thatBrownCat

I never heard of that company so I looked it up. It seems to be in the same category as GNC, Super Supplements et al. In other words, they sell expensive powders and things purported to improve health. Thereby proving patent medicines and snake oil are not dead, merely evolved.

By the way, not mentioning a brand name until they've got you in their grasp is a common sales tactic, as is convincing people to market to their friends and family (they probably bribed your relative to bring you in for the pitch). Many churches do the same thing.

I wouldn't buy that stuff if I were you. A basic multivitamin is not a bad idea, but you can get a bottle of those for $10 at any drugstore. If you have a very intense exercise regimen and just can't squeeze enough protein into your diet to keep up, protein powder may be useful, but again it needn't be a fancy brand. You do not need protein powder at all unless you lift weights a lot. Other supplements are of no use, so don't waste your money.

Intermittent fasting should also be approached with caution. If I were you I'd cut the junk and learn to eat veggies before you go messing around with fasting. You are too young and too thin to really benefit from fasting.

Too late. I bought was because... well, I didn't want to hurt her feelings. It's a poor excuse. But I did tell her I just want to be a consumer, instead of being a distributor. I still believe that improving my eating habits and exercising my body be done first. 

Good point. I weigh 54kg. the reason why I tried IF was to remove the belly fat around my waist. Though I've started to eat more vegetables and eat less processed stuff.

Thanks

Okay. Just curious. Any Rebels here who have taken Usana, and what are their thoughts and experiences about it?

My relative invited me to attend their talk about it. They never mentioned the brand, until I was inside their office. 

Since I had spare time, I just opened my mind and listened. 

And as I listened, the talk just strengthened my belief to transition my diet (from processed to more vegetables), practice intermittent fasting (which I've done for 3 days), and of course, exercise every other day. 

My belief is that... why should I supplement my body? If I ear & move right, then it's okay, is't it?

What are your thoughts?

January 11-12, 2015

Diet

- ate a lot of mango float

- had steamed broccoli, carrots and asparagus for lunch

Fitness

-rest. my biceps were very sore.

Level Up Your Life

- applied for a student permit needed in Driving School

I'll check out Prince of Thorns and Lady Knight, those sound right up my alley!

 

I would recommend all the books by Tamora Pierce. Start with the Song of the Lioness quartet and move forward from there. They all feature intelligent, badass female protagonists in a fantasy medieval setting. Each series adds a few more layers to the world of Tortall, and they're a fun read. Enjoy!

I second this!

Her books are easy and entertaining to read!

I never expected it. My friend load it to me during our elementary years, It was the a hardbound version of "In the Hand of the Goddess". I finished it in a day!

Opinions are one thing, but... I suppose those comments come after you tell them your plans? Then it's not just an opinion they're voicing. They're invalidating you. They probably don't realize that's what they're doing, but there it is all the same.

 

Imagine this scenario:

 

You: I want to become a lawyer!

Them: You don't need to do that. You make enough money.

 

 

See what I mean? It would be weird if somebody shot down your ambitions for a new career based on the assumption that you just wanted to make more money. In fact it would be a passive aggressive way of calling you greedy. That's what they're doing in regards to your fitness project. They assume it comes from vanity or insecurity. So they're either calling you vain, or trying to assuage your insecurity when your motivation can be neither.

 

I would suggest, if you hear someone making such a comment, to reply thus:

 

Them: You look fine!

You: Well, I want to look great! So there! 

 

Or something like that.

Invalidation. 

That's an interesting point, now that you mentioned it!

My fitness goal isn't the only one being invalidated. 

Like this one:

Me: "I'm selling coffee and biscuits to augment my income."

Them: "what? But you come from a rich family!"

They assume I'm rich because my mother is the head of a government agency, but experience and a couple of financial bloggers like Mr. Money Mustache have made me realize that to be rich/wealthy does not equal income).

The truth is, I like to sell because I like the feeling! I came from a background where almost everything was handed to me on a silver platter. Sure, there were moments where I had to work hard for something, but most of the time, it wasn't. 

That sort of upbringing doesn't cultivate in you the confidence you see in people who will really push for what they want. 

Selling was a really big thing for me. I wasn't sure if people would buy what I had to offer (like biscuits and coffee at work), heck I was too shy to tell my officemates that I sold food!

Nowadays, I feel better and a little more confident than before. 

Though I've had a handful of friends who are more supportive and therapeutic!

January 9, 2015

Diet

- ate a lot of stick-o (wafer sticks). I consumed 12 sticks. (uh-oh)

- drank a glass of milk

Fitness

-rest day

Level Up Your Life

- drafted an article someone commissioned me to finish by January 10

January 10, 2015

Diet

- ate a bibingka for breakfast

-ate a delicious home-made ice cream mom brought home

- ate KFC 1 pc. chicken for lunch (uh-oh)

- ate 2 pcs of steamed Broccoli and a slice tofu, with siopao for dinner (steamed broccoli tastes good! It's my new favorite veggie!)

Fitness

-today was supposed to be my zombies run routine, but I had a nasty migraine. I opted to sleep. drank ibuprofen and when I woke up, my migraine was gone!

Level Up Your Life

- finished the article I was commisioned to finish!

I had a friend I had to cut out too (for personal reasons). Since we live in the Philippine Archipelago, we're 7,106 islands away. 

I blocked him from my viber, SMS (but not facebook. I opted not to use FB anymore). 

He discovered that I have a blog, and has made a reference to it in his blog (yeah, I check his blog from time to time too)

"Cut Out" to me, means I will no longer talk, or share any personal or private information with you. 

So when he would send me IMs in FB, I would sometimes check them, but I wouldn't respond to them. 

I don't know what story happened between the two of you... but..

Will ignoring someone work? 

Yes and No. There are some people who will actually listen... and some who won't.

Telling someone to back off, or stop communicating with you might actually prompt them to continue communicating with you. 

I do not know which category your friend falls under. 

But here are my suggestions:

1. Have you told her to stop sending you stuff, or communicating with you? If not, Tell her.

2. If you told her and she persists to send you stuff (or asks you an explanation... which some people will do), throw the item. 

hope my answer helps

Hello!

I'm just wondering if there are any Philippine Nerdfitness Rebels here?

Make yourself known!

Why do 'some people' care what you do if it's in the name of self-improvement?

 

Good to have you back.  I laughed a bit at "learn to cook" as a goal.  Not sure how you quantify that, but it's a good one to have.

Because some people love to give unsolicited opinions? 

ooh, you're right! I should rephrase that to make it quantifiable:

- learn how to hold a knife to cut, slice & dice food

- learn how to control the file to fry, saute and steam food

thank you for your comment!

thank you too fellow feline!

yes, I guess they're just expressing their opinions! Opinions are free to give after all, right?

And yes, it is my body. I have control over what I do with it (as long as its safe and healthy).

thank you for the support!

Re-reading Brock Lesnar's Autobiography, "Death Clutch".

I won't deny that I was curious if he would narrate how he met or proposed to Sable (Rena Lesnar)!

Can I share my experience? I discovered this book mid 2014. I applied the results starting December 25, 2015. 

Renegade is correct. It's a hit & miss book. Either you'll love it, or you'll hate it. I'm willing to try anything new, as long as I can benefit from it. Here are the things which i applied and the results. 

#1 Decluttered My Closet

I didn't exactly follow what was written in her book. I gathered all my work clothes, house clothes, and undies. I put it on a pile. Asked "joy" for every item. It took me 3 hours.  I ended up giving 2 large bags of clothes. one bag weighed 5-8 kgs.

I have yet to declutter my bags and shoes and other things I wear. Clothes are easy to retrieve now. I don't have to worry a lot. They don't eat up closet space, because of number 4. 

Marie Kondo, IMO, is correct. Discard before you organize.

#2 Donated my collection of Books, Children's Books & (gasp!) manga collections, anime & gaming magazines 

I loved them dearly. But some of my books have been sitting inside the bookshelves, unread and dusty. Plus, my books were accumulating. I didn't like it. I didn't like to maintain a lot of stuff. Adulthood changes you. You go from less to more, then more to less. 

"The purpose of a book is to be read"

"A half-read book means it was probably meant to be half-read"

Those phrases were my battle cry as I decided to take my books from the shelves and decide. You see, I went to a coffeeshop here in my place. They had mangas, and I planned to donate my collection. Then the cashier told me "we have a book drive for children in boulevard area". Bingo. 

I still have a lot of books to give away. Reading this book made me realized I just want to be surrounded by books that I love and would like to reread. No wonder I am attracted to ebooks--- they offer me the luxury to read without taking up space.

However, I still have physical books. My favorites though.

#3 Emptied my Bag & Put the contents in a box

Before this book came into my life, I always had a problem with my bag and its contents. Once I arrived home, I left my bag on the couch. Its contents intact. Sometimes, I actually forgot what I put inside the bag. I've misplaced my keys,wallet and ID inside my house many times. It can be frustrating. It doesn't help that I used to share a bedroom with my mom. our bedroom was messy. my mess seemed to blend with the background. She was ok with it. I became ok with it. I was surprised that I had a bag which I last used in 2010. The items inside were still intact!

So I just did what was written. It was tedious. but I never regret it. 

I'm surprised how easy it is after a couple of days.  I don't lose my important items anymore. I'm actually happy because of it.

And my bag? It's resting after a long day of carrying my stuff!

#4 Fold the Clothes Konmari style

 This one changed my life. No, really! this is even more important than number 3! I didn't know how to fold. I piled my clothes horizontally, "on top of each other". It was such a hassle.But ever since this book came.... it has been such a lifechanger! 

I might publish photos of my drawers, but I'm amazed how I was able to maintain my drawers with neatly folded clothes! 

It has become a source of pride and joy for me. It's been 2 months since I've applied this. I feel so different now!

#5 I hate my mom's clutter because I also have clutter I don't want to deal with

There's a chapter that mentions "If you're mad at your family, your room may be the cause". Hm. good point. I don't have a room of my own. well, I do have one, but it was converted into a storage room for my mom's clutter. 

For years, I've lived in clutter. I still do. I share a bedroom with my mom. To her, the clutter seems to have blended into the background. It doesn't bother her as it bothers me. I disposed some of her items, and she got mad (well, who wouldn't?). She told me to tell her everything I dispose, because there might be some items she will use. 

Yeah,right. 

This was the reason why I couldn't dispose some items in our room. Because it's hers.

So this book came along. this chapter came along. After months of thinking, I decided to transfer to my room. I reclaimed it. 

I removed traces of my mom's stuff (though she tried to give me stuff... because I might need them. I just kept them in a corner.... never used them)

I intentionally surrounded myself with stuff I only need...and you know what? Something strange happened.

when I enter our her bedroom, I'm no longer mad. I just look around and hope she'll find it in her heart to clean. I just focused on my cleaning & discarding my items.

And another strange thing happened as well. 

My mom has started to pare down as well. How? Well, she gave dozens of her chickens for free!

I liked the eggs those chickens produced, but I never liked their manure. Our backyard stank chicken coop.

so there!

those were my experiences.

The Folding is a success with me, as well as "Emptying the Bag" thing too. 

I'd like to post something marvelous, something entertaining for my first entry...

but then I remembered I like to keep things simple. 

I'll save the marvelous and entertaining ones for the future entries.

I might use the template Stacy mentioned in a post which I forgot.

***

January 7, 2015

Diet

- ate 2 eggs

- drank 2 cups of non-fat milk

-ate something I don't know if it was healthy or not

Fitness

- 3 X 20 bodyweight squat

- 3 X 4 Bodyweight Pushups

- 1 x 20 kettlebell swing

- 2 x 10 kettlebell clean and press

- attempted to do chin-ups...ended up hanging on the bar.

Level Up Your Life

- assembled my first door gym!

- emptied my bag and put all its contents in a box (used Konmari's method here)

thatBrownCat here!

My story

I created an account here in late 2013/early 2014. 

I created a lot of big promises, which I never fulfilled. 

But I realized it's nice to be in a community with like-minded people-- you're pushed to keep up with them. You become more accountable to yourself. That's why I decided to post here again.

I've been out of shape for the past few months. Everything I've gained when I started to work out in late 2013? It's all gone. 

I stopped going to the gym. I've skipped on doing the simple bodyweight exercises. 

Though for the past week, I've been making little changes in my life - using the stairs more. Helping lift the heavy stuff around the house. I switch my phone/internet off so that I can enjoy the world outside my little room.

I'm 5'4''.my current weight is 54 kg (it's my heaviest). Some people say: "Why do you want to work out? Your body's ok!"

And you know what? Deep inside, I can't tell them that I want to really want to remove the fat around my lower abdomen. I've always had belly fat. I don't drink nor smoke, but I would love to experience how it feels not to be saddled with belly fat. Isn't that good to wish for that?

Plus, watching Ninja Warrior encourages me to go for "functional strength". I'd really want to have a body that will help me in real life. Not just to "look good".

My battle plan

Right now, my plan is simple.

My workout for the week is scheduled like this:

1st day- Run (using Zombies Run App)

2nd Day- Bodyweight exercises at home (pushups, squats, kettlebell swings, kettlebell rows, lifting a pot in lieu of a barbell for deadlifts, planks, hanging on my pull up bar, door knob pull ups

3rd day- stretches

4th day- rest

5th day- run

6th day- bodyweight exercises

7th day- streches

My diet

- drink 1L- 2L a day instead of soda

-refuse soda or caffeinated products, as much as possible

-less rice, 

-eat 2 eggs a day

-learn how to cook

-learn delicious vegetable recipes

-drink 2 glasses of milk daily.

thanks for reading!

That's so great; good for you! I recently pulled off 3 pushups in a row (a landmark for me), and it's amazing how much stronger they make you feel.

I know how you feel! They also make you feel that you can tackle any problem in the world (in my case)

Good luck on making a new landmark for your set of push-ups

I love this! Ahahah!!

 

Welcome, thatBrownCat! Filipino pride! I'm only a halfling, and I don't always look it, but still. YAY! Go get em, girl!

I'm a halfling too! (Chinese on my father side) Thanks!

I was able to do 3x5, for push-ups yesterday yes! It feels greaaaat!

I hope I can make than 5 into a 7.

I also started my side quest. 50% into finishing the script. Not bad

Short explanation.

This is my first quest. I'm really excited in doing this

I want to be able to do a pull-up because it looks cool. As simple as that

A month ago (or 2 months ago), I couldn't do a single push-up. So i started slow ad build upper body strength.

I struggled to do one or two half-push ups. I progressed to 5, 8, 10, until I can now do 20 half-push ups.

 3 weeks ago, I decided the best way to do push-ups was to REALLY DO ONE. 

I started with one. the one became 2. the 2 became 3. Now I'm looking forward to turn that 3 into a 10.  

I liked JRPGs as a kid, and turning my "I want to do a pull-up wish" into a challenge/quest is exciting

I patterned this challenge from Brave Fencer Musashi (hence, the scroll in the main quest title)

Hope to do more and completing  challenges in the future

Hi! 

Here's my story. 

I'm from the Philppines. A nurse by profession. 21 years old. Young and healthy looking. 5'4.

I was pretty active during my elementary years. I played basketball and badminton (played JRPGs during my spare time as well). I would even try to compete with the boys

Then puberty hit me, and I ditched the sports in favor of becoming a full-time JRPG player in the PS1 era. I was also underweight, until my mom fed me vitamins. My current bodyweight is appropriate for my height. People tell me my body's already okay. 

So far so good right? 

Well, no. Despite the "okay" weight and body built, i was never contented with how my body look. Especially my waist. My waist's around 28-29, and I have always wanted it to be a 26. I was never fond of alcohol, but i was addicted to coke and pepsi ever since i was little. I suspected that my soda-drinking habit contributed to my bellyfat. Anyways,  I was obsessed with a tiny waistline that i ended up hating my body. I kept comparing myself to my friends who had 26 waistlines.

I tried going to the gym for 2 months. I followed a program the instructor gave me. It mostly consisted of 3x15 isolation exercises. I religiously would go to the gym every other day and do the routine. Tried boxing too. Some people said I gained muscle, but there was no difference in my belly fat. eventually, I quit. The gym i went too was far from my home. There was a gym nearer to my house, but i was hesitant. . i didn't like the environment. 

And so, I reverted to my former lifestyle: lying on the couch. Reading, admiring and following people who changed their lives.

Then one day, I came across Nia Shanks' blog post: http://www.niashanks.com/2013/09/enhance-not-dominate/t". I was like, "hey, i like her way of thinking. let me read more of her stuff."

I did that. and she changed the way i viewed fitness and working out. Working out become more fun, as i focused on my performance. I threw the "I need to lose xx from my waistline" and replaced it with "how many pushups can i do today? how long can i hold the plank? how many pounds can i lift?"

Then I came across Steve's "Epic Quest" and "Optimus Prime Post", and I was decided it was time to REALLY make a change in my life. Change and gamify it. Make it more interesting

Basically, Nia Shanks and Nerd Fitness pulled me out of the couch (though i still return to it, from time to time)

GAME PLAN

I created my own epic quest. It's still under progress, but it mostly revolves about my creative skills, life skills, and of course fitness. Since I loved JRPGs, I decided to make Aeris Gainsborough of FF7 my role model in my epic quest. "Train like an Aeris, Be Like an Aeris"

So that's all for now. I lurked here for about 2 days, and I really wanted to eliminate my shyness by making a post. 

thanks for dropping by! I hope to get along with fellow rebels here in NF!

To become a better person than yesterday. To continuously improve my life, and the way I live my life.

Davaoena here!