Confessions of an exercise enthusiast

I am certified exercise enthusiast, if you’d like to call it that. More than two years ago, exercising was something I would dread!

For a year, I alternated between attending the classes at the Bikram Yoga Manila of Tristan Choa and jogging at the UP Oval. Outdoors was my thing, but not the gym. However, due to my tight schedule I ended up with exercise machines, and even surprised myself to be enjoying it.

Inspired by Tristan, I did brisk walking on the treadmill — much kinder to our knees than running — and the elliptical and rowing machines. I still do Bikram Yoga because it complements any physical activity as it helps in muscle recovery, but I particularly appreciate the meditative aspect of yoga of centering one’s self.

In the beginning, my goal was simply to make exercise a lifestyle and improve my cardiovascular health. Proud of myself that it has now become a habit, I took it a notch higher by including resistance training for muscle strength and for toning.

As we age, our muscles shrink, thus our metabolism slows down. My “titas” in the gym are proof of the effects of strength training. Despite having apos already, my titas have beautiful toned arms, back and shoulders. They even have the energy to do back-to-back cardio classes.

I alternate body pump, where we lift weights together in a class targeting different body parts from shoulders to our core, with body combat classes incorporating boxing and martial arts. I’ve substituted my jogging with spinning classes for cardio workout. Aside from this, I do Vinyasa Yoga at Core Yoga in Ortigas to help strengthen my core muscles or my abs. It’s somewhere there hiding beneath all my belly fat. I am now trying to improve on my form, and the bulge on my midsection is the most problematic of all.  

“Ate Badet, you have to watch what you eat,” Iya (Villania) sweetly reminds me whenever I would try to pinch her solid abs. Iya is quite conscious with what she eats. Greek yoghurt, fruits and quinoa grains are always kept in her cooler.

I, on the other hand, can devour whatever is placed in front of me! My barkada used to tease me that I eat like a construction worker. What can I say? I love food and I look forward to having a good meal each time.

Eating right may seem like a challenge, but not really. The point of eating right is just being aware of the food that you put into your mouth. What you put in your mouth stays in your belly. More importantly, what you put in your mouth affects your overall health. I always tell people that what you see outside is only a manifestation of what may be happening inside your organs.

Admittedly, I am still a work-in-progress when it comes to healthy eating, and how I love eating Cheetos with Jalapeno while watching TV.

I’ve picked up the following tips from Women’s Health on how to manage cravings:

1. Eat smaller, more frequent meals to prevent out-of-control hunger. Skipping meals brings down sugar levels in the body, increasing the appetite. Have snacks like nuts, fish and olive oil, or even an apple every three to five hours to keep sugar levels steady.

2. Eat with your other hand to address distraction. I was clumsy using my left hand to eat, but according to Women’s Health, this “slows us down and makes us focus on our meal.” Because of multi-tasking even during meals, we become unmindful of our body telling us that it has reached full capacity. According to studies, using your non-dominant hand “increases overall willpower.”

3. Weigh yourself regularly to remain focused on your goal. This works for me, but some trainers have advised otherwise. Again, the practice makes me more aware of what I eat. It is also quite encouraging to see that you’re making progress.

What you put in your mouth affects your overall health

4. Lift your spirits to avoid emotional eating as “75 percent of the time, people overeat because they are feeling blue.” It helps to be aware of where the urges are coming from like PMS. I tell myself that these are just hormones or emotions at work — mind over matter.

To add my own tip to the Women’s Health’s list — keep the junk food out of reach and the healthy food handy so you will still eat what’s good for you even if you give in to your cravings once in a while.

As reference, get a copy of The Women’s Health Big Book of 15 Minute Workouts by Selene Yeager and the Best Life Diet by Bob Greene. Do not deprive yourself. It’s all a matter of making better choices because you want to be healthy and live well.

Allow me to thank People Asia Magazine’s Joanne Rae Ramirez and her wonderful team for choosing me as one of the Women of Style and Substance 2012.  Do grab a copy of their August-September issue.

(E-mail me at [email protected].)