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I come from a family that has a history of diabetes and obesity. I seldom play sports and usually spend my free time playing video games, watching TV and in eating. In fact, living a healthy and an active lifestyle was at the bottom of my priorities soon after I entered law school. However, all of these changed when my yearly medical check-up showed I already weighed 186 pounds. I feared that I will lose control over my weight and suffer the same fate as that of my parents - both died in their early 50’s because of complications due to diabetes and obesity. With all these fears in mind, together with all the stress at home and in school, I decided to sign up for a gym membership at Fitness First- Greenhills. Standing 5’6 tall and weighing 186 pounds, I was ruled to be obese with a fast resting heart rate. My asthma often bothers me and I easily get tired after walking for a less than a mile. I was offered to undergo a Nutrition Counseling Program for 12 weeks and an extensive Personal Training Program for a total of 25 sessions. At first, I was hesitant to get into the program, worried that I may not be able to attend the sessions due to my busy schedule in school. But as I was now motivated in shedding those extra pounds off and in having a healthy life, I decided to give both programs a try.
Food has been my constant companion ever since - I find comfort in them and feel secure as I munch them down. It was my nutritionist, Ms. Karenn Fajardo, who explained to me why I felt that way about food. I have learned a lot of things that, in retrospect, I feel have contributed much to my weight loss. Even more beneficial is the fact that “I lose and at the same time I gain” - I lose those unwanted fats and at the same time gain those muscles. Karenn usually starts our weekly session by getting my fat and muscle percentages using the Tanita Machine; she carefully explains whether or not I’ve had fat loss or muscle gain and adjusts my diet based on the results. Every week she furnishes a food diary where I can list my entire food intake for the week. I jot down all the food that I took from breakfast to dinner, together with my morning, afternoon, pre gym and post gym snacks. I also get to record the number of minutes I spent in aerobic and strength exercises, and from there she assesses the rate of my progress. Nutrition Counseling changed my view about food and its effects on my body. It thought me how be disciplined, choosing only “quality” foods. Aside from the fact that you can regularly monitor your weight, it reveals the real condition of your body. It ascertains your fat and muscle mass, bringing a proper balance between the two. It monitors your food intake, thereby determining those that are meant to be eaten and those that are to be ignored. The program also assisted me in speeding up my metabolism by teaching the proper timing in taking up the food and the amount to be eaten. Now I can eat controlled meals for 6 times a day, without worrying about unwanted fats grouping themselves around my belly. Clearly, Nutrition Counseling has offered me a life-changing experience. I have gained not only a fit body but a healthy one as well. It taught me how to be disciplined not only in choosing the right kind of food but in doing my daily activities as well. Everyday I feel active and refreshed, developing that sense of optimism for the coming days ahead. |
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