I used to have a really healthy routine every day. I would get up and do some quick work, then go swimming daily (weekdays). It was really good for my health. Not only did I gain more strength through the exercise I gained from regular swimming, the exercise from the swimming also made me lose weight. Additionally, the person that I swam with was overweight, so we kind of pushed each other toward better eating habits, and also continuing to exercise. I maintained this habit for about 5 years, 5 days per week. It had a great impact on my life.
About a year and a half ago, my friend and I sort of went different ways with our lives for a while, and got out of the habit of swimming together. It was a big loss for me, because I got more into the habit of staying home and working on my computer, and doing less exercise. I gained a little weight in that time too, although not too much, thankfully. I kept wanting to get back into the routine, but exercise like that is easier to do if you have a buddy that you are doing it with. Well, thankfully, right after New Year Day, my friend and I got back in touch, and we have re-established our exercise routine. It’s really been great to get back to swimming, exercise, and the friendship that I have missed during this time.
In addition to the swimming, I have now gotten into the routine that I walk from my house to the Health Club every day. It’s not too far, takes about 15 minutes to walk it, but it is just an added bit of exercise that combines nicely with the swimming.
One reason why I mention this is that during my morning walks to the Health Club, I have started meeting a number of Filipinos along the way, and have established friendships with them to some extent. It seems that if you walk the same route day after day at the same time, you pretty much see the same people along the route most every day. The same guy will be out there watering his flowers, or washing his Jeepney. It started out that I would always say good morning to them (in Bisaya). Remember, a while back AmericanLola wrote a column about how important it is to say “Good Morning” to people here? Well, over the weeks that I have been walking the route and speaking to all the people I see along the way, people have become friendlier and friendlier with me! It seems almost like some of the people are waiting for me to come by every morning now! You know what is funny too? As I said, when I speak to them I always speak Bisaya, I figure it’s a good way to practice the language. Funny thing is, they generally speak to me in English! Maybe they consider it their way of practicing English, I am not sure.
Anyway, I am enjoying getting back into this routine again, and the added walking makes it even better than before. It’s a chance to talk with my friend, swim, exercise, get a workout, and practice my Bisaya! How could I go wrong?
Bob you are so right. There is nothing more important than keeping up an excercise routine. It is so easy to be lazy here with all the hot weather. Also alcohol. Seems so many foreigners come here to drink san migs all day. You can just imagine the size of the belly's of these guys. I personally play golf about 5 times a week and walk the course. Our group plays at 7am so it is not as hot. Its great excercise. Well good luck to you Bob. Remember you don't need a friend as an excuse to excersise JUST DO IT! as Nike would say.
Hi Vicki – Yes, I really enjoy the walking! And, you are right, you don't need a friend for exercising. The thing is, though, having a friend to do it with cuts back on the excuses to not do it. You have somebody to be accountable to, etc.
Venice and I were considering getting a gym/pool membership at the Marco Polo. Haven't done it yet as the store is taking up so much of our time. As you said excuses, excuses. I'm happy with the weight I've lost since I've been here but I want to lose more and build some muscle. I stopped drinking altogether which as vicki says does have an impact on your weight.
Hi Louis – I used to do my workout/swimming at Marco Polo, but I switched. I now go to Holiday Health Spa on F. Torres. A couple of reasons for the change:
1. Marco Polo did some major renovations around the pool area, and I don't care for it now. In the past, you had a beautiful view of the city, and the pool area was wide open. Now, there are buildings built all around the area, and it has a closed in feel. I just don't feel the "luxury" that I felt there before.
2. Holiday is quite close to my house.
3. Marco Polo is considerably more expensive. I didn't mind paying extra there when the pool was nicer and such, but I see no reason to pay a premium the way it is now.
Regarding the drinking… I don't drink much, so it's not really a consideration for me. In an average year, I might drink 3 or 4 bottles of beer, no more.
Good for you, Bob, I will take inspiration from you and get going on some exercise! So glad to hear you are getting you know your neighbors by walking and speaking to them, it is really a great way to practice Bisaya and make friends!
And, hey! Your front page is loading a lot faster! Congrats! 🙂
Hi AmericanLola – I had to make some changes on the front page, because it was very server intensive. Due to the growing popularity of this site, the server was really getting hit hard by that front page, so I sacrificed some functionality for speed of the site. I kind of miss the old style, but for now this is the way to go.
Yes, I am really enjoying getting back into my old routine. The exercise is great and makes me feel good, in addition to using the time to practice speaking bisaya, I also work on memorizing new words during the walk too. It works good for me!
Hey, watch for a language update coming on Friday!
Hi bob! I was just gonna ask you yesterday if there was something wrong or just something from my end. 🙂
I am so lousy at exercising. I'm ningas-kugon or just good at the beginning then just forget about it. We even have a pedometer but it's just sitting in one of the boxes in my desk. It's true that you tend to be more enthusiastic about it when you got friends who share the same interest with you. And you are right! The view from the Marco Polo Poolside is not as grand though the new function room there is fabulous.
I'm ashamed to say that since I have been here in the phils, I have put on 20 k, it is simply not enough exercise, at home as I am a sports coach I spend most days coaching and playing but here I have become a bit lazy on the daily exercise thing. I do still go for long walks of over 4 hours but it's not enough.
I think I got into the rice thing here too easy and am now paying the price.
I don't eat rice now and am trying to get back to my normal weight !!!!
Exercising with a friend is best as you have the commitment and the competition, alas I don't have any friends locally. Yes I know that's no excuse !
Fatty in Makati….
Hi Cathy – Yeah, the conference room/restaurant at poolside are nice, but for me it spoiled a place that I love, the pool at Marco. I'd love to have it back the way it was, but that ship has already sailed!
Hi gerry – With the amount of activity that you mention, it seems that you should be keeping the weight off! Of course, that rice can certainly get you, though! I rarely eat rice myself.
Bob now I know. I had noticed the drag too for the last few days. I was also going to ask you if it was just on my end.
Nice story, Bob … I noticed nobody talked about the greeting strangers part yet … we're all nerds talking servers I guess LoL.
I think I've mentioned before that many Americans wold know much more what to expect in the Philippines if they have a good memory of what small-town life in the US was say 30 or 40 years ago.
Mnay of the things other foreigners speak to me of as 'strange' are merely the way things were when I was a boy. people did _not_ pass each other on the street without a friendly greeting, especially in your local neighborhood. It's just the way things are done here in my little suburb … if my dad were here, walking with me when I was a little boy, he's feel right at home. I walk every night just at dark to 'fetch' Mita home and at that time of day there are always people on the street.
And it's of course great to know the language, but one shouldn't act aloof or stand-offish if you aren't familiar with a simple "magunda gabi, kamusta ka?" (I'm sure the Bisayan isn't much different, after all Noli de Castro was famous for years for intoning "Magunda gabi, bayan") a simple "good evening, how are you" will get nothing less than a smile … if not an update on the neighborhood "PAGASA" from people who know me.
Those who keep to themselves miss a lot.
Bob,
I have not started any exercise regiment as you have and I commend you for it. I do find I walk more the I did in the US. There I only walked from the house to the car to the office. I am also losing weight since I eat until I am no longer hungry, not like in the US where we most eat until we are full.
I have a comment on the new format of the home page. I know you have a new article each day, but the other writers post less frequent. It was nice seeing if there was a new post insted of having to click each writers tab to see if there is anything new.
Hi Eric – Yep, luckily I got it working now in a way that is fast, and I can do some research to see if I can find a more efficient way to have it back the way that it used to be.
Hi Dave Starr – For your benefit (if it would benefit you in any way!) here are the Bisaya greetings:
Maayong Buntag – Good Morning
Maayong Udto – Good Noon
Maayong Hapon – Good Afternoon
Maayong Gabii -Good Night or Evening
Maayong Adlaw – Good Day
Learning a few phrases such as these, in whatever your local language is, is quite easy for anybody who is visiting or living here. And, learning those few words will really improve your life in terms of being accepted and welcomed by people. I recommend it highly.
Hi Bruce – I have lost in excess of 100 pounds since I moved here in 2000. I hope to lose another 75 or so. Exercise helps me on that a great deal. And, it makes me feel better too, which is a big plus!
Regarding the front page of the site, right now there is no real choice but to have it the way it is. I am already paying well in excess of $200 per month for the server that I have, and that one page the way that it was brought the server to a near standstill, because of increased popularity of the site. For now it will have to stay the way it is. I am researching to see if there is a more efficient way to bring in those article headlines and such like before, and hopefully I can find a solution for that soon. By the way, if you subscribe to the RSS feeds for each column, you can instantly see if there is anything new.
Hi Bob. Walking to your health club and back to your home is not only good for your health but also for the environment. Added benefit is you get to interact with people along the way, and make new friends. It also is a great advertisement for the city, you know, that it is safe to walk the streets of Davao (a place in Mindanao!!! 😯 shocking specially to the people who thinks the whole of Mindanao is what the news describe).
I have the same sentiments as that of Bruce's with regards to the new home page lay out. But if the new lay out means it loads faster, then I'll go for that. Congrats Bob for being so dynamic and for beating the problem [e.g. slow loading] with immediate and effective action [new lay out]. I just wish our government's (specially Tourism) websites are run by someone like you!
On the site redesign:
Hi Bob – Hope you don't mind if I comment here. I thought the same thing that Bruce pointed out. It was convenient visiting the front page & seeing instantly if there was a new post instead of clicking each writer's page (but it was cool to see each writer's profile).
I look forward to seeing any new improvements you will come up with.
i'm not sure if it'll solve the problem, but time.com has a blog/opinion page with each writer's profiles on the right. it's a clean & efficient layout. just an idea, no pressure.
Hi macky – I don't mind the comment at all! Don't worry on that. But, I had two choices at the moment I changed that page:
1. Shut down the site.
2. Make the change I made.
Due to some very extreme additional traffic on the site, I found out how inefficient that page was, and that if the site got more traffic, the site would basically be out of business. In addition. that one page had all of my 200+ blogs basically out of business. So, from a business standpoint, I had no choice. My earnings on my sites went down 90% the day that this problem cropped up, because the server was virtually inaccessible.
Like you and Bruce, I like the old front page much better myself. And I hope to get something back that is similar to that. But, I will have to find a more efficient way of gaining that, or else will have to upgrade to a server that will cost me three times the price, and the earnings from this site are very small…. so that made the decision.
Hopefully it will improve soon!
I do appreciate your feedback.
Hi Bob – The asawa and I enjoyed walks to town each morning while we were in the Phils. Beautiful sunrises, warm weather, and plenty of locals to greet. The walking helped with weight loss and feeling better, and the greetings helped make us feel more accepted.
My "greeting" was simply the combination of a smile, the upward nod of my head and the raising of my eyebrows. On the first few days, the responses mirrored surprise more than anything. After that, responses were B-I-G smiles, nods and "gmornins"! Sometimes, a conversation would break out! 🙂
Now that we're back in the land of 40 degree (F) winter mornings, it's really hard to continue the walks. We miss the warm walks and the people we'd see each morning even more. 😥
Hi Paul – Yep, your experience seems much like mine. It gives you a good feeling in more ways than one! I have to agree with what Dave Starr said on another point – this practice of walking around the area, greeting people, getting to know your neighborhood is how much of the world was 30 or 40 years ago. It is quite to my liking!
Hi Bob I uderstand to you about the routine every day exercise
if you are alone.Before I make every day exercise with
2 my friends and I feel good. But before 3 months my friend
stop make exercise. And I no like make alone exercise.
Hi zois – I understand very much! Having a friend to exercise with is a great motivator!
Bob, I have really enjoyed your website. My asawa and I live in Sugar Land Tx. and I have just retired from 40 or so years teaching history and serving as a guidance counselor for high school students. We may soon be moving to Baybay Leyte, mywife's home town, where we have a house. There aren't any health clubs in Baybay but we will have a tread mill like we have here and hopefully that will help us keep trim.Though of course it won't allow me to practice my Maayong buntags.Ha! I think the older we get the more important staying fit becomes. I alos agree with you and Dave that the Philippines has that small town atmosphere that existed in a more rural small town america of the past. Fortunately Texas still have some of thatdespite the increasing urbanization. again thanks for your web site and keep up your exercise as we need you to stay healthy and keep us informwed about living in the Philippines.
Hi Richard Wilson – Thanks for visiting and commenting! I have had treadmills in the past, but I have a hard time "forcing myself" to use one. I kind of find it boring, and I enjoy more walking out on the streets because there are things that keep my interest – people, cars, whatever happens to catch my eye!
Good luck with your possible move to Baybay! I hope that it all works out for the best!
@ Richard Wilson, you would laugh because as I was crafting that comment I noted it had grown too long (as most of mine do) and a cut a whole paragraph about the similarity to towns Mita and I have visited in rural Texas …. were you reading over my shoulder LoL?
As an educator you'd also see the similarities to the past in the way teachers students and parents interact … I can't look at a front page from a US city without at least one school violnce or parent sues school over Johnnies self-esteem or some other event that shows people with way too much time on their heands. Here in the Philippines a kid better not come home and complain about what the teacher did, or s/he will get it back twice from the parent. professionals in positions of authority do not have a target pinned to their back as they do now in the US … I like it here, actaully.
RE the front page load issue:
@Bob, good that you didn't give in on the bigger server method, becuase a bigger server only multiplies inefficiency problems.
@ all who miss having the headlines show up … as Bob mentioned you really should subscribe … that RSS thingy and use Google Reader, Bloglines, Pluck or one of the other RSS readers … it's ever so much easier than trekking around reading sites one at a time and it substantially decreases the load on the entire 'Net.
I know it's a new idea to some, but it's worth learning … anyomne who wants some private coaching/one on one on the fine points can feel free to contact me at davestarr(at)gmail(dot)com
Hi Dave Starr – In January my site traffic here went up 30%. Nothing earth shattering, but a nice increase. In the first week of February, my traffic was double what it was the last week of Jan. Now that IS growth! If things keep up like this, I will be looking to add additional server resources in the future, but the first step is to certainly do things as efficiently as possible to keep things running well on the server I am on.
Hi Bob, I liked the comment from Dex U, about walking is also good for the enviroment, as I had that day been watching a guy using a petrol (US gas) operated leaf blower to clear some leaves, and couldnt help but think " I BET THERE ARENT TOO MANY OF THOSE IN THE PHILIPPINES" 😀
You know what, Anthony? I haven't seen a leaf blower since coming to live here! Ha ha… 😆
Hey Bob – quick thought on the front page issue: Would having drop-down menus beneath each author's name (at the top of the page) that show the titles of the author's latest couple of columns cause you the same server problems? If not, they might help us less technically efficient folk! 😆
Hi Paul – Thanks for the suggestion. Don't worry, I am working on coming up with the right solution.
bob,
I just wanna know where you live in davao city?are you in woodrigde?just curious?
daghan salamat,
anita
Hi anita ceniza – No, I do not live in Woodridge. I live in Marfori Heights. Where do you live?
hi bob,
yesterday,i wrote and ask you what part of davao city you and your family living>thats all.hope you reply my question.
thank you,
anita ceniza
hi bob,
sorry,i got your answer.I used to live in agdao and some of my relatives still live there.
Daghang Salamat,
anita
hi bob.
Daghan Salamat po for the reply.my answer is ..yes i used to lived and born in Agdao,DVO city.Some of relatives still live there.
anita
Hi anita ceniza – No problem! Thanks for dropping by!