Alcohol and me 1

After two months, finally got to taste wine again. Just one glass, savored. With a huge glass of water beside it. And no pulutan. C3 and I did a 5thirsty to celebrate a monthsary and the weekend.

Sipping that one glass made me more conscious of the taste, the tones and the slow buzz that came with it. What a lovely combination. And to preserve my fitness gains, that one glass was at the expense of the afternoon meryenda.

Pisceans have been known to be escapists of the Zodiac, with alcohol and other vices as top avenues for escape. I am no exception. Alcohol and I, we have have had some wild times together. And to that usual question ‘how drunk have you gotten?’, this is my “I was so drunk that...” list

Tequila Night at Elephant Bar 

This was the first bar I could actually go to alone, not needing to set up a posse. I knew the owners, and eventually the staff. I would hang out there at the bar, just enjoying beer. 

But there were fun nights, too. One was a Tequila-for-all sponsored night. Lick-Shoot-Suck pairings. They were pouring Tequila straight into our mouths. That was Party! Party! Till almost everyone was decimated. I was so drunk that my friends saw me sitting on a urinal dozing off. A sober friend (party pooper) had to drive my car and me home. But they were amazed that I was able to direct them to the house even as I was lying on the back seat of the car, eyes closed. 

I hated Tequila for months after that. Literally, my stomach would turn at the whiff of it.  But there’s no denying the fun then, and the fun remembering it now.  

My 50’s Fitness Journey during #ECQ

I am finally back to my desired weight level. I have lost 12 lbs since I started changing my diet, incorporating daily workouts. I thought I’d never get back to this weight pre-ECQ, I was getting frustrated that I wasn’t fitting into my pants anymore. I had even started folding these, ready for donation. 

Learnings about my 50’s body. Bulking up, trying to build muscle doesn’t work for me anymore. (I tried to do that in 2019) My PT asked me about my goals back then. I mentioned a lower fat % and bulky, especially around my shoulders. He squarely said that those are competing goals, as one required eating less and the other is about eating more (quality calories, of course). 

I dumped my diet and started to train heavy. I started fine. I was even challenged to do really go heavy (well, considering my capacity). And I quickly fell into a rut. My joints were sore all over. I was dreading working out, knowing that I was going to be in pain, and not be able to carry the weight, and hate myself. Ugh.

By end of 2019, I was going nowhere with my workouts and with my weight. And it coincided with my new job assignment, so I wasn’t in a happy place. I was heavy, fat again. And it just disappointed me more. 

I started to make some changes at the start of 2020. I began waking up really early so I could workout BEFORE going to work. But I still hadn’t gotten around to my disciplined eating (and monitoring).

ECQ made that happen. I was determined not to come out of this heavier. After week 1, I started incorporating working out into the WFH arrangement. Then I went back to daily (yes, daily) monitoring of my weight, my caloric intake). And by Holy Week, I had to commit to a diet of chicken breast, vegetables, mainly.

I think I also finally had the app MyfitnessPal all figured out. I am able to really track my calories. I have also realized that for me to start losing weight, I should average 1,200 calories a day, And to think before ECQ, I was looking at 1,800 to 2,000 calories daily! Sidenote: 1,200 is Basic Metabolic Rate or BMR. I get this from previous weigh-ins. I never thought much about this metric till this time.

I structured my workouts around the limited hodgepodge of home equipment I have. I do resistance training MWF. Then I do cardio TThS. My cardio includes dance now, which I am rediscovering HAHA. Next up is to include serious HIIT about 1x or 2x per week.

It helped that my city imposed a liquor ban. Haha So I’ve been dry since March 21. I end up drinking about 375 - 500 calories of wine or alcohol every time I drink! (Wala pang pulutan yan!)

So I am in a good place now, as far as my fitness/health/weight is concerned. Trick now is to maintain this and include drinking wine in the process. Because when I get back to my beach house, and I am on my view deck looking out to the West Philippine Sea, I have to be drinking wine.

ECQ Day 55, May 10 Sunday

This ECQ really messes up with my head sometimes. I become irritable, withdrawn at times. Though most days, I am usually just ok. (It’s Day 60 for me. I started counting on May 17 when ECQ was imposed for all of Luzon).

I’m on my favorite afternoon spot on the platform before descending the roof deck. I am appreciating the cool breeze.  Grateful for that breeze, as it has been hot and humid the past days. No sunset though. Clouds are obstructing the sun. Not that I could see it from where I am. I face south so I never really get to see my favorite view.

This overcast Sunday afternoon surprisingly is not making me moody. I am now wondering: once the ECQ is downgraded to a GCQ, what would I want to do first?

I want to visit c3. I want to spend maybe an overnight just being with him. I miss the cuddling. Though we Facetime everyday, I miss talking in person with him. And watching Netlix together. And snoring together.

I want to visit my dad at Heritage Park. We were not able to hold a proper first year death anniversary commemoration. I want to bring my mom there though I don’t know how we would manage if GCQ prohibits movement for senior citizens.

Of course I want to go to my beach house! I want to see the sunset there again. I want to see the improvements that have been happening during this period. I want to see the caretakers and their family. 

Though I have to think what kind of safety protocols I should put in place once I get there. And when I come back here to Manila. Should I enforce that the caretakers wear face masks while I am there? Do I limit their movement? Do I quarantine myself upon coming back? So many things to consider.

I do miss drinking. Our area has been under a liquor ban so I have been dry since March 21. But now I don’t know how to balance that with my diet, yet. I’ll figure that out soon.

I don’t miss eating out, if only for the fun of it. Yeah, I still have my sugary cravings. But I don’t intend to indulge once this lifts. 

I don’t miss malls or shopping, either. 

At this point, I am just looking forward to being able to drive out of my city, still with my facemask, gloves, glasses and cap, alcohol, wipes and maybe my face shield. 

It may not happen anytime soon. That’s the cold reality. But the time will come. And I will be ready for that. Gotta keep my head intact till then.