Week 2

This is the second week since I started taking meds for my high uric acid levels. I wonder if it is effective because my joints still hurt like I was in a boxing match.

Yet I am happy to announce that I've also been exercising for 3 days a week now.

Woohoo!

Last year after my sister's major surgery, she was referred to an endocrinologist by her surgeon so she could control and maintain her weight. The doctor recommended an easy to follow exercise regimen called "Walk at Home" by Leslie Sansone. You basically walk away the pounds by doing a good cardio workout right in the comfort of your home. I googled the program on YouTube and found several videos which are easy to follow and based on your own pace.

I would never, ever enroll myself in a gym since I'm shy and don't like to work out in public in plain view of other people. Besides those gym membership fees cost a fortune, no?

I'm determined to keep doing it even if I collapse from sweating up a storm and from fatigue. The first day I tried it .. I only managed to go 1 mile until I slowly but surely progressed to the 3 miles mark.

I'm proud of myself ... here's keeping my fingers and my tired toes crossed that I stick to this effective regimen of losing weight and getting my cholesterol and uric acid levels within the normal range.

P.S.

This is not a sponsored post!  =)

Crunch time

This weekend I spent it in a clinic waiting for doctors and for my lab results. Actually it was D's annual check up time (which is a prerequisite before classes start - which incidentally is today!) but I tagged along.

For a week now I had this terrible shoulder pain which spread down to my left arm. I drank the painkiller which our pambansang kamao endorses, this really strong pain reliever. Yet 4 days later I was still in pain. I had to fast for 10 hours so they could check my blood chemistry which consist of 3 letter words. 

Of course as expected my triglycerides, cholesterol and uric acid levels were way high! I was prescribed meds to control my uric acid levels for 30 days. I was also told to diet and exercise and come back in July to re-check if there is any progress.

Now I HATE to exercise since I don't like to sweat, at all. A naturally active sweat gland has me perspiring even when I just walk down the stairs of our rented apartment.  

BUT.

It is time to take better care of my health so I won't feel any more discomfort as I enter a new phase in my life - the dreaded M word. I will keep a positive attitude and motivate myself so I can conquer this condition with flying colors. 

As the doctor said as I was about to leave her clinic - Good Luck! I do need all the luck in the world as I walk away the pounds towards a better ME. =)

HK: Wong Tai Sin Temple

We had already been to most attractions so I decided to google for more places to visit in HK. I came across the Wong Tai Sin Temple located in Kowloon Island.

According to the Discover HongKong website:

The Sik Sik Yuen Wong Tai Sin Temple's claim to 'make every wish come true upon request' might have something to do with its popularity. Home to three religions (Taoism, Buddhism and Confucianism), its natural setting and beautifully ornamented buildings make it as much a scenic attraction as an important religious centre. The temple commemorates the famous monk of yore, Wong Tai Sin who was born in the 4th century and became a deity at Heng Shan. In 1915, Taoist priest Liang Ren-an carried a sacred portrait of Wong Tai Sin from Guangdong in southern China to Hong Kong. The temple is where worshippers pray for good fortune through offerings, divine guidance and fortune telling.

Sister took the afternoon off from work, we met her at the Silvercord Mall in Kowloon for lunch at this yum cha place aka dim sum place. Our bellies filled to the rafters, we deemed it would be more practical to just take a taxi since the MTR would mean transferring to several stations before reaching our destination. A no-no if you are traveling with elderly parents.

 

We all had a great time while exploring the vast temple grounds. It was nippy cold so it was pleasant to be outdoors. The temple does have a lot of steps and stairs so certain parts were not accessible for my parents to roam about but the visit was worth it. Observing a completely different way of worship of another religion is a great cultural experience. 

I was surprised that adjacent to the Wong Tai Sin Temple with its rich cultural vibe is a very modern mall with the latest amenities to satisfy your cravings.

Wednesday, the First of June 2016

I'm back.  The month long blogging hiatus did me good.

May was a nice month.

I spent it with sister dearest who was in town for short visit.

We celebrated our 8th wedding anniversary.

We visited 2 of the 5 churches included in the Jubilee Year of Mercy

pilgrimage churches.

We feted mom who turned 79 this year.

We ended the month by visiting Antipolo City.

The weather was sunny hot with splashes of isolated thunderstorms.

So to sum up the month of May ... I ate, loved and prayed! =)

A bird's eye view of Laiya, San Juan Batangas.
The venue of the hubby's team building session.