Two pounds and something to be madly passionate about

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It is no secret that I recently took more aggressive steps in losing the unwanted weight gain through Plana Forma.  So far, I’ve been having a ball, though I am still thoroughly upset that I wasn’t able to go to the weekend classes.  Hopefully, I can make up for it this week.  The goal would be four classes at least this week.  Now I just have to teach Ted how to get there so he can pick me up after the workout.

I hopped on the scale this morning.  I do this every week just to check if there’s any additional items I should be worried about (aka pounds).  Much to my surprise, I lost 2 pounds!  I don’t know where else to attribute it to because all I did this week was the Plana Forma classes.  I didn’t run (much to my dismay) and I am sure as hell I didn’t make any alterations to my eating, so there.  Let’s see what my weight will be should I reach my four-class target this week.

Lately, I’ve been so crazy about Pinterest.  It’s basically a virtual inspiration board of everything and anything you can think of.  The faux artiste in me has been pinning like crazy; I wouldn’t be surprised if I’d be pegged as less than productive this week.  But here are some of the cool finds I got from Pinterest.  You’ll have to request an invite, but I think I still have some referrals up my sleeve.  Should you be interested, just let me know and leave a comment below!

The good thing about Pinterest is the fact that you can customize your inspiration boards.  I have cute stuff, food, places to visit and fashion as some of my boards.  You can create as many as you want!  There are even DIY pins, images of DIY project that come with a link to DIY!  Hahahaha.  DIY DIY DIY.  I guess I’m encouraging you to make 2011 a crafty one.  As of the moment, I am going crazy with all these quotes.  I mean, who wouldn’t?

Well, without further ado, go crazy for my pins!

 

Justin Timberlake Punk’d

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I know I am about 8 years late, since I assume this one was pulled off in 2003, when JT was still starting.  But I recently passed it by and now, I cannot stop watching it.  HILARIOUS.  Hats off to the Master Prankster Kutcher for pulling this one off.

The famous ep where JT cried.  And did you see how heartbroken he was about his dogs?  So cuuute!  But yeah, funny as hell.

So yeah, I cannot post the complete video here, but I’ll be damned if I don’t send you the link.  :)

Clickity click click, my dear friend.

Plana Forma Day 2

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As scheduled, I made my way to Jecoprime Building yet again yesterday to catch the 11:30 class.  I knew it was somehow going to be a light day at work, though it held very little promise to remain light.  Grabbed a cab and had him drive to McKinley Hill, and this time, I downloaded Google Maps.  Ha!  I outsmarted myself.  Though by not much coz I should have done that in the first day.

Because of the map, I am once again presented with a reason why I do not like Global City (that much).  The first one was the amazingly depressing exit to C-5.  Have you tried that?  Fucking awful traffic!  Went that way with Anj one time, got stuck for 30 minutes.  That’s a trip back to QC along EDSA right there!  The second one is the stoplight.  Correction:  STOPLIGHTS.  Every single corner has one!  I left the office at 11, grabbed a cab at 11:02, and I should have been there in say 15 minutes.  I got there 11:27.  Not.  Fun.

I hate rushing.  Really.  Especially rushing dressing up.  I was in a dainty dress and had to slip into my leggings and top real quick.  And when I did manage to do that, I remembered I’m wearing the wrong bra.  So went in and changed that too.  Then the class started and I had to hop out while putting on socks.  UGH.

The class instructor Mae Evangelista is really interactive.  I guess because there are only four of us there, she managed to memorize all our names (and I think she also met us one by one before class).  This is the part I really like, the small class.  She was able to call us out when our form wasn’t good, boosted our spirits when we no longer want to continue, and well, she was exceptionally chipper.  I swear she hops.  She doesn’t walk.  She really literally hops.

It’s much much much much much less painful.  I did quiver 50% of the time, but Mae was quick to praise and say “shaking is good” coz apparently, that’s the burn.  Funny how my body can’t seem to be used to it.  They were right when they said the first time will always be hell.  The second was far breezier than I expected.

I liked the mat exercises a lot.  Mae really made us work for it, and I regretted just eating a power bar before heading to the studio.  But I felt it all in my ass, the movement I mean.  It was like a workout for my but and my big butt cannot lie.  Midway through the exercise, the movement started to feel more natural… until the thigh exercise.  Hahahahaha.

Plana Forma never fails to surprise me.  I mean, I still hate the thigh stuff, but Mae was quick to point out if I want to lose the weight I want to lose, and be toned the way I want to be, I should do them.  And do them I did.  For a moment it felt like I’d be more familiar with the routine, but different instructors seem to be the spice here.  I can never expect the same exercise.

I ended up signing up for their Newcomer Monthly Unlimited.  For P3,000, I get to join as many classes as I want.  It’ll expire 30 days from the first day I use it.

Let’s just say I can cope better now.  I managed to come back to the office, nibble on my fish lunch and hold two more meetings in the afternoon.  I was supposed to have Day 3 today, but yeah, the late movie made me wake up late.

So there.  Let’s see…. hmmm… Lost a couple of pounds already, and I’m surprised.  Maybe if I tweak my eating…

Thursday Thoughts

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Right and wrong are decisions we make from hindsight.  But at that moment of choice, we make our decisions the best way we know how.  (Arlene Chai, The Last Time I Saw Mother)

Just something I like to keep in mind.

Plana Forma Day 1

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As part of my resolutions, I have decided to take up Chuvaness’ advice:  take up Plana Forma.  Actually, it was more like an indirect advice, because she just shared the reflections of the person who did try it, and to be honest, well… it got me curious.  I’ve been meaning to try it for some time, but never really had the courage to.  So when I felt like calling their studio to book a schedule, I didn’t resist the urge.

I was scheduled for an intro class on Monday evening, 5:30 to 6:30 PM.  I was adviced to come in earlier than usual because I still have to go through the registration process (aka fill out a two paged form).  The first challenge was the location.  It’s at 20th Drive, McKinley Hill.  When I looked it up Google Maps, it showed that 20th Drive is along 5th Avenue, the long stretch along Global City.  Then I realized, this is not an easy commute.  I mean, are you kidding me?  The fact that it is located in a place so averse to public transportation already makes it hard.  How hard  can this get?

So I took the cab at first to get there.  The driver isn’t familiar with the street so I had to call their studio as I go.  Too bad, the receptionists can’t seem to have any other landmarks but Libingan ng mga Bayani and Esensa Condos.  I think they’re not used to clients that do not own cars.  They can use some work on their direction giving skills, or better yet, explore commute options to their studio.

When I got there, they were right:  the building where the studio is located is still under construction.  However, it is impossible to miss.  It is the only building with green glass panels.  When you see it, do not fear, you are not lost, just walk in and get on the elevator to the 6th floor (yes, this is what I said to myself as I was walking the grassy way to Jecoprime Building).

Everyone appeared to be expecting me, prolly because I looked so new.  I filled out the forms and they casually offered me their bottled water for P30.  I was surprised to see Nature’s Spring as their bottled water supplier (it looks really cool, by the way).  They offered me a locker, which I happily availed. 

Then… silence.  I had to ask them where to go next.  They then led me to their locker room which was very relaxing.  One cube was for doing yer business and three others as the shower.  Face and bath towels were cleanly stacked and lockers, that sadly have a high face-hitting-the-door risk, smell very nice.  For a newbie, it was a very good indication that I will get my money’s worth.  They asked me politely if I want to settle the bill now or after the class. 

Then I changed.  Everyone seems to know someone taking this class and I can see even if it’s just the soft opening, it has attracted a particular niche of goers.  I wanted to hangout at the locker more, but then I heard a voice and when I went out, the class was already starting, about three minutes in.  I wish they announced that it’s about to start.

Now, the hard work begins.  The intro class felt really good to start.  We started with floor exercises.  A lot of the movements target the thighs, and Dyan Castillejo was not kidding when she said you can feel the burn.  It started out good pain, and then the struggle pain came in when we went to the bar.

The bar reminds me very much of the exercises we used to do when I was a kid and I was studying ballet.  I admit I was losing focus, mainly because I couldn’t find my center.  Standing on the balls of the feet, our instructor Vinia had us doing pulses by making our ankles touch our ass (or as close as we can get it to). 

OH.  MY.  GEHD.  The pain quickly set in and I am reminded of how little exercise I get (or give) to my thighs.  Hamstrings, glutes, everything was stretching and everything was painful.  The brief 30- to 45-second stretches were like heaven.  Then we had to do the other leg.  OH.  MY.  GEHD.

Matt exercises kicked our core.  It was very ab-centric, and that is the one region I’ve always been lazy to focus on.  I paid the price alright.  There was a part when you had to “swim” and all of your weight is on the abdominals and hips, all limbs elevated imitating a swimming style. 

After the 55-minute class, we had to put everything back in order:  the mats, the ball, the straps, the weights, everything is provided for.  I wanted to run because I can feel the throbbing in my legs.  It felt like the devil decided to live in my thigh and redecorated it. 

The hard part is the going home part.  It was so hard to get out of that place.  You have to walk to 5th Avenue and wait for a jeepney to Guadalupe station or a cab to anywhere.  And by waiting I mean really waiting.  It took me roughly 45 minutes to get to the train.

All in all, it was a FANTASTIC workout.  I love the pain I’m feeling in the morning because I know I did it right.  The instructors are very concerned with your form, that’s why they’re constantly monitoring it.  Also, everyone in the studio is so chipper; it’s hard to snap at them even when you want to break their neck after what they did to you.  They have everything for sale:  shirts, leggings, training bras, towels, non-skid socks, water, power bars, EVERYTHING.  The studio itself is a one-stop shop to prep you for your Plana Forma session.

I strongly recommend this exercise because the way I sweated it out yesterday… well, let’s just say I just might be able to reach that goal weight by May.  Yes.  I seriously feel it’s THAT good.

I just wish they’ll be more accessible.

Plana Forma Day 2 will be on Friday.  Another intro class for me.  I think I’ll get three or four intro classes before I go to the beginner ones.  My muscles need a lot of breaking in to.