How it all began...Losing 90 lbs! (Vol. I Chap.I)

My Unceasing Journey to Solstice
Vol. I - The "Lean" Revelation


This is the first among four articles(or "chapters"-a more book writer wannabe term, haha!) that I will be posting hoping to inspire as many as my "humble" self can :), showing how life (or should I say calories) have been unkind to me and how it redeemed itself by allowing me to cherish every minute of my life as a runner. I shall begin with my weightloss, to how I've come to be a part of Takbo.ph, a group playing a big role in terms of how I now appreciate the outdoors, to my ultimate goal of Balance and Wellness.


I trust the process of life to bring me my highest good.



Chapter I of IV

How It All Began


Last May 3, 2009, Takbo.ph launched its 2008 Yearbook. A compilation of several articles about running and how it changed the lives of many. From the weekend athlete who found friends to
share the same passion with, to a hardcore runner whose more than willing to share the wonders of running, this yearbook is indeed a
masterpiece that accounts momentous events of a year that was as well as a preview of how running can even be more exciting in the years to come.

Among all the articles in the yearbook, there is one which I am really proud to be a part of.... the "Before and After"(Page 22).


It was year 2006, around March, My sister went home from a flight and brought a really nice shirt that is, unfortunately, half my size. It was when I realized that I am slightly overweight. Indeed I was!!! Not just overweight but Obese :) At 5'9.5" and 265 lbs, I should not be more than 177 lbs.... Thanks to the shirt, finally, a realization.
I told myself,I mean the shirt, "I am going to wear you someday!".

Everybody knows what to do,,, eat right, exercise, sleep early, drink eight glasses of water daily, eat more vegetables and fruits...blah blah blah... I knew it too!!!. Even while I was in elementary (have been overweight since, or should I say obese!), I knew about these things. It was just damn hard to follow. First, how can you ever watch your calorie intake when your Mum makes the best "Bicol Express", or when you have a sister who can make a superb "Korean Beef Stew" even with her eyes closed (she learned
this from my Mum :) ), not to mention her "Herbed" fried fish that is sooooo good it will make you sleep (literally). How about a Dad who loves sweets in every form, (I think....no!... I'm sure, I got my sweet tooth from him).

One morning, I woke up and finally decided to hit the outdoors and run. However at over 90 lbs in excess, it was just too difficult so I started out walking. In a matter of 4 weeks, I began running intermittently wherein I'll walk 2 mins then run 5mins. Something like that, didn't really use a timer. I usually wake up at around 5:30 or 6 am, head to the Ynares Center in Antipolo (my hometown), walk a bit (some sort of a warm-up), run/walk for 45 to 60 mins, cool down and that's it. I did it 6 times a week.
On Sundays, I usually stay home. I call it my "Feast Day", I do anything I want and the most exciting part...I eat everything as much as I want. I only take in complex carbo and some protein the rest of the week.
After about 3 months, I began to really lose weight. It was those around me who noticed it. The more I became inspired. In a
matter of 6 months, I just found myself running straight 45 mins to an hour depending on my speed. Didn't really measured it because I did not know it was possible... :) Stuff like "Garmin" and "Suunto" were aliens to me during that time.
Around April of 2007, more than a year after that "waking up one morning" thing, I almost kissed the weighing scale because finally, I'm within my normal weight range. I weighed 175 lbs.[no fancy pills or anything, just Vitmain C, E, Mineral drops and some starvation hahaha! (what's normal for some is starvation for me because I'm not used to eating "normal" servings)] By then, I was already into "Muay Thai". I began to do my stuff (Running and Muay Thai) in a nearby Gym
(If there's one thing I grew tired of in the entire process, its having to wake up very early...and so the Gym subscription :) ). As much as I want to join one of those posh fitness center, from where I live, the nearest one would be around 35-40 mins away. It's something I'm sure I'll get tired of and besides, it's not just something you do, it has to be a habbit. I became a member of the Muay Association of the Philippines. I lost a few more pounds and went down to 165. I really enjoyed the sport from which I owe most of the endurance/stamina that I now have.
I still gain weight once in a while, around 5-10 lbs (usually after holidays) but I manage to lose it in a matter of 1-2 weeks.
Now, It has been almost 3 years, thanks to the "nice shirt", I managed to keep my desired weight. I now enjoy the outdoors. Being physically active made me experience real fun and excitement specially when I run out in the morning Sun.




BTW : I didn't get to wear the shirt 'coz it went out of style :)



To download/view Takbo.ph 2008 Yearbook visit www.takbo.ph