Dear friend (smile you’re on candid camera),

Magugulat ka kaya kung sasabihin kong talaga’ng gigil na gigil ako sa baba ko?

Dahil libre namang magtanong, e nag-email ako sa Belo Medical Group (nasabi ko na ba’ng nag-email na din ako kay Dra Holmes nuon tungkol sa isang article nya??).

Anyway, aabot na mahigit 100k PhP ang magagastos ko kung ipapatabas ko ang baba ko dahil may minimum daw sila na usually e coupled with different procedures. Siguro dahil pangit nga naman na manipis tyan mo tapos puro bilbil ang extremities mo ‘no?

Sa gusto kong mangyari (sa aking double chin) sa Session 2 ako. Nung nakita ko yung List inisip ko “oo nga kelangang alisin yung wings ko, saka yung excess fat na halata sa likod ko”… Ayayay.

Early signs kaya ito nang tendency to abuse surgery??? Dito kaya nagsisimula yun?? Kaya ko kayang sikmurain na umubos ng 100 thousand pesoses para lang “gumanda” ako?? Hindi kaya ako mapunta sa impyerno for wasting money? Most importantly, saan kaya ako kukuha nang ganuon kalaking extra money?

Mukhang kailangang i-workout ko din ang schedules hhhmmm how to fit these procedures in my 2-week leave?? <<– parang totoo ha!

———- From the original message ———-
Cost information on SMART LIPO:
Session 1:
Upper Abdomen= Php 33,600.00
Abdomen= Php 33,600.00
Waist= Php 33,600.00
Hips- Php 33,600.00

Session 2:
Arms= Php 44,800.00(both arms included)
Wings= Php 16,800.00
Back= Php 33,600.00
Chin= Php 28,000.00

Session 3:
Inner Thigh= Php 33,600.00
Outer Thigh= Php 33,600.00
Anterior Thigh= Php 33,600.00
Buttocks= Php 33,600.00

Others:
Armpit= Php 22,400.00
Chest= Php 33,600.00
Breast = Php 33,600.00
Knees= Php 16,800.00
Calves= Php 33,600.00

We do three to four (3-4) areas (minimum) per surgery and is usually categorized like the one seen above. We can space the sessions 5 days to a week apart, depending on the capability of the patient.

{Additional 20% for professional fee of Dr. Belo}
Smartlipo for the face=Php56,000
+ Anaesthesia= Php 11,200
+ Binder= Php 5,600

For more information about Smartlipo, you can go to http://www.belomed.com/services_NEW_smartlipo.htm.

ETC ETC ETC

===========================
Note guys, these figures are for me ha. So if you’re thinking of seeing the Belo Medical Group, ask them for your own quotes, of course after you’ve seen the specialists. And as with anything medical, make sure you are not just mentally ready but also physically-able to undergo such invasive procedures.

Aba lo & behold it’s my 1st week of South Beach Diet’s Phase 1. I’m halfway through!

Ohh the Craving
The first 2 days were the toughest. I was really craving rice. Each time I see a pastry I want to stuff it in my mouth. But now I only miss certain breads & also pasta, even potatoes & carrots, but not rice. Nakakapagtaka nga e.

I haven’t yet baked or cooked any meal since I started, so it could be that the real temptation is yet to come. Maybe this weekend as it’s a bank holiday on Monday & I’ll be cooking some recipes I copied from the sassylawyer. Also we’re having our 4th(!!) barbie this Sunday we’re inviting some friends who just came back from hols in Pinas. While a neighbour said she’s booking us too for some halo-halo. Goodness, pag di ako natukso ewan ko na lang. When we went to Southbank last Sunday, it was so hot the family each had ice cream except for me. I felt really bad. My boy kept coming over to me asking me to lick the sides of the cones as his hands were getting dirty, it was sheer torture!

The Mistakes
First mistake I made because I was too eager to start on my SBD was just download a few facts & guides from the net. I didn’t “internalise” the foods to avoid section. Since I’m on a no-dairy diet (hayfever) I downed a carton of soya milk in 3 days. Later re-reading the printouts, of course, I realised I am Stupid.

Late as it is I still got an SBD book from ebay. Am reading it.

Little Triumphs
We went to a birthday party (there’s one nearly every weekend!) & I stayed away from all the foods to avoid. I wasn’t even tempted with the beautifully laid-out dessert table. I was more curious about the recipe of the host’s refrigerated cake. Luckily they had veg salad & steamed salmon, so I happily attacked those. The other guests were quick to detect that I am on a diet. Obvious ba?

Is it working?
In terms of weight loss I cannot verify it, though one new pair of trousers I wore on Monday was noticeably loose fitting. I haven’t weighed myself, what’s the point? It’s just been a week.

But I do feel better, stuffy nose & all. So let’s see where SBD leads me. If I’m ultra-successful, I might post a before & after picture in the next few months. Charing!

I did nothing but review & comment on documents since Monday! I barely managed to work on my actual deliverable (a traceability matrix). True the files I’m reading are not even thick but I find it really hard to “read & understand” because my sinuses are so blocked, I feel so lightheaded. Sometimes I feel like passing out. It’s taking me twice as long to get anything done, except for blogging.

I hope this doesn’t continue for too long. I need my wits in order to function properly. I’m sorely tempted to take my work home just to get moving as I know I’ll be swamped soon.

I took Pining’s advice to heart & have started on a no dairy diet. I now drink my tea black, no milk, no sugar. Sugar is not dairy I know but it’s less calorie intake as I plan to copy Melissa’s South Beach Diet. I also checked the net for more food related allergies & found that I should stay clear of food additives, too, as they inhibit the anti-histamines from working. It looks like I’m going to work harder to beat this Hay Fever season (2007 is set to be the worse on record).

Just as well I follow the above list, I’ll end up healthier & fit enough to run for a bus without wheezing. The thing is hubby bought some freshly-made siopao last night & I gave in & ate one for breakfast this morning. South Beach says no carbs for 2-weeks. I told myself it’s my last f*ck before the final goodbye. I plan on disposing of the sweets & other tempting goodies by giving them away to neighbourhood kids. Then hubby reminded me that I should not stop baking & cooking for them. Ah the horrors. I need He-Man strength & resolved.

My tummy turned into a ten-wheeler’s rubber tire like a thief in the night. I was thanking my lucky stars yesterday that I got upset last week & turned into an online shopping maniac. I spent nearly £200 on Next and on Doroth Perkins outfits and Amazon for my soul and entertainment. In that moment of madness I was stsill aware of my credit limit and I wanted to maximum number of clothes for my meager allowance, so I stayed away from Topshop and Zara.

Then I realised I needed some accessories so last friday I went to Monsoon/Accesorize and bought a nice slouch bag and some fashion jewelries. My total spending if you calculate is at £300 (30K PHP)… And if you count my shoe shopping trip two weeks ago in Clarks & in-store shopping at Next, too… O sige mukha akong galit sa pera!

Don’t get me wrong, I very rarely update my wardrobe, emphasis on the VERY. Normally I reserve my shopping escapade to once a year, that is when we visit Pinas. I cannot wait that long, mukha na akong matrona with the bloated tummy and swollen neck-area. At least I can feel good about myself not looking like a 10-seasons ago Betty. In my new job I’m surrounded (not by fashionistas) but business people, so even if I work in the Technology (where most people are in tees) I prefer to look presentable like I used to when I was single.

I have also started dabbing on make-up. The only thing I really don’t like is wearing foundation and I’ve never tried concealers, so my daily makeup really is just a set of eyeshadow, blusher and lippie. I know, ang nipis pero at least may effort na ko.

I’m not finished yet. I still want to do more shopping pero na-max out ko na ang card ko so I have to wait for a few weeks, maybe months. I am eyeing a gorgeous pair of kitten heels shoes and I also need new coats/jackets as the ones I’m using are at least 4 years old! O kitam, di naman ako kasi magastos. Actually I was hoping na heavy jacket na lang ang bibilin ko kasi may nabili ako last December na cheap spring jacket. Kaya lang nadale ng tita namin sa washing machine so kasya na lang sya sa mga teenagers.

I started picking up my taebo, don’t be fooled, I started just last night & I plan to do the Basic Workout every night. I will measure my body tonight, I forgot last night as I was too busy trimming the bushes above my eye.

I want to get this exercise machine called iJoyRide. There are so many testimonials on how effective it is & can easily be used for 15 mins with effective result daw. The catch? It’s nearly £450! So sabi ni hubby bakit di na lang ibang machine ang bilhin ko? The thing is I’m really enthused about this product & when I’m psyched I know I will not let it rot in the shed. However if he buys me something else, in other words, nakialam sya, tse!

So I plan to save up on the remaining things I want to buy as well as the iJoyRide. Nagbabaon na nga ako sa office para di na ko bibili ng lunch (I’m just looking for recipes to add variety to my meal, medyo limited dahil di kami allowed ng microwave). So hopefully by my birthday in June, I can buy myself that big gift. And double wish ko ay sana by that time, I’m healthier & doesn’t tire easily anymore courtesy of taebo. I would like to wish na sana I’m slimmer din who knows, afterall I’m cutting back on my rice & dinner.

I didn’t get what I want, but I’d like to think I am getting what I need.

Pagkatapos kong basahin yung masasayang post & banters sa mga fave blogs ko, I felt better today. Or is it just because it’s Friday? Baka combination.

No matter. I tell myself that 2006 should close a few things in my life that I should never regret or at the very least let them affect me next month.

New Year’s resolution this early? Oo yata. Di naman ako magbabakasyon, I will be working between XMas & New Year, so ewan.

I resolve:
1. To find me a better workplace where I will feel valued and my hardwork is better compensated
2. To be a better person. I will not allow my frustration to get the better of me.
3. To control my temper at home. I will treat my husband & my son with the utmost courtesy.
4. To stop sweating the small stuff.

I would also like to add “I resolve to lose weight” but I don’t want to fail myself.

Yesterday was my 16th birthday. Maligayang Kaarawan sa akin. Salamat.

Ang wish ko ay:
Sana kumikita pa din ako ng malaki kahit wala na kong trabaho.
Sana mag-pension na ako at the age of 35.
Sana I wouldn’t have to work. Sana maging ampunin ako ni Bill Gates.

Ang selfish, siempre birthday wish hindi naman beauty pageant wish for World Peace ‘no.

Reality check. There I was sitting at home too lazy to even bathe. Gad that’s the most pathetic birthday scenario I’ve ever seen. Pathetic but not sad. I spent the whole day with my 14-month old son whose boundless energy drained me of my will to even cook pancit. Every time he takes a nap, I also snore beside him. Every time he wakes me up with a giggle, I respond with a hug. All day we did nothing but play hide-&-seek, throw-things-everywhere-mum-will-pick-up. We also ate everything in-sight including my maja blanca. By 9pm, I was still washing the dishes, readying for bed while Kelvin’s puckered lips wet the pillow.

Too bad Mahal wasn’t there to celebrate my natal day.