1) Canteloupe – One serving has just 46 calories and nearly a day’s worth of vitamins A & C. It’s also a very good source of potassium. Eating it raw or making a fruit salad with a little feta and mint makes a delicious summer lunch.

2) Zucchini – Wow, only 29 calories in one cup and is high in fiber, vitamins A, C and K and also potassium. It also adds bulk and substance to your diet. Zucchini is versatile in that it can be grilled, eaten raw, stuffed, made into chips or used to replace noodles in homemade lasagna.

3) Eggplant – This purple beauty is a good source of vitamins B6 & K as well as being a very good source of fiber. It is also low in calories and contains antioxidants that fight disease. The purple color is a cue that it will benefit the heart and memory. Prepare it sautéed, grilled or cubed in a stir fry or on a sandwich.

4) Blackberries – Blackberries are a good source of potassium and vitamins E, C, K & manganese. They are also loaded with fiber and antioxidants. Other benefits include protecting the heart and lowering blood pressure. They add a nice taste to a glass of ice water or seltzer or add them to salads. Blackberries are popular in baked goods as well.

5) Yellow Summer Squash – This is also known as “crookneck or straightneck” squash. It is rich in fiber, vitamins C, K, and potassium and has very few calories. Prepare it grilled, in a summer soup or be creative and use it as a pizza topping.

A culinary tip: A grilling basket or tray is a very easy way to prepare veggies alongside your main meal on the grill. It makes for easy clean up and no mess in the kitchen!
Let us know which summer super foods are your favorite…Comment Below

Read more here: Super Foods

Eat Plenty of Summer Super Foods for a Healthier Diet!

​Fall decor is abundant in the stores and online. However, don’t forget about shopping at thrift stores and second hand stores. When people clean out cupboards, drawers and closets, they get rid of seasonal items as well as normal everyday items.

Images - Courtesy of Pinterest

Busy, busy, busy. It seems, as the years flow into the future, we’ve become busier, more to do, extra to witness, goals to achieve. It is a truth that our existence relies on the necessity that we stay active. But are we experiencing the correct type of activities? Namely, Gym-Time! 

Hark! I hear a communal justification for not exercising, “I don’t have the time”. Let’s be honest, we can all find the time to exercise. I don’t believe it’s due to not having the time, I believe it is due to when and the time it takes to exercise. 

People are busy, we all have our lives to lead. But we, as a society, have grown to expect immediate results; we have become impatient and have grown indolent. As a result, our overall health is declining. So how do you find time to exercise? I’m taking you back to school. 

First you should identify the time of day that it is best for you to exercise. Everyone is different so you must discover what is best for you. To ascertain, ask yourself these questions: 

When am I at my best during the day? 

When do I have the most energy? 

At what point in the day is my mood at its best? 

My answer to these questions is The Morning. I rise early and start my day around 4:30am. I allow myself time to wake up, drink coffee, and take care of natural needs. Then I head to the stationary bike and crank out 25 miles. Later that morning I will consume nourishment, tend to business, and then head to the gym for resistance training. Then shortly after 11am I will complete my day’s training with cardio, usually one of my High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) sessions I designed. I schedule my day so all my exercising will be complete before noon. The paramount reason for this is due to the fact that I am not at my best past early afternoon. 

Now, that is MY exercising time frame. This is just an example. Many would not want to devote 3+ hours to exercise. I do, because it’s my passion and my job. Obviously, yours needn’t be so strenuous and time consuming. Remember, it has been recommended that older adults engage in moderate physical activities at least 2 times per week and strength training 2 times a week. Your Personal Trainer Will recommends an equivalent mix of moderate- and vigorous-intensity aerobic activity 3 times a week and strength training 2 or more days a week. 

The next step is to break up your workouts. I recommend doing cardio/aerobics as early as possible. Doing cardio/aerobics late in the evening may disrupt your sleep. Also, starting your day with cardio/aerobics will give you energy throughout the day. 

Next, weight/strength training. If you must do cardio and strength training on the same day, I recommend performing strength training 2 hours after cardio, even better would be the afternoon. This will allow your body time to recover so you can get the most out of the strength training. The most achievable plan would be to alternate cardio and weight training on different days. The weekly program would look something like this: Monday, Wednesday, Friday cardio in the morning, Tuesday and Thursday (Saturday if you feel strong) weight/strength training in the morning. You can substitute the time of day to best suit your needs. 

Lastly, establish a routine. In the beginning a new routine will seem tough. Just stick with it. Be consistent. Soon you will develop a routine and exercising will become second nature. New healthy habits take approximately 14-21 days to become routine; often this can be achieved in fewer than 14 days. Tough out the first week and by the second you’ll be on your way to a new healthy you. I know you can do it! 

If you would like assistance in getting a routine started, please contact us at contactus@khronologyfit.com . We can set you up with an exercise routine and specialized diet plan that will change your life! 

Khronology - Functional Fitness and Nutrition

Do you find yourself holding on to things just in case you need them? We don’t let go because we might need something in some far-off, nonexistent and probably hypothetical future. We keep too much stuff in the very remote chance that we might need something for trips, vacations or everyday use!

We don't need to hold on to these possessions for that "just in case" moment!  We rarely use our just-in-case items—they sit there, take up space, get in the way, and weigh us down. Most of the time they aren’t items we need at all.

The truth of the matter is that when we remove the "just-in-case" items from our lives, we get them out of the way and free up the space they consume. And, that is a very liberating feeling!

We are sharing a technique that is the "brain child" of Joshua & Ryan, "The Minimalists"! They "practice what they preach" and have found a sense of freedom by not having lots of "just-in-case possessions. The technique is called: that 20/20 Rule.

They got rid of or didn't pack anything "just in case". If you can replace an item for less than $20 in less than 20 minutes don't worry about it. This results in less "things" in your possession on a daily basis and less to pack when traveling.

Josh & Ryan found this hypothesis has become a theory that has held true almost all of the time. They rarely have had to replace a just-in-case item, and they have never had to pay more than $20 or have gone more than 20 minutes out of their way to replace the item. This theory usually works 99% of the time for 99% of all items and 99% of all people—including you.

They haven’t missed the hundreds of just-in-case items they've gotten rid of, and they didn’t need to replace most of them.

Getting rid of these items will clear your mind, free up your space, and will take the weight off your shoulders.

What do you consider a "just in case" item? What are you holding on to "just in case"?

You will find more valuable information in their book:  Essential

Many of us are between 65 and death, i.e. old. My friend sent me this excellent list for aging . . . and I have to agree it's good advice to follow.

1. It’s time to use the money you saved up. Use it and enjoy it. Don’t just keep it for those who may have no notion of the sacrifices you made to get it. Remember there is nothing more dangerous than a son or daughter-in-law with big ideas for your hard-earned capital. Warning: This is also a bad time for investments, even if it seems wonderful or fool-proof. They only bring problems and worries. This is a time for you to enjoy some peace and quiet.

2. Stop worrying about the financial situation of your children and grandchildren, and don’t feel bad spending your money on yourself. You’ve taken care of them for many years, and you’ve taught them what you could. You gave them an education, food, shelter and support. The responsibility is now theirs to earn their own money.

3. Keep a healthy life, without great physical effort. Do moderate exercise (like walking every day), eat well and get your sleep. It’s easy to become sick, and it gets harder to remain healthy. That is why you need to keep yourself in good shape and be aware of your medical and physical needs. Keep in touch with your doctor, do tests even when you’re feeling well. Stay informed.

4. Always buy the best, most beautiful items for your significant other. The key goal is to enjoy your money with your partner. One day one of you will miss the other, and the money will not provide any comfort then, enjoy it together.

5. Don’t stress over the little things. Like paying a little extra on price quotes. You’ve already overcome so much in your life.You have good memories and bad ones, but the important thing is the present. Don’t let the past drag you down and don’t let the future frighten you. Feel good in the now. Small issues will soon be forgotten.

6. Regardless of age, always keep love alive. Love your partner, love life, love your family, love your neighbor and remember: “A man is not old as long as he has intelligence and affection.”

7. Be proud, both inside and out. Don’t stop going to your hair salon or barber, do your nails, go to the dermatologist and the dentist, keep your perfumes and creams well stocked. When you are well-maintained on the outside, it seeps in, making you feel proud and strong.

8. Don’t lose sight of fashion trends for your age, but keep your own sense of style. There’s nothing worse than an older person trying to wear the current fashion among youngsters. You’ve developed your own sense of what looks good on you – keep it and be proud of it. It’s part of who you are.

9. ALWAYS stay up-to-date. Read newspapers, watch the news. Go online and read what people are saying. Make sure you have an active email account and try to use some of those social networks. You’ll be surprised what old friends you’ll meet. Keeping in touch with what is going on and with the people you know is important at any age.

10. Respect the younger generation and their opinions. They may not have the same ideals as you, but they are the future, and will take the world in their direction. Give advice, not criticism, and try to remind them that yesterday’s wisdom still applies today.

11. Never use the phrase: “In my time.” Your time is now. As long as you’re alive, you are part of this time. You may have been younger, but you are still you now, having fun and enjoying life.

12. Some people embrace their golden years, while others become bitter and surly. Life is too short to waste your days on the latter. Spend your time with positive, cheerful people, it’ll rub off on you and your days will seem that much better. Spending your time with bitter people will make you older and harder to be around.

13. Do not surrender to the temptation of living with your children or grandchildren (if you have a financial choice, that is). Sure, being surrounded by family sounds great, but we all need our privacy. They need theirs and you need yours. If you’ve lost your partner (our deepest condolences), then find a person to move in with you and help out. Even then, do so only if you feel you really need the help or do not want to live alone.

14. Don’t abandon your hobbies. If you don’t have any, make new ones. You can travel, hike, cook, read, dance. You can adopt a cat or a dog, grow a garden, play cards, checkers, chess, dominoes, golf. You can paint, volunteer or just collect certain items. Find something you like and spend some real time having fun with it.

15. Even if you don’t feel like it, try to accept invitations. Baptisms, graduations, birthdays, weddings, conferences. Try to go. Get out of the house, meet people you haven’t seen in a while, experience something new (or something old). But don’t get upset when you’re not invited. Some events are limited by resources, and not everyone can be hosted. The important thing is to leave the house from time to time. Go to museums, go walk through a field. Get out there.

16. Be a conversationalist. Talk less and listen more. Some people go on and on about the past, not caring if their listeners are really interested. That’s a great way of reducing their desire to speak with you. Listen first and answer questions, but don’t go off into long stories unless asked to. Speak in courteous tones and try not to complain or criticize too much unless you really need to. Try to accept situations as they are. Everyone is going through the same things, and people have a low tolerance for hearing complaints. Always find some good things to say as well.

17. Pain and discomfort go hand in hand with getting older. Try not to dwell on them but accept them as a part of the cycle of life we’re all going through. Try to minimize them in your mind. They are not who you are, they are something that life added to you. If they become your entire focus, you lose sight of the person you used to be.

18. If you’ve been offended by someone – forgive them. If you’ve offended someone - apologize. Don’t drag around resentment with you. It only serves to make you sad and bitter. It doesn’t matter who was right. Someone once said: “Holding a grudge is like taking poison and expecting the other person to die.” Don’t take that poison. Forgive, forget and move on with your life.

19. If you have a strong belief, savor it. But don’t waste your time trying to convince others. They will make their own choices no matter what you tell them, and it will only bring you frustration. Live your faith and set an example. Live true to your beliefs and let that memory sway them.

20. Laugh. Laugh A LOT. Laugh at everything. Remember, you are one of the lucky ones. You managed to have a life, a long one. Many never get to this age, never get to experience a full life. But you did. So what’s not to laugh about? Find the humor in your situation.

21. Take no notice of what others say about you and even less notice of what they might be thinking. They’ll do it anyway, and you should have pride in yourself and what you’ve achieved. Let them talk and don’t worry. They have no idea about your history, your memories and the life you’ve lived so far. There’s still much to be written, so get busy writing and don’t waste time thinking about what others might think. Now is the time to be at rest, at peace and as happy as you can be!

REMEMBER: “Live Your Life and Forget Your Age!”

Source - SeniorsLifestyleMag.com

An important topic that we're addressing today is "should you pay the first medical bill that you get"?

Author, Marshall Allen, "likens today's health care system to a bully, squeezing and taunting the consumer". He says you don't need to have a major surgical procedure to feel that steep out-of- pocket health care costs which also include your annual health insurance premiums and deductibles as well as an epidemic of billing mistakes are draining your pocketbook! 

According to Allen, the cost of basic health care is Americans' #1 financial concern. Allen recently wrote a book which is a guide on how to fight back against out-of-control medical costs and bills. His book is entitled, "Never Pay the First Bill: And Other Ways to Fight the Health Care System and Win".

Allen cites the perennial increase in health care prices. If you look at 2010 - 2020, workers' earnings went up 27%, family health care premiums went 55% and deductibles went up 111%. So, family premiums went up twice as fast as workers' earnings.

Some people feel as though they are uninsured, even if they are technically insured, because they are responsible for a lot of out-of-pocket costs. This is especially true if someone has a high annual
deductible. If you have a $3,000, $5,000, or $10,000 deductible, you are functionally uninsured...that's a sobering thought! Source...

Allen makes the point that he is not advocating that we should not pay our bills at all, but "that we should never pay the first bill until we have checked it to make sure it's accurately priced and accurately documented." Source...

Did you know that experts who review medical bills for a living say that almost every medical bill has some kind of an error. It's common for there to be charges for things that didn't even happen. And, it's very common to be charged more than you should be charged for something that did happen.

Allen also said, "In America, we say the customer is always right. But in health care, the insurance companies are more concerned with keeping the hospitals, doctors, nursing homes and others in their networks than they are making sure that we're satisfied with the quality of care or the accuracy of the billing. So, even if you have an error in your bill, your insurance company will just pay it!"

People get the feeling that they are on their own. There's seems to be a sense of betrayal that the American public feels. Older Americans who are caring for their older parents have experienced the higher and higher costs year after year!

That's why there is momentum to do something about this situation in the American health care system!

Allen closes this interview by saying, "It's going to be a fight. There's going to be winners and losers, because right not they're taking away more of our money than they should and they're not going to release their grip on our money without us fighting back." Source...

We invite you to read this entire interview at Next Avenue.

So many people, especially those Over 50, are looking for ways to assure better sleep!

These ten tips are simple and can be easily incorporated into your day and evening routines.
​
Getting enough sleep is important because it helps you feel better during the day.  Sleep also plays a critical role in maintaining your good health. according to The Sleep Council.

• Bad sleep is chronic. Poor sleep results in an increased risk of developing chronic conditions.
• Hormones wreak havoc. Missing out on adequate sleep can interfere with your body’s hormones.
• Compromises your immunity system. Lack of sleep can also affect your immune system.

You need to “power down” your brain  if you’re going to sleep well. Meditation is a great way to give your brain a break. Label your bedroom as a worry-free zone so you can sleep soundly.

Keep everything that relates to work or stress in a separate room which is physically separated from where you sleep. That means your phone, TV, paperwork, bills, etc., will be out of sight and, hopefully, out of mind!

Did you know that we spend 33% of our lives asleep? Therefore, improving sleep means improving 1/3 of your life!

You will find additional information and resources at the bottom of this page!

Bucket lists are a popular topic among all age groups, but especially those in their 50’s, 60’s and beyond. There was even a popular movie titled The Bucket List, released in 2007, featuring seasoned actors Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman – who played two men with terminal illnesses – who wanted to cross items off their own bucket lists before they died.
Of course, you don’t need an illness to start a bucket list. Better to begin long before your own mortality is staring you in the face. Here are some reasons you might or might not want to start and pursue you own bucket list.

Bucket List Pros:

• It’s highly motivational. Just ask someone who completed an item like hiking Machu Picchu or catching that awesome fish, or whatever it is that his or her heart desires. They can’t wait for the next adventure.
• It’s pleasing. Your bucket list items should be fun and bring you joy and a feeling of satisfaction.
• You will be following your own life plan instead of what others expect of you.
• Most of your bucket list items will probably involve others. This gives you many more chances for creating meaningful connections.
• Having important things to do can give you something to live for and actually extend your life.
  

Bucket List Cons:

• You lose some of your flexibility and spontaneity when following a prescribed list.
• You can become so focused on your bucket list, you forget to enjoy the experience. Remember, it should be about the journey more than the goal.
• You may spend too much time or money out of a compulsion to complete your items.
• If you load your list with irrational items, or take no action, this can be worse than never starting the list.
• Even if you have a rational and achievable list, you may be disappointed if you fail to achieve some of the items on your list.

To speak to the last point, it is perfectly acceptable and to be expected, that you not complete all the items on your list. In fact, if the list is easily achievable, you probably haven’t tried hard enough.

There is a Common Misperception That Bucket lists are Only for Big Items
There is a common misperception that bucket lists are only for big items, but they are really for whatever you find meaningful. Here are the types of things that can go on bucket lists:

• Places you want to see (e.g. Machu Picchu).
• People you want to spend time with (your best friend from high school).
• Physical goals you want to achieve (complete a half or full marathon).
• Things you want to learn (speak a foreign language)
• Habits you want to establish (meditate or establishing exercise routine).

I started my bucket list a dozen years ago and it is gratifying how many of the items my wife and I have completed. Here are just a few: learn to play guitar and perform in a band, take singing lessons, travel to interesting places like Russia, break 100 in golf, learn to play pickleball.

If you are looking for idea starters, try this article from developgoodhabits.com. They not only give you 553 potential bucket list items but also the following great advice for building your own list: “As you go through this list, be sure to write down the items that resonate with your “personal why.” Then add the ideas that sound like a great challenge. Then the stuff that’s fun. Then the ideas that you can share with your significant other. And finally, the ideas that will help with your self-improvement efforts.”

Remember that the bucket list is a positive endeavor – what you intend to do – and not about what you aren’t going to do. Not doing cool stuff is a common deathbed regret. And guess what my friend – you get to define what you consider cool stuff! This is a great privilege but can be wasted if you fail to write out and go make the items on your bucket list happen. What better time to start than right now? .

For more adventures in retirement...Click Here