Living Lusciousness

Sneaky TUNA NUGGETS

2011-10-03T01:51:00.000-07:00

Nuggets don't have to be unhealthy! Apart from chicken, you can use tuna for a healthier alternative and use healthy oil alternatives for frying! Good for your heart and yummy in your tummy!

SUPER YUMMY, SUPER HEALTHY!

Sneaky TUNA NUGGETS
Makes 11 pcs nuggets

INGREDIENTS
1 can Red label Century Tuna chunks in water, drained
1/3 cup sweet potato and carrots puree
1 omega 3 enriched egg
1 pack crushed SOYAMI plain
1 tbsp chopped green onions
2 tsp reduced sodium soy sauce
1/8 tsp McCormick ground onion
1/8 tsp McCormick ground garlic
1/8 tsp Black or white pepper
Dipping Sauce – bottled Coconut Aminos or Teriyaki/Barbecue sauce

PROCEDURE

In a medium bowl combine all ingredients together. Cover and chill for 30 min
Cover and chill for 30 min.
Divide into 11 1oz portions. Form into nuggets or small patties
Spray non-stick skillet with cooking spray and place over medium heat. When the skillet is hot, add patties and cook for 4-5 min on each side or until lightly browned
Serve with teriyaki sauce or coconut aminos

For more healthy Soyami recipes please visit www.amsoyami.com START A HEALTHY EATING HABIT with SOYAMI!

Healthy is YUMMY!

2011-09-14T13:05:00.000-07:00

I know, I know! It's been awhile. It's just that so much has happened! As of now, my diet is on hold because I'm preggo again at 5months, as of now. Yay! BUT, that doesn't mean HEALTH is on hold too. More than ever, it's important for me to be healthy and happy. Being pregnant and being healthy doesn't give me a license to over-indulge, binge and eat for two! Be HEALTHY for two, not binge :)

Right now, I and the family are on a soya discovery. Olly at 1year and 7months is still a little allergic to cow's milk and other products like it. She's been purely breastfed and still continues to do so even if she's already consuming solids and other liquids. She's made the transition really well from breast to cup and didn't have to take a bottle.So far she's great with soya milk and even Ate Oona has developed a taste for it over her regular milk.

SOYAMI chips provides us with the following interesting facts...

Soy foods:

addvariety and nutritive value to children’s diet without sacrificing taste.

are readily accepted and enjoyed by children and adolescents as tastyalternatives to meat and dairy.

is cost-effective and blends well with other ingredients, even extreme flavors.

help decrease fat, saturated fat, cholesterol and calories.

increases fiber,while still providing children with key vitamins and minerals.

contains many essentialnutrients important for growth and development.

works well as a primarysource of protein without contributing excess calories.

Offering healthier meals andsnacks is a top priority in preventing childhood obesity and reducing diseaserisk.

Cooking healthy has always been the law at home so it isn't hard to do without the processed and unhealthy junk. It makes eating all the more enjoyable knowing that the kids are growing strong and lean with healthy muscle and they're imbibing healthy eating habits from us. I don't even dissuade them from snacking in between meals as long as they're munching on something healthy like fruit or soya chips. We are lucky enough that soya is nowadays being developed into a healthy food alternative, taking on many forms! It makes it easier for health-minded moms like me to battle the constant barrage of junkfood in the grocery aisles!

Stay tuned with me for more soya info. I'll be posting healthy recipes we've been trying out lately too! Please hop on over to SOYAMI's website, it comes highly recommended by health-minded moms like me and THE PINOY BIGGEST LOSER!

Getting Ready For The Season's Eating!

2010-12-08T09:56:00.000-08:00

As of today I have lost 16lbs. since I started on my Luscious Dare. I plan to continue losing more with the proper diet and the exercise I have added to my daily routine. Moreover, I am unafraid and unfazed at the temptations I'd have to face with the upcoming holidays :D

It's important to stay fit ESPECIALLY during the holidays with its parties, holiday food and generous gifts of sweets and Holiday goodies. There's really no need to fast or keep yourself from enjoying what the season has to offer. What's important is only putting on your plate what you really want to eat and can finish. You can always go back for seconds anyway, but bear in mind that you should eat in moderation and only until you're full.

Also, don't let your exercise routine go on holiday either! From my friend Jessica at Gymsource, here are 10 Easy Exercises we can do to enjoy the holidays and not regret it after!

So, what's the best form of exercise? The one you'll actually do!

As long as your fitness program:

A. Raises your heart rate

B. Has a strength training component

C. And is done at least thirty minutes a day five days a week – you'll experience significant health benefits.

Variety is the spice of life; it keeps you motivated and works better for your body by working different muscle groups. You don't need to go to a gym and use fitness equipment. In fact, here are ten simple, yet effective exercises you can do in the comfort of your own home that can help prevent putting on holiday weight:

1. Take a Hike/Stroll

It's also simple, low-impact and easy on the joints – just put on a comfortable pair of shoes, step outside and walk at a fairly brisk pace around your neighborhood. It's a great way to clear the head and improve your mood – it may be cold, but will give you an opportunity to enjoy all the lights and decorations for the holiday season.

2. Jump!

Act like your kids on Christmas morning! Jump up and down, or do some jumping jacks. They're a great way to get the heart pumping and the limbs loosened up. 15-20 repetitions with a minute or two of rest between sets for thirty minutes should be sufficient. This will increase endurance and work on toning your thighs.

3. "Drop and Give Me 20, Soldier!"

Push-ups confer all the same strength-training benefits of bench presses with barbells – without the risk of handling heavy weights and need for a "spotter." You can adjust the intensity by elevating your feet. Push-ups do more than work your arms, they are a total body workout.

4. Lift That Leg

This provides a strength training workout for the thighs and adductors (muscles that attach the upper leg to the hip). If you can't manage leg lifts with a straight leg, bend the knee.

5. Washboard Abs?

You may not get "ripped" by doing crunches, but you'll definitely work your ab muscles – and this will award real benefits to your back as well, and you will see an improvement in toning your abs.

6. You Can Keep Running In Place...

...and you should. This is an exercise you can do while watching TV, making the "boob tube" actually good for something. You can also do it while stringing popcorn on the string for the tree.

7. The Squatters...

No, we don't mean settling land that isn't yours – it's what you do every time you sit in and get up from a chair. Just do it several times until you "feel the burn...", and

8. Household Weight Equipment

Cans of food, milk and water jugs, sacks of flour – you'd be amazed at how much weight training equipment is just sitting in your pantry or refrigerator. (Who knew your could actually lose weight with using your holiday baking ingredients?)

9. Roll Up The Carpet

The latest craze is dancing off the weight, but not all of us can get to the classes when they are offered and the videos cost more than Christmas. Instead roll up the carpet, and crack up the tunes, whether it's Mariah Carey's "All I want for Christmas" or whatever is on the radio, dancing will increase your aerobic hear rate, and help with endurance training.

10. Steppin' Up

Finally, you don't have to buy a bench step and sign up for a step class to do step. Chances are you've got a step or two around your home. So while those cookies are in the oven, run the stairs a few times. The timers will make great intervals and keep you fit while baking!

The fact of the matter is, that all of these are not difficult, and do not require patience, or a long drawn out explanation. They are simple and they WORK. So maybe you aren't getting fit on treadmills, or ellipticals, but the end result is the same and you will have a lot of extra cash to go and spend it on holiday gifts, or a treat for yourself!

Happy FIT Holidays! ;D

Own Your Beauty

2010-11-28T15:07:00.000-08:00

BlogHer came out with Own Your Beauty and I felt so inspired by what it means! It puts in mind my favorite Dove soap campaigns about real beauty and a positive self-image no matter the size, shape or color you are. Olay also has the Love The Skin You're In campaign that features caring for your skin and keeping it healthy. I'm absolutely happy that big brands are recognizing individual beauty, pushing HEALTH and caring for oneself rather than stereotypical norms of perception.

My daughters are still babies but I can't help but feel afraid for the massive media pressure they could face in the future about being a specific type. I'm glad though that there's an increasing awareness about celebrating individuality and cherishing personal beauty nowadays. It gives me much hope that society will be more accepting of a person's uniqueness than it was when I was younger.

A year-long campaign to change the conversation about what really beauty is, OYB has monthly topics to cover the personal journey this means for many women all over the world. Changing our minds about what beauty is means changing our perception of our own beauty as well. Change starts from within and as our own appreciation of OUR beauty blooms, this wisdom gives us that special glow that no beauty product can replace or duplicate.

The first month's topic was AUTHENTICITY, loving WHO YOU REALLY ARE or being real and true to yourself, celebrating it and being proud of it.

How do you get to know your authentic self? These are the things that make you happy, that affirms your joy of living and lifts your spirits. Your ideals, dreams and heart's desires also shape your authentic self.

My list would be too long for this post and so deserves a post of its own. Suffice to say, it is interesting how one's authentic self grows into places you never thought possible. Like being a mother, for example. Ten years ago, I would never have said being Mommy would be an indelible part of me. Now, I can't imagine being happy without being Mommy!

Of course, it's more than just the roles in your life. Are they meaningful? Do they fulfill you and leave you all warm and fuzzy with a feel good vibe? Does it give a groove to your moves, fuel your soul mojo?

What's YOUR authentic self about? :)

The Couch Potato CAN Run!

2010-11-26T12:56:00.000-08:00

I used to prove intractable when it comes to active fitness routines. I got bored and impatient with the repetition of gym programs. I abhorred jogging and claimed that the only way anyone can get me to run was through being chased by a pack of dogs. Then see me go! I also saw no point in trying out the treadmill. Running in place, going nowhere.

I'm fitness' one tough customer.

I tried tricking myself, actually. I explored different sports that I found interesting, just to find one I could actually stick with because I found it exciting enough. Rifle and Pistol Team, mountaineering, rock climbing, hiking, swimming, circuit weight training, belly dancing, yoga, hip hop abs...I would have tried pole dancing and strip teasing if I had the moolah and the confidence for it!

But I was also my own saboteur. When I proved to myself that I could do it, I didn't feel the need to pursue it anymore. I didn't have any qualms about my own mortality and getting ripped abs was just really vanity for me. I felt I didn't really need to "save" myself with regular exercise.

So imagine when I found myself agreeing to run the Mommy Milkshake Marathon with my friend in August 2011. What was surprising was that I actually felt committed to doing it! That surprised me a lot!

(Thinking: Pack of dogs, pack of dogs...)

Well, since it's for a cause and not really a competition AND my first marathon, I wouldn't be hard put like the Iron Man participants. We'll be jogging with the kids in the strollers too and I'd really love that. Of course, RF will have to provide me with a carrot on a stick for motivation. Maybe a fudgie bar tied to the rear end of the car as I chase it down the road would be a good one! :P

Anyhoo, training for this would include walking to jogging and eventually, endurance running. I have to do some gym work too. And go back to swimming for my lungs and rock climbing to build my strength and stamina.

All this will have to be with kids included of course :) A great way to teach Oona and Olly so many things like how our bodies work, safety, health...This time, I know I'm going to have fun and keep at it, even after the marathon is done.

My running on a treadmill will now have a point and I won't need a pack of dogs chasing me to keep in shape.

More than getting a killer body or saying I want to be healthy for myself, Oona and Olly are my solid reasons that truly matter and are big enough for me.

Malunggay Oil, Potent Life Oil!

2010-11-21T14:36:00.000-08:00

I've always been a fan of malunggay or moringa olifeira since my first pregnancy. Reading and researching about it, I found out that it wasn't just good for lactating mothers, it was actually good for everyone.

It is low in fats and carbohydrates. It is high in vitamin B, 2x the Protein of yogurt; 3x the potassium of bananas; 3x the Iron of spinach, 4x the calcium of milk and 7x the vitamin C of oranges.

And did you know that someone actually tried to make fuel from this? It worked and was cleaner than coconut oil but the cost to process it was too much :( hopefully some day, they'll be able to figure out a cost-efficient way to do it!

I never thought such tiny leaves held so much power. I remember when I was a kid, my mother would always add malunggay leaves to some of the dishes she cooked. I thought nothing of the tree growing by the side of the road near our house, but now with my two babies, I'm thankful that I wasn't picky with my food. I'm hopeful that I can pass on healthy eating habits to these little girls, including eating malunggay.

Nowadays though, when there's not much readily available for cooking, some health food stores carry a wide array of malunggay products. I so love Ecostore where they sell good malunggay powder for cooking and a really kickass malunggay pesto. They're all proudly philippine made so you are sure you are supporting our local trade and industry!

Or if you'd rather do it the health supplement way, may I suggest Malungai Life Oil. Made from pure malunggay extract, it's all of moringa olifeira's full potency distilled in a gel capsule. One a day and you get all the benefits of eating a whole lot of malunggay leaves without having to climb up and pick them yourself!

Since I am still breastfeeding Olly, I am always looking for ways to keep myself healthy and improve my milk quality. This obviously hits two birds with one stone! I used to drink the powder capsule version that yes, was effective too. However, the pure oil extract was just more potent. I'm very sure Olly's getting the benefits of this through my milk. Even Oona's taking it! What I did was pop the gel and mix the oil with whatever she's eating. Since Oona's not picky, I don't have a problem with making her finish her food so she's able to ingest all of the malunggay oil. After all, she's been a malunggay baby too!

Weight Loss Is A Total Lifestyle Change

2010-11-18T19:15:00.000-08:00

It's a serious commitment to faithfully keep and real hard work (pretty much like what marriage is)! In this case, it's a relationship with your body you have to maintain and keep healthy.

When I decided to lose weight, I thought it was going to be as simple as popping a pill or not eating something.

No. It wasn't.

Sure you could just drink something, go to a clinic or starve yourself to emaciation, but then you go back to uncontrollable eating, unhealthy choices and bad habits, the pounds would just pile on faster and be harder to lose.

The key here is your motivation to lose weight. Unless your reasons for a change are deeply rooted, sustaining anything would be very hard. WHY do you want to lose weight? Do you want to look hot? Do you want to fit into a bikini? Do you want to be a model? Do you want to live longer? Do you want to feel better? Do you want to feel in control of yourself? Do you want to be more confident?

Whatever your compelling reasons may be, just be sure that you are safe and you don't compromise your health.

Apart from preparing myself mentally, I also had to prepare my body to lose the extra pounds. I also had to adjust my entire schedule, my grocery list, my budget and consider how these changes would be affecting my lifestyle and of those around me.

I know it sounds like I'm making it more complicated than it really is, but I just want to emphasize how much going healthy (with a side serving of losing weight) is a LIFE CHANGING EXPERIENCE and how it was very positive for me.

CHANGE THE WAY YOU THINK. It's true when they say that the change starts within. I originally thought I could never go through with this and that I was doomed to drown in cholesterol. I was also afraid that if things didn't work out, I'd feel like a failure. I had to face the fact that I was justifying being too scared and lazy to start anything. Yup! It was hard at first, but the more I believed that it was possible, the better I felt to actually decide to do something and follow it up with action. It didn't take overnight, actually. It was a couple of weeks before I was confident enough to declare that I was going to make a change in my life.

COMMIT. To yourself. Not to anyone else. You owe it to yourself to be the best you can be. Or if you're like me, look to your children. I could do it for myself anytime, but for my kids? I have to do this NOW. Their childhood is fleeting enough and my sense of urgency comes from this. I want to be healthy and strong enough to be able to enjoy their childhood with them. I don't want them to remember me as the perpetually tired and cranky old lady who happened to be their mother.

PLAN. Be strict with yourself and draw up a list of your goals, your timeline and how you plan to achieve them. Be as detailed as you want to be, as long as it helps you and doesn't detract from what you want to achieve.

FOLLOW THROUGH. Go on steadily with your plans. Know that there's no turning back when you've said good-bye to your old self. You own your life now and nothing can stop you. When there are bad days (and there will be), just whip out that list and remind yourself why you're on this journey.

Be patient and realistic. You know you've piled on the pounds for years so be kind to yourself and know that it's not going to show for a few weeks or months yet. However, the change starts INSIDE where you don't see it yet and that's the MOST important thing.

Having people around you who are supportive really helps a lot. If you're surrounded by negativity, find a support group who will be cheering you on this path. Or if you've a strong will, use that negative feedback to fuel your own determination. You''ll be having the last laugh and the living luscious proof of your life change staring them in the face when all is said and done. :)

Feeling Good In The Right Clothes

2010-11-15T10:52:00.000-08:00

It's been ages since I last bought a piece of clothing for myself. Yes, I held off buying even a new shirt for a long time. One, because I don't go out much. Two, I'd feel guilty buying something for me when I feel that the funds are better used for the kids. And three, I just feel like I'm too fat to fit in anything I'd feel comfortable and pretty in.

Now, after the trillionth time in the laundry, a few of my "uniforms" have given up. RF told me that I really should go out and get a few new pieces or he might consider throwing out the sad, boring few left in the closet. So off we went on an online hunt and found a few stores with dresses that advertised style and breastfeeding functionality.

One was Eden. I hopped on over to the bazaar they happened to be in that weekend and excitedly browsed through their stocks. Mec already ordered the bento box from them and after having seen them on her, I wanted to have them too. Unfortunately, what looks good on someone else doesn't mean it would look good on you too. Fitting the lovely things rather depressed me as nothing flattered my flabby body at this point. I was squeezed in the wrong places and I felt like a squished tube of toothpaste.

It's not the set's fault, mind you. The fabrics were really comfortable but being in between sizes really sucked. I was too big for small and medium but large would be too lose soon as I am hell bent on losing weight.

I was getting really sad when the saleslady suggested the Infinitude, a versatile sleeved wrap you can wear in different ways. Mec had already shown this to me but I was eyeing the bento box because it was already a set of a pair of pants, a skirt you can wear as a tube, one tank top and a long sleeved shirt. The set better fit my budget, I thought, but when RF and my sister reminded me that I didn't have to pressure myself to buy if I wasn't comfortable, I tried on the Infinitude.

After the saleslady demonstrated the different breastfeeding-friendly styles the really comfortable wrap could be worn, I decided to walk away with this one. I can wear it with anything and will shrink when I do! My sister's only complaint was that I still bought black.

Maybe when I lose some more weight, I'll feel more adventurous about dressing in color. Until then, I'm happy I found something I don't look like a dumpling or feel like a suman in!

This, however would be my last shopping expedition I shall allow myself to be pressured into. I do understand that hubby wants me too feel good by looking good but I feel that we'll have more fun shopping later on when I truly feel more confident with my body. Right now, I still feel super conscious! And those changing room mirrors don't help at all. I just saw everything that was wrong with my body and none of my prettiness.

At least I found something I could feel good with before the bad, critical voice in my head pushed me to another bout of depression over my body image! Whew!

Ten Pounds Lighter Today

2010-11-11T07:16:00.000-08:00

Hard won and only the scale and my knees can tell, but ten pounds are ten pounds! I couldn't believe it either!

I had a bad week last week because I hit a plateau. It didn't look like I lost any weight inspite of my continued diet and increased physical activity. Then it turned out that I was going to have my period!

So now, I checked again on a whim and voila! Ten pounds. :)

The Luscious Life List

2010-11-10T10:22:00.000-08:00

A good friend from college loved to make lists of things she liked and wanted to do in her life. She started me on it and quite recently, another friend's checklist reminded me to make one for this particular journey.

I like to put my goals down to keep things in perspective and keep me honest. Everytime I feel lost, impatient or discouraged, all I would need to do is refer to my list and follow my own directions.

The first three are my long-term goals to living a luscious life. Everything else are short-term goals that would help me ultimately achieve the big picture. I know it's not going to happen overnight but getting there would prove to be just as interesting!

a. Be a healthy, happy mommy, wife and homemaker raising healthy, happy human beings.

b. Provide for a secure, abundant life for my family.

c. Lead a long, fruitful, fulfilled, and contented personal life.

Taray! Demanding! Lolz :D

1. Project Flawless!
- Have my smile improved and my hair, skin and nails be at their healthiest best.
- Lose 60lbs. TOTAL. in about a year. Imagine 14 years of steadily packing it on with bad food, bad habits and no exercise. This means making good, healthy choices and activities to reclaim my body from obesity.

2. Run a marathon. Maybe not the ironman, I'm not bent on suicide! But the beginner types that won't kill me.

3. Swim ten laps in an olympic size pool like I used to ten million years ago.

4. Rock climb again. Hopefully hike up a mountain and not just a mole hill either. A real huge pile of dirt and rocks would be great!

5. Build several highly profitable and leverageable businesses. This means research and educating myself to go where I've never gone before!

6. Attend short business courses and seminars.

7. Learn and apply good, long-term investment practices. It would be great to have a diverse investment portfolio so rf and i will be comfortable in our old age and our kids would have more opportunities to stretch their wings.

8. Buy real estate property to rent, develop then resell.

9. Learn to sew clothes. I want to set up a tailor-fitting boutique type studio and custom costume shop. I always had difficulty finding the right clothes for my body type until I discovered the happiness which is tailor-made clothes :)

10. Have a one man show and publish poetry.

11. Be good friends with my kids. The type they talk to about anything before going to bed and whenever they need to.

12. Learn to make jewelry and design stuff I can sell, exhibit and export.

13. Rediscover my flirty side with my hubby.

14. Teach my kids to be the best they can be, whatever it may be.

HMMM...this is a long list in the making! I'll add to this more!

In Another Universe

2010-11-05T10:12:00.000-07:00

Reposted from Mommyluscious "Parallel Universes-What If?":

Let's play pretend.

In a parallel universe far, far away, I am still single at 31. I may or may not have a steady boyfriend, but I sure am not lonely. I go out with friends, officemates or by myself to clubs on most nights just because I can. I'm a known regular, on first name basis with the doorman, bartender and staff of more than one bar and I have my own tab.

I'm an executive at an advertising agency or a production house. I do paperwork but can pull my own weight on the field. I secretly want to be Indiana Jones so I'm taking up my anthropology masters degree.

When I'm not at work, school or living it up, I can be found at home. I have my own pad. Small but all mine. Next door are my best friends. We bought the property and divided it among ourselves. I read, write, paint or draw when the muse so moves me. I enjoy a glass of wine on the patio and a good conversation when my friends are around as well.

On weekends, I go to the beach whenever I can. Surfing season finds me leaving work on Friday to head straight to the surfing camp four hours away. I arrive at night, have a good dinner and sleep til dawn when I wake to catch a good wave.

My family lives in the same house we've lived in since we were kids. I spend weekends there every other week or they go to the beach with me. I have nieces and nephews and godchildren galore so the family home is a riot especially on sundays.

I retire by 45, squirreling away funds to buy property and set up a business. I grow to a venerable old age living on an island 5 minutes by outboard from the mainland, surrounded by trees, ocean and my p's: poetry, pantings and pottery. I die peacefully in my sleep.

A nice, tidy, colorful existence. But no RF. And definitely a given, no Oona or Olly. I wouldn't even have known how it would feel to wake up at odd hours, be bone tired or as frustrated as Oona in the middle of a communication crisis. I won't worry about pedia visits, vaccines, hospitals or natural remedies. There would be no child-made messes, poopy diapers and I would always smell good. Not like right now, you'd know I'm *this* deep in milk, toddler snot and diapers!

But it would be a given too, that there wouldn't be good morning kisses or hugs just because. There wouldn't be silly nonsense games where you both end up laughing. No tickling before bed. No amazement at every little thing. No excitement and wonder that comes so easy for children and how generously they share it with you.

I guess it depends on how you look at it. On one hand, ignorance could be bliss. On the other, I may have lost something infinitely better and was never the wiser for it. Who knows?

Anyhoo, that's one parallel universe for me. I know I got a lot of alternate realities in existence out there.

So what's yours? :)

Co-Creations: Creating Your Crowning Glory

2010-11-03T23:52:00.000-07:00

Reposted from Mommyluscious "COCREATIONS":

Sunsilk Co-Creations Hairfall Solution
Enriched with Soya Vitamin Complex
Co-created with Dr. Francesca Fusco
SRP: P89.00/200mL bottle
This is the shampoo I'm using right now.

Sunsilk Co-creations, enriched with Soya Vitamin Complex to nourish and reinforce hair from the roots to the tips, it gently cleanses weakened, easily-broken hair without harming my scalp. Sunsilk teamed up with world-class dermatologist Dr. Francesca Fusco from NYC to come up with this formulation.

She believes that the delicate scalp should be treated as an extension of the skin on your face. For her, a woman's hair is truly her "crowning glory" and is dedicated to giving every girl the best head start possible to getting glorious hair through scalp care. “The secret to addressing hair fall,” shares Fusco, “is nourishing that first inch of hair that emerges from the scalp.”

Now why am I blogging about this?

I love my hair.

I love my long, curly, unruly, glorious, layered, colored hair.

And I'm losing it.

I didn't use to even like it in my painful high school years when I was still searching for acceptance. I had naturally curly waves that were as awkward as the ugly duckling's feathers were. As a result, I kept it short as was the fad but hated that it made me look so unfeminine. Upon entering college, I finally decided to throw all caution to the wind and let my hair down, so to speak.

Growing out my hair was the most liberating experience I ever had among all the liberating experinces of college life. I layered it, colored it, moussed it but I never really got into the fad about straightening as I loved being unique in a sea of rebonded hair. I got it into my system that I wanted to refer to my full head of hair as "tresses" and "locks". I would have been in absolute hair nirvana if it were really thicker though. That's my only peeve.

When I gave birth to Oona, my hair started falling out big time. At first it was just when I brushed or ran my hand though my hair. Then I woke up to find my hair all over the pillows and falling by themselves as I walked. After the natural shedding that came after pregnancy, it never got any better. It got even worse when Olly came so I had no choice but to cut my hair really short for the very first time in 26 years. Yes, I had boy-short hair when I was around 5 years old.

Well, I can't say I don't like my hair now, but I'm not crazy about it either. Given that I'm as round as a dumpling, without my long hair, I look even rounder. Haha. I felt like a goddess with my long hair but with my short hair, I feel anything but pixieish.

No other help for it but for the body to catch up with the hair (read: lose the excess inches so the body can match the hair). Wrong "full-bodied" reference! :P

Meanwhile I would have to take extra care of the precious few I have so the search began for good hair care products THAT WOULD NOT EAT INTO MY BUDGET. Yes, all caps. I'm a mom so splurging on myself will be accompanied by days of shopper's guilt over what could have been used to buy my child's milk or diapers.

I used to buy this really great homemade purple hair soap and gugo/kalamansi extract shampoo that was mild on my hair and scalp. But I can't find it anymore *sob!* Other popular brands only gave me dandruff, scalp irritations and brittle, dry hair.

Then, like a bolt from the blue, the universe sent me a surprise package! Quite literally. My mom told me that a package arrived for me and that it was quite heavy. When we opened it (Oona buzzing around me in excitement over the "Supise, Mommy! Sur-pise!"), I was laughing so much because I saw that it was enough shampoo to last the entire household for months! And there was one type for everyone! Oona designated herself the "Official Arranger On The Shelf Of Shampoos" and Olly pounced on the bag so I appropriated it for her toys. :D
Meanwhile, the other shampoos went to the following:

ANTI-DANDRUFF
ANTI-DANDRUFF for Daddy. He uses hair putty a lot so hair product + sweat + skin cells = build-up. Enriched with ZPT Citrus Complex, it thoroughly cleanses and refreshes while purifying the scalp from the first wash and protect the hair’s natural condition from dryness. Formulated by Dr. Francesca Fusco again :D I so love her now.

STRONG
AND LONG
STRONG AND LONG for my sister Diday. A student with a very active life since she works too, hair can get really stressed from all the commuting and stuff she puts on it. Enriched with Active Fruitamin Complex, the rich moisture formula gently cleanses and refreshes hair, while penetrating it and fortifying hair fibers so it becomes up to 10x stronger*+ and 3x smoother+ with boosted shine. Sunsilk teamed up with Paris-born Teddy Charles, creator of some of the world’s latest runway and premier fashion magazine looks, to co-create Sunsilk’s most advanced Strong & Long formulation for strong* and smoother hair. Well, she *does* look like a model, anyway. Or maybe it's just our genes! (Nuksnumuuuun! :D)

SOFT
AND SMOOTH
SOFT AND SMOOTH for my Mom and Dad. Enriched with Ceramide Macadamia Complex, it gently cleanses and conditions even the driest and roughest hair, while acting as a softening agent to rebalance hair condition. Sunsilk teamed up with Bobsoho Salon, founded by Thomas Taw, famous for resuscitating dry hair, to co-create Sunsilk’s most advanced Soft&Smooth formulation for hair that is silky soft to the touch.

We still have the rest of the line to try out:

STRAIGHT
AND SWAY
STRAIGHT AND SWAY enriched with Amino Collagen Complex, it cleanses your straight hair and gently relaxes your hair bonds, providing softness and suppleness to give natural movement ++ to your artificially straightened hair. Sunsilk teamed up with Paris-born Teddy Charles, creator of the world’s latest runway and premier fashion magazine looks, to co-create Sunsilk’s most advanced Straight and Flowing formulation for ideally straighter hair full of natural movement.

DAMAGE REPAIR
DAMAGE REPAIR enriched with Olive Serum Nutri Complex, it gently cleanses and gives care to the most damaged hair, while reconstructing beneath the hair surface and filling damaged cracks deep inside – layer by layer, strand by strand. Sunsilk teamed up with Bobsoho Salon of London, founded by Thomas Taw, famous for resuscitating damaged hair, to co-create Sunsilk’s most advanced Damage Repair formulation to give back extreme smoothness and health to your damaged hair.

SMOOTH AND
MANAGEABLE
SMOOTH AND MANAGEABLE, enriched with Keratin Yogurt Nutri-Complex, it gently cleanses and coats hair strands to smoothen fluffy hair. Sunsilk teamed up with Yuko Yamashita from Japan, creator of YUKO Hair Straightening, turning hair from unruly to manageable, to co-create Sunsilk’s most advanced Smooth and Manageable formulation for extraordinarily smoother++ hair that stays beautifully in place all day long.

We also got Cream Silk Conditioners! Yay!

I can't wait til my hair grows long again! With the care I'm getting from what I'm using right now, I'm pretty sure, I'll have a full head of gorgeous hair again!
Now which ones are you going to try out for your crowning glory? :D

Owning My Life

2010-11-01T09:22:00.000-07:00

Luscious, by definition means richly appealing to the senses or the mind, sweet, and extremely pleasurable.

I want a life like this and having the kids around inspires me to be more than I am right now. They deserve the best of me and I know that means physically, mentally and spiritually.

I used to put this off for a variety of reasons. Primarily, I put other people's needs and wants before mine. Now I've come to believe that being selfish sometimes isn't a bad thing when it comes to self-preservation. But more than this most basic human need to protect oneself, valuing and honoring the self requires a certain degree of this selfishness.

It could also be a fear of change. I, who thrived on variety and dynamic situations, have found out that I do seek comfort in the familiar and constant. While security provides stability, change needs to happen for one to grow and thrive. And like any human being, it really is a scary thing to jump into untested waters.

But all you have to do is have faith that everything is perfect in the universe, and then just jump into it. It would be hard at first (and scary) but that's what happens when you accept that YOU are responsible for your life, you have sole control, and you can steer it in any direction you wish because you have finally owned your life.

You might even surprise yourself when wings sprout and you actually fly!

Reposted from Mommyluscious "Why Wait":

I don't mind taking turns, exercising patience and waiting for my ship to come in. In fact, it's one of the virtues I try to teach Oona.

However, there are some situations when you just hafta really hustle if you wanna get a move on!

I'm tired of waiting on fate to bring me what I want. I'm tired of watching people achieve their dreams first. I'm tired of putting myself on hold. I'm tired of postponing my plans and delaying my dreams. I'm done, I'm through, I'm stopping this nonsense right now.

That dream career? I'm taking that. That house? I'll take it. Those fat bank accounts and paying investments? They're mine, thank you. That glamorous, wonderful goddess in the mirror? Why, that's me! Worshipping is allowed, mortal. Bring tribute and I shall be pleased.

When you want something done right, you do it yourself. You don't need to hitch your wagon to someone else's shooting star. You can fly yourself to the moon even if you have to build the dang rocket out of scrap metal and spare parts.

What's life without grabbing some bulls by the balls? Er...Horns. I meant, horns.

For this instance, I'm tired of just waiting for good things to happen to me and for me. I'm making them happen right now.

My change to living lusciousness has begun.

Reinventing Old Habits

2010-10-30T19:17:00.000-07:00

When the world was younger and the pace of life was a little slower, us ladies had time to pamper ourselves even without the luxuries of technology, nearby spas or instant beauty magic.

Preparing for the pampering was part of the beauty ritual itself. There was a luxurious bath at the end of the day with the radio on and warm, scented bubbles coming from the tub. Or after the chores, an unhurried wash and afternoon swim by the river after the day's laundry was done, complete with herbal shampoos and flower essences in our long, black tresses.

At night, there was hair brushing with heavy silver brushes with thick bristles or combs with oiled wood; soft cotton nightgowns or silk, rubbing our skins soft. There were also the ancient beauty secrets passed on from grandmother to mother, to you.

Nowadays with beauty products galore and scientific beauty tricks to match the hustle and bustle of modern living, we forget to slow down and actually enjoy the process.

Let's remember what beauty really is.

Back in the day, the preparation is just as important. It was a grounding and a centering, reminding oneself of the beauty within and each personal ritual was more than just vanity. I wrote a little about it in Mommyluscious "The OLAY Woman", about celebrating inner beauty and your strength by honoring yourself with simple rituals that make you feel good.

So what if you're not going anywhere special and all you'll end up doing is curling up alone in bed with a crossword puzzle or a book?

Break out the luxury cream soap bars and lather up in the shower. Dab some perfume even if you're off to the market. Wear those nice undies you've been saving "for a special occasion"! What can be more special than TODAY?

Love yourself.

Most importantly, slow down and don't forget to breathe! Smile, laugh, close your eyes and remember who you are.

Pay attention to yourself, listen to your inner voice and feed your soul.

If you don't, who else will? :)

The Annual Physical Exam: All Systems GO!

2010-10-26T09:32:00.000-07:00

I have never been a fan of hospitals, clinics or medical examinations. I hated the long lines, the prodding and probing and the needles! God, how I hated needles.

I *RAN* when I went in for a flu shot and the doctor had to chase me down to stick it in my arm. I was 25 years old then. (The shame!)

So I truly dreaded the Annual Physical Exam (APE) because they had to draw blood for the testing and screenings or else, the exam wouldn't be complete. And I know it's for my own good, but I *hate* them needles!

Anyway, since I started this health consciousness, RF's company sponsored APE rolled around and I thought it might be a good idea to have myself checked out to ensure that nothing got in the way of my project.

So I went through the whole rigmarole. Yep, even had the nurse draw a vial of my blood. (I was so brave!)

Urinalysis - check
Stool Exam - skipped this one inadvertently
Blood Exam - one vial!
ECG - took longer than expected because the things they clipped on you kept slipping off. I almost fell asleep though, cos I was lying down and it was so quiet in the exam room :)
X-Ray (Lungs) - clear
OB-Gyne - everything's fine!
EENT - needs glasses, needs new teeth (haha)

The verdict?

My blood pressure is on the high normal side of 130/80. That's my normal, but it's still high so the doctor said I'm really prone to hypertension. Other than that, my good cholesterol is well, good and my bad cholesterol isn't rioting, so my heart checks out fine along with my blood sugar. (Hooray! I'm not diabetic!)

Everything else is on the unremarkable side but the doctor seriously noted that for my height, my weight was unacceptable. I am OBESE. Shocking.

*sigh*

Body Mass Index (BMI) is a measure of body fat based on height and weight that applies to adult men and women.

BMI Categories:

Underweight = <18.5
Normal weight = 18.5–24.9
Overweight = 25–29.9
Obesity = BMI of 30 or greater

My BMI is 32.7 at my height of 5'1 and my present weight of 173lbs.

I should be 120lbs. to be in the normal range at a BMI of 22.7. That was my weight 14 years ago! Gahd!

The doctor said the dieting and the supplements were okay and the fact that I already lost 6lbs. in the last few weeks was good. She said it was now the right time to include exercise and some gym sessions to help tighten my skin, tone my muscles and burn more fat to get me closer to the safe range.

The OB-Gyne said the same thing and that the supplements I was taking were safe. She also said that drinking alkaline water and sports drinks with the vitamins and minerals could help keep me hydrated and prevent fatigue.

Other than the weight issues, everything is fine! :)

If you would like to check your BMI, I have a calculator on the right. Go ahead and check! Being in the right weight for your height helps fight a lot of health complications!

Now as for me, on to planning an interesting exercise routine to fit my days with the kids :) It'll help teach them the importance of being active to be healthy!

My Pledge To My Girls, My Promise To Myself

2010-10-22T10:38:00.000-07:00

I started this whole losing weight thing with this. It sounds shallow, wanting to have my 17 year old body back, but in the context of strength, stamina and health to be there for the kids, I know a lot of parents would want the same thing.

So, just to keep reminding myself of my compelling reasons, I'm reposting this from my parenting blog Mommyluscious, my entry "Seventeen Again":

I am losing weight. I will have my 17-year old body back, with the strength and stamina to keep up to the physical demands of a toddler and an infant hell-bent on conquering gravity. All this is possible, attainable and on a timeline of one year. From now. And no, I'm not crazy or suicidal.

Let's break it down.

At first it started as a desire to be more present as a positive figure for the kids; to be more active and not just cope with my role as mother and homemaker. I wanted more energy to lead a more productive, positive life to set an example for our growing girls. Lately I've been feeling so run down that I haven't been at my best. I mean, I have a strong personality and can be cantankerous. But lately I've been cranky, short-tempered, easily frustrated and impatient. More than usual! Especially since the girls have just had a bout with the cold bug, I'm just plain exhausted. I do have help from my family, but I still feel drained at the end of the long, long day.

Things kind of snowballed from there. I realized that I wanted so much more for the kids, for RF, for our family. From life, for our life! For myself! Self-examination really does cook up a lot of food for thought! One small decision makes a lot of ripples, affecting everything in our lives. One small change makes a huge difference.

I know it's not going to be overnight nor is it going to be easy. But I also know it's going to be interesting and so worth it, a year from now!

Even reaching just half my goal at that time would be fantastic. I'm not sabotaging my motivation, mind you. I'm just being realistic. I'm keeping my eyes on that cheese but I won't kill myself over it. Also, I'm still going to be breastfeeding Olly. All changes would have to consider her health and well-being as well.

me, at 17!
Now, at 31 years old, I weigh about 180 lbs. at my height of 5'1. (Ugh. I just revealed to the world what, until now, only my medical records know!)

At 17, I was 120 lbs. Wow. Saying 14 years of poundage sounds better than saying by exactly how much I'm over the right weight!

Good GOD.

That there, are 60 lbs. of bad food and bad habits, sneaking up on you. You'd think 4 lbs a year wouldn't be so bad!

So my goal is to lose 60lbs in 12 months. 5 lbs per month, 1lb a week.

*long pause*

Can I lose in 1 year what took me 14 years to gain?

YES I CAN.

The Luscious Dare WEEK 2 and a half

2010-10-18T04:44:00.000-07:00

Reposted from Mommyluscious.

So in the middle of setting up the foundations for a business, homemaker duties, motherhood and surviving the day, I have officially kicked off the journey to a luscious me.

On September 29, 2010 I weighed 179 lbs. at 5'1.

I have lost 30 lbs. by December 9, 2010. Yup, the power of affirmative thinking and claiming your future breeds positive action and results.

10 weeks. Lose 3 lbs a week.

Hoo-rah.

After 2 weeks and 5 days, I now weigh 173 lbs. We got a ways to go :)

Moving To The Front Row Of My Life

2010-10-14T13:07:00.000-07:00

Change seems to be the theme for the rest of the year for me. Not just any change, mind you. Significant ones.

While I've had many, many changes in my life, both big and small, I can only count a few that I've truly decided upon, taken charge of and did not just leave up to fate.

When Oona blew out the candles for her 3rd birthday last August 15, I couldn't help feeling that my baby was growing up too fast for me! Huffy puffy Mommy trying desperately to catch up with her mile-a-minute mind, rapid-fire questions and road-runner legs. Let's not forget 6 month old butterball Olly, challenging time and human evolution by constantly trying to crawl and stand ahead of schedule and fly off the bed, in defiance of gravity. It takes all the mommy powers I can muster to last the day with these two bundles of energy!

So as Oona's candles poofed out, the idea of a change that MUST happen flared to life. I wanted to be more involved in the laughter and fun in their lives. I don't want to just exist from chore to chore, duty to duty, stretching what I had to cover what needed to be done for the kids. I wanted to have more out of the relationship we share. I didn't want to be too tired to enjoy being with them.

Really, most days, I'm too pooped to be fun, I'm short-tempered and more of an ogre than I care to admit. Sound familiar, anyone?

Like most mothers, our priorities revolve around the kids, our husbands and partners, our families. We put ourselves, by default, in second, third and even last place. But our roles, quite by paradox, always demand that we be at the front line of everything for the family. Yes, like soldiers.

We barely even have time for ourselves like we used to because there's the guilt that every available time and attention should be invested in the kids, the husband and the family or else you're not being a good wife or mother.

That's not fair, is it? Does that sound like your internal dialogue?

Let's be realistic. We can't expect others to take care of us. It would be great, yes! But we have to take the initiative to do things for ourselves. We can't expect martyrdom or a shaft of light from heaven transforming us into perfection. You'd have to be dead, I think and I want to be alive to enjoy myself.

In a nutshell, I want enough of me to go around and have something left for ME. I don't want to feel run down anymore because I should be enjoying myself and the time I have with the kids. I know they won't be babies for long and sooner than I would like to, they'll be spreading their wings to fly solo. So for a change, I think I ought to put myself in the front row of my life, our family's life!

I want more. I want the place of privilege I know I deserve.

To be there not just as a frontliner at the trenches, but sitting pretty, joining in the fun and laughter, making good, happy memories, watching my kids and my family bloom and grow from my plush front row seat.

I am daring to be in front.