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Hi there Ladies Who Love Life…

Welcome again to Sizzling After 60! 

This is my blog about embracing life, living well and loving often.  Each day we are blessed to be here is to be celebrated asd part of the journey–for all the ups, downs and all arounds that life give us.  So, I’ll be sharing my thoughts as I approach my 60th birthday in August and beyond!  And, I really look forward to the insights from your life’s journey also…Let’s Sizzle!!!

It has been a LOOONG while since I blogged last…the last post was over a year ago when I wrote about loving my high heels (please re-read Confessions of a High Heel-A-Holic). Welllll….that love came with a cost. After walking around with 20 extra pounds, still wearing 4 -inch stilettos (again see Confessions), participating in a 10K race (as a walker) without enough training, then driving to Atlanta and cooking for 30 people for Thanksgiving, my body said ENOUGH!  Rather my hips screamed it.  I became sidelined with bursitis, then sciatica pain in my back and boy did it hurt!!

For over a year I really couldn’t work out. It hurt too bad. I was icing both hips before doing anything in the morning. Had cortisone shots, was inhaling Alleve and stronger stuff…then the kicker: I was in so much pain for my son’s graduation from Howard University last month that the doctor told me to get a cane for the ceremony! That’s when my mind kicked into gear and I said NO WAY!  This 20 pounds has to GO!  As Olivia Newton John said–Let’s get serious!

Physical therapy is a truly incredible thing. After getting some key exercises and doing them faithfully for two weeks, I started swimming. That was the only cardio I could do. Thank God my Mom made me take those lessons at the “Y” when I was a kid! It felt SOOOO good to move again, I got religion.   Also, I am working with a wonderful accupunture specialist to balance the energy in my body.  Have you ever tried accupunture—fabulous!!

In a few weeks, I was able to ride the recumbent bike. Then the elliptical, and finally, back to weight training. Found an excellent machine called the “Push Up Pump” …check it out at pushuppump.com. It supports your body weight so you can do pushups. I am still doing the knee version, but now do 180 at a time!   Gonna get me some of those Obama arms yet!

Then I got Bob Harper’s new book “The Skinny Rules”.  It…Is…Awesome!  Really breaks it down on how to eat well, not feel deprived, but feel healthy.  I posted those rules around my desk, refrigerator and home office, and follow them.  And I’m down about 5 pounds. Makes a HUGE difference. Did you know that for every pound of excess weight, your joints carry three times the impact?  So for the 20 extra pounds I was carrying, that meant 60 pounds on my hip joints, my back and my knees. So, the 5 pounds I just lost feel like 15 pounds to those joints–and now they sure are joyful!

So, Ladies, I’m on a journey and want you to come with me.  As mentioned earlier, I will soon be 60–August 16 of this year is my milesotne birthday, and I want to be Sizzling then and thereafter!

I’m looking for inspriation to share.   So let’s help each other and share our stories, thoughts, sayings, photos of what works for us to be healthy physically, mentally, spiritually.  We WILL be Sizzling After 60!  And, we can inspire those who think 60 is a long way off to keep it moving ‘cuz life is still lots of fun.

So let me hear from you…Let’s Sizzle!!

Yes, I love my high heels! How many of you sixty-nistas do too? Well, gotta tell ya, sometimes you have to pay to play.

Now some folks say that platform heels are comfortable…and they are more than one might think, but after wearing a slammin’ 4 inch pair to a three-day meeting (thought sitting down most of the time would be OK), I paid the price. Came back with such back pain–OMG! So, what’s a High Heel-aholic to do? Stop wearing them? NOT!!!

Just have to adjust. Catalog your shoes into categories:

15 minutes-then sit down heels (i.e. FABULOUS stilettos for dinner dates, or moments where you walk to the car, to the table only and back when things are over; then take off once you get in the car if you drive or at home if your guy does)
1 hour – then sit down heels (i.e. somewhat lower heels, but still making a statement for special events,dinners, etc. where you know you won’t have to stand the whole time)
3 hours – then go home heels (OK, we’re not talking Nikes, but shoes with enough heel and style to make your point comfortably for networking, at the office, meetings and such)

And whew! Yoga and Pilates are helpful to keep the hamstrings and back in gear. Massages, too. A secret: try massages at physical therapy offices. If done by a physical therapist, they really help and can be more affordable to get on a regular basis. I just made the committment to get them once a week. Not just to wear high heels, mind you, but to de-stress too. Very important for Sizzling!!

Sooo…send me a photo of your favorite heels, or a story about you wearing them! And share advice to all of us High Heel-aholics out there!  Check out one of mine–and guess which category they fit!

Sending Love,

Amy

Well, I haven’t either .  But what I did do is just as important.  I got some really good SLEEP–slept in.  Haven’t done that in ages, and my body feels SOOOO good!  Like someone pushed the re-set button.

In my research on how to live a sizzling life, I’ve come across a great book to share that discusses the benefits of sleep in helpful detail.  It’s called “The Hormone Diet” by Dr. Natasha Turner.  Not so much a diet program but an amazing book on how hormone imbalances affect all of our efforts to have a healthy body.  Dr. Turner says that not getting enough sleep encourages immflamation, which is THE sneaky, dangerous health culprit that can truly put a fizzle in your sizzle.

The Hormone Diet is available on Amazon and via iTunes for iPads.

So, after getting a few extra ZZZ’s, I’m ready to hit the Kettle Bells.  Have you tried those?  30 minutes a few times a week gets your muscles moving.  You can feel your muscles re-aligning after the first try.  Start with a lower weight to get used to them.  They are available at Target and there are plenty of videos to try.  Will share some of those later.

In the meantime, listen to your body…when you still feel sleepy at your normal wake up time and can take some extra ZZZ’s go for it– and hit the re-set button for your energy!

Enjoy the rest of your weekend.   Sending Love to all the Sizzlers out there!