Anti Gravity Yoga at Beyond Yoga Alabang

My high school best buddies and I just got together because of my upcoming wedding. Of course, they are my bridesmaids. Even though we rarely see each other, we are so glad to catch up and we really resent that we are too busy to see each other for quite a long time. 

Little did we know that we will be seeing each other a little too often because of one thing we all enjoy doing -- YOGA! And to make it more exciting, we tried the Anti-Gravity Yoga at Beyond Yoga in West Gate Alabang. 

It was such a great experience!

The very first session we had was quite too easy for us (haha! yabang!) but that's only because the instructor had to run through the whole fundamentals with us. We ended up wanting a little bit more physical activity. 

Day 2 was more of a challenge! More inversions! And all of those inversions really challenged the core. I believe I will be rocking some beautiful abs if I can continue to do this. haha!

We were so tired afterwards and we did not expect that. So, I guess we had a great work out. 

We Like:

• The changing rooms and shower are well maintained and clean.
• The instructors are so friendly
• The receptionist will answer all your queries.
• They allow you to stay a little longer after the session so you can either take pictures or practice some more the new moves and poses you just learned

More information can be found in their website.

Smoothie Experiment No. 4

This one is a great energy booster to perk you up and us also tasty.

You may notice that my smoothies here are thicker than usual and have quite some pulp in them. That's because these smoothies can be a replacment for snacks or small meals. 

Here are the ingredients for today's smoothie experiment:

2 oranges

1 ripe mango

2 tbsp ginger tea

1/4 cup or non fat milk

I prefer my ingredients cold so i don't need to add ice. But if you like your smoothie not as thick, you can half the ingredients and add some water, ice and sweeteners(optional).

Put everything in your blender and the end product is a beautiful yellow colored smoothie =)

Smoothie Experiment No. 3

Isn't it obvious? I am officially obsessing on smoothies lately. I think it's partly because I now have a Shake 'n Take blender that I can carry around anywhere I go.  So I just go blending and shaking all things I like and sometimes adding in a little bit of something I don’t like. The taste blends away with the other fruits and veggies in it so I really don't taste it. Plus, some stuff with strong flavor like ginger and celery adds a nice spice to the smoothie. It is not overpowering if you add just a little. In contrary, it makes your drink taste fresh! J

Here is another one of my smoothie experiments.

Ingredients:

1 Nestle Fruit Selection Yogurt, Strawberry

1 baby carrot

½ cucumber, peeled, but you may choose not to peel if you like

2 small bananas

1/2 cup cold water

(I would like to add a short stalk of celery but didn't have it this time)

I placed all these ingredients in the fridge the day before so they are nice and cold. I did not put any more ice cubes. I just cut them all up and put in the blender. And this is what it looks like.

You might be wondering why I always have bananas in my smoothies. Well, I like that they sweeten the smoothies without having to add sugar to it. It also makes the consistency nice and creamy. 

Here's what my blender looks like. I can't seem to take a photo of it that doesn't make it look so tall so I just took this from Google. ;)

Credits to Photo Owner

Smoothie Experiment No. 2

I have found that I feel full easily with smoothies containing basic ingredients. The more variety I put in, the more full I get even if I drink just the same amount. Maybe it is because my body recognizes that what I am taking in have enough nutrients in it so I don't crave for more.

Here is one of my favorite recipes  I can repeat everyday.

1 baby carrot

2 small bananas

1 small sugar beet root

1 strawberry yogurt

Just peel and cut all the veggies and banana up. Put them in the blender. Add some water and the yogurt.

Turn the blender on and watch it change colors! The beets have a very red color and it overpowers all the colors of the other ingredients.

I have a clean bottle of TAZO juice so I just transferred the shake in it and it looked quite nice. Have the same feel as the mason drinking jars without the cost. ;)

Going Back To My Better Habits

After all the lakwatsa and eating to death during the celebration of our 8th year anniversary, it is time to go back to the better habits I developed trying to be fit.

There is no special formula for this. Just like what the doctors would say, a 30-minute cardio workout three to four times in a week and healthy eating will do. It is just a matter of discipline and having a good knowledge of what healthy eating is really about.

FOOD INTAKE

If you aim to lose weight, it is very important to reduce your food intake but take note of what is the healthy dose. They said you should not go beyond the 1200 calories limit per day. Depriving yourself too much can result to cravings and before you know it you are eating more than you should. Also, your body needs the energy and nutrients that food supplies.  

It would be better if you eat more fruits, vegetables, and healthy proteins. They are packed with vitamins and minerals but low on calories. Make a list of your favorite fruits and veggies and try to stock them on your fridge so whenever you are hungry, these are the food that you would go for first. Also, remember that there are fruits that are quite high in sugar so eat them in moderation and load on your favorite salad greens and crunchy root crops like beets and carrots. Needless to say, you should stay away from the sweets. Pastries are yummy but the sugar and saturated fats in them are the one that builds up into fat inside the body.

EXERCISE

I am quite big and chubby, so the best work out routines should include a lot of cardio. It is the fastest way to burn and shed fat. If you are slimmer but needs to tone up, you can do more core and strength training to develop muscles. It will support the skin which will make it look tighter.

Crunch Time!

I have been trying out some fruit-veggie-protein combo during the past few days as part of my conquest to live a healthier lifestyle. I alternate smoothies and salads along with some healthy protein for lunch. For this week I have lettuce, carrots and egg as staples then I would add something to change it up day to day.

I came up with this salad that both tastes and looks good. I've listed the ingredients below.

Ingredients: 

1 egg

1 small carrot

1 bunch of romaine lettuce

1 tomato

1 beet root

And here is salad no. 2. I knew I lack fruits in the first one so this compensates for that. 

Ingredients:

1 salted egg

1 small carrot

1 bunch of romaine lettuce

1/2 green apple

a small piece of papaya

1/2 celery stalk

I love how easy it is to get simple but healthy food items in the supermarket at an affordable cost. Every ingredient you see here is bought in packs costing less than 100Php each! What's great is that each pack can be good for a whole week (2 weeks for the carrots and celery stalks) of exciting lunch salad that you will never get bored of. 

I also love how easy it is to play around with the flavors and textures. You will never guess apples and eggs can go well with each other. The sweet and citrus apple is a perfect contrast to the soft and creamy texture of a soft boiled egg. It's entirely up to you how bold or how subtle you want to go with the flavors in your salad.

For days when I do not have fruits in the salad, I make up for it by having fruity smoothies in the morning or afternoon. I usually have bananas, oranges, and apples in stock. Add some beets and yogurt and get a colorful and delicious smoothie. And when I am too lazy to get the blender, I just eat them fresh. Bananas dipped in low fat peanut butter are great to sustain energy and satisfy a sweet tooth too! =)

There isn't really a general rule when making salad that suits your taste.Just toss in everything you like and voila! Keep it balance by having fruits, veggies, and protein in it so you will get all the nutrients your body needs. 

Smoothie Experiments

So, I recently bought a "Shake & Take" single-serve blender online and thought why not try something different to shake and blend! I went to the grocery store and find some things I like for a healthy smoothie. I got some bananas, strawberries, celery stalks, and yogurt. I find it weird to add celery to the mix but a friend mentioned you would barely taste it. I also read somewhere that it is good to add some veggies into your fruit smoothie to add minerals and nourishment that you need. 

So here's what I have for ingredients.

1 Medium Banana

4 Large Strawberries

1 Celery Stalk

6 Cucumber Slices 

Strawberry Yogurt

6 Ice Cubes

Just cut them all up and put in the blender. Shake until everything is nice and smooth. Super easy!

And it's true! I can barely taste the cucumber and celery. So if you are not fond of these vegetables,  this is a great way to add them to your diet. =) I think I will try mango and ginger combo next time. ;)

What To Eat

Last week I featured Cucumber, Baby Carrots, and Bell Pepper. This week let's have a little more variety by adding some fruits. =)

First stop, Kiwi!
I like kiwis because they help your digestion and clean out toxins. They also boost your immune system with high Vitamin C content and antioxidants

Grapes!
I always liked grapes so I was so excited to learn that you get a lot of benefits when you eat them. It improves your brain, protect you skin, helps fight diabetes, and aids in weight loss too!

Lettuce :)
I don't know why but I have always been fond of Romaine Lettuce. I like that it's crunchy and bland in taste so it is easy to pair with any dressing or other more flavorful ingredients. It is high in fiber and it also helps in digestion, so it meas it is definitely going to be helpful if you're planning to lose weight.

So, instead of grabbing a bar of snickers or chips when you feel like snacking, try these healthy eats that are easily found in your local supermarkets.

What to Eat

It is good to know what food you take when you are starting to live a healthy lifestyle. I have attended a nutrition seminar a few months back and learned that the key to proper diet is MODERATION, DISCIPLINE, and VARIETY. Yes, variety! Because no one food item contains all the nutrients that your body needs.

For this week, I have chosen these food items as main components of my meals.

CUCUMBER is a good way to take in nutrition and since it is 95% water, it has fewer calories. It also helps to hydrate your body and eliminate toxins.   Do not leave out the skin for it has Vitamin C. It is also known to reduce the risk or certain types of cancer. 

BABY CARROTS are high in fiber which cannot be digested easily. As a result, you will feel full for a longer period of time so it helps manage your weight. 

GREEN BELL PEPPERS have fiber and vitamins C and E. They also help to lower the risks of chronic illnesses

APPLES, as they say, keep the doctor away. It is mainly because it is one of the healthiest that you can eat. It can help reduce cholesterol, prevent high blood pressure, protect your brain from Alzheimer’s, protect against colon cancer, and protect your heart, lungs, and bones.

A combination of cucumber, baby carrots, and green bell peppers

My Weight Loss Program: Day 1 Gone Bad

Not a very successful diet day. Although I was able to limit my food intake I am not sure if I can say the same about the calorie count.

Here is what I planned for my meals for this week. 

Breakfast:

1/2 cups muesli (230 calories)

1 cup coffee (90 calories)

Lunch:

Fresh cucumber and baby carrots (200 calories)

grilled fish (123 calories)

Dinner

corn on the cob (365 calories)

These can also be substituted with other food items of the same kind. You can replace muesli with oatmeal and add some dried fruits and nuts to it. You can have other veggies to go with a lean protein for lunch.  And salad for dinner instead of corn as long as you keep your calorie intake to 1,200 in a day at a minimum. Taking less can be harmful to your health. Although, some people might be doing it but you have to be sure to get a doctor's advice first.

This meal plan is only 1,008 calories so I can still sneak in 100 calorie snacks in between. You can use this site to check the calorie count of the food you eat. caloriecount.about.com/calories-bobs-red-muesli-old-country-i126945

So this is my planned calorie intake for today which didn't really happen. =( I ended up consuming a lot more calories in the morning, skipping lunch, having fastfood at 4:30 in the afternoon. Dinner was the only meal I can be proud of. I had fish and vegetables.

I felt quite guilty eating fastfood earlier so I went to do a ten minute jump rope to help burn 135 calories in 10 minutes. It is also a good cardio workout for me. www.fitnessmagazine.com/workout/arms/express/jump-rope-workouts/

So, day one did not exactly went as planned. But I am sticking to this meal plan and will try to do the jump rope workout regularly along with this diet and let's see what happens.

Facts:

Muesli is good for breakfast because it is high on fiber and energy. the combination of oats, barley, various nuts and seeds makes it a god alternative to cereals which usually has high sugar contents.

My Weight Loss Program: The Night Before

I was never a skinny girl. I love food. I love to eat. And desserts have always been my favorite. I love to bake for my friends and family. I am fascinated with the techniques and knowledge that comes with baking like when making pate a choux and creme patissiere. And l love how I can make people smile with the food I make.

Weight had never been an issue for me. I guess I was able to receive the much needed love and affection from my parents when I was growing up so I never really had to try hard to feel accepted. Plus, I have a loving boyfriend who appreciates and accepts me for who I am. So, it was never an issue until I began to feel the effects it has on my health.

When you start to notice that you easily tires and experience shortness of breath after short walks, you'll know that you'll need to do something to change the situation. At this time in my life, l want to be able to enjoy my youth and do things I want. It would be such a  waste not to, won't you agree?

I have created this blog to chronicle my journey to a healthier lifestyle. And maybe inspire others to do the same. l am not a doctor, nor a licensed dietitian. So, if you decide to follow my routine and diet, please consult your doctor first especially if you have certain health conditions.

What I will be sharing is based on my own research and personal experience. I would definitely appreciate you commenting for advice and stuff that would help improve my regimens and routines.

Also watch out for my other DIY projects which I will be posting here as well.

health and fitness (found this photo on Google)