Happy New Year!

Hi readers! How are you? Just a quick update on the efforts.

Last December, I vowed to lose weight during the holiday season by double-timing on my weight loss efforts. Fast track to today, I was able to lose weight, but it wasn’t because of exercise or diet.

The last day I was able to exercise was on December 16 of last year. I went for an early thirty minute jog at the beach and did Day 1 of the 16-Days of Beginner Crossfit At Home. That night, though, Typhoon Washi (local name Sendong) ripped through Cagayan de Oro City, causing the CDO river to swell, washing out homes, leaving hundreds of thousands homeless and killing more than a thousand people in its wake.

that’s me in black

Where to Find The Best Workout Wear: Cagayan De Oro (CDO) Version

My previous post was about what to wear while working out, and in this post, we’ll talk about where to get them here in Cagayan de Oro City. Are you ready to find out?

photo credits from petitelefant.com

What To Wear While Working Out (Part 1)

Help! I don’t know what to wear to the gym! 

This is a problem most women have when they plan to start their fitness regimen. In fact, the only reason why it took me so long to start working out was because I never had anything to wear – and I had no idea what to wear as well. Eventually, I did enroll in gym classes and I started out with one pair of shoes two sweat pants and several shirts. During the next few months I have accumulated a whole lot, and I’d like to think my work-out wear has already taken up around ¼ of my closet.

So, delving in to the essence of this post – what exactly should you wear to the gym and what kind of clothes should you avoid? I’d also like to delve into the question, where should you buy gym clothes, but that’s something worth of another post. Anyway, without further ado, here are your gym wear essentials.

To Diet or Not To Diet?

I’ve never been a firm believer in diets – and by diets I mean not eating rice for days or not eating at all. After all, isn’t food too good to resist? This is probably the reason why I’ve lost only four pounds in four months, when I could have lost a total of 24 pounds already. Then again, my visits to the gym were irregular, too, so I guess I can’t blame food alone.

Credits to Favim.com

What Is Diet, Anyway?

Basically, the word diet is a collective term for all the food consumed by an organism. Therefore, what I eat is my diet and what you eat is your diet. Of course, in the “real world” the word diet often connotes a specific or limited nutrition intake for weight management purposes – but that doesn’t just mean staving off on food for a period of time. So, let’s throw the notion that diet equals to starving right out the window for a moment.

New Weekly Workout

Once again I teeter at 136 and 137 lbs, which is an improvement given the fact that I’ve been at 140 several weeks ago. But then again losing A POUND A MONTH will take me forever to get fit. Aside from that, I have an upcoming vacation in a month’s time – so if I want to at least look a bit decent in a swimsuit, I have to amp up my game.

Here’s the gameplan for the week (and for the next few weeks – provided that my class schedule will allow me – I have yet to get myself enrolled.)

An Update on The Efforts

Can I quiz you on something? Well, here goes.

Why did Justine stop her weight loss and diet plans?

1. Because she got sick
2. Because her research paper was killing her
3. Because her other school projects was killing her
4. Because her freelance work was killing her
5. Because she just got tired and decided to live life as a fat slob
6. Answers 1 – 6
7. All of the above

The Weight Loss Master Plan

I am 140 lbs. At 5’4 (and ¾) that makes me slightly overweight – thank goodness not obese…yet. By consulting my very trusty Livestrong account – I need to reduce my daily caloric intake to 1258 calories everyday and exercise regularly in order for me to lose two pounds a week.

In case you didn’t know, weight loss of two pounds a week is the maximum amount of weight to lose weekly to be considered safe. Anything more than that is unsafe at all. Anyway, I need to limit my food intake and up my exercise.

Grabbing The Bull By The Horns

After I gave birth, I easily lost weight because I breastfed my daughter. Six months after giving birth, I was back to 117 lbs. However, after I stopped breastfeeding her, my weight just started to skyrocket. From 117 lbs, it became 125 lbs – but the ballooning didn’t stop there. The next thing I knew I was 130 lbs. Two months later – I found myself ten pounds heavier.

Gaining weight is so simple, but losing is so difficult. But if I don’t act now, when will I start? When I’m already 160 lbs? 180? 200?

Beside The Gym Fire Exit I Sit

Here I am sitting near the fire exit of my gym, sipping my slimming coffee, hoping that I can get WiFi access from other neighboring establishments – but I don’t think that’s going to happen. It’s 3:06 PM. I sit and tap away as everyone else is either sipping their slimming coffees (too), talking and laughing or trying on Nike jogging pants and sports bras that are for sale (one month to pay).

Oops. Where are my manners? I haven’t welcomed you to my blog yet.

So, well – hi! Welcome to this little nook in the internet world that will chronicle my quest for weight loss and fitness – and yes, throw in beautiful skin too, since I believe that being fit and healthy includes having healthy skin.

So – I start today – August 19, 2011.  This blog will serve as a journal that will chronicle my diet, exercise and other efforts for weight loss. I might throw in several articles and tips for weight loss as well.

So join me in my quest for fitness – who knows, you might just start yours, too! Anyway, I best be off now. Time to hit the treadmill before dance class starts.