GOSSIP FROM THE GIRLFRIEND GATHERINGS

Learning from YOU to empower ME !

One Woman Embracing Evolution

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Last month, I had a birthday and reached a milestone age.

It’s an age that causes one to reflect upon it in the months before you reach it, and then you are awed when you wake up on that day to claim it.

It’s a Blessing to reach this age in good health (which means I can reverse the few issues I have) and with a sound mind (which means I can still laugh at myself).

Since that morning, I’ve thought about my life journey to this point.

I counted how many women I’ve been and how many more I will be before I transcend from this life.

I laughed out loud alone in my home at some of my antics.

I sat in the silence of my home and wept at some memories.

I reminisced about the beautiful places I’ve visited and their impact on my worldview.

I pondered the choices I made, the resulting consequences, and what I would redo differently.

I gave thanks to God for the people I’ve loved and the ones who have loved me.

Then I celebrated and embraced this new evolutionary stage that I’ve reached through Grace.

I think I’ve made it to the point where I can share some wisdom from my journey with others to help them navigate this maze called LIFE.

After all, this is not a dress rehearsal. We have one chance to live LIFE to the fullest.

Since 2017, everyday life has interrupted my blogging life, but now I’m ready to share my insight, ponderings, and daydreams again.

So, please stay tuned for future posts where I’ll share what I’ve learned just by EVOLVING.

Get A Grip on Change – Greta Grypp Report #4

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SuperChgWomanGreta and I have collaborated FANTASTICALLY for the month of April.   On March 23rd I started the Virgin Diet and as of the date of this blog post I have lost 19 lbs.   Please note that I did not do any exercising during that period.   My success was all because I changed the food that I ate each day.   However, I know that in order to continue to have this success I need to reincorporate daily exercising again.

As I mentioned in last month’s post, I eliminated corn, soy, dairy, eggs, gluten, peanuts, and sugar/artificial sweeteners from my food intake.    The past two weeks, I reintroduced dairy and eggs to my diet.   Also, I had a couple of meals with friends that were non-organic even though I ate foods that were on the eating plan.   I did experience a negative reaction to this change and the weight loss did slow down.   So, I am reverting back to eliminating dairy and eggs again for several more weeks as suggested by the Virgin Diet.   It is apparent that I do have some food intolerances which evidently caused my weight gain.   I can never go back to eating eggs and dairy in the manner that I have for most of my life.

The next step is to keep eating organic and clean.    Even though the food costs more it is so tasty!   The fruits and vegetables are scrumptious.   I am eating a lot of wild fish and pasture-raised chicken with the occasional grass-fed rib-eye steak (I am a Texan).   I use spices and seasonings from Penzeys (http://www.penzeys.com) to switch up my taste buds so that I don’t get bored eating the same thing.   I have discovered that because the food is so tasty I don’t need to eat as much to feel satisfied.

There is an organization I want to follow that promotes “food as medicine” which I now believe is the purpose of food.    We human beings have re-purposed food into something that has made a lot of us sick.   Now that I have experienced the benefits of a few weeks of change, I want to move forward and I think following Ali Miller, RD, LD, CDE of Naturally Nourished (http://www.naturallynourishedrd.com) is the best next step for me.   I plan to attend one of her speaking events at the Urban Harvest Farmers’ Market that is scheduled several times a month.   I am also interested in some of her cooking classes.   Check out the website for some great healthy recipes.

Overall, I feel great.   I have lots of energy.   I am not dragging out of bed each morning.   I am not “foggy” in my thoughts.   The best benefit is that I still have enough energy at the end of my work day to come home and write.

QUESTION(S):

What do you think about the “food as medicine” philosophy?

 

Greta Grypp – Report #1

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SuperChgWomanThe journey that began 28 days ago is still on course.   My primary mission to remove gluten from my diet has been hard but successful.    In the first 10 days it was really tough and it was a conscious effort to shop for the right foods.   However, I found it is true that you can find all that you need to eat in the perimeter of the grocery store.

The amazing thing is I continued to eat chocolate, ice cream, falafel chips, nuts, guacamole dip, and I still lost weight.   I was not trying to lose weight this month but I lost 8 lbs just getting rid of wheat from my diet.   I plan to continue to refine this method and follow the guidelines in the book “Lose the Wheat, Lose the Weight” by William Davis, M.D. since I know I have gluten sensitivity.

The eating goal for February is to remove sugar from my diet – refined (permanently) and natural from fruit (until I reach healthier weight).  The only allowable substitute sweetener will be the natural one from the Stevia plant, Sweet Leaf.   Also, I will stop snacking in-between meals and eat at specific time intervals.   I do want to lose weight this month and continual grazing inhibits that for me.

In the past, a nutritionist calculated that I need to drink 92 ounces of water per day.   So, I rounded it up to 100 ounces and have been consistently drinking it every day.   It is amazing how my skin and hair appearance has improved.   Also, the craving for other drinks has disappeared and my appetite has been suppressed.   I contribute my increase in drinking water to be an important factor in the unexpected weight loss I experienced this month.

For the 3-6-5 MOVE movement, I did increase my motion this month consistently for 30 minutes per day.   I focused on incorporating the increase in the normal things I do each day – using the walking trail on the campus of my “day” job, riding my stationary bike while watching TV, walking around the perimeter of the parking lot before going into the grocery department, and walking around the mall after going to the movie theatre.   I did continue my long weekly bike ride on the Saturdays that we had good weather in preparation for our first large group ride in about 2 weeks.

For February, my 3-6-5 MOVE goal is to restart and incorporate organized cardio workouts into my daily life – using my equipment and DVDs at home.   I just don’t have time to go to the gym during this month.   Luckily, in my at-home gym, I have a treadmill, a new stationary bike, an elliptical, several DVDs by Leslie Sansone, weighted body bars + DVDs, a BOSU – so the only reason to go the gym is for the companionship.

This month was not too productive for my creative life.   I had some family matters that popped up and required my attention so I had to take a break from blogging but I did “revamp” my novel draft and will start the next revision/rewrite on  Monday, 2/2/15.

So, I avoided a Greta Grypp butt-kicking this month – which is a good thing.

 

QUESTION(S)

How did you do in the first month of the New Year?

Fashion in Mid-Life – Nails

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I am told real women know the fashion trends.   I must confess that I am not a real woman because I have been too busy to keep up.    Now, I’ve decided to peruse the fashion magazines and website to get up to speed so I can be ready when I unveiled the improved me in a few months.   I am starting with nails because recently my manicurist shocked me with a revelation of my choices.

I have worn crystal nails with a French manicure for years now.   I love them.   They are timeless and classy.    So, I show up for my appointment and my manicurist starts to work on my nails.  I have been going to her for so many years that I don’t have to tell her what I want anymore because I am consistent with my choices.   As we are chatting she tells me that no one is really wearing the French manicure anymore.    I was flabbergasted.   I asked her if she was sure and she told me to look at the fashion magazines.   I did and I noticed that everyone was wearing color.   Thus was the start of my nail transformation.

The first thing she convinced me was to stop wearing the crystal nails.   She told me that I had such lovely nail beds that I should quit wearing the crystal nails.  We removed the crystal nails and I let my nails grow out over several months to reach an entire new set of my natural nails.   The only nail service we did during that time was a manicure and the occasional polish which presented another set of problems.   Which was the right type of polish?

My manicurist suggested the shellac nails because they would last 2 weeks.   Well, mine only lasted about 3 days.   After 3 days they would start to peel off even with me wearing plastic gloves to do my house cleaning.   After several attempts, I gave up on that type.   I needed something that could withstand my 60+ hours of keyboarding per week.   I needed something that I could touch up if they started to chip in between manicures.   After all, even if it was in my budget, I can’t get a manicure/polish daily as I am a busy woman.

My latest discovery is working out for me.  I love it.   It is CND Vinylux.  The simple and fast drying application is a wonder.  I bought it at http://www.sleeknail.com.  Supposedly, it will last only 1 week but I have been wearing my recent color for almost 2 weeks now with a minor touch up of the tips.   I love that I can do my own touch ups, too.  My plan is to go every 2 weeks for a manicure so this works for me.  I am enjoying wearing my own nails and the different fall colors.   Plus, it seems my keyboarding has minimal impact on my nail polish.

You know when your age is beyond 39 you need to be careful with your fashion.  You want it to be relevant and appropriate yet sexy.   Sometimes, you may want to hold on to that old style but you risk being dated.   I considered that and made my nail change.   I am happy with the results.

 

QUESTION(S):

Can you please share your nail beauty techniques?

Get a Grip – On CHANGE

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SuperChgWoman“Change.  The frightening frontier.  This is the personal journey of a baby boomer.   Her ongoing mission: To manage the life process by jumping on, riding with, and holding on to change – to seek out a healthier and peaceful lifestyle – to boldly transform a lifelong dream into a creative new life!”

I have a simple resolution for 2015 and the years ahead.    I need to get a grip.   I have foregone many healthful and helpful practices in my life for the sake of convenience.   I have made some choices for the sake of comfort because what I really wanted to do was a bit uncomfortable.   Now, I am paying the piper because even though I have a good life it is not the great life that I know I can reach.   Since I truly believe the idiom that the present day is the first day of the rest of your life, I have decided to implement the practices that will improve my health and lifestyle.  I have decided to be uncomfortable so that I can be propelled to the next level and to my destiny.

I know I am human.  I will have days that I will vacillate.  So I used my creative juices to make a method to help me with a kick in my butt on those days.    Meet my little friend, Greta Grypp, at the top of the post.   Her whole purpose is to be my change manager, my voice of reason, my cheerleader, and my shero when the road to permanent life changes becomes a little steep.   When I start to succumb to choices and behaviors that will veer me from the path of change, I will envision Greta with her booted foot raised and in position to kick my butt into compliance.

My first mission is to introduce my creative voice to more readers through my blogging life and through my budding novelist life.   This is the most difficult mission because every writer has an inherent fear of putting their words out into the universe.  Also, the publishing world is changing and there are some great but frightening choices for new novelists.   Greta will probably wear out a couple pairs of boots kicking me with this mission.

My second mission is to get healthier.   You know when you are younger you can get away with skipping out somewhat on a healthy routine but when you become “vintage” (as my blogger gal-pal Vintage Woman at http://www.amivintageyet.com calls it) you can’t do that anymore.    I have decided to make a simple start by doing three basic things (1) eat natural, gluten-free, and single-ingredient foods (2) move – walk, dance, bike, play, jump, whatever – my body for at least 30 minutes a day.  I call this my 3-6-5 Move movement (3) Drink 96 ounces of water per day.    For me, these three changes need to be implemented simultaneously for beneficial results.   Each month, I will make another change to enhance my healthier choices.

Now, I have my initial missions and my cheerleader but I need a virtual crew.   I have a virtual crew for my first mission (the writing life) but I need a virtual crew for the second mission.   It is always fun to have others to share the healthy lifestyle changes with as you gain confidence and knowledge from the interactions.   I plan to give a Greta Grypp report periodically on my progress with information on discoveries I make along the path of change.   Hopefully, some of you will consider joining me in the 3-6-5 Move movement and report back with comments on your progress, too.

Change is really all about choices.   Choices are the compass and the wheel of life.   They make life movement and they control the direction of that movement.   Because of that sometimes it takes all of your courage and will to make one.   However, the opportunity to make a choice is a gift and the change it engenders is the reward.

QUESTION(S)

Will you come join me in the 3-6-5 Movement?   If so, reply back with a comment on the post.