Tomorrow, I’m taking some of my own advice!  Seeking balance in the leisure arena of life by traveling to southern Indiana with 4 wonderful folks (friend, daughter and 2 delightful grandchildren).  We’re doing a quick trip to explore one of Indiana’s national landmarks - Marengo Cave!  I think the kids are more excited by the fact that the grounds have a gift shop than they are about seeing the cave.

School starts this coming Wednesday and the summer almost got away before we did something fun with family.

So I won’t be posting tomorrow as usual, but hopefully Peg, our team member whose area of expertise is business, especially small business startup and entrepreneurism, will start talking about finding balance in the ‘career’ arena of our life.  So you’ll have some good stuff to take in I’m sure.

A REMINDER:  Our first AWP WEB event is tomorrow evening (MONDAY, AUGUST 13) at 8:30 p.m. EDT.  I’ll send the invitation again in the morning before leaving just in case it didn’t arrive in your inboxes over the weekend.

You’ll have to register or sign in at Yugma (according to Glenn) and then download the platform onto your system.  After that, it’s always available when we (or you) want to hostess a session.   So PLEASE take care of that well before the event.

To get the audio, call into the CONFERENCE BRIDGE LINE with the number in the invitation (1-218-486-3889).  We’ve not used this conference service before, but assume you’ll need to put in the session number (found on your invitation) before entering the session.  PLEASE dial into the audio at least 5 minutes before 8:30 p.m. so that we can start promptly.  Upon entering, tell us your name and where you’re calling from.

Glenn and I will be introducing the Yugma tool and demonstrating its use.  Then we’ll talk about the benefits to YOU of having this POWER TOOL available as part of your AWP membership.

I think that’s it for now!  Have an AWESOME evening!

  Linda

“To Life”, says Tevye in Fiddler On The Roof (I think the Hebrew is spelled “L’Chaim”).

The author of this great Jewish story meant for us who sit in the audience to celebrate - with those on the stage - LIFE!  A life lived to its fullest.

In Glenn’s last post, he’s given us a ‘roadmap’ for slowing the aging process and adding a lot more ‘vim and vigor’ to the years that we do have.  I hope that all who read his comments will pick up Stephen’s book or be blessed enough to hear him in person and get a handle on how to make the 2nd half of the journey - healthier, happier and longer!

Let me tell you, if I may, my personal story.  As I’ve mentioned in previous posts, I’m a melancholic temperament and we tend to always be a wee bit depressed (it’s called ‘under a mood’).  I also became hypertensive about 6 or 7 years ago and I ‘hate’ to take the medication.  Because I don’t exercise as I did a number of years ago - I had gained considerable weight and felt ‘dumpy’ (gals, you know the feeling?) - and that just repeated the cycle of being ‘under mood’, etc.

Glenn is NOT a push guy!  I asked him if I could try the ’stuff’.  A week later, we had a meeting.  I was soooo chipper and upbeat, I’m sure Glenn had to notice.

Finally I asked him, “does Ageless Extra and Aloe Gold increase your energy?”

“Yes”, he said.

“And does it elevate your mood?”

“Yes.”

“And would Aloe Gold make me feel clean inside?”

That question got a chuckle from him.  “Well, I don’t know about that, but Aloe has long been used as a natural healing agent for damage done to the outside of the body, so I guess it’s possible that it has something to do with you feeling ‘clean’ inside!”

I’m not trying to give you a ‘commercial’ for Univera Products!  But I am giving you my own personal ‘testimony’.  When I get some moderate exercise daily (50 up and down trips from lower to upper level of the house); eat my main meal midday and use my products daily - I keep off the weight I lost in the first months after switching nutritional products.

So that’s my story!  In fact, my doctor said, “Linda are you getting younger instead of older?”

What I do want to ‘testify’ to is how essential it is to alter the aging process in a way that gives us more years (hopefully), but definitely greater quality years.  There’s no need to look our age, feel our age or be our age (whatever that means).

Glenn has added a lot of information and educational ’stuff’ for us to (excuse the pun) chew on as we seek to find balance in the 2nd half of our life journey.  We’ve looked briefly at the ‘mental-emotional’ arena and now at the ‘physical’ arena.

I’m sure I’m not telling any of you something you don’t already know when I say that these two arenas are interwoven - when we don’t have good physical health, we can become depressed.  And when we are emotionally distressed, our physical health is often the first to become ‘out of balance’! 

It’s a vicious cycle.

What I want to encourage us all to do to maintain balance in these 2 arenas is to do all that we can to slow the aging process - however we choose to write the plan.  And find something that really excites you - something perhaps that you used to do and haven’t for some time - and then “do it”.  Discover a hobby or leisure pastime that soothes your emotions, your mind and your soul.  You’d be amazed at how the tiny wrinkles at the corner of our eyes fade from view when we are engaged in something that nearly consumes us because we are ‘lost’ in it. 

And you’d be amazed at how much more we enjoy ‘it’ when our bodies are recovering from the simple stress of cellular living!

Take the day of ‘rest’ to rest - in the things that you most enjoy!

Have an AWESOME day!

  Linda

Imagine my surprise, and disappointment, when new research proved that subjects that regularly take vitamins, minerals and a host of other herbs are still dying at the same rate as the general population. The good news is that for those individuals trying to live a healthy life style by including a daily regimen of vitamins and minerals seem to be healthier for their given age. So what does that really mean? If you happen to be 50 years of age and you are taking the path of trying to lead a healthier lifestyle by including a daily regimen of vitamins and minerals, more than likely you are optimizing your body’s metabolic state for a healthy 50 year old. This is assuming that you are taking very good quality vitamins and minerals and not one of the common multi-vitamin mineral tablets that can be found on the shelves of your local grocery. If you fit into this later category, possibly taking one of the common one a day tablet forms of vitamin, there is a very slim chance that your body is actually absorbing all of the nutrients that you really need from the single tablet that you are taking. Many of these types of tablets are simply packed too tightly for your body to be able to break down the capsule before it as passed through your body and on its way to being fish food. Then there is the question of the quality controls that are used during the processing and manufacturing of these vitamins and minerals.

By now you are probably wondering what in the above discovery made me happy. Well take heart as I haven’t told you the good news just yet. With my real interest being in living a longer healthier life full of vital energy the above information did not match up to well with my plans for my future. In the last twelve months I have made three discoveries that have had the most profound impact on my health of anything I have discovered over the past 30 years. Thanks to a friend, that I will be forever indebted to, he gave me some products to try that have improved the quality of my life and without doubt added an unknown number of years to my life. (Thanks Rex!)

Through that gift I discovered a brilliant scientist by the name of Stephen Cherniske, a book titled “The Metabolic Plan” and a company called Univera LifeSciences. Since the common throughout all of these is Stephen Cherniske let me start by telling you a little about Stephen. Please keep in mind to do him real justice I would need to write a book, so I will do my best to cover the highest of the highlights.

Stephen Cherniske, M.S. is a world-renowned research biochemist, best-selling author and pioneer in anti-aging, longevity and human performance. He directed the nations first FDA licensed clinical laboratory specializing in nutrition testing, advised the U.S. Olympic team, taught sports nutrition at the IronMan Training Camp and Endurance Sports Center and served on the faculty of the American College of Sports Medicine.

Grounded in scientific method, Stephen has an innate appreciation for and understanding of the aging process and its effect on the human body. 30 years of experience has enabled Stephen to bridge the gap between conventional and alternative health care. Elected to Who’s Who in American Professionals in 1997, Stephen Cherniske is widely recognized as an expert in nutrition and human performance. He is a frequent presenter at national and international sports medicine conferences, a patent-holder in the field of biotechnology and considered the primary architect of the Metabolic Model of Aging. Stephen Cherniske is now serving as President and Chief Science Officer of Univera LifeSciences.

What if I told you that I could hand you the map to the fountain of youth? Wait it gets better. With this map you will be able to add forty or more years to your life. Further, those years would be filled with vital energy, increased strength, stamina, immunity, reduced fat, reduced risk for cardiovascular disease, enhanced memory, increased sex drive and more……

Interested?
That map is called “The Metabolic Plan”. In roughly 300 pages Stephen Cherniske maps out, in layman’s terms, the most cutting edge breakthroughs, backed by science that will enable you to extend and improve the quality of your life. Granted it is known that 35% of our health is predetermined by genetics, but that leaves an outstanding 65% that is in our control. As Stephen so eloquently explains, we are creating 300 billion new cells every day which is an astonishing capacity for the repairing and rebuilding of our bodies. We simply need to know how to make tomorrow’s cells healthier and stronger than today’s cells.

With Stephen’s background in human performance this makes him uniquely qualified to better understand the aging process as it turns out that aging is closely related to human performance. Research has proven in numerous trials that muscle mass is a major factor in longevity. As mentioned “The Metabolic Plan” is spelled out in an easy to read format in layman’s terms. However, you don’t have to take Stephen’s word for it as there are hundreds of scientific references provided supporting the books content. So, for you guys that want to dive into the details of the science and read each of the references the door is open for you to go down that path. For those of you that want to get to the bottom line and get on with life there is a clearly laid out road map for you to be able to have a significant impact on the quality of your life.

Lastly there is Univera LifeSciences.
As part of the international family of companies that comprise the ECONET, Univera has access to more than 100,000 square feet of state-of-the-art research facilities between South Korea and the U.S. In fact, Univera has more combined research space, more scientists, more published studies, patents and publications than any other natural products company. They also have 140,000 acres of primal forest and about 15,000 acres of other land under cultivation. Nowhere else on earth is anyone devoting the massive resources and talent at cracking the code of the aging process to produce a new generation of unique and exclusive wellness and healthy aging products.

Univera starts with the highest quality raw materials from their farms and forests around the world. They then test the ingredients and formulas at the DNA level - a process called Genomics. No other natural products company uses full scale Genomics to test its products. Finally they complete the chain of bringing those products from farm to family to your door by using state of the art manufacturing techniques and equipment.

Your body’s ability to repair, rebuild and regenerate 300 billion new cells daily is a function of three important factors - Raw Materials, Energy and Renewal Signals. From birth to 25, Raw Materials are the necessary building blocks that are available in the product called Ageless Essentials. From 25 to 35 your Energy level drops and some basic functions begin to cut corners, so Univera has developed AgelessXtra. After 35, your body loses its ability to produce Renewal Signals, but those signals can be turned back on through the use of Ageless Prime. Univera has developed unique, proprietary formulas and products (Ageless Essentials, AgelessXtra, Ageless Prime) to address the root causes of aging during the three phases of the aging lifecycle.

I will never tell anyone that this is an easy path to follow. There are pitfalls around every corner and most importantly it takes action on your part. And not just a day or two, not even a couple of weeks or a month. What we have to understand is that this is about a lifestyle change, but the payoff is beyond anything imaginable. We are now discussing a life full of vital energy that can fuel all of your dreams, plans and passions. Further more with the extended quality of life chances are that you don’t have nearly enough goals to fill a life time as we now know it. The choice is yours to make. What will you do?

Glenn Antoine
Aging Healthier

“The POWER of the TOOL” is our first WEB-BASED EVENT, supported by Yugma technology (boy, do we hope it works).

Look for the following INVITATION in your inbox.  Just in case you miss it, here is the invitation to join us:

Linda S Fitzgerald invites you to Yugma SESSION: 121-939-595. “The POWER of the TOOL”
Please visit http://www.yugma.com/app/loading.php?user=&role=0&collsession=121939595 to join. CONFERENCE BRIDGE LINE:  1-218-486-3889 (for audio portion of the session).

This session is both desk-top sharing AND teleconference.  You will need to call into the “conference bridge line” at the number above (have the session ID handy in case you must plug in those numbers to join). 

“Click” on the link in the invitation.  There will be a “join session” box appear asking for you name; email address and the session ID number. 

Click on the appropriate button at the bottom of the box and you should be into the session.

IMPORTANT NOTE:  We have 30 seats for this session.  If you know a friend or business colleague who wants to join this event - forward the information to them and MAKE CERTAIN to send me an email to CONFIRM they will be attending!  (linda@awomensplace.org). 

Watch here again on MONDAY!  I’ll repeat the info and instructions.  Any questions - email me or call me at 765-265-3207. Have an AWESOME day!

  Linda

Did you realize that the American Heart Association recommends implementing a plan for prevention of heart attack by the age of 20? How many people do you know in their 20’s that are really thinking about the prevention of a heart attack? The sad truth is that there are an increasing number of people that have their first heart attack by the age of 40. For many of those individuals the life style habits that are formed in their early years are directly contributing to those heart attacks. Foods high in fat, refined sugars and diets lacking the basic nutrients that our bodies need to operate at an optimal level are all contributing factors.

I’m sure that it is not new news to you that America’s number one killer is Heart Disease. But what you may not have realized is that it does not work alone. Heart Disease is part of a group of killers including improper nutrition, obesity, high blood pressure, high cholesterol, atherosclerosis, and the lack of exercise. While heart disease may be the one that most often kills an individual it could just as easily be cancer or a stroke. The final cause of death really doesn’t matter because they are all capable of beating the system: our immune system, cell damage caused by the free-radicals, on and on the list goes. The good news is that you can fight back.

The American Heart Association’s plan on reducing and/or preventing heart disease and all of the closely related diseases could probably be summed up by saying eat healthier (including nutrient rich foods, fruits and vegetables), get more exercise, limit how much saturated fat, trans fat and cholesterol you eat, avoid tobacco, reduce the number of beverages and foods with refined sugars, lean meats and poultry without skin, and have fish a couple of times per week.

Easy enough right?
One of the biggest challenges that we face on a day to day basis is getting the basic nutrients into our bodies to optimize our systems. Those base nutrients come in the form of vitamins and minerals. Many of you reading this probably take some form of a multivitamin and that is a great start. Did you know that many of the vitamins our bodies require to function and an optimal level are water soluble and only stay in our bodies for a matter of hours before they need to be replaced? One of these water soluble vitamins happens to be B vitamin, which happens to be a very critical part of our fight against heart disease. For many Americans getting the proper amounts of B vitamin into their bodies is a challenge because if the processing of the foods that they are consuming did not remove all or most of the vitamin B the cooking probably took care of the little that was remaining.

Folate is a B-vitamin found in citrus fruits; tomatoes; dark leafy green vegetables such as spinach and romaine lettuce; pinto, navy, and kidney beans; and grain products. Since January 1998, wheat flour has been fortified with folic acid, the synthetic form of folate, to add an estimated 100 mcg per day to the average diet. However, researchers have found that that people who consumed at least 300 micrograms (mcg) of folate per day had a 20 percent lower risk of stroke and a 13 percent lower risk of cardiovascular disease than those consuming less than 136 mcg of folate per day.

As you can see from the list above one of the best sources of B-vitamin is dark green leafy vegetables – the very thing that you never wanted to eat as a child and your mom insisted that you eat. Fortunately there are some healthy sources of B-vitamins that will ensure that you are not only taking, but absorbing the nutrients needed to fight against this short coming in our diets. One such source is the MetaGreens supplement from Univera LifeSciences.

While many of you may have heard of free radicals and know that one of the ways to avoid the damaging effects of free radicals in our bodies is to ensure that we taken in ample antioxidants. What you may not have heard is that free radicals damage the lining of your arteries which ultimately leads to the build up of plaque and eventually causing a blockage in the artery. If that artery leads to your brain you suffer a stroke. It is estimated that most Americans get approximately 1800 ORAC daily. Unfortunately, many experts are estimating that we should be getting in excess of 3500 ORAC daily to combat the effects of free radical damage on our bodies. A fantastic source of antioxidants is the Univera LifeSciences AgelessXtra. Not only does it have one of the highest (if not the highest) ORAC ratings of all supplements available it is a great source of vitamins B3 and B6. Additionally AgelessXtra provides a host of other nutrients engineered to help keep you aging healthier.

Some additional vitamins, minerals and nutrients that you should be watching are:

Vitamin E which strengthens the immune system and heart muscle improves circulation, reduces risk of clots (preventing thrombosis: blot clot blocking a blood vessel), destroys free radicals.
Vitamin C is important in treating cardiovascular disease.
Vitamins B6, B12, and Folic Acid deficiency have been linked to heart disease, particularly blocked arteries.
Alpha Lipoic Acid reduces risks of heart attack, lowers LDL cholesterol.
Beta Carotene reduces risks of heart attack and stroke.
CoQ10 promotes heart function, reduces risk of heart failure, reduces high blood pressure, speeds recovery from bypass surgery, reduces risk of heart attack, and prevents recurrences of heart attack.
Chromium Picolinate fights atherosclerosis, lowers triglycerides, and improves blood cholesterol profile.
Magnesium contributes to proper functioning of heart muscle, keeps heartbeats normal, reduces angina.
DHEA prevents unwanted blood clots, controls insulin, destroys free radicals, and helps reduce body fat.
L-Carnitine reduces fat and triglycerides in the blood, increases oxygen uptake and stress tolerance.
Human Growth Hormone (HGH) plays a potentially significant role in strengthening heart muscle, reducing atherosclerosis, and fighting obesity. Effective HGH releasers include Arginine, Arginine/Ornithine, L-Arginine, L-Glutamine, L-Lysine, L-Ornithine, Niacinamide, GABA, and OKG.

Below is some important information from the American Heart Association

Extensive clinical and statistical studies have identified “major” risk factors and “contributing” risk factors that lead to coronary heart disease (heart attack) and stroke. The risk factors are:

Heredity – offspring of parents and grandparents with cardiovascular disease are more likely to have heart attacks and strokes.
Men — men are more likely than women to have heart attacks and have heart attacks at younger ages.
Increasing Age — 4 out of 5 people who die of heart attack are over 65 years of age.
Physical Inactivity — regular aerobic exercise plays a significant role in preventing heart and blood vessel disease. Even modest levels of low-intensity exercise are beneficial if done regularly over the long term. Exercise also helps prevent increased blood cholesterol, high blood pressure, atherosclerosis, etc.
Cigarette / Tobacco Smoke — smokers have more than twice the risk of heart attack as nonsmokers, and the risk of sudden cardiac death is between two and four times the risk faced by nonsmokers.
High Blood Cholesterol Levels — higher LDL (”bad”) cholesterol correlates with increased risk of heart disease.
High Blood Pressure — the extra burden on the heart causes the heart to enlarge and weaken.
Obesity — the extra weight causes a strain on the heart; obesity leads to diabetes, high blood pressure, etc.
Diabetes Mellitus — 80 percent of people with diabetes die of some form of heart or blood vessel disease.
Stress — a potentially significant risk factor, particular in conjunction with one or more other risk factors.

In summery, please keep in mind when you fight cardiovascular disease by taking pro-active approach through a healthy lifestyle,  simultaneously you will achieve reduced risk of all types of diseases and as such you are far more likely to live longer more fulfilling life.

References:

1) American Heart Association (2004), International Cardiovascular Disease Statistics fact sheet

2) American Heart Association (2004), Heart and stroke facts

3) American Heart Association (2005), Homocysteine, Folic Acid and Cardiovascular Disease

4) Stephen Cherniske, M.S., The Metabolic Plan, The Random House Publishing Company, 2003, Pages: 59-61, 64-68, 271-272, 275-276, ISBN: 0-345-44102-8

5) American Heart Association website:
http://www.strokeassociation.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=10000067

6) American Heart Association website:
http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=535

7) American Heart Association website:
http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=180

 8) American Heart Association website:
http://www.americanheart.org/presenter.jhtml?identifier=820

Glenn Antoine
Aging Healthier

“I am woman, hear me roar!”  Wasn’t that the line from her famous song, “I Am Woman”?

When we were putting together AWP, that line kept coming to mind.  In fact I thought about having it play on the site when women landed on the homepage - but then thought it a little silly.

I’m not a traditional ‘libber’ or ‘feminist’.  But I do believe that what women have to offer the world has been lost over many millenia - for a number of varying reasons which I will not get into here!

For years, as women, we’ve been a ‘voice crying in the wilderness’ - so to speak.  It’s as if no one heard us or listened to what we have to say.  And yet, women bring to the world messages that desperately need to be heard!

I’m not suggesting that we need to ROAR in such a way as to offend or cause others to turn a ‘deaf’ ear.  But I do strongly believe we need to ‘make a noise’, so as to be heard.

I feel strongly that we have so much to offer that we need to ‘be a voice’ and ‘make a noise’ that speaks to the marketplace in ways that make a significant difference - wherever we are in the marketplace!

There’s a reason it was not good for man to be alone!  There’s a reason that the feminine was made into a separate creature called “woman”.  What is it that we bring to the world that the masculine doesn’t have to give - or at least doesn’t have significantly in the same ways as woman?

Our intuition is invaluable in tough situations that require (what I call) going beneath the surface!  Our desire to nurture brings a soft strength to situations that require tenderness, compassion and courage.  Our ‘in touch with our spiritual side’ takes the edge off all that is overly practical, pragmatic and absurdly realistic. 

Can you imagine life without the sense of awe that erupts from our spiritual nature when we least expect such an event?  Women have an innate capacity to recognize those moments that men fail to recognize or comprehend.

Now, don’t get me wrong.  I love the male.  I have wonderful male friends who delight me at every turn (hey, I may be ‘chronologically maturing, but I ‘ain’t dead yet!).  However, I’ve seen the look on their faces when I’ve shared a viewpoint about some at-hand matter.  A viewpoint that is totally different than theirs and a wee bit outside the realm of their understanding.  ‘Huh’ - you know, that look!

What I’m starting to notice is as we move through the journey of life’s 2nd half and grow more [chronologically] mature - our voice takes on an importance it didn’t have before!  Now maybe that’s because of our changed perspectives, life interests and awareness.  And maybe it’s because our society has suddenly awakened to the ‘power of the boomers’.  I don’t know!

I just know that something is different and women in general, but especially those of us with a little ’silver among the gold’ have gained some notice - some stature - and a voice that gets heard!

Here’s the discouraging note in all this.  Many women, especially women in our age range, are still relatively silent.  Silent perhaps because we’ve been ‘conditioned’ to silence.  Many women have been silenced by years of abuse - verbal, sexual, physical.  Ohers have learned silence because to speak was not the way to gain what they desired from the marketplace or in life.

Well, I’m hear to tell you - It’s TIME to ROAR!  At least - to make a noise! 

A ‘joyful noise’; a sweet courageous sound that echoes in the chambers of institutions, corporations, businesses, governments, arts and entertainment, media - where all the world’s power seems to abide.

We are women who have what it takes to be significant.  To make positive change!  To effect the rise of women from oppressive environments - regardless of where that oppression resides.

We don’t have to overturn the tables or pull on hipboots or even carry a big stick! 

We don’t have to be pompous or arrogant, rude or dishonest in order to be a powerful force wherever we find ourselves and ‘plant our seed’.

But we do have to learn how to speak.  To speak with power.  With authority.  With strength.  With courage!

And we have to rise above fear of intimidation, lack of confidence, doubt or reprisal.  We have to step up to the world’s podums and give voice to the important messages we have to share.  Messages we must share!

Some of you reading this may be thinking, “that’s all well and good for Linda to say”.  Or “easier said than done”.  And you’re right.  It is easier said than done.

And yet many of us (myself included) haven’t yet begun the ’said’ - let along the ‘done’.

There’s power, strength, courage in numbers!  All of us who are a part of AWP and those who continue to come in the future can take heart that together we can speak with one voice.  And as we do, each individual voice gains.

Not that we all think alike or have the same life perspectives - but that we have a common interest in promoting what together we know women in mid-life need to hear; need to have; need to know and need to do!

I think over the next several weeks, I’ll explore some of the ways we can give voice to our voices - regardless of where we are now on life’s path. 

For now . . . “We are Women, Let Us Roar!” 

Have an AWESOME day!

  Linda

Glenn is our WEBMASTER and is also the only male on our team!  We ‘keep’ him because he’s so darn GREAT and he’s a REAL, kind gentleman!

Wednesday, he did a great post on the benefits of exercise and staying physically fit.  It’s a WONDERFUL article.  I’m amazed at the amount of knowledge he has into the human body, it’s functioning and needs.  He gave us some really important tips on how to exercise properly; stay disciplined and focused AND healthy.

Remember we talked about the 7 life arenas?  Glenn was asked to take us through the ‘physical’ arena; and he started with one of the most important antidotes for mental-emotional imbalance I know!

Exercise isn’t only good for the body.  It’s essential to help maintain a positive mood and mental outlook on life.  I won’t get into the physiology of why because that’s not my area of expertise; but I do know that exercise releases endorphines and they elevate our mood.

So one key way to bring balance to our physical life arena is to use common sense with our diet (yes, Linda are you listening to yourself) and engage in a consistent moderate exercise program.  In so doing, we will achieve greater mental-emotional balance.

If you haven’t visited Glenn’s blog post from Wednesday, I encourage you to do so before the weekend.

I’m off to meetings today, including with Glenn!  Please watch your inbox for your INVITATION to Monday’s WEB EVENT - “The Power of the Tool”.

Have an AWESOME day!

  Linda

Thank goodness it’s Friday!  The end of another week in the marketplace.  Bet all of us can hardly wait for the weekend plans to be realized!  I am. . .

Today, I’m headed for meetings in the city, but I want to share a wee bit before taking off.

There is a line from a magnificent song “Wherever You Go, I Will Go”, based on the story of Naomi and Ruth.  “I want to say something to all of you who have become a part of the fabric of my life!”

Having a somewhat poetic nature, I have always been struck by the meaning of those words.  I think of all the folks who’ve become a part of the ‘fabric of my life’.  Some via familial paths.  Some via work environments.  Some who’re there because we were at the same place, at the same time. . . our paths crossed, and an instant connection was born bringing with it lifelong friendship.

And we become a part of the ‘fabric of each other’s lifes!’

This morning I want to say something to all who read this who are becoming a part of the fabric of our AWP life.

In case you haven’t noticed, I’m a passionate woman!  If I feel deeply about something - you’re more than likely going to know it.  I have even been known to “go off on a tangent”.  Loving friends say, “Linda, you done gone to preachin’ now!”

Last night’s last post was a little on the ‘preachin’ side and if preachin’ isn’t your style, my hearty apology.

But you see, for me it’s like this.

I know women have so much to offer the world.  Especially those of us who’ve lived enough of life to gain wisdom, integrity, balance, maturity . . . and a voice.

I know the world needs what we have to give!  But I also  know the marketplace can drain us - take what we have and wring it from us without a worry or care.

I am passionate that as women in the 2nd half of the journey, we pursue our God-given destiny and purpose, and if that’s where we are now - wonderful!

But if it’s not and there’s that nagging sense that perhaps there’s more for some point in my life ahead - then I want AWP and those of us who will ‘become a part of the fabric of your lives’ to be the best possible resource we can be!

So, if on occasion I ‘go to preachin’ - forgive my style!  But remember from whence the style comes.

It’s from a heart for all of you!

Have an AWESOME day!

  Linda

I thought I was done posting for the day (I wanted to be done for the day because it’s blistering hot in Indiana and I need to water the plants).

But I couldn’t ignore Kathy Holmes blog post after the two of us connected ‘virtually’ earlier today!  It’s always a thrill to touch base with another person - male or female - who shares a same or similar viewpoint.  It’s an affirmation of who we are and a confirmation of what we believe to be true!

The following “quote” is from her “A Women’s Place” post today (and I hope I’m not outside the guidelines, Kathy - if so, please forgive me).  Kathy says:

“Here’s another box people want to put you in. For example, some people believe that a “higher calling” is to be a pastor, pastor’s wife, or missionary. And that all other interests must be discarded because they certainly couldn’t be God’s will. But suppose God’s will is for you to be an actress or a writer or a scientist?” http://kathyholmes.net/2007/08/09/a-womens-place/

Wow, so true!  Although society and culture has changed a wee bit over the years when it comes to one’s “calling”; religious quarters have not kept up with the pace!  There are a few ‘cutting edge’ folk out there, but mostly God’s work (and Will) is confined to church (buildings, etc.), ministries, the mission field or ‘religiously oriented charitable organizations’.

That’s simply NOT true!  God wants us in the marketplace - whether the marketplace is the largest church complex on the corner or on the floor of Wall Street.  And it took years for me to get that straight!

Actually, where He wants us is where He designed us to be!  Who He wants us to be is who He designed us to be.  And what He wants us doing is what He designed us to do!

And we won’t be truly happy, or at real peace, until we get to that point where we are where, who and what in a ‘place’ that has OUR name over the door!

If that’s not where you are at this point in the 2nd half of your journey, my question is “Who Put You There?”

Half the fun of the move into life’s 2nd half is discovering whether the ‘box’ in which we find ourselves is meant for us or not! 

What I’ve discovered is more often than not - I put me there!  I let it happen! 

Part of the ‘awakening’ in the passage we call mid-life is that many times, we experience unrest - that unsettled feeling deep inside.  Suddenly, the box isn’t big enough, bright enough, light enough or won’t contain us any longer.

Ah ha!  That’s when we need to ask - “who put me here?” 

Or, “how did I get here?”

And, “where do I want to go from here?”

As a ‘recovering’ therapist-turned-destiny-design coach; I’ve so often used the metaphor of the “box”.  I’ve beckoned to women to “peer out of your box”. 

But one of the most powerful exercises I’ve done with women is to encourage them to push out of the box - push out the sides and tear off the top -and walk free from the confines that hold them!

That passion and desire to see women take our rightful place in life - the life that we are destined-by-design to live - is what prompted the vision and mission of AWP over a year ago!  It’s never too late to start the journey anew - from a new fork in the road.

So, in closing for the day, my questions are “who put you there?”.  “Do you want to stay there?”  “If not, what’re you gonna’ do about it?”

“And when might you start the process?”

Remember, ‘today is the first day of the rest of your life’ - and that’s a fact!

Have an AWESOME evening!

  Linda

If you have browsed through your favorite bookstore lately in search of help in succeeding in your quest to live a healthy lifestyle or where to start out on your fitness program, you probably walked out more confused then when you walked in. Looking to the internet in many cases is not much more help due to the massive amounts of data to sift through much of which is geared toward those that mother nature still favors. Lastly much of the information you find does nothing more than explain why we should be working out and staying active, something we have all heard and are well aware of at this stage in life.

For those of us that mother nature does not favor quite as much as before we turned 40 we can read all of the fitness articles that we want, sign-up for various programs, getting a training coach and any number of other options, but something the marketing gurus fail to mention is that biochemically speaking we are not programmed to succeed. Mother Nature has started turning off those longevity signals, the rebuild/repair signals and no amount of training is going to change that – sorry. The good news is that we can turn these signals back on and once we have our bodies in an anabolic (rebuild/repair) state we can succeed and in grand fashion. The key to turning those signals back on is DHEA which has been proven in numerous IRB certified tests to have a profound impact on the aging process and most importantly returning our bodies, biochemically speaking, to a more youthful state. To do this properly please see a use with the direction of your health professional to have your DHEA sulfate levels tested.

While a very powerful and critical component to any fitness program anyone 40+ DHEA is not a quick fix and please do not approach it with this mentality. However, take note that it does work and as mentioned previously there is a lot of data to support this claim. As an example a year long study with postmenopausal women clearly demonstrated increased bone density, improved glucose tolerance, enhanced feelings of well being, decreased body fat, increased muscle mass, improved liver functions and NO side effects.

Once you shift your body from a catabolic (downward spiral) state back into an anabolic state of rebuild/repair you are ready to get to work.

First and foremost avoid being a weekend warrior. Those individuals that spend a couple weekends a month working out really do more harm than good. In short their bodies simply don’t ever have an opportunity to increase strength, flexibility and/or stamina and in short they are putting themselves in a position whereby they are much more susceptible to injury. Consistent exercise spread throughout the entire week is much more beneficial.

Set goals. Whatever your goals for taking up a fitness/wellness program put them in writing and just as importantly put them somewhere that you will see them often. Share them with a friend; find yourself an accountability partner; a workout partner; or your spouse. By taking this small step you have just greatly increased your odds of success. Clearly defined goals are a critical step towards success in any devour. Along the lines of setting goals, make your goals achievable and realistic. One of the biggest contributors to people failing when starting out with a new workout regimen is discouragement – we are wired to like success. Set some realistic short term goals that can be stepping stones towards your bigger long term goals. Remember it is important to see progress and the best way to measure that progress is to have goals.

Moderation is the key. Moderate consistent exercise is proven to stimulate your metabolism, promote weight loss and most importantly reduces your risk of injury. Remember that you are actually reprogramming your body, over time, to use the calories that you take in daily for energy, rebuilding your muscles and not storing it as fat. When we are sedentary our bodies learn that we don’t need a lot of that extra energy, the muscles are NOT working and as such it is much easier to simply store those calories as fat. Just as we can program our bodies to know that we don’t need that energy we have the ability to change that programming through moderate consistent exercise spread over 3 to 5 days a week.

As an important note please do not get discourage by all of the charts that have been published showing that for example you burn 200 calories after doing a specific exercise for 30 minutes. The truth is that your body continues to burn calories at an increase rate long after you have stopped exercising and as previously mentioned your body will learn to burn more calories on daily basis.

If cost is a concern one of the most effective and efficient exercises is walking. With a good pair of walking shoes you are ready to go. From walking through the neighborhood, walking on the track at the local school or walking through the mall during bad weather you have an unlimited number of options. In a number of cities malls have started opening their doors long before the stores open to allow patrons to do their walking without the added challenge of dodging shoppers.

Please do not forget or discount strength training. In order to maximize your benefits gained from exercise it is imperative that increase your upper body strength. Most exercising provides great benefits to all of the large muscles located in our legs, but does little to increase our upper body strength. If you are wondering why the importance of upper body strength/training keep in mind that 65% of your muscles are above your waist. Research has shown that for most people their upper body muscles are the most underdeveloped muscles they have. As such moderate training on alternate days provides the most benefit as it gives the muscles the time required to rebuild and repair themselves after being stressed. It is important to note that we are not talking about large amounts of weight as most people could benefit significantly from weights ranging from 3lbs to 10lbs.

Get help! If you are a do-it yourself type person this is one area that it is strongly recommended that you seek the guidance of an experienced trainer. There are numerous details about training that can only be taught by and experienced trainer and most importantly having that feedback during the workout process is critical. Being able to correct bad form, posture, and/or little details of a particular exercise is very important prior to developing bad habits.

Stretching is often an overlooked but very critical component for the success of any fitness program. Strength, flexibility and reduced chances for injury are benefits of proper stretching both before, after and during your workouts. Yes, during your workout. Moving through the complete range of motion for a given exercise not only stresses the muscle, but provides the stretching of the muscles that is required for full range of motion. Many times people feel that the stretching part of the workout is optional, they don’t schedule time for that part of the workout and when sporting some sore muscles stretching isn’t any fun, but your success greatly depends on this often overlooked component.

Rest and Relaxation are just as important if not more important than the exercise part of your routine. It boils down to the fact that your muscles do not grow while you are in the gym. That is where they are being stressed, broken down and tore down due to the stressors of the exercises that you are putting them through. Once you have torn your muscles down, they need time to rebuild and repair themselves. For young athletes over training is often one of the biggest reasons they are not performing at their maximum potential.

Armed with the above tips you are much more likely to succeed. Remember to get the important nutrients that your body needs to maintain an anabolic state, maintain a consistent moderate workout pattern, find a workout routine that fits your schedule and provides adequate stimulation for both your upper and lower body, get help from a professional trainer/coach, remember to stretch both before and after your workouts, and lastly relax.

Glenn Antoine
AgingHealthier.com