Livedstrong

I WOULD have assumed that LIVESTRONG was the ultimate foundation for cancer research. This, of course, was my assumption. I must have purchased goods (shoes, shirts, baller bands) and even influenced certain friends and relatives to also do so. A cousin even purchased Oakley eyewear worth 12,000 pesos just to show support to LIVESTRONG! I even got mad when my baller band was missing and can't be found. But why? My wife, is a cancer survivor, and it meant a lot for me that certain foundations maybe of help to many others, the less fortunate may benefit from what these foundations can do for them. An image of Lance Armstrong wanting to move on and carry the load of many others was definitely...INSPIRING!

God is good! He has given me the chance to wake up each day to LIVE. To live, to breath, all this I thank the lord for. I have now been able to realize how blessed I have been. I can recall my days as the Mayor of the City, having to be the top honcho, but unhealthy, from stress and so too with diet and NO exercise at all. Funny, for I was even warned by the police to not run alone as my personal security would have been threatened. Would this have been the life I wanted? There too was an issue of diet, funny again how it may be but I being a "pulitiko" I had to take part with tradition to "eat and drink" whatever was offered. A denial? Was deemed as an insult to culture. But that was exactly how it should be. My hair was balding, my tummy larger than usual, hangover at times, eye bags, hot tempered and possible gout. What abuse! But that is what really goes on. It was part of the job, and it all came along with it. Hehe. I could not have avoided any of this, even if I wanted to. But that was then. Today I continue to run and my cancer survivor wife runs alongside me too. It has made running for me even more fun!

It has been seven years since Joy had her last chemotherapy. We are so happy of the gift of life. A chance to be able to stand and be alongside each other, hopefully for many more years. We now have three children, all growing up to be exactly what we dreamt of them to be. Our eldest, we hope, will pursue accountancy like his mom, Joy. My two other girls ever so pretty as I clutched them in my arms as my Joy was being taken cared for. Learning of cancer towards a loved one is always hard, especially if… family. It is normally the afflicted who should feel some sort of pain and hurt, but believe me when I say that it is us who will are affected more.

Now, we both eat right and exercise regularly. Half a salad for brunch, then early dinner with the kids. We have realized that if we eat within a time stretch of 8 hours, we feel good. Meaning if you are able to hold on to your first meal till 10 o’clock or 11, you can now eat as much till 6 p.m. or 7 p.m. Does it really work? I’m not an expert but there seems to be some logic to the thinking that it would be good to let our body rest for 16hours! Eat all you want, just as long as it is done within that time frame. Actually I have been able to get back to my ideal weight of 140lbs. Just by following this pattern, a certain discipline follows and certainly some weight loss in just a few weeks. Steaks, burgers, pasta, no problem. I’m now living life to the fullest. Living strong, because He has plans for me. I have had my days of living strong, but that was with POWER. Today I intend to live it with Joy and my kids as I know by this I have LIVEDSTRONG. And it does feel GOOD.