Thursday 28 July 2016

How I Stay Fit, Healthy and Keeping My Ideal Body Mass Index(BMI)


While being fit and healthy is subjective and depends upon how each people look at it.

To some, you are healthy if you are strong and not easily affected by any bacteria nor viruses regardless of how your weight proportionate with your height, or you are considered healthy and fit if you are energetic and very active, not easily getting tired nor becoming sleepy during daytime, or if you have such body with proper posture, curves in proper places and having diet of fresh and organic food.

I have my own version of being healthy and maintaining my weight exactly the same as when I was in my early 20’s which I used to weigh 50kgs (110lbs), stand 5ft and 2 inches.

This makes me healthy and fit (very seldom to get sick), energetic, can easily cope up during depressing moments, with normal blood sugar and blood pressure and specially, I can wear the same size of clothes I used before.

These are what I religiously observed/practiced at all times:

·        Drink mixtures of apple cider vinegar, honey and water first thing in the morning. If I run out of apple cider vinegar, plain drinking water will always be a good replacement.
·        Never overeat. I trained my stomach to eat in moderation at all times.
·        Never sit immediately right after each meal.
·        Eat fruits first before taking the main dish.
·        Always sit or stand straight. Good posture helps flatten the belly, looking neck elongated.
·        Minimize, if cannot be completely avoided sodas and sugary juice drinks.
·        Easy on cakes, ice cream, donuts, chocolates and all other food that are full packed with sugar.

Whenever I have the opportunities, I always do the following:

Physical activities
  • Body stretching every after two hours of sitting (I usually do it during office works). This is not only good for our joints but also good for proper blood circulations, brain functions and making us alert and active. A very good alternative to higher caffeine intake to avoid getting sleepy during wee hours.
  • Jogging at least 30 minutes per session or at least jog until I got sweat. Getting sweat has many benefits to our body. One of great benefits is the release of the serotonin also known as happy hormone. So to keep us happy, let us keep on sweating thru exercise, jogging, running or any physical activities which keep you sweat.
  • Do some crunches. This will help tone muscles and keep our belly flat.
  • Choose to walk instead of riding for short distance travel. There are lots of benefits in walking.
  • Choose to take stairs instead of using lift or elevator. This is also good for our cardiovascular health.
 Food intake
  • Always choose fresh fruits and vegetables over processed foods. But whenever I can’t avoid eating processed foods, I just eat in a small amount, just enough to put some stuff to my belly to keep me going for the day.
  • Always choose fish over meat. Fish is also a very good source of protein which we can get from meat. It is also great source of omega 3 fatty acid, a well-known supplement which is beneficial for our heart. Reference: www.webmd.com
  • No midnight snacks. I trained my stomach not to put stuff at night. This is the time where our organs are very active in digesting, detoxifying, etc. So putting food in our stomach at night time makes our organs double their effort in what they are normally doing.
  • Easy on salad dressings that loaded with so many unwanted cholesterols.
  • Easy on rich salty and sweet sauce. Too much salt is not good for our kidney nor too much sugar can make us diabetic.
  • Choose brown rice instead of white rice – I found out that putting small amount of coconut oil while cooking brown rice makes it so smells and tastes deliciously and nutty. Study shows that putting coconut oil while cooking rice will reduce unwanted cholesterol by almost 50%. Reference: www.doctoroz.com 
Dona Maria Jasponica Brown Rice from the Philippines AED12.50 for 2kg - it is so delicious and nutty
  • Juicing fruits and vegetables or making smoothies – this is my current health and beauty secret. I used to take smoothies one or two hours before dinner. I prefer smoothies over juicing because I want to take all the fiber from the vegetables and fruits to keep me feeling full. It is really great help in my waste elimination and giving my skin youthful glow!
    apple and cucumber are best combination for smoothies, great refreshment specially during this summertime here in Dubai.
Waste elimination
  • Whenever I feel the urge to do waste elimination, I do it without any further delay.
  • When I am doing it, I  am focus. I should avoid any activities like reading, facebook, etc. these things will make my elimination a little bit harder and longer. I can't afford to stay longer in the bathroom!
  • Study shows that a healthy person will eliminate waste two to three times within 24 hours and with the same length of her or his arms – from elbow to the tip to middle finger!
This is how I take care of my body to keep me healthy, fit and maintain my ideal weight.


Thank you for reading. You may also share your beauty and health routine to us. Let us keep healthy and fit always!


Tuesday 26 July 2016

Our 2016 Eid Holidays in UAE

EID 2016 is our second year Eid holidays in Dubai as a family. And we were so blessed to spend these holidays with my loveable and ever supportive niece, a CPA based in Bahrain, Jeune. She loves to spend this lovely seasons here in Dubai since our first year!


We are all fall in love spending holidays in Dubai! Where we enjoy every convenience during our most precious short vacation.

I am talking about convenience of the following:

Transportations - Public transportation is available wherever you want to go. It's cozy places of Metro stations, air-conditioned bus stops waiting area and hassle-free Nol card for Metro and Bus ride.
  


Deira City Centre Metro Station. Photo by Jeune


Shopping! You cannot resist to shop for high quality gadgets most specially during sale seasons! If you are in the right timing, you can buy as low as 50% of the original price. You will know that you are in UAE if you can see almost everyone uses high-end gadgets like an ordinary thing for everybody!

Fujifilm camera being sold by authorized dealer at 30% discounted price in Deira City Centre














Dining Out. Classy restaurants serving delicious foods are found in every location. Of course, courteous and customer-oriented ‘kabayan’ crews cannot be discounted. You feel like you are in the Philippines with the taste of the Pinoy-dish they are serving. And if you are seafood - lover, you will never forget that mouth-watering, one of best sellers, signature meals in Dampa Seafood Grill Deira City Centre.

Dampa Seafood Grill - Deira City Centre. Photo by Jeune
Dampa Seafood Grill - Best Seller. Photo by Jeune
P F Chang's Deira City Centre


Places.  Holidays are not complete without ‘gala’ mode. Places we have been visited inludes: 
Dubai -  Deira City Centre, City Walk in Al Safah, Al Qouz, Jumeirah Beach. 
Abu Dhabi - Al Wahda Mall, Grand Mosque, Corniche Beach, The Emirates Palace and Marina Mall.

Night view of Al Safah Road in front of City Walk

City Walk 


Dubai Bus going to Abu Dhabi

Inside view in going to Abu Dhabi
 Grand Mosque in Abu Dhabi.  Photo by: Jeune 
  
Grand Mosque Abu Dhabi

When visiting the Grand Mosque (one of famous tourist destinations in Abu Dhabi), do not forget to bring your any valid ID such as PRC, Driving License, or any ID issued by the government except passport and Emirates ID (it is against the UAE law for someone to take this away from the owner). They required one of these IDs before you enter the Mosque. And if you are not comfortable in wearing the Abaya (long black dress for women), better to wrap yourself with long sleeves, long pants and big scarf. The rule is that no skin must be seen in you except your face. You can also enter their prayer room by removing your shoes. The place is absolutely for free entrance all year round.


Abu Dhabi Flagpole

According to Google, currently, this is the world's tallest flagpole, 122 metre(400ft) located along Abu Dhabi Breakwater.
  
Abu Dhabi Breakwater

The Emirates Palace in Abu Dhabi
This is also one of highlighted tourist spots in Abu Dhabi. Anyone can visit for free whenever there is no function or event inside the palace. However, we were not allowed to enter the place because they hold an event during our visit.


Jumeirah Open Beach Photo by Jeune



Jumeirah Open Beach was our last visited place during that three–day holiday vacation. The clear beach water with its fine sand and captivating sunset scenery are really heartwarming making everyone wants to go back again and again.

To sum it up, we were happy to end our holidays though only few places visited because of limited time. And we are looking forward to visit more of the famous places in these Seven Emirates composing UAE should we are able and if time permits us.