According to the news, the Department of Health in Northern Mindanao declared an outbreak of leptospirosis after eight persons here in the city of Cagayan de Oro and seven in Iligan City died of leptospirosis while around 300 were confined in different hospitals. Several pharmacies also declared a shortage of the generic brand of Doxycycline, a prophylactic medicine and antibiotic against leptospirosis.

It was spurred by flash floods that ravaged villages here in our city due to Tropical Storm Sendong. I thanked God that my family and I were able to bought lots of Doyxycline medicine a few days after the storm hits our place. We also got vaccinated from anti tetanus and also from this deadly disease. We are still busy cleaning up our house until today but we always think of our health first. It is better to be safe than sorry, right?

Leptospirosis is acquired not only from absorbing contaminated floodwaters through cuts in the skin but by swallowing the bacteria directly through food or water.Although the disease is commonly associated with rat urine, infection can also come from cattle, pigs, horses, dogs and wild animals.The disease’s wide range of symptoms begin with fever, chills, muscle pain, intense headache and may end up in meningitis and liver damage.

Aside from my flabby arms, huge thighs and circle shaped face which was obviously formed from gaining weight, what I really hate about my body right now is my bulging tummy. Some people would think that I am pregnant grrrr! What I also hate about having a bulging tummy is that I find it hard to choose the right clothes for me. I have a closet full of clothes but its just too sad that I can’t wear them all. I just can’t dare to wear my sexy clothes where my bulging tummy is so visible. I look like a sticky rice wrapped in a banana leaves LOL!

I know a lot of women like me are also battling on how they could get rid of this stubborn belly fats. Aside from improper eating and lack of exercise, some of the reasons include genetics.  When I gained weight a few years ago, my fats was stored in the lower parts of my body. I used to have coca cola body before but now its already in pear shaped. I also noticed that most of my relatives gained weight when they all got married so I think genetics is one of the factors.

Poor posture can also give as this so called pot belly appearance. Yay! I got hit by this since I don’t sit properly whenever I face and work in front of my computer.  I noticed it whenever I stand in the mirror and hunched over and look at my abdominals. When I stand straight, I can see  the difference on how my belly protrudes when I’m hunched.

I also felt guilty whenever I eat late at night. Now if you want to control your stomach fat, you should never eat within three hours of your bedtime. You want your food to have a chance to fully digest before you sleep. Going to bed with a full stomach puts you at greater risk for fat storage around the middle area. Oh geez! I hope I could get over this midnight snack cravings.There are other factors why we have this tummy fats that is why it is important  for us to learn more about why we  have this problem specially if we are aiming to have a flat stomach.

Why do us girls love to go shopping? well, as a shopaholic myself, I just love the thrill of looking for something that I would like to buy. Shopping is a necessary way for me to follow trends and stay up to date too. It also serves as my pleasurable hobby. It’s really fun and for shopping lovers like me knows where the bargains are and how to find them, it becomes a great way to spend some enjoyable time.

Did you know that shopping also does wonders for a woman’s health and helps her live longer? Research have proven that those women who shopped almost everyday are more likely to live longer than the average women. You can get some benefits just by shopping and walking since walking 20 minutes everyday helps strengthen your heart and increases your lifespan. Women who also shop with a company of other women just like what we did together with my fellow mommy friends  helps build social bonds and communication.

Shopping also helps maintain a positive self image specially if you have a good bargaining skills and picking up a flattering outfit make you feel good about yourself . Whether you are shopping for yourself or buying gifts for others, the end result is you feel good in it. That’s why women shop when they are stressed out or if their having a bad day. Shopping helps  us to have a good mood feeling that’s why we get a happy high, right ladies?

Our church music team is currently having their 3 days fasting in preparation for our upcoming concert. I also fast but I only did it for one day. I have tried fasting before for 3 days and we just stayed in the church. My fasting diet is only water and juice but I thanked God that I was able to survive it. For some people,they fast as a way to lose weight or to cleanse the body. Some fasting diets involve drinking nothing but water or eating only raw foods for a period of one or more days, while others restrict food on alternate days. Certain fasting diets only allow liquids like water, juice or tea and that’s what I usually do.

When you fast, your body is actually forced to dip into energy stores to get the fuel it needs to keep going, so you will lose weight. The big question is how long you will keep that weight off?  you will probably gain back the weight you lost and possibly even put on more weight when eating the same calories you did before the fast. Research has shown that fasting on alternate days can help people lose weight, but not for long. I think this one will one work out for me because people who followed an alternate day fasting diet shed weight, even when they ate all they wanted on the non-fasting days.

Did you know that people who meditate everyday are many times happier than those who don’t? They’re also healthier and their sense of well-being is much greater . I have a meditator friend who shared to me her experience on how she live a life that’s stress free! She told me that with the help of meditation, she dramatically had a better mental health.

She has less anxiety, anger, depression and fear and she also has better human relationships,  made more friends and feel much more fulfilled in her life.  I think its also time for me spend some time for myself, be alone and meditate.  I want to get the overall sense of well being and get benefited from it in order to continue having that positive outlook in life. Perhaps a meditation program could help me on it.