Fashion and Fitness: The Classic Bags

My Gorgeous French Ladies

Because my Instagram account with the handle @whenyouloseyouwin is very much all about all my other significant interests in life like tidbits of my marriage and my food adventures as it is (primarily) about fitness, let me discuss one topic here that is as hot as the prepared food I'll be microwaving for lunch: Bags

Specifically, the Two Most Stunningly Timeless Bags of which, as of yesterday, I managed to complete.

Almost every single website dedicated to fashion and, of course, bags, indicate that the Louis Vuitton Speedy 30 and the Chanel 2.55 Classic Flap Bag always belong to the highest of rankings where classic bags are concerned. While it is arguable to some people who are either the fashion industry's connoisseurs or those who are just really big fans of other luxury designer brands to have these two as the most stunning of all classic bags, my opinion is rather particularly based on my taste, the place in history of these two bags and, yet again, while not consistently number 1 or 2, even 3, their consistent existence or placement in lists and rankings.

I don't really wish to lengthen this blog but listed below are some factors that I think are critical to the standing of these two absolutely gorgeous bags:

1. The Houses of Chanel and Louis Vuitton are both in the fashion capital of the world: Paris. So yes: The French = Tres Chic!

Historical Headquarters of Chanel at 31, Rue Cambon, Paris (photo not mine)

The Louis Vuitton flagship store on Champs-Elysees in Paris
has an art gallery on the top floor (photo not mine)

2. Two of the strongest and most adored female fashion icons in the world are associated with Louis Vuitton and Chanel. Audrey Hepburn was often photographed with her Speedy 30 in monogram canvas while most of us know that strong-willed Gabrielle Bonheur Chanel, otherwise known as Mademoiselle Coco Chanel, founded the House of Chanel in 1909. Her most famous bag, the chain strap purse otherwise known as the "2.55", became the physical break women in the 30s to the 50s needed away from their handbags.

Audrey Hepburn with her Speedy 30 (photo not mine)

Coco Chanel is famous for saying "In order to be irreplaceable, one must always be different". This is perhaps the reason why the shoulder bag, especially the Chanel 2.55 is different as it is irreplaceable. (photo not mine)

3. If you don't like the size of the Speedy 30 or the Classic Jumbo Flap as much as I do, these bags also come in different sizes that cater to one's needs and of course, height. I am 5'2 1/2 and swinging between 118 to 123 lbs and I find that the Speedy 30 and the Jumbo Classic Double Flap do not overwhelm my size or underwhelm my daily requirements (so glad I didn't purchase the medium Classic Flap).

4. Both bags can dress up anything and still adapt to one's preference. If you prefer a flirty and feminine casual summer look, there's the Speedy 30 in Damier Azur. If you wish to look put together during a wedding or a big event, a Classic Flap Bag with gold hardware can add that finishing, striking touch.

The total cost of my outfit excluding the wedding and engagement rings
and the Chanel flap bag? $100. Really. I swear.

5. There's no denying that both are expensive. I remember my Air France La Premiere (First Class) trainers telling us that in France, there's three brand categories: Low Cost, Top-of-the-Range and Luxury. The Lost Cost category is affordable and easily accessible to the masses. The Top-of-the-Range is expensive but is, more often than not, available to those who really want it. The Luxury Category is made to particularly appear exclusive therefore not always accessible or available. Shockingly, Louis Vuitton belongs to the Top of the Range category while not surprisingly, Chanel is with the Luxury Group. Now that I have a clear and uncluttered mind to think about it, I understand now why it is so. Louis Vuitton's sought-after bags are almost always in stock especially the Speedy 30, which is considered by many as the entry level designer bag to have. Chanel bags on the other hand, particularly the Classic Flap, may not always be available in a particular style. In fact, I almost succumbed to being placed on a month-long wait list/reservation for the Jumbo Maxi Flap in Black Caviar until I saw my Navy Blue Caviar winking at me ;)

Craftsmanship-wise, even the dust bag and the bag box scream high quality.
This is the reason why resellers place a huge premium on pre-owned bags that come
with their original boxes, carrier bags and dust bags.

6. With the Speedy 30 and the Flap Bag, you truly get what you pay for even if people will always argue that there are stylish but more affordable brands out there. What can you do? You're paying quality craftsmanship (hand-sewn stitching that is accurate down to the single mirror detail), historical associations and lifetime service warranty. You're also paying for an investment that you can possibly proudly pass on to your future daughters or use as collateral, pretty much like jewelry and cars, during a financial need. There's truly value for money there.

One way of knowing if a Speedy is fake? Take a look at the stitching on the two bases of either handle. Each of the four bases (the pentagon-shaped base that attaches the handle the canvas) should have exactly the same number of stitching on the left and on the right for the bag to be authentic.

So for those who dream of building their designer bag collection, while it's completely your choice on what arm candy to include in your closet, I would strongly encourage you to consider saving up for these two classic bags.

And for my fitfam? Consider putting a dollar, maybe a hundred (lol) towards your bag savings fund for every 5 to 10 lbs you lose. These two will truly look good on a fitter, much healthier you. Case in point:

With my Speedy 30 in December of 2011 at 180 lbs

With the same Speedy 30 in March of 2014 at 120 lbs

Too Skinny vs. Too Fat: America, Draw The Line!!!

Gaunt and emaciated. This is not the picture of a winner.
And they say TV adds extra 10 lbs. I'm terrified
to meet her in real life.

It's been almost 12 hours since the finale of The Biggest Loser Season 15 and I still, for the life of me, can't wrap my head around just how gaunt and emaciated winner Rachel Frederickson looks in pictures and on TV.

She was my favorite contestant. Her sheer determination and positive attitude up to the last episode, during the triathlon, made me believe she's another Danni Allen in the making (Season 14 winner).

But................ Wtf just happened?

Here are the numbers that further justify how jaw-dropping, and not in a good way, last night's finale was:

• The Biggest Loser Season 15 entitled, "Second Chances", ran from October 15 to February 4.
• Rachel, who stands at 5 feet, four inches, started the season at 260 lbs.
• During the triathlon which, correct me if I'm wrong, may have been a month before the live finale last night, she won the competition but went on to lose only a pound. Her victory during the triathlon earned her a spot in the finale but her weight loss only brought her down to 154 lbs from 155 lbs. (Pretty screwed up in terms of psychological pressure and public backlash over favoritism, i.e. Chelsea should have been in the finale instead of her if she had not won the triathlon)
• So from 154 lbs to 105 lbs in more or less a month? Do the math. She lost 49 lbs. How? She must have been consuming no more than 1,000 calories/day and exercising intensely for six to seven hours per day, everyday, just to get to that finale weight.
• Rachel's BMI went from 44.6 (Obesity level) to 18.0 (Underweight). If she were, AT THE MINIMUM, 108 lbs, her BMI at 18.5 could have been judged as normal. (SOURCE: National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute BMI Calculator)
• David, the first runner-up, lost 54.28% of his original body weight. If Rachel had lost 54.60% (118 lbs) instead of her whopping 59.60% (105 lbs) body percentage lost, she would look healthy and fit and would have still ended as the winner of The Biggest Loser.

And even if Rachel went up by three pounds just to get to the 18.5 normal BMI, a mere three pounds would and could not hide the fact that she lost huge muscle mass and huge amounts of good fat.

(From L-R) The three finalists, David, Rachel and Bobby, during the episode
before the finale. Rachel is 154 lbs here.

Was she eating healthy as someone claimed on CNN's Facebook page? No. There's no denying that there are people who are taller and pretty much weigh the same. But these people have got their priorities straight on the dining table by consuming the right amount of fat, carbohydrates, sugar and protein. Rachel, obviously, was not eating enough protein and fat to maintain the healthy muscle definition she showed during the triathlon.

Rachel at 260 lbs (left) and Rachel at 105 lbs (right)

So will someone please honestly tell me how this is not multiple shades of screwed up? I seriously believe that those who defend how she looks and how America overly criticizes using "too skinny" or "too fat" need major fitness crash courses.

Birthday Weight Goal, Achieved and More!

It's been a while, a long while since I updated this blog. My birthday month of July has passed and in 26 days, my fitness account on Instagram, @whenyouloseyouwin, will celebrate its first anniversary.

So what has happened so far?

Well, for starters, in the survey/poll I posted when I started this blog, I can tell that one person who voted that I'd be heavier than 150 lbs by July 19, that I definitely didn't have a relapse and bounced, ironically enough, "backwards", to that.

To be honest, July did not come easy for me. It had actually been very challenging since the end of April. It was in April that I first went down to less than 118 lbs and what followed was a series of ups and downs due to family gatherings and vacations. My consolation? Well at least I was, and still am, already in the healthy weight range.

My chocolate and ice cream-loving better half celebrated his birthday a day before mine so what was expected was two straight days' worth of food coupons, discounts and freebies from restaurants. Here are two photos clearly depicting what happened on Day 1, July 18, my hubby's day:

Hubby had a coupon at Elephant Bar and a discount card so that's where we headed for dinner after work. Upon finding out that he could actually have a free meal and that there's no price limit to such, naturally, he ordered the most expensive one that he liked. I don't remember the exact name of the entree but it has steak, lobster, veggies and shrimp.

As for mine, I was craving for pasta so I ended up with a dish that has shrimp and white sauce. Again, I don't remember the name of the dish and I'm currently far too lazy to go to their website and give justice to this post. Don't judge. It's my day off as of this writing :p

The following day was my birthday and I, well, for lack of a better term, "clocked in" at 119.2 lbs. Here's a photographic evidence (not rigged, I swear) from my FitBit app:

My original weight goal when I started my fitness account on Instagram was 138 lbs by this date. *big grin*

And here's a photo of what transpired during that day, this time, at Kome, that Chinese-Japanese buffet restaurant in Daly City:

Food Coma.

Not for anything weight-related but after this trip to Kome, hubby and I swore it'd be a looong while before we find ourselves in this restaurant. Why? Well, aside from the disappointment of seeing ridiculously long lines at the Chinese buffet table (Who starts a buffet with dessert?) and people cutting lines, my favorite Japanese rolls were not available. Then again, this was not meant to be a restaurant review so I'd cut this one short.

So anyway, the next few days after my birthday found us down in SoCal. I would let you judge for yourself what occurred from July 20-24:

I swear we tried to start our vacation by having something healthy for breakfast before our flight. This was, if I remember it correctly, approximately 353 calories :)

The following day found us at San Pedro Fish Markets and Restaurant having this c/o a relative. Not in picture was the tilapia and ceviche we had with this.

At the Disney California Adventure Park having this enormous turkey leg. Disclaimer: We shared one leg for dinner. And a chimichanga.

Post-Universal Studios the day after Disney, we had dinner at Kalye Hits and for the two of us, had two cups of steamed rice, a stick of Betamax (pig blood), a dozen pieces of Kwek-kwek (quail eggs dipped in orange-colored batter and fried), an order of Beef Pares (sweet beef stew) and vinegar and brown (caramelized flour with soy sauce) dipping sauce.

We now know that no trip to Los Angeles is ever complete without going to a Porto's Bakery branch. We found ourselves both in the Glendale and Burbank branch, on July 21 and July 23, respectively.

We ordered their famous cheese rolls (at 238 calories/roll) and guava cheese roll (did not bother to find out how huge this one is, calories-wise). We demolished our Glendale order, all 12 pieces, in 14 hours!

Started at 433 steps at the Disneyland gate. Went back to the hotel with over 18,000 steps.

What was the damage then? Upon returning to the crib, I immediately weighed myself and saw a whopping 124 lbs! No biggie, truth be told. It was expected :p

The next day, my theory (well, it's actually a scientific fact) of how being in a hot area adds weight, water weight to be exact, was proven once again. My morning weight saw me at 122 lbs. The day after saw me at 121 lbs.

Fast-forward to August 1st, I'm back to my birthday weight of 119.2 lbs.

What then?

Well, since the scale is not really the be-all and end-all of fitness, my goal is to be at my most toned and my fittest by August 27, just in time for @whenyouloseyouwin's first anniversary, provided that I'm not, well, pregnant by then (starting my fertility consultations after my lab work today so I really need to finish this blog ASAP! lol).

'Til next time then! :)

Eat More, Weigh Less

This post is actually the second part of my blog with the inversed title "Eat Less, Weigh More".  Why a Part 2, you may ask. It's because I felt like I wasn't able to explain fully and clearly why I said eating less could mean a possible weight gain. Through a quick chat (more of a series of Instagram comments with @emmahmay (thanks, sweetie!), I, myself, found the right words.

It's all about your metabolism.

As what I had first quoted at the first part of this blog last month, About.com states that metabolism is the chemical process that establishes "the rate at which your body burns calories". Short of going into health gobbledygook, let's put things this way: You've probably already heard or googled health products or food (hello, cinnamon and cayenne pepper!) that boosts your metabolism. You have also probably been given dozens of tips regarding metabolism-boosting exercises and the when's and how's involved. The how's are mostly regarding getting your body to not move or exercise in the same manner over long periods of time; that we need to "shock" or "trick" it against getting used to a routine every now and then.

Guess what? It's the same with food, especially with how much you consume per day.

Many people find it easier to believe or fall into thinking that eating less alone is the key to weight loss. While it is true that cutting calories AND exercising more do lead to significant weight changes, it is highly important to establish when the cutting of calories should stop.

My personal minimum benchmark is 1,220 calories. At my age of 28, height of 5'2 1/2 and weight as of my last weigh-in yesterday of 129.8 lbs (Yey! Closer, make that "a lot closer", to my second goal weight of 125 lbs!), Livestrong MyPlate tells me that in order to continuously lose a pound more, I should only consume 1,159 calories. Please do note, however, that I set my activity level (another category fitness/calorie tracker apps like MyPlate and myfitnesspal use to determine calorie goal) to "sedentary" here if only to challenge myself to move more, even if I know I am no longer sedentary (I exercise five to six times a week and walk and stand for four hours straight on work days).

So how much have I been eating? Well, over the past two weeks, I have definitely been eating more than 1,220 calories! At one point, I think I reached 1,700 calories (This was the day I finally passed my behind-the-wheel driving exam at DMV after two tries! I had a Jollibee chickenjoy-spaghetti meal along with a banana langka pie!). But I am still losing. How? I drive my metabolism crazy, that's how!

On days that I am truly sedentary (Day off from work and from exercise... Yes! I have exercise "rest days" too in order to allow my body to recover!) or during detox days (hello, smoothie!), I do follow what my calorie tracker apps dictate. On weekly date nights and/or binge days, I allow myself to go over my set calorie goal, eat whatever would make health nuts' eyes roll, and go crazy at the gym, the "crazy" depending on how much I am over.

For instance, since I noticed I burn 10-17 calories per minute on the elliptical or while doing any kind of cardios, I extend my cardios for a minute more if I am over 10 calories. So if I'm over a 300 calories, you can bet your glutes off that I'll be at the gym for 30 minutes more.

But going back to food and metabolism, like exercise, when conditioned, the body needs to be challenged every now and then to test how well it has responded to your conditioning. If you keep on feeding it the same kind and same low amount of food everyday, for long periods of time, chances are, you'll no longer lose weight. The mental torture you've been subjecting yourself will eventually become nothing more than a routine for your body that has already gotten used to it.

So eat more. Take risks. Shock your body. Get your metabolism off the couch and get it working overtime each time you shock it! It doesn't hurt to have a bite of this and that. The key to fitness and weight loss is not eating less alone. It is moderation. Moderate, not low, amount of calories or portions. Moderate exercise. Moderate frequency in shocking meals and workouts.

Still not convinced? Follow me on Instagram @whenyouloseyouwin and see my exercises, my food and my progress!

First 2013 Progress Pictures

We're already almost halfway through the first quarter of 2013. Since it's my day off, let me indulge you with some progress pictures of mine that I sincerely and genuinely hope could inspire you to start working on creating progress comparison shots of your own.

A month back, I unintentionally wore the same long-sleeved shirt from Old Navy and jeans from DKNY that I wore in September and December of 2012. As such, I found it only apt to make a progress shot. This was originally posted in my Instagram account (@whenyouloseyouwin).

This next progress shot was posted just a couple of days back. Five months ago and 40+ lbs back, in August of 2012, when I was still taking those dreadful "day 1" photos of myself, I thought the picture to the left wasn't really bad. I had a toned booty and gym capris were enhancing my curves. Or so I thought. Peeling the short pants off revealed a not-so-sumptuous rear. It was flabby and big. Today, people think I may have lost my curves but what I lost are actually fat... in my thighs and calves! Fat in my thighs and calves, people! And since muscle is more dense than fat, my leg muscles are the ones that still give my butt shape. I know I still have to keep on working though on strengthening and toning those muscles. I don't want to lose my ass! :)

Eat Less, Weigh More

Yesterday, I saw the above picture in my Instagram post/news feed. I thought, "Finally! Someone gets it!"

The "it" is the world's biggest weight loss misconception: You have to eat less in order to weigh less.

The principle is actually not entirely wrong especially when you consciously make the decision to cut in half a daily consumption of 3,000 calories. What can make it misleading is the word "less".

To understand why "less" can be utterly misleading, you have to first know and accept that there are factors governing a successful weight loss. I'm not a weight loss expert but based on experience and from what I read, among the most important factors are height, weight, level of daily activity (sedentary, lightly active, moderately active, highly active), age, and weekly weight loss goal.

Before I proceed to discussing the factors mentioned, let me make this clear: If you are still not within a regular-normal weight range, the numbers, whether numbers on the scale or elsewhere, DO matter.

Going back to the factors mentioned above, a lot of people think there's a standard number of calories one must consume in order to achieve a huge weight loss, nevermind that this actual weight loss is achieved in such a short period of time that it is nothing short of drastic. I remember watching Dancing With The Stars (DWTS) when Kirstie Alley first appeared on it a few years back. She said part of the reason she joined it was to lose weight. And lose the weight she did. For a while, I thought, wow, she really was burning those pounds away through regular vigorous movements. And then, when I heard she was just consuming 1,200 calories a day, I just had to stop the wow's. Close to the 60s in age and spending hours in rehearsal, like what Instagrammer mandagetsfit said in the caption of her picture above, "she was practically running on an empty tank".

Then there's this person who I used to follow and used to follow me back on my fitness account on Instagram. We're of the same height (5'3) and while I started my weight loss journey at 180 lbs in August of 2012, she started hers months before at over 200+ lbs. In her profile, she indicated that she had already lost over 30 or 40 lbs. Like my wow's for Kirstie, however, those stopped coming out of my mouth when I saw she was consuming no more than 800 calories/day. I must be a decade or so older than her but only 800 calories a day for someone who's probably studying and working at the same time? Only 800 calories for someone like her who's heavier than me? That. Can't. Be. Right.

But I kept my mouth shut about her eating habits. One day she complained of being stuck in that dreaded weight loss plateau. Worse, after a few weeks, she gained weight. A lot of people, myself included, tried to tell her that it couldn't possibly just be muscle weight anymore; that she had to do more cardios than what she had been doing (she said she dislikes it). For the life of me, I still did not mention anything about her eating habits.

Needless to say, my comments to her post got deleted. Either it was an Instagram bug or it was on purpose. For whatever the reason, I also found out she "unfollowed" me. I "unfollowed her back".

Short of making this blog post about her, let me go back once again to what mandagetsfit said about metabolism: Do not inflict undue damage to your metabolism. About.com says metabolism is the chemical process that establishes "the rate at which your body burns calories". So it goes without saying that without the right amount of food to digest and to turn into energy, like a factory, the body shuts down to stock up on whatever amount of energy it still has in order to continue life. This process is what happens when our metabolism slows down, making us plateau or worse, gain weight.

So I urge all of you to know and stick to your true numbers. These are your yardstick to a successful and healthy weight loss. There are a number of smartphone apps and websites online like Livestrong.com, Livestrong My Plate and MyFitnessPal that help determine these numbers.  Use these to your advantage! They're within your fingertips and easily at your disposal.

What's more, do not shock your body. Take it one step at a time. Have you ever heard of the phrase "slowly but surely"? I'm sure you have so do things gradually. Condition your body to slowly cut down the calories. But don't be afraid to eat more! Honestly? I'll be more afraid if I start eating less. My personal threshold is 1,220 calories. At 137.4 lbs now, my calorie counter dictates that if I were sedentary, I should eat 1,199 calories in order to lose a pound a week. But I'm no longer sedentary. I've conditioned my body to move more in order to eat more.

At the end of the day, learn, as well, to listen to your body. Nourish it and let it rest when needed. If you only work around processes that are sustainable, before you know it, you're at your goal!

Why I Am On This Weight Loss Journey

It's my unofficial day off today or the extension of my official days off (called in sick due to a pulled lower back muscle... ouch!). During the latter, I had a couple of aunts and a couple of friends who expressed two very different opinions regarding my progress: one group said I could push further down to 120 lbs for my ideal weight (instead of my goal of 125 lbs) and one group said "tama na" (stop already).

Before I express my decision and thoughts about those, let me tell you a story:

Once upon a time, there was a little girl who weighed "just right" and had two overweight parents. She was told her mom gained weight due to pregnancy. Overtime, when her mom quit her job to become a full-time housewife and mother, she learned that it was because of the latter. And liters of Coke. As for her dad, she had learned to passively accept that people like him gain the weight with age. The passive acceptance, however, turned to fear, when she learned at 15 that her father was diagnosed with diabetes.

Both of these parents of hers used to be really slim. During her puberty years, her mom told her she passed on to her genes that produce more-than-the-average-size breasts. Those genes worked to her advantage when, upon graduating from high school, she got invited to represent her community in her city's local beauty pageant. She placed 2nd. Or 1st runner-up. She was almost 17, 5 foot 3 inches and 117 lbs. The year was 2001.

When she entered college months after the beauty pageant, she gained about 5-8 lbs. It was her first time to realize how much 5-8 lbs can change one's image to people. She thought she still looked fine and was still within the ideal weight range for her height and age and yet, to people, a 5-8 lb-weight gain is a disappointment. In June 2001, she was between 122-125 lbs.

Once she graduated from college in 2005, she entered the workforce as a part-time call center agent in the morning. In the afternoon, all the way to 9 pm, she's back in school, studying law as a post-graduate degree. She didn't really like coffee so much so for four years in the call center industry and just a year in law school, she sought refuge in food to keep her awake and energized. In 2007, she complained to her friends of being 150 lbs.

In 2008, almost two years after her mom died with diabetic coma (yes, diabetes) as the primary cause, her politically active news writer of a father was diagnosed with end-stage kidney failure due to his 15-year-old diabetes.

It's also in the same year that she met her then future husband. He accepted her even if she admitted to him that she's overweight and was heavier than him. He didn't mind that he's taller and more active in the gym. In August of that year, he invited her to an "international romantic date" in Disneyworld. From there, they travelled to where he lives in California. At one of the mall bathroom weighing scales during one fine day in August of 2008, she found out she was 169 lbs.

2009 came and her weight reached 175 lbs. Her man proposed on Christmas Day in 2008 and she knew she needed to lose some LBs. It was a promise to her wedding couturier that brought a 6-lb weight loss on her wedding day. On January 24, 2010, she was 5'3, and a 169-lb bride.

When her 6-month stay in the US on a tourist visa came to an end, she brought back to her native country not only prayers for a speedy immigrant visa processing but 16 extra pounds of which, gave her acid reflux, and, according to her OB-GYN, prevented her from conceiving immediately. She was told not to worry so much; that if she and her husband had already been trying for a year and nothing happened, that's when she should start thinking of treatments.

Having nothing else to do during the year-long processing of her papers aside from taking care of her sick father, she thought of enrolling at a gym just 4 minutes away, on foot, from their house. She took baby steps, steps that progressed to leaps when her required medical exam for the visa came closer. She had heard of horror stories about people either getting the processing of their papers delayed or their applications denied due to various health conditions so she changed certain things where her diet and activity were concerned.

For her breakfast and dinner, instead of eating rice with viand, she replaced rice with oatmeal (oats cooked to the consistency/stickiness of rice). Her only meal with rice was during lunch. Thirty minutes after dinner, she would head down to the gym.

The lifestyle change paid off: She passed the medical exam. In July 2011, she went back to California at a lighter weight of 155 lbs.

A month passed and her hormones went awry. It was her first time to experience irregular menstrual cycles. She was told it's due to either the change in environment or her rapid weight loss. Or both.

When she was finally with a job, her weight shot up 10 lbs. Her state ID indicated that she was 165 lbs.

It was at 165 lbs in May of 2012 that she found she was 5 weeks pregnant. She immediately submitted a notice of resignation as the happiness of finally conceiving was more important to her and her husband. The happiness didn't last though as she eventually lost the pregnancy due to a missed miscarriage. She had a D&C on June 30 during which, her declared weight in the hospital form was 175 lbs.

In August, a month before renewing her gym membership, she was at 180 lbs. She prepped for her return to the gym by doing at least 60 spread-out body squats daily. She also stuck to having no more than 3 cups of rice per day and on some days, cut it to two cups due to her oatmeal arrozcaldo (see my oatmeal arrozcaldo blog entry*****) breakfast.

In September of 2012, she and her husband went to Las Vegas. Because she had already started calorie counting via Livestrong's MyPlate iPhone app, imagine being in the Sin City, gluttony and all, eating only in Panda Express due to their disclosed nutritional info and out of Cheesecake Factory's Skinnylicious Menu! By the end of that month, she was down to 177 lbs.

Months passed and another vacation opportunity arrived: They were headed to New York in the second week of December! She knew this would take her away from her calorie counting app so she worked extremely hard to get to a low weight, a weight that's low enough to accommodate reasonable holiday weight gain. A few hours before her flight on December 14, she was still huffing and puffing at the gym. She was 151 lbs.

The vacation was actually her husband's business trip so while he was at the office, she was at the hotel gym, trying to burn the calories that racked up during their dinner adventures in New York. By the end of the trip a day before Christmas of 2012, she was 153 lbs.

The first day of 2013 came and she's down to 150 lbs. 150 lbs! Her husband had never seen her that light, ever! It was supposedly a 3rd wedding anniversary to her husband: for him to see her that light! The "gift" came 23 days early!

On January 3, she started working for a new company. She had to tell the administrative officer if she could change her declared weight when she signed the contract in November (165 lbs). Her new weight on that day? 149 lbs.

It was also on January 3 that she tried on various pieces of uniform from the office stock room. She was given several pieces to wear while waiting for the arrival of her ordered uniform, if she ordered at all.

A week later, during her fingerprinting, at the security office she had to request another weight change. She explained to the officer that she had already lost 3 lbs ever since her start date. She was asked if it's because of stress on the job. She said that she's merely actively trying to lose weight and that walking more than 10,000 steps/day because of her new role contributed to it.

Another week passed and she received a letter from the Department of Motor Vehicles (DMV) that her state ID had been cancelled. She knew and eventually confirmed that it was inadvertently/mistakenly cancelled due to a typographical error. Her trip to DMV was a stressful 2-hour weight that was only made okay by the fact that she was able to change her declared weight of 165 lbs on her old ID to 145 lbs.

It's now the end of January. She still has not ordered her uniform. She figures, she's only going to order once she's between 120-135 lbs. She can pay for alteration any time on her already loose temporary uniform. She called in sick due to a pulled lower back muscle (she blames the squats she did the other day). She's 138.4 lbs now. No longer either obese or overweight; finally in the regular weight range.

The end.......

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is nowhere to be seen yet. My stand on what should be my goal weight now that I'm 138.4 lbs? For starters, I'm 3.4 lbs away from my first goal weight of 135 lbs. Which makes me 13.4 lbs away from my current goal weight of 125 or 18.4 lbs away from my aunts' 120-lb campaign. Well, it actually all depends on whether or not I become pregnant. For each day that I learn I am not pregnant, I feel like I'm always in a marathon: I run faster, jump higher, squat lower, lift heavier in order to get to a low enough weight that's ideal for pregnancy and for my health.

So yes. I'm trying to lose weight to become pregnant again. I'm trying to lose weight to accommodate, just like last Christmas, a healthy or a reasonable enough weight gain once I successfully conceive again. More importantly, I'm trying to lose weight and have a sustainable and healthy lifestyle change for my own health  - a health that I consider as my most important tool in living longer for my loved ones who need me and who love me.

5 Rules to Easy 2-3 Lbs Off in a Month

Yep. You read it right. I bet you mostly caught the words "easy" and "month". Just a disclaimer though: If you still eat over 3,000 calories' worth of fatty, greasy food, this is definitely not for you. Though the word "easy" here can truly be misleading, I acknowledge that there is no sustainable shortcut to weight loss and fitness. This set of rules, however, is worth adding to your fitness and weight loss regimen. The relative ease of these rules separates the truly determined from the simply lazy.

RECIPE: Oatmeal Arroz Caldo

OATMEAL ARROZ CALDO

I'm no health expert but when articles from all over and your own experience tell you that oats are good, then oats are, indeed, good.

Oats are the best thing that can ever happen to one's diet. According to Wikipedia, these contain more soluble fiber than any other grain. And what good does fiber do? It essentially makes us feel full thereby effectively curbing any more craving. What's more, certain studies have shown that it may actually help in lowering one's cholesterol. Between my hubby and I, I'm the oatmeal person. My husband's heart belongs to cereal (well, Quaker OATS cereal). He's taller and lighter than me (weight's regular) but it seems that my previously non-stop consumption of oatmeal a few months back has kicked his cholesterol level to the curb. Mine's at a regular level, his' is borderline high!

But okay, this blog post is not about our eating habits and our sad weight comparison. It is about that oatmeal dish that I still have every now and then for either breakfast or dinner.

OATMEAL ARROZ CALDO

"Arroz" means rice in Spanish, while "caldo" means broth. Basically, arroz caldo, a staple popular in former Spanish colony, the Philippines, is a rice broth or otherwise known as the Filipino-style congee.

The Philippines, being geographically close to China, has a lot of Chinese dishes in its cuisine and Arroz Caldo happens to be a Spanish-sounding "Filipinized" congee made of sticky rice, chicken broth, chicken, garlic, pepper and onion.

Now for someone like me who grew up to this but is on a quest to lose the LBs due to health concerns, rice can be a little tricky due to its calorie and sugar level. Thankfully, I discovered (and friends concur) that oatmeal can be of the same sticky consistency as rice as long as the oats are not swimming in water. And since I don't like the traditional breakfast oatmeal with the fruits, nuts, sugar and milk (I don't have a sweet tooth), I thought of making my own Oatmeal Arroz Caldo.

Here's the recipe of what I have been eating for the last two years:

1/2 cup dry of Quaker Oats Quick 1-Minute Oats  -  150 calories

1/2 boiled egg  -  39-40 calories

1/2 link microwaved chicken hamonado sausage (or the tastiest chicken sausage you can find in the deli/grocery)  -  115 calories (I buy Martin Purefoods' Chicken Hamonado Longanisa in the US)

1/2 tsp of powdered ginger (McCormick or any other brand)

generous sprinkles of dried minced onion and granulated garlic (McCormick or any other brand)

a dash of pepper to taste

chili powder (optional)

1. Pour hot water into a soup bowl, add the oats, ginger, onion and garlic

2. Add the sliced boiled egg and sliced chicken hamonado

**Makes 1 serving (304-305 calories/serving)

I know health nuts will surely chastise me for adding sausage in this dish (preservatives!) but hey! It's fast. filling, low in sugar and works for my palate. I am also not preventing anyone from going the extra mile by boiling their own chicken and adding it to this dish.

Blog Challenge Day 13

A letter to someone

who has hurt you recently

I have two letters. One for each person who has hurt me recently.

______________________

Dear You:

You hurt me. And I already told you why. I know by blogging about it, in the process, I hurt you too. For my words in that blog and for the blog, itself, I'm sorry. I let my emotions carry me away. But it's hard to be sorry for my emotions. Though I have professed, time and again, that my main purpose for losing weight is about health and not about vanity, I think, as a person who has such concerns, I am entitled to feel raw about those things, however big or small they may be, however funny or well-meant they are. You should know that you're not an isolated case. I even sometimes attack my own husband if extremely sensitive me (I'm a Cancerian!) thinks he goes beyond "wanting me to lose weight for health reasons". Shhh... Hehe.

I wish you the best on your upcoming wedding. I'm sorry I may not be able to attend. You're always in my prayers.

Always a friend,

Presh

______________________

Dear You #2:

I hope that you received my last text message. You know my only wish is that you and her realize daddy's worth before it's too late. I also hope it's clear to you that even if you hurt me so bad by calling me names,  should you both decide to show up before I leave for the US and declare your commitment in helping me take care of dad, I'd still welcome you in my house and leave behind that ugly past.

It's true. I hurt you too. But I wish you see that it's only because I had and still have high hopes and expectations from the both of you. I love dad so much that to have to leave him in a month's time will surely make me cry while on the plane.

It's Father's Day on Sunday. I pray that you find it in your hearts to really forgive him. His only wish is to see us complete. His only wish is to be given a chance to be a dad to you. It's not too late. Though I have already left everything in God's capable hands, I am somehow keeping the faith alive that he'll live long enough to see his grandkids from me and to see his grandkids from you.

Please do not waste this chance.

Your sister,

Precious

A Weight (Gain) Story

A week ago, I blogged about my weight loss journey - how I was of almost beauty pageant proportions to how I gained and lost and gained some more. Let me close that topic with this blog on tips and criticisms.

Just a few minutes ago, I made the mistake of sharing to a friend that I gained 3 lbs over the last 2+ days. Her first comment was an "oh". Since I learned overtime to expect reactions of such from her and since I also had already psyched myself for like reactions, I told her to not be disappointed with a smiley face (I mean that smiley face this time!). Thanks to a pep talk from my husband earlier, I was so positive that since I've already proven how easy it is [now] for me to lose weight, I would lose it in two or three days.

But now I'm sure you're asking yourselves, what happened?

On Wednesday at 8 PM, an hour before my usual time at the gym, I realized that I was unprepared for the following day's medical exam at St. Luke's Extension Clinic in Ermita for my US Immigrant Visa requirement. I needed four more pictures and Megamall on weekdays (except Fridays) closes at 9! It was raining really hard and the traffic on Shaw Boulevard was horrible. I was doing complicated mathematics in my mind: I knew I had to be at St. Luke's before 6 AM and it's a must to not delay the medicals any further. I even had to push it from my preferred schedule of June 15 to June 10 because of my monthly visitor (can't have my medicals with a period and waiting for four days for it to end and waiting for a week more before I can undergo any exam would endanger my ability to comply with this requirement before my July 5 interview).

To make the long story short, for the first time in 10 days, I did not go to the gym.

It's hard to forgive myself but I managed to shake it off in anticipation of the following day's activity. Complying with this requirement was more important than sulking over something I failed to do, that of which I trust I could do again and immediately at that!

Upon going home, I tried but failed to sleep immediately. I must have dozed off between 12:30 AM and 2:30 AM only to be awoken by my alarm clock at 3:45 AM. So much for amping up my metabolism with complete eight hours' worth of sleep. I did not bother having breakfast at home. I just grabbed an apple, Bearbrand sterilized milk and bottled water. In the cab, I was munching on the apple I took with me, trying to convince myself that it's okay to have a heavy breakfast (rice) with milk since 1) we can't take food with us to St. Luke's; and 2) it's advisable to have one as there's no fasting requirement and that there's going to be a looooong series of waiting, waiting and more waiting (St. Luke's does medicals for four embassies thus the "before 6 AM" statement of mine earlier!).

One huge mistake: I assumed there were good restaurants near St. Luke's. Since my stomach was grumbling and the clinic's about to open in less than 30 minutes, I just bought what the only carinderia there has to offer: one piece longganisa, 1/2 piece of meat loaf & one cup of rice. Pork. Great. Just great.

After the waiting, sitting, waiting, sitting routine ended at 11 AM, and when I finally managed, at almost 12, to go somewhere else where decent meals are served , I was already so hungry. Five hours between meals with not enough "burning" in between! Medical experts and dietitians say that in order to manage a healthy weight and increase one's metabolism, one must eat five small meals a day or at least "frequently" in small proportions. I know a former training colleague who gets hungry every two hours - she's still of nice proportions even with such.

Going home was not, in any way, easier. I took a beating from myself that I had a heavy breakfast and a heavy lunch that I resolved not to have dinner anymore. I was also sick of paranoia because at St. Luke's, I sat beside a woman whose x-ray scan two months ago delayed her US trip. It was only on the following day that I'd get my results (Yes! I needed to return!) so the paranoia left me exhausted with only a few hours of sleep.

The following day, I already resolved to eating at home. It was still a heavy breakfast as there's another round of waiting at St. Luke's. True enough, when I arrived before 8 AM, I had to wait until past 10 AM for my immunization. When I got my FOUR vaccinations, I had two more wait periods to face, each no less than 30 minutes long: one for the signing of the results and another for the release of my vaccination and x-ray documents. But at least my lungs are clear! No more two-month delay because of health concerns!

At 12 noon, I took a cab from Ermita to Ali Mall in Cubao. My mother-in-law invited me to attend mass and have lunch with her for her birthday. The lack of sleep was starting to kick in and I tried to fight a number of times the urge to doze off. The cab driver was quite creepy and my left arm was starting to hurt. It was painful that I could not move it up. Luckily, I still managed to catch the priest's sermon and gleefully made my way to lunch with her, her sister and my brother-in-law.

When I got home at 4 PM, I went straight to bed and caught two hours' worth of zzzz's. I woke up determined to go back to the gym and to go back to my usual dinner of oatmeal. The last one I managed to do and with gusto! The first though? Well, I chose not to. I wanted a combination of weight/strength training and cardios but my hurting arm said no. Doing cardios alone was not okay as I prefer moving my arms rigorously both on the treadmill during brisk/power walking and on the ellipticals and/or crossramp. Besides, hubby was confident I could lose the additional poundage fast. :)

And then came the "you-burst-my-bubble" in today's episode of my weight loss journey. Yes, it's back to this friend of mine. Her "oh" was followed by "I just could not believe that you'd gain weight that fast". It was softened by her "Could it be your metabolism?". Then it was jabbed by a "That lifestyle ruins your diet. I hope your stomach can soon get used to eating a smaller meal so that it won't get hungry all the time."

Huh? HUH?!!!!

She practically said "matakaw ako", probably without really thinking about it. Wisecracks like that, whether said in jest or meant well, rub me off the wrong way. I even once argued (not "fought", just to be clear) with hubby that though I don't deny succumbing to eating a lot in the US, I am generally not "matakaw". A certain uncle's wife used to be the head dietitian of Medical City in Ortigas. She, along with a number of dietitians I know and medical journals I read, said that having three cups of rice a day (one per meal) is just "right". There's the option to cut the serving to lose weight fast but that the option to cut all the carbs (Atkin's Diet) can lead immediately to an exhausted-looking pin thin frame. This is the reason why I switched to my diet of oatmeal with chicken or fish twice a day and at least one cup of rice during lunch just to cut the cravings. I know it works for me because it appeals to my taste. I also know, however, that there's no fool-proof way to lose weight: what works for one may not work on another.

Going to the word "diet". I notice, when most Filipinos say "diet", they immediately mean cutting food intake to lose weight. This thinking, however, places an ill connotation on the word especially for those battling weight problems. It's like a villain pretending to be an ally or worse, a means of torture. Technically, it takes a lot of people away from the real meaning of the word. Wikipedia defines it as "...the sum of food consumed by a person or other organism." Merriam Webster, on the other hand, puts it as "habitual nourishment". For me, it's simply "what we regularly/normally eat".

That being said, when I say my "diet" is oatmeal twice a day and rice for lunch, I am talking about what I regularly or normally eat and not what I do -  or cut  -  to lose weight. This is the language trainer in me despising that a certain word is taken to mean another. This is the person in me who has weight problems, the woman in me who's always thought of as already a mom (so much for me wanting to have a baby already) just because her boobs are big, loathing statements like "mag-diet ka" (go on a diet).

Tyra Banks  -  who was once a size 10, a size considered "too much" by the modelling industry for her 5'10 frame  -  spoke that in whatever size she is, she believes she's still beautiful. She lost the weight but she's not afraid to indulge with "cheaties" every now and then to reward one's self (America's Next Top Model Cycle 16). I love what she said because it's basically similar to allowing one's self to let loose and let go, to go on a "vacation" if and when needed and then to go back to "real life" that's full of strict schedules and disciplined routines. Plus, it doesn't hurt that Tyra never judged anyone with weight issues on her show. She was always careful in providing constructive feedback.

My jewelry design mentor and model, Cielo Fronteras once posted a Facebook status saying that before we judge one person badly because of his/her weight, we have to consider a number of factors (body frame, bone structure, thyroid issues, illnesses, culture, etc.) why this person is such. Our comments and criticisms may even do more harm than good.

Let me end this blog by saying that I'll lose the 3+ lbs in four-five days. WATCH ME.

Weight Loss Journey: I must be doing something right

When I was 16, I joined Rosas ng Santa Rosa (Santa Rosa City, Laguna). Back then I considered my weight of either 110 lbs or 117 lbs and my waistline of 27 inches as "chubby", proportions-wise. Ah! Who was I kidding?! THAT was slim. THAT was just right. Compared to what happened, 10 years after.

I am 16 going on 17.. lalala

Older? Check. Wiser? I'm now 26 (turning 27 next month!) and apparently, none the wiser when it comes to fitness ever since I started to pack on the LBs. Thankfully, I've proven that my brain cells are still working hard enough (in spite of all the fat.. ugh..) to push me to go to the gym and spend an hour on average there four to as much as seven times a week. The "wisdom comes with age" adage also applies to how I've started soliciting advice from health and fitness experts, virtual and human alike.

So allow me to come clean and browse through the details of my weight loss journey:

June 2001

The Rosas ng Santa Rosa winner declined from competing as Santa Rosa's representative to the 2001 Miss Laguna pageant. I was first runner-up so I was next in line. From 117 lbs, I "ballooned" to 121 lbs. The gay coordinator, with fierce determination in his eyes, spoke of how he'd make me lose weight. Nyarr... To make the long story short, I didn't compete. I had to make the most out of my freshman year in UP Diliman.

Creative shots for the UP Diliman College of Arts
and Letters 2005 yearbook

2004

From 135 lbs, I went back to 121 or 124 lbs. Then gained ALL the pounds back and more. I somehow managed to cut the "more" to clock in at 135 lbs in time for my graduation picture. The secret? NOT the Atkins Diet that everyone was raving about during that time. Mine's the Cabbage Soup Diet. lol.

2005-2006

Law School + Call Center Job + Santa Rosa to Diliman travel = P-O-U-N-D-S. I would wake up between 3-3:30 AM. Go to work at 4 AM. Clock in before 5 in Makati after travelling from Santa Rosa in Laguna. My job as a survey taker enabled me to take my food and my books at my workstation provided that the customer did not hear me munching or talking about Philippine legal terms. At 1 PM, work would have already ended and I would have already started drinking my first of four cups of free coffee at the office to study for my evening law classes. I badly needed to stay awake. At 4 PM, I'd already be on my way to the University of the Philippines in Diliman. Classes were from 6 PM-9 PM. I'd go home immediately after... well, most of the time. The "some of the time" involved dinner with law school classmates at notorious Diliman, Katipunan and Kalayaan Avenue resto must-gos. Usually back at home at 11:30 PM. I still would have to study. In order to stay awake, I would often turn to food.

Summer of 2007

I remember complaining to my PinoyExchange (PEx) friends about being 150 lbs.

3rd Quarter, 2007

Enrolled, for the second time, at Slimmer's World. I was heartbroken and I needed to feel good. I turned to shoe shopping, a fab haircut and intense workout sessions. While the first two served their purpose for a long time, the latter lasted four days (with huge gaps in between) until my month-long membership expired.

July 2008

I bought an elliptical machine after pressures from my dad that I should look good for Sergs. The "I-should-look-good-for-Sergs" part was more than enough to convince me that Sergs, my then-boyfriend-now-hubby, was-and-still-is on dad's good side. My PEx friend Andrea warned that I should not just let it gather dust.

At Walt Disney World in Florida in August 2008

August 2008

First "international" date in the US with my then-boyfriend-now-hubby, Sergs. There was a weighing scale in one of the public toilets in a mall in San Bruno in California. My weight registered as 159+ lbs.

January-March 2009

175 lbs. I blamed my 2-month Nicaragua business trip for my weight gain. I professed, adamantly, that even with my separation from my elliptical, I did try my very best to not let the fact that a driver took me to the office and back to the hotel everyday and that food there's delicious (rice with beans, their Gallopintos, plus pork and cheese) make me gain weight. I did half/semi-push ups on my hotel room's bathroom counter. I jogged (once) on one of Nicaragua's beaches. Yes. I did try. Really, I did.

May 2009

Signed up with a wedding gown designer. Begged that I be allowed a more than reasonable period to lose weight before my first fitting. I showed up on that day completely putting to waste the expensive corset I bought and was wearing just because I had a heavy dinner.

(The rest of) 2009

My "fitness" regimen included going to my graveyard shift at work without eating dinner. I'd buy Vitamin Water (the one that says "Reduce") and pair it with bola-bola siopao from 7-Eleven. I'd then spend the rest of my shift believing that since I was a language trainer who spent most of her time standing up, walking and hauling heavy training modules, I was actually "fit".

Wedding Day!

January 2010

With my wedding a few weeks away, my fiance and I decided to spend or maximize what little time we have left to at least say goodbye to some holiday poundage. We went to the gym every other day and tried to outdo each other's cardio efforts and lo and behold! It worked! Two weeks before the wedding, when we published our pre-nup shoot pics on Facebook, our friends posted comments about my weight loss. I was still in denial but became a believer when, a week later, during my final fitting with my couturier, they had to adjust my gown as I lost an inch on my arms and two inches on my waist. From 175 lbs, I went down to 169 lbs.

February-August 2010

Sinful treat at Red Lobster
in 2010

Big food servings (US size), no exercise (I had way too many excuses), cold weather (I was at the Bay Area!). It came as no surprise why I went from a promising 169 lbs to a scary 185 lbs. For the first time in my adult life, I had a weight-related health problem: GERD. Short for Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease or acid reflux, taking Omeprazole capsules twice a day became part of my routine.

August-November 2010

I was back in Manila, waiting for the approval of my spouse petition and 185 lbs. I missed my husband and dealt with my dad's health issues (he was in and out of the hospital every month from August to November), thus resorting to emotional eating. I enrolled myself again at the gym just outside our condominium the moment I returned. But at the same time, I had pizza and all other types of junk food delivered and feasted on Pinoy food that I missed while in the US! I knew I was getting absolutely insufficient exercise  -  not a noteworthy improvement from my sedentary lifestyle while in South San Francisco.

My medical exam's not-so-secret weapons

November 2010-present

When dad, thankfully (and finally!), stopped from having monthly hospitalizations, I resolved to do something about my weight. My husband arrived for a 10-day Christmas vacation and on the day he went back to the US, what I thought was a bun in my oven turned out to be no more than a hysterical pregnancy. It was the final nail to my coffin of weight-related denials and procrastination. I was tired of seeing pregnancy announcements of friends who got married after my January 2010 wedding. I was tired of the wisecracks about my weight. I wanted (and still want) to pass the medical exam for my immigrant visa application and return to the US in tip-top baby-making shape.

For the love of spice :)

More than a week ago, I got the good news about the schedule of my immigrant visa interview at the US Embassy and the expected medical exam requirement. Luckily, Pearl, a friend who happens to be a registered nurse, shared tips on how I can prepare. Let me now share what I've been doing every single day:

Morning Routine/Breakfast:

Can lower one's
blood pressure!

• Before having breakfast, I do 10-20 squats :D
• 5 teaspoonfuls of Quaker Oats Instant Oatmeal turned into my own version of Arroz Caldo (hot water, McCormick powdered ginger, McCormick granulated garlic, a dash of pepper and less than 1/8 teaspoon of iodized salt)
• 1 CDO California Chicken Hotdog with Cheese (microwaved, NOT fried)
• 1 boiled egg
• 1 apple
• 2-3 glasses of cold drinking water
• 1 Centrum vitamins

Lunchtime Routine/Meal:

• 1 cup rice
• Viand (fish, veggies, chicken.... NO pork...but sometimes I indulge on Siomai House's pork siomai :D)
• 2-3 glasses of cold drinking water
• 1 cup Fit 'N Right pineapple snack or 1 banana
• 10-20 more squats

Evening Routine/Dinner:

My choice of gym equipment...

Forgiving on the calves, knees and thighs.

• 5 teaspoonfuls of Quaker Oats Instant Oatmeal turned into my own version of Arroz Caldo (hot water, McCormick powdered ginger, McCormick granulated garlic, a dash of pepper and less than 1/8 teaspoon of iodized salt) <---------- basically acting as my low-cal rice replacement
• Viand: a little bit of meat - fish (sardines or Tilapia)/chicken and/or veggies
• 2 glasses of cold drinking water
• Stretching
• 10 minutes of low intensity cardios for warm-up (either on the crossramp at  level 10 for incline and 9 for resistance or on the treadmill with power walking at 3.8 miles/hour for the first nine minutes and 20 seconds, gradually going down to 3.6-3.4 miles/hour for the last few seconds)
• More water
• 20-30 minutes of weight training (60 squats with 3-lb dumbbells included)
• More water
• 15-30 minutes of high intensity cardios (usually on the crossramp at level 10 for incline and 9 for resistance or on the elliptical at 8 for resistance)
• More water
• 200 mL Bear Brand Sterilized Milk (to keep my acid reflux at bay and to help me sleep)

At 165 lbs, a few weeks ago.

As of this typing, I'm a week away from my medical exam and tipping the scale at 161.5 lbs with my Body Mass Index (BMI or ratio of fat in our body) significantly lowered (YAY!). I feel lighter, cleaner and healthier. My ideal weight is 137 lbs but I'm realistically gunning for two more pounds of weight loss before my exam and 10 or 11 more off my weight after that (in time for my birthday on July 19  -  my birthday gift for myself!). Yes. These are all just for the time being.

In the end, my decision to push myself to lose weight does not really rely heavily on what other people see and think. My husband makes me feel secure every step of the way. :) I want to live longer, simply put. And it's all about having a realistic goal and seeking for healthy ways to achieve it. It's all about healthy, tasty, nutritious food on smaller/fewer proportions and ways to burn it. You are what you eat and/or burn, as they say, and that is me wishing to not see 173 or 185 lbs on my frame anymore. I'd rather be a promising 158 lbs on her journey to becoming a fit 137 lbs.