Welcome to Becoming Elli

We want to be like Elli because she was the Norse Goddess of Aging who beat Thor in a wrestling match. We want to be like Elli, fit and strong as we age
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Monday - Friday working out
Saturday - Sunday and eating right!

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Fit Strong Women Over 50 Podcast

Northeast Ohio

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Motivation

Becoming Elli / Motivation (Page 4)

Building Endurance by Working Out in the Fat Burning Zone

Since the beginning of the year, I've been experimenting with lower heart rate training than I usually do in my workouts. Some people call it the "Fat Burn Zone", although I'm still not convinced that it is burning "my" fat. I do know, however that it is easy to keep going with exercise. I am not watching the clock. Exercising in this zone, I don't feel tired or worn out in the least. The idea is to work out at the level of exertion where your heart rate stays at the aerobic level called the fat burning level. If you exercise just a little harder, you begin to breathe harder, your heart pumps harder and you'll enter the cardio level. Really push it and you'll go...

Motivation in winter

Three Ways to Get Motivation in Winter

The first weekend in February in Ohio is about halfway through the winter. This is the time of year have to I look for ways to find more motivation to stay with my intentions of being fit, strong and healthy throughout the winter. I guess I blame the weather. Winter in Northeast Ohio usually means grey, overcast skies that blend into white and grey half melted snow. Most of the winter, my instincts are to get cozy on the couch with a good book/movie, a warm blanket and eat something with high calories, lots of rich food. When I fight that "instinct" and get out in the fresh air, get some exercise and engage some endorphins, I always feel tons better. If there are warm air and...

women over 50 most popular podcast episodes

Fit Strong Women Over 50 Most Popular Podcast Episodes in 2018

Our Becoming Elli community celebrated a our one-year milestone anniversary at end of 2018 and the beginning of January 2019! In the past year there have been many great episodes of our podcast but the Fit Strong Women Over 50 most popular podcast episodes continue to attract new listeners day after day! Before announcing our top episode downloads, it is only fitting to let you know this hasn't happened overnight! During the past year Jill and I have released 24 podcasts - one podcast twice a month on the second and fourth Tuesday. To create a podcast means figuring out the content, some writing, phone calls, emails, figuring out recording software, actually interviewing, editing it together so that it makes sense, adding music and then distributing out...

staying present mindfulness

Staying Present while Looking Back and Looking Ahead

Paying attention to what is happening right now is so important. I sometimes find it difficult to stay with it. Mindfulness. Being present. Living in the moment. Focus on today. Focus on this minute. "Today is Yesterday's Tomorrow." One Day at a Time. However you choose to describe it, sometimes (often) "staying present" can be difficult. Something about the end/beginning of the year has me thinking back and forward at the same time. Yesterday is History. Tomorrow is a Mystery. Today is a Gift. That's why we call it the Present. - attributed to Alice Morse Earle, Sun Dials and Roses of Yesterday: Garden Delights, 1902 Many new exercise programs will start in the new year. New Year, New You! (Or maybe Jan 2nd after the celebrating has finished and decorations are...

Reflections on 2018: Year-End Wrap-Up Podcast

Episode #24 of Fit Strong Women Over 50 Podcast for the Becoming Elli Community Download | Play in New Window Please Subscribe: Apple Podcasts  (iTunes) | Google Podcasts | Android-Google Play | Stitcher | Player FM | Castbox | Tunein | Spotify | RSS In podcast episode #24, Jill and Chris reflect on 2018. They talk with amazing women from episode 7 Diane Berkley and episode 8 Juel Fitzgerald to find out how their 2018 went  and to talk about plans and goals for 2019. Diane Berkley talked about: Thyroid issues and how that affected her workout How she got her running speed back Participating in the Ultimate Fitness Challenge at her gym with thrusters, the assault bike and push-ups How her trainer Mike helps her measure her fitness levels Which measurements she tracks Different types of dead lifts What cardio she is does at the gym along with...

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Grateful at Thanksgiving

Being Grateful at Thanksgiving

Since this post is being published on Thanksgiving Day, I thought I’d share a few things for which I’m thankful. You know, being grateful at Thanksgiving is what the holiday is about. Chris wrote last week about her plan for navigating food at Thanksgiving this year and shared her very fun veggie turkey. I loved that photo. Go check it out if you didn’t see it. It’s also a good post if you’re looking for ideas on how to eat or not eat at the holiday table. Grateful at Thanksgiving So Thanksgiving is really a harvest festival, I think. We’re supposed to express our gratitude for a bountiful harvest and health and our preparation for winter. Since its inception, of course, Thanksgiving is about gratitude but most of...

fall colors when motivation lags

Three Ways I Maintain Fitness When Motivation Lags

Do you ever find that the motivation is lagging to keep up with your workouts? When motivation lags, I try really hard not to slide backwards with my fitness. This time of year always does it to me. I've discovered it is a combination of things. Partly because race season is in my rear view mirror and spring is feeling pretty far away. Partly because rainy weather and cooler temperatures always seems to bring on a head cold. And partly because of the dark mornings and darker evenings of short sunshine days. Not to mention the time change and the havoc it reeks on my sleep patterns. When Motivation Lags Here are three ways that I have found work to help me to maintain my fitness, even when my...

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How We Ran a Half Marathon

Podcast: Download | Play in New Window Subscribe: Apple Podcasts  (iTunes) | Google Podcasts | Android-Google Play | Stitcher | Player FM | Castbox | Tunein | Spotify | RSS In podcast episode number 19 of Becoming Elli, Jill and Chris discuss how they ran a half marathon. Today's podcast covers before, during and after the 13.1 challenge. In this podcast you'll hear: Our preparation: Running plans leading up to it The expo Our cross training plans Shoes Practice fueling KT tape The actual race on Sept 29, 2018 in Akron: The Course Waterstations What we did afterwards: Fuel: Chocolate milk and banana ice bath What didn't work Are you planning a challenging race in the near future? Let us know by sending an email to Jill@becomingelli.com or Chris@becomingelli.com so we can connect with you. Or join our Facebook Group. ...

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It Started with a Treadmill Desk

Last Saturday Jill and I ran just over 13 miles to complete the Akron half marathon. On Tuesday our podcast will reveal how we did it (before, during and after!) This past week different people have made comments to me like "Wow, I can't even run a mile." or "I can't imagine doing something like that." It really got me thinking about how I used to be one of "those" people. My BMI number was well over 30 and I couldn't even walk without a lot of pain. I never would have imagined running at all, let alone a half marathon. The experts say that it takes 4 to 6 months to prepare to run a half marathon. It took me a lot longer. In a few days, our Becoming...

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Recording Your Body Measurements

Today I want to talk about the value of recording your body measurements. We’ve talked about weighing ourselves in this blog (To Weigh or Not to Weigh) and I think that’s a useful measurement to track. It’s certainly useful to know that your weight jumped five pounds in the past month. I gained some weight on my super-duper exciting summer of travel and now I’m trying to take it off. I went to the beach twice and on a ten-day visit to Italy and had a great time. There always comes that moment when you come home and jump on the scale. Sigh. Putting weight on is so much easier than taking it off. It doesn’t seem fair, but I guess it’s also a lot more fun...