Part 2: Shrink the Belly Project

Read Part 1, HERE. 

5. Kat Power + Lemon Water. Before lemon water in the morning became a thing,  my fitspiration Kat Garcia, was convincing me to take lemon water early on, because it speeds up metabolism daw. 

This is Kat, she's a mom of two and has 6-pack abs

I didn't take it seriously then, but two months after I gave birth, I consulted with her and she said I had to do it as part of my fasting cardio routine, which was safe to do two months post-partum. 

 

Since there was no escaping it, I eventually did so and I saw for myself how fast I lost the extra weight! I am now a believer. She recommends mixing lemon water with some honey and cinnamon, which is actually quite yummy. I take it warm first thing in the morning.

via healthandlovepage.com

Which reminds me, I am actually due for toning sessions with @mamakat na! (She's @mamakat on Instagtram). I don't need to be super ripped, but it would be nice to get toned. If you want to consult with Kat, message her at +63917 620 6876.

6. Watch what you eat. This is going to be a downer, but nutrition plays a key role in losing unwanted weight. What worked for me in general:

- Ge Lai Herbs that my mother in law made me take as a tonic. She says it helps flush out toxins and dirty blood from the body

- NO junk food or salty food so you don't have to deal with water retention while pregnant (I eventually caved in after I gave birth and had my well-deserved share of chips and stuff, about once a week)

- Taking my Food Intolerance results seriously and avoiding gluten, dairy and eggs as much as possible

- Kat recommends avoiding salt and sugar in general, but allowing for weekend cheat days

- Do not deprive yourself, do it the French way and eat what you like, but always in moderation. I now give in to cornick, corn chips and cheeze curls once in a while

7. Clarins scrub down to fight cellulite.  Ladies, if you can have babies early on, do so na. Being pregnant and getting your body into shape in your late 30s is not as easy as when you're in your 20s to early 30s. 

Being an older mom, Clarins pre and pos-natal massages were part of my pregnancy indulgences.

I have to stress, I was more masipag going to the Clarins Spa in Rustan's Makati when I was pregnant with Xavi but was really delinquent when I was pregnant with Tepper and I could see the difference talaga. Cellulite was greeting me with wide dimpled smiles with Tepper.

8. BREASTFEED. It really helps the uterus shrink really fast, and allowed me to eat all I want without putting on the pounds.

9. NO Yaya. This I think is the real secret. If you have no yaya, or you have someone to assist you, but you do most of the work, especially the puyat at night, that's the highway to losing weight, coupled with breastfeeding. 

I figured this out when we were living in the US and most of the moms there were like me, puyat, babywearing and pushing strollers, probably lacking the right nutrition, but dressed in Alexander Wang and Isabel Marant. Eye bags covered by Tom Ford sunglasses. Happy na din. Hahaha.

When we moved back here, and became pregnant with the boys, I kept up with the habit of taking care of them at night, puyat and all. Effective with weight loss, promise.

So there, I won't expect you to do all I did, but this is what worked for me and my lifestyle. Maybe you can take bits and pieces of advice from here, and see what's effective for you!

Part 1: Shrink the Belly Project

"What!!! You have a four month old baby?!"
 

I get that a lot. But before you dismiss me as annoying, genetically lucky, a psychotic workout freak, or all of the above, hear me out. 

The truth is, there are a lot of things I did, and still doing, to get back into some semblance of my pre-pregnancy shape. It's not like I am blessed, crazy, or anything. To be honest, I need a lot of muscle toning work pa.

Case in point: This is me a week after I gave birth. On the surface, I may look good for a mom who just gave birth, but the reality here is, my thighs are cellulite-y, and I have on my husband's shirt and my maternity shorts. So of course they fit!

More importantly, I was wearing this inside: the Wink Ultimate Post Partum Ultra Bikini from Urban Essentials. This is what I wear when I am out and about.

It has 3 layers of hook and eye closures at the side to adjust for different waistlines and when I wore this, it was a struggle to wear at its widest layer.

It was depressing to put on at first because I could hardly close it. But surprisingly, they're quite comfortable, that they are so much better than wearing Spanx. 4 months later, I fit into the first layer of hook and eye closures, which means, yes, I've lost a few inches already.

Apart from artful concealment, and a seamless shapewear that holds everything in, here are all the things I did, and I hope it helps you, as it has helped me.

But before that, to see is to believe, so here's my baby belly 10 days after I popped. No bola, no photoshop, no sucking in tummy, no artful angling, no belly wrap to cover tummy. In short, no false claims. I'll be honest, if somebody is like "Oh look, this is all you need, it's so easy!", she's lying.

Ok game, are you ready for this? Here we go:

1. Train your core. It would be great to have a strong core to start with, but core training via belly breathing and abdominal bracing right after pregnancy is still safe to do. I stumbled upon this technique online when I first gave birth to Berry and I've done the same after popping out Xavi and Tepper. It's amazing how you can see results aka a flatter tummy in just a few days. Read it, HERE.

2. Magic Potions. Trust the French to come up with magic potions we need to tighten and firm up skin. I slather on Mustela Post-Partum Restructuring Gel (higly recommended by Sharleen Cu-Unjieng of Mustela Philippines) all over my tummy, around my waist, and all through the back. The same goes for my butt and thighs. If you want an organic option, try Marilou BIO Body Firming Gel from cutieverse.com.

Palmer's Cocoa Butter Skin Tightening Lotion works great too. I used that for Xavi and it helped tighten my floppy belly skin.

3. Binding. When Jessica Alba says wear two corsets and wear it 24/7 for two months, then you go and wear two belly wraps 24/7 for two months. Yes it gets sticky and sweaty, and the rubbery parts dig into the skin, but I think that sauna-like effect shrinks the fat cells or something. I also wear a hip wrap.

For binding at home, I use a Medela Belly Wrap which I bought in Amazon when I was pregnant with Berry. This worked fine on its own after I gave birth to Berry. The Cinch Wrap and Shrinx Hips Ultra I bought through Stemcord, but it's available in Rustan's. These two were all I used after I gave birth to Xavi. Now I use all three together with Tepper. If I give birth another time, I'd be wrapped like a mummy by then.

4. Cryo Baby. When it seemed that everything I did wasn't working fast enough given the time frame I set for myself (ehrm, two months post pregnancy), I went for a more drastic measure.

This is the cryo sculpt machine at Aesthetic Science Clinic in Makati.

It's from Korea, and uses a cool probe to apply serum onto skin. As part of my post-pregnancy beauty regimen, I'm doing the Cryo Sculpt with Vitaminc C serum to treat my freckles that multiplied and darkened when I was pregnant with Tepper, (it has anti-aging effects too). But this is also the same machine used for slimming and tightening skin on post-pregnancy bellies. While the probe is cold, when used on my tummy, it has a warming sensation inside, like my fats were getting cooked. Or melted. Heehee.

Results are expected to be seen in 6 weekly sessions, but in my case, there was a noticeable improvement by the 4th week. Skin was relatively tighter, although still loose given the stretch it has endured from 3 pregnancies. But at least it wasn't hanging or saggy.

If you think this is a lot to do just to get back into shape, there's more. As with all things that seem effortless, there's a lot of furious paddling underneath the surface. We'll get to that in the next installment of this post.

To be continued...

10 Fuel Saving Tips from Shell

Who wants to spend more on gas? I bet you no one does. Except the owners of gas stations maybe. Heehee.

With the holidays approaching, we're expecting traffic, out of town trips to visit (or escape) family and friends, and last minute shopping expeditions to be part and parcel of our agendas.

But because I want you, yes you, to to be a more fuel-efficient driver on the road, I am sharing with you these tips from Shell, to help us make smart decisions on how we use and maintain our vehicles, how we drive, and which products we can use to keep our vehicles running.

Here are ten good choices that can make our fuel last longer:

1. Drive smoothly and avoid high speeds. 

Maintain a steady speed and keep your steering as even as possible. Avoid braking or accelerating too quickly as this burns more fuel. The faster you go, the more wind resistance you encounter, forcing your car to consume more fuel.

2. Plan your trips. 

Always know which routes to take and plan trips accordingly. Try to combine small trips so you spend less time on the road and consume less fuel. For instance, schedule a trip to the mall and a friend’s house if they happen to be in the same vicinity.

3. Avoid carrying excess weight.

Your fuel efficiency can drop for every 100 lbs (45kg) you carry in your car. Consider removing your roof rack if it is not in use.

4. Maintain the right tire pressure. 

Fuel efficiency can be reduced even if tires are under inflated by just one psi. Maintain the ideal tire pressure of 30 psi. Check tires at least once a week or whenever you visit your favorite retail station.

5. Do preventive maintenance and check-ups on your vehicle. 

Fuel efficiency is affected by how well a car is maintained. A dirty engine increases fuel consumption. Start by using a high quality lubricant, changing worn out spark plugs and replacing clogged air filters.

6. Check your fuel cap. 

Make sure the fuel cap is properly screwed on after every fill up to prevent fuel from evaporating.

7. Avoid excess idling.

Idling is a surefire way to burn more fuel. Turn off your engine if you have to stay for more than 10 seconds.

8. Keep your windows closed. 

Driving with windows open slows the car down. Close the windows when there is no need to open them.

9. Avoid rush hour. 

Getting up a bit earlier can be a chore, but avoiding rush hour means spending less time stuck in traffic.

10. Make a good choice and fill up with Shell FuelSave.

Shell FuelSave, a regular priced fuel, contains active efficiency ingredients that can help improve your fuel efficiency from the very first tank. When combined with fuel-efficient driving habits, Shell FuelSave can help make your fuel last longer.

For more tips on how to improve your fuel economy, check out www.shell.com.ph/targetonemillion.

Fun, Cute Find: Heart and Bolt Jewelry

Heart and Bolt's Primadonna Php 950 and Morse code bracelet Php550-950 

For Mother's Day, I received some delicate, super cute jewelry from Heart and Bolt.

I love them so much, that I've worn a piece, or three every single day since I got them.

They remind me of Catbird Jewelry, sweet, stackable and makes a subtle statemement.

Except that Heart and Bolt is a homegrown brand, created and designed by Yendy Yu. The pieces are either made from 14 k gold filled non tarnish components, or sterling silver dipped in gold (vermeil), and because it's Manila-based, much more accessible and affordable. 

You can really afford to pile them on, like so:

Or choose to wear a few pieces at time, with your favorite watch. Either way, they're equally stylish.

Here's showing you a few of the designs that Yendy has come up with, check out her Instagram, heartandbolt and Like the Heart and Bolt Facebook page to see more!

Infinity & Primadonna bracelets, Anchor, Initial and wishbone pendants (wishbone is Php1,850)

moon & star necklace

barre bracelet, ballsy ring, horseshoe necklace, evil eye sapphire bracelet

evil eye bracelets

cute packaging - craft paper boxes with black grosgrain ribbon

Before you go grab yourself a stack of Heart and Bolt bracelets and necklaces, I'd like to leave you with Yendy's tips on how to properly care for and clean your gold filled and vermeil jewelry:

About Gold Filled jewelry:

• Gold filled is an actual layer of gold-pressure bonded to another metal.
• Gold filled is not to be confused with gold plating as filled literally has 100% more gold than gold plating. Gold filled is much more valuable and tarnish resistant. It does not flake off, rub off or turn colors. As a matter of fact, anyone who can wear gold can wear gold filled without worries of any allergic reaction to the jewelry
• Gold filled jewelry is an economical alternative to solid gold!

About Vermeil jewelry:

• Vermeil is an overlay of 14kt gold on sterling silver.
• This ensures a quality metal as opposed to base metals under your gold.

Caring for Gold filled and Vermeil jewelry:

• The most important tool against tarnish is preventative care.
• Keep your jewelry in an air-tight bag with an anti-tarnish strip or an air-tight jewelry box. 
• Filled and vermeil jewelry is sensitive to scratching and cleaning, so if you need to polish your jewelry, use only a dry and soft clean cloth. 
• Do not use a silver polishing cloth as it will remove the 14kt overlay from the silver. For severe tarnish or cleaning, you can use a gold polishing cloth lightly, but repeated or excessive use will ruin the surface of the jewelry.

Tonkita Tips

Now, a word from our sponsor. Tonkita by Arix shares tips on how to properly use push brooms:

For indoors, choose one with finer bristles to pick up smaller dirt particles.

• For outdoors, go for stronger, stiffer bristles, which work better to clear porous surfaces.

• To sweep, hold the broom like a canoe paddle, with one hand on top of the handle and other hand towards the middle. Push your hands in the opposite direction to get the most out of every stroke. 

via inflatable-canoe-kayak.com

• Sweep from the outside in so that you don’t miss any spots and move the dirt to the center of the room, where it will be easy to pick up.

sweep from the outside to the center of the room, Broomba photo via Gizmodo

• Store brooms with the handle down. It makes them easier to find and protects the bristles. 

 

bristle side up! via A Bushel Basket

• Pick the proper dustpan. Minimize that annoying line of dust by choosing a dustpan with a rubber edge. 

Hate that line of dust when you use those aluminum dust pans? Look for a dustpan with a rubber edge

Source: womansday.com

For more on Tonkita by Arix, like their Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/ArixPhilippines  

MFO's Verdict On: Kosmea Skin Clinic Certified Organic Rose Hip Oil

The Product: Kosmea’s Skin ClinicTM Certified Organic Rose Hip Oil 

Rose hip oil is the multi-tasking beauty product everyone is talking about. The much- hyped miracle ingredient was first bottled by the innovative, Australian family-owned Kosmea in 1993.

Kosmea sources its rose hip oil from a 100% USDA certified organic wild crop from the Maluti Mountains in Lesotho, South Africa. This process helps provide a sustainable economy for an otherwise poverty stricken community.

Setting itself apart from the pack, Kosmea extracts rose hip oil without heat or solvents, retaining all the anti-ageing vitamins, essential fatty acids and antioxidants to give your skin a healthy glow.

The Promise:

The benefits of Kosmea’s Skin ClinicTM Certified Organic Rose Hip Oil are undeniable – it protects, repairs and adds radiance to your skin like nothing else can.

Rich in essential fatty acids, vitamins and antioxidants, this easily-absorbed oil is a real treat for the skin. It may:

• help smooth wrinkles 
• heals wounds and reduce appearance of scars, from minor burn scars to acne scars
• moisturise and soothe dry, sensitive and sun-damaged skin
• helps treat pigmentation, stretchmarks, cradle cap and nappy rash
• nourish and hydrate ageing skin
• balance oily skin
• reduce the appearance of blemishes
• Great for giving that glow to dull, tired skin!

It is free of harmful chemicals, colorants, fragrances, mineral oils and animal products – it is simply ‘skincare as nature intended.’

Put to the Test:

The instruction reads like this:

Apply 2-3 drops to slightly damp skin morning and night after cleansing and before applying your daily moisturiser. Applying to slightly damp skin will allow for the oil to absorb quicker and deeper into the skin.

This is how one drop of Kosmea's Rose Hip oil looks like:

And it covers a lot of area as it is. I use about 2 drops to massage onto 2 cm. long stretch marks on each butt cheek, which I got while pregnant with Xavi. In two months, the angry, red stretch marks faded well enough for me to expose my butt cheeks if I wanted to. Not that I want to, but just to say, they're practically indiscernible unless scrutinized. Wahaha.

I love that it absorbs easily and does not leave an oily film. While the oil is dark, it does not stain clothes.

Seeing how effective it is, I now use it in lieu of an eye cream. Let's see in a few months how it works for the skin around my eyes. I realize, I can also use it for the kids' minor scratches and booboos because of its healing properties.

Let me point out that this does NOT smell like roses, just because it's called a rose hip oil. It has a plant kind of smell, not entirely pleasant, but not gross in any way. It disappears eventually, so it's not a bother at all.

Passing the Verdict: I would buy again in a heartbeat before I run out. Because it has so many uses, it's useful and just handy to have around the house, doubling as an anti-ageing/beauty serum, moisturizer and first-aid for minor wounds.

Practical Tip: Kosmea suggests mixing the oil with foundation then applying onto our skin for a dewy, glowing complexion. This could be worth a try, and maybe I will do it soon.

While it has moisturuzing properties, it is also recommended that it be used in tandem with a moisturizer and should be applied prior to applying your favorite lotion or cream.

Price: Php600 for a 10 ml bottle, Php1000 for a 20 ml bottle

Point of Sale: In this Philippines, get Kosmea at Glamourbox.ph. Elsewhere, there's Amazon and Kosmea.

P.S. Glamourbox recently came out with the very first Special Edition Glamourbox in partnership with Avon Cosmetics.

The first special edition box reveals a line of products that highlights vividness and color—capturing exactly the message that Glamourbox and Avon would like to relay. Each and every one of us is beautiful—and that we should embrace this beauty and be proud of our individuality. 

Hurry over to www.glamourbox.ph to avail of this Special Edition Avon Glamourbox for just Php595. Box is valued at P2,865, you also stand a chance to join the exclusive Makeup Workshop when you subscribe to the Special Edition box.

MFO's Verdict On: Billion Dollar Brows Universal Brow Pencil

The Product: Billion Dollar Brows Universal Brow Pencil

The pencil is a nuetral taupe color that blends just as well into blonde hair as it does very dark brunette hair. The proof is in the sales, BDB has sold ten of thousands of these pencils with a 1% return rate. 

The Promise: No More Guessing Games! 

Formulated to work with all skin tones & hair colors, this amazing pencil goes on smooth and natural. Perfect for creating beautiful, natural brows whether you are a blonde or a brunette. This mechanical pencil always stays sharp and requires no pencil sharpener.

retractable pencil means no need for sharpening, comes with the built-in brush

Put to the Test: I used to not get the fuss about brows. Then again, I cannot groom my brows even if my life depended on it, so it was like a default mechanism that I just did not care about how my brows looked.

Don't get me wrong. I tried to do something about it. I've tried on pencil fillers and powder fillers but they looked so unnatural and cartoon-ish, I decided I would rather go without.

But then! My friend Eliza aka The Painter's Wife suggested I try Billion Dollar Brows at Beauty Bar and so I did.

I have only used it a total of three times, and considering that a ten year old probably does a better job at putting makeup than me, it's remarkably easy to use.

See Billion Dollar Brows on the left, and my natural, untamed brows on the right. See the difference?

BDB to the left, natural brows to the right

Passing the Verdict: It's a good and solid, BUY!

Practical Tip: For darker skin tones and hair colors, apply pencil until you’ve reached the desired shade. Use less pencil for lighter skin tones and hair colors. Blend using the brush end of the pencil. 

The pencil is water-resistant so no worries about losing your brows when caught in a downpour. And yes, you can even wear it to work out, if you want to.

With everyday use, the pencil should last about 3 months.

Price: Php850 but currently on sale at Beauty Bar for Php722.50

Point of Sale: Beauty Bar and online via the Billion Dollar Brows website.

Slim Down with YamamaySlim

 

 

Would you believe me if I told you that we can look slimmer, even smooth out cellulite, just by wearing "magic" undergarments for 8 hours every day for 28 days?

That's the promise of YamamaySlim and according to the SA who assisted me and Jackie at Yamamay in Glorietta, this line is a bestseller in Yamamay's native Italy, flying off the shelves as soon as stocks arrive. She even told us of a US based customer who would hoard YamamaySlim for herself and her mom everytime she was in town.

But what exactly is YamamaySlim? And how does it do what it promises to do?

The YamamaySlim garments are made of Revolutional® Slim, a Carvico fabric. It is an innovative, comfortable and effective product that revolutionizes the concept of slimming. By wearing them regularly for at least 8 hours a day for 28 days*, they help to:  

• reduce the hips circumference 
• fight water retention 
• reduce orange-peel effect

Unique in its kind, Revolutional® Slim performs a remodelling action on localized fat and provides a new teatment for the reduction of blemishes caused by cellulite. Thanks to the use of Nurel’s micro-encapsulated fibre, rich in natural active ingredients such as caffeine, retinol, fatty acids, aloe and vitamin E, Revolutional® Slim redefines the silhouette. 

The extraordinary results of Revolutional® Slim have been widely demonstrated by clinical safety and effectiveness tests conducted and certified by Bio Basic Europe - Milan, an authoritative centre for derma-cosmetic evaluation. The garment retains its properties unaltered over 100 washings. 

(*) in addition to a balanced diet and a regular physical activity 

The SA also told us that the fabric used in YamamaySlim is so comfortable, you can even use it for workouts! I got the leggings and the top in black, and I will definitely be using the leggings for yoga and Plana Forma (when I find the time, heehee).

As for the black top, I have been using it as a camisole underneath silk tops and they fit and feel like a dream! Very comfortable and feels cool to the skin. I can totally wear it for 8 hours straight, even more. 

I haven't worn it straight for 28 days though because that would mean I'd have to buy at least 4 more to wear day in day out haha. But I like wearing it as a camisole and if it means slimming down by wearing it, then that's just the cherry on top. I'd say it's worth a try!

If I were to buy another piece from YamamaySlim, I'd get the bodysuit. This would be perfect to wear underneath dresses. Or with a top that you'd want to tuck into your skirt or pants for a smooth, seamless look. Plus its so easy to wear, you don't have to worry about peeing and such because it has snaps in the crotch area:

Oh and guys, worried about those love handles? There's YamamaySlim for men too. There are two styles, a shirt and singlet that comes in black and white, and may be used as an undershirt so you can wear them every single day.

About Yamamay:

Yamamay is Italy's answer to Victoria's Secret. My friend Kellyn, who studied in Italy, says they have the best fitting bras. Apart from shapewear, they also carry beachwear, underwear, lingerie and sleepwear.

Yamamay is located at 2/F Robinsons Magnolia and 1/F Glorietta 2.

Mold and Gold

What happens when your Golden Goose boots get covered in molds?

Turn on to panic mode and Google, "how to remove molds on leather boots". And pray. Hard.

Good thing I remembered about Germ Killer and how it is tough on molds and mildew.

I emailed Joni Ong of Germ Killer Philippines and asked her,

Hi Joni! Will Germ Killer work on removing molds from my leather boots? Eeeep!

Joni emailed back,

Yep, it should work. Use the GK Surface one. Spray it on a piece of cloth and wipe it on your boots. It should kill the molds. Test it out first in an inconspicuous area of the boots though. :)

I knew that Germ Killer was water based, so it should be safe on leather. But I did the ultimate test on my suede Minnetonkas. Also ridden with molds. But I wasn't as worried about them. I sprayed some Germ Killer Surface cleaner on a shallow bowl of water, dipped an old toothbrush into the mixture and brushed at the molds.

Side by side. Left part = still moldy. Right side = damp but mold free.

Tadaaaa! OMG. So clean! Like nothing happened! It still has hints of eau de molds so I plan to take this pair to Colorwash and have it deodorized professionally.

So I happily got a damp rag and sprayed Germ Killer on it. Wiped my boots in and out. Et voila!

With nary a hint of its sordid past...

The other day, I brought in a few pairs of shoes for repair at an established shoe/bag repair shop and asked them if they could take out molds. The guy manning the counter said they could, and he estimated that it would cost about Php1,800 to clean a pair of boots. Php1,800 hello! Too mahal. I would rather buy saddle soap and clean these boots myself regularly. Unlike the suede ones, they don't have that old mold-y smell.

These boots are now again made for walking. Must plan a trip somewhere cold so they don't feel neglected.

Germ Killer is on Facebook and available at Handyman, True Value, Ace Hardware and other select retailers.

UPDATE: Joni also wanted to share that they have just marked down their prices. This is great news for me, bad news for molds.

 

Prevention is always better than cure, so here are some tips to PREVENT molds from growing on leather:

- Keep leather clean

- Prevent moisture and keep them dry by stuffing shoes and bags with tissue and wrap them in the dust bag they come in. Put a silica gel pack or two inside to absorb moisture. Best to also use those disposable moisture absorbers/dehumidifiers and stuff inside your shoe closet and bag cabinet.

- If you like, place a dehumidifier in your closet or install an exhaust fan.

- So as not to dry out the leather, apply leather balms regularly

- Check your shoes every so often for molds & cracks

Hopefully these tips keep our precious leather bags and shoes in pristine condition, long enough to pass on as vintage to our daughters :)