Am a big fan of chorales and choirs. Not surprising since I used to sing with one. Am truly amazed and at awe whenever I would hear a choir sing a capella and in perfect harmony. Thus, I was pleasantly surprised when I learned that the Philippine Madrigal Singer's or Madz's has a new album (produced by Philam Group of Companies). Unfortunately, the album can only be bought at the Philam offices. So I'm just content to borrow my officemate's copies (they were given copies by AIG--work related thingee).
The double CD features songs in the Filipino vernacular. The first CD is more of folk songs such as "Dahil Sa Iyo", "Matud Nila" and "Dungawin Mo, Hirang" to name a few. The first CD has 15 songs. However, I love the 2nd CD more since it has their rendition of contemporary Filipino songs. I practically swooned over "Minsan Lang Kitang Iibigin" and have chosen it as my wedding march. It's such a beautiful song and I could imagine the choir singing it while I march down the aisle. It just bring tears to my eyes. Other songs in the 2nd cd are: "Bituing Walang Ningning", "Kailangan Kita", "Ikaw Lamang", "Kahit Isang Saglit", "Ikaw", "Sanay ay Ikaw na Nga", "Hanggang", "Sana'y Wala Nang Wakas" and "Pasko na, Sinta Ko".
For those who's near any Philam office, try to get a copy of their album: Iyo Kailan Pa Man... The Philippine Madrigal Singers.
Wednesday, January 18, 2006
A Horror Story
Well, not the unearthly kind.
While I was browsing through my Atkin's handbook, I read that not only should I weigh myself, I should also take measurements. So I went downstairs and found a tape measure and started measuring.
I started with the waist first. Before I start writing down figures, let me make it plain that I've debated for awhile whether I will post my numbers here or keep silent about them. But then, might as well tell the whole world (or at least those who would read this) so at least I'll have people cheering me on as I struggle to lose all these bad excess weight.
Friends, the heaviest that I've been was last December 2005. I weighed in at 187 lbs! I was very shocked when I saw my weight. What more when I started measuring last night? As I said, I started with my waist and I screamed when I saw what the tape measure was telling me. My waist is measured at 39". Thirty nine!!!! F*&&K Sheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeetttttt!!!! Good thing my door was closed since I was cursing and cursing and cursing. If I was 39 yesterday it meant that I was around 40 something last December! OMG!!!! What have I done to myself?!!! I remembered a time when I swore I will never reach 40" and there I was. Hitting 40 and eating as if there was tomorrow. I was so ashamed of myself.
I forged on and continued on with my measurements. My chest and hips were in the 40's and my arms and thighs were in the 20's! OMG. I could not barely believe it. It gave me more reason to SERIOUSLY lose weight and to follow my diet to the letter (without cheating or taking shortcuts). I felt so disgusted with myself. No wonder am beset with all these ailments and it's a miracle that my blood sugar and cholesterol are normal. My mom has always been nagging me to lose weight and I guess she was really worried for me. We have a history of heart problems and diabetes and she does not want to lose me to those ailments. If I want to live my life better and have the chance to see my grandchildren, I should take care of myself more. No more transfats for me!
I've been rice, pasta and bread-less for a week now and I feel absolutely great! I feel so...light. I have more energy now and I love my morning walks. I can't wait till the weekend so I can go walking/running around the park. Moreover, I can't wait to weigh and measure myself Tuesday next week to see if my weight and other measurements have improved. I hope it will be a pleasant surprise. Wish me luck and please keep my in your prayers.
While I was browsing through my Atkin's handbook, I read that not only should I weigh myself, I should also take measurements. So I went downstairs and found a tape measure and started measuring.
I started with the waist first. Before I start writing down figures, let me make it plain that I've debated for awhile whether I will post my numbers here or keep silent about them. But then, might as well tell the whole world (or at least those who would read this) so at least I'll have people cheering me on as I struggle to lose all these bad excess weight.
Friends, the heaviest that I've been was last December 2005. I weighed in at 187 lbs! I was very shocked when I saw my weight. What more when I started measuring last night? As I said, I started with my waist and I screamed when I saw what the tape measure was telling me. My waist is measured at 39". Thirty nine!!!! F*&&K Sheeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeetttttt!!!! Good thing my door was closed since I was cursing and cursing and cursing. If I was 39 yesterday it meant that I was around 40 something last December! OMG!!!! What have I done to myself?!!! I remembered a time when I swore I will never reach 40" and there I was. Hitting 40 and eating as if there was tomorrow. I was so ashamed of myself.
I forged on and continued on with my measurements. My chest and hips were in the 40's and my arms and thighs were in the 20's! OMG. I could not barely believe it. It gave me more reason to SERIOUSLY lose weight and to follow my diet to the letter (without cheating or taking shortcuts). I felt so disgusted with myself. No wonder am beset with all these ailments and it's a miracle that my blood sugar and cholesterol are normal. My mom has always been nagging me to lose weight and I guess she was really worried for me. We have a history of heart problems and diabetes and she does not want to lose me to those ailments. If I want to live my life better and have the chance to see my grandchildren, I should take care of myself more. No more transfats for me!
I've been rice, pasta and bread-less for a week now and I feel absolutely great! I feel so...light. I have more energy now and I love my morning walks. I can't wait till the weekend so I can go walking/running around the park. Moreover, I can't wait to weigh and measure myself Tuesday next week to see if my weight and other measurements have improved. I hope it will be a pleasant surprise. Wish me luck and please keep my in your prayers.
Sunday, January 15, 2006
PCOS
Last Thursday, I decided to stop procrastinating and get that ultrasound that my OB has been nagging me to get. So I took half the day off and trudged to Makati Med where my OB is scheduled to do ultrasounds. I won't go into the details but basically my doctor confirmed what she initially thought I have. I've been diagnosed with PCOS or otherwise known as Polycystic Ovary Syndrome. It means that my ovaries have cysts thus my lack of monthly period. Bottomline is, getting pregnant will be a big hurdle for me and my future husband. I have to go through tests and certain medications just to get pregnant.
I was quite sad when I heard the prognosis. I don't know the cause and when Leo and I researched it, there's really no definite cause. Maybe it's hereditary or something else, but it happens. Am seeing my OB again on Wednesday to discuss our options. Pills are one, and believe it or not, medication given to people with Type II diabetes can also be prescribed. Fertility pills are given for women who are ready to conceive.
I don't know if my new diet will help my chances but I do hope so. My OB has a suspicion that I can also have hypothyroid (I do have symptoms). Am just waiting for the blood tests so I can show them to an endocrinologist.
Good news though, am lump free! My breast sonogram revealed no lumps or anything out of the ordinary that can be considered dangerous/cancerous. I am very thankful for that. One ailment is enough for me as of now.
I was quite sad when I heard the prognosis. I don't know the cause and when Leo and I researched it, there's really no definite cause. Maybe it's hereditary or something else, but it happens. Am seeing my OB again on Wednesday to discuss our options. Pills are one, and believe it or not, medication given to people with Type II diabetes can also be prescribed. Fertility pills are given for women who are ready to conceive.
I don't know if my new diet will help my chances but I do hope so. My OB has a suspicion that I can also have hypothyroid (I do have symptoms). Am just waiting for the blood tests so I can show them to an endocrinologist.
Good news though, am lump free! My breast sonogram revealed no lumps or anything out of the ordinary that can be considered dangerous/cancerous. I am very thankful for that. One ailment is enough for me as of now.
Atkin's, Here I Come!
My mom has been a loyal advocate of the Atkin's Diet for years. When she came home a couple of years ago, she brought home Atkin's supplement pills for my use. Unfortunately, I was quite stubborn about my weight then so I ignored her advice and the pills.
Fastforward a couple of years later, I was sent an Atkin's Kit together with a book containing information and steps on how to start Atkin's. Since my future depends on me being healthy, I gave in and started to plan on how to do the diet.
I went through the book and the kit last week. It looked simple but reading the food that I can eat, it's not as simple as I thought. I need to do a lot of carbohydrates counting. It would also mean scrapping rice, pasta and bread from my diet. I was very sad at first since those three things are my favourites. I can do away with rice but pasta and bread?! But sacrifices need to be made.
I went cold turkey with my daily coffee fix last Monday. Am now caffeine-free for seven days now. As for rice, am now rice and pasta free for four days now. Unfortunately, am not too successful with bread yet. I have to have bread. So to feed my bread fix, I found low-carb bread in the supermarket which is even recommended by the book. It's kinda expensive though. 77 bucks for a small loaf!
Am eating more meat now and salad. Plus, I drink lots and lots of water! It gives my stomach an impression that am actually full with just a plate of salad. Am still weaning myself from ice cream and iced tea/juices. I bought a bottle of grapejuice which I can drink instead.
My goal is to lose 60 lbs. So far, I've lost four pounds in a week. Most of it is water probably. I saw my cardiologist last week and he's very much supportive of my decision. He even offered me diet pills (Reductil) but I haven't taken it yet. Am scared how it will affect me, now that am on a low-carb diet. He did advise me to walk more as it's the only form of exercise that I can tolerate right now. Fifteen minutes a day is about right and I can add more minutes as the weeks progress. How do I walk 15 minutes straight a day with my schedule? I decided to do this in the morning when I go to work. I can get off at Greenbelt and walk the rest of the way to the office. I timed it last Friday and it's more than fifteen minutes! Not bad! Although I have to make sure that I wear sandals or flats when I walk. I don't relish the thought of walking in my heels.
So here's hoping that I can stand by this and finish what I have started. I've already psyched myself to refuse carbs when offered and hopefully I have enough willpower to do so. Wish me luck!
Fastforward a couple of years later, I was sent an Atkin's Kit together with a book containing information and steps on how to start Atkin's. Since my future depends on me being healthy, I gave in and started to plan on how to do the diet.
I went through the book and the kit last week. It looked simple but reading the food that I can eat, it's not as simple as I thought. I need to do a lot of carbohydrates counting. It would also mean scrapping rice, pasta and bread from my diet. I was very sad at first since those three things are my favourites. I can do away with rice but pasta and bread?! But sacrifices need to be made.
I went cold turkey with my daily coffee fix last Monday. Am now caffeine-free for seven days now. As for rice, am now rice and pasta free for four days now. Unfortunately, am not too successful with bread yet. I have to have bread. So to feed my bread fix, I found low-carb bread in the supermarket which is even recommended by the book. It's kinda expensive though. 77 bucks for a small loaf!
Am eating more meat now and salad. Plus, I drink lots and lots of water! It gives my stomach an impression that am actually full with just a plate of salad. Am still weaning myself from ice cream and iced tea/juices. I bought a bottle of grapejuice which I can drink instead.
My goal is to lose 60 lbs. So far, I've lost four pounds in a week. Most of it is water probably. I saw my cardiologist last week and he's very much supportive of my decision. He even offered me diet pills (Reductil) but I haven't taken it yet. Am scared how it will affect me, now that am on a low-carb diet. He did advise me to walk more as it's the only form of exercise that I can tolerate right now. Fifteen minutes a day is about right and I can add more minutes as the weeks progress. How do I walk 15 minutes straight a day with my schedule? I decided to do this in the morning when I go to work. I can get off at Greenbelt and walk the rest of the way to the office. I timed it last Friday and it's more than fifteen minutes! Not bad! Although I have to make sure that I wear sandals or flats when I walk. I don't relish the thought of walking in my heels.
So here's hoping that I can stand by this and finish what I have started. I've already psyched myself to refuse carbs when offered and hopefully I have enough willpower to do so. Wish me luck!
Driving Ms. Sunshine (next 5 hours)
Ok, am still alive so I guess I survived my driving classes. I now know how to parallel park and do that "hanging" thing. Am so glad. I still need more practice though. Maybe next week, I can borrow my aunt's trooper--it's stick shift.
This time around, my instructor just took me around the Las Pinas area. He made sure that I can hold my own in traffic and pasaway drivers. Though I could barely understand him, am grateful that he guided me through the throng of people and jeepneys. We passed through a couple of marketplaces and malls. Not to mention being a jeepney and bus thoroughfare. I had my taste of lawless drivers and it really takes nerves of steel just to drive through the streets of Manila. I had to hold back curses whenever a jeepney would swerve to my lane or even meet me head on!
This time around, my instructor just took me around the Las Pinas area. He made sure that I can hold my own in traffic and pasaway drivers. Though I could barely understand him, am grateful that he guided me through the throng of people and jeepneys. We passed through a couple of marketplaces and malls. Not to mention being a jeepney and bus thoroughfare. I had my taste of lawless drivers and it really takes nerves of steel just to drive through the streets of Manila. I had to hold back curses whenever a jeepney would swerve to my lane or even meet me head on!
Sunday, January 08, 2006
Driving Ms. Sunshine 2006 (Next 3 hours)
My lesson yesterday was only for two hours and we only stayed in the Paranaque/Las Pinas area. Since my lesson was 3 hours today, my driver instructor (a new one today) decided to take me further. Since I needed more practice in turning, he directed me into Better Living (from Sucat). If you're not familiar with that shortcut, it's a way full of twists and turns. Rest assured my turning was well-practiced there.
We got out at Bicutan and entered the service road going North. I was more confident this time and I actually reached 60 kph! I was surprised I reached that speed but felt very happy about it. Next thing I know, the instructor asked me to enter South Superhighway through Villamor. If I wasn't too busy observing the road and listening to my instructor, I would've freaked out already! I wanted to freak out more when he instructed me to go to EDSA through the Magallanes interchange. I thought I was going to have a heart attack but he encouraged me to forge on. Next thing I know, we were turning right at Boni Serrano and going to Project 4! He also asked me to make a three point turn on a busy road!!! Gah! Thank goodness the car did not stall. Haha! Success!
We went back to Paranaque via NAIA and Multinational Road. He wanted me to go through those twists and turns again. At least the car is not stalling as much as it did before. The car stalls if I let go of the clutch too quickly without pressing on the gas pedal. Valuable lessons learned today: letting go of the clutch up to its working level, full brake on busy intersections, do not swerve at NAIA and Magallanes Interchange due to the presence of the strict "chocolate boys".
Today was a good lesson. I now learned first-hand why some people complain if they drive too long. I drove straight for 3 hours that when I got off the car, my right knee was hurting like hell and I was limping. It took awhile before I managed to walk the stiffness out. Next week, we're going to tackle parking and probably practice on my "hanging" more.
We got out at Bicutan and entered the service road going North. I was more confident this time and I actually reached 60 kph! I was surprised I reached that speed but felt very happy about it. Next thing I know, the instructor asked me to enter South Superhighway through Villamor. If I wasn't too busy observing the road and listening to my instructor, I would've freaked out already! I wanted to freak out more when he instructed me to go to EDSA through the Magallanes interchange. I thought I was going to have a heart attack but he encouraged me to forge on. Next thing I know, we were turning right at Boni Serrano and going to Project 4! He also asked me to make a three point turn on a busy road!!! Gah! Thank goodness the car did not stall. Haha! Success!
We went back to Paranaque via NAIA and Multinational Road. He wanted me to go through those twists and turns again. At least the car is not stalling as much as it did before. The car stalls if I let go of the clutch too quickly without pressing on the gas pedal. Valuable lessons learned today: letting go of the clutch up to its working level, full brake on busy intersections, do not swerve at NAIA and Magallanes Interchange due to the presence of the strict "chocolate boys".
Today was a good lesson. I now learned first-hand why some people complain if they drive too long. I drove straight for 3 hours that when I got off the car, my right knee was hurting like hell and I was limping. It took awhile before I managed to walk the stiffness out. Next week, we're going to tackle parking and probably practice on my "hanging" more.
Saturday, January 07, 2006
My grades
I got the results of my WCE and I'm happy to say that I passed all of my exams--except for Organizational behavior that is. It's still a sore spot for me that I failed that exam. It's a non-math subject and one that I enjoyed for Pete's sake! Objective type surely sucks. This means I only have a couple of refreshers which I will be taking next term (January and March) and one subject which promises a light workload. Hopefully I'll have a nice summer.
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