double-duty edibles ~ such as coconut oil to substitute fatty oils in recipes plus is my favorite hair conditioner and also moisturizes skin, as well as removes makeup (according to The Sweet Life)
handy healthy snacks (not fast food) ~ such as apples, grapes (I dig mine fresh or frozen), pears ~ the pear or apple crisp can trigger brain juice flow, don’t ya know #DISPObustAFlow
chill your coffee ~ since I don’t drink as much for heartburn prevention, I store the rest in the fridge until the next day
tote reusable containers ~ mine from Starbucks saves me 10-cents per use and conserves resources (great for my next craving, this flavor-of-the-day: the Salted Caramel Mocha Frappuccino to redeem my latest Gold Card Reward*)
My everything store is Target because it offers decent prices on clothing ~ including my designer collablimited editions ~ as well as home goods, some groceries, and is my personal fave place for gift registries
You too can check out these Target en Vogue** photos by scoring a copy and scanning with your Shazam app
Lately, my pleasure reading getaways have been simpler to prevent brain burnout (i.e., pictures for eye candy) ~ so no information overload in this rotation
stay fit as you suds up ~ stretch (with caution) as you reach for body parts to clean, and if you’re seated during a bath, I strongly suggest doing water pilates (think table top position with head and feet raised for resistance as you move)
No believer is ever too busy to †pray† ~ even if we can’t take a ½ hour or full hour to meditate, at least devote a few to several minutes or even †pray† before, during and/or after your activities (my Rosary begins my days, and playing the ♪song♫ jump-starts it!)
* Rewards = another way to $ave (discount$ & FREEbie$)
These guidelines will save you in the long one ~ not only for the aforementioned reasons, but also from embarrassment (i.e., killer breath, B.O.) if you run into someone later… We don’t want to be Finch from the American Pie movies who had to go home from school every time he had to release his macchiato! You’re welcome. ✌
However, my motivation to not shed pounds may somewhat have to do with vanity as some who wish to slim down. While I’ll still tone up and didn’t mind once upon a time when I may have been to-an-extent slim ‘n’ trim/light and tight (yet always curvy ~ even at size 0) ~ I prefer to glorify what GOD gave me, inside and out…
Now I’m not saying that I want to be identified with the likes of celeb beauties complete with their bodacious assets:
Yet I’m more about maximizing my physical fitness potential in what I have than investing efforts on minimizing it. Here are a handful of reasons why:
I actually feel more happy and confident when I’m not going out of my way to limit my eating portions and excessively (once-referred-to-as religiously) exercising ~ I’m not depriving myself, so I’m not moody or irritable
I’m simply cool and comfy in my own skin ~ I’m not trying to be a sex symbol just because I refuse to reduce my blessings of endowment through an abundance of ♥cardio♥ (which simply relieves stress for me nowadays)
I wish to stick with what makes me a woman ~ GOD created me this way, and I’ll take care of this temple to the best of my ability (an added boost from The Sweet Life also helped)
I must take advantage of having this soft yet stocky build while I’m still younger ~ I’ve seen the effects that aging (such as osteoporosis) has had on all of my grandparents☼ and more recently my parents
Yes, I’m keeping it real. I’d much rather keep my T&A any day than give up my lovely lady lumps & rump bumps. #DISPObustAFlow
Now, onto the nitty gritty part of this segment that doesn’t make me happy but in hopes that it may help: I’m addressing heartburn’s
symptoms
solution attempts
speculations of causes
Last Labor Day weekend, despite putting in a full time job’s week-worth of hours on my dissertation
Heartburn reared its ugly head in my tummy
For those of you who’ve experienced heartburn, indigestion, acid reflux or GERD (gastroesophageal reflux disease), I’m sure that you can empathize with me in terms of those unwanted abdominal aches and pains.
My Heartburn (and Similar Symptoms) History
After visiting my paternal grandmother, my beloved ☼Mama Eufemia‘s death bed (during which I reached the utmost humility by bathing her once-healthy-turned scrawny body), only to return to the Bay to bury her a couple of weeks later, I went back home to wrap up my students’ first summer session and prepared myself to take my second round out of three written candidacy comprehensive examinations for my PhD (I already took my leadership test, had my management next, followed by my research then my oral/spoken exams to become a PhD candidate) ~ the night before test day, I felt sharp sensations along the left side of my chest, and upon consulting my sister, a RN-turned nurse practitioner, she wondered whether I was having a heart attack, so I checked into the ER and (eventually) was diagnosed with and treated for GERD … Since I had an overnight stay in the hospital, I didn’t make it to my exam and was able to make it up
Before and during most of my menstrual cycles these past couple of years, I tend to cramp way more considerably, coupled with dull crumminess between my breastbone and waist ~ double trouble unpleasant combination
After Mami Aya cooked her special scrumptious southwest chili a week ago and took our family to Miguel’s Mex Tex for my Airman cousin’s birthday, I underwent the infamous inflammation that lasted several days and led to sleepless and vomit-induced= nights *yikes*
My Heartburn Attack
Chili Ziti: This hearty recipe combined with penne regate, boasts healthy goodness, including ~ wait for it …SQUASH! {YUM} I love the spice, but unfortunately, my tummy didn’t.
Loosen my clothing* to prevent confinement when I already felt like I was going to burst (into flames) *ouch*
Pop in those TUMS (I dig the Smoothie and Tropical Fruit flavors) ~ NO more than 6/day ~ I, of course, wouldn’t want to be chemically dependent on quick-fix pills
Chew chicle**+ (gum *yum*)
Consume calcium ~ like drink milk or eat yogurt (I’m partial to Dannon Activia)
Consume aloe vera+ ~ I’m all about this (I personally love Alo-Drink)
Drink lemon-infused water (I’ve done this yet wonder how it matches up with the next tip, as it has citric acid)
Avoid heartburn triggers, such as: caffeine (there goes my coffee and tea); chocolate** (see y’all later, my Nutella, candy and cookies); fatty*** (e.g., fried) food (until next time, my smiley eggs, among other YOLOs); spicy*** food (adíos, my Mexican comida); tomatoes** (say it ain’t so, my Italian cuisine), other acidic content and alcohol** (so much for drinking to help me snooze smoothly)
Stand or sit up straight* instead of slouch ~ so my stomach doesn’t slosh all of those acids
Sleep in an elevated position*** ~ with my head and torso raised, possibly with wedge pillow(s) (laying down flat only leads to more pain)
Sleep on my left side** to alleviate bowel movement in my intestines
Last resort: =up-chuck/throw up/hurl/barf (most definitely not my favorite ~ especially since I’m not one to binge and purge ~ yet absolutely vital to relieve myself of toxins)
Overall, adjust my lifestyle to only include some of my fave foods that trigger heartburn at a minimum level.
The Mini Ravioli & Breadstick are from Trader Joe’s!
My Heartburn (and Related) Causes’ Guesses
I kept my stress bottled up and felt like I needed to explode ~ losing my last surviving grandparent with whom I was close while studying for the biggest test of my life at the time was a real low point; the events that followed all involved my new form of test anxiety: my dissertation
With the exception of my time of the month, the other events ~ that ranged from moderate to severe levels ~ all involved me indulging in YOLOs (wild wings, battered [_fill-in-the-blank_] topped off full of spicy flavor, to be exact)
Let’s face it: chowing down on crazy combinations doesn’t suit my bod very well ~ hence feeling bloated on the inside and like all of my clothes fit tightly on the outside
Actually, although folks have pointed out how I could pass as a kicker, I didn’t play fútbol, but I’ve surrounded myself with many fellows who 💕💞💓💗💖💝love💟❤️💛💚💙💜 the game, including
My military brat bestie ✈️ who luckily 💍married👰🏻 her soccer player/fan🏁 💒hubby💝 exactly 3y ago this mo
Don’t use this peak 🌅summer🌻 😅heat💥 as an excuse not to kick around the ball. You may have an indoor field ~ just like the one in the city where I’m pursuing my PhD which is happens to be run by someone from my hometown (how’s that for a small 🌍world?)!
… because we want to rock out our abs on the beach …
½ my ♥
… or poolside!
The other ½ ☺
Core Combination
Standing Knee Raises (lower abs): standing hip-width apart, draw knees up one at a time while bringing bent arms down toward chest ~ 3×20 for each leg
Plank Side Bends (obliques): leaning on one elbow at a time with feet stacked, bend and press your hips ~ 3×20 for each side
Side Plank Turns (obliques): leaning on one palm at a time with feet stacked, twist to side plank one side at a time for 10 seconds each ~ 3×5 for each side
Reverse Plank Dips (core & tris): with palms of hands & heels on the mat/flat surface, pop pelvis upward while bending arms ~ 3×20
Double Leg Raises (lower abs & back): while laying down, lift both legs up slowly and with control ~ 3×20 alternating sets with legs together and apart
No, I’m NOT talking about arming ourselves with ammo ~ despite the recent open carry law in my state (that caused controversy and healthy debate among my ☼summer☼ speech students)
I don’t shoot at moving targets ~ simply for sport!
Welcome/Mabuhay/¡Biénvenidos! I am a USAF brat who was born in Germany and grew up State-side while celebrating my Catholic and Filipino heritage. ☼Sunny☼ DISPOsition Elaine’s Eye Candy/DISPhotos ~ I love GOD & His creations, so I take photos @ any given opportunity. Elaine DISPOrts ~ I am passionate about sports, which is my research focus on my ... Continue reading →
The Elaine Dispo Journal 