Archive for the ‘Personal’ Category
Running on empty
Anyone can run…but not without shoes.
Although human history could trace back barefoot running since time immemorial while hunting animals for food, modern men and women would rather take advantage of the invention of shoes. In this modern era, only a few good men and women could currently, or should I say, would choose to run long distances without any padded protection for the feet.
Popular barefoot runners are Olympic champions and world record holders Abebe Bikila, Tegla Loroupe, and Zola Budd.
Here in the Philippines, the name that comes to mind when it comes to barefoot running is Manuel Vismanos - a 64-year old retired police officer from a laid-back town called Toril in the vast City of Davao. Yes, 64 years old and he’s been running as far as 50 kilometers since early 1970’s…without any footwear!
Manuel is a common sight in the long stretches of major and minor thoroughfares in Davao and he does it without any qualms about the weather. With his amazing speed and admirable endurance, Manuel was probably born to run.
I first saw the man along the highways of Dumoy, Toril where he was at his best - running barefoot in the middle of the day. I squirmed at the fact that I was trying to seek cover from the scorching sun while Manuel was out there, looking oblivious of the midday heat and of his bare feet getting baked on the cemented road.
Why does he do that?
In my chance to chat with the humble man, he said running barefoot is healthier than running with shoes on. He said his feet are too wide for shoes and that wearing a pair of shoes could potentially hurt him while running. Manuel has been used to barefoot running for many years since he was still in police service, where he would engage in police operations barefoot in the remote areas of the city, including the rebel-infested jungles of Davao.
According to Harvard University’s Skeletal Biology Lab, “scientists have found that those who run barefoot, or in minimal footwear, tend to avoid “heel-striking,” and instead land on the ball of the foot or the middle of the foot. In so doing, these runners use the architecture of the foot and leg and some clever Newtonian physics to avoid hurtful and potentially damaging impacts, equivalent to two to three times body weight, that shod heel-strikers repeatedly experience.”
According to an article about barefoot running, “proponents of the barefoot movement argue that barefoot running is healthier for feet and reduces risk of chronic injuries, notably repetitive stress injuries due to the impact of heel striking in padded running shoes, in addition to other purported benefits. While these health claims are supported by some research, it remains slight. Barefoot proponents point out that there is a lack of research into the benefits, or lack of harm, of running with shoes on as opposed to running barefoot.”
With these new scientific findings about the benefits of barefoot running, Manuel is on the right footing. No wonder why he’s still as healthy as a horse and moves with agility, endurance, and speed like a young athlete. Running fuels Manuel’s zest for life. Stop him from running and he’d be sick.
Reminds me of the movie Forrest Gump where Tom Hanks’s clips where shown as he ran across America while Jackson Brown’s hit song “Running On Empty” was playing. But unlike the song, Manuel is not trying to run from anything. He’s running to embrace life.
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Justin Bieber endorses Proactiv Solution
The phenomenal Canadian pop star Justin Bieber has joined the ranks of Katy Perry, Mandy Moore, and Julianne Hough as one of the latest celebrity endorsers for Proactiv Solution. Proactiv is known for its acne fighting systems that guarantee users of clear and healthy skin in three easy steps using its famous Renewing Cleanser, Revitalizing Toner, and Repairing Lotion.
The good news is that Justin Bieber fans can now get a chance to watch his upcoming movie “Never Say Never” for free when they buy Proactiv acne and pimple fighting skin care solution, which comes in a 30-day kit and a 60-day kit. Any of the two kits will qualify one to get a free movie pass on this inspiring flick which tells of Justin Bieber’s story rising from being a street performer in Ontario to being an internet sensation and to what he has become today.
The young music superstar made hits like Baby, That Should Be Me, Never Say Never, among others.
For more details about the promo, check out the mechanics below:
PROMO PERIOD: March 14, 2011 to March 29, 2011
COVERAGE: Selected Watsons Outlets in Metro Manila
PARTICIPATING OUTLETS:
SM Department Store Mall of Asia
Watsons Mall of Asia (Genext)
SM Department Store North EDSA
Watsons, The Block
SM Department Store Makati
SM Department Store Megamall
Watsons Megamall Daimaru
Up for grabs:
There will be 30 winners per participating outlet. Each will receive FREE SM Cinema Movie Card (Admit 1) of Justin Bieber’s ”Never Say Never” Movie Pass. The Winners are limited to the first 30 buyers per outlet upon start of promo period.
How to join:
1. Customer must buy either a Proactiv 30-day Kit or Proactiv 60-day
kit from any of the participating Watsons stores mentioned above.
2. Customer must buy within the prescribed promo period. Purchases of
Proactiv Kits outside the promo period are not eligible to redeem free
item with.
3. To redeem the FREE SM Cinema Movie Card, Customer must sign the
Promo Terms and Conditions Agreement Form which will be provided by
respective Proactiv Promodisers or Store Managers to the first 30
buyers per participating outlet. Customer must also present the
Watsons Official Receipt as proof of purchase to the Proactiv
Promodiser or Store Manager.
4. If Customer avails of the standard limited Money Back Guarantee
that comes with every Proactiv 30-day or 60-day kit, the refund value
will be deducted with the equivalent price of the FREE SM Cinema Movie
Card, Php 185.
Follow Proactiv Solution Philippines on Facebook.
The benefits of pole dancing
(This is a repost from my mom-says.com blog.)
Gone are the days when pole dancing was easily, if not solely, associated with the words sleazy and girly bars. Today, it has taken on a fresh new face as a total body workout that gives individuals an exciting way of toning their muscles, enhancing their flexibility, boosting their arms’ strength, and building their self esteem. And I am one of these people who took the courage to face the pole and take away my inhibitions.
Why do I pole dance? Simple. I get these three in the bag: fitness, exotic dance, and increased self-confidence.
Apart from the glaring benefits I’ve enumerated above, pole dancing is a perfect diversion from my sedentary lifestyle. It keeps my adrenalin rushing like no other. Unlike other conventional exercises like aerobics, running, biking, and many others, pole dancing gives me a breath of fresh air. It pulls me out of my shell. It’s a crossover between my love for dancing and my determination to work out. It makes me feel good about myself, like no other workout regimen does. It could be the music or perhaps the moves that seem to keep me in a trance that I hardly feel body pains until I’m done with the routines, but true enough, it has psychological benefits that give me a feeling of euphoria.
Pole dancing is no way near easy nor sleazy. But it still definitely is sexy! What used to be only for strippers is now the workout of choice by young professionals. My instructor is in fact a TV celebrity, Ciara Sotto, and those who take her sessions are career women and a few good men.
As Anne Jambora of the Philippine Daily Inquirer wrote:
“The trip to Fantasy Land, however, with the slippery pole as your ally as you gyrate, climb, spin or drop, does require incredible strength. Superhuman strength, in fact, especially when you have to rely on leg and core strength to support your entire body while suspended on air.
Pole dancing increases muscle definition without necessarily putting on loads of muscle mass; tones the arms, thighs and buttocks; and improves core strength and flexibility. It is about muscle control, maintaining that stability, balance and posture throughout the routine—with a smile on your face. This is, after all, still a sexy dance class.”
Me, having my "me time" with the pole @ Dance Movement Studio, Ortigas.
Drink healthy with Minute Maid: no preservatives added
I just drank a bottle of Minute Maid Pulpy. They say it’s got ‘no preservatives added’. Aw, c’mon…It’s bottled juice. Is that even possible? So I thought maybe… I should try it and taste the difference. The label can assure you that it has no preservatives added but the best way to believe it is through its taste. Since I’m a sucker for orange juice, I could tell which is fresh or not. And I have to say it doesn’t taste like a bottled juice at all!
I didn’t believe it the first time I heard it’s got no preservatives added. So I read the ingredients (even the fine print) and everything checked out! It really has NO PRESERVATIVES ADDED! That means it doesn’t have ingredients that may turn out to be allergens, or worse…carcinogens! Whew! Now that’s healthy goodness that tastes so good, I… feel like I’m drinking orange juice right from the fruit itself. Pulpy and fresh!
So okay, it’s got no preservatives added. That’s really good, right? Not just because it doesn’t have those icky, harmful ingredients, but it also means… you’re not accumulating trash in your body when you drink it unlike other sodas available in the market today. It’s healthy and refreshing, definitely good for the body!
So far anyone who still has a hard time believing that Minute Maid has got no preservatives added - meaning it’s THAT natural, it’s almost like it’s plucked straight from the tree, it’s just as Mother Nature wanted your orange juice to be, it’s got nothing but the good stuff yes, none of those potentially toxic stuff that can harm your brain, kidneys, heart; cause tumors aargh- the list of preservatives’ bad effects just go on!!! Anyway, just to prove a point on just how good Minute Maid Pulpy is ’cause it’s got NO PRESERVATIVES ADDED, I’m gonna include it in my daughter’s baon to school everyday and it will be my staple drink during lunch at work especially that me and my daughter need an extra boost of vitamin C. I’ll definitely let my parents and siblings try it too and I’m pretty sure they’ll love it. That should cap our family’s goal for a healthy diet this year and in the years to come!
Feels good to know about the real pulpy deal, right? C’mon show me a smile on the comment box, and you might win yourself a Really Pulpy Deal! (That’s a chance to win a Minute Maid gift pack simply by commenting. Sweet! C’mon you just might be picked as the lucky ‘commentor’!)
Love,
Rochelle, your friendly neighborhood mom!
* Many thanks to Ms. Janette Toral for spreading the word about this contest! How about you guys, have you pulped up your blog yet?
Avoid burning sensation in wearing contact lenses
Have you ever felt a burning sensation in your eyes when you wear your contact lenses? It could be due to your saline solution.
I’ve been wearing soft contact lenses for more than a decade now but I still get frustrated about some saline solutions that sting my eyes. It happens when I experiment on other brands when my brands of choice are out of stock. I’m not an eye expert so I won’t even try to provide a medical explanation as to what’s causing the sting and redness but as an end-user of these products for over 10 years, believe me when I say some brands sting and some don’t. Hence, there could be something in some saline solutions that’s causing the irritation. If you experience the same discomfort, you might want to seek medical advice with your eye doctor immediately.
There are sterile saline solutions that promise a sting-free experience while working as hard on rinsing and disinfecting your contact lenses. A preservative free saline solution could be a good alternative as it doesn’t have some substances like thimerosal and chlorhexidine present in ordinary solutions that could cause that burning sensation.
Word of advice: Once you’ve found the right sterile saline for contacts that suits you, stick with it. Just my two cents.
Comforts of a squeaky clean shower enclosure
I was recently vacationing at a seaside hotel in the province of Leyte, in the Eastern Philippines, to attend the baptism of my elder brother’s two-month-old daughter. I haven’t had a lengthy vacation for a while together with my parents and my all-male siblings back in Davao in the Southern Philippines, and we just met halfway from where I came from in Manila up north.
All the stress I’ve been hurdling for weeks was sort of taking a toll on me and I wanted to relax just a bit to recharge my psychomotor batteries. I needed a break, and I needed to be comfortable and relaxed courtesy of amenities from a resort hotel. I got what I wanted … and much more.
Since I am the type who’s nitty-gritty over bathrooms, it was the first thing I checked when I got to the hotel. The restroom had a neat shower cover, shaped like a sliding plasticware keeper to keep bread fresh. The white tiles were squeaky clean, the floor had leaf-shaped, green-colored footsole grips, and the aluminum shower itself was sleek and stylish.
The effort displayed by the hotel management for clean restroom amenities was a crystal-clear showcase to put a premium on comfort and relaxation for hotel guests. It wasn’t even a five-star hotel, but the presentation was at par with its higher-end counterparts.
Shower enclosures are doors used in bathrooms that help keep water inside a shower or bathtub. They are great alternatives to shower curtains, and are available in many different styles such as framed or frameless, sliding, or swing. And they are usually constructed of aluminum, clear glass, plexiglass, or tempered glass.
At UK’s Better Bathrooms (www.betterbathrooms.com), quality and design are evidently prime as hotels and homes using their products elevate comfort and relaxation to a tiled pedestal. Products from Better Bathrooms include bathroom suites, toilets and toilet seats, tiles and taps, furniture and mirrors, towel rails and other accessories, and — of course — shower enclosures, shower trays, and showers. Whirlpool baths and the Jacuzzi collection close — and enclose — the comfortability package.
The best part for the budget conscious is that Better Bathrooms is now slashing down their prices on tiles by 50%. They also have a wide array of bathroom furniture that are smartly designed even for small spaces. They also take pride of their 100% secure payment website and their after-sales service. Check out the link above and contact them online or over phone.
Better Bathrooms equal better comfort.
