2005 has come and gone, and it has been a very challenging year for me, which I also believe is the same with you people out there. I’ve never experienced such tumult and discontent with a dash of ecstasy and a hint of enthusiasm in 365 days.

By the end of 2004, I was just this guy who thought of things like, I want to be lean, exercise harder, often and regularly. Eat healthy and maybe shy away from drinking and hopefully it will lead to having to refrain from smoking. Do my marketing strategy, and be more aggressive and work on my crafts. Crafts which are still at the cusp of imperfection. Guitar skills, songwriting, writing short stories, making short documentaries, picture stories and mixed martial arts.

Let’s see what I did on 2005.

I started hard workouts since January and had made good progress up until June. I started changing my eating habits to just eating salad with minimal dressing at lunch and soup for dinner. I ate almonds and nuts alike when snacking. I had oatmeal everyday for 6 months. I was 245 lbs back then. I’m only 5’8” and I’m that heavy. I went down to 180 within that period and it felt great. I was leaner and I had more energy than I could burn in a day.

It got boring. I tried Mixed Martial Arts, mainly Muay Thai (Thai kickboxing), Jiu Jitsu (a type of wrestling, only lots of grappling and ground work) and boxing. My whole body ached for several days after my first day of training. I felt muscles spasm that I didn’t even knew I had. I had to take a day off just so I could get off my bed. It was horrible. But like a masochistic, full of testosterone meathead that I am, I went in for a second helping. It got easier and more fun as I went through it.

I went down to 170 after that. I only had 12% body fat.

10 more lbs. would’ve been ideal for me, but the holidays are coming and I am now dealing with personal problems.

I’m only human by the way.

Needless to say, I gained about 15 back and I can’t get back to my “new self”.

So much for my first two plans for 2005.

Business has been good since the end of 2004, and I wanted to follow-through until I plan and start my own business. I was getting a lot of attention from my niche market and companies are noticing it. I’ve had a couple of offers but I turned them down. I’m so loyal, its not even funny.

I couldn’t say here the figures that I’ve been dealing with, but if you’re a regular employee in Manila and started working right after graduation, with a regular office job, you probably have to work 15 years before you before you match my yearly income. That’s how pathetic I’ve become. All work and less play.

I did play after 8 months. I’ve decided I’m treating this girl I’ve been seeing for 2 years now really seriously and that I want to have a future with her. She’s career oriented as much as I am. The last time I saw her was Christmas Eve and she was looking stunning as ever. I hope we both come to our senses and treat “US” better this year.

So far, I’ve done nothing to improve salesmanship, but customer service wise, I am topnotch. Outside and inside customers are happy, so I’m happy as well.

50% of my plans achieved. Hmm. Not bad. Let’s see what 2006 would bring us now.

I’ll post my list later.

I purposely left out the last part of my list. See what happens.....