This is a long overdue blog post that I have been meaning to write since I attended the launch of Multisport's Running 101. During the event, Multisport EIC Patrick Joson asked us why we are into running.

To my surprise, I could not find the perfect words to describe how and why I decided to give it a chance.

I was never into sports. I think I've shared that in this blog time and again. During my high school days, I envied my classmates who were excused from our classes so they can play volleyball or badminton for school activities during intrams. But that envy did not progress into anything else -- like wanting to give it a try. I guess I only envied them because one of the perks was skipping classes.

My poor regards for engaging in sports continued and possibly worsened as time passed by.

During my second year in college, we were asked by our professor to sign up for the activity we wish to join for the intrams. Would you believe that I signed up to be part of the -- audience? Haha. So there I was, cheering for my classmates, eating in the gym's bleacher and having a good time.

It was my weight issue that alarmed me and pushed me to live a more active lifestyle. But I was lost. Since I do not know how to play any sports, I did not know where to begin. Until a roommate gave us free passes to a 5K race of 711 run back in 2012.

We trained hard for that 5K race. Everyday, me and my running buddy Shiela would wake up at 5:00 a.m. to jog at the CCP grounds. It was very difficult. I would run and then walk every 100 meters. But I eventually improved. Like a snail, I worked hard no matter how slow my progress was.

Running, after all, was a kind of sports that required the least hand-eye coordination. I don't need to hit a ball or go running after a shuttlecock. All I needed to do was to run, run and run. How can I possibly go wrong?

After crossing the finish line during my first ever 5K race, I was very ecstatic. I was tired but relaxed in a way. It was like getting a perfect score for an Algebra quiz and possibly even better. I was committed to experience that kind of "high" in the soonest possible time. And so I joined more races and trained harder.

One of the most obvious benefits of running is losing weight. But for that to take place, proper diet should accompany running. I committed the same mistake during my first few months of running. I used running as an excuse to eat more and I became heavier. So that's a big no-no.

Running also improved my sleeping habits. Though, too bad, I also have a hard time finishing my articles because as soon as the clock strikes 10 p.m., my eyes would start to droop. It also provided me a personal space and most of the time, while running, I get to go through my problems and think of possible solutions.

Here's a funny video I found this morning:


Running has become a big part of my life right now. Sometimes, I think I am crabbier whenever I don't get to run at least once a week, especially when I have a very tight schedule. I hope you'll find running as interesting as I do. 
For now, task completed.

It was a year ago when I began blogging what seems to be a decision of a lifetime. From being a couch potato, I worked hard all year to live a relatively healthier lifestyle. I say "relatively" because there were so many times when I failed and gave into the temptation of McDonald's. Hehe.

The photo at the left was taken during a coverage at Bacolod. And on the right was taken today, January 1, 2013.

It was running that took most of my time this 2013 because it was a physical activity that demanded the least eye-hand coordination. It is also the most budget-friendly. My first pair of Adidas rubber shoes, which was a complete steal because I bought it on sale, lasted for a year.

Me and my running buddies joined several 5K races before moving into 10K. But after my 16.8K run with Adidas, I decided to push myself harder when I trained and joined a half marathon during the last leg of the Run Rio's Run United Philippine Marathon.

In the last quarter of the year, I also got into yoga. I attended several community yoga sessions with Teacher Chaya. Though classes were temporarily stopped, I continue to practice at home, and, at times, in the office with my colleagues.

I was 140 pounds when I started my Project Tikgirl blog. A year later, and, not to mention that I ate a lot over the holidays, I am now 133 pounds. To be honest, I was a bit disappointed because I expected that I would be losing more than seven pounds.

So the task this 2014 is to work and train harder. Happy new year and cheers to a healthier 2014! For now, task completed.

It feels like I'm back to square one. I have been tracking my weight for the past few weeks and it's not moving anywhere near my target. Time and time again I have said that I don't really care about how I look and that it's not my primary concern. But my BMI says I am just a few pounds from being overweight. That doesn't sound right to me.

So what have I been doing for the past few weeks?

I still run. Though I must say that it is not as often as I used to because of the demands of my day job and the fact that it rains almost every day in this side of the world. But the thing is, even if I don't run that often, I have stronger stamina now compared when I was still starting. That should count for something, right?

During my first few weeks of running, I could only run straight for no less than 200 meters. After that, I need to gasp for air and walk the next 200 meters. But now, though only twice a week, I can run 11 kilometers straight and without stopping! And I would like to believe that I am also getting faster!

Again, I'm asking, that should count for something, right? But it seems not. I started Project Tikgirl with 140 lbs. Nine months later, I only managed to shed off five pounds. It makes me feel like I'm not putting my heart and soul into this self-imposed project. Gadh.

So this leads me to my next point: food.

I have never been conscious about what I eat. I'm not a vegetarian but I'm also not a meat lover. I love to explore both worlds and I have no plans of changing that in the near future. The only thing I try to resist -- no matter how mouthwatering it is -- are instant food. I'm proud to say that eight out of ten temptations, I managed to say no to my favorite Lucky Me Instant Pancit Canton.

I pour my free time researching about what to eat. And I try it once in a while but I have yet to sustain healthy eating. I'm already considering the need to consult a dietitian. But it's a bit pricey here in the Philippines.

So what should I do?

I knew it would come to this. And I wasn't prepared for it. I am getting more and more impatient on why -- and I must admit now -- I am not losing significant amount of weight despite my efforts to stay fit. It leaves me wondering what am I doing wrong.

I won't deny, however, that it is partly my fault too. I don't run that much anymore.

Well, I still do. But not almost everyday like when I first started. I'm afraid that I'm slowly falling into the trap of my New Year's Resolution Syndrome, which I never would want to happen. Maybe that's why I'm blogging it, hoping somewhere around the world I'll get a holler and boost my confidence and will to do this.

Hays.

Moving on. I finally found the result of the ProFriends Run.

You can view the rest of the result here.

I need to beat my 10K record in my next run on March 3, which will be sponsored by the American Chamber Foundation Philippines. They are giving away medals for the first 100 finishers for every distance category. Judging by how I fared in the ProFriends run, I have a lot of preparation and training to do to land in the Scholarun 2013's first 100.

And for those who are interested, my weight is down to 138.25 lbs from 142.2 some three weeks ago. Task  completed.

After our morning jog last Saturday, Mike kept on giving me "tips" on how to make me lose weight faster. Well, I am normally appreciative of these "tips." But there is such a thing as boiling point, you see.

Anyways, just like what I kept on telling my mom, who happens to ask me everyday, I told Mike I wasn't trying to lose weight. I just wanted to be fit -- and losing weight is not the end goal but just a result of what I wanted to do.

But who would believe that? Sometimes, I don't believe it myself.

Why?

The next thing I asked Mike is if he thinks I'm losing weight. And he said no -- at least he doesn't see any improvement. I don't see it to.

I'm sad and confused on what my priorities should be. Now that more and more people are aware that I'm "into" (if you could say that) healthy lifestyle, they expect me to lose weight. And fast. They all want to see improvements in an instant.

Are they expecting me to be 'Belofied' after just almost a month of running? I hope not. But the pressure is mounting and I don't know when it's going to burst. If it does, I'm not sure if I can handle it.

Anyway, here's some good news to all the people asking if I lost weight already.

Today I went to Cy's new place in Makati. I used their digital bathroom scale and I found out that I'm now only 140.2 lbs. If the weighing scale I used the last time is accurate, then that means that I have already lost nearly 5 lbs. NOT BAD for my first month.

Wish me luck for the coming months. Task completed.