(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!

(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!