Three weeks ago, we met up with my friends at the playground with our kids – Tess with her Vladi (4 y/o), me and my two kids (ages 3 and 17 months), and Ai with Nikki (5 y/o) who was at that time sick with chicken pox (but was already healing which I found out later, is even more highly contagious at that stage). I was aware that chicken pox was contagious, but up to what extent, I didn’t know. But as precautionary measure, before we went down to meet with Ai, I gave my kids extra dosage of Vital C so their immune system will be strong. Then I warned Caity not to touch, kiss or hold Nikki at all coz she is sick.

When the kids saw each other, they were very happy and almost ran to greet and hug each other but I was fast to remind Caity about the rules. Nikki felt a bit bad coz Vladi and Caity were evading her. After sometime, they forgot about my warning, and treated Nikki normally. I also got lenient and brushed aside the threat coz I was a little confident that Vital C would protect my kids from the virus. Later, we went to Ai’s house, and it was obviously difficult to keep the kids away from each other. Then they went to our house afterwards too, for dinner and Piaya cooking session. My kids and Vladi, were together with the chicken pox carrier for more than four hours and they were officially probable victims of the virus after a night of playing. Read the rest of this entry »

A friend recently admitted she’s having stress because of her relationship. Stress can cause sleeplessness, which can lead to fatigue, migraines, anxiety and other discomforts. Some people find relief in taking anti-depressants or sleep-inducing drugs such as benzodiazepines. But relying on these kinds of treatment can cause physical dependence and later on, withdrawal symptoms. Rehab centers even offer benzodiazepines detox addiction treatment to help people suffering from over dependence on the said drug. My friend is likely far from experiencing that though, however she indulges in binge eating!

Only last week, she wrote to me asking for a recipe of the food I cooked which she liked coz she wants to make it. She said, she’ll eat and eat to fight stress. Weeeee! When I saw her recently, she surely gained a bit of weight. Fortunately, she used to be very slim. So now, after all her food-binging, her figure looks better and she looks healthier. I hope though that she wouldn’t go overboard and turn herself into a fat lady. Yay!

On this note, I’d like to thank God for a peaceful life I’m living; devoid of anxiety and filled with happiness. I might sometimes complain about being too busy and not having enough time but it’s my way of letting off the steam. I don’t need any drugs to give me a sound sleep at night. Thank you Lord!

I’ve been reading Cory Quirino’s articles in Inquirer’s Lifestyle section, and found something that’s very useful. These are weight loss tips!!!

I know someone very close who’s following a low carb diet. According to the article, though this will make you lose weight fast, you will also find yourself out of energy too. Its advisable to still eat carbs during the day, but choose the complex ones such as weet potatoes, muti-grain breads and brown or red rice. Carbs should be avoided at night.

And here’s another tip that is guaranteed by Cory to produce result in three days! Simply go green! She said it will make your waistline smaller, like magic.

Hmmmm… interesting. Got to start loading up our ref with veggies?

Getting help for drug or alcohol addiction has never been this easy as before. There are many drug and alcohol rehab centers and programs geared towards helping these people get back on the right track. One of which is the Malibu Horizon which offers the non 12 step. It is a clinical approach to recovery that is effective and research-based.

If you have a loved one or know somebody who is suffering from alcoholism or drug addiction, you can refer them to this kind of treatment. They provide a personalized program acknowledging that each patient is different from the rest so you can be assured that the patient’s needs will be addressed accordingly.

Every winter, I get this skin irritation in my legs. Its dry and itchy which sometimes lead to small rashes. The dermatologist we went to couldn’t point out what is the cause. She just said it’s probably caused by my diet, that I am lacking in fish oil or something that I am used to eating in my home country. She was like suggesting I’d better go back to where I came from! Weee!!!

Anyway, after reading about flaxseed oil which is naturally found in fish and nuts, I realized that this is what the doctor probably meant. According to the site, one of the health benefits of flaxseed oil is that it improves skin (condition). click here to know more about flaxseed oil.

Here’s more for the weight-conscious people out there. Flaxseed can help in losing weight because it is an appetite suppressant!  Oh just go ahead and click on the link I gave above! 

But since we seldom eat fish in Praha, I’d probably start looking for a health supplement containing flaxseed!

For two days already my dad hasn’t been feeling well. He was complaining that his head was aching; the next day, it was his hips. I was wondering what caused this. He has been taking health supplements and following a healthy diet so my guess is that he probably lack sleep or got tired from from playing with the kids. eheheh He’s my little girl’s favorite. She’s always looking for her Papa Ed when he’s out of her sight. But with my mom and sister back at home, Caity will probably turn her attention to them.

Dad with his little helper…

Its important for a person to be healthy especially for elderly like my dad. But taking daily health supplements can be expensive. That’s why its advisable to buy discount vitamins using vitacost coupons to save a great deal of money. One can save up to over 70% off from vitamins, minerals and other important health supplements.  That’s being a wise shopper. And taking care of our health is another wise move.

For now, dad has been resting, trying to regain his energy.

Even if we only gathered few cherries, it still lasted for days. M is always out at work and I am left at home eating more of the share. I’ve been snacking on cherries almost daily and I couldn’t help but wonder what health benefits this mini peach (as I fondly call it) has.

A quick research lead me to these amazing facts. Cherries can help fight cancer, aid in prevention of heart disease, relieve pain of Arthritis and headaches and it can improve physiological and mental functions. There are a lot more… People wanting to lose weight or are looking for best fat burner can turn to cherries for its natural wonders. Cherries are said to be low in calories, low in fat and have high percentage of water. According to studies, increasing water consumption will boost energy levels and help increase the metabolism thus resulting to weight loss.

Unfortunately, our supply has ran out.  No more cherries to munch!!!

Oftentimes, I’d like to picture myself the way I was before I got pregnant. When I was still carrying the baby and had not delivered yet, I’d like to think that after pregnancy, I’ll get over my big tummy and be back to my former slim frame. The reality however looms at present: I still need to reduce and look for practical ways to rid belly fat.

There are many options for those who plan to slim down and lose unwanted weight. For instance, I’ve read about a certain fat reducer which claims to rid belly fat. As I read more how this is done, I’ve found out that one way is inhibiting a stress hormone that causes feelings of hunger and encourages stress eating, even when you are not hungry. Another one helps build lean muscle, burn belly fat, block fat absorption, and suppress your appetite. Another method is through a preparation which burns fat, builds lean muscle, increases metabolism and suppresses appetite.

Those who are keen on taking fat burners should really research on which one is the best for their biological makeup and medical background.

Zzzzz I’m feeling very sleepy but I still have to catch up with a deadline! I hope I’d still get enough sleep tonight after working.

Hmmm… did you know that lack of sleep can affect your weight? According to ehow.com, when a person lacks sleep and is highly stressed, the body produces a chemical called cortisol which lowers testosterone production, and also contributes to weight gain. Sleep then is essential when you’re trying to lose weight my dears. I thought its the other way around, like when you don’t have enough sleep, your body becomes weak thus making a person thin.   So there you are, if you want to shed off some weight, sleep at least eight hours a day. It also is a natural testosterone booster. And don’t forget to exercise, practice proper diet, etc. We can do it! hehehe

She lives in Hawaii, as all of the members of her family are now there. Before, they were in Guam when the family migrated from the Philippines. At 73, she doesn’t look her age, especially as she goes for casual wear like cargo walking shorts and spaghetti t-shirts when times are hot, as in during summer. Her face is powdery fine and almost wrinkle-free, though she doesn’t apply anything on it, no wrinkle crèmes, not even face powder, if you believe me. But it’s really true!
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