May 7, 2012

Back(!) and with inspiration in 2012

2011 has been a long year and the entire duration, I was absent from my blog. Also, I gained a lot of weight because I kept on travelling for work and if my calculations are right, I was out of the country for half of the year! I cannot say that I am complaining but it took a toll on my weight. Coming in to 2011, I was a thinner 173lbs, thanks to the New York Marathon. I got into this weight with not much effort on dieting and at the end of 2011, I was 196lbs! A 23lbs add on. Whoah!

I decided to get thinner in 2012 and joined the gym. I did a spinning-run-core-weight training combination. It also helped that I was exercising alongside some of my friends which made me strive more. One of them is Giselle Angelica Munoz who competed in Binibining Pilipinas 2012 (photo below) who used to be 150lbs and shrunk to 115lbs with much determination and perseverance. I am so proud of her and decided that I will share the same success story she had. She might not have taken home the crown but she left the pageant a much better person; fit and fabulous.



Another inspiration of mine is Lex Librea who used to be (a lot) bigger. To have an idea of who Lex is, watch the video of "Maria Venus Raj: We Love You" in YouTube. My dear friend started with no gym experience and with 6months of gyming and some dieting (pun intended for the Jamaican Patties), he has lost around 50lbs!

Photo below shows Lex in 2010 (back in sando). I am going to post his new picture in 2012 SOON!


Indeed, 2012 is a weight loss year for my friends. And I am determined to shrink and hopefully look good with my ideal weight. So far, I have lost 25lbs and I shall post photos of me soon! Just wait and see.

April 8, 2011

New York Marathon - Photoblog

I did took photos while during the marathon to show that I had fun. Here are my photos:


At New Jersey bus pick-up area (IZOD)

Waiting area at Fort Wadsworth - Malamig talaga!

Right before entering the starting chute. Discarded my garments already.

Official pacers for 4:45. Should have stuck with them! Cool people.

At Verazzano-Narrows Bridge. I was literally at the back of the pack.

Somewhere in Brooklyn where we identified that my support friends will be waiting for me.

A lot of bands are on the street. Took time to take a photo with one of them.

Brooklyn house owners are very supportive. They even decorated their building facade.

Somewhere in Queens.

One of the stops where I will be meeting my friends!

While running again.

Queensborough Bridge. Where I first walked. Around 25K (I think)

First Street in Manhattan. Super daming tao pero hindi masyado nagchecheer.

Going to Bronx. I'm already tired and I think this is where I met "the wall". So glad to have seen my support!

Support #1: Mikee (and Anika's bag)

Support #2: Victor (and my backpack!)

Last street outside Central Park. A spectator volunteered to take my picture.

Right after taking my medal. I did it!

Me and my heat sheet. Di naman naka generate ng heat.

Going home. My legs hurt! Naiinis ako sa concept ng subway at this point.


April 3, 2011

2010 (a bit too late, but still!)

2010 is a very eventful year for me. Una, I was sent to Beijing for a 2-month extended business trip. Dito ko naranasan mabuhay mag-isa, to take care of myself and show to my foreign colleagues what I am capable of. Dito ko rin na experience ang SNOW! Na nakakahiya man aminin, I tried touching outside my apartment and people are actually staring at me as if I am baliw or something. LOL. Laking pasasalamat ko, nandun sa Beijing si Michele (Bangayan) para samahan ako sa mga tourist spots at kay Rainy para gumimik. Those two months were some of the best memories I will ever have.

After my Beijing stint, I started preparing for my marathon (NY). Dito, nakilala ko ang ilan sa mga taong nung una akala ko mga magiging mga casual friends ko lang but it turns out naging friends din talaga kami along the way. Thanks to Tin for introducing me to Iah, Kap. Tere, Kaye, Macky, Jan, Smacky, Jerry, Mari and the rest of the Thank God It's Sunday peeps. I became a part of the Team BR din where I met Madame and Sir Jovie plus the pool of TBR Elites who guided me too sa aking training. Kayo ang naging instrumento sa katuparan ng pangarap kong New York marathon.

During this year, naging masaya din for me kasi a very deserving lady by the name of Maria Venus Raj made it to the finals of Miss Universe. Masaya ako na nakasama ako sa journey ni Venus from the time na nakilala namin siya at kung nasaan man siya ngayon. Naaalala ko pa yung mga cheap thrills namin like eating out pag may training and just making fond of just about everything. Isang malaking congrashuleyshuns to Venus for making us, her Aces and Queens family proud.

By the last quarter of the year, naging hectic na ang schedule ko. I got a new role in the office as a regional resource. It is like learning everything from square 1. And to add to that, nagtransition pa ako from my original role. It was hard, tough and at times, emotionally draining. But at the end of the day - sabi nga ni Veejay sakin, mas maganda nang busy ka, kaysa hindi. Kasi pag di ka busy, wala ka nang work. Thanks to Anne for helping me out on my new role.

During this time, kailangan ko na din lumipad to the US for my marathon. I didn't really got the chance to prepare much kasi I was so busy. Dumating na yung day ng flight ko na hindi ko man lang napapansin. When I was in the airplane, narealize ko lang bigla na YES, pupunta nga ako ng Amerika. I was really looking forward in seeing my friends and my family na most of them, hindi ko pa nakikilala in person. Thanks so much to Boom and Darcy for accommodating my stay in the US. Salamat din kay Mikee (+Boom) for supporting me sa marathon. It is really great to see familiar faces pag nandun ka na sa point na ayaw mo nang tumakbo at narating mo na yung sukdulan ng fatigue. Salamat sa inyo.

The NYC marathon must have been the highlight of my 2010. It is a good summary of what I have become. First, bilang independent na tao na kayang sumuporta sa financial implications ng travelling abroad. Second, its a culmination of a long journey of training. During the training, madami akong nasacrifice like gimik times, kain (because of proper diet), time with family and friends and some other small bits of event that could have affected my life. When I posted my photos of the marathon here in FB, the comments are overwhelming and I felt proud of what I have achieved. Sa lahat ng mga taong sumuporta, maraming salamat po.

Pag balik ko from the US, I faced more challenges. Dito na magtatake effect ang new role ko, mag bibirthday na din ako saka magpapasko. Along with all these happenings, it just felt right to be on my own. I decided to move out of the house and live alone. At first, may resistance from my parents but then, wala naman talaga silang choice. I need to build my life. I rented a condo and started with just a bed and a fan. It was fulfilling, lonely at times pero sobrang exciting. Salamat sa mga kaibigan ko specially to Herbert and Nelson who were there for me during this time.

2010 is indeed on heck of a year from me. Looking back in December 2009, I was wondering who and what I will be in December 2010. I now have the answer. A person who is stronger, fitter, determined and excited what the future holds. Looking forward to another review of my life pag dating ng December 2011. Ano na kaya susunod? Magkaka ** na kaya ako? What do you think Kent?

Again, sa lahat ng taong nakasama ko ngayong 2010, maraming salamat for being there through my journey. Kita kits sa 2011 ha!

After 5 months...

I'm back!

Wanted to start my running routine again. There are a couple of "dahilans" why I stopped blogging and why I run on and off. Well, most of it because of my new job in the office and secondly, I ran my marathon. After which, I just felt like eating a lot and thought the weight and the belly will not come back. I went to this blog again and saw my picture in the entry below and looked down at my current belly. Its now bad. I need to come back. SO I AM.

For the next entry, I will be copying the notes in my Facebook account which I wrote to thank and share my experience during the New York Marathon. Watch out!

November 9, 2010

Official Marathoner, and a NYC Marathoner at that!


Yes. I finished the 2010 New York Marathon. It is one hella of a run! I would be posting more stories and photos but for now here is me with my NYC Marathon medal and my celebratory cosmo!