Tour guide, writer, and Bacolod blogger Betsy Gazo gives us a personal perspective about taking care of one’s wellness. Women’s health is not as complicated as we may think. Just like our deposits, we will reap a good return if we keep investing in it.
Investing in Women’s Health
A lot of us women, moms in particular, often take our health for granted. Heck, we don’t even get a regular checkup for women’s health. We have so many reasons and a lot of it can be attributed to being a mom. I know so because I am like this. Putting the needs of my family first then my online work second, I usually neglect my personal needs.
Then, of course, there are household chores to take care of and I already have no time for exercise. Hubby and I barely even have time for watching our favorite superhero TV shows when the kids are already asleep. Plus, our bedroom is a mess that I can’t seem to flex my limbs without hitting something.
Sure I have my supplements for my overall well-being. I take B vitamins for stress and nerve health. There’s also Bewell C Sodium Ascorbate for immunity and stress. Then there’s collagen for my back and joint problems.
Moreover, I eat super foods like chia seeds and barley grass. While I am not easily prone to common colds and flu, I am susceptible to body pains because of lack of exercise and excess weight. Young Living essential oils to the rescue for pain management!
Being Overweight
But one thing that is really making me look and feel unhealthy is my weight. You see, I love to eat.
Hubby and I are partners in indulging ourselves with rich food. That is our vice, as we don’t really smoke or drink. Since I am handy in the kitchen, we don’t have to keep going out in order to indulge. I can always whip something up from the leftovers in the refrigerator that will excite our palates. Homecooking is my thing and I am in my element in the kitchen.
Sure I manage my weight with Valentus Slimming Coffee. I get to eat what I like without getting very fat. However, it is still different if I eat moderately. Binge eating can be stressful to the body processes, especially to digestion, aside from adding to the weight. Ugh, and I am overweight.
I am not even sure about my physical state now, as I haven’t gotten an executive women’s checkup lately.
Bacolod Blogger Betsy Gazo
Then, here comes Betsy.
Betsy is a slim and very energetic lady who is passionate about the environment and animal welfare. Her work as an accredited tour guide of Negros Occidental takes her everywhere and you would be amazed at her energy. She walks very fast, too. On top of that, she can still attend evening events and go home to take care of her elderly mother.
- Related: Silay Heritage Tour for Araw ng Lahi
Betsy is clear proof of what physical exercise can do to the body. The Bacolod bloggers recently formed a team and joined the cheerdance competition of the Globe Telecom Sportsfest 2019.
It’s actually the annual media and blogger thanksgiving party that the company holds every Christmas in Bacolod City. And the theme for this year is sports. It was graced by Ms. Monday Gonzales, Mr. Patrick Gloria, and Mr. Michael Orio of Globe Telecom.
We attended the event in sports attire and the highlight of the party is the cheerdance. There were four teams that competed in an event held at the function room of Seda Capitol Central.
Seda Hotels featured in this blog:
- Seda Atria Premier Room in Iloilo City
- Seda Ayala Center Cebu Review
- Seda Capitol Central Family Stay | Bacolod Hotel | Philippines
Other family-friendly hotels in the Philippines we have stayed in are in this list.
The Bacolod Bloggers Team
There are five female Bacolod bloggers who joined — Glady Reyes, Mea Pabiona, Dhadha Garcia, Betsy, and I. Except for Betsy, all four of us are mommy bloggers.
Meanwhile, Betsy is the only single lady in the group but she is also the only one in her mid-50s. In two months’ time, she will already turn 55.
While practicing for our cheer dancing routine, we realized how hard it was. We also realized one thing — Betsy could do a full split! Since we wanted to surprise everyone and also bag the prize money, Betsy’s full split was our finale — to everyone’s surprise and delight! And I think, that was also our winning moment!
All in all, our routine lasted around four minutes but by the time the closing song rolled, we were already panting. We did our best to catch up to the fast tempo of Pasko Na Naman but we were out of breath. Except for Betsy, of course.
Betsy’s Physical Activities
So why is Betsy in a much better shape than the four of us? “I walk a lot and my other job as a tourist guide is very physical. This offsets my other job as a writer which is sedentary,” Betsy reveals.
She also said that when she was younger, she was also very fit, swimming 1-kilometer laps every weekend on top of walking. “But priorities change over time,” she said.
Betsy now finds herself working to earn her keep and for her ailing mom. Now an octagenarian, her mom needs 24-hour home care as well as maintenance. They have a daytime helper who also looks after her mom but at night, Betsy has to do it herself so she misses her eight-hour sleep. Despite that, Betsy is still in pretty good shape because of her healthy lifestyle.
While she is already undergoing what many women dread, Betsy is facing menopause like it’s a walk in the park. “It is not an alarming stage of life for me. I just accept it as what all women have to go through,” she says matter of factly.
A Healthy Diet
At home, Betsy keeps her diet and lifestyle simple. “No meat, no soda, no pastries (except those given to me), no alcohol, no cigarettes.”
But when she’s outside the house, she can break the rules. However, one thing for is for certain, “I don’t pile food on my plate. Etiquette dictates this, but it’s also a wise rule to follow because I can always go back and maintain a “clean plate” policy in view of world hunger.”
Spiritual and Mental Wellness
Physical health isn’t the only thing that’s important for Betsy. She is very religious and as a devout Catholic, she finds that attending mass and praying the Rosary daily helps keep her sane.
Additionally, her close relationship with God has given her the grace to dispense forgiveness to everyone who has wronged her. She is also able to pray for others.
“Forgiveness had been a special gift to me. My troubled relationship with my mother and our epic fights have been replaced with forgiveness on my part. I went through a very rough emotional time, i.e. depression. It was a shackle that burdened me for decades. I had to tell myself again and again that God found me worthy because he let me live.”
Betsy now considers it an honor to take care of someone whom she once thought as the person who ruined her life. “Honor thy father and thy mother,” she believes. It’s also an opportunity to return good for bad.
Women’s Health and Aging Gracefully
Moreover, we can say that Betsy is aging gracefully. She has realistic expectations about women’s health. “I think one has to be gentle with oneself. Leave the perfect bodies to the models and to showbiz personalities. Even athletes have body flaws, so, that image of perfection is just impossible to reach,” she says.
Friendships for Life
Betsy keeps a balance of older friends who are arsenals of wisdom and younger friends who “teach me new ways.”
She considers herself fortunate for having colleagues that have become real friends. She has friends at the Negrense Bloggers and ATON. “It’s like hitting two birds with one stone by working with people before whom I can let my hair down. I have gotten rid of the toxic ones already. At the same time am more prudent about judging others now.”
Poster Girl for Women’s Health
Truly, Betsy is the epitome of overall women’s health. Her life is a shining example of combining good health practices like exercise and diet. At the same time, she doesn’t neglect keeping herself mentally, emotionally, and spiritually healthy.
No wonder Betsy’s full split earned us a second place in the Globe Telecom cheerdance competition. Just imagine if we were all as healthy as her! The question now is, “How to be you po?”
- Related: Life Lessons for Girls from Frozen 2
For Intimate Health
One of the things that we often neglect is our “intimate” health. For those who are active, especially if you are a woman ages 30 and up, a regular papsmear or STD test should always be on our checklist.
If you are in the US, get a secure and discounted STD Check with this link.
Are you a fit lady like Betsy? If not, what are you going to do about it? Share your insights on women’s health in the comments below.
Note: In this same event, I won an iPhone 11 in the raffle drawn by Ms. Monday Gonzales. It was the grand prize and I am so happy. This is actually the first time that I won a major prize in the Globe Telecom Christmas party raffle so this is very memorable. And by the way, the iPhone 11 is love. It takes awesome photos!
Thank you very much, Globe! 🙂
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Thank you for giving me the opportunity to share a part of me, Mommy Sigrid. When one is older, one has less inhibitions, so, there! My intimate thoughts and emotions for everyone to witness and, hopefully, to learn from.
You have been part of this lady’s journey and am enjoying the ride with you.