I started working for the embassy in 2001. Slowly, I noticed that my body was changing. I've been gaining a few pounds here and there but whenever that happens, I see to it that I go on a crash diet and go crazy doing crunches and yoga. After being employed there for six years, I have gained a total of 15 lbs. But that's just half the story. When I resigned and started going back to school, I noticed (yet again!) that I've been gaining weight. My clothes don't fit anymore and even my favorite ring that I've had since high school seems to feel a bit tighter on my finger. WAA!! And it dawned on me. Having no exercise and control on what I eat, plus reaching the big 3-0 all contributed to my "condition" right now. I am getting somewhat depressed and a bit frustrated because I can't seem to shed off these excess "baggage" that I have in a couple of weeks time. Before, it was easy. I just eat cereals for breakfast; salad and chicken or fish for lunch and soup or salad for dinner for a week or two and it's bye-bye 5 lbs. *sigh*
That's why my friend Em and I came up with a challenge. That is to regain our Pre-embassy weight before September. So that means, I would have to lose a total of 15-20 lbs. Pressure!! LOL! This is how I should look come September.
This is me and Em when we were still in our "slim days". I'm the one in yellow. The dog's name is Sugar (FYI, she's raft3r's dog).
This is me in 2006. This time I have long hair and I'm the one in the sky blue top. Ick! My top matches the color of the bench. LOL!
So for me to look like myself in the above photos, I would have to strictly follow ...
The Weight Loss Program that Em and I share:
I. EXERCISE: A minimum of 30 minutes/day (only during busy days) and a maximum of 1.5 hours/day. This would include cardio and muscle toning targeting problem areas. My problem areas include: my thighs, tummy and arms. Sheesh!
II.MEALS
BREAKFAST: (6:00-8:00am)
OPTION 1: oatmeal (plain, with milk or sliced fruits), a cup of coffee, tea or orange juice.
OPTION 2: 2 slices of toast with light butter, jam or cheese, a cup of coffee, tea or orange juice.
OPTION 3: --->can only be eaten 2-3 times a week: egg (unsalted but can use spices/garnish), 2 slices of plain toast, a cup of coffee, tea or orange juice.
LUNCH: (11:30-12:30 nn)
1/3 cup of rice and 1 viand (preferably not fried)
soup or stew with a slice of bread
pasta (non-creme based sauce pls!)
WATER WATER WATER!
DINNER: (7:00-8:00 pm)
Salad (oil and vinegar-based dressing ONLY!)
soup or stew
sandwich: turkey, grilled tuna or chicken with veggies (light mayo)
WATER or Red Wine
IN BETWEEN MEAL SNACKS: (3 hours after a meal)
a piece of fruit
crackers
'dry' cereal
water, fruit juice, cup of tea
NO SNACKS AFTER 9PM
III. OFF DAY: Only 1 day in the week is off day. It is preferable to choose either Saturday or Sunday as it is usually family day which connotes "feast" day. :-)
I've stacked up on healthy snacks like raisins, crackers and cereals plus I bought my one week supply of veggies for my salad. Well, wish us luck everyone! I'll keep you posted on my progress.
8 comments:
hay, struggle talaga to lose weight ano? good luck to both of us. it feels good to know i have a classmate on losing weight :)
Hi Val! I am your lurker from Tunisia. I like this post. Almost everyone I know seems to be on a diet, including myself.
Just wanted to share some of the diet tips I followed when I dropped the last 30lbs from my pregnancy.
Drink at most 3 glasses of milk. This supposedly will help you lose inches around your waist. (Although, frankly, I wasn't sure if the decrease in inches was due to the diet as a whole or if this factored greatly.) You should opt for skim and 0% fat milk.
Drinking 3 glasses of water an hour before you eat breakfast would help too. But be careful, it has been known to send people to the bathroom an hour or so after eating breakfast. Also, drinking a glass of water 30minutes to an hour before a meal helps.
As for tasty salad dressing, try the Greek tzatziki. It is a mixture of cubed cucumbers, onions in a lowfat unsweetened yogurt mixed with a teaspoon of balsamic vinegar and salt and pepper to taste.
I have blabbered enough. Good luck to you and Emillie!
@ Gracie: Super struggle talaga. I hate being 30! LOL! Good luck to us. We can do this! :-)
@ Bernadette: Wee!! How are you? Kaya pala whenever I check my stats there's someone viewing me from Tunisia. How's Eric and the boys? Thanks for the tips. I'll try the water thing but not the milk. Medyo lactose intolerant ako and I can't stand the taste of skim milk. Hehe! My salad dressing is also balsamic vinegar and some olive oil. Sana pumayat na tayo!!! Hehehe!
Add me in your blogroll ok? I'll add you in mine. Say "hi" to Eric for me (that is if he still remembers me.. hehe!) *meow*
VEV, EV says hello and that he still remembers everyone from the Philippines!
Let's wish ourselves good luck! Now, if I could only lay off the chocolates... =D
Hi Val... nice tips in your site...I am struggling to really lose weight.. kainis talaga... need to shed 25 lbs before my big day...
BDC, see... I still remember your initials. :-) It's good that he still remembers me. Regards to you and your family. And good luck to us talaga! Waa!!
Andrea, I know ako din I have to lose 20 lbs naman before Oct. WAA!! Good luck sa atin.
Val ang dinner imbes na 7-8pm make it before 7pm kasi pag umabot ka ng 8pm mahirap na matunaw yung food. Tapos yung toast mo make it 1pc lang kung gusto mo bumilis ang pag lose mo ng weight kasi ako in 1 month lang 10pounds agad ang na lose ko last year before ako nabuntis kay Byron. Dagdagan mo nalang ng fruits ang breakfast mo kesa mag 2pc ka ng plain toast. At parati ka maglinis ng kahit na ano para lang magkaron ng activity kung di ka makapag threadmill everyday. Tapos instead of eating redmeats kain ka nalang ng tofu or tokwa with vegetables dahil high in protein ang tofu =) light pa sa tyan ewan ko nalang kung di ka pa pumayat nun hehehe.
Joy!! Welcome vak! Naku as for your suggestion, I can do most of it except for eating before 7. Kasi for sure I'll be hungry na ng mga 9-10. Normal digestion kasi 2-3 hrs. Eh kung madali pang ma-digest ang food, faster pa. So ganon din...kakain din ako. Pero I lost 2lbs in 1 week na. Hehe!
Post a Comment