La Bamba

No, I’m not talking about this:

Before I get into that, allow me to share a short story first. A few hours ago, I went to Herbalife Nutrition Club. According to their digital weighing scale, I already lost almost 8 pounds. (My weighing scale says otherwise: 10 pounds.) Either way, I don’t really find it bad considering I haven’t been that consistent when it comes to food choices and exercise, though I’m getting so much better in portion control.

However, since I decided to join their weight loss challenge, my way won’t help me beat the other competitors’ loss. So my mentor suggested something: La Bamba.

For 3 straight days, I won’t be taking any solids, only their shake–which I do love, by the way–for every 2 hours.

Honestly, I find it quite drastic, and I’m very frightened of starving myself. It’s something I’ve been trying to avoid for more than a month now. Yet I am a willing guinea pig, so I’ll try this for 3 straight days and let you know what I think afterward. *crossing fingers*

A Great Hurdle

Okay, I just had my weigh-in a few hours ago, and I lost close to 4 pounds and 2 inches off my waist. I feel so blessed as the only thing I asked was a pound just to let me know what I’m doing is right.

But I can’t be in a celebratory mood for a long time. One of the biggest challenges is right ahead of me: a week-long holiday with Bernard somewhere in North Luzon, where good food is abundant. From my research, the accommodation where we will be staying serves some of the best native dishes in the region. Seriously?! Like what about me? Should I say no to them?

Right now, I’m in the process of planning and mind conditioning (“Eat less of this,” “Don’t touch that!”). If I get past this with flying colors, I can definitely conquer any food adventure.

Early Lessons in Weight Loss

First of all, I am deeply overwhelmed by the support people have on my plans such as traveling alone and going on a weight loss program. Even those who I don’t know personally reached out. Also, some of my friends are in the same objective as I am. Now I feel more motivated than before.

Mind you, though, this isn’t my first weight loss attempt. I’ve done this numerous times, and to a certain degree, they were successful. For the past two years, however, I didn’t feel committed to it. My heart and mind weren’t interested, and it’s difficult because what I really want is to savor and hopefully enjoy this journey.

Nevertheless, whether it’s your first, second, or nth time, you always learn something new. After 3 days of sticking to a diet, I realized

Everything should be your choice. From the food that you eat to your exercises–all aspects of your weight loss program should be your decision–nobody else’s. They can definitely recommend and share their insights, but you have to keep in mind they’re not the ones who are going through it.

You start off feeling resistant. Yes, I’m committed, but that doesn’t mean I feel totally comfortable with it. It’s normal for people to resist any kind of change, even if they feel it’s going to work out great in the end. It’s not what they’re used to.

Weight loss, for me right now, is like this huge competitive city. If I were to live and thrive here, I should step up to the plate and be ready to go out of my comfort zone at all times–to push myself to my self-created limits.

You shouldn’t say no to any kind of help. Was I totally closed to any kind of help before? No, I wasn’t. But I wasn’t receptive either. There’s always the feeling that it’s something I can do on my own, that I’m smart enough to figure out what to do and what to avoid. But saying no to friends’ and family’s offers just left me so alone in this battle, and it was not surprising to find myself giving up so easily.

At this time, I’m thinking of Virginia hot dog and Grand Mall’s siomai. I’m already imagining Vigan’s longannisa and empanada. Yet the above-mentioned lessons bring me back to reality: there’s still a mission I have to do. There are still deeper learning experiences I have to go through. Empanadas and siomais will have to wait.

 

 

Source

No Looking Back

Ever since I was a kid, I was never thin–until I reached high school when my weight dropped so low I became underweight. It went on until first year college. By the second to third year, I started gaining a few pounds, especially when I took swimming as my PE class (swimming makes you hungry, I swear!). However, I was able to go back to my ideal size in just a matter of weeks.

So I couldn’t really pinpoint why I am now way beyond my height’s best weight. In fact, I would be classified as high risk. But the truth is I stopped reasoning with myself. I may only end up justifying my mistakes, and that for me is scary. It may make me feel so comfortable with my reasons I will easily forgive myself and not do anything in the process.

Besides, I don’t have much time to look back. What’s done is done. I know what I need to do is to move forward and make my present and future way better than before.

I am currently participating in a Herbalife Challenge with my relatives and friends. There’s great and strong moral support, which is definitely a huge motivator. I don’t have to be frightened or feel bad I was doing this alone. I am handled by great staff and people who understand what they’re doing and who have gone through the same path I am in. I am in the midst of many who are achieving success for only a few weeks.

I don’t expect my experience will be the same as theirs, and I have no idea how much I’ll lose in the coming days. One thing is for sure, though: I’ve already started this. I don’t have any intention of looking back.