60plus&lovinglife – Page 15 – 60plus and loving life

Scrambed eggs & tofu with baby spinach

By 60plus&lovinglife October 20, 2022 0

In the spirit of not making you read my entire post before giving you the recipe, I thought I’d start with the recipe and then you can read the rest of my post if you want 🙂

Scrambled eggs & tofu with baby spinach recipe:

Ingredients:

1 or 2 or 3 free-range eggs (depends how hungry you are or if it’s a shared meal)
half a block of soft tofu (or whatever amount you want to mix in)
a handful of baby spinach
ground black pepper
mixed herbs

Method:

Pour into saucepan and mix around with a wooden spoon or spatula, until you get the consistency of regular scrambled eggs (which can be slightly runny for you or firmer for me!) Then add the baby spinach and fold through until it’s a bit wilted.

Flop onto your plate and add in side veg of your choice! Enjoy!

Now for the rest of my blog post.

I decided to put the recipe first and then write up my rationale and thoughts afterwards. I’ve looked up recipes loads of times, only to have to wade through a really, really, long blog post (which may or may not be interesting) or endlessly scroll to get to the actual recipe. I guess that’s a technique to make people read the post before getting to the part that they are really there to read about – the food! And kudos to them, it works mostly. I’ve found myself fascinated with the story prior to the recipe, but equally I’ve been a bit frustrated trying to get to the recipe as I may need to buy ingredients or I’m in a bit of a rush to get things going.

This recipe came from my daughter, she’s great at experimenting and trying different things and we often share recipes or ideas. Scrambled eggs are another of my go-to recipes for Sunday brunch. I’ve also tried straight up scrambled tofu. However, as much as I love tofu, scrambled tof just never really did it for me taste-wise or texture and mouth-feel. Probably because I’m not so fond of soft tofu, I prefer the firm kind.

Putting together eggs and tofu on the other hand gave it a better structure and overall flavour with the addition of black pepper and herbs and the flavour is enhanced. Plus you are getting a good protein boost, which is necessary for muscle repair, especially after a good gym session!

So there you have it. When I post recipes, I’ll always put them first to make it easier for you and if you have the time and/or the inclination, feel free to read my post and leave a comment 🙂

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food & recipes

Sunday Breakfast #1

By 60plus&lovinglife October 16, 2022 0

One of my favourite go to Sunday breakfasts is avocado on rye or multigrain toast, with a grinding of fresh black pepper. I don’t use any butter or marge on the toast as the avo is enough.

Alongside, I usually dry-fry some mushrooms (I have the kind of pans that don’t require oil and I find oil or suchlike makes my mushrooms soggy). I prefer swiss brown or field or maybe some enoki mushrooms if I can find them at the store. Then I sprinkle on whatever herbs I have to hand. Experiment and find what works for you!

Then to make it pretty and complete, I throw a few mini roma tomatoes on the plate! The colour combo is matched by the flavours, subtle and complementary.

It’s delicious and healthy and makes me happy. I know it’s likely not everyone’s idea of what makes a perfect Sunday lunch or brunch, but it is nutritious and delights my tastebuds!

When I eat well, I feel like I’m being kind to my body, mind and spirit and that pleases me and makes me feel all is right with my world.

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running

Exercise surely does have benefits when you’re older!

By 60plus&lovinglife October 14, 2022October 20, 2022 0

I went for a 6km run this morning and when I was checking my Garmin app, I had a look at my VO2 max. Now I’m not convinced the app is entirely accurate, but even if it’s indicative at best, I am pleased with the data! My VO2 max was 41, which for a woman of 64 is pretty darned good! It also said I had the fitness age of 22. So, yeah – I’ll take that as a compliment.

Your VO2 max is how much oxygen your body can absorb and use during exercise. According to Healthline – as you breathe in oxygen, your lungs absorb it and turn it into energy. This in turn powers your cells and helps reduce carbon dioxide (CO2) when you exhale.

All of that is important as it improves your aerobic capacity to exercise. Particularly as we age, our VO2 max declines. Research indicates that high VO2 max helps you live better as you age as it maintains your health and fitness into your later years. And given I’m heading into my “later years”, I’m happy to improve my VO2 max and stay in the (according to my Garmin app) “superior” category!

Garmin V02 stat — thanks for the compliment!

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musings about ageing

Turning 64!

By 60plus&lovinglife October 13, 2022 0

I love getting older! I’m fit and strong and loving life. Now that I work part-time (I quit the full-time gig earlier this year!), I have a heck of a lot more time to do the things I love. More time at the gym, running, swimming, reading and hanging with my dog!

For my birthday I went out dancing, which I do most weekends. I’m part of the rock and roll and jive community and there’s usually something on each weekend.

I decided to dress it up for my 64th. Nothing tame or “old lady” for me! I bought some skin tight (vegan) pants and wore one of my cute dance tops with it…

For me getting older is about being true to myself and not caring for what other people think of me (well except, yes I do like the odd compliment!)

I have no time for judgmental folk, life really is too short for that nonsense! Go have fun and be yourself, there’ll always be people ready to criticize – you just need to ignore them!

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all about the dog

Throw Back Thursday!

By 60plus&lovinglife October 13, 2022 0

This is a pic of my dog George when he was a pup, right after his first groom! He’s now 11 years old and he’s the most loving, sweet, and friendly dog. I picked him up from the groomers this week after his latest session and the woman who groomed him said (and I hear this often), that he is so chill when they bathe and clip him, he just sits there patiently or gently leans against them during the drying and clipping phase.

He is a very chill and relaxed dog. When he was two years old, I read about therapy dogs and volunteering. I thought that sounded the perfect thing for George and I. He loves people of all ages and I like volunteering. I signed him up for training and testing his suitability. He passed with flying colours, and they said they had never met a such a calm and gentle dog!

Over the years, George and I have volunteered at a dementia facility, childcare centres, primary and high schools and several university campuses.

It’s been both a privilege and a pleasure to bring joy and comfort to people young and old! 🥰

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running

Running!

By 60plus&lovinglife October 7, 2022October 9, 2022 0

I love running. Outside in the fresh air and listening to music. I have bone conducting wireless headphones, so I can still hear ambient noise and traffic! I usually run 5 – 6km around 3 times/week. However, on my birthday each year, I like to run a 10km.

When I turned 64, I went for my 10km annual run. It was a beautiful day, sunny, yet crisp. I set out from my partner’s place. 3km to the river, around for another 2km and back. There are several hills on the route and a couple of really steep ones in the last couple of k’s. However, it was a glorious run. One of those runs that just felt super easy and cruisy and fun. Even the hills didn’t faze me.

I went for another 10k run a couple of weeks after and it was horrendous. It felt like running through treacle. Then at the 4.5k mark, I tripped and landed heavily on the concrete path. I grazed and bruised both hands, both elbows and my left knee.

I continued with my run, but it was tough and unpleasant and when I got home, I was shaky and sore and feeling sorry for myself. Have you tried taking a shower when covered in grazes? Stings like crazy! I do not recommend!

A couple of months prior, I also tripped and fell and grazed myself up and then limped/ran home.

I’m not entirely sure that this might be an age-related thing or just my canny ability to trip over my own feet or as I said to my daughter “my foot forgot to foot!”

Anyway, I have decided to protect my body with gym gloves, elbow, and knee support sleeves. That way if I trip again, I will be less likely to be grazed. It’ll add a little bit of time and effort in gearing up for a run, but hopefully will make a difference.

Older people never stop running, they just wear protective armour!! 😂

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musings about ageing

Musings on Ageing

By 60plus&lovinglife October 6, 2022 0

A couple of weeks ago or so I turned 64. In my neck of the woods, it means I’m eligible for a “senior’s card”. As long as I am working 25 hours/week or less. I swapped out to part-time work earlier this year, because I am in a position where I can and I realise this makes me fortunate. The senior’s card means I get discounts on some things, like my council rates, public transport, and entry to my local swimming pool.

I’m thrilled that I finally qualify for the card. My partner (who is a wee bit older than me) was flummoxed. He could not believe I was excited to be “getting older.” I’m like “really?” I get a discount!! What’s not to love?

People often dread getting older and all it entails. Personally, I don’t really feel “old.” I just feel like me. A little wiser, a little calmer and a whole lot more content with my life!

Random pic of me with a neighbour’s cat!

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nature makes me happy

Nature as medicine

By 60plus&lovinglife October 1, 2022October 3, 2022 0

It’s beautiful Spring weather in my part of the world. Finally! After a very soggy and rainy winter we are seeing some sunny days. It seemed the perfect time to head out into nature over the weekend and visit one of our national parks. It’s wildflower season and there are beautiful blooms out there. I love the native flowers the most. However, we have a tulip festival in our town at this time of year and the tulips were glorious in all their colours!

I’ve long believed that taking time out of the city and getting into nature is great for my emotional wellbeing and I’ve recently read research that supports my thoughts. Every time I have the chance to have a weekend in the countryside, I feel a sense of peace and tranquility as soon as I leave behind the suburbs and drive alongside country roads surrounded by trees. The stresses of life seem to melt away tree-by-tree. This is partly by being in nature and partly because being away from work and other stressors, there is this sense that you must let go, at least for a while.

Back to reality now, but not too soon. It’s a long weekend here, so I have the day free. I decided to go for a 10k run this morning. I usually run around 5-6k, but I’m nearing the end of a running challenge for September, called The Long Run, a fundraiser for prostate cancer.

I’m in a bit of a competition with a couple of my workmates and as much as I love younger people, they think it’s a done deal that one or other of them will have the most kilometres by the end of the month. I’d slipped a bit in my km’s last week as I had acute bronchitis and pharyngitis.

Feeling all better, I tied up my running shoes this morning and off I went. Only to come a cropper at the 4.5k mark. Tripped (no idea on what or if it’s just my own feet getting in the way) ? I landed on my hands, elbows and one knee. Ripped a hole in the knee of my favourite running tights and scraped myself up a bit! I figured I was close to the 5k turnaround and unless I called a rideshare to get me home, I may as well trot along and finish the 10k.

I’ll be feeling it tomorrow!!

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all about the dog

Goin’ for a walk!

By 60plus&lovinglife October 1, 2022October 27, 2022 0

We were enjoying the sunshine and my dog was scampering around joyously. There were a few lads playing cricket with a makeshift pitch and a tennis ball. A couple of them smiled and waved and I did likewise.

There was another fellow going for a slow jog around the perimeter of the park. Good for him! Nice to be out getting some exercise.

We all minding our business, best way to be. My dog stops to poop as dogs do and I was standing next to him with a bright yellow doggie poop baggie, ready to scoop and drop it in a nearby bin.

Jogger jogs past, glares at me and says “that really pisses me off” and then on he jogs.

So. Ok. I get not everyone likes dogs (except look at this face, how could you not love him?)

However, the park is a public space and shared by joggers, dog walkers, kids and people setting up temporary sports.

He then jogged on out of the park and we continued to enjoy the sunshine and scenery.

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All Posts By 60plus&lovinglife

Scrambled eggs & tofu with baby spinach recipe:

Now for the rest of my blog post.