Tubil means refill

Netnet Camomot

TOBIL, Rephil. You don’t have to ask what these two are selling.

Gas stations are multiplying like bunnies. They’re everywhere. Wait, since we don’t see bunnies everywhere, let’s change that to… they’re multiplying like, hmmm, corrupt politicians?

And there goes the tired Pinoy: Corrupt politician na pud? Wa na bay lain topic diha?

1. Let’s talk about OTWOL. I’ve been watching teleseryes again. That’s what happens when you’re in your dad’s childhood home, and your sis, cousins, aunt, and the household’s yaya are all watching teleseryes every night.

I brought a book–Cheryl Strayed’s “Wild”–but I’ve read less than five pages so far while busy with teleseryes, Facebook, and discovering new restos.

With a diet that’s now focused on fish and chicken, asking a resto’s waiter about their bestsellers and specialties is a hint I still wish I could have the baby back ribs. On Friday night, though, I had pistachio sans rival! While devouring the whole slice, all I could think of were the empty calories that my body had to endure.

Even an invite to go to Starbucks or Pizza Republic is now met with apprehension: What can I eat there?

My favorite drink nowadays is water. Ho-hum. The sans rival was paired with water instead of coffee. Boring, eh?

The crazy thing about diets is you get used to the idea once you see the results–you can now squeeze into a medium instead of a 2XL, XL or large. But don’t ever think of diets as sacrifice because once you feel that way, better find another diet that won’t make you miserable.

The supermarket is a dieter’s best friend or worst enemy, depending on how he looks at a half-full or half-empty glass of water. He sees a pack of peanuts and begins to imagine mindlessly tossing them into his mouth while watching TV, with the calories multiplying until there are no more peanuts left for him to toss. The same scenario is possible with chips which tend to disappear without him noticing.

Each food item in the supermarket has its own pros and cons, so it’s better for the dieter to know what he can and cannot eat, so he can focus on the food that he can without feeling deprived.

One diet tip: avoid empty calories. If a food item is merely increasing your calorie intake, better stop eating that until you’ve reached your ideal weight which, by the way, is not a go-signal for you to eat anything unless you want to go back to the old fatty weight.

But then, what do I know? I’ve been there, done that with diet and exercise programs, but I still have this teeny weeny knowledge about health. That’s why I listen to health coaches who have lost weight because they can relate with what I’m going through.

There’s the health coach and us, his badlongon minions who would do anything to try his patience. He gets the post-fiesta update: I had lechon! But never the pre-fiesta warning: There’s lechon, to eat or not to eat, that’s the question.

He tells us not to atone for our sins the morning after through fasting or by deducting more calories from our magic number aka total number of calories allowed per day, but to simply go back to the meal plan. That’s how patient he is because he understands–he has been there, done that, too, with body weight problems.

Talking with fellow dieters and exercisers almost daily has made me realize I’m not the only one. It’s better to have a support group that’s constantly there to remind you that you’re not alone in your struggle.

For dieters, Tobil and Rephil could sound like eat pa more–a bad habit they’re now trying to avoid. No more bottomless rice and bottomless iced tea.

But for car owners, Tobil and Rephil can mean friendlier gas prices since the more, the merrier.

Much like the presidential candidates in Pinas–the more, the merrier! Wheeeee!