LIFE INSPIRED FITNESS: Lifting Lust
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.
LIFE INSPIRED FITNESS: Try Something New
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 […]
LIFE INSPIRED FITNESS: Listen To Your Body
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.
LIFE INSPIRED FITNESS: Push Yourself
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 […]
Meet Sonya
Meet Sonya
Sonya Elliott’s memoir, Back on the Court: A Young Woman’s Triumphant Return to Life, Love & Basketball, is her story of finding hope in the wake of tragedy after she and her fiancé were hit by a train. She blogs about writing, basketball, and life and is currently working on a Young Adult Novel and a Non-Fiction Coaching book. Stories of her career as a fashion model are woven through her memoir, as both the Soloflex and Easy Spirit Shoes commercials were filmed during that time period, and this unique and intriguing business continues to be a part of her life.
Sonya played basketball at Eastern Washington University and was a starter for the Big Sky Champion team that went to the 1987 NCAA tournament. She coached for almost 25 years and was voted Seattle Times Coach of the Year, Seattle Officials Women’s Basketball Association Coach of the Year, and twice voted Metro League Coach of the Year. She loves the game of basketball and is thankful, not only for her husband and kids but for her ability to continue to get back on the court.
Blog
PEN TO PAPER: Audio Inspiration
I’ve been re-reading, or should I say listening to, my favorite books on writing. When I take my pup on his daily walk I put in my new AirPods (No more fighting with my tangled ear buds as I head out the door), load my audio book and go. While I stroll the sidewalks, the red and orange leaves that scatter my path help transport the words and their inspiration into my mind. Thoughts on how to establish a more consistant writing schedule, how I might make adjustments to a character, and even thoughts on a new twist for my ending, drift around in my head. I always walk away with new tidbits to chew on.
I’ve got three books going at the same time right now (probably not a great idea, but they’re all quite different), so I just continue on with whichever I’m in the mood for that day. […]
PEACELOVEBASKETBALL: Connect With Your Teammates
Is there a player on your team who drives you crazy? That is too serious or goofs around too much. Maybe teases you or doesn’t pass you the ball. Or maybe there is some other reason that you don’t see eye to eye. If you have one of those players on your team, it’s time to look for a connection.
You may not care to make a connection. You may think that you have nothing in common with the teammate, but I think you’d be surprised. You can often find common ground if you make an effort, and doing so is one of the best ways to make your team stronger. Hopefully your coach is helping you and your teammates to get to know one another better by doing teambuilding activities and spending fun time together, but if not, try reaching out to your teammates more and see what happens.
It doesn’t […]
PEN TO PAPER: Deep Kindness
I recently read the book Deep Kindness by Houston Kraft. It made me think about my life and how I can be more kind. It made me look at what real kindness means and how it can effect others and the world. What a great concept to write about…
WRITING PROMPT #1: What was the last kind thing that you did? Write about it. How did it make you feel?
WRITING PROMPT #2: Put the word KINDNESS at the top of a blank page. Start writing.
WRITING PROMPT #3: The second Daniel sat down at his desk something was wrong. Every morning for five years now, a note from Ellie had greeted him. The swirly heart dotting the “i” in her signature always made him smile, but this morning there was nothing. Daniel looked around the room and…
Follow Sonya