Category: Beauty/Appearance/Style

Stretch Yourself – Good for Your Body and Mind

by amy155, posted in Beauty/Appearance/Style, Health/Wellness, Relationships, Wellness/Self Love

Amy and Lydia 2018

This summer I hurt my shoulder, and couldn’t lift heavy weights.  I had to adjust my fitness routine to a different pace.  One of my BFFs from grade school days, Lydia, came to visit, and she’s a yoga enthusiast at 65.  Looks great.  During her visit, she got on the floor and stretched for 15 minutes every day, then meditated.  I thought “Hmmm.  That’s doable and looks like it feels great!”

So I started that regimen, and let me tell you—it’s powerful and effective.

Stretching Did You Know

As we age, our muscles and joints do also.  They are stiffer than they used to be.  But, with stretching, they can stay lubricated and working well for us.

There’s a new app coming soon called http://www.westretch.ca.  While we wait on this app with daily stretch routines, here’s an article highlighting  “9 Stretching Benefits Women Over 40 Should Know”  https://westretch.ca/9-stretching-benefits-women-over-40-should-know/

They include:  1) reducing stress, 2) opening up the body’s muscles and increasing blood flow, 3) stretched muscles become your new normal, 4) a stretching routine can elevate your exercise performance, 5) it reduces overuse injuries, 6) benefits nearly all parts of your body, 7) fights age-related stiffness, 8)improves your flexibility and 9) when consistent, stretching improves the total way you move.  

I’ve felt ALL of these benefits since stretching daily.  It’s amazing–takes only 10-15 minutes, can be done anywhere and truly is a great way to start the day.

And then, adding 10-15 minutes on meditation–WOW.  By calming my mind, I stretch my mind and my possibilities.  I know, I know.  Many of you say you can’t meditate.  I was there too.  It didn’t work when I had to chant or hum.  That may work for some.  For me, when I read that all you have to do is sit quietly for a set amount of time (I use the timer on my iPhone) and let your thoughts roll by…well, that I could do.

Meditation stretches your mind by clearing out stuff.  It’s like when you have too many windows open on your computer, it slows down.  It’s like trying to see clearly on a foggy day.  You have more clarity when the fog lifts.  When I’ve cleared my mind for the day, all sorts of new ideas have room to pop in, and they do!  It also sets a positive tone for the day, as I’m not focused on negativity.

Stretching your body and your mind is a wonderful way to lubricate your well-being on a daily basis.   Far too often, the alarm goes off, and we hop on our phones, checking email,  responding to it, turning on the news and letting all kinds of stories fill your mind, and…we are off to the races!

By taking a few minutes to tune in to your body, then clearing your mind, you can take your energy and productivity to a whole different level.  Trust me, it feels SIZZLING afterward!

It’s so simple.  Sometimes, the most simple things can be the most powerful.

Hugs, Amy

Amy BW Outfit 9-18

Reinvention is a Choice. 

by amy155, posted in Beauty/Appearance/Style, Finances/Entrepreneurship, Health/Wellness
dawn sunset beach woman
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

 Are you considering a major change in your life?  It can seem daunting.  Should I start that business?  Move to another city?  Try a different career?

Well, you are reinventing yourself. Like a caterpillar shedding it’s skin in order to emerge as a butterfly, we shed our skins several times at different stages of life. I remember when I became a mother. A totally new life for me. I had to re-invent who Amy was. All of my ambitions, goals and desires had to be re-calibrated because I now was responsible for another life.  But re-calibrated–not eliminated.

What was challenging was not only to re-think who I was, but also not to LOSE who I was in the process.  It wasn’t easy.  I’ve always been ambitious. Sold homemade perfume from petals in my mother’s rose garden at 10. I’ve had paying work since I was 13 years old, so working was in my DNA.

I was not in a position to be a stay-at-home Mom. That didn’t bother me, as my role model, my mother, always worked. I saw her re-invent herself from a nurse, to an entrepreneur, to a college grad, then a math and science teacher who went on to get a graduate degree. And she did all this reinventing AFTER having four children. So, I grew up thinking women could work and be a mother. And that’s what I did. I continued to work, have a corporate career, became an entrepreneur, and still relished motherhood. Wife-hood didn’t work out as well…but that’s another post.  Lessons learned.

Mom and me in NY

What I understand now and didn’t then, is how much COURAGE it took for my mother to re-invent herself. It took tremendous courage for her to pursue her ambitions in the 1950’s and 60’s. She recognized what her spirit was saying she needed to manifest…she didn’t ignore it. How often we IGNORE what our inner spirit is saying to us! We ignore at times due to fear. Yet, if you tell fear to step aside, you can take the time to go within to make some important decisions.

Choosing to re-invent requires introspection and action. During those introspective times, don’t let your thoughts go down a path of regret. “I wish I had tried X.”  Well, it’s not too late! Don’t waste time in What If-Ville. “What if I try X and this happens. What if I don’t try?”  Time will march on either way, so choose to move from thinking about re-invention to taking steps to do it. All of a sudden, your energy to achieve shifts–and your mind becomes freer to create a new reality for yourself.

You start jumping into your day, buoyed by the KNOWING that you are getting into alignment with your gifts. Wow. When this happens to me, it’s like having a mind orgasm. Ha!

We can CHOOSE TO RE-INVENT. It can be an exciting journey, even when you can’t see the end of the trip. Take action on your dreams. Don’t waste moments on things that shift your energy into a negative place. Click on your mind app that says ONWARD AND UPWARD!

It’s never to late to SIZZLE!   Talk to you next week.  Hugs, Amy

sunset beach people sunrise
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

 

Tap Into Your Juice

by amy155, posted in Beauty/Appearance/Style, Finances/Entrepreneurship, Health/Wellness, Relationships
blue clouds color danger
Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

It’s interesting.  This process of Sizzling.  To me, it is so much more than how I look.  It’s how I feel about my life, and the many aspects of it.  You see, there’s is so much to live for.  It’s about consistently making the decision to step toward the good.  Step toward God’s gifts inside of you.

I wrote a guidebook, called Tap Into Your Juice – How to Find Your Gifts, Lose Your Fears and Build Your Dreams some 14 years ago.  In it’s 4th printing.  Endorsed by Michelle Obama.  It’s based on ten principles–my 10 P’s–philosophies I live by.  The first is Believing in Possibilities.  I’ve found that if you have a dream, a vision, a goal–even if you’ve never done it, if it is on your heart to do, try or become–well, it was put there for a reason.  Keep walking toward it.  Your belief is your energy source–align to it.  No matter what your age.

I still read TAP myself.  They say the teacher sometimes is the one needing the lessons.  Ha! Well, that would be me.  When life throws a curve, I go back to my 10 P’s.  Feel free to check them out…get it in ebook/Kindle form on iTunes https://itunes.apple.com/us/book/tap-into-your-juice/id1099926182?mt=11 –or Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Tap-Into-Your-Juice-Dreams-ebook/dp/B01LWRR58J.  Paperback copies are coming back soon!

You see, to me, your Juice is the energy of your gifts–the mental, physical, spiritual and emotional vibrancy that gives you the momentum to accomplish anything.  And since our gifts are uniquely individual, your Juice can be too.  Tapping into it is a way of plugging into your smarts, strength, creativity, courage, resolve and resiliency to move forward through fear to build your dreams.

I had fears about starting this blog!  As the posts show, it’s not my first time.  Life happened.  You run hard and and the currents can be rough.  But I’ve found that turning within to align with the intuitive guidance we all have been given is energizing.  It’s like putting your boat in the river in the direction of the currents–your currents.  Learning to believe in and trust what feels right to you is a process.  But guess what?  When you get into the rhythm of it, the possibilities start coming.

Don’t fight the feeling!  Go with your gut.  Have less fight and more right with yourself and see what happens.  You’ll figure out the logical stuff.

And actually, as I’ve gotten older, this is becoming easier to do.  It’s freeing to realize that you can connect right into higher levels of energy.  Click on to it like an app–it’s electric!  It’s a mindset.   Be your OWN lottery ticket.

When negativity pulls, I remember to start tapping and Stand in My Power–my God-given gifts and shift my energy into gear.  I want the possibilities of a vibrant life, so I’m believing they are mine to have.  What about you?

Tap Into Your Juice.  Try it.

Let me know how that works for you, OK?

And as always–SIZZLE ON!

Sending Hugs,

Amy

 

 

 

 

Shift Happens

by amy155, posted in Beauty/Appearance/Style, Finances/Entrepreneurship, Health/Wellness, Relationships, Wellness/Self Love

There comes a time.

At each stage of life, you shift.   Priorities, plans, dreams.  You rearrange the chairs on the deck to fit the motion of the ocean.  Always pressing on, but pressing in a different way.  You sail on while things calibrate, energy moves, and then exciting horizons can appear.  I’m shifting gears now.   Higher!Horizon

When energy moves in a different direction, it’s hard sometimes to catch the rhythm, and may be a shock to your expectations.  But then, as you catch the rhythm, you make different decisions and change the map.  New destinations ahead!   Staying open to possibilities can sizzle!  It keeps momentum in life when you look at the positives of shift happening.

Shift.  What’s shift?  The stuff that can make you mad, delays that can frustrate, new information that changes your perspective and can throw you off your square.  But within the swirl of it, take another look, and find something new.    Another way of getting to success.  Even with situations where you thought you had figured out all the angles.

My friend Norma and I talked about this–that Shift Happens.   It does.   Why fight it?  Norma had a great  party celebrating her Level 7–seven decades of living life—and looks fabulous!  Part looking good is letting things matter that really matter now.  The rest–well, leave it alone.  Letting shift happen and staying focused on the positives is Better than Botox!  Less worry lines.  Keeps the forehead smooth.  Just sayin’.

Making a strategic pivot can really turn out well.  It’s hard to let old frameworks go, but when leveling up, that’s what is required.   When riding the wave, even if a turn takes you on a longer road, keep pedaling.   Let the fresh air hit your face.  The air around you is changing to go with the flow of opportunity.  God’s timing always shifts you in the right direction.

So, don’t get mad when Shift Happens.  Just roll with it.  Then make the choices you need to find the current and RIDE!

Do you feel me?  Let me know!

Hugs,

Amy

 

 

The Benefits of Pruning

by amy155, posted in Beauty/Appearance/Style, Finances/Entrepreneurship, Health/Wellness

Pruning

I’m good at a lot of things, but I don’t have a green thumb.  While I love the looks of plants, most of the ones in my home are of the beautiful silk variety!  The pictures above are of the only plant I’ve been able to grow.  Would you  believe it’s the same plant?  It is.

This is a ten-year old Peace Lilly, saved from my Dad’s Homegoing.  His spirit is in there!  I talk to him regularly.  After repotting it twice, I realized the plant was not thriving at all.  I called my good friend  Cj, who has a totally green thumb and got her steps to repot–the right way.  So I did.  And—NOTHING.  Daddy’s plant still wasn’t responding.

I didn’t know what else to do, so I just started pruning it.  Cutting off the old leaves.  I figured the old leaves and stems were holding on to old rotted roots, and weren’t doing any good.  So I watered with Miracle Grow, pruned and asked Daddy to come on back to life.  All summer.

Funny thing–once I started pruning back the old leaves that were not producing, NEW leaves started growing.  It was as if after all this time, my plant was saying to me “Time to start something new.  Time to change your position in the pew.”  And, about this time, I brought back my Sizzling After 60 Blog too and I’m loving it!

We’ve all heard that pruning plants can cause new growth, and I have PROOF!!  But also, how many of us apply that concept in life?  Sometimes, I’m finding as I get older I have to prune back people, projects, food, clothing…choices in order to grow.  Everyone can’t be in your life for the long haul.  Some are there for a reason or a season.

As Susan Taylor once told me, “Everyone can’t have a front row seat in your life”.  I’d add, “Everything can’t either”.  So I’m embracing pruning.

Back to my plant.  The healthy plant on the bottom is all totally new.  It’s Sizzling, right?  I just kept cutting it back and new sprouts kept growing until I may have to repot it again soon!  It’s overflowing with vitality.  It’s thirsty, too.  But, I discovered an important lesson.  I don’t over water it anymore.  I just give it what it needs and it grows from there.  Hmmm.  Just give your life what it needs and let it grow from there.   Sounds like a plan to me.

So, Sizzlers…get out those pruning shears and make room to GROW!

Happy Hump Day.   Have a great rest of the week.

Hugs,

Amy

 

 

 

Two Meals can give your Body the Feels!

by amy155, posted in Beauty/Appearance/Style, Health/Wellness

As we age, research suggests reducing our caloric intake is a good idea.  How to do that without feeling HANGRY?  Well, I’m trying the Two Meal a Day Plan that Active Agers in some Blue Zones use.  Instead of eating breakfast first thing when I get up and moving (I’m an early riser–5:30 AM–where are my early birds at?) I now eat breakfast no sooner than 10 AM, and try to stretch to not eat until Noon.  Then, a nice hearty meal between 5-8 PM.  This is also called Intermittent Fasting.  Check out this link, https://www.nerdfitness.com/blog/a-beginners-guide-to-intermittent-fasting.  It’s fairly long, but also informative.

Here’s what’s been working for me–when those first hunger pangs, signals to eat because I’m used to first thing coming knocking, I say “Hi there.  I see you.  But not going to feed you now.  Bye”.  And then they pass.  Another tip that I got from Nerd Fitness, I walk a mile or workout before eating.  Also helps keeps the hunger pangs at bay.

Then, when I eat, that’s ALL I do.  Eat.  No TV, reading, texting.  Just enjoying the food and the moment, perhaps with friends.  Savor the Flavor.  Chewing slowly.  Thinking about why the food is good for me.  Did I tell you I’m now a pescartarian?  Not a Vegan–yet.  No more red meat, pork or chicken.  Only fish.  Totally a good move.  But that’s another blog post.

If a sweet urge hits, watermelon does the trick.  Or, let’s be real.  I did found The  ComfortCake Company–“poundcake so good it feels like a hug”.   We don’t manufacture them wholesale anymore, but I still make a mean one and enjoy a slice now and then (but give away most of it)!

And to ease into a good sleep at night, Sleepy Time Extra Herbal Tea by Celestial Seasonings does the trick!  A good night’s rest is part of the Intermittent Fasting regimen.  And, it takes up a lot of the fasting hours–Ha!

I’ve been working on these last 10 pounds for a while now–REINVENTING my body.  As Joyce Meyer says, Reinvention requires identifying and understanding the repetitive strongholds in your life that are pulling you down or holding you back.  Those of you who follow me on Facebook and Instagram know I like to work out, but I needed to reinvent my eating habits.  I could no longer ignore what wasn’t working–what didn’t feel right.  Feelings don’t lie.  They are the intuitive shorthand that safeguards you, and can point you in powerful and positive new directions.

But it does take Courage to act on the awareness of the behaviors that are holding you back.  I know.  It’s easier to rationalize those feelings away.  “Well, I really need this pair of shoes.  This purse is Totally Me!  This bread is calling my name, and so is this BBQ!!” LOL.

All I can share is that I have felt Courageous as I’ve changed my eating habits to Reinvent my body.  It’s so much more than looks or getting into the dress I haven’t worn in years.  It’s about how my body feels.  How my mind is more clear.  How I’m working to not get diseases that can affect the quality of my life going forward.  Breast cancer, diabetes, heart disease, dementia, high blood pressure and more can all be affected by what we eat and how much we eat.

Yes, Two Meals is giving my Body the Feels.  And I love the Feeling.

Why not give it a try, Sizzlers?  Let me know how it feels to YOU.

Hugs,

Amy

 

Keep Growing and Glowing

by amy155, posted in Beauty/Appearance/Style, Health/Wellness

Lessons from the Tao on Growth:

A moving door hinge never corrodes. Flowing water is never stagnant.

Even in the autumn of Life, you cannot give up on growth. If you do, you only decline. All aspects of a person: body, mind and spirit have one curious quality…once they stop growing, they begin to atrophy.

That’s why no matter what you have accomplished and no matter how old you are, you must keep exercising all parts of yourself!

And, we only grow when we are challenged.

Muscles do not strengthen without resistence!!

Keep flowing and challenging yourself–a great way to Sizzle After 60!

Joyful Joints — It’s great to exercise again!

by amy155, posted in Beauty/Appearance/Style, Health/Wellness

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!

Image

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!!

Confessions of a High Heel-aholic!

by amy155, posted in Beauty/Appearance/Style, Health/Wellness

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

It’s 2 PM–have you gotten your workout in yet?

by amy155, posted in Beauty/Appearance/Style, Health/Wellness

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!