Busting Stress Has Become A Requirement, Not A Luxury

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Oh boy, 2020 has been a doozy so far, huh? And it looks like there’s no sign of it slowing down. For many, this can be somewhat of an unfortunate realization, but despite the difficulties we’re all going through, or how close you may be to certain issues, self-care has never been a more essential priority. Like any terrible moment, this silver lining has the potential to at least bring one ray of light to the encroaching darkness. This silver lining is the ability to functionally preserve ourselves and care for our families with kindness. It seems that busting stress has become a requirement, not a luxury. This can keep our mental health balanced and our motivations clear. It can help us avoid falling into despair or letting challenges get the better of us. This sounds like a primarily defensive form of self-care, but it’s also a means in which to grant ourselves some breathing room, and ultimately to grow.

But what habits and practices can help you bust stress in this way? With the following advice, we’d love to discuss that with you. Here's some good information about how to get help with stress-busting habits you can try:

Finding A Positive Habit

You can reduce your stress through one-off measures that often have great impact. For instance, visiting a spa and enjoying a massage are known to be some of the best ways to feel peace. But it’s unlikely you can fit one of those in each day, nor would you want to if you could. But a small positive habit we can practice anywhere, such as with the Tai Chi For Health Institute or practicing transcendental meditation can have growing and lost-lasting effects. What’s even more important is how low-cost or free these practices can be to integrate with your life.

Removing Unnecessary Stressors

Sometimes it’s not about limiting stress, but removing yourself from unnecessary stressful situations entirely. Does this mean you have to hide from the world? No. But it could be that you decline meeting up with a toxic parent after bringing your child to school, because all they seem to do is complain and gossip about others. Maybe you are tired of feeling so worn out all the time, so instead of working out so hard you focus on achieving a near-perfect sleep schedule, with the right time and monetary investment (such as memory foam mattresses) that you need for that great night’s sleep. This effort, and factors like this, can help you avoid encountering unnecessary stress in daily life.

Never Bottle It Up

Bottling up stress can seem important depending on how you usually approach these situations. Of course, breaking down in the office multiple times a day is unlikely to be a good strategy, nor is complaining about every little issue you encounter. But if something is truly weighing on you, it’s important to find the time to speak to those you trust, and allow yourself to speak your truth. This way, solutions can be found, and those around you will understand. This can also help you avoid falling into subconscious resentment.

With this advice, busting stress will become a hobby, not a simple luxury.

Oral Health & Hygiene Tips for All the Family

It’s important that your whole family looks after their oral health and hygiene. It’s one of those things that’s very easy to overlook, but that shouldn’t be the case. It’s about more than white teeth and nice-smelling breath. Oral health is serious and establishing good habits in your kids from an early age is really important. Here’s how you can start improving your approach and getting it right today.

Source: Pixabay

Get Into the Habit of Flossing

A big part of staying healthy and looking after yourself properly is getting into good habits. That’s definitely true when it comes to good oral health and hygiene, and it’s even more true when it comes to kids. That’s why you should get your kids into the habit of flossing a couple of times a day. It’ll ensure they keep up the habit for a long time to come.

Use Fluoride

Using fluoride, and the right amount of it, is really important when it comes to maintaining healthy and clean teeth. The easiest and best way to do this is to simply choose the right toothpaste product that’s capable of offering the fluoride your teeth need. It’s something you can talk to your dentist about if you’re not sure about it.

Find a Family Dentist You Can Trust

It’s vital that you have a family dentist in place that the whole family feels like it can trust. Places like Bowral Street Dental Practice offer top services and you should get to know a service before you commit to it. That way, you’ll always feel in safe hands when you head to them for check-ups and other routine procedures. It’s essential you have confidence in the dentist you choose.

Make a Dental Care Calendar

A dental calendar can be useful if you’re a busy family that often misses appointments and forgets to organize check-ups and things like that. We all know how busy and chaotic family life can be at times and having a dental calendar will at least ensure that you have those reminders in front of you of what you need to do and when. It’s harder to forget that way.

Brush Your Teeth Together When Your Kids Are Young

When you have kids that are still very young, it makes sense to brush your teeth together as a family. When you do this, it helps to normalize the process for your kids and they’ll want to imitate you. It’ll also become a game and something that’s fun, and that’s the perfect way to establish good habits that should hopefully last a lifetime. That’s just what you want.

Each of these oral health and hygiene tips is really important and everyone should be looking to get these right if they want their families to have good dental health going forward. Don’t cut corners or ignore the basics because that’ll only lead to more problems later. Put the ideas above into practice as soon as possible.

How to love healthy eating and exercise even if you detest salads and the gym

For many people, the idea of going on a diet and committing to running five miles every day feels like a massive chore. You have to cut out many of the things that you love in life - like tasty food - in return for what you hope will be better health in the long-run. The problem is that sticking to significant lifestyle changes is hard. Virtually nobody loses weight on a diet and keeps it off long term. It’s just not what we’re biologically programmed to do. If there’s food available, we’ll eat it. It’s as simple as that.

Photo by Anupam Mahapatra

Modern habits, though, are creating a whole host of problems for our health. Sitting down all day and eating junk food is a one-two punch that wrecks our metabolism.

Your ideal biomarkers should be:

• Cholesterol 150 mg/dL
• Blood pressure 120/80
• Blood glucose 75 to 100 mg/DL

Unfortunately, a lot of people are way out of this ideal range, putting them at risk of a host of chronic diseases, like heart disease.

The solution, though, is quite simple - make healthy eating and exercise something that people can enjoy. Some people manage it, and you can too. Here’s what to do.

How To Enjoy Exercise

Enjoying exercise can be a challenge, but it can happen. It’s all about mindset.

Start With Achievable Goals

Don’t start your exercise regime by running marathons or doing two hours of cross-fit every day. You’ll knacker yourself and do whatever you can to avoid more grueling training sessions in the future.

Instead, begin with small, manageable goals. Make sure that your brain gets used to the idea that exercise is a pleasant experience first - something you enjoy - before ramping up the difficulty. Remember, there’s no time limit on this. If it takes you a year to work up to a high level, then so be it. As long as you’re active, you’re on the right track.

Notice How The Rest Of Your Life Gets Easier

As humans, we have an uncanny ability to adapt to the world around us. It doesn’t take five minutes before we’re used to something, whether it’s smartphones or ordering takeaways online.

The same goes for our fitness. When you start exercising, you induce profound changes in your body. All of a sudden, you have more energy to do the things that you want to do. It’s miraculous.

You can, however, adapt to these changes rapidly and, after a while, take them for granted.

Where possible, try to think back to situations before you began exercising that highlighted just how difficult life used to be. Maybe it was walking up stairs or carrying heavy bags of shopping. Whatever it is, try to link real-world experiences to your exercise habits.

How To Enjoy Healthy Eating

Most people can cope with exercise. But eating bland food day after day is intolerable. The good news is that eating things that are good need not be torture. Take a look at the following advice:

Use Fresh Herbs And Spices To Add Flavour

If you look at the types of food that most personal trainers recommend, you’ll see that it is dull and boring. Chicken breast, brown rice, and broccoli - not exactly appealing.

It turns out, though, that you can transform even the blandest of meals into something delicious with the right combination of herbs and species. What’s more, these foods may also contain compounds that help you move towards your weight loss and fitness goals faster. Unique chemicals plants produce supercharges your metabolism and foster whole-body health.

Eat Your Favourite Foods - Just Make Them Healthy

If you think that your days of munching on delicious burgers are over, think again. Even on the most Spartan diets, you can still eat your favorite foods.

Photo from Pixabay

Take pizza, for instance. You can easily make a whole spelt flour pizza base, add a homemade tomato sauce made with fresh or canned tomatoes, and then add veggies on top. You still get a delicious meal, even though it doesn’t contain any of the nasties you’d usually have to consume with pizza.

The same goes for burgers. You can make burgers from black beans, oats, and parsley, which actually tastes better than the real thing.

What you want to avoid is the feeling that you’re “going without.” You don’t want to feel like you lack anything in your life, or you might go back to your old ways.

The bottom line is this: eating healthily and exercising doesn’t have to be an ordeal. You can enjoy it, so long as you approach it with the right frame of mind.

5 Ways To Lose Weight Fast Before Levelling Out At A Healthy Weight

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The harsh reality of life is that there is no magic cheat to gain the perfect body forever. If you truly wish to maintain your look and health, it’ll be necessary to adopt a sustainable strategy. Nonetheless, failure to see positive results in the first few weeks of a health kick can seriously damage your hopes of staying on track. Starting your transformation in style to gain quick weight loss before settling into a more sustainable long-term plan is key. Here are five simple solutions.

Opt For HIIT 

High-Intensity Interval Training is a great way to lose weight quickly. In truth, you’ll probably keep it in your workout schedule for the long haul too. For the immediate challenge, though, focusing solely on HIIT cardio is a great way to lose weight. Wearing a fitness band to track calorie burns and gain the right frame of mind is useful too. The competitive nature will inspire results.

The fun factor is a key ingredient in the recipe for success, and enjoying a range of activities is vital for the long-term situation. For now, shedding the pounds is where your fun starts.

Choose An Extreme Diet

Nutrition is a hugely influential part of any healthy living strategy. If you’re eager to lose weight fast, there are several options at your disposal. Meal replacements can work but may leave you feeling hungry. The carnivore diet, or an alternative low-carb plan, can work wonders. You’ll drop the pounds rapidly and can significantly aid your metabolism for the long haul.

Opting for this type of diet rather than meal replacements can allow you to maintain it for longer. Just be sure to replace any lost vitamins and nutrients.

Change Your Life Habits

Physical activity shouldn’t be limited to the gym. Increasing your exercise throughout the day can have a seriously positive influence. Cycling to work or walking to the gym can burn a few extra calories and keep your metabolism on its toes. Turning housework and other chores into a workout can also aid the cause. It may also increase your enjoyment.

It’s unlikely that you’ll be ready to keep this up for the long haul due to time constraints and the need for balance. Nonetheless, it can give you a serious short-term boost.

Target Water Weight

Water retention will increase your weight and size. While it’s not a huge problem, losing this can be a great way to promote quick transformations. Avoiding your food intolerances is a crucial step to consider while a morning coffee can support water loss too. Dandelion extract is another ingredient that’ll help you lose water weight at a rapid rate.

You could easily lose a few pounds and an inch or two from the stomach in this way. It’s arguably the easiest solution at your disposal.

Get Surgery

Finally, you could choose surgery or medical procedures. CoolSculpting, liposuction, and gastric bands are three of many options. If this is the route you wish to take, additional research is required.

4 Ways To Break Out Of Your Workout Rut

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It can happen to the best of us.

After weeks and months of trying to take our fitness routine to the next level, we get into a rut. It might be because of tiredness, especially if we have been pushing ourselves too hard. Or it might be because we are bored with whatever activities we engaged in. Whatever the case, we can get stuck in the rut, and once we're in it, we can find it difficult to get out of again. So, what should you do if this happens to you? Here are some useful suggestions.

#1: Ease your way back in

After taking a break, the last thing you want to do is anything too strenuous anyway, as you might do yourself more harm than good. Therefore, take part in those low-intensity activities that will cause you less strain and get you back into exercise. So, you might head to the leisure centre and take a swim. Or you could purchase some Pilates mats for your home, and practise these low-impact exercises in your living room. Or you could go for a gentle jog around your local park, working your way up until you can regain your usual speed and running distance again.

#2: Grab a workout buddy

If you are struggling to find the incentive to exercise on your own, grab (not literally) a friend who is (or was) keen to keep fit and do something together. So, you might go for a run or a bike ride, for example, or you might both sign up to local exercise or dance classes at your leisure centre. Consider engaging in a little friendly competition with each other too, as this will give you both the incentive to work harder. You might both purchase a Fitbit, for example, so you can see who has done the higher number of steps within a day. Or you might challenge each other at the gym by using one of the many exercise machines that are available to you.

#3: Hire a personal trainer

To give you some much-needed motivation (and probably some tough-love too), hire a professional to get you back into shape. They will encourage you to push yourself further, even when you can't be bothered to try, and they will also guide you on the best workout for you, so you might start to see more results during your keep-fit sessions. Be sure to pay for your training sessions in advance too, because as you will have paid somebody to coach you, you will be less likely to back out as you would only be wasting money if you did.

#4: Take the routine out of your exercise routine

Once your exercise routine becomes chore-like, you are more likely to give up and do something more enjoyable with your time instead, such as playing Candy Crush on your smartphone or watching your favourite box sets on Netflix. Therefore, do something to liven up your routine. You might want to mix up your regular workout, so you aren't always focussed on the one thing. You could work out to music to make whatever it is you are doing more enjoyable. Or you could ditch your usual workout and do something completely different, perhaps by taking part in a sport or hobby that will max up the fun factor alongside your fitness levels.

Finally

So, if you're currently stuck in a rut, probably with your TV remote in one hand and the television guide in another, think about what you could do to get out of it, perhaps by using the ideas we have suggested in this article. You will feel better about yourself if you do, and you will start to get back on track with your workouts. Let us know what you think, and if you have any further ideas for our readers, be sure to let us know.

3 Health Changes To Make As You Reach Middle Age

Looking after your health gets so much harder as you get older. When you’re young, it feels like you can bounce back from anything and you don’t need to worry too much. It’s still important that you try to get into good health habits but you can afford to make a few mistakes along the way. But when you start to hit middle age and your risk of disease begins to increase, it’s so important that you start thinking more seriously about your health. If you don’t, you’ll struggle to manage it when you’re older and you’ll be far more likely to have serious health problems. If you haven’t thought about it much, these are some of the biggest health changes you need to make as you reach middle age.

Photo from Pixabay

Diet And Exercise

Diet and exercise are so important at any age, but when you start to get older, you need to prioritize it. Your risk of things like heart disease and strokes are massively increased and you need to make sure that you’re doing everything that you can to reduce that risk as much as possible. Diet is a good place to start because if you’re eating a lot of fatty foods and sugar, your heart health is really going to suffer. Drinking a lot of alcohol has a big impact too. You need to cut those unhealthy foods out of your diet and replace them with more healthy alternatives.

Exercise is so important for heart health as well and if you’re doing a good amount of cardio on a regular basis, your risk of heart attacks and strokes is massively reduced. Staying active will also help you to keep your joints in good working order so they don’t seize up as you get older. You don’t have to be an athlete, but it’s important that you stay active, even if you’re just walking on a regular basis.

Contraception 

When you’re getting older and you’ve already got a family, you might decide that you’re not going to have any more children. In that case, you might want to consider some form of permanent contraception so you can avoid any accidents. If you have good private medical insurance, the vasectomy cost will be covered, you’ll just have to pay the excess. It’s not expensive but it is worth doing for peace of mind. Having an unplanned child later in life can be really tough so it’s best to be safe.

Get Regular Tests 

When you’re young, there isn’t really much need to go for regular tests on things like your sight or your hearing unless you notice a problem. But as you start to get older, these things will start to go. However, if you can catch the problem early and get some glasses or hearing aids, you can limit the damage and stop the problem from getting worse. If you leave it though, you’re likely to lose your hearing completely and have serious vision problems in later life.

Make these simple health changes as you approach middle age and you’ll be able to manage your health a lot better as you get older.

Beating The Bloat In Time For Summer

Even the most in-shape of us can suffer from bloating from time to time. Bloating can be uncomfortable, make you feel heavy and affect how your clothes fit. Bloating can be caused by many things, but there are some solutions you can try to reduce bloating and feel great in your own skin. Here are some suggestions for beating the bloat in time for summer.

Photo by Joseph Greve on Unsplash

Pay attention to what makes you bloat

Bloating can be triggered by all kinds of foods. From starchy carbs to certain types of vegetables, you can soon start to recognize which foods are making you bloat. You can take a look at some common foods that trigger bloating and establish some patterns to help you work out what to avoid on the days where bloating isn’t an option.

Cut down on alcohol

Alcohol can cause many adverse effects, and one of them is bloating. Alcohol can cause the typical stomach bloating, but it can also make your face and body bloating as a result of the dehydration it causes. If you think you can cut back on your alcohol intake, consult the Stop Drinking Expert to get some help. Alcohol can lead to weight gain and problem skin, so if you want to look your best, then it doesn’t hurt to cut back.

Make sure you hydrate yourself

Bloating can happen easily when you’re dehydrated. Your body will retain water easily, leading you to feel bloated and uncomfortable. Staying hydrated is the answer, so make sure you drink plenty of water - especially if it’s hot or you’ve been working out. Soda drinks can make bloating worse, so try to avoid carbonated drinks if you’re having a flare-up.

Keep moving

Exercise can help relieve bloating, even if it feels like the last thing you want to do! Regular exercise will help digestion and make sure you keep things ticking over. If you don’t feel like going for a run or doing some cardio while bloated, take a look at some empowering strength training instead. Some exercise will soon have you feeling better and help keep you regular too.

Get checked out

If your bloating is recurrent and causing you pain, you should make an appointment with your doctor. Bloating can be caused by conditions such as irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) and other conditions, which can leave sufferers suffering regular, painful bloating. Getting a diagnosis can help you get the treatment you need to manage your condition and soon help you feel better.

Bloating affects most people, and while it can be a misery to deal with, you can learn to manage it with the right approach to your health and well-being. Eat the right foods, get moving and make sure you don’t do anything that exasperates your symptoms. In most cases, bloating will pass quickly, allowing you to enjoy your summer wardrobe while feeling relaxed and comfortable.

[Review] Aroma Naturale Essential Oils Diffuser

If you're new to essential oils and want to try it out first without shelling out too much, then this product is for you. I'll cut to the chase and say that this essential oils diffuser is probably the best starter kit for EO newbies like myself. It's only ₱899 if you buy the diffuser and 5 essential oils as a bundle. Individually it's around ₱500 for the oils set and ₱600 for the diffuser. Just look around Shopee for Aroma Naturale diffuser.

Move over, Muji.

There's a similar diffuser from Muji that sells at a ridiculous price of ₱3,500. It would've been okay if it's bigger or something but what the heck, IT'S EXACLTY THE SAME. Same size, same light and mist settings, same buttons, same everything, except for the bottom part. What a shame right? So don't let yourself be scammed.

I know there are tons of other diffusers out there but I chose this one majorly because it's cheap, looks simple and classic, and the branding is cute. Other diffusers have ugly light settings, lakas maka-cheap sorry haha, this one only has warm light in two modes. I know you can turn off the light but wala lang ayoko yung iba-iba yung kulay ew hahaha.

Moving on...

The Premium Essential Oils set has 5 scents: Tea Tree, Eucalyptus, Peppermint, Lavender, and Lemongrass. They're 10ml each bottle. Again if you're starting out, this set is a good choice. EVERYTHING SMELLS SOOO GOOD.

If you want the specifics on this product, Muji can cover that for you here. Seriously hahaha I think they got the same Chinese manufacturer. Grabe the power of branding no? Anyway,

• Capacity is 100ml
• Good for small rooms only like the bathroom or if your bedroom is between 9-12sqm.
• Has 4 timer settings: 30, 60, 120, 180mins (then it will auto-off)
• Has 2 light settings: a dim and bright warm white
• It's not rechargeable so you have to keep it hooked to a power source
• Power source input: DC to USB

Here's how the water tank looks like

 And this is how the underside looks like

Like any diffuser, be cautious when using it. There's a manual in the box that tells you of basic do's and don'ts to preserve the quality of the product. Important things to note are:

• Do not open the tank when it's running (I did this once and it's a mess)
• Do not turn on the diffuser if the water level is below minimum
• Careful about water drops entering the side of the tank as it could reach the circuit
• Do not put too much oil drops, recommended is 4 drops per full tank (I don't follow this though, I put ~10 drops most of the time and the product is still okay? haha)

That's pretty much it! It's a great product, I've been using it for more than a month and so far so good. I'm only in for the aromatherapy for now and not much for the ~healing~ properties of the oil but yeah maybe we'll get there someday? This tita is new to the EO realm.

Where to get one?

I bought mine at Shopee, just search for 'Aroma Naturale diffuser'. There's also a store in Greenbelt 1 called Technopop that sells this (found them through Shopee), but you have to inquire if they have stock. :)

Take Your Fitness Routine to the Next Level in 2019

If you have started the new year with the goal to be fitter and to take your fitness and training to the next level, then where do you start? Of course, you can just carry on doing what you are doing. But when there aren’t any more hours in the day to train for longer, it can really be a struggle. There are several aspects to taking your training to the next level, though, and they aren’t all around the actual exercise that you are doing. There can be training around the physical changes that you should be making, as well as the mental side of things, and what you can be doing at home in preparation. So with all of that in mind, here are some simple practices to help you to make 2019 your year for fitness goals and for getting to where you want to be.

Photo from Pixabay

Eating Plan

It is important to have a meal plan that works for you as part of your fitness regime. A lot of your success with training will come down to how prepared your body was for the exercise, having the energy to do it to the level that you need, as well as how you recover afterwards. Protein is something that is great for recovery, but there are things like supplements that you could be taking pre and post workout, depending on your goals and aims. A site like The Diet Dynamo could shed a little more light on what supplement would be best for your needs, but really, taking some time to research to see what is going to be best for you can help your training a lot. A meal plan that work for you will help to get you to where you want to be, as long as you stick to it, of course.

Photo from Pixabay

Get Outdoors

Training in a gym does have its place, and can really play a part when the weather is pretty dismal. But when you train in a gym it is a really unnatural environment. Take triathlon training, for instance. If you are running on a treadmill it is very unlike what you might experience outside, due to uneven ground and so on. The same for cycling and swimming; the gym versions of those things are nowhere near what it will be like when it comes to the actual event. Being outdoors can offer you other stimulation too as there is more to see, as well as the benefit of fresh air and vitamin D.

Get Enough Sleep

There is no set amount of sleep that is going to work for everyone, simply because different people have different needs and what they can cope with. But as long as you are getting enough sleep for what you need, then that is going to make a big difference. Your body can repair well when it is rested, as well as leaving you with all of the energy that you need to get your training done.

Get in shape during the Holiday season with Taiwan Excellence premium-grade gym gear

As Filipinos, the holiday season kicks off as early as September. It is a time of festivities, parties, and wonderful reunions with family and friends. In these times, keeping up a consistent gym schedule can be tough. Fortunately, Taiwan Excellence is introducing its state-of-the-art exercise equipment to tone and buff up during this frenetic time.

Burn the unwanted calories from that leche flan with the Johnson Health Tech. Co., Ltd.'s Upright Bike-Matrix U50. It has a Comfort Arc Seat that is designed to provide comfort while regulating perspiration, improving calves and hamstrings, and strengthening abdominals.

This sophisticated stationary bicycle has an ergonomic design, and provides an easy step-through access. It also has an Exact Force feature to let fitness enthusiasts adjust the resistance of the pedal depending on his stamina.

If you would rather look for adventure outside, the Tern Taiwan Ltd.'s Verge X20 is worth checking out. This portable bike can be easily folded as it weighs only 9.9 kilograms. Moreover, the Verge X20 makes biking more exciting as it is equipped with Kinetic Pro X wheels. This rubber hoop can strengthen muscles and improve aerodynamics to make you go faster. It also helps condition your metabolic rate.

Fitness fanatics can couple these bicycles with Unite Creative Design Co., Ltd.'s Compression seamless bike sports pants. Compared to others, this innovative elastic apparel is made with environmental friendly materials. Aside from providing protection, it also helps on reducing blood pressure and improve heart rhythm.

Finish your look off with sports goggles. First Rank Co., Ltd. offers JET-S58, a stylish set that has a double-coating technology that enhances the durability of anti-fog performance. This helps users see when swimming, and guard eyes from water or chemicals.

While it is great to celebrate Christmas, it also important to tone up and improve endurance. Say goodbye to holiday weight and take home these smart, functional, and stylish products for a stronger physical health. These innovations are carefully evaluated and sealed by TAITRA with the guidance from the Bureau of Foreign Trade to promote Taiwan's revolutionary products.

For more information about its accredited products, visit www.taiwanexcellence.org or like Taiwan Excellence on Facebook.

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About Taiwan Excellence
The symbol of Taiwan Excellence honors Taiwan’s most innovative products, which provide tremendous value to users worldwide. Products bearing this symbol have been selected for specific Taiwan Excellence Awards, based on their excellence in design, quality, marketing, Taiwanese R&D, and manufacturing. Initiated by the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA), R.O.C. in 1992, the symbol of Taiwan Excellence is recognized by 102 countries.

Organized by Bureau of Foreign Trade (BOFT), MOEA
The Bureau of Foreign Trade (BOFT) under the Ministry of Economic Affairs (MOEA), R.O.C. is responsible for implementing policies and regulations governing foreign trade and economic cooperation. Established in January 1969, the BOFT's role and position have been adapted regularly to meet the needs of the ever-changing international economic and trade environments. BOFT guides and works with the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) in numerous promotional trade projects and activities, both internationally and domestically. Having worked closely with TAITRA for several decades, BOFT continues to commission TAITRA for various critical government projects relating to business, trade, and investment, while promoting Taiwan internationally.

Implemented by Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA)
Founded in 1970 to help promote foreign trade, the Taiwan External Trade Development Council (TAITRA) is the foremost non-profit, quasi-governmental trade promotion organization in Taiwan. Jointly sponsored by the government, industry associations, and several commercial organizations, TAITRA assists Taiwanese businesses and manufacturers in strengthening their international competitiveness and in dealing with the challenges they face in foreign markets. TAITRA boasts a well-coordinated trade promotion and information network of over 1,200 international marketing specialists stationed throughout its Taipei headquarters and 50 overseas offices worldwide. Together with its sister organizations, the Taiwan Trade Center (TTC) and the Taipei World Trade Center (TWTC), TAITRA has created a wealth of trade opportunities through effective promotion strategies.

3 Ways to help you get back on track after breaking your diet rules

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When you are on a diet, in order to achieve some goal such as weight loss or maintaining a healthy and fit body, you endeavor to stick to your diet plan. You must also do some work out to burn the excess calories so that your dieting efforts are complemented. To make all those efforts result in a great success, you can consider taking some well-researched steroids which can be oral ones such as oral turinabol that help in promoting efficient calories breakdown and development of lean muscles. You can also go for steroide that are administered through injection and are deemed more effective than the oral ones. You can easily purchase the various steroids at https://acheter-steroid.org/ which is one of the best online steroids shop for quality, and affordable steroids and is very convenient.

As you observe your diet, there are instances you may go against your set diet. A good case in point is when you attend an event like a family party and you indulge in what you consider unhealthy foods. When you cheat on your diet, more often than not you will get weighed down by guilt feelings and feel like you have failed terribly. So how do you bounce back after a cheat day (or days in case of a weekend or a vacation)? Here are some tips on how you can get back on track and continue pursuing your goal:

1. Find out what led to your poor food choices

You must interrogate yourself whether you are being too restrictive on yourself, or feeling denied of some things you deem very important and if the diet choice you have made is in line with your goals. You need to remind yourself of the reason why taking a healthy diet is important to you and drop the thought that you are doing it because your doctor advised you to do so, or because you want to be like a certain celebrity. The motivation should come from you, or else you will find it hard choosing what you think is good for you or for achieving your goal instead of what you feel you really want.

You need to examine your life and understand what other things you could be struggling with and led you to use food to ‘comfort’ yourself as it is usually the case. Do you have financial issues or are lonely?  You can try doing meditation or have a talk therapy or some other activities to calm or relax your mind. Check whether your environment puts you in situations that will make you go against your diet. Maybe you have friends that avail the foods you chose to drop.

2. Drop the mentality of cheating on your eating pattern

You must have a change of mindset from the diet approach in which you set some strict diet rules to achieve certain promised and mostly aesthetic goals. The truth is that dieting is just restrictive and dropping it is the best thing. Once you drop the diet mindset, you stop having rules thus there are no rules to be broken. You get guiding principles on the selections you make or towards some objective like shedding excess weight. You take charge of things and substitute the guilt and restrictions with freedom and choice.

3. Forgive yourself and carry on eating healthily

No amount of thrashing yourself can undo whatever you have done. However, you can take some lessons from the ‘mistakes’.  Being conscious of all your actions can assist you to identify what leads you to make the choices you do. This can help you understand the origin of your cravings and the decisions. You should then let go of the guilt or forgive yourself and move on to achieve your goals.

Five Tips for Self-Love with Rauch Happy Day Orange Juice

The love month is officially upon us and everyone’s got their eye on their calendar for their much-anticipated date night and other winning ways to melt someone’s heart. However, February is not just all about romance and relationship, as it’s clearly the best occasion to celebrate the most important person: You. So for the love of yourself, Happy Day Rauch Orange got tips that will refresh your habits and will spark motivation of investing in yourself with food and fitness as the beginning. 1. Don’t skip meals and suppress your hunger. 

Just because you’ll be having a grand buffet or multi-course sit-down meal, never starve yourself the entire day and go all out to the dinner table. This habit leads to overeating, filling your plate with caloric food choices. It is always a good idea to grab a fruit, cereal, oatmeal or whole wheat bread before heading to the gathering so you won’t arrive feeling ridiculously famished.

2. Practice mindful eating.

Before you eat, scan the food choices and decide which one you’ll pick or miss. Start off with a clear soup or a glass of water and fill up your plate with a heaping serving of salad. Skip those fried, greasy, and creamy appetizers that are loaded with calories and fat. Opt for smaller plates and utensils so that you only consume smaller bites, which trick your brain into eating almost 30% fewer calories. Remember to eat slowly, chew your food longer than the usual, and enjoy conversing at the dining table – these tips will help break the bad habit of binge eating.

3. Move and stay active. 

No time for the gym? Squeeze in a 10-minute workout that can help you burn extra calories and elevate your mood for the entire day.  Should you need to bring a car, park at the farthest and walk your way up or down to your destination. Additionally, consider taking the stairs to burn few more calories and improve your cardiovascular fitness.

4. Rest and recover. 

We are not new to the temptations and nostalgia of the love month without feeling stuffy, that’s why planning your schedule is always the first way to go. Achieving seven to eight hours of sleep is a sanity-saver and gives you a clearer, calmer mind. In fact, the ghrelin hormones increase when you’re up past your bedtime, while leptin or the hormone that tells you when you are full decreases with lack of sleep, which means a major wreak havoc to your diet.

5. Strengthen your immune system with Vitamin C.    

The last thing we want to happen is catching a bug in the form of cough, colds, or flu, so make sure to give your immune system the boost it deserves. The antioxidant Vitamin C, which helps to ward off communicable diseases should be part of our healthy lifestyle.  Note that our body lacks the ability to produce Vitamin C, so it’s therefore important to get it from the right sources like Rauch Happy Day Orange Juice. A European brand that’s in tune with the taste of our time, every 1L pack of Rauch Happy Day Orange Juice contains 16 high-quality and sun-ripened oranges giving it a zesty and refreshing taste. Each glass is enough to meet your body’s required daily dose of Vitamin C. Much more if you’re looking for ways of curbing your sugar cravings, a sip of something sour or tart like orange juice will help.

For women: Athena and Crave Healthy by Unilab

Photo by Blubel on Unsplash

It seems there's no shortage of supplements specifically targeting women's needs. We have calcium supplements, iron capsules, multivitamins and so on. With all the options we have, it's hard to stick to just one type of supplement. Which is why it's important to be brand conscious and pick those that came from a trusted manufacturer.

Unilab has been in the business of providing quality healthcare products to the Filipino masses for decades. I bet you have at least one of their products sitting in your household today. Got a stack of Biogesic? Bottles of Enervon-C? Then you're in the right hands.

This year, Unilab aims to better improve the health of Filipino women by promoting two of their most effective for-women products.

Athena

No other milk understands you better.

Women like us, who are always on the go, seek to strike a balance between work and personal time to be able to enjoy life to the fullest. That is why we need to stay fit and attractive, to look good and feel good whenever we can. We have unique needs that only women like us truly understand.

Introducing Athena, the milk especially formulated to meet our special nutritional needs.

• High Calcium essential for optimum bone health. It is also a source of Vitamins D and K, Magnesium and Phosphorus – nutrients to help maintain strong bones 
• Low in Fat so you can enjoy this beverage without the risk of high caloric intake 
• Source of Anti-oxidants such as Vitamins A & E and Zinc to help maintain healthy skin and promote optimum immune function.

Athena is definitely a delicious beverage made just for you.
Drink Athena today!

Athena comes in two flavors – Milk (180 grams – Php 130.00; 400 grams – Php 273.00) and Choco (180 grams – Php 130.00). It’s available online at www.athena.com.ph and in-store at Mercury Drugstore, Watsons, and Southstar.

Crave Healthy

Crave Healthy is the first snack product in the Philippines that is specifically designed for pregnant women. It's highly recommended by doctors and nutritionists.

It’s NUTRITIOUS because it contains essential nutrients – Folic Acid, Iron, and Calcium that are critical for both the mom and her growing baby. It also has reduced salt and just the right amount of calories that give the pregnant woman that extra energy she needs daily.

It’s DELICIOUS because it tastes just like her regular snack. Crave Healthy is currently available in Sweet Corn flavor and does not have any aftertaste of nutrient fortifications. It helps support the nutritional needs of pregnant women and their developing fetus.

A healthy way to satisfy hunger and food cravings of pregnant women!

A pack of Crave is worth Php 25.00 at 30 grams each. It’s available online at www.cravehealthysnacks.com, select Med Express branches, and select Robinsons Supermarket outlets.

Plexus Slim - Meal Replacement Shakes Diet

Disclaimer: this is a guest post.

Are you ready to put back your body into shape? Some people have nothing to deter from achieving the goal. However, certain ways of winning results are rather arguable. Thus, in addition to accustomed ways of shedding excess fat, some category of users opt for pharmaceutical products to accelerate their endeavors. Certainly, such decision entails particular risks including the risk of health issue, the risk of failure, and the risk of wasting money. On the other hand, such approach can bring fruit and provide a significant performance.  Today, we are going to discuss a kind of diet supplement from the category of meal replacements. That category is known for fewer health risks than versatile capsulated fat burners or appetite suppressants. Nevertheless, it does not mean that users get a superb product with top productivity. But first things first. Meet Plexus Slim review.

Photo from thesponsoringsystem.com

Not a Meal Replacement 

People who used to take versatile MR shakes have a general idea of content and nutritional values of such category of diet products. The principal character of the present article is another kettle of fish. Though it is a powder, its potency resembles a weight loss pill. First, there is no protein in it. Second, the energy value of one serving is beyond borders of a traditional MR drink. Your body gets 5 cals only!

Your doubts will increase as soon as you blend the powder with water and get a pink mixture. In fact, the nickname of the shake is the pink drink. Perhaps, the situation will be clearer if we look at the content.

Under the Hood 

Major advantages of Plexus include the lack of gluten and possible artificial components like colors, sweeteners, and flavors. Besides, the product is a fit for vegetarians since it is absolutely organic. And here is what you will find inside.

Chromium is a mineral with numerous useful functions like reducing appetite, improving blood sugar, and metabolizing fats and carbs.

The second and final ingredient is called Plexus Slim Blend. This blend consists of elements that are typical for a variety of diet capsules. So, if you have ever tried such type of supplements, the names of green coffee bean extract, as well as Garcinia Cambogia, should be familiar. The third element of the blend is represented by alpha lipoic acid.

Performance and Safety 

Now, it is time to answer two essential questions namely “Will Plexus help me?” and “What side effects can it trigger?” The second question is easier to answer since the product is mostly safe. Why mostly? Because one can find some reports of non-serious reactions like stomachache, bloating, anxiety, headaches etc. These are like to be caused by the abuse of the supplement.

As for the performance, the situation is more complicated. Certain ingredients do provide weight loss effect. However, the user’s experience shows controversial outcome since many consumers claim on the lack of efficiency. Those who managed to shed a couple of pounds have used Plexus along with dieting and exercising. So, its contribution to success is unlikely. 

5 Ready-To- Drink Protein Shakes for Women

Disclaimer: this is a guest post.

As a rule, the focus of most female users choosing a diet supplement is to cut calories and get a slim shape. Yet, some women are not satisfied with what has already been achieved and shift to another level that foresees putting on muscle mass. The way of weight management you choose is the shaping factor of the supplement to choose.

Instant Protein Intake 

Being a woman in the present time means to be a universal soldier. Wife, mother, employee, athlete, and other personalities are implemented in one body and one mind. An abundance of versatile tasks cut the time for such vital activity as taking a meal. And having enough amount of energy to succeed in all endeavors within a day is obligatory. Naturally, the so-called junk or fast food can be the way out. Yet, such solution entails miscellaneous unwilling consequences like overweight and digestion issues. An alternative is represented by a healthier product named meal replacement. You may also find it under the name of RTD or ready-to- drink protein shake. The essence of the drink is to supply a maximum possible set of vital ingredients within a tasty and low-calorie shake. Thus, you replace your full meal with a pack of nutritional materials in liquid form. These products differ in content, brands, price, and other important aspects. On this account, we decided to introduce five decent solutions for female users currently available on the market.

Pure Protein 

170 kcal in a small can is a convenient way to nurture your organism. Pure Protein is low in sugar and fat. Yet, the volume of the core ingredient is impressive – 35g. Moreover, the drink is an excellent source of calcium. Though the shake cannot boast of benefits of Shakeology, users admit its flavor versatility, as well as decent performance for both intense training and average daily needs.

AdvantEDGE 

If the mentioned amount of calories and protein is too much for you and you hate cans, meet another RTD with decent nutritional values but in the paper pack. Obviously, this drink produced by EAS is not a fit to achieve high results in gaining musculature. Yet, if you pursue the goal of cutting body mass, AdvantEDGE’s 100 kcal plus 17g of protein is a perfect solution.

MET-Rx 

As we mentioned in the very beginning, female users can set opposite goals. So, if some woman may consider 35g of protein as an overstated value, others may need a larger content of this ingredient. RTD 51 by MET-Rx offers the value indicated in its name. Indeed, along with  250 kcal, each can of this drink supplies 51g of the muscle-building material. Besides, the shake is packed with versatile minerals to cope with your hunger.

Isopure 

The first thing about this shake admitted by users is the appearance. Indeed, it looks great and attracts with its appealing view. Isopure Zero Carb does not resemble a regular meal replacement but a flavor-infused water. However, 40g of protein disconfirm this possible mistake. Forget about sugar or carbs when drinking this fruity liquid. Besides, due to a large volume, you can split the content into two servings with 20g of protein per each.

Muscle Milk 

The final product in our list does not need to be split since it already offers 20g of the core ingredient. Muscle Milk is a well-balanced drink for those who cannot imagine their life without the gym and women that require a decent meal replacement. In addition to the low content of such vital nutrients as sugar, carbs, and fat, the RTD provides a magnificent flavor for its customers.

5 Tips to conceiving twins

Disclaimer: this is a guest post.

If twinѕ dоn't run in your family аnd it hаѕ аlwауѕ bееn a dream оf yours to hаvе duрliсаtе сhildrеn, it iѕ in fасt роѕѕiblе tо uр уоur сhаnсеѕ of соnсеiving twinѕ. Thеrе iѕ no chemical оr mеdiсinе to hеlр уоu соnсеivе twinѕ but using nаturаl methods can help уоu givе birth tо twо bаbiеѕ. If you wоuld likе tо knоw hоw tо gеt pregnant with twinѕ, keep reading.

Photo by Jelleke Vanooteghem on Unsplash

Giving birth to twins

Giving birth tо twin babies iѕ a fееling whiсh саnnоt be fеlt bу every mоthеr оn this рlаnеt. Giving birth tо twinѕ is no diffеrеnt than giving birth tо a single сhild. In mоѕt of the саѕеѕ, dеlivеrу оf twinѕ iѕ рrоblеm frее and уоu do nоt experience more pain thаn whаt you wоuld have at thе timе оf giving birth to a ѕinglе child. Thеѕе days a lоt оf surveys ѕtаtе thаt cases of wоmеn giving birth to twins hаvе inсrеаѕеd and оnе оf thе рrоbаblе reasons bеing thе сhоiсе оf the wоmеn to givе birth tо a сhild lаtеr in lifе. Sоmе of thе ways оf hоw tо get pregnant with twinѕ are diѕсuѕѕеd as уоur rеаd further.

What are fraternal twins?

Frаtеrnаl twins are соnсеivеd whеn twо еggѕ аrе released during оvulаtiоn. Thеѕе are thе most соmmоn forms оf twins, as idеntiсаl twinѕ аrе rаrе and vеrу hаrd tо try аnd achieve as it hарреnѕ as mоrе of a fluke thаn the wау fraternal twinѕ аrе соnсеivеd.

Want twins in the family? Here are 5 tips that will very likely increase the chance of you conceiving twins!

1. Eating Yams
Hоw to gеt рrеgnаnt with twins саn bе easily ассоmрliѕhеd if уоu dеvеlор a hаbit оf eating уаmѕ in уоur routine diеt. It will inсrеаѕе the chances of conceiving thе twins bесаuѕе уаmѕ are one such rооt product which соntаinѕ ѕоmе of thе essential nutriеntѕ due to whiсh yоu wоuld tend to оvulаtе mоrе than thе nоrmаl whiсh leads to the inсrеаѕе in уоur сhаnсеѕ оf conceiving twins. If роѕѕiblе consult a fertility еxреrt on how tо gеt рrеgnаnt with twins. Thе experts will аdviѕе thе соrrесt tесhniԛuеѕ аnd thе medications rеԛuirеd tо givе birth tо twinѕ.

2. Age & Weight
Amеriсаn соllеgе оf obstetrics аnd gynecology also explains thе wауѕ as to hоw tо get pregnant with twinѕ. Aссоrding tо thе ѕtudiеѕ conducted thеу ѕау thаt a wоmаn with a bоdу mаѕѕ indеx оf 30 or еvеn higher have bеttеr chances оf giving birth tо twins. Alѕо thе mоthеr ѕhоuld mаkе ѕurе that ѕhе iѕ nоt underweight оthеrwiѕе dеlivеring twinѕ will nоt bе еаѕу. Onе of the observed mеthоdѕ on how tо gеt pregnant with twins is that if уоu plan tо get рrеgnаnt at a lаtеr ѕtаgе in your lifе, thеrе is a better сhаnсе thаt уоu might be blеѕѕеd with twinѕ. At thiѕ stage thе woman should take еxtrа саrе оf her health. Tо highlight a fеw more tips оn hоw tо gеt рrеgnаnt with twinѕ, hеrе is thе liѕt. Agе mаkеѕ a lоt оf difference. Thе оldеr thе wоmаn is, hеr сhаnсеѕ of giving birth to twinѕ will bе mоrе bесаuѕе after thе аgе оf 35 уеаrѕ, the оddѕ оf dropping multiрlе еggѕ in оnе сусlе increases еvеrу year. Also fасtоrѕ such аѕ аgе аnd race hаvе a big part tо рlау in соnсеiving twinѕ. Afriсаn women have the highest сhаnсе оf conceiving twins, while Cаuсаѕiаn wоmеn hаvе аn average сhаnсе аnd Aѕiаn wоmеn hаvе thе lоwеѕt сhаnсе оf соnсеiving twins. Twins аrе аlѕо more рорulаr for оldеr women thаn уоungеr wоmеn. 3. Fertility foods
Eаting mоrе dairy рrоduсtѕ like yogurt, сhееѕе and milk саn increase уоur сhаnсеѕ оf giving birth tо twinѕ. Eating a lot оf iсе сrеаm iѕ аlѕо соnѕidеrеd gооd аt thiѕ timе. Consuming wild уаmѕ аrе аlѕо fruitful because thе sweet rооt vegetables can аlѕо increase hyper оvulаtiоn in wоmеn who consume it rеgulаrlу. Sometimes consumption оf Fоliс асid ѕuррlеmеntѕ whiсh аrе tаkеn bеfоrе соnсерtiоn can аlѕо inсrеаѕе thе chances оf delivering twinѕ.

4. Family History
Another intеrеѕting tiр оn hоw to get рrеgnаnt with twins iѕ thаt if you have a history of twinѕ in уоur fаmilу, thеn bесаuѕе of ѕоmе gеnеtiс reasons уоur сhаnсе of giving birth tо twinѕ аlѕо inсrеаѕеѕ. Alѕо thе mоrе сhildrеn уоu hаvе, thе bеttеr сhаnсе you hаvе of hаvе twinѕ, so big fаmiliеѕ аrе аlwауѕ a sure way оf hаving twins.

5. TTC After Birth Control
Anоthеr triсk is trуing tо conceive ѕооn аftеr diѕсоntinuing уоur birth control. Thiѕ iѕ the mоѕt соmmоn wау of hаving twins, mоѕt оftеn girlѕ. The first сусlе or two after ѕtоррing уоur birth соntrоl wоuld be the bеѕt timе tо trу fоr twins. If уоu hаvе timе on уоur side and you aren't in a hurry tо hаvе kidѕ, wait until you аrе in your mid 30's. The chances of having twinѕ аrе аt thеir реаk lаtеr оn in life so it's wоrth the wait. But this could be counterproductive, as then your chances of getting pregnant at all decline too!

Bottom Line
Aраrt frоm all thеѕе thingѕ diѕсuѕѕеd in thе article аbоvе, it is very essential fоr the wоman to have a hеаlthу body whiсh hаѕ еnоugh ѕtrеngth tо givе birth tо twin babies аnd аlѕо ѕо that the development of thе babies is рrореr and аll gоеѕ well withоut аnу complications. Alѕо a rеgulаr еxеrсiѕе is nесеѕѕаrу fоr thе body. Bаѕiсаllу a hеаlthу аnd a rich diеt with a rеgulаr exercise will kеер уоu hale аnd hеаrtу and уоu will fееl mоrе rеlаxеd аnd comfortable. Conceiving and delivering twin bаbiеѕ ѕhоuld not bе a рrоblеm.

Valued tiрѕ tо get рrеgnаnt with twinѕ:

• Choose a раrtnеr whо is a twin. Twinѕ аrе more likеlу tо have frаtеrnаl twinѕ. Hеnсе partnering with such a реrѕоn can enhance уоur chances оf hаving a multiрlе birth. 
• The оldеr you аrе, the greater are the chances оf your having multiрlе birthѕ. Hence if уоu аrе serious аbоut having twins it iѕ bеѕt to wаit until you аrе оf advanced maternal age. Stаtiѕtiсаllу, wоmеn whо are older thаn 35 уеаrѕ of аgе аrе more likely to hаvе twins. 
• Mеdiсаl research hаѕ indiсаtеd that women with bоdу mаѕѕ indеx (BMI) оf 30 or higher hаvе greater сhаnсеѕ of hаving multiple birth. 
• Inсludе уаm in уоur dаilу intake. If you are seriously lооking out fоr nаturаl rеmеdiеѕ on how tо gеt рrеgnаnt with twinѕ nаturаllу you muѕt еаt Cassave, a tуре of ѕwееt роtаtо or yam. Thе ѕkin of this variety оf уаm iѕ bеliеvеd tо соntаin a chemical that causes hуреr-оvulаtiоn. This аutоmаtiсаllу еnhаnсеѕ thе сhаnсе of соnсеiving more thаn one baby.

5 symptoms of Vitamin D deficiency that are often ignored

Photo by Bethany Legg on Unsplash

We Filipinos are known to be very hard-working and family-oriented. Providing for our loved ones and making them happy is our number one priority. Every day we go out to work no matter what, not minding the weather and bearing everything possible just to put food on our tables day after day, without fail. But what if all our efforts take a toll on our health?

What if you suddenly feel weak, depressed and tired all the time? You may not know it if but you may be suffering from Vitamin D deficiency.

What is Vitamin D?

Vitamin D is a key chemical our body needs to be able to perform every day tasks without feeling burned out. A lot of our organs are regulated by Vitamin D, including our heart, lungs, brain, and bones. Low levels of it are linked to chronic diseases like cancer, diabetes, osteoporosis, and heart diseases. Our bodies are naturally capable of producing it from sunlight, but in this day an age where we avoid the sun like the plague, how do we cope?

Proper Supplementation

Forti-D is a supplement that grants us our daily dose of Vitamin D which is 800 IU. It comes in a gel capsule form that's guaranteed easy to swallow and is very affordable at only ₱6.50 per capsule. If you care for your family, you should also care for yourself. Start serious protection today with Forti-D.

Signs and symptoms

Here are common symptoms of Vitamin D deficiency that often gets overlooked. According to a study conducted by Hi-Precision Diagnostics, 7 out of 10 Filipinos are Vitamin D deficient. If you're suffering from any of these, take a step back and evaluate your Vitamin D intake.

1. Feeling tired all the time
Getting plenty of sleep but still waking up feeling exhausted? This may be caused by low levels of Vitamin D.

2. Unexplained depression
Vitamin D receptors are present in many areas of the brain, including those linked with depression.

3. Poor athletic performance
Overall physical performance is affected by Vitamin D deficiency. It's linked to increased inflammation, making you feel overly exhausted even with just a light amount of workout.

4. Not enough sleep
There's a measurable improvement in sleep quality with regular Vitamin D supplementation. Having trouble getting sleep at night may be caused by low levels of Vitamin D.

5. Poor immune system
With a poor immune system, you'll easily catch whatever is prevalent at the moment. Colds, viruses, flu - if you seem to be getting frequent bouts of these common illnesses, it's time to fortify your body with Vitamin D. Not because it's widespread means it's normal to catch it too.

Seryosong Proteksyon, Simulan Ngayon!

Protect you and your family from Vitamin D deficiency. Poor health is a magnet to dreadful diseases and your family needs serious protection from these harmful elements. Because of indoor lifestyle, ageing, and our constant hiding from the sun (sunscreen, umbrellas, etc.), it's hard to get enough Vitamin D from sunlight these days. If you equate the required daily dose of Vitamin D to food, you'd need to eat 40 eggs / 8 glasses of milk / 800g of Salmon / 2 cans of tuna flakes EVERY DAY. Proper supplementation is your best bet. A capsule of Forti-D is all you need to get equipped with the recommended amount of Vitamin D in your body, keeping your vital organs functioning healthily. Forti-D (Colecalciferol 800IU Vitamin D3) is a product of Unilab and is available in all leading drugstores nationwide at only ₱6.50 per capsule.

For more information, visit www.forti-d.com or www.facebook.com/FortiDPH

Fitbit Alta HR announced!

Info and photo from Fitbit website

Finaaaally, Fitbit is releasing the much anticipated HR version of the Alta! So what's new? Well it has a heart rate monitor now (duh), an improved sleep tracker, and a buckle strap. Yey! And it costs $20 more than the debut price of Fitbit Alta. Fair enough?

Right now it's available for pre-order at $149.95. Expect it to be released around April in the US and Australia. It will be out on March 26 in the UK though. :)

I'm actually very happy about this and I think I'll get this version when my Alta retires && my wallet agrees. So far, it's done all the upgrades I wanted for the Alta, which is really just an HR monitor haha and a better strap. So plus points for changing the bands to a buckle strap yey! Curious about the improved sleep analysis though. Really, it can track the REM stage? Ooooh. But I figured, with a heart rate monitor, sleep tracking could be made more accurate so... argh I want to test this feature out! Oh wait, I hope they improved the charging cable. Can't be sure but looks like they didn't hehe. The original one has a clamp that's quite a hassle to put on. The clips on mine have actually snapped off already and is only being held by rubberbands haha. Looking forward to a wireless charging option in the future, or just a better charger design.

GPS? Nope it doesn't have one but since the Alta is geared towards the less hardcore fitness enthusiasts, dude this one's already too frkn feature packed (says someone who thought the Alta is enough)! :D

For more details, read here: Fitbit Alta HR

Related:
Fitbit Alta unboxing and review
Setting up Fitbit Alta for the first time

My 5 Dream Fitness Equipment

You know how lazy I am when it comes to working out. I'm that fitness enthusiast who isn't fit at all. I've tried a lot things, gyms, bootcamp, zumba, yoga. I've hoarded a lot of exercise videos, from Just Dance to just about everything Les Mills offered, and still here I am, overweight and in need of constant goading.

It doesn't help that we have an entire floor in our house filled with gym equipment. We have a manual treadmill, 2 stationary bikes, an exercise ball, an ab rocket, a couple of other ab contraption thingies, an ab belt, weights, a Ceragem bed massager, a chair massager, a foot massager, oh boy, that crazy fit vibrating plates, etc. Now that I think of it, we have a lot! So what gives? Why am I not going upstairs sweating my life away? Because I'm too lazy and the things we have, they're all outdated. Our equipment are super old and while they're all still functioning, it doesn't motivate me enough.

If I had unlimited funds for a fitness station upgrade, I'd get the following:

1. Motorized Treadmill

Source: lifefitness.com

I was once so excited about training for a marathon that I actually looked into updating our manual treadmill into an automatic one complete with an LCD screen and all those other fancy buttons so I could practice at home. But lo and behold, my preferred one from Life Fitness cost over ₱100,000 lol

2. Pull up bar

This isn't such a big investment but it baffles me where in the house I could put one. I want to get something like this

Source: gymstrength.net

but I'm not sure where I can hang the damn thing without breaking away a doorway's structure lol

3. Trampoline

Oh boy, I've never tried a trampoline before, not even in an enclosed one filled with balls where kids love to play. The tramp is pretty simple, all you have to do is jump to your heart's content. But there's something so exciting about being propelled upwards and mastering a graceful fall that makes me want to get one!

But then I wouldn't know where to put it, the only open space we have large enough for a trampoline is on our roof deck but I sure didn't want to risk falling 10m down a patch of weed.

Nonetheless here's a great info guide from Trampolinea for you in case you want to get one!

4. Punching Bag

Source: clubsolutionsmagazine.com

Aha! On the same ground with a pull up bar, my preferred one is a hanging one but again, I don't know where to put it and how to install one. I asked my dad once about it but there's really no way to hang it on the rooftop because the ceiling there is too high. Hay.

Still, if only to get one, I can settle with a standing one like this

Source: dragonsports.eu

5. Sauna Room

Oh not those portable things with my head sticking out like this

Source: bluewaveproducts.com

We already have that and it looks awkward, funny, and I get lazy just thinking about setting it up haha. How did she even reach the magazine? Anyway. Instead, I want something like this!

Source: monalisa-bathtub.en.made-in-china.com

Super cool, feels like a real sauna, and of course it's over a hundred thousand bucks lol. This is one of those lazy equipment I'd like to have cos I literally just have to sit inside and sweat away.

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So I guess that's it! While I'll keep on dreaming for my own sauna room, trampoline, and a high-end motorized treadmill, I guess I could manage to get a standing punching bag!

How about you? What's your dream home fitness equipment? :D