A Space to Just Be

My primary reason for enrolling in the Spartan Transformation Program was business but then I realized, who am I kidding? Wouldn't it be great to bring back the "glory days" when I could wear nice-fitting clothes and have the energy of a college student? I also thought that it would be exciting to conceive again with a healthier body so the next step was to get me that package. Initial Doubts 1. We didn't have the extra money for the package. 2. Will this work for ME?? The Kristine who loves to eat sweets and refined carbs + drink Kopiko with them each time?  No one really saves up for weight loss. Aminin, we always have that thinking that somehow, we can get away with leading an unhealthy lifestyle AND somehow lose weight when the time is right. So we work hard, "reward" ourselves with what we earn on unhealthy habits then when sickness happens, we use our hard-earned money to get better, only to return to our old ways. So for me, it was mo...

I've really been wanting to update this blog regularly but writing isn't really something random for me. Even though I seem to write effortlessly, it eats up quite some time and I need a good environment to be able to write. Like now that it's quiet in the apartment because Isay's playing outside the unit with Amymy (our kasambahay.) Let me share my prayer yesterday and what I got from my prayer. It was a fun, crazy day yesterday with my bestfriend (as always) and I was so grateful that she had a car that allowed us not to kill time inside the mall to waste money and calories. We chose to visit 2 churches before going to an atelier. Katoliko ako pero nakakahiya mang aminin, hindi ako regular na nakakapagsimba in the past months so it was refreshing to spend time in churches sa hindi sinasadyang pagkakataon. So, back to my prayer. I could've just given the half-dozen eggs that I bought for my offering but I thought "Hey, andito na rin lang ako. Might as wel...

Here's more of a public service post. lol.  I realized that I should be sharing more mommy posts for future reference and of course to add value to fellow mommies out there. And what could be more fitting than to label it with "Mommy Mondays?" Nagpapaka-creative! For today, allow me to share my first encounter with Roseola or Tigdas Hangin . Last Wednesday, Isay had fever. As you may know, fever in itself is not an illness, it's a sign that our body is fighting some form of infection. So, Amymy (our kasambahay) thought that it's because of Isay's pagngingipin. We started to worry when the fever lasted for another 2 days na walang ubo or sipon (dito kami sanay e, hehe.) Isay was still very playful although she lost her appetite and was extra clingy. On the fourth day, wala nang lagnat then rashes started to appear on Isay's face then to her arms and back. As of press time, meron na rin sa hita. Yesterday, we took her to Medical City and she was diagn...

Everybody goes through a major transition at least once in their life. My first was one was transforming from an awkward teenager to a confident adult. This confidence was mainly caused by losing a lot of weight when I was about to turn 18. It was a major turn-around for me. I started participating in school activities, attracted boys and so had my first romantic relationship, became a leader and really started to be an influence to my circle group. teens to adulthood to motherhood :) Fast forward to 8 years after, I was blessed to become a mom. And this transition was a very welcome chapter of my life. It also caused another set of changes in my body. Aside from my bosom getting fuller and my tummy all hanging out, my sedentary lifestyle and pregnancy brought me back to my whopping close-to-200-pound self before college. It was like déjà vu except now that I really can’t starve myself nor have I the energy to exercise five times a week. It was also during this time that I wa...

Running towards Manila Bay to have sunset photos June is one of my favorite months because it's our wedding anniversary month. I never imagined myself to be a June bride. Lagi kasing ganun ang comment, "Wow, June bride ka pala ha." Parang haler, tag-ulan kaya 'yun sa Pilipinas?? Ulan = Dugyot/ hassle sa puting gown + stress sa guests. We were set on getting married in September but had to be moved to an earlier date so our relatives from abroad can attend the wedding in time for their Philippine vacation.  Fortunately, sobrang ganda ng weather that time and ngayon, naappreciate ko na rin sya kasi off-peak na ang rate s should we choose to celebrate out of town or stay in hotels here in Manila (sumasabay din sa Father's day promos kaya ang saya.) Diamond Hotel's Father's Day promo So, here's a photo of us in Boracay last October 2011. I want to share this not to highlight my being overweight but to express how happy I am  to have met my match...

words of wisdom from Bono You may have probably seen "vague" posts from a page called "The Big Shift." Vague in a sense that you really can't determine exactly what The Big Shift is and what it stands for. For me, it's all about empowering people to move forward and take action. That's it. We share those photos, business articles, personal development quotes and videos for people to see that they can create a better situation from what they are currently in. They can shift. And it all starts with the right mindset and sound ideas which can spark their entrepreneurial spirit or hunger for success.  encouraging people to set their day for GRATITUDE  To quote the first few lines from our charter: The Heart of Who We Are We  shift  the context and substance of people's lives and business. We transform everything including oneself We  lead  and educate people to focus only on the essentials, the core of what makes people achieve extraordin...

For as long as I can remember, I've always been this chubby little girl who eventually became an overweight adult. Friends may think otherwise, but I grew up to be a very insecure girl because of my weight. After several declarations that I can lose weight, I finally shed off the “baby fat” in college. I chose to be active. I exercised at least 5 times a week and I ate less to the point of starving myself at times. My baon in college was only enough for transpo, school materials and occasional splurges on food so being on a “diet” was the most convenient thing to do. I educated myself about terms related to weight loss- calories, types of exercise, fad diets. I even tried some of these fad diets. It was a success. After more than a year of vigorous exercise and dieting, the 185-pound teenager became a slender 120-pound woman. Despite that weight-loss success, I still felt insecure. I felt that I still had something to prove and that it was never good enough. I ...