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.  

=========

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.

====================

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