Sonya Elliott

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AUTHOR & BASKETBALL FANATIC
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LIFE INSPIRED FITNESS: Wonder Walk

December 5, 2020 By Sonya Elliott

With shorter days, inclement weather, and a pandemic, sometimes it’s hard to find inspiration (and a place), to workout. I walk my dog, which gets me out moving, but he’s older and his walks are shorter, so they don’t do a whole lot for me. So recently, I decided to take a second walk each day, and it’s been awesome.

You might not think that walking is a workout, and granted it’s not like playing a game of basketball. But it is something that most of us can do, even if we need to get some snowshoes to do it. It’s helped me feel more fit, and just getting out of the house for some fresh air, has been good for my mental health.

According to the Mayo Clinic, a brisk walk can help you live a healthier life. It can help you to maintain a healthy weight, prevent or manage conditions like heart disease, high blood pressure and type 2 diabetes, help strengthen your bones and muscles, and improve your balance, coordination and mood.

A 2014 Stanford study, Give Your Ideas Some Legs, found that walking increased creative output by an average of 60 percent. They found that, “walking opens up the free flow of ideas, and it is a simple and robust solution to the goals of increasing creativity and increasing physical activity.”

Who can’t use a little more creativity? I know I sure can.

So on those days when you don’t feel like doing a “workout”. Give yourself a break, go for a walk and let your mind wander. You’ll actually be getting a workout and who knows what wondrous idea you’ll come up with.

 

Filed Under: Life Inspired Fitness Tagged With: Inspiring, Life, Life Inspired Fitness, Walk, walking, wonder, work out

LIFE INSPIRED FITNESS: Keep It Handy

November 13, 2020 By Sonya Elliott

I bought some dumbbells a few years ago. For a majority of the time they’ve been in a basket, on the landing at the top of the stairs. I envisioned doing yoga and exercises there in the cozy space, but for some reason that space, and the weights, rarely got used. During the summer I put the dumbbells, along with my yoga matt and a few other exercise gadgets, outside on the back patio and a used them a lot. But when the fall weather hit, up they went to the landing, where they sat.

Last week, I decided that I need to lift weights again. Although I would like to lift heavier weights, I don’t feel comfortable going to a gym right now with the pandemic, so I stationed my tiny bit of workout gear on our kitchen floor. It’s not the perfect place, but they are visable, and accessible, which in my case, makes working out, much more likely. It’s hard to ignore the pile when they stare at me while I’m standing at the kitchen island making breakfast, lunch and dinner each day.

The pile may not look that great sitting there on my kitchen floor, but gaining more tone is more important, and it’s not like I’m having company over with Covid anyway. However, when I can have people over again, maybe I’ll be a little more buffed. Whether it’s weights, your yoga matt, or your indoor bike trainer, try to store, or set up, your workout equipment where it’s handy, a place that is easy to access or maybe a spot in your house where you really enjoy going. Sometimes we need every little bit of help we can get to stay on track with our workouts. I know I do.

What helps you to stick with your workouts?

Filed Under: Life Inspired Fitness Tagged With: Inspiring, Life, Life Inspired Fitness, workout

LIFE INSPIRED FITNESS: Destination Inspiration

November 1, 2020 By Sonya Elliott

Often, simply having a destination in mind where you’d like to go, is all you need to get your body moving. Sometimes it’s a thundering waterfall or a stunning view from a mountaintop at the end of a hike, or a secluded beach at the midpoint of a bike ride. But an inspiring destination can also be as simple as your local coffee shop, where the thought of a warm cup of coffee, helps you get a mile or two in as you walk, or ride your bike, to start the day. Maybe it’s the pull of a neighborhood viewpoint where you like to walk your dog. Maybe it’s the local farmer’s market, a friendly gift shop or maybe it’s your local ballot box (a little reminder to VOTE).

Whatever the case, try using destinations for inspiration. This can help on a daily bases as well as throughout the year to change up your workouts. It’s also good to keep in mind when planning vacations. I enjoy hiking and my husband likes to bike, so we often plan our vacations with these in mind. Can we use bikes to get around the city? Can we rent mountain bikes to check out more parks, maybe ride to a lake? Is there a viewpoint to hike to? Maybe an awesome restaurant or bar that’s within walking distance (outdoor these days)?

If you’re having one of those days that you find it hard to get yourself going, think of one of your favorite spots in your neighborhood and go there. Walk, ride, or even skateboard, whatever you prefer. Or if just thinking of the destination inspires you (maybe it’s a quiet park or stairs with a view) you can even drive there and do a workout once you’re there. The key is don’t think, “I need to workout,” let that thought go. Instead think, “What sounds fun? Where can I go, what can I see, and what can I do, that I enjoy,” and use this thought process to help you get active and stay healthy.

What destinations inspire you?

 

Filed Under: Life Inspired Fitness Tagged With: bike, Hike, Life Inspired Fitness, workout

Life Inspired Fitness: Inspired by de Tour

October 14, 2020 By Sonya Elliott


Watching the Tour de France last month inspired me. I’m not out biking every day in a yellow jersey, or trying to be King of the Mountain, but I had fun following the stages and learning more about the race. And it got me excited about pulling out my bike the next sunny day. I of course know about the race, I know of Lance Armstrong (his cancer, his comeback and the controversy around him) and I’ve watched parts of the race over my lifetime. I know that the race has many stages (twenty-one to be exact), and that the winner of each stage gets to wear the yellow jersey. But that was about it.

This year I checked the leaders each day (2020 overall winner was Tadej Pogacar), and learned that with each race, a rider can win the green jersey as well as a polka dot jersey. The green jersey goes to the winner of the points classification, a secondary competition, which started in 1953. Points are given for high finishes in a stage and for winning intermediate sprints, and these are recorded in the points classification. It is considered a sprinters’ competition. And the polka dot jersey goes to King of the Mountain, a secondary competition that started in 1933. It is given to the rider that gains the most points for reaching mountain summits first. The leader of this classification is named the King of the Mountains, and since 1975 wears the polka dot jersey (white jersey with red polka dots).

I’m no cycle enthusiast; in fact I’m not much of cyclist at all, I won’t even clip in. But there are times when I grab my bike and do hill sprints or put in some easy miles around the neighborhood. Occasionally my husband and I go to trails to mountain bike and we love to ride to our favorite happy hour spot for a couple of drinks and then take the long way home. But as a general rule, I like to keep my feet on the ground.

However, with no basketball games for me because of COVID-19, a mini Tour de Alki on my bike this fall seemed in order, so out came my bike.

Find inspiration from athletes and sporting events here and around the world. And for Tour de France inspiration read Road to Valor by Aili and Andres McConnon. It’s the true story of one of the greatest athletes of the twentieth century. Against all odds, cyclist Gino Bartali, made one of the greatest comebacks in Tour de France history and secretly aided the Italian resistance during World War ll.

What are your favorite activities? What keeps you active and fit?

Filed Under: Life Inspired Fitness Tagged With: bicycle, bike, cycle, cycling, cycling book, Fitness, Gino Bartali, inspired, Life, Life Inspired Fitness, McConnon, read, road to valor, sports, tour de france, workout, world war II

LIFE INSPIRED FITNESS: Tracking Your Success

September 8, 2020 By Sonya Elliott

At the start of the pandemic, my husband, son and I, set goals to stay in shape and do core workouts daily, so I made a chart so that we could track what we did. It worked. At least for me (the boys didn’t keep up with the chart even when they were working out). When my chart ran out, however, so did my consistent workout schedule.

I’m pretty good at letting life inspire me to get some workouts in and stay in shape, but part of staying healthy for me these days includes working on my flexibility and mind, so I’m trying to include yoga and meditation. I even added those categories to my chart, which is where the chart was really helping me.

When I was young I was always busy, playing basketball and running around. I’m still busy, just not as busy, and for some reason for me it’s easy to put other tasks ahead of yoga and meditation. So I’m doing whatever it takes to create a new habit. I’ve tried simply jotting a note on the calendar or in my daytimer, but I don’t use those on a daily basis these days, so I went for a chart again. My daughter has a bullet journal where she tracks all sorts of things including workouts. And you can download all kinds of apps that can help you track or log your workouts like Fitocracy and the Simple Workout Log. My husband loves to track his bike rides on Strava.

The important thing to remember is your tracking system doesn’t have to be fancy; it just has to work for you. For me, the more basic, the better. Try charting your workouts in a way that you enjoy and feel your body and mind grow stronger.

Filed Under: Life Inspired Fitness Tagged With: Fitness, Life, Life Inspired Fitness, workout

LIFE INSPIRED FITNESS: Better Together

August 22, 2019 By Sonya Elliott

This summer my kids have helped to inspire me and keep me active. In June and July it was my daughter, together we hiked, went to our local community center and lifted weights and did track workouts. This month my son and I decided to work on our abs. He suggested that we would have to pay the other person a dollar if we didn’t do an ab/core workout each day. I was in.

We did one track/ab workout and did a couple of core workouts at home. Then yesterday he suggested that we mix it up with running, push ups and yoga. I agreed. I can use all of it, how could I go wrong? I get in a workout, and get to spend time with my son. It’s a win/win.

Is there someone who you can workout with? Put together a plan to help one another stay fit, and have fun while doing it.

Filed Under: Highlight, Life Inspired Fitness Tagged With: Abs, Better Together, Core, Inspiring, Life, Life Inspired Fitness, parenting, Teamwork, Together, workout

LIFE INSPIRED FITNESS: Beach Bum

July 3, 2019 By Sonya Elliott

I live near a beach and when the kids were young almost every weekend we would walk to the beach. It was a good haul. A couple miles, but a couple miles of fun. Walking, talking and through most of the kids lifetimes, catching. We usually brought a football and once we hit the beach my husband would toss the ball to the kids and they would run and dive and catch the ball and then run it back to him like a golden retriever and then it would all start again. We loved walking to the beach.

Recently, the sun was out and my husband and I were having coffee on the front patio and I looked at him and I said, “walk/ride to the beach?” it was just the two of us, and our dog Bruno, but we did it, I walked with Bruno (I prefer to walk) and he rode along side of me (he has bad knees and prefers to ride), and together, our lives inspired our workout, first to the beach and then later we met at Lincoln park and run/rode and did stairs. We did what our bodies prefer and worked them together so that we could enjoy one another.

What are some ways that your fitness is inspired by your family or your spouse, or your friends? What are activities that you enjoy doing together?

Follow me on Instagram for ideas on how your life can inspire your fitness @lifeinspiredfitness

Filed Under: Highlight, Life Inspired Fitness Tagged With: Beach, bike, Fitness, Life Inspired Fitness, Walk, workout

LIFE INSPIRED FITNESS: Lifting Lust

June 26, 2019 By Sonya Elliott

Every time I get bumped around on the basketball court I say, “I’ve gotta lift weights!” I actually do lift weights, but not enough. I can feel my 52 years on the court, and by that I mean I’m not as strong and tough as I used to be, and as I’d like to be to be able to play at the level I want to play at. And stay safe.

I know that I can’t turn back the clock, but when I get in the gym at least a couple of times a week to lift it helps, it helps by keeping me strong.

The things I enjoy doing in my life inspire me to stay fit. I want to be a better basketball player so I add lifting to my life. I even enjoy lifting, it just seems that the rest of my life often gets in the way until I remember basketball and how the lifting helps me on the court.

What do you think about lifting weights?

Follow me on Instagram for ideas on how your life can inspire your fitness @lifeinspiredfitness.

Filed Under: Highlight, Life Inspired Fitness Tagged With: Inspiring, Life, lift, lifting, weightlifting, weights

LIFE INSPIRED FITNESS: Try Something New

June 19, 2019 By Sonya Elliott

About three years ago I decided I should try tennis. (I can’t play basketball forever…or can I?) Anyway, tennis is supposed to be a lifetime sport, so I figured it would be a good one to work on. I started with tennis lessons, they were a lot of fun and they gave me a great workout. That’s until I sprained my wrist (tennis) and then got a frozen shoulder (basketball). It took about a year until I was back at it and then decided to join a team. Once on the team I realized that I like tennis, but I don’t really love it.

I hate to admit it, but I find games a little boring (I guess I’m used to the hustle of basketball). I enjoy the women in my group, but after this season ends I may just stick to classes and hitting around with my husband. I get a good workout and learn a lot in classes and when my husband and I hit around (we don’t serve; we just start with a rally and play to 21). We have a blast and leave the court sweaty. We love it, and sometimes even get together with a couple of friends and play King/Queen of the court (or sometimes an actual game) and of course work hard enough that we earn ourselves a drink. 😉

I’m glad I’ve given tennis a try. It may not have turned out quite how I thought, but I will keep playing for fun, which helps to keep me in shape while I’m at it. And who knows, in a few years I might come back for more, and try being on a team again.

What new sports or activates have you added to your schedule or given a try?

Follow me on Instagram for ideas on how your life can inspire your fitness @lifeinspiredfitness.

Filed Under: Highlight, Life Inspired Fitness Tagged With: Fitness, Inspiring, Life, Life Inspired Fitness, tennis

LIFE INSPIRED FITNESS: Listen To Your Body

June 12, 2019 By Sonya Elliott

My husband has bad knees. He played football in college and has had many knee surgeries so he no longer has much cartilage. He’s had to adjust his workouts over the years and eventually cut out a few things. He waited a long time to cut out competitive basketball. Probably ten years later than he should have, but he really enjoyed playing, so it wasn’t easy to quit, but the pain became too much, so he had no other choice.

He’s never loved to walk, unlike me, and he likes speed. So a few years ago he turned to biking. It took him a while to jump on the biking bandwagon, but now he loves it. When he first started riding he trained for the STP (Seattle to Portland) with a group of guys and had a blast, and it actually helped his knees. Then a year later he started mountain biking, and found more speed, and a bit of the fear factor on the downhill, that he really enjoys.

Finding a new activity has helped him to stay active longer, and he found a new group of friends. Discovering what you like and what your body can do, will help you to get out and get your body moving. 

What new activates have you found that help keep you active? Are you good about listening to your body?

Follow me on Instagram for ideas on how your life can inspire your fitness @lifeinspiredfitness.

Filed Under: Highlight, Life Inspired Fitness Tagged With: bike, biking, Inspiring, Life, Life Inspired Fitness, workout

LIFE INSPIRED FITNESS: Push Yourself

June 5, 2019 By Sonya Elliott

I like to run, sort of. I don’t like running long distance (too many miles on my body that I’d rather use pounding the hardwoods), but I do like shorter distances, less than three miles. When I do a running workout, I usually just jog/run to a spot, pick a couple of trees or telephone poles that are maybe 50-80 meters apart and then do a little sprint workout.

Well, I’m using the word sprint very loosely here because my emphasis is on not pulling a muscle, so what I do is more like a fast jog, but that, to me, is better than ten miles at a slow jog. Which is not to say ten miles is bad, it’s just not what I like. Find what you like, and then even push yourself a little.

Last year, I decided to run in a track meet, as a “fun” way to stay fit for basketball. It gave me a goal and also fueled my competitive side; I was curious how I might do. I chose the 400 meters (I ran the 300 Meter Hurdles in high school, but the hurdles sort of scared me back then, so why take a chance when I’m over 50 years old. 400 Meters made more sense).

The race was awful. I was nervous, even though there were almost no other people in my age group, and I thought I was going to die by the time I got to the end of one fricking lap. But I did it. And then, did I say I was competitive, my time was good, really good for an old lady, so I ran it in another meet. Call me crazy, but I’m planning to do it again this year.

So do things you love to do, and push yourself a little from time to time. It might be awful, or it might be great, or if you’re lucky, it might be both.

What new activities have you tried? How have you pushed yourself lately? Tell us about it?

Follow me on Instagram for ideas on how your life can inspire your fitness @lifeinspiredfitness.

Filed Under: Highlight, Life Inspired Fitness Tagged With: Believe, Inspiring, Life, Life Inspired Fitness, Masters Track, Run, sports, Track

LIFE INSPIRED FITNESS: Dog Gone Good Exercise

May 29, 2019 By Sonya Elliott

I like to walk, which is good, because I have a dog and he needs to go on walks. Walking your dog is a great way to get some exercise and keep your body fit. I walk at a pretty good clip, but just getting out there and moving your body does the trick to burn some calories, not to mention getting you some fresh air.

For me it’s also a good time to think. Whether I’m deciding what groceries to buy or coming up with a new blog idea, walking clears my mind. And just think of how good it is for Fido. So get out there and take your dog for a walk, it’s a win-win.

What do you like best about walking with your dog? Or maybe you walk a different pet. I’d love to hear about it.

Follow me for more ideas on living a happy and healthy life @lifeinspiredfitness.

Filed Under: Highlight, Life Inspired Fitness Tagged With: Dog, Inspiring, Life, Life Inspired Fitness, Walk

LIFE INSPIRED FITNESS: Have a Hankerin’ for a Hike?

May 22, 2019 By Sonya Elliott

I love to hike. I don’t always like the drive to get to the hike but once I’m there, I’m in heaven. My daughter loves to hike too, and I feel grateful that I am still able to go on hikes with her. Last year we scrambled up Mailbox Peak. We were both in heaven.

Recently an old high school friend, and basketball teammate, touched base about doing some of the Pacific Crest Trail. I was ALL in (but not the whole trail at once). It’s been so exciting to start planning to hike sections of the PCT. In the past I have lived vicariously through other hikers who have done the trail, and I’m looking forward to at least getting a glimpse into the experience.

And though I am no hardcore hiker (I’m more of a hike hard and then come back for a shower and a glass of wine kind-a-gal), I have hiked and camped out for several days at a time, many times over my lifetime so I’m game for the challenge. And even better, I’m super excited to spend time on the mountain reconnecting with a friend.

Do you hike? What are your favorite trails? Have you done the PCT? What fitness activities do you enjoy with your friends?

Follow me for more ideas on living a happy and healthy life @lifeinspiredfitness.

Filed Under: Highlight, Life Inspired Fitness Tagged With: Hike, Inspiring, Life, LifeInspiredFitness

Life Inspired Fitness: Do What You Love

May 10, 2019 By Sonya Elliott

I’ve always tried to do the things that I love to stay healthy and happy. Sometimes I put me second to everything and everyone else in my life, and that’s okay for a while, but as my good friend and writer Jenny says, “no one can pour from an empty cup.” So that’s what this blog is about, staying healthy by finding what it is that makes you happy, and doing it.

Other than my time at the computer writing, I am usually on the go. I walk my dog, go up and down stairs in my house all day long, work in the yard, and stay busy managing and fixing real estate properties. But what keeps me fit, is taking the time to do the things I love. I play tennis and run on occasion, but what gets me moving, is knowing that I need to stay in shape to keep playing basketball. 

Basketball is dear to my heart. I have always loved to play, not to mention the game literally helped save my life after I was in an accident years ago. When I was 24 years old (more than half my lifetime ago), I lost my fiancé and nearly lost my own life, and basketball gave me a reason to live. Or maybe better said, it gave me a goal to achieve, which when I was in the depth of grief, was one in the same.

With a shattered right arm (my shooting arm) and a broken right femur, as well as other injuries, my return to basketball seamed unlikely to most, but I set a goal to play again. While going through rehabilitation to get my body strong, the focus and exercise helped me work through my grief as well. And by the time I was able to get back on the basketball court, I realized that life was still worth living.

Since then, I have tried to do just that…live life. Oh, I’m not perfect. Sometimes, even often, I whine and get real lazy, but it’s during these times that I remind myself that if I find, and do, activities that I enjoy, I will feel better physically and mentally. And if I do them, and other activities, regularly, they will keep me healthy and happy and on the basketball court. 

What do you love to do? What helps you to stay active, healthy and happy?

Follow me on Instagram for ideas on how your life can inspire your fitness @lifeinspiredfitness.

Filed Under: Highlight, Life Inspired Fitness Tagged With: basketball, Believe, grief, Inspiring, Life, Life Inspired Fitness, recovery, sports

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