Change of Lifestyle---Strong Will

Back in the 80's when gym membership was a privilegeD to few who has the money. It was not even a necessity back then. I Remember Jane Fonda's exercise video and of course Olivia Newton John's Let's get Physical song. Those headbands and colorful leg warmers and high cut leotards. It was an owe watching those videos on TV...I always thought of having a gym membership but it is so expensive that I have to let go of the thought.

I grew up to be a little bit heavy. So all my life I always envy those skinny people. I thought that maybe it is my genes or my lifestyle that is the culprit. Whichever was the reason, I know that I will not allow myself to grow old in a very heavy weight.

I have tried a lot of diet. Six O clock Diet- Where you are allowed to eat anything anytime of the day but you have to stop eating after 6PM. The Three Day Diet has certain foods that you will eat per day for 3 days. After 3 days, you will be allowed to eat as much as you want for 4 days then you go back to the 3 day diet again. The last one that I tried and last only for a week is the cabbage soup diet- where you are only allowed to take the cabbage soup(you can find cabbage soup menu on the Internet) for the whole day for 7 days. After 7 days, you are allowed to eat regularly for 3 days. After. 3 days, you will go back again to sipping soup.

This diet made my tummy ache.

Three years ago, my husband bought a Lifetime Gold Membership from Slimmers World. We were both excited that we went to the gym regularly...rain or shine...busy or not busy. It was very enjoyable because I got to meet few people who became my friends. I got to learn tips on being healthy. I lost few pounds on the first year of regular exercising. But then I have to stopped for a while because of health reasons...I realized that if you stopped and don't have the strong will to go back, it is so hard to go back. On my mind I thought of going to the gym, bring my gym bag but never go.

Lately I decided to have the NO RICE diet. It has a good impact on my health and I am still
continuing it. Today, I decided to start going to the gym. I know it will take a lot of will to go back again, But if I will not do it now, when will I start. I owe it to myself, to may family and to my husband who paid so much for our gym membership.

Pasta, Pasta and Pasta!

Well what is pizza without pasta! These days, a lot of restaurants are opening with their own versions of pasta in different sauces.

The spaghetti...long and thin is the most popular among the pastas. Gone are the days when this is the only pasta that restos served. Different pasta versions started with the arrival of Italiannis Restaurant...

In 1996, Italiannis opened their first branch in the old Greenbelt area ( where Greenbelt 5 is located now). Me and Carlos has to wait for our table. We ordered spaghetti with meatballs...it was a huge serving. Plus the ciabatta bread with olive oil as dip for appetizer. Until now, Itallianis remain as top of the Italian restos in the metropolitan Manila.

I came to like Cibo. The Italian restaurant owned by Margarita "Gaita" Fores, who is associated with the famous SOUTH BEACH DIET. I like their pumpkin soup, their toast bread with chicken liver pate dip. I also alike their thin crust pizza.

Another favorite is Old Spaghetti House, rates are more affordable with the same quality of
food.I like the Penne Pomodoro with eggplant parmigniana and their iced tea is very original.
The place is comfortable, clean and with friendly staff.

My daughters favorite pasta is Lasagna of French Baker....with it's very meaty sauce and yummy taste.

For those with big appetite, Sbarro is the place to be. They have big slices of lasagna, pizza and spaghetti balls. I personally like their baked ziti with red sauce. By the way, all their pastas have varieties of sauces from red sauce, meat sauce, meat balls and white sauce.

Funny, that when we had rice shortage a few years ago, people were advised to eat pasta. Maybe that was the reason why many restaurants offered different versions of pasta and
sauces..

Pizza Lover

Ingrid has been eating pizza since the day she started to started solids. After her cerelac and mashed potatoes day, it was pizza which became her 2nd food. Pizza was used to lure her and to stopped her from grumping. Pizza as a price when she did something good and pizza when there are special events

I remember my unforgettable encounter with pizza. I was in college when the EAT ALL YOU CAN PIZZA at PIZZA HUT was a craze. After my class, my group will go to SM Sta Mesa to participate in the Eat All you can Pizza. I wonder how Pizza Hut made all those thousands slices of pizzas.

There are two big names of pizza. Shakeys and Pizza Hut. Shakeys known for their thin crust and potato mojos and Pizza Hut with their stuffed crust pizza.

Even the arrivals of new brands like Yellow Cab, Brooklyn, California Pizza Kitchen, etc. Pizza Hut and Shakeys maintained their niche in the pizza industry.

I myself always goes back to Pizza Hut and Shakeys.

Coffee Shops

My first taste of gourmet coffee was in 1995. I had a dinner date with a friend and her Japanese husband who was working at Shangrila Makati.After the dinner we tried Starbucks coffee located at the 6750 building in Ayala Avenue. The feeling was intimidating because you have a Barista who speaks English and who has a lot of questions about your order. You have to tell what type of coffee, cold or hot, iced or frap and so on...after that first experience,I told to myself that drinking coffee will be the another status symbol in the coming years.

Indeed, after the opening of Starbucks in 6750, many more branches opened. Different coffee brand opened after that. We have the Filipino owned Figaro coffee, Coffee Tea and Leaves, Gloria Jeans Cafe, UCC coffee and a lot more...

Ever since then, you will never call it a date if there is no coffee, hot or cold....After my years of drinking gourmet coffee, I come to compare the different coffee shops and I came to like the best which met my standard...

FIGARO cafe came to mind...They have more choice of foods. From pastries, pasta, pizza, sandwiches and coffee. The place is not crowded and there are no students hanging around. You can see yuppies, executives eating their lunch or desserts, there was no loud voices and laughter. You can see and hear people talking about business. They have courteous staffs as well and clean restrooms...best of all good food and nice.

I felt so unfair with Starbucks but I think they have become a household name, brand for the
trying hard to be and a meeting place for everyone. I still like their coffee though and sit
there while I do my reports and blogs.

Figaro or Starbucks...it is up to the drinker...