Some Wonderful Words From My Daughter

Posted on May 9, 2013 by Judi

Since this Sunday is Mother’s Day, I thought I would share a special blog post from a special person in my life — my daughter A. Yes, my daughter A is my guest blogger for this week. She gave a rousing speech at my retirement party last month when I left my corporate communications job after 30 years.

As I think about my successes in life, being a mother ranks higher than any of my other careers, financial accomplishments or life experiences. The gratitude and love I have for my two wonderful children — my daughter A and son D — and the legacy that I (and my late husband M) have created with them are my greatest achievement for sure.

My daughter A’s words moved me to tears along with a few laughs too. I hope you enjoy her remarks. Take it away A…

life after 50, parenting, baby boomer women, over 50

My daughter A gave rousing remarks at my retirement party

“Most of the time when a young girl is asked what she wants to be when she grows up, the answers are usually a ballerina, a princess, an actress or a singer. But as far back as I can remember, I have always said that when I grow up I am going to be just like my mom.

I wanted to live in New York City and be a businesswoman. I also wanted to do all of this, get married, have kids and raise a family all at the same time. So I guess, you could say, that growing up I wanted to be a superhero – but more specifically, superwoman. My mom has many powers, to say the least.

She is the smartest and most knowledgeable person I know. She graduated from high school a year early and was second in her class. She also reads The New York Times every morning – and not just for the current events, but also because it connects her to her roots in New York City, a city that she grew up in and if given the choice, probably would have never left and during her life after 50 may even move back to.

She always seems to know what is going on at any given company, what’s new, what’s hip and what’s innovative. She always likes to instill this knowledge to her children – like that time my brother needed a summer internship and my mom made him email the founders of this chocolate company that she saw in the newspaper. My brother D ended up getting a job with the chocolate company and working there that summer.

For those of you who know me, I have extremely high aspirations of running a company one day – on a monthly basis my mom sends me CFO magazine, which usually includes Post-it notes with the people she thinks I should email and connect with to help me make that goal a reality.

My mom is the strongest and bravest person I know. Not many people lose their spouse and have to start their life over at the age of 50, but she did and she did it with grace, never missing a beat – throwing herself into her writing and her blog and focusing on keeping life as normal as possible for my brother and me.

She is also a risk taker; sometimes when people go through traumatic events in their lives, they take an extravagant vacation or buy a fancy sports car – my mom bought a house. I remember when she told me she bought that beach house at the Jersey Shore. In the beginning, I actually thought she was a little crazy because growing up we never really went to the beach, my dad was not really a beach person. But then I saw how happy and relaxed she was down at the shore, and suddenly the idea didn’t seem as crazy to me anymore. My mom took a risk on that house and in the end that risk turned into a great reward.

My mom is a fashionista. In case you haven’t noticed, my mom accessorizes very well. Very rarely will you find her without her signature item – her scarf. If you saw her closet, you’d see that she has one in every color and every pattern. I tried to count them once but eventually lost track. My mom also loves to shop. If you asked her what her favorite time of year is, I’m pretty sure she’d say July and not because it’s summer, but because it’s the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale.

My mom and I have a ritual – I usually take off from work and come home, and we do our biggest shopping trip of the year together – sometimes we even invite my brother D. I think we broke a record one year – our shopping trip at Nordstrom lasted eight hours. You may think this is a joke, but I’m not even exaggerating. When mom and I are together – there is no stopping us.

My mom’s love of shopping has definitely been passed on to me. A few summers ago my boyfriend and I had just broken up so to make me feel better my mom took me shopping. On our way out of the mall, we walked by the Louis Vuitton store. We decided to go in. I proceeded to try on bags and was on the verge of buying one when I said “Mom, be honest here – am I crazy?” Her response, the PG version, was “Screw it. You only live once.”

And so I bought that handbag and these are now words that I live by. Anytime I am indecisive about buying anything I think of what my mom said and I say “Screw it. I only live once.” Suffice it to say that I have a lot of clothes and a VERY extensive shoe collection.

My brother and I have learned a lot from our mom in both our professional and personal lives. She has inspired us to be career driven, to always go after what we want no matter how unattainable and that no obstacle is too great to overcome. She has taught us to dress the part, because eventually, if we are going to run companies, we have to look good doing it. And most importantly, she has taught us that life doesn’t always go as planned. We must take chances and risks, embrace new opportunities with enthusiasm, even if we have doubt, and if we believe in ourselves, we can make any dreams of ours become a reality.

Thank you.”

life after 50, Godiva chocolates, baby boomer women, Mother's Day

Enter to win a box of GODIVA chocolates!

What do you think? Didn’t A do a good job? How has your mom inspired your success? Share your thoughts and you’ll be entered into my Mother’s Day raffle where one lucky winner will receive a box of GODIVA chocolates (courtesy of my friends from GODIVA Chocolatier). Leave a comment on this blog post or “like” Judi Boomer Girl on Facebook or “follow” judiboomergirl on Twitter and leave your comment there. Deadline for entry is Sunday, May 12, 2013.

GODIVA is celebrating inspirational women by offering a gift that also makes a difference in lives of children in need. GODIVA has partnered with FEED for Mother’s Day to create an exclusive “FEED 10 Tote Bag”, as part of their corporate philanthropy initiative, The Lady GODIVA Program. Each “FEED 10 Tote Bag” will be bundled with either a $30 or $50 box of GODIVA chocolate and provides 10 school meals to children in cocoa-producing regions through United Nations World Food Programme (WFP). Stop by a GODIVA boutique or go to www.godiva.com to get your Mother’s Day chocolates and tote bag.

Celebrate your mom and have a happy Mother’s Day!

Judi

New Shades For Sunny Days

Posted on April 29, 2013 by Judi

This weekend I spent a wonderful two days in NYC to kick off my retirement from my full time corporate job. After 30 years, it was time to have some fun in my favorite city. The weather cooperated with two sunny days.

On Saturday I went to the American Society of Journalists and Authors Conference at the Roosevelt Hotel. I met some very talented writers and consider them to be my mentors. Many had written novels, non-fiction and memoirs. Several had written more than one book. It felt good to say that I am now a “writer” too…and maybe one day I will be an author as well.

On Saturday evening, my kids A and D took me out to celebrate my retirement. We went to Parm, a small, reasonably priced Italian restaurant on the edge of Little Italy (Parm is located at 248 Mulberry St. between Prince & Spring in NoLIta.) My son D is such a foodie and knows all the hot spots around town. We dined on some of the best meatball parm sandwiches, eggplant parm and ooh,ooh,ooh yummy garlic bread. The garlic bread was well-baked, very crispy and served with a rich ricotta cheese and smooth tomato sauce to top it off. To end the meal we had Parm’s ice cream cake which includes three layers of ice cream – pistachio, strawberry and chocolate – with crunchy chocolate bits in-between. Not a spoonful was left by the time we finished.

On Sunday, my daughter A and I headed out apartment shopping. It was a bright sunny day in NYC. I took along the sample of Dioptics Solar Shield® sunglasses that I had received from the Vibrant Nation’s Vibrant Influencer Network, to shade my eyes from the sun.

“What happened to your new Marc Jacobs purple sunglasses?” asked A. “Didn’t you bring your new prescription sunglasses?”

“I love my Marc Jacobs purple prescription sunglasses, however, the glass case is rather large,” I told A. “I enjoy wearing them when I am at the beach, but since we are going to be going in and out of many buildings today and I am going to have to take my glasses on and off, I thought it would be a better idea to try my Dioptics Solar Shield® sunglasses, which fit over my progressives.” I was so glad I had made that decision.

I loved the Dioptics brand. They easily fit over my Silhouette titanium prescription eyeglasses, which I also love because they are so light. I have Silhouette sunglass clip-ons, but the Dioptics brand was even more convenient. Solar Shield® sunglasses are made to fit over your prescription glasses or readers for convenient sun protection. They also have a lightweight nylon frame, polarized lenses to reduce glare, and the lenses block 100% UV rays. Plus the lenses are scratch resistant, which is really good. (Let’s see…we saw about 8 – 10 apartments and I must have taken my Solar Shield® sunglasses on and off about 20 to 30 times that day as we went from apartment to apartment. It was so easy.)

life after 50, over 50, baby boomer women, Dioptic Solar Shield sunglasses

Do I look like my idol Audrey Hepburn in my Dioptic Solar Shield sunglasses?

Are they as fashionable as my Marc Jacobs sunglasses? Well, not really. But I chose the Fashion Collection and as you’ll see from my picture, I thought I looked pretty fashionable in my shades on Sunday. What do you think – do I look like my idol Audrey Hepburn? And for sure, they were really practical and easy to wear and to take on and off. I’m definitely going to pack them for my trip to France. Of course, my Marc Jacobs prescription sunglasses are coming to France too, I’ll wear them on the beach in Nice.

The Dioptics Solar Shield® sunglasses are really reasonably priced at around $25 a pair, so I may get another pair from the Designer Templates Collection just to keep in my car or to go with my black and coral clothing. Black frames are very trendy this year. (Note that on the Dioptics website it says that the sunglasses are 15% off right now.)

So, did A find a Manhattan studio she liked? Yes, yes, yes. There were so many she liked…and I liked too. I asked the agent if he would give us a special deal if we bought two apartments. “I like your thinking,” said the real estate agent K.

Wink, wink – I had my snazzy sunglasses on when I asked him this trick question, so he could not tell that I was really only joking. That’s not to say that when I become a rich and famous memoirist that I won’t be back to buy my own sunny studio on Sutton Place.

Judi

When One Door Closes, Another One Opens

Posted on April 26, 2013 by Judi

This week I said goodbye to my 30 year career in corporate communications at one of the most beloved consumer food companies. I won’t tell you the name of this company, but suffice it to say that Andy Warhol’s painting made it even more famous many years ago. I actually have an original framed print signed by the artist himself when I did a PR program with him early on in my career. It hangs on the landing step at my home.

I remember the day I arrived at the company’s corporate headquarters in Southern New Jersey. It was November 1983. I remember it clearly. I arrived from New York City with my blue suit. It had a short-cropped jacket and a full skirt below the knee. My blouse was red and I wore a strand of pearls. I was ready for work in Marketing Communications. Ready to conquer the world and break the glass ceiling as they said in those days. There were IBM electric typewriters — no computers or mobile phones.

Over the years I climbed the corporate ladder, always reaching higher. Networking, mentoring, teaching, learning, sharing, building teams and watching them grow. I worked with four successive CEOs, I helped found and nurture the company’s Women’s Network and developed external and internal communications programs that continue today.

There were good times and bad times in my life during the three decades. I got married to M. I gave birth to my two children – A and D – and joined the ranks of working moms. I lost my dad to heart disease in the late 80s. After 24 years of marriage, I lost my husband at the end of 2007, after a valiant struggle with illness. And just a month ago, I lost my mom at 91 years of age.

My-o-my how times have changed.

For the past five years, I have been living a double life. Judy with a ‘y’ during the day at my corporate workplace and Judi with an ‘i” at night at home on the computer. Yes, during my countdown to 50 I started a little blog. And then the blog grew. And then I turned 50 and started the blog you are reading today. Blogging has indeed become a big part of my life, as have all of you — my blog readers.

retirement, life after 50, over 50, boomer women

Drink some martinis and raise your glasses. I'm retiring from my 30 year corporate career!

In November, The Huffington Post recognized my blog as one of their “7 Favorite Blogs For Post 50 Women.” A few weeks ago my blog won a 2013 Webby Award Honoree in the Personal Blog Category. And just recently, a publisher came calling to tell me that they loved my writing and that I should submit some of my posts for publication in their journal or perhaps a book. I am very proud of my little blog and look forward to nurturing my community even more during my life after 50. With millions of boomer women across the globe – the sky’s the limit for the JudiBoomergirl brand.

It’s time for me to spread my wings and take off in a new direction. I do hope to write a memoir about my journey these past five years – it’s been quite a transformation since losing my spouse, selling my house and emptying out my nest.

I hope to spend time traveling – my first stop is France with my two favorite people – my children A and D. Plus, there’s also my new partner and fellow planner L – “your mom was so glad you met a new fella,” my aunt told me the other week.

And there is also my condo on the corner at the Jersey shore where I will spend the summers. I bought this little condo almost five years ago as a place to go to grieve and renew after losing my spouse. The ocean is a special place to stop, to breathe and to be.

NYC is calling me too…will I become a New Yorker again? Maybe yes, maybe no. I am headed that way this weekend, back to the American Society of Journalists and Authors Conference, where last year I won a scholarship for my writing.

The door is closed on my first career, but my second act is ready to launch.

When one door closes, another one opens.

I am officially retired from my 30 year corporate career as of April 30th. It’s time for my second act. I am a blogger and a writer now. I am a consultant too — ready and willing to share all my learning with other companies who may need my communications help.

My champagne glass is full, as is my big bathtub. The 6:00 a.m. alarm clock is in the off position. But I’m keeping the coffee pot brewing so that my coffee is nice and warm when I sit down to read The New York Times
each morning.

Ooh, ooh, ooh, is it Thursday yet? Thursday is the Style Section and the Home Section. How I love them both. Better brew another pot of Joe. Life after 50 is going to be just grand!

Judi

A Remarkable Achievement

Posted on April 10, 2013 by Judi

A few months ago, I decided to submit my blog for a Webby Award. “Why not,” I thought at the time as I filled out the nomination form and submitted my registration fee. Then I forgot all about it.

I received an email yesterday: “The wait is almost over! The International Academy of Digital Arts and Sciences will officially announce the Nominees and Honorees for The 17^thAnnual Webby Awards tomorrow, April 9th, 2013. All official Nominees and Honorees will receive a notification email tomorrow and packets via postal mail within a few days of the Academy’s announcement.”

“That’s right, I do remember I submitted my blog,” I said to myself. “Yes, I did submit a nomination…but I’ll never win. The competition is fierce. No way will I stand a chance. That was a waste of time and money. Could have bought a new handbag or a new pair of shoes with that money.”

I received an email today.

Are you ready?

Are you sure you’re ready?

Are you really, really, really ready to hear what the email said?

Absolutely, positively want to know who was an honoree? Do ya? Do ya? Do ya?

Drum roll please. Another drum roll please. Excuse me, please bring in the marching band too.

I opened the email today and here’s what it said:

“It is my pleasure to inform you that A Baby Boomer Woman’s Life After 50 has been selected as an Official Honoree in The 17th Annual Webby Awards in the Personal Blog or Website category.”

2013 Webby Award Honoree, Life After 50, boomer blogger

My blog is a 2013 Webby Award Official Honoree in the Personal Blog or Website category.

“In recognition of the exceptional quality of submissions received this year, the Academy has acknowledged outstanding entries as Official Honorees, alongside our Nominees. With 11,000 entries received from all 50 U.S. states and over 60 countries, the Official Honoree distinction is awarded to the top 15% of all work entered that exhibits remarkable achievement. Congratulations – this is an outstanding accomplishment for you and your team!”

Twist and shout, twist and shout! Scream out loud! Twist and shout! Wow-o-wow! My little blog…Judi’s little blog…is an Official Honoree in The 17th Annual Webby Awards (click on the link to see my listing). While I didn’t make it into the top five nominee spot this year, getting into the top 15% truly is a remarkable achievement.

Why am I so excited to be honored? The Webby Awards is the Internet’s most respected symbol of success. Honorees are selected for recognition based on excellence in criteria ranging from content, structure and navigation, visual design, functionality, interactivity and overall experience to content, creativity, engagement and quality of craft.

Winners are chosen by the International Academy of Digital Arts & Sciences a global organization whose newest members include Tumblr founder David Karp, New York City Chief Digital Officer Rachel Sterne, Lauging Squid founder Scott Beale as well as CEO of Rovio Mikael Hed, co-founder of Instagram Kevin Systrom, as well as director Darren Aronofsky, Martha Stewart, Huffington Post Media Group President Arianna Huffington, Twitter co-founder Biz Stone, musician David Bowie, Internet co-creator Vint Cerf, Virgin Group Chairman Richard Branson, and R/GA Chairman and CEO Bob Greenberg.

I have a new little black dress for The Webby Awards Gala.

Will I get to go to the gala awards event at Cipriani in NYC in May and mingle with the The Webby Award winners and media moguls of the worldwide web?

I don’t know if I’ll be invited. But if I am invited, I already have my little black dress. I bought my little black dress several years ago and I knew I would eventually wear it to a special occasion. It is a strapless form-fitting dress with a big frou-frou flower on the shoulder. If I go to the awards event, I’ll be sure to tell you all about it. And if they let me, I will be bringing my teammates from Cataleno & Co. and BTwoDesign, who helped me create my blog and continue to support my work.

Okay, bring on the applause. I’m ready boomer girls. Life after 50 is grand. Ain’t it?

Judi

I’m Adding Australia To My ‘Not To Be Missed’ Bucket List

Posted on March 23, 2013 by Judi

Since one of my favorite wines is the Yellow Tail brand from Australia and I do adore Australia’s popular Arnott’s Tim Tam biscuits, I jumped at the chance to attend a special luncheon this week in NYC put on by Tourism Australia. It was pouring rain in the city on Tuesday, so I was especially glad to step into the warmth of The Sunburnt Calf, a quaint Australian bistro on the upper westside (226 W. 79th St.) where we spent the afternoon tasting and hearing about the incredible food and wine culture in Australia.

In his new cookbook, Blood Sugar: The Family, Chef Michael Moore shares the way he manages being a diabetic with inspiring and creative recipes.

After listening to Michael Moore, one of Australia’s most experienced and respected chefs, talk about “why you should go to Australia,” I was immediately hooked. I went to Sydney for business several years ago, but now I want to go back to see the stunning landscapes, nature and welcoming people across all areas of the country. Adelaide, Melbourne, Victoria, Perth and even Tazmania – north, south, east, west – I want to tour them all during my life after 50.

“Why should you go to Australia?” Chef Michael asked the bloggers in the room? “You will have a spiritual connection with a spiritual end. You will be a richer person and a better person.” (All he had to say was spiritual and as a yogi I was hooked – Australia here I come…it’s on my ‘not to be missed’ bucket list .)

Chef Michael went on to describe the amazing food culture in Australia:

The luncheon menu included BBQ'd Barramundi, Rhubarb Gimlets, and Oysters 'Kilpatrick'

1. It’s about ‘attitude’ – being curious and eating authentically. (That’s me, I’m very curious. No wonder I liked the Oysters ‘Kilpatrick’ appetizers of tempura-fried oysters and pickled shallots with worcestershire-bacon butter.)

2. It’s about a certain ‘state of mind’ – Chef Michael said that buckets of beer and barbecues in the backyard are special moments for Australian folks. (Me too. Me too. I am getting relaxed just thinking about grilling burgers on my Weber grill. Is it summertime yet? I think it is summertime in Australia. The seasons are opposite ours in the U.S. that’s why Australia is a perfect vacation spot during the winter months when it’s cold here and warm down under. Speaking of ‘state of mind’, I’m still thinking about the Rhubarb Gimlets that we sampled – they went down pretty smoothly. They were made with rhubarb bitters.)

3. It’s about sophisticated taste, connectedness with farmers and growers and fishermen, and about discovery – Chef Michael said that many restaurants in Australia have a farm to table approach to their cooking with fresh ingredients. (Ooh, I was into discovering the delicious Australian flavors at the luncheon so I ordered BBQ’d Barramundi Fillet with Sea Scallops, Frisee Salad, New Potatoes and Anchovy Aioli. It was scrumptious – I ate it all.)

According to recent research, those who have been to Australia rated it #1 in terms of food and wine. I can definitely see why. Breakfast on Bondi Beach, Sydney Seafood School, The Longest Luncheon Table – all these events sound like so much fun.

I stopped by to see my kids at their jobs in NYC on my way home from the luncheon. “Next year we’ll have to go on a trip to Australia,” I said to my daughter A and my son D. “It’s on my ‘not to be missed’ bucket list.”

“Mom, we have to go to Paris, Provence, and the South of France first in honor of your retirement,” said my daughter A. “Count me in,” said my son D. Hopefully, I’ll have some dollars left after I buy all my lavender in Provence this summer. If not, I’ll have to start saving again for Australia. Meantime, I can always go back to The Sunburnt Calf for another meal. My daughter A says they have a great weekend brunch. Hope to see you there or maybe in Australia next year!

Judi

Staying Fit and Fabulous After 50

Posted on March 12, 2013 by Judi

In recognition of March National Nutrition Month, I asked my BFF and expert dietitian, Laura Sabban MS RD CSR, to provide her views on two diet books that came my way. The books are “The Digest Diet” and “The Digest Diet Cookbook” by Liz Vaccariello, editor-in-chief of Reader’s Digest and coauthor of the bestseller “Flat Belly Diet!” (Note that the PR lady did not send a copy of the “Flat Belly Diet!” which sounds interesting to me since I do not have a flat belly but would really like to know if it is possible to ever have a flat belly again – especially after having two children during my life before 50.)

So what did my BFF Laura have to say about staying fit and fabulous in our fifties? “Selling magazines and diet books making us think it is easy to shed pounds at this age is making people rich. But a lifetime of habit isn’t going to change without some effort and we need to be realistic about what it takes to be able to avoid those elastic-waist pants,” says Laura. (I know Laura, I don’t want to have to only rely on stretch pants as I age.)

In reviewing the books, Laura comments that “The Digest Diet” and its companion cookbook start out saying it will be easy to make huge lifestyle changes. “The author Liz promises that there are magic foods to eat that ‘release fat’, and that you won’t be miserable or hungry because the foods are so satisfying,” says Laura.

“Indeed the recipes are truly interesting and photographed in stunning color. However she promises that you’ll lose an average of 11 pounds in 3 weeks and that you can exercise at your own pace…as long as you follow the diet exactly, do high-intensity interval training (!!!), spend your Sunday afternoon cooking organic foods, give up dessert in favor of ricotta cheese and eat a salad when you (invariably) get hungry.”

(Really, I have to do all that? BTW, I did try the Strawberry Almond Shake during the BlogHer conference book event last summer and it was rather tasty. I sampled the shake made with frozen berries, flaxseed, avocado and cocoa powder. A typical shake includes 16 grams of protein. I also found the new cookbook recipes to be appealing and may try to make a few such as the Chicken Piccata with Capers & Olives and the Herb Crusted Salmon. )

“At 1200 calories a day, even with no magic foods, almost anyone can lose weight,” Laura adds. “The science presented isn’t always great but overall, the book does advocate a balanced, healthy approach to dieting and will work for the motivated. The 12 people who ‘tested’ the plan seemed to like it. But I think that boomer women don’t want to spend much time cooking anymore, won’t join a gym if they haven’t already and want to have dessert more than once a week.” (Hmm, hmm, hmm. Laura you are my BFF and I do agree that boomer girls don’t want to spend extra time in the kitchen, but I do know many boomer girls who like to work out at the gym including your BFF.)

Laura is my BFF and a very smart registered dietitian.

As a special guest blogger, Laura provided these simple tips to help boomer girls stay fit and fabulous:

- Firstly, eat three reasonable meals a day. Don’t go more than 5 hours without eating something. Yes, it has to do with insulin levels, but there’s no point in making it more complicated than that. (I agree – breakfast, lunch and dinner – I try not to miss a meal.)

- Second, eat vegetables and fresh fruit as often as you can. No one ever got fat from eating too much fruit. (I’m glad I love fruit – blueberries, strawberries, raspberries, apples, oranges, pears, grapes.)

- Thirdly, choose lower fat dairy products. We eat too much rich cheese on everything. (I really like the Sargento Reduced Fat Cheeses. You can buy slices or shredded varieties.)

- Fourthly, take a walk every day, weather permitting. Or find another way to keep moving that feels comfortable. It’s also a mood lifter. (Walking does it for me – oh where is that pedometer?)

- And lastly, every day reward yourself with something yummy of about 100 calories—1/2 oz. of chocolate, a small yogurt, a tablespoon of peanut butter on celery, or a snack bag of crackers or cookies. Sometimes just knowing a treat awaits you later makes it easier to hold out against indulging too much earlier in the day. (My treat of the day has to be dark chocolate – my boyfriend L has converted me – it’s the best.)

“Common sense may not be sexy, but it’s all one really needs,” adds Laura.

Now you see why Laura is my BFF? She is so smart!

If you would like to be entered into the raffle to win a copy of “The Digest Diet,” leave a comment on my blog about how you stay fit and fabulous during your life after 50. Or “like” Judi Boomer Girl on Facebook or “follow” judiboomergirl on Twitter and leave your comment there. Deadline for entry is March 31, 2013.

Judi

A Caregiver Needs Body Care Too

Posted on March 4, 2013 by Judi

Last week in yoga class my Zen card said “body care.” I wondered if it was trying to tell me something. Am I not listening to the signs of stress that are all around me? As a member of the sandwich generation, worrying about my adult kids (I’m a mom I have to worry about my kids even if they are all grown up) and worrying about my elderly mom (who has been ill since the new year), I often forget to give my own body the “body care” it needs.

Not sleeping enough, not eating the right foods, not taking time to slow down and relax. Running, running, running. “Must squeeze all my exercise into the weekend,” I told my body last Saturday. “Think I will do it all – yoga, bicycling, walking, running, lifting weights.” My body did not react well – it fought back with aches and pains.

This week I listened to an online chat with Dr. John Whyte, author of AARP New American Diet: Lose Weight, Live Longer. Dr. Whyte provided some helpful tips on ways busy caregivers can take better care of themselves. Here’s some of Dr. Whyte’s advice:

- Dr. Whyte says that “people who walk more throughout life have greater brain volume than those who walk less.” He says that “there are approximately 2000 steps in one mile and that most active people average about 2000 steps a day.” (I consider myself an active person but I don’t know if I am walking a mile a day. Ooh, ooh, ooh, I think I will take that old pedometer out of my junk drawer tomorrow and see if I am walking 2000 steps.)

- Dr. Whyte says that “our basal metabolic rate (BMR), basically our internal furnace, slows down as we age.” That’s why we can gain weight more easily. He says that to balance our BMR we either need to eat less or exercise more. (I vote for the exercise – but I must stop being a weekend athlete and improve my fitness management.)

- Dr. Whyte says that “foods from the Mediterranean diet are some of the best foods to eat such as: fish for heart health” (yep, I eat fish at least 2-3 times a week); blueberries – Dr. Whyte says that “these berries are packed with powerful antioxidants to keep the blood vessels in our heart and brain healthy” (yep, I eat organic blueberries every day for lunch with my yogurt); ”nuts in moderation” (yep, I sprinkle walnuts on my salad); and “drink more water” (yep, I carry my water bottle to work each day).

- Dr, Whyte says that “it is not surprising that added stress can cause weight gain.” He says that “It is often related to the hormone cortisol. Cortisol is a hormone that usually can be very helpful. It provides glucose to the body for energy when there is a stressful situation that requires you to have more energy or to be more alert. However, chronic stress will cause cortisol levels to be high chronically and this is not a good thing for your body.”

Dr. Whyte says that “In this situation, the elevated cortisol levels cause high blood sugar which will cause a series of other reactions which will cause you to store fat as well as hold onto it, making it very difficult to shed the pounds.”

My cortisol levels are definitely elevated of late – juggling full-time work events and readying my second career as a writer and blogger post retirement, refinancing my “condo on the corner at the shore,” managing my mom’s health concerns and caregiving from afar – she is in Flo-ree-da and my sister N and I are in NJ and NY…and how can I forget all the paperwork involved with preparing my 2012 taxes for the accountant this month.

I must take heed and listen to my Zen card. If I don’t take my “body care” seriously no one else will…and I want my body to stay healthy during my life after 50.

So,so, so, tonight I am going to enjoy a nutrient rich dinner with my boyfriend L. What’s on the menu? Glad you asked. We’ll start with a nice green salad with a few Greek black olives and sprinkling of walnuts, followed by baked salmon topped with hickory barbecue sauce and accompanied by a beta-carotene rich sweet potato. If we have dessert it will surely be dark chocolate.

Then I am going to relax and listen to the wonderful music of Deva Premal & Miten as their spiritual chants lull me to sleep.

While I am a member of AARP’s Kitchen Cabinet on Caregiving, note that all opinions are my own. I encourage all those who are caregivers to check out the AARP Caregiving Resource Center for more helpful tips. It truly is a wonderful resource, especially for those who are new to caregiving.

Judi

Cheers To A Healthy Heart After 50

Posted on February 26, 2013 by Judi

I would be remiss if I did not have a “heart to heart” conversation with you this month about keeping your heart healthy. Yes, boomer girls, I’m talking to you. Have you had your cholesterol checked lately? If not, this month is a great time to get your lab work done. February is National Heart Month and there are few more days left in the month.

I had my cholesterol checked since I was having issues with the new statin drug Crestor that my cardiologist had given me awhile ago. I was only taking about 3 pills a week at the time but my muscles began to ache around my knees and hips. I thought it was from exercising, but it turned out that even with a very small dosage my body was not welcoming any form of statin.

“What should I do?” I asked my doctor at the time. “There’s nothing more we can try. Just go off everything for now and let’s retest in a few months,” said my cardiologist Dr. P.

My general practitioner Dr. S reviewed my most recent lab results during my wellness check up:

Cholesterol 241 mg/dL – that’s high according to the American Heart Association (AHA) charts. (Uh oh! Oh no! That’s bad.)

HDL 92 mg – Let’s see, the AHA website says that “high HDL cholesterol 60 mg/dL and above is considered protective against heart disease. (Yeah, that’s good.)

Triglycerides 64 mg/dL – AHA says less than 100 mg/dL is optimal. (Wahoo! I’m really doing good with my triglycerides.)

LDL 136 mg/dL – AHA says 130 to 159 mg/dL is borderline high. (Uh oh! Oh no! That’s bad.)

So I have two good numbers and two bad numbers. What should I do? What should I do?

“Your profile isn’t that bad. And your glucose is 87 mg/dL so you are not diabetic” said Dr. S. “Keep taking your fish oil, watch your diet and keep exercising. We’ll check your cholesterol again in a few months.”

I felt a bit better after my visit to Dr. S. I was glad that I had my labs done and am feeling much better – no more aches since I went off the statin drug. I will visit my cardiologist as well next month for my annual heart health checkup.

In the winter issue of the Cooper Hospital Health Connection, Cooper cardiologists report that the symptoms that can signal a heart attack can be different for women versus men. Symptoms for women include:

- Indigestion, nausea

- Burning in chest

- Pain radiating to back, jaw and shoulders

- Dizziness

- Onset sudden, overwhelming fatigue

I also went and bought a jar of aspirin to have in the house just in case I ever have symptoms of a heart attack and need to chew an aspirin while I dial 911.

The New York Times journalist Annahad O’Connor writes in her article “Really? During a Heart Attack, Dial 911 and Chew an Aspirin?” that “Some people may suspect that chewing an aspirin, which inhibits platelet activity that could block arteries during an attack, makes little difference. But a study in The American Journal of Cardiology highlighted its importance. In a group of 12 subjects tested in a laboratory, chewing an aspirin tablet for 30 seconds before swallowing on an empty stomach prompted a 50 percent reduction in platelet activity in five minutes. It took 12 minutes to achieve the same effect when the aspirin was swallowed whole.”

O’Connor further writes that “Dr. Noel Bairey Merz, director of the Barbra Streisand Women’s Heart Center at the Cedars-Sinai Heart Institute in Los Angeles, said people who suspect they are having an attack should chew one full-strength tablet, which is 325 milligrams. But most important, she added, is to “get to an emergency room.” (I hear you Dr. Merz and I will listen if this ever happens to me…and thank you Barbara Streisand for all you do for women’s heart health…oh yes, and you sang a beautiful tribute to Marvin Hamlisch at the Oscars last night, my favorite song “Memories.”)

I hope to keep my baby boomer heart beating healthfully during my life after 50. Better not eat too many pieces of blueberry pie – instead I’ll try to enjoy my blueberries with a little non-fat frozen yogurt .

Cheers to heart health. How are you keeping your cholesterol down? Do please share a tip or two.

Judi

P.S. – Note if you are receiving my posts via email subscription and would like to leave a comment, just click on my name and it will take you to my blog and you can leave a comment.

Dark Chocolate and Love For Valentine’s Day

Posted on February 8, 2013 by Judi

Next week is Valentine’s Day and there’s no better way to celebrate than to show yourself some love during your life after 50 and enjoy some dark chocolate.

Like a good yogi, I set an intention at the beginning of 2013 and my intention was to love myself more this year. Part of loving myself more is to get more sleep, say “no” to more things instead of trying to “do it all,” and take time to practice my mindfulness meditation. Ah yes…and to enjoy dark chocolate.

Leave a comment and enter to win a box of GODIVA Dark Chocolates. Read below for details.

In this month’s AARP Bulletin, Nissa Simon includes “choosing chocolate” as one of her “10 Tips For Better Health.” Nissa says that “Dark chocolate is rich in plant compounds called flavonoids, natural antioxidants that help the body’s cells resist damage that may contribute to cancer and other maladies. In addition to their antioxidant properties, flavonoids help lower blood pressure, improve blood flow to the brain and heart, raise ‘good’ HDL cholesterol levels and lower ‘bad LDL levels – all of which protect against heart attack and stroke.”

No wonder my boyfriend L eats dark chocolate every day, he is so smart. Maybe that’s why he is a healthy boomer guy! I’ll definitely have to give him a gift of dark chocolate for Valentine’s Day.

Nissa quotes Dr. Richard Stein, professor of medicine at New York University School of Medicine, regarding reaping the benefits. She says Dr. Stein recommends that you “choose dark chocolate that contains at least 70 percent cacao, or cocoa” and “advises to limit yourself to about an ounce a day since dark chocolate does contain calories.”

I visited the GODIVA boutique at Rockefeller Center, NYC, to see their interactive pop-up kissing booth created entirely out of chocolate.

After reading all this wonderful info about dark chocolate, I called up my wonderful friends at GODIVA Chocolatier and they agreed to provide a box of dark chocolates for my Valentine’s Day raffle. So boomer girls…do you want to know how you can win a box of dark chocolates? Do ya? Do ya? Do ya?

Okay, okay, okay, I’ll tell you. All you have to do is share a comment on this blog post about how you are ‘going to love yourself more in 2013′ (or join Judi Boomer Girl on Facebook or follow Twitter@judiboomergirl and leave your comment there). One lucky winner will be chosen at random to win a GODIVA Dark Chocolate Assortment Box (retail value $36). Deadline for comments ends on V-Day February 14th, so leave your comments now. (Note: Boomer guys and Boomlets can enter the raffle too. Okay, okay, okay – all generations can enter. The more the merrier.)

If you want to win other GODIVA chocolates you can enter their “Share the Love” Photo Sweepstakes, which encourages consumers to upload and share photos of themselves with their loved ones on the GODIVA Facebook page and website GODIVA.com, for an opportunity to win and share the grand prize of free GODIVA chocolate with 500 of their beloved Facebook friends. All entrants to the 2013 “Share Your Love” sweepstakes receive 25% off one GODIVA item at GODIVA boutiques or 25% off an $80 purchase at GODIVA.com.

Remember to love yourself during your life after 50 and have a happy and healthy Valentine’s Day!

Judi

P.S. Please take time out to vote for your favorite boomer blogger. Tell your friends to vote too. My blog is a finalist for SeniorHomes.com Best Senior Living Award for ‘best boomer resources.’ Click here to vote. Deadline is February 18th.

Hillary Clinton and Me…Retiring? Not Really!

Posted on February 1, 2013 by Judi

I loved, loved, loved Gail Collin’s Op-Ed in the New York Times today. “Take A Bow, H.C.” was the title and it was all about Hillary Clinton and her retirement from her role as Secretary of State. Like Gail, I’ve followed Hillary’s career from First Lady, to Senator of New York, to her run for President (I voted for H.C. in the primary and wanted her to win), to Secretary of State these past four years. What a mentor she has been to boomer girls like me.

“Women of Clinton’s generation have a special bond with her because she encapsulates their story. She spoke for their rebel youth at her Wellesley graduation, demanding ‘a more immediate, ecstatic, and penetrating mode of living’ than the older generation ever knew,” says Gail.

While I am 10 years younger than Hillary, I too feel a special bond with H.C, as Gail calls her. After all, like Hillary, I am also retiring from my executive job in 2013. Though I may not have visited as many countries or tracked as many miles, or conducted as many meetings as Hillary, I do feel a sense of accomplishment after raising two wonderful children, being a devoted wife for 24 years, and climbing the corporate ladder for 35+ years almost 30 of those years with my current employer. (Time out, I’ll have to do a recount because if I add up all the meetings I have attended or produced in my career they may equal Hillary’s list. Okay, maybe not, since Gail says Hillary had 1,700 meetings with world leaders the past four years. You win Hillary. You win.)

“So it’s understandable that people are questioning how long the resting part of her future will last,” writes Gail. Is she really retiring at 65? Being a Type A person like Hillary, I know she will not rest for long and nor will I.

“It sounds like you are going to be busier in your retirement than you are now,” said my friends J and D this weekend as we gathered around my kitchen table for a leisurely brunch. I told them all the things I wanted to do in my second act – write a memoir, continue my blogging, study yoga, grow a garden full of flowers, learn how to make gelato, take writing courses, teach blogging classes, start sewing again, try spinning at the gym, volunteer for a non-profit board, read books, read magazines (the same month I get them), go to AARP and BlogHer conferences, learn how to use all the features on my Macbook computer, iPhone and iPad, see my friends and family, do more cooking, spend more time with my boyfriend L, visit my mom in Flo-ree-da. Maybe get some part-time consulting jobs. Travel to France with my adult kids A and D. (Ooh, ooh, ooh, our trip is all booked. I’m so excited. We’re going to Paris to eat croissants, Provence to smell the lavender and Nice for the beach.) If I survive my trip to France and have any money left, maybe I’ll travel to other countries as well.

I’ve been working on my transformation for the past five years since losing my husband M. I’m a different person than I was five years ago. I’m ready for a second act (and maybe even a third in my lifetime) and in a few months a new act will be ready for me.

Hey Hillary, thank you for all you’ve done for our country. Listen, if you want to run for President after you take a little nap, let me know. I’m sure I can find some extra time to help you with your campaign. From one Type A boomer girl to another…you can count on me.

Hillary Clinton and me…retiring? Not really.

Judi

P.S. Please take time out to vote for your favorite boomer blogger. Tell your friends to vote too. My blog is a nominee for SeniorHomes.com Best Senior Living Award for ‘best boomer resources.’ Click here to vote. Deadline is February 18th.

P.S. again. Watch next week for my special Valentine’s Day promotion. How are you loving yourself more in 2013? Share your comments and you may win a box of Godiva chocolates. Stay tuned.