An Ordinary Day...

Wednesday, April 12th started off as an ordinary day. The alarm sounded off at 6:00 a.m. like it always did. Reggie did his work day morning ritual, showering, grooming, selecting a suit and accessorizing with the perfect accents for Read more

Why are some people mean?

Why are some people mean? I'm not talking about a little mean, but bazaar, go out of their way to be mean. Recently I've encountered a few mean people, I remind myself that these situations will make me a stronger Read more

Maldives

Our last trip of 2016 was to the Maldives. Last year was one full of excursions, We traveled to Cameroon, Paris, Bali, Hawaii, New Orleans, New York, Chicago, Lake Tahoe, Atlanta, Napa, San Francisco, Dubai, and I must say Read more

Quote

It's okay to venture out of your comfort zone... Lately I've been doing it quite often. This weekend is going to be one of renewal, my personal Super Bowl. What are your plans? I will be working today and tomorrow. Happy Read more

Do you enjoy yourself?

Both of my kids are in New York, my son is in school in the Hudson Valley and my daughter is living in Brooklyn and working. So we are officially empty nesters, and have been so for a while Read more

Fitness

I’m going to “TRI” real hard…

Posted on by Gigi in Fitness 1 Comment

Inspiration comes in many ways. I was minding my own business when a client shared she was doing the Pasadena triathlon, one that I participated in last year in the swim portion on a relay team. Then my daughter who just launched a fitness IG browngirlsdoitwell, asked me for a photo from a triathlon I had did in the past, she was doing a “throwback” post. That was enough for me to dust off my running shoes and think about starting the process to whip this body into “tri” shape in the next 4 weeks. I work best when I have a goal, so this event is perfect and obtainable, I think…

Transition Area

Transition Area

My First Tri

My First Tri

The Pasadena triathlon is March 12, it is a little sprint, 5k, 10 mile bike, and 500 yard swim, and no, I am not the type that can wake up and drop a “tri” with no training like my husband can, but I know I can finish.

I’m excited that this is going to be the perfect way to implement  my 2016 fitness goals. January has come and gone and I have not been on my program. I found this 8 week guide to training for a sprint triathlon that I will modify for 4 weeks, yes I am an ambitious old thing.

triathlon training plan

triathlon training plan

My off days I will add yoga.

So I started the (run/walk) this past weekend, and hmmm I have a lot of work to do. I noticed after about 10 minutes my legs began to itch like crazy, so much so that I had to stop for a moment and try and relieve myself. I know what this is- as my heart rate goes up, blood flows faster, and the tiny capillaries and arteries in my muscles begin to expand rapidly, these stay open when you are fit but if you have not been on point, your capillaries tend to collapse. When your capillaries expand, the surrounding nerves become stimulated and send messages to the brain which read as intense itching! I learned all this when I trained for a marathon many years ago…

What are you fitness goals for this year? If you are mature like me, what are your obstacles if any? And how do you stay motivated? Btw you could always sign up for the Pasadena Triathlon…I’d love to know.

Happy Monday,

Xoxo,

Gigi


Keeping my sanity …

Posted on by Gigi in Fitness Comments Off on Keeping my sanity …
Chair Pose

Gigi yoga

Today I am recommitting to my workout. January was crazy with my 3 trips, totally interrupting my exercise schedule. Of course, I brought workout stuff on all of my trips, but it stayed neatly folded in my suitcase.

Exercising is big for me, I feel much better and overall happier when I work out. Negativity can sneak up on me when I don’t exercise and I get these periods of irritability that I know are from a lack of exercise. At my age a few weeks of being inactive shows up on the body right away, another one of the many side effects that came along post 50.

So I set a few obtainable goals, like drop maybe 8 pounds or so, work on some of the jiggly areas, and work on my flexibility by returning to a regular yoga practice. Of course I want the aesthetic results, like gracefully gliding into my 57th birthday with a nice taut body, strolling on the beach sans a cover up.

So- what is my plan? Basically setting my intentions, putting my workouts on my calendar like any other appointment, sticking to my routine and really watching my diet. Wearing my fitbit, that is just sitting in my drawer collecting dust.

When I think about my life in regards to fitness, I have always been active, the 20’s were easy, things stayed in place, I worked at Jack La lanne, (does anybody even remember that gym) taught aerobic classes at Nautilus Plus (another gym that went under) worked for Jim Kelly, he had a little private gym back in the 80’s and I lived by the beach and rode my bike a lot- those years were good.

I worked for Jim Kelly during the 80's

I worked for Jim Kelly during the 80’s

The 30’s came along with marriage, and the babies…things were still okay. I Discovered running, did a few marathons, fell in love with spinning, did weight training- the body was good.

LA Marathon 1998

LA Marathon 1998

40’s came along with the major diet shifts, no more meat, chicken, fish, it was a slow transition but by 50 all the animal products were eliminated. I discovered bootcamp, Pole dancing, yoga and pilates- the body was good.

Gigi @ 40

Gigi @ 40

And then came the 50’s- things started trying to shift and my waist was becoming a traitor. My diet is mostly vegan, with some slip-ups with cheese here and there, especially when traveling. I joined Equinox, worked on and off with trainers, did classes here and there, hot yoga, pilates, barre, pretty much all over the place- periods of being real consistent and then slip ups- the body just okay.

50's Gigi

50’s Gigi

Fast forward to now, I know that for my curvy body type I need lots of cardio, i.e. “sweat”, strength training and yoga or pilates to keep my body together. Cut out all the obvious things, and just eat “clean” whole foods in their original state…and I would be okay.

Do a variety of workouts so I don’t get bored and most of all make it fun.

This month as I recommit I will be mindful of my workouts and focus on being the best version of me.

Did you make any challenges or resolutions for 2016? How do you stay motivated with your workouts? How do you stay on track?

equinox

equinox

Xoxo,

Gigi


At My Age…

Posted on by Gigi in Aging, Beauty, Fitness, Well-Being 2 Comments

I’m going to be honest here. We live is a youth obsessed society, everywhere you look there are images of celebrities in the news, on the TV, FB etc., whether an update on Bey’s comings and goings or some Kardashian story, we are bombarded by these images.

Celebs in the news

Celebs in the news

BEY

BEY

Our “norm” of what a person looks like is an overly photoshopped picture that leaves a little remnant of what the person actually looks like in person. Digital images once uploaded and magnified expose any sensitive areas you may have or shall I say did not know you had…

Madonna Before and After

Madonna Before and After

Most days I feel like I am holding on pretty good, considering I’m 5’4″ and 54. I inherited my father’s hair color gene, just a sprinkling of grey strands, which allows me to color my hair about every 5-6 months and wearing a curly “do” hides a multitude of sins.

Photographer Gigi

Photographer Gigi

The body however, is something that needs constant monitoring. No more of the magically tight 20’s, or the taunt 30’s or the firm fine 40’s this is the “betta find your a$$ in a gym 50’s” or else ease on down the middle age spread road. Is there anything really wrong with that? Passing on the baton and settling comfortably in to a pair of spanx and a good bra? No. Not at all-but of course there are other benefits to working out other than the “I don’t like the body that I glanced at in the mirror” reason.

Spanx

Spanx

And don’t throw in the dreaded “M” work…That blanky-blank will jack a body up until you outsmart it…My theory is that menopause has a timer that tries to tell the world in subtle ways that this body is no longer available for reproducing. Let’s try and plump it up just enough to take away that youthful hourglass figure, just enough so somebody may slip and call you “Ma’am”.

menopause

menopause

My car is a 2007 model, which is old by California standards, the moment the service light comes on I am at the dealer, never ever missing an appointment, that is how you have to be with these bodies, diligent. I have to do yoga or I risk stiffening up like the tin man, strength training-a must do especially since I was diagnosed with osteoporosis a few years back. Cardio, cardio and more cardio if you want to have some memory of a waistline, and finally the most important one of all-drumroll THE DIET!

Chair Pose

Gigi yoga

You have to fine tune what you put in your body and know what works for you. I’m not here to preach the vegan diet, vs raw vegan or vegetarian sermon, because even those can wreck havoc on a body if not followed properly ie. we all have met the obese vegetarian who lives on macaroni and cheese and pizza. The only rule I want to share is “GRREN UP” Saturate your body with as many anti-oxidants as you can stand, from fresh organic produce-you will notice the benefits inside and out especially in your skin. Everyday I have at least one big glass of fresh green juice.

Green Goddess Juice

Green Goddess Juice

Of course there are skin care advances and procedures available, but I want to do everything I can holistically before I investigate those options. I know I owe a lot to my diet and protecting myself from our beloved sun.

botox filler injections

botox filler injections

So Gigi’s advice to all my pretties:

20’s Have fun, but set up a foundation of being active

Gigi @ 25

Gigi @ 25

30’s “twerk” the diet if you had bad habits in the 20’s, especially if you are starting to have babies

Wedding Day july 23, 1989 1 week before 30

Wedding Day july 23, 1989 1 week before 30

40’s if you don’ get your shit together here, this is like the last hooray-lots can happen in this era

Gigi @ 40

Gigi @ 40

50’s you can still be FAB, but you have to do the work No get our of jail card here, you will go direct to “fifty and frumpy”

50's Gigi

50’s Gigi

60’s and beyond KEEP it MOVING and watch the diet, it is a lifetime commintment

The good thing is our bodies are truly amazing, with a lot of effort and hard work you can still get results and reverse the aging clock. Will you ever look 22 again? No, but you can be a damn good looking 50 something year old

So start today by making good choices or bumping it up a notch if you already have a good routine. I’m always trying to do something, whether it is trying a new workout or training for an event, anything to keep my butt moving instead of drooping…

So let’s toast with a green juice and move your body today!

Xoxo,

GIGI

 

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Excuse Me Weight, Don’t Go So Quickly

Posted on by Gigi in Fitness, Inspiration, Well-Being 3 Comments

Wait, Weight

Don’t go so quickly at least say good bye.

I’ll miss you and never forget you.

Always Love,

MY BODY

Springtime is the time of year that I like to kick start my fitness program- bump it up a bit. The weather is nicer and the Cali version of winter clothes can be put away. Having a July birthday I always make that my goal date to accomplish some measure of change. Sometimes I’ll try a new workout or do a yoga challenge, sign up for a triathlon or just do more of the same but bump up the frequency or the intensity.

Chair Pose

Chair Pose

I started doing a lot of yoga before my big “50” birthday and still enjoy it and have made it part of my life.

My First Tri

My First Tri

Did my first triathlon a couple of years ago. Really like the challenge of doing three sports and would like to do another.

LA Marathon 1998

LA Marathon 1998

Started running around my big “40” birthday, did 4 marathons and now run occasionally, not my favorite activity, but I know it is good for me.

Although weight loss is not the goal it is always lurking in the shadows, that magic number, whether it is a pre-pregancy weight, or weight before marriage or weight at a certain age-most of us have that number that we like to see at our annual doctor visit. Weight is not usually our friend. We are not happy when it comes around, we try to ignore it but it keeps coming regardless. As I get more mature or older I find that this “weight” tries to come around more often landing in random places. Perhaps it is hormonal, or metabolism changing, not really sure, but as my friend Angie says “We ain’t going out like that!” It is easy to let “weight” be your new friend, to welcome her and be hospitable and let her hang around until she becomes a permanent part of you. As difficult as it may seem you have to kick “weight” out, put her on the street and realize it is not a healthy relationship and she will bring you down.

Do you find “weight” trying to creep up on you? Do you find your body being deceitful and hiding weight? Do you care about the scale or do you only worry if your clothes start fitting a little snug? What is your spring training regime? Or are you one of those year round warriors? Share What strategies work for you keeping weight under control and “checking it at the door” when needed.

I will be keeping you posted in the next few months on my program.

XOXO,

Gigi

 

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