Getting Fit

I love food.  I was never the type who would get into a diet or deliberately eat healthy.  I just want to enjoy a delicious meal without any inhibitions.  I (try to) exercise regularly anyway.  It was only these past couple of months, when I challenged myself to develop a healthy lifestyle.  After several attempts in finding the best method for reaching my ideal weight and keeping fit, I finally got into the discipline.
Here’s what helped me and hopefully would help you too:


Jumpstart until you breakthrough. A lot of times, drastic changes are needed to bring about results.  I enrolled myself into a training program that gave me intense workout.  The first few sessions felt like torture but it challenged me.  A few weeks after, I realized the results, it gave me a great sense of well-being.  I felt more energized and daily activities felt easier to do.  I suggest you start by getting into a workout or exercise that would push you to your limits.  When you finally breakthrough you will be encouraged to move forward.


Be active. My friend Alfie, introduced me to this device called Fitbit.  It’s a small device you clip in your pocket that counts the steps you take and calories burned, among its other functions.  You then sync it to the website that generates a report of your activity level.  This has done wonders for me, it has pushed me to burn more than what I intake.  One of the important lesson I learned from this device is that simple activities like walking, using the stairs, doing chores can help you burn calories.  You just have to make a conscious decision not to be lazy or sluggish.


Find a diet that fits you. The best way to do this is to be informed.  Learn from others.  There are countless of resources available in the bookstore and internet.  It can even be done over coffee with a friend.  Don’t pattern your diet exactly like others.  We all have different lifestyles and physiological make up so don’t be afraid to try until you find a diet plan that adapts well to you.

Check out  Natural Health, Livestrong and My Fitness Pal.  These are my go to sites that keeps me informative.

Envision results and get motivated. I often ask myself “Why do I do what I do?”  Why do I get up early to play tennis or spend almost 3 hours in the gym or deliberately ignore the plate of molten chocolate cake topped with ice cream?  I do it because I want to reach my ideal weight and develop a healthy lifestyle.  Set a specific goal and envision yourself reaching it.  When you start to see results, it will motivate you to continue on.  And, don’t forget to reward yourself!


Get a fitness buddy. As the saying goes, two are better than one, for they can help each other succeed.  We all need people to encourage and push us to reach our goals.  A fitness buddy keeps you accountable to someone with regards to your diet and exercise routine.  Challenging and tracking each others progress makes the journey fun and worthwhile!

Believe me, getting fit is very rewarding and not as difficult as you think.   If you have previously tried and not reaped the benefits, I encourage you to try again!  You are bound to get it at some point.  Don’t wait until your health deteriorates.  Take this as a challenge to improve your whole well-being.  I guarantee you, you will be pleased.

Cooking with Love

“Cooking is like love.  It should be entered into with abandon or not at all.”

When I was a little girl, my mom would ask me to watch her prepare dinner.  I remember doing so reluctantly, since I would rather watch tv or play.  She repeatedly told me that it was for my own good and that when I had a family of my own, I would look back and be thankful that I learned how to cook.  My mom was very hands on when it came to our meals, from the way the vegetables were washed, how the meat was thawed to cooking the dish itself.  She didn’t like the idea of leaving it all up to a cook.  She said that more important than serving nutritious and delicious meals, food should be prepared out of love.  It makes a whole difference.

As I grew older, I started to gain interest in cooking.  I never wanted to take up culinary and make it a profession but I found that I enjoyed cooking for my family and friends.  I love how raw ingredients can be mixed together to create something delightful.  I developed an adventurous palate by trying new dishes and different recipes.  Looking back, I am so grateful that my mom involved me in the kitchen.  More than learning how to cook, I learned the heart behind it.  She shared a very priceless value to me, which is cooking with love.  When love is behind the reason in doing what you do, it goes beyond simply accomplishing something, there is a joy that results to it.

I’m so excited to pass on this value to my children in the future.  I believe that the kitchen is a valuable aspect in a home and lots of love flows through it.