'Get Healthy' Starter Pack

I am finally ready to share my simple key to getting the "abs-olute" weight loss without focusing on the "losing weight" part but maintaining that getting-healthier-each-day-for-Zk mindset. It all started when I watched this TED-Ed video that I had the switch-to-good-foods immediately executed the next day. Go watch it NOW and let me know if you haven't changed your mind so I can look for more vids to remind you how to take care of your body!

 

You see, it did not take me long to realize that I should have been paying more attention to what I eat if I want to live long with my son (and husband, of course) so I have been recently using all the time to know how to prepare and cook 'good' foods, get fit and stay healthy.

You can do the same with these 4 simple 'gut'-feeling pointers:

1. 'Getting Healthy' ≠ 'Losing Weight'

Most people associate 'losing weight' to 'being healthy' at the same time. This may not be entirely correct because with that mindset, people may tend to cut off the daily intake without considering the appropriate food requirements. Our body needs sufficient food relative to our daily activities. I use a mobile app that helps track my daily intake referencing information such as height and weight, fitness goals, daily activities (including exercises), nature of my physical activities (e.g., if I sit all day for work). MyFitnessPal app or like any other app you can find online, is a good tool to help monitor your weight without compromising on your health (besides, this app kinda scolds you when you are 'under' the daily food requirement) plus the projections based on your 'diary' would totally keep you on track. You can download it via Play Store or App Store. 📉

2. Buy and cook your own foods (grow them whenever possible)

The best thing about "hands-on" experience on what to put inside your body is you are not just going to acquire new skill (like cooking), but you would also be able to control how much and what kind of food you would eat. It makes a lot of sense why most 'fit' people also know how to cook (e.g. Erwan Heussaff --- I learn most of my healthy dishes from his Youtube channel). Besides, it is so satisfying to shop at the grocery store with your cart filled with vegetables and fruits, knowing that your 'guts' will be glorified. UPDATE: With the help of my mother, we will soon harvest fresh crops straight from our vegetable garden at home. 🥗

3. Move...move... (and I mean...a lot) 

Our body is built to operate. Like any machine, it needs to be active or it will break down. Now, most of us are stuck at home during this pandemic---with minimal movements (for sure). And with the community restrictions in place, it means some of us can no longer go to gym, or schedule that sport bonding with friends, etc. Believe me when I say there are plenty of things you can do at home just to get that calorie-burning movement. Firstly, cooking takes so much effort on preparation alone, especially if you are doing it while standing. You can likewise work on your laptop, again, while standing, or take few walks in between. One tip I can share about trying to do "walks" inside your home is when you remember something to get, or see something needs fixing/clean-up, do not get too lazy about not resolving those things---GET UP AND GET IT DONE. You'd be amazed how getting organized at home may actually result to burning calories in the process or vice-versa.

Meanwhile, if you happen to be a "plantito" or "plantita", then watering your plants can be likewise a good routine. Along with this almost-daily task, you may start and end a day with few household chores---any mother-would-be-proud tasks to do on a day-to-day basis. You move and your Mama will be moved. 🤗 

But of course, if you are just like me who loves to take it to the next level, then a Core Workout might be a perfect 'move' for you (see image on the right). I had done this before---one year postpartum to lose some of the pregnancy fats while also gaining strength in the process...and I have been doing this every night for almost 2 months because I have always wanted to do something that would adequately prep my body for baby #2, God willing (case in point, my 3 Pole attempts last year until lock-down). Btw, remember to eat lots of protein if you'd start doing strength training like this. 💪

4. Get Fit for with Someone

It is highly doable when you share this goal with someone. Luckily, I have a husband who has since talked about eating healthy foods as soon as we hit 30 which should've been earlier. He's been supportive about the cooking including the terrible-dishes part, and well, the budgeting---when you start picking the right foods to eat, it actually gets a little bit more expensive than settling with the regular foods (hopefully, our vegetable gardening project will cover some of the usual add-to-cart items---definitely, blog-worthy by then). 

Luckily++, my sister and I share almost all the daily recipes from oats to salad wraps. Plus, it is so much fun when we do the weekly groceries together. We also do several hour-long Badminton sessions every week---'sweet-sweat' bonding with my Pu. 🏸

I hope that this post has somehow helped you unlock a healthy mindset, for everything else will follow. I also believe that we become better people when we eat 'good' food so it would be best to share this mindset with everyone! 👫

After 48 days (yep, it surely takes time and I would be still be a work-in-progress), aside from being able to finally wear an XS dress (2-size down), this is me with a happy 'gut' feeling. ☺️

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Next goal: Yoga. 🧘‍♀️ UPDATE: Namaste