THE BIKINI DIARIES: BACK TO BORACAY

When I get tired of life in the city, I hit the beach. Believe it or not, if I'm pushed to my limits, I snap, leave everything behind, and try to breathe before I'm dead.

That's how city life is for me sometimes. You work, get tired, get stressed, get depressed, but you earn--- You earn to spend, to relax, to unwind--- but at the end of the day, you're still STRESSED.

My principle in life is to spend, but for something worthwhile. I could get myself a fancy handbag, or eat my heart out in one of the best buffets in the metro, or stay in a 5- star hotel in the city. But I still choose to escape reality for a moment: fly to a remote place where I can hear no vehicles, smell no smoke, and see no concrete.

This is the time to do the real "reality check": to find out if you can still hear your breathing, feel your heart beating, and realize that there are more things than work, study, and urbanization.

This has got to be my most spontaneous trip to paradise to date. I was pigging out in Banchetto, Ortigas with friends when I got a message from my mother. She told me that she's bound for Boracay at 5:30am on Saturday. Then I felt that urge to lie on the sand, stare at the sky for hours, and swim on crystal blue waters. I called her back and asked her to book me an electronic ticket. I hurriedly left Banchetto, packed my bags, and the rest is history. And after a few hours since Banchetto, I was already in paradise. :)))

The place we are staying in is called DISCOVERY SHORES. It is located at Station 1. It is one of the Best Resorts in Asia of 2010- 2011.

And when they claim that they're the best, they're not kidding. The thing that impressed me the most in my stay is their remarkable service. The attendants never fail to greet you or give you a smile. They're always cheerful, and ready to assist you anytime.

But luxury doesn't come at a cheap cost. Station 1 is known for its high- end beach resorts. And Discovery Shores is the most popular at the station.

Here are snapshots of the facilities in Discovery Shores:

Look at those beds. I am pretty sure you will never have nightmares here!

Discovery Shores is a fusion of Zen/Contemporary architectural inspirations. The ambiance of the place suits every modern person. The Zen touch gives that much needed feeling of relaxation to every resort- dweller with a tired and stressed being.

Isn't the view majestic? The place behind the pool is Indigo, Discovery Shores' official bar/resto. Indigo restaurant is one of the finest restaurants in the island.

If you want to be a queen for a day (or for as long as you're staying in Bora), then check out Discovery Shores. I repeat, this is one of the finest hotels in the island, so the rates are costly.But I guarantee you, it will be all worth your cold, hard- earned moolah! :)

And moving forward...

This is a shot from D'mall. To those who are yet to visit this piece of paradise, D'mall is the island's local mall. From drugstores to branded swim wear, they have it here. But don't expect a city- kind of mall. After all, everything that reminds you of the city is what you're trying to escape from if you're in Boracay!

And to wrap up this post, this is The Beauty Junkee, posing for my dear readers. I give you a warm and calm smile. Finally, I have found my peace of mind---AGAIN.

HAVE A GREAT WEEK AHEAD! :)

CHRISTMAS IS ALWAYS THE TIME OF GOODWILL FOR ME

Christmas is indeed, the time of goodwill. The time to share. The time to extend a helping hand wholeheartedly. Christmas is also a time to renew bonds, celebrate blessings, and to create new beginnings.

I am sorry for the lack of posts. I've been going through my recent posts, and I've realized that my heart and passion for writing wasn't there. To be honest, I am not in the mood to write for the past month. Basically, I'm just writing for the sake of updating.

My grandmother is dying. Since the time she stopped speaking (which was caused by a stroke), everything else was downhill for her from that point. After a week since she stopped speaking, she stopped eating. The she developed a lot of bed sores. And she was hospitalized for almost a month. It cost us tons of money. And I feel bad because I can't do anything to help my mother with the bills. But I am glad that my uncle provided financial support for our ailing grandmother.

And after a week of staying in our house, she had to be brought back to the hospital again because her tube on her stomach is leaking (she's being tube- fed already). And we discovered that she already had a lot of internal infections and kidney failure. So she had to stay in the ICU for a week. For the past month, she has undergone two surgeries. But luckily, God gave her another chance at life. Her kidney has recovered and she's bound to be released before the new year. But her vital signs are still low. And it's continually degrading. Her doctors talked to us and told us to prepare for the worst.

I have been depressed. But what can I do? Death is a natural thing. But the pain that you have to go through is exhausting. I also find myself praying that God silently takes her while she's in her sleep. I can't even believe myself that I am actually praying for her eternal rest to come soon and quick! But I'd rather see her sleeping peacefully than see her cry all the time because of all the excruciating pain that she's experiencing. Oh, if my grandmother could only speak again, She'd be cursing everyone and anything for the pain that she's going through!

And all of a sudden I felt regret-- Regret for taking my grandmother for granted. But just a bit. True enough, you'll never know how much a person means to you unless he/she's gone. Or in our case: Dying.

I didn't even put up the Xmas tree. For five years in a row, it is one of my pledges to put up the Xmas tree and decorations around the house. I even start as early as October! That's how excited I am for every Christmas. But for this Xmas, the house was dull. I didn't feel like putting up any Xmas decorations. In fact, I didn't even feel Xmas amidst all the decorated buildings I pass by every time I travel. To be honest, I didn't know that yesterday was the 24th, if my hubby didn't tell me.

But then again, you have to believe that everything happens for a reason. The day my beloved Shih Tzu King died was on Xmas day. I commemorated it last night by feeding his fellow dogs a big can of wet dog food. And this Xmas of 2010, I almost lost my grandmother.

After darkness, light shines again. I vowed to take all the events in my life now peacefully. For this Xmas, I tried unloading all the pain I've went through 'cos of my Lola for the past two months. Whatever happens, I will embrace wholeheartedly. I believe that there is life after death, and a new beginning is bound to happen.

So I took out a lantern, put up some Christmas lights and decorated the door, and wrapped some gifts. It is never too late to welcome Christmas.

Anyway, I've been telling you at the start of this post that Xmas is the year of goodwill for me and my mom. Since we're talking about happy endings and new beginnings, I decided to continue our pledge to distribute "XMAS GOODIES BAGS" to impoverished people around the streets, even if mom wasn't with me last night to do the deed because she decided to celebrate Xmas with lola in the ICU.

Here are pics of our goodies bags. If you will check my Christmas '09 posts, I also have pics of our goodies bags for last xmas too.

Each bag contains a tetra pack juice drink, a sandwich, candies, cookies, cupcakes, and jelly ace candies.

And here is a wood tray chock- full of snacks for carolers and people asking for aguinaldos.

Another box full of marshmallow pieces for kid carolers.

My brother, a house helper, and I went around the streets of Makati and stopped by people scouring trash bins, sleeping on the streets, guards celebrating a lonely Xmas guarding a building, pedicab and tricycle drivers patiently and sadly waiting for a passenger to stop by and gave them a little piece of Christmas. Oh if you could only see the smile on their faces! That indeed made my Christmas merry and bright!

Cliche as it may sound, doing something like this makes you really feel how blessed you are. I may be undergoing a lot of pain, and we might be tight with cash due to Lola's unexpected illness right now, but I can't complain. We can still afford to pay for Lola's hospitalization, I can still afford to buy gifts for myself and for others, I had a pretty good noche buena, and I still sleep on a soft bed, and in an air- conditioned room. At least I am not in the streets like the people I've mentioned.

In any tough situation that I am in, I vow to always remind myself that I am still lucky. There are other people who have more problems than me.

This Christmas has been great after all.

MERRY CHRISTMAS EVERYONE. :)

RESTAURANT HOPPING: MR. JONES+ BIRTHDAY PICS

Birthdays are pig- out days. So for my birthday lunch, hubby treated me to Mr. Jones, a sweet diner located in Greenbelt 5.

And for another restaurant hopping entry, let's look at Mr. Jones.

Mr. Jones is an all- american kick- ass diner with a serving that would literally feed two to three people!

If you're up for fried, saucy, and grilled goodness, Mr. Jones is the place to be!

I love diners because of the vintage feel of the place. I love anything vintage. Plus, who doesn't love pancakes, waffles, sausages and steaks??? Diner food is love!

Mr. Jones is a perfect place to dine with your family. Price range is from 200- 800php, depending on what you're going to order.

MUST TRYS:

U.S. Ribcap beef Tapa overload breakfast

Challah French Toast

Milkshakes (especially the Cherry Almond one)

Superman burger

Scroll down to see what we had. It's so weird that hubby and I had breakfast food during our lunch. But heck, we love breakfast food, especially the ones served in diners. :)

Craving for french toasts, and he got it. And that's a lot!

Cherry Almond shake. For those who want that sugar high. This is looove! :)

I missed Pinoy breakfast! :)

Yes, he's going to enjoy his gut bomb of a lunch, Challah French Toast. :)

Tapa overload! :)

**Mr. Jones is located in the restaurant alley of Greenbelt 5, Makati City

THE BIKINI DIARIES: CORON, PALAWAN PICS+ MORE PICS OF MY NEW BOD

As promised, here are pics from my Coron, Palawan escape.

Coron is a group of islands located in the province of Busuanga, Palawan.

Travel time through is air is 40- 45 minutes. You will ride a boutique plane (these are the only planes allowed in the Busuanga airport due to the small and short runway) and you will land in the Busuanga Airport. A jeep provided by the resort of your choice will pick you up to take you to the river banks. Travel time from the airport to the river banks is 30 minutes. Then a boat, which is also provided by the resort of your choice, will take you through the amazon river- like Coron river for 45 minutes, before you reach the open seas, which gives you a marvelous view of the different islands of Coron.

We stayed in Club Paradise, one of the best resorts in Coron. It is quite costly because overall, the place is very decent for a remote island in the middle of the sea.

Palawan is indeed an island to visit and discover. It boasts of crystal clear waters, wonderful marine life, and powder- like sands.

The waves are calm, which enables swimmers like me to swim a wee bit far from the shores without worrying of being washed off to an unknown island.

Water activities such as Jets skiing, snorkeling, and banana boat rides are available for an extra charge.

Snorkeling around the island is the most recommended thing to do because the waters are dayum clear and it is rich with various marine life from fishes to corals. I even saw a sea turtle feeding on the sea grasses underwater while I was snorkeling! Seeing the turtle is such a worthwhile experience.

For those who can afford, you can also do diving. Diving classes are offered for newbies. And for divers and courageous first- timers, there are selected areas for diving: The dugong region, where most of the dugongs wander to feed, Honda Bay for richer underwater communities, and the place where the world war ii ship of Japan has sunk after losing to the Americans. The say that it's such a sight to behold. A piece of history lying underwater for years, which also serves as a good place to stay and breed for various marine animals. You get to see a piece of history, and a magnificent view of our beautiful marine life!

Here are some good pics. I swear, I will go back to this place! But I'll visit El Nido and the subterranean river next year (crossing my fingers!). And I will definitely buy an underwater camera!

Other in- door activities such as pampering and lounging in the common area are offered as a break from the water. Resorts also organize activities such as disco night, karaoke night, kite flying, etc. to make the stay a bit different and enjoyable.

Shot of the Palawan islands via plane. The view is wonderful and amazing

Missing my hubby in moments like this. Breathtaking view, ain't it? :)

The decent room where we stayed in.

Ahhhh... I could wake up to this scene everyday!

Me and my mom having our final breakfast.

And as requested by one of my readers (is it minakichu?) Here are more photos of my new body after doing the Cheat To Lose diet.

For the record, I lost 13lbs. all in all, and I just lost 2 in. off of the measuring tape last week. I love how I am able to shed pounds weekly!

PERSONAL NOTE: I love how summer lets me go back to nature. Being one with nature resets my mind, calms my soul, refreshes my being, and helps me reminisce the memories past. Summer is a time to be grateful for every wonderful and memorable year that passes by.

HOW I EMBRACED THE HEALTHY LIFESTYLE AND HOW I KEPT ON SHEDDING POUNDS

I will write my blog about my lifestyle change (aka diet) in due course because I haven’t reached my target weight yet. But reading Chrissy’s made me do it. No, not dieting, because I have been dieting for a year now. I’m talking about blogging and inspiring people.

Let me show you my pics when I was at my heaviest

This is me in 2006, around 150+lbs.

This is me, after a year with the ABS POWER DIET. 25lbs. lighter.

And this is me, after gaining around 15lbs. April 2010, Laiya, Batangas

And this is me now, after almost two weeks of strictly following my current diet. Getting toned and firm! :)

And I’m not done yet with this CHEAT TO LOSE DIET. I’m still in my Low G.I. week.

I’ll post an entry again once I achieve my desired weight at around the end of July. But for this entry, I would just like to tell those who are struggling to shed some pounds, how one decision has changed my life.

If may be patterned a bit after Chrissy’s (since she inspired me to write this entry!) but I’m pretty sure you’ll gain a lot of insights as you reach the bottom of the page.

For reference, I’m 5’5 1/2

***********************

I grew up in a family who loves eating and cooking, so you could pretty much imagine how hard it is to tweak my eating habits. We also love dining out. Dining out can be compared to shopping, so every weekend, my family and I would eat in fine restaurants that offer the best meals.

And having a boyfriend who loves eating as well just made the situation harder. And since we share this love for food, we would also eat like there’s no tomorrow.

Eat, eat, eat. That’s all I ever did for a year. It seemed like I could never get enough of eating. Every meal is a feast, because I would stuff myself to my belly’s content, not my mind or heart.

And before I knew it, I could see flabs. Three layers of pancake- like flabs on my belly. My boobs were around 40B, and my hip size is 42. And my waist? It’s 36. 40-36-42: Not a pretty good body statistic.

I used to be 40 pounds lighter before I got to my heaviest in 2006, which is 156+ pounds (this is an estimate. I completely forgot how heavy I was. But I’m sure I was around 150+). But it was a disastrous lifestyle. I would eat normally like what I did, but I would eat less. AS IN LESS. I used to have only 1- 2 meals a day. And 1 out of the two meals, I would replace with beer because I thought that a bottle of beer is equivalent to a cup of rice. And I thought that it was good, because I’m having my calorie and carb intake sans the starch. But I wish I knew better. And the result of that disastrous lifestyle: a slim body, but not a healthy- looking one; loose skin; fat deposits. BUT-- I was slim. I took my theatre performances and work as an opportunity to lose weight by sleeping and eating less. It’s like I already did a fad diet. But boy, I was enjoying my new body. To hell with the negative signs.

And the success of my fad dieting lasted only for as long as I continued with my bad lifestyle. And when I started enjoying eating a lot again, I gained back what I lost—and I gained it back faster than I thought.

Having a fit body is very important in my career. I’m a theatre actress, and I’m no different from the celebrities in the T.V.. I have to keep myself fit if I want to score good roles.

I got so fat, that I didn’t get to join theatre productions. Depression came, and I ate more than the usual. And I got fatter each and every single day.

My friends would tease me and tell me that I’m “pregnant” that’s why I’m gaining weight. The news even reached my superiors in school and they really thought that I was expecting! And I have to end all doubts by bravely saying that “No, I’m just fat”, even if it sucked admitting to others that I am. I’m so disillusioned that time. I still kept on thinking that my body is still okay, even if it’s not anymore. Then my pretty tops and shorts wouldn’t fit me anymore. It came to a point where I have to shop for new clothes. To make matters worse, I have to buy in surplus stores because it’s where they offer plus- sized clothing. My shirt size went from small to large.

Then I started hating the panting after a small flight of stairs, and not being as agile as I used to whenever I swim or play badminton. It sucked because I can’t enjoy what I’m doing best! Then I started despising the bulging belly and my hip that’s as big as a planet.

And all it took was one look at the mirror. I was in my undies, then I mused: I AM GETTING TOO FAT. AND THIS HAS TO STOP.

It only took one decision to change my life forever. I started researching about different diets, ways to eat healthy, and the most effective diet and eating habits. When I came across the one that’s right and do- able for me, I embarked on a journey to lose all my unwanted fat.

But I have to admit that it was not that easy, especially if you’re the type who loves food. After a few days, the old habit starts kicking in again and I would feel depressed because I am missing all the bad stuff. And it’s not easy most especially if you’re dining out or attending an occasion, because you lose your focus with all the food that you see! My diet has become a one-step-forward-one-step-backward process, and I would give up because of the feeling of hopelessness. Losing fat the right way was harder than I thought! I was almost tempted to go back to my crash dieting because it was easier. Two weeks, and the results are dramatic and already visible. But I held on to the adverse effect of crash dieting: ANY DIET DONE THE EASY WAY IS MOST LIKELY TO GIVE YOU MOMENTARILY EFFECTS. With this in mind, I still struggled on my path to fitness.

Dieting and exercise go hand-in-hand. For the other one to give dramatic and faster results, it should be backed up by the other, and vice versa. And it’s not easy, especially for me, who would put exercising in the 100^th place on my 100 things to do before my day ends list. Yep, that’s how much I hate exercising. I was an athletic kid, but I lost my love for it somewhere along the way.

I had a lot of reasons not to exercise. For one, I don’t have money to sustain a gym membership, and to purchase expensive gym gear and clothing. Other petty reasons would be: I am too busy, I have performances in the evening, I have no place to exercise in my house, etc., etc., etc.

But it is very true that if there’s a will, there’s a way. Hubby talked to me about the importance of exercising, and the rest is history. I’ve started exercising, and have found effective and faster ways to maximize a work out. I’ve also found effective ways to burn fat without hiring a trainer or even buying a gym membership. Plus, the discovery of different exercises that are done in 15 minutes, and are more effective in burning fat when compared to hourly sessions in the gym, is like finding gold in books and the Internet. These very effective interval cardio exercises and circuits workouts have made me love exercising more and more each day. And I make it a point that I do my interval cardio and circuit exercises 4 times a week.

And now, to cut this short, I am eating well and feeling well. And most importantly, I’m looking better than before! I’m done with my ABS POWER DIET and I’m happy with the results. I’ve lost 25lbs. in one year. But I fell off the wagon because the ABS POWER DIET is quite hard. And now, I’m halfway through with my CHEAT TO LOSE DIET, and I’m looking better than before! I’m not saying that the latter is better than the former. What I’m saying is, my love for a healthy lifestyle has made me find a lot of ways to lose weight effectively, dramatically, and easily.

But don’t let the EASILY word fool you into thinking that it is “easy”. If you love doing something, everything will be easy. So for those who are having a tough love with dieting and exercise, all it takes is acceptance first. Accept your state, and acknowledge your needs and goals. Then the love comes afterwards.

But don’t fret. Eating healthy doesn’t necessarily mean saying goodbye to burgers, pizzas, fries, sodas, and ice cream for life. Believe me. Diets that only allow you to eat nuts, fishes, fruits, and veggies for life are delusional and IMPOSSIBLE. Unless you have a change of heart and decided to be a vegetarian, then it’s no biggie. But for people who love eating like me, there are diets out there that will still allow you to eat like a King on some days. Isn’t it great? A diet that allows you to eat all the bad stuff whilst still keeping you fit and healthy. If you’re in my position, I bet you couldn’t ask for more.

I’ve been doing the healthy lifestyle for a year now. And here are some tips that made me very successful in my journey:

- Do not call your Diet a “DIET”. Because saying that you are “dieting” may result to momentarily efforts and effects. And once you get your desired look and weight, you let yourself go again. Remember, it’s easy to gain, but hard to lose. If you want to stay in shape for life without going all through the demands of dieting over and over again, MAKE A LIFESTYLE CHANGE. You are dieting because you want to change your life, not your current look or weight.

- IT PAYS TO GAIN KNOWLEDGE. Don’t believe everything that you hear. Read books, and take advantage of technology so you can gain knowledge. Just because I tell you that counting calories are only going to make your diet harder than what it seems, doesn’t mean that I’ve already told you the main principle of calorie intake. Knowledge is your weapon. It also saves you from being carried away with fad dieting and information (most especially on the “blown out of proportion” information on aspartame and artificial sweeteners).

- BE CRITICAL. Here’s why having a lot of knowledge will help you better in choosing the right foods for your diet: E.G. yogurt has become a fad nowadays. And people will tell you that you’re eating the “GOOD STUFF” ‘cos it’s yogurt. Now, here’s where I burst your bubble: If you like eating that “fad yogurt” (I’d like to call it the “fad yogurt” ‘cos stores are starting to grow everywhere like mushrooms! It’s like the local version of Starbucks) because you think it’s healthy, lemme’ give you a reality check by saying that it is not. Here’s an analysis. Sugar and fat are the main ingredients for a yummy desert. And even if your yogurt says that it’s 98% FAT- FREE, then it’s probably loaded with sugar because it still tastes damn good. And sugar loads you up with carbohydrates, which induces Insulin that holds and preserves the fat. So why do you think that these “fad yogurts” are very popular? It’s because they still taste good even if they’re 98% fat- free! If these yogurts are fatless and sugarless, then there wouldn’t be a yogurt phenomenon in the first place. I’m not saying that you can’t have it for life. Just take in moderation.

- REACH FOR THIS, NOT THAT. We have choices in life. And life’s much better if we make smart and healthy choices. So if you feel like snacking on something, grab a fruit, instead of a bag of chips. I know that a bag of Cheetos will taste a thousand times better than fruit, but opting for the healthier choices proves to be better in the long run--- ALWAYS.

- READ THE NUTRITIONAL FACTS, AND FEAR NOT THE CALORIES! It pays to know what you’re giving your body so you should take note of your meal portions. But I’m not saying that you do the math on every item that you’ll buy. That would be plain ridiculous. As I’ve said, calorie counting is not what’s important. Portions are the key to knowing how much you should eat. Read the labels. Check if it’s high in Sodium. If it is, look for an alternative. If it’s high in sugar, look for an alternative as well. Check for the carb and protein grams. But don’t freak out if you see that every food in the grocery has high calories. Dearie, calories are easily burned. The hardest are fat and carb. So don’t stare at the calorie table. It’ll just make you worry about the less important things, and makes you sacrifice the really important ones. Best foods to eat if you want a good amount and kind of calories? Fruits and veggies.

- LOVE. The key to a successful journey is love. Love what you’re doing, and love what you’re eating. There shouldn’t be any place for regret because regret blocks your way to success. So if you’re on a diet, have patience and do not regret the time that you turned down your friends for a night of pizza and beer. You’ll enjoy it some other time, along with a spanking and sizzling new body.

- PLAN. Planning is half winning. So if you’re busy, set your schedule. Foods sold in restaurants may contain unsaturated fats such as vegetable oil, lard, corn syrup, etc. These are bad fats that can stay in your system forever, and may take a lot of time to lose if consumption is prolonged. Planning what to cook and bring assures you that you’re only getting the best out of your meals for your diet.

- SAVE. Diets require a good amount of cash. So if you’re itching to buy new shoes, save it for organic and healthy food shopping. There will always be a thousand pretty shoes. And trust me, it won’t run out.

- HAVE DISCIPLINE. Don’t settle for anything less. If the only visible restaurant you see is Jollibee or McDo, don’t go for it. You can’t keep on telling yourself that: “I’ll just exercise and eat healthy the next day.” This kind of attitude is just going to slow down your progress and will lead you to nothing. If you want faster and more effective results, BE STRICT ON HOW, WHERE AND WHAT YOU EAT. No room for buts and maybes. Follow the plan, and stick to it.

And here are my top 3 hunger busters.

- NUTS. Screw the old belief that nuts are high in fat. Nuts may be high in fat, but they have GOOD FAT. Well, peanuts, on the other hand, should be taken in moderation. And good fats are “Easy to lose” fats.

- FRUITS. Not too much of this though ‘cos they are still high in carb. But to make me feel full and satisfied, I take it in moderation. Who doesn’t love fruits anyway???

- PROTEIN BARS. In different flavors such as chocolate, almond, caramel, etc., with less fat and carbs. I always take high dosages of protein to keep my muscles happy. And if my muscles are happy, I’m lean and toned- looking. And if someone tells you that high- protein diets are dangerous, don’t listen to that person. He/She might be misinformed. As I’ve said, IT PAYS TO GAIN KNOWLEDGE.

And here are some tips on how you can burn, not take, and retain too much fat, without having to sweat a lot:

- TAKE THE STAIRS. For short trips and a longer life, take the stairs.

- WALK. Enjoy walking. It helps you burn some calories. Some is still some. Don’t take it for granted.

- GO EASY ON THE ALCOHOL. Alcohol slows down your metabolism. So if you love it, learn how to control your consumption.

And finally, here are the best insights that I’ve gained from diet experts and trainers. These are randomly typed in the list. All came from Joel Marion, Rachel Cosgrove, and of course, my health freak hubby:

- “You cannot out- train a bad diet.”

- “Eat healthy 90% of the time, and 10% unhealthy of the time.”

- The worst nutrient combination intake ever: CARB+FAT. Because CARB+FAT=INSULIN, And INSULIN+FAT= FAT STORAGE AND PRESERVATION.

- Eating like a king for a day gives your LEPTIN (a body acid) a boost. It’s what speeds up your metabolism, and makes you burn fat faster and more. So after a cheat day, do a heavy work out. Trust me, you’ll burn half of what you ate the day before.

And here’s where the part where I end this long journal.

I would just like to say that all hard work has its own sweet fruits. And it’s sweeter if you’ve gained it the hard way, because the trials and hardships teach you to become smarter and better.

Dieting is not easy. But it is still do-able if you learn to love it.

Don’t be afraid to commit mistakes because it is where you learn. I’ve fallen for a number of times, but here I am, back on my feet, and more successful than ever. Just stand up, brush yourself, and continue with your goal in mind.

It just takes one decision to change your outlook, and one brave step to change your life. There is always hope, as long as you keep on looking for it, no matter how blurry your future may seem.

There goes my story to a fit lifestyle. I’ll get back to you with another health entry once I reach my goal.

**I would like to take this opportunity to thank Randy, my ever supportive and loving boyfriend, who has been with me in my journey to a fit lifestyle. One most important ingredient to a successful endeavor is support from the people around you. And I would like to thank him and his six- pack abs for that. Also, my mom who has supported me every step of the way. She’s doing the shopping for the good stuff for me. So everything would not possible without her help as well. If people are pushing you to lose weight, don’t think of it as an insult. Think of it as SUPPORT. Always look at the brighter side of life.

**If you are interested to try the diets that I’ve tried, type in ABS POWER DIET and THE CHEAT TO LOSE DIET by Joel Marion in the Internet. There are also books available in Fully Booked and Powerbooks. I’m not saying that these are the be-all and end- all of all the diets. These worked for me. And if you’re currently on a diet, I’m not saying that mine’s better. After all, it all boils down to whatever works for you. But if you still want to try mine, by all means, do it. Because I’m pretty sure that any of the two will work for you. Here’s something to get you excited and curious: A DIET THAT LETS YOU EAT ALL THE BAD STUFF.

Cheers! Lemme know your success stories. I’m also open to any queries, so feel free to ask anything.

FINALLY, IT'S TIME TO LET GO

Here's the only pic of me and my Shih Tzu, King.

This blog has been in my drafts for 3 months now. I can't seem to finish it because I would always feel the loneliness and the tears that are trying to fall from my eyes.

And finally, I know that it's time.

Let me tell you all about King.

King is actually a forgotten dog. His life is much like Norma Desmond's of the musical, "Sunset Boulevard".

King used to be a champion in dog shows. He won numerous awards such as best in show, best groomed dog, etc. All of these are hearsay. I've never actually seen any proof such as plaques or certificates because King has transferred to different homes and had a number of owners. The first owner may have never cared to pass his awards on.

I met King in 2006 in a production called Hamlet. Our production manager is the owner of this lovely dog. He barely moves, and would only wag his tail whenever his name is called. I found him so cute that I would always want him to be with me when ever his owner would bring him to UP. He's in the Lights room with me, where I man the lighting board during shows. He would keep me entertained if I don't have any cues.

One day, the owner and I had a chat. He said that he's having a hard time taking care of King because he's living alone, and he's always away due to work and school.

I offered to take care of King. And he said that he'd love to, and he promised that he'll take him back after Christmas.

King stayed in our home for 2 months. Before, he would always sit under the dining table, and would wag his tail whenever he's called for his meal. He behaved like that for a week, and started loosening up during the second week.

I'm the only one who can make him come whenever he's called. King liked chicken meat so much that I would even buy him Chicken nuggets from McDonald's' before I go home. I make it a point that I would drop by McDonald's so I could give him a treat, no matter how tired I am from the performances. Maybe I was just excited at the thought that there's something worth looking forward to at home. It's like I had a baby!

Christmas time came, and the real owner had to take him away. It was a sad moment, but I had to let go because King is not mine.

But I do believe that if someone or something is yours, then it'll be returned or it will come back to you, no matter what happens.

The owner contacted me after a month and told me that he's planning to get rid of King. He's planning to get a bigger dog because Shih Tzus are high maintenance dogs. And his busy schedule won't allow him to pay a dog salon a visit. And he's also complaining about how costly King's maintenance is. From grooming to vet check- ups. And besides, King's not eating well ever since he was back in his place, according to him. So he thought that the poor dog's just counting his days. I was kinda' surprised with his statement, because when King was in our home, he would jump up and down whenever he would see me carrying his shiny, silver food bowl, filled with rice and chicken meat. So I kinda' suspected that the dog's not sick or dying. He's just not liking the loneliness, that's why he's not eating well, and is showing signs of depression.

I was so horrified at the thought that the owner's planning to get rid of King through Euthanasia. Yep. You read it right. MERCY KILLING. BENEVOLENT DEATH. Whatever nice term you give it, it's still killing. And I solely condemn it. If you can't take care of a dog, then you should have envisioned your condition in the first place. Mercy Killing is not the answer. And how can you kill such a gentle creature???

And without thinking twice, I offered to buy King for 5k. And he was sold to me.

When King was brought back to our house, he was jumping up and down, licking my feet, jumping on my brother, mother, and the maids, and he would bark like crazy. He was so happy because he's finally in a real home. He would always be with us in The Fort High Street, Powerplant mall, etc. He would always get monthly check- ups and grooming. And he was always fed with his favorite food: Chicken! And he's also a great watch dog. He would bark non- stop whenever he hears the sounds of our cars in the garage. He's actually waking up our maid so the maid will open the door for us.

One significant thing that King did was, he barked non- stop until we are awake. Mom woke me up at around 3am and told me to check why King is barking for around 30 minutes already. And when I went downstairs, I saw my Lola, lying on the floor, unconscious. She tripped from the table. When King saw me coming down from the stairs, King started jumping up and down, and going to and fro to me and Lola. King saved our Lola's life.

King was 6 years old when he arrived in our home. And he spent his happy days in his real home for the last 4 years of his life. He just wilted like a flower. We were suspecting that he died of old age.

King died on Dec.25, 2009, at exactly 12 a.m. A week before that, he was already showing signs of deterioration. He would only eat once in a day. And sometimes, he wouldn't eat anything. He would always drink water, and it came to a point that we had to make him drink water through a feeding bottle.

What sucks is, he died on one of my most favorite occasions of the year. At around 11 pm, he approached mom, my brother, my lola, the two maids, and finally, me. Each person he approached gave him a nice pat on the head. And his final approach is just his gentle way of saying goodbye and thank you.

I cried the day after he died. The sadness finally sinked in. I lost a very special pet. And every time I would see Shih Tzus in gray-white-black color combinations, I would be teary- eyed or sad. I just miss him terribly.

And while I'm writing this, I remember that sometime last month, a Shih Tzu in a gray-white-black color combination approached me and licked my feet and started jumping on me.

And when I asked for the name of the dog, the dog's name is Prince. A 4- month old male Shih Tzu.

Wherever my King is, I know he's happy, eating a lot of Chicken Meat, swimming in a bucket of Chicken Nuggets, and running, playing and barking with the other Shih Tzus and dogs in Doggie Heaven.

I know he's having a great time there. And I'm very happy for him.

Now, it's finally time to let go. :)