Over 50 and a Path to New Employment

                                                                         

Over 50 and finding your way to new employment. Learn How to Become is an excellent online resource! 

The following is from their website:

If you have held multiple jobs throughout your working life or have been laid off, don’t forget that you developed many marketable skills over the years. Create a list of skills you have acquired and determine what you are good at so you can present yourself to employers. Don’t overlook general skills that are essentially transferable skills relevant to multiple occupations. Skills such as reading and writing, management skills, technical skills, and communication skills can transfer over to a number of positions and industries Use tools like the Career One Stop Skills Profiler          Toolkit Use  tools like the 

Check out the Toolkit. It is a great resource from Interest Assessment, Skills Profiler, to Job and Salary Finder and more!

Check out this great info Career One Stop

And don't forget to go to Learn How To Become

Style or Comfort?

                                                                       

I hadn't seen my friend all winter. As soon as I walked outside, she looked at my boots and said "What's the story with your boots." I told her where I got them and how much I paid. Later that day, we were sitting outdoors and she noticed my shoes. She told me my choice in shoes were "interesting."

Hmm...I thought, is that positive or negative? I said, "What are you trying to say, I have no style?" (I was smiling) She just laughed.

I dress for comfort, I always have, in clothes and shoes. As I have gotten older, it's more important for my feet. My mom always had foot problems and had to wear shoes she could wear, not really what was good for her feet.

I don't spend a fortune on my shoes, but I don't skimp on them, either. They have to be quality, comfortable and good for my feet.

Style is not a priority for me. I see all of these commercials that show women with shelves of shoes. I have never understood it.

What is more important to you, style or comfort?

Tea Helps Your Brain!

 
                                                                           

We hear so many things that we should do to be healthy, after awhile, we may just tune it all out. Try to stay tuned in as I talk about it again, okay?

Older people, well, we have a lot of concerns, so I thought I would research the subject.

Health is a major concern as we get older and we read so much about cognitive decline. 

On Medical News Today it recommends drinking tea, glad to hear it because I drink a lot of tea! Here is part of what they said:

Thanks to its high levels of antioxidants, tea has been linked to a lower risk of diabetes, heart disease, and cancer. However, its potential health benefits may not end there. Researchers have found that regular tea consumption could more than halve the risk of cognitive decline for older adults, particularly for those with a genetic risk of Alzheimer's disease.

[A cup of tea with some tea leaves]

New research suggests that regular tea intake could lower the risk of cognitive decline in later life.

Tea is one of the most popular beverages in the United States; in 2015, more than 3.6 billion gallons of tea were consumed in the country, with black tea being the favorite.

The possible health benefits of tea consumption have been well documented. A recent study published in The American Journal of Public Health, for example, associated moderate tea intake with a reduced risk of cardiovascular events.

* In the same article it talks about green tea, which I've come to really like!

Past research has suggested that drinking tea may also have brain benefits, with one study linking green tea consumption to better working memory.

http://www.medicalnewstoday.com/

Hot tea has more benefits than iced tea. but according to Prevention very little. 

We are Amazing!

                                                                We Are Amazing!
                                                           

Wow, I was researching articles that are positive about women and aging. I came upon one very interesting one by Noelle Nelson written in April 2016 in Huffington Post.
In the article, she has a new name for Boomers! The Amazings!
Nelson writes:
"We are busting preconceptions, forcing by our very numbers, the world to look at us differently. We are redefining the years past 60 as years of growth, joy, fun, adventure, even romance! What we Amazings want Millennials (and every generation) to know, is that these individuals are not the exception. There are over 45 million people in the United States alone who are 65 and over (44.7 in 2013, according to the US Census). Most of these individuals are happy, healthy, and having a grand old time."

Reading the full article, she says that anyone can be an Amazing! Living positively, gratitude, and make "a deliberate decision to see the passage of years as simply movement through time."

Yep, and she also points out that all this, along with, happiness, optimism, helps us with our physical and mental well being!

I love what she wrote! Read her article about The Amazings

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Every St. Patrick's Day brings back memories of my mom. She was so proud to be Irish!
About a week before, she would pull out her album with those beautiful Irish songs. Singing along as she went about her daily tasks.
She would put green ribbons in our hair and of course made sure we wore green!
I  am sure today she is up above singing to those wonderful songs!
Happy St. Patrick's  Day, mom!

                        

Not a diet. Healthy Eating.

                                                                           

I will be turning 60 this year and know that I need to make changes.

This past year I found out I had a small hiatal hernia: (Hiatal hernia occurs when a small part of your stomach slides up into your chest through a weak spot, or hiatus, in your diaphragm. A symptomatic hiatal hernia regurgitates stomach acid back into your esophagus, causing the heartburn, difficulty swallowing and chest pain associated with gastroesophageal reflux disease, or GERD. To manage a hiatal hernia, Cleveland Clinic advises you to maintain a healthy weight, stop smoking, eat small meals at least three hours to four hours before lying down and avoid fatty and acidic foods. Consult your doctor for advice and fill your plate with healthy foods to help alleviate symptoms.)

One thing I have done is add a probiotic every day. I have digestive issues that I never had before and it has made a big difference.

Looking at food recommendations, if you have any digestive issues, you may want to take a look.

On livestrong.com : Vegetables and Fruits

Vegetables are a great choice for side dishes and snacks as most won't aggravate a hiatal hernia. Dark leafy greens, such as broccoli and spinach, provide plenty of calcium and vitamin B, while red bell peppers and carrots are great sources of antioxidants. Other vegetables you can enjoy include kale, sweet potatoes, squash and string beans. Fruits containing antioxidants may help reduce or prevent symptoms from occurring, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. Healthy fruits include apricots, cherries, raspberries, blueberries and cantaloupe. Avoid acidic and citrus fruits, such as tomatoes, grapefruit and oranges, because they can aggravate your heartburn.

Choose whole grains over refined starches to add fiber to your diet. Brown rice, steel-cut oatmeal, quinoa, whole-grain pasta and rye bread are smart whole-grain fiber choices. Avoid processed foods containing refined starches and sugar, such as commercially packaged cookies, cakes, crackers and white bread. Refined starches are also loaded with trans fatty acids; choose healthy fats, such as olive oil and safflower oil, instead. Keep your dairy choices low-fat because high-fat products may aggravate your hiatal hernia. Choose low-fat and no-fat milk, cottage cheese, sour cream and yogurt to add dairy to your diet.

Beverages

Water is the best beverage choice if you have a hiatal hernia. Avoid fruit juices, coffee and caffeinated beverages because they may cause hiatal hernia symptoms to appear. Alcohol and carbonated sodas may also cause problems. Herbal teas are fine, but stay away from peppermint tea because it may cause heartburn.

Precautions

Most hiatal hernias aren't problematic, but if you do experience symptoms, consult your physician. Medications, by prescription and over-the-counter, can alleviate the symptoms of hiatal hernia, but take them only under your doctor's supervision. Speak to your health care provider or dietitian before making any changes to your diet if you are pregnant or have a serious medical condition, such as diabetes or heart disease.

more info

*Making these changes isn't that hard and is worth it!

*I am not a medical professional. Please consult your doctor before making any changes in diet and exercise.

Exercise for women over age 50

                                              EXERCISE for WOMEN over 50
                                                     
                

Inactivity leads to many issues as we age. Did you know that according to Webmd, your chronological age may be 55, your biological age could be 35? Yes, they say if you follow a consistent exercise program.

**Before starting, please check with your doctor.

Now, I will be turning 60 this year, wow! I feel like I am fairly active, I do a lot of walking. I try my best to eat right. But I know I need to add consistent exercise, so I began looking for information and wanted to share it with you.

This article on webmd is a great place to start! Here's what I am sharing from the article on their site.

Aerobic exercise. Walking, jogging, swimming, and dance exercise are good ones to try. Aerobic exercise works the large muscles in your body, benefitting your cardiovascular system -- and your weight. Work up to getting 20 or more minutes per session, 3 or 4 days a week. Make sure you can pass the “talk test,” which means exercising at a pace that lets you carry on a conversation.

Strength training. Lifting hand weights improves your strength and posture, maintains bone strength, reduces the risk of lower back injury, and also helps you tone. Start with a hand weight that you can comfortably handle for eight repetitions. Gradually add more reps until you can complete 12.

Stretching. Stretching exercises help maintain flexibility and range of motion in joints. They also reduce the risk of injury and muscle soreness. Yoga and Pilates are good forms of stretching exercise; they build core body strength and increase stability.

Make Exercise a Part of Your Daily Routine

Every bit of movement counts. If you're too busy for a regular workout, look for other ways to be in motion. Research shows that all those extra steps you take during the day add up to big health benefits. Here are some ideas to get you on your feet:

Adopt a dog and take it for walks every day.

Take the stairs instead of the elevator. At home, don't shout at your family members from the stairs -- go on up.

Get up and talk with co-workers, rather than sending emails. Have a meeting with one or two colleagues? Take it outside and make it a walking meeting.

Walk briskly whenever you can. Always wear comfortable shoes, or bring them with you, so that your feet can be your main mode of transportation.

Find a sport, game, or activity you like. You’ll stay committed to exercising if you’re doing something that you enjoy.

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I would like to add here that I have a fitbit watch. I have had it for a while. I love it because it counts my steps, tracks my heart rate, my calories, sleep, and I can manually put in my water, coffee, food intake. It really helps! Hey, it even vibrates after 50 minutes of sitting to get up and move!

What about you? Is this information helpful? Do you have something to add? 

http://www.webmd.com/women/guide/women-over-50-fitness-tips

                   Women Over 50 Fashion
                                                           

Fashion is not really my thing, no surprise to people who know me.

Since we do have to wear clothes, I thought I would talk about where to get clothes for daily wear at a reasonable price.

Take a look at Amazon. 

There  great choices in tops, pants, skirts, socks and more!

                          

This is one I really like, great color choices and price!

                            

This is cool, too! 

Check this out!

                               

These are just a few examples, these look comfy and I guess you could feel in style!

I just discovered this on Amazon, so maybe now I can combine fashion and comfort!

How about you?

Older Women Rock!

                                                                         

We all know how fast time goes..we have all heard it when we were younger. It never meant much back then, why would it?

When I am outside walking my dog, feeling the wind in my face and enjoying the sun, it takes me back decades. I am grateful for those memories and for the new moments I have now to add to those memories.

I don't feel old. Sometimes I wish people couldn't see your age. Not so much because of my looks, but the way they look at you. The way they see you. There are so many assumptions about older people. 

And there doesn't seem the interest to know us. I loved being around my grandmother. There was always a special feeling when I was with her. I have always gotten along well with older people. There's a connection.

Do what makes you feel good. Listen to music you love, write, walk, if you cannot walk on your own, get someone to take you. If you cannot get outside, watch videos of the outdoors, listen to sounds of the outdoors. Whatever makes you happy.

I made the following video for this blog. I hope you enjoy. Maybe it'll make you smile.

Happy New Year? New Resolutions?

                                                                                   

                                                          Ring in the New Year, Happy!

No matter how you spend New Year's Eve and ring in the 2017, I wish you happiness.  If you are alone, you are not the only one.

According to AARP, isolation among adults 50 and older is a growing epidemic, thanks in part to the changing face of American society:

45 percent of adults over 65 are divorced, separated or widowed.

28 percent of those over 65 — and 46 percent of women — live alone.

For so many people, of all ages, dread the holidays. Somehow, knowing that doesn't make one feel better.

We spend New Year's Eve at home. Yes, we used to ring in the New Year with Dick Clark. Now, we tune into Rockin' New Years  Eve to watch the ball drop.

This week, I am making some resolutions. One begins now, making a gratitude list from this year.

1) I am grateful for my health.

2) I am grateful for my husband.

3) I am grateful for my family..all grown with families of their own.

4) I am grateful for my dog, Missy.

5) I am grateful for our home.

6) I am grateful for friends and neighbors.

7) I am grateful that we downsized and have less stress.

8) I am grateful I am here.

On New Year's Eve, while others may enjoy the hustle and bustle of going out and being part of a crowd, I prefer a quiet evening. A night of appreciation.

I will be looking back on past years and looking forward to the next one.