Pinoy Style South Beach Diet

I need to lose weight. I’m currently about 15 pounds over my normal, comfortable weight and I need to lose these extra pounds fast. Why? For one, my back cannot carry the extra weight because of my scoliosis. When I’m heavier than usual, I get backaches and leg cramps at the end of the day. For another, because of my recent commitment to NOT buy new jeans this year, I really have to fit into my existing ones. Which are all under Size 29! I was Size 27-28 when I bought them. So it’s a miracle, really, that I can still fit into them. But sometimes, I have to release the top button of my jeans to accommodate the fat, especially after a particularly yummy meal. Oh the horror!

So anyway, I’ve decided to go on South Beach Diet or SBD again (which, by the way, has not failed me so far). For me, SBD works very well and fast! I will not get into the science behind SBD but I will tell you this: if done correctly and religiously, it can take away 10-15 pounds. Gaining the weight back is a question of self-discipline and proper maintenance (which, obviously, I have an issue with 🙂 )

adoseofsimple_Southbeach

SBD has 3 phases: Phase 1 restricts the intake of ALL forms of starch, dairy and alcohol. Phase 2 basically re-introduces starch and Phase 3 is the maintenance phase. I’m currently on my second day of Phase 1 and as expected, all I can think about is carbs, especially during merienda time! It’s simply torture so I just distract myself with work.

So far, the most difficult part of SBD is looking for a meal plan suited to Filipinos, especially since we generally subsist on rice, bread and kakanin. So I’ve come up with a meal plan for Phase 1 (the most difficult part). I’m sharing with you the first seven days. Note that this is not strictly SBD since I still allow onions and palm oil. I will report on my progress from time to time and if you want to join me, let me know! It’s always fun to do stuff with friends.

Day 1

Breakfast: Mushroom and Bacon Omelette
Snacks: a handful of Peanuts
Lunch: Roast Chicken, Lettuce and Cucumber salad with Japanese mayonaise
Snacks: 1 wedge of cream cheese
Dinner: Igado (liver and pork in soy sauce and vinegar)

Day 2

Breakfast: 1 Soft boiled egg with pepper and soy sauce
Snacks: Pistachio nuts
Lunch: Grilled Porkchop with Sauteed Cabbage
Snacks: 2 tablespoon peanut butter (unsweetened)
Dinner: Roast Chicken and Lettuce and Cucumber salad with Italian dressing

Day 3

Breakfast: Embutido and tomatoes
Snacks: Peanuts
Lunch: Tinolang Manok
Snacks: Singkamas
Dinner: Fried Cream Dory and Baguio beans sauteed in butter

Day 4

Breakfast: Tuna and Egg Salad with Lettuce
Snacks: Singkamas
Lunch: Pork Sinigang
Snacks: Peanut Butter
Dinner: Chicken and Pork Adobo with Ginisang Ampalaya

Day 5

Breakfast: Natural Yogurt
Snacks: 1 wedge Cream Cheese
Lunch: Grilled Rosemary Chicken
Snacks: Peanuts
Dinner: Pritong Tilapia and Sauteed Bean Sprouts

Day 6

Breakfast: Tuna Omelette
Snacks: Pistachio nuts or almonds
Lunch: Porkchop and Ginisang Munggo
Snacks: Singkamas
Dinner: Chicken Brocolli

Day 7

Breakfast: Mushroom and Cheese Omelette
Snacks: Peanut Butter
Lunch: Sinigang na Bangus
Snacks: 2 slices of cheese
Dinner: Pritong Galunggong and Ginisang Sayote

Notes for Phase 1:

For sudden cravings, stock up on Laughing Cow Cream Cheese, Growers Pistachio nuts and almonds, Happy Peanuts and peanut butter.
Do not eat rice or any form of carbs and fruits.
Do not drink alcohol.
Avoid sodas. But if you must, get the sugar-free kind.
You can eat desserts as long as it’s starch and sugar-free.

See the Phase 2 Menu of the Pinoy South Beach Diet here.

Food for Thought

“I went on the South Beach Diet for it. I trained for six days a week, two-and-a-half hours a day. I was determined to look good in those shorts.”
– Jessica Simpson on how she prepared for her role as Daisy in “The Dukes of Hazzard”

Bird Watching in Sauyo

In our little piece of heaven along Sauyo Road, animals abound.  We have 3 labradors, 1  jack russel, 6 cats (including the kittens),  a bullfrog that eats cat food when we’re not looking,  resident lizards, occasional grass snakes and birds. Lots of birds.

When we’re not living harmoniously together,  some try to assert their place in the food chain.  Case in point:

This went on for about thirty minutes.  But I’m happy to report that no animal was harmed while filming this clip.

Inspiring Work Areas

As someone who usually writes at home, I find it very important to keep my home office pretty, if not organized.  And although I’m happy with my creative space now, it’s always nice to find inspiration from others.

A workstation solely dedicated to my travel photography… that would be a dream come true!  I love the framed mood board in powder blue! And the carefree  placement of the maps.

The color-scheme in this lovely corner is so relaxing. Each item has been carefully  selected and  the overall effect is pleasing to the eye. Although the mood board is the focal point, the modern lamp steals the scene.

It’s one thing to organize your home office, but to do it with style is another. Here, the unique bill organizers serve as catch-all for photos and postcards.   It takes patience to scout for office organizers that are not only pretty but functional. And if you can’t find any,  you can always make your own!

Oh to have your own work shed! What a luxury! Come to think of it, this is a simple project and all you need is space in your backyard. You can even use recycled wood to keep the cost down. What do you think?

Food for Thought

When forced to work within a strict framework the imagination is taxed to its utmost–and will produce its richest ideas.  Given total freedom the work is likely to sprawl.
– T.S. Eliot

*Note: I don’t own any of the photos featured in this post.

Nanay’s Kitchen

I like looking at old photos when I’m feeling low.  I especially love sifting through photos of my family’s house in Aklan.  My favorite, of course, are those of my Nanay’s kitchen.


I designed this kitchen myself, but the decor is all Nanay’s. Most of her lovely baskets and whatnots came from Dapitan.  Looking at this image always makes me feel instantly good.

I can almost smell Nanay’s cooking, especially the savory aroma of her delicious pansit, my favorite dish.

No one else’s pansit bihon can compare to my Nanay’s.   And a plateful of this flavorful noodles set against a vintage lace tablecloth is, for me,  an image of utter perfection.

What’s YOUR image of perfection?

Food for Thought

The most remarkable thing about my mother is that for thirty years she served the family nothing but leftovers.  The original meal has never been found.  ~Calvin Trillin

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