When Death Creeps Close

When someone near to you dies you do go through grief and shock but as you move up in years you think about other things. You grasp for a reason why someone your own age just passed away. 

Mortality smacks you in the face. 

This year I lost both a good friend and relative. The friend smoked for years and it was those nasty cigarettes that finally did her in. She was 65. Bright, vibrant and taken too soon. The relative had health problems she didn't share. (Younger by a few years) That was more of a shock due to the fact we thought everything was alright. 

It wasn't. But her passing was still a shock even to those who knew she had health problems.

When you're 20 or 30 and someone your age passes away it's always a shock but not something that makes you question your own health and lifestyle. 

Then you hit 60 and your perspective is skewed in the "could that have been me?" zone. You start to question that twinge in your chest, the cramp in your calf, and that forgetfulness.  

I think we have to double check everything. Make sure your meds (yes there are two to date) are good and go back to exercising regularly. Throughout the years exercise has come and gone and come back again. In my 20's I was hard core, then came kids and it got sporadic, then through the years it came and went. One thing stays constant? It does make you feel better. Jars are easier to open, boxes lift with less strain, your back thanks you, and squatting down doesn't mean you're stuck down there until someone gives you a lift. 

So to those who have passed I send my prayers, to those who are suffering I send hope that their health takes a turn for the better. 

For me? I need to clean out the spare room and get some weights. A few weeks ago I got a dog so the cardio is on the uptick. Dogs need walks and living where winter never drops below 60 degrees makes walking easy and enjoyable. 

Tomorrow I attack the pile of boxes in the spare room to make space for exercise. Yeah! 

Weight Loss in the 50's...Chasing 60!

Before hitting 50, losing a little weight wasn't that big a deal. Wanna fit into that dress, skip a few meals. Need to lose the muffin top? Hit the cardio.

After 50 it's like all the old tricks no longer work, so I need a new plan. Happy New Year/Happy New Body! Isn't that always our time to peel off some pounds? Now I'm thinking about the Eat Clean plan. Basically, it's eating real food and nothing processed. Always a bit of a challenge for someone who doesn't like to cook. I know some people love making food and are absolute artists in the kitchen, but I'm not one of them. I'm the person who cleans up after my husband creates great meals. Wow, can that man cook!

So, new year, new life. Oatmeal, Salads, and good, unprocessed foods, here I come! Goodbye wine and chocolate! (for now)

Then comes exercise....
The Tibetan Five seem to be great exercises but the spinning at the start makes me tooo dizzy. It takes like a half hour for my head to calm down and I still don't feel so good after. That makes me wonder if the spinning is really necessary and how the heck anyone does it 21 times.

I think I'll stick to the treadmill and then some weights.