Fitness: Wholegrain & Healthy Choices

At The Marriott today where I was having brunch with a few bloggers, my leaner face received welcome compliments. After a week of reducing rice and pumping up on fruits - I am surprised the difference is quick to be noticed. I am not new to healthy eating, I was a fitness nazi just a few years ago, ate healthy whole grains, went to the gym, and practiced yoga.



All thanks to this show I watched called "10 days to a new you", I remembered how a few healthy choices can make you look and feel better in 10 days or less - in my case, it was just 5 days.



So thanks to the nice words I received, I am more than ever committed to reclaiming the fitness nazi title. I went to Rustan's today and bought a few more items to keep me on track:

• Wholegrain bread

• Wholegrain pasta - in case I crave spaghetti

• Tuna in water - to make wholegrain tuna sandwiches with

• Jacob's Hi-Calcium Vegetable Cracker - a lot of celebs raving about it on Twitter, so I thought I'll give it a try

• 2 kilos of Papaya fruit - Me and my son love eating fruits now, especially after meals and for snacks.

• Salmon sashimi - for my Omega 3 needs, the good fat!

My partner says he'll run with me if I run every morning, the problem is I haven't gotten to buying a new pair of running shoes. Plus, I hate waking up too early - 6AM?! Although I was running way back in college, I dearly hope I get the drive to run again.

Fitness: Shake it Up with Zumba at Curves | Free Membership up for Grabs

My sister in OZ was just whining the other day on how Zumba left her with body pains. I was clueless on what she was talking about and I know she is not keen nowadays on fitness (with our busy schedule and kids). But I was wrong!

Zumba was a fitness routine afterall. I got an email from Curves telling me about what Zumba is, thank you so much.


The Zumba® program is a fitness-party™ with a contagious blend of Latin and international rhythms that provides a fun and effective workout to a global community, either at home or in the gym. Through exhilarating, high calorie-burning fitness classes, Zumba Fitness has helped melt the pounds and inches off more than 10 million Zumba-enthusiasts in 110 countries. Using easy-to-follow moves and exotic, high-energy music, Zumba routines successfully tone and sculpt the body while burning fat.

For a home-based workout like what my sister used, The Zumba Fitness Total Body Transformation System is available in a four-disc DVD collection featuring Beto, the creator of the Zumba® program and international Zumba celebrities Gina Grant and Tanya Beardsley.

I use to be a fitness disciple and could work out on my own until I hit the gym. Since then, I no longer enjoy being a fitness lone ranger and prefer to be with other enthusiasts. If you are like me then try Zumba at Curves Bonifacio Global City.

Actually I am giving away a FREE ONE MONTH membership at Curves so you can try Zumba (with or without me). All you have to do are:

1. LIKE the StyleandRelax Facebook Page
2. Answer this: Where can you try Zumba and why do you want to try it?

Contest ends on Saturday, March 26 :)

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

5 Sure-Fire Beauty Habits to Look Younger

There are hundreds of beauty tips, from the most natural to the unimaginable ones. But, what are the simplest yet sure-fire habits you can follow to make yourself look better and even younger?


Become as blooming as these flowers!

After watching countless health and lifestyle shows daily, (and reading online health journals) Style and Relax pins down the most effective beauty habits ever.

1. Eating 5 Servings of Fruit Daily – not one but five is the magic number when it comes to fruits. They are the most natural yet most effective source of vitamins and minerals. The easiest fruits to grab are bananas, apples, oranges, mangoes, and pineapple. Canned fruits are available in stores for better convenience if you are having a hard time getting fresh produce. However, fresh is always best.

2. Take Vitamin C Supplements – everyday is a stressful day, and each time you get stressed – your body releases Vitamin C to different parts of your body. The more stress you have, the less Vitamin C is retained in your body. Vitamin C is great for the skin, dermatologists always recommend this to me along with Vitamin A. To count, 4 of my total dermatologists have recommend Vitamin C supplements for better skin.

3. Walk, Run, or Jump – anything at all to get your body moving at least 30 minutes a day. Starting an exercise routine is not easy but if it is as simple as taking a stroll or mild jogging in the morning – you are more likely to “just do it”. Observe how your skin glows after a workout session, sweat is the best skin cleanser after all. Not only that but when you set your mind on a goal, you feel better about yourself and people will notice your more positive and young attitude in life.

4. 2.2 Liters of Water a Day – I will write this everyday until all of you drin k the right

amount of water! This is approximately 9 cups of water for women and men must drink 3 liters of water daily. Water is our body’s moisturizer and without it, you cannot flush out toxins that cause aging or deliver the nutrients you get from eating fruits to different parts of the body.

5. Your Lips Give Your Age Away – Fuller and luscious lips mean yummy young! Take care of your lips by putting petroleum jelly on them before going to sleep. During the day, put on a lip balm with sun protection. Drinking enough water also helps keep your lips looking ooh la la ;)

Style Scene: Fitness First's New You Achievemenent Awards

Held at the Embassy Supper Club, 15 fitness enthusiasts shared their inspiring success stories at the Fitness First's New You Achievement Awards. The night was filled with ooh's and ahhh's as each before and after photos were shown. If you watch the Biggest Loser, the event was almost a live version of that, only more inspiring. Although everyone was a winner in their own right (anyone who manages to lose weight is a winner!), only one emerged as the 2009 Fitness First New You Achievement Awards Grand Winner.



Meet Angelica Balatbat who had a major thyroid problem but after just 9 months of training at Fitness First, lost 45 pounds!


L-R: Ilac Diaz, Fitness First Country Manager, Mark Ellis and Rich Hudson

Celebrating with the winners are the head honchos of Fitness First, celebrities, and more VIPs.


Senator Freddie Web and Pinky Amador

Everyone who were in attendance were strongly inspired that night and I bet, more people would be starting a program at Fitness First - me included. Personally, I believe how weight loss can be life changing and is definitely worth every ounce of determination and sweat :)

See you at Fitness First!

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!

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.