Turning 40...

If 40 is the new 20, then I have all the time in the world to do so many things at the same time. This milestone marks a “second wind” of sorts after all, a time when all the planning and hard work in the past two decades slowly comes to fruition. The prospect of seeing one’s efforts and projects settle on a more stable platform, from where it can be further concretized and grow, can, I suppose, give one that invigorating feeling of living life anew.

But then again no second wind, however strong, would be enough to give you a breath of fresh air if your health is shot by that time due to neglect. No platform would be stable enough to support everything you’ve worked hard for all this time if your physical well-being was not included among its foundations.

As it is, I need a lot of catching up to do. Even if the flesh is weak, the spirit remains quite willing and insistent on the need to dump the junk food, moderate the intake of the sodium and the carbs, and get on some sort of fitness regimen. As we near 40, my hubby and I know that this is the age when people – grown contented and portly early in their marriage – become even more settled at being overweight. With so many things to take care of, such as the kids’ education, careers and building the farm as a potential family business, we certainly have very little time, and energy to spare, for self-indulgent fitness activities.

But at the back of our minds, we know that it is precisely because of these responsibilities that we need to find time to take care of ourselves, in whatever way we can, in order to stay healthy enough to see them all through. After going on a three-year hiatus from badminton, for instance, I am now driving myself to get back to it, fully aware of the cardio and endurance benefits that this sport gives. I want to encourage hubby to try and go back to his walking/running habits and avoid staying up late. Personally, I make sure I sleep at least eight hours a day.

We are also now, more conscious on our diet. We avoid too much meat (especially the fats, which I loved before), take lots of fruits and veggies. Plus we regularly take our food supplements like the Reliv shakes, Alive multi-vitamins and Circulan. Not to forget the daily dose of vitamin c and vitamin e and my milk (for my bones).

“Real Leaf Paparazzi”

Last December, we had our annual gift-giving project for the street children of Makati, Pasay and Manila. There are about 150 kids who participated. They danced with the mascot, ate merienda, joined our contest and before going home, we gave them goodies for their families as well. This is a yearly activity for our family, to give back and share what we have been blessed with. And my kids really enjoyed sharing their new toys with them.

After the activity, my family went to Rockwell to relax and have dinner. We went to Mongkok for their hot soup, mixed veggies and beef steak. When my kids have read the menu, they asked me for some money. And there, they all disappeared. It turned out they all went to Rustan's grocery and bought Real Leaf green tea for each of them because the resto is not serving one yet.

Of course, I have to take pics before they consume their favorite drinks. Now, our weekly grocery cart has lots of Real Leaf green tea, my fave is the one with lychee...Cheers!