Having “writer” in the job description means one has to unleash the underlying writing passion within, squeezing all the creative juices to beat the nearing deadline, and perhaps, creating the next possible Pulitzer Prize winning essay.
But that’s all but delusion. The creation of even a simple yet spot on write-up is never easy.
Making an article from scratch requires hours of dwelling and stretching your brain muscles in front of the computer. As much as your brain does all the mind-numbing work out, your body does otherwise.
With a mug of strong coffee by your side to keep you alert, while nom-nom-ing a bowl of steaming hot instant Yakisoba and a devilishly delicious chocolate bar go after that, you can imagine that fat and flab have teamed up side by side, accumulating at the sides like the stalagmites and stalactites in the Puerto Princesa Underground River.
With this, I’ve been gaining a lot of weight recently. I’m not surprised though, but it doesn’t mean I just let it be.
Attempts at Fitness
Since last month, every Saturdays (or Sundays, if I’m too lazy that day) are spent waking up as early an excruciatingly chilly 6am to jog for an hour or two around the neighborhood. Despite the drenching sweat after every jog, my figure doesn’t seem to improve or even reduce my love handles. Not at all.
Who can resist these babies?
I also tried to lessen my happy eating and went as far as saying adieu to my beloved KitKat for dessert and the occassional merienda. But alas, it breaks my heart that I have to deprive myself of the delicious nomnoms in life, and thus, I have failed once more.
Not to mention that my evening dates involve having a full-packed meal with a well-cooked meaty dish, plus a Moccha Frappucino and/or an Oreo Cheesecake to top it all off. Night-after-night, after inhaling each dinner filled with carbs and sugars, guilt devours my fitness conscience alive.
But who am I to blame? My date brings me to new places where my taste buds have never gone before, I can’t resist but just give in to the sumptuous desserts before me.
The Abs Fever
Billboards hovering EDSA-Guadalupe is filled with scantily clad young men only in their underwear, exposing their well-contoured abs and their mighty bulges. This reflects our society where most people place value on the physique than the mind and have placed fitness as a priority, not because of its health benefits, but because of its aesthetic gratifications.
The epic abs glorifying or embarrassing the locals in the Guadalupe area
But others see it otherwise.
Once I read a blog entry of Philippine TV Personality and blogger Lourd de Veyra, that “ang tunay na lalake ay walang abs” or “a true man does not have nice abs.”
He explained that historical icons such as Albert Einstein, Napoleon Bonaparte, or even Mahatma Gandhi are all great in their own ways, but common in one thing–none of them had neither abs nor a great body.
As Gandhi was fighting for India’s independence in peace or as Einstein wracks his brain on the theory of relativity, Lourd made one point clear: These men were so busy creating a legacy for the world and the benefit of the greater good, minding their flabs was not in the priority list.
But truth be told
I chose the field of writing because I seek to better the cause of man through inspiration and information. And true enough, who needs abs when you are placed with a duty to call to a noble profession?
Or maybe I’m just looking for an excuse to break free from guilty eating and exempt myself off from the drags of exercise.
Sunday, 12-04-2011 on 21:08 with 12 Comments by Aencille Geekiness, Thoughts and Blurbs with 666 words
Starbucks Coffee, Coffee Bean and Tea Leaf, and Nescafé – these names are only few of the most renowned brands in the Philippines. They differ in taste, color, texture, and prices, but have one in common. Coffee.
In 5th grade Social Sciences class, we’ve talked about how the demand for coffee is huge. In fact, I’ve recently read that second to petroleum, it is considered a primary product of trade in the world. Petroleum is leading since there is a severe need for the transportation, but coffee placing in second left me wondering why.
Man can literally survive without caffeine and its nutritional value of carbohydrates can easily be replaced by bread and other drinks. So, why is coffee placed in the world’s most in-demand products?
I can only think of two reasons. Coffee is more than just a drink. It defines, and it connects.
Coffee defines
In the olden days when the Apple and Blackberry wars were just fruits, coffee is that simple hot aromatic drink awakening millions every chilly morning with each sip to get a head start on a new day.
In the Philippines, times have changed. Now, some prefer pancake, spam, cereals for breakfast, or none at all due to the morning rush but in this country, no Filipino breakfast can be defined without pandesal or bread dipped in a hot cup of coffee, whether instant or brewed.
Coffee in the morning. Photo not mine.
Having a coffee addict for a father, the drink has been a part of the family shopping list since the beginning of time. And you can expect that coffee has also won my heart. As young as 12 years old, my day is never complete without taking a cup of coffee, usually taken in the evening while working on my homework or blogging about my day in school at 12 in the morning. That probably is also one of the reasons why my height has been stunted to an embarrassing 4’11”, as an old friend told me in reference to Men in Black: The Series in Cartoon Network.
Fast forward to the 21st century, coffee isn’t just a stimulant in the morning anymore. And it’s definitely not limited to Nescafé and the ever popular Barakong Kape either.
In 2007, there has been an insane surge of popularity on signature coffee, despite its sky high prices. Since then, it has now become a social symbol. Whether you’re wearing a plain shirt, with matching morning glories in your eyes, carrying a cup of coffee embedded with the green and white mermaid immediately brands you as sosyal or primera clase.
Coffee connects
A simple invitation of “let’s talk about it over coffee” allows the creation of bridges between men and women who would want a relaxing ambiance where the warmth of coffee easily breaks the ice.
Whether it’s serious business like a business meeting or an interview for a publication, coffee’s enticing aroma and taste is enough to get the conversation up and going, matched with the good ambiance of the coffee house, creating good moods on both parties.
Or even if it’s on the personal aspect, simply resolving a quarrel or misunderstanding with a loved one, there’s nothing like a good cup of coffee to warm up cold hearts.
Coffee is everywhere
Even with such a simple drink, there is more than meets the eye. Coffee is more than just a drink. It defines people and experience. It connects people.
It has even fared better than Christopher Columbus in conquering the entire world – in the tables and in the hearts of many.
The weather is quite cold today. How about a cup of coffee?
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That’s it for this week. Sorry for the late post and late blog hopping. I’ve been really busy lately. I’ll catch up to you guys soon.
‘Til next week.