiss from my inaanak Timmy ended up as an ice cream stain on my shirt! Waaaah!!!

Anyway, after three days of wearing heels, my toes feel like they’re about to fall out. I can’t help but wonder how I managed to wear heels, stilettos at that, almost everyday before! I guess having to balance the extra weight really makes the challenge extra difficult, but I’m gonna grin and bear it no matter what.

The upside to Prettify Me Day 3: walking in heels is definitely requires extra effort! Talo pa workout e!