Beginner’s Guide: How to Read Nutrition Labels

It’s funny to think that you wanted to lose weight instantly without compromising your “love-affair” with chips. So, you go out to buy in you local grocery store a bag of “NO + (insert-nutrient-here)” chips. Then you are so happy you bought your favorite JUNK FOOD – with the thought that you will not gain a single pound from a “fat-free” bag of potato chips. Well, you’ll just end up eating a whole bag of manufactured AIR! Tough luck!

This is probably what your subconscious mind is telling you. Haha!

Huge Burgers And Fat Arms That Jiggle

Picture this: You are looking at the mirror and you saw a person wearing a cute tank top and you (among any silly notion) gave yourself a wave – the one that you often do when you say “Hi” or “Hello” kind of hand gesture (or “arm” gesture rather). You are now swinging your arms left and right and the fats begin to flap like large ripples of mushy stuff. Sounds familiar? Oh yes! Let’s call it “flabulous!” – FANTASTIC FLABS! Boooo!

This is a burger from Carlitos and it is 4 times bigger than a regular burger. Yummy!

I Just Wanted A Bikini Body With Wonderful Abs

Nothing beats a “close-to-impossible” dream and moreover such a gigantic ambition that I really wanted to achieve before I start having wrinkles and white hair. lol. Sometimes All the time I joke around saying that my “magical” abs are hiding beneath my abdominal fats – which is technically true (anatomically speaking). I dunno. Truth be told, I wanted to see myself without the extra flabs, without the “soft cushion” so to speak. That’s why I am quite determined to carve my body the way that I wanted it to be. haha!

Just saying “Hi” to Nemo at the Boracay Island waters. Look! My black bikini top! Woooah!

Diet always starts Tomorrow.

Now that the eat-tons-of-food-during-the-week-long-holiday is practically over, it is high time for me to focus on my ultimate goal of having a bikini slimmer body. True, I got the additional pounds. And since the first day of January is actually a huge celebration for all the people in this world (where the word “diet” is not an excuse), I just had to let it slip. So, for the remaining 364 days of 2012, this DIET PROJECT of mine is seriously on! I mean, capital S – Seriously!

I have weight issues. I love food but I want to lose these extra fats on my belly, thighs, and almost everywhere! Aaaaack!

Protein Power

For several months, I have tried cutting my relationship with carbohydrates. This taught me the importance of protein. Ever heard of “calorie-counting?”Who would have ever thought that protein-rich foods are NOT high in calories? I am now a nurse and certainly I may have forgotten this fact. *Sorry teachers.*

Browsing through some old Nutrition books and magazines, the key here is that “Though MOST proteins will cost you a few calories than fruits and vegetables,  proteins can make you lose weight.”

This is me and a few of my closest college friends. Taken shortly after a huge meal of protein-rich food and not to mention a weight-loss enemy — “pasta.”

“Discipline” is the Fat Burner

I used to wear 32-sized pants, extra large blouses, and I did not care about my health at all or the way I look. I was fat since I first had my steroids for my asthma up until this year where fluctuations of “big” and “bigger” came to be a reality. I admit that eating was a favorite hobby of mine but as I entered into the realm of knowing diseases that could kill me – I decided to put a stop to my pre-obese state.

This is my friend, RJ, jogging at the *Iloilo Sports Complex with a beaming smile. 

I could remember that very day I had my check-up with our physician. She told me that there is notable wheezing in my condition and she suspects that my asthma is relapsing. She started me with steroids and on the first week I bloated like an elephant trapped in a tiny jar! Many of my friends told me I got bigger and I was in a shock – I could not take in all those reactions. From that moment, I SWORE THAT I WILL LOSE WEIGHT!

I got myself into a promise that can change my life. And somehow, at its early stages, it did! Four months ago I started jogging, a few kilometers per day, gradually increasing as the week passes. I was determined and I did not let anything get on my way. Not even the Board Exam Reviews. I disciplined myself to cut the carbohydrate intake, the softdrinks, coffee, desserts, everything! I relied on the most common product of nature – fruits and vegetables, fish and chicken.

Discipline is the governing body of all obstacles. If there’s none applied to my situation, I would not have gotten this far. Losing more than 15lbs is already an achievement for me. With that little sacrifice I made, I did not have any asthma attacks for several months already.

Jogging will be my daily routine. It is a life changing activity that could lead me into a better life. Considering the tons of benefits that it could give to your body – cardio, energy, increased metabolism, weight control, endurance building, and reduction of mental stress. This will really make a difference in you! Jogging + Good Nutrition + Discipline will be your stepping stones to wellness. Ciao!

*Iloilo Sports Complex is at Jaro, Iloilo. For jogging, the entrance fee is only Php10 and you could use the field at anytime. Annual fees are also negotiated upon request.

** FYI: This is not a paid endorsement. For advertising, contact The Ilongga for negotiations.