Apparently it actually takes two months to build a habit (and not 21 days, which is a popular misconception). This means you need to power through until at least February before your resolutions start to feel like second nature.
It seems daunting to think about those two months, half of which is probably going to be spent forcing yourself to head to the gym in the morning. A lot of willpower will probably be involved in saying no to another slice of lechon. But really, the hardest part is to just start. Once you know where you’re heading, it’s easier to stay the course.
So, here’s a little nudge to help you get started. We’ve thought up some common resolutions, and given some ideas and contacts on how to kickstart your change. We get it–it’s hard to make resolutions last beyond New Year’s, but the idea is really to take it one day at a time.
Start Exercising.
As probably the most common resolution out there, getting into a real fitness habit is actually a real challenge. There are so many options in the city now that you’re bound to find something you’ll enjoy enough to do on a regular basis.
If you’re looking to find some peace amidst a frenzied routine, try yoga. YogaHub is a favorite spot for their wide range of class offerings, and the helpful teachers they have onboard. Love Yoga World helmed by the bubbly Mary Deen is also a great option.
Those who want great legs and a stunning derriere can try out spinning. Zink is a great spot to try out the sport, with their state-of-the-art bikes, almost psychedelic lighting system, and the exuberant Zalde Berdon. Even if you don’t feel like getting on the bike, there’s HIIT and dance classes to keep you on the move.
Back when I was working out practically everyday, I found myself drawn to the more intense, always changing cycles of Crossfit. At Crossfit Pintados (now Southside Fitness), I reveled in the high intensity workouts, even the movements could only be described as painful. And being a little short on the attention span, I liked that the workouts were different every day. Other options to really give yourself a hard push are FITCAMP, StayFit and EPIC.
Go On A Diet.
We’re all guilty of this–vowing to go on a diet, and then buckling as soon as a slice of cake is put in front of us. Healthy eating is just one those resolutions that are so hard to keep–especially when you have all these delicious, indulgent dishes in front of you.
Thankfully, a lot of people in Cebu have spearheaded a movement–healthy food can taste just as good, and at times even better, than the junk we so guiltily indulge in.
Photo from the Diet in a Box Facebook page
Meal delivery services take the hassle out of having to prepare meals for yourself (we list down some of our favorites in this post). Even the of-the-moment Keto Diet can be delivered straight to your doorstep through Diet in a Box‘s Keto Go option.
For it to be truly sustainable though, you need to learn how to make these dishes yourself. The Lazy Chef’s Chip Lopez offers cooking classes for plant-based eating through the Kairos Loft. Trust us, if anyone knows how to make vegetables taste amazing, it’d be Chip.
Be More Creative.
The New Year often brings with it the sudden desire to make a change in your life, or at least start on something you’re more passionate about. If you’re looking to break into the creative field, or even to just get a flash of inspiration, Create Cebu’s Criss-Crossings is the right place to start.
Scheduled on January 12-14 at Crossroads, Criss-Crossings is all about creative convergence, with programs and talks on everything ranging from animation and photography, to music and crafts. The event is all about building on Cebu’s creative talent–young businesses are given a chance to learn from more seasoned personalities, and to share their ideas.
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It is a known fact that eating clean in the Philippines is a tough choice—and often an expensive one at that. But in the case of Chip Lopez, the woman behind Kairos by The Lazy Chef, it’s an issue that goes beyond convenience or budget. It’s about the quality of food you put into your body, and the choices that you make to protect it. “Wellness is living the healthiest life that you actually enjoy,” she says.
Since returning from the US about four years ago, Chip was faced with the challenge of few vegetarian and vegan options in Cebu. “I made the switch when I was in the US, where everything was accessible,” she recalled. Suffering from several ailments as a child, Chip’s education had prompted her to change her diet. “The restaurant scene in Cebu back in 2013 is nothing like it is today. Going out to dinner as a vegetarian was exhausting, and healthy food like quinoa, chia and the like were so expensive or constantly out of stock because there was only one store carrying it.”
This didn’t mean Chip was ready to give up on her lifestyle. She started her vegetarian-only lunch delivery business called The Lazy Chef, but knew she wanted to do more than just serve food. She wanted to inspire people to develop the lifestyle of healthy, plant-based eating—what came about was Kairos by The Lazy Chef, which she opened on the rooftop of a building in Mandaue. It was more than just the reservations-only vegetarian restaurant people assume it was. Kairos became Chip’s venue for cooking classes, which she feels is the only way to truly sustain a healthy lifestyle. Besides classes at Kairos, Chip also travels regularly to give seminars and classes around the country.
“It’s a different Cebu today,” Chip says, although we note that she might have played a hand in changing the common Cebuano mindset and eating habits. “Not only is the vegetarian dining scene booming, there are also more farmer’s markets in the city, more varieties in organically grown vegetables and more healthy products available.”
Being on a plant-based, whole foods diet for almost five years now, Chip can attest to the stark difference eating clean has done to her body. “It’s allowed me to be stronger physically,” she shares. “When I was eating unhealthy food, I was very sickly and weak. Since changing my diet, I have been able to do things I never thought possible, like running a marathon, lifting heavy weights and becoming an HIIT instructor.”
Of course, Chip admits to having her off days as well—you know, the ones where laying on the couch all day seems like the best option. She, however, combats this with a different mindset. “I think more than motivation, we should focus on discipline. You can’t always rely on feelings like motivation or inspiration to make you work out,” she explains. “Discipline is the conscious ability to get things done, even when you don’t feel like doing it. A simple way to develop discipline is to focus on your ‘why.’ Your ‘why’ is what gets you out of the bed in the morning. Your ‘why’ keeps you going, even when all you want to do is give up.”
More than just vegetarianism and fitness, Chip has become a model for living life in the healthiest and best way possible. Alongside her efforts at Kairos, she is an instructor at Zink and Fitness Studio. “I believe fitness and wellness is really trending in Cebu,” she admits. “But the bigger question is, are people really changing their habits or is this just a phase? We have come so far, but we all need to work together and care about each other to really make a difference.”
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Zee Lifestyle’s November 2015 Food & Entertaining Issue: Celebrations at 32 Sanson (Sittings Editor: Kate Dychangco-Anzani/Photography by Maitina del Gallego-Borromeo/Shot on location at 32 Sanson by Rockwell/All items from Rustan’s Home)
On the cover is a picturesque outdoor entertaining setup, shot on location at Rockwell Land’s first venture outside Metro Manila. 32 Sanson by Rockwell brings the art of fine living outdoors, with verdant greeneries, open spaces, and amenities that establish a sense of community.
Dean Taylor Pasquet, Nico and Noreen Tseng-Fernandez, and Holly Dawn Dychangco showcase the art of entertaining by granting access to their homes and intimate gatherings to show how they celebrate.
For this issue’s roundtable discussion, Jennifer Martinez, Mary Love Deen, Laurice Chiongbian, Oj Hofer, Marguerite Lhuillier, D’oro Barandino, Michael Karlo Lim, and guest editor Kate Dychangco-Anzani join The Lazy Chef’s Chip Lopez for a healthy dinner to talk about vegetarianism in Cebu; while Lorenz Florendo, Barbra Sia-Famador, Komiko Onda, Gretchen Choa-Uy, Kenneth Kokseng, Cecile Cuisia, and Kristine Kahler-Go have lighthearted Conversations on their thoughts on food.
This month, Zee Lifestyle gathers Cebu’s top chefs and challenges them to put a twist on a classic Filipino dish—the adobo. The Laguna Group’s Raki Urbina, Marco Polo Plaza Cebu’s Stefano Verrillo, Crimson Resort & Spa’s Godfrey Laforteza and The Anzani Group’s Marco Anzani create decadent versions of the adobo that you’d never thought possible.
Read more in Zee Lifestyle’s Food & Entertaining Issue, out on stands this month. Grab your copies at National Bookstore and Fully Booked. For subscriptions, click here, or download the Magzter app on your device and search for ‘Zee Lifestyle’.
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