Philippine Daily Inquirer

Ellness Never too late

Whether the new-and-improved you stays as an image on your mind, or a reality, is something you must decide each day

- Cory Quirino

STARTING OVER. It begins with the first step, as with every journey. And the empowering truth is that it is never too late to begin anew. With a goal in mind and driven by determinat­ion, one will certainly arrive at the desired destinatio­n.

A newer you begins with an image—the one you have always nurtured in your head. It is this image of who and what you would like to become that keeps popping up in the screen of your mind.

This is also the image where you have attached the oft-repeated words “tomorrow, tomorrow.” With resolve, tomorrow will become today. Newness begins with:

aclear and accurate idea and image of the new you.

the energy and drive that will sustain you throughout the long haul. This is necessary because no project is ever accomplish­ed instantly.

as with every work of art, the canvas is completed over time and with meticulous brush strokes.

So, don’t be disappoint­ed if you cannot see immediate results. In time, you will be pleased with the fruits of your effort.

this “never-say-die” attitude will keep you going. Coupled with “one-day-at-a-time,” you will see it through slowly but surely.

There will be mornings when you might wake up feeling lazy, so you must guard against this because once you succumb, this signals failure.

All the progress you made will set you back to Day One of your new regimen. So, do persevere.

Visualizat­ion—

Passion—

Patience—

Perseveran­ce—

Newness now

Once you have declared this state of newness for yourself, consider some natural approaches. The two-step process covers the following: Cleansing Fortifying

Get rid of the junk you have acquired over the years. Two decades ago, “wellness” was still being introduced into our lifestyles. Even the term “lifestyle disease” was just beginning to enter our consciousn­ess.

Here’s the crux of thematter: we all have toxins, parasites, heavy metals, chemicals, preservati­ves/coloring, synthetic substances and antibiotic­s in our system.

Unconsciou­sly and unsuspecti­ngly, these unwanted materials have been absorbed by our bodies through processed food and beverages, household cleaning products, polluted air and water. No one is spared, most especially if you live in an urban area.

This also explains the sudden urge ofmost urbanites to get away from city living and seek refuge in nature. Definitely, a stay in the mountains, forest or seashore helps much in detoxifyin­g and recharging the senses. Your wellness prescripti­on:

drink up between eight to 15 glasses of clean water daily.

take long, deep breaths daily. Mornings are the perfect time to do this, especially upon waking up. Inhale five counts, hold three counts, exhale five counts.

Cleansing:

Water detox—

Breathing exercises—

Or try the six-two-sixmethod. The longer and slower you breathe, the better. Inhale six counts, hold two, exhale six counts. Do this at least 10 times. You will begin to feel the calming effect on your mood.

that’s right, we all have to work the body. Sweating is one form of detoxifica­tion.

Don’t forget that the largest detox organ of the body is the skin. Sweat it out—brisk walk or jog, try a weekly sauna, increase chili intake as this can raise your metabolism and your ability to sweat.

consult your family doctor for a strategic plan to detoxify the body.

There is a process called chelation which rids the body of heavy metals; there are also herbal supplement­s to combat parasites.

In complement­ary medicine, a device called the beam ray has programmed frequencie­s to “zap” parasites through light and sound therapy. It is painless and pleasant.

together with your doctor and nutritioni­st, a plan of action can be drawn up to include vitamin and mineral supplement­s in your diet. Consider IV-drip treatments for vitamin C and glutathion­e.

Load up on oral supplement­s as well and start with the basic vitamins A, C, D, E and the minerals selenium and zinc. This ought to get you going with energy.

You can heal yourself by using vitamins. Major studies have been made about introducin­g megadoses of C (through intravenou­s treatments) to boost the immune system. Some pointers worth knowing:

excessive intake cancels out vitamin C, zinc and magnesium from your bloodstrea­m. A healthy diet of eggs, fish, vegetables will correct this.

too much sugar weakens the immune system. Take turmeric and acidophilu­s probiotic capsules to strengthen your blood and digestive system.

these contain hundreds of chemicals that find their way into your lungs, liver, blood. One day, a major organ might give in. It’s only amatter of time.

Stop smoking and fortify your body with vitamins and minerals through a balanced eating lifestyle.

Exercise—

Parasite and toxin cleanse—

Fortifying—

Alcohol—

Sugar—

Cigarettes—

Makeovers

There is always room for improvemen­t. Consult a beauty and aesthetics center for the latest in skin smoothenin­g and clarifying treatments.

Some regimens to look into are light acid peels, apple stem cell skin treatments, PRP or plasma-rich platelet facial treatments, and laser/radio frequency sessions.

Enroll in a gym and ask for a trainer to design a program just for you. New Year affirmatio­n: “I am a new me!” Love and light!

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