Desperate Measures

Curses!

Foiled again!

Alcohol seems to be my kypronite...

Well, not so much alcohol, but rather the lack of sleep.  Since barre3 at the Eastwood studio doesn't start till 1 or 1:30 PM on weekdays (- I don't know why but I was mostly drinking on weekdays in Manila; Monday night seemed to be particularly popular), even if I got home at 5 AM, if I had just slept, I should have been fine by noon.  But, yeah...  That didn't happen.  I'd be wide awake by 7 - 8 at the latest - knackered as hell, cursing the general populace, and unwilling to get up.

So I only managed 8/9 of my last barre3 classes.  (Was hungover on Tuesday.)  And, typically, I took that as my cue to resume eating badly.

Since we're failing already...

And then I went to Cebu last Friday and did Body Pump. Saw Butch Carungay's status update on Facebook (- if you aren't familiar with him as a fixture in Cebu society, you'll know him as the person responsible for revitalizing the Mactan Airport with his District shops, featuring Cebu's best kept secret products that go way beyond guitars and Otap) and we immediately set a workout date for my one-night stopover in Cebu en route to Siargao.

Photo c/o Butch Carungay.

That was fun!

Disassembling the gear:  Used a combination of 2.5 kg. and 1 kg. plates, plus the bar.  Photo c/o Butch Carungay. 

Went conservative with the weights and I must say that all those insane barre3 reps helped me get through the class with ease.  Butch was surprised at my endurance.

Afterwards, one of the instructors commented on my form and asked if I had done it before.  I told her that I had done it when it just launched in Hong Kong in the late 90s and then, again, years later, when it finally made it to the Philippines via Fitness First.  

It hasn't changed much, except that the music selection back then was much better.  It's where I discovered tracks like this funky gospel tune from Kirk Franklin and God's Property...

... and developed the guilty pleasure of doing bicep curls to songs by boy bands, specifically "Everybody (Backstreet's Back)" by The Backstreet Boys.  (Fast forward to Canadian hottie, Joseph Cannata, working out to a Backstreet Boys song in an Instagram video and now I no longer feel so guilty about it and am crushing on him even more.)

 

I often get asked what my secret is? Honestly it's hard work, and an honest playlist 🤓 #ThePreWorkoutHasKickedIn #IBrokeIntoAGymForThis #NotAnAthleteNotABodyBuilder #JustBeYou #backstreetboys Song by: @Backstreetboys larger than life

A post shared by ⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀⠀Joseph Cannata (@josephcannats) on Jan 8, 2017 at 7:54pm PST

You're welcome.

Judging from last week's class, rubbish EDM seems to be the order of the day.

Nevertheless, I got a great workout and I'm still sore from it.  (We had more than a few drinks afterwards, and I took the day off from working out in Siargao the next day under pretense of a hangover, but I was really just sore.  And maybe a little bit hungover.  Doh!  FYI, I haven't had a drink since I saw Butch at the airport for lunch on Saturday.  We finished a bottle of wine.  Of course, when I got to Siargao, after I kissed Nicolas hello, he looked at me suspiciously and asked incredulously,  "Have you been drinking???")

The problem with Fitness Nation's schedule is that they only have five minutes between classes and it takes longer than that to set up for Body Pump.

Plus the instructors had trouble with some of the music tracks.  As a result, we ended up missing the tricep, shoulder, and ab workouts.  

In Siargao, I've since resumed barre3, finally breaking in the videos I got last year.  I have about five different ones, and I also have all the Physique 57 ones so that I don't have to do the same routine more then three times in the month-and-then-some that I am on the island.  The videos are tough!  Probably also because my lightest dumbbell here weighs two kilos.  (I was alternating between three and five-pound weights in Manila).

I've also been doing a bit of stuff on the rebounder, incline ab bench, and AntiGravity hammock.  I have yet to muster the courage to get on a bicycle or jump in the pool since the rains and the wind here have made it quite chilly.  (Contrary to popular belief, the rainy season in Siargao is from November to March, with January and February seeing the most amount of rain fall.)

I'm counting the massages that I do (giving, not taking; blog post to follow) as exercise as I get quite a workout from them.  Yesterday, I was so drained after a massage that I didn't have the energy to do anything else afterwards.  Must remember to work out before giving a massage and not after.

Am still going day-to-day with the no-sugar thing.  The longest I've gone has only been four days.  Argh.

Today, I went to a friend's boulangerie opening and I had half an eclair and pain au raisin.  Yes, this is me being reasonable and showing incredible restraint.  (If you must know, there is a whole pack of Oreos in the fridge that I have not - and will not - touch.  Even though it will go so well with the fresh yogurt that my friends make...)

Kawayan Gourmand opened this morning.

<reset button pressed>

Sigh...

Now that I have a food processor in Siargao and have successfully made cauliflower rice (hot tip:  throw in a head of broccoli and a carrot into the food processor as well), hopefully, I will manage the carb-sugar cravings better and not tear anyone's head off any time soon.

***

My internet connection in Siargao is absolute shit so I'm not sure what this looks or reads like.  Will have to re-edit at another time.

barre-d for Life!

And, just like that, it's February and my barre3 membership is up in nine days and my food group is making plans for an early Valentine's dinner.


I intend to go nine for nine at barre3, especially after going only four times last week when what was supposed to be an early night turned into 4:45 AM.  Again.  (It seems that 4:45 AM to me is what midnight is to Cinderella.)

As soon as the membership is up, I'm skipping the dinner and heading to Siargao.  (I will be there from February 11 to March 17 with one-night stopovers in Cebu on my way in and out.)

Yeah, I had an overabundance of holiday cheer this year (and cookies and cakes and pies and things), and had to declare the entire month of January an extension of the holiday season.  Thank goodness it ended yesterday.  I assure you that I now have my serious face on and am getting on with my resolutions today.  I will take the struggle one day at a time and, so far, I am happy to report that today is going swimmingly.

I do love barre3 and its reps to failure.  (I could still feel all of the leg lifts from two sessions ago in my butt cheeks this morning!)  I have no doubt that if I continue to do this diligently, I could really tone up.  Plus all the legwork should serve me well on the Camino de Santiago in April.

Last Saturday, I upped my hand weights from two pounds to three.  Since I didn't have any difficulty with the added weight, it means that I probably should have increased the poundage a lot earlier.  Today, I had the five-pound hand weights on standby, but we mostly did a lot of shoulder and tricep work so I stuck with the three-pounds.

 
At barre3 BGC last December.

I'm looking forward to continuing the workout in Siargao.  I bought all the barre3 and Physique 57 (- which is similar to barre3) DVDs I could find and had a ballet barre installed in my play room on the island.  Now, all I need is a working DVD player...  But I've got a lead on an inexpensive Asus external DVD drive that should do the trick.

The Skinny Perspective

Whenever I lament how much weight I've gained, my fat friends tell me that I'm being ridiculous because I'm skinny.

Well, of course I'm skinny.  To you.  Because, well, you're fat.  Not that there's anything wrong with that.  Barring any thyroid problems, it's pretty much our choice to be fat or skinny.  I choose to be skinny.  (Well, sort of.  In my head, at least.)  Just as it is your choice to be fat.  (Yes, every time we eat or not eat a donut, we make a choice.)  So, even if I gained 10 kilos, to you, I'd still be skinny.

But it's an altogether different matter from another skinny person's perspective.  I know some really skinny bitches (and I only mean that with the utmost respect) and, whenever I see them, they never say anything when I gain weight (although I know it never goes unnoticed), but they'll always say something when I've lost a few pounds.

"Did you lose weight?  No... <squints to inspect more thoroughly> ... you've definitely lost weight.  Hmm..."

Like they can't believe I've managed it.

When you're skinny, any excess poundage definitely shows.  But when you're fat... well, I really don't know.  Do a few more pounds still matter?

I've been back in Manila since December 6 - after a quick getaway to Bangkok from Dec. 2-6...

 

Best cheap-ish finds in Bangkok on this trip were Suda on Sukhumvit Soi 14 (above) and Supanigga Eating Room in Thonglor.

... and resumed going to barre3 last December 10 and, because it's the Christmas season, the studio is almost always close to empty.  Today, apart from the instructor, there was only one other chick at the barre.  Who just happened to be Angel Aquino.

Model/actress Angel Aquino.  Damn you, Salazar!

It wasn't the first time I'd been in the same class with her, but it was the first time that it was just her, and me.

With the normal-sized chicas, I'd look at the studio mirror and think, "Wow, I look long and lean."  Beside Angel Aquino, I kept thinking, "Good god, woman, you have got to stop eating cake!"  (She said as she scoffed her second slice of cake in less than ten minutes.  They were from two different cakes, okay?)

I totally recommend this Dulce de Leche Cheesecake.  It ranked Number 2 in an article on the "10 Most Well-Known Cakes in Manila" in spot.ph.  It was written in 2014, so the cake now costs P1k.

She reminded me that there's skinny, and there's what skinny aspires to be.  She's in her mid forties and has had two kids, so any argument I might have is invalid.

On my first week back at barre3, I refused all invitations to go out.  I stopped smoking, didn't drink, watched what I ate, and slept early.  Energy levels were high and I was in a good mood.

And then I could no longer refuse the Christmas parties, and the holiday excesses are now taking their toll.  I turned up hungover - twice! - at barre3 and came thisclose to throwing up and passing out.  My sleeping patterns are, once again, erratic and I often feel sluggish and tired.

I missed two classes.

But the Friday one was understandable.  The earliest class at Eastwood on Fridays is at 5:30 PM, and there is no way in hell that I am going to a studio at a mall at rush hour on a payday weekend in December.  I hate being stuck in traffic more than I hate missing a class.

And then, last Sunday, I had a party the night before that ended late so I did the math and, if I went to the 9:30 AM class, I couldn't be on time for my lunch date and do everything I was supposed to do before then, so I was glad for the opportunity to sleep in.  I still fell asleep at "Rogue One" later on, but that may have been because I had half a bottle of wine at lunch.

I wish I could say that I'm going to try harder to be healthier and reach my fitness goals but, as I was writing this, I must have made five trips to the refrigerator to raid my mother's stash of chocolate-covered almonds.

All I want for Christmas is a spine and a whole lot of willpower.

The Manila Report: December (Part 1)

The problem with trying to hibernate during the Christmas season is that it isn't really possible, is it?

To my credit, I haven't been going out that much.  Since, I've gotten back to Manila on Dec. 6th, I've only been out three times.  Except that, two of those times, I've needed at least two days to recover.  (Am on the third day of recovery from the last one and had to cancel plans for tonight.)

Which means that, while I fully intended to work out six times a week, that hasn't happened.  I started doing Curves and barre3 last week and only managed to go Monday, Tuesday, and Saturday.  This week is looking pretty much the same, although there's a small chance that I'll get Sunday in, but am not very hopeful.  (Curves is closed on Sundays and I prefer to maximize my time out of the house if I'm going to brave going out on the last weekend before Christmas.)

I only chose Curves and barre3 because they both had great 60-day deals on Deal Grocer and they are both located a stone's throw away from each other at Eastwood, which is about five minutes from my folks' place.  (Plus the barre3 deal can be used at any of its other locations, which is convenient for me when I move to Makati for the next two weeks when Nicolas joins me in Manila for the holidays.)

Curves, as I found out, is a franchise from the United States.  They've been in the Philippines since 2010, opening its first branch at Serendra at the Fort.  The second branch opened in Eastwood in 2013.

The Curves circuit at Eastwood.  (Photo c/o their Facebook page.)

The Curves workout is a 30-minute circuit program that alternates strength-training and cardiovascular training.  For strength training, there are 13 different hydraulic resistance machines that work out different parts of the body.  In between the machines are "recovery stations" for cardiovascular exercises.  These are exercises designed to elevate the heart rate like butt kicks, jumping jacks, etc.  Total time spent at each station is 30 seconds before a prerecorded voice announces "change stations now".

Click here to see what the circuit is like.

What I like about Curves is that they don't have fixed class schedules (except for something called Curves Circuit with Zumba Fitness, which I haven't tried yet).  You can come in at any time and there is always an instructor to assist you.  If there is a workout already underway, just jump in at any available station and join in.  Your circuit is over when you've completed two rounds.

Every few stations, you'll be asked to check your heart rate.  Mine is always at 85% of my maximum heart rate so I know I'm getting a good cardio workout.

I also like the stretching station where you can do deep stretches after the circuit.

Two things that I don't like about Curves Eastwood is (1) that they are closed on Sundays, and (2) that they play the worst electronica music ever.  Think baranggay gym music.  On a loop.  Ugh.

Oh, and there is one other thing:  I noticed that the instructors never wipe down the equipment.  They really should, especially when there are a few people in the circuit huffing and puffing away.  Same goes for the stretching station.

Anyway, the downside of working out at Eastwood is that I am at a mall everyday.  So, one day, I emerged with three new pairs of shoes.  Another day, I sampled all the ensaymadas at Must Be Mom's, which has a temporary kiosk at Eastwood for the holidays.  And, another day, I discovered lechon porchetta!  (Details soon.)

No, the diet isn't working out.  Again.  Will try again in earnest next year.

The good news is that I am less than one kilo away from my target weight and, according to my measurements at Curves, I am now back at the height that I always thought I was:  5'.6.5".  Either their ruler thingie is off or my past readings were wrong.  Or maybe my posture has improved?  Who knows? But, for now, I'm officially back at being 5'6.5".  Yay!

***

Curves Checklist:

• Comfortable workout clothes.
• Workout shoes.
• Filled-up water bottle.
• Small towel.

Manila Workout Summary

Pre Workout Month:  Feb. 9

• barre 3:  Sa (12 PM Advanced)

Week 1:  Feb. 11-17

• CrossFit:  MWF (all 12:30 PM)
• barre3: Th (1 PM) Sa (12 PM Advanced)

Week 2:  Feb. 18-24

• CrossFit:  MWF (all 12:30 PM)
• barre3:  None

Week 3:  Feb. 25 - Mar. 3

• CrossFit:  W (12:30 PM)
• barre3:  Tu (1 PM) Th (1 PM) Sa (4:30 PM) Su (4:30 PM)

Week 4:  Mar. 4-7

• CrossFit:  M (12:30 PM) W (12:30 PM) Th (7:15 AM)
• barre3:  Tu (1 PM)
• Salsa:  Tu (6:30 PM)

Starting weight, 11 Feb, 8 AM:  56.6 kilos
Weight as of 7 Mar., 4:30 AM:  54.1 kilos

Back at the Barre

First workout since Friday, and the first barre3 class since two Saturdays ago.

OUCH.

My legs are still two rigid posts from last Friday's CrossFit squats, and they weren't too happy today with all of those carousel and ski-slope positions that come with barre3.

The truth is, since I've restarted doing barre3,  I haven't completed a single class without repeatedly resetting.  (Unlike the first time I tried it, when I was possibly in better shape and, within the first week, could finish a class without resetting.)  Resetting means that I can't hold a position for the entire duration of its set and have to stretch out and relieve the tension in my muscles before getting back to it again.  Keep in mind that a set, barre3-style, has about two million reps and is aimed at reducing your body into a quivering mass of jello.  It's anything but easy.  Even the instructors get the shakes!  And I hate those shakes.  They make me feel like I've lost control over my body.

To give you an idea of what a barre3 set is like, take the above position and move your seat up an inch and down an inch for, say, 16 counts.  Afterwards, without losing the position, move your seat all the way to the floor and stand all the way up for a full range of motion.  Do this for another 16 counts.  Afterwards, again without losing the position, stay with your seat as close to the floor as possible and pulse it up an inch and down an inch for, say, 16 counts.  On the last count, hold the position for 8 seconds.  If you're lucky, that's the end of that set.  If you're not, the instructor might make you go straight into a carousel position - extend left leg to the back and bend at a 90 degree angle and sink it to the floor, down an inch and up an inch, keeping the front leg as stready as possible; do for 16 counts then switch...  (Internet file photo.)

I didn't feel too well today.  Am still working off the damage from the weekend.  Too much smoking, drinking and eating, and not enough rest and exercise.  Hopefully, I'll be all better in the morning.

(She said as she turned her thoughts on what to wear tonight for the Magnum party...  Doh!)

PS - Am amending the barre3 Checklist to include gloves.  That barre can be slippery to hold on to sometimes.

Excuse No. 25804

What do 183 squats feel like?  Like steel rods in my thighs is what they feel like.  My foot's fine.  It's my  legs that refuse to move.  I've been walking with a limp all weekend and have to hold on to the railing when going up and down the stairs.

Strange though how my legs seem to be just fine after a few shots of rum.  And a few beers.  And then some.

Last night, I had totally forgotten that I was supposed to be in pain and danced the night away at my friends' new dive bar, El Chupacabra in Makati.

Then, of course, I tried to get up this morning and my legs had turned back to lead.

Ah, well.

There will be no barre3 this weekend.  "The spirit was willing" and all that.  I'm going back to sleep.

Twisted

It's been raining non-stop since forever.  But after flaking on barre3 twice this week, I had to get to CrossFit this afternoon, even if I had to swim there.  Luckily, while the streets were wet, they weren't flooded and I made it to the box, only a bit rain splattered.

During the warm-up, while trying to figure out how to do butt kicks AND high knees (- seriously, how is that even possible?!), I twisted my left foot and landed on it wrong.  And, yes, I was barefoot.  Nothing serious.  It just means that high heels are out this weekend.

 

These are high knees and butt kicks, shown as separate exercises.  How the hell do you combine them?  That's what I was trying to figure out when I injured myself.

Went on with the WOD, which was:

A. MetCon:  12 minutes AMRAP

• 50 squats
• 30 push-ups
• 15 pull-ups (- I did ring rows.)

*I did 3 rounds plus 33 squats.

8 minute rest

B.  L-sits (- I just did a V-hold.) 10 second hold, 20 second rest x 8

Am still hoping to make it to barre3 this weekend.  Twice!  Even with my sore left foot.

(Internet file photo.)

Sugar Loading at Serendra

Yesterday, in the name of science and research - but really because I had to buy a gift for a friend - I went into every sweet shop at Serendra and sampled their wares.  In the space of half an hour, I had spent a small fortune and had sugar coming out of my gills.  (Because I have gills.)  I ducked into a bookstore and bought my friend a book which, it would turn out, she already has.

By the time I met Joel for dinner, I was giddy from all the sugar and laughing like a loon.

"Are you high?" he asked.

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!  No.  

ANYWAY, I thought I'd share my research findings with you.

Gourmandise Patisserie.  Two thumbs up for the vanilla eclair (P100)!

Cacao.  Don't bother.  I sampled about five different chocolates and they were all very bland.  The only one that stood out was the dark chocolate-covered caramel with sea salt.

Chez Karine.  If I remember correctly, they do a decent panna cotta and pudding here.  This time around, I tried their chocolate cookies (P90).  While they look like shit - and I mean that literally - they're actually pretty good.  I wouldn't give them away as gifts though.

Marta's Cakes.  I tried their Red Velvet cupcake and, while it wasn't bad, it wasn't great either.  So I really don't see don't see how they can stand a chance against Cupcakes by Sonja.

Cupcakes by Sonja.  I shouldn't be left unattended at Cupcakes by Sonja.  I shouldn't be allowed anywhere near Cupcakes by Sonja.  Oh, the damage I could do to myself in there...  I had the Elvis (P115), their homage to the King's favorite peanut butter and banana sandwiches.  Its description contains no punctuation:  "Oreo cookie crust and rich peanut butter cream filled with Reese chocolate bits and slathered with chocolate and caramel topped with caramelized banana slices and whipped cream", but you get the picture. 

If you don't, here's one that I nicked from the internet.

A lot of cupcake makers think that if they pile their cupcakes from here to kingdomcome with everything in the book, that should be enough.  They don't get it that the cupcake itself has to be good.  Sonja knows how to make a really good cupcake.  And a lot of other things, it seems.  I have a long list of goodies to try the next time I am there.  Which is, hopefully, never.

It was around this time that I sent Joel an SOS to save me from myself.  And I was fine, until he deposited me at a party later on that evening where I ended up with my other favorite poison - alcohol.

Yeah, it's anybody's guess if I make it to barre3 tonight.  I already missed the 1 PM class. 

One Week Down

Two and a half more to go.  (I have to discontinue my current CrossFit/barre3 program since I'll be leaving for Siargao again.)

So far, I've been going to the 12:30 CrossFit sessions (MWF) and the 12/1 PM barre classes (Sa/TTh although, last week, I only went Thursday and Saturday.)  I had massages on Tuesday and Sunday.

Because I like to train on an empty stomach, this means that the earliest I can get food into me is after 1 PM, depending on what time the CrossFit sessions end.  So I am still sortakinda doing intermittent fasting.

Paleo?  Hmmm...  I can only say that I'm trying...  I do fail rather spectacularly when I am out.  But I have lost one kilo!  Oh joy!  Weight was 55.2 kg. as of this morning.  So at least something is working.

Today's WOD was: 

I piled on 30-lb. plates onto the 25-lb. bar, for a total of 85 lbs. for my deadlift.  And I did ring rows instead of pull-ups.

 

Ring rows.

I didn't finish and only got as far as 21 ring rows in the third round.

Will do the evening barre3 tomorrow since two of my favorite boys are in town for a limited time and we've already made a date for lunch.  At a ramen house too.  There is nothing that a caveman - or cave woman - can eat at a ramen house.  Will get back on Paleo for dinner.