Category: Beauty/Appearance/Style

As the holidays are upon us, there is much to be thankful for.  Being Grateful will keep help you healthy.  So will Movement.

Movement can keep the #1 health issue at bay…INFLAMMATION.

While we all can be focused on food, fun, gifts and libations, please put exercise on your to-do list.   According to a comprehensive article in the AARP Bulletin shown below, inflammation has been linked to every major disease of aging.  Reducing it will help us all live longer, happier and better.

All the major health issues: cancer, heart disease, dementia and diabetes–all of them–can be linked to chronic low grade inflammation that can sneak up on you.  A study of 10,000 patients by cardiologists in Boston have documented that they may have proof.

https://www.aarp.org/health/conditions-treatments/info-2019/lowering-inflammation-to-improve-health.html

According to the article, inflammation does the body good when we need to deal with issues like the flu, a cut or a swollen joint because it releases healing chemicals and nutrients to repair damage to cells.  It’s when inflammation becomes chronic, that problems occur.  It’s like keeping the furnace on high all the time, firing up white blood cells that in turn fire up other damage fighters that can blow up the bad cells as well as the good.

Wow.  There is so much to cite…I just want folks to read up on the dangers of inflammation to our brains, lungs, digestive system, weight and joints.  And stress is a big factor that can keep inflammation fires burning.  Y’all KNOW I’m about reducing stress!

So I’m just going to keep it simple.  Lifestyle changes are the best and fastest antidote to inflammation.  You know the drill:  exercise, watching what and how much food you eat, getting enough sleep and stress relief are key.

Fruit and vegetables have powerful antioxidants to keep inflammation under control.  As we age, inflammation can be even more of an issue, but getting enough protein is important to keeping our muscles firm, too.  So, going vegan is not what the study says is mandatory–just increase the green and colorful plant based foods in your diet, slow down on sugar and don’t overdo animal proteins.

Me, I’m finding getting my sleeping patterns under control is a challenge.  Hot flashes can interrupt the most pleasant night’s rest!  So I’m looking into non-addictive sleep aids like melatonin.  And, I don’t drink a lot of fluids close to bedtime, LOL!  Going to bed and waking up at the same time every day does seem to help, too, as does not having my smartphone near me at night.  I know that’s hard for some…but stop scrolling and start sleeping instead!

Listen, I can only share what seems to work for me and what the latest research says is important so we can keep Sizzling!  I’ve switched to Planet Fitness for my workouts, and really like the simplicity of the gym and the up-to-date equipment.  They have a 30 Minute Express workout that uses machines and cardio step sessions that is GREAT.  Hit it and Quit it.  Stretch afterward, and BOOM.  Done, and I feel like I’m doing something substantive to protect the temple God gave me.

So tell me, what’s on your Healthy Holiday To-Do list?

Let’s savor the flavors of the holidays and fit in healthy food, sleep and movement, Sizzlers.  Tell stress to take a hike and enjoy more of life.

Sending Hugs,

Amy

 

Have you guys seen the Netflix documentary The Game Changers?  It’s about athletes who get their strength from plant based food.  It’s AMAZING!

Now I’ve posted about trying to be more vegan-ish before.  But it’s HAAARD to give up meat, fish and chicken entirely.  And with Thanksgiving coming up…Imma TRY.

But this movie gave me more inspiration to substantially cut down my intake of proteins from animal sources.  Substantially.

Check out the website AND take the time to watch the movie.   It will cause you to pause.

https://gamechangersmovie.com

Largely targeted to men to get them to see that meat eating just to be “macho” is not healthy.  That you can get all the protein you needs from plants.  James Wilkes, the UFC bare bones fighter and champion was injured, and needed a way to use his time healing, so he started studying nutrition.  He found some interesting facts/benefits of a plant based diet:

• Optimal fuel source
• Increased blood flow
• Improved muscle efficiency
• Reduced inflammation
• Animal foods have links to cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity and more
• Research indicates that a plant based diet and reduce and/or prevent symptoms of dementia and Alzheimers

Though focused on men, there are some women athletes in the movie that were inspiring (I’m not a fan of UFC boxing at all!).  After watching the movie, I haven’t had ANY meat now for going on 6 days, and I must say, I feel lighter and have more energy.  Not slumping in the afternoon.  Now, I’m not trying to be in the Olympics, but I sure did get out and did a faster walk than usual, have kept up my yoga, and going to a Pilates class this afternoon.

After my walk, I mixed up a delicious green smoothie.  Quick and efficient. Here’s the recipe:

• Almond Milk
• Frozen spinach
• Blueberries
• Strawberries
• Bananas
• Organic plant based protein powder
• Organic flaxseeds
• Water

About a cup of Almond milk, a half to 2/3 cup each of the spinach, berries and bananas (I slice them and keep them frozen), throw everything in a blender (a Vitamix is a good investment–Costco has good deals) and pour in water for the consistency you want and BOOM.  Done.

Then, I made it special by drinking it from a pretty glass, another one from my Mom’s collection.  Sat down next to my lillies, lit a candle and sipped with gratefulness for good health.

All I’m saying folks, is there is too much evidence that supports that what you put into your body has a profound impact on your health, and critically–the health of the planet.  If we all ate less meat, even for one day a week–the affect on our lands, water systems and atmosphere would be substantial.

So, give yourself a Meatless Monday, Tofu Tuesday or whatever.  There are so many delicious meatless options out there!  I made my award-winning (in an office Chili contest–hey that counts!) Jalepeno Chick Pea Chili with Trader Joe’s “Beefless Beef”, and it was too good!  Using a bit more olive oil to saute and with creative seasoning, I didn’t miss the ground turkey at all.

What are some of your ideas and recipes for going towards more plant based meals?  Would love to hear from you!

Ok.  So getting off my soapbox.  Just had to share because I care.   Keep Sizzling!

Hugs,

Amy

 

 

 

 

There’s a lot of information circulating about meditating these days.  Many people swear by it.  I must admit, I was a skeptic.  You all know I believe in getting to the gym.  Here’s one of my favorite clips from Pinterest about hitting it:

 

Well, as many of you know it’s also been a challenging time re-gaining my footing since my Mom’s recent passing.  And the one thing that has been a tremendous help has been–yup–meditating.  Taking no more than ten minutes in the morning to calm my mind down, to center my thoughts, to breathe deeply and focus on nothing but that has been more powerful than I could have ever imagined.  No wonder it has been embraced for centuries by people all over the world.

There are as many ways to meditate as there are to read, to pray, to think.  What I’ve found matters most is to breathe.  Concentrating on breathing is concentrating on what gives you life, your breath.  In and out.  Can’t live without doing that.  And boy, does your breath react when your mind and your body is out of alignment!  It quickens, races, and sends signals to your heart and all of your organs to be on alert!!  It feels like the body’s conductor–pacing the music of your heart pumping, your blood flowing through your veins, your eyes darting–all of it.  I find it just amazing when I slow down and focus on slowly breathing, letting thoughts pass through like clouds across the sky, instead of the thoughts taking root in my mind and causing me to churn on them, most of them being fabrications of the future or ruminations of the past, breathing helps me stay melded to the present moment, and clarity becomes my guide.  Perception becomes fine-tuned into the reality that is in the moment at hand.

I find it is much better from this space to make decisions, to plan, to celebrate or to just BE.  I can actually feel my heart slow down.  And trust.  I had to wear a heart monitor earlier this year due to palpitations.  Did I share that?  Might have.  It was a game changer.  With too many dear friends leaving the planet due to STRESS related complications, I’m willing to look at what has worked holistically to keep humans more healthy, and meditation certainly has.

My sis Gloria recommended an app, CALM, to me, and it has been a true Godsend.  You can try it for free, and to me it is worth the investment.

https://www.calm.com/

Meditation is great for calming the mind, for sleeping more soundly, for restoring a bit of peace in your circumstances throughout your day.  You see, once I learned how to meditate, I found that the breathing techniques work in traffic, when faced with long lines at a store, or in other situations or conversations that could use some calm.

As noted in a previous post–stress doesn’t sizzle it fries.

Meditation and Exercise soothe.

Try it and let me know how you feel!

Hugs,

Amy

 

Yikes!!! It’s the middle of August already.  Where has the summer gone??

You know I have been and will STAY on my soapbox about getting in exercise.  30 minutes of something 5 days a week.  Well, here in Chicago, we gotta make hay while the sun shines, because before you know it, Mother Nature will be putting on her shades and winter will be here.

Think it’s all about having fun in the sun?  I’m all for the picnics, concerts, and laying on the beach for sure.  But one of the best reasons to get outside is to get some Vitamin D.  This natural nutrient from the sun is one of the best fighters against aging, diseases like diabetes, cancer and dementia, depression, bone weakness and so much more.  Get it from the sun, from key foods and from supplements, but just be sure to get some!  Here’s more detail on why.  Take a look at this informational link:

https://www.everydayhealth.com/vitamin-d/vitamin-d-health-benefits-what-it-can-cant-your-body/

Vitamin D is no cure all.  Nothing is.  But, as I come across tips to highlight, I have to share them, because it doesn’t take as much as it seems to stay healthy.  Awareness is key.  As Mother Maya always says, “When you know better, you can do better!”

Back to my pic above…

As you are out and about getting your sun on, be careful out there!  It gets crowded on the streets and lakefront as folks are definitely trying to get their walk, run and biking in!!  On beautiful days like we’ve been having lately, it’s such a blessing to relish them.  So I just move over and smile.

Keep on Sizzling!

Hugs,

Amy

 

As Nike says, JUST DO IT!

I can’t tell you how much working out can help you FEEL better.  It really does lift your spirits and your thoughts.  When you put on your favorite song, rock to the rhythm and move to the beat outside or on equipment, boy, what a feeling of power, of joy, of gratitude that the body can move!  And when you dead lift, like I’m getting ready to do in the photo, it does lift your Butt, LOL!

While I’m preaching to the choir to some, for others, it may seem like a challenge to consistently get it in.  But I’m here to tell you…it needs to be non-negotiable.  This past 12 months, so many good people have left us from cancer, heart attacks, high blood pressure, diabetes, stress, you name it…all diseases that can be slowed down by exercise.  It has been documented:

https://medlineplus.gov/benefitsofexercise.html

And, exercise is not just good for our physical health.  It’s good for our mental health as well.  Working through the loss of my Mom has been tough.  But working out has helped tremendously.  Exercise helps with depression, anxiety, sleep, resilience and so much more:

The Mental Health Benefits of Exercise

Now, I’m not a boot camp kinda girl.  I like to push hard, but not so hard that I don’t want to come back the next day.  Fitness competitions aren’t for me!  (True confessions…I DID think about it, though!)  After looking into what it would take, I decided that world just wasn’t my cup of tea.  Geez, the food regimen was crazy!!  Hey, I do like a glass of wine, a martini or a margarita on the weekends, IJS!  Now my goal is 30 minutes a day of some form of exercise 5 days a week.  I can do that.  It’s on my calendar.  This is for ME.  I want to live to be at least 90 years old and 100 would be DOPE!  Why not?  Combining regular exercise, watching what you eat, drinking more water doesn’t have to be a chore.  In coming posts, I’ll share some delicious recipes I’ve been collecting and trying.  And, it’s summer!  The Farmer’s Markets are full of the best fruits and vegetables.   Cucumbers fresh from the farm last two weeks!!  Amazing.

It’s all in your perspective.  The mind is powerful.  But you tell it what to think.  Tell your mind to keep it MOVING.   Exercise is good for the body mind and soul as noted.  I’m a witness!

Let me hear from YOU!  What are you doing to keep it moving?  What are you doing to lift your Spirits, Thoughts and BUTT?

Until next time, Sizzle On!

Hugs,

Amy

With the ACTUAL temperatures in Chicago currently at -20 below and a wind chill of -50 below, it’s a good time to take a look at your skin care regimen.  We don’t want our faces to crack, no matter what the weather!

I’m often asked about my skin, what I use/do to keep it glowing.  These shots are 25 years apart–1993 on the right and 2018 on the left.  Neither pics have filters.  While makeup does help (concealer anyone?), you want your skin to shine through.  Happy to share what’s worked for me, and hope my tips are helpful to you.

First, drink lots of WATER.  I know you’ve heard this before, but it really works to flush out toxins that can show up on your skin.

Next, find PRODUCTS suited for your skin type.  Some folks swear by bar soaps like Dove, and say Vaseline is great for moisture.  Others like me, prefer a line of products developed to work together.  For several years, I used Meaningful Beauty by Cindy Crawford, http://www.meaningfulbeauty.com.  I was such a fan, they featured me on their infomercial for over a year!  The shot below is from the monitor when we filmed the infomercial in 2013.

That was fun, but most importantly, the products are very good.  One of the best in her line is the Intensive Triple Exfoliating Treatment.  It’s a peel, scrub and detox treatment all in one, and resurfaces your skin.  Also, the Ultra Lifting ad Filling Treatment for the neck is fabulous.  Really works on those lines and crepey skin.

However, for some, it’s important to change up your products as there are many new technological product improvements happening all the time.  I love going to ULTA Beauty, http://www.ulta.com because you can see what’s new in both prestige and moderately priced lines.  Also, like your exercise routine, you may need to switch things up to keep getting the results you want.

With that in mind, I changed up my skin care products last year to Mary Kay Time Wise 3D, http://www.marykay.com.  I had used Mary Kay years before, but this new line is truly awesome.  That’s what I am using in the 2018 photo.  For my Combination skin type, the line includes an Exfoliating Cleanser, Day and Night Moisturizers and an Eye Cream.  They have separate product lines for Normal to Dry Skin types.  Like Meaningful Beauty, Time Wise is state-of-the-art for Anti-Aging.  And, it is less expensive!

Here are more tips no matter what products you use on your skin.

First, ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS take off your makeup before going to bed.  No matter how tired you are.  Your skin needs to breathe.  I call it “Taking the Day off” my face.  It feels sooo good–kinda like taking off your bra when you get home, LOL!  For taking off eye makeup, which I do first, I use plain old Baby Oil and a cotton pad.  Works as well as Eye Remover products.  Next, I use Exfoliating Towelettes by Equate–Walmart’s private label skin care line.  Best ever, and really a great value!

Next tip: MOISTURIZE, MOISTURIZE, MOISTURIZE!  No matter what type of skin you have, it is vital to keep it moisturized with creams that contain SPF ingredients to protect from the your skin from the sun.  Saw on Oprah a 70-year-old woman with flawless skin who put on moisturizer to get mail from her mailbox!  And don’t forget your neck and hands.  Often those areas are neglected, and they show age quite readily.  Seriously.  I keep hand cream with me at all times, and use it throughout the day and right before bed.  There are several good neck creams out in addition to Cindy Crawford’s.  Moisturize daily after cleansing and nightly before bed.

More:  EXFOLIATE!  As often as your skin will allow.  Getting the dead skin cells off definitely lets you glow.  Skin brushes can be great, but be careful not to overuse.  If you can cleanse your face in the shower, it’s easy to add a scrub to your cleanser and do both at once (a tip from my daughter, Angelica!).  This goes for your body also (another Angelica tip:  use exfoliating gloves in the shower for the body).  I find this also makes it easy to check for suspicious lumps on a regular basis.

Additional Skin Savers:  MASKS.  Pull those impurities right out and relax at the same time.  Once a week is good.  And VITAMINS/SUPPLEMENTS can help too–Omega 3-6-9 and collagen capsules are favs of mine.

So…that’s what I do.  Your skin can be glowing for years with a good regimen and products that work for you.  Just be sure your mind and spirit use good rejuvenating regimens also, so your glow will also come from within!

These are my tips…what are yours?

See you next week.

Hugs,

Amy