Burning the "Baby"

It's been a while since I've posted anything on here and I feel kind of bad. So here I am, at 4am starting this blog post and I'm pretty sure it'll take some time for me to get this posted on the page; therefore, I am going to make this a good one.

For a while now, I've been gaining weight and absolutely not caring about it. And honestly, I didn't even really feel that bad about my body. Every now and then I'd resolve to work out regularly, eat better... y'know, the usual healthy living resolutions.

A few months ago, me and some friends were out for a weekend and I started joking about my weight, so they did, too. We called it "my baby". It was fine, I didn't really mind until, I don't know, I guess it went a little too far for me. I was hurt when my friend said, "That's the universe's way of telling you that you need to lose weight." He said that after the leg of the couch fell through the floor right when I sat down (we later discovered it fell through the hole in the floor that had been there for a while), and I know he said it totally without the intention of being mean. Right at that moment, my self-confidence was shattered. I came home feeling bad about myself and that comment stuck with me for a while.

I resolved to lose weight. So for almost 3 months now, I've been working my ass off to lose all that weight. Initially, I wanted to get THIN. By the start of the second month, I realized that I didn't just want to get thin, I wanted to get FIT. I wanted to be able to surf well, hike better, run (not even faster, just be able to run would be an accomplishment).

Now, as I said, Sept.9, 2013, day 2 of my 12th week and I've lost 15lbs. I'm happy with that. You know why? Because I've been eating EVERYTHING. I haven't changed my diet... at least not really. I still eat loads of chips, fried food, whatever. But at the same time, I've lessened my soda consumption, increased my water intake, make a more conscious effort to substitute fruits when I get cravings.

My stomach's gotten flatter and I have finally lost "my baby", my butt looks better (if I do say so myself), my legs are all muscle-y, my arms still need a bit of work, but I'm proud of my body. Especially knowing all the hard work I put into it. I stopped working out for other people, and I've started to work out because seeing the changes in my body makes me happy.

I just wanted to share my story and hopefully, inspire people to start working towards the body they want. I know I started working out because someone made me feel bad, but I think the best motivation to get fit is to make yourself happy.

I also wanted to share some things that worked for me and kept me motivated during the first few weeks of struggling to get my ass in gear.

1. Find a celebrity fitspiration that has the SAME BODY TYPE AND SIMILAR PROPORTIONS AS YOU.

Why? Because wanting a VS model body when you've got the body type of a bootylicious diva will just lead to disappointment. You want a realistic and IDEAL body for you. If your body type is similar to Christina Hendricks' and that's the body you want, go for it! (I wish this were possible for me, but I was not blessed with enough curves.)

2. Use that celebrity and make your own motivational posters and MEASUREMENT tracking chart.

This is so that you know what your working towards. I researched Jennifer Lawrence's measurements and used that as my goal. But goal measurements change, and you can adjust accordingly as you progress in your "program". Aside from the chest, waist and hips, include the body parts you want to see changes in on your chart, I included calves because I wanted them to get smaller. I used Blake Lively for others, too. You don't have to stick to one celebrity. And yes, "You fat shit" did motivate me for the first few weeks into my workout regimen.

3. Make a WORKOUT LOG that will last AT LEAST 2MONTHS, log your workouts regularly and put it somewhere you CANNOT ignore at any time of the day.

We're working towards a long term lifestyle change here, so we want our chart to reflect that. Also, by regularly logging your workouts, skip days will make you feel a bit bad every time you see them. Mine is tacked on my cabinet mirror so it definitely cannot be ignored.

4. Do cardio workouts you ENJOY.

Dance, swim, run, jump rope. Do what makes you happy. Forcing yourself to swim when you hate water will turn you off exercising. If you like K-Pop, go watch their music videos and try to memorize their choreography, replaying the video 'til you get it. Run with your dog for 30mins, or skip rope with your kids. Just make sure to get your cardio in.

5. POST YOUR WORKOUT LOG UPDATES ON FACEBOOK.

Or Instagram (Follow me @liao0421), or Twitter (Follow me @stephlleupagus). No, not so you can be a poser about your workouts, it's so that there are people to support you through the process. Also, so you kind of HAVE to work out because you don't want people seeing so many skip days on your charts.

6. REST and don't binge.

I know if you look at my chart above, the first few weeks I had absolutely no rest, but looking back, that's probably why I was so exhausted ALL THE TIME. Give your body a chance to recuperate. At least once a week... twice is better. Wednesday and Sunday, maybe? Also don't use your rest days to binge! Eat what you want everyday, but remember: All in moderation.

7. Research about workouts.

Especially if you're targeting specific areas. There are so many sites that provide target workouts or the best workout for a specific result. Do your homework!

8. Monthly challenges!

These are such a big thing on Pinterest. Workout challenges!

They're a great way to keep you motivated and if you absolutely cannot work in your regular workouts every now and then, these are good.

9. Train for something.

Like a 10k marathon, or a swimsuit competition. These will keep you training hard until those competitions are done, then you just have to train for something else.

10. CONSISTENCY

Me and my sister were talking and she told me, there was a trainer who said that people always came up to her/him and asked what the best way to lose weight was. The trainer answered: "CONSISTENCY". I see the reality of that now. If I didn't dedicate the time I did to workout regularly, I don't think I'd be seeing the results I am today. Keep at it, even if you don't see improvement. It will come, just keep at it. Some people lose the weight right when they start, some gradually, some tighten up all of a sudden right when they're about to give up. SO KEEP AT IT!

11. Do this for YOURSELF.

I was gonna stop at 10 but then realized, this is probably on of the biggest things with this "program". This is going to be a LIFESTYLE CHANGE. This is your life, so do this for yourself. It's so that you'll live a healthier, happier lifestyle.

That's it, I think. Again, this is just what worked FOR ME. I'm not saying it'll work for everyone. Also, I am not licensed in any way, I am not a fitness instructor or anything. I'm simply someone who has found working out to be therapeutic, in a way.

Keep me updated if this helps in any way?

Confused

Lately, I have absolutely no idea about what I'm supposed to do. I want to cry because I'm so confused. I know it's time to finalize a decision and I know what I'm supposed to do but it is that one thing that I absolutely do not want to do. I don't know if I should be making the sacrifice that will benefit me or benefit you. I'm crying all the time because I already know what I should do but I am fighting against the need to do so.

This post isn't even making any sense. I doubt anyone will know what it's about.

Ok, I Lied

I wasn't able to make up for my absence through a vlog post by Wednesday. I'm sorry. I just get really busy. And we had a quiz that made me want to cry. MANASCI. Eff. Anyway.
Last night Laura, StephB, Aldric and I went out to watch Gangster Squad. Laura and I were pretty much wearing the same outfit. Thank God I brought a sweater with me so we were able to go around without looking like we planned it. Anyway, Gangster Squad.

It was really good. Although, I feel kinda bad that Emma Stone didn't play as big a role in the movie as I would've liked... She was super hot though. So was Ryan Gosling. Dear Lord, RYAN GOSLING.
Not a spoiler: There's this scene in the movie where he's leaning against a pillar and he winks. And I swear, I would give anything to be the one he was winking at. Ugh.
SO moving on, earlier today Iris came over to take photos of me for her class project. Haha. So new profile pictures are on the way in a week, maybe. And right now, we're here. I'm watching her play XBox while I'm blogging. I'm such fun company *dripping with sarcasm*.
That's pretty much it for now.

New Heights

I didn't post last Wednesday. I didn't post over the weekend either. Why not, you ask? Here are the answers:
Wednesday, for the simple reason that there was nothing to write about. Weekend because I went on a hike. YAY HIKES!
We went to Daguldol, Batangas. 4hr hike, achieved in 3hrs40mins. At night. By moonlight. Who's awesome now, betch. We were the PM batch of DLSU OC to climb since the first batch started at around 3 or 4pm, I think? We started at 9:30pm?
I didn't realize how much I missed hiking until this hike. Normally, I'm not so hot for hiking trips and I usually suck at it. But for the first time, since EVER, I didn't mind the hike. The fact that our adventure started with us walking along the beach should have given me a clue as to how happy this hike would make me. And I actually felt kinda fulfilled during the hike instead of just after it.

(c) Ysa Omengan

Coming down was a bit harder. Extremely painful toes were the result of that one. It took way longer than it should have for me to get back to the base of the mountain.
But rewards are given to the deserving. We got to hang around at the beach before heading home. It was a bit rocky on the shore but near the end of the beach, there was a pier. 

(c) Ysa Omengan

We were able to jump off the pier! Which was extremely scary for me since I hate drops, especially since the pier was about... what? 15ft from the surface of the water? I might be exaggerating but that's what it felt like to me, but I did it twice. The first time with a little hesitation and the second time took like... 15mins of urging, but I did it anyway.
Yay me!

(c) Ysa Omngan
That pier in the distance. Yup.

So yeah, I'll have a vlog post up on Wednesday about the hike, and other stuff if I have more to talk about, and STILL have a post up by the weekend to make up for my week's absence.

Right now though, I have to go to bed. So g'night.

Series Binging

I've been obsessed with tons of tv series lately... Ok, Not lately. For a LONG while. It's one of the ways I bond with my dad. We watch so new episodes late at night, or do a marathon on weekends. Or a lot of times, I marathon a few all on my own. I'll stay up until the wee hours of the morning to finish it.
My most recent binges have been on the following (classified by genre in case you were looking for something in particular):

Comedy:

The New Normal*

Modern Family

2 Broke Girls*

The Mindy Project

Whitney

Cop/Lawyer:

Blue Bloods*

Suits*

Law and Order SVU

Criminal Minds

Elementary

Perception*

Castle*

Sci-Fi/Fantasy:

Doctor Who*

Lost Girl*

Alphas

Life on Mars

Once Upon a Time*

The Vampire Diaries*

I Don't Know How to Classify These:

Revolution*

Hart of Dixie*

Touch

Arrow*

Person of Interest

*Highly recommended

This list is severely lacking. I can't remember some of them but there are just SO MANY on my list. I swear. I am in love with most of the leading men. Right now I am in love with Lost Girl's Kris Holden-Ried (Why? Because this is all I have watched for the past 10hrs.)

Kris Holden-Ried, everybody! Can I just like. Seriously. LOOK AT HIM. HOW IS THIS EVEN. DAMN IT. JUST. UGHHHH.

Talking Shit

First post I'm making from my iTouch so I can't change the font. But it has to work because this can't wait.
This is obviously going to be a I'm-pissed-off-and-the-world-needs-to-know post. If you're having a good day, just ignore me. This isn't going to contain any names for you to search for on social networking sites anyway so just continue with your happy life.
You've been warned.
There are people who make comments that are worth listening to and there are people who should never make comments. On anything. Ever.
Someone just told me I 'talk shit' because of an answer I gave to his inquiry which, if I specify any further will make abundantly clear who this person is. Oh, also because he overheard me talking about why I keep shaving my hair off (I was explaining my alopecia to someone else who asked).
First of all, if you do not believe the answers I give to your inquiries, especially regarding my personal belongings, why the hell did you ask in the first place?
I am now making an announcement: do not ask me personal questions if, when I give you a serious answer, you will not believe me anyway. It is stupid on your part, frustrating on mine. There is no point in our exerting effort to form words with our tongues, mouths, voice box, and whatever other body parts are required in speaking if you have already decided that your assumption is right. I do not need you to share your questions with me because I obviously already know the answers to these 'personal' inquiries seeing as they are about me.
Second of all, and honestly this is the important part, how much of a douchebag are you to say, out loud and to my face, that I am making up the fact that my hair falls out due to stress. Alopecia is a real thing and, though I am confident in whatever hairstyle I have to maintain, your immediate dismissal of the emotional whirlwind and vulnerability this medical condition has put me through is hurtful and insensitive.
Finally, do not claim people 'talk shit' just because the answers you get do not coincide with what you wanted to hear. It's ignorant and narrow-minded.

The Book List

On second thought, I'm not posting the complete list of books I've read over Christmas break because I've got a feeling you guys will judge me. So I'll post the not so harshly judge-able ones. And review them in a sentence.

The Sherlockian: I really wanted to like it, but it wasn't worth the effort it took me to finish it.

One For The Money: The ball was round but it rolled along real slow.

Rumour Has It: Cute story and British accents (I can hear them in my head, sue me), 'nuff said.

To Kill a Mockingbird: I now understand why it's a classic.

Yup, I think no one will be able to judge me too harshly for those. You guys got any good book reccomendations? Comment comment comment!

Not the Book Review I Promised

I saw this: 

Original site here.

And just thought that, if you didn't already know, the company that owns Dove also owns Axe, which advertises the women that men want to attract like this:

Which is really sad since this basically makes them liars. Such a waste since the message they send with Dove is brilliant.

I have no problem calling the girls they use in the Axe ads pretty or sexy or beautiful, because they are. I just wish they would be more open to diverse kinds of beauty or sexiness.

Yeah. That's pretty much it for the night.

White Rabbit

"I'm late! I'm late! For a very important date!" - White Rabbit

I told you guys this was going to be hard for me, first "scheduled" post and I'm already starting it an hour and 49minutes late. But I'll try to get better as time goes on. No promises other than that I'll try.
So I've been watching a ton of movies and reading tons of books to pass time before school starts, which is in a few hours (and my body clock's still messed up. Damn.) I'll list a few of them down and give a sentence-contained review for each of them.

Movies:

Sisterakas: Storyline was so-so, punchlines were awesome.

Sosy Problems: Pretty, exaggeratedly conyo girls who lacked comedic timing and scriptwriters with no real dedication to their story.

Life of Pi: The entire experience of being in line for a rollercoaster until the moment you finally get to ride it. (I'm assuming, since I hate rollercoasters.)

Rise of the Guardians: I am in lust with Jack Frost and in love with the Sandman.

Django Unchained: Bloody but significant.

My Neighbor Totoro: Nostalgia incarnate. (Might just be for me, though.)

Pitch Perfect: Acca-tastic, yes I said it, and just do you know all of them can sing.

There are so many more, but I'm too lazy to post the others. Sorry...

Damn it. My dad's telling me to go to bed or I won't wake up for class tomorrow.

I will post the books tomorrow. I hope. I will try.

I'm Back

Ok. I've been gone for 6months and every now and then I'm like, 'I should write in my blog. People are gonna think I did have cancer and died.' but then I'm too lazy or too busy or just so uninspired that I don't even bother. So I've let you go and think that I've been dead. I'm such a selfish bitch.
But now, I'm back. And hopefully I'll be updating twice a week. I have come to realize that daily updates is just not possible for me. I don't have the discipline to keep it up.
So to update you with my life since I stopped blogging last year, we'll do a really quick post, no pictures. My hair grew back over summer break, and it was pretty good until the end of first term and it started falling out again. Did a couple of hikes and a lot of surf trips. Friend left, then came back within a month when she was supposed to be gone for a year. Then... Big fights and Christmas break and now it's a new year. Uneventful to say the least.
So yeah, that's pretty much it for now. I'll be updating every Wednesday and a weekend. I hope. I will do my best.