Salad Days

Yes, it has come to this point-- when losing weight comes with a price.

In the manic drive to look great in time for summer, as early as January, I've made it a pretty good habit to go to the gym regularly. And this means trying to go more than three times a week.

Gym means more than just pumping iron and firming up. Gym has also become a sauna of sorts because of this need to sweat. It means cardio, cardio, cardio! It means seemingly futile attempts at burning stored fat by running for more than a quarter of an hour. It also seems futile because I get the impression I'm running but I don't seem to be getting anywhere. Physically and otherwise.

It is the thought of literally losing all the pounds and pounds while killing myself running. And let me tell you, Einstein's theory of relativity is best proven in the gym: 20 minutes fly by when you're trying to sneak in an extra shut eye before going to work. Yet 20 minutes is more than a lifetime when you're on the treadmill.

The gym trainer advises that it's our schedule of going to the gym at night is good-- we get to burn everything we've consumed during the day.

But because we want to burn everything consumed in the day AND MORE (the body burns stored fats when it doesn't have anything to burn), we have attempted eliminating carbohydrates from our diet.

This means TRYING to not eat rice. And this is easier said than done. Especially when everyone around is eating their ulam WITH RICE. Kare-kare WITH RICE. Adobo WITH RICE. Talong and bagoong WITH RICE. It can get very trying.

Especially since we've taken to ordering from this over-priced but otherwise great salad supplier called Goolai which delivers salad to us everyday for a hundred and fifteen bucks per serving. Not bad-- we used to do Italianni's salads but we're in the poor house.

The salad comes with different dressings everyday and for a salad, it is good. Tough though is that my body misses rice-- and since I've been eating rice all my life, rice is happy food.

The effect of a lack of carbs is instant-- not physically, unfortunately. However, I notice that I lack energy. I notice that I tire out easily. And I notice that wow, I've been getting cranky!

Maybe it's just the adjustment stage. After a week, I'll probably get used to it.

Last night though, North Park food was ordered for OT-ing Creatives. And because there was just so much food, I let myself go and decided to partake. And it was a very happy moment.

Our team secretary also ordered from World Topps and I got a box full of salpicao and rice. And I topped this off with North Park yang chow fried rice. And crispy noodles. This in effect totally voided the 2 hours I spent in the gym. But let me note: it was a happy moment still.

Today is the beginning of Lent. I wonder if the lack of rice counts as a sacrifice because I certainly am suffering.

And ironic in the battle of the bulge as it is-- just don't make me give up my beer.

LIfe Goes On

"It is better to light a candle than curse the darkness"

Work has turned me apathetic, I know. And just because the government is on the verge of crisis, I didn't let that interrupt my life. For some reason, as much as I don't like GMA, I don't feel any empathy toward the cause of the rallyists. And I doubt I'm the only one. Wonder what's it gonna take for people to sit up and take action once again.

Last Friday, the office was abuzz. Everyone was tuned in to the TV watching the latest developments on the EDSA rallies.

And when our HR head went through the office announcing "You can go home as long as you don't have sabit", the first thought that went through my head was "What about my meeting??!?"

Such is the life of client servicing. When office is cancelled, I start worrying about implications to my deadlines. Wonderful.

And when I got confirmation that my meeting was finally cancelled, my next thought was to spend the afternoon working on other requirements. It would be easy without phone calls interrupting me.

And then I didn't want to work anymore. The day was too nice and the situation too tempting. It's not everyday I can afford a halfday.

I remember telling Chantal one of our CDs that I wanted to drive out of town for the heck of it! Buy cheap board shorts in Landmark and spend half a day out in the sun re-touching my sunburn. Or if time couldn't afford me the beach, Tagaytay would do. I was game for anywhere-- just not Makati. And it even wasn't because of the riots or the State of Emergency.

I was brought down to Earth by Jay reminding me that out of all that's happened over GMA's turbulent reign, it is only now that she has called out the big guns and declared a State of Emergency and that perhaps I could do with keeping myself in Makati and playing safe for now.

Of course other options were still running through my mind: Tonton's Thai Massage... Joyce's suggestion of a tour of Manila... beer... DVD shopping at MCS... beer... coffee with friends... beer...

And so while protesters were marching to Ayala, I was at the gym pumping iron. And while ceremonies were being held at the Ninoy monument, Jay and I decided on an impromptu swim at the gym's pool area.

And I still had a massage on my mind when I ran into officemates inviting me to gimik. And because impromptu gimiks are the best, I find myself chugging down beer down South at 19 East and eventually a hole-in-the-wall place in BF.

Saturday found me at Capone's. And then Cafe Barako. And then Satarbucks. A continuous bisyo fest rocks!

What was fun though was an impromptu stop at the People Power Monument along EDSA.

I was slightly buzzed at that time and when Nei suggested a photo op at the monument in passing, I took her up on it.

Nothing beats being a cam-whore and a tourist in your own country. What I can't believe I did though was to actually lie on my stomach at the monument to light candles. It later dawned on me how dirty EDSA can be.

But photo ops on a busy street in the dead of night are the bomb.

With the police. They were nice enough to pose with us!

In the dead of night

* * *

Just a thought: what on Earth do Sta. Clara nuns do with all the eggs they get?!?! Make leche flan?

* * *

Wednesday was unusual as regular office days go.

During a meeting with Client last Tuesday, it was mentioned to us that our Brand Manager would be going on a channel immersion in Central Luzon. To motels and beerhouses.

And of course, we being the Agency who would be working on materials for Client's requirements just HAD to come along.

It was funny announcing the day's activity in the office: Jay and I will be going to different motels with our client

And it was a fun day making our way around Pampanga and Bulacan with my iPod plugged in with 90s music while going to different eateries, markets and yes, motels and girly bars.

... though if I hear another "Let Me In" by Mike Francis, I am going to hurl. Or strangle someone.

I love my job.

* * *

I am curious though what is to happen next.

There is something happening in Fort Bonifacio. I wonder how grave that is. Or what the outcome of all these protests and rallies will be.

Classes have been called off. Ay, if only that would apply to me as well.