Maria Menounos Reveals Top Tips that Helped Her Lose 40 Pounds

Anyone else feeling like a busted can of biscuits after the holiday season? Christmas cookies, spiked egg nog, and more Christmas cookies? Whether you’ve been hitting it hard since the clock struck 2014 or you’ve been in limbo waiting for your New Year’s Resolution motivation to set in, Maria Menounos, Extra host, shares some trusted weight loss tips to get you rockin’ and rollin’ in 2014. Make sure you read on, because it’s these tips that helped her lose 40 pounds, which she’s kept off for over 10 years. We call that a success.

For the latest on Maria Menounos, check out her new book, The EveryGirl’s Guide to Diet and Fitness and read more from her original interview over at FitSugar.

START WITH BREAKFAST

You’ve heard it before, and it’s true — what you eat in the morning can make or break your day. Maria blends up a quick, filling, and nutritious breakfast using trainer Harley Pasternak’s breakfast smoothie recipe. “I’ve been doing it for a year,” she says. “It’s got all the protein I need, and it’s yummy.”

JUST MOVE

"Always be moving’ is my mantra,” Maria says. “It works.” Although she tries to make time for the gym, Maria says the most important way to burn calories, especially if you’re busy, is to rack up those steps. Maria aims for 10,000 steps a day to ensure she stays on the right track.

DRINK HOT WATER

Get ready for Maria’s favorite weight-loss trick — keep a mug of hot water handy. “Hot water is like magic. It fills you up: it also is detoxifying, de-stressing, and helps digest the food in your stomach,” she says. “You’ll find yourself eating a little less if you’re drinking hot water.” Although Maria also recommends drinking tea or adding lemon to your mug, she opts for plain hot water since it’s more convenient, especially if you are using an office kitchen.

STOCK THE GOOD, DROP THE BAD

Self-professed salad addict Maria always makes sure she keeps leafy greens stocked in her fridge, along with Greek yogurt. To ensure she actually opts for the healthy items she’s stocked, she makes sure to keep anything unhealthy out of her house. “I think that makes a big difference, because if it’s there, I will eat it,” she explains. “If it’s not there, I’m too lazy to go get it.”

DON'T EAT LATE

Even with her busy schedule, Maria tries not to eat past 8 p.m. every night. But that doesn’t mean she advocates going to bed starving. “If it’s too late, and I’m really hungry, I’ll have a Greek yogurt or something simple like that,” she says. “That way I don’t have a big meal that I have to digest during the night.”

SOURCE

My Inspirations

I am writing this post to introduce you to the people (bloggers) that continue to inspire me as I go through my journey to healthy living at the same time prepare my body for pregnancy. I have gained weight (approx 30lbs) after I stopped going to the gym, after I lost interest in running and all sorts of exercising and after eating anything I want to eat and giving in to every craving that knocks. My eureka moment was when I'd feel all sorts of aches in my body already especially my back (not to mention the belly fat that I always try to hide by wearing dresses). 

I guess I have come to the point of taking charge of my own body for my own good. Are you with me here? Yes, I needed to make sure that I watch what I eat and exercise regularly (at least 30 minutes) in order for me to be in proper fighting form when my husband comes home from his time out at sea. LOL! Yeah, that's my biggest motivation of all. I want my husband to come home to a wife that he can be proud of. I want my husband to come home to a wife that is fit, strong and healthy. I didn't even make an effort to lose weight before our wedding so now I think is the perfect time for me to devote some time and change my lifestyle before I become a mom. 

At this point, I am preparing myself for a slow and steady process of losing weight. I am not a fan of crash diets, water and lemon only diets among other things. I want to still be able to enjoy food (but not so much). I still want my chocolates at some point but the end goal is that I consume more raw food than processed. I have incorporated a mix of fruit and vegetable juice and smoothies in my daily food intake since January 31 and aside from the flu that I experienced for the first week, I think I am all set now. I am very happy with the result so far as I feel clean inside and out. I think I am ready for a little challenge.

My goal from 2/11 - 2/15 is to consume only fruit and vegetable juice feast everyday for 5 days. If ever I allow myself to eat, I would only eat fruits or vegetables. I think this is doable. I am also going to sneak in a little bit of running or brisk walking for at least 30 minutes everyday. Of course, I will continue reading through the blogs of my inspirations to check out some weight loss recipes, tips, and best practices. 

1. Linda Wagner - is an experienced and skilled Nutrition and Lifestyle Coach who utilizes a holistic methodology to invigorate the mind, body, and spirit. It is her passion to assist others in achieving their true, unlimited potential. You can visit Linda's blog to be inspired too or you may reach her through her email address linda@lindawagner.net

2. Sonnet - is a certified holistic health coach, food educator, blogger, and writer with a passion for helping people lead fuller, healthier lives. Her blog, For The Love Of Food, features seasonal, plant-based cooking that is filled with recipes to help her readers live a healthy and sustainable life. She is based in Seattle, Washington. Her cooking philosophy revolves around simple, whole foods cooked from scratch always taste the best. I emailed Sonnet and she graciously responded. If you have questions for her, you may email her through fortheloveoffoodblog@gmail.com

3. Megan Elizabeth - is a low-fat, high fruit program follower. She's had a few health challenges before converting to the program and she is stoked that she has successfully got over the situation. The low-fat raw vegan lifestyle keeps her happy, healthy and with so much energy. You can visit her blog by following this link. If you plan to get in touch with her, you may email her through requests@meganelizabeth.com

4. Candice Kumai - Candice is a graduate of Le Cordon Bleu California. Ah, I could only dream that one day I could be schooled in a prestigious culinary arts school too. She's a former model turned chef and is an author of a couple cookbooks and she also writes for Men's and Women's Health. Candice's mission is to help all of us "get real with our foods again". Her cookbooks are entitled "Cook Yourself Sexy" and "Pretty Delicious". Aren't the titles so enticing?

My Fitness Pal

After 3 days of detox (raw diet), I am slowly introducing some protein (in the form of meat) back to my daily food consumption. I have eaten eggs, ham and have some dumplings. I feel a lot better and lighter. My flu is starting to go away as well and I have observed a reduction in my mucus (I felt my left nostril was producing it nonstop) the past couple of days. 

I have also signed up for a My Fitness Pal account and I have backtracked my exercise (almost none) and food consumption (calorie counter). If you want to sign-up for your account, go ahead it's simple and easy and you can also sign-up using your Facebook details. 

I've been tempted to eat the left-over chocolate hazelnut cake at home but it wasn't successful. I hid it at the back of the fridge so I can it eat some other time - maybe when I have to reward myself. Haha! 

Wish me luck! 

How To Start A Raw Food Diet?

I am back and you can kinda guess that I have been on a slump for the past 2 years of my life. I have just been concentrating on my job (I've been in 2 for this length of time), travelling in the Philippines and in Asia, planning my wedding among other things. I have exercised quite a bit but not like 2009 which I think was my healthiest year since I started this blog. Oh you cannot imagine how much pounds I have gained through these two years as well. I have practically gained a good 30 pounds more than what I weighed before. Que horror! 

I've talked to my husband about my plan of losing weight and I have his support. I am on the planning phase now and I am starting to watch what I eat and introducing more fruits and vegetables to my diet. I am also trying to eat more raw foods as inspired by this video that I am going to share to you. So for the remaining days of January my goal is to psyche my body to be able to eat healthier as well as putting in more sleep time so I would be in full swing of exercising and weight loss in February. 

It has been 3 days since I started watching what I eat and hopefully I will keep my motivation and get this route to healthy living going. Plus I need to really loss the pounds that I gained back so I can be more prepared to conceive a baby. 

Weight Loss Wonders

Here are some simple, no-brainer things you can do to lose some excess baggage my comments after every entry:

By Liz Vaccariello, Editor-in-Chief, Prevention

There's nothing like a weight loss strategy that takes almost no time or effort--but still works like a charm! Here are 10 successful strategies to cut calories and burn fat that literally take 60 seconds or less.

1. Mix a juice spritzer

Combine your favorite juice (half of your usual amount) with plain or sparkling water. You can cut up to 85 calories per glass--and lose 5 pounds or more a year. - I love doing this with lemon slices and water. It makes water less boring and juice less sweet.

2. Walk while you talk

Burn calories while you talk on the phone: Do the laundry (68 calories), set the table (85), or water plants (102). - Ahhhh the magic of walking...

3. Study the wrapper

At a quick glance, that candy bar appears to contain 220 calories. But a closer look may reveal that it (or a bottle of juice, bag of crackers, or bag of nuts) provides two or more servings--which more than doubles those calories. - Yes, you really should not lose that keen eye and investigate before popping that little candy inside your mouth.

4. Sip green tea before a walk

The caffeine frees fatty acids so that you burn fat more easily. And the polyphenols (antioxidant compounds) in green tea appear to work with caffeine to increase calorie burn. (If you have high blood pressure, skip this tip.) This I should and will do.

5. Pack a lunch

Dining out more than 5 times a week may make you eat more--nearly 300 calories a day--than if you dine out less frequently. - I need to pack lunch as well but my schedule all screws up the plans. I should try to get over any excuses I have and do this plus I'm sure I'll save a few hundred pesos at the end of the day.

6. Dip your bread

Use olive oil in place of butter. It's healthier and may also help you eat less. In a recent study, dippers ate a total of 52 fewer calories, on average, than those who used butter. - That's why Italian restaurants do this. You can add a few sliced basil to make your dip more interesting.

7. Sprinkle flax on cereal

High-fiber ground flaxseed can help curb your appetite and eliminate calories. Add it to yogurt or muffin and bread mixes--it's available in health food stores. - My oatmeal has this so I think I am on the safe zone.

8. Schedule a blood test

About 1 in every 12 women (most of whom don't know it) has an underactive thyroid, which can slow down her metabolism. - I have this penciled in.

9. Supersize your H2O

Buy the big bottle when it comes to good-for-you stuff such as water: You'll drink more. - I make it a point that I drink at least a liter of water at work and then 2 glasses as soon as I wake and before I go to bed.

10. Eat a chunky salad

Chop carrots, celery, sweet potatoes, zucchini, or other veggies instead of shredding or slicing. It takes more effort to munch bigger pieces; you'll do more chewing and eat less during the main course. - Yeah, chew, chew and chew.

Back From Hiatus

Hello Everyone! I am so sorry for abandoning (for lack of a better term) my blog for almost three weeks. I had a lot of things to do and tasks to accomplish and had to visit my family in Davao for a little over a week. I should be back in "regular programming" from tomorrow onwards unless thwarted again by unexpected stuff to do.

I am happy to let everyone know by the way that my team won the 14-Day Nestle Fitnesse Show Off Your Shape Challenge. Our team leader Earth will get the Michi Calica and 7 For All Mankind jeans, Belle will take home the Chanel and Religioso dress, Wena will be donning the Rhett Eala gown and Jun Escario top while I get to own the Constance Hermes belt (valued at around $980) and the Kate Torralba trench coat. Our efforts has paid off and we can only thank everyone for all the support, encouragement and votes altogether. The girls had their fitting and photoshoot while I was in Davao and I am looking forward to my session early next year before the awarding ceremony. I will write more about this in an article in my other blog.

I have successfully formed a group of runners at work as well. We are looking forward to starting off with our planned activities as soon as the new year rolls in. I think they have seen changes in me that's why they asked me to head it. It's what MOTIVATION and WILLPOWER can do eh? As of the moment, more than a dozen will join the Condura Run on February 7, 2010. I can only smile every time someone approaches me to get a copy of the registration form. This makes me feel happy believe it or not.

I will write about my vacation in another post as well. It was short but a LOT happened. I went to church daily as well except when we had our little road trip from Davao City to Sarangani to General Santos City to Koronadal City to Tacurong City and our pitstop Isulan. It was by far one of the best vacations I have had. The trip was tiring but I'll gladly do it again in a heartbeat. It was the first time I was able to meet the new family pet, a shih tzu named Chiz. And oh yes, I was able to manage to squeeze in some early morning runs.

Now, I'm going to try to doze off because I still have to work tomorrow early in the morning. (Yes, I do have a different schedule now...)

Chronicling My 14-Day Journey

NOTE: This will not be a short post. Please make sure you have plenty of time to spare before you start reading. I, however, guarantee that this journal will be one of the best journal entries you will read that I have written as I attempt to chronicle the 14 days I have to go through for the Nestle 14 Days to Show Off Your Shape Challenge. This journal will include the food I ate, the cravings I successfully and unsuccessfully resisted, the exercises I was able to do and then some...

Day 1 November 15 Sunday: Timex Run (5K)

Breakfast
1/4 cup Fitnesse Whole Grain, 1/4 cup soymilk, 1 granny smith apple, 1 hard boiled egg, 1 cup coffee
Snacks
energy drink
Lunch
1 cup garlic rice, 1 sweet ham, 1 sunny side up egg (egg white only)
Snacks
none
Dinner
none (I slept because my knees and legs hurt)

Day 2 November 16 Monday: REST DAY (muscles need to recuperate)

Breakfast
1/4 cup Fitnesse Whole Grain, 1/4 cup soymilk, 1 banana
Snacks
12 oz mango carrot juice, 1 Fuji apple
Lunch
1 serving tofu with chicken slices and bell pepper
Snacks
330ml Del Monte Fit and Right Watermelon
Dinner
1/4 cup Fitnesse Whole Grain, 1/4 cup soymilk, 1 pear

Day 3 November 17 Tuesday: 1 hour jog/walk around MOA approximately 5-6km

Breakfast
1/4 cup Fitnesse Whole Grain, 1/4 cup soymilk, 1 kiwi
Snacks
1 Natures Valley Honey and Oats Bar, 1 bottle energy drink
Lunch
1/2 cup rice, 1 serving fish salad, 1 serving pork innards, 330ml Del Monte Fit and Right Grapefruit
Snacks
none (spent the afternoon sleeping)
Dinner 1/4 cup Fitnesse Whole Grain, 1/4 cup soymilk, 1 pear

NOTE: The first three (3) days were the most critical days of the challenge as my taste buds were really craving for rice and some days pasta. I was able to thwart off the cravings by eating more fruits and vegetables. I was also able to increase my fiber intake so visits to the loo have been more regular and around the same time of the day. This is especially notable for me as I have a very irregular schedule of loo trips. It is very noteworthy as well that I do not feel nauseous or light-headed. I'm in perfect condition.

Day 4 November 18 Wednesday: 30 minutes swimming, 30 minutes treadmill, 10 minutes stepper, 10 minutes rowing - cardio overload :-)

Breakfast
1/4 cup Fitnesse Whole Grain, 1/4 cup soymilk, 1 pear
Snacks
1 banana, 1 bottle energy drink
Lunch
1 beef taco from Mexicali (soft taco)
Snacks
1 pear
Dinner
1/4 cup Fitnesse Whole Grain, 1/4 cup soymilk, 1 pear

Day 5 November 19 Thursday: Ran around MOA approximately 6K

Breakfast
1/4 cup Fitnesse and Fruit, 1/4 cup soymilk, seedless grapes
Snacks
1 banana
Lunch
1 cup mushroom soup, 1 deep-fried chicken
Snacks
1 pear, 1 Clif Chocolate Chip Peanut Crunch Energy Bar, 1 bottle electrolyte-loaded drink
Dinner
1/4 cup Fitnesse and Fruit, 1/4 cup soymilk, 1 pear, 1 plum

Day 6 November 20 Friday: Rest Day

Breakfast
1/4 cup Fitnesse and Fruit, 1/4 cup soymilk, 1 pear
Snacks
1 granny smith apple
Lunch
missed lunch - slept like a baby, too tired from the run last night
Snacks
1 granny smith apple
Dinner
1/4 cup Fitnesse and Fruit, 1/4 cup soymilk, 1 pear, 1 banana

Day 7 November 21 Saturday: 30 minutes light jog around the neighborhood

Breakfast
1/4 cup Fitnesse and Fruit, 1/4 cup skimmed milk, 1 kiwi
Snacks
1 fuji apple
Lunch
1 serving squash with string beans and coconut milk
Snacks
1 granny smith apple
Dinner
1 slice of cake --- guilty pleasure!, 1 serving oriental noodles

Day 8 November 22 Sunday: Dare To Be Fit n Right Fun Run (5K)

Breakfast
1 granny smith apple, 1 pack sports beans, 1 scrambled egg, 1 cup rice
Snacks
1/2 can soda - was a welcome treat after the race (no water or any other drink available)
Lunch
1 serving baked salmon, 1 serving mango royale salad, 330ml Del Monte Fit n Right Watermelon
Snacks
1 granny smith apple
Dinner
1/2 cup Fitnesse and Fruit (without milk) - just snacked on it while watching TV

NOTE: I exceeded my previously recorded 5K time because of a few walks along the race. I felt some cramps creep up my legs that made running very uncomfortable. I also have read from a reliable source that the route was more than 5K. So, I'm still happy even if I clocked in 00:41:25. I know it was a slow race for me but the good thing is that I didn't injure myself and I was able to finish it...

Day 9 November 23 Monday: REST DAY

Breakfast
1/4 cup Fitnesse Whole Grain, 1/4 cup skimmed milk, 4 peach halves, 1 blueberry yogurt, 330ml Del Monte Fit n Right Four Seasons
Snacks
none
Lunch
none - slept off the tired muscles
Snacks
1 granny smith apple, 1 banana
Dinner
1/4 cup Fitnesse Whole Grain, 1/4 cup skimmed milk, 1 banana

EVALUATION: I feel healthier. I feel lighter. I feel stronger. I've met my goal.

Day 10 November 24 Tuesday: 30 minutes treadmill, 10 minutes stepper

Breakfast
1/4 cup Fitnesse Whole Grain, 1/4 cup skimmed milk, 1 banana
Snacks
1 fuji apple
Lunch
1 salted egg, 1 tomato, 1/2 medium-sized cucumber, 2 tbsp pickled papaya
Snacks
1 fuji apple
Dinner
1 serving penne pasta with tuna and tomato sauce

Day 11 November 25 Wednesday: 30 minutes swimming, 30 minutes treadmill, 15 minutes sauna

Breakfast
1/4 cup Fitnesse Whole Grain, 1/4 cup skimmed milk, 1 pear
Snacks
1 granny smith apple
Lunch
2 slices of wheat bread with tuna spread, 330ml Del Monte Fit n Right Four Seasons
Snacks
1 fuji apple
Dinner
1/4 cup Fitnesse Whole Grain, 1/4 cup skimmed milk, 1 plum

Day 12 November 26 Thursday: 30 minutes treadmill, 15 minutes sauna

Breakfast
1/4 cup Fitnesse Whole Grain, 1/4 cup skimmed milk
Snacks
none
Lunch
1 cup Nido Oriental Soup, 1/2 cup rice, 1/2 cup mixed carrots, peas and corn
Snacks
1 cup baby carrots
Dinner
1/4 cup Fitnesse Whole Grain, 1/4 cup skimmed milk

Day 13 November 27 Friday: 30 minutes swimming, 45 minutes treadmill, 10 minutes stepper, 15 minutes sauna

Breakfast
1/4 cup Fitnesse Whole Grain, 1/4 cup skimmed milk, 1 granny smith apple
Snacks
1 banana, 1 electrolyte-loaded drink
Lunch
1 cup rice, 1 serving pork liempo, 1 banana
Snacks
1 cup baby carrots
Dinner
1/4 cup Fitnesse Whole Grain, 1/4 cup skimmed milk

Day 14 November 28 Saturday: 30 minutes sauna, WEIGH-OFF DAY

Breakfast
1/4 cup Fitnesse Whole Grain, 1/4 cup skimmed milk, 1 granny smith apple, 1 electrolyte-loaded drink
Snacks
none
Lunch
1 serving chopsuey, 1/2 cup rice
Snacks
1 sampler of Fitnesse Whole Grain at the Nestle Office
Dinner
Chicken Pepper Lunch (to celebrate the success of Team Earthlingorgeousness at the weigh-off), ice cream for dessert

It has been three days after the weigh-off and I have maintained the diet and regular exercise. I am still energetic and I have no signs of severe craving for any food - one of the sure signs that my body has adapted to the challenge.

STATISTICS: I have lost 5.4lbs as of this writing (despite all the indulgence and some treats in the form of food). I however like the continued decrease of fat percentage in my body as recorded by the body analyzer I use.

I know I am on the right track and there's no turning back...I am happy that I have summoned myself to start this healthy lifestyle, the weight loss has been the cherry on top. The best thing I have gotten out of participating in this challenge is when some friends told me that I have motivated them to start living a healthy lifestyle as well as finding and forming a friendship with my teammates, Earth, Belle and Wena. :-)

You can still vote for our team (voting officially closes on December 3, 2009).

Happiness Is...Achieving Your Goal!

Before I joined this contest, one of my motivations is to fit into this little red dress I bought and has been hanging in my closet for the longest time. Now, it is more than that, not even the slightest bit of any superficial reason. Now, I realized the value of taking care of my health to be able to enjoy life more, to be able to have the energy to get me through the day, to be able to bring back that self-confidence that has weighed me down.

I know the price of success: dedication, hard work, and an unremitting devotion to the things I want to see happen. Imagine the smile on my face as well as my teammate's at the weigh-off when we all reached the minimum required weight loss for the 14-day challenge. I could have jumped up and down, did somersaults if only I was not too shy enough.We were happy beyond words, unbelievably thankful that our dedication and hard work to attain our goals has paid off.

Now, the question is not who is going to let us; it is who is going to stop us continue setting goals for ourselves and achieving those goals one step at a time. Now that we all realized that we can commit to a goal, I know it would not be rocket science to continue the weight loss coupled with a responsible diet with the help of Nestle Fitnesse (you can't go wrong with any variant).

I am proud to belong to Team Earthlingorgeousness!!! Your VOTES will be our motivation to push through...

Days 7-9 of the 14-Day Challenge

Time ticks so fast. Nine days is over and today is the 10th day of the diet. Can you feel how nervous I am? Can you feel how tensed I am? Can you feel how lighter I've become? I bet no...but people at work have been noticing wee bit of changes everyday and I could not complain. Keep 'em compliments coming.

I have a confession to make: I ate a slice of cake. Sue me for all it's worth... It was Y-U-M-M-Y! while I was eating it but hell I could not seem to get over the guilt I felt after. When I woke up around lunch, I didn't have any appetite for food but I felt like I need to eat else I'll unintentionally starve myself. I snacked on about half a cup of Nestle Fitnesse while watching Stylista on television. Yes, no milk. Just the cereal au naturel and it tasted unbelievably delicious. That happened on Day 7 and good thing I was able to compensate for it by running my second 5K race. That was an awesome calorie-burning run I did again. I can tell I did burn a lot. Despite the setbacks that happened during the race, I was able to zone in and enjoy every minute of it, every sweat-bud that fell felt amazing. I can't wait for my next race. I didn't meet my goal this time (time to finish) but I read from somewhere that the route was more than 5K (it was .104 more than 5K) so I guess I met my target after all. Count to that the time I had to weave through walkathoners. Whew!

I only had a granny smith apple and a bottle of electrolyte drink before the race plus a pack of sports beans to get me through. After the race, I had quite a big breakfast. I met Olive for lunch at Conti's Greenbelt and I had Baked Salmon and we shared a plate of Mango Royale (salad greens, mango slices and carrot strips). I enjoyed the food I ordered (I can still feel my mouth water every time I think of them) and then we headed to the movies. Because I was too tired, I feel asleep reading the book I just bought which made me cry while reading just the first line. Such a crybaby! Does crying and squeezing one's lachrymal glands with tears make you burn calories too? If it does, then I could tell I burned a lot. Then again I went to bed without eating anything. I felt like if I eat anything more, it was already gluttony.

I woke up to a wonderful Day 9 and I had breakfast buns, Nestle Fitnesse and Fruit and lots and lots of water. I also downed a bottle of DM Fit and Right Four Seasons. I then had fish and chips for lunch (I was not able to take a picture though). I needed all the calories from the food I ate to sustain me while I do my laundry. LOL!

EVALUATION: I feel healthier. I feel lighter. I feel stronger. I've met my goal.

Here are some tips I wanna share to you:

1. Portion control. You can't go wrong with this.
2. Chew your food well. You usually get the feeling of fullness at the 20th minute. So don't rush it. Enjoy your mealtime. Savor every morsel.
3. Do not starve yourself. Enjoy your food.
4. If you don't want any sagging skin after you lose weight, exercise. Tone 'em muscles. Resistance training will be your best friend.
5. You are your bodies ally. Love the way you look. It'll motivate yourself to do better.

Days 4-6 of the 14-Day Challenge

This journal is the collective update for Days 4-6 of the challenge and a second installment to my promised update.

I am liking the changes, the routine, the food and the feeling of losing it to win it. I love how light my body feels and how energetic I am despite the cut in calorie-intake. My only worry right now is my skewed sleeping pattern (I work graveyard that is, I am a call center baby). Even then, I always see to it that I always get the most number of sleep hours I could ever get, if not then I compensate with work-out hours.

Day 4 saw me smiling from ear to ear. Imagine my happiness when I got digitally weighed in at Fitness First RCBC. I told the physical trainer about what I am aiming at and why I am so hell-bent at knowing how much I weigh, my current BMI and all other items the machine could possibly measure. I liked what the digital weighing scale has told me. My efforts are paying off: Nestle Fitnesse and regular cardio exercises are working! The combination works for me bigtime. I know if I stick to it I am on my way of not just losing 2 pounds. Did I give you too much hint already? Okay, so after weighing my self, I went to the pool, did a few laps for an hour. I then eased my leg muscles by staying in the jacuzzi, sweat some more at the sauna and steam room, showered and then headed home. When I got home, I found out that my grandmother who is already 94 years old died. I was grief-stricken but I know she's in a happier place now. I was not able to go to work, I was sad beyond compare, I cried like a baby. (Lola, you are one of my inspirations and my motivations, for you I will not give up in this challenge, I will summon all the hurdles and come out a loser (of pounds) and yes of course a winner (of self-confidence and fashionable wardrobe. Be my angel!)

Despite the bitter pill that I had to swallow, life goes on and has to surely move on. I woke up quite positive and Lola's passing away has already sank in to my system. I am now ready for the next of the days to come. I sticked to my diet except that I didn't have vegetables during lunch because I had chicken. I had to eat it slowly but surely so I get the fulling of fullness with just little amount of indulgence as possible. The mushroom soup I had was heaven, it was ohhhh soooo yummy! I had an energy bar, electrolyte-loaded drink and lots of H2O after the early evening run I did with some takbo.ph members. I had fun trying to keep up with them. I ran a total of six (6) kilometers at least (with several walks). It was fun. Can you tell I am now starting to get addicted to running? I went to work energized and ready to take on any challenge. A pear and a little bowl of Chinese noodles kept me up through the night.

Yes, today is officially Day 6 of the challenge. I had my usual Nestle Fitnesse breakfast which is essentially my dinner if you think about it and after almost an hour I headed to bed. I don't know if it was enough time to digest the food but I was already feeling extremely sleepy. I just had to close my eyes. No hunger pang has kicked in yet but I am going to raid the kitchen and check if I still have a granny smith apple to snack on while I blog hop.

You like what am I doing? Do I get your vote? Please head on over to http://tinyurl.com/nestlek to show your support. :-)

Progress Report

I am on my second week of working out (with some occasional rest and rather longer one because of the little injury) as well as watching what I eat and I am happy to announce that I have lost 6.6 lbs. I am super-pleased. I couldn't be any happier. My goal is to lose 10 lbs in one month and I guess if I continue what I've started (same pace and dedication), I would for sure meet the target come November 10. Second week isn't even over yet. Here's a picture of me from one of my work-outs, all smiles and sweaty. LOL!

I feel happy when my coworkers tell me that my efforts are paying off. I like it when they tell me that the weight loss is noticeable and that I should not stop. Ahhh those compliments are much-appreciated, gives me some more reason to push the bar higher. Even then, getting fit and living a healthier lifestyle are just my main goals. I've gotten a few messages telling me that I have inspired them as well to get their lazy asses to running and lose the extra pounds. That for me is an achievement already. Big smiles.

More progress reports to come soon. I wish I had taken a "before" picture though. Well, anyway, I'll probably just pick from the bunch of albums saved in this computer soon.

Get Set Go!

I have long been wanting to be in shape. And now I am not making any excuses anymore. I am tired sulking over why a size 6 won't fit me anymore. I do not have lofty dreams, I just want to be fit and well-proportioned. This might be ambitious considering how sedentary my job is but I am taking matters into my own hands and I am going to start today and not tomorrow. I am responsible to stay in shape and be healthy in every way possible. I decided to create this blog to motivate myself a little more.

This blog will chronicle my progress as often as possible or I'll incorporate some worthwhile read online and many other sources. I will post as many pictures as I can as well as running playlists, workout tips and the like. This blog will be an online repository of maybe even the bumps along the way (although I am not hoping for one).

I am tired making excuses of why I gained so much weight through these years and it is time to up the ante, I am making an ode to myself to get back to the body I once had. This is going to be a feat and I am more than motivated to get what I want.

I am ready.

Get set go!!!