I have to finally pursue this decision to go back to the healthy foods and activities like jogging and going to the gym. After a few busy months of travel and working on my projects on DURP, I think I can somewhat focus on the proper things to start on and work from there. That would need to be planned carefully such as details on the day-to-day diet plan and the workout routine. Since it is a few months left before we graduate on DURP which is on December, it is best to start this month of October.

I have already started buying anti-oxidant drinks to start cleaning my stomach and intestines and also having to limit my diet with less fat and intake of rice. The problem is that on the current boarding house I am renting, they mostly cook pork-related dishes and also my favorite Bas-o. That self-control of eating too much rice with that delicious food is very much a challenge. I have to really adopt a strict self-discipline. I have also done an initial jogging last night at Esplanade and will make this as a regular activity as long as my feet and knees can handle. I will also do some lower stomach kicking routines I got from an exercise channel on YouTube as another option in case I could not jog.

I would also opt to walk more instead of commuting and hopefully soon from office to the boarding house. That is, will be based on certain conditions like rain and flood. If given the budget, my long-term plan is to buy a foldable bike for daily use. That is another topic though.

Anyhow, what I would need is a definite plan which would serve as a firsthand basis. I hope to come up of it as soon as possible.

Recently or shall we say since last Monday, I have been checking my food intake and trying to get back in eating healthy. One reason is my lack of time to exercise and it has been since I last went to the gym. It was already obvious that I got my beer belly bigger from the food trip and drinking spree last month. I was somewhat disappointed of allowing myself to get fatter and losing routine exercise that I have been doing in years. I guess the statement “New Year, New Me” will apply this time.

First of is the diet of vegetables and fruit, that is during lunch. I was trying to avoid eating breakfast and just stick with coffee but then going to work in the morning with just a caffeine-filled stomach is seem lacking. Anyhow, the control of rice intake is also a major concern. We know that most of us Filipinos could not start the day without eating at least one cup. Rice in breakfast and lunch sounds okay, though I am looking for alternates like boiled bananas. For the other menu options, I think I’ll be checking again the diet books I bought from Booksale.

Next is doing exercise. I used to go to the gym on mornings and take a short jog at the Iloilo Esplanade on evenings. That was during the early months when I started to workout. Now my feet easily hurt after a few minutes of non-stop jog. I might need to do a series of leg exercise each day. For the upper body, I would start again with the basics though my problem is the time to at least do one hour of workout. I would still consider my old gym near Robinsons Iloilo. Home workout is also another option and there are lots of routine exercises for reference on Youtube.

So that is two major points for now. It is the fourth day already and I needed to be strict with the routine. Eating can be controlled and drinking sessions can be avoided, or is it?

So recently I have decided to build my mini library here in the HQ and so I am occasionally passing by bookstore to check some interesting books. One of which that I recently purchased was a book guide for long distance running. It was authored by Sean Fishpool and I bought it for only 25 pesos at Booksale in SM City Iloilo.

I just started reading it today as I am currently not done with the 48 Laws of Power which I started to read about a month ago. For a short share, here are what running can do for you, which excerpts from Beginners Guide to Long Distance Running:

Weight Loss – Running burns calories faster than any other activity.

Better Health – it boosts your immunity to illness, as well as improve blood cholesterol level. Also it can fight diseases such as diabetes, arthritis and osteoporosis.

Less Stress – runners are less prone to depression than sedentary people. This is partly because of the endorphins that the body releases but also because they enjoy the benefits of achieving something.

Confidence – you will feel better because you know that you are fit and motivated and achieving your running goals. This as a result will inspire you in other areas of life.

Quiet Time – forget about your to-do list for 40 minutes- simply breathe fresh air and enjoy being alone with or without your thoughts.

More Energy and a Better Body – this will help your body work more efficiently, with improved metabolism and cell regeneration. Your body’s lean-to-fat ratio will improve and your calves, thighs, hips and buttocks will become stronger and shapelier.

Healthier lifestyle – this is one of my main reasons why I exercise. The results are adopting better sleeping habits and removal of vices like smoking and drinking.

A Knowledge of your Body – you will discover what kinds of effort your body responds to best. If you race or do speedwork, you will find out how your body reacts to pressure.

I guess I should restart my evening run routine as soon as possible.