Thank You, 2012!

2012 was definitely a GREAT year for me, mostly because it was a year that I chose to be grateful, open-minded and open-hearted. 

2012 was a year of adventure: travelling around the country and around the WORLD by myself, and also with friends and family. 

2012 was a year of accomplishment: I finished my first major construction project (The Mind Museum); the first house I have ever designed was built, and we moved into it; and I graduated from my MBA! 

2012 was a year of new experiences and new beginnings: I met new friends, explored new hobbies and past-times, and partied the night away; I started a new construction project, handled more responsibility, and new love found me. :)

I will always look back at 2012 with fondness and gratitude. At the same time, I will treat 2013 with the same appreciation, thanking it for the adventure, the accomplishments, the experiences and beginnings that it will surely give me.

Goodbye, 2012! Thank you for all the love! 2013, are you ready to paint the world red with me? :) Let's go! ♥

The JuJu-Challenge: Day 3

Today is the final day of the cleanse!!!!

Rather than feel ecstatic though, I woke up today feeling a bit blah. I didn't have the appetite for anything, not the juices, not even real food (if somebody offered me some right now, I'd probably say no). Maybe it's because I just can't wait for today to be over. If I could go home, tuck myself under the blanket and just sleep this whole day off, I would.

But of course I can't. I have to work! "Back to the daily grind, Les, stop being such a wuss!" is my mantra for today.

Before starting on the juices, I weighed myself and was glad to find out that I lost 1.6 lbs since yesterday. So that's a total of 2.6 lbs lost since I started the cleanse. My stomach is noticeably flatter (well, wouldn't anybody's tummy be flatter after 2 days of no solid food?! Dibaaaa?), and my skin looks clearer! It doesn't look too drab today. I usually have to put a bit of primer on my face because I look kinda greyish in the mornings. But my cheeks today have a bit of color in them. I hope this is not wishful thinking. Haha!

Day 3

Bottle #1, the Green Bomb:

I always have an internal struggle with this one. I really just don't like the taste of cucumbers. *shudder* And since I was feeling very blah this morning, my internal army didn't feel like putting up a fight with the Green Bomb. So I had a staring contest with it instead. It stayed in front of me, on my desk, for an hour, before I had the guts to open it up.

Not much to report here except that I finished it all off in more than an hour. :( What motivated me to finish it was this: the promise of a nicer tasting juice right after! My most-awaited Spicy Limonada! Yay!

One down, 5 to go...

Start: 8:14 a.m.
Finish: 9:35 a.m.
Total time: 1 hour and 21 minutes


Bottle #2, the Spicy Limonada:

Yay, I am finally at #2, my favorite! Cannot wait to drink this refreshing mix. I needed something to wash off the taste of the previous one. :(

 Two down, four to go...

Start: 10:44 a.m.
Finish: 11:02 a.m.
Total time: 18 minutes

Bottle #3, the Red Giant:

My schedule for this bottle isn't till 1:00 p.m., so I planned to just have a siesta during lunch. But during one of my bathroom breaks, I chanced upon this in the pantry:

They cooked fried chicken for lunch! Look at all of those plates with steaming hot white rice...

*snap*

Back to reality, please. JuJuCleanse reality, that is.

Was a bit busy after lunch break so I was 50 minutes late for my 3rd bottle. Our utility guy also took the first 2 bottles away to wash them, so I wasn't able to take a picture of all 3 of them in a row. :(



Start: 1:50 p.m.
Finish: 3:00 p.m.
Total time: 1 hour and 10 minutes


Bottle #4, Salaba't and Lemon:

Ahhhh, so we finally meet. :) The taste isn't too bad once I got used to it. The ginger just heats up  my throat, but I can easily wash it down with water anyway.

I was supposed to join one of the DATEM Biggest Loser groups on their run today, but I decided against it because I didn't want to strain myself. Although I feel fine now, I just didn't want to take my chances.

I will just take my JuJu bottles with me, sit at home in front of the TV and in front of my laptop, and relaaaaaax. :)

Start: 5:00 p.m.
Finish: 6:00 p.m.
Total time: 1 hour


Bottle #5, The Green Bomb:

My last bottle of green stuff!!! Yeaaaah, I'm so happy, that I postpone drinking it until 3 hours later. :( Hehe. But I know that I have to conquer it sometime, so I get it from the ref, open it...and then just stare at it for 10 minutes.

Oh man, this is gonna be a loooong night.

I'm smiling here because I haven't opened the bottle yet. Haha

Start: 8:05 p.m.
Finish: 9:30 p.m.
Total time: 1.5 hours


Bottle #6, Salaba't Lemon:

Again, this bottle remains untouched inside my ref. I was just too full to drink it. I finished the Green Bomb too late, I was too full, I was already sleepy, and I didn't want any more liquids inside of me! So I brushed my teeth and called it a night.

Sorry. I guess I failed yet again.


The following day...

I woke up this morning not feeling ecstatic as I had expected. No cravings. No hunger pangs.

I took the last bottle with me to work, planning to just drink it for breakfast. I think I got to 9:00 a.m. without eating solid food, and then, free hotsilog was presented to me...how could I resist? Haha! I only ate a couple spoonfuls of rice, though, and I already felt full.

Oh, and I weighed myself first thing this morning. The result? I lost a total of 3-lbs, as I had predicted. Not too happy with it, since I know it's mostly water weight, but it's a start!

The verdict?

What this JuJu-Challenge has taught me is that I should have enough will-power to control my cravings, to only eat when I am truly hungry, and to eat in moderation. It also taught me that I should drink a lot of water! Just think, only 6 bottles of juice a day (plus a lot of gulps of water in-between) and not once did I feel hungry! I realize that most of my whining about food and feeling "hungry" only came from my cravings, but not once did I feel that my stomach was empty. If I would just increase my water intake and decrease my tendencies to munch, that would already make a big difference in my diet. :)

I think this could be a good product for those who are aiming to remove their bloatedness before a big beach trip, but this isn't a solution for lasting weight loss. In the end, it can only give you the push you need towards eating healthier. :)

So to those who are thinking of doing the JuJu-Challenge: GOOD LUCK! If you're not a vegetable eater, like me, try the 1-day challenge first to see if you're up for it. But since I survived, I guess there's no harm in trying the 3-day challenge! Just make sure that you have a support system (i.e. friends who will not eat delicious, aromatic food while you're around), and that you have a good purpose.

...and with that, I am signing off, on my way to a better,  healthier lifestyle!

The JuJu-Challenge: Day 1
The JuJu-Challenge: Day 2

The JuJu-Challenge: Day 2

Yesterday, I wasn't the most optimistic person in the world, and I guess it was my fault that I failed JuJu-Challenge Day 1. I was too much of a "negatron." So for Day 2, I promised myself that I would be more optimistic. "I will finish ALL the juices today, and I will enjoy it!" is my mantra.

Day 2

I started the morning with a jolt. I slept through my alarm again, and I was running late for work. While I was getting ready, I noticed that my usually bloated tummy looked flat (hooray!). That's a good sign.

As soon as I arrived at the office, I stepped on the weighing scale (yes, I have a digital weighing scale on hand, which we use for our DATEM Biggest Loser program. Haha!), and I noted that I lost 1-lb since yesterday. Huh? That's not much of an achievement is it? Psssh. But still, I will not let that discourage me. 2 more days to go, maybe I will lose a total of 3-lbs. I know that it's completely water weight, but still! I shall work from there.

Bottle #1, the Green Bomb:

Ahh, green monster, it's you again.

I decided to pretend that I don't care (dedma lang). I opened the bottle and just drank it without hesitation. I was surprised that I didn't feel like gagging after the first sip. The taste wasn't too bad this time around! Maybe my taste buds were getting used to it. Hooray!

Oh, but before I attempted to drink it, I tried the mint tea (using the leaves they provided in the pack). It tasted like pesto in hot water. Maybe I was using it wrong :(

Start: 8:00 a.m.
Finish: 8:30 a.m.
Total time: 30 minutes!


Bottle #2, the Spicy Limonada:

My office is in the Fort, and I had a 9 a.m. meeting all the way in Quezon City. Estimating the travel time to and from QC, plus the duration of the meeting, I figured that I'll be away for the next 5 hours, so I took the next 2 bottles with me.

Unfortunately, I drank bottle #2 during the meeting, so I have no photo. :( The Spicy Limonada is my favorite drink. It's the easiest to take! It tastes more like calamansi than lemon, though...but that's ok. :)

Can I just say that travelling while on the cleanse is such a hassle? I had to stop by 2 gas stations to pee. Haha! Well, at least that's a sign that it's working.

Start: 10:20 a.m.
Finish: 10:30 a.m.
Total time: 10 minutes!


Bottle #3, the Red Giant:

I felt hungry by 12:30 p.m., and I was already looking forward to drinking the Red Giant by 1:00 p.m. However, I got back to my car at around 1:20 p.m. already, so I was 20 minutes late for my 3rd bottle. Good thing the insulation bag kept it cool. :) The Red Giant was my companion during the drive back to Taguig. It took me so long to finish it, not because of the taste (this is my 2nd favorite drink), but because I didn't want to spill this bright red juice all over myself or my car seat. I had to wait for full stops before I could take a sip or two.

Start: 1:22 p.m.
Finish: 2:22 p.m.
Total time: 1 hour


Bottle #4, Alkazest:

As I said during Day 1, this isn't one of my favorites. Probably the 3rd least favorite, because of its bitter aftertaste. I think it heard me and it plotted its revenge. How? You'll see in a while.

I took my sweet time drinking it because I was busy with work, so there were times when I completely forgot that it was right in front of me on my desk. Haha. ;) I finished it by the time I was supposed to leave the office. I couldn't leave just yet because the delivery of juices for my cleanse the next day was late. The package arrived at around 6:15 p.m. already, and the JuJu delivery guy apologized profusely...traffic on the way here was horrible, he said (in Tagalog. Haha).

No worries, dude. I had work to do anyway.

Start: 4:12 p.m.
Finish: 6:00 p.m.
Total time: Almost 2 hours


Bottle #5, the Green Bomb:

Maybe my morning taste buds are different from my evening tastebuds, because my evening tastebuds didn't like the Green Bomb. :( Drank this while watching TV (with an emergency glass of water by my side). I had to finish this quickly because I had to leave for QC with friends by 8:30 p.m.

No picture for this one, sorry. I was too engrossed in the evening news to remember.

Ton came to pick me up, and with him, he had some JT Chicken Inasal (pecho!) for take-out. For him to eat, obviously. Will power, Lesley. Will powerrrrrrr. :(

So since I had to leave the house for the night, I grabbed the last bottle from the ref and placed it into the insulation bag.

Start: 7:15 p.m.
Finish: 8:15 p.m.
Total time: 1 hour


Bottle #6, Salaba't Lemon (or is it?):

Before heading out to QC, we passed by Draft, Rockwell to meet up with Ton's other friends who are also going with us to QC. It was like torture walking into Draft. I could see tables piled on with orders of Hoegaarden, fish and frittes, sheperd's pie, and other yummy, deep fried, fatty food. It was like I had died and gone to hell. Hell, because there were so many temptations in front of me, and I could not have them!!!

So finally, we leave, and I grab my last bottle of JuJu like a lifeline. So what if you guys have fish and frittes? I have JuJuCleanse! Nomnomnom.

(ok, maybe the hunger is making me delirious)

I was dreading drinking the last one because of its strong ginger taste, so when I finally drank it, I was surprised that it did not give me the usual hot kick. "Hey, this isn't so bad," I told Ton, gulping down almost half of the bottle. "In fact, it kind of tastes like..." I trailed off, panicked, and grabbed the bottle cap.

Just as I thought. Alkazest has sought its revenge. Instead of grabbing the #6 bottle, I grabbed #4. :(

No picture here again, because I'm embarrassed to document my mistakes. Haha!

Bottle #6, Alkazest:

We were already on our way to QC then (and I was hungry!), so I decided to just finish off the contents anyway. Since I expected a ginger taste, this Alkazest was actually a welcome replacement. Ah, you sneaky Alkazest you.

Start: 10:45 p.m.
Finish: 11:00 p.m.
Total time: 15 minutes

The good news is, I finished all 6 bottles! Hurray! The bad news is, this is the 2nd day in a row that I wasn't able to drink the Salaba't Lemon. So now, I have 2 and 3/4 bottles in my ref. Poor, neglected Salaba't Lemon, don't worry, I will drink you this afternoon as a replacement for the Alkazest. :)

The JuJu-Challenge: Day 1
The JuJu-Challenge: Day 3

The JuJu-Challenge: Day 1

I can't think of a cleverer way to name this blog post other than to incorporate the word "challenge" in it, because it's exactly that: A CHALLENGE. I challenged myself to take this on, because I knew of my propensity for snacking and eating more than what is required. Masarap kumain, bakit ba? I knew that I needed to do something to turn-around my eating habits, and maybe JuJuCleanse is the answer to that.

I'll be lying if I told you that I ordered JuJuCleanse to jumpstart a healthy lifestyle by flushing out the toxins and cleansing my palette. The first and foremost reason is: I want to lose weight. Looking at what I look like now, you'd probably scoff and say that I look fine for my height; or if you've known me for a while, you'd probably say that I look better with a little meat in me. But I know that if I do not control my weight gain NOW, my propensity for retaining water weight will come bite me in my (future) big ass someday.

In the past couple of years, I've noticed a big change in my metabolism, and I am not liking it one bit. I've gained around 12 lbs in 3 years, and it is showing no sign of slowing down. So before this all goes out of hand, I've decided to make a commitment to fitness:

• I've started running since August of 2011. Although I've had several stops and starts, I am happy to report that from being unable to run for more than 2 minutes straight, my longest running record has now been 31:31 minutes or 4.34 kilometers! From couch potato to 4.3k! Not bad, don't you think?

• I've signed up for a gym membership at 360 Fitness Club. I love this gym. It's quite a drive away from where I live, but I spend around 2 hours there anyway, so it's totally worth it. Aside from the circuit, I really enjoy the Power Yoga, Body Balance, Body Jam, Zumba and Suspension Training Classes.

However, I still haven't made a commitment to a healthy diet. It's just SO HARD to let go of good food! Masarap kumain! I always use my regular exercise as an excuse to eat whatever I want (especially on weekends). But I am slowly beginning to realize that exercise is only 40% of the battle. They say that your diet makes up 60% of the game; without eating the proper food, then your exercise will be for naught, and you are breaking sweat just to maintain your current weight.

I am a failure at dieting because I get tempted by food quite easily. It's easy to diet when I'm at the office; I can just bring tuna and crackers, or snack on a banana. But once the free food comes in (when there are birthdays, bonuses, etc.), how can I say no to that??? I needed a structured diet plan, and I need to practice my will-power. What kind of diet will help me achieve this?

I've been eyeing JuJuCleanse for a while now, but given its steep price (a 1-day cleanse costs PhP 2,500; a 3-day cleanse costs PhP 7,100), I've had second thoughts.

Last week, though, I finally decided that it's NOW OR NEVER. My weight has been fluctuating for around 2lbs for the past month, and I decided to stop making excuses for my diet and to just help jumpstart it with JuJuCleanse.

I ordered a 3-day Level 1 cleanse via JuJuCleanse.com (the level depends on how many "green" drinks are inside the 6-bottle package. The higher the level, the more "Green Bombs" you have to drink). I mean, I do want to lose weight, but I'm not a masochist. I am not a vegetable eater, so I know that these green drinks will be hard for me to gulp down.

My order came the day before my cleanse, and I was a bit surprised that I was handed 6 bottles inside a plastic bag. What happened to the nice insulation bag they promised in their website, with cooling packs? I texted Kat (the owner of JuJuCleanse) to ask about it (maybe they ran out of bags?), and she apologized for the mix-up. Apparently, she thought I was a repeat customer, and repeat customers are asked to reuse their insulation bags. She promised to have my bag delivered along with the bottles for Day 2.

I lined up the bottles along the bottom shelf of my refrigerator, and headed out to have a night cap with friends. It was a stressful Monday and I wanted to unwind with a few drinks. I know that JuJuCleanse recommends that I cut down my intake of the following:

• Animal protein and processed foods
• Salt, refined sugar and carbs
• Carbonated sodas, and other caffeinated drinks
• Alcohol and nicotine

 ...but with the impending doom of no solid food for the next 3 days, I had some Beef Wanton Cups, Pumpkin Soup, and a couple of shots of the Flying Tiger from Fez for my "last meal." Hehe. Sorry. :) I will soon regret this, though, as my stomach had such a hard time adjusting. :(

So now, Day 1 of the cleanse begins. I take 5 of the bottles to the office with me, and I hope for the best.

Day 1

Bottle #1, the Green Bomb:

I know that it's the first bottle and I haven't tasted the others YET, but I could tell that this is going to be my least favorite drink. It's made of celery, cucumber, coconut water, malunggay, pineapple, Romaine lettuce and spinach. Bleuuuurgh.

When I got to the office, I noticed that my usual cup of 3-in-1 was already prepared for me. Resisting the urge for my regular caffeine fix, I turned away from the piping hot mug of lovely, delicious coffee, and I grudgingly grabbed bottle #1: the Green Bomb. I decided to skip the mint tea for now (free mint leaves come with every order of JuJuCleanse).

As I've mentioned earlier, I am not a vegetable eater. I've only started to eat salads this past year (especially after my Korea trip where every meal has greens), and even then, it's not the sort of food that I would take regularly. The Green Bomb has an overpowering cucumber taste, and out of all the vegetables, I hate cucumbers almost as much as I hate okra. I started to drink this bottle at 7:30 a.m. 2.5 hours later (time for me to drink the 2nd bottle), I am still not finished with it. I admit, I stopped attempting to drink it at around 9:30 a.m., upon reading the FAQ page at JuJuCleanse.com, wherein I saw this:

"Since you are not eating anything throughout the day we recommend that you drink as much of the cleanse juices as possible, as they are meant to be your nourishment for the day. However, if the volume is simply too much for you, it's absolutely nothing for you to worry about."

Since alkalinity is what you're after, this green juice is the way to go. This elixir of assorted green veggies loads you up with important nutrients and enzymes that our bodies desperately need to keep alive and well down to the cellular level. You've heard the term "life force"? This is all that and more!

But to be sure, I texted Kat, and she replied, saying that it is ideal for me to consume all 6 bottles within the day, and that it's ok to sip slowly until I finish the whole bottle. So I bucked up, transferred the bottle contents into a cup, and I see that I only have a little more of this green juice to go! Konti nalaaaaaang! Let's do this!

Doesn't look very appetizing out of its cute bottle, don't you think?

By this time also, I've been to the bathroom to pee for around 3x already. And each time I go, I get sad, because the kitchen is right next to the bathroom, and they're cooking Pork Sinigang today. :(

Start: 7:30 a.m.
Finish: 10:23 a.m.
Total time: almost 3 hours.


Bottle #2, the Spicy Limonada:

Since I finished the Green Bomb very VERY late, and since the aftertaste of the cucumbers was still there, and since I still felt very full, I decided to take the next drink during lunch break (11:30 a.m.) instead of the recommended 10:00 a.m. schedule.

To be honest, after my bad experience with the Green Bomb, I wasn't looking forward to drinking another bottle of juice. I had to stare down this yellow bottle for a couple of minutes before I got the courage to open it. I read reviews from various bloggers, and they say that the Spicy Limonada is their favorite drink, so it seemed promising.

Not just your ordinary lemonade. This version packs a little extra heat and health into every sip with cayenne pepper. This drink aims not only to swing your body pH into a more alkaline state, but to speed up your metabolism as well.

It's exactly what the name implies: spicy lemonade. It is made of the same stuff used by Beyonce in her Master Cleanse diet: cayenne pepper, honey and lemon! I was able to finish it in 4 goes. I had to keep myself from finishing the whole bottle all at once, as I remembered Kat saying that gulping it down is not recommended. Truth be told, I just wanted to get it over with! 500ml is too much liquid! I want to chew something!!!

Start: 11:43 a.m.
Finish: 12:03 p.m.
Total time: 20 minutes


Bottle #3, the Red Giant:

Another drink that I wasn't looking forward to, because I know that the main ingredient is beets. I hate beets. At around 2:00 p.m., I got bottle #3 from the ref. Its bold, red color is a bit intimidating, I must say. It's made of beets, carrots, ginger and pineapple...all 4 ingredients I'm not too fond of separately. All combined, though, it wasn't too bad! The ginger taste is what stood out, but I think the pineapple balances it all out. :) The ginger kind of gives it the same "hotness" factor that the cayenne pepper gave the Spicy Limonada.

Rich in alkaline elements that aid in cleansing and elimination, this potent potion of beets, pineapple, carrots, and ginger is as healthy as it is delicious. Beets are remarkably good for your liver, and beet juice has been shown to increase stamina and act as an athletic performance enhancer

I didn't have a problem with the taste, but it took me so long to finish it because I was already feeling so full from all the liquids I've been consuming all day (the juices plus water). It also didn't help that I was beginning to get a bit masungit from being food-deprived for the whole day. Printer ate my paper? Roar! An officemate offering me lanzones? Growl! It doesn't take much to irritate me today. I can't believe that I'll be food-deprived for another 2 days.

In the meantime, I am considering abstaining from Twitter altogether because people keep posting pictures of food. Roar!Growl!Hiss!!!!

Start: 2:22 p.m.
Finish: 2:57 p.m.
Total time: 35 minutes


Bottle #4, Alkazest:

Seeing that it has coconut water in its list of ingredients (the other 2 ingredients being grapefruit / orange and pineapple), I immediately imagined gulping down a whole bottle of virgin coconut oil. I hope this one is more like buko juice.

Taking the 1st sip, however, I was pleasantly surprised that it had a citrus taste. There's this weird, bitter aftertaste though, that I can't identify. I think I prefer the Red Giant over this. I discovered a new trick to enable myself to easily drink the juices: if you focus your eyes on a far-off point, and if you stop breathing while you swallow, you won't taste a thing (at least, not much. And at least, not until you start breathing again).

This vitamin and anti-oxidant rich mix of grapefruit, pineapple, and coconut juices is a refreshing mid-afternoon picker upper. It is designed to replenish your electrolytes and boost your energy levels to help get you through the rest of the day.

I still feel full from the last 3 full bottles I consumed, so I took my time finishing this one. And I think it's the thought of another Green Bomb coming up that has caused me to procrastinate finishing bottle #4. Halaaaaaa. :(

Start: 4:20 p.m.
Finish: 5:15 p.m.
Total time: 55 minutes

At this point, the delivery of bottles for my 2nd day has arrived, and with it, my free (and previously forgotten) insulation bag with cooler packs. It's so cute that I almost forget that it contains 6 more bottles of liquid torture.

At this point also, someone offered me a free slice of pizza. I think he was a bit shocked when I shouted "NO!" complete with a look of terror on my face. I don't think he saw the solitary tear that fell down my cheek when he stalked off (and with him, that delicious slice of pizza...).


Bottle #5, the Green Bomb:

I left the office at around 6:15 p.m., so I took bottle #5 back home with me. Since I finished bottle #4 at around 5 p.m., I decided to take the Green Bomb at 7 p.m. So. I am faced with this green monster once again. Just looking at it makes me want to puke. I have a stare-down contest with it for about 30 minutes or so, before I conquered my fear, and I opened the bottle. I wish I could turn off my taste buds for a few minutes while I drink this one. :(

I'm thinking that I should finish this in 30 minutes, or else I will be too full to take my last bottle: the Salaba't Lemon. But, already an hour and 1/2 has passed and I still can't get past half. :(

I think I will have to give up on this one. Maybe I'll have better luck tomorrow.

 Start: 7:34 p.m.
Give-up time: 9:10 p.m.
Total time: N.A.


Bottle #6, Salaba't and Lemon:

I had a movie date with Ton that night, so I took the unfinished bottle of Green Bomb, and the bottle of Salaba't Lemon with me. He took a sip of both drinks and he said he actually liked the Green Bomb. Hmp. I guess I'm just a picky (vegetable) eater. I've seen blog reviews about the Green Bomb, and a lot (not all) also like its taste. Guess I'm one of the few unlucky ones who can't stomach it.

Anyway, as I said earlier, I gave up on the Green Bomb halfway through. Ton kept giving me tips on how to drink it (he says it's the same technique he uses to gulp down Bacardi 151), but I kept giving him this "wawa" face that he soon gave up. And it also didn't help that he bought Wendy's french fries, iced tea, and Pan de Americana pandesal as a movie snack (I confess, I had a couple of nibbles of each...just to have something to chew on, I promise)!!!

This potent ginger tonic i an excellent expectorant, providing relief for those with respiratory problems.

It helps improve circulation and stimulates your digestive system as well.

This is a wonderful drink on ice and is also perfect warmed up as a pre-bedtime tea.

So, anyway, I started to drink the Salaba't Lemon, but being a non-salabat drinker, I found this drink too strong. It burned my throat, even more than the cayenne pepper, so I had to wash it down with a glass of water. It was too distracting to do while watching a movie, so I set it aside for before bed.

Hmmm. I think I conveniently forgot all about it come bed time. I didn't finish the drink at all. :( I promise to exert more effort tomorrow!

Start: 10:30 p.m.
Give-up time: 11:30 p.m.
Total time: N.A.

To my blog readers, please do not be discouraged by this blog post...remember, there's still Day 2 and 3! :)

The JuJu-Challenge: Day 2
The JuJu-Challenge: Day 3

Why Bad Boys Are Oh-So-Good

There is nothing wrong with being attracted to the proverbial “bad boy.” I say this unapologetically and with conviction (and with a little bit of defensiveness) because I, myself, have a propensity for bad boys. I believe that I’m not the only woman that has this tendency: it has been a known phenomenon in the dating world that most women are attracted to bad boys, just like bees are attracted to some sexy-smelling honey.  The “good boys” or “nice guys,” on the other hand, are crying foul (or are scratching their heads out of confusion. Anyare??), because they cannot understand why girls latch on to the bad boy, cry when the bad boy breaks their heart, then complain about it to all of their friends afterward.

The nice boys are like, “You women say you want a man who is husband-material; someone who can support you financially, emotionally and mentally; someone whom you can bring home to your parents; someone who is mature, sensitive and faithful. A nice guy with all of the qualities above asks you out, you say no. And THEN a bad boy comes along. He ignores you, he doesn’t call you for days, he makes you wait, he flirts with other women, and you can’t seem to get enough of him. WHAT IS UP WITH THAT???”

Oh, honey.  It’s not that simple. :)

 

Let me break it down for you:

First of all, if a nice guy asks me out and I say no, I am saying no, not because you are a nice guy. I am saying no, most probably because I am just not that physically attracted to you. Oops. Sorry. :D Maybe you’re shorter than me, or there’s something about your spiky hair that bothers me, or maybe I think your grammar sucks – it all boils down to the initial attraction. It doesn’t matter if you’re good, bad, or evil; if there is no spark, it’s not going to work!

Secondly, the bad boy is not defined by how poorly he treats women; not all “bad boys” are assholes, cheaters, jerks, players, or douche bags. Bad boys get a lot of flak because people instantly assume that they are one or all of the above. The term “bad” doesn’t necessarily pertain to bad behavior. The term “bad” is used to describe (in a good way) the appeal of a person -- the lure is from their attitude, baby! When a bad boy walks into a room, you are instantly pulled in by his strong, irresistible presence (insert dreamy sigh). 

Thirdly, the bad boy is not defined by his appearance. Sure, a scruffy, brooding exterior is added “bad boy points,” but as implied above, the appeal of the bad boy is his confidence: the way he walks into the room like he owns the place; the way he looks at you straight in the eye like he’s unashamed of invading your personal space; the way he expects everything to be a big production, like he deserves nothing less (insert dreamy sigh).

The interesting thing about bad boys is that they are a potent mix of confidence, indifference, mystery, intrigue and most importantly, excitement. (Fernandes, Rachel. “7 Reasons why girls can’t resist bad boys,” The Times of India. 30 June 2011. Web. 19 September 2012. http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2011-06-30/man-woman/29717657_1_bad-boys-masculinity-traits)

Women love bad boys because we associate these “bad” traits with masculinity: the assertiveness, confidence and independence that the bad boy exudes enforce their manliness.

They say that the #1 draw of a bad boy is the woman’s hope that she will be THE ONE to change him for the better. I beg to disagree with this one. You don’t aim to change a bad boy (why would you want to change traits that contribute to their hotness factor??); the reason why bad boys are so irresistible is that warm, fuzzy feeling you get when you realize that he is showing good behavior for you and you alone. He can be a bad boy all he wants for others to see, but with you, he is tender, caring, thoughtful and GOOD. That is not "changing him," that is bringing out his loving nature for your benefit. :)

* * * *

My taste in men has evolved since high school. By “evolved,” I mean that it has changed (in an improved manner) over the years – or so I would like to believe.  I started off being attracted to the “baby face” types (which is probably a normal way to start off, since high school boys SHOULD look young and their faces, stubble-free). Most of my crushes back then had smooth skin (with a little bit of teenage acne here and there), boyish smiles, clean, gentlemen haircuts, and mama’s boy, country club polo shirts. 

As I grew older (and as I was exposed to more types of men, through university and work), I was inexplicably drawn to the “bad boy” types: not the stereotypical bad boy with motorcycles, facial hair, and dangerous habits (that’s too cliché don’t you think?), but to the bad boy with an overflowing supply of confidence; the bad boy with swagger. Ang hirap i-explain sa English eh, kaya tatagalugin ko nalang: nahilig ako sa lalaki na may dating, yung may konting yabang (insert dreamy sigh. In Tagalog: isingit ang kinikilig na buntong hininga).

* * * *

Now, there is no sure, set formula for a bad boy. I think all women have their own measuring system for this, which is dependent on what is different or unusual for you (what pushes your buttons; what intrigues you; whatever floats your boat ). According to my measuring system, and based on my experience / observations, there are 4 main (exaggerated) types of bad boys:

• The Brooding Artist: If bad boy levels are measured by their supply of mystery and intrigue, then this type of bad boy could be the most recognizable of all. The artist has a lot of angst (and other hidden emotions), which he channels into his craft (music, painting, graphic design, poetry, etc.). The artist doesn’t conform to what is conventionally beautiful or uso; he does what wants, according to his preferences, and he doesn’t give a damn what other people think. Physically, the artists aren’t always nice to look at: they’re a bit unkempt (a trip to the barber shop is considered an unnecessary expense), and often sloppily dressed (fashion is merely a ploy of the corporate world to make more money). But their smoldering, I-don’t-give-a-rat’s-ass stare, their impressive musical and/or drawing skills, and their overall mysterious vibe, gets women clamoring for more.

• The Cocky Frat Boy: This dude has got money, a whole brotherhood to back him up, and a sense of entitlement that causes him to walk into any room like he owns the place (chances are, he probably does). He’s good to his friends, but you wouldn’t want to be his enemy. As the name implies, he’s cocky: overly-assertive and confident, which means, he always gets what he wants. He’s so used to getting what he wants, that when something / someone is in his way, then you had better get ready for some bad boy action. He is well-groomed and preppy-looking (collared shirts and boat shoes), but what sets him apart from the Unassuming Bad Boy (see description below) is that he has a perpetual sneer on his face, and has a habit of staring at / talking to you with his head cocked to one side. In other words (and in Tagalog): mukha talaga siyang mayabang.

• The Unassuming Bad Boy: According to writer CJ de Silva on her article “The 3 Kinds of Guys You Will Meet in Your Life” (http://cjdesilva.com/the-3-kinds-of-guys-you-will-meet-in-your-life/), the most dangerous kind of guy is “The Jerk,” because “he is unaware of how destructive he can be and he looks harmless.” The Unassuming Bad Boy operates on the same premise: on the outside, he looks like a nice guy (wears preppy clothes, has a gentleman’s cut, and has clean nails), and he has good credentials and/or a pristine family background (has a high-paying corporate job, drives a nice car, and treats his mom like a queen). His nice boy exterior, paired with his quiet confidence, attracts him a fair-share of admirers, usually women who declare that they have had it with bad boys, and are now aiming to settle down with a nice, mature guy. The danger here is that though he claims to be a nice guy, once you get to know him, you find out that he has a tendency to be bossy (everybody else is a corporate slave under him), spoiled (thanks to queen mom), and commitment-phobic (he is a bit selfish, I suppose. Not really a useful trait in a woman’s quest to “settle down”).

• The Smooth Party Boy: He is slick, sexy and dangerous.  He knows how to work the crowd, and most importantly, he knows how to work you.  Because of his sexy moves (dance skills are always a plus) and smooth words (especially when they’re said close to your ear, so that they can be heard over the loud club music), people assume that he is a player. His main draw is that he is good with people. Barely 5 meters into a club and he has already said hello to at least 20 people (which include other partyphiles, bartenders, bouncers, and the DJ). When you’re with a Smooth Party Boy, you feel empowered, you feel desirable, and he makes you feel like you're the most gorgeous girl on the planet (you’re the queen of the club, baby, as long as you’re with him).  He has 2 very important bad boy traits: confidence (off-the-charts!), and excitement (his life is an adventure!). When you’re with a Smooth Party Boy, you had better hold on tight and get ready for the ride of your life!

* * * *

I have encountered many different types of bad boys:  some a combination of the types I mentioned above; others, a mellow, understated version. As I said earlier, there is no sure, set formula for a bad boy…it all really depends on what you consider exciting. :) You may have your own definition of a "bad boy" but ultimately, it all boils down to someone who makes your heart race, makes your palms sweat, and makes you tingly all over. 

So, to the "nice boys" out there, please don’t generalize things and complain that you are being overlooked because you are too nice. You are overlooked because the bad boy’s presence fills up the whole room. You are overlooked because, though we women are looking for men to take care of us, we are also looking for someone to ignite our senses. We are looking for that ever-elusive spark. 

You don’t get sparks from politeness or niceness. You get sparks from romance, intrigue, passion, and vibrant energy. Although you nice boys may be able to offer some of these traits sometimes, you don’t enforce it with enough confidence, and it comes out half-baked.  Don’t second-guess yourselves! We women need real men: men who will show the world who is boss, men who will take charge, men who are fearless, and men who have dreams and who are not afraid to work hard for them. 

Now, that is sexy stuff.

The Alien that is the Single Lady

So it has come to this: I have gone past the stage of attending weddings of friends and becoming a godmother to their babies...I have reached the "children party stage," and believe me, when you're a single lady (or maybe a single guy), it is not the funnest stage to be in.

Being used to transitioning from wallflower to partyphile, I thought it would be easy enough to blend in to the children's party crowd -- as easily as I can blend in with the crowd of Prive or Relik on a Friday night. But no, in a children's party, a single lady sticks out like a sore thumb.

There's the fact that she comes into the venue all by herself (usually about an hour late), and there's also the way she moves (slow and a bit hesitant, which can be attributed to the culture shock of entering a different planet -- details to be discussed later), what she wears (wrinkle-free sundress, Gucci shades, a stylish leather handbag), and the expression on her face when encountering little people running around with spaghetti sauce and/or chocolate sauce on their faces (a little bit of fear and uncertainty).

It's also very easy to spot the "single ladies" table in a children's party. Sure, there are other tables full of females within the venue: some are mommy tables, others are yaya tables, but there is almost always one lone "single ladies" table. This is the table usually occupied by the celebrant's mom's high school / college friends. It's the table in the room with the least number of items on it. Mommy/yaya tables are piled on with diaper bags, toys, candy wrappers, or plates of unfinished food (they belong either to the kids, who are too busy playing with their cousins or new-found playmates to eat; or to the mommies/yayas, who are too busy running after their kids to eat). The occupants of the "single ladies" table are all looking at each other or at the center of the table, whereas the occupants of the mommy/yaya tables are all looking at a far off point, trying to track the top of the heads of their charges.

If you try to listen in on a conversation at a "single ladies" table, you'll hear the words/phrases including, but not limited to: "are you dating anybody?" "just got promoted," "single by choice," "men are jerks," "journey of self-discovery," "too busy with work," and "expiration date."

Part of the reason why the single ladies are intently staring at the center of the table instead of looking at their surroundings is that the children's party planet is a strange planet to be in (for a single lady). Its citizens are composed of 3 main types: The children (of course), the kings and queens of this planet, clearly dominate, with their loud voices (screaming, crying, shrieking) and their ability to occupy the space with their high energy levels. The haggard women (the mommies), with disheveled ponytails and wearing Skecher's Shape-Ups, wiping snot off of their kids' faces or rummaging through their big bag ala-Mary Poppins, searching for the "Bring Me" item that will help their children win the game. The last type is the most baffling of all: middle-aged men (the daddies) in walking shorts and trainers, carrying little babies or tugging toddlers by their kiddie leashes. It's a bit disconcerting to see men who are supposedly from my generation (late twenties to mid-thirties), sporting daddy bellies, talking about daddy topics (stocks, SUVs, weekend bike groups, etc.), and doing daddy tasks.

This is baffling because in the single ladies' world, single men her age -- although having the children's party mentality -- are acting more like the children rather than the adults: they think they are kings in their world ("I work hard, I party harder!"), and they let the women chase them around ("I will do whatever I want, you can't stop me!"). You will rarely see a single man in a children's party, which is why the single lady sticks out even more so.

Yes, the single lady is an alien in the children's party planet, but here are some suggestions on how to blend in:

1. Be the Cool Auntie: be that lady who gives the birthday celebrant the cool toy his/her parents refuse to give; the one who sneaks in a wad of cash into their little, pudgy hands; the one who tells them "Yeah, your mom is baduy, even back in high school. If she doesn't allow you to go to parties when you're older, call me for advice."

2. Be the Wannabe-Mommy / Yaya-for-a-Day:  Volunteer to take your friends' kids off of their hands. Carry the baby, put the toddler on your lap, look after the little tykes when they're playing on the jungle gym. Make googly eyes and gurgly noises at babies in their strollers, baby talk with 4-year-olds when they're staring up at you like you're insane, (gently) reprimand the naughty 6-year-olds for running too fast, or for not finishing their food. ** Note: this is only effective if you like kids. Stay away from this tactic if you have the tendency to lose your temper at little people.

3. Be the Fun Provider: If you really want to be accepted into a different crowd, isn't popularity the best/easiest way in? And to be accepted into the tough, picky crowd of children party kids, you have to be able to provide them with something fun. Be the one who hosts the games, or at least, be the distributor of prizes (isn't it a precious sight to see wee ones looking up at you, their arms outstretched, waiting for you to hand them their bag of loot?); volunteer to slice up the birthday cake; if you have a special talent of making animals out of balloons, then give the kids some balloon dogs and cats! You can also volunteer to do face painting (no drawing skills required: how hard is it to draw rainbows, whiskers, and dog noses on a kid's face?).

** Note: All of the above is best enacted with your best I'm-a-grown-up-talking-to-a-kid voice, the kind that lilts at the end of each sentence.

So, to all the single ladies out there: put your hands up! You may be the odd one out in such family-centered events, but that doesn't mean you should be ashamed of your solo status. Just be grateful that you are able to enter a planet of fun and games, where you are allowed to eat hotdogs and marshmallows and sweet spaghetti! Be happy that you are able to sit back and observe a world that you may or may not participate in in the near/far future. Be relieved that you don't have to be the "responsible one," even for just a few hours.

Yes, the children's party planet is a strange and different world, but the single ladies' world is a place that's mysterious and fun. Enjoy it while you can. Soon enough, you're going to be part of the children's party planet. And once you're there, there is no turning back.

Black Is Beautiful

I fell into a canal when I was a little girl.

And I don’t say “canal,” in the same context as the Suez Canal, the Grand Canal in Venice, or the Panama Canal.

I fell into a canal in the Philippines. And here in the Philippines, “canals” are part of the sewage system, and are full of dirty water, trash, and other icky things.

So, I fell into a canal. Do you have your mental picture straightened out now? Yes? Good. Let me tell you the story:

I love to wander off on my own (I was also lost in Luneta during the People Power rally…but that’s another story for next time. In the meantime, see picture below for reference). Even now that I’m an adult, I would rather separate myself from the group and walk around the mall alone. My parents are aware of this and I was constantly under their supervision when I was a kid. Being “makulit” me, I would always find a way to “escape.” On one such occasion, I was walking along the street outside our house. 

Before I got lost in Luneta. Imagine trying to find me in a crowd full of people who were wearing the same shirt I was!

I was out of my parents’ sight for a whole of a minute (just 1 minute!), and when they turned to look for me, I was gone. Now, many things can happen to a 6-year old kid in a minute: maybe a stranger sped by on his motorcycle and kidnapped me; or maybe a nuno sa punso (enchanted dwarves) snuck me into their underground lair (don’t look at me; it’s the sort of thing some Filipinos believe in); or maybe I ran away, was gifted with super speed, and was already at the next block. Point is, given that I was kid with a propensity for disappearing (i.e: Luneta. A kid wearing yellow, lost in a crowd wearing yellow), my parents could only imagine the worst. They were about to deploy a whole search party (at least, that is what I choose to believe they were willing to do for me, their precious daughter), when they heard a small voice coming from below ground level: “Help! Help!” (oo, Inglisera ako noong bata ako. Hahaha)

I didn’t get kidnapped or abducted by dwarves / aliens; I didn’t run away; I fell into an open canal. Whodathunk?

My parents peered through the opening and saw me standing shin-deep in black muck and garbage. When they attempted to wash the dirt off, the floor of our bathtub was full of black water & sludge. *shudder* I kinda wish they washed me off with ethyl alcohol instead.

It’s a funny story, really. I’ll just pick my ego up when you’ve stopped laughing, thanks.

Ok, so what is my point in telling this story? It has been a long-standing joke in my family that I became “dark-skinned” because of the black canal water. This event started the string of “nognog” jokes I have heard directed at me during my childhood. For those who don’t know, “nognog” is derived from the Filipino word “sunog” which, as an adjective, means “burnt.” It is a term used to describe those with dark skin. It is a term used to describe me.

Teenage girls have many issues about their appearance: “I’m too dark,” or “I’m too fat,” or “I’m too short,” or “I’m taller than most of the boys,” or “My nose is too flat,” or “I have too many pimples.” The list goes on and on. My particular issue then, was my skin color. The pretty, popular girls were mostly of the chinita or mestiza type. I never felt particularly girly or pretty, maybe because girly, pretty girls were usually portrayed in movies as petite, light-skinned types in flowery dresses.

Borrowing Lady Gaga’s words, I was “born this way:” maitim (dark) and payatot (thin & gangly) are just some of the unflattering adjectives used to describe me during my adolescent years (see picture below for a visual reference. DON’T LAUGH). Aside from being dark, thin, with knobby knees, I also had glasses (four-eyes) and braces (metal mouth). In short, I was a really ugly kid.

The floating head in the middle is me, wearing immaculate white on my grade school graduation.

I was the tall, gangly, dark-skinned nerd in loose clothes and chunky Doc Martens.  I was insecure about my appearance, and always felt that I had to change myself to be more attractive / more noticeable

Clothes are easy enough to change…I tried to copy the latest fashion trends (operative word: tried); I replaced my thick glasses with contact lenses in high school; couldn’t remove the braces yet, but a lot of other teenagers had braces then, so it didn’t bother me too much; but the dark skin…that is something that is harder to change. And therein lies my frustration.

I hated my skin color. Hated it. I blamed it for all the unrequited loves, all the ugly duckling photos, all the rejections I experienced growing up. I remember that whitening lotions and soaps began to be the “in” thing when I was in high school. I remember this clearly because I was a victim of their promises to make my skin “rosy-white,” and therefore, prettier. I had a theory that if I could just lighten it just a teeny-tiny bit, I would become more attractive, and would not be mistaken for a boy in fast food restaurants (Welcome to Jollibee, ser!”).

True, there were several factors contributing to my “unattractiveness,” but I was convinced that being dark was the trait that sealed the deal. If first impressions last, then being dark automatically got us overlooked at parties, class pictures, and school fairs.

I’m not saying that we, the dark-skinned girls, are the kawawa ones in the story. But, I mean, c’mon. Is there a specific derogatory term for light-skinned girls? Wala, diba? Because it’s an acceptable thing in our society: a society that is predominantly kayumanggi, with Malay ancestry but who tend to be more accepting of what is banyaga (foreign), that we scramble to be like / look like / talk like our Spanish / American conquerors. Dark-skinned girls are supposedly the majority in our country, but we are called derogatory names like nognog, maitim (dark), negra, or kulay uling (coal-colored).

Now, there are other more politically-correct terms used to describe women of high melanin content in their skin: tan, bronze, sun-kissed, honey / coffee / toffee / caramel toned (what are we, FOOD?), and most common of all: MORENA.

Even if it is politically correct, I didn’t like to be called “morena,” when I was younger, because it was synonymous to the derogatory terms I mentioned above. It was only when I got older, when I became more comfortable with my own skin, when I became more confident about who I am, did I get to appreciate my pagka-morena.

I wish that I could’ve told adolescent Lesley that things will get better with age; that being “morena” is part of who she is, and that she should not try to change it with skin whitening products; that all it takes is a little bit of confidence and belief in oneself to really make the real beauty shine through.

Here I am again, in immaculate white, but now more comfortable in my own skin.
(Photo credit: Stanley Ong for Kris Bacani make-up)

Black IS beautiful, not because it is any better than white (it is not in a competition with white!), but because it is a trait not commonly accepted in society, but which still manages to shine through. And isn't that the most remarkable? :)

So whatever it is that makes you insecure; whatever it is that makes you doubt your worth: Accept it, embrace it, make it work for you.

* * * *

As a treat for my 1 or 2 regular blog readers (harhar), I am posting a long-lost TVC that I did for a skin whitening product. Of course, I was cast as part of the “dark” family. :)) The concept of this ad is something that I am adamantly against now (along with this recent Block & White video about teenage girls giving a morena girl a make-over), and I must admit that it is very hypocritical of me to be writing about my love for my dark skin when I used to moonlight as a model for a skin whitening product. But that was 8 years ago, ok, I’ve changed since then.

Please don’t laugh. :))