Yeah, I should go do something about my handwriting. lol

http://www.c2biotechnologies.com/C2B_images/cellulase_enzyme.png

“Cellulose is the major structural component of plants, especially of wood and plant fibers… Animals lack the enzymes, called cellulases, that hydrolyze cellulose to glucose… Cellulases are found in certain bacteria, including the bacteria that inhabit the digestive tracts of insects, such as termites, and grazing animals, such as cattle and horses. The presence of these bacteria explains why cows and horses can live on grass and hay but humans cannot.” (Campbell, 2012, p. 468)

Campbell, M, & Farrell, S. Biochemistry (7th ed.). China: Brooks/Cole and Cengage Learning.

In this moment right now, I shall make a decision that will change the course of my lifestyle. In doing so, I make a commitment - something I should have done long ago only to realize it an hour ago.

I, Candice (insert the rest of my full name) Tiongson, swear to:

- eat my vegetables. :D

And I don’t think not having cellulase is anymore an excuse not to do so.

—

At 7:30 AM, I went down to eat breakfast with my family. I found a plate of Monte Cristos. (Monte Cristo: French toast sandwich (unsweetened) with ham and cheese.) I had a week-long craving for such.

I sat down at the table for a while, while waiting for the rest of our family to come down. I noticed the sheets of paper towels placed on the plate, under the sandwiches. Then I remembered - that was absorbing the… oil.

Then, I thought, HAH, oil-shmoil.

So, when we were all set, I got a piece and, whatever, ate it with a cookie and a cup of coffee.

After such, I took a bath and got ready for this day’s travel to the local avenue shop. I put on my flops (naks. flops.) and walked to the traffic light. I hailed a jeepney going and coming back.

As I got home, I took out my readings and tried to study. As I did so, and whenever I do so, I ponder on how things in college got so hard as compared to high school. It was harder to comprehend and to focus. With this, I just keep on saying and excusing myself, well iba naman talaga sa college eh.

Soon enough, it was time for lunch. On the table, I found a bowl of rice, a plate of hotdogs, and another bowl but this time with the baked macaroni left overs from last night’s dinner. Sure, I love baked mac and hotdogs; but today, I felt that there was something missing. So then I got less than my usual serving of baked mac, and a hotdog. I got two glasses of water to push them down. Well, maybe I just wasn’t hungry. But then I thought, what if it wasn’t just that?

Tss. I’m healthy. That’s fine. I could take the extra nitrogenous junk from this red meat. But am I really? Could I really?

So then I realize: I’m 19 years old. This week, I’ve been eating canned meat for breakfast and for lunch, well, meat in a can. I slept at 4:30 AM Tuesday night (or Wednesday morning) and wasn’t able to get those hours back the next day. I stopped playing badminton and going to the gym because “I have no time”. My only exercise is the weekly jog during Saturdays (which was cancelled today because of rain), which is negated by walking to waiting sheds and to next classrooms in the midst of air pollution. Everyday, I endure the jeepney smoke going to school AND coming home.

I look tired, feel tired, AM TIRED all the time.

It was then that I decided to believe that I’m slowly destroying myself.

So then I got up from the table and walked to the fridge. I decided to look for some vegetables.

Our helpers told me that there was a tupperware of my mom’s ratatouille from last night. And as I ate, I could feel myself being more alive.

—

Marami pa akong pangarap sa buhay. And I don’t want not to be able to reach all because of my irresponsibility and my negligence. Marami pa man ding nagmamahal sa ‘kin CHOS! (Mahal niyo naman ako diba? lolololol.)

So guys, especially you at the same age as I am, eat right. Live well. :)