Every single day, we are dealt tasks and deadlines wherein we need to make progress on and eventually finish regardless of how we feel.
You don't feel so good, tough luck, you still need to work on that new article.
You know you have a big celebration coming up and just want to skip that quality control training - think about what helped you achieve success. Exactly, it was the habit of checking, rechecking and evaluating your work/ product.
Habits drive human actions. Habits are accomplished without much thought put into it. This is when you are in your own version of autopilot. Take for example driving. When you just started to learn how to drive, you needed to take note of every single step before being able to even get the car out of the garage. But as you repeatedly drove to and from school/ work - you are able to do it. The motor engrams needed to safely drive a car were already established. How about smoking as a habit? Going to the gym? Checking and updating your social media accounts? Meditation?
You on autopilot can be both productive and destructive. There are really good and bad habits. We can always say that labeling your actions and habits depend on the person, and I agree.
However, for the purpose of this series of articles - I would like to focus on (good) habits that grow into something more beneficial to you.
Think of a small action as a seed that you plant and eventually grow into a tree. This kind of analogy might become a new article to write. Just a thought.
Sidenote: I've been doing a 30 Day Challenge of Meditation - a 30 day challenge I started on the October 14th and have been doing it for seven days already.
So you plant the seed of meditation - which to me, even if I haven't read a lot of journals about its benefits - I've read articles from magazines and blogs - has helped me, personally, to be more composed (present Tony) during times of supposedly panic and disarray before (past Tony).
It can be when so many things - reports, evaluations, observations, meetings, homework and activities - are piled on me and I just go at them one at a time or in a more organized and productive manner. Rather than before, that I had the impression that as long as I was busy - I'm making progress on my deadlines. I'm able to accomplish more and sometimes even have time to spare versus just trying to beat the deadline. And I'm attributing this to my daily meditation.
This is an example of a simple action, that when practiced daily, will show promising changes and will eventually become a habit that will continually grow into something even more.
What action do you think if you start today and work on to become one of your (good) habits will grow into something very helpful in the future?
Tame your Ts,
Tony
Tuesday, October 20, 2015
Friday, October 16, 2015
Chipping away the pounds
I would like to put it here - as a record - that my goal weight and body fat percentage is 159 lbs and 10% body fat. That has alway been my goal but I haven't made strides towards achieving that goal.
At present, I'm 197 lbs, that is 38 lbs away from my goal weight.
My progress is at 5% of my goal (2 lbs lost / 40 lbs to lose). Two pounds lost over 3 days could just be water weight for all I know. I can check using a body fat monitor or even through skin measurement but I'm not going into that - yet.
Here is a quick graph of my progress for the more visuals - type of readers;
Obviously, I still have a long way to go but I'm very happy with what progress there is.
Tame your Ts,
Tony
Thursday, October 15, 2015
What does your financial situation look like? Paint me a picture.
Right now, at this very moment, I'm in a lot of credit card debt. I'm at a point in my life that I'm relying on credit card debt and am comfortable with it. However, if I would paint a picture of my current financial situation - I'm walking on a 2x2 across a gaping hole the size of our own apartment. I'm able to cross it using the 2x2 but this excuse of a plank is held by people from the company that is providing my paycheck. The hole is an accumulation of life events that are yet to happen that may end up to my demise.
That is not the most beautiful picture or even depiction of my financial situation - it may not be that worse. But with how I am right now, and how I view and deal with my finances - I'm pretty sure the description above is pretty close.
So, what do I have to do?
I can think of three things I should prioritize at the moment.
1. Budget - take a close look at my finances. I need to get a hold of my finances first - how much I really make, what I spend my money on, and look at the actions I can take right where I am in my financial journey. I obviously need to tighten my belt and cut back on a lot of stuff right now. These are my only options (aside from increasing my income - but that's a different post) due to my previous financial actions before this point in time.
2. Eliminate Debt - this one will take some time but is possible. Like what I mentioned above, I'm under a lot of credit card debt and like a fool, continue to dig a bigger and deeper hole of debt for myself. I need to turn my gears first and get out of the hole. Instead of digging a deeper hole, I should start filling it up and getting rid of it. I can't expect myself to be able to build a financial fortress if I have a gaping hole under it that can make it very unstable.
3. Invest - I've started investing in the Philippines and due to my current status here in the US - I can't do that here while I'm working in this country. I can always send what money I can spare, after cutting back on my expenses and getting a hang of my Budget.
Here is a quick rundown of what I need to do.
3 things. Budget. Eliminate Debt. Invest.
I'm going back to basics. I will learn from so many resources online and in books then apply and do what has been working for me. I'm going to follow through with these actions and not just stop and quit because it's hard. In times of fatigue, I will review and re-assess my actions so far - be it monthly, weekly or even daily. The best way to crystallize this knowledge and habits is to share both successes and failures - extend my experience to others but always emphasize that what worked for me may not be the same case for other peopl. I going to show how flexible I can be and at the same time build consistency with new habits.
Tame your Ts,
Tony
That is not the most beautiful picture or even depiction of my financial situation - it may not be that worse. But with how I am right now, and how I view and deal with my finances - I'm pretty sure the description above is pretty close.
So, what do I have to do?
I can think of three things I should prioritize at the moment.
1. Budget - take a close look at my finances. I need to get a hold of my finances first - how much I really make, what I spend my money on, and look at the actions I can take right where I am in my financial journey. I obviously need to tighten my belt and cut back on a lot of stuff right now. These are my only options (aside from increasing my income - but that's a different post) due to my previous financial actions before this point in time.
2. Eliminate Debt - this one will take some time but is possible. Like what I mentioned above, I'm under a lot of credit card debt and like a fool, continue to dig a bigger and deeper hole of debt for myself. I need to turn my gears first and get out of the hole. Instead of digging a deeper hole, I should start filling it up and getting rid of it. I can't expect myself to be able to build a financial fortress if I have a gaping hole under it that can make it very unstable.
3. Invest - I've started investing in the Philippines and due to my current status here in the US - I can't do that here while I'm working in this country. I can always send what money I can spare, after cutting back on my expenses and getting a hang of my Budget.
Here is a quick rundown of what I need to do.
3 things. Budget. Eliminate Debt. Invest.
I'm going back to basics. I will learn from so many resources online and in books then apply and do what has been working for me. I'm going to follow through with these actions and not just stop and quit because it's hard. In times of fatigue, I will review and re-assess my actions so far - be it monthly, weekly or even daily. The best way to crystallize this knowledge and habits is to share both successes and failures - extend my experience to others but always emphasize that what worked for me may not be the same case for other peopl. I going to show how flexible I can be and at the same time build consistency with new habits.
Tame your Ts,
Tony
Wednesday, October 14, 2015
Portion Control
Fasting - withholding food intake (over 20 calories) for a predetermined amount of time.
I fast following a 16/8 program. That means I fast for 16 hours and then I have an 8 hour eating window. Basically, I don't eat for 16 hours - which also includes my sleeping time (perfect time) and up until about 12 pm. I break my fast from 12 pm to 8 pm.
Naturally, my biggest meal would be my dinner and boy, do I make sure to enjoy dinner time and consume the 2,100 calories my body needs.
Which becomes a problem when I'm well aware of how I'm going over the amount of food I can eat to attain my goal of losing weight (40 lbs to go).
Portion Control - my next strategy of controlling the beast that is my appetite. A fundamental concept of providing yourself of necessary nutrients based on your macronutrients (protein, carbohydrates and good fats) and a simple way of making sure you don't screw your weight.
So, that's what I'm looking forward to doing in the next few months. I'll update this post on how I going about doing this.
Tame your Ts,
Tony
Tuesday, October 13, 2015
Early morning? Cold water? Deal with it.
My girlfriend and I have a peculiar strategy of tackling everyday activities. I don't have a statistic but I don't know anybody else who sleeps at 8 or 9 pm and wake up at 3 or 4 am to start their day.
We've talked about this and we just shrugged our shoulders and accepted that this is how we deal with work and whatever the day throws at us - and it is working - for us.
Now imagine getting up at 3 or 4 am - cook and eat breakfast, organize your things for work (materials, toys, folders and files) then getting ready for work (take a bath, pick out clothes for work).
Another big change I've undergone recently is my appreciation for hot water when taking a bath. I mean, it just feels great. But since I went ahead and started on a path of reinventing myself - I knocked that comfort down and replaced it with taking a bath using cold water.
Yes, cold water. Bath time isn't waiting for a few minutes until the water warms up a little so it feels perfect. No. Lately, it has been - stand under the shower, brace myself and turn on the water.
Honestly, I'm still not used to it - but I've read up on it and it turns out it actually has a tone of benefits.
To me, doing this wasn't because of all the benefits - I had no idea about those things before I even started cold water baths. To me - it was just another "small win" for the day.
As what Jim Rohn said, "People often say that motivation doesn't last. Well, neither does bathing - that's why we recommend it daily."
This isn't a post to encourage other people to do as we do - I'm simply sharing what I've done for the last week. I feel great and am thinking of continuing this morning routine.
Tame your Ts,
Tony
We've talked about this and we just shrugged our shoulders and accepted that this is how we deal with work and whatever the day throws at us - and it is working - for us.
Now imagine getting up at 3 or 4 am - cook and eat breakfast, organize your things for work (materials, toys, folders and files) then getting ready for work (take a bath, pick out clothes for work).
Another big change I've undergone recently is my appreciation for hot water when taking a bath. I mean, it just feels great. But since I went ahead and started on a path of reinventing myself - I knocked that comfort down and replaced it with taking a bath using cold water.
Yes, cold water. Bath time isn't waiting for a few minutes until the water warms up a little so it feels perfect. No. Lately, it has been - stand under the shower, brace myself and turn on the water.
Honestly, I'm still not used to it - but I've read up on it and it turns out it actually has a tone of benefits.
To me, doing this wasn't because of all the benefits - I had no idea about those things before I even started cold water baths. To me - it was just another "small win" for the day.
As what Jim Rohn said, "People often say that motivation doesn't last. Well, neither does bathing - that's why we recommend it daily."
This isn't a post to encourage other people to do as we do - I'm simply sharing what I've done for the last week. I feel great and am thinking of continuing this morning routine.
Tame your Ts,
Tony
Friday, October 9, 2015
What is my Crossover Point?
If you are a gentleman in his late 20s, just graduated with a Master's Degree and just trying to ease into the employed world - then you wouldn't be too familiar with your Crossover Point. At this moment, the concept has peaked my curiosity.
The Crossover Point is the point in time wherein your income from your investments match and even pass your expenses.
So essentially, for me, that would mean that my money is working for me - instead of me working for money. Which sounds so good - but the path towards achieving my Crossover Point will definitely be challenging as well as fun (I'll make sure of it).
Right now, my Expenses includes these important things;
Bills (non-negotiable)
Rent
Rent insurance
Internet
Gas/ Electricity
Water/ Sewage
Car
Car insurance
Car service
Phone/ Data
Gym
Flexible (expenses that vary from month to month)
Self-pay
Debt Management
Food
Gas
Clothes
Fun
Professional materials
I will quantify my progress towards my Crossover Point using percentage. Which means at the moment, I am at 0% because I have no investments or passive income that matches my expenses.
Passive income - income that you earn even if you are not working. This may be income from an online store that you've established and continue to work on. Those products can be video trainings, templates, school materials, online training programs and even as fun as planner stickers. It can also be income from profit after renting an apartment, a room in your house or a plot of land. There are a lot of ways to earn passive income.
Anyway, going back to the Crossover Point - it clearly depends on every individual but what is fascinating about it is that the concept is quantified, measurable. This makes the Crossover Point an achievable destination not to a limited few but essentially to anybody willing to do the necessary steps towards their own respective Crossover Point.
A person pursuing his or her Crossover Point may be on the same boat as me, or it can be a single parent with two kids or a younger generation which happen to stumble upon a financial blog post by accident. Time is essentially the biggest factor - and since my 25 minutes are almost up to finish this blog - until my update on this blog.
Tame your Ts,
Tony
The Crossover Point is the point in time wherein your income from your investments match and even pass your expenses.
So essentially, for me, that would mean that my money is working for me - instead of me working for money. Which sounds so good - but the path towards achieving my Crossover Point will definitely be challenging as well as fun (I'll make sure of it).
Right now, my Expenses includes these important things;
Bills (non-negotiable)
Rent
Rent insurance
Internet
Gas/ Electricity
Water/ Sewage
Car
Car insurance
Car service
Phone/ Data
Gym
Flexible (expenses that vary from month to month)
Self-pay
Debt Management
Food
Gas
Clothes
Fun
Professional materials
I will quantify my progress towards my Crossover Point using percentage. Which means at the moment, I am at 0% because I have no investments or passive income that matches my expenses.
Passive income - income that you earn even if you are not working. This may be income from an online store that you've established and continue to work on. Those products can be video trainings, templates, school materials, online training programs and even as fun as planner stickers. It can also be income from profit after renting an apartment, a room in your house or a plot of land. There are a lot of ways to earn passive income.
Anyway, going back to the Crossover Point - it clearly depends on every individual but what is fascinating about it is that the concept is quantified, measurable. This makes the Crossover Point an achievable destination not to a limited few but essentially to anybody willing to do the necessary steps towards their own respective Crossover Point.
A person pursuing his or her Crossover Point may be on the same boat as me, or it can be a single parent with two kids or a younger generation which happen to stumble upon a financial blog post by accident. Time is essentially the biggest factor - and since my 25 minutes are almost up to finish this blog - until my update on this blog.
Tame your Ts,
Tony
Wednesday, October 7, 2015
My experience with Intermittent Fasting. Part 1.
The truth is, I love it. I've been doing intermittent fasting (IF) on and off since I read about it when I was working in Cagayan De Oro. But then thinking about it, I've actually been doing it ever since I started boxing - so that's from middle of 2009. Let me make a quick overview.
So, 2009, I started boxing in Los Banos, Laguna. During that time, I also just started working as a speech and language pathologist in a private clinic setting. I love my set up there - it was a college town, lots of traffic, really good and affordable food. But, I unintentionally did intermittent fasting because of how my work, workout and eating schedule aligned.
I would work from seven in the morning to about five or six in the afternoon. After work, I would go straight to the boxing gym - Red Gloves - and then train for either an hour or even up to three hours. The question is, when do I eat breakfast and lunch. Answer - there was a period wherein I didn't want to miss any work that I didn't eat lunch - and I was so tired from working out that I couldn't eat breakfast because I would be late for work.
If I would make a timeline out of that;
6:30 or closer to 7 - Wake up
7 am to 6 pm - SLP Work
6 pm to 8/9 pm - Boxing
9 pm - Dinner (my one an only meal for the day)
10:30 or 11 pm - Sleep and Repeat
Doing this for about 6 months - I've lost 30 pounds and was able to be in the best shape of my life, then.
Don't get me wrong. I don't recommend the routine above for everybody - but it's just a snapshot of how (I didn't even know) I was able to do intermittent fasting while working.
I'm writing about it at this time because I plan to do a 30 day Intermittent Fasting challenge starting from October 11 (Sunday) to November 9 (Monday) as way to prepare for - you guessed it right - Thanksgiving Break!
You probably thought I was doing it to lose weight or achieve some kind of target goal - I just really want to enjoy the feast of giving thanks with your family and friends.
So Part 1 ends here for my experience with Intermittent Fasting. I'll write more detail about what I do and how I do it. I'll put the links from what books, websites and people I've modeled my intermittent fasting experience. I'm still at it. I don't feel like I've reached my goal yet while doing IF but I know I'll be there. Soon.
Watch out for Part II and Part III. Until then,
Tame your Ts,
Tony
So, 2009, I started boxing in Los Banos, Laguna. During that time, I also just started working as a speech and language pathologist in a private clinic setting. I love my set up there - it was a college town, lots of traffic, really good and affordable food. But, I unintentionally did intermittent fasting because of how my work, workout and eating schedule aligned.
I would work from seven in the morning to about five or six in the afternoon. After work, I would go straight to the boxing gym - Red Gloves - and then train for either an hour or even up to three hours. The question is, when do I eat breakfast and lunch. Answer - there was a period wherein I didn't want to miss any work that I didn't eat lunch - and I was so tired from working out that I couldn't eat breakfast because I would be late for work.
If I would make a timeline out of that;
6:30 or closer to 7 - Wake up
7 am to 6 pm - SLP Work
6 pm to 8/9 pm - Boxing
9 pm - Dinner (my one an only meal for the day)
10:30 or 11 pm - Sleep and Repeat
Doing this for about 6 months - I've lost 30 pounds and was able to be in the best shape of my life, then.
Don't get me wrong. I don't recommend the routine above for everybody - but it's just a snapshot of how (I didn't even know) I was able to do intermittent fasting while working.
I'm writing about it at this time because I plan to do a 30 day Intermittent Fasting challenge starting from October 11 (Sunday) to November 9 (Monday) as way to prepare for - you guessed it right - Thanksgiving Break!
You probably thought I was doing it to lose weight or achieve some kind of target goal - I just really want to enjoy the feast of giving thanks with your family and friends.
So Part 1 ends here for my experience with Intermittent Fasting. I'll write more detail about what I do and how I do it. I'll put the links from what books, websites and people I've modeled my intermittent fasting experience. I'm still at it. I don't feel like I've reached my goal yet while doing IF but I know I'll be there. Soon.
Watch out for Part II and Part III. Until then,
Tame your Ts,
Tony
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)