How was everyone’s weekend? Because of Araw ng Kagitingan (Day of Valor) it was another long weekend for the Philippines — and I spent it here in the city scrolling through Instagram looking at everyone’s posts from Bali, Baguio, or Boracay (before its closure at the end of the month). I’m hoping to work in a personal surf/beach holiday towards Labor Day.
Everyone knows that as we get older, it takes more work to stay in shape. Hormones and metabolisms being what they are, what worked when we were younger might not work now. Before I fully immersed into the triathlon lifestyle and started spending my pennies on trips to Cebu for the Ironman 70.3 event, my annual travel highlight was to Boracay in the summer or in October. I would spend the two months prior to that cutting down my fast food intake and upping my exercise regimen so that by the time my beach holiday rolled around, I would have no rolls around my midsection as I rocked my bikini on those white sand shores. I would continue to carry that flat tummy around after the trip until the rainy season or Christmas time rolled around and I started enjoying food a bit more. So my weight fluctuated within a five-pound range over the course of a year.
It was only during my years intensively doing triathlon that I carried less weight around all year long (but I still always felt fat! How’s that for a dysmorphic body image?). I think the only time I felt happy about my shape was when I was over-exercising towards my full ironman, and y’all know by now that was not sustainable.
So how was last week on the new training and eating regimen? It wasn’t as painful as I thought it would be, although of course I always felt like dying at the end of training sessions which are a mix of cardio and strength work. (I’ve also been incorporating 30 minutes of easy running before the training to warm up and maintain my aerobic running base.) Cutting starchy carbs in favor of salads and veggies wasn’t difficult, but then again I’ve had experience doing this in the past. My sister eating an S&R pizza slice beside me had me questioning my resolve, though. 😉
I do feel stronger now and will probably work my way up to Gal Gadot’s Wonder Woman workout. I may not look it yet, but I feel it. You start feeling the benefits of working out within two weeks. In another two weeks, you start seeing results. I’m looking forward to that.
