Posts Tagged ‘health’

Lady Gaga is Cool, But Eye Problems Are Not…

Lady Gaga’s anime-like eyes are causing quite a stir amongst young ladies of today. Aside from asking the famous superstar what eye wrinkle cream she uses, women have also began ordering contact lens that have the same effect.

Known as “circle lenses”, these type of contact lens encompass not only the pupils and iris, but also some of the whites of the eyes.

However many optometrists also don’t agree with this look. The contacts, they said, can cause mild to severe reactions to the wearer, such as serious bacterial infection, or even significant damage to the eye’s ability to function, with the potential for irreversible sight loss, allergic reaction, conjunctivitis, corneal abrasion and swelling, in addition to other vision and eye problems.

The lenses, which are not really FDA-approved and are considered to be illegal in some countries, are not really the cause of Gaga’s doe eyed look. Her eyes, were actually digitally manipulated to achieve that look.

So ladies, be careful and research carefully before trying to emulate someone’s look. It’s great to look like your idol and all (like Lady Gaga for example) but if it poses some sort of risk to you health, then don’t even think about it. It’s better to be healthy and happy, than to be a look-alike with health issues. ~_~

ZenkX’s “Weight Loss” Journal: Week 2, Day 3

Yep, surprisingly, it’s my second week of going through the whole weight-loss diet using the Herbalife products my cousin Julius told me about. So far, I’m doing pretty good. ^_^v

By the way, just to tell you, I actually go through 2 measurements every week (talk about rigorous ~_~). First is during Tuesdays, with my so-called Nutrition club, and the second at Thursdays, with Kuya Julius. I actually follow through Kuya Julius’ measurements more than my Nutrition Club, mainly because he measured me first, 2 weeks and three days ago.

So anyway, so far, according to Julius’s measurements, I have lost a total of 8 pounds in two weeks. 6 pounds in the first, and another 2 in the second. It might seem like much, but still I’m pretty psyched about it. It’s better losing a small amount than gaining anyway.

My psychological state… is a little bit wrecked right now. Hahaha! The diet and exercise I can do, it’s just that telling myself that I don’t need to eat burgers or eating candy while smoking is getting pretty hard. In the words of Metallica, it’s a struggle within. I just hope I’m psychologically strong enough to conquer this. XD

Anyway, I’ll be posting my measurements later, since I’m going to my Nutrition club tonight. Hope I’ve lost more weight. XD

ZenkX’s “Weight Loss” Journal: Day 3

Yup, me and my mum are now undergoing a battle with my moderate obesity. ~_~”

This is actually my third day of my supposed medication, even though this is my first day blogging about it. Maybe it’s because  was pretty shy that even though I advocate fat acceptance, I am now going through a bit of dieting and medication for it. But I guess it’s a pretty good idea to blog about this journey of mine, so that people can at least get a glimpse of how hard it is, and what they’re up against once they decide on doing… well, what I’m going through right now. XD

Actually, I am a bit happy that I’m doing this. Ever since my mother and sister has been diagnosed with diabetes, I’ve been pretty scared of following their footsteps. My mom takes insulin injections nowadays, and it scares me everytime I have to inject her, or everytime I watch her inject herself. I really don’t want to end up like that, and I really want to show my mom that I can do this,so that she can follow my lead and live a healthy lifestyle herself.

Anyway, to start, it was my cousin Julius who introduced me to Herbalife, the diet/ supplements I’m using right now. I am using their Nutritional Shake, Herbal Tea Concentrate, Ready Herbal Aloe and Fiber Capsules. The shake is meant to be taken as my replacement meal for breakfast and dinner. The Tea for my morning drink (since it might keep me awake for hours XD), the aloe is taken before the shake, and the capsules are taken 3 times a day (2 capsules).

During my first day, it started out great. The shake was Berry flavored, so tasted great with fruits I included. I guess it acted like an appetite suppressant as well, because I didn’t get hungry quite as often. It was a little sweet from the fruits I included, but there’s no added sugar to the shake so it’s good to prevent my diabetes from triggering. It was the same as yesterday (my second day), although I noticed I sweated more than I used to. Julius said it was the way that the fat and the toxins in my body gets removed from system, as well as having to go to the bathroom more often than I used to. The sweating felt great, and it makes me drink more water than I usually do.

However, it’s my third day today, and I guess the psychological aspect of dieting is setting in. Although I still took the shake, my body is starting to react to the fact that there’e no food coming in through my mouth. I’m starting to feel a little agitated about it, since I can’t eat my usual Hotsilog (hotdog, sinangag rice and egg (itlog XD) breakfast, which is just as filling as the shake, albeit more calories. This doesn’t mean that I’m quitting though, I’m just getting new to the prospect of not being able to eat rice. Yesterday, I passed by a barbeque stall and all the scents pretty much made me crave for it, but I feel like this is a psychological battle, so I have to channel my cravings into something else. Right now, I’m craving for some chocolate cookies, and I’m channeling my cravings by blogging instead (which probably mean I’m going to be more talkative the next few days). Bear with me, people. XD

Julius said that the first 3 days of the Herbalife program is the most critical, since my physical body and psychological state will be somewhat in turmoil from the dieting and medication. He will be doing some measurements on my tonight after work, to see if there has been any changes. He also said that the changes might be small, but if I keep going at it, I can get big results (hopefully XD).

As a base line for my so-called weight loss journey, he measured me the first day I started the program. I’ll be posting them here as well, so that you readers (as well as myself) can keep track of my changes. XD

WEIGHT: 180 lbs. (sheeesh ~_~”)
CHEST: 112 cm.
WAIST: 113 cm.
HIPS: 105 cm.
ARMS: 34 cm.
THIGHS: 58 cm.

Yep, as you can see from my measurements, I’m a big, BIG woman. XD

I’ll be posting Julius’ measurements tonight, so hopefully there can be some change. It might be small, but any change would be better than having no change at all. Hope you guys can stay tuned for that. ^_^v

And So It Begins…

The rainy season, I mean.

Yes, Philippines, the rainy and stormy season is upon us again. Time to pack up your dehumidifier and bring out your jackets, umbrellas and coats.

With the rains coming soon, the local government weather authority, known as PAG-ASA ( or the Philippine Atmospheric, Geophysical and Astronomical Services Administration), has announced of the possible health hazards that come with the season.

Colds and flu will be prevalent because of the sudden change in temperature (which will probably happen to me too), also for those allergic to some air-borne allergens might have a hard time, since strong winds can bring the allergens (like pollen and dirt) wafting to your nose. Hypothermia is a another health hazard, and can occur when a person stays in cold temperatures for too long, so be wary, rain bathers! Also, it has been said that the cases of dengue might rise because of the water, and poor cleanliness in the house. Always remember to clean areas in you home where there could be stagnant water. Mosquitoes thrive in stagnant water, and remember, our health not only depends on what we eat, but it also involves the environment we are in.

Zenkx’s Exercise Option 3: Yoga and Bellydance

I was looking through YouTube again recently, and I saw a promotion video of Ariellah Aflalo, who is a famous Gothic Fusion Bellydancer in America. As it turns out, she released a DVD called Contemporary Bellydance and Yoga Conditioning. And being a (literally and figuratively XD) fan of Gothic and Tribal Fusion bellydance, I immediately considered doing this as my form of exercise.

I’ve taken beginner-level Yoga and Bellydance lessons before, and I agree with Ariellah when she said that the two work hand in hand. Both helps to tone and increase muscle control, works out your cardio-vascular system, and improves your self-esteem and sensuality, making your male audience wish they can take enzyte medications or something. XD

The cool thing about yoga is you don’t need much for it. The exercise requires you to be barefoot (eliminating the need for pricey running shoes) and uses your own body as weights (no dumbbells needed!). All you need is a mat (a yoga mat costs just around P500 here in the Phil.) and maybe a blanket to modify the poses. That’s it!

However, since yoga is a bit complex, it is again recommended that you check with your doctor first to find out if it’s the right exercise for you, and taking some classes for it, so that a yoga instructor can help you correct your poses.

Zenkx’s Exercise Option 2: Playground exercises

Yes, there is such a thing as Playground exercises… it’s one of the main reasons kids who play more in the playground are more fit.

Now I’m not saying that we older generations should just keep running around like kids are, going up slides and playing in see-saws or something. XD

Playground exercise simply means using the stuff in the playground or park as replacement for common gym equipments.

You can use the monkey bars as pull-up bars to exercise your abs and biceps. Playground platforms can be used in doing push-ups. Slides and swing sets act as elevation for lunges, leg and hip exercises. Even playing with your kids or younger nephews/ nieces in a playground is exercise itself, as running around with them is already considered a cardio workout. If you don’t have a child, you can walk your dog around the park.

However, working out in a playground is stil a bit dangerous, mainly because you don’t have someone spotting you (watching your moves so you would prevent injury). But if you can bring along a friend or relative while working out in a playground, it would be a lot of fun.

Zenkx’s Exercise Option 1: Water Aerobics

Yep, I’m looking for a nice way to exercise (since I’m on the verge of 200 pounds already ~_~) and one of the options I’ve found is Water Aerobics, since it’s low impact and it’s nice and cool for the pool.

And what’s even better is I don’t have to buy buy pool pumps or anything, mainly because our subdivision has a community pool.

Here are some of the benefits of Water Aerobics:

# the soothing warmth and buoyancy of warm water make it a safe, ideal environment for relieving arthritis pain and stiffness.

# Immersing in warm water raises your body temperature, causing your blood vessels to dilate and increasing circulation.

# Water exercise is a gentle way to exercise joints and muscles.

# Water supports joints to encourage free movement, and may also act as resistance to help build muscle strength.

# Using a spa adds a component to the therapy in massage. Jet nozzles release warm water and air, massaging your body and helping you relax tight muscles

However, as with all exercises, always consult with your doctor before trying it out. Some doctors may suggest other forms of exercises for you, depending on your current physical condition.

Hang-Over Remedies

Yep, after a night of some light drinking, my head feels like lead again.

I’m not really a heavy drinker, but I do get rather tipsy easily. And when I do, I’m pretty sure that my head will hurt the next morning, even if I only drank like a couple of beers.

But after searching through the web, I was able to find some natural cures for hangover-related headaches. So before opening up a bottle of migraine treatment or pills, why not try out these home cure? Who knows, it might be effective:

Home Health Remedies:

• Do not have an alcoholic drink in the morning as a cure for a hangover. Another drink does not help and may only make your hangover worse.
• Some people think that having a cup of coffee will help to drive away your hangover. NOT TRUE. Avoid coffees and any other caffeinated beverages as they can cause you further dehydration.
• Take Vitamin C as it may increase the rate of alcohol breakdown in the body.
• Alcohol causes dehydration, so drink plenty of water. Also drink fruit juices and tomato juice.
• Bouillon soup or sports beverages (i.e. Gatorade) may help replace depleted salt and potassium.
• Try a cold pack to relieve headache pain.
• For a headache, take acetaminophen unless you have known liver disease or drink heavily and, therefore, may be at risk for liver disease.
• Alcohol consumption can irritate your stomach lining so avoid aspirin and ibuprofen since they may only serve to increase this irritation.
• For an upset stomach, try an over-the-counter antacid. Peppermint and chamomile tea may also help.

Prevention of the hangover in the future

• Never drink on an empty stomach. Food helps to absorb some of the alcohol and aids the body in digesting it faster.
• Try to eat starchy foods to slow down the alcohol absorption.
• Limit yourself to less than 1 drink per hour.
• Try to alternate your alcoholic drinks with nonalcoholic beverages such as water.
• Stick to non-carbonated drinks as carbonation can speed up the alcohol absorption.
• Try to avoid sweet drinks (and sugary foods) while you drink. The sweet taste of the drink can make it difficult for you to judge how much alcohol you’re actually consuming.
• Be sure to choose drinks with low levels of congeners (light drinks such as white wines, gin, and vodka) – these are additives that are found in alcohol that increase your risk of a hangover. Dark-colored drinks (such as red wine, bourbon, and rum) have higher levels of congeners and should be avoided as often as possible.
• Drink lots of water before you go to bed.
• Get plenty of rest.

Source: What is the best hangover remedy?

Bellydance and Pregnancy

Hold the baby shower invitations! It’s time to bring out your coin belts.

Yep, there have been studies about how belly dance can actually help pregnant women. In fact, belly dance was used as a prenatal conditioning for women, specially when the big day comes along, since the dance uses your core (abdominal) muscles that are vital to childbirth. Belly dancing while pregnant has a lot of advantages such as:

Promotes good posture
Helps maintain general fitness
Improves abdominal control and awareness
Many movements useful for relieving back ache during pregnancy and labour
Helps maintain pelvic floor tone through connection with deep abdominals
Promotes balance and co-ordination
Non jarring/non contact activity
Fun and social
Body shape no boundary
May help with constipation

However, also remember to consult your doctor before doing belly dance (or any other exercise, regardless of whether you’re pregnant or not). Sharp movements like hips twists (soften them up if you could), jumps, hip drops and lifts as well as back bends could affect your baby’s health.

And don’t forget that belly dance is a sensual dance, made to make you feel beautiful and fabulous and sexy regardless of your body size and shape. Don’t listen to those uneducated people who say that belly dance is for skinny beeyotches only. XD

References: http://www.angelfire.com/retro/perfumedpalace/pregnancy.htm
http://www.pregnancytoday.com/articles/exercise-in-pregnancy/move-that-belly-1293/