the burger that didn’t hurt

I did not report for work today because we will go out to see someone I met through blogging who is here in Dubai right now! I am so excited. She works at a cruise ship and they’re docked in Dubai until Monday. Pristine looked forward to going to the big ship so much she obeyed all the things I say: eat early lunch and have an early nap.

My friend S promised she’ll have us dine in one of the restaurants aboard which meant calorie packed meal awaits! I made a calorie deficit earlier today by going to the gym and doing another HIIT (high intensity interval training) and strength training. Gym fanaticism too boring already? Trust me, I need to focus on this one.

So, as expected I had a very tasty and big burger with fries on the sides today and don’t get me wrong, I don’t detest it. Only, I need to stay on my required number of calorie intake so as not to waste my gym trips. Thankfully, I didn’t gain weight when I woke up early the next morning. In fact, I lost another pound despite the burger and the fries.

Total weight lost: 7 lbs. in 7 weeks. There’s no turning back!

Aloha Friday #23

How do you write blog posts - title first and body later or the other way around?

Lately, I became aware that I am doing the other way around. I quickly scribble what is on my mind and get stumped on making the appropriate title.

Aloha Friday is a weekly posting all in the spirit of fun and relaxation. No heavy, brain-stormed posts, just ask a simple question for readers to answer in the comments. Visit the Aloha Friday HQ @ An Island Life.

I want to be a loser

I have been losing weight slowly but steadily, at the rate of 1 lb. per week. All in all, I lost 6 lbs in 6 weeks. Not bad since I really like to go to the gym and even look forward to it everyday after work.

But how did I fare this week? Not good. I skipped the gym for two days. First day (Monday) was because my mom was not feeling well and I have to relieve her of baby sitting duties. Next, my husband forgot my gym bag in his office and it was too late to go back (Tuesday)!

Did you know that it takes 3,500 calories to burn 1 pound of fat? You can do this by making a calorie deficit out of your daily diet or burn it through exercise. If exercise alone is to be relied, burning 3,500 calories means needing to burn 500 calories every single day for the whole week (500 x 7 = 3,500)! Now, we all know that it’s not easy to burn 500 calories in one exercise session unless we’re doing it at the right intensity and time.

One good news is that, calorie deficit can also be attained through diet. I found a site that determines the resting metabolic rate and shows the amount of calories needed to drop 1 lb. per week or maintain the present weight. The site also has exercise plan to follow which I use. No magic, no shortcuts, just the real thing there is to lose weight: eating less (not starvation) and exercising more. You can check out the helpful article here.

So since I did not go to the gym nor performed any physical activity that will help make the fat cells shrink, I am extra careful with my diet. I actually survived not touching any cookies my aunt bought!

WW - camping fun

I can’t compete with grandma

It’s been a year since my mom moved in with us to take care of P after school. My life has changed. She helps me around the house and most importantly, I can work peacefully thinking my little girl is in safe and loving hands. P and her grandma bonded really well. After a few months, she would request to sleep with grandma, a move that I really made a big deal of. We’ve been co-sleeping since she was born so the change, the empty bed beside me felt strange and made me a little bit lonely.

My mom doesn’t mind if the little girl sleeps with her most nights of the week, except that she would not have a fully satisfying sleep if the babe is beside her in the same bed because she moves a lot, all two hands and feet on the air and back to the bed all throughout the night - which was the reason we got a separate bed for her. If not, I might have broken a rib or two.

So to cut the story short, I tried to talk to her last night that grandma wants to sleep alone tonight and she has to go back to her own bed, in our room. She cried like crazy saying, “I like nanay! (she calls her grandma nanay)”, repeating it a hundred times as tears overflowed. There was nothing left to do to pacify her. She kept on heading for the door, wanting to go to the other room.

I had to put my feet down on this one. It was time to tell her what is right. The next minutes were spent wrestling (trying to hold her while she wiggles), explaining and crying (on her part).

“Now, you don’t need me anymore? No more mama for you?”

I know I was stupid to ask this question in the heat of my anger.
But I got a clear NOD from her. “I like nanay…I want to sleep with nanay!” came the reply with sobs in between.

What? Suddenly, my bedtime stories and cuddles are not good enough anymore? I was devastated. How could this happen? Eventually, I had to let her go. It’s school the next morning and it would not help to make her stay awake this long.

I lie back in my bed last night crying. Did this happen because I am a working mom? Because I am not with her the whole day? I never knew this kind of heartbreak before. It feels like I’d rather be dumped by boyfriends than be dumped (at least that’s what I feel - my own kid dumped me) by my only child.

M comforted me saying this is just a temporary phasebut why am I making this so big? Why the tears? It’s not even the PMS time of the month yet and my emotions are overflowing like crazy.

The Baby Meme

I got this meme from my friend Zen at Verb. It’s fun to recall the things I did when P was a baby - almost 5 years ago! 

Baby’s Name?
Pristine Akari - I call her P or Peachy

Male/Female?
Babe

Birthday?
December 23, 2003

Where was he/she born?
Matsumoto City, Japan

What time was he/she born?
4:36 AM

Weight/length at birth?
51 cms long, 3562 grams.

Age as you’re typing this survey:
31

Are you a paranoid mom…?
Not so until she learned to run.

Do you sterilize everything (like boil nipples or wash every toy)?
Yes - spoons, plates, teething toys.

Do you buy “sensitive skin” wipes because they’re “better” for baby’s skin?
Yes.

Do you worry that your baby will stop breathing in his/her sleep?
I don’t think I worried too much.

Do you freak out if they happen to doze off during tummy time? (SIDS!!)
No, to be honest I never thought of SIDS.

Do you overdress your baby, whether it’s warm or cold?
No but my mom does during winter.

Do you wash your baby’s clothing in Dreft or other baby detergent?
The adults available in the house (my mom, me and that time, my aunt) handwashed all baby’s clothes.

Do you refuse to dress baby in anything with buttons (choking hazard)?
Yeah, when during the time she would put anything on her mouth (about 6 months old?).

Do you watch (and critique) when someone else changes baby’s diaper?
Yes, especially if it’s my husband and his mother.

Did you buy all of their furniture (crib, changing table, stroller) NEW?
We didn’t have a crib, changing table or stroller. No furniture for the baby!

Do you have to wash a pacifier that fell on the floor before giving to baby?
Pacifiers don’t pacify P at all.

Do you worry about anyone else holding your baby?
Yes, especially those who are not members of the family.

When you leave baby with a sitter, is all you do worry about baby?
I’m blessed I have my mother and aunt as sitters. If not, I might not be able to work and take care of P myself.

Do you jump out of bed the second baby starts fussing during the night?
Yeah, you can say that - I can’t sleep when she’s sneezing or coughing.

Do you worry about making baby bleed when clipping his/her fingernails?
No. The babe never bled while I cut her fingernails.

Do you call your pediatrician at least once a week?
No.

Do you cancel playdates because your baby has a runny nose and coughed once?
Yes - I don’t want other kids to catch the virus and I want her to rest as well.

Do you refuse to go shopping without a shopping cart cover?
What is that?

If you have a cat, do you worry about toxoplasmosis?
I would worry but thankfully, we don’t have a kitty.

Is your baby allowed anywhere near your pets?
No pets when she was a baby but she was allowed to touch rabbits when she was three.

Do you only feed your baby organic baby foods out of fear of preservatives?
Because P had milk and egg (and their by-products) allergy, I cooked everything for her and never bought any baby food from the supermarket.

Do you think you are or ever have been a paranoid new mom?
No, I wasn’t. My mom would lose her cool seeing how relaxed I was!

The Hot Mom To Be Handbook

I could easily summarize what I feel after reading this book in one sitting: I wish I read this before I got pregnant 5 years ago!

The Hot Mom To Be Handbook, Womb with a View by Jessica Denay is a book written to help harried moms retain their hotness. It has made me laugh at the funny analogies, got me teary eyed with the heart-warming stories and had me nodding and nodding remembering all the hilarious old wive’s tales and scary birth stories I was told when I was pregnant.

The book is so popular that so many of Hollywood’s hot moms gathered during its release including  former teenage witch, Melissa Joan Hart, Brooke Burke and Ali Landry.

Thanks to books like these, today’s moms are stronger, sexier, more confident and smarter than ever.

I have learned that moms should not abandon their personal goals, fulfillment and fashion just because they have children. I admit I had been neglecting myself  thinking that all those things (including fashion!) pale in comparison to my child’s needs and desires. Now, five years after giving birth, I am ready to reclaim the fun and improve my outer appearance. I do want to be a hot mom!

Are you a mom looking for a great community to share your vents, opinions and motherly stories? The Hot Mom’s Club, a social network for moms is a great place to express yourself, share and connect with other moms. You might be surprised to find out you are not the only one dealing with a particular mom dilemma!

Saturday Contest Roundup #6

Contest Link: Thursday Giveaway: Flip-a-Word Books 

Prize: an entire set of Flip-a-Word books

How to Win: leave a comment

Deadline: May 5th

*****

 Contest Link: Baby Banz giveaway 

Prize: a pair of Baby Banz children’s sunglasses

How to Win: leave a comment/blog about the contest

Deadline: May 6th

*****

Contest Link: Tiny Tales Kit - Weekly Giveaway 

Prize: Tiny Tales Kit (you choose from Baby, Toddler or Expecting)

How to Win: Share this giveaway with at least 5 friends via email or post it on your blog and comment

Deadline: May 6th

*****

Contest Link: Thursday Giveaway - Win a book! 

Prize: a copy of Mama Rock’s Rules - 10 Lessons for Raising a Household of Successful Children

How to Win: leave a comment

Deadline: May 7th

*****

Contest Link: Helzberg Diamonds 

Prize: Pacific Fire Topaz earrings or Studio Bonanza Round Diamond Pendant - Perfect for Mother’s Day!!

How to Win: leave a comment

Deadline: May 7th

*****

Contest Link: That Baby CD/DVD 

Prize: That Baby CD/DVD set

How to Win: email the answer to the question

Deadline: May 12th

*****

Contest Link: Movie Night: Indiana Jones the Adventure Collection 

Prize: Indiana Jones The Adventure Collection (set of three DVD’s)

How to Win: leave a comment, blog about the contest and/or subscribe to the RSS feed

Deadline: May 13th

*****

Contest Link: Prime Time Money Anniversary: $50 Giveaway 

Prize: $50 gift certificate to Amazon

How to Win: subscribe to the RSS feed and email the secret phrase

Deadline: May 15th

*****

Contest Link: Win Disney’s Classic Caballeros Collection DVD 

Prize: one copy of Disney’s Classic Caballeros Collection DVD

How to Win: comment and/or blog about the contest, subscribe to the RSS feed

Deadline: May 15th

*****

Thursday afternoons are mom and me time

On Thursdays, my work ends at 1:30 pm. Sometimes I go home straight and on some days, I go with my husband for his work but  more of a pleasure really, not work, as he is asked to review restaurants in 4/5 star hotels which means we get to dine in posh restos for free!

After a sumptuous lunch yesterday, he dropped me home at 3 pm and I get to sleep with the babe. I look forward to Thursday afternoons to spend more time with the little girl. I love afternoon naps with her. My mom who takes care of her on days I work takes a break and either takes a stroll outside, sleep or read he favorite book. She enjoys her alone time which is the least I can do to thank her.

I didn’t go to the gym yesterday but I did spend some time shrinking my fat cells by running around the neighborhood with Pristine. I wish I can have even half of her energy!

Have you heard of HIIT?

Yesterday marked my 24th time in the gym and I am not feeling bored or obligated to go. I go because I have set my goals and I am actually having fun and most importantly deserving a mention is the fact that I have actually lost weight and feel my body is firmer. I’ve never felt this good since giving birth 5 years ago!

Since this week I have some vacant time at work, I made an exercise schedule and incorporated variations to break the monotony, in case that comes. I also read so many articles to keep me informed and make my goals brighter and determination stronger. Unlike when I was going to the gym 10 years ago (I can’t believe it’s that long already), I now push the gym door with the exercise plan already in mind.

So as not to waste gym trips (the price I pay is being away from my daughter for at least two hours and spending little time for her at night), I have included HIIT (high intensity interval training) in my fitness program. HIIT burns more calories than steady state aerobics so I’ll get the benefits of cardio in shorter time, meaning, I can go home earlier and spend a little more time with the little girl. Research also shows you may elevate your metabolism for up to 24 hours AFTER an HIIT workout. This is definitely a benefit for those looking to trim fat (me!) but can’t stay in the gym for more than 1 hour.

My HIIT cardio program for this week:

• Warm up: 5 min. 6 kmph brisk walking 
• Intervals: 1 min at 10 kmph, 4 min. recovery at 5.8 kmph - REPEAT for 4 times
• Cool down: 5 min at 5 kmph

There are a lot of variations of HIIT, this week I am doing the 4:1 (4 min. easy/moderate, 1 min. hard). I have also done 1:1 in stairmaster that kept me sweating like crazy!

The idea of HIIT is to create “bursts” through “all out” training and then alternating with rests to allow the body to recover but not completely cool down. You can google HIIT if you like and see why it’s so popular these days.