Hello 2025

It’s been a year since I last updated my blog, and so much has happened over the course of 2024.

I started the year in Toronto, Canada, and was also able to visit Montreal during that trip. On my way back to the Philippines, I spent a few nights in Tokyo, which made the journey even more memorable.

In April, we moved into a two-bedroom condominium and rented out our old unit—a big step forward for us.

May turned out to be a busy travel month. I was able to return to El Nido and Puerto Princesa, visit Barcelona, and also make a trip back to Zamboanga—all within the same month!

By July, I found myself in Seoul, South Korea, exploring its vibrant city life. Then in August, I had the privilege of hosting the Teddy Manuel Masterclass, which was truly an honor.

Towards the end of the year, I traveled to Turkiye in November and returned to Japan the following month. I wrapped up the year spending Christmas and New Year back in Zamboanga with family.

Looking back, 2024 has been filled with blessings, travels, and meaningful opportunities. I have so much to be thankful for—and I’m looking forward to even greater things in 2025.

My 2023 Fitness Journey

I can’t believe it’s been two years since my last blog post. A month after my last recipe entry, I joined a non-profit that advocates for HIV and AIDS treatment and prevention. I stayed with them for 18 months before eventually moving to our partner clinic. I was so busy during that period that I never had the chance to blog about my new career path.

One thing that remained consistent, however, was my pursuit of the elusive six-pack abs. My fitness journey has been anything but consistent over the years, but this year has been different—I’ve seen the most progress so far. Right now, I’m working on lowering my body fat percentage to around 12% so my abs can finally show.

I’ve been following a calorie deficit diet, and it’s been effective. For cardio, I stick to incline walking on the treadmill, and for strength training, I rotate muscle groups throughout the week. My current goal for the next 10 days is to double my gym time—either with longer sessions or splitting them between morning and evening. The only challenge I’ve noticed is sleep: evening workouts tend to keep me awake longer. Hopefully, by shifting cardio to the morning and strength training to the evening, I can improve both my routine and my sleep.

My eating habits have also changed. Yesterday was actually the first time I overindulged on a buffet during a cheat day and ended up throwing up—a reminder that balance is still key.

Here’s a look at my workout and meals yesterday:

Morning Workout

• Dumbbell Row: 22.5 lbs (3 sets of 10)

• Lat Pulldown: 55 lbs (3 sets of 8)

• Seated Row: 55 lbs (3 sets of 8)

• Incline Treadmill: 14 incline, speed 5 (20 minutes)

Breakfast

• Coffee with Splenda

Lunch

• Chicken breast

Afternoon Workout

• Seated Row: 30 lbs (3 sets of 10)

• Lat Pulldown: 55 lbs (3 sets of 8)

• RDL: 20 lbs (3 sets of 10)

After the gym, I went to S&R supermarket for meal prep essentials: 3 kg of boneless chicken breast, 3 kg of frozen California mix vegetables, and an entire tray of eggs (I now eat 4 eggs per meal).

I got home just before 9 PM, steamed a portion of the vegetables, and ate 3 slices of the remaining chicken breast. I also prepped my meals for the next day.

My 70 Day Challenge

During the start of the year, I made a commitment to make myself better, financially and in health.
I started the 52 week money challenge and just recently my 70 day Workout challenge.

I have been doing the workout challenge for 2 years now.  The results were good, because I have maintained my BMI to normal levels the entire year.  This year, I want to push myself further on attaining my ideal body weight and fat percentage.

I have downloaded an app that documents my progress, but since they only keep for a week.  I'm also documenting my progress with this blog.

Here are my starting stats.

Dumbbell Lunges
15 x 10lbs
12 x 10lbs
10 x 10lbs
8 x 10lbs

Squats
15 x 10lbs
12 x 12.5lbs
10 x 12.5lbs
8 x 15lbs

Deadlift
15 x 12.5lbs
12 x 12.5lbs
10 x 12.5lbs
8 x 12.5lbs

Dumbbell Row
15 x 18lbs
12 x 18lbs
10 x 18lbs
8 x 20lbs

Dumbbell Bench Press
15 x 18lbs
12 x 18lbs
10 x 18lbs
8 x 18lbs

Incline Dumbbell Bench Press
15 x 18lbs
12 x 14lbs
10 x 14lbs
8 x 14lbs

With Grip Lat Pulldown
15 x 35lbs
12 x 40lbs
10 x 40lbs
8 x 45lbs

Push Up
20
8
7

Dumbbell Side Lateral Raise
15 x 6lbs
12 x 6lbs
10 x 6lbs
8 x 6lbs

Dumbell rear Dealt Row
15 x 6lbs
12 x 6lbs
10 x 8lbs
8 x 8lbs

Barbell Seated Overhead Triceps Extension
15 x 8lbs
12 x 8lbs
10 x 8lbs
8 x 8lbs

Lying Barbell Triceps Extension
15 x 8lbs
12 x 8lbs
10 x 8lbs
8 x 8lbs

Alternate Dumbell Hammer Curl
15 x 10lbs
12 x 10lbs
10 x 10lbs
8 x 10lbs

Alternate Pro Curl
15 x 12lbs
12 x 12lbs
10 x 12lbs
8 x 12lbs

Day 3 of Alindog Pagbigyan Mo Na Ko Program

At last, I'm on my track to the healthier new me.

I managed to sleep before 12MN and was up by 6:30.  I struggled to sleep for another hour, since I was required a minimum of 7 hours worth of sleep, but decided to have breakfast instead.  I ate the other half of the chicken breast left over from dinner and 3 spoonful of pasta.

By 7:30 AM, I was at the gym.  It was a challenge trying to find a parking space, even at that early in the morning.

I was able to do my chest and back workout.  Its been close to 8 months from the last time I went to the gym and my stats are low.  But, that's expected, after all, this just the 3rd day.

My Meals:

Breakfast

1/2 Chicken Breast

3 spoonful of pesto pasta (leftover from dinner)

Morning Snack

Fruit Juice

Lunch

Low Calorie Chicken

Calamansi Juice

Day 2 of Alindog Pagbigyan Mo Na Ko Program

Notice how I started my blog with Day 2, since Day 1 didn't happen.

Last Saturday, I was so eager to clean out my closet, that I started at 10PM and ended at 6AM Sunday morning.  I had very little sleep that day, not to mention that we would be spending the night at Las Pinas.

Monday morning, I was so tired and felt useless should I come to work that I asked to be excused. Since I was in a hospital that morning, I took the opportunity to get a check up.  In short, I spent the afternoon of Day 1 sleeping.

Today is my Day 2, and was scheduled to do a 20minute continuous cardio workout.

I left the office early, 10 minutes past  6 to drive myself to Slimmers World, Pasay Road.  Surprisingly, the traffic cooperated with me that I was in Ayala Center at 7PM.  Please note that Park Square is now closed and the nearest parking lot would be Thomas Square beside Raffles, if your coming from EDSA, turning right at Pasay Road.

My 20 minute cross training got interrupted since another person reserved it for 7:30.  I was 12 minutes into the workout.  I was able to transfer and continue the other 10 minute at another machine.

I was able to grab myself a few healthy stuff for dinner at SM after the workout.

Day 2 Meals

Breakfast
Hamdesal from Mcdo and Coffee

Lunch
Grilled Fish, Side Salad, 1/3 of a grilled corn cob and fesh calamansi juice

Afternoon Snack
2 Saging na Saba

Dinner
1 cup Pesto Pasta
1/2 Chicken Breast
1 cup Vegetable Soup

I intend to workout first thing tomorrow morning, and the program states that I should have 7-9 hours of sleep.  I only have less than an hour before bedtime, and hopefully Day 3 would go as I planned. Tomorrow is my back and chest day!  Wish me luck!

Balik-Alindog Program, or Alindog, Pagbigyan mo na ko Program

18th day into the year and here I go again.

When I was writing my new years resolution, I checked the dates of the scheduled holidays to more or less plan my trips.  I realized that Holy week is coming early this year.  The last weekend of March.

It means that the beach season will come early.  Although I have been to 2 beaches in the first two weeks of the year, this is the type where you show up to be seen.

My recent photos proved that I really need a Balik-Alindog program.  But, I think I should call it, Alindog, pagbigyan mo na ko program!

Same time last year, I promised to commit myself to a 70 day workout program I've downloaded from the net.  Last year, I started out good!  Unfortunately, I fell on the open flooring that will become the office gym last February, and made it difficult for me to run and continue the program.  Hopefully, this year, my bones have recovered.

Just last week, a cash gift celebrating our CEO's birthday comes as a welcomed surprise, enabling me again to enroll myself to a 3 month gym membership.

My Day 1 is going to be on Monday, January 21 and the 70th day is just in time for Easter Sunday.

Just like last year, It is required that you take your before photo, date, weight and waist measurement.

Tools, in measuring my success!

The Old Me

Date: January 18, 2013
Weight: 76.5Kg.
Waist: 37.5 inches

My Week 0 is on Sunday!

I know this year, I will be successful.

Alindog.... see you on Easter!

Counting My Calories Again

Low Calorie Chicken for Lunch
Saging na Saba for Merienda
So much for counting, we had vegetable kare-kare, liempo, and chicken fingers with unlimited rice for dinner!