Cautionary Tale?

Ok, maybe I am being dramatic with this title but I learned an important lesson this week that has inspired me to blog. As many of you know, I went to Italy and enjoyed every moment of the great food and now it is time to get back to clean eating… wa-wa-wa. So, I have tightened the ship now that I am home and eating high nutrient, whole food with moderate caloric intake. Basically I am consuming a lot of salads, vegetables, beans, nuts and seeds. Also, I have adjusted my workouts to the demographic of post menopausal goddess which translates to lifting heavy weights, HIIT, sprints and jumping. All my favorite things … NOT .. well actually liking it better, kind of grows on you like that annoying cousin. Now that you have the backdrop of the story, I will get to the point. Along with my eating, I have equipped myself with technology to measure my progress in my health journey. I am a data girl subscribing to the concept of information is power. However, in this case which I am finding out the hard way, that measuring everything is not always the best choice.

I have been wearing the Oura ring for many years based on my good friend’s Laura recommendation. I have loved seeing trends with my sleep, vitals, readiness and other health measurements. I also subscribed to the functional health app. which democratizes proactive monitoring and interpreting a panel of 100 blood tests. And now just to have one more data point, I decided to wear a glucose monitor to see how my body reacts to food, stress etc.. In other words, I have tried to automate myself thinking this would help me on my wellness journey.

This all sounds like a smart plan until the finding of my gadgets begin to contradict one another . It started after I had the proactive blood work and for the most part the results were great. However, it showed that my cholesterol was high and thyroid was a bit off. This was confusing because I had these tests a few months ago with my doctors and all was well. So with this new information, I rushed back to my physician who reviewed the reports from the functional health app and declared they made no sense. She retested me in the office to ensure there were no issues. And guess what my thyroid was fine and aligned with more former results a few months ago from my annual check. In addition, I received a kind but firm lecture from her with the general message, “measuring for no reason causes more issues than it helps at times.” She was right.. but yet I continued…

As mentioned previously, I bought a glucose monitor that integrates with the Oura ring. I have to admit I got sucked in to whole longevity marketing vibe and late night scrolling on social media. Anyways, I wore the first monitor for 15 days while eating my healthy protocol and everything was normal – my sugar was steady range. I decided about a month later to wear the second monitor to make sure I used my full investment and everything started out the same with no big surprises. However, about 11 days into the second round, my glucose shot way up and I could not bring it down. It said my body was stressed yet, I felt absolutely great. I tried not to panic and took advice from Chat GPT to bring it down such as deep breathing, drink water, and brisk walk around the block to no avail. Then, my mind took over – like OMG, I am sick and I do not even feel it. I started to rationalize this crisis away, maybe it is a fluke or I ate too many berries but I could not get the glucose down for 2 days no mater what I did. I was eating low glycemic food and found it hard to believe that flaxseed was throwing me into diabetic shock. It was totally weird and freaked me out. Should I go to urgent care ? I was having a major malfunction and honestly losing my minds bit. I asked a few friends in the medical profession and no one seemed too worried and thought maybe I was burning glycogen – and it could mean that I am healthy. Ok that made me relax a little. Things seemed to somewhat stabilize trying to maintain low stress, drink water, exercise after eating and watch my food. It was a little better but still high. Then I was complaining to another friend who suggested that the monitor maybe failing/defective as it gets close to expiration. Her son has diabetes and this happens frequently. When I checked the monitor’s age, I received a message that it was expiring in 24 hours. So I think it was glitching out and maybe I was not having a significant medical incident. When I calmed down and reflected, can you believe I actually considered buying another monitor to double – triple check… but I did not because that is super crazy- right? This is an honest moment, please do not judge – ha-ha.

Moral of the story – don’t obsess by measuring the inner workings of your body just trust your inner senses. These tools that were supposed to help, actually made me a bit insane. I think it is important to get in tune with your body, health and not rely on technology to dictate your journey. I need to pull back on hourly measuring to once a week or month and focus to trending in the right direction. I added so much stress, cost and activities that were counter productive to wellness with technology. So I guess this was a cautionary tale of stupidity…. To be healthy you need to relax, be patient, stay the course and really take the time to get in touch with how you are feeling. Embarrassing but true… Sometimes the old fashion way is the best way !! Oh … and happy and healthy Thanksgiving to all!

The Balancing Act

As I am still on the post high from my trip to Tuscany and coming back to reality, I have been exploring the concept of “balance.” And here is a news flash – it is hard and I am not doing the greatest job. I set out to improve my health, wellness, sense of adventure, prosperity and I have realized that juggling all these balls, a few are dropping. Good news though… it’s been a productive year full of new experiences, better eating, changing my fitness routine, interesting work, spirituality and then incredible amount of time sitting on my ass and watch YouTube (guilty pleasure). If anyone would take a peek at my playlist – I would be mortified. As my content includes tarot card readers, mediums, fashion, health and travel tips. I have very eclectic interests and revealing my You Tube history seems very vulnerable and exposing my dark side – haha.

Speaking about my health front, it has been moving forward as I continue to follow the nutritarian lifestyle – nutritionally dense eating with moderate calories. The focus revolves around (GBOMBS) greens, beans, onions, mushrooms, berries and seeds/nuts. It has been tough trying to toe the line and socialize which I am working on at the moment. I intentionally made an agreement with myself that I would enjoy the food of Italy and I do not regret it. Well I do a little as I finally got on the scale and my freedom (as well as a few previous months) showed weight moving to the north direction. I am on track now but definitely paying for some of my sins.

On an interesting note, I took a functional health test (online 100 blood panel with clinical note analysis – which is really interesting). Most of my blood work was in range with the exception of the thyroid, heart and autoimmune needing some help still. Although. I was very happy to see that my biological age came in at “46 years old” (which is exactly my age – just kidding). I did have some stuff that surprised me that I must work on. It is always something… and I did get a small scolding from my endocrinologist who rechecked my thyroid and it was totally fine. She suggested testing for no reason may cause more problems than it solves – and I think she is correct. However, that did not stop me from buying a glucose monitor to measure my body’s response to various foods. So ….. guess what raised my glucose scores and it was not food???? It was the multiple calls with customer service from Sears Home Repairs – stress rates went nuts – public service announcement – do not use them as it will raise your insulin level – yikes.

Back to exercise, I grew up in the era prioritizing cardio, going hard, burning calories and of course, it is all wrong for us post menopause women. Doesn’t that figure, now I am trying to lift heavy weights, sprint and high intensity training which are all the areas I cannot stand (well I am now starting to secretly enjoy). On top of doing the right thing, you second guess the experts and try to exercise the old way and incorporate the new direction which turns into a sabotage mentality. So if I follow modern protocol, I feel guilty not putting in the cardio hours and when I do the traditional workout I feel bad that I am not doing the optimal workout for myself. I have noticed that I am stronger and my endurance is better. I have been jumping a lot too and enjoy a good rope spurt well to try to strengthen the bones. I am getting overwhelmed even writing about all this stuff. Oy….

Then comes spirituality and trying to improve my practice which involves discipline around getting quiet, meditating and tapping into my inner being. We have been studying our shadow. In common speak, getting in tune with those things that trigger or annoy you. I am a girl that likes light and love – I DON’T WANT TO WORK ON THE SHADOW – but I must. Therefore, lots of nightmares and sitting with it. I actually feel a little forward movement although there have been a few sleepless nights of strange and wacked-out dreams. I guess it is the price you pay to ascend spirituality.

As we head into the last quarter of 2025 (can you believe it) , I feel that I have knocked off a lot this year and am proud of myself. Maybe not totally proud – I mean I ate myself through Tuscany, Rome and a few incidents in Michigan. In defense of me, I had to go for it ( the best food and hot chocolate). Even if my pants are a slight bit snugger (it’s going to be an oversized clothes situation for a good month). I guess it is time to hunker down and put my focus on healthy living and you know what – I am looking forward to doing it. I actually did miss a big green salad, beans and all my usual menu items. That is progress right?

Italy – My Love

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For over twenty years, I wanted to go to Italy. I always tried to finagle myself through a business meeting or something, but it never materialized. So, part of my vision for 2025 was to travel and be more expansive and guess what… I WENT TO ITALY AND IT WAS FABULOUS. With all that being said, there is an additional pride as I was able to achieve a major “to do” item on my bucket list and I made it happen. Go Me!

The story started January 1st when I received an email about a retreat in Tuscany. Before I could even think about it, I was called by my friend Kris asking me if I wanted to go and the answer was an immediate “yes.” Thus, after much preparation and ensuring that I could travel lite with one carry-on suitcase, I set out on my journey….

We decided to take Turkish Air via Istanbul to Rome. Not the most logical path, but we were able to get a great price and fly business class (btw a great airline). We landed in Rome, took the train to Florence and then a car to a villa in Tuscany. Sounds horrible huh – (NOT)? We were about to embark on a spiritual retreat with 18‘ish other women. Kris and I were assigned to the back wing of the villa where we found our rooms named Musetta (Kris)and mine was Giorgetta. We took on their persona the entire trip to really integrate into our temporary Tuscan culture. The grounds were beautiful, and we looked forward to a weeklong experience including our own private chef. I decided I needed to drop my eating restrictions and just enjoy the food of Italy. And that is an understatement as I ate literally everything, I could get my hands on. Not a proud moment but the idea of not trying the pasta and other local favorites seemed to me would have been a bad choice. I now am paying the piper, but I think it was worth it. I decided to wear baggy clothes and hunker back down when I came home. Denial and avoidance can be a strong tool – ha-ha.

As one would expect, we had an interesting cast of characters that attended this spiritual retreat. Having been immersed in the spiritual world, I knew a few people and was super comfortable exploring my inner self and of course, Italy. There were also a bunch of first timers such as a group of women who had been friends since they were kids, I fondly called them the triplets. There were a few ladies that had trauma in their life and needed some of the sessions to gain clarity. There was even one person who did not realize it was a spiritual retreat – which cracked me up. Let’s just say, we all had our reasons for attending but mine was just to be in the flow of Tuscany.

Every morning started with a meditation overlooking the most beautiful scenery and breeze. It became a suspended moment and I really felt present without a care in the world. Very few times in my life – have I reached the state of total peace – just happy to be where I was. There were sessions where we learned more about spirituality and tapping into source. We also worked on our inner child (mine was fine – for once I felt I was in good shape), and we did many drum circles which verified that I have no sense of rhythm and had a poor memory to remember a very basic song that only had four lines. Maybe it was the jet lag, who knows. We also had a cooking lesson with the chef, and he basically read the audience well. Most of us were given menial tasks like quarter tomatoes or cut the ends off the green beans. This chef really got me and I appreciated him taking on the heavy load …. We had a few more ambitious students who ended up carrying us by making the pasta, slicing the chicken and whatever else was served. The meal was excellent as we dined outside. I knew I was a slacker when it came to preparing the meal, and I ate with complete satisfaction. I owned my laziness.

We also had fun excursions touring Pisa (so excited to tell everyone – Risa went to Pisa). I know I am channeling Bernie’s humor (my dad). What amazed me the most about Pisa was that the Leaning Tower is next to a cathedral. I was always under the impression it stood alone. Can you imagine if you had to live next to a building that throws off all the symmetry – the wonder of the world is how they co-existed without a major fist fight. If that was my neighbor, I would take a sledgehammer to the tower – anyways I digress. We also visited a cute smaller town called Lucca which was charming with unique shops, amazing gelato, and this chickpea bread/polenta that was to die for and I am still thinking about it now.

Then there was Florence which was magnificent. The history, architecture and statues took my breath away. We had the best tour guide who showed true Italian passion when explaining the essence of Florence. She brought us to tears as she described the creation of the statue, David as if she was channeling Michelangelo. It was a site to see (I mean why was everyone naked – it seemed like a real party back then). The one embarrassing admittance of mine is that I had no idea that David was part of the duo David and Goliath – sort of put everything into perspective for me. Although if David asked me, I would have suggested he put on a loin cloth before he taking on that giant. I am a safety girl, and we need to protect our bits. 🙂

I think my favorite destination was Cinque Terre, a string of five ancient fishing villages known as the Italian Riviera – need I say more? We drove up the mountains (another theme of the trip was severe car sickness – not me but someone always was on the verge of puking). We went out on boats into the glistening blue water, listening to ABBA, Village People and other unexpected music – which did enhance the vibe. Many of the ladies dove into the water, someone in their underwear (you know who you were) and two of the guides in very skimpy briefs. I sat on the boat and enjoyed from afar. The thought of trying to dry off and go to dinner in wet clothes did not appeal to me. All in all, it was so much fun, and I loved every minute. Did I mention too there were a lot of sexy unfulfilled wishes with Italian men going on too. I enjoyed being an observer of all the antics of these middle-aged women.

After the retreat was over, Kris and I went back to Rome to tour around and see some of the sites. Everything just flowed and we had a great time just having few expectations. Having this laid-back approach, allowed us to have many great interactions with people during our travels. We met a CEO who invented some very cool innovations to help people with heart problems and rheumatoid arthritis. We also had a great conversation with two feisty and modern best friends from Qatar. I was not sure what intrigued me more – their independent spirit or their 3 large a piece luggage choice for only a week in Italy. Their suitcases were huge as they rolled around on the train. To be young and wanting every clothing option possible. As Kris and I looked at each other wearing the same basic outfits in a different configuration. My sleep shorts were ready to walk away from me on that trip (but I did pack efficiently – which meant repeat wearing of things)

Rome was fantastic as we shopped, saw sites and discovered the most amazing hot chocolate ever (which deserved a second cup the following day). The food was fresh and delicious and walking the streets were completely satisfying. We laughed and were open to possibilities. The weather was great, and the company was better. I could not have imagined a more perfect vacation. When we flew back to Istanbul, we had a layover, so Kris came up with a great idea for us to visit the airport spa. I enjoyed the best massage I ever had for two hours (called the head to toe). Although there were a few places rubbed that I was not used to – I just went with it. We were then off on our 11-hour flight back (we figured we went 6 hours out of the way), but I did not care as I reflected on my love – Italy.

Now being back at home and thinking about the trip, I am so content, a little jet lagged and feeling completely fulfilled. I have been to many beautiful places in my life and am super grateful. But Italy is my special place holding a meaningful space in my heart. I do not know if it was the vibe, food or the people that affected me or the fact that I was able to fulfill a lifelong dream? I think it may be the most important factor is that I ended up visiting Italy when I was completely ready and present to take in all the beauty and splendor in my soul. Magnifico!!

Putting my armor on and then my bathing suit

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(Disclaimer – I am complaining and questioning the meaning of life and is only the beginning of this post then we move into sunshine, puppies, and flowers.)

In recent months, I am finding life to be more confusing than ever. The more I know, the less I have confidence that I know. This has really messed up my psyche. I suppose I never really cared much about politics, it just did not resonate with my daily life and quite honestly all the fear that each party’s side brought to the table never really materialized. However, it is impossible not to notice the blatant hatred towards one another. There are many people who possess one hardline issue and that is it. They fail to see the complexity of maneuvering broader polarizing forces that are at odds with one another on multiple matters.

When I have an honest conversation with my daughter, she and her friends question why we would bring children into this world and the general lack of hope for our future. This is really sad and as a parent, it is hard to come up with compelling reasons to challenge her thoughts. I do believe we all have more in common than we think, however, we are blinded by proving each other wrong and promoting behaviors that do not honor the most basic codes of humanity. Some of these shared values are love, truthfulness, fairness, freedom, unity, tolerance, responsibility and respect for life and I know we can all get around these priorities. As a child, when I learned about the Holocaust, I could never understand how neighbors and the population turned on one another, shipped the un-want-ables (Jews, Disabled, Minorities) off to concentration camps. People stripped of their possessions, dignity, rights based on jealousy and hatred and then left to suffer and be slaughtered. I now realize that the German population was probably afraid to speak up and they went along with what happened maybe not knowing all the details. Today I sit in the United States and I am scared to voice my doubts and concerns for the first time in my life. Our country is literally setting up concentration camps and making a joke of how those escape will be eaten by alligators. We are doing things I would never guess in a million years that I would see in the United States of America. We are seeing overt hatred for everyone – it does not matter if you are Jewish, Black, Woman, Hispanic, Gay, Trans, Democrat, Maga, Liberal, Republicans, Rich or Poor. We are damaging our alliances with the rest of the world, we are dismantling the core foundation of democracy in the US by challenging the systems that were developed for balance and semblance. Maybe I am an idealist, maybe I am being dramatic (don’t think so), I want to be proud and stand side by side with my friends, neighbors, community, country, the world and try to make it better for everyone. I want our children to be full of promise and optimism, not doubting the future. I want them to feel they can make a meaningful difference in a better environment that is based on shared values that I know we all possess. I think it is time for our generation to step out the way we are not acting like the role models our children deserve. We can do better and motivate our future.

Moving to the happy portion and wellness

Sorry for the deep rant, but I needed to get that off my chest, all of that supports the importance of being true to your center. As part of my reset, I went to visit my dear friend Laura for the long 4^th of July weekend. It had been a few years since we had seen each other and it was nice to do very little together. Basically, the schedule was wake up ( I took advantage of the softest most comfy bed), eating a leisurely healthy breakfast of fruit and oats, some general kibitzing and then off to the pool. The weather was perfect as I was able to disconnect and had no thoughts on my mind (not even that stuff from the top of this blog😊). I floated in heaven, in a trans-like state listening to jazz and just thinking – I could get very used to this lifestyle. We would then decide after hours (who even knows how long as time did not exist for me), that maybe we should think about dinner. Laura and Frank (her fabulous husband) are vegans (lifelong for Laura) and have really perfected the art of yummy meals. I shared with her that I started this great garden that was next level for me. She then took me to hers, which looked like a farm to table garden with the most beautiful greenery I ever saw. I felt embarrassed how I went on about mine after seeing this one – a scene from Martha Stewart’s home. Her dill – was the most gorgeous dill I ever saw. Mine looks like a small dried out tree with little growth ☹. Anyhow, she would run out to the garden, cut some that provided that extra oomph to the flavor of our meals. Not only was this experience relaxing for the body, but it was also restorative for my brain and heart. Having a friend that is like a soul sister that is just on the same page, impressive, smart, ambitious and kind is just the best Zen moment. It helped me to recalibrate and head back to life in Michigan. Also, a nice shout out to Frank, who was so hospitable and took me in his bad ass Mercedes convertible down the hilly side roads of Pennsylvania into the Amish community. We went to farm stands and bought the most delicious vegetables for his special green bean soup which was a family tradition handed down from his mom growing up in Yugoslavia. We ended the long weekend, with my signature chakra cleaning for both of them (the least I could do). Hopefully this was the jolt of energy they needed to carry on without me for the rest of the week – haha.

As I was flying back home, I felt so grateful that I have established lifelong friendships with some very interesting people. They raise my spirit, ease my mind and help me truly get back to what matters most. Nothing is more fulfilling when you are on the same frequency as someone else and it is a synchronicity that motivates you and makes you glad to be alive. It was just the medicine this girl needed to get back into the grind we call life.

Thanks to Laura and Frank for being so warm and running the best resort/spa, a girl could ask for (and the price was right too😊). Peace and love everyone, and I truly mean that – we have one chance in this lifetime to do right – lets do it!

Birthday Nuggets of Wisdom

Last week I turned the big “59” and had exciting plans to shovel mulch and redo my garden beds. I woke up on a misty winter morning (seriously the coldest birthday I can remember), I was ready to receive a big dump of mulch and dirt from a bulk distributor. I thought performing physical labor in mother nature was just what the doctor ordered. I planned on working hard and being happy knowing I accomplished my landscaping project by the end of the day. Unfortunately, as I anxiously awaited my delivery, the company called and said they were postponing the order due to the weather. It made sense of course and therefore left me with no birthday plans requiring me to pivot. I ended up having a nice day feeling the love from friends and family and decided to just chill, workout, THINK and be grateful for all the blessings in my life. However, I did have to exert some extra energy to actually shower and change from ratty garden clothes to something more appropriate for a non-mulch day.

59 is a big number (I guess not as major as “60”, but kind of up there). I think everyone feels like their inside maturity is a good 30 years younger but when I look in the mirror, there is definitely an older face looking back at me. No amount of creams, hair products, or make-up, really can minimize that I am “like” a senior person physically. Then there is the contrast of my inside self that still cracks up over silly things like weird bodily noises, embarrassing antics and social faux pas of mine that happen on a daily basis. No matter how old I get, I will always be an awkward nerdy teenager who is never cool enough or care to be (I think just using the word cool shows how uncool I am😊). On any given day, I come home from running errands, etc. to see that I have food on my face, something in my teeth, there are times I even put my pants on backwards (been called out a few times – Adidas leggings do it to me all the time.) In my defense they have a tag inside the front of the pant which throws me off and then the logo is on my ass. I mean this is old people stuff that I used to roll my eyes at when I was young.

Ok, time to get to the point, with all those goofy things, there are a few areas that I am super proud of. I am glad that I have not lost my curiosity to improve myself and learn new topics that expand my horizon. I have really been exploring in no particular order, AI and blending it into my work (staying current), nutrition, health and fitness, spirituality and healing, mindless you tube content like fashion, amazon dupes, home/design shows, pet psychic and tarot card reading. It is eclectic assortment of viewing and also very interesting. So it has occurred to me for the first time that I have reached the point that I know you can never know enough, but I have wisdom of life and work. I have been through some major experiences and I have a point of view that has been acquired within my 59 years. I have become quite aware that we need to stop and take stock of our life. Pat yourself on the back for your wins, loses, heartache and laughter. With each day you keep moving forward and look back with generally appreciative thoughts about the good and bad times of the past. So you ask, what do I know with all the wisdom I have acquired, here is a rather long list of what I know for sure (I did start out describing it as brief and it is not😊):

Laugh everyday … even when you do not feel like it – find something there are endless opportunities.
Spend as much time out in nature – really tune into the harmony of the world – trees, birds, sky, grass, small animals (RUN… if you see anything large and scary).
Love your kids (and other people’s too) and mean it. Acknowledge their contributions to this world, good decisions, learning moments and their mere existence.
Trust your gut feelings – and take quiet time to reflect – many answers are shared with you when you are still. If something feels “yucky” it is and remove yourself from the situation.
Treat your body like a temple, eat quality real food (not processed) – it is like fueling your car. Need the right nutrients to be self-optimized.
Align yourself with people who raise the vibration – cut the negativity out of your life.
Focus on sleep – it has gotten a hell of a lot harder as we age and it is mandatory – it cleans your brain and builds wellness.
Be kind and good – take the extra effort to do something nice for someone without recognition.
Do not overconsume (still working on this one) – cheap clothing, unnecessary stuff just hurts the planet and our feng-shui.
Consider putting a low maintenance plant in your room – I am noticing air quality is better for restful sleep and Zen moments (and water “said” plant too😊).
Be generous and show people you care (still working on this one too). Put good karma out there – it comes back to you tenfold.
Try to be a role model to your kids and the next generation – break ancestral patterns handed down (try to be a better parent than the ones you had, reverse bad habits that have been passed down thru your lineage).
Challenge yourself and grow – take on a new hobby, interest – something that pushes you out of your comfort zone (still working on this too).
Love animals and treat them well – they are more than pets – they deserve time and attention – the bond is so gratifying.
Do not lose your soul and spirit to your employer. Be who you are and if you don’t fit in – go somewhere that honors you and your contributions (learned this one way too late).
Find your “people’ who accept you unconditionally and are easy to have a good relationship with. If it is hard to get a conversation going, you are being judged etc.. They are not your “ people. “
Be grateful for the small and big stuff. There is a ton of crap going on – focus on where you can make difference.
Listen to acoustic guitar (no singing) so relaxing and creates a great creative writing atmosphere.
Stay out of politics, it is an illusion and right now a no-win situation. We should honor the 10 commandments and be the best people we can – stop with all this noise that serves no one.
Magnifying mirrors will be your best friend – be sure to use it daily to catch anything that can really freak you out (us gals know what we are talking about).
Too much of anything is not a good thing. Try to grow old in a healthy way – Botox, supplements, cosmetic surgery etc.. generally look unnatural– rock what you have.
All beauty and hair products are hype – nothing really works – get the drug store stuff with the least amount of chemicals. I never received noticeable results from anything – it is a branding gimmick. Healthy eating, exercise, sleep and water is the key to youthful appearances.
Just take one day at a time, when we think out too far it just makes us anxious, and our worst fears generally do not materialize.
Love your home and make it a warm and enjoyable space for yourself and others.
Meditate, stretch, jump, lift weights and practice balance so you don’t become frail, and fall– it is amazing how fast that goes and high stats on people dying shortly after.
Do not take yourself too seriously … a sense of humor is critical. Recognize you are a small microcosm in this universe.

These are some of the lessons I learned in my vast life of 59 years that I feel compelled to share. I hope you find any of these helpful or at a minimum a fun read as they were random and the only ones, I could think of during this time crunch to get the blog out – ha-ha. I can honestly say that I am happy where I have landed and will work every year to make myself, my friends/family and the world better. As the wise Risa says … You do you!!! Peace and Love.

Women…o…pause

You can’t go anywhere these days without hearing about menopause and I vowed not to get sucked in… and guess what?… I did. It started with a casual podcast, then an audio book and I have recently been following Dr. Stacy Sims. She is an exercise physiologist and nutrition scientist who has specialized in women’s health and works with athletes (and was one as well). Now I am totally in and trying to make sense of this new world. Let’s just say I am completely overwhelmed but will not go as far as to say stressed because that would mean that I am releasing extra cortisol into my body producing belly fat. So, I have anxiety over maybe feeling anxious … oh life is getting complicated. I kind of feel sorry for us older women trying to process all this new information and hope that we did not already “shit” the bed. Oh, that is a thing too… actually it would be pee in our pants due to a weak pelvic floor. Luckily I don’t have that but knowing all this does not make me feel all that “sexy” or eager to drink jugs of water either – ha-ha.

As many of you know, I have been on a wellness journey and want to be the best version of myself. This is going to involve rethinking my exercise regime that had been strongly rooted in cardio – aerobics, step classes, leg warmers and the thought that I could go all day with high intensity and that is not at all what I should be doing – ugh, ugh, ugh… I guess it is back to the old drawing board.

The first step is to realize you have a problem (like Alcohol Anonymous), a quote I tend to use in every blog. I have been doing workouts completely wrong for about 10 years. What does not kill me makes me stronger (Kanye – he is an a-hole but I did like that song). Here is what I have learned in a nut shell, women in post menopause need to focus on three areas of working out. 1. Lift heavy-shit (that is what Stacy says) meaning wimpy 2,3, 5 pounders do nothing for us now. We need to get into it gradually but really go for serious weights and barbells such as dead-lifts, squats, overhead presses, power moves to build and maintain muscle mass. We do less repetitions but heavier to the point of exhaustion and she suggests 3 -4 times a week. It is important for us to focus on this because with the changes in estrogen in our body we lose muscle at a very quick rate which is dangerous and bad for us. The one positive note is that she suggests shorter workouts with lots of recovery and rest (I can get behind that!!!)

The second area she stresses is HIIT – High Intensity Interval Training which should also happen 1-2 times a week. This requires movements like jumping jacks, power squats, burpees and high knees. Of course, everything I can’t stand doing and side note – I am pretty bad at right now. These activities are great to build and strengthen bone density which of course we have lost as well (she notes if you have osteoporosis or osteopenia talk to your doctor). Basically, you go through a series of these exercises for 30 seconds and rest for one minute. I have been doing 45 seconds on 15 seconds off (maybe I am doing it wrong). This one is unclear to me – still working out the details. With warm up and cool down – the sessions should last about 20 -30 minutes. I have been doing a routine of 6 exercises 45 seconds on and 15 seconds off and then I rest 5 minutes and do the circuit 5 times. I am pretty exhausted by the time I am done.

The third training to happen is 1 -2 times a week of Sprint Interval Training (which can be interchanged with HIIT). This is a short burst of an all out effort (30 seconds or less) and then recovery time. I have been doing 45 seconds all out with 2 minute recovery – 10 times. In addition to the obvious benefits, (SIT) improves insulin sensitivity which helps manage blood sugar levels, increase energy and mental clarity.

The last component is recovery days with easy walking and movement that does not get your heart rate up. See, I told you it is super confusing and I am still sorting out the kinks cause the math does not add up to me. Apparently, if you work out at a level of Zone 2 – which is sort of higher than leisurely walking ( ok let’s take a moment of honesty here- this is what we all do in workout routines – we are kind of pushing ourselves but not really – I SEE YOU (including me), MY GIRLFRIENDS– WE ARE DIALING IN OUR EXERCISE EXERSION). This is not good for post menopause women as it contributes to stress on our body to release cortisol which causes new fat distribution (muffin top, pudgy arms, back fat as we try to camouflage it with tunic tops, jackets and better bras). ☹

There is also a whole eating philosophy that was too much for me to process. Generally, women are supposed to eat a lot of protein (like double what we knew to be true) and balance it around workouts and earlier in the day. I am proud to say that I maybe low on the protein (will work on that) but my other eating protocols such as having my last meal before 5:00 p.m. is spot on. As women (I think men too), we need to allow our food to digest before we go to bed and that is where the magic happens for weight loss, maintenance and better sleep. I need everyone to jump on my bandwagon of Linner (lunch/dinner earlier) and then morning movies – it is a thing!!!

I know that was a lot and now I am going to transition to my new routine and I must admit it is too early to tell if it is working for me. I did start the beginning of this year with strength training but if I am being honest, I was not pushing myself with the weights. I now am up 12 – 20 pounds depending on the exercise which is progress as I was stuck at 8 – 10 pounds. My arms, back, legs and abs are stronger and there is a bit of muscle poking out (I can sort of see it with the right light – ha-ha). The HIIT training has been a challenge as this white girl can’t jump. I bought a stopwatch and am jumping up and down in my driveway (I have been caught a few times by walkers in my neighborhood). It is generally uncomfortable but I am keeping it going because the idea I can’t get air between me and the concrete is mentally troublesome on all levels. The Sprint Interval Training has been a breeze and I can crank up the treadmill a lot faster than I thought I was capable of which inspires me to keep it going.

Well, I hope I did not bum you out as I am sure I did because learning all this stuff made me want to scream. It did answer a lot of challenges I faced about ten years ago and this information would have been helpful. I had been diagnosed with breast cancer and unfortunately had to go through chemotherapy. I had been experiencing lingering side effects like foggy brain, hot flashes, “the stink – no explanation needed”, dry mouth, itchy skin and many other yucky things. I thought it was from the treatment and all that poison in my body and now I think it was menopause. I would share this with doctors and they would give me a weird look like I was strange and said it was not usually something associated with chemotherapy. I literally thought I lost major brain cells. I am happy to report, I am probably less smart than I was in my prime but it is a relief that I was just going thru the change. I must admit, I feel better than I ever have in my life but this phase makes us women have to pause (a little play on words – why is it called menopause?). Hang in there gals – I hope this was helpful.

P.S. Disclaimer – I am not a doctor or at all qualified to give medical advice. This blog is mostly for entertainment and to whine… See your physician if you want to make changes – the world according to Risa is not always correct. 😊

Making Time for What Truly Matters

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I have been thinking about how exciting it used to be as children to go outside, find friends and play (probably not something our kids can do today – which is unfortunate). The joy to be carefree and get immediate gratification by merely just running out the door to see who was around and ready to get some fun on. Oh, those were the days and now it seems like an impossible feat to drop what we are doing at the moment, like deciding to enjoy the girlfriends instead of picking the dog up from the groomer. Mel Robbins talks about this in her book “The Let Them Theory” that adult friendships are indeed more difficult because you must have three pillars which include proximity, timing, and energy and all are essential to maintaining meaningful relationships. When we were young, it was built into our lives and made things so much easier. I miss the spontaneity and free flow that life used to offer to me. Now we see friends during a random encounter, and we throw out that vague statement, we should get together…. It rarely happens because it is a hassle to coordinate schedules, commit to a future date (and this is totally my thing – like what happens if I am not in the mood to see you in a month? It is my critical flaw – hey just being honest). It’s just not exciting and I wonder.. WHY ARE WE SO BUSY ALL THE TIME? What are we really doing? If I see you and am feeling impulsive– I just want to go now, catch up and be silly. Our lives are bogged down with work, the kids, other stuff, and we are walking around our time on earth like zombies, dulling joy and not prioritizing these key connection points that are vital (and I am equally guilty about all the stuff I just reflected on).

Have you noticed when you do finally have that coffee or meal with your dear friend, you say, why didn’t we do this sooner? We need to make this happen more! … but it never does. I recently had a group of ladies over that I really like and admire. This was an eclectic group, and I sent invites out about three weeks ahead of time. I knew if I tried to coordinate schedules, the afternoon tea would not come together. I knew that if I invited twenty or so, I would only get 60% and figured, I am going for it. It was on February 22^nd at 2:00 p.m. which represents in the spiritual world balance, harmony, and alignment. As busy ladies, we never have a chance to kick back and chill on a Saturday afternoon. I had been feeling very nostalgic and wanted to use my mother’s china dishes and teacups, kind of a nod to the women before me. We did a gentle stretch session led by my friend Vanessa (check her out at CelyFit) and then we enjoyed an afternoon tea with finger food. The day was all about making connections and having meaningful conversations. We went around the table and answered questions about inspiration and gratitude. I could see that everyone was very Zen and open – it was a great few hours of grounding and loving the female energy. Time went by fast and as expected, people trickled out to meet their daily commitments once again. And that was that… I received many notes and calls about how nice it was to just slow down and meet one another. That made me happy as I fully enjoyed each one of my friends.

I guess the point of all my rambling is … we need to be available for girlfriends and step out of routine and day to day demands. A major part of wellness and mental health is having “your people” around you. They are the ones who are unconditional, like you for all your attributes and subtle flaws. You can instantly cut through the bullshit, false premise and be real. I recently had my best friend Marla intown and we were able to have a quick dinner with our other pal Renee (my two friends who read all my blogs and keep my followers up to about 10 people – ha-ha). We were able to make plans last minute and it was like coming home (although I was home – but you get the gist). Your friends are your anchors in life. You can sit together reminisce, talk about things you would never discuss with others (and it is funny – relationships, growing old, weird physical changes in your body). Nothing is better than a deep belly laugh and that was what it was like. We were in college again, listening to the Go-Go’s, playing Trivial Pursuit and of course drinking cheap alcohol. At that time, we would wonder what the future had in store for us; never did we imagine our adult lives would overtake our time and we would have to schedule our most special moments. I need my girlfriends (and yes, a few of my guy friends too 😊) and am going to commit consciously to be more available and present because my relationships are fuel for my soul. On another note, I am initial stages of the exploration of a senior kibbutz type situation in the United States (and when I say initial I mean, I just have been thinking about it and maybe a short internet search). A concept where we can all come together in our later years to be able to recreate a thriving and connected community. If I am being candid, this may involve just the gals (our guys can visit – maybe? side glance) Wishing everyone a happy Mercury Retrograde (you may not be feeling so great now – it will pass by April 7 – hang in there). And call your friend and just go out immediately, you will be glad you did!!

Unstuck-ing Me!

I have been a little out of sorts recently, kind of restless with a feeling that I am stuck and outdated, which is a huge fear of mine. I remember when I was younger (and even now) when I would see older people who had no interest or curiosity about new technology, trends or topics and I would think “wow, how can they function and stay relevant. As a human resources professional, I would speak to more mature employees who were proud of being rooted in the past and reject new ways to do things. Then later, they would be shocked finding themselves laid off or out of a job. It was always hard to have these conversations with people and now as I am aging, I catch myself putting my head in the sand and not embracing that the world is moving forward, and I may not be pacing with the changes.

Luckily when I get out of alignment, it takes only a few weeks for me to act and do something about this dilemma. Being a Gemini, I like to learn and am all about self- development. I immediately dive headfirst into online classes, informational podcasts, anything which can further my professional development, spiritual and personal growth. In the last few weeks, I have completed a session on AI, Employee Engagement, Master Classes on Communication, Gut Health, and Applying Make-Up ( I was intrigued how to get a flawless smoky eye), you name it I am doing it. Also, as I am painfully aware, I typically am a late adopter to things that are the buzz. One of my new (old) great finds has been YouTube. I guess I just never got it before didn’t understand the whoop-de-do … however now that I have updated my TV’s, I am completely addicted and spend more time than I should really admit watching various content. I got hooked at first with home shows where random rich people give tours of their most personal spaces. I can’t believe someone would open themselves up to this type of voyeurism, but I am very into it now. I try to guess if they have an interesting style by their door, usually I am totally off. It is so indulgent but fun. What I think is a crappy piece of art has the most layered story. It makes me second guess who in this scenario has unrefined taste (that would be me.)

Moving on, I have also been watching influencers to only realize that all the great clothes I buy on sale (my personal sport – why buy for full price?) is me being several seasons out of style. I have learned that maximalism, bohemian, two tone jewelry (gold/silver – still have some yay), soft pale pink (not Barbie pink – which I invested heavily in), and clogs (always been a huge fan) are in for 2025. I also have been watching this one influencer named Lisa and she is adorable. She is a down to earth southern gal who just does shopping hauls weekly and shares what she liked and didn’t. She also talks a lot about foundation, lipstick, and liner. The amount of stuff she purchases is insane. The one area I do not understand is how she can buy so many designer bags, shoes, and outfits. She will go on a trip and buy Chanel, Gucci, Prada, Yves Saint Laurent and come home with purses that look exactly the same to me and I wonder how many black bags with a cross strap do you really need? It is a crazy world we live in and I must say I am a subscriber to this insanity and look forward to her new episodes. At other times she shops at Walmart (which is less interesting to me) as she tries to sell more attainable looks. It probably is to appeal to us poor schmucks that can’t afford high end luxury. I mean if I am going to buy a $5,000 bag, I am not going to couple it with a bargain fake fur from Amazon. She actually does have good taste and is very entertaining. She is also a carnivore and tells us what she ate when she went on her trips, which is always the same. I think we all know the drill, bacon and eggs for breakfast and her other meals include hamburger, cheese, bacon, and fried egg. I am not sure how someone can eat like that but she is very thin and I guess this diet helps with her IBS. What the hell do I know? It does feel counter intuitive and not fabulous for your gut health ☹.

Anyways, back to the main topic – sorry for that excursion into nowhere land but I think that is part of my charm! I have decided to explore AI and how to integrate it into smarter work and life. I have played with it as a google search and also as a recruiter but really want to know where we are going with this technology. My friend Laura is an early explorer and she began dabbling with AI to create art, well it was really trying to develop the perfect unicorn (long story and not relevant). She recently listened to me carrying on about the lack of views and following of the blog. Five minutes later, she sent me a personalized song she created with AI called the Blogger’s Blues – it was really cute. She said, “You know AI can write your blog?” (which ironically never occurred to me before she said it) and I nervously tried hoping I had not been wasting all my time over the last few years – that would have been an embarrassing bummer! After several attempts, I was happy to see that it really can’t write my blogs with the same kitschy humor I possess – which is reassuring for now or I am just an incoherent writer which is entirely possible as well😊. However, it did get me to think, I love to write but no one really likes to read anymore except for Renee, Marla, and my cousin Laurie. Thank you to my loyal friends and family who I think do it now as an obligation or emotional support. So, I am going to try to make my blog appeal to more people by reading it as well for your enjoyment. This is a way for me to play around with technology, annoy you with my nasally voice and transition to an audio blog (not sure that is a thing). Who knows maybe it will take off or maybe it won’t …but I will learn and begin to embrace other vehicles to get my thoughts out.

As you get older it is so easy to get date-stamped, stay in your comfort zone, and then wonder why life is passing you by. It is important to remain engaged to keep active and maintain a curious mindset. As the wise Betty Friedan stated, “Aging is not “lost youth” but a new stage of opportunity and strength.” She was a smart woman, and I am trying to channel a little bit of that vibe and be admired for being a relevant old lady.

New Year and New Dreams

Well, it is hard to believe that it is a new year again and time to define how I want to spend my efforts in 2025. Last year, I was focused on health and wellness which has placed me in a much better position than January 2024. I am really happy that I achieved my goals although if I were truly honest, which is part of my personal brand, I slid most of my positive results in the last two months of the year. If you recall, I had vowed to lose the remaining five pounds and move into weight maintenance mode. What can I say, sometimes getting to the end goals can be sloppy – form over function 😊. Anyways, let us keep the past in the past and as they say … only forward. As 2025 unfolds I am expanding my efforts in the health arena by developing a lifestyle focused on consistency with my habits around eating, strength training, personal and spiritual development. I also made a commitment to travel and explore my sense of adventure… Woo Hoo. So needless to say, I am tackling a lot of stuff this year and am excited to get moving and grooving.

In the last few weeks, I have breathed new life into my home gym. For the past 11 years, it turned into the dogs’ bedroom without much exercise action from me. The typical story of about 98% of everyone who has workout equipment. I must say, I am really happy with the room’s transformation. My treadmill and elliptical are ready for the challenge of being used again. I also set up my audio visual, lighting as well as all my covid weights, bands and dusted off the trampoline. These are the moments when I rejoice over my addiction to shopping – ha-ha. It is that closet that has not been opened for years but holds many treasures for the fitness enthusiast. So, over the past month with tremendous help from YouTube, I have been able to create a lot of variety in my workouts. I can dance a little hip hop, rebounder workout with some gal in front of a barn, weight training and the power plate (which is really cool and helps with your circulation) to mention a few. Also, I am trying to improve my running speed on the treadmill (so when people see me outside, they won’t tell me that they saw me walking 😊). Needless to say, I have look forward to my daily visit to the home gym – you cannot beat the commute and there are no annoying members to fight over equipment.

I am also expanding my spiritual work by offering chakra balancing in a more official way now. It is so rewarding to help people feel better, relaxed and in flow and I am hanging up my side-gig shingle. Let’s just say I am diversifying with HR Unwrapped (my business) and now I can add additional services beyond business consultation to more holistic support. I also have been gravitating towards Tarot Cards and been learning and growing in this area too, which is a nice extension. I have this great journal, stickers that have kept me engaged. I always loved a nicely laid out workbook with fun accessories. It takes me back to those lazy days when we played with Colorforms. I will keep you informed on my progress or as they say – it is written in the cards.

And then lastly my third focus is travel and adventure. I have booked a trip to Italy and looking forward to a relaxing retreat and exploration. My boyfriend just mentioned going on a dog sled ride up north – that is kind of intriguing too. Who knows, I am pretty open to expanding my horizons before I succumb to another pug or two. I am still obsessively watching videos and I think my vow of no more dogs may fall to the side as a dream of a new puppy named Daisy.

Well, in all fairness, I really thought I was going to stop writing as it was starting to feel like a chore and according to my analytics, there may be 10 people reading this blog, so much for the advertisers and side cash. But in fairness, I do like to commit to paper and then I know I have to tackle my next set of goals. So, congratulations, there may be another long winded blog series from me or at least until my subscription ends. Let us see how it goes…

2024 – It Is A Wrap…

A year ago, I started this blog to share my health and wellness journey, and it is hard to believe that we are about four hours away from the New Year. I wrote this publicly to hold myself accountable by blasting it to the world. And in true Risa fashion, I have waited to the very last minute to complete my final post for the year. Yes, I am that person, who measures my performance with numbers and tasks – cannot take the HR out of this girl…. It is a blessing and a curse – ha-ha. Well, upon reflection, this has truly been a year of growth for me in mind, body, and spirit. I wish I could say financially as well, but I leaned heavy into self-transformation. Obviously, I need to pull back in 2025 and join the real working world again to fund this excursion – anyways… It is not cheap to be on a spiritual journey… but that is topic for another time and place. So, let us just say I am rich in experience in 2024 and actually feel I needed it (time well spent).

I really jumped in headfirst, learning and implementing actions to improve my wellness such as gaining a better relationship with food and not just stuffing my mouth with mindless eating and sweet addiction. I schooled myself in nutrition and thinking of food as fuel and medicine opposed to comfort. This reframe has helped me immensely and I have officially broken up with sugar, salt, oil and processed food. Good-bye bread, pizza, cheese, fake meat, and seafood, we are over! HELLO romaine, broccoli, beans, nuts, tofu, cauliflower, cabbage and berries. My new favorite friends who make me feel a hell of a lot better and have alleviated cravings and adopt satiation (who knew?). People ask me, how can I do it and honestly, the first few weeks were a little rough, now my taste buds have changed the other stuff is not even appealing. Food in packaging, boxes, plastic, cans – scare me – I am definitely a produce girl now 😊.

Another topic, my digestion…. It was a big oy when I started this blog. I was bloated, my stomach hurt, things just did not seem right (will try not to be graphic – but it was gross – my body was sending out a SOS – save our stomach). These are times I do not miss. Now things are just in flow and balanced. Gut health is real and so is the connection to brain functionality. I feel like I am performing at a higher level intellectually and it is showing up in all aspects of my life – including work $$$$. Moral to this story, do not let your brain go to shit (literally 😊). You are what you eat… and you can get higher billable rates when you are sharper. Thank you natural fiber and all you do.

A shout out to Cely, Shannon, Vanessa (others too) and her studio CelyFit (now accepting new members for 2025 – so fun!!!) Being in a community setting and dancing, lifting weights and yoga has been a game changer. Experiencing joy and happiness by pushing yourself is rewarding. Learning choreography, gaining some new moves for that one moment when you hit the dance floor at a wedding, bat mitzvah or random bar situation could be invaluable. One of my goals this year was strength training which was, may I say something I dreaded, has actually turned into an activity I look forward to. Continuing to feel stronger, see muscles define and improve balance is completely motivating and also makes you feel like a bad ass. I mean, I could probably chase down criminals and hold my own. Well, that may be a bit dramatic but I like the results both inside and out. 2025 – is going to be about the six pack, as I have an undefined 2 -3 pack”ish”. My arms, shoulders, legs are looking somewhat good for my age but always opportunities to tighten.

I took on the goal of improving my sleep and that is still a work in progress. I have definitely adopted better sleep habits and hygiene. I invested in great bedding, eye mask and a bedtime routine. The area that helped me the most was my Oura ring which kept me honest (damn it – you cannot outsmart technology) and the biggest thing was stopping eating at least 5 hours before I went to bed. When you are still digesting your food… it makes for some terrifying dreams and sleepless nights (at least for me – and I am sure you too). I discovered day naps, and I find them to be a great pick-me up which refreshes me. Although, I have been taking them less as I continue to eat better… go figure!

I have never been a deeply religious person however, I have found a sense of purpose, depth, and stability with spirituality. When I say that, it is understood that we are all connected, we are light, part of source and there is a bigger universe out there. We are here on earth to gain human experiences otherwise known as life lessons. This construct works for me and helps me stay grounded and content with my life. I am less stressed, try not to sweat the small stuff and try to do better and be better. I have found a community of like-minded people who have been a great support system as we learn and grow together. I have tapped into my gifts in energy work and using my intuition to guide myself and others on this life journey. I suppose whatever faith, religion, or belief system you have, serves the same purpose. Having an institution to anchor yourself into is a powerful way to gain your footing to move forward and grow.

My relationships are “everything” to me and I am really grateful for all the people in my life. I feel very blessed to have an amazing extended family (those that I am really related to and others that I feel aligned with). Being a mother to my beautiful Isabelle is a gift and it is my calling to be here for her. However, I never thought I would learn as much from her too. I cherish our time together and thankfully we have had a lot this year. I also loved my time with Ella (my sweet pug). There is something so magical about the bond with your pet, especially a dog who served me well and needed to be supported as she aged. Our walks and quiet time on the couch were some of the deepest moments that I take away from our relationship. I miss her immensely but know she was tired, and it is my moment to get out and explore the world.

Last but not least, being the measurement gal I am, seeing the positive results on the scale, in my bloodwork, energy level and yes hair growth, I am really reinvigorated. I feel younger, vibrant, and more ambitious. As I reflect about this year, I am enormously proud that I achieved my goals, especially overcoming the power of food over me. I have exceeded what I set out to do. I know the journey never ends as I enter into maintaining weight while growing muscle mass. This one was a toughie for me and I DID IT!!! There were definitely highs and lows this year, it has been a bit of an emotional rollercoaster but overall, I am really happy and satisfied as I close out 2024. Wishing everyone a happy and healthy new year. I look forward to continuing to blog and keep you updated on my boring life. I want to travel, expand my horizons, continue the health journey, and even help others to realize their goals too…. That is a wrap for this year. Thank you for reading and supporting me as I overly share to friends and strangers around the world. 😊