I want that hourglass figure!

Quite recently, I realized how unattractively thin I was and decided I should gain weight. And gained weight I did. I'm now at my target weight of 120lbs and I'm pretty happy about it. Now the only problem is, the weight Ive gained are all in the wrong places! haha. So my next goal is to lean up without shedding the weight I gained.

I researched several exercises and tips and tricks to help me lean tone up my problem areas like my thighs and my waist. I have really narrow man-like heavy hips at 35.5 inches, wide and flabby midsection (now at 28 inches from 26!), and really itsybitsy tiny boobies at barely 32 inches. As you can probably imagine, I'm VERY disproportional. And so, just before my boyfriend gets back from his year long work assignment to Japan, I wanna at least try to workout to achieve the best shape my body could have.

To share some of the things I've learned, here are some of the tips and tricks that I might be trying out:

1. Stomach Vacuum
          Basically, just suck in all your abdominal muscles and hold it in for 10, 20, 30 seconds at a time repeating 5 to 10 times a set. I heard doing this right, plus a healthy diet of course, could trim your waist up to 2 inches in as little as 3 weeks!

2. Hip Abduction Exercise
         Simple and easy:
         > stand about a foot away behind a chair
         > lift one leg 45 degrees to the side
         > hold for at least 3 seconds at the height of the lift
         > bring down slowly
         > repeat 8 to 12 times per set

3. Air-bike to pull in the sides
        > knee to elbow crunches or just plain knee to elbow exercise while standing up

4. Cardio
         Anything that keeps your heart going. Lately I've been loving the tabatal video I found at Yogatic.

 

5. Eat healthy and get enough rest and plenty of water! :)

Hope this helps!

Megan Fox Workout Routine

If you've read some of my previous posts, one of them was about me totally getting psyched about having the same BMI as Megan Fox. lol And I said that I would research more on this and share whatever new useful information I get. I know deep inside we all want that Megan Fox body, or at least something close to it. :) So here's what I've got so far. For convenience purposes, as I'm trying to summarize everything I've read, I'm gonna put them in bullets.

quick disclaimer: I'm in no way saying that we could all have the same body as Megan Fox. Every body type is different. For some, it may come easy, for some, 100x harder. All I'm saying is, if you could do something to make the most of what you already have, you would, right? :)
So here's doing something about it. :)

• There's such a thing as a slim and sexy body workout as opposed to the bulky muscular wrestler/bouncer workout, and Megan Fox uses just that. It helps you get toned and firmed at the right areas. It's like Jessica Rabbit workout vs Incredible Hulk workout. :)

See what I mean? :)

• Her workout is basically made up of four parts:

   1. Body Weight Interval Circuits

• Includes 3 rounds of 10 different body weight exercises, meaning you'll only use your body weight for the entire routine. But of course you can always use dumbells if you're hardcore like that :) 
• Each exercise is performed for a minute. You get 15 seconds rest in between exercises. After the 10 exercises, you get a 2-minute rest period before the next round of the same 10 exercises. Remember, it's 3 rounds of 10 different body weight exercises.
• Try not to rest unless scheduled. This routine is especially designed with brief intervals of rests in between muscle burning workouts. This type of workout is supposedly best at releasing fatty acids from fat cells and into the blood stream ready for burning.

   2. Planks

1. Lie face down on mat resting on the forearms, palms flat on the floor.
2. Push off the floor, raising up onto toes and resting on the elbows.
3. Keep your back flat, in a straight line from head to heels.
4. Tilt your pelvis and contract your abdominals to prevent your rear end from sticking up in the air or sagging in the middle.
5. Hold for 20 to 60 seconds, lower and repeat for 3-5 reps.

   3. Ab Circuit

• after warming up the abs with planks, do a 15-20 minute ab based routine. I can't really tell what exact ab exercises she does but I've listed down the top 5 out of the 10 most effective ab workout, at least according to this website.

1. Bicycle Exercise 

1. Lie on the floor and lace your fingers behind your head.
2. Bring the knees in towards the chest and lift the shoulder blades off the floor without pulling on the neck.
3. Straighten the left leg out while simultaneously turning the upper body to the right, taking the left elbow towards the right knee.
4. Switch sides, bringing the right elbow towards the left knee.
5. Continue alternating sides in a 'pedaling' motion for 1-3 sets of 12-16 reps.
2. Captain's Chair Leg Raise

1. Stand on the chair and grip handholds to stabilize your upper body.
2. Press your back against the pad and contract the abs to raise the legs and lift knees towards your chest.
3. Don't arch the back or swing the legs up.
4. Slowly lower back down and repeat for 1-3 sets of 12-16 reps.
3. Exercise Ball Crunch

1. Lie on the ball, positioning it under the lower back.
2. Cross your arms over the chest or place them behind your head.
3. Contract your abs to lift your torso off the ball, pulling the bottom of your ribcage down toward your hips.
4. As you curl up, keep the ball stable (i.e., the ball shouldn't roll).
5. Lower back down, getting a stretch in the abs, and repeat for 1-3 sets of 12-16 reps.
4. Vertical Leg Crunch

1.  Lie on the floor and extend the legs straight up with knees crossed.
2. You can place your hands on the floor for support.
3. Contract the abs to lift the shoulder blades off the floor, as though reaching your chest towards your feet.
   
4. Keep the legs in a fixed position and imagine bringing your belly button towards your spine at the top of the movement.
5. Lower and repeat for 1-3 sets of 12-16 reps. 
5. Torso Track

1. Grip the handles of the Torso Track and pull the abs in without holding your breath (as though bracing them).
2. Exhale and glide forward as far as you comfortably can. If you collapse in the middle and feel it in your back, you've gone too far.
3. Contract the abs to pull your body back.
4. Add tension by using more tension chords.

   4. Stationary Bike

• finish off with a 30 minute steady cycling. From what I understand this is a low intensity workout that is great for using the fatty acids released in the blood stream from all the interval cardio it followed. Perfect, right? :)

So there. Seems pretty doable, right? :) Let me know what you think! :) And before I end this entry, I think it's only fitting that we take a quick peak at little miss Megan Fox one more time to inspire us all to work our butts off a little more:

 xoxo,
Abi

A healthy, fit and happy you is the best you. :)

I Have Dengue?

Okay, at this point I'm about 90% sure it's not dengue rash, but I guess I'll post them anyway just in case anyone begs to differ. I'm still observing my condition as we speak and rest assured I'll be the first one to rush to the ER as soon as I sense it's necessary. There's more but this was all what my camera could take.

that is NOT a leg. that's my arm. :p

DISCLAIMER: Although I've had dengue before as a kid, and I have studied this disease in nursing school, I know I'm still no expert so feel free to throw in any helpful advice you might have for me. :)

History:
I had a fever the past two days, spiking up to 41.5 last night. I no longer have the fever now (maybe slight, I'm slightly above 38 degrees now), though I still have cough and colds and a little bit of headache and weakness. I noticed the rash a few minutes after dinner while I was brushing my teeth this evening.

Why I don't think it's Dengue:
1. It's itchy on some parts, and I know that Dengue rash isn't supposed to be itchy, as it's more of some kind of hemorrhage under the skin than a real allergy/rash that we normally refer to.

2. I did a tourniquet test on my arm and no additional "rash" appeared.

3. it's sort of "embossed" on some parts and I know that dengue rash is not like that.

My Theory:
When I was really sick, my mom applied efficascent oil on me (it's some kind of menthol massage oil), and after that I just stayed in bed for the next 12 hours under thick covers sweating buckets! (seriously. I changed sheets as soon as I felt well enough to stand)
So I'm thinking the rash maybe caused by that.

ANOTHER DISCLAIMER: Whatever theories or info I wrote here were not researched whatsoever. So even if you might have the same symptoms, each case is still different, so it's still best to consult a doctor. :)

For now I'm just glad I'm strong enough to blog again. :) Will keep you posted. Wish me luck!

xoxo,
Abi

My Two Cents Worth: Need A Bout Of Stress Relief?

Try Yoga! :)

I started hearing a lot about yoga about 3 years ago, when a friend recommended it to me. Although I was interested about the whole idea, at that time I didn't really feel the need to exercise as I've always thought of myself as pretty fit and healthy as I was. Several months passed and I could really tell the positive effect yoga was having on my friend. She wasn't just losing weight (along with regular exercise, she also became a full-pledged vegetarian), she was also becoming more energetic and just glowing with health! I could tell she was happier. So I gave it a try. It shouldn't be so hard, right? Wrong!

It took a lot of patience and strength and flexibility and dedication and all that serious stuff! I was so sore the next day. I think the instructor must have thought I was some kind of a pro as I went there in full workout gear as if I knew what I was getting myself into. haha :) She stretched and bent and twisted me like a pretzel. After that experience, I never even touched a yoga mat for a year. lol

I thought that was the end of yoga for me. About a year ago, I moved to an apartment near where I worked as a call center agent. As expected, I slept through mornings and worked through nights. My body clock was so screwed up, I was missing meals, not having enough rest or sleep, not getting any form of exercise other than the short commute to and from work. I watched my body go weaker everyday. I was always too tired to do anything. I went from 110lbs to 98lbs! At 5'6" tall, I was seriously underweight.

My boyfriend was getting worried. He lived near where I lived then. And I think that's when he made it his personal goal to get me in shape. He convinced me to jog once in a while. But since I was working nights and he was working days, it was hard for us to schedule a regular jog. And I don't jog alone. So we had to come up with an exercise plan for me that I could do on my own. I considered taebo but I was staying on the second floor of a house with wooden floors. The stomping would be so noisy.

Until one time, while my boyfriend and I were looking for shoes at a sports shop. I saw a pink yoga mat. To be honest, it was the pink that got to me. :) So I considered doing yoga again. I researched and found a bunch of beginner videos online. After giving it some thought, I think another try is in order. :) I got myself a mat (not the pink one, because the cheaper brands don't have it in pink :( and I couldn't afford to spend a lot on the high end brands). I gave it a whirl, and boy was I happy I didn't give up on yoga just yet. :)

I can't really explain what exactly it has done for me. You're gonna have to try it to see for yourself. :) All I can say is, it's the best exercise for stress relief. It's very energizing, very relaxing and very liberating. Give it a try, and be positive about the whole experience. You'll see what I mean. :)

If you're having doubts like I did, here's to get you started: Part 1 of 3 beginner yoga videos by Esther Ekhart, one of my favorite yoga gurus in Youtube. :) I'll post a link to her channel below.



I do hope you give it a try, and tell me how your experience was. I hope it will be a pleasant one. :)

xoxo
Abi

P.S.
Click here for more yoga videos from Esther Ekhart. :)

Job Hunting

It's already almost 3 in the morning. I just finished my online job hunt for the night. I figured since my nursing career is going so slow, I might as well try earning while waiting for the hospitals to have vacancies. At the moment I'm already waitlisted for a nursing spot at one of the hospitals that I really want to get in to. So for now, the plan is for me to look for a job, preferably not in call centers or in any company that I've already worked with in the past.

I posted a bunch of tutorial ads online, and I also emailed my resume to a lot of vacancy ads I found online. Hopefully I get a job that pays reasonable enough for my time and effort. While at it, I'm also going to apply for a bunch of nursing volunteer stints. The earliest batch for nurse volunteers that I know, at least among the hospitals that I'm considering to apply to, is in October. Even then I'd still have time to get a job even just for the next two months.

I remember our high school principal saying, "the more time you have, the more time you waste". And this couldn't be more true for me. I feel like I have so much idle time in my hands. I need to start getting myself busy and productive.

I'll keep you posted. :)

xoxo
Abi

P.S.
Because I'm trying to make my blogs as helpful as I can make them, I will include another blog about the posting sites where you could look for ads and post ads for free. :) I know there are a lot. Believe me, I've tried everything I found on google. But there are only one or two which gave fast and real feedback. Some of them just spams your mail with ads, it's unbelievable! I'll probably try and include my own personal tips in making ads, posting them, and in registering to all those online job sites. Watch out for it! :)

I Want Me Some Megan Fox Bod! :)

WARNING: if you're sensitive about talking about weight, or listening/reading about girls with insecurity issues, DO NOT READ. :)

...

I was alarmed upon noticing how anomalously thin my legs were getting. So I weighed myself, did a little research, and according to this website, at BMI 17kg/m*m, I'm at least 8lbs underweight.

So i did more research, until I stumbled upon this trivial yet very interesting (at least for me hehe) little info... I found out I have the same weight and height as...

...wait for it....

Name: Megan Denise Fox
Birthdate: May 16, 1986
Birthplace: Rockwood, Tennessee
Nickname: Mega Fox
Height: 5'6"
Measurements: 34C-26-24

Megan Fox-no less!!!! haha! (I was just ogling at her pictures wondering how come she's so hot and I'm not, before I found out we have the same BMI. Imagine my surprise and disbelief! haha)

Just to clear things, sharing the same BMI in no way means we also share the same measurements. (How I wish!!!) BMI is short for Body Mass Index which measures the ratio of your weight relative to your height. Of course people of different height have different normal weights.

But still, how come she looks smokin hot and I look like skin and bones??!?! Or are my fats just in all the wrong places?? Genes definitely play a big factor, and surgery probably plays a big role too. lol But still, as invalid a motivator as it sounds, I have something in common with Megan Fox! haha! And that somehow made me feel a little less beyond help. Like I suddenly want to jog and do squats and situps. ;)

I miss my fitness trainer/Hans. He's always been very.. uhhmmm... encouraging (a little pushy sometimes? haha) when it comes to my exercise habits, or lack thereof. hehe. If he was here, he'd definitely milk this newfound inspiration of mine to harangue me into exercising!

Anyway, I gave it some thought, and despite having essentially the same body mass index as the hot Ms. Megan Fox, I still think I need to gain a little weight, and maybe build some muscles while I'm at it.

And to show my dedication to this little project of mine, I'm gonna post my weight every week on my status till I reach my ideal weight of 125lbs. :) I'm at 109lbs now, I still haven't decided on a reasonable time frame for a 16-pound weight gain. My initial research says 1-2lbs weight gain per week is the safest. So for now let's just set it at 8 weeks. It's a long time, I know. I'll just make adjustments after seeing how much I can gain in the first week.

I'll also try and post workout routines and little tid bits of helpful tips and whatnots that I find for this project along the way. :)

Here's another hot picture of Megan Fox to inspire us all! :)

xoxo
Abi

I Need To Pick Up My Pace

For reasons I feel too embarrassed to say, today was a very slow day. Nevertheless, I still tried to do some of the things on my list. But before I get to that, let me tell you something about that list. :)

I started making the list 3 days ago after I cleaned my room. I found unused little notebooks in my cabinet and figured I should put them to good use. Do you know those times when you suddenly remember a thing that you've always wanted to do but you're in the middle of something when you thought of it so you just put a mental note to do it after the thing that you're currently busy with but by the time you're done with what you were doing you've already forgotten about the mental note?? Well, that happens to me a lot. So I decided to keep a small notebook beside my bed to jot down all of the things that I intend to do, be it in the immediate future or the near future or the distant future. :) I write everything down from the most trivial stuff like cleaning the cob webs I saw on my ceiling as I was about to sleep to the more essential ones like following up on my job applications and stuff like that. And then I cross out the things that I’m able to accomplish and write the date when I finished them. I think it’s a good way to keep track of your productivity, and in effect, it also encourages you to be more productive!:)

So anyway, here are the things that I was able to cross out from the list today. :)
1. Clean the cob webs
2. Clean the fan
3. Sweep the floor in my room
4. Make an appointment with the dentist
5. Follow up on hospital applications and volunteerism

I know, I know, it’s not really much which is why I have to pick up the pace. So here’s the plan so far:
1. I’m going to apply for volunteer work in Ospital ng Sta Ana and Ospital ng Binondo.
2. While waiting for the application, I’m going to work.
3. While working I’m going to keep pursuing the application for the nursing post I’ve been ogling for the past 6 months.

Since it’s a Friday, I’m going to use my spare time this weekend preparing the requirements that I need and looking for possible temporary jobs near where I live. I seriously need my own source of income. I’ve got bills to pay.

Come Monday I’ll be ready to face my battles head on! :) Wish me luck!

Xoxo
Abi