I won’t lie. While I was able to make headway on my translation project, it’s not as much as I’d like. As such I’m going to have to fall back on what I usually do in these kinds of cases: small naps in between spurts of activity. It’s not cramming yet, but it’s as close as I’d allow myself to, which says a lot.
Incidentally despite the deadline of my project looming over my head, I was still able to go on my usual walk in Makati this afternoon, which was followed by a several circuits around the Ayala Triangle Gardens. I have to say, I have to stop chugging down one of those larger Pocari Sweat bottles before I do my rounds, as the feeling of all that liquid sloshing around in my belly isn’t very comfortable. I lasted only 4 Miku songs this time (Melt, World is Mine, Romeo And Cinderella, World’s End Umbrella), but not because I was out of breath, but more because I felt like my heels were burning. Oh, and also because I was having trouble keeping all that Pocari Sweat down.
After that, I made a quick detour to the Mercury Drug store over at Glorietta to have myself measured. The verdict? It looks like I lost about 4 kilos over the week, which I think is good since I’m still about ten kilos or so overweight. The rate I’m losing weight might seem very aggressive though, and it might make me rebound if I’m not careful, but at least it’s showing results.
I can’t really do anything about the rice in my diet, but at least I can limit it to about one to two cups a day, and even then just take about two meals a day (or at least, enough for about 1500 calories). I’m still iffy about increasing my exercise rate to thirty minutes a day instead of every other day, but I’m willing to try anything to get rid of all that dead weight.
Speaking of which, it’s Saturday again tomorrow. Aside from it being the return to class, it’s also my cheat day, at least with regards to my dieting. Let me tell you, I’ve been craving for doughnuts all week, and it’s about time I treat myself to some. My exercise regimen will remain though, but I’m a little concerned that all those crunches I’ve been doing may make me cramp up whenever I bend over or something.
Anyway, that’s it for tonight. Off to bed so I can wake up early and panic over my translation project again.
Training, training. I’m uncertain of your diet-exercise goals, but I can tell you that [moderate] calorie restriction and mild-intensity aerobics are good for getting the body in shape (building cardio, cutting back fat, etc). Walking is excellent if you do it briskly, mild jogging is good, but for weight management, I wouldn’t say it’s the most efficient plan of attack. Extended brute-force calorie burning (hard cardio) is more akin to fighter training (because it builds endurance/stamina more than it sheds kgs), but if you’re not looking to MMA people on the streets, you might also include strength training into your plans; by that I mean with free weights or weight machines.
Strength training is a different ball game and there are a number of great lifts you can do (squats, bench, rows, lunges, dips, overhead press, whatever), and in my opinion it is much more tactful for certain diet plans. One benefit of building muscle is that muscles require more energy when used, which helps balance calorie restrictions, but what is more beneficial is that a session of weight training (anaerobic training) will introduce a greater afterburn than calisthenic circuits and jogging (which typically have low afterburn effects).
Heavy resistance training gives the muscles an intense workout over a short period of time, which forces them to need more repair and more energy for repair/recovery. Though you don’t want to overdo it or become the next Arnold Schwartzenegger. It’s good to mix it up.
I’m not sure if what I’m doing could be considered mid-intensity cardio, but I am doing weights to supplement my circuit. Well, if you can consider 8-lb dumbbells weights… Though I have upgraded to a pair of 12-pounders.
That said, I’m kind of leery of building up muscle mass to offset the blubber I seem to easily accumulate.