{Fulfilling a NY Resolution} Balik-Alindog Project

Part of my 2013 NY's resolution is to go back to being fit. Not that I was really fit and fab pre-pregnancy but I feel like I need to get back to that old skinny-no-bulging-tummy body. I never really had a tummy problem back then. It was flat the way I liked it even if I eat gazillion cups of rice. Oh yes, carbo-loading is my hobby. I used to fool myself that it's magic how my tummy never really get's big no matter how big my appetite is. But of course, not until motherhood struck me, I bid farewell to that awesomeness nine months after.

By the start of the year, I've been imagining myself exercising. Crunches. Dumbbells. Sweating. Jogging around the village. Things like that. Problem is: it remained an illusion. Not even close to reality. It seemed like my brain was the only one doing the exercising. I know I need to find a motivation to work this out. I do actually want to start my own physical routine but it has been almost two years since I last worked out in a gym and I've totally forgotten the routine my trainer taught me. So the first question I asked myself is: Where do I begin?

For a kickoff, I searched for effective workout videos on Youtube. Since I'm restarting, I looked for an easy set of exercises that would aim on the parts that I want to tone. I saved the links in my desktop so I could just copy + paste it on the address bar on my workout day. The husband's set of dumbbells and exercise ball were a good help too. I don't really have to hit the gym to start being fit.

Would you believe that even a mom like me had conflict with my schedule? I know you think that I have all the time in my hands since I'm just a SAHM but apparently, I don't. A lot of people look at SAHMs that way. But when you're a SAHM, it's as good as getting employed too. You get your hands full too, only that: you don't get financially compensated. Since I have a growing baby boy who loves to explore around the house and likes getting his hands on just about anything he sees, I don't get to do things in my own time. I have to get him to sleep to be able to grab some time for myself. So to be able to push into my schedule some workout time, I send him to a morning after-bath nap first before getting in my trainers. If he frets, I move my workout time in the afternoon during his nap. 

And yes, even if I only workout in the house, particularly in our bedroom while the boss is snoring, I still sport a gym getup. It adds a dose of seriousness and motivation while I'm at it. I don't think I'll ever get myself doing crunches in my pajamas and bedroom slippers. Since I associate exercising with my trainer kicks, sock-less or not, I wear my rubber shoes to get the feel of it and it psyches me.

Discipline is really the key. Seeing the bed while working out is tempting and whenever I feel like lying down after one set, I turn my back from it. And since I have a very limited time, I make most out of it. Also, part of my mindset is that I won't get to open the laptop or watch TV unless I'm done working out. Self-punishment/Reward system also helps. For example, there's a new episode already of the series that I'm watching. I told myself that I would only get to see it if after I workout. That's enough to keep me moving. Hello? We're talking Damon Salvatore here!

At the end of each workout, I'm totally happy realizing that I did something for myself even if I'm just at home. It kinda gives a boost in my self-esteem  department. I feel more inspired to do my usual stuff for the rest of the day. Truly, I could say that working out offers a punch of happy hormones and I don't think I'll ever stop giving myself a kick of those in the near future.

{Today's Reflection} Do it for Yourself

Oftentimes, I would always find myself mindful of what other people might think. Sometimes, I find it good but most of the time, not. It has torn me between doing and not doing something that I want and which most of the time, I would rather NOT do something just because I think that other people won't approve of it. And the end result: I feel regretful, unfulfilled and unhappy.

I came across the The Happiness Project book by Gretchen Rubin. For a year, she wrote theories, did research, tested those and see if there's a change in her state of happiness. At the start of the book,  she reiterated 12 commandments for herself that she would basically follow to obtain her goal which is as simple: to be happy. Her first commandment above anything else is: Be Gretchen. Yup, that's her first and priority rule, to be herself at all times.

I want to take, remind and live out that rule myself. Be Me. I think no other person could best live out that rule but ME. It sounds way too easy but actually practicing it by a person like me who's very much conscious to what other people say is quite hard. One instance I feel really conscious about is most of the time about my career which is actually not applicable to me at the moment simply because I'm not employed, just a stay-at-home mom. I know for a fact within me that I'm still not yet ready to work or go back and try to work in a company again. And I also know that I actually don't imagine myself working again for some employer. But what am I doing? I'm currently scouting job openings that best suit me or I think I will be good at even though my heart is telling me that I'm not yet ready to take a dive on the working pool again. And why am I doing it? Because I know my husband will like it. Because I want to show my in-laws that I'm getting back on my feet again. But at the end of the day, I could hear myself telling me, "Who are you actually kidding?"

See? I always try to please the people around me that I end up feeling miserable within. Today, I realized that it's time to put a stop to this kind of attitude. It's time to be true, to tap the inner me, to get back at the things that spoke well of me, to do things that won't compromise who I am and my happiness. I feel like it's a long way to go but nonetheless, I want to be happy and at home with myself so I am pushing this. It's time to do things for myself, not for other people.

Be Me.
Be Arianne.

{My V-Day Wish: Safe Haven Movie}

I'm a sucker for romantic-thriller novels. A few months ago, I updated our iPad library by downloading several books, a few of which are written by Nicholas Sparks. I have never read any of his books and have only seen his works like The Notebook and Dear John through the big screen . I was a little curious with his other masterpieces and decided to get those that are not very much in the mainstream yet. I bumped into a copy of Safe Haven and right after reading the first few pages, I can't stop flipping over the next chapters. I think I was able to finish it in two days. Hah! After which, I Google-d about it and was surprised that they're actually turning it into a movie with Josh Duhamel as Alex and Julianne Hough as Katie. Win! Win! Now I've got more reason to really see it on the big screen. {Josh Duhamel is L.O.V.E.}

Safe Haven is a story about a girl Katie who's trying to escape her past. In her attempt, she settled in a small town of Southport where she met the beautiful family of Alex who was widowed and left with his two kids. In the process, they fell in love and just when things are already settling down, someone from her past haunts her again drawing the fear that she always tried to ran away from. This is a beautiful story about love, finding one's self, taking chances and searching for a Safe Haven.

Here's a sneak peek.

I can't wait for V-day! :)

Love Love Love! :)   

Breastfeeding at 11mos: No regrets!

When I conceived Inno, I never really thought of breastfeeding him but also didn't ever consider giving him formula milk. My knowledge of breastfeeding is very much limited that time and I myself even question that small knowledge. Things like how would I position him to feed, do I really have enough milk, would it hurt and a lot more doubts flooded my mind most of the time and that triggered my quest for answers. I begun reading online resources about breastfeeding, proper latching, boosting my milk supply and what not to eat. I jot down notes and watch videos. A blog that thoroughly helped me on my journey is Jenny Ong's Chronicles of a Nursing Mom. It has mostly all the answers to my queries and a list of support groups that could help me on my way to breastfeeding. I am also thankful for having a sister-in-law who breastfed her kids. She was both an example and a challenge to me because from then on, I have always told myself that if she can do it, I can do it too. Having a mom and a sister who were not fans of breastfeeding is quite a disadvantage in a way but I am grateful because they were very much supportive of me when I took this leap. 

Just like in many other major things, it is also important to have a support system in breastfeeding. Why? Because it is not as easy as it seems (or atleast in the beginning) and a support system will definitely help you boost your confidence and guide you through your struggles. It is definitely easy to just say yes to formula milk because those who chose it say its more convenient, the mother could just buy a can, heat some water and rest or do whatever she wants not realizing that breastfeeding has it's perks too, perks that are way beyond convenience. Perks that you and your child will definitely be thankful for in the months ahead. Quick pre-pregnancy weight recovery, a boost in baby's immune system, a different kind of bond between the mother and the baby just to name a few. 

I have been breastfeeding Inno for  almost a year now. I'm proud of that and so far, I've been enjoying the benefits this journey has showered me. Imagine, in less than four months post pregnancy, I'm back to almost 110 lbs from my 150+lbs pregnancy weight without any physical exercise. You could assume that maybe I am just really slim even before I got pregnant that's why I just went back to my old shape, that's true but also consider that short time of four months. I could easily slid on my jeans without having to do a jumping jacks here and there. According to studies, breastfeeding helps bring the uterus (which expanded 500x it's size during pregnancy) back to it's original size which is normally just three inches long.

With Inno, he never really gets sick fast. Just this week, we went to the doctor to have his cough for almost two weeks already checked. His pedia was quite astonished due to the fact that his case was close to bronchitis already but still, he was active and haven't got fever. Usually kids who are already with this type of cough do suffer from high fever already just like the case of Inno's cousin who was confined in the hospital for two weeks after convulsing due to Pneumonia. The doctor mentioned that Inno indeed has great immunity and that I should continue breastfeeding him. 

In Kali's case, he is very much supportive of me breastfeeding mostly due to economical reasons. You may think it's vague but I really believe that it also is an economical issue in a country that has more poor households than rich ones. Not to boast or whatever, but if we choose, we could really afford to buy a can of milk every week or two. Yet, here we are, sticking to the old school and healthier way. You could say we are just being practical or kuripot, and yes, I will agree in a way because it's true. We save Php3,000-4,000 a month from not buying canned milk and a lot more from hospitalizations or unwanted check-ups due to low immune system. We get to spend the money we save from buying canned milk on other things like Inno's school, clothes and booster shots. 

I will forever endorse and support breastfeeding. If given the chance to be a certified breastfeeding expert or adviser, no questions, I'll grab it because I know there are a lot of moms and moms-to-be who are willing to or afraid to breastfeed due to lack of support or knowledge about it. I want to be someone who could help them and make them believe that they can do it. I've been afraid once, and when I found out about modern moms who practice it, I stopped feeling alone and started to believe that I'm also going to succeed at it and I am. 

Now at almost eleven months, I'm still enjoying the wonders and joy of breastfeeding. This is one of the choices that I will never regret making in my life. :)