Photos Taken: June 2012 / September 2012
Wearing the same top

Since July of this year, I’ve lost more than 20 pounds. I didn’t spend a single peso on the gym or any advertised products/diets. I didn’t have the time or the budget, and I wanted to do something that I could realistically maintain. A lot of people have been asking me how I did it, and I decided to finally write about it just in time for the hearty holiday dinners.

1. I did this 10-minute Victoria Secret workout everyday. Because I was always either too busy or too lazy to exercise, the length of this workout was an effective tool for me to keep doing it daily. And who didn’t want to be somehow at par with those gorgeous lingerie models?

Try it out! And don’t overdo it. Some of my friends tried doing it twice (20mins) a day. Trust me, if you want your body to be bearable the next day, 10 minutes is enough. It's that effective and tiring.

2. I rarely ate in fastfood chains, and I shared my French fries. In my previous attempts to lose weight, I’ve always felt constricted with my diet. I had to stop eating the delicious things and stick to oatmeal and other fiber-rich food. What happened was I would backslide: since I suppressed my cravings and appetite, I’d eventually pig out on my diet break days.

I just lessened my visits to my favorite fastfood chains, and when I ate there, I seldom upsized anything. I can’t live without French fries, so after snacking on some, I simply shared them with my friends and family. They appreciated the generosity, and the calories were split as well—less sinful for everyone!

3. I’d eat everything, but in little amounts. Connected to my fastfood binge, I realize it wasn’t the diet, but the overindulgence that kept me from losing weight. I eventually decided to stop controlling what I wanted to eat and focused on my consumption instead. I'd still eat lechon, bacon, and all things delectable, but I'd do so in small amounts. I didn’t fill my plate with them. I listened to my appetite and  found no reason to overindulge because of the thought that well, I could always eat them, anyway. That kind of mentality was pretty effective for me.

4. I learned to love drinking water. Did you know that 7 out of 10 times you think you’re hungry, you’re actually just thirsty? Our brains can’t clearly decipher if we need food or water, so we interpret them as the same thing. I used to drink less than 4 glasses of water a day. This, I discovered was the real reason behind my constant snacking before.

I made a habit of drinking a lot of water, and my munching on snacks was greatly lessened. I also felt healthier. My bowel movement became more regular. My skin also stopped breaking out.

5. I walked and took the stairs. I don’t have a car, and my businesses and errands entailed a lot of commuting and running around the metro. Instead of taking jeeps to nearby places, I'd grab my sunglasses and walk. I'd also opt to take the stairs instead of the elevators and escalators. Have you tried going up and down the stairs of any LRT or MRT station? They're quite the workout!

Photos Taken: March 2012 / December 2012

It’s been quite a challenge to confront my weight issues and find a healthy lifestyle that I could maintain. I hope this blog post has been helpful and encouraging. Good luck and happy holidays!

I went to Sagada alone without any itineraries or reservations on accommodations. I didn’t know anyone there. All I had were bus tickets and a heart for adventure.

I took the Manila-Bontoc-Sagada route, and it’s the best and fastest way to go to Sagada. It’s a 12-hour bus trip with 2-3 stopovers. Currently, Cable Tours is the only bus company offering Manila-Bontoc (bus leaves at 8pm) and Bontoc-Manila (bus leaves at 3pm) routes. Contact them at 0918 521 6790 for ticket reservations.

I am no longer recommending Cable Tours as the bus line to ride because their airconditioning doesn't work anymore + they don't pass you through NLEX and they still charge for the same amount. What I do suggest is you take the Ohayami bus to Banaue, and from there you can commute to Sagada or Bontoc. The Banaue route is really scenic. Pass by there!

Banaue Rice Terraces

The landscape reminds me of the Studio Ghibli film, Totoro!

On my bus ride going there, I sat beside this beautiful girl talking to the bus operators in their local dialect. Her name’s Zara, and what started out as friendly introductions turned into almost six hours of non-stop talking. She’s from Bontoc, and she was sweet enough to text me everyday to check if I was still alive (haha) and enjoying! She even toured me around Bontoc on my last day!

With Zara

After hopping off the bus, I went to the jeep terminal found two streets away. From Bontoc, Sagada is only a 45-minute ride away. I sat down and introduced myself to my seatmate. She happened to be from Sagada. Her name’s Julie, and she helped me find a place to stay. My seatmates are the best!

With Julie

Bontoc-Sagada Highway View

It was days before holy week, and I was lucky enough to get a room in St. Joseph’s Resthouse! It’s ironic how I’m an atheist and I wound up staying there (I simply ignored all religious decor), but the accommodations were pretty cozy and the staff were always in smiles!

Single occupancy is only Php 300/night. Contact them at 0918 599 5934.

Nobody gave me the memo that tourists had to register at the Info Center. I almost cried because I couldn't figure out where to go and how to schedule tours (Yes folks, that was how clueless I was). The people there were really kind and helped me out. I scheduled my solo tours. Define loner/hermit vibes (hahaha), but my tour guide was just great!

Kuya Kit probably saved my life on multiple occasions. He offered whatever limb was necessary to help out a poor, 4’11-foot girl like me to survive the treks and the short course caving! He also had a lot of stories to tell. From fun Sagada facts to his life as a tour guide/driver/etag maker/etc, I’ve learned a lot from my awesome guide who claimed that whatever he lacked in formal education, he made up for his drive to succeed in life.

Another thing I love about Sagada is their food! You should try the Pinikpikan in Dap Ayan Restaurant located at the basement level of the commercial center.

I went to Bontoc earlier to avoid the rush of people flocking over their fiesta. It was my last day, and like I said, Zara toured me around her lovely town. We went to the Bontoc Museum and took pictures everywhere.

There was a lot to learn on Northern culture. Who knew that the each region had its own architecture, clothing style, and weaponry? I am amazed at how diverse and culturally rich the Philippines is. I love my country.

People find it remarkable how I survived Sagada all by myself. Some of them tell me that my trip was filled with ‘divine intercession’. I laugh that thought of and tell them that all the credit should go to Zara, Kuya Kit, Julie, and all the other local folks who’ve been nothing but great and honest. These people have been kind enough to help out and trust a stranger. I think that’s more remarkable than any god theory, and they deserve to be fully acknowledged and thanked.