Running

Got a new habit and it's running. I try to run everyday (though there were days that running would be impossible because of the damn sandstorm!) Nevertheless, it has become something to look forward to after work hours.

Aside from relieving stress, I've learn that running has it's benefits as quoted:

"Yet, most serious runners will say their addiction goes beyond the physical benefits they achieve from running. Runners say the intense exhilaration and euphoria that comes after a run is what motivates them most. In fact, this euphoria comes from a betaendorphin release triggered by the neurons in the nervous system. Intended to alleviate the pain after a run, it creates a feeling of extreme happiness and exhilaration. Runners become addicted to this intense high, and it can often replace other addictions to drugs, alcohol, and even food. While runners claim to achieve more energy in daily life from running, it also helps bring appetite, exercise and food into balance. Furthermore, as running makes the body function better, it improves sleep, eating, and relaxation." - http://www.vanderbilt.edu/ans/psychology/health_psychology/running.html

That was a mouthful, eh? But personally, it's a choice to try to stay healthy, in a few years I'd be reaching that age when bodily functions will be at its more vulnerable and working it out now would be the best thing to do.

Running also makes me think better, it's like those unnecessary thoughts were being unloaded from my mind thus being cleaned, or it relaxes me, just popped in the earphones and play a fast music, tie the shoe laces tight and I am set for 45 minutes the least of non-stop running and brisk walking in the park with my housemate or simply around the block.

New Diet - Smoothies

I started taking smoothies for breakfast, lunch and dinner for two weeks already, no, I have not stopped eating meat and rice totally, but I am cutting back of my intake of carbs and meat slowly.

I woke up one day and passed by a mirror, and shirtless and in my underwear, I stopped and noticed that my stomach is starting to bulge, and there was a love handle starting to form on my sides. I got conscious and thought of losing them.

I am never, chubby, never in my life I tipped the scale more than what I weight. Thanks to my active metabolism it was never a problem eating anything I like. But also, time and age catches up, I am not that young anymore, so I guess things are slowing down.

At the same time, starting to live a healthy life, should start with what we eat, right? I am not becoming a diet-maniac, I am just trying to balance what I eat.

So I am hooked into making smoothies.

My regular recipe includes: 1 Banana, 1 Apple, 1 Cucumber, 1 Carrot, Yogurt, 1 Tomato and Mango Juice for the liquid part, and I blend them away. The taste is yummy, fruity with tinge of tomato, as I find tomato very tasty in the mixture.

I also got back into working out, so an after work out smoothie includes: 1 tbsp peanut butter, a glass of non-fat milk, 1 Banana, and 2 tbsps of oatmeal.

I try to experiment by mixing fruits and vegetables, sometimes the blend is superb, sometimes I can't explain the taste.

Once I added a handful of Spinach and a shocking taste came out, I thought I drank a smoothie with a handful of soil, for it tastes like soil!!!

But I drank a glass and a half of it anyway, while pinching my nose that is!

Anyway, I hope doing this and my regular workout would result to a better me, physically. Wish me luck and hope to really lose 'em belly!