Banana Pancakes
Easy, fast and healthy. Although they taste different than traditional pancakes, some say that they taste more like crepes.
1 egg
1 banana
Mash together egg and banana with fork.
Place a small amount of mixture on a hot skillet.
Don’t make large pancakes as they are more difficult to flip than “traditional”. Keeping them smaller like the size of a quart jar lid will help with the turning.
Get the spatula underneath most of the pancake before you try to flip for better turning results.
Brown and stack to serve.
Options to dress them up and make them your own:
Add a Tablespoon of milk to make it the desired consistency. If you like thinner pancakes, you may need 2 or 3 Tablespoons of milk, depending on size of egg and size of banana.
Or add some honey if you like them sweeter. Honestly, I was surprised how sweet they were with just the flavor of one banana.
Some people like to add a little bit of vanilla, like a quarter teaspoon, for flavor
Top with powdered sugar or maple syrup or jelly. Or another banana sliced up into circles.
Spray olive oil in pan. Or put a tab of butter in the pan. If you use a cast iron pan or teflon, you may not need anything to keep them from sticking.
Want them fluffier? Add a little baking powder to make them rise.
Make sure you cook them through and through, but not too high of heat or they may burn. They cook fast!
You can see that being patient and mashing the banana completely makes for smoother pancakes.
I often eat a banana before working out and fried eggs afterwards, so my stomach is very used to these two foods. It is very rare that I have pancakes. It’s a fun change of pace!
Did you try and like these? Add anything special? Did I miss something? Let me know by leaving a message below or sending me an email at Chris@becomingelli.com.
I realized that I now have a new holiday tradition for the Fourth of July. I now celebrate Independence Day by running a Firecracker Race.
Hudson Firecracker Race: 5K
Today I ran a Firecracker 5K in my hometown of Hudson, Ohio. It was a fun race with about 300 participants. Because it was a home town race, I knew a fair number of people. Chris and I decided to run this and signed up for it at the last minute. Well, at least in time to get the lower rate and still get a shirt.
Hudson Firecracker 5K
The exciting thing was that I won my age group. I ran the 5K in just over 34 minutes, which was about two minutes faster than the race I ran in June at Carolina Beach. Today was just as hot as that race but this time I was better prepared. My water bottles had frozen water in them and I brought my cooling towel. I decided not to wear the compression calf sleeves and I wore looser clothing. So, while I was hot, I was not over heated this time.
Age Group Winner
Cleveland YMCA Firecracker Race: 10K
Last year, Chris and I ran a Firecracker 10K in Cleveland. That was a fun race too. It started in downtown Cleveland and we ran past the Browns Stadium, the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and some other nice parts of downtown Cleveland. That race was hot too. I guess that’s what happens when you run in July in Ohio.
Chris and Jill at 2017 Firecracker 10K
The exciting thing about this race was that Chris won her age group. Hey, maybe this should be the new holiday tradition: someone wins a trophy!
Charlotte Firecracker Race: 5K
In 2016, I ran a Firecracker 5K in Charlotte, North Carolina. My son and I ran it; it was his first 5K.
2016 Charlotte Firecracker Race
That race was also very hot. It was in the early evening and was a race to support a local school My son got way overheated. I was hot but I had my cooling towel for that too. The fun thing about this race was that it ended at a swim club and people went swimming. We didn’t take swim suits but I’m sure if you were from the area, it would have been great fun. They had beer and food to help with the celebration.
So for the past three years, I have run a Firecracker race to celebrate Independence Day. I think it’s a good tradition. I’ve run three different races in three different cities. Maybe that’s a good tradition too. Don’t run the same race every time. Just go out and find a Firecracker race.
The weather forecast was supposed to be the low 90’s today and my bike group has a long bike ride planned in Cleveland, starting before noon and probably not finishing until well after 4 pm.
Of course, we won’t be riding the entire time. We’ll be taking photos (there are 3 Cleveland signs on the route) and probably stopping at a marina on Lake Erie for lunch.
Being able to participate in a long day during the heat, without any ill effects, can be a challenge.
Heat gets to me, so I try to do several things to stay cool during summer heat. You probably are doing most of them already. (Some aren’t so pretty.)
Here are my heat tips for bike riding or running a race when it is HOT:
Bring two water bottles and skip drinking the beer. Nothing dehydrates you quicker than alcohol. Refill the water bottles at lunch and ask for ice from the waitress. (Tip well.)
Hydrate well 2 nights prior to the ride or race. Salt my food. Make sure I have magnesium and potassium in food/supplements ahead of time and after.
I use a cooling scarf with gel beads inside. I take it off and dunk it in a cup of water at each aid station during the MS150 ride. It swells when it gets wet, then I tie it around my neck. I move it around so the wet part is around my skin. It’s usually dry by the next aid station.
Wear tech clothing that wicks. Today, I’ll have a bike jersey that is great for not sticking to me. A cotton shirt seems to just stick and will chafe. I also use chafing cream.
I also am not shy about dumping water over my head when it is super hot. (Remove helmet and sunglasses first for best results!)
A baseball cap helps to keep the sun off the top of my head and face. Sometimes getting that wet helps, but I prefer water directly on my hair if needed. My hair isn’t long enough for a ponytail, which would probably be a better look. A baseball cap helps!
Sun screen on my arms – but very little on my face. Sun burn makes the heat worse. Sunscreen on my face seems to block my pores and I can’t sweat correctly. (Anybody have any suggestions?) I know I probably should protect my face more, but I have overheated from using sun screen on my face. I recently read that you shouldn’t use sunscreen over 50, but the article didn’t explain why. Does anyone have an idea about that?
I have an insulated Nathan water bottle that I freeze the night before so as it melts, I am sipping ice water. I’m going to put it on my belt where I store my epipen.
I usually drink electrolytes during a race, usually as Gatorade. Some people use Tailwind, but I haven’t tried it yet. Others use Powerade, depending on what the race or aid stations have. I’m not sure how I’m going to deal with this today. I haven’t bought any salt tablets, but I know that some people do.
Pickle juice helps with the salt when I’m bike riding and they often have it at the aid stations but, I’ve never seen it at a run however. Maybe I will see if I can get a pickle or two with my sandwich at lunch.
Aim for the shade when and if possible. Today’s ride will be mostly in the sun.
Slow down as necessary. (I’m already pretty slow.)
Getting electrolytes back in me and cool down inside the core with something like ice really helps
Have you ever had heat problems? Sometimes it’s called heat exhaustion or heat stroke. It starts out just being hot, but progresses to when your face is incredibly red and you are way overheated. I’ve had it and don’t want to repeat it. In fact, I have gotten it when it has progressed to the chills. Definitely time to “call it.” Sure sign of a heat problem. No amount of pickle juice helped at that point!
It was on a bike ride in pure sun when it was just too hot (around 88 degrees and 3pm!) Most of the bike ride was behind me. Luckily there was already something in place during that ride called a SAG (support and gear) which is a van that has a bike rack ready to give any bike rider needing assistance a ride with their bike to the next aid station. Although I missed the last 15 miles or so of a 65 mile ride, it was much better to do that than have a REAL problem.
If you are having a problem with the heat, I believe it is NOT a time to try to try to suck it up, try feel better and keep riding! If you have heat problems, don’t try to tough it out! If you’re really faced with a heat problem, your brain stops working correctly and you can’t make decisions well. Ride with people you trust and trust your friends when they say you need to take care!
PS. I just checked the forecast and it has changed from earlier in the week for the better. Looks like we have beautiful high 80’s for the riding today in Cleveland Ohio – MUCH BETTER riding weather! May try to swing by the Cleveland Jazz Festival and listen to some great music too! It’s free down near Playhouse Square today!!
Tell me, how do you handle exercise during summer heat and still have fun with outdoor activities?!
Tired of running on roads? Want something a bit different? Try trail running.
In Becoming Elli podcast episode 12, Jill Rango talks about improving balance and one of the things she mentions is to go outside and go for a hike. Walking on uneven trails with roots and rocks on the path makes our muscles work a bit harder and improves our balance.
Running on a trail takes this one step further. Trail running is a specialized kind of running. It’s a great change from street running. Running on dirt and grass can be easier on your legs and ankles though running on uneven surfaces can be a challenge.
One of the benefits of trail running is not having to deal with cars and the fumes from cars.
Here’s some tips for trail running:
If you’re just starting out with trail running, look for easier trails. These can be smooth, wider trails. There’s a park near me that is very popular with both walkers and runners. The path is wide and smooth. Of course, there are some uneven surfaces and some roots to watch out for but it’s a fairly easy run. From there, you can move to less polished trails. These are often narrower and more strenuous. Work your way up to these harder trails.
Jill and Chris Trail Running
When trail running, you need to pay attention. You can’t be looking all around enjoying the scenery. You need to keep your gaze out in front of you because you can’t count on the trail being smooth. There may be rocks, roots, and fallen trees in the path. You want to avoid tripping and falling.
On the other hand, enjoy the scenery. It’s ok to pause to look around. Running through a forest or along a stream or through a meadow is enjoyable. I often find myself stopping to take a photo when I’m out on a trail.
Running along the Cuyahoga River
Slow your pace on the trail. Whatever you run on the street, plan on being slower on the trail. It’s also ok to slow to a walk at times. If a trail is very rough, walk it. If you encounter a steep hill, you might want to walk. Many accomplished trail runners walk up hills and run down them.
Be sure to take water or your sports drink with you. You can’t count on finding water on the trail and you may end up being out there longer than you expected. It’s better to be prepared. I usually throw an energy bar into my bag as well, just to be on the safe side.
Speaking of safety, be sure to let someone know where you plan on running and when you expect to be back. Carry a phone with you as well. If you run alone, it’s best to stay aware of your surroundings. This is probably not the best time to wear headphones. Besides, you’re out in nature so enjoy the sounds of nature.
There are plenty of trail races but even if you’re sticking to road running and races, switching things up and running on trails as part of your training can really help you improve your speed. Running on trails uses more muscles and can be easier on your joints so it’s a great workout.
Trails also always seem to include a hill regardless of how flat the terrain is. I ran a trail race in Carolina Beach in North Carolina and the area was flat but somehow there managed to be a hill on the trail. I was muttering my complaints about that but I made it up without problem.
If you’re going to run trails, you might consider buying a pair of trail shoes. They tend to have less of a heel and more tread. I have a pair of Brooks trail shoes and use them for both running and walking on trails.
You may discover that you prefer trail running to road running. It’s certainly more scenic, usually much quieter, and presents a challenge. If you look around, you’ll probably find some trail running groups or races. I don’t know if this is accurate but trail runners seem to run longer distances than road runners.
Yikes! A turtle on the trail!
Even if you stick with road running, trail running is a good way to get in hill training and to shake things up a bit. Go out and enjoy nature!
Jill McCauslin and Chris Brown talk with Jill Rango, a balance and mobility expert, on Episode 12 of the Becoming Elli Podcast.
She became a FallProof certified instructor in 2009 from the Center for Successful Aging, developed by Dr. Debra Rose, who was recognized by the National Council on Aging as one of seven programs nationwide that promotes a healthy, active lifestyle.
“It is never to late to improve your balance… and it’s never to early to start working on your balance.”
Jill Rango gives us tips to improve our balance, flexibility and mobility that can make such a big difference in helping us to keep from falling.
Lighting and Vision
Difference in surfaces
Mobility – walking is controlled falling
Balance and strengthening on both left or right legs
Fear of falling during the last third of life
Situations with medications, vision, the home and exercise
Resistant equipment for balance- bands, free weights, tubes, water
Flexibility training for ankles, hips and spine
The one common activity that is great for heart, lungs, frame of mind, but does NOT improve strength and balance
Common posture problems and how to make some easy changes
Every inch of head forward puts 10 pounds of pressure on your spine
One traditional exercise that instantly and easily improve balance
How fear of falling puts you at risk for falling
Why you should consider hiking with roots, rocks and things you need to step over
When to walking like a penguin is a good idea
Jill Rango, Balance & Mobility Expert and FallProof Certified Instructor
Jill Rango received a B.S. in Therapeutic Recreation from Kent State University. After five years as an activity director in a skilled nursing facility, she decided to pursue a career in fitness. Certified by the American Council on Exercise as a group exercise instructor in 1986 and as a personal trainer in 2005, she taught classes and did personal training until 2008.
Then she combined her love for fitness with her enjoyment of working with older adults. When she realized what a problem falls were, she became certified as a FallProof balance and mobility instructor in 2009, teaching small group classes and working with individuals on preventing falls and improving balance and mobility.
Now retired from Laurel Lake Center, Jill teaches classes at St. Mary Catholic church in Hudson, Ohio which are open to the public, personal trains, and does speaking on the subject of better balance to interested groups.
She and her husband Richard live in Silver Lake and enjoy visits with their four children and five grandchildren.
Jill Rango may be contacted with questions at rangojill44@gmail.com.
Once a year I play softball, hop around inside a burlap sack, try to run/walk with a partner with one of our legs in a sack, play crochet, and race to the other side while balancing an egg on a spoon.
You got it! This Saturday is a family reunion.
All different ages and generations gather together. It’s a blessing to have such a big family.
It’ll be a time to catch up and reconnect. We will play corn hole. bocce ball, badminton and horseshoes.
I’m glad that my fitness level is strong enough to participate in the games without worrying about killing myself.
I didn’t used to be like that. In fact the other day, I ran across a photo of myself taken years ago at one of the family reunions, before I started really focusing on getting fit and strong. Notice the diet coke can in one hand, camera in the other. It took a long time to quit my diet coke habit and now it really gives me a stomach ache if I drink even a small amount.
Because I felt too out of shape to join in the games, I spent a lot of time going back up to the food table and yes, I felt like I’d gain about 3 pounds in one day.
Of course the family reunion always involves a whole lot of food and usually a huge landscape of high calorie choices.
Pasta with meatballs, pizza, fried chicken, and all kinds of desserts – cake, cookies, brownies, jello-pretzel-cool-whip and fluffy stuff that I don’t know what’s in it except sugar and sweetness. Nary a veggie tray with carrots, celery, broccoli and cauliflower to be found, but that is because everyone brings their most delicious dishes.
Believe me, it’s tempting to overeat. Today I’m going to try to remember all the good strategies for dealing with the food that we’ve discussed in the podcasts.
I’ll spend my time playing games and talking with people I haven’t seen since last reunion.
When it is time to eat, I’ll try to remember the tricks Melanie and Nancy shared with us for not over eating.
Survey the table completely before putting anything on a plate.
Include fresh veggies, whole food choices when possible.
If I really want something that has lots of calories, I’ll take a tiny size portion.
Meanwhile I’ll be drinking lots of water, so I don’t eat when I’m really thirsty. It’s been so very hot lately, I’ve been drinking more water than usual, so that’s a good tip anyway! Gotta make sure I have salt in my diet too.
Chicken Quinoa Tomato Salad
Today, I’m making a new healthy salad recipe and I thought I write it up to share it on Becoming Elli while I’m making it this morning.
First, I prep the salad ingredients for my Chicken Quinoa Tomato salad.
Baste 4 chicken breasts in salt water for one hour. Rinse off and put on a cookie sheet to bake for 40 minutes. (I put the oven on 400, but I suspect my temperature gauge is slightly off.) The salt water locks in the moisture in the chicken so it doesn’t dry out.
Slice several red peppers into strips.(Four nubs on the bottom are females, three are male. The female peppers are supposedly sweeter with less seeds.) Coat with olive oil. Roast in oven for 30 minutes.
Cook 2 cups of quinoa in 4 cups of water for 15 minutes. Take off heat. Fluff with fork. Put lid on for 12 minutes. Fluff with fork.
While the chicken and peppers are roasting and the quinoa is cooking, chop up all the veggies:
Cut 2 pints of grape tomatoes in half.
Dice half of a small Vadelia onion.
Cut a cucumber into strips and dice.
Cut 3 stalks of celery into strips and dice.
Dice up a small handful of fresh basil
Combine ingredients in a large bowl.
Zest 2 lemons. Squeeze juice over veggies.
After chicken and red peppers have cooled a bit and cut into cubes.
Allow quinoa to cool. Fold everything together in the big bowl. Salt and pepper to taste.
Transfer to a smaller serving bowl if desired.
I am a slow cook, so it took me a while to get this all done.
But now that the salad is ready, I’m really looking forward to seeing everyone at the reunion and having some fun!
Ready for a race recap of the Good Hops 5K Beer Run 2018? It was a fun but very hot race held on the Saturday of Father’s Day weekend.
I went on vacation last week. I spent several days at Kure Beach in North Carolina with my son and his girlfriend. It was great: lots of sun, swimming, eating, and drinking beer at breweries. Kure Beach is on the North Carolina coast, about 15 miles south of Wilmington and next to Carolina Beach. It’s a great little beach town with a nice beach and restaurants and shops nearby.
We went to Good Hops Brewery in Carolina Beach to sample the local beer and while we were there, we saw a sign for a 5K to be run in a couple days. The sign said the race was both dog and stroller friendly. Somehow, we discussed the idea of my doing the race and maybe taking Stella, my son’s girlfriend’s dog, who had come to the beach with us.
The next day I took Stella out for a trial run. I decided that she could become a great running dog but needs to be trained to run with someone. So, I decided not to take her on the race. As it turned out, I’m very glad she didn’t go.
The race had awards for the fastest dog. The dog who won, a lovely German Shepard, was so hot by the end of the race that they took him to the vet’s office immediately afterwards. The dog was ok, just hot and tired, but I wouldn’t have wanted to be responsible for overheating Stella.
Race Recap of the Good Hops 5K Beer Run 2018
The race was a trail race through the Carolina Beach State Park. It was a trail run with much of the trail being sand or packed sand. The trail wasn’t too tough, but it was narrow in places and did have roots and rocks on it. I saw at least one woman fall on the trail. She tripped over a root and went down hard. Several of us stopped to help her up and make sure she was ok. She brushed herself off, said she was fine, and continued the race.
There were 200 participants in the race with a great mix of people. There were a few dogs and some strollers. We met at the brewery and when it was time to start the race, we crossed the road to the state park and lined up there. The race was conducted completely in the park and when we crossed the finish line, we then crossed the road back to the brewery.
The race organizers kept asking for the faster runners to move towards the front. I thought I was far enough back, but I didn’t realize how the race would start. When we crossed the start line, the trail was narrow and had brush along side, so it wasn’t easy to pass people. I felt like I was being swept along and ended up running much too quickly for the first part of the race. I could see on my Fitbit that I was running way faster than I normally run and tried to slow down but it took a while for me to drop back to my normal speed. When the trail opened up a bit, it was easier for some to pass and the rest of us to drop back.
The trail was pretty though I was sort of hoping to see some water along the course. I was from out of town, of course, so really had no idea what to expect. No water, just trees and the sandy path.
It was hot. Really hot, in the high 80s. I didn’t have a cooling towel with me and I wore my compression calf sleeves, making me way overdressed. I carried water with me and I added some electrolyte water to it but still ended up being too hot.
By the time I finished the race, I was in bad shape, overheated, and miserable. It took a long time for me to cool down and get back to a normal temperature. I know that I got overheated last year at the Akron Marathon when I ran the half marathon but this seemed worse. I actually scared myself because I was so hot.
I’m holding the free beer in this photo but I didn’t drink it. I gave it to my son and stuck to water and my electrolytes.
Awards
The award categories were:
1st Place Male/Female
1st Place Masters Male/Female over 50
1st Place Father/Kid Combo – (This was Father’s Day weekend, of course.)
1st Place Stroller
1st Place Dog
1st Place Costume
I only saw a couple strollers and only one or two dogs. I gather one person ran in a costume but I didn’t see him. Needless to say, I didn’t win anything.
My results were good. I completed the 5K in 36 minutes and 32 seconds, smack in the middle of the pack as the 101st person to cross the finish line out of 200 participants. Given how I’ve been running this year, that’s a good number for me. I just wish I had done it at a more consistent pace and didn’t get so hot.
I was so glad that I didn’t bring Stella. She’s a big black dog and it would have been horrible for her to run in the heat.
We got a nice T-shirt. Adult runners go a free beer and a plastic beer glass with a race logo on it. After the race there was a party going on. There were food vendors and music playing. It was an enjoyable time.
It was fun to be able to decide to run a race without a lot of thought, but I got so hot that I was a bit sorry that I ran it. I really needed to be better prepared for running in the heat.
Have you noticed people running and biking with kinesiology tape on their legs, ankles, knees or shoulders? Ever wondered if it works?
After I noticed people with tape, I was curious. Does it work? Does it hurt? How do you put it on?
In my experience, it makes a HUGE difference to my recovery and prevention.
When I’m going on a run, I like to have my right Achilles tendon taped with kinesiology tape. I don’t always use it on a bike ride, but I do if there are hills.
Kinesiology tape helps to increase the blood circulation and reduce inflammation for faster healing. I find that it works well for preventing new flare-ups.
The tape stretches like an elastic, so it moves as you move. It lifts the skin and makes a space between the dermis layer and the muscles which takes some of the pressure off and helps with drainage and blood flow.
I was taped for the first time a few years ago. A friend of mine, who had just taken a course on kinesology taping, asked if she could tape my calf and ankle. She acted like I would be doing her a favor by letting her practice on me. We had just taken a long, strenuous bike ride up some serious hills, so I jumped at the chance to see if it made a difference. In the next few hours, as we enjoyed a post ride beer and chatted, I honestly didn’t notice anything at all.
But the next morning, I remember waking up the next day being AMAZED at how great my Achilles felt!
Instead of being stiff and sore like it usually was when I put my heal to the ground, it didn’t feel like anything. It felt totally normal, without anything. And this was after a very strong, long bike ride with some big hills.
Since then I have learned to tape my own Achilles tendon.
Here’s what I do when I apply tape.
Before applying the tape, cut the lengths you want from the roll. I use one long one (about 8 inches) and one short one (about 4 inches).
You’ll want to round the corners (I didn’t in my photos, but I should have!) Square corners cause snagging. Socks, pants etc. will snag on the corners of the tape when you change clothes and it will start to peel.
The anchor points of the tape need to have NO stretch. The middle parts of the tape should stretch. Each brand seems to suggest a slightly different amount of stretch from 50% to 80%. It’s a guesstimate. They all agree on no stretch at the anchor point. The way you get a percent is stretch it 100% and then back off from there.
To apply the tape for Achilles, you want to do the dorsiflection to get your toes are pulled up toward the shin and knee. This stretches your Achilles tendon long, otherwise the tape will tend to pull off as you walk.
Apply the long tape first, starting at the heel as the first anchor. Peel off the backing from the tape, Attach the tape to your heel. Rub it down.
Peel the backing off the long piece. Stretch it and back off, but don’t attach the long piece to your calf just yet. Peel the top anchor section. Touch the top anchor to the calf and apply with NO tension. Attach the rest of the tape and rub.
Before applying the strip of tape across, you will score the paper backing in the middle. Then tug with both hands to split the paper backing. This allows the stretch of the tape in the middle.
Go across the lump – the painful part of the Achilles. The shorter piece goes across the most painful area to help provide relief to the most tender section. For me it is right where the little lump is just above the heal, just about where the back of my shoe ends.
Give a good rub to activate the stickiness
I recommend taking the time to make the nice rounded corners. (Do as I say, not as I do!) Rounded corners keeps the tape from catching on clothing or when taking socks on and off. I like to roll my sock over the tape.
When I was traveling on vacation, I brought two sets of pre-cut tape with me. I didn’t want to bother with carrying scissors.
You can get the tape wet in the shower, however some brands work better than others. I have used several different brands and there is a difference. KT tape seems like the highest quality but also the price. I’ve also used RockTape, Spartan tape and something I bought on closeout from Amazon. Prices range for rolls from $20 for 16 feet to $7 for 50 feet. You get what you pay for… You can also buy it in precut strips which is very convenient, but of course, costs a little more.
Over the past couple of years I have purchased and used different brands and types. Here is my experience with them:
KT Tape Original Cotton Elastic Kinesiology Therapeutic Sports Tape
$9.95 for 20 Pre cut 10 inch Strips, Breathable.
Feels the best on my skin. I think it works the best. KT also has great videos on how to wrap:
RockTape Kinesiology Tape for Athletes, Water Resistant, Reduce Pain and Injury Recovery, 180% Elastic Stretch, 1 Roll, 16.4 Feet
$16.24 Lifts well, stays on well and doesn’t irritate skin my skin. Good stretching. RockTape Application PDF helps explain how to apply – where and why.
Spartan Kinesiology Tape Perfect Support for Athletic Sports, Recovery and PhysioTherapy
Uncut 2 inch x 16.4 feet of tape with a printed Kinesiology Taping Guide. (Here’s their 41 page guide.) Works pretty well, stays on for about 3 days.
about $9.95 on Amazon.
MetaTape Kinesiology Tape, Roll
2 rolls of 2 in. x 25 ft. Uncut $6.95 by Meta Fitness Gear. This was on close-out on Amazon.
Can’t beat the price, but the tape doesn’t stick very well and the tape just isn’t as effective in lifting the skin.
Athletic tape from a bin in Play It Again Sports. No brand name, just shrink wrapped tape. No paper backing, No stretch. Less than $3.00 for a roll.
Not at all the same thing. Don’t be confused. It gives ankle support, which is great if you feel like you’re likely to sprain an ankle, but it doesn’t move with you and seems like the opposite effect. I used to tape my ankle years ago after it healed from a sprain to give me support when I was doing an activity.
Depending on the brand of tape and how many showers I take, it can last up to 4 days before coming off. I have noticed that the MetaTape may not even last one day.
Back in 2006-7 when I was first going to physical therapy, they only used the regular athletic tape. So I used to use that to give my ankle support. Athletic tape is not the same thing as kinesiology tape.
These tapes have a backing on them which helps in the application. You cut the pieces first, and you don’t wrap the ankle to keep it stiff. The idea is to lift the skin away from the underlying tissue and muscle slightly. This allows the fluid and blood to move more easily.
Kinesology Tape Aesthetics
Tapes come in many colors and some even have prints. On race day, it’s nice to coordinate with your outfit if the tape will show. (ha ha!)
Day to day, taller socks or slacks helps to cover it. In fact, using compression socks can help with the calf tightness which is the actual cause of the Achilles problem for me.
I don’t just use it for running, riding or working out. I like to dance at weddings, but when there is that much sitting before the band starts. (and sometimes a long drive in the car before and after.) I know that there isn’t an opportunity to do my stretching routine before getting up to dance. I like to have tape on my ankle before getting up on the dance floor, but don’t want my tape to show. A bit awkward when wearing a dress, but if you wear a long dress, or if you can wear dark tights, it solves the problem.
Yesterday I did 6 miles of running with a lot of hills in the Cleveland Metro parks. Of course, I taped up before I ran. And today, I’m happy to report, my Achilles is doing very well.
Have you ever tried Kinesiology Tape for recovering from tendon pain or preventing an injury? Let me know what your results have been.
Today I signed papers to put my house up for sale and so, yes, I’m dealing with stress. It’s a bittersweet moment. At one point, my husband, myself, my son, two dogs and two cats lived in this house. Now, it’s just me and I’ve been keeping this house going for what seems a long time. Being widowed adds a whole level of housework and chores to the schedule. So, it’s time to sell and move into something smaller that is easier to maintain. I know that I will be so relieved not to have the upkeep of this house. But still, this was my family home.
You know, it’s not really the house that is giving me pause. It’s going through the drawers, cabinets, and closets that is making me feel sad. Today I found a piece of paper on which I’d written a note to my son. I obviously was on my way to work and he was on summer vacation and old enough to be home alone but not old enough to be driving. It made me smile to remember those days. Then I realized that on the other side of the paper were notes and measurements that my husband had written for some project and just seeing his handwriting made me want to cry. There’s a lot of emotions in those things you’ve stuck in the back of a drawer.
Dealing with Stress
I’ve been dealing with a lot of anxiety because of all of this. and am trying to ease it in a variety of ways. I went for a massage this week, which was incredibly relaxing. I picked up an easy to read novel and periodically sit down and read a few pages. I talked to family and friends this week. Chris offered to help me with some work for our Becoming Elli podcast and instead of insisting I could do it, I accepted. Sometimes help from a friend is the greatest gift.
I worked out several times this week which helped tremendously. Because I’ve been so busy in the house, it’s been easy to skip my runs and workouts but because I had sessions scheduled with my trainer and friends, I got to the gym despite myself. And that’s one of the things I talked about in ways to motivate yourself to workout. Make appointments and commitments. It really does make you get yourself to the gym or the park or wherever you’re meeting someone. And moving your body and working out does improve your mood.
This isn’t my normal informative blog post so thank you for letting me share some of my personal life with you. I think this is the value of community that we keep talking about. We all go through different phases of life and those periods can bring benefits even though there can be a lot of stress.
Feel free to share some of the ways that you deal with stress.
In Podcast #11 of Becoming Elli, Jill and Chris share their experiences with the Cleveland Half Marathon. Running 13.1 miles with less training than they would have liked, Jill and Chris found that changing expectations made for a fun event.
Listen today to hear about:
* Expo
* Parking
* Expectations and attitude
* Weather and what to wear
* Running the 13.1 mile course through downtown past the stadiums, into the Flats, up into Tremont, past Ohio City, down through Gordon Square and finishing in Public Square
* The food and the medal
* Fun in the Beer Garden and listening to live music
Finishers – 2018 Cleveland Half Marathon
In the tips section, Chris shares her tactics on how she works to maintain her weight loss so she can maintain a healthy weight. It’s challenging road to find the right mix of exercise, sustainable recipes, and mindful eating patterns.
1) getting on the scale
2) keeping track of the food
3) signing up for a race and training for it
4) focus on joints, ligaments and muscles
5) exercise moderately
6) use GO TO recipes
What tactics do you use to maintain your weight loss? Do you feel it’s like a marathon trying to maintain weight after a weight loss?
Becoming Elli where women over 50 inspire each other to become fit and strong.
The weather forecast was supposed to be the low 90’s today and my bike group has a long bike ride planned in Cleveland, starting before noon and probably not finishing until well after 4 pm.
Have you ever had heat problems? Sometimes it’s called heat exhaustion or heat stroke. It starts out just being hot, but progresses to when your face is incredibly red and you are way overheated. I’ve had it and don’t want to repeat it. In fact, I have gotten it when it has progressed to the chills. Definitely time to “call it.” Sure sign of a heat problem. No amount of pickle juice helped at that point!
Jill Rango gives us tips to improve our balance, flexibility and mobility that can make such a big difference in helping us to keep from falling.
First, I prep the salad ingredients for my Chicken Quinoa Tomato salad.
Slice several red peppers into strips.(Four nubs on the bottom are females, three are male. The female peppers are supposedly sweeter with less seeds.) Coat with olive oil. Roast in oven for 30 minutes.
