My 365-Day Journey to Mommy Abs Part 2: Day 41

Hello there! It’s been a while since my last post. Sorry, it’s been crazy busy. But I am happy and excited to report my progress after 41 days of small (and quite frequent) diet fails and big exercise and fitness victories. The eating part is really the challenge. The exercise is the fun part for me.

I was asked to post some ‘before’ photos (eep) so I’ll indulge. I’ll even add a photo taken December of last year when P and I went to Jakarta for our safari adventure Part 2. We had so much fun! P was in a schizo-funny mix fix of pure delight and absolute terror during our animal-feeding adventure. My BFF, whom I fondly call Sissy, posted some of our photos on Facebook. As I excitedly checked the photos she posted, I became more and more aware of the truth that stared right back at me -- I have lost my abs and my gut was showing. I wasn’t even ‘heavy looking’ back then but my midsection slapped me awake from my exercise-free fairy tale of a life. So March of this year, I decided it was time to make a change. I went back to the gym and made time to train regularly (3 times a week).

 

December 2013, Taman Safari
The photo that made me go... "Oh no."

I also took a month and a half long sabbatical from work and spent this time sharpening the saw. I focused on my son and on self-improvement. I went to the gym, cooked, did a bit of local backpack travelling, spent a lot of time with my little boy, had LASIK surgery and I started to rekindle my love for writing by blogging. I went from having a muffin top to getting barely-there abs. Happy.

 

During my sabbatical
Slimmer and smaller waist. Sigh.
No use crying over spilled milk.

The Wedding Workout (got this from Pinterest)
It's on my fridge door and I used to do this after my lime and coconut habit
in the morning on my non-gym days, just before taking a shower.

Then I started work and that meant waking up at 2 am, having a confused body clock, skipping gym, not doing my wedding workout (my early morning, 20-minute, before shower exercise routine on my non-gym days) and having a grand time trying out all the restaurants near the office. I went from barely-there abs to a ‘my-gut-is-showing-must-wear-loose-tee’ midsection. From a 39.1kg, 19.8% fat percentage and a body mass index of 17.1 … I became a 40 kg, 21.4% fat percentage, 17.8 BMI and a waistline of 26.5 inches. Not bad, considering the amount of food I consumed. I know. Everyday I thank God for blessing me with genes that have a faster-than-average metabolism and a blog that constantly reminded me that I was on my journey to getting Anne Curtis abs. But I know that if I'm not careful, I'll end up with a bigger midsection and I'd kiss my dream of mommy abs goodbye. 

 

post-workout photo
21.4% fat percentage
17.8 BMI
waist: 26.5 inches

This thingamajig is what my trainer used to get my fat percentage and BMI.
He did a bit of math on paper too.
He took into account my age, height and weight and we did this before my workout.

After weeks of regular weight training with a personal trainer, a promising yoga practice and a daily lunch box of fruits and veggies, I lost some water weight, got stronger (my trainer and I can attest to my renewed abs and overall strength) and I trimmed my midsection by half an inch already. A small victory but I love celebrating small victories.  My waistline is now 26 inches and I’m back to wearing my tight shirts. I know I can slim this down to 25. I know I can. I will.

 

Taken yesterday after my post-workout dinner of fruits and veggies
Half-an inch trimmer in the tummy area...celebrate small victories! =)

I also indulge. Eep. I still eat chocolate more often than I’d like to admit. I just had a 500 g steak and mashed potatoes with Mishy last Friday with a Frey’s dark chocolate, lemon and pepper bar and a glass of wine to boot because I was feeling extra bleh. I later learned that I was surfing the crimson wave and was extremely hormonal, which explained my wild red-meat and dark chocolate food cravings. I also had 3 J Co coco loco donuts last week not in one go but still… I know… carbs and sugar galore! I went on a coffee date with Mishy yesterday and we split a grande drip and a salted caramel double chocolate cookie. Yup, we are such cheapskates! We split the coffee and the cookie to save on cash and calories. Hahaha! Single moms can be savvy like that.

 

Myron's 500g Angus Steak

The best PMS medicine

Me and Mish at Myron's
She won't do yoga with me because she CLAIMS
she can't stay in a hot room and NOT TALK for 90 minutes!
I think she can take the heat but the 'no talking' part would really be a challenge. Lol

I eat healthy on most days. I win 5 out 7 so I celebrate grandly on my cheat days…yes I choose to have 2 cheat days and not just 1. But I’m sticking to my routine of yoga and weight training and the occasional dance class. I also recently signed up for a 6.6k run and I’m really psyched! I feel great and my midsection’s a lot tighter. Weight training has improved my overall physicality and yoga has given me a straighter back and a clearer, calmer mind set. My dance classes just make me feel young and extra cool not withstanding the buckets I sweat out. Paco has been eating healthier and we do yoga poses at home together. His eagle pose is hilarious! P just cracks me up! He also rides his bike in the park and plays in the playground while I do yoga on the weekends. Even my little boy has an active weekend lifestyle. I’m glad he gets to play out rather than his usual weekend TV veg-ing.

I like the new me and I will make an effort to keep this healthy lifestyle. It’s not easy and sticking to a routine can be a challenge but I know the health benefits are worth investing on. Until my next mommy abs update... stay healthy!