health

Do not worry

/ iamsupercarla / Leave a comment

Update on the physical fitness challenge:  I managed to go to the gym 3 days in a row.  Yesterday, I did four rounds in the circuit.  Man, it felt good.  Today, I didn’t even notice it was the fourth one. :)  I would like to think I am doing very very well.  I am keeping it up by matching the workout with more health conscious choices in food.  Let’s all pray that this works.

I just love this quote that I found on Pinterest.  Lately, Dylan has been worrying a lot and I am hoping that he looks at my blog somehow.  So Dy, this is for you, my love. :)

And for the rest of you who worries too much, this is for you too. :)

Gwyneth Paltrow kicks ass

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It does take one day to take off what I took on for a year.  I was careless and reckless and completely uncaring of how the food I’m eating is affecting everything in my body.  So Gwyneth Platrow gives me a whole lot more perspective.

I promise to work my ass off, even during the holidays.  I can do this.

Time to go healthy!

/ iamsupercarla / 2 Comments

I credit my recent weight loss initially to Plana Forma.  To be honest, I want to go back to doing that, but their studio is way too inaccessible for me.  I’m hoping that they set up a Makati studio soon.  Anywhere in Makati is accessible for me.

So when I stopped Plana Forma (I did about 10 or 12 sessions?  It’s sooooo good.), I resorted to the company gym.  Mondays and Tuesdays, I run.  I usually just run too on Wednesdays, but when I discovered Taebo at the Penthouse and how it gallantly kicks my ass, that has officially settled in as my Wednesday routine.  First week on this schedule, I lost three pounds.  I better keep it up.

I started looking for food that will easily be a healthy fix.  If there’s something I need to cure, it’s my spontaneous eating habits.  Then I saw this:

I want to know where I can find blueberry cream cheese.  I just had second breakfast, and now, I want to eat again!

This is sooo not helping my diet.

On RH Bill, Divorce and some stuff in between

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Malta, the super kaduper Catholic state, has officially legalized divorce.  The Prime Minister made his announcement early this week and well… he said this:

This is not the result that I wished for, but the will of the people has to be respected and parliament should enact a law for the introduction of divorce.

THE WILL OF THE PEOPLE.  I wonder if this is a factor at all that influences our lawmakers in authoring their bills ang legislations.

I think I’ve made it clear but I’ll say it again:  I AM FOR THE RH BILL.  I’ve watched debates and grew frustrated that these platforms were not used well by the anti-RH bill crew to at least give me second thoughts.  One even said, “Mahirap ba tayo dahil marami tayo? (Are we poor because we are many?)”  I just found that statement so ridiculous.

First of all, no one in this country is unaware of the corruption and ill-fated attitude of people in power.  And I mean no one.  Even my cousin would know that our public officials are corrupt (generally speaking).  And she’s just a tween.  Also, no one is denying the fact that this is an illness we have to cure.  By we, I mean everyone.  From the jeepney drivers who refuse to give change to the bus drivers to fake their fare tables, from the teller that prioritizes her coworkers’ deposit and withdrawals to the sari-sari store owner who discounts checks of unbanked individuals.  Everyone.

But say, this is cured and by some miracle of God and fate and every single destiny indicator, our government in 100% responsible for accounting 100% of the people’s money.  Do you really think our funds will be enough for our ever growing population?  Do you really think that the allocation will be sufficient for everyone?  The funds, whether it is complete and uncorrupted or not, will be spread too thinly and the quality of life and welfare of the people will be subpar.

This is the argument that anti-RH people keep saying.  They insist that corruption is the problem so that’s the evil we have to solve.  That has been the problem since Rizal can write, and he wrote for a very long time.  Even 300 years of oppression did not guarantee the fullness of our freedom.  The Americans came, then the Japanese, then the Americans came back and camped at our backyard until today.  This is the kind of disease that needs LONG TERM CARE.  Overpopulation does not have to be the same thing.

They say contraceptives can heighten cancer among women.  No one has ever denied that fact.  But, when administered properly and by a physician, pituitary glands won’t be overloaded and women will have safer options in family planning.

They’re all so afraid of getting sick and dying that they never really thought we’re not living the life we deserve right now.  Everyone will die.  That’s a constant thing in life.  Death and taxes, as they say.  So why are they so afraid of it?  Why are they not afraid of being dead while still living?  Of breathing but not really alive?

Then the divorce matter came to light.  To be honest, this is the one thing I am completely in the grays about.  I am for divorce and against it too.  Against it, because I still believe in the teachings of the Bible:

For this reason a man will leave his father and mother, and the two will become one flesh.  so they are no longer two, but one flesh.  therefore what God has joined together, let no one separate. (Mark 10:7-9, NET)

I am still the romantic person, the for better or for worse, the as long as we both shall live person.  I still believe in that.  But the world we live in now makes it hard to believe in happily ever afters.

What about the victims of domestic abuse?  Marital rape?  Abandoned women?  What about the kids that had to grow up with parents constantly expressing their desir for the other to drop dead?  What about the damaged home?  The abusive father?  The pedophile?  The incest?  The other lover?  What about those people?  Is that the extent of the worst?  Is that the kind of worst that, when surpassed, the partnership should continue to love and cherish till the end of their days?

Of course some people can be quick to rush into marriage and of course, divorce is the quickie solution.  50% of marriages in the US end up in divorce and families there are far more complicated than families here because we are profamily and the fact that we remain as the only state that has not legalized divorce makes us a unique country, as Archbishop Cruz has said.

Really?  But what about the damaged people?  The trapped people in a loveless marriage?  Sure we can still say that our value for family is present, but what about love?  What if in the process of bearing the worst and the sickness and the poverty, the love left?  Is that still a marriage?  Or rather, is that still a family or just a couple with kids?

I’m completely on the fence here because I am enamored by the idea of spending the rest of my life with one person.  But I also feel the tragedy of the women and men I know who are trapped in these situations.  I believe they deserve a second chance at a happy life with the person that they love and truly loves them back.  But I am scared that once divorce is an option, together forever happily ever after might not be anymore.

I don’t know.  It’s a loaded morning for me.  What do you think?

News source:
http://inquirer.net/
Malta on Divorce

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.