Why weight?

Growing up I took part in numerous activities including ballet, gymnastics, and swimming. I was pretty active all through to high school and managed to stay in a healthy weight range for my age and height. Then in university when most people usually gained the "freshman 15", I did the exact opposite. I lost a huge amount of weight in a rapid amount of time. So much so that my own mother didn't recognise me when she picked me up at the airport when I went home for Christmas holiday! At my lightest, I was down to 118 pounds at 5'7" -- that's a BMI of 18.5, which according to the charts is borderline "underweight". I can't remember how or why I'd lost that much weight so fast but I do remember being sick of the unhealthy, greasy canteen food at the dorms so I began eating less but still went to the gym for 45 minutes a day, 5 days a week. Sure, I was skinny but I wasn't strong skinny because I made up the caloric deficit in alcohol and pizza on the weekends!

  

Circa 2004-2007

After graduating and moving on to the working world, it became easy to slip into a sedentary lifestyle. With my job and commuting taking up most of my day and weekends spent partying and nursing a hangover, there wasn't much time to join an activity or a sport. But heck, YOLO! I had fun all those years! However, as I entered my 30s I felt like I was burning out. So here I am in my 31st year and in the next stage of my life where I've decided to make a conscious effort in treating my body better and, thus, feeling better overall!

What I Do
I work out 5-6 days a week for at least 30 minutes a day. I do a combination of running/jogging, swimming, and strengthening exercises. I usually run using my C25K app 2-3 times a week for my 5K training, resulting in approximately 6-10km a week. Once or twice a week I swim at least a mile (I'd like to swim for longer but the pool opens at 8am and I have to be at work by 10:30am). The rest of the time, I focus on strengthening workouts such as core exercises. I like to change it up so not every week is the same. This way my body doesn't get used to the repetition and it saves me from getting bored. I listen to my body and do what it feels like that day.

I usually work out in the morning -- this gets it out of the way and if anything pops up after work, then that's me done for the day! It's tough getting up early but I know that I'll feel better once I've exercised and I find that I'm in a much better mood the rest of the day too. There are days though when I can't find it in myself to wake up early so I make it a point to work out when I get home in the evening. Sometimes, when I have energy to spare, I'll even workout twice a day.

I've become more aware of what I put in my body. At the moment I am counting calories (with MyFitnessPal) and simultaneously consciously making an effort in choosing healthier meal options. I like having porridge with fruit for breakfast, a salad with protein for lunch, and maybe a sandwich or soup for dinner. I also like to squeeze in a filling snack in the middle of the day so I'm not starving by dinnertime. I try to drink at least 2L of water a day; it's important to stay hydrated especially after a workout and living in the tropics (30C average daily weather!).

What I Don't Do
I don't follow a strict schedule nor an eating plan. I'm sure if I did, I'd probably lose more weight quicker. So far I'm happy with the results so I'll stick to what I'm doing for now.

Although I've read that weight training helps burn fat and is good for strengthening muscles that I need for running/swimming, I have not yet touched any weights. I've done it before but once I stopped, I gained a lot of weight very quickly as compared to when I just focused on cardio. So, I think I'll stick to cardio for now and maybe add weights later on.

When it comes to food, I listen to my body. Not every day is the same, even if I try to eat as healthy as possible. I do get cravings and if I can't take my mind off that chocolate chip cookie, I'll indulge in one instead of three. I'm scared that I'll end up bingeing if I don't give in to that tiny craving! I try to stay away from fried, oily, and fatty foods and have not had McDonald's in two months (this is an achievement for me!). I love pasta too and it's something I cannot give up, but I've put a limit on my carb intake. I've also cut out sugary drinks like Coca-Cola, Nestea, etc., and alcohol has been brought down to a minimum. I'll go weeks without a drop of alcohol and since I've been off it for a while, I've become a cheap drunk! ;)

It's been 7 weeks since I began this new journey of a more active and healthier lifestyle. I feel better about myself and my body, I'm happier and less moody, I'm more alert, my skin is clearer, I feel strong, and best of all I'm gaining my confidence back. To top it off, I've lost 6 pounds too. Here's to more positive results in the upcoming weeks!

My little helpers

We all know how tough it is to start something new. We are, after all, creatures of habit so it takes a while until we get used to new ways of doing things. As expected, it was tough in the beginning of this lifestyle change. It's been over a month now and although it is getting easier to adapt, there are still moments when I have to push myself. It's so easy to just fall back into the old ways because, as they say, old habits die hard! I'm pretty sure it will take at least a full year of consistently being aware of what I put into my body and staying active to really get INTO this new way of life. I'm also sure that there will be moments in between where I'll stumble but nothing else to do but get back up and keep going. Only time will tell! :)

I wanted to share with you some things that helped me get started and continue to help me everyday on this journey. We are so lucky today with technology that allows us to easily and conveniently track our activities and food intake and access workouts and training plans with a simple swipe or touch of a button. Here are the apps/gadgets that I use on a daily basis:

MyFitnessPal by Under Armour
MFP is an app that helps you record your daily meals, water intake, and exercise. In your profile, you can include your weight, nutrition, and fitness goals. When you've completed your entries for the day, it'll even tell you how much weight you'll either lose or gain if you continued the way you did that day. You can also connect with friends who are using the app and follow each others' progress.

Photo from MyFitnessPal.com

I started using this app a few years ago when I was going through one of my gym/workout phases and re-started my account early this year. I find it very useful in letting me be more aware of not only how much I eat, but what exactly I put into my body. It also helps me stop from boredom eating (when you want to eat just for the sake of it and not because you're hungry) because I know I'm going to have to put it in the app and see what junk or unnecessary calories I'm taking in.

Speedo Fit
This app logs your swims and also lets you search for pools near you. It's also a social app that allows you to connect with people to compare and compete with friends. The app also features How-To videos to improve your swimming technique and even virtual swim challenges.

Photo from Speedo.com

Since starting swimming again this year, I downloaded the app to help track my swims. Not only does it let your record the distance you've swum in a certain pool, but it also breaks down the distance in how many laps of which stroke or drill you did. It also calculates the calories burned based on distance and time according to your personal profile.

Sworkit
"No gym. No excuse." That's Sworkit's tagline. This app allows you to customise and play personalised video workouts. You can choose from strength, cardio, yoga, or stretching videos and any time from 5 minutes to an hour.

Photo from sworkit.com

I first downloaded this because I was leaving for Paris for 2 weeks and wouldn't have access to a gym. So I researched and found Sworkit to be the most user-friendly app that would help me with simple and quick workouts in the convenience of my hotel room.

C25K
This is a training programme to help you get your butt off the couch and training for a 5K. The app trains you for 30 minutes a day, 3 times a week, for 8 weeks. The audio coach tells you when to warm up, walk, run, and cool down so you don't need to keep the screen in front of you so it's easy to use whether you're on a treadmill or running outdoors.

Photo from c25kfree.com

One of my goals this year is to RUN a 5K but didn't know where to start. My ultramarathon runner boyfriend told me to Google training programmes for beginners and the C25K website popped up. The workouts looked feasible and non-threatening and I was delighted to see that they had an app for it, which made it even better! I've just finished week 3 but by week 2 I could already feel the improvement by being able to run for longer and even a faster pace. It's not easy but I feel like I'm definitely getting somewhere. Now to set a date for my first 5K!

Garmin Vivoactive
This ultra-thin GPS smartwatch has built-in sports apps including GPS-enabled running, biking, golfing, swimming, and daily activity tracking. It pairs with your smartphone through the Garmin Connect app and displays alerts and notifications even when you are away from your phone. The battery charge lasts up to 3 weeks in watch/activity tracking mode and up to 10 hours using GPS.

Photo from Garmin.com

I have an old Suunto heart monitor/watch and when Ross bought his Suunto Ambit GPS sports watch and saw all the cool things it could do, I wanted a watch that could the same but could also track my swims. The lovely BF helped me research on the best watches and I finally decided on the Garmin Vivoactive. I'm so in love with it and slightly obsessed with it! The GPS tracking is awesome for when you go on your outdoor runs and it also records your daily steps and vibrates to remind you to move when you've been inactive for a certain period of time. It also tracks your sleep - the depth and your movement - which I think is one of the coolest features so far. I haven't taken it swimming yet because I haven't hit the pool since before Paris so I'm excited to test it out in the next few days.


So these are just a few things that are helping me achieve my weight loss goals and journey to a healthier, cleaner lifestyle. It's so easy to depend on these apps though that you also have to remind yourself that at the end of the day, it's up to you to make the change. It is a good help though especially to get started. Once you get the hang of it, you start getting to know your body more and become more knowledgeable in what you eat and how to stay active. Probably the biggest thing that's helping me so far though is having family and friends who are supporting and encouraging this new lifestyle. Special thanks to Ross for inspiring me every day, believing in me, and kicking my butt if I start to get lazy! ;-)

If you're looking for apps/gadgets to help you get started, I highly recommend the ones I've talked about above. However, do your research and test out other apps/gadgets because not everything works the same for different people. What's important is to listen to your body because it will tell you what it needs! :-)

A new journey

It’s been 3 months since my last blog post and between that and the post before it there was a one-month break. I started this blog without any real direction and even mentioned it in my very first entry but I had topics and ideas that I wanted to write about, which I did and published. Then I started writing things that were quite personal and had second thoughts about clicking the “Publish” button and it got to the point where I was unsatisfied because of the pointless direction I was taking. Then the New Year came and I realised where I want to go with this blog. As 2016 ushered in and I turned 31, I wanted to make a lifestyle change and decided that I want to take you along this journey with me. This tiny space on the World Wide Web will be a place for me to record this major change to become a healthier and happier person, physically and mentally.

Photo from Takbo.ph's Instagram @takboph

Growing up I was never really great at sports, but the one thing I was relatively good at and good enough to be confident in was swimming. I was on my school’s swim team from 6^th grade and joined the varsity team my freshman year of high school. We competed against local schools as well as traveled around the Asia Pacific region to race against other international schools. I have always loved the water and the smell of chlorine brings me comfort. Yes, it’s true! Haha :-) Training and racing was fun all throughout school, but unfortunately I didn’t go on to swim during my years in university. It had been years since I’d stepped into an actual racing pool to do serious laps and I’m proud to say that I finally jumped back in the water a few days before my 31^st birthday. It was not easy but I swam my little heart out and finished 1KM. (Note: I was a long distance swimmer back in the day so a 1KM back then was nothing!) That day I realised how much I missed the water and the solace it gave me. I finally found my “thing”. Ross always talks about the peace he gets when he’s outdoors and running and I often wondered “how can your mind just go blank?” and it did just that as I was doing those laps. Some people do yoga and meditate, others run… but I swim! I love the comfort and peace-of-mind it brings me.

I’m sure many can attest that after leaving school it takes a little more effort to lead an active lifestyle… Unless, of course, you’re a naturally active person. I’ve gone through “health” phases but never managed to keep consistent. I had a lot of fun going out and partying for many years but as time has passed, it’s taking me longer to recover from a hangover and I hate the time I waste moaning in bed about never drinking again when I could have been up and about doing something productive. Plus, in the past year/year-and-a-half I stopped going out as much basically because I wasn’t enjoying it anymore. I also tend to experience phases of depression, which the alcohol didn’t help at all. I like that fresh feeling when you wake up sober and starting the day early so you can tick off a lot of things from your agenda. There’s a feeling of satisfaction waking up and accomplishing so much before the clock strikes 12 (noon!). There’s also the fact that I’m not getting any younger and although I’m not “ashamed” of my age, I want to prolong the ageing process and keep this body as healthy as I possibly can!

Photo from Instagram @thegoodquote

My number 1 cheerleader on this journey!

Three weeks ago I started swimming again and I also started training for a 5K run. Running is something I’ve never been good at but I wanted to add on another challenge for myself. So 2016 is the year I make a change for a happy, healthy me… the year I will RUN a 5K (3.1miles) race… the year I will lose 14kg (31lbs) to get my “bikini body” back ;-) A “31” theme for my 31^st year!

Circa 2006

Thank you and I hope you enjoy this journey to a better life with me! :-)

Making friends is HARD!

It's been a while since my last blog post and I miss writing. I've been a little busy in the recent weeks and haven't really had time to put my head down to write, and to be honest, I haven't found much inspiration until now. Hopefully I'll keep this up and going more regularly again now that I'm back on.

Making friends as an adult is HARD. Despite moving around, I was always one of those kids who made friends easily and never had trouble finding people who shared similar interests and hobbies. However, as I've gotten older it feels like meeting like-minded people is more of a challenge. I'm less tolerable and more specific when it comes to finding traits I can deal with. And when it comes down to it, I just miss my best friends - the ones who know me and love me for being me... and vice versa of course!

When I relocated to Singapore in 2012, I was ready to move and start a new life. At the time I felt like I had exhausted all the possibilities in Manila and was ready to start anew. I already had long-time friends living in Singapore but I proactively went out to make sure that I didn't get stuck within my group. I attended events and dinners and got to meet lots of people through all walks of life. I also made friends through work - I ended up working for two different companies during my stay in Singapore - and had a grand ol' time with them. Some of them remained as acquaintances but a good few blossomed into friendships and are now people I regard as lifelong friends.

My close group of friends while living in Singapore were mostly made up of expats and foreigners, most having moved to the Lion City because of their jobs. We were all "orphans" of sorts, without family nearby so we eventually became one another's family as we bonded and celebrated holidays and traditions together. There were a few times I would get homesick - not necessarily for the city, but more for my family - and I can honestly say that these people made it a lot easier.

I've now been back in Manila for eight months and I have to admit it's been a struggle making friends. I'm no longer the girl who likes to party and be in on the scene. I prefer a few drinks at the pub, checking out new restaurants (you're spoiled for choice in Manila!), going to movies, and traveling out of town to explore or just relax outside the city. The people I know from when I was growing up, in school, etc. who were once friends are now more like acquaintances as we've gone on our separate paths. It's nice to catch up once in a while but then you realise that you're just very different people today who happen to share a fun yet distant past.

My best friends are scattered throughout the world - from Australia and Singapore to the UK and the US. Thanks to social media we're able to communicate quite often but we all know it's just not the same when all you want to do is call your BFF to meet up for a bottle of wine or two after a long ass day at work. Sometimes you just need to vent and not be judged, or need them to smack some sense into you, or sometimes you just need their presence without having to say a single word and it feels like the Universe is whole again.

Here's to hopefully meeting more like-minded people and being able to call this place home again, even for a little while.

This post is dedicated to my dearest friends, near and far - you know who you are. Thank you for always having my back. You know I'll pick up that bat for you when you need it!

No quitters allowed!

For some reason I was sharing with my dad this story from my trip to Scotland earlier this year and it inspired a new blog post...

My first hill walk was in Falkland where Mr. Moreland took me up to Craigsmead car park via Maspie Den, then to Maiden's Fort and back to Falkland via the Bruce Monument. Thanks to an Instagram post with these details, I'm able to map out that walk for you. Anyway, it took us a good 4 hours to walk it -- probably take Ross less than half the time if I wasn't lagging behind! -- and by the end of it I was knackered! Pretty damn good experience though and at the end of the day I really enjoyed it. But that's where I learned that you should never trust a Scotsman when he says, "it's just up that wee hill" because that "wee" hill is more like a mountain for a city girl like me! Anyway, I managed to survive that and I also managed to come out alive after Old Man of Storr on the Isle of Skye. Not that I was all of a sudden an expert outdoors(wo)man after those two experiences, but since I was still in one piece I thought the Lomond Hills would be a breeze.

Maspie Den

I heart snow!

It was the day before I was flying out and Ross wanted to take me hill walking one more time before I left. So we went back to Falkland and geared up for a little walk up East Lomond (also known as Falkland Hill). Ross pointed out the hill and it didn't look like it would be too difficult so off we went. It started off quite flat and I enjoyed walking past the sheep chewing on the grass and admired the snow-covered Scottish landscape.

Just chillin'

East Lomond

We came across an old lime kiln and learned that the Lomond Hills are made up of limestone, sandstone, and volcanic rock. Some 150 years ago the limestone was quarried and the existing paths are the same ones the people back in the day used to transport the limestone. It was pretty cool walking down the paths and imagining exactly what used to go on there. It also offered some awesome photo ops!

The Lomond Hills are made up of limestone, sandstone & volcanic rock

Sharks in the hills?!

Old lime kiln

Sitting on top of an old lime kiln

My view from on top of the lime kiln

We continued on our walk and began our climb up the hill. As usual, it started off quite nice and flat but gradually became steeper -- as it would since it's a hill! -- but I didn't know just how steep it would get. The climb up to Storr wasn't even a match! Mind you, everything was covered in snow and parts in ice so it was proving to be a little more difficult for inexperienced little ol' me. If I remember correctly, we were around halfway up and I was already imagining my fall (roll?) all the way to the bottom. I'm usually okay with heights but this time I was actually scared -- I didn't know whether it would be easier to go back down or keep on going. However, when I looked down towards the flat land, I realised that I wouldn't even know where to begin descending apart from jumping and hoping for no broken bones. As usual, Mr. Adventure himself was making it look like gravity didn't exist. I admire his patience because at some parts he actually had to drag me up while reminding me that once we reached the top I'd get some nice hot tea and tea cakes! Food... yes, it kept me going!

Here we go!

The view below

Mr. Adventure Man has no fear

I can't remember how long it took us but we finally reached the summit and I had to give myself another pat on the back for surviving yet another wee Scottish hill -- all 424 meters (1,591 feet) of it! We found a little spot to sit on and admire the views below and beyond and, as promised, Ross made us some tea and whipped out the delicious tea cakes.

I made it!!!

And of course Ross did too!

Enjoying my well-deserved tea and tea cakes!

After a while I'd noticed a group of young kids -- they couldn't have been more than 8 or 9 years old -- coming up from the other side of the hill. Full of energy and bouncing around, didn't look like they even broke a sweat! I was thinking, "Damn! These Scottish people really are all about the outdoors." Anyway, we finished our snack, packed up, and got ready to head back to the car. I was already so tired from the climb that I'd momentarily forgotten that the walk down would probably exhaust my final bout of energy due to the steepness and nerves. But Ross said not to worry as the descent would be much easier. So off we went and I kept waiting for the land to steepen again, but as we continued on it just got flatter and flatter and before you know it we were back in the car park -- easy peasy! Ross had known about this easy way up/down East Lomond but of course didn't tell me about it! Could've saved me the exhaustion, moaning, and fear for my life. But who am I kidding?! He'd never take -- nor let me take -- the easy way out.

My rock! <3

Again, this is another awesome experience in beautiful Scotland and one that's left an impact on me. I'm going through some difficulties in parts of my life at the moment -- including, but not limited to, moving to Manila, taking on a new job and completely new role, working with a new team, etc. I love a challenge but I'm also human; sometimes feel like I'm at my breaking point and just want to call it quits on certain things. But once I've let off some steam, allowed myself to feel all the emotions, and finally clear my mind, that's when I realise that future Jordyn would be disappointed looking back if I let go and accept defeat. I think one of the most important things as well is to surround yourself with positive people -- those who will listen to you when you need to vent, who will hold your hand, or even those who will drag you by your hair just so you don't tumble downwards. Saying this, you should also be able to know when to raise the white flag. Once you've tried every which way to deal with it or make things better but it's still hurting you and turning you into a negative person, you have to know when to let go on and move on to bigger, better, and brighter things!

Don't be afraid to take on new challenges and go out there with a strong and determined mind. It'll make it easier to overcome the low points, which you will inevitably go through. Remember to surround yourself with the right people and chuck out those negatrons -- you don't need them! Be strong and don't quit -- unless you know you have to.

What brings you to life? *Part 6* The Sassy Stylist

The final feature of my Passion Q&A series from my blog post titled What brings you to life?

RANZA BAY

Marketing & Events Specialist / Stylist

It's not every day you immediately hit it off with someone but it was "love at first sight" when we first met in 2012. Though we haven't known each other for that long, I know I've found a friend for life. From our late night antics to our chill stay-at-home weekends, it's never a dull moment with this one. Apart from my mother, she's the one that taught me proper domestic etiquette. I shall not serve chips in the bag and dip in the jar it came in for fear that Mama Ranza will disapprove. She is a smart, focused, compassionate, and brilliant woman. Need some styling and DIY tips? Visit Ranza's blog at www.thebaystyles.com and check her out on Facebook and Instagram.

What brings you to life?
I come alive when I create--I am an Event Marketer by profession which means conceiving new ideas, breaking them down into intricate plans, and executing them with impeccable precision are all part of the job (that I love). I've also recently taken the plunge and started a Lifestyle Blog <thebaystyles.com>, that features unique lifestyle content. The blog provides a platform for me to aid, engage, and inspire others by sharing quick tips, DIYs, recipes, and stories that help shape one's personal Lifestyle Design. This gives me an opportunity to get my hands dirty and take on exciting projects during my free time.

What do you love most about it?
I'd like to believe that I'm a balanced left-right brain kinda gal, but when I do tap into my creative side, I'm taken to a place where I'm able to tune out the rest of the world and focus on one singular task. I guess you could call it my "outlet". But what I really love most about what I do is the sense of fulfillment I get after the job is done. You know, that moment when you step back, take a second to admire what you've created from scratch, and can't help but give yourself a fist bump or do a little victory dance.

Canapes for a friend's birthday

Tea time bites

Doodling!

How long have you been in events and styling and how did you get into it?
Since I can remember! I've always been drawn to the arts and, thanks to my parents, I took up every class you could imagine (no sitting in front of the TV for this kiddo). My mom has always been a very strong influence on me--I grew up watching her design (and re-design) our home, cook meals without taking a peek at a recipe book, and even pick up an old piece of driftwood and manage to transform it into the most striking table centrepiece. That said, I've continued to hone my skills in the arts and dabble in new things now and then. 

Making portobello and haloumi burgers

A garden in a jar

Experimenting with new art techniques

What advice would you give someone starting out in the same field?
I've had people tell me that they can't do what I do but I've proven them wrong. I've instilled the art of organisation to the messiest of the lot, taught folks that used to burn toast how to cook a meal that would be served at any top restaurant, and given a lesson or two in home decor (you know who you are). Everyone has a creative side! So, sit and listen to your inner Martha Stewart and just do it! At the end of the day it boils down to this--you've got to LOVE IT because there's no faking it when it comes to Events Marketing (or even Lifestyle Blogging). 

Putting organisational skills to work

Fondue night at home

How do you keep your passion alive?
My passion is everything I do, big or small, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. So there's no real risk of it "dying" but there are times when I need to shake things up a little by trying out new techniques, keeping myself updated on the latest trends, and even sign up for an odd class or two. This keeps it interesting, fresh, and fun. Everyone still has room to pick up a new skill or two, right? 

Batik painting class in Bali

At this specific point in time, where would you want to be and with whom?
That's a tough question. If I could be in two or more places at once I would, especially since my family and most of my closest friends are spread across the globe. But right now, at this very specific moment, I'm happy where I am. (Ask me again tomorrow, I may change my mind when I wake up). 

On holiday in Switzerland

*All photos provided by Ranza Bay.