7-ELEVEN Run 2017

A dose of wellness before we write down our 2017 (health) resolutions

After attending Herbalife's wellness symposium Thursday, October 27, I knew I'm back on track in terms of incorporating wellness into my lifestyle.  

Herbalife Philippines invited renowned wellness gurus Dr. Julian Alvarez Garcia, a member of the Herbalife Nutrition Advisory Board, and Fitness Coach Chappy Callanta to talk about the challenges of shifting into a healthier lifestyle and how to conquer it.  

The struggle to break free from a sedentary lifestyle is real, especially for people who clock in more than 6 hours of work every day. Medical studies linked sedentary lifestyle with critical illnesses, such as hypertension and diseases of the heart.  Write ups are proliferating the internet, and anyone can enumerate hundreds of reference through Google.  They say prolonged sitting is as hazardous as smoking.  

I sometimes wear a Garmin watch in the office, and it triggers an alarm whenever I stay seated for more than an hour.  Studies say that prolonged sitting slows down the metabolism, which is not generally healthy for our body.  The solution is to stand up and move for a minute or two, before taking a seat again.  So far, the bad thing I acquired through prolonged sitting is recurring lower back pain. It is made worse by sitting for hours due to worsening Metro Manila traffic.  Since I'm not into pain relievers, my doctor recommended that I exercise regularly to strengthen my back muscles - so the bones will not compensate for everything.  When we are seated, our lower back tends to carry most of the weight and pressure - and the result, recurring lower back (lumbar) pain that simply won't go away.  

Take-aways from the Herbalife wellness symposium:

1. This feeling:  we do not exercise because we do not have time - as if we do not own our time.  Remember, we own our time.  We own our body, and we ought to take good care of it - we only have one body, and we can always improve it, e.g. Meowthlovescoffee version 2.0.  

2.  Exercise and good diet must be part of our lifestyle, with or without symptoms of those so called lifestyle illnesses.  A missed exercise routine will probably make you feel like you did not brush your teeth in a day - one of the many ways to determine if exercise is already ingrained in your life.  

3. No time for exercise because of work?  Wake up 5 to 10 minutes earlier than usual, and start with dynamic stretching.  This can be done at home, anytime of the day.  It does not matter if you work at night and sleep all morning.  Wake up and exercise.  

4.  Diets and exercise routines are good - but which ones are considered the best?  Any exercise routine or diet that you will eventually do and stay committed at.  Part of the study that was shared during the symposium, 94% of the folks who enrolled at the gym did not come back after a month.  So, engage in a fitness routine or sports ,which you really love to do.  

5.  Support is also important.  Having a buddy or friend who exercises may help you stay on track, or join a sports community.  In true millennial fashion, a #FitnessInspiration may also help. For the Pinoy millennials, 'how to be you po?'

Here are some snapshots of the Herbalife wellness event held at the Conrad Hotel MOA, October 27.  

A demo of a regression push up, intended for beginners by Coach Chappy Callanta (during the wellness symposium).  

For the super final take-away, here is an exercise for beginners video by fitness expert Sam Clayton for Herbalife, as posted in Herbalife's YouTube channel.  This video includes tips on how to get started with a 5-minute to 10-minute workout from home routine.  

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Disclaimer:  This is a personal write-up, not a paid advertisement. 

Herbalife Nutrition at Work Survey Reveals Filipino Millennials Desire Healthy, Active Workplace Environment

[NEWS RELEASE] 

PHILIPPINES, October 27, 2016 – Herbalife Nutrition, a global nutrition company, has released the findings from its Asia Pacific Millennials At Work Survey, which revealed that Filipino millennials are adapting a healthy, active lifestyle.  However, most believe their current workplace environment prevents them from doing so.

Millennials, or people born in between 1980 and 2000, are opting for a workplace that will encourage them to stay active, if only this will be embedded in every company culture.  About 83%, or eight (8) in 10 millennials have agreed that they would like their company workplace to adopt a healthy, active lifestyle.

With the millennial generation expected to make up 50% of the global workforce by 2020, ensuring the well-being of millennials will be important to improving workplace productivity. “There are about 35 million millennials now in the Philippines, which is about one-third of the country’s entire population. Five years from now, millennials will be dominating the labor force. While most millennials want to lead healthy lives, they face real obstacles at work in doing so,”said Rosalio Valenzuela, Herbalife Philippines General Manager. “At Herbalife Nutrition, we provide our employees with nutrition products at work, subsidize gym memberships, hold regular wellness programs related to nutrition and well-being, and encourage participation in outdoor activities and sports competitions.”

The survey findings revealed the following:

• Seven (7) out of 10 millennials strive to live healthy, active lives
• However, the majority of millennials find it challenging to maintain an active lifestyle at work – eight (8) out of 10 millennials spend 6 to 13 hours at their work desk each day, and 64% of millennials get less than 30 minutes of physical activity – including standing, stretching and walking at work on an average work day
• 64% of millennials cited the “lack of time” as the key obstacle to engaging in physical activity at work

To provide tips on how millennials and their employers can integrate positive nutrition and life style habits at their workplaces, Herbalife Nutrition has organized a sixth Asia Pacific Wellness Tour, which builds upon the successes of the past five tours that welcomed over 100,000  participants. Five experts from the Herbalife Nutrition Advisory Board (NAB) are scheduled to tour 21 Asian cities from October 7 to 30, to hold a series of talks, workshops and medical symposium across the region. 

“Through these efforts, we hope to equip organizations and employees with the right tools to collectively build a healthier work environment across Asia Pacific,” said Valenzuela.

Julian Alvarez Garcia, M.D., PhD., a member of the Herbalife Nutrition Advisory Board, will be visiting Manila for the Asia Pacific Wellness Tour this October. Julian Alvarez Garcia, M.D., PhD. will also be sharing expert advice on how millennials can adopt simple positive nutrition and lifestyle habits at work to improve their overall well-being in the long run.

Nutrition

Dedicate a healthy eating day each week and get colleagues involved in making healthy choices for lunch on this day.

Boost water intake to help the body digest food, rid the body of toxins, and help deliver nutrients to the cells. Drink at least eight (8) glasses or two (2) liters of water a day.

Have a protein shake combined with non-fat milk and healthy fruit for breakfast. With 20-30 grams of protein and low-fat contents, it can provide the body with all the nutrition it needs to power through the day.

Active Living

Create a playlist that incorporates upbeat music and play with hourly intervals.

Use Running Apps to keep energized and on-pace during regular runs.

Set a goal to join running competitions to motivate self to sustain an active lifestyle.

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About Herbalife

Herbalife is a global nutrition company that has been changing people’s lives with great products since 1980. Our nutrition, weight-management, energy and fitness and personal care products are available exclusively to and through dedicated Herbalife Independent Members in more than 90 countries. We are committed to fighting the worldwide problems of poor nutrition and obesity by offering high-quality products, one-on-one coaching with an Herbalife Member and a community that inspires customers to live a healthy, active life.

We support the Herbalife Family Foundation (HFF) and its Casa Herbalife programs to help bring good nutrition to children in need. We also sponsor more than 190 world-class athletes, teams and events around the globe, including Cristiano Ronaldo, the LA Galaxy and champions in many other sports.

The company has over 8,000 employees worldwide, and its shares are traded on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE: HLF) with net sales of US$4.5 billion in 2015. The Herbalife website contains a significant amount of financial and other information about the company at http://ir.Herbalife.com. The company encourages investors to visit its website from time to time, as information is updated and new information is posted.

To learn more, visit  Herbalife.com  or  IAmHerbalife.com

Under Armour Sun Protective Cap

Weekends are almost always perfect for long slow distance (LSD) runs, long walk, and road trips.  I love to watch the sunrise, sunset, fellow joggers, bikers, or just plain sightseeing to clear my head and get rid of negative stress.  For people like me who are not afraid of the sun, we are always reminded to protect our skin from its ultraviolet (UV) rays. . Conventional knowledge taught us about the damaging effect of prolonged exposure to the sun's UV rays. 

For LSD run and heat training, I go for a sunscreen or sunblock with SPF 70.  A sunscreen's capability to block UV rays is measured through its SPF (sun protection factor) rating.  I always bring a small tube of sunscreen, so I can reapply as needed.  For regular days, I go for one that has SPF 30.  

When cruising along the countryside for a long weekend drive, I wear sunscreen. Driving during sunny days usually require a combination of sunscreen and a nice cap or sun visor. I'm planning for my next trip, and included in my 'things-to-bring/wear' list is the Under Armour Driver Cap.  It is designed for golfers, however I find it quite versatile for its fit and technology.  It has Under Armour's revolutionary coldblack® technology, which reflects the heat of the sun, making it cool and comfortable to wear. The Under Armour Driver Cap has a minimum of UPF 30.  A UPF 30 is considered 'very good' for it can block 96 % - 97.4% of UV radiation.  Clothes, caps, and other sun protective apparel are measured through its UPF (ultraviolet protection factor).  

Sun protective clothes and caps are meant to be worn in hot, humid places - and  in tropical countries like ours.  The Under Armour Drive Cap has a built in HeatGear® sweatband that wicks away sweat to assist in cooling and breath-ability. I'm looking forward to wear it in my next trip, and this weekend, too. I need to go for a long walk to update my lagging inventory of virtual pocket monsters.

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Disclaimer:  This is a personal write-up, not a paid advertisement. 

Cebu, Baguio, Bacolod children make it to Alaska's JrNBA/JrWNBA All-Stars

The best young basketball players from Cebu, Baguio, and Bacolod overcame the odds to make  it to the final lineup of the JrNBA/JrWNBA presented by Alaska.  The All-Star team will fly to Shanghai, China, October 6, to participate in a once-in-a-lifetime NBA experience.

Boys and girls from the provinces, especially those from Bacolod, Cebu and Baguio did surprisingly well when gauged versus their counterparts from Manila.

The players were selected through a nationwide search. Regional Selection Camps were held in Baguio, Cebu, Bacolod, Davao and Makati. The final 10 boys and 5 girls were named members of the Philippine All-Stars during the National Training Camp at the SM Mall of Asia Arena.

Cebu City students Darliene Ragasajo (14) and Florence Jil Talas (14) led the JrNBA/JrWNBA Female All-Stars.

The JrNBA/JrWNBA Davao Regional Selection Camp was also well-represented by Rozie Amatong (13) of Davao City, and Aloha Marie Betanio (14) of Malaybalay City, Bukidnon.

The fifth member of the Female All-Stars is Ma. Cecilia Quilenderino (14) of Dalig National High School, Antipolo City.

Arayi Ewon was named Coach of the Year - Female.

Tracy Carl Dadang (14), Fritz Felix Valencia (14), and Harold Alarcon (14) were selected from the Cebu Regional Selection Camp.  They led the members of the Male All-Stars.

Valencia traveled all the way from Bacolod City, while Alarcon came from Silay City, Negros Occidental to compete and qualify at the Cebu Regional Selection Camp.

Riz Ozner Gatus (14) of San Fabian, Pangasinan from the Baguio Regional Selection Camp also advanced to the Male All-Stars.

The other members of the Male All-Stars are Julian Alfonso and Isaiah Miguel Blanco (Alaska Powercamp), Andrei Philip Lechoncito, Jearico Nuñez, Miguel Rey Luis Tan and and Kai Zachary Sotto (Manila Regional Selection Camp). 

Elegino Chollo of Davao City was named Coach of the Year - Male.

JrNBA/JrWNBA Philippine All-Stars will join 90 other boys and girls from JrNBA Programs in Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand and Vietnam.  They will attend the NBA Global Games 2016 between the Houston Rockets and the New Orleans Pelicans at the Mercedes-Benz Arena, China. 

“I’d like to congratulate our JrNBA Philippine All-Stars on their success.  Through Alaska Milk’s Nutrition. Action. Champion. Program and our partnership with the NBA, we have been able to help fuel the basketball dreams and life aspirations of thousands of children across the country,” said Alaska Milk Corporation President and Chief Executive Officer Wilfred Steven Uytengsu. “This collaboration is an important element of our long-standing Nutrition. Action. Champion. Campaign. By leveraging on this initiative, Alaska Milk was able to proactively educate families and children on the important role of drinking milk and getting into sports to achieve a healthy and active lifestyle.”

JrNBA/JrWNBA presented by Alaska promotes the importance of regular physical activity, trains participants in the fundamentals of basketball and teaches the importance of core values, including sportsmanship, teamwork, a positive attitude and respect.

The JrNBA Program is presented by Royal Friesland Campina in the Philippines, Indonesia, Malaysia, Thailand, and Vietnam through its Alaska Milk, Frisian Flag, Dutch Lady, and Foremost brands.  The program was also conducted in Singapore through a partnership with Sport Singapore.

This program has touched the lives of more than 1.5 million children, parents, and coaches across Southeast Asia by conducting camps, clinics, and NBA Cares community outreach activities.

Visit Alaska Milk’s sports channel www.playph.com, and @PlayPH in Facebook and Instagram for inspiring stories on Filipino sports fans of all ages and skill levels.

Fans may also visit the official website www.jrnba.asia for more information on the JrNBA programs. Add NBA's official account on LINE through @nba_global.

Follow the NBA on Facebook at www.facebook.com/nba, and Twitter @NBA for all the latest news and updates.  For all things NBA, visit www.nba.com.

UA Run Crew #RunWithFight is ON

UA RUN CREW PHILIPPINES WITH PIOLO

It was a relaxing Saturday afternoon, combined with a very cooperative weather. It should be a perfect time for 200+ running enthusiasts to gather, and kick off the most exciting program yet to be launched by the Under Armour - APEX Run Crew.  October 1 marked the beginning of the UA Run Crew, at the runner-friendly Bonifacio High Street Amphitheater.

It was no ordinary kick off event. It provided a high-octane ambiance to fuel awesome fitness goals.  Coach Jim and Toni Saret opened the program with a jolt of energy.  UA celebrity triathlete Piolo Pascual shared how gearing up with a high performance apparel and shoes like Under Armour would help you perform even better and help push you to perform more.  For warm-up, runners were introduced to a 4-minute fun + fierce workout led by Coach Toni, alongside with Coach Jim and Piolo. Then the runners were prompted to group themselves into smaller teams.  Teams assisted by top UA coaches. This was done to ensure that every participant received orientation on proper form, techniques, and workout to support their goals in running. There was also a short run along Bonifacio High Street to complete the launching activity of the UA Run Crew. 

UA Celebrity Triathlete Piolo Pascual warming up with the Run Crew coaches and athletes.

UA Run Crew in Action

Conditioning...

RunWithFight

UA Run Crew's #RunWithFight is officially ON.  It will run until December 3, 2016.  

Catch your favorite UA Run Crew on these days:

Mondays and Wednesdays - BHS Amphitheater, 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm

Tuesdays and Thursdays - QC Memorial Circle, Planas Garden, 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm ​and SM MOA by the Bay, 7:00 pm - 8:30 pm​

FREE Weekly Runs:

Saturdays - BHS Amphitheater, 6:00 am - 8:00 am

Interested? Visit www.coachjimsaret.ph to learn more.  

Soliloquy: From a Working Woman to a Plain Housewife for Two Months

Me when not working, feeling cozy.  

This my soliloquy.  This is my blog.  #Respect

I have a love-hate relationship with work.  I love it more than I hate it.  My mindset is - work is a sanctifying grace.  It has always been like that since the day I joined the workforce six months before I graduated from college. I don't think it's going to change. 

Work taught me a lot of valuable things, including a great deal of patience, and respect for individual differences.  I'm still learning new things along the way.  I sometimes hate work, when it imposes its tendency to take away precious time from people and things I love.  I can always decide to keep it at bay, but what if sometimes, I care too much?  You know that hard wired 'malasakit' in Tagalog.  

Every time the doctors and genuinely concerned people would tell me to slow down, I find it really hard.  For a time, I couldn't differentiate 'busy' from 'very busy'.  

I have been on leave from work for almost a month now.  It's time to hit the brakes, and be on a much needed downtime to do some reassessment.  

I may have lost a child in my womb, but after days of retreat and grieving, I realized the baby is now part of who I am, part of my marriage with my greatest love. We never had the chance to hold the baby in our arms, but he/she will always be in our hearts, and will continue to inspire us to become a better couple, better parents (in God's time), better family.    

I received kind thoughts, not only from family and closest friends but also from people I did not expect to care.  I do not have high or low expectations of people.  I just learned not to expect anything from anyone, but I can only hope for people's genuine kindness.  My learning about the value of family and old-time friendship resurfaced.  With them, I can be myself and not be judged.  I can eat lunch while sobbing uncontrollably, in public, and they would not turn their back at me in shame, because they knew of depression. I should love them more.  For the quality time, yes, I am ultimately working on it.  I forgive myself for any misgivings, and I pray that I may also be forgiven.  

For how many times do I need to remind myself, I cannot please everybody. At some point, my heart would be badly broken by people I cared for, or at least respected.  Over the years, I learned about the difference between forgiveness and reconciliation.  I tend not to delve into negativity.  Tempted to take a few steps, but no, I do not want dark thoughts, a jaded heart.  I openly let go of toxic things, and toxic people.  My way of saving myself from being dragged down to a darker alley of deceit or untruthfulness, or playing host to a person's parasitic ambitions. I simply do not want to rub off the negative to the positive-minded people in my life.  Sorry, but not sorry.

I'm starting to feel lighter now, figuratively.  It helps to be kind to oneself, so we can also extend the same kindness to the people around us. 

Oh, and universe, please shower me with more healthy baby dust!  :)