Vegan Stigma

I think one of the most challenging things about being Vegan is the stigma associated with it, and all of the preconceived notions that people have. People think I'm nuts, in-a-phase, in-a-cult. They ask if I'm done with the experiment, and how long it will last. When I first tell people that I'm Vegan/Vegetarian, they look at me with utter shock. Really? No way, how can that be?

I don't look like a Vegan, I'll give you that. I'm not a waif, I'm not a hippie, don't smoke, drink, or do drugs. Heck, I don't really do much else to be Vegan, other than to choose certain food to eat, and talk to people about the reasons why, when they ask me. I don't preach, or at least don't mean to.

I'll give you this, a lot of Vegans that I've met are nuts, absolutely bananas. I swear I think if they had the choice to save a chicken's life or a baby's life, they'd choose the chicken. Okay, that's going a bit far. But, you know what I mean. A lot of these people have swung so far the other way, they can't even be around others who aren't like them. Man, I'm not like that. My co-worker said, "You're probably the most understanding and tolerant Vegan I've ever met." I guess so, I don't mean to be anything, really. I'm just eating a certain way, for my personal reasons, and not much else.

Sure, it would be great if more people took a look at themselves and tried to make choices that improved their life. If that meant being a Vegan or not, then great. If that meant going for a walk everyday or not, then great. That's all I'm doing here.

I guess the label "Vegan" already is a cause for conflict. Maybe I shouldn't call myself that, because of the connotations. Maybe I shouldn't label myself at all, and just do what I do. Or heck, maybe I should just forget about what people think altogether. I don't know, it's tough. Being a Vegan, when everyone else around you, and I mean everyone, is hard enough. Having them form a prejudice, even without talking with you in detail, is even worse. But, like so many folks who dare to cross lines or try something different, you have to persevere, if that's what you truly and passionately believe.

Ah well, you know what? I feel great. My digestion is better than ever. My skin is as supple and clear as it's ever been. My gums and my teeth are healthy and clear. My hair is soft and vibrant. My nails are strong. My muscles are still there. My flexibility and my cardio are fine. My energy levels are great, and I sleep like a baby (most nights). So, this is what being Vegan has brought to my life. And if there's a stigma justifiably associated with that, then so be it.

Dad

My dad would've been 70 years old yesterday, but instead cancer took him away at the tender age of 56. 14 years ago, and it feels like yesterday. I look at my the title of my blog, Health and Happiness, and wish that he could have read what I've written. In a lot of ways, I write not just for him, but for my kids and eventually my grand-kids as well.

My dad was the perfect combination of intelligence and silliness, a dichotomy of a person. Smart and serious in one second, goofy and silly in another. Giving and caring in one second, faulted and pained in another. He was an amazing man, and I miss him dearly. I see him when I look up at the sunshine, I feel him warming me, comforting me when I'm not doing too well. And most of all, I remember him, his smile, his laugh, and his joy.

Letting go, reliving the hard times, getting over the pain, moving on ... it's all a process, I guess. I cry a lot, even still. It takes just a thought, or a song, or a moment to bring me to tears, to fill my soul with sadness. Grief is tough to deal with, even for the strongest of us. Our memories catapult us in time, so we're walking side-by-side, we're small again, we're carefree and joyous. And then, we go back to the hard times, to the hospital beds, and doctors. To the pain of letting go.

I guess I'll never really get over it, as much as I think I do, as much as I like to think so. It's been 14 years, and it feels like yesterday. 14 years is a day to my mind. But, at the same time, I know what he's telling me, even as I write this. "It's okay, don't worry, it will be okay." And I'm comforted by that. Life is complex, isn't it? Sometimes, to find your true happiness, you have to find your true sadness first, and deal with it. I guess I'm dealing with mine now.

Helping People

I was on the phone with my cousin, who I recently hooked up with a few weeks back. We're going to spend some quality time together soon to discuss health and wellness. My co-worker overheard the conversation and said, "You're going to visit your friend just to talk about health? You're a nice guy!" I then offered to share with him a lot of the same information that I shared with my cousin, and he gladly accepted.

It's not that I'm a nice guy, although those are very kind words. It's really about helping people. I've always tried to do that, throughout my life. It started with coaching kids in sports, doing things for charity, helping friends find jobs, and now helping people with health and wellness. There's something very rewarding about seeing another person succeed, improve, or just smile. It's a gratification that I've craved for all of my life. Giving something, as simple as a few words of support, and having it matter in the very least to someone, makes it all worth while.

I would hope that more people could find peace and happiness through helping others. My yoga teacher once said that "service" is a major element in life's purpose. I can see how wise that truly is, because it enriches you, and gives meaning to your actions.

Health Around the World

We're in the midst of our annual World-Wide Company Meeting, and people from all over the globe have traveled to spend some time together. Brazil, Sweden, India, Germany, Italy, France, and folks from all over the U.S. are represented.

I couldn't help but chat with people about health and diet, foods, etc. in their home countries. Universally, they all talk about the "portions" here in the U.S., and how overblown they've become. Breakfast is so huge, it's a big shock for many of them. And the quantity of food, over an extended period of time, is something they are not used to.

I delved a little deeper, talking with a friend that has lived in France for the past 15 years. I mentioned to him that French people seem so healthy, so much thinner than folks here in the U.S. He himself, a very fit guy, and smart to boot, as well as very friendly and kind. We talked about the French diet, how a Vegan like me probably couldn't make it in France, because there's an abundance of cheese, dairy, and different kinds of meats. He talked about the French day, and how the kids at schools are fed. Small portions, especially in the morning, frequent meals, no snacking in between, and the highest quality foods. Grass fed beef, small quantities. The freshest fruits and vegetables, with vegetables at every meal. Lunch is "big" but consists of lots of leafy fresh greens, and a small portion of meat and cheese. Wine daily, in small quantities. :)

I saw many people from Brazil. All of them are thin and healthy, with vibrant skin. They too, have small portions. The schools in Brazil have banned fried foods, and health for kids is very important. They eat lots of fresh fruits, and apples, bananas are available always. They have specialty produce markets, with the freshest fruits and vegetables, and extremely cheap. Beef there is always grass fed, in grand plains where they are allowed to roam. Like France, they are raised old-school. Beef tastes different in Brazil, much better, or so they tell me. They are happy and proud, and look amazing.

That posed some thoughts to me, and something I've been thinking about a while. Again, when people here close to me get sick, the first thing they ask me is, "Should I go Vegan?" And immediately, I say "No!" I explained that a while back, so I won't go into it. But, talking with my colleagues abroad have clarified this position. The equation for health is individual and complex. It does not universally apply. For me, maybe being Vegan is my best choice, and has worked well for me. For others, it may make them miserable. And that's no way to live. Look at the French and the Brazilians. They are not Vegan, but they are very healthy. Their lifestyle, their quality of food, is much different than ours here in the U.S. The way they eat, they way the emphasize certain foods, makes them (and their children) healthy. We could learn something from them.

Here's the bottom line for me. There is no right answer, it's always an ongoing experiment to see what works best for you. If you are struggling and unhealthy, take a look at what your eating, how much you're eating, when you're eating, how much or how little you exercise...look at it all. And make one small change. It could be as easy as this. You may drink Diet Soda by the buckets, maybe two cans a day, just because. Well, try drinking one can a day, and have water for the other time instead. And try this for 6 weeks, and see how you feel. Of course, go for a walk and do some exercise for 30 minutes a day, that will always help. But do that slowly as well. If you take a hard look at your lifestyle, make a small change, observe if it's good or bad for you, and do it for at least 6 weeks, then you can make your own lifestyle choices and decisions. Remember, we're all imperfect, we all struggle, so don't worry about it. Just sit back and observe the small change and it's rippling effect on how you feel. And then see what happens. Make another small change, heck have 1 diet soda every other day, and water for the rest. Do that for 6 weeks, and see what happens.

I'm with you on this. One of these days, I will probably visit Brazil or France, and sit down and sample some of that grass-fed beef just to see for myself. You nutty Vegans will think I'm blasphemous, go ahead, it's no big deal. For me, it's always an ongoing experiment and my personal choice.

Patience

A old-friend of mine posted these words of wisdom. I hope they give you a small sense of peace through your day.

"Wait and be PATIENT. The storm will pass. Never cut the tree in the wintertime. Never make a negative decision in the low time. Never make your most important decisions when you are in your worst moods. Its in the midst of the storm that our true character appears. The spring will come soon."

Let's Run!

Okay, it's about time. The San Francisco Marathon is July 25, 2010. It will be a tough course, hilly and scenic. Thousands of runners from all over will be there, and it will be the very last marathon I ever run. 26.2 miles is no joke, something my body and my tender Achilles can only take a few times in my life.

I want to run this one for several reasons. One, I have three daughters, and I want a marathon for each of them, and this is the 3rd one of my life. Two, I am a Vegan, and Pilipino. Vegan's are rare in this world. Marathoners are even more rare. And Pilipinos, of course, are amazing are rare. So to finish a marathon, being Vegan, being Pilipino is very rare indeed. And lastly, the last race I did run (San Jose Rock N Roll 2009), two runners died during that race. I'm dedicated this to them, to run for them.

It will take 19 weeks of training, starting in March. Running 3 days a week (a new plan this time, trying not to over train), doing lighter stuff, stretching, etc. for 3 other days a week. I pray for good weather, and for this unrelenting winter cold to calm down.

For me, the greatest part of all of this is the process itself. Planning your running schedule, building up, taking care of yourself throughout, balancing this endeavor with everyday life, going through the training process, and culminating in the race itself. When you cross that finish line, it's not just the race, it's not just the 26.2 miles, it's the entire process, it's running by yourself in solace at 3am, it's getting up and doing it again. It truly is a privilege and honor to even be able to do this.

Now, for everyone else who may not be crazy enough to run a full marathon (I don't recommend it for everyone), try something else. Start with a 5k (3.1 miles) walk, and train for it. Put together a plan for 6 weeks, build up, and accomplish that goal. Don't worry about finding time, being embarrassed, being lazy, or anything like that. Keep it simple. Find a 5k, put a plan together (For example, walk 3 days a week for 6 weeks, start with a 10 minute walk and build up). Google for 5k training plans, find one, and try it! Of course, check with your doctor, watch yourself carefully, take it very easy, and find a friend to do it with you and support you. I think you'll find the "process" amazing, and you'll reward yourself with an accomplishment beyond finishing the race.

And look, most people can walk at 20 min/mi. That's a fairly comfortable and easy pace, as long as you're not seriously injured. So you simply need to walk for 1 hour to finish the 5k! You can do that! Start slowly, walk 10 minutes first, then 15, then 20. The week after try 15, 20, 25. The week after try 20, 25, 30. The week after try 25, 30, 35. The week after try 30, 35, 40. And the final week try 35, 40, race! Rest in between, consider tapering off that last week. But, build up nice and slow like that, put together a calendar and plan and stick to it.

Now, stop reading. Get out a spreadsheet or pencil/paper. Find a 5k walk. Schedule and plan backwards from the 5k walk. And go do it!

Age

Age is just a number, isn't it? In many of my yoga classes, I look around and see so many fit and healthy women (since I'm usually the only guy, or one of a few in there). I wonder how 'old' they are, and then realize that it doesn't really matter. What matters is how healthy and how happy they are. And by their look, by the smile on the faces, by their kind words, they are indeed healthy and happy.

Now at 42, I'm beginning anew. It's time to grow up, be healthier and happier, worry less, have more fun, enjoy the beauty of life more. I encourage you to do the same. Don't worry about how 'old' you are. If you're not healthy and happy, get up and do something about it. Little by little, step by step, meal by meal, snack by snack, emotion by emotion, smile by smile ... do something small to make yourself healthier and happier. And tomorrow, do it again. And the next day, do it again.

Virtues

Like many good people, I try to live a virtuous life. Emphasis on "try". I try and fail, I try and succeed, then fail again. But, I try again. I'm human, imperfect, with fault, with weakness. But, I try again, and again.

I like to remind myself about what "virtuous" means, and these seven words come to mind. They are printed for me, they serve as goals, as ideals, something to strive for.

Purity
Moderation
Kindness
Generosity
Liveliness
Humility
Contentment

In my times of failure, I look at this list, and see my faults and admit them. Then, I try again. If anything, just reading these words, saying and repeating them, helps me sharpen my focus, thoughts, and actions.

I hope these words, goals, and thoughts find you in a good place, and help you in a small way.

Taking Care of Yourself

What's the first you do you have a spare moment? Well, I guess that depends on your stage in life.

When you're very young, you probably do what you love most, play. And play with whatever, it doesn't take much, does it? A cardboard box is plenty, and your imagination does the rest.

When you're a little older, you probably hang out with friends and do what you love most, play. Cardboard boxes and your imagination aren't enough, those are so passe, boring, and played. We need the coolest, latest stuff, hang out with the cool people, look good, go to the coolest places, do the coolest things.

When you're a lot older, you're done playing, you have no time, you're busy with so many things, can't even afford to have lunch you're so busy, can't even afford to say hello or call or email a single friend, much less your group of friends. Being cool? Forget it, no time. Your vacations, how infrequent they are, are your one chance to have fun again, and you do it for 1 week, then get back to the grind.

Through it all, take care of yourself. Have fun and enjoy life, it's ups and downs, it processes, it's change. But take some time out for yourself. Buy yourself something nice, say hello to an old friend, go for a nice walk and enjoy the sunshine or rain, do something just for you, something you love to do. Pat yourself on the back. Smile. Find a cardboard box, use your imagination, and have fun.

I forget to do this sometimes, I get caught in the vortex that is life. And going to the gym, doing my routine, etc. doesn't count. I'm talking about more than that. I forget many times what is was like to be a kid, to enjoy life to the fullest, with any care in the world, without any need for material things.

Whatever it is that makes you happiest, do that for yourself.

Nutty Green Smoothie

This is my breakfast drink.

4 oz. Organic Acai Juice
4 oz. Organic Carrot Juice
4 oz. Organic Soy Milk
1 banana
Large handfuls of organic dark leafy greens (spinach, kale, etc.)
1/2 cup ice
1/2 cup Organic Frozen Blueberries
1 Tbls Organic Flax Seed
1 small handful of Almond Crunch

In that order, add ingredients to high-speed blender (Blendtec Home, in my case), hit the "Smoothie" button and 25-seconds later...breakfast.

Very filling, very nourishing. Try it by replacing 12 oz. water instead of the juice, for a lower calorie option. I like the blend of greens, sweets, nuttiness, and creaminess. It's really a delicious and refreshing drink, something I look forward to. And it's a good way to "drink your greens". Try giving some to your kids, see if they like the taste, and if it benefits them.

Meditate

What is that fills your mind these days? Random thoughts? Destructive thoughts? Happy thoughts? Stories? Sadness? Happiness? Peace? Unrest? Or all of them?

I used to meditate regularly when I was young. I was given a book on Meditation by a co-worker of mine, and I was blown away. I really didn't know what I was doing (and still don't) but it did give me a sense of rest, of peace, of calm. And some methodology for doing so. I was coaching basketball at the time, working full time, and very busy, and I thought, had a lot going on in my mind. But, my peace came during meditation (prayer) and it helped me get through many a situation.

As I've gotten older and found other interests, I lost that sense or prayer, that state of peace and meditation. And I'm trying to rediscover it. Today, meditation is written about in too many forms, and can be so complicated. Just perusing the data out there, you get novels on 'how to meditate' and a mass sense of confusion. Heck, you'll lose peace just trying to find the info!

A few things I've picked up. One, if there are thoughts and distractions, let them happen and be a part of your meditation, they don't matter. Two, if you have issues and worry about them, have stories that your mind creates around those problems, and have restless moments thinking about how to escape and solve them, that itself is the root cause of your issue. Let your issue be, and just rest, calm down, and relax. Let your issue be a part of your peace.

Try this website (www.meditationoasis.com) and listen to a few of the podcasts, it's great for people that need some peace during turmoil, and for people that need to get some rest at night. And most of all, it's simple. Just rest, and give yourself a moment.

Be well!

Yoga Workshop

Just before returning to work after the holidays, I was privileged to participate in a Yoga workshop, 2.5 hours of practice, meditation, and relaxation. Man, that was great! I remember midway through the meditation and relaxation, feeling peace and serenity like I haven't felt in a while, like a baby sleeping, no thoughts, no worries, no issues...just rest, and peace. My teacher passed by me, while I was still, and I felt her hands support my back body, aligning me, and making sure I was at ease. It was a sense of quiet calm that I rarely experience, with such a fast paced lifestyle.

If you've never done yoga before, try it. Either a DVD or a class if you'd like to try. Don't worry about all of the philosophy and depth right away, as many people think it's hokey or weird. I hear you about that. There's a spiritual aspect to Yoga that's difficult to comprehend. Take the benefits, and don't worry about anything else. I think you'll find that it does give you a moment of pause, of peace, of quiet. It's lets your mind rest. And physically, it's tough! You'll probably witness right away how closed your body is, yoga will help open things up, make you more supple, and strengthen your weak spots. It'll make a big difference in the long run, just a little bit at a time.

Namaste.

Black/White or Grey?

I've been getting a lot of questions from my relatives lately. People have fallen ill, or have friends that aren't well, and have asked me my advice on things. Knowing how I am now, their first reaction is "Should I tell him/her to be vegan?" Umm, I have no idea. I think people confuse my personal opinions and beliefs (and sometimes they are written with a very strong opinion) as gospel for health. And that's just not the case.

Look, I don't pretend to know much, I'm not a doctor, and I'm not comfortable giving medical advice to people that are ill. I can point you to information, implore you to try and educate yourself better, and make more conscious choices, but in the end, it's really up to the individual. I don't look down on anyone who chooses to believe or choose differently than I do, in fact, I respect their choices, even if they are diametrically opposed to my own.

The main reason for this is simply that each person will react differently to change. What works for me, may not work for you or someone else. It doesn't mean I'm any better or worse, just means that we're making choices based on what works for us individually, and that's fine. Now, the thing I want to stress is that so many people, my relatives included, don't make a conscious choice, and are not educated about what choices there are. They simply do what most do, live a normal life here, and sad to say, that has led to less than optimal health and wellness. Years of abuse with no conscious choices take their toll, and that's where I take a stronger stance. No matter how old or young you are, take notice of your health and wellness, make changes and experiment, see what they do for you. If they work, great! If they don't, no worries, try something else.

And by all means, keep your doctor involved. My nephew asked me if they should stop feeding their newborn son milk and bread, and I vehemently said, "No!". Not unless you're armed with enough information, alternatives, and consultation with your doctor to try. If anything, you try it for a few weeks, and observe how your body reacts, if you like how you feel, then maybe, for you, that's your answer.

Even for my immediate family, whatever they choose is okay with me, as long as it's a conscious choice. There's no right or wrong answer (vegan, non-vegan, whatever), just your conscious choice and what works best for you.

For me, being Vegan has been a godsend, probably the greatest gift and choice I've ever done for myself. I'm most proud because my Mother followed my lead, and took care of herself so well these past few months. She gave up diet soda, milk, dairy, meat (not that she's 100% extreme or anything, she just very conscious about what she eats now) and her blood pressure and diabetes issues have literally gone away or improved greatly. So much so, her doctors don't believe that she did it by diet and exercise alone, in just a few months. Her example motivates me to continue, because I want her around for a while.

Anxiety

I've always thought of anxiety and panic attacks as something very foreign. On the "mellow" scale, I'm probably off the charts. Nothing really ever bothers me, I really don't worry much about things, dwell on them, lose sleep over anything. Well, that is, until this past month.

For whatever reason, I started to have rapid heart rate, heart palpitations, sweating for no apparent reasons, tingling from my neck to my hands and fingers, and constant and massive worry/anxiety about the most unimportant and trivial issues. Man, for me, this was foreign. I've talked about stress being a component in health that you need to control and address, and I have firsthand experience on how stress due to anxiety can tumble and compromise your health.

It felt like an out-of-body/mind experience, like someone kidnapped me and replaced me with someone else. It was a vicious cycle of stress->emotion->stress->emotion, etc. Words and actions, very unbecoming and unfamiliar, were flying out of my mouth and body like daggers from a soldier. Like I always do, I looked for answers, tried to understand what was happening to me, but in turn that frustrated me as well, and led to more problems.

Urban Meyer, head coach of University of Florida's very successful college football team, has serious anxiety issues, to the point he was going to retire from coaching to focus on his health. That got me thinking I had similar problems. So, I looked up a few books on anxiety and found the following from “Self-Coaching – The Powerful Program to Beat Anxiety and Depression” by Joseph Luciani.

“As with depression, I divide anxiety into two general categories: destructive anxiety and natural anxiety…Destructive anxiety is driven by insecurity, disproportionate to the circumstance, always exaggerated, and persistent. Its purpose is to try to control life with an intense flurry of mental gyrations (worrying, ruminating, obsessing, and the like). Natural anxiety, unlike destructive anxiety, is normal, proportionate to the circumstance, not exaggerated, and time limited.”

Of course, I had the destructive kind. The key for me was the phrase "disproportionate to the circumstance". Take one very minor issue (one that normally would roll off you, causing very little problems), put that in a vicious cycle of stress and emotion, and there you have my destructive anxiety issues. The key for me was to put the issue that was "disproportionate to the circumstance" to rest early, shut it down, see it for what it was, minor and unnecessary. Then, my symptoms became less, then gone altogether, in a matter of hours literally.

If you have anxiety issues, I feel for you. It's nasty stuff, turns you in Mr. Hyde without you even knowing it, and has untold effects on your health and wellness. I would suggest that you arm yourself with the knowledge and understanding to deal with it, just like you would for food, as I've been talking about in previous blogs. Be conscious of what's happening to you, educate yourself, make changes and observe their effects on your being. But, most of all, take action and do something about it, don't sit there and let it overtake you. You can do it, believe in yourself.

I wish all of you a happy new year, 2010! May the new year bring you peace, health, and happiness!