fit by 50 – Brick Marshmallows

2 Tips 2 Help You Get Moving

March 16, 2019March 16, 2019 Melanie Hollis

“In January of 2017, I became a runner” … Let me tell you, those are words I never thought I’d say. Fitness has always been a part of my life, but whenever anyone would mention running, I’d quickly shut it down. Can you relate? I mean, running is hard. Runners are known for saying it’s more mental than it is physical, but when I try telling that to my legs, they just don’t listen. “Hello? Legs? No worries, because this running gig is all mental.” haha. Nope. Running really hurts and never gets easier.

Last year, I turned fifty (which wasn’t nearly as scary as expected) and ran thirteen races (which was every bit as scary as expected), proving age is just a number. As it turns out, an old dog really can learn new tricks. Psychologists say there’s no such thing as a life plateau, so if you’re not growing, you’re going backward. I don’t have time to go backward. So this year, in addition to the 5k and 10k races Spring will usher in, I’m planning to tackle a half marathon. Quite honestly, my palms get sweaty and my tummy gets butterflies whenever I think about it. 13.1 miles is a looooooong jaunt for a gal who’s only been running for a little over a year.

But after a year of running and achieving some goals, I know I can do this. The benefits of running have been life changing for me. I don’t remember a time when I’ve had so much energy. The runner’s high is real.

At the same time, though, I know myself … and I enjoy a comfort zone as much as anyone. Currently, 5Ks/10Ks are what make me feel super safe and cozy. Needing a boost of motivation to run all of the extra miles a half marathon will require in preparation for the actual race, I started talking to other runners about how they manage long practice runs. Podcasts seemed to be a buzzword everyone mentioned. But I’m 50, remember? And I’m not very cool. So what the heck were these podcasts the millennials were speaking of?

Well. I found out. And I’m hooked. On this show:

When I run, I listen to his podcasts, and I learn and grow. I get so caught up in the stories and interviews, I forget I’m running. I find an episode that interests me, plan to run until the end of the episode, and then off I go. Before I know it, I’ve been running three or four miles. So, tip number one to motivate a good run (or a long walk) is to listen to Podcasts. Use that time to enjoy being outdoors while being inspired by someone else’s story.

Taking motivation a step further, I just recently learned about charity miles. If podcasts weren’t enough to keep me excited about moving, this app has sent me into running orbit:

Get this. Charity Miles gives money to YOUR favorite charity for every mile you run (or walk). The money comes from corporate sponsors who are repurposing their advertising budgets for good. It’s a win-win for all. There are 40 charities to choose from, and you’re not locked in. You can change your charity choice at any time. As the mom of two incredibly cute and amazing kiddos who sport an extra chromosome, my charity of choice is Special Olympics. Every step I take, I think about how I’m doing something to benefit talented athletes who consistently demonstrate true heart and sportsmanship. Love, love, love this! I logged 24 miles this week for Special Olympics, and it feels good!!!

According to Tony Robbins, the secret to living is giving. I completely agree with him. When we give back, it reminds us of our truest purpose and motivates us to be more productive. So find a podcast that will encourage you to be a better version of you, and then upload Charity Miles, get moving, and be a better version of you.

These are two tips that keep me moving. What motivates you to get fit and stay fit? Share in the comments. I’d love to hear from you.

Just my thoughts.

~Mel

Fitness, get fit, self care, skin care

Don’t Let Age Define Your Legs

April 21, 2018April 21, 2018 Melanie Hollis

I’m turning fifty in seven days. A couple of years ago, I decided I wanted my body to be the best it could be by the time I reached half a century. And I’ve succeeded. Do you want to do the same? If so, follow along with my blog and keep reading.

Warm weather is no longer creeping upon us at a snail’s place. It’s officially arrived. As a firm believer in being my best self, I want to show you how you can have fantastic looking legs for Summer. Admittedly, it’s work … but anything worth having requires effort and consistency. In the end, when you feel confident in your shorts, your one-piece, or in your bikini, you’ll be happy you stuck with a plan.

SKIN: Skin is our largest organ, but sometimes we forget to take particular care of it. I’m always amazed by the story of Queen Esther who went through twelve months of beauty treatments before she could even meet up with King Ahasuerus. The words that formed the basis of “beauty treatments” in scripture, by the way, are translated “to scour, polish”. The King’s servants literally scoured and polished that woman until she was shining with beauty.

As we age, its no secret we begin to lose moisture and elasticity, which can cause our skin to look dull, dry, and old. When wearing shorts or a bathing suit, we want and need our legs to shine just like Queen Esther’s. So here’s what I do at least three days per week:

First, I exfoliate (scour) my legs with a sugar and olive oil mixture.

Second, I cover my legs in a dead sea mud mask.

Third, I rinse and then coat my legs in a neck firming cream. (Yes, I know it sounds crazy to use a neck firming cream on legs … but it really works!)

I use the olive oil / sugar scrub because it’s natural, and because olive oil is such a good moisturizer for your skin. Homer called it “liquid gold”, and the ancient Egyptians, Greeks, and Romans used it in place of soap. They’d apply it to their skin and then scrape off dirt and dead skin. (Gross, but true!) If it worked for the ancients, and if we’re still using it today, it has to be legitimate.

I swear by the Dead Sea Mud Mask. I use it all over my body often. According to the package, it detoxifies impurities and restores skin with nourishing minerals – magnesium, calcium, potassium, zinc, and iron. It also shrinks pores and tightens fine lines and wrinkles. Getting rid of toxins makes sense to me. You can find it here.

So why the neck firming cream? On my legs? haha. It actually happened by accident. I work religiously on forming muscles in my legs, but no matter how much muscle I gained, I still wasn’t happy with the appearance of my legs. I wanted them to not only be muscular and lean, but to be vibrant. I searched Amazon for any type of cream that would help firm my skin, and found this neck firming cream. It had great reviews, so I gave it a shot. It has worked wonders!!!! No kidding, my legs look twenty years younger, and I could tell a difference within days. You can find this miracle product here.

MUSCLES: If you want younger looking legs, not only is it important to care for you skin, but it’s equally important to take care of your leg muscles. Build them. Sculpt them. Envision what you want them to look like, and then go for it. If time is an issue, here is a simple twenty minute plan to get you started:

10 minutes: Run one mile per day. It’s easy and will reduce fat while building muscle fast.

10 minutes: Weighted squats / Weighted calf raises / Weighted donkey kicks (4 sets of 12) Do this every other day. On your off days, spend those same 10 minutes on arms as a bonus!!!

No matter when you were born, remember, age does not have to define your legs. You get to control what your body looks like at any age. So go for it!!!

Just my thoughts,

~Melanie