(Lynda, Millie, Roxy 2018)
Memories
A favorite: Millie & Roxy—cute & happy; natural, perfect lighting; me, dressed for a change.
And it’s Thanksgiving 2018. The turkey is in the oven, we’re expecting a crowd, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day parade is on TV.  All is well.
I needed a pic & perk like this.  
You see, the other day I would have a meltdown after venturing out.
Grocery store: No one is wearing a mask! (!!) A lady gets too close to me in line. I ask her to back up. She says “I know what the rules are because I work here.”   Hello!? Where are your gloves, your mask, your respect for social distancing?
Doctor’s office: I see four other patients file through the waiting room. Not one of them is wearing a mask or gloves. Workers are forced to give those patients masks and insist they put them on.
The Library: The library has just opened for pick-up only. It was an easier-than-expected process.  I pull up and stay in my car, give workers my card number. They then assign me to park near a numbered table in the parking lot. The books are placed on the table in a bag with my name on it. It’s really easy and well organized. I’m grateful I got my books but I miss going “in” to the library to peruse the isles. So, still.. sad.
Everything is scary, annoying & oh, so different.

Home Sweet, Home
Later at home, I see a commercial for Macy’s. It starts with the Thanksgiving Day parade—the big turkey balloon hovers over the beautiful, crowded streets of Manhattan where people are laughing and packed on the sides of the streets.
I burst into tears. Seeing that enduringly sweet image was the last straw after a stressful day out and about during this pandemic.
And I’m not even essential personnel. My heart goes out to those on the front lines—nurses, doctors, first responders, grocery store workers and more.
I then talk over what I’m feeling with Kevin, my hubby. That helps—it always does. Kevin always has comforting things to say. A good night’s sleep also helped.
Listen we all have our moments. Times when this just seems unreal and too much to handle. The best thing we can do it let it out. Talk with a friend, partner, anyone.   It will help.

Reminiscing
And these memories—like mine on Thanksgiving with Millie and Roxy at my side?  Chances are we’re all experiencing flashbacks like these. So, remember, those good times, holidays & parties? They will be back. But we need to be patient and continue to stay home & healthy. That way we’re ready to go when the invitations start coming in again!
Hello, White Elephant Christmas Exchange! Love my annual shin-dig each year!
What do you Think?
What’s the first thing you want to do when this is all over? Comment below.

Make it a great and safe & healthy day!

​(Lynda in her garage April 2020)
Gym with a View!
This is the scenery from my “gym”, aka: garage. The Superstition Mountains are just east of Phoenix and right outside my door. I love it!
Sure, my gym window sure has improved compared to LA Fitness. However, at home I’m making do with the bare minimum equipment.
Grateful
But hey, I’m not complaining. This view makes up for it.
And while my locale may’ve changed my schedule has not. I still spend about 2-3 hours working out in the morning. And boy am I blessed. You see, I have not just one home gym but two!

Love Thy Neighbor
My neighbor graciously allows me to go to her house to run there while she’s quarantining in Michigan.  And from her house I have another excellent view. Yippee!
Here’s what my daily work-out routine is like:
1/4:30: We walk the girls while it’s still dark out-2 miles
2/5:30: Running-4-6 miles
3/7:00: Weights & bands
4/8:00: Stretching & abs
5/8:30: Yoga
Work Time!
I’m usually done by 9. Then I hit that to-do schedule hard! It’s time to clean, de-clutter the cabinets, the closets, yard work. Oh, who am I kidding!? Sometimes I just hit the computer and surf the net, watch TV. Then it’s lunch time!

(My Neighbor's Workout room! Sweet!)
So, essentially my day is up in the air after my work outs. Yeah, I do try to add something productive to every day. And on most days—I’m successful. Some days, not so much.
Maybe today I’ll tackle my closet…or perhaps, tomorrow.
So, what do your workouts look like these days? I really want to know—so please share below in the comments and check out that view!​

Lynda, today in her neighbor's gym)
Back on Track!
Literally.  Treadmill windfall! I’m running again.
My neighbor graciously offered up her home gym while she’s quarantining in Michigan.
Right after we went on lockdown in early March, I’d been trying to get some cardio in, get my heartrate up--HIIT, going up & down my stairs. But that just didn’t cut it.
I missed everything running does for me: clearing the cobwebs, getting my creative juices flowing, high calorie burning, those sprints, easing my back pain and creating that incredible runner’s high.
So, whenever I’m struggling with something—I whine about it—publicly! Yeah, I’m a real shrinking violet.
Anyway, I took to my blog here-- FitOver50Plus.com-- and wrote a sob story about how much I miss my running. 

The Text
​So, Amy from my ‘hood texted me: “Hey, I have no idea when we will get back—so go use our gym!” Hallelujah!
That day I was running again!
She and hubby, Scott have an extensive gym but so far, I only have eyes for that Nordic track.
I never thought a home unit could measure up to the treadmills at the gym but this is darn nice. In fact, I used to think a home treadmill would become an expensive clothes hanger in my house but you know what? Quarantine has changed that thinking!
I’m back to running 20-25 miles a week. Reunited and it feels sooo good!
I’ve seen many creative people using anything they can find around the house to stay fit.
What are you doing!?
So, do share—are you working out? If so, what’s the craziest thing you’re doing or using to get a decent work out in? Share in the comments section.
May your choices reflect your hopes, not your fears.~ Nelson Mandela
 
Make it a safe, healthy & great day!

(Lynda at home on 4/20/2020)
Happy Weed Day!
What’s Weed Day?
If you’re like me, you may not even know about this day. I didn’t—until recently.  But when it comes to those in the cannabis culture, it’s an important day.
In short, it’s the day marijuana lovers come together to celebrate passion of the natural drug—still illegal in the US.
Now, that CBD & Hemp oils are becoming more mainstream, this “holiday” of sorts is becoming more well known.
In fact, the Full Spectrum Hemp Oil I take is offering a sweet deal. Sativa Springs is giving a month’s supply in a giveaway. To enter-see deets below!

(Lynda, August 2019)
Why 4/20?
There’ve been a lot of stories about how marijuana came to be celebrated on 4/20 every year. But the story most plausible involves a group of high school kids in the 1970s. Turns out a group of California teens gathered everyday at 4:20 to smoke a joint or two. The idea spread and soon the code for smoking pot became 4:20. So, they associated it with the calendar and boom—an historic day was born.
Liquid “Gold”
I don’t smoke marijuana but I admit—I’ve tried hoping it could help my chronic back pain. Not only did it not help but it made me paranoid and I did not like the feeling!  
However, Full Spectrum Hemp oil—the liquid stuff? Now, that is a different story. That has helped me in ways I could never have dreamt.

​Lynda on her driveway on Leap Day 2020)
Here are just a few improvements I’ve noticed since starting it about 18 months ago.
Sativa Springs Hemp Essentia:
I’m Calmer
Better Memory
Hair is Healthier
I’m Sleeping Better
I Have More Energy
More Mentally Focused
Win a Bottle
If you’d like to try Sativa Springs here are the details:
Order by going to SativaSprings.com or call: 214-494-9004
To get that discount use my code when ordering--Code: LYNDAHAMMOND
$80 ($68 w/my discount)​

Contest Deets
And while you’re at it, enter my contest.
Simply go to my Instagram page to sign up:
@lynda_hammond
Contest runs 4/20-4/26
Good Luck!
Make it a great day!

(Lynda, Easter 2020 at home)
Happy Easter!
A Little PollyAnna for Easter 2020
Wearing my Sunday best *and* carrying the best!
It’s my Sativa Springs Hemp Essentia. Yeah, the Easter Bunny was very good to me this year. 
I try to do everything I can to stay healthy—I eat well, exercise and take supplements. My favorite is this Full Spectrum Hemp Oil—don’t confuse this with just any CBD or hemp oil on the market.  
​

​It’s the Best
See that “Full Spectrum” on the bottle in the second pic? Well, this is important—it means it contains *all* of the Cannabinoids from the Cannabis Sativa plant—both leaves & flowers. 
When we take a dropper-full, it creates the “Entourage Effect”.  Meaning the 100 compounds in the oil work synergistically with our body’s endocannabinoid system.
Life Changer
This Hemp oil is incredible.
Here are just a few things Sativa Springs has helped me with.
1/ZZZZs-I sleep better. Didn’t even hear the Easter Bunny drop this off!
2/Clarity-I think more clearly & my memory has improved.
3/Calmer-This has been amazing to me. I’m able to let the little irritations in life roll right on by!
4/Hair—And I love this. It’s even helped me to grow more hair. It’s thicker, healthier— shinier! Now, if it could just help with my gray roots!
Listen, we need every edge we can get when it comes to staying in good health—especially these days. Easter is the time for hope and new beginnings, so whether you’re new to health & fitness or you’re already a fit enthusiast—make sure you add THIS hemp oil to your regimen.
Save Money
I’ve been using Sativa Springs every night for more than 18 months now. I really love it. You will too. And when you order it—use my code for a discount.
Order at SativaSprings.com—a Texas based company.
or call: 214-494-9004
Use code below when you order
Code: LYNDAHAMMOND
$80 ($68 w/my discount)

Make it a great and healthy & safe day!

(Lynda in her Arizona kitchen, April 2020)
Ain’t That a Kick in the Head!
See those yummy veggies? I eat them and more wholesome, cruciferous crunch every single day. I’m grateful that I’ve *always* loved veggies. And in the last 10 years, I’ve stepped it up a notch adding even more to my diet.
Good news, right? I’m doing what I’m supposed to--getting nourishment from whole, natural foods—carrots, cauliflower, peppers—the works.
But not so fast
Get this--I’m allergic to it—ALL of it.
More specifically, I’m allergic to nickel. Nickel is found in just about any natural food on the planet. You see, it’s in our soil so there’s no way to buy nickel-free foods.

​Hey, no problem--here’s how doctors tell me I can avoid the element.
Nickel Food Allergy
1/Eat white rice, not brown
2/Eat white bread, not grain, oat or wheat
3/Eat processed chocolate, avoid 100% Cacao
4/No kale, spinach or other veggies
5/No salmon (nickel is in the oceans, too)

In Other Words..
Translation: Eat crappy, processed foods laced with chemicals—but no nickel.  That is crazy talk.
I can’t do it. I won’t do it. Switching from natural, healthy foods to man-made, fake foods is, by far, THE most counter-productive & idiotic thing I’ve ever heard.
Eczema, Oh My!
My issues started at the New Year. I began having extremely bad diarrhea, bloating & more after eating. I also developed eczema on my hands—the backs & palms. (See pics below)
I had a colonoscopy which showed a huge number of Eosinophils or white bloods cells attacking the enemy—a food source, not revealed from the colon test.
So, I began a battery of tests with an allergist.  The nickel allergy was uncovered, as well as one to sunflower seeds—which I was eating almost every day in my salads.
Elimination Diet
So, what does a holistic, healthy, vegetable eater do?  Well, I’m trying to determine which foods might be my biggest instigators. I’ve discovered two, so far: oats & Cacao.
I love my homemade granola—but I’ve drastically cut down on it. I love powdered cacao in my shakes but have avoided it for about a month. I’m hoping some brands might contain less nickel than others—so, I’m shopping around for that.
In the meantime, I’ll keep trying the “elimination” diet to figure out which are the worst offenders and I’ll make changes. For instance, if I find out spinach is bad for me, I’ll cut the amount I eat down but not out. I won’t give up good foods altogether.
Dreaming of Good "Bad" Foods
Wish this allergy thing made sense. I’d rather be allergic to things I shouldn’t eat--Peanut M&Ms--love that crunch!  Butterfinger Candy Bars-those Blizzards are delectable. And mint chocolate chip ice cream—perfect with strong black coffee!!
Do you have food allergies?  Share below how you deal with them. Hey, maybe we can help each other.
Make it a great—and safe & healthy—day!

(Lynda at home April 2, 2020)
Lynda’s Lyfe
This is rough—no doubt about it.
Our lives are turned upside down. We’re scared & worried.   
But this—THIS-- is the time to be courageous. And *no* I’m not talking about going out, ignoring quarantine and haphazardly touching everyone we see.
I’m talking about what we do with our time—inside our home, inside our mind. More than ever we need to stay engaged & encouraged.   
Hey, I’m not perfect. On Sunday, I had a bit of a meltdown-- spent the day on the couch. I ate, slept and watched TV. It made me feel worse. So, I’m determined to stop the pity party and step up my game.
If you’re having a tough time right now—here’s something that may help to motivate you.
Ask yourself this question: When all this is over and people ask what you did with your time, what do you want to tell them? 

(Lynda, Mrs. Kramer’s 4th grade class, James Rd. Elementary, Columbus, OH.)
When We Were Young
Think back to elementary school when our 4th grade teacher asks us to share with the whole class: “Lynda, what did you do on your summer break?
We wanted to have something substantial to say, right? “My family drove to California and I saw the Grand Canyon.” “I went swimming every day and learned how to do the Butterfly stroke.”
Well, I want to have a good answer today, too. I may be 58 years old but when peeps ask me what I did during the pandemic—by golly, I’m going to tell *and* show them—a quadruple axel on ice, the lead in a Broadway play--okay, I exaggerate but you get the idea.
I want to be able to say I made the best of it by using my time wisely—learning new skills, staying fit & healthy and most importantly helping others—even if it means simply going to the store for an elderly person.
In the middle of every difficulty lies opportunity.~ Albert Einstein

(Lynda with Millie & Roxy, Thanksgiving Day 2018)
My Schedule at Home
So, here’s what I’m doing as I try and make the best of a tough time.
1/Morning Alarm: 3:40 AM. I refuse to sleep in.  I’d feel & be lazy and discombobulated all day if I did. Staying on schedule is important, even if I have no place to go.
2/Gym Clothes-I’m still putting on my gym clothes first thing. I don’t take them off until I’ve finished a good, solid work out.
3/Get moving—I start before dawn with a 2-mile walk, Millie and Roxy by my side. Then I’m in my “gym”. This is a hastily thrown together place in my garage. I’m doing HIIT, a bit of weights, bands and Yoga (more on my exact workouts coming soon).
4/Breakfast-This is almost always two eggs, kale, tomato and onion and chicken bone broth.
5/Phone calls-First I always check in with Mom and Dad making sure they feel good and to see if they need anything. They’re doing a great job of staying home.
6/Write-Then I sit at my computer and write—my blog and more.
7/Eat-I eat my big meal around noon every day. It takes a while getting it together because I include gobs of fresh veggies.
8/Bills & Misc.-Pay bills, then I’ll bake or clean (Yay!) something.
9/Meditate-I’m finally learning to meditate. I’m using an app and I’m loving it.
10/News & reading-Then around five I’m watching the news. At 7, I’m reading. By 8, it’s lights out.  Sleep is critical to our overall well-being—especially when we’re stressed.
So, share below: What do you want to “tell the teacher” you did with your time?

Make it a great—and safe & healthy day!

(Lynda, at home April 1, 2020)
Lynda’s Leisure Locale
Welcome to my gym. It’s not much but hey it’s better than nothing, right?
It may be a bit tight but I’m extremely grateful to have this space. My 3-car garage is chock-full of Christmas décor, garage sale treasures and boxes, left unpacked following one of my many moves. I’ve lived in seven states!
So, I was able to dig out some equipment—a curl bar, a couple plates, band and a ball.  But wow, what I miss most about the gym? The treadmill and my runner’s high! Typically, in the good ole days, I’d start my morning with a 4-mile run.
Running provides such clarity for me and is a time for mindful meditation.  It seems the faster I run, the better the thought process. I can fix problems, write stories and set new goals—while hitting my stride!
Running outside isn’t an option. The concrete is too hard, too jarring—which can exacerbate my back pain. Whereas running on the treadmill actually alleviates the aches & pains.
These days, I kick things off with a 2-mile walk. Walking is good but just doesn’t clear the cobwebs like running does.   

A Different World
Like every aspect of daily life for every person on the face of the Earth—life is different. But I will adapt. We all will. In fact, here are just a few positive things about working out at home:
1/Think outside the box-It can make us more creative as we figure out how to do more with less.
2/Media-We can listen to any TV show or music.
3/ Drinking-I can continue to drink my coffee while working out.
4/ No driving  
5/And last but not least--No huge, oversized pick-up truck drivers, squeezing into one space and backing into your new car, shattering the $3000 camera. Yeah, that just happened!
In the next few days, I’ll be sharing my exact workouts in my home gym. This includes HIIT, weights and Yoga. So, I hope you’ll come back here to FitOver50Plus and read all about them!  I’m not great at create cardio workouts but I vow to try. I really need to get that heart rate up and burn calories! So, join me!!
Join the Conversation
In the meantime, how are your workouts going?  What’s your favorite thing about working out at home? Share in the comments. Hit comment, then hit submit. I really want to hear what life is like for you these days.
 
Make it a great day!