I started intermittent fasting during the last days of June 2019. The reason I gave it a shot was because my weight had slowly risen to 99kg. To give a bit of context, before 2017 I was averaging maybe around 105kg. After some life-altering events in 2017 I started walking and got my weight down to maybe 97kg in 2018. I promised to keep myself below 100kg and hopefully even reach 90kg.
That never happened. I disliked dieting and during the "winter" months was too lazy to regularly go walking. Plus my eating was still relatively out of control. I love to eat, and I've posted about it so many times.
Until that fateful day in 2019 when I saw I was borderline 100kg. I decided enough was enough and impulsively chose to do intermittent fasting. None of the gradual, start at 14 hours and ease my way up fastings. I did 16 hour fasts every other day. I noticed I did lose weight and that was great.
Pretty soon I went below 95kg. I think that was around September or so. By that time I had gotten used to IF that I was doing it almost everyday. I had gotten an app for my phone to help track my fasts. And I was doing portion control for my rice more religiously.
2020 has started and I am proud to say I am hovering between 90kg and 91kg. This is even after the holidays when I did eat a lot more than I'm used to. I'm happy to say I was able to maintain my weight.
I never really had a serious goal for my IF. I just wanted to change my lifestyle and see where that would take me, and it has taken me to this. I'm also partially motivated to start losing more, but as usual I will not be setting a target weight. I'll just keep trying to improve my lifestyle and hopefully the results will arrive. If it doesn't, no worries.
I just don't want to go over 93kg anymore. That's my cap for myself. Maybe I can lower the cap if I lose more weight, but I will not pressure myself.
Out.
Saturday, January 11, 2020
Monday, January 06, 2020
[829] My Possibly Attainable Dream Car
I'm writing this blog post on my 10th wedding anniversary. I've been thinking about cars (again) for the past few days. As much as it pains me to say it, the classic Volkswagen Beetle (Super Beetle or regular Beetle) isn't the best attainable dream car for my family and I here in the Philippines. Moving forward let's just call it the Beetle, since currently I have no desire to own the newer model.
Quick aside, have you seen the farewell video VW did for the Beetle? Watching it always makes me misty-eyed. I'm very thankful that I was able to ride one when my dad had one when I was still a young boy. I just regret disliking the car at the time since it was old and did not had air-conditioning.
Anyway, the Beetle is still top three in my attainable dream cars. As well as the Suzuki Jimny, whether it is the older or latest models. The second generation Honda Jazz is now my top possibly attainable dream car.
Here are the reasons why the Jazz is my top possibly attainable dream car.
Out.
Quick aside, have you seen the farewell video VW did for the Beetle? Watching it always makes me misty-eyed. I'm very thankful that I was able to ride one when my dad had one when I was still a young boy. I just regret disliking the car at the time since it was old and did not had air-conditioning.
Anyway, the Beetle is still top three in my attainable dream cars. As well as the Suzuki Jimny, whether it is the older or latest models. The second generation Honda Jazz is now my top possibly attainable dream car.
Here are the reasons why the Jazz is my top possibly attainable dream car.
- Safety. The Honda Jazz has disc brakes, anti-lock brakes, airbags, and possibly seat belts for the passengers in the rear seats (though I'm not too sure about this). A totally stock Beetle has drum brakes everywhere, no ABS, and the seat belts are only for the driver and passenger in the front. Not to mention no air bags and no driver aids. It will teach me to be a better driver, though, but for daily driving it's not that great an idea.
- Air Conditioning. Sure you can add that to a Beetle, but it will greatly affect engine performance for a relatively low HP engine. You don't want to draw power to the engines, plus since the Beetle is air-cooled chances of overheating could increase. The Jazz already has a modern air-conditioning system that is more than enough to cool the car without affecting engine performance that much.
- Automatic transmission. I have no idea if there are any existing autostick Beetles here in the Philippines, and I'm guessing if there are any repairing any problems with it will be a major headache. The Jazz has an automatic transmission, and I'm guessing if it's the CVT it doesn't have the headaches associated with the gen 1 Jazz CVT transmission. Yes, I'm a lazy driver. I have no desire to drive around in traffic with a manual transmission. I'd rather have an automatic so I don't have to worry about so many things.
- Space. Let's face the facts, the Honda Jazz is bigger than the Beetle and it's more spacious for both passengers and luggage. Obviously having four doors is also a big benefit.
- Performance. The Jazz will obviously have more power, better handling, and better ride quality than the Beetle. We don't even have to discuss this this much.
Out.
Saturday, January 04, 2020
[828] My Daughter's Playdate
Earlier today I accompanied my wife and daughter for the latter's playdate with some of her classmates. One of the parents of the kids in her section (grade 3-5) wanted to have a small gathering of classmates before classes start on Monday -- January 6, 2020.
It was a very refreshing experience to see my daughter enjoying her childhood and just having fun. It honestly warmed my heart to see her running about, a smile from ear-to-ear, playing and having a great time with her friends. These are some of the moments I will always treasure, and will always hold dear in my heart.
It was also good to see the parents of my daughter's classmates. I'm glad to have met most of them and I'm really happy to see that there are people in this world who would love to develop friendships beyond the classroom.
Hopefully their class will have a few more playdates before their school year ends.
Out.
It was a very refreshing experience to see my daughter enjoying her childhood and just having fun. It honestly warmed my heart to see her running about, a smile from ear-to-ear, playing and having a great time with her friends. These are some of the moments I will always treasure, and will always hold dear in my heart.
It was also good to see the parents of my daughter's classmates. I'm glad to have met most of them and I'm really happy to see that there are people in this world who would love to develop friendships beyond the classroom.
Hopefully their class will have a few more playdates before their school year ends.
Out.
Tuesday, December 31, 2019
[827] Looking Back at 2019 and New Year Resolutions
I have to be honest. I've always been a negative person. And a lot of events from the past few years have made me a more jaded person than usual.
I've lost my faith, I've become more temperamental, and yet at the same time I'm learning to be resilient. I'm learning to be patient, I'm learning to be more grateful with the things I have in life.
It has been an incredible journey, to be honest. There are plenty things I would want to re-do in my life. Since I cannot do that, all I have left is to keep moving forward and keep forcing myself to become a better person. With or without religion, I still cannot say.
As for resolutions, I have none. I've never been able to follow through with whatever weak resolutions I had before. I'm more impulsive, spur-of-the-moment kind of person. And it works for me, at least health-wise. I've dropped to 90kg these past few days (before the holiday feasting) with the help of intermittent fasting. I've managed to control and reduce my weight and I really could not believe I was able to do that.
I'm discovering a lof of new things about myself. Things that I hope will further make me a better person, a better father, a better son, a better husband. You name it. It is an interesting journey. I wish I could be a more positive person who doesn't give as much f*cks as I do. It will take time.
Happy new year everyone.
Out.
I've lost my faith, I've become more temperamental, and yet at the same time I'm learning to be resilient. I'm learning to be patient, I'm learning to be more grateful with the things I have in life.
It has been an incredible journey, to be honest. There are plenty things I would want to re-do in my life. Since I cannot do that, all I have left is to keep moving forward and keep forcing myself to become a better person. With or without religion, I still cannot say.
As for resolutions, I have none. I've never been able to follow through with whatever weak resolutions I had before. I'm more impulsive, spur-of-the-moment kind of person. And it works for me, at least health-wise. I've dropped to 90kg these past few days (before the holiday feasting) with the help of intermittent fasting. I've managed to control and reduce my weight and I really could not believe I was able to do that.
I'm discovering a lof of new things about myself. Things that I hope will further make me a better person, a better father, a better son, a better husband. You name it. It is an interesting journey. I wish I could be a more positive person who doesn't give as much f*cks as I do. It will take time.
Happy new year everyone.
Out.
Wednesday, December 25, 2019
[826] Reflecting on 2019
The end of December is a few days away and I haven't posted anything in over a month. So I'll post something today, just so I can say I posted something on December.
It's been a very interesting 2019. Like I said in an Instagram post, I've gotten more jaded as the years have passed. I have, however, also learned to persevere and be more resilient nowadays.
Yes there are weak times when I want to give up. There are times when I will indulge myself in a pity party. Usually I try to talk myself out of my funk. Remind myself of the gif of Mr. Krabs playing a sad song in the world's smallest violin.
So many things have happened this 2019. I have to say overall I've become a better person. Of course, that's my opinion of myself and I honestly don't know if others feel the same.
Out.
It's been a very interesting 2019. Like I said in an Instagram post, I've gotten more jaded as the years have passed. I have, however, also learned to persevere and be more resilient nowadays.
Yes there are weak times when I want to give up. There are times when I will indulge myself in a pity party. Usually I try to talk myself out of my funk. Remind myself of the gif of Mr. Krabs playing a sad song in the world's smallest violin.
So many things have happened this 2019. I have to say overall I've become a better person. Of course, that's my opinion of myself and I honestly don't know if others feel the same.
Out.
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