Measure Up and Lose the Fat

Want to lose weight but don't know where to start? It may sound daunting but measuring up is a good motivation to a healthy, hotter you. At the Julius Maggi Kitchen, together with Nestle's Wellness Team - everyone was taught how to measure their Body Mass Index (BMI) and know about their current body shape.



The Body Mass Index (BMI) measures your weight in relation to your height. Through the BMI, you can see if your weight falls under nomal, obese, or underweight. As much as all of us would like to be underweight like a supermodel - being in the normal scale spells wellness which leads to a longer and happier life.

Download Nestle's BMI Calculator

Are you an Apple or a Pear?


The ideal waist circumference for women is below 31 inches.

Download Nestle's Test Belt or divide your waist circumference by your hip circumference. If your score is .80 or above you are an apple, if your score is below .80 you are a pear. If you are an "apple-shape", you tend to store fat in your abdomen and you are more prone to heart disease and diabetes. You are a "pear-shape" if you store fat in your thighs and hips and you are prone to osteoporosis, varicose veins, and eating disorders.


Wellness Warriors: Lester, Jaymie, Au, Lace (not me), and Chef Tess

Now that you know your numbers, you are on a better road to wellness. Don't lose hope if your abdomen seems not to get any smaller. It is the last to go and the first to return (bummer). It's a good idea to measure yourself along the way, to see if you are doing the right fitness and diet regimen. Learn more and be guided on your little steps to wellness (and a hot body) by visiting choosewellnes.com.ph

Bio Essence Serenity Spa - Break Stress, Literally!

These days, who doesn't need a thoughtful massage? With rising stress levels, everyone needs to head to a spa for a well deserved relaxation. But more than just relaxation, massages can literally break stress built up inside the body.



At the Bio Essence Serenity Spa, I indulged myself to a Shiatsu massage and my attendant Brenda told me that I have "nodules" on the back of my neck, shoulders, and back. I asked her what nodules were and it turns out that these are the tender parts I can feel on my shoulders. Usually mistaken as swollen nerves, nodules are really toxins built up on lymph nodes because of STRESS. Old folks call them "lamig" and nodules are the same reason why a person feels stiff, heavy, with lots of muscle and back pains.

Inside the massage area, where relaxing piano music and eucalyptus scent are present, I had these nodules massaged and you can really feel them breaking down into pieces. I tried to feel my back and it was lighter, I could easily move my shoulders and almost feel my body say aahhhh~ Their Shiatsu massage includes facial and tummy massage too! :)




The Bio Essence Serenity Spa in Connecticut Ave. Greenhills is one of the most stress-free spas I have been to. Everything is clean, on time, and professional. Since it was my first time, I quietly inspected everything:

1. Towels are fresh not reused
2. Bed sheets are clean as well as the pillows
3. Massage beds have clean head holes covered with fresh cottony sheet for comfort
4. Lockers are secure with key, located near the massage bed
5. Rubber slippers, robes, and shorts are provided
6. Comfort room is in the same massage area where a full length vanity mirror is available for fixing yourself up after your massage.
7. Different shower rooms for men and women

What I like most is that they know what a "dry massage" is and they actually have a procedure for it. For people with sensitive skin like me, massage oils can easily clog the skin so we have to opt for a dry massage. My attendant, Brenda used a clean towel on top of my skin and moved it around to the area being massaged. It was very hygienic and soothing at the same time.



The Shiatsu massage at Bio Essence costs Php 650, tips are not mandatory and you will never receive a mystery envelope after your session. Perfect! With only Php 650 you can also use their sauna and shower before your massage. They also serve refreshments before and after your treatment. Hot tea is recommended to effectively flush out the toxins from the body.

What are you waiting for? Give yourself a break and head for an affordable but enjoyable massage at Bio Essence. You can visit their website for their full list of services at http://bioessence.ph

Get yourself to Exercise - Belly Dance

Summer is the best season to be active, but honestly with the afternoon heat all we want to do is lie down and wait for the sun to fade. Hence, everybody needs all the motivation in the world - think of something fun to do wherein you can burn all those calories hiding behind our skin.

Why don't we try something new like....

Belly Dancing! These are the photos I took during the Fitness First Anniversary in Megamall. Belly dancers are so graceful, confident, and glowing. Not to mention the fabulous costume, didn't we all want to be like Princess Jasmine during our tween age? The show was enough to convince me to unearth my belly dancing instructional videos.

If you have extra money, it's best to enroll yourself in a belly dancing studio where mirrors are installed on the walls and you can see if you are getting all the moves right. Teachers are also present to correct, guide, and motivate you along the way.



On the other hand, there are lots of belly dancing videos in record bars. These you can do and follow in the comforts of your own home. Here are some tips to get the most of belly dancing at home.

1. Be sure that you have enough space to move around
2. Prepare all things that you might need (i.e. face towel, a glass of water)
3. It's best to practice belly dancing inside your own room where people cannot disturb you
4. If you are living with housemates, be clear with them that you are not to be disturbed or that they should not barge into your room
5. Always have the remote control within your reach should you need to pause

These tips are the same tips I follow whenever I practice yoga at home. It's hard to get ourselves moving and disturbances would only discourage us to continue exercising. Now grab yourself a Belly Dancing DVD and move it! :)

Do FitFlops Really Work?

Oprah says YES and add to that, beauty queen (goddess) and FitFlop addict Carlene Aguilar also agrees.




At the Fitflop Mallxercise yesterday which was held at the Rockwell Powerplant Mall, I had the chance to try walking and running wearing FitFlops. Along with other ladies, including Carlene Aguilar, who are all eyeing to win the Aurelia Gladiator fitflops - I "mallxercised"and felt how comfortable Fitflops are.


Stand tall like a beauty queen with Fitflops

With Fitflops, I noticed that my posture is different in that I was standing straighter and taller in the correct manner. I also felt my butt cheeks being squeezed with every stride and seriously, I had a warm/burning sensation feeling in both of my legs. It could either be because of the Fitflops or I was just excited ;) Fitflops could really be working!

Interview with Carlene Aguilar


After the scavenger hunt, we were able to talk to Carlene and she says that she wears her FitFlops daily to school. She says that her legs look great even though she has given birth partly because of Fitflops. She owns a black Aurelia Gladiator which she wore that day - she asked her friend to buy it for her after seeing it on the newspaper. She is not an endorser of Fitflops and like everybody, she had to play hard during the scavenger hunt. In the end, she was the fastest contestant and won the Snake Skin Aurelia Gladiator Fitflops. Congratulations! :)




The Fitflops Mallxercise was a great experience with the Fitflops fans. We all went to the Fitflop shop itself after the event to claim our prizes and we had fun choosing colors and designs. I'd like to try and wear Fitflops inside the house to get the best results. But if a beauty queen and an Oprah says Fitflops work, and after trying it out for myself - I conclude that Fitflops do really work!

Stressed? Go Bananas!

Who would not be stressed when the recession is affecting our lives including our closets? Here's a cheap and healthy way to get out of the rut - bananas!

If you don't know yet, bananas are big in Japan now because of a new diet fad called Banana Diet. Japanese girls are literally going bananas after an actress lost a lot of weight just by eating one banana every morning with a glass of room temperature water. Interestingly, a lot of Americans are also taking anti-stress vitamins whose component is found in bananas. Time to put bananas on the limelight!

Bananas are big in vitamin B6 and Potassium. A single serving of banana can give you 41% recommended Daily Value of vitamin B6 that allows your body to efficiently break down protein, fats and carbohydrates - thus, releasing energy when you feel under the weather. After all, we feel stressed when we have to do a lot more but don't have enough energy to do so.

READ MORE AFTER THE JUMP...

Vitamin B6 in Bananas also helps keep the immune system strong and your hormones balanced while allowing your blood to carry more oxygen to your tissues and organs including your brain. Hence, allowing your entire body to take a breather ~whew~

Aside from stress relief and weight loss, eating bananas can make your skin clearer. Studies show that Vitamin B6 that are found in bananas can fight off acne, carpal tunnel syndrome , and depression.

Potassium on the other hand, helps maintain healthy blood pressure and prevents hypertension. It's also used to treat patients who feel weak and lack energy. Bananas have 23% recommend Daily Value of Potassium.

So, aside from an apple a day, add one banana a day too! Not only would you eliminate stress but you'll also score a healthy, head-turning body.

Make your Own Healthy Crepe at Crepes and Cream

Have you ever tried the Kani Mango Salad Crepe at Crepes and Cream? I never thought that crepes can be so healthy, I always equate crepes to dessert. Just look at how fresh these lettuce are and how beautiful this Japanese inspired crepe can be!

Crepes have never been this fasyon with Japanese Kani Sticks and real fish eggs or roes

I thought they only offered ice cream topped with fruits then wrapped in crepe until today. The Kani Mango Salad Crepe is just one of the "Savory Crepes" offered by Crepes and Cream. They also have "Veggie Crepe" for vegetarians and with their stock of fresh vegetables like lettuce, mushroom, tomatoes, and bell peppers, you are in for a healthy treat!

READ MORE AFTER THE JUMP...

Fresh ingredients and freshly brewed coffee from UCC are all in Crepes and Cream

You can even make your own healthy crepe and impress your friends with the healthiest crepe ever. I'd love my crepe with lots of lettuce and tomato :) For a filling protein packed crepe, you can choose from lean ham, tuna, pork floss, shredded chicken and ground beef.

Visit Crepes and Cream at their new super stylish and comfortable branch at SM Megamall, 4th Floor Bridgeway. It's the perfect place to let loose and relax with delicious but quick and healthy bites.

Natural Beauty: Valerie "Bangs" Garcia

Valerie "Bangs" Garcia, actress and 2009's IT calendar girl has a very natural and simple approach when it comes to maintaining her good body. At the TV5 Live Caravan, Valeria Garcia shared with Style and Relax how discipline and green tea play a big role when it comes to maintaining a great figure.


She also shares how her mood affects her choice of clothes and her love for stilettos. Her natural approach on beauty and style matches her refreshingly youthful personality.

Valerie "Bangs" Garcia interview with Style and Relax:

Beauty Notes of a Chocoholic

At the Chocolate Appreciation Workshop, chocolatier Benjamin Pedro revealed surprising facts about chocolates. The Heavenly Chocolates Shop was filled with ohhh's and ahhh's by the chocoholic participants, as if they found the path to enlightenment.

Here's what your mama didn't tell you about chocolates:

1. Chocolates are high in anti-oxidants that fight free radicals responsible for looking old and ugly (e.g. skin impurities, wrinkles, cell damage)

2. A bar of chocolate has less sugar than a can of coke.

3. Cocoa butter does not contribute to high levels of cholesterol.

READ MORE AFTER THE JUMP....

Be beautiful like the gods who enjoyed "cocoa", meaning food of the gods.

4. Chocolate has less caffeine than chocolates (high levels of caffeine triggers acne for some people).

5. The higher the cocoa content, the less sugar there is in your chocolate.

6. White chocolate is NOT CHOCOLATE, it is made of just cocoa butter. Darker chocolates have real beneficial cocoa.

Chocolate can be enjoyed as a drink or in solid state like chocolate bars or chips. Real chocolate is made of cocoa mass and cocoa butter. There are chocolates on the market that contain vegetable fat to replace cocoa butter, avoid that or you'll reap the fattening effects of vegetable FAT.

After the workshop, I recommend Swiss chocolate as the best for their traditional and intricate process of chocolate making.

To reap the beauty benefits of chocolate, discern well if the bar you are holding is made of REAL chocolate, opt for chocolates with single origins. This type has at least 64% cocoa packed with all the chocolate-y benefits.

Heavenly Chocolates is the home of single origin chocolates like Peru, Ghana, Madagascar (my favorite), Ivory Coast, etc. Learn more and experience beauty by chocolates, visit Heavenly Chocolates at Roces Centre, 127 Roces Avenue, Quezon City.

Random Yoga Tips No.1

Do you always forget your yoga belt?
Or, your cheaper yoga mat doesn't come with a strap?

Why don't we tie our yoga belts to our yoga mats then? :)

The sticky yoga mat is just Php 300 and the Yoga Belt is less than Php 500, both from Toby's Sports Shop.

Clean your yoga mat after you use it by spraying it with water + tea tree oil, maybe alcohol can replace the tea tree oil. Then wipe it dry before rolling it up again.

Dark Underarms - the Peeling Solution

Dark underarms? If you have tried countless whitening deodorants, creams, and whitening or bleaching treatments to no avail, try an underarm peeling treatment with your dermatologist.

I personally tried underarm skin peeling at Caraderme, my dermatologist's clinic in Makati. For only Php 1,000 and for less than 30 minutes. Here's what to expect during and after the treatment:

READ MORE after the jump

During underarm peeling treatment:

It's better not to shave or wax or put anything at all on your underarms at the day of treatment. Doing so will increase the burning or stinging sensation. The dermatologist will put at least 3 coats of peeling solution at 10 minutes interval per coat. Your underarms will feel very itchy but if you feel pain, tell your dermatologist right away to avoid unpleasant skin reactions.

After the underarm skin peeling:

You can resume you daily activities right away but shaving should be skipped or at least, minimized to avoid abrasions. Do not expect white underarms right away! The skin will look dark as it will peel on its own after 2-3 weeks.

You will be asked to maintain your underarms with creams and a special deodorant that has a skin whitener. Commercial deodorants contain certain ingredients that are the main cause of dark underarms. The maintenance kit cost around Php 1,000.

Look out for:

Red patches on your underarms, look closely - if the skin has just peeled off, better put a small amount of maintenance creams and toner on it. If not, the skin will sting and might be painful for a couple of days (based on personal experience).

Total damage: Php 2,000 ++

Results: After 1 month, white underarms!

Oh my thighs! Nivea My Silhouette Review

After watching the advertisements on TV incessantly, I gave in and bought this Php 560 lotion. Now my bottle is empty and I can give you an honest review of Nivea My Silhouette.

My Silhouette is gel based and is easy to apply. The lotion is quickly absorbed by the skin, it gives you "just-out-of-the-shower" freshness with its light refreshing scent. This scent will not last very long. After application, the skin feels silky soft - an added bonus since the main use of My Silhouette is for fat reduction.

However, my hands feel sticky after putting it all over my thighs so I usually wash my hands after using. The bottle suggests that it be used twice a day but I used it only at night.

After consuming Nivea My Silhouette, bottoms up - I can say that it works. I often feel my inner thighs rubbing against each other when I walk but now I barely notice or feel them rubbing against each other. It also reduced "waves" on my thighs which may be classified under cellulites. My skin is also smoother but I feel that My Silhouette is not very good at moisturizing.

Maybe, it would be better to use Nivea My Silhouette at night and a moisturizing lotion at daytime. I recommend Nivea My Silhouette, your sweet thighs are worth it :)

Easiest Way to Consume 8 Glasses of Water

Try just water for one week, even for one day and you’ll see a BIG change. The reason why I advocate drinking 8 glasses of water so much is because it works! You read this advice everywhere but have you consciously drank 8 glasses of water daily? Have you started counting or remembering to hydrate your body every now and then?

Here’s how you can remember drinking water everyday:

1. Take a glass right after waking up – you’ve had no water for 8 hours or so because of sleep and this ritual would start your day calm and cool.
Total: 1 glass

Read more after the jump..

2. A glass before and after having any meal : breakfast, lunch, snack, dinner. Exchange your iced tea with bottled water, try not to consume any coffee or tea for you to feel the positive change in your body that water brings.
Total: 6 glasses

3. Before you sleep – water would help digest remaining food in your stomach and provide hydration while you sleep. Do you ever wake up with dry flaky lips? This is a sign of dehydration. Total: 1 glass

Now you have consumed 8 glasses of water for the day! Water is the cheapest beauty product that you can use, which is also great for your health. Drinking significant amounts of water will:

1. Control your appetite

2. Hydrate your skin and lips

3. Wash away toxins that cause illnesses and skin problems (since skin is the largest organ in the body, it also expels toxins in the form of skin impurities)

4. Make your tummy smaller because if you are properly hydrated, your body would not retain too much water that causes bloating

5. Relax you mentally and spiritually – knowing that you are drinking water to take care of yourself gives you a feeling of love for your health and body

6. Water also keeps you cool, hence a more pleasing disposition and aura throughout the day

Release Tension and Stress with Yoga

When you need a quick fix to get your mind out of something and take a breather, then consider Yoga as your friend. Yoga is something you can start as soon as tomorrow, or as soon as you get to the Video shop. There are Yoga classes in town but you can practice yoga conveniently inside your bedroom minus the hassle. No gadgets are required, only your body and the floor. Read more after the jump.

Yoga literally lets you breathe stress and tension away. Stress, anxiety, fear, and tension hide in certain areas of the body, like the spine and the back of our legs. When you release them through yoga, you will instantly feel lighter and relieved. Like what Yogiraj Allan Finger says, "Unbound, Unlimited, Fluid" - this is what you will feel after every session. For me, this is the highest form of relaxation.

Look for Allan Finger's Yoga Zone series which are available in major video shops. I had a hard time completing my collection but I found some Yoga Zone vcds for as low as 99 pesos each. They are also available online but be sure to get the beginner's series.

If you have recommended titles, please do leave a note here. Also for Yoga groups and classes as many of us might be interested.

On Brazilian Wax

First, Brazilian wax is not for everyone but some people like me prefer going bare down there. It's very fortunate that in Manila, Brazilian wax services are now being offered like an ordinary haircut.

Brazilian wax means everything would be waxed off your delicate area and this could be a very painful yet rewarding experience. Although, you gotta be very careful and choosy as to which salon you'd go to. Let me tell you a story from last week. Click on read more below :)



I was with a friend at this salon and I saw that they were offering Brazilian waxing. I am scheduled to go to this more popular joint but was a bit excited that day and opted to get the service done at the salon we were currently at. I asked the reception if they've been doing this many times with different customers and they said yes. It took about 20 minutes for them to prepare and I was asked to wash at the comfort room.

At first, it was great - I saw they had the correct waxing tools like the heater and the generic waxing cloths. The pain was bearable since I use to do this torture by myself and then came the surprising part. I wasn't really looking so I did not know if any hair was left unwaxed until the staff told me. She said that she'll just tweeze off the wax off my skin and get some unwaxed hair. It was okay but I didn't realize she left a lot of hair down there! I asked her if there are many and she said not much but I was lying there being plucked out like a helpless chicken. I so wanted to complain but my vajayjay was at her mercy so I just smiled and endured the torture. After a lot of painful tweezing, she said if I would like for her to try to just "thread" the unwaxed hair. What it's not yet over???

And she did thread away for like another 20 minutes. This story is very painful for me to write and I just wanted to eat a cow after that brazilian wax.

The only good part is I got the waxing done and down there looks pretty normal, it'll sound weird but I love it.

So, the lesson is choose a reputable salon for Brazilian wax, get referrals and ask friends where they have their Brazilian wax done. I already knew this but I was bored at that time and couldn't think of any other service to get.

After 2 weeks, I'd try the famous salon in Makati that specializes in Brazilian wax.

Bio Sculpt at Belo for Toned Thighs

At the Belo Podium Open House last night, guests were given the chance to try a buffet of treatments for the face and body. I chose the Bio Sculpt to try and make my thighs smaller or toned.


There is no prep time for the Bio Sculpt, all I had to do was lie down and the staff connected the wires to my thighs. I was nervous on what to expect but it wasn't painful at all, just a bit of gulat/surprising factor. Read more after the jump.


The wires send some sort of medium frequencies to the area, making it vibrate or more like electrocuted in a good way. I could feel the electrons or frequency like millions of ants crawling through my thighs and squeezing my muscles.

Each session would last 30 minutes and to get noticeable results, 15 sessions are needed at around Php 1,500 each. The Bio Sculpt is for toning and is best for people who go to the gym with less fat. For fat burning and skin tightening, you can try the Tenor or the Lipo Lite.


Outfit for the day was a dress I got at fabfinds.multiply.com, I love the geometric lines.