I Wanna Be Her: Kate Hudson

Forgive the quality of the photo but don't you think Kate Hudson looks pretty damn good for a woman her age? It seems like a thing in Hollywood nowadays... the older they get, the better they become. Hmmm.

She's a Fitspiration: Lexi Gancayco

As the old saying goes, "new year, new me". We gather all our energy and get our hopes up while making resolutions for the brand new year ahead but how many of those really come to pass? Case in point: I myself am going back to work tomorrow, and it sort of signals a back to reality scenario. I've already made promises and goals for myself for this year, but the only way for them to truly happen is for me to stay focused, be disciplined and to let go of the things that don't work for me anymore. One person I admire when it comes to her discipline and drive for health and fitness is Lexi Gancayco - she's young, she's determined to achieve her fitness goals, and she doesn't make excuses! I've watched how she's transformed herself in the past year, and I can truly say she's nothing short of an inspiration to me and to many others out there. Get to know a little more about her in my short interview! P.S. Good luck with all your health and fitness goals this year! May all of us emerge victorious and in the pink of health! :)

2013 was a great year for this girl! IG: @lexi_gancayco

What is your fitness activity/workout of choice? How did you get into this? How does it fit into your schedule?
I started out with boxing every day, then I added 30 minutes ab and core exercises after each session. From there I learned how to work out different body parts (not just abs and core). Then I started doing Nike Training Club because it let you choose what body parts you wanted to work out and I could easily do it at home after or before school.  Today I do plyometrics and circuit training because the workout is always different. Its good for me because I get bored easily with the same work out! I make sure to work out in the mornings between 6am to 10am. I'm a big morning person and I like starting the day with all the good energy and endorphins from the workout. Its also easier because its done and out of the way.

What's your diet like? Give specific dishes you consume daily, brands you love, restaurants you frequent, and where you shop for food.

For breakfast I usually have soaked oats in almond milk with chia seeds or peanut butter on whole wheat bread. If I'm not feeling lazy, I'll make green juice (celery, carrots, cucumbers and some fruit).

Then for lunch I'll have chicken breast + brown rice/quinoa + lots of greens. I play around with the way I bake my chicken by using different spices and sauces. I like leafy greens like lettuce, spinach, kangkong. I'm also a big fan of cauliflower and squash. 

For snacks I try to have fruits like apples, dalandan, pomelo and bananas. Other things I like to eat or prepare are toasted whole wheat bread with greek yogurt, whole wheat pancakes with peanut butter, crushed frozen strawberries.

I make it a point to go to the grocery once a week--every Monday, so that my food for the week is fresh. I go to SM Hypermart, S&R and Healthy Options. Since I'm still in school I wake up extra early to prepare all my food for the day. This way I don't eat unnecessary food outside my meal plan and I save money. 

Since I try to follow a specific meal plan, I usually just eat out with my family on the weekends, particularly Sunday. Sunday is my cheat day so I don't really limit myself to anything.

 

 

What are the top 3 fitness/health lessons you can share with us?

1. You need that cheat day. Without the cheat day, you'll go crazy. If one day of the week is not enough, then one small snack a day should be good. I love ice cream and Nutella! I try to get my ice-cream fix over the weekends and I sometimes put Nutella on my banana snacks!

2. If it doesn't hurt, it isn't working. Push push push!!! That's the only way you'll get your results.

Working out requires discipline and hard work. You're not going to get the results you want if you don't work for it. 

3. Be patient with results. Results don't happen over night..or 2 days!  

It takes time to see the results of your hard work. You shouldn't feel discouraged if you don't see the results after one week. If you don't see the results at all, maybe you're not pushing hard enough!

 

 

What's on your workout playlist?

My favorite playlist right now is from RunningMixes.com its a 1-hour long mix of new and old songs to get you pumped.

Workout gear must-haves?

I love printed and colorful sports bras! - Nike or F21.

Gym gloves to avoid calluses - I love mine from Adidas

Leggings! 

Compression shorts - you don't want to show the whole world what is in between your legs while you're doing leg raises!

A face towel - it is important to clean the sweat out because this can be a cause of pimples and acne

Water jug - for hydration

Gym bag

Proper rubber shoes for running vs. gym rubber shoes 

"@lexi_gancayco on IG: Active wear! Bom dia @iza_goulart!!! Lezzz workout!"

 

Whose body do you dream of achieving? Fitness idols? 

I have my own goals for my own body. I try not to achieve other people's bodies because I know we don't have the same body type (obviously). However, I do idolize (Victoria's Secret model) Iza Goulart and Gwyneth Paltrow. They are really dedicated to eating clean and staying fit. 

 

Check out my related post on Iza Goulart: http://bit.ly/JBivH5

Please share some of the blogs/websites/Instagram accounts, etc. you frequent for fitspiration!

Staysharpbestrong

Izagoulart

stephclairesmith

fightforfit

Shaun T

#fitfam

She's a fitspiration: Monika Sta. Maria

Model Monika Sta. Maria is just 21!

Hi guys! If you're determined to start the week right, then that makes two of us! This week's fitspiration is none other than Century Superbods winner - model Monika Sta. Maria! I've had the chance to work with her at a Metro Weddings shoot once, and weeks later I found out she won the contest in Boracay. Way to go girl! I knew that behind that pretty face is a girl who's determined and a disciplined eater, who for sure loves working out. Check out her profile below, and let her help you get on the right track!

What is your fitness activity/workout of choice? How did you get into this? How does it fit into your schedule?
My favorite is jogging on the treadmill or outdoors! I include it in all of my work outs! Jogging can be a warm up, cool down or even a quick workout when you don't have much time! Going for jogs also helps clear my mind of all my worries! I have a trainer sometimes in Golds Gym when I'm in the Philippines, so i can learn different workouts with weights that targets the areas I want to improve on. When I'm away, like right now I'm in Malaysia, I try to find a gym and do weights maybe like 3 times a week. When I was in Singapore and didn't have any gym, I would jog outdoors and do exercises without weights like squats, lunges, push ups, sit ups and core to name a few. I don't attend classes but I like keeping myself active! Like I would ask my friends to go wakeboarding with me, or play volleyball when I'm at the beach! Working out makes me feel happy and confident so I always look for it wherever I am! :)

Playing beach volleyball at Sentosa in Singapore

What's your diet like? Give specific dishes you consume daily, brands you love, restaurants you frequent, and where you shop for food.
I just skip the junk food and fast food! If I eat out, I go for Chinese dishes (like veggies and tofu). When I prepare my own meals at home I usually prepare chicken breast, veggies like broccoli and brown rice or potatoes. Most importantly, I try to always start my day with a proper breakfast like muesli with fruits and non-fat milk/greek yogurt! YUM! 

Foodstagram: how appetizing are Monika's meals???

What are the top 3 fitness/health lessons you can share with us?

1. Drink a LOT of water

2. Never skip breakfast

3. Dont be afraid of carbs! Just be informed about the proper carbs to take!

What's on your workout playlist?

Sleaze by Knife Party and Retro City by Adventure Club! They really get me pumped up especially during cardio! :)

Workout gear must-haves?

The perfect pair of running shoes! I love Nike at the moment, they're so comfy and come in so many cute colors!

Winning the Century Superbods title means you're legit!

Whose body do you dream of achieving? Fitness idols?

My ultimate fitness idol is Candice Swanepoel! She has the perfect bod and she really works hard for it!

Always be active! Here she is wakeboarding at Nuvali

Please share some of the blogs/websites/Instagram accounts, etc. you frequent for fitspiration!
Here are some of the many Instagram accounts I frequent for fitspiration: @fitnational, @staysharpbestrong, @factsofhealth and last but not the least @angelcandices :)

Lentils, Tofu, and Mushrooms

 

It was one of those days: standing in front of the refrigerator wondering what to eat, again. What to do if you have some lentils, button mushrooms, and tofu? Mix them all together and whip up a pretty satisfying meal. 

Ingredients

1/2 cup lentils

8-10 large button mushrooms, chopped

1 block hard tofu

Salt and pepper to taste

Crushed oregano

Crushed basil

Chopped onions

Chopped garlic

Canola oil for cooking

Instructions:

1. Boil lentils til soft.

2. Chop everything that needs to be chopped while waiting for the lentils. Cut tofu in half, fry til outside is golden brown. Set fried tofu aside.

2.  Saute onions and garlic til golden brown. Mix in cooked lentils, mushroom, and season with all spices. 

3. Pour cooked mixture over tofu. Serve hot! Enjoy! :)

The no-excuses workout

This is a great example of a no-excuses workout! Download Jay-Z's song, put on your trainers, and get moving! Thanks to Pinterest, I find useful stuff like this!

Juicing vs. Blending - a little help from Kris Carr

On my workout playlist

We all have our phases of laziness and we get the most creative reasons not to workout. "I have my period", or "I'll do it tomorrow", or even "I've been working out so much I need a break" - any of these sound familiar? I myself am guilty of excuses like these. To combat laziness though, we must get equally creative about motivating ourselves to get up from the couch and start moving! One of my best motivations is fresh, new workout music that just gets my adrenaline pumping! Sharing with you my latest workout playlist, and here's hoping you listen to them when you workout later. Enjoy! :)

⪢ Ready or Not - Bridgit Mendler
⪢ Fine China - Chris Brown
⪢ Alive (Zedd remix) - Empire of the Sun
⪢ We Run The Night (DJ Vice remix) - Havana Brown ft. Pitbull
⪢ Jump Around - House of Pain
⪢ Change Your Life - Little Mix
⪢ Best Night - LMFAO ft. Goon Rock, Will.I.Am, & Eva Simons
⪢ Champagne Showers - LMFAO ft Natalia Kills
⪢ Fresh Off The Runway - Rihanna
⪢ With Every Heartbeat (Pete Tong remix) - Robyn
⪢ C'mon - Ke$ha

She's a fitspiration: Lissa Kahayon

Lissa Kahayon (RIGHT), 23, entrepreneur, freelance stylist and fashion blogger

Happy new week everyone! I'm back for your weekly dose of fitspiration from real girls. This time, I chose to feature Lissa Kahayon, a fashion blogger at www.lissakahayon.com, one I've worked with before for a magazine shoot, and someone I consider a real fitspiration! She manages to juggle her insanely busy schedule and make sure she has time for fitness and a well-disciplined diet. Check out Lissa and grab some health and fitness tips along the way! Cheers to the new week!

What is your fitness activity/workout of choice? How did you get into this? How does it fit into your schedule?
I always try to do something new so that my body will not get used to a certain kind of workout. Right now I do strength and conditioning, core and plyometrics. I've always been addicted to working out but it wasn't until 8 months ago that I decided to take it into a completely different level. I combined my workouts with healthy eating, ample amount of recovery/sleep time and I'm really happy with the results. I'm lucky that I get to work on my own pace so I workout morning before I go to work or mid-afternoon when I'm already done with my errands. I also have to work around the schedule of my trainers.

What's your diet like? Give specific dishes you consume daily, brands you love, restaurants you frequent, and where you shop for food.
For breakfast, Nestle Fitnesse cereals with soya milk and natural peanut butter or oatmeal with natural peanut butter. For lunch/post workout- chicken breast and lots of vegetables. For dinner I usually have fish/chicken, yogurt or other foods high in protein. For restaurants, I love Nihon Bashitei and Cafe Med. I avoid eating out too much because I'm very particular with the ingredients, type of oil they use to cook the food, etc. It gets too tiring to ask too many questions so I'd rather eat at home haha! For groceries, I just ask our helper or my mom to buy me my fruits/vegetables, eggs, chicken, etc.

The discipline shows! Here with fellow blogger David Guison

Top 3 fitness/health lessons you can share with us?

1. Achieving your fitness goals/dream body/peg will take a lot of time. It has been 8 months since I fully dedicated myself to a fit & healthy lifestyle and there's still so much that I need to work on. I became obsessed because I saw a tremendous amount of change in my body. I've never felt this lighter in my life and I can honestly say that I became a stronger version of myself. 

2. Committing to this kind of lifestyle requires a whole lot of sacrifice. I don't get to see my friends that much since I try to sleep by 9 or 10, I avoid alcohol and yes, I get into arguments with my friends/family since they find it so difficult to feed me. Haha!

3. The results will not be the same for everyone. I used to get so frustrated whenever I feel like I'll never be able to achieve my "peg" but it just comes down to the fact that we all have different body types. Some are born lucky while most of us will have to work our butt off. Focus on your goals but be practical/reasonable too. :)

What's on your workout playlist?

Anything hip hop will always be appealing to me. It sets the mood right and I get so pumped up to work out.

Workout gear must-haves? 

I'm always wearing a loose top because I feel so comfortable in them. I lift too so I need gloves. Don't forget your water jug, towel and cycling shorts as well! :)

Enjoying Palawan with Laureen Uy, Nicole Andersson, and Camille Co

Whose body do you dream of achieving? Fitness idols? 

The Victoria's Secret angels are definitely an inspiration but lately I'm loving these random fitness girls on Instagram. I guess it's because they're more relatable and they share their before/after photos, diet and health tips. I love Nike master trainer, Marie Purvis, Jillian Michaels and yes, even Shaun T. They're unbelievably strong!

Share some of the blogs/websites/Instagram accounts, etc. you frequent for fitspiration! 

@fightforfit

@fightforyourfit

@mymotivationtoloseweight

I also search by using the ff: hashtags: motivation, fitspiration, abs, core, ripped and diet.

Enjoying the beach with friends

Resto Review: Juju Eats

Imagine my excitement when I chanced upon the news that Juju Cleanse now has a restaurant specifically dedicated to making us eat our greens! This is the first salad bar in Manila that offers not just traditional salads but over 5,000 combinations to try (as stated above!) One afternoon, I made a trip over to their resto in Pasong Tamo Extension to sample their menu and see what the buzz is about.

I spy carrots, olives, red onions, sun dried tomatoes, chopped hard boiled egg, mushrooms, corn, grilled veggies, corn kernels, and more!

How cool are the resto's interiors? Check out their menu + the juice bar! They made their juice cleanses available to anyone who wants to detox any time of the week! Smart idea! Coffee and slush drinks are available as well. Bonus: Bayani Brew is being sold here too! Yipee!

I love that the preparation is done in the open where customers can see how it's done. No secret ingredients or tricks, just good food! This is me paying for our orders! Soooo ready to eat! :)

I hear this place gets packed at lunch and dinner time! Way to go, office-goers! How I wish I worked nearby...

Our orders for the day: Greek salad, cilantro soup, and roasted pumpkin wrap! --- EVERYTHING WAS SOOO GOOD. I am not exaggerating. I just find everything delicious! You can split your orders with a friend as their whole servings are quite big. Well, big enough for a hungry person. Haha!

 

Our drinks of choice included Bayani Brew and a cucumber slush. These are perfect for sun-shiny summer days! Well it's no secret that I absolutely adore this place, and will definitely be back to try all the stuff on their menu! Pay them a visit at BCS Building, 2297 Pasong Tamo Extension, Makati City. Log on to facebook.com/JujuEats

Book club of one

Finally, my pabili from the States have arrived! Thanks to my tita Ochie and tita Arleen who tirelessly shopped for me while they were on vacation. Here I am still trying my best to eat clean and learn how to cook clean and delicious dishes made out of real food! Proud to say I don't eat food out of packages at all anymore (except for certain life or death situations wherein I immediately regret it). Can't wait to try all the delicious recipes and tips these awesome women whipped up! I don't think I have to mention how good they look - needless to say Gwyneth Paltrow, Kimberly Snyder, and Daphne Oz are some of the women I truly look up to. I'll be sharing my recipe roadtests with you guys in the next coming weeks, so check back from time to time! :)