Valentine`s Day

Celebrating the heart`s day in Japan is very far from all other countries in the world. When I was in the Philippines, I used to received flowers and chocolates from suitors or male friends during valentines, but for the latter they don`t give it willingly, I forced them and sometimes threaten if they will not submit to my requests..hihihi

my labmates with our associate professor during
the Material Sciences and Engineering Division
of Hokkaido University baseball tournament

However, here in Japan it is totally different. During valentines, only ladies will give chocolates to men. Sometimes, Japanese girls will make their own chocolates for the boy they like and if the boy also has a thing for her, he will response by giving her chocolates on White Day (March 14). Since it is a tradition in Japan for girls to give chocolates on Valentine`s day and all my labmates are male (except for a Chinese internship student), then I think I`m oblige to give them chocolates. Also, my labmates were very kind to me and in a way I felt that I will return their kindness by giving them something and today (valentine`s day) is  the perfect day to do that.

The box of Ferroro Rocher after I gave all my labmates their share and
 consuming one for myself

Last night we went to Suzukino to buy chocolates. We saw boxes of Ferrero Rocher with 4, 16 and 30 pieces of chocolates inside. Having only 12 labmates and 3 senseis, I was so excited to buy the biggest box, the one with 30 pieces of chocolate so that I can have the extra chocolates for myself to consume. ***evil smile***

What`s for breakfast?

Last week I wrote about my diet and showed a picture of my lunch. When I was a student I always skipped breakfast but I realized that it was not good. Like vehicle, we need fuel to work.
To have a great day, it is advisable to take breakfast. I make sure to have the right combination of carbohydrates, protein and calcium for breakfast (I reserved vegetables and fruits for lunch and dinner).

Chicken Adobo

I cooked for my breakfast and since chicken is cheaper than any other meat here in Japan, I often buy chicken. I cooked this chicken wing with Silver Swan soy sauce.  Chicken adobo just tastes different when cooked in Japanese soy sauce (I think!). I was so glad when a friend left me with the famous Filipino soy sauce. Do you think my chicken adobo looks yummy!?

Fried Shrimp

Another favorite of mine is shrimp. The simplest way to cook it is by frying. This shrimp was fried in a teaspoon of olive oil. Lately, I avoided using too much cooking oil because it imposed some serious health risks. Better start living healthy now while we`re still young. :D

Cold season

Winter is a season for common colds. Since it is very chilly outside so most of the time we love to stay indoors and more frequently we are exposed to cold virus. I used to catch cold very often when I was in college, I can even remember having common colds every after three weeks. Surprisingly, for the longest time now, I haven’t catch cold. I was evaluating the changes that I have done so far and concluded that maybe my change in diet incorporating with exercise may increased my immune system.

First, I changed my diet and make breakfast the most important meal in my day (except during weekends when I wake very very late). So for breakfast, I see to it that I will have rice, meat and milk in my meal.

Then for lunch, I usually eat in shokudo(cafeteria) with my sensei and labmates, so I have a good chance to choose varieties of vegetables displayed in the salad bar, of course tea is free so I always have tea during lunch.

colorful veges for lunch

For dinner I only have fruits such as apple, pear, avocado, grapes, etc. Sometimes, I opt to slice carrots (raw) dip in peanut butter (seems unlikely? But this is one of my favourite).

For snacks, I have a container full of almond nuts in my drawer. I will just munch them anytime of the day. However, lately I controlled it to at most 12 nuts because that`s the only recommended amount per day.

Saturday...is my cheat day. I will eat anything I want, mostly ice-cream, gummy and potato chips.    

Lossing weight

I`m really trying to get back to my usual routine here in Japan like eating less rice, enough amount of meat, more fruits and vegetables and exercise regularly. I don`t know if biking for 5 minutes to school will count as a work out but I can`t do my regular exercise because I have knee injury.

Last Monday, I have an accident with my bike. It step on a stone and I lose balance. The accident was not serious but I have this big big bruise. So I have a nice excuse not to do work out. Yehey!

my 4 days old bruise

How did I gain 4 pounds in 6 days

Two week ago I went home to the Philippines to celebrate our first wedding anniversary with my husband. We went to Tagaytay to chill and relax. We stayed at Taal Vista Hotel for two nights. The hotel was cozy and view of the volcano was amazing.

Since I was not in the Philippines for a year now I really missed the food. I eat as much as I can.

me enjoying my meal



Bulalo from Gerry`s Grill tagaytay



fried rice

Grilled puist served at Gerry`s grill-Tagaytay

my ever favorite burger steak from Jollibee

also a favorite, Jolli Spaghetti

Chop suey

Chinese food from a restaurant in MOA

Above were just few of the foods I indulge during my stay in the Philippine. When I got back to Sapporo, I was surprised my scale went up to 4 pounds more. Now I need to shed those extra weight. My target is to retain my weight before I went home. Loss weight! loss weight! loss weight! AJA!

Beauty secrets you can prepare at home

Sometimes reading beauty tips are just so irresistible for women like me. I`ve read from shine some of the beauty secrets around the world. I would like to try some of the beauty advice, I`m very curious. I like to try the milk, rice and sea weeds.

I gain weight!

It is common to Filipino student who study here in Japan to gain extra pounds. I was not exempted of course and since I arrived here during the cold season, I gain weight. I just love eating and eating until I notice I gain extra pounds almost above my required BMI.

Free bento (lunch box) served during a conference I attended in Hakodate City, Japan.

Starting last April, I try to shed those extra pound. Tried eating less rice, do some exercise at least 3 times a week and eat more healthy foods. I was successful and after 5 months I lost 8 pounds. In September my scales read 42.5 kg, just within my target.

I went home in the Philippines for a 6 days visit. I missed Filipino foods and I missed it so much that I ate a lot. I lost track of my diet and who can resist bulalo, kare-kare, dinuguan, sinigang and more?

When I got back to Japan one of the first thing I did was to step on my scale and to my great astonishment I gain 4 big pounds. OMG!