Living a Sugar Free Sweet Life

Yes, it's possible! Laughing can help you lose the weight and keep it off. At the European Congress on Obesity in Athens in June 2005, Vanderbilt University Medical Center’s Maciej Buchowski, Ph.D.,explained the "trivial" study that he made on his 45 pairs of respondents. The study found that laughing increases heart rate at 10 to 20% and 10-15 minutes of laughter burns 10-40 calories a day. That's around 4 pounds lost a year.

The burned calories may be seen as small amount compared to what is burned when you perform a complete workout. Then again, let us remember that even the best weight loss pills cannot give the other healthy effects of laughing. Laughing can put you in a good mood that makes you stay away from emotional food binges. It also helps give your brain its much needed oxygen. Not only that, being a happy person generates positive vibes that can make you and the people around you feel better.

Laughter is the best medicine, so they say. Just make sure not to look insane while you're laughing your heart out, haha!


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I am writing a health feature article at the moment and it's about natural diet pills. It's not a secret that I have already tried using diet pills in 2006 and it did help me lose my unwanted pounds. What I took were clinically approved diet pills and were prescribed by my doctor. I needed to lose weight fast since the bad cholesterol levels in my bloodstream were way too high.

In researching for my article, I came upon a site that lists safe diet pills. The top three in the list have the label "ephedra-free" and it got me confused. Ephedra, as I have read from Wikipedia, is a traditional Chinese herbal medicine that is sourced from the Ephedra Sinica plant and has been used for ages in treating asthma and hay fever. If this is the case, then why are Ephedra-free diet pills more preferred by many? I discovered that there have been unregulated ephedra diet pills that brought about unwanted side effects to its users.

I assume that Ephedra may be safe for use when taken in regulated amounts. Nevertheless, I would not take chances. For me, diet pills are safe when they are doctor prescribed. What about you?



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A month ago, thousands of college students hopped on the fitness bandwagon. Now, only the Top 10 barkadas are left to compete in the Del Monte’s Fit ‘n Right Fruit Snacks’ - Fit ‘n Fab 4 Challenge. The winning barkada will get P100,000.00 and a free adventure in Boracay. How’s that for a hot incentive to lose those extra pounds?

Making fitness even more fun, Del Monte Fit ‘n Right Fruit Snacks conducted a variety of exercise classes every week. Contestants got to choose from Badminton, Capoeira, Yoga and Barre 3, the latest exercise routine that combines dancing, yoga and Pilates.

Participants also got help from renowned Sports Scientist and trainer of national athletes, Coach Jim Saret whose 4-minute high-impact FIT workout videos were posted online for everyone to lose more weight in less the time.

The Fit ‘n Fab Four Challenge was open to barkadas of 4 who shared a common goal to get fit this summer. All finalists agree that the ultimate secret to losing weight is adding fun to the discipline + diet + exercise + Fit ‘n Right Fruit Snacks.

Lizzie Concepcion, 19, from DLSU, admits that she can’t help but give in to her sweet tooth. “What’s life without dessert?” she exclaims. But with Del Monte Fit ‘n Right Fruit Snacks, she found a way to satisfy her cravings without the guilt. Jasper John Jimenez, 21, from UST, shares that his on-the-go lifestyle has left him with a bad habit of eating and munching whatever is convenient. Now that he has a healthier snack option, he commits to himself, “For me the junk food has to go".

Del Monte Fit ‘n Right Fruit Snacks is the only low calorie snack with 300mg of L-Carnitine that helps burn fat! Fit ‘n Right Fruit Snacks is made with real fruits and it has no added sugar.

Get to know more about the losers and how they are facing the challenge to get fit. Visit www.fitandfabfour.com and be a Facebook fan of Del Monte Fit ‘n Right Fruit Snacks (www.facebook.com/delmontefruitsnacks).

Judgement day is set tomorrow, Saturday, April 17, 8pm at Fiamma. It’s going to be one hot summer night for losers to win and party!


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Week 2. I was busy as usual that I only got to work out for three days. I gained 0.3 pounds but I'm considering that I haven't gained or lost at all. I'm still hopeful that I will lose more in the following weeks. Have you noticed that I tried more exercises this week? Even if I worked out for only three days, I made sure to compensate for the lost time. WiiMommies.com and WiiFitRoutine.com keeps me motivated to go on. I'll keep on going and I won't take diet supplements. This time it will just be the Wii Fit and a healthy diet.


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Running is the new hit sport among Filipinos and the sight of joggers and runners out on the streets in the morning and evening is becoming all too common. Participation in running events has also increased, making them an effective avenue for gathering people to increase awareness and raise funds for various advocacies.

“Lifestyle change is almost always the key to improvement of life. The health benefits are obvious and we believe that it is also a key instrument in saving our planet,” says Rommel Juan, CEO and President of Binalot Fiesta Foods, one of the sponsors of the upcoming ‘The Green Miles: Run for an Eco-Smart Lifestyle’ – a project of Juan’s high school batch (UST High School’88).

According to Juan, Binalot is known for being an environment-friendly fast food which is why it supports projects and campaigns that are geared towards environmental awareness. “Since we began operations, we have always valued environment-friendliness. Our environmental efforts do not end with our products and packaging; we also try to support as many environmental campaigns that we feel are suited to our advocacies.” he explains.

Binalot is supporting ‘The Green Miles’ by providing meals during the event. “Our products are perfect for environmental awareness events such as this. We use banana leaves instead of non-biodegradable packaging for our food,” Juan shares.

The event will benefit the Meycauayan-Marilao-Obando (MMO) River System, listed in 2007 as one of the 30 most polluted areas in the world by New York-based environmental watchdog Blacksmith Institute. “It’s both embarrassing and disheartening to know that one of our rivers is among the dirtiest in the world. We’d like to do what we can to help fix it,” says Juan.

But “fixing” it requires more than just throwing money at the problem. “The ultimate solution is a lifestyle change, hence the idea of promoting physical fitness and environmental awareness,” shares Juan adding that “lifestyle management” will help ease pressure on our planet.

The Green Miles: Run for an Eco-Smart Lifestyle will be held March 21, 2010 at SM Mall of Asia Grounds. For more information, visit www.thegreenmilesrun.ph.


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"Wellness is the new beauty." The Medical City believes that beauty is more than just skin deep. Thus, the hospital has provided The Center for Wellness and Aesthetics to provide patients with holistic health services that are personalized, seamless, and guided by evidence-based medicine.

The center can cater to patients who usually go to cosmetology centers to avail of dermatological services and aesthetic surgery. In The Center for Wellness and Aesthetics, patients are assured that their doctors are board certified practitioners in their respective fields. Take for instance, these three doctors of the Center for Wellness and Aesthetics, namely: Dr. Rolando Balburias, Dr. Paul Jesus Montemayor, and Dr. Gerardo Germar.

(L-R) Dr. Rolando Balburias, Dr. Paul Jesus Montemayor, and Dr. Gerardo Germar of the Center for Wellness and Aesthetics.

Dr. Balburias serves as the consultant and director the Center for Wellness and Aesthetics. The good-looking Doc Oyie, as he is fondly called, specializes in Internal Medicine. He was once part of the show RXMEN on QTV Channel 11 which featured young doctors who catered to the medical needs of Filipinos living below poverty line. Meanwhile, Dr. Paul Jesus Montemayor calls himself the "Vein Guy." He specializes in Vascular Surgery and Endovenous Laser and Chemical Ablation. Basically, he is the guy to call when your problem is your varicose veins or spider veins. Lastly, Dr. Gerardo Germar does Aesthetic/Reconstructive Plastic Surgery. He is a member of the elite Philippine College of Surgeons. See that picture below? That's one of the nose implants that Dr. Germar uses on nose jobs.


In line with its mission of providing beauty through holistic health, The Medical City's Center for Wellness and Aesthetics provide the following services to patients:

Adult Wellness. Healthcare services for men and women ages 20-59 years old, with packages that are specially tailored to address an adult's changing health concerns as he/she matures.


Healthy Aging. A team of geriatric specialists offer comprehensive health assessments for seniors aged 60 and above, helping them live a healthy and more satisfying life.


Adolescent Wellness. Packages are specifically aimed at adolescents 10-19 years of age, covering everything from sports training to makeovers.

Fitness and Nutrition. Specialists will help in adjusting diet and fitness regimens to achieve fitness goals.



The VIP hospital suite at the Center for Wellness and Health.
Aesthetic Surgery. Board-certified surgeons provide hospital-based services that are supplemented with rigorous counselling sessions, for a more holistic approach that helps patient feel good emotionally as well as physically.


Aesthetic Dermatology. Expert and board-certified dermatologists offer a comprehensive range of treatments which, complemented with sound health advice, help patients look and feel good. You can be sure that you're getting the best acne treatments from the hospital's most reliable medical practitioners.

Regenerative Medicine. Innovative therapies involve the engineering of living cells, tissues, and organs with the goal of improving the quality of life, preventing disease, and maintaining wellness.

Aesthetic Dentistry. Experts help patients get the teeth they've always wanted for a great smile that builds confidence and positive self image.


Spa Services. Gives patients a full holistic wellness experience that benefits both the mind and body.

For inquiries, you may visit the Center for Wellness and Aesthetics at the 6th floor of the Podium Building of The Medical City, Ortigas Avenue, Pasig City or call 635-6789 loc. 6386 or 6492.


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This is the 3rd day that I haven't done any Wii exercise. Yeah, I know, I've been a busy bee lately. And I dread doing my weekly Wii Fit Challenge summary for this week. I had to prioritize my writing deadlines because I'm saving up for my younger brother's college fund for June. Thank goodness, I already have some spare funds for his summer classes.

So anyway, I thought of exercising while doing my writing tasks. I did my research and here are some of the desk exercises I am now doing either during short breaks or while I'm typing away:

Stretching Exercises - the next best thing to having Yoga when I'm too busy with my articles. First, I put one arm in front of me with the palm facing down. Then, with other hand, I grab the fingers towards me and stretch them for ten counts. Afterward, I repeat the process with the other hand. Next, I raise my arms above my head and slowly stretch my body to the right for another ten counts, then to the left.

Arm Raises - I hold my 500 ml water bottle on one hand and raise it above my head while the other hand supports the elbow. Then, I lower the bottle and raise it up again for 15 repetitions. The same procedure is repeated with my other arm. The first time I did this, I felt my elbow joints cracking hahaha!

Leg Lifts - When I'm on a short break, I put my arms under my knees and do raise my legs for as long as I can. You have to feel the abdominal muscles stretching when you do this because the purpose of this exercise really is to tighten the ab muscles. Now, the easiest of all these exercises is marching in place. This is my favorite so far because I can do it even when I'm in the middle of reading or typing some articles. It can be annoying to others though if you are sharing a work area with officemates. I'm lucky that I have my room all to myself.

You may think that these desk exercises are so simple that they won't even help you get fit. They still burn calories no matter how few they are, mind you. And little things always go a long, long way!

I would appreciate if you can suggest other desk exercises that I haven't covered yet. For now, I have to go back to the Outer Banks vacation home article that I was writing before I wrote had this short break. :)

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Imagine rushing through a lush thicket flanked by limestone walls, a quiet river, and semi-hidden caves while you’re having the best – if not the first – authentic adventure run of your life.

Adventure running is a variation of your typical road running. Instead of setting out on a concrete course, adventure runners cover an assortment of natural surfaces like dirt, gravel, or sand while having the luxury of experiencing nature. Runners who go off-road also benefit from “healthier” runs because they build endurance while running in an environment that has an abundant supply of fresh air. Adventure runners are relieved from the struggle of breathing through the city’s smog or car fumes.

This outdoor sport subjects runners to conquer rambling terrain. It compels athletes to raise the level of their performance from race times, endurance, strength, self reliance, and mental fortitude. This unique and exciting running experience is also the reason why trail running is slowly drawing the attention of both experienced and novice runners.

It also helps that adventure running lets runners enjoy scenic landscapes and a more relaxed atmosphere compared to the hectic cityscapes they usually go past. Instead of having the concrete jungle as a background which only reminds runners of their work or daily grind, racing on trails help athletes concentrate on their performance and form.

On April 17, 2010, Merrell Performance Footwear will host the Merrell Adventure Run at Wawa Dam, Montalban, Rizal. The off-road, all-foot race will let running enthusiasts and adventure seekers feel the thrill and freedom of conquering a natural mountain trail.

Experienced and first-time adventure runners can join the 3km, 5km, or 15km category, and prove to themselves that they too can overcome boulders, dirt trails, river crossing, and steep climbs.

Check out the best trail shoes in the market at Merrell stores at 2nd level, Trinoma; ground floor, Market! Market!; 2nd level, Festival Supermall, Alabang; 2nd level, Marquee Mall, Angeles, Pampanga; and 2nd Level, Active Zone, Ayala Center Cebu.

For more details on the Merrell Adventure Run, visit http://merrelladventurerun.multiply.com or check out its Facebook account.


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The hottest challenge in town is now burning its way towards all you young and hip people all over the metro, The Del Monte Fit ’n Right Fruit Snacks Fit ‘n Fab 4 Challenge 2010! Focusing on today’s youth, The Fit ‘n Fab 4 Challenge is tapping all you college students in Metro Manila by taking part in the biggest and grandest events of your respective campuses.

First to be burned are the Thomasians in the recently concluded UST “Cheermania!”, the University of Sto. Tomas’ grandest in-school cheering competition. Cheermania is the annual cheering competition between UST’s different colleges featuring Thomasian-dynamism through rhythmic dances that highlight the values of their respective colleges and faculties. Del Monte Fit ‘n Right Fruit Snacks played a major role in the success of this event by being this year’s Cheermania presenter. With that, the students allotted six minutes of non-stop cheering action having Del Monte Fit ‘n Right Fruit Snacks as one of the major parts in their routine.

Setting up booths inside your schools, Del Monte Fit ‘n Right Fruit Snacks will not just be presenting but will also challenge each and every one of you students to participate in this year’s Fit ‘n Fab 4 Challenge!

This challenge is open to all college student barkadas of four, aged 15 – 25 years old, who will be encouraged to live a healthy lifestyle through proper nutrition and regular exercise and snacking of Del Monte Fit ‘n Right Fruit Snacks. It is the only low calorie snack with 300 mg of fat-burning L-Carnitine made with real fruits with no added sugar. The barkada with the most amount of weight lost and physical improvement wins P100,000 and a trip to Boracay.

With Del Monte Fit ‘n Right Fruit Snacks Fit ‘n Fab 4 Challenge 2010, more schools are about to get burned. And for those who miss the Fit ‘n Right campus visits, a booth will be waiting at ROX in Bonifacio High Street on February 20 - 21 from 11am to 8pm for the final registration.
Now, can you keep up? Hurry, sign up at www.fitandfab4.com and join the Del Monte Fit ‘n Right Fruit Snacks Fit ‘n Fab 4 Challenge 2010 coming to your schools!


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I am really a big fan of Nintendo Wii! For me, this game console is the best in terms of keeping our butts off the couch and being more active. Compared to the PC, Playstation and PSP, and Nintendo DS, Wii has more game options that engage the whole body in active fun. I knew that buying ours was a good choice. In fact, it is the better choice compared to buying exercise equipment.

I tend to slouch in the couch especially during lazy weekend mornings. With the Wii, I get to have a new activity to do in front of the TV. Right now, what keeps me active with the Wii control and nunchuk are Wii games like Wii Fit, Wii Sport, and Mario Brothers and Sonic Winter Olympics. I am still looking for the Dance Dance Revolution disc and the dance pad the it requires.

By the way, we are thinking of buying a new couch and not just to have slipcovers made for the old one. We decided to give our old couch to my sister who's lost almost everything from the Ondoy flood. Will the new couch succeed in inviting me to sit again for hours in front of the TV? I hope not!

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When I'm not working out via Wii Fit Plus, I brisk walk in the morning. And since I'm not following a prescribed beat when I am walking outside, I bring my MP3 stick with me. I cannot walk without it, actually. In fact, I find brisk walking without background music just plain boring.

The tunes I load into my MP3 stick are upbeat and I arrange their sequence in a way that the songs serve as my cue for a warm-up, the 30-minute brisk walk, and the cool down. It's better than keeping my track by looking at the time because I don't wear a watch when I'm walking.

Here are the tunes I currently listen to when I'm brisk walking.

• Warm Up: Breathe by Taylor Swift
• Brisk Walking: Sweet Dreams by Beyonce, Rock that Body the Black Eyed Peas, The Fame by Lady Gaga, Hush Hush Hush (Remix) by Pussy Cat Dolls, Hot n Cold by Katy Perry, Mmm Papi by Britney Spears, Fire Burning on The Dance Floor by Sean Kingston, and Blame It by Jamie Foxx.
• Cool Down: Fireflies by Owl City

Now that I shared my playlist, lemme see your MP3 players and check out yours. :)

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I had started the habit of drinking Del Monte Fit n' Right before Christmas last year as an alternative to drinking regular fruit juices. I have a glass during my mid-morning and mid-afternoon snacks. I only stick to a glass a day since the juices are not sugar free. Presently, I am in love with the pineapple orange and watermelon flavors.

L-Carnitine is formed in the human body by the formation of amino acids lysine and methionine. It becomes an effective fat burner since it uses fats as an energy source. What's good about me taking L-Carnitine is that the amino acid can help me managing my weight and lessening my risk of having heart disease. This is already
aside from the fact that L-Carnitine may also protect the body from developing diseases of the liver and the kidneys.

So far, I find Fit n' Right effective for me. My weight graph in my Wii Fit Plus profile showed that I lost 0.27 in my BMI from the last time I worked out before leaving for Naga to the day I got back to training after the holidays. And to think that I really ate a lot! I'm now thinking of taking in L-Carnitine capsules, too.

How about you? Have you tried taking L-Carnitine? How did it work for you?

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