A New Challenge

Wednesday, 7 July 2021  |  Favorite Posts, Health + Wellness

For years now, I wanted to put my Health Coach certification into practice. But, for those who know me well, running always came first. My focus was running my own marathons. And, inspiring people to run their own through TBR Dream Marathon.

Then, the pandemic happened. Without races as goals, I was lost. I gained 10 lbs even if I was running and biking. My cholesterol was at an all-time high by October 2020. I was at my unhealthiest both physically and mentally.

Thankfully, I pulled myself out of that rut. I lost 8 lbs and stopped obsessing over my weight, went vegan, dropped my cholesterol back into the safe zone by May, and ran my 19th marathon at the virtual Global Marathon Challenge. Last but not the least, I found myself in a better, healthier headspace.

Through that rollercoaster ride, I realized that people may need help to get healthier, fitter or just feel better about themselves.

I created TBR LYF.

TBR LYF is a four-week virtual challenge for what I call my 3Ms: MOVEMENT, MINDSET and MEALS. It goes beyond running. It goes beyond just fitness. It goes beyond me.

TBR LYF is about a whole-person transformation brought to you by myself and our team of experts in their fields. We’ve basically done all the prep work for you and all you have to do is show up.

Registration will be on August 1.  We start September 3.

For now, let it simmer. I’ll tell you more about it in the weeks to come.

 

Dealing with Diabetes

Tuesday, 6 November 2018  |  Family, Health + Wellness

Diabetes has tripled over the past 18 years from 171Mn to a scary 451Mn this year. Often times, we read numbers like this, forget about it, and go about our daily business. But, for me, the threat of diabetes is real because it runs in our family.

My dad had type 2 diabetes. People with diabetes basically have higher than normal blood sugar levels and, for those with type 2, the body loses their ability to respond to insulin and thereby becomes insulin resistant. It’s a life-long disease. I grew up watching my Dad and Mom struggle to manage the illness, especially when it came to Dad’s special diet. My dad loved to eat so I was witness to several playful fights over sugary treats or fruits that Mom forbade Dad to eat!

As for me, I’m a relatively healthy eater, but my sugar has always been borderline probably thanks to my genes. It’s a constant reminder for me to be very mindful of my (and my kids’) sugar intake and to be knowledgeable about diabetes.

PREVENTING DIABETES

My dad passed away 10 years ago, just as I was starting on my wellness journey. I wish I knew then what I knew now because I could’ve helped him adopt a healthier lifestyle (and significantly reduce the diet arguments with Mom hah!) Here are simple changes you can do now to prevent diabetes:

Drop the weight. Being overweight increases your chances of getting diabetes. Just by reducing your weight, you can cut your risk for type 2 diabetes in half. Although this may sound a bit difficult, the truth is if you adopt a healthy lifestyle, the weight will just come off naturally.

Stop smoking. Part of living a healthier lifestyle is to rid yourself of this habit. Seek the help of a doctor or friend for support. You could also switch your addiction with cigarettes to something healthier such as taking a stroll around a park after a meal or climbing office stairs instead of taking a cigarette break at work.

Move. You don’t need to start running marathons to get healthy. Just be more active throughout the week because exercising moves your muscles, which then use insulin. Try walking for 30 minutes 3x a week. Better yet, if you can get a fitness tracker, aim for 5,000 steps daily and slowly increase that until you can reach 10,000 steps daily. You can also try different workouts – zumba, yoga, crossfit, pound, boxing, and more – until you find one that feels fun for you.

Eat well. Focus on eating healthy carbohydrates and high-fiber food, like whole grains, vegetables, and fruits, and get your protein from heart-healthy choices such as fish. Avoid heavily processed food, sugary drinks, fast food and trans and saturated fats.

For a quick and easy healthy meal, you can try Glucerna. Glucerna is the only clinically proven nutrition formula for people with diabetes. It contains a slow digesting, low glycemic carbohydrate blend that helps manage blood sugar, heart health, and weight. It can actually control your hunger for up to 4 hours.

While Glucerna is designed for people with diabetes, I learned that even non-diabetics like me can take it occasionally as a snack or meal replacement. While it’s still best to eat a healthy and fresh diet, this is a better option to junk or fast food after a workout or when I’m in a rush. It helps that it’s delicious, too!

GoWell Namaste Run on Jan 29

Tuesday, 10 January 2017  |  Health + Wellness

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As most of you know, I went back into corporate life and I’m currently loving it as Marketing Manager at Sun Life where we launched GoWell, a new wellness community focused on healthy eating, working out, and living a balance life. We’re having our 3rd Community Workout and I’d like to invite you to join.  It’s free and all you need to sign up at our website.  Super excited to do yoga and run and then yoga again (lol) with you!  Read on for full event details below… (more…)

What’s your Fitness Age?

Monday, 31 October 2016  |  Health + Wellness

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I turned 40 this year and, while I feel like the years are slowly creeping up on me when I spot a strand of white hair, I don’t recover from a long run as quickly as before, or my kids make fun of me when I can’t figure out the settings of my iphone (grr!), I still do feel strong and fit enough to do the things I want. I guess that’s one of the benefits of living an active lifestyle.

So, when Fitness First invited me to try out BioScore, their new health and fitness assessment, which determines your biological or ‘fitness age’ compared to your real age, I jumped at the chance and squeezed it into my busy sched by dropping by the gym during my lunch break! Yes, it only takes an hour (if you go fast) to 1.5 hours. (more…)

GoWell Namaste Run on Oct 16

Tuesday, 27 September 2016  |  Health + Wellness

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Get your wellness journey on the bright track by joining the first GoWell Community Workout!

GoWell Namaste Run
October 16 (Sunday), 6 AM
Ayala Triangle Gardens, Makati City

The GoWell Namaste Run is a unique yoga-run-yoga event in the middle of peaceful and serene Ayala Triangle Gardens in Makati City.

In partnership with Urban Ashram, we will be rolling out our yoga mats for pranayama breathing, lacing up our shoes for an easy run with The Bull Runner, Jaymie Pizarro, and ending the experience with a relaxing yoga session. Participants of all fitness levels, from beginners to experienced athletes, are welcome to attend.

All participants will receive a GoWell lootbag and snacks! GoWell Gold members will also enjoy reserved space for yoga and special access to our Gold Tent.

GoWell Namaste Run partners are: Urban Ashram, The North Face, R.O.X., Garmin, New Balance, Anytime Fitness, Hi-Precision Diagnostics Laboratory, CWX, Runnr, Newton, and AQ Support.

Registration is free, but participants must book their slots on www.gowell.com.ph. Only 200 slots available.

Hope to see you there!