It is on.

Le Beau and I are lagging when it comes to the physical preparation for our wedding.  And by physical preparation, I mean getting into shape, looking good and feeling great.  Although our engagement was pretty much solidified over New Year’s, it wasn’t until recently did we really take notice how much we are not improving ourselves healthwise.

Don’t get me wrong. I love him in every form, and he loves me too. But when you can barely finish a flight of stairs without panting or groan whenever you pick up a slightly heavy load, it starts to become embarrassing.  I’ve not really been the most active person ever, but I used to be fitter than this.  This has to be the worst shape I’ve ever been in.

So the No Meat Challenge comes in.

VGKids Sticker Template

Earlier in the year, my good friend Adah already started doing this. I couldn’t join her mainly because work commitments would put me in situations where food consumption (of each kind, too) is required, like client calls, business lunches, et al.  Now that we have roughly six months left into our planning, I have no other excuse to postpone it.

There were some blogs that defend why they don’t want to lose weight for their wedding and I absolutely respect that opinion.  I agree with it too.  To me, because I am marrying the love of my life, I want to be at my best. This is not it.  Besides, for me, it’s not that much about losing weight.  It’s more about feeling good, being able to keep up with the things I want to do with my husband-to-be.  This form will not be able to do all those things.

There are only two rules to our No Meat Challenge:

1. No meat except fish.  I wish I can say we can exclude that, but there really is no way to not consume sashimi and sushi.  There really isn’t.  And I’m pretty sure I’m not the only one feeling this way.

Sushi Sashimi

2. No rice.  As an Asian woman (lol), this would probably be harder than skipping meat altogether.  This rule require us to be more creative, so you can count on us stocking up on cereals, whole wheat bread, and other carb alternatives.  I managed to pick up a good bag of vegeroni pasta, too.  I’m not sure how veggie is this vegeroni but I’m trusting my gut on this one.

No Rice

Of course, just like any other fitness trainer would advise, the diet will not work without proper exercise. Early in the year I have committed to complete at least four (4) hours of exercise.  Off the top of my head, my favorites would easily be yoga and HIIT.  I might be able to squeeze in some running and biking too, when given the time.

I’m actually excited and nervous at the same time for this challenge: excited because I now have a compelling reason to duly follow through, nervous because I am a sore loser.  I have a feeling Le Beau will kick my butt on this one.

There is no goal weight.  There is only a goal feeling.  And I mean that too.  I intend to spend a long life with this man.  A VERY VERY VERY LONG LIFE.  I want a very very long life with this man.

Even though thousands of people already do this, I’ll do my best to keep you posted of my progress.  On Friday, I’ll post my meal plan for this week.  Hopefully as the challenge progresses, I’ll have a set grocery list to share with you.  Mind you, items that will be listed on the list are all sourced from the Philippines.

Wish me luck! And if you have a fitness goal, I wish you so much luck too. <3

 

Photos from Ditz Revolution, Atlantic Seafood Market, Clueless Curl

The Duty Fulfiller

So I’ve been bored out of my wits lately, even though I’ve gone through two books in a week.  During lunch the other day, I decided to look up my personality type again.  The last time I remember taking a Myers Briggs Personality Test, I was an INTP.  That was way back in 2007, and given how things have changed over the last 7 years, I assume it’s time to update myself with my personality type, you know, just to check if anything has changed.

Because I sure feel changed.

I didn’t know I need to have a professional administer that test on me but I found a pretty good exam online.  This one is a Jung Typology Test.  Naturally, I had to look up the difference between the two, and I got this.  I can only link you to it, I think it’s quite a compelling discussion, but then again, I am testing myself so yeah, I don’t know if I’m reliable enough.  Haha.

This is my result:

ISTJ

I don’t think much has changed, until I looked it up.  I took the liberty of highlighting the items I find true to my current goings on.  Oh God why did those things have to be phrased like that:

Portrait of an ISTJ – Introverted Sensing Thinking Judging
(Introverted Sensing with Extraverted Thinking)

The Duty Fulfiller

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Tummy inspiration

So… remember the sad part of my first weigh in?  Well, the recently-concluded Met Gala sure boosted my spirits.  Vogue called these ladies as fashionably rejecting the dress code, but for me, they’re simply called tummy inspiration.

My midsection is not a midsection; it’s a belly.  It has always been a problem area, always protruding, seemingly as much as my boobs.  (I like my boobs though.)  I loved these women’s clothes because they are not flat because they’re skinny.  Their midsections are flat because they’re TONED.  It took me a few years to spot the difference between the two, and I’m more than happy to be able to discern better now.

Anyway, these little — and not so little — peek-a-boos are soooo sexy.  They immediately caught my eye.  Here’s a quick homage to these three ladies that I aspire to have the same midsection as (is my English correct?):

Rihanna, subtle as a gun

Rihanna, subtle as a gun

Anne Hathaway, lighter than a whisper

Anne Hathaway, lighter than a whisper

and a personal favorite

Emma Stone, stunning in pink

Emma Stone, stunning in pink

How about you?  What inspires your fitness goal lately?

 

Photos from Vogue.com, SheKnows.com

First weigh in

Okay, so apart from indulging in oh so good poetry in the past month, I have been making food changes and incorporating workout in my daily routine.  I’m quite happy about it actually.  I sleep better, I feel better and my energy is very well spaced.  I don’t feel the need to nap in afternoons and I have been craving less sugar.  I feel like making a success kid meme out of this.  Hahaha.

Yesterday was my first weigh in and sad to say, I gained a full 5 lbs!  They say it might be the muscle build up but I don’t know.  It’s almost demoralizing, knowing the lengths I went through to take care of this thing.

4

I am now actually worried.  My brother’s wedding is at the end of the year.  Le Beau wants me to try to visit him in August.  I am due for another tattoo in June.  I can’t have rolls of fat all over me.  That’s just not pretty.

I saw this unpopular opinion on 9Gag over the weekend.  It read, “real men love curves, not rolls of fat.”  And that’s just it.  I have rolls of fat.  Hahaha.  It’s funny that it’s not.

Maybe I should manage this better, or add more cardio, or eat better.  I am now looking for rice substitutes.  Has anyone ever tried cauliflower rice?  How was it for you?

5

Being Asian and not having rice… ugh.  Can you feel my heart breaking?