As an alternative, I tear pieces of deli turkey and eat them with forkfuls (or pinches or handfuls) of arugula. The strong arugula flavor dominates and all you need is the blandest turkey to add texture as well as protein.

Sometimes instead of turkey I use thinly sliced prosciutto with lettuce or arugula or spinach—only a slice or two at a time of the meat.

Prosciutto wrapped with asparagus is another delight and, though it seems important when served at a cocktail party, all you need is some leftover asparagus stalks and a slice of prosciutto for a quick snack to eat over the sink or for a pleasing lunch on a plate.

Speaking of leftover asparagus, I always make at least double veggies, so I’ll have some for the following day. Try swishing cold or room temp leftover broccoli in a vinaigrette or simply in oil and your fave vinegar. YUM!

Tip: In the above photo, you’ll see cinnamon that I have sprinkled on the counter; this is a natural repellant to the ants that aim to take up residence in my kitchen this time of year.

I remember very clearly sexist remarks when I was just starting my career in Corporate America in the 1980s. I actually had a male boss who expressed his concern on my ability to succeed in sales because of the “golf“ situation. His reasoning was that men do not want to play golf with women and business was done on the golf course. At that time, he was correct. I had to work harder in building relationships than my male counterparts.

Some business is still done on the links and the courts, and some relationship building is done over food and drink. Because the IRS and Corporations monitor a very careful eye on these outings, most business is done in offices or remotely. What this means is that relationships in business are harder to achieve.  A common interest is key. Religion and politics are still a slippery slope best not crossed. Family, children, vacations, hobbies, schools, these are all bonding topics. What about health issues and specifically menopause?

Recently the topic of elderly parents and their care among other baby boomers has eclipsed the children topic in my experience. To those who had children late in life or a blended family along with the aging parent, empathy for the sandwiched person is appreciated completely. This person’s connection is, make my life less stressful, can your company or product do that for me?

I recently was invited to speak at an office. The young woman who led me to the conference room made a comment about how cold it was in the office because the higher ups like it that way. She surmised that it was to encourage better performance. She also told me it was a good day because a particular person was in good mood. Her insinuation was this person, who was the individual who invited me, was subject to mood swings.

I obviously knew why it was cold in the office. I also knew this person did not really suffer mood swings, but this young women did not have a clue. I immediately erased any menopause jokes from my talk. I wanted to tell this woman menopause is the reason it is chilly and it will happen to you too but I didn’t cross the business taboo line. In this office menopause was taboo.

Have you experienced menopause still being on the ‘no talk’ list?

Rules to Remember

Having bad knees is a lifestyle. If you have chronic pain or had it in the past, you have to make some changes not just for now, but for always. Remember a few important rules about exercising with bad knees to avoid doing any more damage or causing yourself more pain. Stick to the rules, and there’s no reason you can’t enjoy a wide variety of healthy exercise routines.

Don’t over-bend. You don’t ever want to bend in a way that places your knees out over your toes; this causes far too much pressure. This is a rule you must follow at all times, no matter what sort of movement you are practicing. Avoid full squats and any exercise involving a lot of jumping. Tennis and basketball are probably out of the question. Hard running can be particularly hard on the knees, particularly cross-country running. However, a light jog across an even surface may be okay.

The Secret Life of Knees

“I’ve been having a personal learning experience about aging knees.” Can you relate to VN member Shannon Ingram? She knows what bad knees are like…she’s got one. “Many people I know have had one or both knees replaced in the past couple of years.  Each time I heard about another knee operation, I thanked my lucky stars that my own knees were functioning perfectly.”

Until she agreed to dog-sit. Feeding the dog turned into a tragic comedy of errors and Shannon ended up climbing a fence four times, only to come down on her knee funny and do damage. For some, age and time wears away at the knees. For others, it’s an injury.

Knee pain can be caused by any number of reasons, and happens to people who are very active and those who are quite sedentary. Anyone can experience it, though certain factors do make knee pain more likely. Laying tile for a living, for instance, will put you at risk.

If you have chronic knee pain, you should also have a physician and perhaps a physical therapist. They will give you certain flexibility and strength-building exercises to perform that target the knee in order to lessen and prevent joint pain. It’s unlikely that these exercises are designed for fitness, however. You still need to know which exercises you can perform to maintain a healthy body weight and enjoy physical activity – exercises that won’t put any strain on your knees.

How to Exercise

“I have bad knees and neck from a car accident…I would love to find a fun and comfortable way to lose [weight] and not wind up in the emergency hospital.” Many Vibrant Women can relate to VN member KAMS. She doesn’t know which exercises are safe, or how to do them. Having little to no knowledge of exercise can be dangerous, because if you attempt movements you don’t understand you might harm yourself.

“You can never go wrong with walking!” VN member Tamara suggests “a good 45 minute to one hour” walk to get healthy cardio exercise. Do it once a day, and you’ll stay more slim and trim.

“Being in the water while even just walking slowly is a good form of low impact exercise.  But I emphasize slowly,” recommends VN member anir.

Partial squats and other low-impact exercises can be perfectly safe even if you have bad knees. Focus on maintaining the correct form to avoid doing any damage. Step-ups, leg lifts and leg raises can all be very effective toning exercises. If you speed up the pace, you can even get a slight cardio workout. Avoid lunges, deep squats and stretches that force you to bend your knees out over your toes. Swimming is great exercise for bad knees. Cycling and walking at slow paces are also fine for most, but check with your physician first.

Learn how to exercise when you have bad knees, and stay in shape despite your joint pain. Don’t let your knees keep you from looking how you like or moving how you want. You really can have it all – including less knee pain.

What to Eat at Midlife: Fitness fads to avoid, diet plans that work, and healthy weight loss strategies recommended by women over 45 is a FREE ebook. Where may we email your FREE report and handy tips?   Rest assured, we don’t send spam and your info is never shared with 3rd parties.

Exercise Helps…Really!

A study conducted by UCLA researchers shows that exercise can actually make back pain better – or at least, keep it from getting worse. They studied patients with chronic lower back pain for 18 months, and discovered that those who exercised regularly were 31 percent less likely to experience increased pain and disability than those who did not exercise.

In other words, you need to exercise in order to stay mobile and experience less pain. But you probably already know exercise is good for you. What you may not know is how to move and enjoy healthy activity in spite of it.

Back-Friendly Aerobic Exercises

When you want to burn calories, you’ve got to perform cardio exercises that get you sweating. But if you’ve got a bad back, you’ve got complications. Choose cardio exercise that won’t put pressure or strain on your back. Many experts recommend swimming, which gives you a feeling of weightlessness. The water relieves the weight of your muscles, allowing you to work out without pain. Simple walking can also be a very effective cardio exercises for back pain sufferers.

Yoga is an Option

VN member Renee5 had a back injury. She “was able to recover using yoga and walking and a good chiropractor. It has been a wonderful part of my life.”

She’s got a good philosophy for staying active in spite of injury: “You just have to do what you can do… You will really enjoy it if you take it slow.” She advises finding a yoga instructor, or perhaps a gym offering different options for yoga classes.

“It’s great for you,” says VN member sunflower1912 of yoga. “Keeps your muscles…[and] joints limber.”

Yoga puts a lot of focus on stretching, which is good for muscles and joints. Maintaining a high degree of flexibility can help to even lessen back pain and help you stay generally mobile and active.

…But There Are Others

“The problem with yoga (for me) is that they want you to sit on the floor, and I can’t because of my back,” explains VN member crystalli. But there is light at the end of her tunnel. “I happened to notice in the activities portion of the local paper, a class for chair yoga.”

You may not always be physically able to perform traditional workout routines, including the same routines you used to do when you were in your 20s and 30s. Your body has changed, and that means the way you approach exercise needs to change as well. If you can’t lay on the floor and do yoga, maybe you can still do it in a chair.

Once you start looking at your options, you’ll find that you have a lot of them.

“If you have a YMCA close they provide some wonderful alternatives,” suggests VN member Bekah. She recommends “SilverStreakers the over 50 group.” At her Y, this program offers sitting yoga stretching and aquatic (water-based) exercise. “They have Pilates and several other programs,” she adds.

Look for gyms and programs that are designed for you. Who knows? If you keep your eyes peeled, you may even find an exercise class for over-40 women with bad backs who still want to look great.

What to Eat at Midlife: Fitness fads to avoid, diet plans that work, and healthy weight loss strategies recommended by women over 45 is a FREE ebook. Where may we email your FREE report and handy tips?   Rest assured, we don’t send spam and your info is never shared with 3rd parties.

It’s Never Easy

Even if you don’t have back problems, sticking to a regular exercise routine can feel a little nightmarish. It eats away at your time. It makes muscles sore. It makes you sweat and smell bad. But if you stick with it, you’ll have a reason to celebrate every day. You’ll have a reason to feel good about yourself. You’ll also be healthier and look better if you stick with it long enough, so there are lots of rewards.

“Motivation is Everything,” says VN member Bonny North. “I got really clear about why I wanted to get in shape.” Bonny lost a lot of extra pounds that appeared when she went through menopause. When her youngest graduated from college, she decided to make a change. “The desire to be as strong and healthy as possible for as long as possible became my motivation.”

What’s yours? Find what motivates you to stay in shape and keep up the exercise, and remind yourself of it as often as needed.

“Baby steps are the key,” advises photogirl, who began successfully losing weight after changing her diet and exercise routine.

Exercising with a bad back takes a little more care. You want to be precise with your movements, and you want to discuss your exercise routine with your physician and/or physical therapist. Healthy exercise is good for you and your back as long as you’re going about it the right way. Find the program that works for you and doesn’t cause you pain, and stick to it.

I was delighted to read that the big retailers were actually beginning to take some responsibility and were banding together to sign the Accord on Fire and Building Safety.

Here are the retailers that signed:

• Marks and Spencer
• Benetton
• H&M
• PVH (Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger)
• Abercrombie & Fitch

Now would you believe that 14 retailers have refused to sign? They are:

• Walmart
• Gap
• Macy’s
• Sears/Kmart
• JCPenney
• VF Corp.
• Target
• Kohl’s
• Cato Fashions
• Carter’s
• Nordstrom
• American Eagle Outfitters
• The Children’s Place
• Foot Locker

I will not be supporting any of the above retailers ever again – even if they sign. It is unforgiveable that they even hesitated.

But I want to put another perspective on this. It is my belief that work should be joy, and I have been a crusader for this. But this situation has caused me to really think hard on a few things:

1. For most people in the world, work is drudgery, little removed from slave labour. Can you work with joy when you are locked up in some 9-story building with cracks in the wall, insufferable heat and overcrowding? Can you work with joy when you, as a migrant worker spend 7 days per week digging potatoes or reaping strawberries?
2. How do you have joy at work when you work for one of the 14 companies above and know how much they are contributing to human suffering?
3. How do you have joy at work when you are the CEO of one of these companies, and your salary gets bigger and bigger the more you are able to drive costs in Bangladesh and other places down?

Do I have to rethink “Joy at Work”? Maybe. It’s occurring to me that “Joy at work” is a privilege that we in the Western world (and not all of us by any stretch) can even consider. For most of the 7 billion people in the world, they are happy for any work. So my questions to everyone are:

• Are we willing to pay a higher price for that T-shirt, pants, dress?
• Are we willing to bypass the 14 retailers above, no matter how conveniently located they are?
• If you are a CEO, are you willing to look deep within yourself and recognize that your joy cannot be removed from the joy of the Bangladeshi factory worker?
• If you are an investor, are you willing to accept lower returns in exchange for human dignity and LIFE?
• Are we willing to wipe the blood of at least 1,100 desperate and now dead factory workers from our hands?

BTW – here’s the story about the Accord: www.filmsforaction.org

"Adonai" by alexander Liberman

Art and Nature at Storm King Art Center

This week I was at a unique site called Storm King Art Center in the Hudson River Valley, about an hour north of New York City. It is a 500-plus acre sculpture park and museum that features a permanent collection of works by a variety of masters such as Alexander Calder, Barbara Hepworth, Jeff Koons, and Roy Lichtenstein. A main feature is thirteen large sculptures by David Smith, placed around the grounds, and there are some magnificent works by Alexander Liberman.

The museum has nine galleries in a chateau-style building with windows that allow the outside to be part of the display. Large sculptures are integrated into the landscape of lawns, fields, hills, and forests, making every view a combination of art and nature. Maya Lin used the land itself in “Storm King Wavefield” to create a sculpture of seven wavy hills that generate a sense of movement and flow. Andy Goldsworthy wound an elegant stone wall through the woods. It is hard to resist the urge to feel the texture of the materials used and to move amid the various forms; alas, there is a no touch, no climb rule.

Mother Nature adds spectacularly artful panoramas at every turn. A broad expanse of meadows leads the eye to green hills and a cloud-flecked sky that provide a perfect backdrop for trees, artistic forms, birds, and dreams. It is hard not to be engaged with the site. It is a call to reconnect with one’s inner self through the art of man and the glory of nature.

For a brief overview of Storm King and links to some artists: Storm King Art Center

For photos of the sculptures: Storm King Art Center: Pictures

1) The role of SPONSORS vs. Mentors
2) How to find a SPONSOR
3) What to expect from a SPONSOR
4) What SPONSORS expect from you.

Those are all questions that serve the mentee or sponsored individual much more so than the Mentor or SPONSOR. Each role has very often different parameters, benefits and expectations.

This blog post deals with the role of SPONSORS vs. Mentors; and how to find a SPONSOR. Part 2 will address what to expect from SPONSORS and what SPONSORS expect from you.

Mentors are usually informal advisors and

counselors, perhaps your supervisors, teachers, colleagues or even – and most especially for professionals over 50 – former direct reports you trust. “Mentor” comes from the Greek guide who helped Odysseus on his legendary journey; therefore there’s both an implication and an inference of altruism. Don’t ignore or neglect to maintain good relationships with younger professionals you helped early in your career, as they may be in good positions to help you later…as Mentors or SPONSORS.

Typical roles of Mentors:

• …provide guidance, opinion and perhaps difficult to obtain information and introductions that could be useful for your job or career.
• …are good sounding boards that can help steer you as you refine your goals, consider your options and develop an action plan.
• …can be short-term or long-term advisors, and they usually get satisfaction from the fact that their wisdom, experience and expertise are valued.

A SPONSOR, on the other hand, is someone in usually a more elevated position of power or influence, with crucial connections. The SPONSOR is a guarantor, patron and ambassador of your strengths, motivations, knowledge and aptitudes – an advocate for you to someone with whom they have a strong reciprocal relationship, often one of “quid pro quo.” SPONSORS open doors to places that other people don’t even know exist, and they have levers others may only suspect, wish for, or deny exist. In many cases, the SPONSOR acts as a protector and defender – hence, the most literal defining characteristic of an advocate.

Mentors and SPONSORS can be the same people, and I have served in both capacities. Mentors are slightly easier to cultivate and engage. The SPONSOR relationship is a different construct, and involves considerable more work and responsibility, depending on the environment and your goals.

Here are a few tips on how to find a SPONSOR, depending on your goals:

1. Internal advancement: Volunteer to contribute to important task forces and committees whose leaders are executives of considerable power, influence and connections. Many SPONSORS pick the people they think will be stars in the organization, and champion them accordingly.
2. External visibility, advancement, job hunting: Join at least three professional organizations where you can assume active committee roles that will increase your visibility and enhance your capacity to engage influential executives with the power and inclination to SPONSOR you – for your next job, promotion, etc. This includes becoming active as a volunteer or board member for a nonprofit that you respect and whose leadership you admire.
3. Prospect Cultivation, Solicitation and Client Engagement. Serving on professional organizations’ committees is crucial for executives who work in consulting as SPONSORS can recommend them to clients. SPONSORS alert consultants to account movement so they can gain entrée to new business before other firms do. Consultants have to be extremely good at what they do, as referrals and other testimonials are prime SPONSOR currency.