Frannywanny

"Health is Wealth " This saying is so true as I hear stories of family friends, relatives or friends of friends falling sick. Be it one who's in their senior years or another one who's in his 20s, falling sick can really take a toll not only on one's body but on his financial being, his family's well-being and more. I come from a family with very strong genes of cardio-vascular problems like stroke and hypertension. From my Amah and my Angkong, both of whom have experienced having a stroke or dealing with super high blood pressure for most parts of their lives down to my mom and her siblings who, despite trying so hard to keep a healthy lifestyle, also ended up stroke patients themselves. When I gave birth to my twins, my blood pressure shot up to 200/120 which wasn't a good sign at all. Prior to that, I was tested to have gestational hypertension so I was on meds round the clock which got me so worried if this will affect my babies in the long run. I

Being a foodie is a tough job. With the wide-variety of food available and the opportunity to eat to our heart's content, I'd say, we're lucky to live in a world where achieving gastronomic satisfaction is indeed possible and for some, it happens quite often too. I'd say though that as one bids goodbye to his/her wonderful twenties and slowly enters his/her 30s, 40s and even 50s, there's that great need to be more mature and responsible about the things we put in our mouth. Beyond being fit and good-looking, there's also our blood chemistry, the rise and fall of one's cholesterol and sugar levels and a lot more. I'll be honest, two years back I was at my heaviest and definitely not at my healthiest. It was hard to say no to all the food tastings coming my way. A lot of them really made me swoon and jump with glee as they were just so delicious. All day and night, I think of food . Then, I woke up and realized, it was time to push that RESET button.

If there's one health advice that I take to heart, it's the one that tells us to drink at least 8 glasses of water a day. I love drinking water, especially on such warm days, if only I can carry a 1.5L bottle around, I would. I'm glad though that water here in Singapore is very potable as some would even drink straight from the faucet. Well, growing up in a country where we're used to boiled, filtered or distilled water, it might take a while for me and my body to work up the courage to drink from the tap. Especially when the thought of having recurring amoebiasis continues to haunt me every now and then. Healthy Body, Happy Life Eversince the BIG move, Paul and I have been consciously staying away from sodas. As inviting as a cold can of soda may look after walking outdoors all afternoon, we would resort to grabbing a cold glass of ice water instead. It has zero calories and no sugar yet it cools us just perfectly fine the same way a soda would. A win-win choice

Every year since I was probably 10, my New Year's resolution always include losing those unwanted pounds. Believe it or not, I was a skinny baby. Too skinny that I guess Mommy panicked and force fed me with all the yummy things to make me gain weight. Well, she obviously was successful at that, wasn't she? As a result, I became a chubby little girl up until I was 16. That was also about the same time when I hit my heaviest that Mommy panicked again and enrolled me in a month-long swimming class the following summer where I lost more than 15 pounds. My tummy flattened up, my double chin disappeared, my arms had tiny biceps and I had to change my entire wardrobe as my school uniform was just too big for me already. As I bid all those unwanted pounds good bye, then came my confidence. Just in time to save me during those awkward puberty years where I began learning that boys aren't monsters after all. Tee-hee. However, I didn't stay slim for long, college rolled in an

*SPONSORED POST* Ho ho ho ! Christmas is two days away and for the past weeks, Paul and I have been showered with gifts from our dear friends and colleagues. I guess it’s pretty obvious to the world how much we both love food thus 99% of our gifts got were either food items or food/cooking-related items. Hooray! While this is the time of the year where we have the license for non-stop merry making and treats eating, we always have to be on guard against increasing cholesterol, gaining more unwanted weight, having a bigger and not so flattering waistline and for Paul and I, we’re also extra cautious towards our blood sugar level. We’re both not getting any younger after all and we both made a pact to stay healthy for one another and for our future family. Others might think we’re being overly paranoid but you see, my father-in-law was diagnosed with Type 2 Diabetes a few years ago and while he gets to maintain a better sugar level now, the possibility that Paul could inherit

A few months ago, I was asked to be part of a photo shoot for a popular ice cream brand. I immediately said yes and was really psyched about it as this was to be shot by a really famous photographer. I've seen his works and I have to say, he is pretty awesome! So the day came when it was finally my turn to be in front of his camera. I went early to the studio, got myself made up, dressed as required and there I was, happily posing as he quickly snap away. I was out of the country when it was time to unveil the photos so I was really excited to see the final work the moment I got back from my trip. Luckily, my friend Richard got my photo for me so I was able to receive the hard copy a few days after that. As I opened the envelope, my jaw dropped. The photo was excellent but the subject (me) wasn't. Far from perfection, in fact. Back when I can still wear a tube gown and look vavavoom. Note the visible collar bone. Circa 2003. Let's just say it felt like I was given

Let's admit it. Upon hearing the word vegetarian what comes to mind are veggies...lots of it. More often than not, the thought of eating veggies doesn't really equate to the same feeling as indulging on a plate of juicy perfectly grilled steak or even a basket of fried chicken. Yes, that's my carnivorous self talking. While I grew up learning how to eat my veggies, I still consider myself a very picky veggie eater. For one thing, it was only recently that I learned to appreciate eating bitter gourd (ampalaya). Sadly though, I still can't get myself to like the taste of eggplant (not unless it's cooked as an omelet or is part of a moussaka) , okra, peas, carrots and sayote and I honestly think it will take a lifetime to do so. That said, I can't imagine living life with no meat. This is also the reason why I have such high regards and respect for all the vegetarians out there. I admire their dedication and self-control.  Paul and I tried abstaining from beef

Who does not love to eat?  Eating brings people together. It builds new friendships and strengthens relationships. Birthdays, anniversaries and any kind of celebration definitely has eating involve. When planning a party, the first thing the host thinks of is what she will serve to her guests. For me, eating has always been a happy experience. I enjoy trying out new dishes that tickles my taste buds. Traveling around the globe has been made to be more exciting as we look forward to trying the local cuisines available. I also enjoy the fact that I've made great friends over our love for food and eating. However, eating has its drawbacks too. In comes unwanted bulges, increase in weight and bad cholesterol that can clog your arteries leading to nasty heart ailments and sickness. Ever since my mom had a mild stroke five years ago, my family has been more careful with our food intake. This particular episode in our lives became an eye-opener wherein we have learned to watch what

It has almost been a year since I finally said I Do to Paul's Will You Marry Me? . In less than 4 months, we will finally say our vows in front of God, the priest and everyone who means so much to us. Just a year ago, I made a promise to myself to begin a more healthy way of living by eating well and to exercise more. Sure I did this for a month or so then I would go easy on myself then get back to the treadmill then out again. I'm down to my last four months where I have to have that ideal body that I've been dreaming of my whole life. Can I do it? I know it won't be an easy walk in the park and for most times I would probably scold myself for, once again, cramming . However, I know that by being more disciplined and determined then I might be able to achieve some positive results. No, I won't starve myself to death. Instead I will seriously eat healthy and will begin a more regular exercise routine. Great timing that Del Monte sent us a pack of their delicious ye