Salma Hayek said in an interview after giving birth:

What women need to keep in mind, rah-rahs Hayek, is that “you just did the most amazing thing a human being can do, which is give the opportunity for a new life. We should feel like queens and give ourselves a little bit more of a break.”

So that’s my official excuse for stumbling off the wagon of healthy-eating.  That’s my excuse for finishing a big bag of Doritos, Maltesers, Roller coaster and a few bites of Lay’s Sour Cream n Onion Yes, I’m giving myself a break from all the diet and exercise.  I call these bumps in the road my weekly cheat treats.  My husband says I don’t have a right to a weekly cheat treat because he argues that I cheat the whole week!

I may be jumping the gun here since it’s not even Halloween but my favorite holiday is fast approaching.  Yes, it’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas!  Have you noticed that the days are shorter and the nights are longer? I love it!

My favorite holiday is extra special this year since it’s our first Christmas with Quino :)  Not only that, but during this time of the year, our electricity bill goes down, thanks to the cool Christmas air.  Couldn’t come at a better time since we need to buy a new air conditioning compressor.  Good thing my husband stumbled upon the best deals at DiscountACparts.com.  We could always use the savings so we can buy more gifts for Quino

Inspired by Odette.

• I love nighttime feedings. They only last 10-15 minutes but I savor every second. It’s my quiet time with the little boy.
• I love Quino’s toothless grin and halakhak when we tickle him!
• I love it when my baby boy gazes into my eyes. I swear I feel like a superwoman when he looks at me like that, like I’m the most beautiful person he’s ever seen.
• I love burying my nose into his neck, armpit, hair, feet & every nook and cranny of his small body and smelling that wonderful baby smell (and some not so nice smell that I still love).
• I love working from home and being able to witness every milestone and notice the subtle changes that every day brings.
• I love having a husband who shares all the responsibilities with me (except changing the stinky diaper but I forgive him for that!)
• I love looking for new recipes and trying them out. I especially love it when it turns out to be a hit with the hubby!
• I love my daily “me” time. It’s nothing fancy. I just take my time in the shower and twice or thrice a week, I do a body scrub and hair treatment. But I enjoy it because it’s a much-needed pampering from the stress of everyday life.
• I love breakfast. I can’t start the day without it! Of course, there’s the requisite cup of coffee. Extra strong please.
• I love my life. I have a beautiful and healthy family and we may want for some material things but we never run out of love and laughter.

Daddy loves tickling Quino and Quino loves being tickled! I love watching my boys interact! They have a very special bond. Tum would approach, not even speak a word, and already there’s a big smile on Quino’s face

Four months after giving birth, I still have six lbs left to lose to reach my weight goal of 100lbs. Actually, I think I’ll add five more lbs. to that and make my ideal weight 95lbs instead. I’m really bad at exercising and have to psych myself up before I finally summon the will to exercise. Whereas my husband exercises twice a day – once in the morning and again in the afternoon. He mixes his routine: jump rope one day and weights the next or he’ll play basketball in our neighborhood park. He even goes all the way to Shaw Boulevard just to play basketball. I, on the other hand, like to stick to a routine. Right now, I alternate between Jillian Michaels’ 30-day shred which is a circuit-training workout and I Want Those Arms which consists of two workout videos, 15-minutes each concentrating on toning your arms, which is my problem area. I want to firm them up and make them lean so that I can have confidence when I wear my favorite sleeveless tops.

Apart from working out, we have also changed our diet. We only eat beef once a week, sometimes not at all. We eat mostly chicken and fish. I also make sure I take in lots of fiber. This is in the form of Psyllium capsules, drinking Nesvita and eating only whole wheat bread. Fiber is very good for you because it not only helps you manage your weight, it also helps control your blood sugar, cholesterol and promotes better digestion. I also limit my rice intake to once a day and I make sure it’s only half a cup. I also eat lots of fruits (bananas & apples) and drink lots of water.

But more than changing my body and improving the way I look, I want a new, better me for Quino’s sake. After all, a healthy mommy is good for the whole family. If all else fails, I could always get plastic surgery in phoenix arizona.