Desperate Measures

A(nother) Chronicle of Failure

On this trip to Siargao, I was supposed to detox, do yoga everyday, swim, ride my bike, write...  Exactly none of that happened.

Well, the yoga did.  For a while.

But I missed the first two Sunday sessions:  one, because of a hangover and, the second, because Nicolas was leaving that day and I wanted to be around to say goodbye.  So I resolved to go out only once a week (on Friday nights since Kermit doesn't have yoga on Saturdays) so that I wouldn't ever miss yoga on Sundays on account of a hangover.

And then, of course, that very same week, Friday night turned into Monday afternoon.

And, after a disco nap, I still went out dancing that night.

I tried to return to yoga on Wednesday but an (alcohol-related) knee injury kept leaving disgusting slimy trails of pus all over my mat so, after the second day back, I decided to let the wound heal by doing less yoga that required a lot of time on the knees.  

I brought out the Ashtanga videos.  On the first day, I did Kino MacGregor's Introduction to Ashtanga, but my fragile state couldn't handle her voice so, the next day, I switched to John Scott, but his video isn't really for beginners and wiped me out.  The next day, I tried David Swenson, whom I think is my favorite, but I'm really incapable of doing the full primary series, so I resolved to bear Kino MacGregor's voice and resume doing her Intro (half primary) course.

I took a break on Monday and, despite another massive night out, still did Kino's video the next day.  Then Thursday rolled around and, with it, a children's party (which, on this island, is really an excuse for adults to drink even with children around) and Palaka Dive Center's Full Moon Party, which was epic as per usual.

Which was followed by another Friday night out, and the knee wound that was finally beginning to heal was, once again, ripped open and is now even worse than it was before.

I have less than a week before leaving Siargao.  I still don't have the energy to work out (- I did laps in the pool maybe less than five times during my entire time here, and didn't get on the push bike even once).

But, although I did go out last night, I only had one cocktail, didn't smoke a single cigarette (- yes, am smoking again but am trying to quit again), and said no to a plate of pork and garlic fried rice when I didn't need to eat.  Which makes me think that maybe all is not lost and gives me hope of some slight (however minuscule) reform before I leave the island on Friday.

I wouldn't put any money on it though.  (After I publish this, I'm heading to a bar to watch UFC 202.)

Oh, I also bought a bunch of lettuce and assorted green thingies from the organic market yesterday!  But I'm really hoping to serve it to other people.

I am excited about going back to Manila though, if only to work out with Rosan's new trainer.  She's leaving for the Himalayas soon, and wanted to train for altitude and she found a really good trainer in San Juan.  I want to see what he can do with me in one week and, if it works out, I might stay longer in Manila to work with him after I get back from Europe in October. 

Oh, yes, the reason why I've been able to tap out some blog posts is because we finally have WiFi at our house here in Siargao.  I started writing something on Sri Lanka, but it's photo-heavy and the WiFi is still too shitty and erratic to handle it.  I will have to publish it once I am back in civilisation, whatever that means in the Philippines now...

A New Month, A New Start (Well, Sort Of...)

I've decided to TRY to get back to being healthy this April.    Which means a return to a vegetarian version of the Paleo lifestyle for the first month, with the following exceptions:

• when entertaining at home
• when dining out

I figured that I entertain/dine out frequently enough in a week to meet my body's protein requirements.  Not that I would have any idea what that would be, but I do know that I cannot live on vegetables alone.

Re drinking, I'm hoping to limit my choices to the acceptable Paleo cheats of red wine and tequila/vodka sodas.  Which would be a challenge at the jungle discos.  Have yet to work that one out...  (Hip flask?)

And, hopefully, I will be nicotine-free this month.

If all of this sounds vague and non-committal, it's because, well, it's April 1st and who's going to take me seriously on April Fool's Day?  Or on any other day for that matter but more so today?  And it is a Tuesday, which is neither here nor there in a week.  Nobody starts anything on a Tuesday.  Wednesday is so much more definitive.

And there are - were - three cupcakes in the fridge that I had to finish.  Gaaah!  But I am finally out of chocolates and sweets, which means that I can be serious about this tomorrow.

<groan>

Well, I should be stepping up the exercise too and if the bike seat on my new bike is replaced with the old, reliable, padded one from my old bike this afternoon, then I'll be biking into town before my afternoon swim.  And I already set an appointment with Dominic, the taekwondo instructor, to restart my training early tomorrow morning.  And I've hung my TRX to the bathroom door, even if I'm not sure what to do with it...

So I am sortakinda serious about this.  Sortakinda.

Siargao Status Update

Yeah, so while Nicolas and I were supposed to be juicing, I would sneak off and raid my chocolate stash or cook up some fried rice with Spam.  He would also raid my chocolate stash or ask the maid to fry up some chorizos and eggs.

When we had guests over, we ate.  When it was poker night, we ate.  When we were hungover, we ate.

So we weren't really fasting.  While we were drinking up a lot of vegetables and fruits, we were also eating a lot of junk that we normally wouldn't have been eating had we not been trying to fast.

I hardly exercised too.  These are the days that I went swimming:

• Last week:  Saturday, Sunday, Tuesday, Thursday
• This week:  Sunday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday

I've been incredibly lazy.

The truth is that I'm horizontal most of the time and only ever really get up when there is somewhere else I have to be.  

Yesterday was insanely busy:

At noon, there was a children's party.  Then there was a wine tasting at Sagana.  And then it was the re-opening of Bones' Sports Bar at his new location.  Which, of course, ended with pitchers of Jungle Juice and wild dancing at Tattoo, the jungle disco.

I really need to detox.  I don't want to see another lechon for a long time.  (There were four this week.)  And I just begged off from a party tonight because there's another big one tomorrow night.  I can't believe I'm saying this but I want to stop drinking for a while.  And I really want to stop smoking already.

Quick Update from Goa

I'm sorry I've been incommunicado for more than two weeks.  I've been traveling.  From Mumbai through Kerala, with a brief stop in Bangalore, before finally settling in Goa yesterday.  This will be my home for the next month, give or take a few days, and I can't tell you how wonderful it feels to finally unpack my suitcase.

India...

It's unfortunate that I only think of coming here when I want to do a massage course, when it is such an amazing country and never fails to take my breath away.  Just on the hot and dusty bus from Varkala to Trivandrum, I felt that I was going to burst from happiness at the sheer thrill of being in the midst of all the colorful sights, sounds and smells.  On the cab ride from the airport in Goa to my little guesthouse, I caught myself in the mirror, smiling at nothing in particular, apart from the fact that I am just really, really deliriously happy to be here.

Before I carry on jabbering about how much I love India and then fail to post this, here's a quick report on how I've been faring:

- On the shopping front:  I have been good and have resisted temptation.  Thus far, I've only acquired, apart from the six dresses in Bangkok, a kaftan, two scarves and some cinnamon.  For two weeks in India, that required incredible restraint.  But I've already taken note of the clothing that won't be making it back to the Philippines with me to make space for the shopping I intend to do closer to the end of my trip.

FYI, my guesthouse is surrounded by a lot of cute little boutiques that I have dared not enter, and right beside the massage school is a clothing store called "Future Hippies" that I am avoiding.  Tonight, I am staying away from the Saturday market, but have already made plans to go next week.

- On the drinking front:  Believe it or not, I've been sober for most of this trip.  I had a few drinks when I went out in Mumbai but, on the road, we only went crazy that one night in Alleppey when the three of us finished a bottle of red, a bottle of real whiskey (- not the kind that's sold in government liquor stores in India), and 2/3rds of a bottle of pastis.  And, although I was out drinking every night in Varkala, it was only on our last night, when I started doing double vodkas, that I felt the Evil Twin threatening to make an appearance, so I made a hasty exit and stumbled back to our hotel room.

- On the non-smoking front:  I was traveling with two other former (- naks!) heavy smokers and we did surprisingly well on this trip.  While Stephen initially kept mentioning how a cigarette would have been perfect for a certain moment, ironically, among the three of us, he didn't smoke a single stick.  Alan may have had one or two cigarettes, while I smoked the most, stealing a drag off a cigarette in Alleppey, and then finally giving in and buying two packs of Marlboro Lights at Varkala.  Notice that these were also the times that I was drinking the heaviest and that smokers were present.  In Mumbai, I was drinking with non-smokers so I didn't get the urge to smoke at all.

- On the eating front:  I am fast becoming a scared cow.  Either they will sing my praises as a deity soon or slaughter me as a fattened calf.

I love it that the food in Mumbai and the places that we traveled to in South India weren't entirely vegetarian, which is what turned me off  from Indian food the first time I was here, traveling through mostly veg Rajasthan.  I probably wouldn't have minded so much if they had a wide selection of vegetables but it was mostly potatoes and peas.  And palak paneer.  Here, I haven't given a thought to vegetables because there's mutton and fresh seafood.  In Bangalore, I had a very juicy beef burger, stuffed with cheese and mushrooms, and topped with bacon.  And, this afternoon, I had an excellent fried chicken at a beachside restaurant called Silver Sand.

I also seem to be tolerating spice much better now, so I can't get enough of the curries.  (The Keralan-style fish curry is to die for!)  In Mumbai, I had an awesome samosa on the street that set my mouth on fire but it was so good that I ate it all.  And washed it down with a soda.  Yes, I've been having a lot of soda - and rice - to counter the heat.  Doh!

A 10 rs. samosa from the streets of Mumbai.  It was covered in chili powder and fresh chilis, then wrapped in newspaper.

Here in Goa, let me count the temptations that I have to deal with everyday on the ten-minute walk from my guesthouse to the massage school:

1. There's a cute little hippie cafe just a few doors down.
2. Further along, there' s fruit stand that does juices and shakes.
3. At the mid-point, there's a French patisserie, where I've already had a tarte aux fraises but am still resisting the quiche lorraine.
4. In between all that are tons of Indian places that do Keralan and Goan food.
5. And right before the massage school is a wood fire pizzeria.

As if that wasn't bad enough, my own guesthouse has an excellent restaurant, where I could seriously have three plates of their mutton bolognese easily.  Urgh.

Damn you, food.  Why can't I quit you???

I do have a plan whilst in massage school.  Everyday, we have a ten-minute chai break and are served fruits and chai.  I should just have the fruits and skip the chai (because of the milk), then have a rabid carnivore's lunch when we finish at about 2-3 PM, and not eat anything again - until the next day's chai break.  It's almost 9 PM on the first day of massage class.  So far, so good.  (Even if mango lassis are beckoning everywhere!)

- On the exercise front:  There was a lot of talk, prior to the trip, about doing some sort of exercise.  Maybe 100 jumping jacks a day.  Or 10 burpees.  We did ABSOLUTELY NOTHING.  Well, we did walk around a lot.  But we definitely ate more than we walked  At one point, Alan pleaded that we do planks but we got distracted and ended up having a very looooooong breakfast.  (Two omelets and three coffees later…)  I tried swimming but it seems that I can't swim without goggles and was already out of breath after one lap!  Yesterday, I was hatching a plan of action for Goa when the instructor announced today that, starting tomorrow, there will be an hour-and-a-half of yoga every morning at the massage school for only 100 rs/session.  Yay!  I am still toying with the idea of doing some sort of workout video after class but being hot and oily after a day of giving and receiving massages can be a deterrant.

Bah, Hambug! (Part 2)

Fabulous.  Not only am I on antibiotics now - with an Elephant Man foot, I am also sick as a dog.

When I cut down on smoking last October 1 - I can't really say that I've quit because I still smoke, particularly when I am drinking, which is often - I started noticing a lump in my throat.  I thought it was phlegm and paid it no mind, thinking it would eventually go away.

But when we were in Burma, I noticed that either the lump was getting bigger or my throat was constricting.  I wondered if this was still connected to the smoking or if it was a symptom of a late-onset allergy.  I worried that - godforbid - I had developed an allergy to wheat or sugar or, worse, both!

And then I wasn't sure if the lump was really real or if it was all in my head, but the choking sensation  induced some pretty freaky panic attacks.  I had had panic attacks before but they occurred once, at the most twice, a year.  In Burma, I was having them three to four times a week!  I procured some anti-anxiety meds but they left me groggy so I tried not to take them.

Back in the Philippines, the obstruction in my throat remained.  Sometimes, I could ignore it; sometimes, I couldn't.  But last December 25, during our family Christmas dinner, the lump in my throat could no longer be ignored.  I got myself an expectorant and some lozenges and I slept with my pillows propped up.  

When I woke up the next morning, the lump in my throat was gone but, in its place, was a fever, a cold, a cough and a general malaise, including a stiff neck from the propped-up pillows.

As I write this, my eyes are burning, my nose is stuffed up, my throat is still itchy so I'm coughing, and my bones hurt.  I feel like shit.  I hope that whatever this is is on its way out because I'm tired of looking and feeling like shit and, more than anything, I really would like some wine, please.

This is just wrong.

Gai's Siargao Food and Exercise Diary

Sunday, 15 December

Another sleepless night.  Had to force myself to get up in the morning.  It was too hot to jog so I took the bike out.  Two kilometers in, I got a flat tire.  I went to the nearest house and asked if I could park my bike in their yard until someone could come and get it.  I tried jogging back but, even with The Prodigy on full blast, it wasn't happening.  I walked.

• Biking, 2 km.
• Walking, 2+ km.

Nicolas was in the room the whole afternoon so I couldn't do the Jillian Michaels workout.  I really didn't want to anyway.

• Swimming, 32 laps, possibly more because I couldn't concentrate and kept losing track of my count and starting over.

Had a bit of chutney with my fish cakes but, apart from that, was still on track with Paleo.  It's a struggle though, knowing that Joanna Ongpin's espresso chip cookies are sitting in the fridge.  Nicolas had two.  Gaah!

Joanna Ongpin-Duarte's espresso chip cookies, available at the Rafik Shawarma/Pizza di Gracia booth at the Saturday Salcedo Market and the Balesin Club gift shop. 

Monday, 16 December

Still no sleep.  It's really difficult to be motivated when all you want to do is sleep.  The thought of moving right now isn't the most appealing.

I think I'm too scared to do Jillian Michaels' "6 Week Six-Pack".  I watched the rest of the video and she goes through the first part without any rest and then does everything again in DOUBLE TIME!  If I was already huffing and puffing at the warm-up, then I'm sure to be dead at the end of this workout.  Maybe I should do parts of the Shred workout again so that I can get back to that level of fitness first...

I've been told that my bike needs a new tire.  I think I need a new bike.

<twiddles thumbs>

Can you tell that I'm procrastinating?

Noo nee noo nee noo nee noo...

I ended up wrapping Christmas gifts for the staff.

I only had breakfast today.  Mr. Delicious applewood smoked bacon and fried eggs.  Yummy.

• Swimming, 32 laps

Tuesday, 17 December (Cheat Day)

Big lunch and some bubbly and cheroot cigars with friends, then a pizza dinner.  Oh, and I finally had some of those cookies.

• Swimming, 32 laps

Wednesday, 18 December

Groggy.  Was kept awake the whole night by a farting dog.  I don't know what he ate but it was nasty.

Asked for a green juice then tried to go back to sleep, but the leftover pizza from Kalinaw was calling me.  I reheated the last four slices and had them for lunch.  So much for Paleo.  ARGH.

I've lost my will to exercise.  It's too hot outside and Jillian Michaels scares me.

• Swimming, 32 laps

Had another green juice for dinner.

Thursday, 19 December

Rainy morning.  Chicken-vegetable soup.  One cookie.

• Swimming, 32 laps

Dinner:  More chicken-vegetable soup plus the leftover mustard-tarragon chicken and green salad from last Tuesday.  Plus one more cookie.

Friday , 20 December

I woke up starving and with a craving for Spam and fried eggs so that's what I had.  I had some green juice with it so my breakfast wasn't entirely unhealthy.

For lunch, I had meatballs soup.  With a bit of rice.  And then I had some dark chocolate.  And a cookie.  And another cookie.  Doh!

Tonight, for the first time in my 14 years in Siargao, I am having dinner at Lalay's, the local barbecue joint at the boulevard.  I only had their food once before, some years back when Nine Bar had a party there for their staff, but that was when they relocated to the side of the road.

• Swimming, 32 laps.  I've begun timing myself and I average about 39 minutes in the pool.

Saturday, 21 December

I can't decide if I am hungover or just lacking sleep or both.  I got home from the jungle disco at about 3:30 AM and was awake and playing with the dog four hours later.

I had a mango when I finally got up and what was left of the meatball soup.  No cookies yet.  (There are only two left.)

Lalay's was nice.  Aussie guy, Brent, was there and we had a good laugh.  I had the pork barbecue and the chicken barbecue and, although I didn't have rice, I did order a plate of fries.  My total food bill came out to P200.  Not bad.

I did drink a lot though.  We started with gin tonics at Lalay's (except that I wasn't drinking the tonic), then we had piñacoladas at Pontus and Frida's, then shitloads of very strong rum cokes at Tattoo.  There were a lot of cigarettes too. In my recollection, I was calm but, by other accounts, not so.  It's a good thing Andrew was there and made sure I got home okay.

The staff is having their Christmas party tonight.  I wonder if I am expected to attend.  I don't think I can remain upright for very long.

There will be no exercise today.

7:30 PM - So I ate a massive dinner with the staff and the workers.  It's a good thing they get shy around me so I left the table as soon as I finished so that they could eat comfortably and speak more freely among themselves.

I'm tempted to have a cookie.  Part of me is saying, "No exercise, no cookie."  And the other part is saying, "You're going to have to eat it all before you leave on Monday anyway so you might as well have it now."

I'll have a cookie.

Oh, joy!  There were still three in the box!  Well, two now...

Sunday, 22 December

Watched a TV series till 4 AM and was awake 3.5 hours later.

Lunch at Maya Villas.  Alon has a short menu out now, but I didn't know this and ordered the hummus, baba ganoush and shawarmas in advance.  Must visit again and try out his burgers.

We started with white wine, then Pale Pilsens - and then this is where my memory gets foggy, but I have pictures on my camera that I do not recall taking.  We ended up at the Christmas party at Palaka Dive Center where I jumped around and danced with the girls while they karaoked.  I vaguely remember eating lechon.  And, judging from my throat this morning, I'm guessing cigarettes were involved.

Watched "South Park" reruns with Liam while I waited for the habal driver to pick me up.

I had a cookie when I got home.

Monday, 23 December

Didn't get to sleep till around 3 AM again and then, because I'm leaving for Cebu in the afternoon, I kept waking up every hour.  Finally gave up trying to sleep at 8 AM to play with the dog.  He knows that I am leaving.  He ignored me the whole week but, this morning, he is unusually needy and overly affectionate.  We'll both be very sad when I leave.

I think I'll have more of the bacon before I start getting ready to leave.  And I might as well finish the last cookie.

I think I'm back on track with my weight, but tomorrow is Christmas Eve and Nicolas will be with me for nine days in Manila and I'm already planning where we are going to eat...

The Slightly More Sober Week That Was

Monday, 14 October

Apparently, during last week's very "messy" Friday night, I had proposed that we all have lunch at Villa Maya on Monday.  The following night, the eager Norwegians and Swedes wanted to know if I already had it organized.  Before my Evil Twin could come rushing in on a Red Horse, I quickly sent a text to owner, Israeli, Alon Dassa, and ordered hummus, baba ghanoush, falafels and shawarmas.  Then I shot an invitation to Susan and, with that, lunch was set.

Villa Maya and Golf Course.

Alon and his Filipina wife, Venus, outdid themselves and prepared a mini feast for us.  (A clear favorite was the fried cauliflower, dipped in hummus or tahini.)  And Elsa mixed a wonderfully refreshing sangria for us to wash it all down with.  By the time the shawarmas were served, we couldn't eat any more and had to take them home.

I was so stuffed that, several hours later, while I attempted to do my 10th and last session of the 30 Day Shred's Level 1, I nearly threw up doing the warm-up jumping jacks and had to abort.  I did 30 laps in the pool and told the maid I would skip dinner.

And then she told me that the carrot cake that I ordered from Ailene had arrived.

I should never be left alone with cake.

I also ended up eating the shawarma cold, and it was still very tasty.

Tuesday, 15 October

At the poker night that I crashed last week, I told Siargao Inn's German owner, Rico (- his Filipino name) Reitenbach, that I had been meaning to check out the new rooms he had built and that I wanted to try the food at his restaurant again.

Siargao Inn's view.  (Photo c/o Eliza-Mari Almazol.)

So, today, the girls joined me for lunch at Siargao Inn.  (These lunches have evolved to girl-only lunches as a slow farewell to Sue before she leaves for Oz next Friday.)  Be advised that the servings here are HUGE, especially if you order the burrito or the empanada.  For a light dessert, try their homemade yogurt with honey.

After yesterday's workout disaster, I made sure to finish Shred, Level 1 in the morning, and did the 30 laps late in the afternoon.  I have now decided that anything less than 30 laps is a waste of time and resigned myself to the fact that it will be dark by the time I finish swimming.  I just have to turn on more lights around the house so that it isn't too gloomy.

Again, I told the maid I wouldn't have any dinner but had about a kilo of fruit and, predictably, more cake.

Wednesday, 16 October

• 30 Day Shred, Level 2 - Goodgod, I hate this workout.  Seriously, how one can go from high-knees to squat thrusts and then do them over again without keeling over from a massive coronary is beyond me.  Don't look at me.  I stop before my arteries can explode.  I sweat so much that it's almost impossible to do the planks at the end of the workout without my feet or hands slipping all over the place.  And I have NINE more of these to go?  <groan>
• Swimming:  30 laps

I worked out in the morning because I had to meet some guests over at Dedon for sunset drinks.

Because I was a guest of a guest there, it meant that I didn't have an all-access pass to alcohol and was thus able to observe the alcoholic in me when denied instant gratification.

As soon as I was done with the first beer, I instinctively wanted another.  My hand frequently went to the empty bottle and I found myself glancing nervously over at the bar a lot, where there was no bartender.  (The manager was with us and she was in charge.)  When someone made a move to get another drink, I immediately piped up that I wanted another one too.

With the second Red Horse, I was a bit more loose.  Behavior and language were still controlled, but only just so.  As soon as I had finished the beer, I was restless again.  And then I realized that, while I really did need another drink, I didn't necessarily need another beer.  I needed another drink because alcohol dehydrates and I was thirsty.

When the thirst became uncomfortable, I said my goodbyes and left, and returned home and had a lot of ice cold water.

Thursday, 17 October

• Shred, Level 2 (before lunch) - Problem solved with the slipping.  I change spots around the room and I place a towel under my hands during the different plank exercises.  I'm still super wussy and alternate between following Natalie (difficult) and Anita (easy).
• Swimming:  30 laps (before dinner)

Lunch at Kalinaw, with a bottle of white shared among five.

Kalinaw.  (Photo c/o Eliza-Mari Almazol)

Evening:  Fred De Backer, one of the French owners of Kalinaw, was DJ-ing at Nine Bar, so I thought I'd show support.

After Friday night's blackout and yesterday's introspection at Dedon, I decided to give moderation another try.  I was only going to allow myself three drinks.

I arrived early and joined Peter and Elsa for dinner (- they ordered some yummy creamy chicken pasta from La Luna), and I held off on the beer until the guests started to arrive.  And then I ordered my first Red Horse and nursed it slowly.

Surprisingly, I was able to stick to just three beers throughout the night.  And what's even more surprising is that I actually had a great time!  I was hanging out with some really cool gay boys from Manila and we stomped around and danced like madmen and laughed like banshees.  I hadn't laughed that hard in a long time.

Of course, as I was settling the bill at the bar, Joie, Fred's Filipina partner, cornered me and wouldn't hear of my turning down a shot since it was after midnight and it was officially her birthday.  How could I say no?  I had one tequila shot with her - and things could have taken a turn for the worse had I not run right smack into My Least Favorite Person In The Universe.  Talk about an unlikely Deus Ex Machina.  I took that as my cue to exit stage left.

MODERATION ACHIEVED.  Ohmy.  I refuse to think of the implications.  

Friday, 18 October

• Shred, Level 2 - This seems to be a good day.  I only followed Natalie (difficult) and did almost all the reps, except for those chair squats with V-raises.  I LOATHE those.  I only do about 16 squats and then I most definitely do not raise my arms to eye level, and then, for the rest of the count, I skip the squats and just do the V-raises.  How those women manage to do this workout without looking like a total wreck after, I do not know.  But I am considering upping my weights next time to the three-kilo dumbbells for the static lunges with medium-grip rows and the pendulum lunges with hammer curls.  
• Swimming:  30 laps

While Nicolas brought over my groceries from Cebu, he left everything else in the freezer back at the apartment!  Well, just the Chinese dumplings and the Reese's peanut butter cups.  There was no baklava on account of there being no filo pastry available in Cebu last week.  Fingers crossed that everything makes it to the island next Friday.

It was Joie's birthday party and Sue was very happy to hear that I am now managing my alcohol intake.  Of course, when she poured me some wine and only filled my glass halfway, I objected.  I took the bottle and filled the glass to the brim.  I may be only having three drinks but, dammit, they're going to be three FULL drinks.  She was so happy with my control that, before I left, she poured me another one for the road.

I went home and finished what was left of the cake.

By the way, before the party, Nicolas and I grabbed a quick bite to eat at Kawayan and we totally recommend the ceviche starter. 

Saturday, 19 October

I couldn't sleep last night.

Finally, at 5 AM, I popped one of those pills that Sue gave me a few months ago.  Her guests had left them behind and they told her they were over-the-counter drugs (SleepWell) and were very mild.  I must have eventually dozed off but then I had difficulty waking up.  I was groggy and pretty much drifted in and out of sleep the whole day and night.  Needless to say, I had zero energy for exercise.

Sunday, 20 October

Energy levels almost back to normal.

• Shred, Level 2 - I spoke too soon.  Today was like my first day back at Level 2.  I couldn't finish the reps and was gasping for air most of the time.  I don't think I should be upping my weights yet.
• Swimming:  30 laps

Summary:

Still not dieting.  Lost maybe half a kilo after that night of frenzied dancing, but I'm sure it's all back now.  Alcohol intake, managed.  Smoking, possibly managed.  (Since I quit last October 1, I must have smoked during Bones' closing party, at poker night and the Friday Night I Can't Remember, but I can't be sure.)  I only walked the dog once this week (last Tuesday), for which I have no excuse.

I think I will go into hibernation as soon as Sue leaves.  I really need to be more serious about losing weight.  I'm getting tired of the fat look.

The Debauched Week That Was

Sunday, 29 Sept.

I arrived back in Siargao in time for the Awards Night of the surfing competiton.  I must have had about a dozen Red Horses.  Caught up with a lot of guys I hadn't seen in a while and danced with Sue.  Nicolas sat outside one of the barbecue stalls, patiently waiting for me with the dog, so I didn't make too much of a late night out of it.

Monday, 30 Sept.

Breaking Bad's finale.  Some friends cooked chili and I brought over dessert, a chilled bottle of cava,and a bottle of red for good measure.

Tuesday, 1 Oct.

Starting again.  Finally, an attempt to shed the three kilos I gained in Manila.  Green smoothies, a Paleo dinner.  And an earnest attempt at giving up smoking.

• 30 Day Shred, Level 1
• Swimming:  20 laps

Wednesday, 2 Oct.

I invited some friends over for lunch and opened a bottle of white, which I ended up consuming myself.

Was in no condition to be jumping around.

I took a disco nap, then headed to Sagana for a tataki dinner, and drinks at Bones' Sports Bar where, in the course of the evening and more than a few Horses, I had a box of pizza and a whole cake delivered.  I deposited the remains of the cake with friends on my way home.

Thursday, 3 Oct.

Had Sue and the surf comp. judges over for crepes.

Still lazy.  Only did the 30 Day Shred.

No smokes, despite being around smokers in the evening.

Friday, 4 Oct.

Ditto.  30 Day Shred.  Still no swimming.  Had a massage after dinner.

Saturday, 5 Oct.

Big burst of energy today.  This, of course, is in anticipation of Bones' closing party on Sunday and the big hangover on Monday.

Morning:

• 10 km+ bike ride
• 3 sets of 20 kettlebell swings

Afternoon:

• 30 Day Shred
• Swimming:  20 laps

Sunday, 6 Oct.

Gearing up for tonight.  

Morning:

• 10 km+ bike ride
• 3 sets of 20 kettlebell swings

Afternoon:

• 30 Day Shred
• Swimming:  20 laps

I made arrangements to head over to Bones' at 6:30, and then Nicolas and I got invited to dinner over at Dedon.  How could I resist?  Dinner turned out to be just cocktails and I was hammered by the time I left at around 9:30.  Wreaked havoc over at Bones' till sunrise.

Monday, 7 Oct.

As predicted.  I was dead or dying.

I have no idea what time I got home but I was up at 8:30, having breakfast with a very angry Nicolas.  Apparently, I had skipped out on him and the Dedon cocktails with the key to our room and he was locked out for the night and very unhappy with me.

After he left to catch the flight to Cebu, I lay in bed the whole day and night, only getting up to eat and go to the toilet.

Oh, I did manage to walk the dog.  I tossed a toy for him to catch in the water, but he wasn't that into it and, frankly, neither was I.  So we walked along the beack towards Union and then back on the road.  That should count for something.

Checked my weight.  I haven't made a dent.

For breakfast, I had Spam, eggs and fried rice.  For dinner, I had a bowl of bulalo delivered to the house, which I had the maid recook with potatoes and vegetables.  The bulalo lady said that the portion was for three people.  Yeah, right.  Maybe three vegetarians.  I ate it all with a big bowl of rice.  Yes, I had a lot of rice today.  Needed it to soak up the alcohol.

On the plus side, I came back with everything in my bag intact, although my hip flask was yawning wide open and empty.  When I left the night before, it was full of Stolichnaya Blue, which is 100% proof vodka.

<flashbacks of vodka-Red Bulls>

I texted Bones to ask what I owed him and he sent back crazy messages about how I owed him a gazillion pesos.  I checked my money.  I had obviously paid the bar bill because I only had P40 left.

I recall having a drag of a cigarette last night but, from the state my throat is in, I suspect I may have smoked more than that.  Nooooooo!

I am still a non-smoker.  I am a non-smoker, I am a non-smoker, I am a non-smoker...

Some guys rang up in the afternoon.  Bones' Bar wasn't closed yet.  Did I want to join them for a few drinks?  I didn't think I could part with my bed, the air-conditioning and the toilet at that point.

Will start again tomorrow.

Drinking, that is.  (I'm kidding.  But you never know with me, right?)

Putting the Siargao Plan In Effect (Week 2)

There was no behaving going on this week on the food front.  For some reason, I wanted to have rice.  So I did.  And bread.  And potatoes.  No pasta though, although I would have made some bolognese if there had been any ripe tomatoes at the market.  And no dessert.  Oh, okay, maybe one.  By Wednesday, I had gained a kilo.  Ugh.

And then I wanted to have some monggo guisado (sauteed mung beans) and some vegetable lumpia (spirng rolls), and then this Austrian friend came over for dinner...  Right now, the Frenchies are here and they're having Speculoos crepes after golf.  I hope they're gone by the time I finish swimming because I've been craving those crepes for more than a week now.

Strangely, I'm back down to my regular weight.  Maybe because I eased up on the alcohol.  Yipee!

Monday:

• Jillian Michaels' 30 Day Shred, Level 1
• 3 sets x 20 reps kettlebell swings
• Swimming
• Beer, wine, smokes

Tuesday

• Biking - 6 km.
• Beer, wine, too many Jager shots that I do not remember, smokes

Evil Twin, Bianca Jager, was out and about that night.

Wednesday - FYI, all this was quite a feat considering how hungover I was.

• Jillian Michaels' 30 Day Shred, Level 1
• 3 sets x 20 reps kettlebell swings
• Swimming

Thursday

• Jillian Michaels' 30 Day Shred, Level 1
• 3 sets x 20 reps kettlebell swings
• Swimming

Friday

• Jillian Michaels' 30 Day Shred, Level 1
• 3 sets x 20 reps kettlebell swings
• Swimming

Saturday

• Too chicken shit to move up to Level 2 so I decided to give myself a break from Jillian Michaels today.
• 3 sets x 20 reps kettlebell swings
• Swimming

Sunday

• Jillian Michaels' 30 Day Shred, Level 2 - Ohmygod.  One down.  Nine more to go.  I think I'm going to die now.  Some of the things I hate in this workout:  30 seconds of high knees to 30 seconds of squat thrusts (repeat); static lunge to pendulum lunges; chair squats with V-flys, 30 seconds of plank jacks to 30 seconds of double unders (repeat).  <Insert the vilest profanities here.> 
• 3 sets x 20 reps kettlebell swings
• Swimming

Swimming 30 laps is mind-numbingly boring.  And, sometimes, I think I do more than 30 laps because I lose track of my count and have to start over.  While I've broken down the 30 to laps of five laps of breast strokes and five freestyle (rinse and repeat as needed), half way through a lap, my head's been to so many places and had so many conversations that it's hard for me to believe that I haven't done two laps.  I start swimming after 5 PM, when the workers around the house are off for the day and, for the initial ten laps, it's not hard for me to focus.  But when the sun starts going down and I can see less and less underwater (- I wear mirrored goggles so this makes everything darker), my mind starts to wander.

Every time I go into the pool, I tell myself maybe I'll just do 20 today.  But then, once I'm at 20, ten doesn't seem like too much more.

Maybe I should start playing music poolside again.

***

Update, 6:30 PM:  I had the crepes.  Three of them.  Contemplating taking a spoon to that jar of Speculoos Cookie Butter.  Damn, that's good stuff!

Putting the Siargao Plan In Effect (Week 1)

I'm still eating badly (think:  buttered fried rice, bacon and cheese subs, Speculoos crepes, chocolate-covered polvoron...) but I've gotten rid of most of the bad stuff in the fridge (- and stored them in my thighs for extra energy) so, hopefully, I will be better behaved next week.

Except that that damned pizza delivery is just a phone call away, isn't it?

Unfortunately for me, weight loss is still primarily determined by diet more than exercise, isn't it?  As was recently reiterated in the news.  Which will explain why, in spite of all my efforts, I am still .5 kilos above my regular weight, which means that I am .5 kilos heavier than when I started this blog.  Geezoos...

As I said though, strangely, I seem to be more comfortable with my body the way it is now than I have been in a long time.  Could it be that I am just getting lazier (- how is that even possible???) and that I am merely coming to terms with a new normal?

Or maybe I'm really just hotter now?

All I know is that - I really, really want to eat another crepe right now.

Fine.  I'm going swimming.  Here's what I did the past week.

Note:  Wednesday to Sunday (14-18 August):  Swimming - 30 laps

Monday, 19 August:

• Kundalini Yoga (Radiant Boy Kriya and Meditation)
• Jillian Michaels' 30 Day Shred*, Level 1 (two-kilo dumbbells)
• Swimming** - 30 laps

Tuesday, 20 August: (overnight in Surigao)

• Jillian Michaels' 30 Day Shred, Level 1 (1 liter water bottles)
• Lots of junk, two cans Red Horse, lots of smokes

Wednesday, 21 August:

• Jillian Michaels' 30 Day Shred (three-kilo dumbbells for rows, curls and flys only, two-kilos for everything else)
• Swimming - 30 laps

Thursday, 22 August:

• Zero exercise
• Approximately half a bottle of rosé, half a bottle of white, 5.5 bottles Pale Pilsen, lots of smokes

Friday, 23 August:

• Jillian Michaels' 30 Day Shred, Level 1 (three-kilo dumbbells for rows, curls and flys only, two-kilos for everything else)

Saturday, 24 August:

• Jillian Michaels' 30 Day Shred, Level 1 (three-kilo dumbbells for rows, curls and flys only, two-kilos for everything else)
• 3 x 20 reps kettlebell swings (16 kilos)
• Swimming - 30 laps

 Sunday, 25 August:

• Jillian Michaels' 30 Day Shred, Level 1 (three-kilo dumbbells for rows, curls and flys only, two-kilos for everything else)
• 3 x 20 reps kettlebell swings (16 kilos)
• Swimming - 30 laps

***

*I appreciate the 30 Day Shred's Level 1 more now that I know how difficult Level 2 is, which I am completely dreading, by the way...

However, I am still doing the push-ups at my own pace and I do hand-release push-ups, CrossFit-style.

 

I also still hate the side lunges with arm raises.  By the time I get to these, my shoulders aren't too happy anymore, so I concentrate on doing the side lunges correctly and only lift one arm per raise.  Sometimes, I go with the same-side arm as the lunge or, sometimes, I raise the opposite arm.  Yes, I like to live dangerously.  <winces>

**I should have upped my laps to 30 a long time ago.  Now, my arms and shoulders are finally registering something close to an ache at the end of my sessions.

Recently, I've been researching techniques to improve my crawl, a.k.a. freestyle, and I was already working in the closed-fist drill and the thumb-to-thigh drill into my laps, when I came across a set of videos from Karlyn Pipes (- according to the YouTube info, she is a "Masters Swimming World Record Holder, National Duathlon winner, and [a swim] coach").

In "Technique 5: Exiting the Stroke to Improve Freestyle Swimming Efficiency", Pipes talks about exiting the stroke early, way before the arm is fully stretched backwards, which is a direct contradiction of what the thumb-to-thigh drill is all about.

 

I've been trying to practice Pipes' method but, because I swim alone, I have no idea if I am doing it right.  Sometimes, I get so caught up in the details (stretching the arm forward, keeping the fingers loose, pulling downwards and fanning out early) that I forget to breathe.  But I think I am going faster and I do feel the pull in my lats, which I am not so sure I am happy about.

In another video, "Common Freestyle Mistakes in Swimming" by iSport, they say that it is a must that a swimmer rotate the torso, while Pipes, towards the end of the "Technique 5" video, cautions against the over-rolling of the torso and says that emphasis should be on the reaching or stretching of the arm instead.

 

Since I only watched Pipes' video last Tuesday, when I was in Surigao, and got to try her method three times since then, I'd like to continue with it to see if I become more efficient in doing the crawl.

It's a good thing my internet connection in Siargao is so slow that it is almost impossible for me to look up any more swimming videos on YouTube, sparing myself further potential confusion.