I Ran A Mile With These Shoes.

These shoes were my pals – now they are all torn and useless! Glad they served their master well! haha!

When The Human Body Goes Into Overdrive

I really forgot that I have a “human body” to take care of. :( Is it just me thinking about the unlimited things I can possibly do with my body? Probably. Yes, I was sick for several days now. Big BOO! My friends and family would blame me for the excessive abuse I always do on myself – as if I had a problem with that haha. I doubted denied it. haha. It’s quite funny when my dad and I would argue about these things I would always close it with “I’m a nurse!” statement. Then he would just be quiet and do an “I-know-but-you-are-overworking” grin. :)

I jog 5-6 times a week and I love playing badminton – fatigue. Go figure!

Diet always starts Tomorrow.

Now that the eat-tons-of-food-during-the-week-long-holiday is practically over, it is high time for me to focus on my ultimate goal of having a bikini slimmer body. True, I got the additional pounds. And since the first day of January is actually a huge celebration for all the people in this world (where the word “diet” is not an excuse), I just had to let it slip. So, for the remaining 364 days of 2012, this DIET PROJECT of mine is seriously on! I mean, capital S – Seriously!

I have weight issues. I love food but I want to lose these extra fats on my belly, thighs, and almost everywhere! Aaaaack!

Relaxation wonders in Boracay

Relaxation is perhaps the single most important key to health and well-being. It is the antidote to stress which is known to contribute to the development of disease. When we relax, our body has an opportunity to unwind. This is too good to be true! In fact, relaxation gives the heart a rest by slowing the heart rate, it reduces blood pressure, it slows the rate of breathing, it increases blood flow to the muscles and lastly, it decreases muscle tension!

Two weeks ago, me and my friends went to Boracay Island. It was such a stress-buster!

The question now, dear readers is: “Do you really know how to relax?”

The key to relaxation is TIME. Oh yeah! Make time for it and you will have the best results! Here are some easy ways that I would love to share to all of you so that we could do some relaxation techniques.

Falling in love with God

Have you tried asking the question “Who am I?” or  ”What is meaningful in my life?” Have you tried to observe the world around you with appreciation and wonderment? Have you asked questions about the scenery, the world, as well as your daily experiences? Have you learned to value some things that could not be completely understood? I’ve tried asking that myself and the answer was simple – God.

This was a beautiful seascape I took while on a boat headed towards the city of Cebu. Have you ever wondered how beautiful God’s creations were? An enchanting sunrise at 5:00 am in the middle of the sea.

I have been to Cebu City several times but this time I had a specific agenda and that was to experience God and to renew my relationship with Him. At first I thought it would be a usual thing – talking to new people and learning about them and all of those things. But what happened was a spark of contentment that I felt after committing myself to Him. I could hardly understand, but in a deeper sense, I could feel his pursuit in me.

Protein Power

For several months, I have tried cutting my relationship with carbohydrates. This taught me the importance of protein. Ever heard of “calorie-counting?”Who would have ever thought that protein-rich foods are NOT high in calories? I am now a nurse and certainly I may have forgotten this fact. *Sorry teachers.*

Browsing through some old Nutrition books and magazines, the key here is that “Though MOST proteins will cost you a few calories than fruits and vegetables,  proteins can make you lose weight.”

This is me and a few of my closest college friends. Taken shortly after a huge meal of protein-rich food and not to mention a weight-loss enemy — “pasta.”

The Importance of Sleep

Have you ever thought about the words “sleep” and “less” when put together or interchanged would give you still a similar meaning? Nah, It just crossed my mind a minute ago. Like sleepless, less sleep, and sleep less. Having that in mind, I would like to share to you my encounters with sleep – well, because I tend to make my own sleep schedule (where day is night and night is day for me).

Welcoming you to my “home office / workstation” located just perpendicular to where my bed is at. This is me working at 4 o’clock in the morning with no signs of sleepiness.

Ever since I entered the nursing profession (when I was studying to become one, of course) the lack of sleep is nothing new to me anymore. I adjusted in that turmoil of endless Nursing Care Plan writing and Night Shifts. Somehow, I have taken that ‘nursing way of life’ with me and integrated it with my work. You may already know my work schedule.

Out of my curiosity, I took a sleep test just to check if I have any sleep disorders and such. Thank God I went to nursing school and learned to apply what I have learned in my everyday endeavors – especially to this ‘crazy’ lifestyle. Good thing that despite my topsy-turvy schedule I could still have that eight hours of sleep. This gives me an entire 18 hours to spend in a given day. That’s how I look at it.

Of course, caffeine in coffee plays a significant role in keeping me up. Now, I could do anything even without it. Hey, I may have a different sleeping time than you but it does not mean I lack sleep or I have insomnia. Just to clear things.

WHY IS IT IMPORTANT TO GET SOME SLEEP?

• Sleep helps the brain commit new information to memory.
• Chronic sleep deprivation may cause weight gain by affecting the way our bodies process and store carbohydrates, and by altering levels of hormones that affect our appetite.
• Serious sleep disorders have been linked to hypertension, increased stress hormone levels, and irregular heartbeat.
• Sleep deprivation alters immune function, including the activity of the body’s killer cells. Keeping up with sleep may also help fight cancer.

These are the important tidbits that I would like to share to all of you. Keep in mind that sleep is vital to us – it is like air and water! Let’s condition ourselves to a healthier lifestyle. Let’s get some sleep! Ciao!

Caffeinated Morning

I could still remember that day when I promised myself to stay away from those invigorating “coffee-smelling” coffee. Yes, it was on the 10th of April – a week after I decided to do a lifestyle change substituting the drink with water and replacing “lazy times” with daily jogging. Oh Yeah! I only lasted 3 months without coffee. After the July 2011 Philippine Nurses’ Licensure Examination, my body was screaming for caffeine!

Having a coffee-filled, rainy Wednesday at *The Coffee House Beanery with Via while discussing some major points in Solenn’s Website launch.

Why was I so attached to coffee? Simple. It smells G-G-G-R-R-R-E-E-E-A-A-A-T-T-T! I could describe it even in one word. Orgasmic. (Not to the sexual context, though) There’s something about it that makes me want to have more. Get my point? I just enjoy it – sets the mood of a meeting or a casual conversation with a friend. Well, that’s just me.

I have recently read about coffee (since I am in my point of transitioning into a healthy lifestyle). It was written that it has more health benefits than most of us could even imagine. What we thought “bad” about coffee was actually the opposite of recent studies now. Thank God and those “curious” researchers for proclaiming coffee as THE HEALTH SUPER DRINK.

As I continued my quest to support my decision of bringing back coffee into my life, I stumbled upon the Coffee Science Organization. Oh, and there are so many latest buzz with our dear cup of happiness. This includes increased fiber content compared to regular orange juice; keeps our mouths moist; improves our mood — definitely!

Other benefits are: improves handwriting, wakes you up, does not make you shaky, helps you with exercise, fights disease because it contains antioxidants, decreases diabetes type 2 by 42%, reduces pain while on work-out, reduces risk of GI disturbances, colon cancers, and Parkinson’s Disease, improves memory, improves physical performance, and the list goes on.

I am quite happy now since the big bulk on my shoulders were already shooed-off. I can continue with my love affair with coffee. (FYI: I don’t drink more than three cups a day) But hey? If you think you are excessively drinking, better check with your doctor for some medical advice. You may cut some cups if your health is in danger.
Let’s grab some coffee sometime, huh? Ciao!

*The Coffee House Beanery is a little coffee shop located near Robinson’s Place Iloilo, Ledesma St.

** FYI: This is not a paid endorsement. For advertising, contact The Ilongga for negotiations.