Kuliling

I started going to the gym some 5 or 4 months ago.  I haven't been member of any kind of gym in the past and haven't been into any kind of fitness regimen whatsoever.  But then again, during the days when I had quicker metabolism (good times...good times...) I didn't really care because all I had to do was eat less than what I'm used to eating for a week or so and I start to lose pounds.

Then the baby came, and it just gets harder and harder that diet alone cannot solve my problem.  I resorted to all kinds of un-natural stuff -- crash diets, diet pills, etc. and end up still continuing to be the sweet-craving, binge-eater that I am.

I then found myself even more in the pit as I transferred to the US where high-fructose-corn-syrup-laden food are just an arms length away, and serving sizes are more than double what is even allowable to be consumed by any human being. For the first  year I felt really horrible as my old winter clothes got tighter and muffin tops are becoming more and more evident.  Suddenly I hate summer because I have to show more skin ergo more fat.  I became a size 6 which is probably a size bigger than my usual post pregnancy size.

Then as I said I started gym which I blindly did over a month.  I pretty much did only cardio and was inconsistent.  Then I consulted a trainer who eventually bulked me up with muscles...but not a lot of fat removal.  Nothing was happening still to me because I realized I wasn't watching what I eat.  See I have to cover all my bases for something to happen.  It didn't used to be like this...ugh the perils of getting old.  So there I was, counting calories and logging in to online calorie counters to make things happen.  Eventually I've become a changed person and saw real results.  I'm losing inches and I felt like I'm getting skinnier than my skinnier post pregnancy self (as evidenced by my now-lose-but-previously-hip-clinging slacks).

Today was my test to check my progress...as of today I'm officially a size2.  And I haven't felt healthier in my life.  I didn't realize that this is all it takes for me to get to look this way.  I'm still a work in progress but I know that I have made a lifestyle change and a different motivation to make things happen...permanently.

     I wasn't a keen observer of my dental health.  It doesn't help too that I have a family of weak teeth.  I have always dreaded having to go to the dentist to be judged how many teeth do i need to have filled. 

     But since big bucks are being taken out of my paycheck for medical and dental insurance, I thought that I should take advantage of that...to sort of get the ROI from that.  So I did go to the dentist two weeks ago and was diagnosed to require a root canal on one of my tooth to save it. 

     I knew I needed that because the last dentist who has taken a look at my mouth (from two years ago...a handsome dentist from Dentista, SM Southmall Branch) already told me about that and actually did a root canal on one of my tooth as well.

     From what I knew, a root canal is an excruciating process from both the dentist and the patient. The last time I had it, I had two appointments and it took the whole afternoon to do it.  Anesthesia shots takes a while and even if my mouth feels thick and numb, I could still feel the pain whenever the doctor sticks needles into my nerves!  I also expected tired mouth muscles because of the mouth being dry and open for such a long time.  So I had an idea on how bad it's going to be and I was ready for my appointment this morning.

     I had the first session of my root canal today.  I had the morning appointment because I was bracing myself to have the whole morning session.  When I first sat down, there was a TV in front of me and a headset and the remote control was given so that I could watch TV on my own convenience and privacy.  It was like being in a business class flight.  Cozy...

     When I was given the anesthesia shots I wondered why I wasn't as numb and my gums didn't feel as thick as I thought it should be.  So I worried that during the process I might still feel the pain.  Ironically, once they had their hands on my mouth, it was smooth sailing, almost pain free and problem free!  It took a measely 1 hour to get the first session finished...and to think the dentist was even multi-tasking between me and two other patients!

     I started to feel the difference of being in the first world country vs being back home.  Don't get me wrong, my dentist from back home is not bad either.  It was a high tech facility from a Philippine standard.  I also thought my dentist from back home did a good job on my first root canal.  I guess it's just that there is more access to technology out here...and probably because dental services are more expensive so they have more money to invest on technology...I don't know...

     I guess I'm starting to lose my fear of going back to the dentist.