Under Maintenance

After having lost 20 lbs, I wasn't planning in gaining all the lost weight back. So I maintained a controlled diet but not a restricted one. I still enjoyed fried foods, ice cream, and Doritos but did not binge on them. I normally eat slowly and chew my food around 15-20 times before I swallow. I also read that chewing food more helps in proper food digestion. I tried to eat more fruits and vegetables for more natural vitamins. Jasmine green tea became my best friend.

After some time, I realized that I wasn't in a weight reduction diet already. Rather, I was gradually changing my normal diet into something that I could actually sustain. Before I knew it, i lost an additional 5 pounds!

I was then 115 lbs, no abs but no flabs as well. I was now comfortable with my body. My problem then was what to wear since all my size-30 jeans were all too loose! Opportunity to shop! :)

In Sickness and in Health

Now, this sucks. I didn't lose all the extra pounds through diet and exercise. I got sick when i first went back to the Philippines for my Christmas vacation. Doc said it was tonsilopharyngitis. I had fever, could barely eat or even talk since my throat was too sore. Imagine not being able to eat Filipino food (including lechon!) during the holidays after a year of being in a Christmas-less country!

 I lost another 10 pounds in a span of 2 weeks. When I went back to Taiwan, I was almost urecognizable. The chubby girl was almost skinny. Well, not really skinny, but the weight loss was that drastic and I did not look well.

I was then 120 lbs. Yes, still no abs and it didn't matter. I was just happy that I was not sick anymore. Time to recover.

From 140 to 130

One of the trainers in the gym where I used to go to said that fitness is 80% diet and 20% exercise. Since I was thinking that riding the bike or going the company gym was already exercise enough, I focused on my diet to jump start the weight loss objective.

For a week I resorted to a pescetarian diet -- vegetables + fish diet. I ate mostly greens, tomatoes, cucumber and tuna or salmon. I also substituted milk tea with green tea since my Taiwanese friends said that the latter is healthier. After the 1 week of being a pescetarian, I had to return to my normal diet since I couldn't maintain the veggies-and-fish-only diet. This time, I was more conscious of my food intake, both with the quality and quantity of what I ate. I cut back on the chicken steak, ate less rice and pasta and more of veggies (amapalaya was my best friend). From then on, I just ate with everything in moderation. This proved to be the most effective and sustainable diet for me. In a few weeks, 10 lbs down the drain! :)

Still... no abs.

Climbing Up and Down the Scale

I'm 5'7" and I have weighed from 107lbs at my skinniest and heaviest at 140lbs. My starting point now? 117lbs. Perfect BMI, yeah? But my challenge here is not to lose weight but to gain abs.

I have always been physically active before and throughout my teens. My first physical activity was when I first studied Taekwondo when I was 11 years old. I studied in a fitness studio (Corene) in my hometown, Bacolod. From then on, my thirst for new skills to learn hasn't faded. I attended voice lessons when I turned 14 (which proved to be helpful by improving my breathing), joined our high school basketball team until I graduated (pun intended :)), and joined the Taekwondo varsity team in college. After college graduation, I hang out with the university swim/triathlon team, had basic swim training and also went running in my free time.

After all the cardio, strength and endurance training, still no abs in sight.

My post grad life started with a post grad diploma course in UPLB and late night reviews for the board exams. No time was left for exercise except for the long walks going to and from the Engineering building before and after classes. I gained 15 lbs during this time and weighed 125lbs before I took my first job as an Engineer in Philips Semiconductors Taiwan.

We were provisioned with company bicycles in Taiwan which will serve as our means of transportation to go around the district where we lived in. So everyday I was riding my bike to and from work. I also worked out in the company's gym after office hours. The problem was that my bike usually led me to the night markets, dumpling houses, milk tea shops, and chicken steak stalls. 15 lbs on top of the 125. 140 lbs! I wasn't feeling sick or anything. I just felt my tummy hurt from bouncing every time i go for a run or a brisk walk. Again, it's not the weight. It was not even the appearance in this case. It was the discomfort which made me decide that I should lose the extra pounds.

The journey back to 117 lbs begins here.

Challenge Accepted!

First things first... What's with the blog title?

Whenever I see Jessica Alba's abs, JLo's toned arms, and Jessica Biel's firm buttocks, I can't help but be a little envious of their perfection. What's their secret? Genetics, exercise, and lots of diet, I think. 

I gotta have those abs... before I turn 30! Talking about challenging...

My family in my mom's side is what they say the huggable type. Justinianis, and that includes me, love to eat -- a lot! :) The "lechon" and the home made pork and beans is almost never absent in special family gatherings.
So, I don't think genetics is gonna help me with my goal.

What I have now left are exercise and diet. Abs before 30? Challenge accepted!