EMPIRE BOXING GOT ME STRONG, LEAN AND TONED!

I have never boxed in my entire life till I was dragged by my cousin Vincent last month to Empire Boxing... the newest and fast-rising boxing empire in the Philippines. He was to do a photo shoot for the gym and I was just supposed to watch or help him taking shots with my own camera but I ended up learning all about boxing. I was surprised to learn the joys and benefits of the sport  for myself and here is my story...

My younger years of playing tennis, running and swimming, blessed me to have an athletic built and a steady 115 lbs. body weight but with my career... my internet work requiring me to be stuck at the confines of my computers 24/7, I gained a lot of excess weight and had troubles getting them off lately especially that as we humans grow older, metabolisms slow down. I have a swimming pool and a gym for me to access at home whenever I had time but I don't get motivated to do so regularly and my cousin thought I needed to get myself in a new  social sport.

Boxing is very much of social sport... contrary to my initial thought of having to beat a punching bag all by myself. My first day at Empire Boxing came as a big surprise. Practically 16 people I see in the clubs and bars before were there including the owner. Yes, Rob Wax Del Rosario used to be a chubby one... er... plump...er... healthy one during my hay days of alcohol as he chugs down his beers, scotch and vodkas with his friends. I didn't recognize him... the lean and toned Rob till we were introduced. This lead me to think that all these times, I have come across and mingled with people in the past who can actually box! Amazing!

I'm reminding you to take a look at that huge tummy i want to get rid of at the time this photo was taken last month!

So anyways, Rob found the interest in personally training a former alcoholic... me! We started with a 10 minutes warm-up followed by a half an hour of learning how to box. I was taught how to punch properly, learning the 3 main moves... hooks (side punches), jabs (straight forward punches) and up-cuts (punches that goes upwards). 

Warming down came after but throughout my first initial training, I learned that this is seriously hard work. I felt myself doing high intensity, full body work out that keeps me move all the time... throwing a punch, ducking, weaving, squats making sure that I'm getting abdominal work all the time. This lead me to believe  that it is actually a cardio work-out for the whole body. Once I picked up the moves, I felt like Hillary Swank in her movie! Comparing it to swimming and running, boxing is easy for me. 

I lingered longer at the gym after my warm down... watching the men and women rigidly training with instructors at Empire Boxing. Coach Rob (that's what I started to call him after my first training) told me that boxing is all about technique, not strength. He also told me all about the benefits of boxing such as increased agility and coordination, muscle tone, weight loss, etc. 

Always the inquiring mind, I told him I am more concerned of weight loss... along with getting strong, lean and toned. Coach Rob told me that Empire Boxing offers various fitness programmes for men and women including strength and conditioning, weight loss consultations and work outs, and athletic enhancement by Coach Byron Jimenez during Mondays to Fridays 8am - 11am, 4 slots a day and Saturdays 11am - 5pm. Coach Rob said this program is good for toning bottom and quadricep muscles perfect for women like me who wants to lose weight around their bottom and thighs as part of an overall reduction programme and so I did. After doing 2 classes a week since June, I definitely noticed a dramatic difference in my weight and tone after following a healthy eating plan and including cardio classes in my schedule each week. Check this out...

Oi!  I got my strong, lean and toned body back in just a month! I got my groove back... Thanks to my Coach Rob Del Rosario of Empire Boxing!

Located at Unit 5K OPL Building, C. Palanca corner Dela Rosa Sts., Legaspi Village, below are some of what Empire Boxing offers:

But if it is rapid tone and weight loss you are after, no "B.S."... boxing is definitely something you should check out at Empire Boxing. If you got a personal fitness plan for yourself, Empire Boxing got game and they got great plans suited for what you need!  Go with friends and see what you think too! 

THE TRIBUTE TO GOLD DIGGERS

Inspired by the witty comments of cousins and friends on my Facebook status today, I'd like to shed some light on this subject for the men folk out there. 

It's a well-known fact that men and women are predisposed to gender-based pattern of thinking and as a result, we analyze process and perceive life differently. Perhaps, we are simply wired that way from birth yet, we tend to forget of or see the facts that are laid out right there and clearly visible before our very own eyes.

Although I cannot speak for all women as I am a woman myself, I feel I am qualified to speak on behalf of at least most women. In general, women are disgusted of the gold diggers! Their ways screw up the good men folk's mentality! Not all women are gold diggers and that there are women in this world that are far more worth it because they know what contentment in life is, their values are intact and  most of all, self-respect is evident to the core.

Before you read on to know more about the gold diggers, press play the video to enjoy as you read on...

To know more about the gold diggers and their ways, hereunder is a list of sarcastic but true summarized quotes of the gold digger's dark and funny ways in life:

1. As far as men are concerned forever... she can take them or leave them and after she takes them she leaves them.

2. She has forever a million-dollar smile.... She only smiles at guys with million dollars.
 

3. Her forever motto is: Dough or die.

4. Her forever type in men: The only man she'll go ever out with is... the one who is tall, forget the skin color and has some.

5. Her forever spelling on "Matrimony".... Matter-o-money!

6. The only love nest she'll be forever interested in is an eight-room apartment / house feathered with cash down.
  
7. She will always and forever be ready to go out for a little fund.

8. She will forever not mind whose means she lives beyond... won't chop her own wood to keep her warm twice!

9. It's not too hard to find her... Just open your wallet, and there she is!

10. Her forever motto is: Think-Mink.

11. There's a possibility that she may get married someday... She's just waiting for the right amount to come along.

12. Her forever opinion about a man: He does have to be much, if he has much.

13. All she will forever look for in a man is... any eye color and green money.

14. She will forever bring out the animal in men... Mink.

  
15. Her forever thoughts on physical fitness: It doesn't matter. What she forever looks for in a man is fiscal fitness.

16. She will forever know how to stay in the mink of condition.

17. Her forever hobby aside from top of the line limited stuff is collecting romantic antiques... the rich old geezers.

18. She forever gets her men by using her come-on-sense.

19. She forever measures a man's love by the carat.

20. She forever dresses on credit but... she will only undress for cash.

21. Her forever zodiac sign:  A human gimme pig.

22. The royalty of all gold diggers will never sell herself for cash...  she takes stocks, bonds, checks, gold bars and shares in oil wells.

23. She will always marry a guy for money.... and divorce him for the same reason.

24. She loves everything about her country... the people of her country... the songs of her country and most especially, the banks of her country! 

 
There is absolutely nothing wrong about the word "more"... and wanting it. Don't get me wrong... I understand practicality in life! I'm a fan of these gold diggers.. in fact, I love them! They are fascinating creatures... they stand out yet people around them can't seem to say they are despicable. They are so angelic, charming, tolerable, encouraging and clever but...  it's the too much greed and too vulgar ways that says it all!

Although I am thankful that I have no friends who are like that and were for once in their lives were silently called gold diggers by the others, I can't help but wonder how life is...  if I am associated with the gold diggers. I believe that should earn me the heart of gold award! 

Ah, well... to gold diggers... you rock!!! Your mysterious and fascinating lives earned you a tribute in my blog spot! :-) Keep digging for gold till you find out that the best things in life has nothing to do with money and contentment in life is what will make your lonely lives happy!

FAKING IT...

I had a really good conversation with a male best friend of mine most recently.... all about our past relationships, sexual experiences, the big O and faking it. It was a fun exchange of thoughts, to sum it all up. 

 
That conversation is pure honesty between best friends that I'm led to believe that both of us perceived sex as something to be enjoyed and faking it... breaks a trusting and loving relationship with a partner. After all, faking an orgasm is a form of deception.

I'm not gonna heat things up here unlike in my controversial blog, "The Helicopter Is The Best Choice For..." which you can read later. Right now, you will be reading about sex and orgasms but it won't bore you at all... it will be a little explosive, though... because its the truth. 

Wait... before I tackle any further, let me clarify with you that based on conversations with friends and readings, it is not just women who fake it... Men do too! While women openly talk about faking orgasms as we've read or heard, men have talked quietly about faking orgasms for many years.

  
Women have two common reasons for faking an orgasm... to make their male partners feel better and to end sex when they are tired. These reasons are brought about by the common perception of women that the male partners are not satisfied until they give their female partner an orgasm thus; sex will go on till the women achieves it or fakes it.
 
Men on the other hand, also have two reasons for faking an orgasm... to give the "to get it over with" excuse and to make their female partners believe they enjoyed it. Despite lies about sex or sex myths, men can't always have orgasms whenever they want it that sometimes, faking it is better than dealing with what's actually going on. 

 
Sad, right? Sex is the most enjoyable activity in the world... it is beautiful. I can't really understand why people think about faking orgasms when it is quite easy to be honest about it. Whether we like it or not, faking it is a form of lying to your partner. 

Funny... I've read about people claiming they know when their partners are faking it. Sexual responses like heart rate increase (duh! engaging in sexual activity is bound to pump up your heart), muscle tension (that too) and heavy breathing (who wouldn't be?) are not the basis for faking it because these are all normal responses in us humans and animals alike after every strenuous activity! Am I right?

So can we really tell? We can't just base it on what we see, too. Some people get to be quiet, others get loud and noisy, some moan, some don't, some groans, some don't, some moves a lot and there are some that they tend to be still. I believe... that the only way to know the truth about our partners faking it or not is... by asking with an open mind. If our intent is to catch them in a lie then I don't think we will be able to get some answers. But, if we make it clear that we are honestly and genuinely interested to know, I believe... it could be our best chance at the truth and improve sexual activities with our partners.

I'd like to say once more that sex is the most enjoyable activity in the world and it is... beautiful if you and your partner perceive the same. However, it can get ugly between two people if one or both are lying about achieving orgasms. 

I'm no sex guru nor an expert... I'm just an ordinary girl who speaks her mind. Personally, it is important for me that I really like the person before I get intimate with him. Why? Because at least I don't have to fake it! I'm comfortable with my partner if that's the case and I don't see the point of faking stuff... really! There are means and ways to tell a partner that you'd like to both achieve an orgasm... touching, kissing, licking, exploring, etc. can really push orgasm to the hilt and so does honesty! Speak up... say what's on your mind and say what you want with your partner. In return, he/she will be able to tell you what they want. Cause and effect, ladies and gentlemen... I say no more!

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I dedicate this blog to my best friend... you know who you are ;))

Also dedicate to my beautiful best friends (in the photos with me) that perfectly fits in this particular blog... you guys are the coolest and funniest girls in my life! I love you forever, Angge and Junak ;))


And to Vincent Garrucho... you're the coolest eye behind lenses! Thank you! I know you love it that I included Hans here ha ha ha!!! He fit perfectly!!! :D

OINK! OINK!

Pigs like to scratch and be scratched. They like to rub against anything they chance upon. Pigs like to play... running in circles, chase each other as they grunt delight away! Pigs have short interest and attention span...they get bored and tired of same things quickly.

I am not talking about men here contrary to my female species' famous line "men are pigs".  I'm talking about the animal, their behavior and the fact that they are not dirty at all! Rolling in the mud doesn't make pigs dirty especially when the heat is on! Rolling in the mud cools them off as they are very sensitive to heat, prone to sunburns and heat strokes. It's just the way they are to survive and depending on how owners take care of their livestock, pigs are generally clean.... at least, that's how I perceive of pigs thus; I am reminded of my ultimate gastronomical desire!

Been craving again lately for Lechón... that pork dish us Filipinos inherited from our Spanish ancestors which is a nationwide favorite of the Filipino people during festivals, holidays and special occasions. With this very special dish especially in Negros Occidental where I was born and raised, the entire pig after its' entrails removed, stuffed with tamarind leaves and/or lemon grass, skewered in bamboo or thick wood, is entirely  cooked as a whole over charcoal... constantly being turned in rotisserie action. Mmmmm... tender, juicy, tasty! So loving it's crispy skin! I so love pigs... the four-legged ones! When I talk about pigs, I definitely do not refer to the men in my past! LOL!!! Oink!!!