PROJECT WOMAN: Athena for the Active Woman

First post of the year, so first of all, a happy new year to everyone!  

Right, resolutions....  And what better way to start the year than to set health goals!  I've been out from blogging for quite sometime and during that span of time, my body has gone through a lot of changes.  At some point, I was super active with work that it was hardly an effort to stay slim.  I ate a lot, mind you and yet I was down to my lowest BMI ever and if I had exerted more effort into exercising, I'd probably see well defined abs.  

Well, fast forward to a couple of months ago, and here I am covered in flabs once again.  So much for the abs hahaha!  Time to do some reality check.  Lately, I've been on desk job and so I was sitting around most days.  The inevitable happened of course.  And so as my clothes were observably a bit more snug fitting, it is time to take some action.  

For starters, I've been doing longer walks lately, something I did't do for quite some time.  And in the coming weeks, I'll be back in line duty which involves more walking.  So, I am expecting more mobility these days, which is good!

Fitness and good health as we all know, is a combination of proper exercise and nutrition.  So as I am starting to move around more again, I also need to supplement my body with the proper nutrition.  

I'm basically a coffee fiend, so milk is not in my beverage list.  But at my age, I know I need the nutritional values found in milk, particularly for the bones.  I'm happy Unilab has the right milk that I could start with, without worrying about getting even plumper than I already am.

Introducing Athena, the milk especially formulated to meet a woman's special nutritional needs.

                    

             

   

No other milk understands us better. Women like us, who are always on the go, seek to strike a balance between work and personal time to be able to enjoy life to the fullest. That is why we need to stay fit and attractive, to look good and feel good whenever we can. We have unique needs that only women like us truly understand.

Here are some of the great nutritional benefits of Athena:

• High Calcium essential for optimum bone health. It is also a source of Vitamins D and K, Magnesium and Phosphorus – nutrients to help maintain strong bones 
• Low in Fat so you can enjoy this beverage without the risk of high caloric intake 
• Source of Anti-oxidants such as Vitamins A & E and Zinc to help maintain healthy skin and promote optimum immune function. 

Athena comes in two flavors – Milk (180 grams – Php 130.00; 400 grams – Php 273.00) and Choco (180 grams – Php 130.00). It’s available online at www.athena.com.ph and in-store at Mercury Drugstore, Watsons, and Southstar.

Athena, a delicious beverage made just for us women! I would definitely buy this one on my next trip to the grocery or those drug stores and I'm loving that they have chocolate flavor!

{Back to Basics}: Jump Start the Journey to Good Health

Hey there health buffs, couch potatoes and the in-betweeners!

The first month of this year, 2016 is almost through!  I'm sure that most of us have already gotten over the long holidays (or getting there, somehow) and have now acclimated to the normal life routines.  Like most people, you may have already written down those resolutions, intent and committed to achieving those. I just hope you haven't thrown out your list of goals this early.  If you don't have goals, now is the best time to think about it.  I myself have set some goals for this year, and it will not be complete without the health goals. 

Here's the thing.  Last year, I have joined only one organized fun run and I don't do my regular weekly runs after that.  I regressed, so to speak.  I don't know.  Maybe I got tired of running around lol! Naturally, I gained weight...and bulges uggghhh!  But you know, having started this health blog some years ago, I wasn't really so much into the body image thing.  I was mostly concerned about my overall health. Being slimmer is just a desirable by-product of a healthier lifestyle.  

Writing Is Good For Your Health

My Planner and Journal

I've always considered writing as just a form of expression and partly a hobby.  But whether you're a writer/blogger or simply someone who keeps private journals, I'm sure you have found out already about writing's therapeutic benefits.  

I've always been an introvert and so I mostly kept journals when I was much younger.  I don't easily open up to people, but I could easily open up my heart to pen and paper and just write away in total abandon, not thinking about anyone's opinion or judgment.  So in some ways, the journal is like a best friend who can keep your innermost thoughts safe...that is until your sibling finds your journal and starts to quote things from the entries.  Arrrggggh!

Fitness Event: Taba Congress 2013

Source

Have you heard of Taba (fat) Congress?

Avocado and Hypertension

Source

When I was a kid, my mom would prepare sliced avocados swimming in milk for dessert. I also love avocado smoothies. I have always eaten it that way and wouldn't dream of eating it as is. But there's always a first time and yesterday, I dared to eat one without anything on it. While my office mates were dipping it in white sugar, I find myself savoring the creaminess and the natural sweetness.  I am enjoying it as it is. It's this change in mindset really that made me enjoy real foods without all those extra things. Eating real foods did that to me. My palate has adjusted and is not craving too much for the usual artificial tastes.  So I guess that dissolves my plan to do food and restaurant reviews as I would probably fail miserably in that department.

Infographic: Why Coffee and Tea Are Amazing for You

A few months ago, I've been pondering on whether I should stop drinking coffee.  Truth be told, I have not stopped and I'm still enjoying my morning (and even afternoon) brew.  Some say they could not live without the caffeine fix. I guess if it has turned into an addiction, that could be true.  I would say I can still stop taking coffee if I need to.  But that is something I still have to establish.  Of course, I will not be immune to the withdrawal symptoms also.  I know for a fact that I will have headaches for a couple of days and studies validate that.   

Right now, I only skip drinking coffee in the morning when I have a scheduled early morning run.  It's not because it is a known stimulant.  I think my body could handle that even if I have hypertension.  The thing is, coffee is a diuretic for me.  I don't like interrupting my runs with trips to the restroom.  Twice, I had to endure holding the water in during 5K runs and that is quite a feat considering how each time the foot hits the pavement, my bladder keeps reminding me lol!

Infographic: Optimize Your Health

I thought this would be a good reminder to me, to keep striving for a healthier lifestyle.  With all the temptations around, it is easy to lose sight of my health goals sometimes.  To be honest, I still have a long way to go.  I still got some bad habits to break and more good habits to form.  You could say I'm still a work in progress. 

I'm sharing this to you, to help you on your health journeys and to serve as a guide.  Not everything will be applicable to everyone.  Just choose what works well for you.

I Heart Corn

I came from an early morning run just a few hours ago. It's a holiday today, so no work schedule. I took that opportunity to run, only wishing that I woke up even earlier and jogged at around 5am, when it is much cooler. I can't say that I had a blast, since the summer heat is really zapping my energy. I did manage to run for more than 30 minutes, well run-walk-run as always. I have not had the strength and stamina to run continuously for that length of time, and certainly not in that kind of summer heat.

Playing a Musical Instrument for Good Health

Headphones

I remember that some months ago, we did this meme about the things that make us happy. My list was not arranged in order of preference but more of a haphazard listing of the first thing that comes to mind. Somewhere down the end of the list is music and playing the guitar. 

 

We all know that music affects people in various ways.  It changes our moods, reminds us of distant memories, pleasant or otherwise or sometimes, it simply makes us want to dance to the beat.  Personally, I find that music is an integral part of my life.  For the life of me, I could not imagine a world without a melody or a song. It just isn't possible for me.

Of Potatoes and Hypertension

Potato Harvest

Who doesn't like potatoes? Raise your hands please.  I have yet to meet someone who hates it.  Potatoes are something of a comfort food for me, although I don't really eat it on a daily basis.  But when I do, I practically gorge it.   Many Filipino recipes incorporate potatoes and if you know me, I'm the first to dish out the potatoes from Menudo, Nilaga, Adobo and anything with potatoes.  

Remember on one of my previous articles, I have mentioned that we have certain cravings for certain foods and that we should not dismiss that as plain gluttony.  There is an underlying reason why our body craves certain foods.  As for me and potatoes, I don't know if it's just my body telling me it is good for me or that I am simply going gaga over it.  Whatever, I just love potatoes.

Workplace Wellness: The Link Between Food and Productivity

Last post, we talked about what should be in a healthy plate of food.  I thought of sharing this infographic on workplace wellness  courtesy of Compliance and Safety.  Most of us work either in a typical office, an institution or even at home.  When we work, we need to be well-nourished to sustain us for the day's tasks.  I think it's something that employers (or home owners) must not overlook so as to get the optimum productivity out of everyone.  I have already sent a copy of this to our human resources manager as well as the manufacturing manager.  Hope it gets a good exposure somehow.  A lot of workers could really benefit from this.

A Dragon Named Pitaya

What's a pitaya or pitahaya?  I was ignorant of that name until now.  I have only known the fruit by its more common name: the dragon fruit.  

Pitahaya (Hylocereus undatus), a photo by blumenbiene on Flickr.

36th Milo Marathon: My First 5K Fun Run

Two blog posts ago, I was asking myself : Am I Ready to Run?  I wouldn't have been asking that question if I didn't have hypertension and is in fact under medication.  But I said to myself, I wouldn't pass up opportunities like this one just because of that condition.  I refuse to be held captive of high blood pressure, although I need to be wary of signs of fatigue or whatsoever.  I am thankful for those who encouraged me through the comments, that I can in fact do this.  And so, last Sunday, the 29th of July, I was there at the Mall of Asia with thousands of runners, ready to pound the pavements and beat their personal records.  I haven't got a personal record to beat, except to prove to myself that I can still run...for health. 

Minutes before the official gun time for the 3 and 5 K runs, this is what's right in front of me, a sea of green shirts (okay never mind the guy in blue).  Seeing the starting line made me smile and all excited, specially since the crowd is already cheering, bobbing their heads, jumping even to see what's happening up ahead.  When we heard the gunshot, the cheering grew louder and people started, well, walking.  There's such a huge crowd that it was impossible to run a few meters after the starting line.

Starting Line

10-Minute Workouts

Fitness routines can be boring at times if you're doing the same routines for quite a while. Variations are sometimes necessary to add some spice.  Also, if your body is already accustomed to the same routine, it's probably not much of a challenge to the body anymore.  

So here I am, looking for easy to do workouts (that are not always as easy as they look).  For male readers, take note that these exercises are typically for ladies.  But no one's stopping you from doing these if you feel like it. 

Potassium and High Blood Pressure

Fruit plate, a photo by Upsilon Andromedae on Flickr.

Ever wonder why we crave for certain foods at certain times?  I'm not talking about sudden craving for, say, donuts, which I would probably consider an unhealthy craving.  I'm talking about whole, natural foods here.  When we do crave for those, sometimes, it could be our body's subtle way of telling us we need certain nutrients.  Don't you find that fruit plate above quite inviting?  I do.  I see the words antioxidant and Vitamin C hidden among the grapes, strawberries, orange slice and everything else on the plate.

 Ever since I could remember, I love these fruits, in order of preference:

BC Bloggers Meme: Things That Make Me Happy

Woman drinking coffee, a photo by Tetra Pak on Flickr.

Would it be right to say that a happy person is also generally a healthier person? I'd like to think that way. After all, a positive attitude contributes to overall health and well-being. Personally, I find that simply thinking about the things that make me happy is enough to bring out that smile, to lift up my spirits and feel blessed. I guess, you'll agree with that. 

So, here are the things that make me HAPPY:

Kiwifruit and Hypertension

I may sound naive here, but I've only seen it in pictures and on T.V.  Yesterday was the first time I have ever eaten a kiwi.

Little spotted kiwi, Apteryx owenii, a photo by brewbooks on Flickr.

Hold on, that's not what I had (who put that picture in there? lol!). But it looks a lot like that minus the feet, beak, and most of the head. I wonder if they eat kiwis in New Zealand hehhehe.

Goal Update for January (Part 2)

I was talking about progress in Part 1 of this update.  By progress, I mean the benefits from making all those efforts to stay in good health.  Without results, goals are just merely goals, empty, without any use.  So you may be asking what I have gained from all of these so far.  Was it worth all the efforts?

See those tickers at the right side of this blog?  The first one says "eating healthier for 4 weeks."  See the little girl with the big smile?  I chose that slider because that is how I feel about what I'm doing.  I am happy and I feel good inside.  Like I said, not deprived, but also not indulgent.  Okay, you might say it's easy to say that and there's no way to gauge the emotional state.  After all, happiness or the lack of it is subjective.