Lean Green Kale and Broccoli Salad

1 cup broccoli

1 cup kale

1/4 cup onion

1/3 cup celery

1/4 cup cucumber

1/3 cup dried cranberries

1/4 cup sunflower seeds

1/4 cup slivered almonds

 

Shredded coconut

Olive Oil and vinegar dressing

 

Use as many organic ingredients as possible...makes the dish healthier.  Cut up broccoli, kale, onion, celery and cucumber (leave skin on).  Mix ingredients together, add enough dressing to moisten, but don't drown the vegetables. :-)  Sprinkle organic coconut on top.  Serve with organic wheat crackers or organic multi-grain bread.  This can be eaten right away, but you can also allow the flavors to mix in the frig for a couple hours.  Enjoy!

 

 



Getting Fit Later In Life

There are immense benefits to being in shape at any age.  I love it when I see people later in life...50's and 60's jumping on the fitness bandwagon and getting in shape....perhaps some of that is because I'm a late bloomer myself in that category...but I think more so because it's a greater challenge when you're older.  In retrospect, I can say most of us can 'get away with a lot' in our 20's and 30's.  It's as we grow older that the consequences of poor choices catch up and cause problems.  I especially like to see women get involved with weight lifting, as this is a male dominated field.

Not everyone has the same goals.  I don't expect everybody to want to be lean and muscular, but I do admit, I would like to see everyone at a healthy weight.  I really don't believe overweight people want to be in that condition, and I fully understand how it happens, I've been there myself, and my heart aches for them.  I laid down personal training for awhile...but the care and passion I have for healthy living and including weights into a permanent lifestyle change brought me back into it. Falling off the wagon taught me a big lesson, and I am here to pass along what I learned to encourage you that you can be in better shape in your 50's than you were in your 20's!

Yes, it takes discipline, commitment and effort to get and stay in shape, as maintaining can be a challenge as well.  Too many people fall for the 'get quick results', not realizing that the best lean muscles comes from months and years of devotion...do it right, but more importantly, do it healthy.  There are too many 'supplements' out there that should not be on the market...it is truly 'buyer beware'.  Finding out after the fact isn't the time to find out something isn't safe.

Transforming your body takes time.  Allow that to build at a proper pace.  Don't be extreme....be consistent.  There is a difference between 'pushing it' to challenge yourself and doing something that might hurt you and set you back.  Don't give up....it will come.  Stick with it even if you aren't seeing results....consistency will win out. At times I feel like I'm doing so much and seeing so little or nothing....then all of a sudden I notice something....that's always a nice little 'pick me up', and a super motivator to keep the momentum going.

I cannot say this enough....don't compromise! Stick to your guns and know you will most likely have more against you than with you, especially if you are a woman.  It is sad that in 21st Century America, that these kinds of attitudes are still out there, but don't let the naysayers have control.  Keep on keepin' on!  You will be the winner is this race, this journey called living.  I can look back over the past three decades and certainly say hindsight is 20/20 and age/experience the best teacher.  Yes, I wish I'd taken all this more seriously back then....but I can't change that.  I live in the here and now...and I have to move forward to be successful.  I am here to encourage anybody who would like to make a change for the better.  Don't let anyone tell you it can't be done or that you can't do it because it's too late, or you're too old! Nonsense! You can do it....just DO IT!!