Monday, December 14, 2009

The Waist of the Matter.

I put on my jeans which I bought last year and it fit me perfectly. I checked around the waist and it was an exact fit, as if the pants were tailor-made to my size.

I suffered from mild panic.

Rewind a year ago and I still remember my friend and colege blockmate asking me for my size. I told her I was a 28, but normally wear a 29. I'm not much of a fan of tight fits. Knowing better, blockmate insisted that I buy size 30, claiming that it would fit better. Inwardly, I suspected that she doesn't carry odd sizes, thus her insistence in stocks two sizes larger than my actual fit. I didn't bother to argue.

A year has passed since then, and I find myself filling my jeans perfectly at the waist. Living it day to day, I almost didn't realize how much I have foregone this year in terms of extra-curricular and physical activity. Strenuous and excessive amounts of overtime took its toll and has now presented me with a weakened state of physique.

I used to play volleyball regularly twice a week, and when late last year, I met a group of mountaineers, I began joining minor treks and beach outings. I was at my best form then; I felt taller, my scoliosis didn't seem to bother me anymore. I was reading faster and more varied authors, even.

Then the Circus started.

I began losing contact with most of my groups. My twice-weekly volleyabll was replaced with daily overtime. My monthly treks were replaces with weekend overtime. What's even more perplexing was that the more time I render at the Great Place, the more work seemed to pile up. My morning stretch routine was replaced with extended wallowing under the covers; my games replaced by irregular rotations of binge-eating and meal-skipping.

They say it takes at least three weeks to form a habit. I can't even comit two days straight to relearn my morning stretches. Thus, I'm stuck with a screaming spine, prolonged mornings of lethargy, and two inches gained in nine months.

Loss of self esteem doesn't even begin to describe what I'm suffering. I've become alienated from my groups and I only have myself to blame.

A few days ago, Brunswick paid me a surprise visit at the Great Place. He was at the area and decided to rescue me from my mundane existence, if even for a few minutes. Quick updates about the various people I lost contact with ensued, and I was cornered into promising to rejoin the group in the near future. I appreciate Brunswick's going out of his way to reconnect with me. I plan to repay his efforts by re-establishing with my network. My days of wallowing are long overdue, and it needs to stop, effective immediately.

I need to move once more, and in more ways than one.

10 comments:

  1. tara, laro tayo ng volleyball.

    kahit ball handling lang tapos dig-pass! :D

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  2. Don't ask what my waistline is. :P

    Ahh, I remember how my previous job ruined my social life. I can see that it ruined your healthy lifestyle, making you work overtime and all. The things we do for money. Tsk tsk.

    I say don't think too much about it or you might not enjoy the yuletide season as much as you could. Just remember that you should not weigh heavier than your refrigerator, other than that you'll be perfect. :)

    MERRY CHRISTMAS SHATS! :)

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  3. kaya yan shatts! just you wait til i'm a bit recovered with my operated wrist. you said you wanted a stretch? iyo-yoga naten yan. hehehe.

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  4. i feel for you mate. kasi pareho na tayo ng waist line. :P during college i used to regularly play badminton with my friends. i feel healthy back then...

    post college--not so much. busy na kasi lahat. work, etc. mahirap na makahanap ng gym or badminton buddy. tsk.

    ---
    wow... i was so relieved!!! akala ko ako na lang ang tanging di marunong mamisikleta! haha!

    i once visited the national museum back in high school. hindi ko maxado nalibot maigi because of the tight schedule i think.

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  5. tama na ang pagiging workaholic. try to balance out work and play. de-stress. life is short. enjoy it.

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  6. Sabi nga nila, a busy life is a happy life. Pero parang hindi naman totoo. LOL.

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  7. I feel your pain! I'm so looking forward to the long Christmas break. To hell with work.

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  8. mabuti ka pa tumaba. ako mas lalong nagmukang l. lawliet sa puyatan blues.

    happy new year shattershards! let's make a ruckus and grab 2010 by the balls!

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  9. @ All: Sorry if I haven't been replying to the comments lately, I've just been busy, and my lappy was being hard on me. Thanks for keeping the blog alive, even though the owner seemed to have neglected it.

    Oh, and Happy New Year to everyone!


    @ Eternal Wanderer: I haven't played vball in nearing a year now, I doubt if even muscle memory will help me. Besides, I fear I may no longer fit my playing gear. Magpapapayat muna ako. Haha!


    @ vajarl: I did enjoy the holiday, much more than others would expect! hehe. Thankfully, I haven't yet surpassed our ref's weight, so, by your standards, I guess I'm still okay. :-)


    @ Gentle: You'd be hard-pressed to teach me your stances, as I've become a tad too brittle, but in time, I would become limber again. hehe


    @ Lucas: Most people complain that I'm too skinny, even now. Others get insulted when I say I've gone fat. But I don't feel healthy, and that's the problem.

    I don't believe that we're the only two people who do not know how to bike, or balance, or skate. There must be other people out there with in the same position. hehe


    @ The Scud; Yes, true. This year, I'm aiming for real work-life balance. No more work=life balance. Haha! The enjoyment will come after I've worked out some chinks in my currnet plans, and I hope that would be soon. :-)


    @ Victor Gregor: I think that notion still hold true, but it depends on what one is being busy about, I guess. haha!


    @ Andy: I hope the Chrismas break was good to you. For me, it reinforced my "growing" state. My cheeks are still puffy from all that over-eating I've done. Buhay-baboy to the max!


    @ Lio Loco: I just wish it wasn't all accounting books that warmed your bed and made you miss sleep during the christmas break. There's too much warm and goodness that comes from all the fatty foods served during this season, I hope you had your fair share. :-)

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