Signing up for my first 5K

A few days ago I signed up for the NatGeo Earth Day Run 2016 happening in Manila on April 17th. I've only ever signed up for two other races in my life: the first one was for my mom's Rotary Club about a decade ago and the other was The 5K Foam Run in Sentosa (a non-timed fun run obstacle course) that I did with my friends in 2014. Both times I only signed up for fun and never took it really seriously -- meaning there was absolutely no training involved.

Nikki and me at the 5K Foam Run in Sentosa (May 2014) / Not sure why we don't look too happy

This year I said I wanted to do something I've never done before so I started training for a 5K. I didn't have a race/run in mind when I started because, to be honest, I didn't think I'd last as long as I have. But it's almost been 3 months and I'm still going strong! I'm not very fast nor have I been able to run a full 5K yet just (I still take brisk walk breaks in between), but I'm in a place I never thought I'd ever be. I'm on Week 7 of my training and even though there's still much improvement to be made, I knew I had to sign up for a run so I can continue to physically and mentally push and challenge myself.

March 7, 2016

March 17, 2016

March 22, 2016

There's less than four weeks to go! I'm excited and nervous at the same time. My goal is to finish the 5K in less than 45 minutes. No Speedy Gonzales but getting to that finish line will already be a great accomplishment. This is only the beginning. Who knows? I could one day be doing triathlons! Never say never! ;-)

A week with me - Day 5

So we've finally come to the end of the week... TGIF! :) I hope you enjoyed reading about my daily activities and meals. This is just a glimpse into what each day is like now that I've changed my lifestyle. Like I said and keep on saying, every day is a challenge but you just have to keep on pushing because it's for the better. I've already seen the positive changes in such a short period of time that I'm certainly looking forward to what it'll be like a year from now when I look back on today.

As you can see, I try to change things up daily even if it's a little tweak here and there when it comes to my workouts and my meals. The things that do stay relatively consistent though are water intake, number of hours slept, and daily steps. Keep yourself hydrated, get enough sleep, and keep yourself moving throughout the day -- that's a good place to start!

I'm writing this post on a Saturday morning and just because it's the weekend doesn't mean you have to stop. I worked out for almost an hour this morning and still choosing real and healthy food. Although, I think I'll give myself a treat over the weekend with a cookie or an ice cream, because you really should still enjoy yourself! :) 

Thank you to all those who have supported and keep on supporting me on this journey and I hope that I have also inspired you to lead a healthier and more active life! :)

You can check out my meals & activities over the past few days by clicking on the links below:

Day 1
Day 2
Day 3
Day 4

Friday, Mar 4th

Woke up at: 06:30

In bed by: 23:00

Water Intake: 2.5L

Total Steps: 10,714

Workout (07:00)
Treadmill, 30mins, 3.54km
C25K app Week 5 Day 3: 5mins warm-up, 20mins jog, 5mins cool-down

Breakfast (09:00)
1/2 cup porridge oats with fresh strawberries and 1/2 tsp muscovado sugar
250ml Cowhead Lite Low-Fat Milk
(289cals)

Notes: I have so many strawberries I need to eat them all before they go bad! Ran out of Yakult and yoghurt so didn't have the option this morning :(

Snack (11:30)
Crab cake ball with cilantro aioli & pink ginger
Seared morcilla sausage & padron pepper on sourdough
Truffled eggs salad on baby tacos & jamon crisp
(71cals)

Notes: Had a guest at work this morning and food was served! Would be a shame to skip out on the truffled egg salad! ;) Just small bites though so nothing too sinful.

Lunch (14:00) 
1/3 cup Urbane Grain Quinoa Whole Grain Cracked Black Pepper & Sea Salt
Shiitake mushrooms & broccoli
(228cals)

Notes: Ate the last of the leftovers for this meal. Still just as good! Lunch was a little late today since I had a meeting in the morning and emails to send out before I could concentrate on eating, plus I had that little snack during the meeting too!

Snack (17:00)
3 tbsp light cottage cheese
3pcs Jacob's Hi-Fibre crackers
(150cals)

Notes: Just a little something to keep me going through till dinner!

Dinner (21:00)
Baked Mediterranean Chicken
1/2 cup French green beans, boiled
1/2 cup oven-roasted sweet potatoes, seasoned with S&P and cayenne
(372cals)

Notes: The chicken was leftover from last night's dinner and just added veg and sweet potato to mix it up a bit. The roasted sweet potatoes are the healthier version of normal potatoes and taste just as delish! The cayenne adds a kick and complements the sweetness of the potato. Truly yum!

Total Calories: 1,110

A week with me - Day 4

Check out my meals & activities the past few days:

Day 1
Day 2
Day 3

Thursday, Mar 3rd

Woke up at: 07:00

In bed by: 00:00

Water Intake: 2.5L

Total Steps: 12,965

Workout (07:30)
45-minute cardio & core workout

    

Breakfast (09:00)

1/2 cup porridge oats with fresh strawberries and 1/2 tsp muscovado sugar
65ml Yakult
250ml Cowhead Lite Low-Fat Milk
Starbucks Tall (12oz) Non-Fat Latte
(432cals)

Notes: Decided to skip the yoghurt this morning since I passed by Starbucks for a latte before my meeting. Opted for the muscovado sugar over the honey since there are less calories.

Lunch (13:00) 
1/3 cup Urbane Grain Quinoa Whole Grain Cracked Black Pepper & Sea Salt
Shiitake mushrooms & broccoli
(228cals)

Notes: Had this for dinner last night and loved it so had to have it again for lunch today. I also don't know how to cook for one person/meal so there was a lot leftover. I even have one more serving left which I'll probably have tomorrow! :)

Snack (17:00)
1 green apple
11 almonds
1.5 cups white cheddar popcorn
(295cals)

Notes: Same snack as the day before last but I added some white cheddar popcorn from Chimara, which serves neo-vegan food. I'm defo not a vegan but I just absolutely love their popcorn! :)

Dinner (22:00) 
Mediterranean chicken & salad (Romaine, cherry tomatoes & balsamic dressing)
(298cals)

Notes: Quickly put this together as I got home late again. Wasn't too hungry but knew I needed to eat something and this turned out to be really good. Nice and full and ready for bed now!

Total Calories: 1,253

A week with me - Day 3

Click for my Day 1 and Day 2 meals & activities...

Wednesday, Mar 2nd

Woke up at: 07:00

In bed by: 23:30

Water Intake: 2L

Total Steps: 11,067

Workout (07:35)
Treadmill, 31mins, 3.39km
C25K app Week 5 Day 2: 5mins warm-up, 8mins jog, 5mins brisk walk, 8mins jog, 5min cool-down

    

Breakfast (09:15)
1/2 cup porridge oats with 11 pcs small strawberries and 1 tbsp honey

125g Elle & Vire Mixed Berries Yoghurt

65ml Yakult

250ml Cowhead Lite Low-Fat Milk 

(514cals) 

Notes: A bit high on the calories for breakfast but it was delicious and filling. Probably should have just skipped the honey since the strawberries were sweet. Think I might have this same breakfast tomorrow but skip the yoghurt and/or milk.

Lunch (13:00) 
Roast pork bahn mi (350cals)

Notes: Another craving I've been having all week so was happy to get this Vietnamese sandwich. Probably healthier choosing the chicken but the roast pork is so good! Gotta indulge from time to time! ;)

Snack (16:00) 
3 tbsp light cottage cheese
2.5 pcs Jacob's Hi-Fibre crackers
10 small fresh strawberries
(152cals)

Notes: Cottage cheese is all sorts of goodness and so are strawberries - so a happy belly over here!

Dinner (21:00) 
1/3 cup Urbane Grain Quinoa Whole Grain Cracked Black Pepper & Sea Salt
Shiitake mushrooms & broccoli
Strawberries
(253cals)

Notes: Amazingly light and filling dinner! I made quite a lot because I wanted to use up my ingredients so will be having this for lunch tomorrow and probably dinner too!

Total Calories: 1,253

A week with me - Day 2

Bring on Day 2!

Click for my Day 1 meals & activities...

Tuesday, Mar 1st 

Woke up at: 07:00

In bed by: 23:00

Water Intake: 3L

Total Steps: 11,483

Workout (07:47)
Treadmill, 18mins brisk walk, 1.4km

Swimming, freestyle & breast stroke, 1mile

Breakfast (09:30)
1/2 cup porridge oats with cinnamon and 1 tsp Muscovado sugar

125g Elle & Vire Myrtille Blueberry Yoghurt

65ml Yakult

250ml Cowhead Lite Low-Fat Milk 

(396cals)

Notes: I love this breakfast and could eat it every day. A lot calcium and maybe not advisable for those who are lactose-intolerant. But if you can take your dairy, this is a great way to keep yourself well full until lunchtime.

Lunch (13:00)

4 pcs smoked salmon with 4 tbsp of Milkana Light Cream Cheese and sprinkle of dried basil

1 cup mushroom soup

(388cals) 

Notes: Dill is probably the better herb to match with salmon but I only had basil. Interesting taste and wouldn't mind using it again, but would pick dill over it if I had the choice. Surprisingly filling, I almost didn't finish the salmon. The warmth of the soup was a nice contrast to the cold salmon and cream cheese. Next time I'd add some veg to this though!

 

Snack (16:00)

1 green apple and 22 almonds (255cals)

Notes: When it comes to raw apples, I prefer the green ones. I love their tangy-ness! Almonds are rich in Vitamin E, calcium, magnesium, potassium, and are a great source for protein and fibre. They're low in sugar and packed with a lot of healthy unsaturated fat. Nice light snack that also keeps you full until your next meal. 

Dinner (21:00)  
Chicken curry pie and salad (1 cup romaine lettuce, 6 cherry tomatoes, and 1.5 tbsp balsamic vinegar)
(371cals)

Notes: Simple but yummy!

Total Calories: 1,410

Notes: Happy with my calorie intake today and overall exercise results! It pays to plan ahead :)

A week with me - Day 1

Recently people have been complimenting me on my weight loss (thank you!) and a lot have asked what I've been doing and if I've taken any pills or supplements. First of all, no I have not taken any pills or supplements. To be honest, I've tried them before -- some worked, some didn't -- but at the end of the day the weight loss was not permanent. Secondly, though weight loss is one of my goals, it's certainly not the main one. I started this journey in order to feel better about myself overall and gain confidence again. Through this new lifestyle, I can see and feel the positive changes. It's not a fad diet or a juice cleanse, but a healthier, more active, and more enjoyable way of life!

So for the next 5 days I will blog my meals and activities daily so you can take a glimpse of what it's like in my new world. :)

Monday, Feb 29th

Woke up at: 08:00

In bed by: 23:30

Water Intake: 2.5L

Total Steps: 12,441

Workout (21:00)
Treadmill, 31 mins, 3.33km
C25K app Week 5 Day 1: 5mins warm-up, 3x 5mins jog, 3x 3mins walk, 5mins cool-down

  

Breakfast (09:15)
1/2 cup porridge oats with cinnamon and a sprinkle of brown sugar (106cals)

 

Notes: I wanted to add fruit to my breakfast but I stayed at my parents' over the weekend and they didn't have any to go with my oats. This was a super quick breakfast and you should really have more to start the day so you're not starving by lunchtime, which I was today! 

Lunch (12:00)

1/2 of a regular size Quiznos Classic Club Sandwich (350cals)

Notes: I don't know why I keep going back to Quiznos because it's really not that great in Manila, but it's close to work so it's convenient. I just get put off every time I eat one of their sandwiches and end up only eating half of it. Good thing though because apparently the regular size Classic Club is over 700cals! It looks better than it tastes :(

Snack (16:00)
125g Pascual Creamy Delight Strawberry Yoghurt and a Spicy Tuna Jamaican Pattie (326cals)

    

Notes: I spaced out my snacks so I didn't exactly have the yoghurt and the tuna pattie together - would be a weird combination? Thought I'd try this Pascual brand but didn't like it as it was too creamy -- think I'll stick to my Swiss yoghurts. Been craving a Jamaican Pattie since last week so went for one this afternoon

Dinner (22:00)
Two slices of smoked salmon with Milkana Light Cream Cheese and a sprinkle of basil (109cals)

Notes: Didn't get home until past 20:30 and needed to do my run since I wasn't able to this morning, thus, dinner was late. Plus I did some prep for my lunch and snack to take to work tomorrow and by the time I was finished, I was too tired to eat much - a tendency I have, especially when I've not got Ross to feed too! :)

Total Calories: 891

Notes: I should be eating/drinking a total of 1200-1500cals/day so I am way below my required calorie intake today. Need to make sure I don't under-eat and binge later! I've planned out all my meals for this week so hopefully won't have this problem again. :)