(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!

(Lynda squatting—so to speak-- on the deck at home)

Charmin Squats!
Yay! Finally, toilet paper in the house! Bought some for us and for Mom & Dad!
I’ve been shopping for my parents—making sure they stay safe, healthy and inside during this social distancing.  It's incredible just how often and how many of us are buying toilet paper.
And, on Mom's list each time I’ve gone to the store? TP. But shelves have been empty.  I went to one place, stood in line just to get inside the store, then encountered another long line just to buy toilet paper. As I headed to that line, workers announced: “The toilet paper is now sold out.” Darn! So close!!

(Mom, 87 & Dad, 91- last summer, downtown Gilbert, AZ.)
Happy Parents
But today I went to Costco. Score!  And boy were Mom and Dad thrilled. When I arrived at their house, carrying the huge load from Costco, they cheered—from a safe distance behind the screen door, of course. They were so cute, really full of joy. You know you’re feeling blessed & grateful when you break out in applause for toilet paper!

Exercising with my Cushy Stash
So, before I “crack” open my toilet paper, thought I’d try it out for use during my overhead sumo squats! I kid. I just thought it’d make for a good pic. Felt cute, might delete later!
Panic Buying
All kidding aside there is an interesting reason TP has been the item to buy. We are “panic buying”.  One psychiatrist says we’re essentially using “retail therapy” as a way of coping. And get this—because some stores sell it in large packaging, like this Charmin—well, then stocking up is a way in which we can feel even more secure with control over our lives.
1973
And this isn’t our first run on toilet paper. There was one back in 1973.
We were in a gas shortage. In October of that year, the Organization of Arab Petroleum Exporting Companies (OPEC) proclaimed an oil embargo. In March, 1974 a barrel of oil had risen by 400%.
Johnny Carson
The toilet paper stock was fine, that is, until Johnny Carson delivered a joke about the run on TP. On his show on December 19, 1973: “There is an acute shortage of (shakes his head, grimaces) of toilet paper.”.
What do you find comforting?
Listen we are all scared. This pandemic is unprecedented in the United States. None of us knows when it will end. We all have to do whatever it is that makes us feel better. If that means buying personal hygiene items--then do it! But just know we will get through this soon and just imagine how incredibly grateful we'll all be!
Aside from toilet paper, what would give you the most comfort these days to bring home from the store? Candy, cookies, a good meal, a puppy!? Please share your ideas below. I really want to hear them! I’ll start. For me, it would be chocolate candy!
Make it a great--and safe & healthy day!
 

Hey, Hump Day!
Not your average hump day booty shot. Believe it or not, this heavy-duty, masking tape is actually concealing about 200 food samples—things I eat every day.
So, yeah, taped to my back right now?  Tiny pieces of salmon, egg, spinach, red lentils, homemade salad dressing, pineapple and much more.
What’s the deal?
Well, the idea is to find out what exactly is making me sick.
For the last few months, I’ve had severe reactions to something and this will hopefully give us answers. The side effects from something I’m eating are nasty-- cramps, gas and debilitating diarrhea. It’s so bad, I’m left feeling like I have the flu.​

Sunflower, say it isn’t so!
I’ve already completed one test and it did show a problem with sunflower seeds. Yep, I’m allergic. For the last few months, I’ve been roasting them at home, adding a little salt and devouring a few handfuls a day. Yum!  Love that crunch! And they make for a great, healthy snack. But doc says I need to avoid them from now on.
Cheap Shot
Meanwhile, the allergy doctor is convinced there’s something else causing my problem. He suspects: nickel. Nickel is typically found in costume jewelry. My doc is really nice but doesn’t have much of a sense of humor. When he asked me if I ever get an odd reaction when I wear cheap jewelry. I put my best incredulous face on and told him this: “Who me? Why I’d never, ever be caught wearing that cheap stuff—only high-quality diamonds touch this skin.”
What? That’s gold! I laughed. But he wasn’t amused and went on to explain that the inexpensive stuff is made with nickel and can cause itching and other skin problems. 
Nevertheless, I’ll be here all week folks. Tip your waitresses!

Nickel in Foods
No but seriously, turns out nickel is also found in many foods—and I’m not talking about just the processed things. It’s found in natural, holistic edibles, such as grains, seeds, tea and fish. Oh no!  I eat salmon at least 4 times a week. It can be found in a lot more-- such as, 100% Cacao powder—which I also eat about twice a week.
The Tape
So, here’s how this tape-on-the-back test works. I gathered tiny pieces of everything I eat in a week and put them in separate plastic bags.  I’m a creature of habit and eat the same things over and over, so this was a fairly easy process. I took about 200 samples in the day before so nurses could prepare each piece and place it onto tiny slides. On Tuesday, they attached all of the food to my back. So, behind that tape is all of the food.  I have to hang like this for three days. On Thursday, the doc takes off the tape and measures the red spots and hives produced so far. Then they attach all of it again and I wait another 24 hours. They after the third day they measure again.  Hopefully we will find some answers.
Blood Test
I also got blood tests. These will help determine allergens that may be irritating my bowels. By the way, you may remember in my blog post a few days ago—I had a colonoscopy because of the diarrhea. It showed an enormous number of Eosinophils attacking a food in my gut. In other words, my gut doesn’t like something so these white blood cells are gathering to fight it. That’s how I ended up at the Allergist.
No Moisture
Meanwhile, I cannot get my back wet. No baths, showers or (gasp!) work outs.  But hey, at least during the Coronavirus outbreak right now, not working out is not much of a problem for me. Sure, I have a hastily created, make-shift place to sweat in my garage but it’s not THE gym, you know?
If you know someone with food allergies or stomach problems—I hope you’ll share this blog with them. Together we might be able to help others.
And stay home!
We will get through this Coronavirus outbreak! Protect our loved ones by staying home.
 
Make it a great day!

​
​Winter in Arizona
Went from wearing a winter coat and gloves to a long-sleeved t-shirt & shorts. That’s Arizona weather—at least that hasn’t changed.
So, it’s Friday when I opt to leave the house.
First, a walk in the ‘hood with the girls, Millie & Roxy.
Then, stores, gas station and parent’s house.
On the seat next to me, I bring along a trusty passenger--a box of rubber gloves. 

Wow!
​The experience is challenging, even a bit frightening.
I arrive at Walmart—a 24-hour location—I’m bummed—a huge line. It’s only 6:30 AM. The line stretches the entire length of the front of the store—equal to a huge city-block.
I’m perplexed, curious. I can’t figure out why we’re all standing there.
Crowd control inside the store?  Senior-time only? Then I see a hastily scribbled sign: “Temp. hours: 7-7”.
Shortened hours, I guess, due to less merchandise and to allow for stocking.
So, I wait in the freezing temperatures, happy I bundled up and put on my winter coat.
I have no other choice but to wait. You see, Mom needs (gasp!) toilet paper. 
Thirty minutes later, the doors open and ahhh, I’m inside. Yay!
Workers are pointing to yet another line:
“Get in this line if you want to buy toilet paper.” It reaches out the door and to the back of the store. But just as soon I scurry over there, another announcement: “The toilet paper is now sold out!”.
I buy what I can, check myself out and head to Sprouts where I’m not sure what to expect. No line but most of the customers here are wearing masks, gloves, keeping their distance and even avoiding eye-contact.
I smile at people. Knowing that if I get one back, I will feel a better, a little more at ease. I do get a few. 

Easy Breezy
Then Costco for gas. This is a breeze.
But the store itself which opens in two hours has lines already, hundreds and hundreds are waiting. At least five parking lot aisles are packed with people standing in line to go in the store. I snap some pics.

(Me & Roxy, Kitchen March 2020)
Go on! Take it!  
Accept this “free” time to become better at everything. We have just been handed bonus hours.
For the first time in the history of the world we have more minutes to work on ourselves.
This is incredible, unprecedented. So, I vow to utilize every single second and treat it like the precious gift it truly is.
Here are ten things on my self-improvement list.
1/Learn to Ommmm- Mediation tops the list! I’ve been full of anxiety.
One obvious sign for me—my hair is falling out--again.
I need to stem this and toot sweet!  
This has happened in the past. I lost about half my hair in 2016.
​I just now—through various treatments, including PRP from Dr. Semone Rochlin have filled in all of the bald spots. So, for the sake of my hair, I need to relax. Ommmmm.

(Me & Dr. Semone Rochlin)
2/Book Nook-When I’m anxious, it’s tough for me to concentrate. But hey, hopefully the meditation will help me with that!
3/New Lingo- I should learn a new language once and for all. Here’s why: You know those long medical forms we fill out, with those redundant, annoying questions?  You know the one where it says “preferred language”?  I can be a bit of a smart ass so, ever since I was 16, I’ve been writing “Italian”. In part for kicks and also to see if anyone’s really reading it. And no— not once—not one time has anyone ever asked “Come ti senti oggi?” (How are you feeling today?).
4/Homie Gym- I need to set up a work-out routine that I can and will do until life in the outside world is safe again. I work-out best with structure, so this will be challenging. I will be sharing what I do—so stay tuned!
5/Investigating Recipes-Today I head to the allergist to determine which foods I’m allergic to. I cannot wait. Something has been giving me severe diarrhea and it’s taking its toll. So, I’m eager to find healthy, whole food recipes-- minus the problematic ingredient.
6/Blog Monetization- I want to (I will!) learn how to make money as I create fun, content on diet, exercise and positive, healthy living.  Tips anyone? Please share! 

 ​

​7/Fur Lovin’- Millie and Roxy know something’s wrong, something’s off.
They’ve been acting differently-sleeping and eating a lot less. Sleeping in different places and other oddities.
So, they feel my nervousness and vice versa. Therefore, I will pay more attention to them--give them more playtime, cuddles, brushing and lots of walks!

Gym Clothes, Gym Closed
This is what I wore to the gym today but alas no one saw it! Darn!
No but seriously, I knew it was coming.  I’ve been checking the gym Web site every day.
This morning, I put on my work out clothes, had my coffee, checked the site (Open! Yay!) then left for my Tuesday work out which always includes: my five-mile run, shoulders, triceps & Yoga.
But (tears) when I saw the empty parking lot, I knew. The sign on the door stated they’d closed last night at 8. What the heck? And they didn’t call me!?
Okay.  Now, the real work begins. This is when I really need to rely on my creativity, discipline and motivation to stay in good health.
Lynda at Home
1/Walks-I’ll walk my dogs every day, sometimes twice a day. I have a really good 2-mile route with steep hills.
2/Stairs-I will run up and down my stairs. I have 17 steps in my house and this is a great place to burn calories
3/Squats & More-I’ll do more body-weight exercises like squats, lunges, burpees and more
4/Equipment-I have some gym equipment and will utilize it as often as possible
5/Yoga-I’ll grab my mat and do Yoga at home. By the way, click here for my favorite Yoga mat I’ve had dozens before I found this one and I love it. I never slip and it lasts more than a year and that’s great—since I do Yoga six days a week.
6/Abs-Now is a great time for me to do abs whenever I’m watching TV.
7/Stretching-I’ll stay limber by stretching my hamstrings and quads
8/Cleaning-I’ll clean. More dusting, sweeping
9/De-clutter-I’ll finally get my closet in order—something I’ve been working on for um..a couple of years.
10/Read-I’ll hit the books--More self-help books, more fiction.
11/Investigative cooking-I’ll be searching for more recipes as I try to find dishes that won’t aggravate my stomach condition.
“Plans”
Notice, I call these “plans”. I’ve never really been in to working out at home so I pray I can suck it up, so that later I won’t have to suck it “in”!
Join in the conversation
How will you stay busy at home? Share below. If you have a question on what you need to do to stay fit, please contact me. I look forward to hearing from you.
Allergist
Meanwhile, tomorrow I have an appointment with the allergist to find out what food I’m allergic to.
It’s possible (sob!!) eggs are the culprit. Darn it. This will be tough—as egg dishes are my go-to food for healthy meals.
But just like the CoronaVirus, I will get through this.  Listen we are in this together. Let’s reach out to each other in anyway possible to stay fit and healthy.
I’m here. If you have any questions about diet, fitness or anything else—comment below. I really want to hear how you’re doing.
 
Lynda’s Day
In the meantime, I’ll be sharing exact details on what I’m doing to stay lean and fit in this difficult time. Find that mostly in “Lynda’s Day”. Click on Lynda’s Day. It’s membership only but it’s just $9.97 per YEAR.
Thank you for your support whether it’s simply reading this post, commenting or even joining Lynda’s Day-I’m grateful you’re here.
 
Make it a great—and safe—Day!
 

There’s no place like home
Today, with all this uncertainty due to the Corona Virus, this is exactly where I want to be.  I'm grateful to find comfort in the simple things--that comforting cup of coffee in my hand, a good breakfast, watching an old 1940s movie on TCB, my girls—Millie & Roxy—nearby and my husband, Kevin taking my picture (ha!!)
No but seriously, I love and cherish my happy place.  When I was a kid, I didn’t exactly have one.

James Rd. Elementary
4th Grade 
Columbus, Ohio
When I was younger, home for me was not a comforting place.  Instead, it was stressful, scary and secluded.
I fended for myself much of the time.
Mom and dad were divorced. Mom worked and my two older brothers weren’t exactly nurturing. On the contrary, they were bullies and I was the focus of their ire. Mike and Steve had tempers and I would be the convenient punching bag—especially verbally.
I walked on egg shells and was always on guard in my own home. You see, nothing I did was never good enough.  When I opted to be brave and do something constructive—say make macaroni & cheese, dust or unload the dishwasher my brothers were always there to criticize. I didn’t add enough cheese. I didn’t put the forks back in the drawer correctly. I missed a spot. “How could anyone be so stupid?” Steve would ask. They always told me I was an idiot, I was ugly.  
I believed them.
The result was often a sick feeling in the pit of my stomach, anxiety, I guess it was.
So, I’d hide in my room with the door locked until mom got home every night at 5:30.
I don’t blame mom. She had to work and I loved her—and still do—very much.
Today, the bully is the Corona Virus and with the situation seemingly turning dire every hour, that sick feeling is back.
But compared to my childhood and compared to many people during this time of uncertainty, I’m doing quite well. And in order to get through this tough time I will keep praying for others around the world, friends & family while reminding myself to count my many blessings.

​I’m Happy, Grateful
1/I’m healthy and so are my friends and loved ones
2/I have a roof over my head
3/I can make a cup of coffee without any judgement from anyone in my home
4/I can create a meal without anyone telling me I’m doing it wrong
5/I can work out
6/I can sit at my computer and think & write
7/I can watch TV
8/I can read books
9/I can curl up with Millie & Roxy and take a nap secure in knowing I won’t make anyone angry
10/And I thank God, that today, I'm no longer forced to go to my room and lock the door

eote to Mom
Mommy if you’re reading this. This was not your fault. You were a hard-working woman who did the best job possible—giving us a home and hot meals. I would not change a thing—after all—look at my now, mommy-- I turned out just fine. I loved you then and I love you even more today!
 
How are you counting your blessings in these tough times? Share below.

Prognosis: Negative!
So, I had a colonoscopy the other day. Good news and a little bad, too. No cancer or polyps.
But there is something present in my gut: Eosinophils.
Those are white blood cells and they are holding “fight nights” in my gut.
Turns out I’m allergic to something I’m eating. Those Eosinophils immediately get to work and start attacking what my body sees as the enemy.
Symptoms
My symptoms have been annoying. For the past few months, I’ve had gas & bloating, stomach pain and severe diarrhea.
I’ve been sore and uncomfortable. So much so that working out is a real struggle.  My running these days is sloppy and slow at best and core workouts are few and far between. When you feel like the Pillsbury Dough Boy, it’s tough to work those abs!
So, my gastroenterologist has set me up with an allergist. The next step—allergy tests to find out what exactly is causing the issues.
Feeling Blessed
I’m grateful this is nothing extremely serious but you know what? I am frustrated since I already have a fairly strict—as it is—lots of veggies, fruits, rarely anything processed foods.
Though there are those times my willpower goes out the door. In my weaker moments it’s not pretty---I’ll grab a bowl and pour those highly addictive Peanut M&Ms in it—making sure to get more of the red and green, than blue! Yes, still a kid at heart.
Reasons for Colonoscopy
Colonoscopies are done—primarily to rule out colon cancer and/or to have polyps removed but these days the biopsies and other advances made in the procedure are helping people like me tremendously.
For instance, in the past doctors might have misdiagnosed me as having colitis or a gluten issue. But my doc was able to narrow it down to the white blood cells gearing up for battle. Isn’t that cool?

Choose This One!
And a solid tip for you---the worst part about the colonoscopy is the prep. The day before, we fast AND take a prescribed drink mix that cleans us out. I had no idea there were dozens of different “preps” prescribed. But the one I had--Suprep ---was, by far, the “tastiest” and simplest to drink.  And I do have some experience. This was my 7th colonoscopy.
So, don’t be afraid to have one. This procedure could save your life. Please share this post if you know someone experiencing tummy issues!
 
BTW: I have some suspects---nuts (no!), dairy (darn!) or eggs (egad!).
Make it a Great Day!