1-Day Juice Cleanse

I had a one-day juice fast last Monday. My original plan is to do it for three days. As a beginner, I was not able to sustain until the third day plus I ran out of fruits and veggies in the fridge to complete the recipes. I just use the remaining lettuce and carrots into a salad for today's lunch. :)

For Breakfast, I  had my Green is In juice. Ingredients: 1 stalk of celery, 1 pc washington apple and 1 pc lemon.

Red Juice for lunch with only two ingredients - Watermelon (1/4) and Red Beets (1 pc, big). This juice is my favorite, despite its earthy taste. 

and for dinner, I had a combination of Carrots, Orange, Apple and Ginger. Honestly, I had a hard time drinking this juice because of the spicy and tangy taste of ginger. I think, I put so much ginger. So, next time I will put 1 small knob of ginger, instead of 2. 

I consumed lots of fruits in between these juices. I munched bananas and apples.

Since the day after my juice cleansing regimen until today, I am minimizing my food intake especially carbo-loaded ones like rice. I a committed to do a one-day cleansing once a month and I'm hoping for positive results, that is, weight loss and healthy eating habits. 

Good luck to me! I can do this, one step at a time. 

Tried to Juice Lemon and Mint...

but I failed. 

I tried to juice lemon and mint yesterday using my Wimpex 4 in 1 Food Processor. What I did was wrong though. After telling my sister in law what I did, she laughed and said the said procedure was wrong. 

Here's what I did: sliced the lemon  into 4 pieces and added 2 sprigs of mint (freshly picked from my garden) and load them in the juicer. The juicing created a loud noise because of the lemon peel and seeds.

I realized that I have to extract the lemon juice manually before putting it in the juicer together with the mint leaves. 

Below are some tips that I got from a juicing guide online: 

• Room temperature lemons yield more juice than refrigerated ones. (I have to keep this in mind)
• Microwaving the lemon from 15-20 seconds before squeezing will help extract more juice... but don't overdo it.
• Use your palm to roll lemon, lime, orange, or grapefruit on the countertop before squeezing. 
• Here's a very nice tip: If you need just few drops of lemon, pierce the skin with a toothpick and squeeze out what you need. To store it, just reinsert the toothpick, put the lemon into a plastic bag and store it in the fridge. 

More about my juicing adventure in the succeeding posts....

MWNO's Finds: GK Bayani Brew

Detox juices has been pre-occupying my mind since last week. I've been reading a lot of blogs about it and I've known several bloggers who have tried the 3-day juice cleanse. Some of them purchased ready to drink juices while others customized thier own juices.

Since I already have a juicer at home, I am planning to customize my own fruit and veggie detox drinks, too. My problem is I where to buy bottles where put the juice I want to take with me at work. Then I saw my supervisor drinking Bayani Brew, an all-nutritious all natural drink produced by Gawad Kalinga (GK) Enchanted Farm in Bulacan. I said I want only the bottle coz I thought I will not like the taste of lemongrass-flavored iced tea. I sipped half a cup of it and boy, I was wrong it tasted okey and refreshing. It comes in cute packaging, look!

pack of 4 at Php195.00 only

I decided to buy  1 pack, chilled 1 bottle overnight and finished drinking it just few minutes ago. I think this is a good start to condition myself before doing the 3-day juice cleansing diet.

How about you, have you tried Bayani Brew or any lemongrass-flavored tea? 

Creating my own Herb Garden

Aside from juices, fruit-infused water, and smoothies, I also want to learn and create my dishes with fresh herbs. To be able to do this, I am building my very own herb garden at home. If you are able to read my other blog, you'll notice that I am back to gardening, one of my hobbies since I was a teenager. 

I started with two herbs - Oregano and Mint (planted on the rectangular pot shown on the photo below). Thanks to the plant nursery business owners in the tiangge (bazaar) at the Makati City Hall who helped me revive my love for plants and put my green thumb to the test (again). 

I am happy to announce that my mint plant is growing beautifully. Thai Basil, Thyme, Rosemary, and Tarragon are some of the herbs that I will buy next. 

Motivation Posters

Happy New Year!!!

I really love Fitsugar.com. While browsing my Google+, I saw a web link to a bunch of fitness motivation posters from Fitsugar. 

These are the posters that I would love to hang near my bed to remind me to shake off and shed those exxxxxxxxxtra pounds. haha!

My fitness goal for this year is to lose at least 20 pounds through proper diet and exercise. I want to engage myself in running and drinking detox juices and smoothies.

Hooray, let's get it on!

The Benefits of Yoga

I'm a regular reader of Popsugar Fitness website. The website contains tons of health and fitness tips. I also watch their exercise videos and compile photos of exercise routine. I just wish I have the willpower to exercise regularly. 

Lemme share this Leg and Butt Firming Sequence that I got from Popsugar Fitness G+ page. 

I'm beginning to love Yoga... I'm planning to buy a yoga mat this coming weekend. 

FYI: This Blog is still Alive

For the information of everybody, this fitness website is still alive in the worldwide web. I've lost my blogging mojo for so many months. I only update my personal blog every now and then. 

Going back to the main topic of this blog, I am slowly working on my weight management program. After recovering from a gall bladder surgery last May 2013, I think I gained a lot of weight. Belly fats in my major concern. Detox drinks is widespread nowadays. Are you familiar with fruit-infused drinks such as lemon water, lemon-cucumber water and lemon-ginger-mint water? That's what I'm drinking right now and I'm hoping to continuously do it to help me shed off excess fats. 

Honey is also beneficial for weight loss. You may try these recipes I got from the Internet.

1. Honey and Warm Water. Mix a tablespoon of honey in water water and drink everyday. You can also use this to relieve discomfort from overeating
2. Honey and Lemon Juice. Combine a mixture of honey, warm water and lemon and drink first thing in the morning to lose weight. 

New Blog Header

Do you notice my blog's new look? Well, I started to tweak the layout of this fitness blog of mine. I improved the header by putting my photo taken a month prior to my second pregnancy in 2010. As my blog description says, I really want to lose weight...

I am taking baby steps towards a healthy lifestyle... I've been reading tips here and there just to motivate me. Thus, your tips and words of encouragement will be very well appreciated.

Stay fit everyone!!!

Event: Nestle Fitnesse Shape Up Night

I first heard about the Nestle Fitnesse Shape Up Night Zumba Party from a fellow blogger Animetric . Though I don't know how to dance, I wanna give Zumba a try. I already registered to the event via Facebook. I hope I'll be chosen as one of the participant to this exciting fitness event. 

For more information, log on to the Nestle Fitnesse Facebook Page. 

The Nestle Fitness Diet Program

This is my first tried and tested diet program that worked. I lose weight after joining a fitness challenge way back in 2009 along with my friends/teammates. And now I am doing it again.

The Nestle Fitness Diet Program is very simple to follow. You just have to replace 2 meals with a bowl of Nestle Fitness whole grain cereal, plus fruits and stick with your favorite (full) meal (preferably lunch). With my purchases of my favorite cereal, I already collected 2 workout CDs, which I mentioned  HERE and HERE. I am yet to do devote more time on work-out / exercises to shed off some weight. Wish me luck! haha

Natural Remedies for Gallstones

My Auntie and I had a short conversation on Facebook chat two days ago. I learned that her husband has also gallstones. He was supposed to undergo surgery last December 2011 but they insisted not to pursue with the doctor's recommendation because they didn't want to spend the New Year at the hospital. My aunt said that he's taking herbal drink now, Moringa juice to be exact. She taught me how to prepare it so that I can try it this coming weekend. 

The Health Benefits of Dark Chocolate and other MUFA

I've neglected this fitness blog for a while because I got busy during the past few months. I was diagnosed of having a multiple cholelithiasis or gallstones, in layman's term last October 2011. Since my gall bladder wall is also inflamed, my doctor recommended surgery. In fact, he already called me regarding the schedule but I decided to defer it since I want a second or even third opinion. I am contemplating on trying a natural remedy to flush out my gallstones, as two of my trusted friends advised me. 

Weight loss might help me in dealing with my present health condition. My doctor also advised me to trim down and lessen fatty food intake. I'd tried a diet program from Nestle and it worked. I have a flat belly diet book which I've won in a online contest from Prevention magazine few years ago. It's there in my home office desk lying and waiting for me to read and follow the diet plan religiously. 

On of the features of the flat belly diet is the increased intake of food that contains MUFA or mono-unsaturated fatty acids. These are plant-based fats found in some of the world's most delicious foods--avocado, nuts and seeds, oils, olives, and dark chocolate. 

My boss who just arrived from Vietnam gave us variety of  Lindt chocolates. I got two flavors - Classic White and Cre a Berne Dark chocolate. I enjoyed munching the dark chocolate because I know that it is healthier that other flavors haha. 

Grab a dark chocolate bar now! 

Wandering Thoughts Welcome Giveaway

Ruby, being known as an empowered mom who's passionate about blogging and helping fellow bloggers like me. I've learned about her new blog Wandering Thoughts. Likewise, she's hosting a contest dubbed as Welcome Me Mini Giveaway wherein she'll give away $10.00 each to three (3) lucky bloggers. 

Joining is so easy. First, blog about the contest and don't forget to provide links to the giveaway post and homepage, as well. Then, follow her on Google Friend Connect.

Join now, the contest is open until September 23, 2011. 

Get Lost #2: Week 1 Updates

The first week in our buddy system diet challenge is my adjustment period. I also missed jotting down most of the food I ate for the entire week but I tried to lessen my rice intake. I ate full meal during lunch and dinner from Monday to Wednesday. Then I ate light lunch last Thursday and Saturday which include ripe banana and cereals only. Walking to and from the office for about  15 minutes a day and taking the stair from 2nd to 5th of our office building served as my daily exercise. 

I know, I know! I have to take this more seriously. So for this week, I started listing down all my food intake and activities in my diet diary. 

Good thing I've already found my tape measure at home and was able to measure my vital stats and here it goes:

                Bust (88.63 cm) - Waist (89.9cm) - Hips (107.68)

With that result, I think I really need to work hard to trim down my lower body. 

Do you want to join us in our fun and exciting challenge, go and check this out!

Good luck girls!!!

Pinoys are Encouraged to Join Luntiang Lunes (Meatless Monday)

I've seen (and read) it on the news recently. Luntiang Lunes is patterned after the global movement called "Meatless Monday". It is being promoted by Dr. Custer Deocaris, a neuroscience expert and Department of Science and Technology (DOST) Balik Scientist awardee. It aims to change the dietary habits of Filipinos,  targeting around 25.7 million students nationwide in its initial implementation and to mitigate climate  change brought about by livestock industries.  This will also help prevent the prevalence of cardio-vascular diseases. 

The said campaign is being supported by vegetarian NGOs, Nurturers of the Earth Inc. and AVRDC-World Vegetable Center.  

Personally, it has been my practice to include at least two vegetable viand in my weekly menu. Joining Luntiang Lunes will really motivate me to shift to a healthier lifestyle by encouraging my whole family, especially the kids to eat more veggies. 


Let's Go Green, Go Meatless on Monday!!!

Struggling to Lose Weight

Yes, I am! I joined a diet challenge in 2009 with an easy-to-follow diet program. In fact, I, together with my 3 other teammates surpassed the target . I continued the program until March of 2010 and then I got pregnant. Now, here I am again trying hard to shed off those excess fats. Good thing I found new fitness buddies through the Get Lost! meme. Our lose weight challenge started yesterday. 

Last night I lessened my carbohydrate intake - I only had 1/2 cup of rice + small slice of pork steak for dinner. And here what I had today:

Breakfast:

   1 cup rice 

    3 small slices of tocino 

     scrambled egg 

     1 cup black coffee 

    

Lunch:

    1 cup rice 

     chicken (adobo sa gata) 

Since I had taken 1 1/2 rice already, I'll try my best to eat light tonight :D Good luck to me LOLZ! By the way,  took the stairs from 2nd floor up to my office (at the 5th floor) this morning and will do the same later. I think I'll be doing this until we moved to our new office. It seems there are no plans of fixing the elevator of our building. Though it's a bit exhausting, this might help me lose weight hahaha. 

                      

Get Lost #1: Weight Loss Diary

So this is it! My first ever post in the Get Lost meme.

To jumpstart my journey towards a healthier and sexier (?) me, I decided to measure my weight and Body Mass Index (BMI) BMI, as well. Here it is:
                     Weight  = 158 lbs
                      Height  = 152.4 cm
                      BMI    =  30.9 (Obese, nooooooooo I am not!) hahaha

BMI Categories:

                       Underweight    = <18.5
                       Normal weight = 18.5-24.9
                       Overweight      = 25-29.9
                       Obesity           = BMI of 30 or greater

My ideal weight is 110 lbs. It may be impossible to get back to the old me 12 years ago but I will try my best to at least get back to my pre-pregnancy weight which is 140 lbs. 

my Avon Wellness bathroom weighing scale

I don't have a college pic stored in my HD, but this one was taken I guess in 2001. 

I was'nt able to measure my vital statistics today because my tape measure at home is missing,

My plans for the coming weeks are:

1. High protein, less carbohydrate diet
2. Eat more fruits and vegetables 
3. Drink lots of water
4. Say NO to soda 
5. Less chocolates and other sweets 
6. Walk... walk.. walk especially if going to short distances only
7. Take the stairs as much as possible 
8. Exercise for 20-30 minutes, at least 3 times a week
9. Eat dinner early so that I can sleep early 
10. Join this meme on a weekly basis and follow my diet plan religiously :)

Health and Fitness Blog

I was inspired by my blogger friends last night to join a weekly meme cum diet challenge dubbed as GET LOST!  I thought it would be nice to create a blog solely dedicated to record my adventures and misadventures towards achieving my ideal weight or perhaps get back to my pre-pregnancy shape.

So let;s get it on!!!!