Working out isn't always about weight loss.

Someone sent me a message the other day saying I was never fat to begin with. The intentions were sweet, but what you might not know is that I actually weighed almost 200 pounds in college (I’m 5 flat). I was a binge eater - the kind who would eat two family-sized pizzas on her own (with Coke!) followed by two pints of ice cream.

That's why progress photos are so important to me. I feel the need to document what my body looks like every now and then because I want to make sure I'm not falling back into old habits and becoming the unhealthy blob of fat that I was back during my college days. Here's my latest progress photo:

MAY 29, 2020 vs SEP 25, 2020

Two months into quarantine, I started feeling my old college habits creeping in. I was practically inhaling cups of rice and ordering two cups of milk tea a day. Food has always been comforting for me, but let’s face it: unhealthy eating habits lead to less productivity, less energy, and a negative mindset.

Don't get me wrong. I'm all for the movement of loving your body and accepting it with all of its flaws; but I also believe that you still need to make a point to look after your health and ensure that you don't abuse it by filling it with junk. (But that's just me. *shrugs*)

On the flip side, I was a size zero late last year and everyone said I was so skinny. I hated that just the same, if not more. I know that people meant for those comments to sound as compliments (since most people in the Philippines equate skinniness with beauty, for some reason), but my personal goal for the past few years has always been to look and be fit and strong - not to lose weight or get skinny. (It’s really just a matter of preference.)

I work out primarily for the positivity that it brings. It makes me feel good to finish a killer workout I know the Anj of a few months ago never would’ve finished. It makes me feel good to know that when someone needs help with heavy lifting, I can get it done. Working out has always been a challenge and a competition for and with myself - physical proof that I continue to become stronger as time goes by.

I still remember the exact date and time when I decided that I needed to add some workouts into my life. I was in my obese state (as mentioned earlier) and had just given birth to Syrena about two months prior to that when I found myself in the stupid position of almost falling off a cliff (long story). Anyway, I slipped and for a split second, I saw my life flash before my eyes. My first thought was of my 2-month-old baby girl who would've been left without a mother. It sounds funny, but I swear it was such a scary moment for 22-year-old me.

I knew that if I had slipped, no one would've been able to carry me up because I was too heavy and I knew that I wouldn't have been able to carry myself up, either. When I got back to the city (we were at the beach), I made a vow to change my lifestyle. I had to start with yoga because my ankles and knees couldn't handle anything more intense than that; and from there, I've dabbled in a bunch of other workouts to keep myself un-bored.

So there you have it: my decade-long fitness story in as small of a nutshell as I could put it (hopefully) without boring you. :p What's your fitness story? Would love to read it!

Why I Have Fallen in Love with Aerial Hoops at Chrome Divas

This may seem mababaw to some, but I experienced a whole new level of Aerial Hoops last week.

The week before that, I came back to Aerial Hoops after a very long hiatus and was doing simple tricks to start, like the Bird and the Bat. But last week, I found myself doing drops and attempts at splits and all sorts of other tricks I never thought I'd even be trying in my first week back.

It was a little terrifying and incredibly draining and my hands now look like this…

…but man, was it satisfying!

I love the pressure of training with patient and inspiring people who are more advanced than me by miles. I love seeing what they can do (just watching them is an absolute joy!) and hearing about their past struggles; they make me believe that I, too, can become as awesome as them someday. I also love how it pushes me to do more and to train harder. Heck, I even impulse-bought a pull-up bar just to build up strength on days that I'm too busy to join them.

This is something I had never experienced in a yoga studio or a gym before (barre3 aside - barre3 still rocks!) where people mind their own business, judge you, nitpick on your flaws and don't really care much about your journey and how you got there.

Last year, I weighed much more than I do now and here I am, 30 pounds lighter without any effort to diet, without MySlim (though you were a big help, my love!), and without a strict workout schedule.

I highly recommend trying out Chrome Divas (you can find them in Shaw now, too, if BF Homes is too far for you). The teachers will push you, yes; but you'll be surprised by what you can actually do because of them - no matter how much you think you can't do something.

I end up shaking at the end of every class, nursing my ugly scars and bruises in places I didn't even know I could get scarred or bruised in, and I ache for days on end after a session; but it is truly worth it.

Of course, it is something that I believe you need to experience for yourself because I know there are some people who can't really handle the feeling of failure or don't like getting scars or bruises, in general.

For me, though, this is the only place I've worked out in since barre3 where people of all shapes, genders and ages come together to grow as a community. And it's beautiful. It truly is.

(This is not a sponsored post, by the way. I have paid for all of my classes at Chrome Divas and truly just love them, thus the post.)

I hope to see you there sometime. Or, if you need a workout buddy in the South, feel free to let me know. I need one, too. :)

WATCH: This Disabled National Athlete Proves Na #WalangImposible

Before I started my weight loss journey, I weighed a whole lot and didn't really have any time to work out. I truly felt like there was no hope left for me and had even begun to throw out all of the 'skinny clothes' I had been saving for 'when I got skinny again'.

Although I no longer weigh as much as I used to (huge thanks to MySlim for the help in the weight loss department!), I now have a hard time finding motivation to stay fit and keep going to the gym.

I always find myself coming up with excuses not to go, like menstrual cramps, a busy schedule, a headache or a fever… and then I watched this video, and all that changed:



Raul is the ultimate inspiration to motivate anyone to get moving and keep going. Although disabled, Raul works hard to make his dreams a reality and while weight loss and staying fit may seem like such small and meaningless goals compared to his, it doesn't change the fact that they may feel impossible every once in a while.

Raul is the epitome of MySlim's hashtag na #WalangImposible and thanks to him, I feel more motivated now than ever to reach and eventually maintain my dream weight. I can't wait to see more inspiring MySlim videos in the days to come.

You can check out MySlim on Facebook or follow them on Twitter and Instagram at @myslimdetox Remember: #WalangImposible :)

Stronger with Gold's Gym - My Almost-Daily Workout Schedule

Although I used to go barre3 on a regular basis, I realized that I wasn't getting enough cardio to actually achieve the differences that I want to achieve with my body. That's when my journey with Gold's Gym began - exactly a month ago, to be exact.

I currently have an annual membership at Gold's Gym that will hopefully help me achieve my fitness and health goals and so far, I am enjoying it to the fullest. Plus, in just 3 weeks, I've already lost 5 lbs. Just 10 more to go! Woot!

Here's a sneak peek of what you can expect from Gold's Gym and what I do when I'm there on an almost-daily basis. :)

Upon arriving at Gold's Gym (I frequent the one at Molito, Alabang coz it's closest to home), I change and leave my things in one of the lockers.

A padlock is an absolute must at Gold's Gym, so do not forget to bring one every time you go. I've had my fair share of forgetfulness in terms of padlocks and it is a pain in the butt having to lug your stuff around the gym. Take it from me.

While there are some people at the gym who just leave their things in unlocked lockers, I would highly advise against this. After all, you don't want things to go missing and you won't be able to blame anyone but your unsmart self if something does go missing.

Another thing you shouldn't forget is a water bottle.

I've gone through 5 or 6 water bottles this year... I'm quite careless and either break them, lose them or find leaks in them. Lol. Fortunately, this water bottle from Toby's has lasted quite a while now, so I currently swear by it.

While Gold's Gym does have water fountains left and right, I don't find it very productive to run to the water fountain every time my body longs for hydration during a group class.

Plus, there are other people who don't bring water bottles and those 5 minutes that you spend waiting in line for your turn and actually drinking water at the fountain is 5 minutes that you could be spending getting a hotter body. Just saying. :p

Naturally, good gym shoes are a must, too. I switch between this cute watermelon pair from World Balance and my yellow Adidas kicks. To be honest, my choice in kicks really just depends on what goes well with my gymming outfit. :p I'm superficial like that.

This World Balance one is best for when I plan on running and kicking stuff, though, coz it's lighter than my Adidas pair. Plus, World Balance is much more affordable, so I can stock up on a gazillion of their shoes without feeling bad about it. :p Both look exceedingly awesome, though, you gotta admit.

Upon entering the gym, the first thing that I tend to do is attend a group class. Most days that I work out, I attend two back-to-back classes. The photo above is of them setting up for a Spinning class, the hardest group class I've tried so far, just FYI. I swear it's killer, but you kill a ton of calories with a single sesh - up to 800!

Other classes include Bodycombat, Zumba, Jukari, Definitions, etc. I will write a separate blog post on the different classes that are available at Gold's Gym next time. Don't worry!

Since the classes already provide enough cardio for me (or so I tell myself), I skip the cardio machines and just do weights afterwards. My choice of weight machines tend to depend on which areas of my body weren't targeted during whichever class I took. After Bodycombat, I hit the ab machines, for example. 

After the weights, I also do sit-ups and my favorite part: stretching. I can actually do sit-ups for half an hour straight without complaints. The only problem is that my abs are hiding under a ton of fat. :p Because of this, the goal right now is to get rid of that fat, so they can finally say hello to the world someday. :p 

Depending on how tired and how hungry I am, I also sauna and shower at the gym. But sometimes - like today - I just slap on a trusty sweater and head home. Fortunately, I live 15 mins away, so it really isn't as gross as it sounds. :p

I also try my best to follow the strict diet that was given to me. It's hard, sure; but I believe that if you want something bad enough, it's worth all of the hardships that come at you along the way. #naks

The best part is that Gold's Gym doesn't make working out feel like work. It's really fun, especially when you go with a buddy (I go with Verge!); but more importantly, they are there to help you and encourage you every step of the way.

I am stronger with Gold's Gym and only hope to get stronger with time. :)

For more information on Gold's Gym Philippines, like them on Facebook and follow them on Twitter: @GoldsGymPH :)

Check Out the New Adidas x Stella McCartney Fall/Winter 2013 Collection!

Are you ready for what Adidas and Stella McCartney are coming up with this Fall/Winter 2013?

Graphic prints and vivid colors make their way into pieces that are focused on both aesthetics and performance this time around. Check it out:

Adidas x Stella McCartney nods to the evolution of collaboration by bring back classic styles with their Starter Kit range. Here, you can find a lot of your old running favorites with a balance of style and performance. The collection reflects a neutral feminine color palette with light textures and an improved performance technology called CLIMALITE.

The Adidas x Stella McCartney Travel Pack, on the other hand, offers a range of essential workout looks stored in an electrifying opalescent backpack. Created for comfort and ease of movement while traveling, this Travel Pack consists of CLIMALITE seamless separates in sharp grey, blast emerald and ultra-green, and matched with an iconic Zebra printed jacket with floral accents for an ultra fierce look.

On that note, strong animal and holographic prints are paired with primary colors in the Run range. Eye-catching monochrome and zebra print tights are dialed-up by neon yellow, true blue, turbo red and multi-colored exploding gem print separates in sleek shapes, including matching diaphanous jackets and capes.

The CLIMAPROOF Wind and Rain technology in the capes, shorts and jackets provide weather-resistant support and comfort even in extreme conditions, while the CLIMALITE technology keeps the body cool by being as breathable as possible during physically demanding workouts.

Studio styles team poppy red and night blue blends with melange and grey marl textures. Runway-inspired leopard motifs are adapted in shell beige and water blue in long tights and studio parkas.

The collection's components layer up in signature Stella style for a high fashion look balanced by loose-fit studio hoods and delicate woven jackets. The performance tanks and tights use CLIMALITE SEAMLESS technology, as well, to ensure the utmost temperature control and comfort, accessorized with retro woolen legwarmers for warming up and cooling down.

High performance footwear and accessories support the collectoin, as well, each styled to reflect the Adidas x Stella McCartney aesthetic while providing the necessary performance benefits at the same time.

Which pieces are you most excited for? I'm defo getting my next workout pieces from Adidas this Fall/Winter 2013.

The Adidas x Stella McCartney collection will be available at Adidas Greenbelt 3, BGC, PowerPlant and in Planet Sports Bonifacio High Street.