Yeah, you've probably seen that video in Youtube but I ain't gonna talk about it here.
This afternoon, I was asked where I maintain a blog and said that I maintain it here. And then he suggested I should try using WordPress because it's a lot better and there is an iPhone app that really works well from which I can post stuff.
Well, I created one and I am now trying to see which one would feel better to work with. I've been using Blogger for almost two years now and have already a following. (I think so?)
So I will try to see if WordPress is really better than Blogger.
Anyhow, to all my readers you may check out specknoevil.wordpress.com if you want to.
10.28.2011
10.25.2011
breathtaking
breathtaking
rushing as the current of the Nile
liberating as the ravines of the Canyon
directing as the stones of the Great Wall
captivating as the ivories of Taj Mahal.
engulf me by your promise
of ecstatic visions of what may be;
emancipate my soul
from the clutches of bruised pains;
sing of melodic rhythms
that shall melt my heart;
declare passion that defies
definitions of this life.
breathtaking by Tim Decano is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
rushing as the current of the Nile
liberating as the ravines of the Canyon
directing as the stones of the Great Wall
captivating as the ivories of Taj Mahal.
engulf me by your promise
of ecstatic visions of what may be;
emancipate my soul
from the clutches of bruised pains;
sing of melodic rhythms
that shall melt my heart;
declare passion that defies
definitions of this life.
breathtaking by Tim Decano is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 3.0 Unported License.
10.24.2011
birthday thanksgiving prayer*
Not many people know that I am very spiritual and prayerful. Well here is a chance to make more people informed.
Thanksgiving Prayer
Almighty Father,
Your omnipotent divinity is worthy of praise and gratitude. Let me take this chance, dear Lord, to give thanks for the wonderful and eternal blessings that I receive from your providence:
For the mornings that welcome me with gladness, beauty, freshness, and renewed promises;
For the transportation that takes me to wherever I need to go and back to my home;
For coworkers who I laugh, eat, bond, cry, sing, complain, and appreciate with every single day at work;
For administrators who never cease to inspire me to strive for excellence and who continuously urge me to faithfully fulfill the mission you have bestowed on me;
For my students whose victories and failures never fail to fire up my desire to continuously educate, advise, and form them to become the citizens I dream them to be;
For friends whose unceasing love, support, and care keep us sane and alive, whose advice serve to keep me grounded;
For family and loved ones who I can always turn to and will never judge us in spite of and despite myself, whose love sustain my struggle to become the best that I can be;
For trials - physical, psychological, emotional, mental, and financial - that serve to remind me of my humanity;
For the tears I have shed over personal and professional failures that have cleansed my heart and renewed my spirit;
For every single moment and breath that remind me that I am your child, that I can find shelter and haven in your arms, that I am special despite my shortcomings, that I am here for a purpose, and that is to fulfill your mission of education and evangelization.
When I found myself lost, five years ago, Father, you made the way clear for me. Remind me always, Lord, that instead of asking 'Why am I here?' or 'Why is this happening?,' I should ask 'Where are you taking me, God?' for it is only with your guidance that I will have certainty amid the many uncertainties.
Lord, thank you for this life. May this simple thanksgiving suffice. Amen.
*I read this prayer during the October Faculty Mass when I was tasked to prepare the Thanksgiving Prayer.
Thanksgiving Prayer
Almighty Father,
Your omnipotent divinity is worthy of praise and gratitude. Let me take this chance, dear Lord, to give thanks for the wonderful and eternal blessings that I receive from your providence:
For the mornings that welcome me with gladness, beauty, freshness, and renewed promises;
For the transportation that takes me to wherever I need to go and back to my home;
For coworkers who I laugh, eat, bond, cry, sing, complain, and appreciate with every single day at work;
For administrators who never cease to inspire me to strive for excellence and who continuously urge me to faithfully fulfill the mission you have bestowed on me;
For my students whose victories and failures never fail to fire up my desire to continuously educate, advise, and form them to become the citizens I dream them to be;
For friends whose unceasing love, support, and care keep us sane and alive, whose advice serve to keep me grounded;
For family and loved ones who I can always turn to and will never judge us in spite of and despite myself, whose love sustain my struggle to become the best that I can be;
For trials - physical, psychological, emotional, mental, and financial - that serve to remind me of my humanity;
For the tears I have shed over personal and professional failures that have cleansed my heart and renewed my spirit;
For every single moment and breath that remind me that I am your child, that I can find shelter and haven in your arms, that I am special despite my shortcomings, that I am here for a purpose, and that is to fulfill your mission of education and evangelization.
When I found myself lost, five years ago, Father, you made the way clear for me. Remind me always, Lord, that instead of asking 'Why am I here?' or 'Why is this happening?,' I should ask 'Where are you taking me, God?' for it is only with your guidance that I will have certainty amid the many uncertainties.
Lord, thank you for this life. May this simple thanksgiving suffice. Amen.
*I read this prayer during the October Faculty Mass when I was tasked to prepare the Thanksgiving Prayer.
10.23.2011
I plank because I protest
Tom Meltzer of the UK-based The Guardian says that planking is an English creation by two kids 14 years ago. Planking purely began as a nonsensical activity though it might have been inspired - although Gary Clarkson and Christian Langdon are not sure - by Radiohead's Just music video. So planking's essence is to make people think that you are mad.
Although planking is rarely new in the Philippines, it has inspired lots of people to find more reasons to goof around or pass time. For some, they have used planking as a form of protest. For me it started out as a challenge and a fun activity. Now, it has become a form of protest.
I plank because I protest over the ways the world is governed, especially our country - the dismal and appalling governance of a country composed of intellectuals and rich in scenic natural resources and breathtaking history.
I plank in places where this is especially proven true.
In support of the tourism industry, I, together with my students, went around Calamba City and Manila to follow Dr. Jose Rizal through several historic sites. The intentions of the Lakbay Jose Rizal project are sentimental and educational. But it has opened my eyes more to how this country gives importance to our history.
The Rizal Shrine is still there. Or at least, what is left after hundreds of thousands of students have walked, stomped, and ran around the area. A shrine is defined by the Mac Dictionary as "a place regarded as holy because of its associations with a divinity or a sacred person or relic, typically marked by a building or other construction." Well, the local government of Calamba City and the Department of Tourism need to start reading the dictionary again because the treatment the Rizal "Shrine" receives is similar to how we treat malls: a place to roam around and shop, not really minding that you are stepping on a place that's part of history. Correction. You are stepping on history.
But in fairness to the caretakers, they tried to "preserve" some of the important relics and artifacts. But I know that more can be done.
I was supposed to plank on the staircase but the crowd of people visiting the shrine prevented me from doing so.
Next stop is the walled city of Intramuros and Fort Santiago. I've gone to these places once two years ago. So I was pretty familiar where I should take the students to see moments and places of historic importance. One could avail, though, of a tour package worth 400 pesos.
So we started going around. Everything is pretty much the same as two years ago. And that can't be good. With the 50-75-peso entrance fee to go around Fort Santiago, I expected a better treatment and care taking than what we witnessed that day.
The church inside the Fort where an image of the Our Lady of Guadalupe can be found needed better treatment. Although it is not in any disappointing state, I wished for better treatment. So I planked on the roof of the church. Bad. I know. However, the fact that I could plank on it speaks so much of how the government secures this important part of our heritage.
We left the area and I told my students we can now visit the Rizal Shrine that houses a number of items special to the national hero.
But before reaching the shrine, we'd have to pass through the area where Rizal's steps can be retraced. The steps are marked by copper shoe plates. I was trying to look for it but found these instead.
This trip was supposed to make me appreciate Rizal more through his legacies. Rizal will surely turn in his grave if he reads this entry and sees how much care we give what he left behind for all of us to appreciate. In the end though, I hope my students get to see that we need to do more to give value to pieces of history that truly make our culture unique and noteworthy.
I hope the Department of Tourism, the National Historical Commission, and the different local government units will start really taking care of our heritage.
Here's a plank for you:
Although planking is rarely new in the Philippines, it has inspired lots of people to find more reasons to goof around or pass time. For some, they have used planking as a form of protest. For me it started out as a challenge and a fun activity. Now, it has become a form of protest.
I plank because I protest over the ways the world is governed, especially our country - the dismal and appalling governance of a country composed of intellectuals and rich in scenic natural resources and breathtaking history.
I plank in places where this is especially proven true.
In support of the tourism industry, I, together with my students, went around Calamba City and Manila to follow Dr. Jose Rizal through several historic sites. The intentions of the Lakbay Jose Rizal project are sentimental and educational. But it has opened my eyes more to how this country gives importance to our history.
 |
| Staircase leading to the second floor of the shrine |
But in fairness to the caretakers, they tried to "preserve" some of the important relics and artifacts. But I know that more can be done.
I was supposed to plank on the staircase but the crowd of people visiting the shrine prevented me from doing so.
 |
| Some replica of Rizal's doodles |
Next stop is the walled city of Intramuros and Fort Santiago. I've gone to these places once two years ago. So I was pretty familiar where I should take the students to see moments and places of historic importance. One could avail, though, of a tour package worth 400 pesos.
So we started going around. Everything is pretty much the same as two years ago. And that can't be good. With the 50-75-peso entrance fee to go around Fort Santiago, I expected a better treatment and care taking than what we witnessed that day.
We left the area and I told my students we can now visit the Rizal Shrine that houses a number of items special to the national hero.
But before reaching the shrine, we'd have to pass through the area where Rizal's steps can be retraced. The steps are marked by copper shoe plates. I was trying to look for it but found these instead.
 |
| Try to find the spots on the walkway that look like footsteps. |
 |
| How the footsteps should be. This is what's left from the 1,000 plus markers. |
This trip was supposed to make me appreciate Rizal more through his legacies. Rizal will surely turn in his grave if he reads this entry and sees how much care we give what he left behind for all of us to appreciate. In the end though, I hope my students get to see that we need to do more to give value to pieces of history that truly make our culture unique and noteworthy.
I hope the Department of Tourism, the National Historical Commission, and the different local government units will start really taking care of our heritage.
Here's a plank for you:
10.13.2011
Pat Nabong's Short Film
Patricia Nabong is a former student who has turned into a pigging out buddy alongside other select former students of mine. I am a fan of this girl's work. So I shall share this here in my blog for all readers to see.
Kudos to you, Pat!
Wonder from Pat Nabong on Vimeo.
Kudos to you, Pat!
Wonder from Pat Nabong on Vimeo.
10.11.2011
the biggest loser is actually a gainer: the not-so-secret weight loss struggle
*Now that the results of Biggest Loser Philippines have been released (not that it's a big thing for me) I shall now post this.*
Five months ago, I was just enjoying the summer vacation.
Five months ago, I was contemplating on whether or not I should begin further studies for professional development.
Five months ago, I was worrying what the school year will bring now that I am no longer part of the middle administration and I am now back to being a regular teacher handling 18-22 units of academic load which in my case will be at least 9 classes.
Five months ago, I was suspended in the thought that I will survive the coming school year well and that I will be so engrossed teaching.
Five months ago, I was OK with how I looked physically; then T.H.E. happened.
Yes. That. The subject. Technology and Home Economics. During one of the pre-opening days of the school year, THE teachers decided they would let all others know their current Body Mass Index(BMI) so we can all start thinking about our weights and our physical looks. I went to school that day, armed with the knowledge that I weighed 189 lbs. and reached 5'7". I was cool with that since I fit in size 34 jeans, medium to large shirts as compared to how I was when I had just graduated from high school. Back then, scales would tip to 220-230 lbs and extra large clothes and size 38-40 jeans cluttered my closet. So, when I lost 30-40 pounds after a decade of never-ending weight struggles, I was pretty satisfied with my weight five months ago.
Ms. Carina Salgado, one of the THE teachers, presented the method to compute our BMI and a table showing the categories where our BMI could possibly fall under. All this time, I only believed that I was simply overweight. Chubby. Big-boned. Cute. And the BMI table approved. Until Ms. Salgado added that the BMI table that she first presented was for Caucasians and she showed another table. This time, the results are not even loathsome. They are appalling. I was categorized by that table as a pre-obese individual. And like any word that is affixed with that prefix, the word it is affixed to is a looming, imminent reality.
When the results were revealed, no one was saying anything. It seemed like everyone zoomed out of the Pere Chauvet Hall and zeroed in their own heartbreaking misery. Meanwhile, I was having a Patrick-Starfish-staring-blankly-into-space moment. The term pre-obese kept circling in my mind I swear I was already seeing PRE-OBESE being spelled out in front of me. I went to school that day happy, alive, and kicking. But even Edgar Allan Poe nor Virginia Woolf could define the torment that enveloped me.
I needed to do something about it, knowing that I was one of the teachers who was very much into fitness and healthful living.
Then I remembered one of my cardiologists who, during the check-up, stared at me and literally sized me up and matter-of-factly said, "And you've got to lose weight."
I was ran over by a truckload of health concerns and physical and social concerns that made me realize that it's time to take action and stop making excuses.
Thanks to Steve Jobs and the developers of iPhone applications, the path to weight loss became clearer and more realizable. While searching for iPhone applications via iTunes in my Macbook Pro (oo na, ako na addict sa Mac) I scoured for the best application that I could depend on to make me lose weight. While doing this, I started reading more over the Internet various materials about weight loss, its myths, and all possible forms of dieting available out there.
As I have mentioned, I have been a fitness and healthful living advocate and that began when I started rowing for the UP Dragonboat Team in 2005. Being part of the team made me realize that I could proactively control my weight. You see, researches say that we only have 40% control over our weight because most of it is determined by our genetic make-up. Knowing that I come from a family of big-boned, obese humans, I had to employ continuous control over my weight.
I actively trained for the dragonboat team for almost two years. During the first two months of rigorous training, changes in my weight, body, and skin tone began showing. I was able to lose 15 pounds in less than two months. And in the same year, I was able to run my first 5-km marathon finishing it in less than 40 minutes. It was a great achievement.
Then 2007 came. I graduated. Got employed in my current job and started going to the gym. Fitness First kept me fit after I retired from rowing because of conflicts in training schedules and the nature of my job. In FF, colleague Kenchi Refugio introduced me to the different workouts I could do to lose weight and build muscles. Although I wasn't a novice to the gym because I took Circuit Training PE in UP, the thought of working out in the gym still excited me.
After getting used to working out on a regular basis, I started joining group exercises ranging from cycling, yoga practice, and dance classes. My weight then played in the range of 175-185 pounds. It was OK. But I knew that I wasn't satisfied with how I looked physically considering how much FF is taking away from my monthly income. But the working out continued until the first quarter of this year. But a medical revelation from not so long ago kept on haunting me and I had to pay attention to it.
Three years ago, during the second year in my current job, a chest x-ray revealed that I had a mild cardiomegaly or in layman's term, heart enlargement. The school doctor just told me that this might be a side effect of being athletic. So I let it pass. Then the x-ray results for the next two years revealed the same results. But the 2010 x-ray was the most alarming: my heart was twice the normal size, which meant I have more love to give. Okay, fail. But seriously, the school doctor told me I had to undergo a 2D echo examination. I began the school year with a heavy heart, literally and figuratively. But I still put it off because I was busy with work. So February 2011 came and I succumbed to the doctor's request.
Then the results came out. My cardiologists told me that I had to undergo operation soon. And because of my current heart and health condition, they discouraged me from working out or running or doing anything that is physically strenuous. Goodbye FF. Goodbye yoga practice, marathon running, cycling, and goodbye dancing.
So the only solution to my weight problem was revealed by Mac after a few hours of reading, searching, and consulting. The My Fitness Pal application became my friend since that fateful summer day. The diet was just simple: consume only the calories that you are allowed after taking into consideration your lifestyle and fitness level.
Thanks to my obsessive-compulsive disorder following the diet was a piece of cake. Well, not the first few weeks. Every time I was about to eat something, I would consult my pal and have him/her assess how many calories each food and beverage contained. Little by little I was beginning to memorize the calorie content of pretty much everything I ate and consulting my pal was no longer necessary. But because of this calorie-content obsession, grocery shopping required more time from my weekends. Before I place anything in the grocery basket, I would consult the nutrition guide and look at the calorie content. Most of the food I used to eat and binge on were all taken out of the grocery list: Oreos (130 calories, I think, for 2 cookies), cheese cupcakes (150-200 calories a piece), and so many other used-to-be staples in the list.
If grocery shopping was like taking the UPCAT, eating out was like taking the LSAT. Fastfood chains are the last option and mostly I would just dine out in Starbucks because they have a complete list of the nutritional facts of everything they have in their menu. But if I have to dine out with friends, I would make sure that I have at least a basic idea of the possible calorie content of what they offer.
Following this diet, as I said, is a piece of cake. Well, only if you are alone and you aren't bothering others because of the obsession. But when I have to eat with friends, I just have to resort to the other option so that I wouldn't take so much of the time just figuring out what to eat and adding the calorie content in my head: I would just refrain from eating heavy meals for breakfast and lunch so I would be sure that I wouldn't exceed my daily calorie requirement.
The diet is simply all about conscious eating - knowing what you put in your mouth and how many calories each contains. Sometimes, I feel that I am going crazy because when I talk about food, I will not finish the sentence without mentioning how many calories it contains.
Moreover, the diet allowed me to eat anything I want to eat. I just have to eat everything in moderation. I can eat rice, cookies, sugary and sweet food. Everything. If I want to eat cake, I'll take a spoonful or two. If I want to eat DQ 9-oz rocky road blizzard, I will skip dinner. If I want to eat pasta and pizza, I'll half the serving of the pasta and eat a slice of pizza. If I want caffeine fix, I'll order tall, light, no whipped cream Mocha Frappuccino in Starbucks. If I want to eat donuts, I'll go to Krispy Kreme and eat one sugar glazed donut which only has 200 calories (that's already a cup of rice by the way). If I want to eat more, I will walk around the mall and window shop for two hours.
It sounds as though I am so conscious of what I do and eat but aren't we all supposed to be? After all, what we do to and for our body we will eventually feel.
This discipline and obsession all paid off. Five months ago I was 5'7", 189 pounds, and wore 34-in jeans and medium to large shirts. Now, I am 5'7", 145 pounds, wearing 30-in jeans, and extra small to small shirts.
The biggest loser is actually a gainer. I gained confidence and I had more self-esteem to face my classes, co-workers, high school and college friends.
Above everything else, I now have the confidence to face the mirror for more than 30 seconds and actually love what it is reflecting.
But I don't stare for such a long time, lest I turn into a flower.
Five months ago, I was just enjoying the summer vacation.
Five months ago, I was contemplating on whether or not I should begin further studies for professional development.
Five months ago, I was worrying what the school year will bring now that I am no longer part of the middle administration and I am now back to being a regular teacher handling 18-22 units of academic load which in my case will be at least 9 classes.
 |
| Sept. 2007 |
Five months ago, I was OK with how I looked physically; then T.H.E. happened.
Yes. That. The subject. Technology and Home Economics. During one of the pre-opening days of the school year, THE teachers decided they would let all others know their current Body Mass Index(BMI) so we can all start thinking about our weights and our physical looks. I went to school that day, armed with the knowledge that I weighed 189 lbs. and reached 5'7". I was cool with that since I fit in size 34 jeans, medium to large shirts as compared to how I was when I had just graduated from high school. Back then, scales would tip to 220-230 lbs and extra large clothes and size 38-40 jeans cluttered my closet. So, when I lost 30-40 pounds after a decade of never-ending weight struggles, I was pretty satisfied with my weight five months ago.
Ms. Carina Salgado, one of the THE teachers, presented the method to compute our BMI and a table showing the categories where our BMI could possibly fall under. All this time, I only believed that I was simply overweight. Chubby. Big-boned. Cute. And the BMI table approved. Until Ms. Salgado added that the BMI table that she first presented was for Caucasians and she showed another table. This time, the results are not even loathsome. They are appalling. I was categorized by that table as a pre-obese individual. And like any word that is affixed with that prefix, the word it is affixed to is a looming, imminent reality.
When the results were revealed, no one was saying anything. It seemed like everyone zoomed out of the Pere Chauvet Hall and zeroed in their own heartbreaking misery. Meanwhile, I was having a Patrick-Starfish-staring-blankly-into-space moment. The term pre-obese kept circling in my mind I swear I was already seeing PRE-OBESE being spelled out in front of me. I went to school that day happy, alive, and kicking. But even Edgar Allan Poe nor Virginia Woolf could define the torment that enveloped me.
I needed to do something about it, knowing that I was one of the teachers who was very much into fitness and healthful living.
Then I remembered one of my cardiologists who, during the check-up, stared at me and literally sized me up and matter-of-factly said, "And you've got to lose weight."
I was ran over by a truckload of health concerns and physical and social concerns that made me realize that it's time to take action and stop making excuses.
Thanks to Steve Jobs and the developers of iPhone applications, the path to weight loss became clearer and more realizable. While searching for iPhone applications via iTunes in my Macbook Pro (oo na, ako na addict sa Mac) I scoured for the best application that I could depend on to make me lose weight. While doing this, I started reading more over the Internet various materials about weight loss, its myths, and all possible forms of dieting available out there.
As I have mentioned, I have been a fitness and healthful living advocate and that began when I started rowing for the UP Dragonboat Team in 2005. Being part of the team made me realize that I could proactively control my weight. You see, researches say that we only have 40% control over our weight because most of it is determined by our genetic make-up. Knowing that I come from a family of big-boned, obese humans, I had to employ continuous control over my weight.
I actively trained for the dragonboat team for almost two years. During the first two months of rigorous training, changes in my weight, body, and skin tone began showing. I was able to lose 15 pounds in less than two months. And in the same year, I was able to run my first 5-km marathon finishing it in less than 40 minutes. It was a great achievement.
Then 2007 came. I graduated. Got employed in my current job and started going to the gym. Fitness First kept me fit after I retired from rowing because of conflicts in training schedules and the nature of my job. In FF, colleague Kenchi Refugio introduced me to the different workouts I could do to lose weight and build muscles. Although I wasn't a novice to the gym because I took Circuit Training PE in UP, the thought of working out in the gym still excited me.
After getting used to working out on a regular basis, I started joining group exercises ranging from cycling, yoga practice, and dance classes. My weight then played in the range of 175-185 pounds. It was OK. But I knew that I wasn't satisfied with how I looked physically considering how much FF is taking away from my monthly income. But the working out continued until the first quarter of this year. But a medical revelation from not so long ago kept on haunting me and I had to pay attention to it.
Three years ago, during the second year in my current job, a chest x-ray revealed that I had a mild cardiomegaly or in layman's term, heart enlargement. The school doctor just told me that this might be a side effect of being athletic. So I let it pass. Then the x-ray results for the next two years revealed the same results. But the 2010 x-ray was the most alarming: my heart was twice the normal size, which meant I have more love to give. Okay, fail. But seriously, the school doctor told me I had to undergo a 2D echo examination. I began the school year with a heavy heart, literally and figuratively. But I still put it off because I was busy with work. So February 2011 came and I succumbed to the doctor's request.
Then the results came out. My cardiologists told me that I had to undergo operation soon. And because of my current heart and health condition, they discouraged me from working out or running or doing anything that is physically strenuous. Goodbye FF. Goodbye yoga practice, marathon running, cycling, and goodbye dancing.
So the only solution to my weight problem was revealed by Mac after a few hours of reading, searching, and consulting. The My Fitness Pal application became my friend since that fateful summer day. The diet was just simple: consume only the calories that you are allowed after taking into consideration your lifestyle and fitness level.
Thanks to my obsessive-compulsive disorder following the diet was a piece of cake. Well, not the first few weeks. Every time I was about to eat something, I would consult my pal and have him/her assess how many calories each food and beverage contained. Little by little I was beginning to memorize the calorie content of pretty much everything I ate and consulting my pal was no longer necessary. But because of this calorie-content obsession, grocery shopping required more time from my weekends. Before I place anything in the grocery basket, I would consult the nutrition guide and look at the calorie content. Most of the food I used to eat and binge on were all taken out of the grocery list: Oreos (130 calories, I think, for 2 cookies), cheese cupcakes (150-200 calories a piece), and so many other used-to-be staples in the list.
If grocery shopping was like taking the UPCAT, eating out was like taking the LSAT. Fastfood chains are the last option and mostly I would just dine out in Starbucks because they have a complete list of the nutritional facts of everything they have in their menu. But if I have to dine out with friends, I would make sure that I have at least a basic idea of the possible calorie content of what they offer.
Following this diet, as I said, is a piece of cake. Well, only if you are alone and you aren't bothering others because of the obsession. But when I have to eat with friends, I just have to resort to the other option so that I wouldn't take so much of the time just figuring out what to eat and adding the calorie content in my head: I would just refrain from eating heavy meals for breakfast and lunch so I would be sure that I wouldn't exceed my daily calorie requirement.
The diet is simply all about conscious eating - knowing what you put in your mouth and how many calories each contains. Sometimes, I feel that I am going crazy because when I talk about food, I will not finish the sentence without mentioning how many calories it contains.
Moreover, the diet allowed me to eat anything I want to eat. I just have to eat everything in moderation. I can eat rice, cookies, sugary and sweet food. Everything. If I want to eat cake, I'll take a spoonful or two. If I want to eat DQ 9-oz rocky road blizzard, I will skip dinner. If I want to eat pasta and pizza, I'll half the serving of the pasta and eat a slice of pizza. If I want caffeine fix, I'll order tall, light, no whipped cream Mocha Frappuccino in Starbucks. If I want to eat donuts, I'll go to Krispy Kreme and eat one sugar glazed donut which only has 200 calories (that's already a cup of rice by the way). If I want to eat more, I will walk around the mall and window shop for two hours.
It sounds as though I am so conscious of what I do and eat but aren't we all supposed to be? After all, what we do to and for our body we will eventually feel.
 |
| Sept. 2011 |
The biggest loser is actually a gainer. I gained confidence and I had more self-esteem to face my classes, co-workers, high school and college friends.
Above everything else, I now have the confidence to face the mirror for more than 30 seconds and actually love what it is reflecting.
But I don't stare for such a long time, lest I turn into a flower.
9.28.2011
the wishlist of a soon-to-be-26-year-old nerd
In less than a month's time, Zac Efron (thanks to my student Denise Santos for the info) and I will be celebrating the day when we were born.
The past year leading to the 26th of my life here on earth has been a little harsh on me, save for some blessings and an olive-eyed bespectacled photography enthusiast that kept me afloat and alive.
This emo-mode is surely making the day's mood redundant so let me get to the heart of this post: the wishlist. Last year I created a list and several people granted me some of my wishes - and for that I am eternally grateful. Anyhow, here is the list, arranged in no particular order (this can also serve as the Xmas wishlist):
1. successful cardiac operation next year (hopeful that the operation will be done after the school year ends)
2. Mushishi manga, any volume as I have yet to own one (thanks to my student Lexee Carlota for introducing me to this amazing read)
3. New clothes to fit my new size (for reference, Small in Maldita Man and size 30 jeans)
4. Nike, Adidas, PRP, F&H, or Topman hoodie
5. Marks and Spencer Dark Chocolate Digestive Cookies (it's only 89 calories a biscuit so I get to satiate y my dark chocolate craving without feeling guilty)
6. a box of Coke Light (again, another guilt-free satisfying drink)
7. Deathly Hallows necklace or HP's/Prof. Snape's wand
8. The Witch of Portobello by Paulo Coelho
9. socks from Topman or Aldo (just want groovy long socks)
10. bonnet
11. Dong-A Hexaplus pens
12. peace of mind
13. Devil's Food Cake (will eat a slice a day which will serve as my lunch/dinner
14. iPad 2/iPhone 4
15. Havaianas size 41/42 (someone stole my Ipanema slippers)
16. Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman
17. Superman lunch box (sorry na kung feeling teenager pa rin)
18. to be a ramp/commercial model
19. Loreal for Men Vita Lift/Hydra Energetic Facial Wash
20. a day where I can sleep for more than 10 hours continuously
21. to see the Stonehenge in person
22. start my master's degree after the operation
23. new digital camera (thanks to my sisters who destroyed my camera)
24. Nivea Whitening Lotion for Men
25. Snickers (another lunch/dinner replacement), and
26. a stress-free day
There. This year's wishlist is tough to fill. Hehe. Good luck with wish number 26.
So in 20 days, the new life year begins.
The past year leading to the 26th of my life here on earth has been a little harsh on me, save for some blessings and an olive-eyed bespectacled photography enthusiast that kept me afloat and alive.
This emo-mode is surely making the day's mood redundant so let me get to the heart of this post: the wishlist. Last year I created a list and several people granted me some of my wishes - and for that I am eternally grateful. Anyhow, here is the list, arranged in no particular order (this can also serve as the Xmas wishlist):
1. successful cardiac operation next year (hopeful that the operation will be done after the school year ends)
2. Mushishi manga, any volume as I have yet to own one (thanks to my student Lexee Carlota for introducing me to this amazing read)
3. New clothes to fit my new size (for reference, Small in Maldita Man and size 30 jeans)
4. Nike, Adidas, PRP, F&H, or Topman hoodie
5. Marks and Spencer Dark Chocolate Digestive Cookies (it's only 89 calories a biscuit so I get to satiate y my dark chocolate craving without feeling guilty)
6. a box of Coke Light (again, another guilt-free satisfying drink)
7. Deathly Hallows necklace or HP's/Prof. Snape's wand
8. The Witch of Portobello by Paulo Coelho
9. socks from Topman or Aldo (just want groovy long socks)
10. bonnet
11. Dong-A Hexaplus pens
12. peace of mind
13. Devil's Food Cake (will eat a slice a day which will serve as my lunch/dinner
14. iPad 2/iPhone 4
15. Havaianas size 41/42 (someone stole my Ipanema slippers)
16. Good Omens by Terry Pratchett and Neil Gaiman
17. Superman lunch box (sorry na kung feeling teenager pa rin)
18. to be a ramp/commercial model
19. Loreal for Men Vita Lift/Hydra Energetic Facial Wash
20. a day where I can sleep for more than 10 hours continuously
21. to see the Stonehenge in person
22. start my master's degree after the operation
23. new digital camera (thanks to my sisters who destroyed my camera)
24. Nivea Whitening Lotion for Men
25. Snickers (another lunch/dinner replacement), and
26. a stress-free day
There. This year's wishlist is tough to fill. Hehe. Good luck with wish number 26.
So in 20 days, the new life year begins.
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