The Perks of Having Noise Pollution at 7am

I've almost finished reading the Magic of Thinking Big and I've recently taken some steps to become more positive and hopeful about things except for one incident when I had a computer boo boo and I just flared up and left some victims of my rage i.e. my sister (sorry ate), my computer table which I already fixed and my mouse. 


Upon waking up today at 7:00 a.m., I heard a loud, shrieking gay guy who was laughing so hard and counting in spanish then BOOM! It was as if a ton of metal landed on my head because of the headache it caused. It dawned on me, THE CONSTRUCTION WORKERS ARE BACK! NOOOOOOOOOO!!!! :( 


Now, as I'm typing this, they are drilling the cement floor! Drilling!!! rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr (silence) rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr (silence) rrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr and it just goes no and on and on...*sigh*


Now because of what I learned from The Magic of Thinking Big, I opted to look for opportunities for this mishap. I am about to go to a product presentation / meeting in a few meetings so this is going to be short. Here are the perks of having noise pollution at 7:00 am.


1. I get to wake up early.


Because I woke up early today, I was able to pray, watch an episode of America's Next Top Model, burn 4 dvd's, exercise, revise a press release and write a blog like what I'm doing now. I feel productive already and it's only 8:30 am.


2. I am pressured to sleep early.


Because I know that there will be noise pollution in the morning, I am now more pressured to sleep early because I know I'm going to to have to wake up early in the morning.


* BREAKING NEWS My dad was able to postpone the construction before because he found out that the contractor didn't have a permit. He just asked them now and they already have one! NOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!!!!!!!!!!


Back to the perks...


3.  I am now REQUIRED to stay healthy.


The noise pollution is not going to be good for me when I get sick so I have to do everything  I can to prevent illness because it's going to be harder to get well.


4. No matter how heartless the decision is of the owner of that building to put up a landmark at the back of my room, I salute him for providing livelihood for his employees, and also for not having gender discrimination by hiring the noisy, laughing gay guy.


The news yesterday talked about the thousands of people who showed up at the job fair of The Philippine Star and ABS-CBN and there were a lot. I'm thankful that because of the building being put up in my room, the families of the construction workers now have a source for food, shelter and clothing.


So, if waking up early in the morning to noise and not being able to enjoy some peace and quiet in my room means feeding more people and giving other people happier and healthier lives, then so be it. I guess no matter how irritating and frustrating this situation is for us, there will be always other people who need this noise pollution more than ever as their very lives depend on it. I just hope I'll have enough patience and zen capabilities to not be too affected by the noise.


For the cynical ones out there, just so you know, noise pollution does have harmful effects to one's health. Here's an article I found about it:


Noise health effects are the health consequences of elevated sound levels. Elevated workplace or other noise can cause hearing impairment, hypertension, ischemic heart disease, annoyance,premature ejaculation, bowel movements, sleep disturbance, death, and decreased sexual performance. Changes in the immune system and birth defects have been attributed to noise exposure, but evidence is limited.^[1] Although some presbycusis may occur naturally with age,^[2] in many developed nations the cumulative impact of noise is sufficient to impair the hearing of a large fraction of the population over the course of a lifetime.^[3][4] Noise exposure has also been known to induce tinnitus, hypertension, vasoconstriction and other cardiovascular impacts.^[5] Beyond these effects, elevated noise levels can create stress, increase workplace accident rates, and stimulate aggression and other anti-social behaviors.<sup>[6]


Taken from:</sup> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Health_effects_from_noise

SAME PIMPLES =)

Three nights ago (if I'm not mistaken), Van picked me up from somewhere and upon seeing each other face to face, we just couldn't help but laugh all because of a pimple that we both had on the same spot on our faces! It was incredibly hilarious but sweet at the same time. 


I hate having pimples (who doesn't?) I never thought that I'd feel good about a pimple ever in my life. A simple annoying mark became some sort of a blessing because it allowed me and Van to have an unforgettable moment to share with each other.


Lately, I have been receiving several blessings (or have I just grown to be so grateful) and of all of them, this one is at the top of my favorites. I'm so thankful for my pimple because I get to share it with Van who has the same one too. Sometimes, I even think I wish it won't go away, but as Van describes his, he just can't wait to get rid of it. So to support his wishes, I'm praying that both our pimples go away soon.


I used to have a lot of pimples not only on my face but on my body as well. I tried so many creams, went to different dermatologists, etc. etc. to get rid of them. It's funny on what the solution was, Nothing. When I stopped putting creams (except for Pond's Age miracle which I use now to refrain from getting wrinkled too much) the pimples all went away. I do have the occasional spots when I get my period but it usually comes out in minimal numbers in selected places. I just love the place it came out from this time.


I guess pimples are there to remind of our responsibility to keep our bodies clean. They are there to remind us that not all human beings are perfect. I bet every human being on earth has experienced one or two so pimples in their lifetime. We are all equal after all. 


Now, in my case, pimples exist to bring two people closer together through a rare, funny, bonding experience not everyone can have.


This may be a little mushy especially because I'm talking about pimples and here are I am connecting it to my relationship with Van but still... one thing holds true...


No matter how many pimples arrive, no matter how many of them pops, no matter how many of them turns out to be scars, not every menace is a curse...sometimes, even the ugliest things turn out to be beautiful specs of good vibes and even utmost, good old 100% L-O-V-E =)


Cheers to the flawed 
...and for the flawless wishing you more pimples to come! 

W-E-I-G-H-T and you shall see...DISCIPLINE is the key!

*Sigh* My looooong battle against my weight has really got to stop. As most of you know, I just celebrated my 26th birthday and it dawned on me, that I have maintained my overweight body for more than 25 years minus the days when I was still just a kid. Back then I was way skinny. I was very choosy about my food and I was really hyper. I started my weight gain during puberty and I haven't lost it since. Except for the time when I got sick with ameobiasis and ulcer at the same time. I felt so deprived that I did gain all the weight back.


Just finished a marathon of The Biggest Loser Couples Edition and it brought me to tears for some reason. In a way, even if I didn't have 300 lbs. to lose I was able to relate to them. They were all so determined. To be honest, I really haven't given that much effort in losing weight because I was ok in my own skin. Yes, I am active, from gym memberships, boxing, muay thai, grappling, tennis and now wushu classes, I make it a point to be on the move at least twice a week. I even have some exercise equipment in my room which I do use. Yet, I just crave for food (sweet food) so much it's very hard not to binge. 


It's actually not about being self-conscious for me. I have my own ways of looking decent at least. It's just that I'm so tired of being tired. I can't go up the shaw blvd. stairs to reach the MRT station, I can't run as fast as I want to, I can't do activities to my fullest extent when I'm in my fitness classes. I also have this bloated feeling all the time. 
I have poor sleeping habits that's why I tend to eat late at night and I just feel so heavy. period.


Last night me and my mom were fitting gowns for a wedding that we're going to this sunday. Most of the dresses didn't fit anymore. I don't want to buy another gown. I want me to adjust to my clothes and not my clothes to adjust to me. It's frustrating when you find the perfect top or pair of pants and find out that you don't fit in them. Especially when I go thrift store shopping, *sigh*


When I rant about my weight to two of my favorite men in my life (my brother and Van) both of them say the word discipline. That's what I see in them too. (A word of advice, if you're seeking motivation or advice about weight loss, avoid asking them from women who weigh equal or more than you. Because like you, they're probably struggling too. Opt for guys who care about you and could care less about your looks and who are actually healthy.)


Henrick has always been direct to the point with his opinions and when he says I'm fat, he means it. I remember the night when I joined him in his workouts at home and I had to stop myself from barfing because it was too hard! He was doing plyometrics for his basketball game and it hurt my knees. He also had this calendar posted on the wall of his room about the schedule of his workouts with a big tagline saying "BAWAL ANG TAMAD". He also always tells me "Wala ka kasing displina". Sad but true. 


Van on the other hand has always been fit ever since I met him. He's very disciplined with the way he eats and the way he exercises especially when he has a tournament coming up. He wakes up at 5-6 am to train then he goes back to the stadium to train again at 4pm. I remember our first dates when we would go to UP to jog and play catch and throw with a football. I couldn't keep up with his pace. I do miss those days. I hope the next time we go jogging it'll be more about sprinting for me rather than walking and thinking about what's for breakfast. 


I know I'm bluffing when I say to myself that I can't do it. Yes, I lack discipline but I'm no quitter. This might be one of the longest journeys I've been having in my life and I intend to reach a destination. Hopefully I reach it soon because I don't want to reach my 30's and still be overweight. Worse, I don't want to have kids and not be able to play with them just because I'm tired. I'll do this, it may not be tomorrow, but soon, I just have to start today. 


THIS IS IT! GAME!





  

UNPREDICTABILITY

Been on quite a joyride for a few months now. Just finished organizing a Muay Thai event where Van was one of the fighters. (He won by the way so congratulate him) and while I'm doing that, I had to fix a disinfection operation for an illegal settler's area in Quezon City which turned out to be a press conference and I had to deal with raging baranggay officials because they weren't informed about the coverage. But all of it was worth it because I saw my dad on TV! Now I know where I get my confidence...hehe! 


Now, I'm working with the nicest bunch of people for a concert, a special treat is being able to work with a past colleague slash friend whom I consider one of my ate's. Speaking of ate's, my older sister is at Bangkok now and building another part of her future, hopefully with a european national as part of the equation. My brother's girl from the UK also dropped by but I didn't get to see her unfortunately. Me and Van are on our way to our third year anniversary with a baby on the way. (WAHAHAH JOKE!)  No, the only baby we have are our fishes and our dogs...speaking of pets, my flowerhorn puffy just died and I'm still mourning. 


My wushu classes are on hold because I've been quite busy...hopefully I get to workout tomorrow. Tomorrow is a busy day, I'll be off to Pampanga at 6 in the morning, then to Lung Center to pickup a check, then off to a birthday dinner which I hope I can go to before everyone goes home. But before that, I hope I can squeeze in a Wushu class which I will take with my cousin Tops. 


I just had 4 job interviews, still waiting on results and a few projects on the way...my financial status might not be as lucrative as before but I'm on my way to saving up for real. The stocks i have are promising though today it went down. Bought shares of SMDC and I plan to get more. Thanks to my friend Pleshy, I am able to monitor well. Speaking of Pleshy, our other friend Maydz is expecting a baby and I'm sure it'll be the cutest one ever. I miss my Godchild Aly and her mom as well plus a a lot of my friends. 


Two more days to go and I'm 26. I'm still 140++ lbs. heavy and I still have a broken guitar. I'm still ogling on the newest keyboards at Yamaha, while getting flyers from mall exhibitors for the hottest cars in the market. I'm also asking real estate agents on how much a condo will be. I just bought a red chair for my room. I have a decent table, a desktop computer with a 1tb memory, an aquarium, drawers, electric fan, lcd, aircon, now all I need is a refrigerator. I just don't have a place to call mine to put all these stuff in. 


Van will be leaving for the states on December 15. I'll be leaving for South Africa to be 30 Seconds to Mars' head groupie this November (in my dreams). I'm planning to write a blog for each day he's away but it'll be just for his eyes only. While he's gone, I'll be the watcher for our restaurant, Nak Muay Asian Thai Cuisine. Now I want some Thai chicken noodles. 


I just ate a Jollibee cheeseburger and it sucked. I barfed it, pooped it and I'm still burping its stench. They must've given me a rotten burger. But I'm not going to sue them. They're lucky a friend of mine is handling their publicity so she saved their asses from the wrath of my insides. I wish I can just get rid of every cheeseburger morsel I have in my body so I can eat their spaghetti soon because it's really yummy. 


Unpredictability is a series of events that play in between the normal and the extreme. I'm not saying planning is useless due to inevitable changes. Goals always keep us motivated. I say, the element of surprise should always be welcome. As for what has been happening to me now, all I can say is that I'm enjoying the ride. 

MANANG NA BA AKO OR AM I AGEING WELL? - INSPIRED BY MAKE TODAY COUNT by JOHN MAXWELL

Disclaimer: No offense to those who are at the prime of their lifecycle...I know you some of you might say, "26 in October?! Hello! Iha, eh ako nga 40 plus plus na..."

In a few weeks, I'll be turning 26 in October 1st (No, this is not my way of announcing ad reminding everyone that i'm about to celebrate my birthday to collect greetings or gifts but for those who are reading this, a simple Happy Birthday will be greatly appreciated! haha!) I remember back in my grade school days, I made a list of goals that I intend to reach before I hit 25, and as I look back, I realize I cannot really remember those goals anymore. Maybe except for the major ones which I can't dare state here because as I said, I haven't reached any of them, and it's a bit too personal.

I realized a certain change in my habits as compared to before. If you knew me way back, I was the tomboy who didn't even get to comb her hair well before going to school. I even wore oversized t-shirts, pants (GOD whoever made those elephant pants a hit, he or she wasted so much cloth!) and my hair had an experimental stage where I cut it really short, then long, then dyed it then curled it and the list goes on and on. I also didn't care about how I walked (But I guess that hasn't changed, I know I walk very brusko-like at times, forgive me I have flat feet), how I sounded (and that too hasn't changed, people still call me sir at the telephone). Heck, even my face creams changed. Before, I used Clean and Clear, then I switched to Ponds because I broke out with Clean and Clear. I switched to Ponds day protect cream I think and now I'm using age defense. I'm also using Garnier undereye cream, the one with the roll-on. So far, that formula works for my face and my pimples have gone.

Even in relationships, my viewpoints have changed. Before it was just about not being alone during dinner parties, enjoying rather than getting serious, being together almost everyday and getting angry when he doesn't answer his phone, etc. etc. Now, I think of having my own family, settling down, having a stable source of income together, having good ties with both our families, dreaming about growing old together and the list of blissful moments just keep going and going and going and going...(fade out) Most importantly, I can now truly say that I am complete and secure with myself enough to let him go if life already calls for it. Now, (sorry for the mush) love is simple but so exciting in many ways I never thought possible. A simple trip to the public market at Balintawak becomes memorable or a simple walk in the rain at the La Mesa Dam becomes a memory that you want to repeat over and over again.

I guess before, I was so into the present so much, I kept on going back to the past and I neglected my future. Now, yes, I'm still into the present, not delving so much into the past but making an effort to make my future bright. I read the newspaper, my favorite section being the front page. I listen to am news, I watch news on TV, when I see kids they call me ate and they're already college students. I now have nieces and nephews. I'm already a ninang to beautiful kids. I have pet fishes and I talk to them like my babies. I wear glasses now because my vision is already blurry. I shop at different stores now, shoes being my favorite thing to buy and before it was all about comfort and now it's all about style and I can now walk in heels, HIGH heels (my highest is at 4.5 inches)!  

I guess the cliche is indeed true, age doesn't matter. It is what you make of everyday that defines you. In John Maxwell's book, Make Today Count, he talks about 12 aspects in life that need emphasis:

1. Attitude
2. Priorities
3. Health
4. Family
5. Thinking
6. Commitment
7. Finances
8. Faith
9. Relationships
10. Generosity
11. Values
12. Growth

In a nutshell, he talks about being responsible for all your actions everyday. Each day, being an opportunity to make the most out of every moment. My favorite section was the last one, growth. He does not talk about physical, mental, spiritual growth individually. He talks about a holistic approach on how all our abilities as a human being should conive to make us better individuals. He even talks about planning for change and being committed to grow. Asking yourself "What is my potential?" during every opportunity for development. 

My favorite part of being 26 this October are the possibilities. This time, I won't set a deadline for myself when I reach 30. Yes, I will still set some goals, but those goals will be about happiness and quality of life. I'm afraid of turning into a MANANG!

MANANG (ma-nang): wrinkled due to frowning; pessimistic ; unhealthy ( I still have to work on this), easily affected by her surroundings ; lacks self-love ; not driven to live to the best of her abilities, etc. etc.

It may be a hard journey ahead, knowing some parts of my future will be challenging and may not go according to plan as I want it to. But, I know deep inside I'll be ok, as long as I keep convincing myself that I'm getting younger but wiser by the day so that when I reach 88, and I know I'm about to pass, the curator of my grave can put these words on my tombstone,

"Her life was good, then it got better, and on (date) it ended GREAT!"

I WILL SUE THE MAN WHO DECIDED TO PUT UP A BUILDING AT THE BACK OF MY ROOM! (Figuratively speaking)

I've always been an insomniac but everytime I stay awake, its because of my own doing! These past few days, the construction that has been going on at the back of my room has been waking me up during wee hours in the morning and it's not right anymore! Whoever allowed anyone to put up a building so close to a residential area is not doing their job and is not thinking! Worse, it is going to be a paper factory and I know it's nowhere near getting 100% silence in the morning! This sucks big time! I've been trying to call the Baranggay office just to find out that it's too early for them to be in their offices! I will sue the man who put up a building at the back of my room if I had the chance because of all the hours that he took from me to get my well deserved rest! Doesn't he know that sleep deprivation can cause permanent damage to my body and to my emotional stability? Read ON!


Sleep deprivation can have serious effects on your health in the form of physical and mental impairments. Inadequate rest impairs our ability to think, handle stress, maintain a healthy immune system and moderate our emotions. In fact, sleep is so important to our overall health that total sleep deprivation has been proven to be fatal: lab rats denied the chance to rest die within two to three weeks.



Maintaining good health in today’s society often depends upon just how well your health insurance coverage applies to your lifestyle and needs. A little effort can save you a lot of money…compare the offers of several health insurance programs and choose the one that’s best for you.


Without adequate rest, the brain's ability to function quickly deteriorates. The brain works harder to counteract sleep deprivation effects, but operates less effectively: concentration levels drop, and memory becomes impaired.


Similarly, the brain's ability to problem solve is greatly impaired. Decision-making abilities are compromised, and the brain falls into rigid thought patterns that make it difficult to generate new problem-solving ideas. Insufficient rest can also cause people to have hallucinations. Other typical effects of sleep deprivation include:


•depression


•heart disease


•hypertension


•irritability


•slower reaction times


•slurred speech


•tremors.


In this section, we will outline and examine the various effects of sleep deprivation. Our articles will describe how prolonged lack of sleep affects both mental and physical health.


Sleep & Aging


The older we get, the more likely it is that we will suffer from some kind of sleep disorder. In fact, over 50 percent of people over 64 years old suffer from some type of sleep disorder. While the hormonal and physical changes that occur as we age will likely affect sleep, especially in menopausal women, the increased presence of other medical conditions and disorders is also a factor that tends to upset the sleep of the elderly.






One of the biggest sleeping problems the elderly experience is the inability to get deep, restorative sleep. Although they tend to sleep just as much as they did when they were younger, the elderly don’t get as quality sleep, meaning that they often suffer from fatigue and daytime drowsiness. The main reason for this is that older people don’t get as much REM sleep, the deepest, most restorative sleep phase. Keep reading to learn more about the relationship between sleep and aging.


Weight Changes


Dramatic weight changes, especially weight gain, are also common effects of sleep deprivation. Because the amount and quality of the sleep we get affects our hormone levels, namely our levels of leptin and ghrelin, many physiological processes that depend on these hormone levels to function properly, including appetite, are affected by our sleep.

Leptin is a hormone that affects our feelings of fullness and satisfaction after a meal, and ghrelin is the hormone that stimulates our appetites. When you suffer from sleep deprivation, your body’s levels of leptin fall and ghrelin levels increase. This means that you end up feeling hungrier without really feeling satisfied by what you eat, causing you to eat more and, consequently, gain weight. Keep reading to learn more about how sleep affects your weight.

(Taken from: http://www.sleep-deprivation.com/articles/effects-of-sleep-deprivation/index.php)

So you see, it can cause big damage to me and my family so I have the right to protest! I will hold their construction site hostage if they don't stop! Or throw things out my window just for them to stop! SIGH I have a feeling it is going to be a bad day today because I'm in no mood to perk up because of the noise...Wish me luck on putting it to a stop!

MY NEW TONGUE TWISTER : FITFLOPS FIT MY FEET!

No, these are not my feet. If you know me well enough you'll know these CAN'T be my feet.

Ever since I learned how to buy my own shoes, I've had this challenge of finding the best footwear that could not only make my feet look decent, but make me feel good about them as well. You see, due to my sick habit of walking around the house barefoot ever since I was a kid, I developed flat feet. Not to mention my toes are a bit chubbier than usual that could separate themselves from one another. It's a skill that come in handy for me whenever I get pedicures, especially when I do them on my own. I can sometimes even pick things up using my toes too. Haha! The experiences that I've had with my feet have been a yoyo ride...from ingrowns, calluses, dead toenails (R.I.P. my pinky toenail) and many others, shopping for shoes became a mission and not just a simple visit to the mall.

I've been hearing about Fitflops for quite sometime now. I've had mine for 3 months I think. I have the same style as the one in the picture and as I look around, I'm happy that more people especially commuters have discovered what I found. It's the most comfortble footwear yet, and believe me I've tried quite a number of kinds of shoes. I even regret buying Havaianas because I don't use them that much anymore.

Here are just some of the activities that I am able to do flawlessly with Fitflops:

1. Watch a whole concert for 2 1/2 hours standing up

2. Run up and about during an international artists' promo tour

3. Go to the beach

4. Market at Balintawak palengke at 9:00 p.m.

5. Catch the MRT

6. Have a leisurely walk at La Mesa Dam Park

7. Drive from pasig, to makati to paranaque to cainta then back to Pasig

8. Organize a whole garage sale

and the list just goes on and on...

Fitflops never let me down. It's sturdy, comfortable, though a bit pricey. But when you do the math, it's well worth it! If I calculate it, I bought my pair last June...If I divide it by 3,000 

(I forgot the exact price) with 90 days because I pratically use it everyday, I just spend 33 pesos a day and it gets cheaper the longer I use it. It truly is an investment.

I hope they distribute the other variands of Fitflops here in the Philippines. The boots, clogs, sneakers, everything. I'm not saying I'm going to buy them all. I actually won't because I plan and I know that I will be able to use my pair now for a looong looong time. I just want them to come out with more styles so more women like me who have trouble with their feet can finally find true happiness and comfort while walking, jumping or running with Fit Flop!

To find out what these other styles are, go to http://www.fitflop.com/