A Midsummer Roundup

We have been back east for our annual pilgrimage to the Adirondacks. Other than being extremely hot the first few days (and I’m going to pretend there are no bugs here), it has been perfect weather for water-skiing, stand-up paddle boarding, swimming, long walks, golf, and reading on the deck.

What it has not been perfect for is long, uninterrupted stretches of time to write. So, today’s article is a collection of items I have been wanting to share, like a good book, a great article on exercise and midlife, and a recipe for the most delicious chicken among other things.

I hope you are enjoying your summer and have a few moments to enjoy the items below…

Articles to enjoy

Midlife & working out

I try to stay up to date on current thinking around exercise. And I know from personal experience that my body has changed in how it responds to exercise as I have gotten older. This article, The Best Way to Workout in Midlife, is the best summary I have seen on the topic. It is well-researched and easy to digest. I highly recommend it!

Sleeping well in the heat

As I mentioned above, it was extremely hot when we first got to the east coast. This New York Times article with tips on sleeping well in the heat caught my attention as a result.

Menopause in the workplace

In case you missed it, Elektra Health recently released the results of their Menopause in the Workplace survey. “This survey reflects the experiences of 2,000 professional women ranging from ages 40-55. Among the many important insights, their report reveals an astonishing 1 in 5 women has left a job or considered leaving a job due to menopause symptoms and poor employer support. I appreciate this survey as it helps elevate the seriousness of menopausal symptoms. 

Time Management

I like to be as efficient as possible and get as much done as possible. Therefore, I am a sucker for time management articles. This perspective, Time Management for Mortals, available on the Waking Up website (Sam Harris) is the most thought-provoking perspective on time management I have come across. Developed by Oliver Burkeman, the author of Four Thousand Weeks: Time Management for Mortals, it “calls on us to embrace our finitude and surrender to the rhythms of life so that we may “end our struggle with time” – and live with “more accomplishment, more success, and more time spent on what matters most.”

I’m taking the “what matters most” to heart today as it is my excuse for why this might go out a little late today…had to go waterskiing with my boys!

Lifestyle and dementia

A new study found “that 40% of dementias worldwide could be prevented or delayed” by addressing lifestyle risk factors. The factors are low education (not completing high school), hearing loss, traumatic brain injury, alcohol or substance abuse, hypertension, smoking, diabetes, and depression.

A delicious and easy dinner

I was fortunate to recently get to do a bike trip in Spain. On the first day, the café which had been recommended to us for a mid-morning refueling stop was closed so we kept riding in hopes of finding another. Two hours later we still hadn’t found one and I was beyond starving. We used Google Maps to see what might be near us and the only possibility was a restaurant called, Chicken King. Although I do eat chicken occasionally, I am really a veggies/fish person, but I was desperate. We made a left, rode for 2 minutes and there it was, Chicken King. Announced by a huge plastic chicken, a dirt parking lot and old, faded plastic children’s toys scattered in the weeds. Inspiring? No. The only option? Yes.

And guess what? I had the best chicken I have ever had in my life. I have managed to replicate the recipe with some success and wanted to share it here. Serve with fresh corn brushed with olive oil and cooked on the barbeque.

Recipe

Skin on chicken thighs or legs (1 per person if large, 2 or more if small)

Olive Oil (1/4 – ½ cup)

Garlic (15-20 cloves, minced)

Fresh rosemary (a ton, chopped)

1 lemon

Fresh corn (1 ear per person)

In a zip lock bag mix olive oil, garlic, salt, and rosemary. Then add chicken thighs and marinate for at least 1 hour but ideally 4-6 hours. Then barbeque on a hot grill until done. While the chicken is cooking take the leftover marinade, add more olive oil if needed and sauté until the garlic is golden brown. When done squeeze in some lemon juice. After plating the chicken, pour the sauce over and eat!

Rub corn with olive oil and grill until done.

And the best part…both the chicken and corn taste great cold for lunch the next day.

A book  

Iona Iverson’s Rules for Commuting by Clare Pooley. I enjoyed this book because of the main character. She is a 57-year-old woman struggling with but ultimately embracing the next chapter of her life with zest, energy, and ultimately a sense of what could be…

Best new thing I have tried

Ever since I had Lyme disease over 10 years ago, I have never felt like my energy came back 100%. That is until I recently started using Timeline Nutrition’s Mitopure powder. According to the company, it is “the only nutrient unlocking a precise dose of the rare Urolithin A molecule and clinically-proven to revitalize mitochondria, the energy factories” of our cells. Without question, I have noticed an improvement in strength and endurance and I have more energy.

What I am excited to try

I appreciate the power of scent to stimulate, soothe, or evoke a memory. So, I am excited to try Bach Flower Essences which a friend recently recommended. These are organic, flower-based essences meant to help balance emotions.

I’m particularly intrigued by Les Fleurs de Bach Menopause Elixir. It is formulated to address “sleep disturbances, hot flashes, and hormonally-induced mood swings.” I also want to try their newest product, Joie de Vivre, which was created “specifically for those who feel a sense of weariness and resignation – it’s a little boost to help you regain a positive attitude and a sense of joy.” Given all the craziness in the world, I feel I could use this!

Parting Thought

“The good life is a process, not a state of being. It is a direction, not a destination.” ~ Carl Rogers

See you next week…