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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Every year for the past 15 years, Cebuanos celebrate women empowerment by uttering the word vagina on stage in front of hundreds of people, as a protest against violence towards women and girls.
This year, over 30 women will lend to their voices to the marginalized, abused, and exploited in a benefit performance of The Vagina Monologues, on Sunday, February 26, 7:30 p.m. at the Santa Maria Ballroom of the Radisson Blu Cebu.
CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: Elaine Bathan, Sarah Mae Enclona-Henderson, Candice Hintz, Regal Oliva, Anya Lim, Ching Pelayo-Dacua, and Laurie Boquiren (Photography: Candice Hintz)
With humor and grace that celebrates women’s sexuality and strength, the award-winning play is based on V-Day founder and playwright Eve Ensler’s interviews with more than 100 women.
Here are the reasons you should watch The Vagina Monologues at least once:
It’s for a good cause
Maxi Bolongaita, Charlene Virlouvet, Cheryl David-Ibay, Sarah Mae Enclona-Henderson, Jet Cantal-Bacaltos, Jo-Ann Zaldumbide, and Patty Taboada (Photography: Candice Hintz)
V-Day Cebu and its current campaign ONE BILLION RISING: REVOLUTION is just one of the thousands of benefits held around the globe to raise funds and awareness toward the empowerment of women. Through the performances of The Vagina Monologues, these events help spread the message of equality, dignity, and freedom for all.
V-Day Cebu’s beneficiary is Bidlisiw Foundation Inc., a Filipino-managed NGO focused on helping the urban poor families, particularly the informal settlers in the cities of Cebu, Mandaue, and Talisay. Proceeds of the show go a long way in providing access, opportunities, and hope for the marginalized women and children, families, and the communities in Cebu.
It stars people you know
Shifrah Enclona, Ivy Gallur, Margo Frasco, Sarah Mae Enclona-Henderson, Maki Gingoyon, and Chiqui Canete (Photography: Candice Hintz)
Produced in Cebu by 2TinCans Philippines, The Vagina Monologues doesn’t just feature theater actresses, although some of them are well-known in the industry. The performers are women coming from various industries such as law, government, media, medicine, dining, furniture, music, photography, fashion, and more.
This year’s show, directed by Sarah Mae Enclona-Henderson, stars Aleah Alerre Lim, Anya Lim, April Rama, Bea Alfar Evardone, Brazzy Valdez, Candice Hintz, Charlene Virlouvet, Cheryl David-Ibay, Ching Pelayo-Dacua, Chiqui Cañete, Christina Santos, Daryl Bihag, Dianne Rallon, Elaine Bathan, Eyre Hyamze, Gembelyne Icamen, Gingging Navarro-Laude, Ivy Gallur, Jean Altavas, Jessica Ouano, Jet Cantal-Bacaltos, Joan Saniel-Amit, Jo-Ann Abesamis Zaldumbide, Laurie Boquiren, Lourdes May Maglinte, Margo Frasco, Marini Esguerra, Maki Gingoyon, Maxi Bolongaita, Pami Estalilla, Regal Oliva, Shiella Pestano Gemperoa, Shifrah Bouchikhi-Enclona, and Stephanie Tiro-Sitoy.
Shifrah, the daughter of director Sarah, is the youngest ever vagina warrior at 11 years old, taking the title from theater actress Charlene, who first performed on the show years ago at the age of 13. Zee Lifestyle‘s features editor Patty Taboada and creative director Ehds Javier will also be performing on the one-night-only show.
It’s not just for women
CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: Christina Santos, Lourdes May Maglinte, Aleah Lim, Sarah Mae Enclona-Henderson, Shiella Gemperoa, and Gembelyne Icamen (Photography: Candice Hintz)
According to Enclona-Henderson, the audience for The Vagina Monologues has grown over the years, with the audiences for the shows in recent years showing that 40% of them are actually men.
For the first time in Cebu, V-Day is making a special feature on the men who have been supportive of the global campaign. Fathers, brothers, sons, boyfriends, and friends were brought in and were enthusiastic in showing solidarity with the ladies and the V-Day movement. This is set to be one of the highlights of the show on Sunday.
It will make you laugh and cry
CLOCKWISE FROM LEFT: Marini Esguerra, Brazzy Valdez, Ehds Javier, Sarah Mae Enclona-Henderson, Pami Estalilla, Eyre Hyamze, Daryl Bihag, and Stephanie Sitoy (Photography: Candice Hintz)
Playwright Eve Ensler has gone around the world interviewing over 200 women about their experiences. You would be amazed at the answers, from a six-year-old girl to single women, married women, sex workers, corporate professionals, transgender women, lesbians, and old ladies. Some are hilarious, some are downright depressing… it’s a roller coaster of a show, one that you will enjoy while at the same time you can do your share to help end violence against women and girls.
Tickets are priced at Php 650, Php 1,000, and Php 1,500, and are available at YogaHub, ANTHILL, Isidra Comfort Cantina, and Handuraw Pizza in Gorordo and White Gold. For online purchases, email plays@2tincans.ph or click here. You may also call 2TinCans at +63 32 512 3134 and +63 933 188 0999, and check them out on Facebook
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The tricky part about resolutions, though, is actually keeping them. So while there are lots of ways to go about it, one way of making sure you stick to new fitness regime is to find one you actually like. Here’s a guide for the uninitiated, and for those looking for something new.
CrossFit
Crossfiters doing overhead squats (Photography by John Ong/Zee Lifestyle)
What it is: The sport of fitness: Constantly varied functional movements executed at high intensity across board time and modal domains. Hour-long classes at affiliated gyms (“boxes”) include a dynamic warm-up, a skill development segment, the high-intensity WOD (“workout of the day”) and cool-down.
Perfect for: Those who are easily bored and need variety.
It is never boring. Each time you go to the box, you get a different workout that challenges all your muscle groups and all aspects of your athleticism. It is also a short, sharp workout that you benefit a lot from. I have joined all sorts of group workouts in the past, and I’ve never seen as much results as I do now. – Brenda Magno
Where to go:
- CROSSFIT SUBTERO
- Unit 2, Jamestown, Mantawe Ave., Mandaue
- CROSSFIT PINTADOS
- F. Cabahug St., Mabolo
High-Intensity Interval Training
Zach Elisha Go doing HIIT (Photography by Oliver Echevarria/Zee Lifestyle)
What it is: A cardiovascular exercise strategy alternating short periods of intense anaerobic exercise with less intense recovery periods. It promotes strength, balance and performance.
Perfect for: Those who want a total body workout.
Right from the door, it’s different—devoid of equipment, treadmills and machines. Training has become like praying, an activity that you can do anytime, anywhere, even alone. – Zach Elisha Go
Where to go:
- EPIC PERFORMANCE & FITNESS
- Block 88, Oakridge Business Park, Banilad
Yoga
Rose Hennessy strikes a Yoga pose (Photography by Adrian Yu/Zee Lifestyle)
What it is: A low-impact physical exercise that involves holding stretches. It requires meditation and breath work, and develops flexibility and balance.
Perfect for: Those who want to keep calm and carry on.
The reason I love yoga is because I can practice anytime, anywhere whenever I feel like, as all I need is a quiet and small space. My previous workouts were purely physical, whereas yoga is a more calming, relaxed exercise with the same benefits. – Rose Hennessy
Where to go:
- YOGAHUB CEBU
- Banilad Town Centre and Raintree Mall
Spinning
Spinning classes at Zink (Photography by Men On Point/Zink)
What it is: Indoor cycling is a cardiovascular workout that involves aerobic exercise on a stationary bike. It’s a low-impact workout designed to increase one’s endurance.
Perfect for: Those who want to have fun.
Let’s be honest—spinning isn’t actually easy. The bursts of high speed and additional movements, along with the constant cycling, are enough to make you feel more than a little sore the next day. What makes it so enjoyable (and more doable!) is the energy of the people pedaling next to you—with the loud music and changing lights, it’s a workout party that anyone would want to get into! – Shari Quimbo
Where to go:
- ZINK
- Banilad Town Centre
Pilates
Susanne Cobonpue doing Pilates (Photography by Ezekiel Sullano/Zee Lifestyle)
What it is: Pilates is a fitness system said to have developed from yoga. It puts more emphasis on the core, as well as lengthening the body and centering the spine, using exercise machines.
Perfect for: Those who like to stay focused.
The very controlled, slow and precise movement throughout each exercise is what makes it different from other physical activities. I like the large variation of exercises because it never gets boring. We do a different routine with several variations every time. Everything is tailored to my needs. I leave the studio always tired, and sometimes exhausted, but also extremely relaxed and elated—which I didn’t feel with other workouts. – Susanne Cobonpue
Where to go:
- PILATES FIT
- LGF, City Sports Club
Zee Lifestyle‘s June 2016 Beauty Issue: Luna van der Linden and Lotte Edwards (photography by JON UNSON/styling by BLAQ MAFIA/makeup by LOLA LEY and SUMIE BELBACHIR/hair by JESSIE EGOS/shot on location at the BE GRAND RESORT BOHOL)
On the cover, gorgeous and stylish sisters Luna van der Linden and Lotte Edwards share a peek into the lives of being twins as they soak up the last rays of the summer sun at the beautiful Be Grand Resort in Bohol.
Along with the twins’ take on beauty and wellness, industry insiders such as makeup artist Erika Diaz, MAC Cosmetics’ Vanessa Vergara, Beauty & Beyond’s Jasmin Sarmiento and beauty columnist Joanna Cuenco divulge their daily regimens and beauty kit must-haves; while fitspirations Brenda Magno, Rose Hennessy, Susanne Cobonpue and Zach Elisha Go shed the light on various fitness routines. On the dining front, The Anzani Group’s Kate Dychangco-Anzani and Diet in a Box’s Chime Bosabel and Bibo Moreno prove that healthy eating can be quite delicious as well; and Beauty & Beyond, Marie France Bodyline International, Calayan Medical Group and Sheena Skin & Wellness uncover the science of beauty.
This month, Zee Lifestyle also pays tribute to Cebu’s top makeup artists. Usually found behind the scenes and making models and personalities look amazing on our pages, this issue finds Arnauld, Janice Barillo, Raisa Bercede, Chady Pantaleon, Emi Ayag, Jonas Borces, Gari Son and Wenwen Zaspa showcasing their best works on their favorite muses Jen Martinez, Christelle Dychangco, Anna Karenina Tan, Ava Kristine Rosello, Kris Janson, Christine Fernandez, Carla del Prado and Stephanie Sitoy.
Read all these and more on Zee Lifestyle’s Beauty Issue, out next month. Grab your copies at National Bookstore and Fully Booked. For subscriptions, click here or download Magzter on your mobile device.
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