Today Is The First Day of the Rest of Your Life

It's been a while since I have been here but I am so happy to be back! My life is so different since moving to south Florida and I can hardly believe that 3 and a half years have gone by, but I must admit that it has been a positive move in the right direction for me. Being in a different location after spending your whole life somewhere else is quite an eye opener at first but you do learn to get used to it and focus on the positive, leaving the rest behind. Continuing to travel from coast to coast really puts things in prospective and life is always different visiting/vacationing as opposed to actually living somewhere else.  I tend to get so excited about the thought of possibly moving again and starting a different life in a completely new place the moment I get there, but I quickly remember how living here is a 360 from the week long vacations of the past, and it has taken some getting used to. Obstacles such as traffic, cost of living, and the dynamics of the many cultures here quickly take their place and hit you in the face! I do love the diversity of the area, from weather and tropical surroundings to the melting pot of people from all over the world. It seems that you can enjoy the life you want wherever you are as long as you have the right attitude and mindset.

Changing careers from being a CPA to a Holistic Nutrition Coach/Customer Service Manager of a Golf Clothing and Accessory Distributor has helped me move in a more heartfelt direction where I can be true to myself. In other words, my stress level has decreased significantly, eating habits changed completely, and outlook on life is much more positive. I realize the importance of taking good care of myself in order to help others embrace their happiest healthiest versions of themselves.  After finishing my health coaching course I realized that I needed to connect with like minded people in the area involved in promoting better health and wellness. I looked for local health fairs, green markets, and events that would lead me in these directions. The continuous exposure to the ever growing health industry of supplements, machines, positions, etc. was overwhelming.  I had to listen to my gut when I was exposed to the same nutritional supplement twice in 2 days. It made so much sense to include this in my arsenal of gifts that I could offer to others. I immediately jumped on board  and I must say it has been  a great ride that I will continue for the remainder of my life. My health coaching course taught me the power of eating a plant based diet, including the rainbow of fruits and veggies and the many benefits of each. Why would I not take 6 capsules with over 30 fruits, veggies, grapes and berries each day as an insurance policy for prevention of disease, and increased daily health. It made so much sense. I had been taking an array of good quality vitamins and supplements everyday but they were so expensive. When I compare what I was spending to my new regime of fruit and veggie capsules, it was a no brainer. Little did I know that this was the best decision of my life. It is hard to explain how good I feel everyday since making this change.  I also stopped eating dairy; milk and cheese, which helped my digestion and inflammation so much. Noticeably better hair, skin, nails, and gums, not to mention the increased energy.  I have always had reflux and indigestion but did not realize how bad it was until I didn't have it anymore. Occasionally I do eat good quality cheese and creamy sauces and the indigestion and stuffiness hits me like a ton of bricks.  I also notice how I crave more veggies and fruits as a result of the increased whole food nutrition intake each day. I truly believe in the power of food as medicine. I use myself as an example, and take it from me, it happens quickly once you make small changes in your diet and exercise routines.

What I am continuing to learn and practice is being present in my life. Enjoying each moment as it comes. Having my parents so close to me so that we can play golf and enjoy meals together on a weekly basis, is priceless, and I am enjoying this so much. I realize that I do want to stay close to them and no matter how many places I visit, I am here to stay as long as they are here. I have built a life in this new place that is happy, healthy, and satisfying. I continue to pursue my many interests within the health and wellness industry; alternative natural treatments for cancer, the many benefits of cannabis, the power of breathing, meditation, and yoga, and the positive results of having a good attitude. Golf is a big part of my life here and my goal is to play at least twice a week.  I must give kudos to the EWGA of Fort Lauderdale chapter for enhancing my life and introducing me to so many great new friends, not to mention all the great courses we get to play all the time.  I do miss my racquetball community back home but we are all still connected thru Facebook and I do love keeping up with everyone.  These are great memories for me and I will keep them close for the rest of my life.

My message to all is to enjoy your life now and be present where you are. I have been talking to my kids about this lately as they embark on new adventures and directions in their lives. Life is learning  to appreciate what you have and enjoy each and every moment as if it were your last. Tomorrow is not promised but we always have today, so make the most of it. Hug your loved ones and tell them that you love them every chance you get. Smile at the person walking towards you who may be frowning. Most of the time they will smile back and you could have just made their day.  For me it makes my day just to see someone smile back.  Life is so short so don't sweat the small stuff and focus on the big stuff. Remember to give back as often as you can. It will come back to you ten fold when you least expect it.

I will see you back here soon!! Love to all and go out and touch as many lives as you can today, including your own!!

Susan G now Feeing Fine After Fifty
Juice Plus

Why Wait; Live Your Life Now

I was let go from my job in January of this year. It has now been about 6 months and I have learned so much about myself, my friends, and others I have come in contact with during that time. In February I finally joined facebook to promote this blog, and it has undoubtedly been one of the best decisions of my life. I have reconnected with so many old friends that I did not keep in touch with over the years who I really had fun with growing up. What I realized is that the connections to these friends are still very much the same now. Although our lives have changed due to careers, marriages, divorces, and locations, our personalities and likenesses have remained the same. The most ironic thing I have noticed is that we are all at that point in our lives where we just want to spread our wings and fly. What I mean is that for whatever reason; probably because of what we are taught, when you are young, we have a tendency to choose the more logical path. I know that's what I did. I always enjoyed theater in high school and started out in college somewhat going in that direction. I always knew that I wanted to be involved in some way. While working a summer job before starting at ODU I met an older woman who was very unhappy in her long time marriage, but could not leave her husband due to financial constraints. I realized that I never wanted to be in that position during my life. I knew I was good in math and english, and decided to pursue a career in accounting., knowing that it would support me financially and I would never have to depend on anyone but myself. It was by far the best decision I could have made at the time, and has been very good to me for the last 29 years. I was able to start at the bottom after graduating with a BA in Business Administration with a concentration in Accounting, and ultimately became a CPA. I climbed the ladder year after year, and job after job, to finally land that job I had always hoped for. I could never have done the job without my years of experience in different positions, with different companies, and dealing with some of the most colorful characters. I had years of career, and life experiences.

I am now at a crossroads in my life. It is my time to do what I want to do. I have been divorced and single for the last 18 years. Wow, that sounds like a long time. I am in the process of selling my house as the kids are gone, and moving to Florida,where I have wanted to go for many years. I have chosen my new career path which I will start after I move, but has gone hand in hand with the premise for this blog: HEALTH AND WELLNESS. I can hardly wait. The best part of the last 6 months has been reconnecting with my old friends from this area and realizing that we have not changed inside. We all want to get back to what we want to do. One of my friends is singing in a band, while my other friend is getting ready to perform in local theater. They still have their full time jobs for now but they have reconnected with their innermost passions. I am so excited for them, and even more excited for myself. I also realize that I do not want to spend the rest of my life alone, and very much want to fall in love again, and find that special someone to spend the rest of my life with.

As part of this life transforming process, I have also opened myself up to so many new things; golf, writing, travel, and the ultimate for me: HEALTH AND WELLNESS. Feeling good inside and realizing what I need to do to enhance that is the seed of all things. I truly believe that eating well, exercising, sleeping enough, and enjoying life to the fullest is definitely the key to a long, happy life. I almost forgot to mention that I have been seeing a therapist for the last year, in an effort to help me deal with some anger issues surrounding some unforeseen circumstances. This has been such a wonderful enhancement to my life, and has taught me to look at life much more positively (the glass really is half full), as well as my approach to all people, issues, and life as a whole. I am much more accepting of others and their lives, and have learned to only deal with what I can control, and leave the rest behind. I should have done this years ago but I can only look forward at this point. If you are having issues in your life that you are not happy with, and can't figure out what direction to go in, I highly recommend finding the right professional and seeking help. It is AMAZING, and will change your life.

Check out this video and keep these lyrics in your heart.

Enjoy Your Exercise; Realize Your Limitations

Wow, it's been a while since I have been here, but I am ready to get back to it. So sorry it's taken me so long but here goes. A few articles back I started talking about trying new forms of exercise in an effort to branch out of my comfort zone. I went to a Zumba class at the Y that I thought was for beginners. WRONG!! It was actually a regular Zumba class, but the instructor was so nice and really made me feel comfortable. It was a blast!! I am not the most coordinated, so the steps were my main focus, and I probably did not experience the exercise portion of the hour as much as I had hoped. I still had sooo much fun as it was like going to a dance for an hour. The different types of music (latin, carribean, indian/bollywood), along with the different moves, and steps were amazing, and I kept up better than I thought. I knew this would be something I would continue, and if I wanted to really get the benefits I would have to keep coming to get used to the steps and be able to experience the whole process. The ladies in the class were so supportive and friendly, and they assured me that it would get easier each time. It was a wonderful experience. A couple of weeks later my daughter came home from her cruise job and she convinced me to go back with her as she had been going to classes on the ship, and was interested in becoming an instructor. She started going everyday to different Y locations in our area that the girls recommended. They could see that she was good at it, and really enjoyed it. I went a couple of times a week and started getting more familiar with the steps, which enabled me to really let go and feel the music. I felt great after every class, and couldn't wait to go back.

I was also interested in trying hot yoga but was a little concerned about the heat being too much. My hot flashes are pretty much under control but extreme heat still brings them on. I bought a groupon for 10 sessions at Chesapeake Hot Yoga. They have a light and warm class so I decided to start there and see how I fared with that level of heat before jumping in full force. It was hot but bearable. The yoga itself was more difficult than I thought it would be due to the extreme stretching that I was totally not used to. I had been to a yoga class at the Hindu temple which was more meditation and yoga. This was all yoga stretches. I felt good afterwards, and was a bit sore the next day or so but was determined to go back and push thru the pain. I went to 3 classes in a week and a half. It was not getting any easier, and each time there was a different instructor so the workout was constantly changing. I was also doing Zumba in between, and racquetball on the weekend. By the next week my sciatic nerve was KILLING me. Constant hip pain going down my leg. I realized that I had overdone my exercise and would have to stop some activities. I should have stopped everything but no, not me. I am invincible, or so I thought. This had to be a result of taking 3 yoga classes in a week and a half and not taking a day off from everything here and there. What was I thinking!! I finally decided to stop all activity other than walking, to let things heal and get back to normal. It has now been about 3 weeks and the pain is not going down my leg anymore but I still have hip pain when sitting and laying. I went to the doctor last week and he put me on a steroid pack for a week which I will start today, as I was in Myrtle Beach for the weekend playing golf, and didn't want to deal with the possible side effects. I am fine standing, walking, and playing golf, of course. I will slowly add my activities back this week to get back to a normal routine but I have learned, once again, that I need a break in between heavy exercise for at least a day to let my body recover. I am not 20 anymore, even though I think I am.

The point of this article: let your body rest and recover when trying new things, and realize your limitations. I always feel great after my heavier exercising, but I always feel the pain the next day. Your body needs time to recover and rebuild, and constant pounding and pushing on your  muscles is not the answer, especially if you are older. I realize that racquetball has taken a big toll on my body for the last 16 years, and now I must let myself heal when trying new things. Listen to your body, and it will tell you what you should or shouldn't do. Never stop exercising, but like I always say: EVERYTHING IN MODERATION!!

Still Recovering

If Our Grandmothers Could See Us Now

The other day I played golf with a friend of mine from the Y that I play racquetball with. We have been playing golf together now since the summer, and have really been enjoying it. She has been playing for a while, and is an athlete, so needless to say she plays very well. We usually play 9 holes and walk, to get the exercise. The weather here has been so crazy that the other day it was 70 degrees, and today is about 45 degrees. Welcome to Virginia. So enough about the weather. This friend of mine is not just any friend. Let me give you some history.

When we first met we all went out one night to say good bye to one of our fellow racquetball players who was moving. We happened to be sitting across from each other, and thru regular conversation about where are you from, and where did you grow up, we discovered that our grandmothers were best friends. They grew up in the same neighborhood, and had always kept in touch. We were both so shocked when I mentioned my maiden name and she told me who her grandmother was. She actually used to babysit for my brother, sister, and I. I always remember her big bun on her head, and how sweet she was to us, always. She also had a very deep voice. Anyway, the other day as we were walking on the golf course I thought to myself, and actually said out loud, “what would our grandmothers say if they could see us now”. It made me think what a small world we live in, and how you never know who is right next to you until you talk to them.  I also realized, once again, how much being a member of the YMCA has helped me to gain so many friends and meet so many new people that I would not have otherwise known, or come in contact with. This time it was someone connected to my family and my past, which made it extra special. We are becoming much better friends and I am so glad. I know my grandmother would be so happy to know that we got the chance to meet, and actually become good friends for some part of our lives. It seems very ironic, and  I can’t help but think that these things don’t just happen, if you know what I mean.

I can’t stress enough how important it is to enjoy your exercise. Joining a gym or fitness center will enable you to take advantage of more than just the exercise, as you can see. The social aspect of the gym is usually taken for granted, but shouldn’t be. Life is short, and you never know who, or what is around the corner.

This article is dedicated to Blanche, Ida, and Barb.  I love you all!!

Exercise For You

As you can see from my previous article “My YMCA Experience”, I love racquetball. I have never been a great exerciser. I have tried many classes over the years in an attempt to try and be healthy and exercise. When I  started really playing racquetball at the ripe old age of 36, I knew I had finally found the answer to exercise for me.  I have been playing for 15 years now and still enjoying it as much as I can. It is a very addicting game once you have been bit by the bug, but it does take it’s toll on your body over the years. I have had many bumps, bruises, sprains, cuts, black eyes, etc. but I keep coming back for more. I have laid off playing for 6 months at a time in order to recover from injuries. When I started this journey to weightloss back in February I was doing the Activtrax workout as well as playing racquetball. Around the end of March, I tore my meniscus in my knee and had to stop playing.. I wasn’t quite sure what I would be able to do with this type of an injury but I was determined to continue exercising anyway I could. Walking was always an option, and I would continue that everyday. The weather was starting to get  nicer and I started playing golf again. I learned how to play golf last summer and I really love it. It is such a challenge learning all the different shots, and which club to use when.   As long as it was nice outside I could play 2-3 times a week. If I could walk 9 holes I would, but I did enjoy riding in the cart, especially after working all day. I played in a ladies league on Wednesday nights and looked forward to it every week. I was seeing an Orthopaedic doctor for my knee and started doing physical therapy twice a week. I did this for about 2 weeks at the hospital and decided that I could continue at the gym doing the same routine. I could ride the bike for 10 minutes and go 2 miles. I never realized that I could do this but my PT guy loved challenging me and I was always up for it since I was in major exercise mode. I decided to make this part of my weekly exercise routine, a couple of times a week. So now I had golf 2-3 times a week, walking the dog, and going to the gym a couple of times a week, and don’t forget my trusty ab workout every morning. It’s amazing how much exercise you can get in your normal daily routine.

The most important thing is finding activities that you enjoy.  If you don’t think of it as exercise, or a necessity, and just make it a fun, positive part of your life, you will look forward to it, and actually want to exercise.  Take a walk after dinner, or a big meal. Park further away from your destinations to get a few more steps in. Find that sport that you used to love and try it out again. You will be amazed how motivating it is, participating in something you look forward to, and seeing/feeling real benefits. It’s all a state of mind.

Living to Exercise

The Weight Loss Success

So I am really getting into this new exercising I am doing. Alot of it was not easy but very challenging. I got the rower that my ex husband had when we were married a hundred years ago.  I thought if I can row at home I won’t have to go to the Y every night. That was the plan, however I pushed my right knee too far and tore my meniscus. I found out quickly that I could not play racquetball. This put a wrench into my exercise plan. I had to figure out how to get the exercise in without playing racquetball. What else am I going to do. Thank god it was April and starting to get nice outside. I started playing golf about a  year and a half ago. I would play more golf instead. I needed to get better anyway. I would also walk as much as possible; on the course, with the dog, anywhere I could.

The food logging and learning is going good. I start to realize that I need a certain amount of fat and that it’s ok to eat the good fat from eggs, avocados, nuts & olive oil.  It also helps my digestion, if you know what I mean. I start to notice that my clothes are feeling a little big and this gives me incentive to continue, realizing that everything I am doing is making a difference. I bought a small scale to keep in the bathroom and I do weigh myself every morning. It keeps me on track. But don’t be alarmed if your weight fluctuates by as much as 3-5 pounds in a week. Just be alarmed if your weight keeps going up and not back down again.  This particular method that I have chosen to lose the weight is a slow process with me only losing about a pound a week. I noticed the inches coming off before much weight. I think that was from the exercise and my trusty ab workout in the morning. I also forgot to mention that I started drinking more water again as well. I have always read that you should drink at least 64 oz a day (8 8oz glasses). It’s not really that hard if you spread it over the day and night. It’s still a challenge for me to get it all in but I keep trying. Other drinks count as well. The point is just stay hydrated.

The next articles will go into much more details about eating and food, and the exercises which have made a difference for me. Please stay tuned!!

Happy, Healthy & Thinner