Breaking Barriers Philippine Blog Tour Featured Chapter: Chapter 8 Fighting Against All odds

I read Breaking Barriers: How to Knock Out Adversity and Live Life as a Champion by John Couret at a time when I was taking a full recovery from my Transient Ischemic Attack (TIA). It was a time when I was making sense of the healing process. I admit, I was very insecure then and to this day, I still have bouts of doubts. This is my personal struggle. It is real.

To some extent, doubts can be good. What I moderate and manage is the decline to complete and utter fear. As Yoda said in Star Wars: Fear leads to anger. Anger leads to hate. Hate leads to suffering. Life is too good to be lived in fear, anger and hate. My belief in the beauty and goodness of life was strengthened even more after reading John Couret's new book.

In Chapter 8, John Couret narrates his own struggle on dealing with serious health issues. He lost his sense of sight at a time when his career was picking up. He depended on friends and family to continue doing his daily routines. He gave up work for a while so he can heal. He was overwhelmed with these drastic changes that he was ready to throw in the towel. These same fears ate me up after my TIA. To read John Couret's journey and how he overcame his health issue was cathartic. In this particular chapter, I saw how John Couret humbled himself and reach out of the goodness of the universe. He recognized the workings of the Almighty in his life. Miraculously, he was healed. And he waited for eight months. What faith! What hope!

I imagine what those eight months must be like for John Couret. He must have slowed down. A lot! For a former boxer who led an active lifestyle, this must have been a big adjustment in all aspects of his being. But, he waited. In a time of struggle, waiting can be a great advantage.

Like John Couret, I am going to wait and to take small steps towards healing. Who knows, the physical healing I so desire will actually lead me to a healing of the whole self. What else could go wrong if the Almighty is in your corner? Keeping the faith and a positive attitude are the works of God. He is always on our side.

John Couret moves on in this chapter by telling the story of Bethany Hamilton, a professional surfer who lost her arm from a shark attack. She did not give up surfing. She went on to better herself despite missing one arm. Like him, Bethany Hamilton has inner strength. I finish reading this chapter with the belief that I will get better. I will take small steps and wait.

In chapter 9, John Couret provides tips on building stamina. While a strong spirituality is essential for healing, one's mental state is just as important.  He gives the following advice in becoming stronger in mind and spirit. I have compressed them, but read the chapter in full to get its full benefits.

a. Breathe for centering and balance. 

b. Meditate. To me, this means a passage from the scriptures: be still, and know that I am God. (Psalm 46:10) 

c. Pray. That's all there is to it. 

d. Exercise and decide what kind or method befits your current state of being. 

e. Take control of your health. Listen to your body! 

f. Tap into your creativity. Doing something creative is a big stress reliever. 

g. Sleep. Turn off the lights. Dock electronic gadgets far from the bed. 

h. Spend time on leisure activities.

As a whole, Breaking Barriers: How to Knock Out Adversity and Live Life as a Champion is not only inspirational and motivational. It is also, moving. John Couret coaches you through the entire 5 rounds. It is a self help book, yes, and the training exercises at each round allows for self reflection, being aware of one's thoughts and actions and building communities along the way for a better, more empowered society.

We all need this book now. Let the lawmakers, politicians and technocrats do their job. And let us do ours by becoming our own heroes because, life will always deal with us with issues we can't fully grasp. Then again, we can rise above these issues if we are whole, if we are strong enough because God is on our side!

July 3 - Introduction of the Breaking Barriers: How to Knock Out Adversity and Live Life as a Champion Blog Tour 

July 4 - About Write Hook Media 

July 5 - Cris Tanjutco Ngo of Teacher's Pet Featured Chapter: Chapter 7 Taking a Knee (Knowing When to Regroup) 

July 9 - Book Reviews, Featured Chapter & Author Interview link by Zarah Gagatiga, Xi Zuq's Nook,  Foster Carry and tsa-tsub!

The Official Press Release: Where Have I Been The Past Three Weeks

First of all, I wish to thank everyone who prayed for me and my family during our medical crises. Having said this, allow me to tell the tale.

During the APEC holiday, I was bent on finishing a paper for poster presentation in the PLAI Congress, a module for teacher training and three stories for a project with Lampara Books. But, amoebiasis kicked in and it was pretty bad. The infection went on for a week. The doctor had to extend my antibiotics for three more days. I was also given a recommendation to undergo a colonoscopy. That was how bad things were.

The infection affected my disposition and my general outlook in life. For the first time, all my fears came into consciousness. It didn't help that the gastro doctor told me outright that there are cases of amoebiasis that actually reveal a tumor or cancerous polyps. How could I work and write in such circumstances?

Apart from medicines from the pharmacy, I have taken to eat and consume natural home remedies. Bone broth with ginger for cleansing and healing of stomach infection and kalamansi juice for vitamin C to boost the immune system.

I tried thinking logically. I asked a lot of questions. I back tracked at how I have been living my life for the past years. And yes, I prayed and begged for family and friends to pray for me. This gave me great comfort. The prayer companions who were with me through my physical and mental ordeal bolstered my weakening spirits. I knew what to do. I was bent on getting that colonoscopy done.

Checking the school calendar, I had applied for a leave on the first week of December. However, my daughter's heart prolapse flared that week and she had to be admitted to the hospital for further tests. To add a hair on the camel's back, our eldest, Nico, was also scheduled for a holter monitor for the medical management of his heart block that same week. When it rains, oh, it pours!

When Zoe was discharged from the hospital, she took home a heart monitoring test that required us to go back for one more diagnosis. It was done as an out patient procedure. So far, her heart prolapse is still with in the normal range of contraction and conduction. Her pedia-cardio gave her management techniques to do, so that she can avoid flare ups. She has mitral valve prolapse, a heart condition that can be managed proactively. Her doctor wrote on her medical notebook which included five basic tips:

1. Drink only water. No caffeine or energy drinks.
2. Sleep for eight hours and get enough rest.
3. Know the cause of your stress and reduce these stressors.
4. Learn how to relax.
5. *Take up a sport or a hobby that will strengthen the heart.

* Your own choice and not something imposed on you.

The bottom line here is healthy living. The same philosophy goes with me.

After 20 years, I was back at the Makati Medical Center for a three day confinement. There I undergone colonoscopy and ultrasound tests. It was like getting an executive check up. This is a medical exercise I intend to do on a regular basis.

While my colonoscopy, ultrasound, full abdominal and transvaginal, were all clear, meaning there is nothing serious or alarming, this whole medical crisis is a wake up call for me to further my quest for living a healthy lifestyle. It was a good thing I started losing weight in 2013 and changed eating habits at the same time. Those two years lessened the risk of any serious malady. I was scared to death going through all the procedures. As my cardiologist told me, 40 is the new 50!

This episode in my life gave me a lot to think about. It put things in perspective. From the start of my medical ordeal, I asked myself what do I really need and what does the world require of me. Of course I know the answers. It is only a matter of realizing this concept, this abstraction of choosing a far greater love that poses a big challenge. Because, it requires me to choose this part of myself that needs to be small. Now I smile, after connecting the dots. When I turned 41 years old last August, I prayed to God to make me small. He did make me small. An answered prayer.

On My Way to Becoming A Fit Filipino Librarian

Okay. So I did not blog about my weekly progress in FITFIL Boot Camp at ATC but I did tweet highlights of every session I attended. And early today, I got my certificate as a FitFil alumna and advocate. What was the experience like and how did I survive? Did I achieve my goal? Where do I go now after completing the first step of my fitness journey?

Weighing In

http://lovealibrarian.blogspot.com/2013/11/i-want-to-be-fit-filipino-librarian.html">Looking back at my post last November 8, 2013,
I said that my aim is to set my own workout routine apart from keeping to a healthy diet. Indeed, FITFIL started me up back again to designing my own workout routine. With the help of physical trainors, coaches and nutritionist present during the entire fitness program, I am now more confident to begin the next leg of the journey.  Sessions in ATC were scheduled every Tuesdays, Thursdays and Saturdays for four weeks. In between days, I worked on the workout routine I learned from the coaches. I will continue this on. There is no turning back. I have lost 5kgs. already (I have been weighing in every morning consistently for the past two weeks). I intend to lose more! My ideal weight is between 103-106 lbs. I am now 142 lbs. heavy. I started at 150 lbs., take note.

With Dang, blogger and librarian

Yes, I still have a long way to go. But I have learned to be patient with myself and I listen more now to my body than before when I was younger. I am turning 40 next year and my life is only beginning! Fit and fab at forty is my next goal! In June 2014, when I do my annual physical exam again in preparation for the new academic year, I MUST be 15 lbs., less. Wish me luck!

Food and Diet

I am now more aware of the food I eat. My meals are very green and very colorful. My food budget increased, yes, but I'd rather spend on healthy food than on medicines and consultation fees for doctors. I do not count calories. Jesus. Math is not my strength. But, I hang on to what my nutritionist told us the second time we had a nutrition talk: 50% of your every meal must be veggies and fruits. I still eat fish, chicken and meat, but I measure them in matchbox sizes and in the palm of my hand. I am back to bringing baon to work. Fortunately, there's a home-like pantry in the school where I work so I keep stock of my greens and fruits there.

My breakfast

At home, the fridge is bursting with fruits and veggies too. The great thing about this is that, even my family eats the veggie meals I prepare. What about eating out? I still do eat in restaurants but I go to those that serve salad, vegetable dishes. Our kids are 16 and 12 year olds and they love fastfood. I would beg off and we go to the healthier choice of menu. As for my husband, he has taken the route to wellness earlier than me. They have no reclaims. It seems that they understand this battle I go through. My kids and my hubby would tease me about my "plumpness". I know they do this out of concern. They see more and they can look beyond me. I no longer looked healthy and this is reason for them to worry. So you see, I do this fitness thing not just for myself but for my family too.

Tough Love

Now, my hubby and kids still humor the fatness of my belly in spite of the fact that I have trimmed down a bit. They're tough on me. Tough love it is.

Participating in the FITFIL Boot Camp in ATC is tough love too. The coaches are so strict only because they want to see the program work on each and every participant. There is team spirit and cooperation which is pretty strong. I often think not just of myself but of the coaches too. They spend time on this because it is their passion. I know a lot about passion.

With Coach Princess

When Coach Irene Rafil shouted, I know your pain, stay with me, during the meta-combat session, I know I am not alone. This was a comforting gesture. Even Coach Ed, our nutritionist, would give words of encouragement during workout routine sessions. Coach Princess is a great inspiration. She is a living proof that once you choose fitness and wellness, you will be victorious. This victory comes with great sacrifice and hard work. Again, this is tough love. And it is good.

The Road to Fitness Goes Ever On

With a few kilos dropped and a healthy food and diet regiment, I move on. I plan to do a workout routine after work since it is a privilege to use the school's fitness room. I recently discovered that we have kettle bells, lateral ladders, medic balls, weights, etc. in school. I will do a bit of research more on using my theraband. I have signed up in Zumba classes (also at work). Hubby is planning to get a new pair of sneakers. Then we can run together.

Kaya Natin! Kakayanin!

Long term, I wish to run too. I love the sound of my heartbeat, my feet in motion, the air running through my hair, knowing the lay of the land in our community and understanding its geography is a bonus.

From my FITFIL journey I will always remember two things: Coach Tonette squeezing my "bilbil" the first time I planked on day one; and Coach Jim telling everyone that the key to fitness is to keep moving.

I choose wellness!