Healthy, not sexy

In early 2016, I weighed the heaviest that I'd ever been. I was still far from being obese but I hated how being that heavy made me feel. I felt sluggish and lazy, my clothes were too tight, and, being in my early 40s, it made me worry that one of these days I'd find out that I already had hypertension or something. I desperately wanted to stay healthy and well for my family.

I didn't make myself any promises but I began by making little changes to my diet. 2 cups of rice became 1 cup and lesser, I avoided taking second helpings, started choosing fruits to snack on instead of bread, cut down on the 3-in-1 coffee (my guilty pleasure, sorry!), and drank more water. After we moved, I became more active since I had to do many things around the house by myself. In about two months, I noticed that I'd lost weight. From 67 kgs, I dropped down to 62. It made me feel inspired to lose some more to reach my target weight of 60 kgs.

To reach my target, I started going to zumba sessions during the weekends at the park near our house. Instead of taking the car, I chose to walk the kilometer or so distance. I also started doing hour-long walks through the hilly park in the afternoons, about 2 to 3 times per week, with my good friend Olga. By the time December came, I had reached my goal weight and felt so much better than I ever had in a long time.

Now that summer has rolled in and our schedules are a bit looser, my friend and I have decided to step it up a notch and transition from just walking to running. Another good friend of ours, who runs marathons, has been trying to convince us to train for a while now and we've decided to give it a go. Hopefully we'll be able to to a 5K run before summer ends.

I think it's a good thing that I focused on becoming healthier when I wanted to lose weight instead of focusing on how I was going to look afterwards. Thinking of good health helped me make choices that were good for my body and mind. I wasn't overly concerned about dropping the weight as fast as I could but instead I slowly learned to enjoy the journey, to appreciate the results of the work and dedication that I put in. So, cheers to a healthier me and here's to hoping that this becomes my lifestyle.

Listening to:    

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Still here

I've been feeling nostalgic lately for the good old days of blogging. You know, those days when content was king and really connecting with your readers was what made your day instead of how much web traffic your posts generated. I miss the friends I made during those years.

Anyway, after being away for so long, I decided to take another stab at blogging again. I often find myself wanting to write about something that has happened to me or what I'm thinking about but always end up with nothing to show for it, haha.

So, here I go again. Let's see where this nostalgia takes me.


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Hopeful

I did something today that I've long thought about and have wanted to do but the time just never seemed right. Taking the first step made me feel hopeful that today will go down in my personal history as the first day of a journey that will become a great big part of my life.

It's been a long time coming.

Listening to: Brand New Day by Van Morrison

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Goodbye, 2014... Hello, 2015!

I really wanted to write an obligatory year-in-review post but looking back, mine has been a pretty good but relatively uneventful year. I'll just leave 2014 quietly where it belongs and move forward to a hopefully better and perhaps more exciting 2015.

Listening to: Now is the Start by A Fine Frenzy

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My life is a Cameron Crowe movie

I'm sure you're familiar with some of Cameron Crowe's films. My personal favorites are Say Anything, Almost Famous, and Elizabethtown. One or two of Crowe's films were critical raves while others were panned but there's one thing that they all have in common: awesome soundtracks.

Crowe has a way of choosing the perfect song to complement a scene, or sometimes he just allows the music to tell part of the story by itself.

In that sense, my life becomes a Cameron Crowe film because throughout the day, whether I'm at home, driving, waiting, thinking, or just feeling, I always have music playing. It will be something that fits my current state of mind, emotional status, or situation.

I'm currently in the middle of reorganizing and updating my iTunes library and playlists and I know it's going to take me a few weeks to sort through hundreds of songs and music pieces before I'll be satisfied. Thankfully, we finally have Spotify in the Philippines. Fellow music-lovers share their own playlists there and all I have to do is browse for the one that can provide the soundtrack to my every day life while I'm working on my personal music library.

Anyway, here's a Cameron Crowe playlist of all the music from his movies. Enjoy!

Note: You need to have Spotify installed to be able to listen to the playlist.

Listening to:

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To my son on his graduation from preschool

My dearest Jeolo,

I can still remember how anxious I was weeks before you were to begin preschool. I was afraid you'd cry and beg me to stay with you. To my surprise, I was the one who cried that day as I felt the first strings of your dependence on me get cut as you smilingly kissed me goodbye.

That first year, we struggled together as you tried to learn how draw lines and curves, how to color within the lines, how to spell and write your name, how to interact with other kids your age, and to learn countless other how-tos.

And in a mere three years, you have come very far. Despite having been diagnosed with ADHD when you were five years old, it didn't stop you from growing and flourishing so marvelously.

But it isn't the good grades or your other achievements that make me proudest of you.

When you were in Kinder 1, your teacher recounted to me an experience she had with you.

She had been having a particularly difficult day with your class. A lot of children were very rambunctious and noisy, no one seemed to be listening as she tried to get everyone settled down. Suddenly feeling exhausted, she sat down on her chair and just stared out blankly. Then you approached her and asked, "Teacher Rica, are you okay?" She replied that she wasn't feeling very well. You surprised her when you said, "Let me give you a hug," as you proceeded to put your arms around her waist to hug her. With your chubby arms still around her, you asked, "Tighter?" :D

Teacher Rica told me your concern and your hug made her feel better that day. And it made my heart burst to know that you weren't only sweet and sensitive towards your family but that it extended even to others.

As much as I want you to continue to do well in school, I also hope that your thoughtfulness, sensitivity and innate sweetness will never change. Education can only get you so far but it's your character that will set you apart from others.

Thank you for bringing us so much joy, baby boy. Dada, Liam and I love you so much.

Congratulations, Kuya!

Listening to: Forever Young by Rod Stewart

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My son and ADHD

I've long wanted to write about this particular facet of my life as a mother but since I stopped blogging regularly, it has become harder for me to find that perfect time and mood when everything I want to say seems to just automatically flow from my fingers. Hopefully, I'll be able to start and finish this time around.

Image Credit

My eldest son Jeolo was diagnosed with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder of the combined type in November 2012. If you've read my blog before, there have been many times when I complained about his hyperactivity, which I chalked up to his age, that left me constantly frustrated and exhausted. It only began to cross my mind that his hyperactivity might be something more was when I was able to observe him with other kids in preschool. Then in September 2012, his ninang Reena commented that Jeolo reminded her of her eldest son, who had been diagnosed with ADHD as a kid, and asked if I'd had him evaluated. That finally convinced me to bring him to a neurodevelopmental pediatrician for assessment and that was that.

We enrolled him with an occupational therapist who has, and is, continuing to help him learn strategies in dealing with the challenges of ADHD. I also spoke to his teachers at school after he was diagnosed and they've all been very supportive, allowing him constant breaks so that he can focus when he needs to sit down and do school work. I also made conscious efforts at home to be consistent with house rules, in regulating his diet (NO to sweets and junk food except occasionally) and in providing him with a routine to follow.

Some well-meaning friends have questioned the diagnosis and Jeolo's need for therapy, saying that all kids are hyperactive, impulsive and unfocused and that he would eventually grow out of it. And, yes, maybe he will but the thing is, my husband and I, as parents, didn't want to wait until a teacher or other adults marked him as someone having disciplinary or emotional problems when, in fact, he just doesn't have the ability to control himself. And being a medical professional myself, I know that ignoring signs and symptoms won't make a problem go away. It will only get worse over time and providing early intervention is the best chance for a healthier life.

Jeolo was reevaluated last December, a year after he began therapy and adjustments were made in how we dealt with him at home. And I'm heartened by the fact that he has greatly improved in terms of socializing with other kids, sitting down long enough to complete tasks at school and at home, is able to focus on a task better, and in following instructions. However, there is still much work to be done to address his frustration tolerance, ability to wait for his turn and his nonstop chatter.

I have a lot of work to do, too, in reminding myself that I'm being as good a mother as I can be. Even if I usually feel that I'm not doing enough, I need to keep telling myself that every little thing helps. And on those days that I feel especially overwhelmed, I'm thankful for my husband's support and his unfailing belief in me as well as the realization that what we're doing now will help Jeolo grow up empowered and ready for what life has to offer.

Listening to: Carry On by Fun

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Twenty fourteen

Every year, I come up with list of resolutions of what I'd like to change about myself or my life, and of things that I'd like to accomplish. And every year, I never manage to see them all through, except for a few, until the end of the year.

But I won't stop making them though because I love how the symbolism of a new calendar, a new year inspires me to reflect on the year that was and start over. Again. I love how it makes me feel very hopeful and how anything seems possible. I love the idea that one day, every year, so many of us are filled with that same feeling of hope and optimism.

Allow me to share with you this quote from author Janet Rebhan. I took the liberty of breaking it down in bullet points for emphasis. It says all that I hope for in 2014 for myself and for everyone else:

"In this new year, may you have:

• a deep understanding of your true value and worth

• an absolute faith in your unlimited potential

• peace of mind in the midst of uncertainty

• the confidence to let go when you need to

• acceptance to replace your resistance

• gratitude to open your heart

• the strength to meet your challenges

• great love to replace your fear

• forgiveness and compassion for those who offend you

• clear sight to see your best and true path

• hope to dispel obscurity

• the conviction to make your dreams come true

• meaningful and rewarding synchronicities

• dear friends who truly know and love you

• a childlike trust in the benevolence of the universe

• the humility to remain teachable

• the wisdom to fully embrace your life exactly the way it is

• the understanding that every soul has its own course to follow

• the discernment to recognize your own unique inner voice of truth

• and the courage to learn to be still." 

       Have a blessed New Year, everyone! :party

P.S. It's FIFA World Cup year! :D



Listening to: Better Things by The Kinks

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