10,000 steps

To stay healthy or to maintain your current ideal weight, ten thousand steps daily is recommended. But how do you keep tabs of your steps wthout going crazy? With a pedometer of course! I just bought one last week. I love it because it also counts the calories burned, aerobic steps and can store 7 days of data. I like making more than 10,000 steps daily. When I made more than 20,000 steps last Sunday I treated myself to a scoop of ice cream and a cheese sticks. Isn't that great? I only have to look at my pedometer to know if I am moving a lot or making more than enough steps.

New project

I have a new project for myself. It's a "losyang no more" project.

I am always fascinated with fashion. But my fascination is only up to the point of making me look and feel good.

Since becoming a mom, I have set aside or rather, forgotten that I also need to look good even if I just stay at home all day. Add to the fact that I have ballooned to a 170lbs.

Dressing up wasn't just fun anymore.

So I resorted to buying tunic tops where I could hide my tummy. And eventually I just lost interest in making myself look good.

But now that I have lost weight, I am gaining my confidence back. I feel good.

Being a mom is not a reason to look lousy. I knew this but I just chose the other way.

This project will serve as a reminder to myself not to be "losyang" (lousy dresser) anymore. And in doing so, I hope to inspire other moms as well.

Here's my first photo: Going to the park

Photo taken yesterday.

Gadgets for exercise

I have been very creative lately if I may say so myself. Since I haven't gone to the gym in a while, I have been creative in my exercises routine. I do skipping rope at home using my son's skipping rope. I use my son's lego block base if I want to do "stair steps". To tone my triceps/biceps (shoulders) I use a bottle of water (1.5L) as my weights. And my favorite "gadget" is my hubby's PSP. While doing low impact aerobics, I play the PSP! I never notice the time when I am playing. Thirty minutes seems so fast when I have a PSP in my hand. This gadget is definitely a best buy! If I have bought a PS3, I don't think it would have been used as much as our PSP now. And oh, I almost forgot. I also use my son's unused potty chair for my exercise routine. Guess what? LOL It just goes to show that one can do exercise wherever and whenever. Gym is just an alternative.

Best one ever

For the past few days, I had been wanting to have a massage. But everytime I think about the price, I cringe and just sleep off the fatigue and back ache I had. It seemed to work.

But last night, I felt like I was going to have a flu. My joints were aching, my shoulders were on fire and I just feel so tired. Hubby was practically shoving me off the door so I can go down and have a massage on the hotel's spa.

At the Jojoba spa, I was asked if I wanted to be a member. They gave me a lists of all the benefits and the discounts. I had to pay RM500 in exchange for a RM1,000 voucher, 20% discount on all treatments, 20+40% discount on my birthday month and other small benefits.

It was a good deal so I signed up.

I had their ultimate jojoba package last night and it was sooo good! Or maybe my therapist was just good.

Whichever the case, I loved it. My shoulder pain vanished. I don't need any shoulder pain pump anymore. LOL

I am tempted to go down tonight and have another massage!

Maybe hubby won't mind baby-sitting again. LOL

Plateau

After one month or so of not drinking green tea, I am back with a vengeance. I was at a bookstore today when I passed by a book about "tea diet". I scanned it through, just enough to make me start drinking green tea again. I learned that all four teas (black, oolong, green and white) have the same characteristics. So whichever you drink will give the same result. Since I have started the green tea already, I think I will stick with it. It has been almost two weeks now that my weight hasn't changed. I am stuck at 64kgs. I believe I am exercising more but still my weight won't budge. Is this a plateau? Or maybe because I have succumb to food temptations lately? Hopefully with the help of tea, I won't have to resort to something like an Orovo detox. I need to lose the cellulites around my thighs and lose the love handles in my tummy for our Boracay trip two weeks from now. And hopefully I won't be tempted with the Royce Nama chocolates again.

Be nice

I have started writing down quotations or words of wisdom that I have read from books, heard from other people or even those learned from my own experience.

It's actually pretty good. It serves as a reminder and an inspiration for me to get better, tougher, healthier, richer (wish!) and most importantly nicer.

I emphasize on being nicer because in this very competitive world, I tend to forget that being nice does matter. It can actually take us to places.

I have received generous compliments about my weight loss and the improved style (I was once matronly, somebody commented) and I am overwhelmed. Good thing it has not gone into my head.

This brings me back to a story I once heard. It's a long and boring story so I won't write it here. But I learned a couple of things from the story.

First: Even when you're at the top of the world, don't forget to be nice to people down under your world. The world is constantly rolling :)

Second: If you know how to criticize then learn how to accept criticism.

Now, I must find my journal and jot down these great quotations from me. LOL

Working to be passive

I am currently reading The One Minute Entrepreneur book. It's another business book on my shelf and who would have thought I would get hooked on these kind of books?

In my quest to make our family financially free (take note this is different from being comfortable), I have taken it upon myself to learn more about the business/investment world.

Hubby said he's delegating that part because he doesn't have any business/investment inclination.

So I hesitantly took that role. But what do I know? After reading a couple of books, now I want to read more.

If there is one term that have stuck in my mind after reading a couple of book is this: Passive income.

Passive income is an earning without much effort, supervision and management from you. Who doesn't want this kind of income?

After reviewing our financial status, I realized that we had one passive income last year. This year, we're going to have two passive income.

While it looks or sound great, it is not much though. I want to have more passive income this year and I am going to work on it.

I realize I don't need to go into a tangible business. There are other ways and means of earning money without launching a new business with a digital signage.

There are the stocks, real estate, time deposit, and of course the internet business.

I sound like a know it all but really I am just learning things. I just like to use these big words to psyche myself and to impress people. Hahaha!

But seriously, I am going to work on some things this year. And that's a promise to myself.

Medium

After three months of practicing will power over food and exercising I can now fit nicely into a size medium! Or in US size, I am now a size 8! I am sooo giddy I just have to blog about it. Early this year, I wished to be a size 8. I never thought it would really happen. It felt like just a deam before. Dreams can really happen. We just have to work hard to make our dreams into a reality. The only downside (or maybe not?) to this new development is that I have to buy a whole set of wardrobe. Most of my clothes are too big for me now. While I welcome the shopping expedition, I don't think our wallet will be happy. Why can't we have it all? Hahaha!

Luxor!

I have an addictive personality. And how I wish I'd get addicted to things that make me rich, slim, and smart.

But no! I get addicted to food that makes me fat, games that make me sleep late at night....Yes, you read that right.

Instead of writing about snow chains, and other assignments I was busy playing LUXOR The Wrath of Set with my hubby's PSP last night.

I even ditched my nightly exercise routine because I couldn't take my hands off the PSP.

Hubby complained that it was my gift for HIM. So he should be the one playing and not me. Hahaha!

I remember I got addicted to brick game back when it was still in vogue then. We only had one at home and my sisters and I used to fight who plays first!

Because I wouldn't stop playing last night, hubby said he will buy another one.

Can you buy me a red one hon? LOL!

Millionaires in the making

Last Friday night, we were at a bookstore because EJ wanted to buy another Backyardigans book. He loved the first book he got so he wanted another one. Even if we just bought another book the previous day, we couldn't say no him. At 2 years old, EJ is showing his interest and love for books. And that makes us, parents, very happy.

Anyway I left him in the kiddie section with his daddy while I went to the business and self-help section of the bookstore.

I saw The Top 10 Habits of Millionaires and I was intrigued. I picked it up, read the back cover and decided it's worth a read.

I have become fascinated with anything about business, investments and success stories.

Anyway, I have just finished reading The Top 10 Habits of Millionaires by Keith Cameron Smith today and I thought I'd share the 10 habits. If you want an elaboration, buy the book..hehehe.

Habit 10 Millionaires thing long-term.

Habit 9 Millionaires talk about ideas.

Habit 8 Millionaires embrace change.

Habit 7 Millionaires take calculated risks.

Habit 6 Millionaires continually learn to grow.

Habit 5 Millionaires work for profits.

Habit 4 Millionaires believe they must be generous.

Habit 3 Millionaires have multiple sources of income.

Habit 2 Millionaires focus on increasing their net worth.

Habit 1 Millionaires ask themselves empowering questions.

Of these ten habits, I need to work on each one of them. But the habit that I know I would have a hard time developing would be embracing change and taking risks.

The book quotes Nido Quebein his mentor "For the timid in our society, change is frightening. For the comfortable, change is threatening. But for the truly confident among us, change is opportunity."

I know this! But the fear of the unknown still plays a big part in my mind. The problem with change is that it's not always foreseen. And that's the scary part for me. I'd like to say it's because there's a baby involved. But then other people took risks with a lot more to lose than me. So why should I be scared of change?

Actually I am not. It's just that I have to know the result of the change first. Like a reassurance or something. Is this possible? Maybe in some cases, like taking Fenphedra - pill, for instance. There's the promise and the assurance of weight loss. LOL.

Kidding aside, I know I have to work on my confidence and try to take risks, not just financially but in life as general.

Race to nowhere

You know how it is when you know you have so many things to do yet you don't know where to start and how to start? Well, that is what's happening to me.

I really have so many things to do but I can't seem to start working. I need to book our flights, book a hotel in Boracay (yes, we're finally going there!), plan our itinerary in Manila, look for an architect or designer, and some other small things like finishing the book that I read last Friday night, planning a romantic dinner for our anniversary this weekend, thinking what business to start, etc.

All of these tasks/ideas/plans are racing through my mind and I can't seem keep up with them. So I end up doing nothing.

I can't even write decent posts. All I do is blabber.

Hopefully I'll be able to finish some tasks tonight.

Delayed Gratification

That's what I am going to do and develop this year.

Rich people have become rich because they have practiced this habit.

Instant gratification and delayed gratification. Two different worlds. Poor and rich.

Where do you want to be?

It will be hard but I will try.

Hello 2009!

This is my first post for 2009 in this blog and I was thinking of something profound to write. But as usual it escapes me. Hahaha! Oh well.

Seriously though, the past year was a good one for me. But I was not at all sad to let go and say goodbye to year 2008 because I am much more overwhelmed with the possibilities and promise of what this New Year will bring.

On a personal note, I look forward to a lot of things this year.

1) Achieving my ideal weight. I still need to lose at least 10 more pounds. It looks easy but I know that the last pounds are the hardest to eliminate. Have to work hard!

2) More assignments/paid posts. Gives me more shopping money :)

3) Online business. I am such a procastinator. I HAVE TO START THIS!

4) Further to achieving my ideal weight, I am looking forward to NOT being a "losyang" anymore..hehehe. In fact, I've discovered that dressing up is actually fun! And I just might buy one of 'em bathroom vanities for my newly acquired loots :)

5) My parent's 40th wedding anniversary. I am just excited about this.

Despite the economic gloom, I remain optimistic and excited about this year.

Something just tells me that some of the best things will happen this year.

Does that make me a pollyanna case or what? LOL.

Time to reveal

I have postponed this long enough. Not because I wanted to make it a big deal but I was hoping I'd lose a lot more. I started my "diet" program 5 or 6 months ago but I couldn't keep it up. It was like a yoyo program. One day I'd be focused and the next day I was slipping off again. The real program started only about 3 months ago. By then, I was really motivated and determined to lose weight. I started eating sensibly, less food on my plate but never skipping a meal. I did not deprive myself. I ate anything but considerably lesser. Every friday night, I'd indulge myself and eat anything that I can take. It went on like that for a month before I started seeing changes. Then I added more exercises and movements to my daily routine. I did skipping rope while my baby was taking a bath, I incorporated marching into our playtime, etc. Basically I just moved a lot. And I am happy that I am seeing great results. So far I have lost a total of 10kgs or 22lbs. I have dropped 2 sizes also. It feels great but I am aiming to lose at least another 10lbs. By then I'd be confident to wear sexy lingerie for hubby. LOL! I am afraid I have eaten a lot more since the start of the holidays. It has not manifested yet, thank goodness, but I really have to get back to the groove of things soon. I don't want to waste away what I have worked hard for. Anyway, I wish all of us a great new year with good health, peace of mind and good fortune. Cheers!