Whoops, There Goes Another Hair!

I hate washing my hair.  I mean, I love the feel and smell of fresh clean hair, but it depresses me to see all the hair that I lose in the tub.  Unfortunately, hair loss is another downside to aging.  Let's face it, some men look really sexy bald, but women...not so much.

I have always had a great head of hair.  I hated it when I was young of course.  Don't we all.  But now that I'm older, I enjoy having that natural wave (even if it is going grey).  But I do feel it is disappearing quicker with each passing year.

Also, if you are on medication or going through cancer treatments, then you know hair loss is one of the first side effects.  Luckily, there are plenty of options out there.  Hair loss technology has come along way.  I'm sure you have seen the commercials and many, many people are using these systems.  Many are highly reputable and have great guarantees. There are total hair replacements, plugs, and creams and each person must decide what is best for them.  


So don't hesitate to take that next step in order to make you feel confident and healthy once again.  
Here are a couple of links to some of the more popular companies that specialize in hair loss:


HairDirect
Hair replacement systems & accessories delivered worldwide. 100% guaranteed!


Rogaine

No Excuses!

I'm sure you have seen the hundreds of infommercials on fitness and exercise on television.  It seems like every week there is some new gadget or program that is "guaranteed" to help you melt those pounds away.  Not gonna happen EVER without hard work and determination.  The problem is, it's difficult maintaining  that "hard work" ethic and determination after a hectic schedule and/or stress filled week.

I have an alternative.  While my activities will not melt away the fat, they do keep you active, both mentally and physically.  And I think they are a hell of lot more interesting that doing 100 sit ups.  Throughout the week and month, I have tried to keep myself occupied doing anything and everything, weather and time permitting. So here are just a few of things I like to do when I lose the energy to lift weights or do yoga.

Baking/cooking
Letter writing
Painting
Journaling
Bird watching
People watching (go to the mall!)
Volunteering (Meals on Wheels, food banks)
Visit the Library (another volunteering opportunity)
Swimming
Bicycling
Hiking (goes hand in hand with birdwatching)
Playing cards with friends (I belong to a BUNCO group and boy do we have fun)
Sports - golf, tennis, frisbee golf (super easy and relaxing), shuffleboard, darts (hang the board up in your garage and invite the neighbors over for a tournament)
Sledding (with grandkids)
Antiquing/flea marketing
Dog walking
Wine tasting events (Of course!!)
Museums, zoos, etc.  (We recently visited the local wolf sanctuary...what wonderful and amazing creatures!)

You get the idea and most of these don't cost anything.  So really there is no excuse for not keeping active!
Also, remember that in addition to the health benefits you receive from doing some of these things, you also have the opportunity to develop new friendships!!

My favorite walking trail!

Go on...get out there! No excuses!

The Wolf Sanctuary

The Lazy, Hazy, Crazy Days of Summer!!!

Remember that song?  If you do, then you are most likely over 50.  I can't remember who sang it, but it has always had a special place in my heart when summer rolls around.  Lazy?  Well when it is 100 degrees, then yes!  What else is there to do on those hot, humid days.  Stay indoors or in cool water.  It's kind of like a blizzard...you are "heatbound" and are forced to nap, read, watch TV, or bake.  I love it.

Seriously though, the hot, humid, hazy days of summer can be very dangerous, especially to older folk and young children & infants.  If you must go outdoors, keep to the shade and drink plenty of water.  Plan your dog walks and other activities for the evening when it is a little cooler.  Speaking of dog walks, don't forget to take special care of your animals.  They must have shelter from the heat and again, plenty of water. I must admit our beautiful golden retriever is quite spoiled with central air conditioning and a swimming pool.  She loves summer too!!

Our summer is flying by!  Oldest daughter recently returned from a class trip to Spain and simply loved it.  She is certain she wants to travel the world now.  Good for her.  Do it while you are young and unattached to things like work and a mortgage!  Our family travels this year are the beach and a mountain resort.  The best of both worlds. The resort has lots of activities which will keep us hopping (and young!) and the beach visit in August will be just pure relaxation.  Can't wait.

Vacations are so important to Americans.  We work so hard all year so we can grab a week here or there of down time.  And although the week before and after work can be HELL, it is so worth spending time with family, friends or yourself.  So always take a vacation, whether for a week or a long weekend.  Remember, your mental health is just as important as your physical health!!

A Great Place to Retire

It has been quite a busy time in our family.  Our oldest daughter is getting ready to begin the college search so we have been on several road trips already. Since she is looking for a large and diverse university, we have visited Philadelphia and Pittsburgh in Pennsylvania. We loved both Temple University and University of Pittsburgh.  There is so much going on at these campuses.  Which brings me to the title of my post today, "A Great Place to Retire".

College campuses have to be the best places to retire in my opinion. There is all kinds of events going on, lots of kids who keep you young, plenty of eateries, libraries and part time jobs as well.  I think this kind of environment is the best place to retire.  I'm not really interested in going to some "retirement village" where everyone waits around for the ambulance.

Now these two campuses that I mentioned are very large, but there are literally thousands of campuses all over the world that you can choose from.  I can't wait to start our search.  I'm up for anything to keep me feeling young!

Loss of a Friend

I recently attended a viewing of a parent of one of my daughter's friends.  He was only 47 years old.  He died very suddenly from complications of gall bladder disease.  It was quite a shock to everyone.  He was a very nice man and his children and wife will miss him terribly.

I have been reading up on the gall bladder and gall stones, which are the product of gall bladder disease and everything that is discussed points to our diet.  Meaning that a high fat and sugar diet can cause these things and kill you, just like my friend.  Again, a poor diet which can lead to obesity and diabetes, can trigger growths of all kinds of dangerous things in our body's organs.

Every day make it a priority to eat several servings of fruits and vegetables which contain fiber.  This helps your digestive system in so many ways.

My friend must have been in severe pain, his blood pressure had skyrocketed and when they got him to the hospital, unfortunately there was not much they could do for him.  What a waste!!!  Only 47!!

This is certainly a wakeup call for me.  Let this be one for you too.