Wednesday, January 25, 2012

Word(s) of the Week: HCG


After the holiday season, its all about trying to get all those gained weight off and/or finding out who recently tied the knot or had a new baby in the family though those January 1st reunions. Because of the fancy for both topics, I heard this buzz about HCG and got all hooked. So the geeky side of Charisma went tumbling around web surfing and got all these bits you might want to read out:


HCG, which stands for Human Chorionic Gonadotropin, is a hormone produced by the placenta of a pregnant woman. HCG is detectable in the blood and urine within 10 days of fertilization. Because HCG is produced in the placenta and is formed during the first few days of fertilization, its presence in a woman's blood indicates that she is most probably pregnant, thus this is the basis for the 3-5 minute wonder of standard pregnancy test kits.

A pregnancy blood test or a pregnancy serum test measures the exact amount of the pregnancy hormone, human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), in the bloodstream. After the fertilized egg implants, or attaches, to the inside of the uterus or other structure inside the mother, the levels of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) rise rapidly. HCG's primary function is to support the pregnancy by encouraging the production of progesterone.

It is important to monitor the HCG levels of a woman during pregnancy; low or failing readings could signal a more recent pregnancy, miscarriage or an ectopic pregnancy (is a complication of pregnancy in which the embryo implants outside the uterine cavity) while high levels might indicate being further down the month counter, multiple pregnancy or even ovarian cancer. 

HCG's importance have led to what is commonly known nowadays as HCG INJECTIONS. HCG injections are primarily used for fertility issues.The hormones are necessary for women to develop eggs, as well as for healthy eggs to prosper during ovulation. Both genders naturally have amounts of these hormones produced by the pituary gland since it is necessary for the proper development of reproductive organs. In some cases, infertility specialists determine that a man might need assistance increasing his sperm count in order to help a woman conceive. This is a common use for HCG injections to treat infertility, as it can increase sperm production.  

Some physicians prescribe HCG injections for obese patients as a method to lose weight. It is thought some doctors that the increased amounts of hormones can help with weight loss while retaining lean muscle mass.
According to some online articles i have tumbled on, HCG's "Fat Release System" is a protocol designed to use the body's natural hormonal system of regulating fat in one's body, and stimulating it to release the dense, long-term fat from the problem areas of your body. It was said that these are fat stores that would only be normally released during severe starvation of during pregnancy. 

So, there you go -- HCG as the pregnancy hormone which is your quick-best-first-help in determining if you're pregnant and a level meter guiding you through pregnancy, which eventually found its evolutionary way as a fat release protocol to convert your fat in problematic areas to energy while doing a 500 calorie a day diet plan. Ohhh the wonders of Science and online research when you're insomniac and itching to blog :)

[INFOSOURCES:http://www.wisegeek.com/what-is-hcg.htm http://www.babyhopes.com/articles/hcg.html http://www.ehow.com/how-does_4924310_what-does-hcg-shot-do.html http://www.ehow.com/how-does_4924310_what-does-hcg-shot-do.html http://www.what-is-hcg.net/]


Tuesday, January 24, 2012

The Girl Who Got InkeD Analytics :)

A thousand and more thank yous to those who have visited this site today, for the month of January and since this conceptions last year. Its inspiring and motivating for a long-time-writer/new-blogger to carry on upon seeing this.

Also, kudos to Nuffnang! Your analytics rocks :)


Today's Visits - 24 January 2012



This Month's Visits - January 2012

Monday, January 23, 2012

Living up to its given name: OMAKASE! :)


Omakase (お任) is equivalent to the phrase "I'll leave it to you" in Japanese. Its a common expression used in Sushi Restaurants wherein you leave the food selection and cooking to the Chef. With Omakase, the chef will present a series of plates, from the lightest fare to the heaviest most richest dish. This phrase is not limited to raw wish with rice, this can also be used with grilling and shimmering. [info fromWIKI]

Upon learning the meaning of this catchphrase, though am not expecting the phrase exact meaning to come alive -- I decided to bring my family to this Japanese Restaurant named Omakase for December's New Year's Eve Dinner. 

Omakase Restaurant here in Manila did not fail to live to its phrase meaning. They served an oh-soo-yummy Japanese selection in dish rates that are affordable to pocket. ALSO, they were amongst the few Restaurants that were open on New Year's Eve - Arigatou gozaimasu!

Here are some of the dishes that knocked our tummy's out this New Year:

Ebi TEMPURA at P450 -- California MAKI at 160 -- Seafood DUMPLING (YUM!) at P160

Baked OYSTERS at P270 -- Pork TONKATSU at 150 -- Beef TEPPAN at P335


Omakase has 5 branches around the Metro: Libis, Alabang, Morato, Greenhills and Makati.

I've tried their Morato, Il Terrazzo branch and the service is good, also the Greenhills Set up is really inviting.

Happy Tummy! :)


Parked Car -- Kung Hei Fat Choi!

Aside from Family, the best way to celebrate the New Year is with Bestfriends. Chivas Regal with Apple Juice, San Miguel Pale Pilsen in the Hotel Room, Doodle Dinner at Burgoo, Talks and an Abandoned Parking Lot. Perfect <3

Saturday, January 21, 2012

Travel Advisory Yehey: Marked-down NAIA Terminal Fees

Great news for all tipid-travelers out there, Terminal fee for International Flights at the Ninoy Aquino International Airport (NAIA) will be priced at Php550.00 from its original Php750.00 rate, this will be effective starting the 1st of February 2012 as per the Manila International Airport Authority (MIAA) ---  Lets START INKING that passport with more STAPSSS,YEY! :)

Friday, January 20, 2012

Travelling VISA-FREE for Filipinos ♥

Travelling without the dreaded VISA requirement? Every traveller's (wanderlust's) dream come true! After several viral reports over the Internet about countries not requiring a Visa for Filipinos, GMA news finally released their own take on this travelicious newsbuzz.

The TV Network's website released that according to the data compiled by their team and DFA's Office of the Consular Affairs, the following countries fall in the VISA-FREE CATEGORY. The list below also includes other countries mentioned in the website of International Air Transport Association (IATA), plus the lenght of allowable stay for Filipinos in each mentioned country:

Those in Bold are those I (have) waaant to visit, yey! :)

SINGAPORE

BRAZIL
(Visa-free for a duration of tour of duty or 180 days for official business or tourism)

Cambodia (21days)
Hong Kong SAR

ISRAEL
(Visa-free for tourist, no of days will depend on immigration, Visa required for business)

Bolivia (60 days)
Brunei (14days)

COLOMBIA

Costa Rica (30days)
Ecuador (90days)
India (Visa upon arrival valid for 30days)

INDONESIA

Laos (30days)

SOUTH KOREA
(If arriving from Jeju Island only and is valid for 30days)

Peru
Suriname

MALAYSIA
(30days)

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Mozabique

MOROCCO

Palau
Tuvalu


THAILAND

Venuatu
(Visa upon arrival valid for 30days provided that Filipino National has a return plane ticket)

VIETNAM 

Zambia
Nicaragua (90days)
Micronesia (30days)

CAPE VERDE ISLANDS
(Visa upon arrival with fee of around £25)

Dominica (21days)
Madagascar (Visa upon arrival valid for 90 days with fee of MGA 140,000)
Fiji (Visitor's Permit upon arrival valid for 120days and van be extended)

MALDIVES
(Visa upon arrival valid for 30days, extension of 90days is possible by paying 750MVR)



While these countries don't initially require a VISA for entry, there are certain ones that will issue/require you one upon arrival with corresponding fees.

For travel safely it is always best to triple-check each country's regulations for tourist. Google, read blogs and forums or even call the country's embassy in the PH if there are informations that you need to verify.

Calling my bestfriend, Dani!! if 2012 is for EU, 2013 is for what, take your pick from those countries in bold :) Happy Travelling you all!

Saturday, January 14, 2012

Dmitriy Samohin TATTOOS

[INK ADIK] Thanks to Ian for that YouTube link, Ive been dazed and INK-ified by DMITRIY SAMOHIN, a tattoo artist from Odessa, Odes’Ka Oblast’, Ukraine. 

His work of art is awesome and can only be best described through his colors, shadings and total Mastery of Inking. 



Dmitriy Samohin, 33
Worlds leading artist on realistic tattoos
sdvtattoo@mail.ru - dmitriysamohin@gmail.com
http://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=770243317#!/DmitriySamohin?sk=info

Why I hate Religon, but love Jesus || Spoken Word

This has been going viral lately and definitely deserves another viral push in blogs/twits or FB stats. Here is a poem written to highlight the difference between Jesus and false religion. Watch/Listen Up!


Thursday, January 12, 2012

Word of the Week: RESVERATROL

res·ver·a·trol 

n.
A natural compound found in grapes, mulberries, peanuts, and other plants or food products, especially red wine, that may protect against cancer and cardiovascular disease by acting as an antioxidant, antimutagen, and anti-inflammatory.

The red wine compound that's famous for protecting the heart may also shrink your waist. An animal study found that taking a daily supplement led to a 13 percent decrease in calorie consumption and a 29 percent increase in resting metabolic rate.

FACTSOURCE: -BMC Psychology, Women'sHealth 042011

Wednesday, January 11, 2012

25th at Tagaytay Vista Hotel ☀

Since I've been driving almost everyday since 2008, and most of it is for office work, meetings and beating deadlines stuffits - Tagaytay Roadtrips are looked forward too. Its the easiest, nearest, leisurely-est drive you can do out of Manila, in a spontaneous way. 

Whether it be an "i need to drive away, drink and think" trip, an impromptu getaways with your on-call/adventure seeking friends (check-out; Roadtrip!) or a planned Family Timeout Trip, Tagaytay has always something niiice to offer. 

Last December, as a family celebration for my 25th Birthday; Mum Papi and Chachie did some Tagaytay hits for the gazillionth time. 


We checked in at Taal Vista Hotel and I treated my folks to dinner at Cafe on the Ridge -- Perfect Salpicao, Kare-Kare and Crispy Pata, Oh Pure Tummy Bliss
 

YUMMMYYY!! :)

Mum Chachie Papi at Cafe on the Ridge for Diner
Taal Vista Hotel
Kilometer 60, Aguinaldo Highway
Tagaytay City 4120, Philippines
Tel No:  +63 (46) 413-1000     
  http://www.taalvistahotel.com/taalvista/overviewend_of_the_skype_highlighting+63 (46) 413-1000

Taal Lake View, Sumptuous Dishes at Cafe on the Ridge, Good Spa Massage at Asmara Spa which is open from 10:00am to 9:00pm on weekdays and from 10:00am to 12:00mn on weekends, Plus nice hotel rooms = Perfect for that Tagaytay for the Family Hits :)

That VODKA Drink

So whats your choice of poison? What do you prefer to buzz your night out drinking? Long Island Ice Tea, Bloody Mary or a Screwdriver?

Believe it or not, these vodka-based preference are actually based on science. Essentially, vodka is 40% ethanol and 60% water, a combination that produces clusters of molecules called ethanol hydrates. Low structures of these can taste more watered-down which you will like to swill.



Take note of the calorie count though; Long Island Ice Tea -138, Bloody Mary - 120 and Screwdriver - 181. Now, will we go back to our Beer first love?

Fact Source: Journal of Agricultural and Food Chemistry/Womens'Health 032011

Verses: HUSH

Part of my New Year's To DO List (Yes, to do list is better than resolutions, they are more attainable since there is a call to action in it) is to send those drafted emails, to voice/read out whats in my heart & mind and to publish most if not all of my written verses.

So here goes one of my love full/hope full verses from 2011:

HUSH 0305

If I can hold you in my arms
To touch your face and hold you tight
I'll kiss your fears and hold your hand -

keeping the faith to be beside, to overcome and just love.

Hush, just listen.
Hush, hold my hand.
Hush, just feel my touch.
Hush, close your eyes.


We don't have to stress it
We don't even have to talk about it
The heart feels more than what you hear
And time I know will prove it clear.


Lovers lost with faith regained
I'd give everything just to hear you say
That you'll do anything for this love to stay.


Hush, let's do this.
Hush, I'll hold you still.
Yes, you can come over.
Tonight we'll kiss the night away.

Tuesday, January 10, 2012

Random Thought: New Year ♀♂

Aside from faithfully hoping for a brighter & promising year ahead, New Years are for looking back to your past year; both good and not so good parts of it with the intention of patching it up together, tying loose ends if any or maybe just going through the part of it which you have been uncertain how to unravel, again.

Yesterday, I have been blessed with the chance to somewhat do all of those -- and it has been both familiar to the heart and calming to the soul. To affirm your sentiments and to share some laughs with all honesty and candidness is a reassurance that though some good things don't end up as you may have planned, there are better ways of continuing something considered wonderful into something unbreakable called true friendship.

This affirms my previously mentioned sentiments and proves my newly discovered notions on how I would like to daily live my life -- to treat each day as it is presently given and to welcome each tomorrow's surprise (with an open mind, hopeful heart & expectant spirit)

I don't know what this new year will bring, but I still am sure with what I want and feel today.

Happy heart, contended soul. Believing in fate, hopeful for love. In no rush; living the life you love - with music, poetry, rhythm and faith.