Sassyzeal: 2014

Monday, August 11, 2014 2 comments

A sexy body? that is what everybody wanted. But going into a diet is a sacrifice for some. The real thing is when we say diet; it is not exactly the same thing as starving. Having a proper diet is not a suicidal act which one tends to refuse from eating and depriving yourself from eating the food you love the most. You can also do a diet just to regulate your eating habit and control your craving. Part of a healthy lifestyle is maintaining a proper diet.

For some, going into a diet is their way to have a sexy body. Well, in fact, that is just a bonus! Your award will be within you. A healthy diet will make you feel great inside and beautiful outside. You will have a good stamina and more energy. It can help you avoid gaining excess weight and help maintain desirable body mass. It will also affect your mind. As per researches, feeling good stabilizes a good mood and you will feel happier and more relaxed. It will boost your self-esteem and confidence. Most importantly, it will help you combat diseases and prolong life. Can you imagine why people from the old times live longer than people today? Nowadays, the usual maximum lifespan of human life is about 70 - 80 plus as per my observation. However, there are some who died earlier due to heart diseases, colon problems, diabetes etc. Most of the diseases are caused by lifestyle or degenerative diseases. The body cell deterioration is increasing gradually based on your lifestyle. Let say, if you are eating fatty food with high cholesterol every day, then you’re more likely to have heart diseases or hypertension over time.

TOP 10 MOST KILLING DISEASES IN THE PHILIPPINES

While in the ancient time, the oldest man in the Bible lived 969 years and his name is Methuselah. In the recent researches conducted by Gerontology Research Group or the Guinness World Record, the longest unambiguously documented human lifespan is Jeanne Calment of France (1875-1997).Only two people were verified oldest living men above 110 today. Sakari Momo, 111 years and 136 days and Yasutaro Koide, 111 years and 100 days, both from Japan. The prolonged life they had might be the result of their environment and eating habit. Decades or century ago, every food intake is all natural, fresh from the farm and no preservatives or chemicals added. Nowadays, we are in a fast phase generation where everything is instant. Instant noodles, ready to eat sausages, no cook needed can goods and fast food! Imagine how much additives and preservatives they have. Well, everything has it now, so I am not saying DO NOT EAT THEM ALL. Since, those food are always available for us, the only way is ALWAYS PUT EVERYTHING IN MODERATION.

SWITCHING TO A HEALTHIER DIET OR FOOD INTAKE

------ MIND SETTING ------

You are not alone, there are many people around the world who plans and tries to go on a diet at some point of their lives but fails to continue. The hardest part of switching to a healthier diet is at the beginning. All you need to do as an initial process is to realize and set your mind.

Ask yourself: What is the main reason for you to do this or why you need to do this?

It maybe to lose weight or maybe you are preparing for a summer beach getaway, preparing for a certain event like wedding or honey moon or just simply inspired by the people around you. Another reason is that, you might felt symptoms of a disease that might occur and you want to prevent it before it become worse. Another good reason is for you to become more confident when you are with your friends or love one. You want to wear a dress or want to try muscle tee. You might want to prepare yourself for parenthood. But among all of these, the best reason you need to think of is for A HEALTHIER YOU. You need to keep in mind a positive thinking that YOU CAN DO IT.

------Do not force yourself, do it gradually instead------

You cannot change your eating habit in a snap. Do it gradually. If you do not take breakfast and you eat two cups of rice for lunch plus more meat and then you eat another heavy meal for snack and another heavy meal during dinner then you really have to do something about it.

You can transpose from above to this sample strategy:

First Phase:

Eat heavy breakfast. Eat one cup of rice in lunch and lesser meat and a light snacks in between lunch and dinner and a lighter dinner. Breakfast is the most important meal in a day. When you take your breakfast, there is a guarantee that you are getting the nutrients you need for a day.

Second Phase:

Eat lighter breakfast. Eat your lunch with lesser servings than you have in phased one. Eat light snacks then eat light dinner.

Third Phase: (Replacing your meal with fruits and vegetables gradually)

Eat light breakfast, eat you light lunch, eat a real light snacks and eat fruits as dinner.

Eat banana and milk for breakfast (It can also be cereal or other fruits). Eat you light lunch with vegetables, try to skip snacks and eat fruits or cereal as dinner.

Fourth Phase:

Eat fruits as breakfast. Eat light during lunch; eat fruits or vegetables at night.

We’ll I’m not saying that this should be your program. This is very broad. There are no specified suggestions to eat. The point is, how you gradually immune your tummy not to ask for food all the time or to ask for heavy meals always. Make it a practice then a habit. Sooner, your stomach will be used to eating lighter than before. Your suggested food intake will depend on what you want. If you want to simply switch from unhealthy food intake to healthy one, then it is simpler, but if you really want to see a drastic change for a certain period of time. Well, you may need a lot of patience and effort.

------ Control your craving ------

If you want to eat a chocolate, you must first think. Do you need this? Or you just want it? Are you hungry or you are just craving? If you are hungry, why don’t you think of other food to eat that will last instead of having a chocolate? If you are craving for sweet, well, you can also look for an alternative sweet with lower percentage of calories.

As per Professor Marion Heltherington, A craving is not a hunger. The desire does not come from stomach but from brain. People don’t crave broccoli and cabbage. It’s more likely to be sweet or chocolates. Food most likely craved is high energy, high calories and high fat food. They are treat foods that are usually restricted. A classic craving is an urge or a strong desire for a particular food. It is more than just a comfort eating.

You know which are the right food to eat and which are not. So it will always depend on you. Since craving is mandated by the brain, I think you must again go back to the mind setting points above and ask yourself why you need to control your craving.

------ Make it a Habit ------

Once you have conquered over eating too much, craving for junk then practice that more often until it become a habit. Eventually, that will become your lifestyle or eating habit which is far more different from what you are eating before unconsciously.

Know what the DO’s and DONT’s for a healthy eating habit

DO’S

Do exercise

Do drink a plenty of water

Do eat vegetables and fruits. There is more exciting menu for vegetables. Just be a creative cook!

Do clean eating by avoiding processed meat and choose lean protein and complex carbs.

Do healthy alternatives for your pleasure foods. Junk food for snacks and sweets can be replaced by other healthy snacks which will fulfill your wants.

Do read your goodies nutrition facts. Re-explore grocery stores and look for a healthier one. Be aware.

Do monitor your calories intake.

Do eat food rich in fiber. It will help you to have a good metabolism.
Do eat frequently but in small amount. This will make your blood sugar level stable.

Do eat breakfast. The most important meal in a day.

Do track your weight progress

DONT'S

Don’t drink alcoholic beverages.
Don’t eat too much sweet. Excessive sugar intake leads to hypertension, diabetes and obesity.
Do moderate eating habit. No super sized portion.
Don’t lack in sleep. It will increase hunger.
Don’t eat processed food and instant food.
Don’t make a habit to eat animal meat or red meat.
Don’t be used on eating salty food.
Don’t eat in fast food every day.
Don’t eat when you are not hungry
Do not tolerate your craving

Remember that every change will start on you depending on how you wanted it to be. A drastic change will depend on how much effort and time you put on. Don't be frustrated if you don't see a lot of improvement in time. Listen, it will really take a lot of time and effort if you want to have a lean body. However, being sexy is not only based on how much muscle you have or how small your waistline is. Being sexy can be felt inside and may manifest outside.

Wear your sweetest smile and your best heels - your confidence

If you find this post helpful and you appreciate it, Come on! please do SHARE on social media and let your friends know as well!

Or want know more about my sassy experiences? Subscribe on the right pane of this site! I'll be happy to spread the enthusiasm to LIVE LIFE TO THE FULLEST SMARTLY!

Is there any experience you want to share with me or you want to seek any tips or ask questions, I will be delighted to hear it! COMMENT on below because I am interested! Ops! Don't forget to add your email address so I can get back to you!

--- Be Sassy Be Zealous----

Tuesday, July 08, 2014 No comments

One of the tourist attractions that caught my attention was the Firefly watching. I read reviews and asked my friend who already went there about this. She said, the ambiance is so romantic.

On our Palawan Getaway Day 2, we went to Underground River in the morning and rested for an hour before we dressed up for a romantic Dinner in Ka Lui Restaurant. By 7:30 PM, Bro.James (driver) fetched us in the restaurant

to bring us to the Firefly watching site.

Firefly watching site is located in Iwahig River of Firefly-Watching Ecotourism and Wildlife Park in Iwahig, Puerto Princesa. It is being managed by Iwahig Community Ecotourism Association, Inc or ICETA which was established by ABS-CBN Foundation, Inc. and the Puerto Princesa government and Tourism Department.

The simplicity of the plain river on the dark night is what we can see upon arriving in Firefly watching Ecotourism and Wildlife Park. Only the tiny sounds of fireflies are what we can hear on the surroundings. It was actually raining and only the four of us were the visitors that night.

We proceeded to the registration and entrance payment area. Identification Card is required for recording purposes. We paid P 600.00 per boat. Since the boat can only accommodate maximum of 3 visitors + 1 boatman, we divided ourselves into two boats. We paid a total P 1,200.00 for two boats for the four of us. They provided us raincoat and umbrella and put on our life vests before riding the boat. Then Pastor and Ate Aiza rode on the other boat, while me and Miel rode on the next boat with two boat man. I was scared at first thinking that in that deep and dark river there are crocodiles and mumu (ghost). The deepest part of Iwahig River is 60 feet deep. Then the boatmen started their spiels (facts about the Iwahig River and Fireflies). It made me glad to know that somehow, this tourist spot provided a living for some of the residence of Iwahig like our dear Kuya Bankeros (boatmen) and the fact that they (the boatmen) provided us insights and shared their experience about the Iwahig River and the treasures of it like the fireflies. They were humorous enough to help us restore our confidence under a dark sky and calm floating motion.

I was not able to capture those little creatures because, One – I don’t have a high quality dslr flash to capture the camera shy fireflies. Two – fireflies are sensitive to lights.

Fireflies are plenteous during December to February. Since it was raining, it was very hard to see fireflies. Kuya Jhon-Jhon (one of the boatmen) was pointing his red laser light to the mangroves which have fireflies. He really knew where among the mangroves fireflies usually dwell.

Romantic River under a constellation with fireflies as witnesses

The boat men brought us to the center point of the river where there were mangroves surrounded us with brilliantly shining fireflies under a perfect sky with constellation. It seems that in a middle of a dark night, we were lighted by a spotlight and the blinking little lights being emitted by fireflies and stars in formation above.

In a discreet moment, Miel opened his purpose by saying “Kuya,may sasabihin lang ako” (He was talking to the boatmen, “I need to say something”) Then he faced me and showed me a bracelet. Good thing that was a bracelet or else, I might think that it was a proposal if he showed me a ring. Then he said, "I want you to be my girlfriend again” It was a very long story, so just don’t be confused. In short, that was our renewal of commitment to each other. Even though I can’t show and explain to you how romantic it was, just believe me IT WAS REALLY ROMANTIC. Then after our moment, Kuya bankero said that there were also couples like us who become engaged in that point of the river. He cited numbers of couple which I forgot already. So that means, this place is also a romantic place to propose. So sad I was not able to provide you photos.

Here are the things we've learned from the boatmen:

Fireflies are indicator of a balanced ecosystem. Their presence indicates that the place is still healthy to live in. Fireflies are responsive to color red. Male fireflies use their bioluminescence (bioluminescence is the emission of light)to attract female firefly.

Boatmen discussed about the Nilad or Nila or the Yamstick Mangrove. The name Nilad was derived from the City “Maynila” where there was abundant Yamstick Mangrove specifically in Pasig River Banks during pre-spanish era. As the year passed, Pasig River was becoming populated which caused the loss of Nilad. Good thing is that, there are still living Nilad in Iwahig where the fireflies are dwelling.

How to go to Firefly Watching Site

Option 1:

Rent a tricycle that will bring you from Puerto Princesa City Proper to Ihawig Firefly Watching.

Cost: P 700.00 maximum of 5 passengers

Option 2:

Rent a Van a tricycle that will bring you from Puerto Princesa City Proper to Ihawig Firefly Watching.

Cost: P 1,500.00 for four hours

Travel time: 45 minutes – 1 hour

Iwahig River of Firefly-Watching Ecotourism and Wildlife Park Information

Rates: P 600.00 per boat. Good for 3 passengers + 1 boatman

For Reservations: 0916-780-9118 or 0929-616-5990

Operating Hours: 7PM – until there are visitors

Iwahig River Firefly Watching Costing

In our case, we were four and we rented a van for P 1,500.00. For Van rental, please refer here: Cheaper way to explore Puerto Princesa, Palawan. We paid P 600.00 per boat. Since the boat can only accommodate maximum of 3 visitors + 1 boatman, we divided ourselves into two boats. We paid a total P 1,200.00 for two boats for the four of us.

Service	Cost of service	Cost per person
Van Rental from City Proper to Iwahig	P 1,500 / 4 persons =	375
Boat Ride	P 600.00 / 2 persons =	300
TOTAL COST OF FIREFLY WATCHING INCLUDING TRANSPORTATION PER PERSON		P 675

For Cheaper way to explore Puerto Princesa, Palawan, you may also opt to contact the Van we rented on that link.

Take note of the Tips and Enjoy!

All I want is to share, to inspire, be sassy and to be zealous.

If you find this post helpful and you appreciate it, Come on! please do SHARE on social media and let your friends know as well!

Or want know more about my sassy experiences? Subscribe on the right pane of this site! I'll be happy to spread the enthusiasm to LIVE LIFE TO THE FULLEST SMARTLY!