It gets harder and harder to write these things as I update my journal less and less. Unlike my friends, I just can't seem to give this up, despite my sporadic updates. I guess it's a way to remember the way I used to be, with all the embarrassing things I used to think, say and feel. Haha. Keeps me grounded, I suppose.

So, yeah. Let's keep this up. Somehow.

Here's what I remember about this year:
- sprained my ankle while working out
- had our van rear-ended by a bus while I was sitting in the backseat
- went to Batangas, Anawangin, Tagaytay, Subic and Baguio for fun, and Cebu for work
- tried sky walking for the first time!
- first out-of-town trip with the boy, and our second anniversary ♥
- got a promotion at work, where things seem to be looking up for the most part
- started saving and investing my money for my ~future~
- lost quite a few pounds through diet and exercise!
- tried to get pretty. Tried! I got my hair permed, tried out manicures and pedicures, body scrubs and massages (spending a pretty penny in the process)
- got new swag: new PC and mobile phones (but I broke my iPod Touch, tsk), bags, etc!
- totally fangirled over: A Dance with Dragons, Game of Thrones (the TV show), Mass Effect, The Hunger Games, Boardwalk Empire

2011 isn't quite as uneventful as my journal would have it seem!

In 2012, I want to:
- travel more! Once per quarter, if I can manage it!
- go back to school (but do I go full-time or part-time?)
- stay fit and in shape somehow
- save and invest more money
- REALLY learn to put on make-up
- REALLY learn to drive (again)

I've taken off "learn a new language" off of my list for now. I'll get around to it at some point, but I don't wanna promise myself to do it next year.
The first few are pretty vague but these are the ones that are most important to me. The last two are things that I've been putting off and need to try and make more time for next year. Bah.

And with that, 2011 is almost over! A good year, all in all. Steady with a few highs and lows. Nothing I couldn't handle. I hope 2012 will be the same or better.

Happy New Year, everyone :)

Last session! I was late again, so we only ended up working out for an hour instead of the original two. My trainer taught me the exercises I'm to do when working out on my own. Some are kind of hard but hopefully I get the hang of them soon. I also tried a stair stepper today and it totally confused me. But now I have to do it all the time! Ah well.

I'll get evaluated again in three weeks to see if exercising on my own is a good idea. Thanks to these sessions, I think I've finally gotten into the habit of going to the gym and taking time to exercise. So yay for me! Yay personal improvement.

Today was one of the hardest sessions I've had. Lunges, squats and leg raises with weights, modified planks and balancing on a medicine ball. Crazy! I am super tired. But endorphins feel so good!

But super awesome news: I'm down to 102 lbs/46 kg! I'm almost at my 100 lb/45 kg goal. I think much credit has to go to my new calorie counting habit - I really watch what I eat now. It's hard, but I'm getting used to going for more healthy options and taking in less carbs. But I hope I can go back to having a diet which involves less starvation when I switch from weight loss to weight maintenance. Christmas is inching closer and closer and I hope I can keep up this diet.

Two more sessions this week, and then re-assessment on Saturday, hopefully! Just a little more :)

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It's a struggle, finding time to work out in December. I'm trying to catch up on my workload, prepare for the Christmas party (and my blessedly small role), and try to get ready for the holidays in general. But so far, I've found a few pockets of time and hopefully I can finish all my sessions.

Today my trainer was frustrated by my lack of balance. Haha. It doesn't seem to get any better as time goes by. I don't know, maybe I'm just a klutz who is overly affected by my very mild scoliosis. But it's okay. Even if my sessions will run out soon, I can find other routines to help with my balance. Maybe.

Also, apparently there's some sort of promo going on for personal training sessions. I don't remember the exact details, but it's more than I can afford, what with me paying for these sessions until November 2012. I guess I'll have to stick with group classes next year.

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I'm getting better at this dieting thing, I think. I get hungry more often but full more quickly. I used to want mounds upon mounds of rice but now I'm okay with just a few bites and more water. Tonight I bought a tuna and cheese sandwich after working out and only ate half. I wasn't exactly full, but I wasn't hungry either, so I stopped. Then again, I have more leeway to eat on workout days. I need to test this again tomorrow, a non-workout day. Hopefully this is my body adjusting to having 1200 calories max.

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Oooh I really feel like skipping work tomorrow. I wish I could. But there's too much to do, gah!

A week between workouts, that's no good! Coupled with lots of eating during my travels to Baguio (for leisure) and Cebu (for work), I thought I'd have a hard time keeping up. I was surprised that I was able to still go through the motions without too much difficulty. Wooo bicep curls. Also leg raises and sit-ups, as usual.

While I was in Cebu I also took the time to check out the small hotel gym. It mostly catered to weight-lifters judging from all the machines. There were only a few treadmills and elliptical machines. Thank goodness there was a dance class going on while I was there so I joined that instead. I can't dance to save my life, but it's still more fun than running on a treadmill for an hour.

I haven't weighed myself since coming back to Manila. I'm rather scared. Haha. I hope I didn't gain back the weight I lost. I'm trying to continue keeping my daily calorie intake within the limit. It'll get harder once Christmas approaches but hopefully I can sneak in even ten minutes of exercise on my less busy days.

Five sessions left before Christmas Eve!

Two-thirds of the way through! Just six more sessions to go, which I need to finish up before Christmas Day.

Not much change in my usual workout today, except I had to plank while my feet were on a BOSU ball and it was a disaster for me. Haha. My core really cannot keep up with these exercises and my lower back really suffers. I also tried out a wave machine which perplexed me very much. Good thing I also joined that step aerobics class yesterday!

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In better news, I've lost 2 pounds / 1 kilo! It isn't much but I'm glad there has been some change. I wanna get to 100-102 lbs / 45-46 kg from my present 106 lbs / 48 kg and it doesn't seem as daunting as it was before. I just need to be stricter on myself about my diet.

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Today is the birthday of a dear friend of ours who passed away a couple of years back. It always puts me in a sobering mood whenever his birthday or death anniversary approaches. We miss him very much. It really puts into perspective the fact that life and death can be so uncertain and unexpected at times. All we can do is just live our lives to the fullest and prepare for as many possibilities as we can.

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To end this on a happier note, I have sky blue nails for the next couple of weeks :) So pretty.

Thursday again, hopefully!

I knew I'd be unable to workout for the rest of the week because of work, so I booked a session today which is the only day I'm free. My usual trainer wasn't available today so she got someone to sub in for her.

It was good, but short. We used TRX for just around half an hour, along with some other core exercises. I wasn't too tired because I didn't run on the treadmill first like I usually do. But I still lost a number of calories thanks to that and thanks to this thing called an arm bike. My back and arms aren't the strongest part of my body so just 5 minutes on this thing really tired me out. Here are the benefits of working out using an arm bike. But all in all, the elliptical is still my choice for a quick cardio workout if I can't join a group exercise class.

Next week again!

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I think I really am getting a bit thinner! Tummy doesn't bulge as much as it used to. Hee. I hope I'm not just imagining things!

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On the financial front, I was able to take some time away from work to go to the bank and fix my investments. Now I have time deposits and a UITF (Unit Investment Trust Fund). I might go back to the bank one last time to open up another account but I'm still deciding on what type. But I'm glad to have most of this done!