Can’t seem to lose weight despite your best intentions? Your mindset might be holding you back. In this day and age, when there’s a plethora of unhealthy food to consume and unhealthy lifestyle choices to make, it can be difficult to follow a diet program. But if you have the right attitude to lose weight and maintain your ideal weight, nothing is impossible.

Sheryl Ehmene Uy-Garcia and Francis Salazar, two Cohen’s Lifestyle Program graduates who have maintained their healthy weight for more than three years, can attest to the effectiveness of conditioning one’s mind to lose weight. Before adapting their new mindset, Uy-Garcia, an advertising sales unit head in her mid-30s, and Francis Salazar, a technology consultant, both suffered from asthma and obesity.

They turned to the Cohen Lifestyle Program, a rapid weight-loss and wellness program through nutrition. Salazar started the program in 2011 weighing 325 lbs., and in eight months, he lost 153 lbs. Garcia, who weighed 152 lbs., reached her healthy weight of 112 lbs. in just six months.

Salazar and Garcia share the following “mental diet” tips that they learned from joining the program:

Assess your relationship with food. Before you can effectively lose weight, you have to understand and deal with the root cause of your problem first –your relationship with food. The two Cohen clients reveal that they were emotional eaters before trying the program. Salazar shares, “I ate when I was happy; I ate when I was sad.” It’s important to be aware of why you may overeat and to stop feeding your emotion in order to successfully maintain your ideal weight.

Always remember your weight-loss motivation. Losing weight can be difficult, but it doesn’t have to be, especially when you focus on why you want to lose weight. “During one of my monthly ER visits, the doctor warned me that my asthma was fatal and I would expire early if I didn’t take care of myself. I enrolled in the Cohen’s Lifestyle Program because their approach is very personal. They made me focus on my ‘why’ – to live longer for my husband and kids,” shares Garcia. As for Salazar, his family’s medical history compelled him to finally say goodbye to obesity. “A couple of my uncles died due to diabetes and stroke, and my mom knows that my current situation is a ‘ticking time bomb.’”

Have a support system. There may have been times when you wanted to give up, but with the help and support of your family, you can push through with your weight-loss journey and reach your goal. Garcia and Salazar stayed committed to the Cohen Lifestyle Program with the help of their families. “A key factor that helped me stay committed to the program is my supportive husband who encouraged and cooked for me whenever he could,” shares Garcia. In addition to family support, it is also important to have the support of others who understand what you are going through and are supportive of your desire to lose weight and be healthier. Cohen Consultants often meet with their clients, such as Francis and Sheryl, to help them on their weight-loss journey.

Set realistic expectations. Weight loss doesn’t happen overnight. You have to work for it, including sacrificing some indulgences. “Before Cohen, I only ate pork, rice and soda, no vegetables and fruits, but now, my plate always has salad with protein,” Garcia shares. Salazar says, “It was okay to indulge once in a while, but not overindulge. It’s okay to enjoy food. We eat to live, not live to eat.”

Sometimes no matter how hard you try to stick to your diet program, set-backs happen which can slow down your weight-loss progress or even increase your weight. The most important thing is you do not completely let go of your goal and you get back on track with your weight-loss program as soon as possible. Before you know it, you can reach your goal. Salazar says, “Now that I no longer need to lose more weight, it is okay to indulge once in a while, but not overindulge. It’s okay to enjoy food. We eat to live, not live to eat.”

Change your perspective on food and diet. Your mindset on food and diet is an essential factor in losing and maintaining weight safely and effectively. Salazar shares, “I learned that food is not supposed to run my life. That food is there for nourishment, but not to control me. I learned to be a more moderate and responsible eater.” Garcia reveals, “It’s time to think of my family, not just my comfort. I eat to survive and only occasionally, eat to enjoy. Cohen teaches the discipline and the tools on how to make the right food choices, and I haven’t had any asthma attacks from the first day I started the program!”

To know more about Cohen’s Lifestyle Program, visit www.CohenLifestyle.com.ph, or visit http://www.facebook.com/CohenLifestylePhil on Facebook and http://instagram.com/cohenlifestyleph on Instagram.

Robinsons Supermarket’s ‘Deli Music Festival’ is open to all amateur bands nationwide (no age limit required), where each band must consist a minimum of five(5) and a maximum of 10 members.

Interested bands, can get the “Deli Music Festival” application form at the Customer Service Counter of participating Robinsons Supermarkets upon presenting the accumulated receipts worth P2000 of any participating Deli products.

Bands who passed the screening must perform a 6-8 minute set where they may use all the music genres, except for heavy metal / rock. They must also come up with their own arrangement of the Robinsons Supermarket jingle.

The top three (3) scorers for the elimination rounds will advance to the Grand Finals, which will be held at Robinsons Place Manila on Sept. 9, 2016 (Friday).

Elimination rounds will take place in the following malls:
a. August 5, 2016 – Robinsons Place General Trias
b. August 26, 2016 – Robinsons Place Antipolo

There will also be two (2) out-of-town events to be held in the following malls:
a. August 12, 2016 – Robinsons Place Tagum Davao
b. September 1, 2016 – Robinsons Place Palawan

One (1) band for each provincial leg will be awarded as the champion. The nonwinning groups will receive consolation prizes.

Prizes are as follows:
 ELIMINATION ROUND:
o Top 3 bands will receive P10,000.00 each
 PROVINCIAL LEG CONSOLATION PRIZE:
o P5,000.00
 PROVINCIAL LEG CHAMPION PRIZE:
o P30,000.00
 MANILA GRAND FINALS CONSOLATION PRIZE:
o P5,000.00
 MANILA GRAND WINNER PRIZE:
o P50,000.00

Promo period is from July 1-September 9, 2016

HCCA International and HCCA Health Connections (collectively known as HCCA) have consolidated all of their business operations under the Shearwater Health name.

Shearwater Health Executives. From left: Chief Financial Officer & Chief Operating Officer Tom Kendrot, Chief Executive Officer David Bartholomew, SVP & Country Manager PH Anshum Sinha, and Chief Strategy Officer Ted Merhoff.

“We have truly evolved as a company, and we felt it was time to express that with a new brand,” said David Bartholomew, President and Chief Executive Officer of Shearwater Health. “We offer a much more comprehensive suite of services than we did just a few years ago.”

Additionally, the company moved to its new 6,450-square-meter headquarters at the Net Park building in Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.

“Philippines continues to be the location of choice for Shearwater Health, and with the expansion to Net Park in Metro Manila, the company will have the capability of approximately 1,400 concurrent seats,”said Anshum Sinha, Country Manager and Senior Vice President for Philippines Operations of Shearwater Health.

“Shearwater Health is looking at adding another 600 jobs to its existing employee base of over 1,500 in the next 12 months. This will provide an excellent opportunity for nurses and medical coders in Metro Manila and Metro Cebu.”

HCCA International has been recruiting and deploying highly experienced nurses and other medical professionals from the Philippines to hospitals and healthcare organizations in the U.S. since 2002. During this time, HCCA International has placed more than 1,000 nurses in over 100 U.S. hospitals.

HCCA Health Connections also offers a full spectrum of URAC-accredited Clinical Process Outsourcing (CPOSM) services to clients in the United States, improving results and efficiency through medical management services, medical coding, and other healthcare-related support services. These services are provided by clinical and administrative support professionals working in the Philippines and the United States.

“We help clients improve outcomes and reduce unnecessary spending while freeing up clinical professionals and administrative staff to focus on objectives that maximize their talents,” said Bartholomew. “Plus, our approach is fully scalable—we can grow our relationship with customers as their business grows.”

The new office readily accommodates Shearwater Health’s rapid growth. “Our new operating center is more than 40 percent larger than our previous Manila offices,” said Mr. Sinha. “We are now well-positioned to match the growth of the company while providing a comfortable, state-of-the-art work environment for all of our employees.”

A 48-story corporate tower, Net Park was awarded 5-Star Best Commercial High-Rise Development at the International Property Awards. It was designed by Chad Oppenheim, a Miami-based architect who specializes in green buildings. Net Park is slated to receive a BERDE (Building for Ecologically Responsive Design Excellence Program) certification from the Philippine Green Building Council.

The safety of using liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) at home begins with proper storage and handling. Even when a leak occurs in the LPG cylinder, valve and pipe connection, accidents like gas poisoning and explosion can be prevented or minimized if the LPG cylinder is securely stored and kept in good condition.

Solane, the country’s leading LPG provider, provides the following safety tips for storing and handling LPG:

1. Place the LPG cylinder in a well-ventilated area. Ensure that the area is not susceptible to rises in temperature and is kept away from flammable materials, like curtains and solvents. Avoid storing LPG in the basement. LPG vapor is heavier than air and any leakage will sink to the ground, accumulate, and may be difficult to disperse.
2.  Secure the LPG cylinder in place. Position the cylinder upright and make sure that it is not at risk of being tipped over or damaged by children, and that the area is not prone to flooding and other natural disasters. If it is on its side, the liquid may escape.
3. Check the LPG cylinder for damaged or incorrect parts before using. Ensure that the cylinder has the correct valve, regulator and hose. Do not accept and operate the cylinder without the right and complete parts.
4. Observe safety when cooking or replacing cylinders. When cooking, keep your kitchen well-ventilated so that any leaked gas particles will not get trapped and accumulate around the kitchen. Never leave your cooking unattended because your pot or pan could overflow and extinguish the burners, causing gas to leak. When changing the cylinder, do not do it near sources of ignition because the naked flame, including cigarette butts, could ignite any released gas. Never forget to turn off the gas appliance and regulator when not in use.
5. Always keep the LPG cylinder in good condition. Check for any leak from time to time by rubbing soapy water on the cylinder for even a tiny leak can make a soap bubble. Clean the valve outlet using plastic plugs. Make sure that no dirt and insects get inside the valve outlet. Also, it is recommended to replace the hose every two years and the regulator every five years.
6. Never tamper with your LPG cylinder. Always follow the manufacturer’s instructions regarding the use and maintenance of your LPG cylinder. If you suspect or find anything wrong, call your gas provider immediately and ask for assistance.

LPG is a versatile yet highly flammable fuel. To keep it safe and useful, always take good care of it and observe proper handling and storage.

With the Hatid Bahay service, Solane LPG provides the exclusive and free 7-point Safety Check to all its home delivery customers nationwide. Performed by Hatid Bahay riders, it involves the inspection of the environment and proper installation of the Solane LPG cylinder after delivery to ensure the safety of customers. For more information or delivery request, visit www.solane.com.ph.or call the Hatid Bahay hotlines at +632 887-5555 or text 0918 887 5555.