If you had told me a few years ago that I’d be the type of person who intentionally walks 10,000 steps a day, tracks calories, lifts weights, practices Tai Chi walking, sharing fitness tips, and actually enjoys it, I probably would’ve laughed my head off. 

I wasn’t looking for a dramatic transformation.

I wasn’t trying to become a fitness influencer.

I wasn’t chasing a number on the scale.

I simply reached a point where I wanted to feel better.

At 43, I started noticing (and feeling!) changes. My energy wasn’t the same. Recovery took longer. Sleep felt too hard to reach. Oh boy, the  weight seemed easier to gain and harder to lose. Some days I felt great, and other days I felt like I was treading through mud.

Then I started reading about perimenopause.

Not in a panic. Not out of fear of aging.

I just wanted to understand what was happening and what I could do to help myself age well.

That became the beginning of my fat-loss journey.

And if you’re reading this because you want to start your own journey too but don’t know where to begin, maybe my reasons will get your bum moving. 

1. I Wanted To Stay Ahead Of Aging, Not Fight It

One thing that you learn in life,  getting older is a privilege.

The goal isn’t to look 25 forever.

The goal is to be healthy enough to enjoy life at 43, 53, 63, and beyond.

As I learned more about perimenopause, I realized that muscle loss, slower metabolism, reduced mobility, and weight gain can become more common as we age.

Hormonal changes can’t be controlled. 

But I can control how I move my body.

I can control how I nourish it.

I can control how I take care of myself.

Every walk, every workout, every healthy choice that felt like big sacrifices,  is my way of investing in Future Me.

Not because I fear aging.

Because I want to age strong.

2. I Wanted My Energy Back

For the longest time, I thought being tired was just part of getting older and being busy.

Work.

Family.

Responsibilities.

Life.

But eventually I realized I wasn’t giving my body enough movement.

So I began with the simplest thing possible.

Walking.

Nope. Not running.

Not complicated programs.

Not punishing workouts.

No “jabs”. 

Just walking.

One walk became two.

Then eventually became my daily goal of 10,000 steps.

Some days I get them during Ayala Car-Free Sundays or my daily morning walk at Circuit Makati after I drop my kids off to school. 

Other days it’s through errands, chores, meetings, events, or simply choosing to move instead of being idle.

What surprised me most and probably what kept me going, was how much better I felt. 

The more I moved, the more energy I seemed to have.

Movement truly became medicine.

3. I Wanted A Lifestyle - Not Another Diet 

I’ve tried the “I’ll start tomorrow” approach.

I’ve tried the all-or-nothing mindset.

I’ve tried being overly strict with myself. 

None of it lasted.

This time, I focused on sustainability.

Instead of trying to eat as little as possible, I focused on maintaining a calorie deficit that is realistic. I branded it as my #CalDefAdventure. 

I started eating clean. 

Yes, I still enjoyed food.

I still joined celebrations.

I still lived my life.

I just did it more mindfully. 

One of the biggest game changers for me was understanding NEAT, or Non-Exercise Activity Thermogenesis.

Sounds technical, but it’s really just all the movement you do outside of workouts.

Cleaning the house.

Taking the stairs from the 19th floor down to the lobby. 

Parking farther away.

Walking for 15 minutes after eating. 

Choosing movement whenever possible.

These small habits look boring on social media, but they add up in a big way.

Sometimes it’s the boring things that produce the best results.

4. Walking Became My Therapy, And Weights - My Insurance Policy

One of the unexpected gifts of this journey had nothing to do with fat loss.

Walking became my reset button.

So did Tai Chi walking.

It helped me slow down.

Breathe.

Think.

Reflect.

Some of my best ideas came to me during walks.

Some of my biggest worries became smaller during walks.

Some days I didn’t do it for the calories anymore.

I was walking because it made me feel good.

Then the weights followed. 

Initially, I thought strength training was only for people trying to build muscle.

Now I see it in a different light.

At 43, lifting weights feels like an insurance policy for the future.

Strong muscles help support healthy aging.

They protect mobility and independence.

I don’t train because I want to be the strongest in the room.

I train because I want to keep living life on my own terms for as long as possible.

Ayala Car Free Sundays have become my tradition.

5. I Wanted To Prove Something To Myself

Not for anyone else.

For me.

Every day that I got my steps in.

Every workout I completed.

Every calorie-deficit day.

Every healthy choice.

It became proof that I could trust myself.

The biggest transformation wasn’t the weight I lost.

It was the confidence I gained.

I stopped waiting for motivation.

I started building habits.

And habits carry you when motivation disappears.

That’s something no scale can measure.

If You’re Thinking About Starting

My advice is simple.

Don’t wait for the perfect time.

Don’t wait until Monday.

Don’t wait until you have all the gear.

Start with a WALK.

Repeat the next day.

Focus on consistency before intensity.

Move more.

Learn about calorie balance.

Add strength training when you’re ready.

Be patient.

The goal isn’t perfection.

The goal is progress.

At 43, I’ve learned that health is the real flex.

Movement is medicine.

Peace over perfection.

And the goal isn’t just to lose fat.

The goal is to build a life where you feel strong, capable, energetic, and present.

That’s what my journey has given me.

And honestly, I think I’m just getting started.

Before I end this entry, I want you to know that I didn’t figure everything out overnight. There was plenty of trial and error, a few restarts, and a lot of learning along the way.

In my next entry, I’ll share the exact apps I used to track my calories, the foods that helped me stay in a calorie deficit without feeling deprived, the equipment I use, and how I prepared myself mentally before taking that first step.

I will also share the best and the worst shorts to wear during workouts. 🤣

Because sometimes the hardest part isn’t losing the fat. It’s simply knowing where to start. Even without a support system. 

And if my experience can make your journey a little easier, then sharing it is worth it.

Before: Making excuses.