Making 2017 count

Gōng Xǐ Fā Cái - 恭禧发财! Four weeks into 2017, I'm celebrating my 'second' New Year. This also happens to be my sixth CNY since I joined the company, we'll call it Company M, where I'm connected with. A lot of you know that it's a Chinese-owned organization. Lucky me, this second New Year gives me a chance to write Making 2017 Count.Ü

I have been reading my 2016 year-end blog post these past couple of days and seeing the people who were with me in 2016 never fails to make me smile. Why am I saying this? I struggled the first two weeks of 2017 and I hated every minute of it. I usually am a positive and optimistic person. I easily adapt to change, except this one time. I was out of it the first few days and I am disappointed at myself for not being able to comfortably move forward with this one huge change that's happening right now. Late last year, someone I look up to and have gotten close with made a decision to choose a different path. It was a big blow for me plus other friends at work who were blessed to have gotten to know him beyond our professional lives


We were like family and it took a lot of courage for me to face the reality of his decision. I was in denial for a while, but I knew that I owe it to myself to move past this. Step 1 was to allow myself to feel sad. Pain bonded the rest of the 'family' that he left behind. Once I started to act like a grown-up about it, I started to feel better. And now my new page is filled with excitement with a pinch of anxiety. I know that things happen for a reason even if the reasons always come after. Instead of toying with ideas of leaving and running away, I look forward to discovering whatever good is there for choosing to stay. Waiting was never one of my strongest points so I hope this comes to pass soon.

It can be easy to get sucked in by these things. It can be tempting to just leave yet once you remind yourself of the bigger picture, you see how pitiful an exit running away can be. We're just human and we can easily get seduced to self-destructive pleasures. So no matter how terrible a situation is, I always make a conscious effort to choose to see the good over the bad stuff. My Chinese zodiac forecast says that 2017 isn't going to be that nice for me. I almost threw a fit when someone told me about this. You see, I have tendency to over-think so to counter this and to continue to channel my energies to being positive, there are 2 things that I'd like to do for myself through my blog this year.

Making the Year Count
This is an annual, start of the year ( or start of the Chinese New Year in my case ) goal-setting post that I am reviving. Bloggers have different names for this, but a lot of us do it. I first did mine in 2014 when I stumbled upon a link-up hosted by Kelli Murray. After 2014, I missed the next two years.Ö

Things I Love Sundays
This one is a count-your-blessings journal thing that I learned from Musings in Milan. Gratitude Journals have become a popular practice everywhere, even Oprah Winfrey has one.Ü I believe that gratitude does magic. I came across this article from Abundance & Happiness and it talked about how gratitude attracts happiness. You may want to check it out if you have extra net time, it's a good read.

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What is something you want to change or a goal you want to set for the year? How do you plan to make it happen?
If there's one thing I failed miserably at last year, that was taking care of myself. I must have gained at least 7-lbs and it got to a point when some people would bluntly tell me how I got "rounder". Of course I was annoyed and I noticed how it was affecting my confidence. I was working out but I guess it wasn't so effective because I lost discipline with what I ate. Come mid-November, when I returned from my Japan trip, that's when I decided to first cut down on junk food. Despite my thyroid troubles, as of today, my total weight loss = 4.2 pounds.

Setting the confidence issue and vanity aside, I am doing this for myself. I have no plans of getting married and have no plans of having children. If I want to live a long life and for me to make my travel dreams come true, wellness is important. I intend to continue what I'm doing right now for at least 3 more months. If I stay on track, I'm guessing I'd lose at least 10 more pounds. Then I'd go back to training to tone these muscles. Wish me luck.Ü


Many people choose a word to reflect on or live by for the year — let us know your word. How will you work on it this year?
I started to think about this way back in December, but waited until after the first few days of the year for a word that would be most meaningful to me. This transition right now has a lot to do with this. I don't think I will ever be fearless, but I would like to be able to always choose to confront my fears and to act on them in both big & small ways. I bet you're shocked with what I just wrote. My family, friends, and people around me know me to be an extra-strong woman, but guys, supergirls get scared, too.Ö For whatever it'll be, I want my heart to remain strong and my spirit to stay brave with anything that life throws at me. So friends, the word that calls out to me the strongest for 2017 is COURAGE.


I will make 2017 count by: Live in Gratitude AND Spread the Love.
Peace + Love + Good Vibes. RUSS.


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Making 2014 Count

Battle Plan: A clean & healthy colon

Hola! Before you continue to read, let me tell you that this isn’t for the faint-hearted. I was apprehensive to write about this but I will do my best to not be TMI and to not be as visual as possible. You may skip reading The Experience part. Okidoki? Here goes ...

It was Maundy Thursday. My Mom and Tita Rose ( her older sister ) just came back from a week-long Coron, Palawan vacation and the moment that I stepped out of the car to greet them at the airport, the first thing that my Mom did was to instruct our driver to drive straight to this Health & Wellness Center in San Pedro, Laguna. How fun. Lol.

Ho-hum. So, the Mommy Card works. Again..
I already knew what was coming, but I was so pissed with myself because my Mom outsmarted me on this. It was something that I have been trying to escape the whole month of March ever since Mom and Tita Rose discovered + gone through 3 straight sessions of Colon Irrigation / Colon Hydrotherapy. I was constantly bombarded with text messages about the benefits of having a healthy colon. I do understand it, but the thought of having something inserted in your butt is just not my thing.

Going back to my story - since it was Maundy Thursday here in the Philippines, it was a holiday. Neither “I'm working” nor “I have an event” would work on my Mom. It was a dead end. Mom used her I’m Your Mother Card and being the obedient daughter that I am, I had my first Colon Hydrotherapy.


Colon Hydrotherapy. How is it done?.
For those not familiar with Colon Irrigation or Hydrotherapy, it’s a process wherein “a low-pressure pump or a gravity-based reservoir flushes several gallons of water through a small tube inserted into your rectum. After the water is in the colon, the therapist may massage your abdomen. Then you release the water like a regular bowel movement; the process flushes out the fluids and waste.” This process is usually repeated over and over and in my case, it took about 30 to 45 minutes. • [ Read More: WebMD ]

Session 1
Reluctant. Anxious. Scared. Admittedly, even if I heard wonderful, happy, beautiful stories about it from my Mom, Aunt, and a few of my girlfriends who religiously do it I really didn’t want to go through this colon cleansing procedure it because I had this thought lingering in my head that I would feel violated. That's just me and my over-exaggerated imagination — the experience varies for every individual, but I kid you not, the first time was very uncomfortable & was the longest 30-minutes of my life.

Session 2
I did better this time. Like super duper better. I did not panic, I was relaxed, and I was focused on fully understanding & appreciating the experience. This made things easier for my therapist & I. I know I gave her a difficult time during the Session #1 because I was screaming half the time. I didn't see her panic, but I saw beads of sweat on her forehead. Lol.

The Experience.
I was covered the entire time and the therapists were well-trained – these helped me ease up a bit. Like what I said, there was a lot of discomfort and cramping the first time but you will eventually get used to it. In Session #1, what came out were mostly gas and a lot of acid. WOW, that's probably 11 years worth of coffee, wine, soda, and cocktails. Session #2 had more acid, gas, and bowel pockets. It just sounds a little off, but the sight was horrendous as I initially thought it would be.

I still don't like the idea of having something inserted in my butt ( and I don't think I will ever like it ), but I'm glad that my Mom & Aunt strongly encouraged me to try Colon Hydrotherapy. I know there isn't a solid belief in the medical community about the procedure. Some rave about it and there are groups who speak the opposite. At the end of the day, we know our bodies more than anyone. Colon Hydrotherapy was a month in the making for me. I still do not like it but I'm glad that I did it.

I most certainly feel a lot lighter and whatever bloated feeling I have is gone. I also noticed that my tummy got smaller plus I feel more energized. Will I have my third session? Yes, I will. I have yet to go on Session #3 and we'll see if there are more junk in my gut. In Part 2 of my post, I will be talking about the benefits and how Colon Hydrotherapy has improved my lifestyle and eating habits.

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Not everyone can easily undergo Colon Hydrotherapy. If this post piqued your interest and you are considering having it done, make sure to consult with a medical practitioner. Have you tried Colon Hydrotherapy? ☮..Peace + ❥_Love + Good Vibes. RUSS.

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The Battle Plan Series
» Strong, not skinny
» Discover Yoga
» No shortcuts. Eat Right + Exercise.

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Image Credit: @MissFitMissHap

Battle Plan: Strong, not skinny.

Beautifully BRUTAL, but I love it. Circuit Training is my new favorite "thing". I find it more intense than Boxing, but just as fun as Kettlebell Workouts. I had my first Circuit Training experience last December and it was WOW. I was crushed. I kid you not but completing a circuit at that time felt like I was going to die. Every inch of my body was ready to give up but my mind continued on telling me that I can do it. Heck, I wanted to do it. It would be shameful to talk about it and not complete the damn circuit. I completed the circuit.

I barely survived 2 cycles then, but now I can easily do 3. I have been working on upping the ante to gradually doing the more difficult exercises and increasing my number of cycles. If there were something that I super wish I been better at last year, that would have been taking care of my health. It was thoughtless of me to let it slip because I was always busy ( not an excuse, I know ), but that's definitely changing this year.


Conquer is my word for 2016. I gave my conquer theme a head start towards the end of 2015 because I needed to condition my mind to making that first baby step. It is not new to you guys that I have an effed up metabolism because of my thyroid condition. I beat it before and I'm set to battling it again. Making the first decision and taking the first step are always the hardest. However, once you have your mind and heart committed to something, you will find ways to make it happen even through the craziest work schedules and despite the thyroid madness.

If we're friends in Swarm & Foursquare, you'd notice that I have been checking in often at a local hotel. I got a gym membership in this hotel where I spend portions of my weekend running and lifting weights. Come weekdays, I am at my new playground. This new gym close to my work place opened this year that's why after work hours are now healthier. It also helps that P joined me on this health journey.

For readers not familiar with Circuit Training, it is an intense program "involves performing a series of strength training exercises with less than the normal amount of rest. The rest between sets is purposefully not enough for complete recovery. A circuit could have ten exercises with a set each with no rest. You could do a series of exercises with work intervals and rest intervals. Circuits can be intense and as short as 12 minutes or they can be as long as an hour. The variable are limitless so it may seem confusing but the main point is to do more work in less time than you would in a "normal" weight training session." [ Read more: Melissa's Ultimate Fitness ]

I finally had the chance to visit my new playground.Ü I am beyond thrilled making little tweaks with some habits and taking baby steps to weekday lifestyle changes 💪 #HappyHour #HealthyLiving #StrongNotSkinny #GearUpForManila

A photo posted by R U S S (@ruussso) on Jan 29, 2016 at 6:19am PST

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I will most likely be writing more about Circuit Training and this new journey of mine. I'm far from where I want to be and I am a major work-in-progress, but what's important for me right now is how I was able to finally make that first step to taking action. It will be a lot of work, but hey, I'm tough cookie. Backing out is not in my dictionary.  ☮..Peace + ❥_Love + Good Vibes. RUSS.

—
The Battle Plan Series
» Discover Yoga
» No shortcuts. Eat Right + Exercise.
» Slowly, but surely

A healthy lifestyle + Alaska's Family Fun Run

I've been an advocate of healthy living for over 5 years now. This change in lifestyle was brought about by a thyroid condition which put me at great risk in 2008. After my surgery that year, I thought everything was going to be alright. Well, it did but little did I know that my life after the surgery will require me to exert double- triple- quadruple efforts mostly to lose pounds and maintain my ideal weight. I remember going from having a hyperthyroid and on some days it becomes under-active, which freaks me out more. I was scared that I might become obese.

I am continuously learning about everything there is to know about the thyroid. There were days when I got frustrated but eventually when I found myself accepting that it’s part of my life now ( play dramatic music now, lol ), it started to bring positive changes in me. Science has not yet found something to totally bring this whole thyroid thing of mine back-to-normal, so I found ways to cheat ( at least that’s what I think ) my thyroid condition with healthy eating, exercising instead of sitting on the couch all day watching television or spending hours on the internet, doing my best to not stress about the trivial things, et cetera. And, in the process, I have encouraged family members, relatives, friends, and some colleagues to embrace a healthier lifestyle. This becomes more fun, easier, and more encouraging when everyone in the family is at it. Yup, even children. No one is neither too young nor too old for a healthier lifestyle. Agree?

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While we health buffs are growing in numbers, it helps that there are more brands and products that promote wellness, clean living, and an active lifestyle ... and, one of these brands is Alaska. On Sunday, 31-May 2015, Alaska will hold a fun at the Mall of Asia as part of its Alaska World Milk Day celebration. Categories for the fun run are:

» 100m and 1KM for kids
» 3KM
» 3KM Family
» 5KM and 10KM

Another exciting activity that participants may look forward to this Sunday is the launching of the Milk Hour, which will happen at 6 o' clock in the morning in four different locations: Manila, Baguio, Cebu, and Davao. Milk Hour aims to promote proper nutrition for kids. I recently found out that World Milk Day is celebrated annually in many countries to provide an opportunity on milk as a global food central to health and well-being across cultures and nations, and to highlight the contributions connected to milk and the overall dairy industry. I love milk so I guess I will be celebrating with my fellow milk-lovers all over the world.

For more information about World Milk Day, you can visit www.alaskaworldmilkday.com. And, if you don't have plans yet for this weekend, do join the Alaska Family Fun Run this coming Sunday, 31-May 2015 at the Mall of Asia Concert Grounds. Encourage your family to a healthier lifestyle + to drink milk, too!Ü

Race Day:	May 31, 2015 ( Sunday )
Venue:	SM Mall of Asia Concert Grounds, Block 16 Seaside Boulevard cor. Palm Coast Avenue
Start Line:	Seaside Boulevard cor. Bayshore Avenue
Categories:	100M, 1KM, 3KM Individual, 3KM Family, 5KM, and 10KM
Online Registration:	www.alaskaworldmilkday.com
Milk Hour:	6:00AM

Are you and your family into fun runs? If not, what healthy activities does your family love to do?
 ☮..Peace + ❥_Love + Good Vibes. RUSS.

Carpe Diem: March 2015

Mom & Dad on their wedding day, 34 years ago
It's March. It's summer. And, love is in the air! March is the month when my parents had their second wedding. The first one was a civil + secret marriage ( yes, uso sya dati! ) which was followed by a church wedding a few months after. My parents aren't exactly together now, but I recently realized that while I have gotten used to their complicated set-up, our set-up, I still want my Mom and Dad to reconcile & be lovey-dovey to each other again. The universe hasn't conspired so well in making their marriage work, but I feel that there's still something there — they just don't want to talk about it. I am jaded, but believe it or not, I am still a hopeless romantic ... a child who hasn't lost faith that one day, she'd still see her parents back in each others' arms.

Anyways, it's a little late for my Carpe Diem post for this month because I've been extra extra busy, but I'm still up for it. I'd hate to miss a month. You know what they say: better late than never. So, here it goes.

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My Favorite Blog This Month: 2FoodTrippers ( www.2foodtrippers.com )
I love love love this blog because there's just an overload of food posts and so much travel posts here — two of the few things that are close to my heart. If you have some time to spare, head over to their blog after mine and be very ready to drool because there's just too many nice food shots from different parts of the world that they've been to.

What I'm Reading
I'm reading Ron Rash's Serena. I saw the movie and I was curious. Luckily, I learned that there was a novel version of Serena ... a film that intense, it should be a good read. I'm half-way through the book. So far, I've been getting all the answers to the stuff that were not shown in the movie. I could picture the young Cherie Gil ( super idol! ) play the role of Serena Pemberton.

What I'm Watching
It's funny how I slept through the first episode of The Flash. It's even funnier that P plugged a middle episode of the first season and I found myself enjoying the series because Barry Allen and his friends are all geeks. Now, I'm hooked. "The adventures of scientist Barry Allen who is a superhero with incredible speed." [ Read more at Gotcha Movies ]







What I'm Eating
After my gastroadventures in Malaysia and all the extra family meals we had when my Tita Rose ( Mom's big sister ) was here in the Manila for 3 weeks, I'm now slowly going back to my 1,200 calorie meal program and this time around, I signed up with Sexy Chef's SexyDelicious meals. I've been at it for the last 2 weeks. In the last photo on this post, you'll see a sample meal plan for 1 day which consists of breakfast, lunch, a snack, and dinner.

What I'm Drinking
And, if I've been eating healthy stuff, it follows that I've been drinking healthy stuff too. I am happy that Detoxify Bar has finally opened in Westgate, in Alabang. I can now conveniently have my veggie juices any time I want 'em.

What's Making Me Smile Right Now
I spent a lot of time with relatives that I have not seen in years. It was fun seeing my little cousins all grown-up and taller than me. My grandmother's passing brought a reunion of sorts. While it does not sound right, it felt like the good ol' days when we were all still little. I guess I just missed being with them. Nothing beats the family love — I hope we, the younger generation, would do a better job at keeping in touch and seeing each other more often. We need to keep the love alive.

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March went by so fast; there were just so many things happening all at once. I hope April would be more chill, not as toxic, and not as crazy as this month. I'm way behind a lot of my posts, so it looks like I won't really be suffering from any kind of writer's block in the next few weeks. Lol. Hope March has been good to you guys :) ☮..Peace + ❥_Love + Good Vibes. RUSS.

Carpe Diem: February 2015

Photo Credit: Anne Marthe Widvey
February has always been one of my favorite months ( the other one is December ). For one, it is cupid's month and I love how the whole world would put a lot of effort in one of the most celebrated Hallmark occasions, Valentine's Day. Back in college, high school, and grade school it was one of the months that we all looked forward to. Girls usually receive a lot of presents from boys who secretly have a crush on them. It's both cute and fun seeing all the boys in school walk down the hallways with a huge bouquet of flowers. Sometimes, they really go out of their way and the girls serenaded in class! Yup, we had all these gimmicks in school. It usually runs for a week and the culminating activity is a Valentine concert. Aww. I wonder if these are still being done in schools. Anyhoos, aside from February being the month of my favorite color — red, I <3 this month to bits because ...

1.  February is my birthday month. And, I'm turning 23 ( again ) this year.
2.  It's short and we usually have 1 holiday during this time. If we get lucky and Chinese New Year is in February, we get 2.
3.  Also, this month always makes me feel closer to one of my #1 favorite season: SUMMER.
4.  I usually go on a trip in February. It's sort of become a personal tradition that I've been doing for years.
5.  There are times when Chinese New Year falls on this month. I'm not Chinese, but I like to celebrate CNY.

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Image Source: Movie Pilot

My Favorite Blog This Month: Paroles de la Vie ( www.childish-paroles.com )
I got to know Sin from one of the blog groups I joined. She's a Malaysian blogger and she writes about all the coolest restaurants to try in Malaysia as well as skin care products that we women would surely want to try. If you have some extra net time after reading this, please give Sin some love and head over to her blog.

What I'm Reading
I'm bad. I promised to read the book first before watching the movie but what was I to do? My brother comes home one night and raves about Gone Girl and practically commands me to watch it a-sap. He rarely makes recommendations so the movie must have totally blown him away. Yup, I am reading Gillian Flynn's Gone Girl right now. I'm also doing a lot of reading about Malaysia and Kuala Lumpur. You guys will know why :)

What I'm Watching
I am still loving Supernatural. The new season has started and I've seen four, sobrang bitin! I'm waiting for them to finish the rest of the episodes. For me, Dean Winchester is still the more adorable Winchester brother.




Image Source: Website

What I'm Eating
It's all about healthier options.Ü I'm happy to share with everyone that I've been doing good with my food choices. About 97% of the time, my meals are not friend. I have not had pork as well for over a month. Overall, I feel great! I'm still enrolled in a meal program simply because I find it working for me.

What I'm Drinking
I'm such a good girl. I've not been drinking soda and my coffee intake has been reduced from 1-2 cups per day to 1-2 cups per week. I never planned to not drink coffee, but it just kind of happened when I signed up for my meal program which provides me with organic decaffeinated tea and fresh strawberry juice every day. There's actually no room for coffee.

What's Making Me Smile Right Now
I'm set to fly out in a few days and will be in Kuala Lumpur! I'm celebrating my birthday in Malaysia.Ü I think it will also be cool to witness how others celebrate Valentine's Day. I'm pretty glad that I won't be in Manila for Valentine's Day traffic. Guys, I'm not being mean — it's the truth. Going back to the KL trip ... I'm meeting up with one of my good friends from way back our Human Pets days, Cindy and one of my favorite ates who also happens to be one of the most creative gals I know, Ate Carrie. P and I are also hoping to have a mini get-together with Battle Camp friends. It's a secret life that we have, lol.

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Yup, I am excited. I am already counting the days til my mini-vacation. I have not had one since my trip to Japan last year and KL is the first one in my 2015 plans. I'm still working on that solo travel I was planning to do this year. It was supposed to be in KL, but since P is going with me, I need to pick another city and country. Suggestions are more than welcome :)

It's my turn to ask. Are you doing anything extra special in the month of hearts? Where will you and your special someone spend Valentine's Day?  ☮..Peace + ❥_Love + Good Vibes. RUSS.

Carpe Diem: January 2015

New Year ... a blank page, a fresh start, a clean slate. I am more than ready to embrace all the amazing opportunities and wonderful adventures this year has for me. I've been told by my Chinese friends that things will be a whole lot better in 2015 + this year is going to be very good for people born during the Year of the Dog ( me ), Horse, and Monkey. But hey, these signs stuff should only serve as a guide and shouldn't mean anything absolute because at the end of the day, success and good fortune are brought about by hard work and our actions. Right? In any case, I am already claiming them — adventures, lessons, triumphs, and everything in between.

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Image Source: Website

The previous year has been nothing but incredible and in 2015, here are the lessons from 2014 that I shall take with me:
- Actions will always speak louder than words. If you want to make a point, don't just say, DO it.
- Traveling keeps me sane. And happy. I am so making more time for it this year.
- Fairy tales have taught me that good always prevails, so be good at being good.
- You need to take it easy on yourself because no matter what you do, you cannot please everybody.
- Sincere hard work ( that kind that does not have ulterior motives ) will always be rewarded.
- You lose friends along the way, but you'll always meet and make new + better ones.
- Sometimes, it's alright to say NO. Sometimes, it's perfectly okay to make a decision that's not popular.

Moreso, I like and I will ...
Feeling extra inspired and brimming with hope & good vibes for the year, these are the goals I've set for 2015.
- I will read at least 30 books. This one's inspired by one of the most creative women I know and fellow bookwork, Iza.
- I will travel alone to at least 1 country.
- I will visit at least 3 more countries.
- I will go on a road trip to at least 5 towns in the Philippines that I have not been to.
- I will continue to push for more actual face-to-face human interactions regardless how busy everyone is.
- I will take the 2015 Brokers' Licensure Exams.
- And finally, I will take my chance ( again ) at driving. Let's see if I will finally learn how to drive this year.



Image Source: Website

My Favorite Blog This Month: Pieces of Liz ( www.rubyredconfessions.blogspot.com )
I've known Liz since our old school blogging days in 2003 and I'm happy that I got the chance to finally meet her last year. Liz is also a member of the Secret Book Club and she is one of the most pleasant and nicest bloggers I know. Do visit her blog if you have extra net time today because you she writes about beauty finds, restaurants she loves, books that we read in our Secret Book Club, and more!

What I'm Reading
The Secret Book Club's January 2015 Book of the Month ( BOM ) is Diana Wynne Jones' The Islands of Chaldea. Has any of you read this title? I'll have my post up next month or earlier for Book Club Friday.

What I'm Watching
I'm back to Once Upon a Time. I stopped somewhere in Season 2 last year and I recently started watching the third season of this twisted fairy tale. I read some stuff on the net about the series and I love how even Once Upon a Time's gotten the Frozen fever. Don't worry, there are no spoilers. But I did see a couple of posters and articles that said #onceisfrozen, so yeah, Elsa and Anna are going to be in Storybrooke.



Image Source: Poster and Photo


What I'm Eating
After all the nonstop eating from the 2-week long holiday, I'm back to my regular meals and that means I'm back to eating healthier. For those of you who have been with me for the past months, you'd probably recall that I signed up with Fitness Gourmet PH for a 1200-calorie per day meal program, which I did for 6 weeks towards the end of 2014. And now that the holidays are over, I need extra help. I signed up with Diet Lite and Easy Cafe for a 23-day meal program. Day 1 will be on 15-Jan.

What I'm Drinking
I have committed to stop drinking Coke Light or Coke Zero and will drink water instead. This is something that I've started before but I went into some sort of stress-eating for a certain time and I failed. BUT this year, I will redeem myself :)

What's Making Me Smile Right Now
I'm excited to see a friend who's visiting from Australia. We were supposed to meet several times but it never seemed to push through because of the weather — timing was always wrong because each time this friend is in the Philippines, Metro Manila is always flooded, lol! I kept telling my friend to stop coming to Manila during the rainy season and I'm glad that he decided to visit on a non-rainy season month. Hopefully, everything works out okay this time.

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I end this post with a huge smile on my face + I'm feeling extremely excited about everything that I will DO this year. We only pass this way once, might as well do the things we're deathly afraid of ( in my case, solo travel and driving in Metro Manila — I hope our driver doesn't hate me for this, ahaha ), take the plunge, and make the trip worthwhile. Yes?

Your turn now :) Is there something that you've always wanted to do but you've always been scared to even try? What are you most excited about this month? What's making you smile right now? Happy 2015 everyone!  ☮..Peace + ❥_Love + Good Vibes. RUSS.

Carpe Diem: December 2014

Photo Credit: Toni 190
Aaaah, the 12th and last month of the year. I start to feel the Christmas rush when I see queues in Starbucks getting longer, then everywhere you go, there are just soooo many people buying presents for friends and loved ones. Everywhere I go, people seem to be extra nice. These are some of the things that I love about this month. Ever since I was a kid, aside from my birthday month, December has always been one of my favorite months. It's a good month, a happy month and every single person on earth should experience even the slightest bit of that.

Festivities during this month make us spend time with people who have been with us for the last 12 months. Other activities also bring us more opportunities to share our blessings with others. And more importantly, December usually gives us the chance to look back at the year that was ... may it be something that we want to rave about or otherwise. Sure, we can do this any time of the year, but for some reason December seems to be the perfect moment to gauge if we've been bad or good. I think we're never too old or too young for that. Agree? [ Read: November 2014 ]

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Mao in the Boardroom by Gabriel Stricker


What am I reading?
Learning doesn't end in school. I'm brushing up on some Marketing shites in my leisure time ( I know, I'm such a nerd ) and I'm reading Mao in the Boardroom.

My favorite blog this month: Flying the Nest ( www.flyingthenest.tv )
This is one of the travel blogs that I've come to visit more often. Flying the Nest is owned by an Australian couple and their blog is very informative + they post magazine-perfect photos. I am always tempted to book a flight each time I read a new blog post from Stephen and his wife. If you have a bit more extra time after reading this, please drop by Flying the Nest and get ready to be wow-ed! Trust me, you'll love this blog.



Photo Credit: Website
What I'm watching
I'm very much hooked to  Suits.  I've had a long history with legal stuff and albeit it has long been part of the past, I think the subject kind of grew on me. I haven't decided if I like Harvey Specter more than Mike Ross. I'm just in the first season, but I'm certain that I'll watch this til the very end.

What I'm eating
I'm happy to share that I'm on my fifth week with Fitness Gourmet PH's 1,200 calorie diet program. Admittedly, I struggle at times but it takes a lot of discipline to stay focused. I always remind myself that I want to achieve my goal of losing my last two ( 2 ) stubborn pounds. While I have not done a weigh in, I am pretty sure that I'm doing progress because a lot of my clothes feel "normal" again. I plan to continue Fitness Gourmet PH for a few more weeks in preparation for the upcoming 2-week long holiday here in the Philippines.



Photo Credit: Rappler's Starbucks PH holiday menu and planner

What I'm drinking
I've been putting some effort in getting drinks from Starbucks for my stickers. Yes, it is that time of the year! Do you guys have this in your country? December is probably Starbucks PH's biggest month ever since they came up with the planner 9 or 10 years ago. I gotta give it to them, it's an awesome Marketing strategy and it obviously works because people can't seem to get enough of these planners. Each year, other brands and coffee shops have had attempts to outdo & outshine Starbucks, but not one of them has surpassed the success of Starbucks when it comes to these pretty planners.

In January of this year, I promised myself that I will ditch the planner this year. I've always thought that it's crass commercialism. I've done it before and I'm positive that I can do it again. BUT. Yes, that's a big BUT ... I succumbed anyways. And, I failed miserably the moment I saw their planner in my favorite color: Red. [ Read: I Love My Quirks, v_Russ ]

What's making me smile right now?
December brings me awesome news. First would be the Official 2015 Holidays in the Philippines — there's so much room for traveling! We have 13 beautiful long weekends next year, but I may have less than that because I have work on Saturdays. Nevertheless, I'm all set to letting the travel bug bring me wherever! Osaka is top priority.

The other thing that's making me grin from ear-to-ear is something that I can't talk about right now. Although I think, the people around me are bad in keeping secrets from me. Lol! Either that, or I can easily read stuff in between the lines. I'm actually good at that. I'm all for being positive about this and I'm keeping my fingers crossed.

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December is going to be another very busy month for me and I'm still 8 stickers away from my planner, but there's no way I'm complaining. I've been blessed this year and I'm thankful for everything that's come my way and all the things that were given to me. I'm sending you tons of happy vibes all the way from Manila and I hope you're just as excited as I am with this month. Merry Christmas!  ☮..Peace + ❥_Love + Good Vibes. RUSS.

Carpe Diem: November 2014

I instantly felt the Christmas vibe when I saw this beautiful display last Saturday at the Powerplant Mall.
I was much inspired by Alysia Casteel from My Domestic Dish's  A Moment In Me-Time  which came about from Kelly's ( A Lovely Life Indeed ) Ahora November post. I like it when other bloggers share a bit more of themselves and what other stuff they do aside from, well, blogging. And today, I start a new chapter in my blog for Carpe Diem. It is timely to start in November because this is my blog's anniversary month. [ Read: Starting Over Again ]

Carpe Diem is a popular phrase, which I'm sure we all know what it is. It's supposed to remind to still enjoy life and the small things that make a difference despite circumstances I can't control and don't agree with. It's been almost tough lately, with me feeling like I'm having a second wave of mid-life crisis. It sounds so high school, but yes, that happens.

November in Manila, is almost like Christmas. You'd hear Christmas songs everywhere and everyone starts to be in a better, nicer mood — one of the reasons why I love the holidays. At this time of the year, we have bazaars left and right and traffic just turns ugly. For instance, it took me 2 hours last Saturday to go home and the drive from Makati to my house is usually less than hour. It's crazy, but the mere Christmas vibe that we all get this early is something that I look forward to each year.

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What am I reading?
I recently finished Colleen Hover's Ugly Love, but I chanced upon this article from one of our local broadsheets and it has made me one, happy Filipino. I immediately shared the article with P and told him that we should go on a trip to Palawan early next year. He's been there, but I haven't so I guess that's a work-in-progress now.

My favorite blog this month: East and Taste ( www.eastandtaste.com )
Everything on this blog is a visual treat about The Hamptons. I know, I know. I have been watching way too much Revenge. Although I'm not so sure if The Hamptons in the series and The Hamptons in East and Taste are the same. Nevertheless, it's always worth a visit. You'll love the restaurant reviews + snapshots of The Hamptons.

What I'm watching
Last week, I finished Season 5 of The Modern Family and Season 8 of One Tree Hill. I got hooked on both these series and have watched them over and over again. I know both of them are a little old school, but I like how positive I feel after watching an episode of either series. I'm way behind my series and in my efforts to catch up, I bought Season 1 of Gotham last Saturday. Has any of you seen Gotham?


Week 1 with Fitness Gourmet PH
What I'm eating
I signed up for Fitness Gourmet PH's 1,200 calorie per day meal program ( 5 days a week ) last 03-November and I am proud to say that I did not chicken out. Following that, I am happy to share that I was not even tempted to back out. I am now on my second week and I hope to see more changes in the next couple of days. My colleague introduced me to this program and surprisingly, she ditched on our second week. I've been telling friends that this program is more fun when it's done with someone. Well, it looks like I'm on my own now :)

What I'm drinking
I've been going for healthier choices since 01-November and that's a lot of water, green tea, and fresh juices except that on some days, I cheat with a half-a-can of Coke Light. I'm struggling a bit, but I am working on it.

What's making me smile right now?
Oooh, so many things! There's the 2-week break in December because our government has already declared 26-December a special holiday and that means, I need file my Vacation Leave on the 27th and 29th to cherish every single moment of this much-needed rest. I'm also excited about the trips that P and I are planning + this other trip that Cindy & I are supposed to do next year. Travel never fails to make my heart skip a beat.

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It's going to be a very busy and crazy month for me. There's so much to do with so little time. That's about it for me. What about you? Anything planned or anything special this November?  ☮..Peace + ❥_Love + Good Vibes. RUSS.

Battle Plan: No Shortcuts. Eat Right + Exercise.

I had a chance to try the  Ultra Lipo  treatment a few Saturdays ago. A friend gave me gift certificates from one of the wellness and aesthetic clinics here in Manila. I shared my gift certs with P, who was more excited than I was with the treatment.

We did our research and read from several articles on the web that Ultra Lipo is a non-invasive fat loss procedure. It uses ultrasound cavitation to break down fat, which will be excreted through urine, sweat, etc. Appealing, isn't it? The Wellness Consultant we spoke with said the same thing. She adds that there is no downtime, but you can't expect to see instant results similar to what happens when gets liposuction. So, you need to have a series of treatments - average of 20 sessions coupled preferably done every week for better results and coupled with their proposed meal plan. I deem that she was trying to sell us their services.

Image Credit: Fat Loss Factor


Did she convince us? Certainly NOT.
We could have been her market, but there was a huge disconnect with her sales pitch from the beginning. I was waiting to hear of a new benefit, something that their competitors don't offer. I was hoping the Wellness Consultant would speak of something that would complement our lifestyles or propose something that would fit into our busy schedules.

P and I had high hopes about Ultra Lipo, but after our session and after talking to the Wellness Consultant, we were both more than certain that eating right and exercising are still the best ways to efficiently & effectively lose weight or maintain your ideal body. The treatment probably works, but it's not the product for us.



It's time to start eating healthy.
Image Credit: GabbyandLaird.Com

Since 2009, my battle plan has always been  Calories In - Calories Out.  I keep track of what I eat and log the workouts that I do. Challenging as it was, eventually, my body was able to adapt. Rice ( 1 cup = approx. 204 calories ) is a staple in every Filipino meal and was the biggest hurdle I had. When I started making little adjustments here and there & did what I was supposed to do, everything else fell into place. Making smarter food choices has become a natural thing to do and I'm happy to share that I'm not even dieting now :)


There are no shortcuts to losing weight.
Image Credit: Huffington Post

Finding time to exercise.
There was a time that I had to take care of my Mom for ten (10) months because she couldn't walk; she had an accident and was on a wheelchair for almost a year. This was the time that I was working out three times a day! I'd box in the morning, go to the gym to run after Mom eats lunch, and at night, I play badminton with friends. I do miss those days because now I must always find time to squeeze in my workouts in between meetings, shoots, reports, book club, events, and everything else. This is the part where time management, constantly motivating yourself, and discipline come in. For me, there is no such thing as too busy.

Fitness apps like Skimble, DietPoint, and MyFitness Pal have become my new workout buddies because they let me burn calories even if I don't go to the gym.

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Yes, finding time to exercise amidst a crazy schedule is challenging. Yes, eating right can be difficult when you're with friends and family who love to eat. But if you want a healthier you, you need to do what you have to do and you have to start NOW ... NOT TOMORROW, but NOW. No short cuts, just plain hard work and discipline.Ü  ☮..Peace + ❥_Love + Good Vibes. RUSS.

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The Battle Plan Series
» Discover Yoga
» Slowly, but surely
» No excuses.

Battle Plan: Discover Yoga

Last week, I did Yoga for the first time. And, I totally loved it! ❤
I kind of hate to say this, but my stress level was at an all-time high for a couple of days. When I'm like this, I know that I'm not that efficient when I do my workouts. I feel blah, physically and emotionally. The happy news is, I'm itching to break some sweat. I remembered an old friend who used used to bug me a lot to try Yoga. He had this phase when he was reading about blood-type diets and workouts and I was told that Yoga is perfect for my blood type (B+). And in general, it has a lot of health benefits. I lost count of the times I rejected all the Yoga offer. I never believed this dude until last Wednesday.

With my stress level pathetically out of control, I was grumpy, didn't have any appetite, and worse I was having back pains for more than three days already. It didn't help that I had to clean up after other people's boo-boos at work. While resting after work last Wednesday, I opened my iPad to check if my Skimble app had anything Yoga for me. Lucky me, there were several Yoga workouts to choose from and picked those that didn't seem too complicated. Skimble's  Yoga Legs with a Twist ,  Solstice Wind Down , and  Lower Body Booster  were all newbie-friendly.

"Stress is useful sometimes, but feeling stressed out all the time is definitely not healthy. Yoga has been known
to reduce stress and anxiety as it helps to regulate breathing and promotes relaxation. It calms the mind and can decrease levels of cortisol (stress hormone) in the body." • Image from The Apple Diaries

I wasn't expecting to see results immediately, but I did. I didn't have trouble sleeping that night and woke up with a lot of extra energy the following morning. I was pumped up and felt well-rested.Ü While it was still stressful at work the following day because I still needed to troubleshoot the slip-up that a colleague did, that entire day was tolerable. Because of this and in preparation for my big event that week, I did Yoga for two straight nights. I also noticed that the lower back pain that I was complaining about for an entire week was gone. Turns out Yoga is good for me.

Stress doesn't feel like stress. This is an easier way to deal with all the toxicity and it did help squash down the negative stuff, talk about a super stress-buster. It must be all the feel-good ( including the hard-to-do ) stretches that brought this relaxation and calmness that I have not felt in a while.

Yoga makes me sleep like a baby. I've always had trouble sleeping, so this was more than welcome. So far, it's helped me wind down for a super good night's sleep on a weekday. I don't usually enjoy this. I woke up the following morning in a very cheery mood and was like that for the rest of the day. How awesome is that?

I think it helped fight my food cravings. Whenever I'm stressed and anxious, I either have zero appetite or I give in to my food cravings. This time, I noticed how I skipped the unnecessary sweets and I didn't even need a can of Coke Light to keep me up after lunch.

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I have yet to learn so many things about Yoga and at the same time, I have yet to experience & discover all the mental, physical, and mental benefits from regularly practicing Yoga. And now that I know how good Yoga is, I promised myself that I will incorporate this in my routine. ☮..Peace + ❥_Love + Good Vibes. RUSS.

—
The Battle Plan Series
» No excuses.
» Slowly, but surely

WHEN NUMBERS MAKE ME SMILE

Getting back to my desired and ideal weight will be one my biggest accomplishments this year. * Getting ready to do my happy dance ... * I have 3 more pounds to shed and after that I can stop stepping on the scales. My thyroid levels would not stabilize for a while and kept swinging from hyper to hypo and back to hyper then hypo, etc. My endocrinologist was not happy with my last test results, but I know what I'm supposed to do. I do not want a Part 2 of 2008. That year, I battled Hyperthyroidism, Thyroiditis, and other complications that I would talk about in other posts. This time, it's Russ vs. Hypothyroidism. I do not want another medical procedure. I do not want to have radiation therapy. I do not want to camp back in the hospital.

I took my meds religiously and followed everything that my endo has asked me to do. Deep down inside, I knew that doing these will not be enough. If I wanted to at least have normal thyroid levels indefinitely, I had to help myself. The moment I started to make this happen, there were affirmations from the people around me. Every person who told me that I lost weight is a testament that I was doing things right.

13-lbs weight loss
Hurrah! If I'm doing my Math right, that's approximately 1.67 pounds / month. The number is low for a normal person, but is a good one for someone with hypothyroidism. Ever since I vowed to returning to this track, I am happy to share that I never starved myself. Yup, not a single meal. I'm proud of this attitude towards food. If you read my Slowly, But Surely post, you'd recall that I committed myself to some healthy habits. Following that, I have also been doing these:

» I've been getting more zzZzz hours.
» I've come to love and appreciate all the good stuff that go with the lemon fruit.
» I've been and am still on MyFitnessPal. It is very convenient!

Lastly, I still have my ever-dependable kettlebells. Kettlebell workouts and circuit training are love! I manage to squeeze in 2 days of 20-minute kettlebell programs. Thanks to YouTube and Skimble, there's this infinite digital library of videos that you can easily follow in the comforts of your home. KBs and I are very compatible. Let me share one of the KB workouts that I have been doing lately.

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There are medical literature that say there's no cure for thyroid disorders, but they can be managed. I am thankful for my little successes and I hope that you guys also find it your hearts to celebrate small achievements in your lives. Today, I am 3 stubborn pounds away from my victory.
☮..Peace + ❥_Love + Good Vibes. RUSS.

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Supplemental Reading. Most people are not familiar with the thyroid and thyroid disorders. You may Google it, but you may also read more about Hyperthyroidism, Hypothyroidism, and Thyroiditis from EndocrineWeb.Com. I hope these help.
1) Thyroid
2) Hyperthyroidism
3) Hypothyroidism
4) Thyroiditis

IN BETWEEN GETTING THIN & BEING FAT

People can be really strange and rude at the same time. When a person appears to be gaining weight, the person is labeled mataba ( FAT ), malusog, mahilig sa extra rice ( LOVES TO HAVE EXTRA RICE ), and so on. When a person chooses to take the healthier path and starts to shed pounds, the person is thought of to be anorexic, pabaya sa katawan, and if it gets a little nasty, you get remarks that you're like an addict, etc.

I have had my share of these remarks from friends, albeit the intention was probably good, it still does not come out nice. There are times that you can let it pass, but there are people who say it without tact. I'm sure you've encountered people who just blurt out stuff without thinking. I often try to shrug it off and I sometime make extra effort to explain why. In my case, it's thyroid-related, but then a lot of people are still clueless as to what the thyroid is, what its function is, and how it affects a person. 99.9% of the time, whenever I mention it to someone, I always get the "Ah oo, yung goiter" reaction.

5 years ago, I battled quite a serious thyroid condition. I've gone through extremes: weight down at 93-lbs and weight up, induced by meds with steroids to 117-lbs and my pulse rate went beyond normal range. It hit an all-time high of 150+ beats per minute. My doctors had to make sure I gained weight because — it had to be done because there was no way that me at 93-lbs will make it through the medical procedure.

Today, I am thankful for the healthier options that have been coming out in the market. There are Sexy Chef, Dine & Lite, Fitness Gourmet PH, and recently I discovered Diet Diva + we have Juju, Juice Jab, and again, another recent discovery is Drink Spruce. I just love how this niche market is growing!

I got a confession to make: my last date with my endo was not exactly good news because of the test results. I promised my endocrinologist that I will be a good girl. So far, I have been doing well with my 1,200 calorie per day and I squeeze in my kettlebell workouts at least twice a week. It also helps that I have friends that I can talk to about this thyroid madness. I appreciate how my friend, JK always reminds me to disconnect from the frenzied pace buzzing around me.

The moments we choose to live in fast forward mode is always a conscious choice. It was never an involuntary action. So, in between situations of getting thin and being fat, I have learned to slow down. Admittedly, most of my days are chaotic, but I've come to love and appreciate the value of knowing when to shut down Rosa ( my laptop ) and switch off both my phones. ☮..Peace + ❥_Love + Good Vibes.__RUSS.

Meet the Jujus #JuiceCleanse

It has been more than 3 weeks since I first tried Juju Cleanse's drinks. My very first "Juju Moment" was when I learned that Juju Eats delivers via City Delivery and I also found out that the juices are available in 250-ml bottles, how convenient! I initially wanted to do a LEVEL-1 Cleanse to see if I can last or if my body can take it. I wasn't ready yet to do a 3-day cleanse and just fail.


For the record, I've already tried all their juices & I'm hooked. I am confident that I can do not just LEVEL-1, but do LEVEL-2 and not cheat. I don't think this is a fad diet or something that's just trending. Many people have been looking for healthy and healthier alternatives, which are not exactly easy to find here in the Philippines. In 2009, I tried to follow a meal plan by Chalene Johnson - I stopped early on because a lot of the ingredients were so hard to find & my choices were limited. Today, I'm glad that this healthy niche market is growing and we are starting to have more options. Anyways, Juju Cleanse has several juices and I was able to try three ( 3 ) so far. If you want to try them out first, just like what I did — you can't go wrong with these 3. You can read about their other product offerings at www.jujucleanse.com

 Juju #1: Atomic Carrot 
Scary! I was so sure that it will not taste good, but it sure did surprise me. The carrot was its most dominant flavor, but it was hands down very easy to drink and I love it! It gets more refreshing when you drink it with a lot of ice.

 Juju #2: Spicy Limonada 
Cayenne Pepper + Lemonade + Coconut Water. The taste is fine with a bit of hit in it. It brings this soothing feeling. It tastes good, too. You also get an extra kick in the middle of the day. I like the Spicy Limonada with a tons of ice.

 Juju #3: Nutty Vanilla 
This one has Cashew + Honey. Nutty Vanilla is the easiest to drink amongst all of 'em. I like how it made me feel full - and not disgustingly full. I usually drink this in the evening, as soon as I get home from work.

I have a few more to share about these juices, which I will do on another day. You have yet to know what a challenge the Red Giant was. What's in it for me? Overall, integrating them into my diet has been beneficial. 
1) It helped stopped my chips + chocolates cravings.
2) I no longer feel bloated.
3) I've been getting a lot of much-needed extra energy.
4) I also noticed that my skin's extra smooth — my Mom and some friends said that my skin looked radiant. YES!!!
5) I did lose 7.7 pounds, but since weight loss is just a short-term goal, this was my bonus.

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Have you ever tried doing a juice cleansing or juicetox? Did you like it?
☮..Peace + ❥_Love + Good Vibes. RUSS.

Battle Plan: Slowly, but surely.

I was reunited with My Fitness Pal last April. Based on my current lifestyle, My Fitness Pal recommends that I have 1,200 calories net per day. I am back to doing a lot of good Math with calories in and calories out. I am excited that it is starting to feel like 2011. It was also around this time that I started this self-mandated back to super healthy living which I called Project NO MORE Excuses. I gradually prepared my mind and my body with this lifestyle change. • [ Read older post. ] 

 Confession.  I wasn't the healthiest these past months and I wish I gave more effort to it that's why it makes me sad that some people feel that this is just a desperation move. Really? Are you kidding me? That unsolicited advice was totally inappropriate. I am neither categorically super skinny nor am I overweight. I just want to be healthier overall. Loving yourself more and wanting to be healthier will never be something done out of desperation, right? And so it amuses me how a random conversation make other people feel like they know me so well.

I cannot fully commit ( yet ) to regular workouts, but I make it a point to do so when my schedule is not wild. To put some balance there, I have been working on sleeping early and getting enough zzZzz hours ( it helps that I have finished all seasons of One Tree Hill ) + eating right, which means I have to ditch junk food. Dealing with unnecessary stress without ruining my day and treating my skin well have been helping, too. The goal is to enjoy life a whole lot more and not care about what others think. I want to feel better not just on the outside, but also on the inside. So even if this is a personal blog, I intend to share my learnings and discoveries including things, products, workouts, and routines that work for me and I hope that I would be able to inspire others in my own little ways. For starters ....

» I am down to just one (1) cup of rice or less per day.
» I have been clean because I have not had a drop of soda since 01-JAN of this year.
» I have put cardio training back into my life; I hope to make it a routine soon.

My friends in Twitter and Instagram know that I have been enjoying Sexy Chef's's Dine Lite & Health Bar munchies ( Gracias NFD for telling me about their meals ). And as if everything has been planned for me, I discover Juju Cleanse and Juju Eats. I'm set to do a Level-2 Juju Cleanse Program one of these coming weekends. I made sure to try all Juju Cleanse drinks first. So far, so good. Their Red Giant though almost makes me feel like I'm going to die. I hate its after taste, but hey, this is Project NO MORE Excuses right? All I am praying for right now is to get even just one weekend next month that is not too chaotic. Most important of 'em all, I don't jump into whatever fad diet there is. I've come to know and understand my body. I'm not like everyone else. Aside from the usual struggle, I get an extra load and need to work harder especially after my thyroid condition.

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Weigh-In
We had our Annual Physical Exam ( APE ) in the office  and stepping on the scale brought good news with *drumroll please* 7.7 pounds ( happy dance ) gone and with me on this victory are: Sexy Chef, Juju Cleanse, Juju Eats, Nestle Fitnesse Almond Clusters, and these non-fat milks from Magnolia, and Cowhead. They are all lifesavers especially for super busy girls like me. ☮..Peace + ❥_Love + Good Vibes. RUSS.


—
The Battle Plan Series
» No Excuses

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Image Credit: @HannaGracyB

Battle Plan: Preparing for a no excuses lifestyle

My First 30-Day Challenge & A Hash Tag
Before I got extremely busy more than 5 weeks ago, I told some friends that I would like to get a little more serious with healthier living.
I wanted to name this project and got suggestions from girlfriends to call it #projectbalikalindog or #projectsexy, which were all okay. However I felt that it didn't quite cover my personal goals. I had something bigger in mind which led me to calling this new journey:
Project No Excuses.

This whole thing started when a good friend of mine, EGGIE - visited December of last year. She and her colleagues in SG were doing a month-on-month 30-day challenge. I can't remember how our conversation to me doing my first 30-day test: no coke zero for 30 days and this was for the entire month of January. It wasn't easy, but I managed. I want to thank her for that.




Fast forward to 24-March, that's today
My 2-month preparation is drawing to a close. I slowly got rid of soda, sweets, fast food, and those huge bags of chips. I'm neither depriving myself of the food that I love nor am I starving myself to death. To conclude my 2-month preparation and to help jump start Project No Excuses, I will be doing some sort of cleansing via Juju Cleanse. I have been reading a lot about it from articles and blog posts of others and it looks like I'm prepared, nothing I can't handle - haha. I got a bit more of inspiration today from Nicole Andersson's post about the Juju Cleanse back in 2011 + @micshulte's photo ( see image above ) that was posted via Instagram. 

I'm really excited about this and I look forward to all the good things that will unfold.  It's really all about going for the healthier choices. And the good news is, my Project No Excuses will officially start on 23-April.  ❥ __R.