Bio Link
Fit at 54
Email: Jody@Truth2BeingFit.com
About Me:
Fitness enthusiast, Advocate
and Advisor for over 25+ years
Interests:
Weight Lifting
Reading fitness related
magazines and books
Learning as much as possible
about fitness, nutrition and
health
Love the Hawaiian Islands
(Especially The BIG Island)
Featured Links
Syndicate
Social Media/Work - How Important Is it?
The 65 Pound Soda!
Silence the Sumo Wrestler in You!
Budgeting Your Energy In Menopause - by Ellen Sarver Dolgen
It’s not your fault. You’ve been programmed to think that you’re not good enough, pretty enough, skinny enough, or perfect enough. It’s on the cover of photoshopped magazines at the grocery store, reinforced on TV, and referred to in current — and unfortunately catchy — songs that objectify women. So much of what surrounds us today is appearance-driven, and there’s a natural tendency to adapt to our surroundings. This unfortunate marriage between societal pressures and our brains has birthed a critical voice in our heads telling us that we are quite simply not good enough. Picture a sumo wrestler sitting on your brain. He is huge, powerful and controlling (and HEAVY!), but does he wrestle you down or are you tripping over your own shoelaces? It’s never too late to reevaluate the budget of your energy wallet, and make sure that sumo isn’t taking more than he’s owed!
Have you ever tried to silence the sumo with a louder voice telling yourself not to think so much? Over-thinking is something many women do and have done their entire lives. That sumo is only reinforcing negative thoughts, impairing problem solving and throwing a wrench into everyday life. When women enter menopause, several of their symptoms (MayoClinic) can work together to create a menopause monster. Weight gain and insomnia can partner with depression to make a tornado of negative thoughts and feelings that seems impossible to diffuse. Society’s obsession with slowing down the aging process is unhealthy, yet difficult to avoid. It’s easy to slip into an energy-sucking ocean of negative thoughts when you’re in a sinking boat. Stewing over a hot flash can bring you to an archive of bad feelings you’ve had in your journey through menopause, leading to an unproductive, negative self-reflection and confusion, and if there’s one thing you don’t need more of when you’re in menopause, it’s confusion!
Your sumo wrestler erodes your ability to solve problems by keeping you fixated on the analysis phase. So how can you think positive, take action, and repurpose your energy to achieve hormone happiness in menopause?
Do not suffer in
silence.
Remember, 50 million women are currently in menopause in the United States. You are not alone. Find a perimenopause and menopause specialist to be your menopause partner. Reach out to your friends and family, and consider throwing a Menopause Party. Sharing your experiences with other women who are going through menopause is not only a wonderful source of comfort, but it can boost your self esteem. Get the help and support you deserve.
Put yourself on the
top of your to-do list.
Make time for you! Yes! Take time to pamper yourself — read a book, grab lunch with a friend, take a long luxurious bubble bath, or go to the movies. Whatever you do, enjoy it.
Be mindful of healthy eating. CNN reports that this will help balance out your plummeting metabolism, mood swings and might even help you sleep better. According to MSN Health, metabolism does slow with age. Find a form of exercise that makes you feel good. Call a friend and go for a walk, bike ride or join that gym that you’ve been talking about. Release some endorphins — it feels good and Reuters says modest exercise will also help lower your blood pressure.
Be less
self-critical and more proactive.
Send your sumo packing! Listen to your body
and start recording your symptoms in a Menopause Symptoms Chart. Then take this chart
with you to your perimenopause and menopause specialist so that your doctor
will understand exactly how you are feeling and be able to develop a
personalized program for you.
Imagine your negative thoughts as bubbles floating by that you can acknowledge as you please and pop when you want. It’s difficult to control your thoughts, especially when they are reinforced by everyday norms. You will find when you shrink your sumo, you’ll spend less energy on feeling terrible, refocusing it on finding solutions and celebrating your happiness and progress.
Try to live SUMO FREE!
Remember: Reaching out is IN. Suffering in
silence is OUT!
"E" is the pen name of Ellen Sarver Dolgen, author of Shmirshky: the pursuit of hormone happiness -- a cut-to-the-chase book on perimenopause and menopause, filled with crucial information and hilarious and heartfelt stories. It condenses a confusing, daunting medical topic into an easy-to-understand, purse-sized guide which can be used as a reference throughout your PM&M experience. Reading Shmirshky is like getting a big, comforting hug from a dear friend, who happens to know a lot about menopause!
Follow Ellen Sarver Dolgen on Twitter: www.twitter.com/@Shmirshky
Have you managed to silence the sumo wrestler? Don't suffer in silence! If you have a doctor you love, don't forget to send an email to info@shnirshky.com.
My Hip Hurt. Dynamic Stretching & RumbleRoller
So I think it was a mixture of things.
Gratitude Monday & Giveaway Winner & Grandkids
Tri-Sport Running Jersey GIVEAWAY!
You Are Special!
1. Get healthy - It's not about dieting,
it's about a lifestyle shift. We are taking a 360-degree view of all that we
consume in 2012.
2. Value ourselves - We want to celebrate our true selves and our
accomplishments, while taking moments to recognize our worth. This is essential
for us to reach our full potential.
3. Be a model, be a mentor - Being a model is about personifying the
characteristics we hope to see in the world around us.
4. Get involved - By becoming active in our local communities we are taking
ownership of the change we want to see.
5. Be a leader - We are taking on stronger leadership roles in our own
communities, cities and states. Only 18% of America's top leaders are women.
This is the year we significantly change that number.
Have a great day & weekend! AND a special HUGE THANK YOU too Carla for her post yesterday!!!!
Don't forget my YMX Workout Gear Giveaway!
Chia Applesauce
To start:
Cut up an Apple. Sprinkle with Cinnamon & ground Cloves(or any spices!) Add a splash of Vanilla and 1/4 cup Water
Then stir in:
2 TB CHIA SEEDS
1 or 2 packets of STEVIA (or any sweetener of your choice!)
Then I put that mix into my Magic Bullet Cup & "Pulsed" the mix
for about 20-30 seconds until smooth but chunky.
*I liked
mine chunky so I didn't mix it as long
*You could also make it "smoother" by adding more water &
mixing it more!
Everyone seems to be LOVING the CHIA JAM so definitely try out the CHIA APPLESAUCE & let me know how you like it!!
From Jody - You have to click on the link & go over & see some of the recipes she is working on like Chocolate Orange PowerCakes, Chia Chocolate Pudding & 3 Ingredient Pumpkin PowerCakes. I see some testing of recipes for me in the near future!!!! Thx Kasey!
Anyone going to try this recipe? Want to link us to your favorite chia recipe - PLS DO in the comments!
Don't forget my YMX Workout Gear Giveaway!
Sleepwear Giveaway Winners
Women/Media Influence - Inner Health & "Beauty"
"Often, when
we think about health, we fall into conversations around weight and physical
appearance (just browse the covers of so called "health"
magazines). By focusing so heavily on our looks - especially in a media climate
that celebrates such dangerous ideals of beauty - we risk neglecting our own
true inner health and safety.
One of the first steps to addressing this is actually looking at the language
we use to describe "being healthy." Not just in our heads, but when
talking with others. Something as innocent as a compliment - "you look
skinny" or "you look great" - can contribute to this obsession
with weight and looks.
This week's action is simple: try avoiding complimenting anyone on their physical appearance for an entire week, including yourself. No conversations about losing weight or being pretty. Instead, tell the loved ones in your life how smart they are, how you admire their confidence or even just how happy they seem! Celebrate the talents and abilities of those around you without mentioning appearance. By shifting the way we talk about this subject we can begin to shift the entire mindset around what it means to be healthy. This is the year we stop judging ourselves and others by what is in the mirror, and instead see in everyone the same potential for greatness. This is the year we get healthy."
Now, I am one that likes a compliment on how good I am looking or fit or healthy BUT this is definitely something that made me think! I still want to compliment people on how well they are looking but to spend more time on telling them about their other amazing qualities - this will really help girls & women understand that it is not just looks that empower them!
I am not sure I will make it a week but I am going to try to do this as much as possible not only for a week but as part of my everyday life! Yesterday, while walking with a friend, I told her how I always admire how intelligent she is & her ability to multi-task & still do things so well.
How about you? Do you think you could do this & will you join in this challenge to let girls & women know that you love all their other amazing qualities too?
I also saw this article on Carla's FB page & wanted to share again (I had it on my FB page too) - a great read & oh so true - fits right in with this post! It is about don't just think it - say it - PLS READ!
Still have the Sleepwear Giveaway thru tonight with 2 winners announced tomorrow!!
AND, don't forget about my YMX by Yellowman Tri-Jersey GIVEAWAY!
YMX Yellowman Workout Gear - GIVEAWAY POST
I am very excited to be reviewing workout gear by YMX by Yellowman. I first saw their outfits over at MizFit's blog. She was doing a giveaway & I was loving what she was wearing!!! Of course I entered the contest - who wouldn't!!!
As luck would have it, her random number generator picked me!!! YES to that! At around that same time, I got an email from YMX by Yellowman asking me if I wanted to review their Winter Flower-red long sleeve Tri-Sport Jersey. Did I? You betcha!!!
First, about this company from their webpage:
YMX (acronym for YellowMan Expression) was launched in 2009 as an extension of the original, high-end tattoo clothing brand, YellowMan (founded in 2004). Built on an extensive library of original tattoo artwork collected around the globe, YellowMan offers collectible, limited wearable art prints. YMX was created to offer an alternative to YellowMan in a broader, commercial market, while still preserving the authenticity of its origins.
YMX offers multifunctional garments that bridge the gap between athletic and fashion garments. Featuring high-comfort, lightweight MadKool fabrics and detailed, original prints, YMX garments can be worn for athletic use, or for casual wear. As a matter of fact, because of the moisture-wicking properties of the fabric, many people wear YMX in both active and leisure activities without having to change!
Honestly, I LOVE these tops!!!
I have both the Tri-Sport Jersey ($119) provided to me by YMX for review AND GIVEAWAY (Tri-Sport Jersey only) along with the Winter Cloud-blue Tank ($59) I won from Carla (MizFit).
This is perfect for me because I do both gym workouts & outside runs. YMX by Yellowman also sent me the Dragon Cotton Legging ($49) when I won the top from Carla. They have this cute little dragon print on the side of the calf area. Pictures below but first I want to review that amazing Tri-Sport Jersey!
Winter Flower Red long sleeve Tri-Sport Jersey: LOVE!!!!!!!!!
1. I asked for a size Medium because my back is wide due to my weight lifting. Smalls usually are too small for me in the upper back area. The medium actually fit me really well both in width & length as you can see from the pictures above. The sleeves were long but I just scrunch them up & they work fine! If you are a medium normally, you may want to go up a size. They have a size chart on their site. They also mention that it is slim fit so if you like a relaxed fit, go up one size.
2. The fabric is amazing!!!!!!! This MadKool fabric - I have worn nothing like this! I can't wait to try it out in hotter weather! It is as light as a feather & so soft yet wears so well. It drys so fast after my cardio sweating in the gym. It claims to be wrinkle resistant & hold its shape. So far, YES to that! It is machine washable & dryer safe PER THE INSTRUCTIONS but I chose to hang dry mine & I have never had something dry so fast on a hanger! That amazing fabric!
3. The designs & colors are so fun & different & vibrant! I feel "special" when I wear them! The tank top - I have worn that out & about with jeans so these are great for workouts & play! I would wear this tri-jersey out BUT it does have 3 pockets in the back so.. but they have jerseys without the pockets & those I would wear out & about for sure!
4. There are those 3 pockets in the back for people who carry "stuff" OR do triathlons, marathons or any races or long runs where they want to carry things. The middle pocket is larger & deeper than the 2 smaller ones on each side. Picture above. I also show you the zipper & how far it goes down so an easy on & off if you need to do that!
5. This shirt is UV Protection SPF 50+. In mid to high 40 degree weather, I wear it with a short sleeve warmer top under it - seen above. In the high 30's, I wear a long sleeve & higher neck warm top under it. If 50-55 degrees, I just wear my sport bra under it. Now remember, I am in California so this is what works for me. If you are used to colder weather, you may want to adjust how you wear it.
The tank I won from Carla is just as amazing! I absolutely love the way it wears & feels!!!! It is UV Protection SPF 30+. Couple pics below from the gym.
The cotton leggings are cute too - pics below! These may be more for yoga or something like that but I wear them on my all weight day sometimes. I actually wore an XS in these when I sometimes wear S - depending... I think Carla said she went down to an XS too in the tights she reviewed - different from mine. I may have to save up for those so I can wear them for my outside running! The ones that Carla reviewed are made from that amazing MadKool fabric! OK - pics of the cute cotton leggings below:
All in all, I LOVE these clothes - all of them!!! Yes, a bit pricey BUT I have really never worn a fabric like this MadKool. In my opinion, if you can swing it or save for it or get as a gift, YES!!! They wear & wash/dry like nothing I have worn before!
OK - on to the GIVEAWAY for that Long Sleeve Tri-Jersey!!!
Gratitude Monday & Freedom/Acceptance
Martin Luther King, Jr. Day is a United States federal holiday marking the birthday of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. It is observed on the third Monday of January each year, which is around the time of King's birthday, January 15. The floating holiday is similar to holidays set under the Uniform Monday Holiday Act, though the act predated the establishment of Martin Luther King, Jr. Day by 15 years.
King was the chief spokesman for nonviolent activism in the civil rights movement, which successfully protested racial discrimination in federal and state law. The campaign for a federal holiday in King's honor began soon after his assassination in 1968. Ronald Reagan signed the holiday into law in 1983, and it was first observed on January 20, 1986. At first, some states resisted observing the holiday as such, giving it alternative names or combining it with other holidays. It was officially observed in all 50 states for the first time in 2000.
Today is also a day of service:
What is
the MLK Day of Service?
Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. once said:
"Life's most persistent and urgent question is: 'What are you doing for others?'"
Each year,
Americans across the country answer that question by coming together on the
King Holiday to serve their neighbors and communities.
The MLK Day of Service is a part of United We Serve, the President's national call to service initiative. It calls for Americans from all walks of life to work together to provide solutions to our most pressing national problems.
I think this is a day just to be grateful for living in a free country & having CHOICE, FREEDOM & ACCEPTANCE! What are you grateful for today?
UPDATE: Forgot to mention- You still have thru Wednesday to enter my Hot Mamas Sleepwear GIVEAWAY!!!
Make Each Moment Count
I FitFluential, Pinterest,Twitter, FB! Friday the 13th!
Happy Friday the 13th! Anyone superstitious about this day out there? I am not but I was when I was a kid. I avoided the cracks on the sidewalks, black cats, ladders & more!
If you have not followed me yet OR I am not following you, you can follow me at @truth2beingfit. I think THIS will get you to me or I have a link on my green sidebar now. I am working on tweeting more but it takes time & I have to get better with doing it from my phone. I still have yet to figure out how to tweet a pic either form my computer or my phone! I must be careful - very careful!!!!
I Am So Hot! Giveaway Post
Tighten the Butt/Glute with a Ball!
Weight Loss - What it Takes - HARD WORK
Gratitude Monday & Comments/Blogging
Welcome to Gratitude Monday. Each Monday, stop by & comment on what you are grateful for & how it will impact you to live a healthier life going forward. How it impacts you does not have to be food or exercise related. It can be in any way, shape or form! If you just want to write a grateful comment & nothing else, that is fine too. If your comment is the same as another one, so be it. Everything goes here!
Today I am thankful for all your wonderful comments on my blog!!! I think we all like to get comments... not rude ones like my funny above!
Reading what you have to say or offer up makes my day!So, with my gratitude, I would also like to ask for your help. I have received emails from some of you about the problems you have commenting on my blog. Some just can't get in & others say that they are asked for the security code multiple times & eventually still can't comment. I use GoDaddy for my blog host & format and have had issues from the beginning. This is the BLOG side & NOT the website side. I understand that the website side is not as bad.
What I need to know is:
1. How many of you have had issues commenting & what were those issues?
2. How many have had no issues?
3. How many have tried to comment & can't so just gave up - if this is you, please email me at jody@truth2beingfit.com
4. If you are anonymous, please feel free to email at jody@truth2beingfit.com
5. Does the process to comment on my blog discourage you from commenting, even if you have no problems?
6. Anything else you want to add, please comment OR email me at jody@truth2beingfit.com
I want to & plan to change up this blog to WordPress or something else that works better & makes it easier to do more things I want to with the blog. Any suggestions on what you feel is the best way to do this? WordPress or something else. I have been reading a lot about issues with WordPress updates.
Thank you!!!! I am grateful for your comments & help with this!
What are you grateful for today?
Birthday Time Again!
A very happy birthday to my niece Jennifer & my hubby's ex-wife Gail. YES, I get along with his ex-wife!!!! We had get togethers when we all lived close!
The pic of my niece was in Australia. She was doing advanced studies & graduate work for her Marine Biology degree. Such a smart young woman & wanting to help the world!
Hope you both have a great one!! Gail, I am keeping your age secret!
We are anything we want at our age!!!
Frittata - Eggs are GREAT for Protein
Eggs are a fantastic source of protein & nutrients! I have written about them in the past HERE and HERE. Also, here is info from World's Healthiest Foods.
Don't reserve this great frittata from World's Healthiest Foods website for breakfast; it's wonderful for lunch or dinner as well! Zucchini and tomatoes provide excellent sources of health-promoting vitamins A and C as well as manganese to your Healthiest Way of Eating. And all of this for only 85 calories!
Prep and Cook Time: 25 minutes
Ingredients:
- 2 whole eggs
- 4 egg whites
- pinch of turmeric
- 1/2 medium onion, chopped fine
- 1 TBS chicken or vegetable broth
- 3 medium cloves garlic, chopped
- 2 cups thinly sliced zucchini
- 1/2 4 oz can diced green chili
- 1 small tomato, chopped with excess pulp removed
- 2 TBS chopped cilantro
- salt and black pepper to taste
Directions:
- Chop onions and garlic and let sit for at least 5 minutes to enhance their health-promoting properties.
- Beat together eggs, egg whites, turmeric, and a pinch of salt and pepper. Set aside.
- Heat 1 TBS broth in 10-12 inch stainless steel skillet. Healthy Sauté onion, garlic, zucchini, and green chili for about 3 minutes stirring frequently.
- After 3 minutes, add tomato, cilantro, salt, and pepper to zucchini mixture.
- Pour egg mixture over vegetables. Turn heat to low and cover. Cook for about 10 minutes checking periodically to see if eggs are firm. When done, run a rubber spatula around edge of frittata, cut into four wedges and serve.
Serves 4 Serving Suggestions Nutritional Stats
Once again, easy to change up to meet your own tastes. Good any time of the day! 
Also, on a FitFluential chat Wednesday night with Coach's Oats, they offered up a recipe Eggcelent Oatmeal Veggie Cups. Easy to make and easy to make your own! See side pic here.
I highly recommend those looking for support in health & fitness & all things like this take a look at FitFluential. My original post is HERE when I announced that I am a FitFluential ambassador!
What is your fave egg dish? Are you FitFluential?
86,400 Seconds - What Are You Doing with It?
Thursday January 5, 2012
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What are you waiting for - today is the day!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
So, what are you doing with your seconds? Are you sitting on the couch & watching TV? Are you wondering why you have not lost the weight you promised to last year? Are you wondering why you ate that donut this morn? Are you wondering why you are not healthier? Are you wondering about what lies ahead but you have not moved yet to even try? Are you doing Twitter & FB & all that stuff but don't have time to work out or eat healthier????
It is all about CHOICES!
Yes, go faster if you want, but the key is to just move forward in any little way you can!
DEFINE IT for yourself. Make it yours!!!!!!!!!!!
I know many don't like The Biggest Loser. I watched the first show last night & for now it seems to be getting back to basics & not like the past few seasons - time will tell.
What I wanted to share though is that this season on The Biggest Loser is the season of NO EXCUSES!
How about we make this season, this year of 2012 & each & every moment one of no excuses. You don't have to go crazy like me. You don't have to be an athlete. You don't have to do your exercise in a gym or be a runner or be like "that person over there".
JUST BE YOU!
We all make mistakes. We all fall or falter. What makes the difference? You get up & keep moving, keep trying, don't give up, don't make excuses. Just get back to it. Aren't you worth it - YOU ARE!
What are you doing with your seconds?
Why People Quit
Wednesday January 4, 2012
I found the first pic & copied it & of course forgot to get the credit before I realized I did not have it & can't remember where I found this.... DOH! I do this way too often since I love reading motivational quotes.
Anyway, it really hit with me because when people ask me about my motivation, I always say for one thing, I never want to go back where I was when I was heavy - not only how I looked but how it felt.
When people ask me about the stress or depression or anger type eating, for me, I say to myself, I AM NOT GOING TO LET THAT PERSON OR THAT JOB OR THAT SITUATION RUIN ALL THE HARD WORK I HAVE DONE TO GET TO THIS POINT.
Yes, I know it is easier said than done.... BUT when you think about it, why are you going to let some person, whether a friend, family member, stranger or even a bad job take control of your life & how far you have come in your efforts to lose weight or whatever it is you have set out to do for yourself.
The quote above, I hear it often on TV, in articles, from people. People are so focused on how far they have to go that they forget the present - how much they have done already. I don't care if it is just a couple pounds - it is a couple pounds less than the other day. If it is 10 or 20 pounds & you still want to lose 40 more pounds - focus on how far you have come! Focus on how much better you feel & how much more you can do & yes, the NSV's - non scale victories. It is not always about the scale or the pounds!
Now I know that this is not the only reason people quit. It is complicated, as they say..... BUT I do hear it often... something to think about.
How many of you have said that sentence in the first part of the quote above? Are you still saying or thinking it - how far there is to go? Can you focus on how far you have come? How much better you feel OR WILL FEEL? What a great example you are OR WILL BE for your family & kids AND YOURSELF!
Please share your thoughts and also any NSV's for those that need to see that it is not all about the scale!
Also, please share why you have quit in the past if you are willing to do so...
MOTIVATION - You CAN!
More motivation to start out 2012! Tomorrow I am chatting about why people quit!
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creditFrom Jody: Replace any word you want in there for runner in the above quote - or just be the best person you can be... you don't have to be an athlete or compete or do races.... every day you just do your best, don't give up on the hard work it takes, accept that sometimes things don't go right but you just GET BACK TO IT, that it takes time & patience & learning & change & just accepting that each day is a new day & don't look back - look forward!!!
Here is to a "Love ourselves & be the best we can" 2012 and that is enough period!
Gratitude Monday & Grandkids; Happy Bday!
Brooke liked this one. She was goofing when they visited Old Idaho Penitentiary in the fall.
Welcome to Gratitude Monday. Each Monday, stop by & comment on what you are grateful for & how it will impact you to live a healthier life going forward. How it impacts you does not have to be food or exercise related. It can be in any way, shape or form! If you just want to write a grateful comment & nothing else, that is fine too. If your comment is the same as another one, so be it. Everything goes here!
Today & every day I am grateful for the 7 grandkids & of course all the family members!
Today is Brooke's 8th bday & sure wish we could be there! We thought she was going to be born on the 1st but instead we sat in the hospital waiting area for hours & hours & hours !
It was worth it though!Happy birthday Brooke & we love & miss you!!!!
I always loved this one pic of her when she got into lipstick at Target & got in trouble!
I also love this one from 2009 with the oldest granddaughter, her cousin. CUTE!
I had a great start to 2012 with a beautiful sunrise for my first run of this year in my Hoka One One running shoes - LOVE - and my Yellowman YMX Tri-Jersey that I will be reviewing soon. Great jersey!
How are you & what are you grateful for today?
RELEASE - Happy 2012
MY GOAL FOR 2012 & ALWAYS!!!
credit“Years end is neither an end nor a beginning, but a going on, with all the wisdom that experience can instill in us.” ~ Hal Borland
HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!!!!!!!!!!!! LET'S DO THE ABOVE EACH & EVERY DAY!!
