#[deep breath] it is in fact to no one’s surprise- quite demotivating

[gomzdrawfr]

Nothing is sadder than seeing a ghost x oc art being reblogged as ghostsoap tag

[theimprobabledreamersworld]

A Time of Magic Chapter Four: Part One

Yayy! Finally written something again! :)

I’ve been so down and demotivated about my writing recently, and I’ve had no confidence in sharing anything... but this story is so fun, and I enjoyed writing this chapter.

Warnings for; fight scenes, weapons, injury and swearing.

Read on Ao3!

Taglist for this story: @red-imeanblue @jwillowwolf @lost-in-thought-20 @psychedelicships @spicycreativity (If you would like to be added, let me know!)

Two Halves Of The Same Coin: Part One

Virgil felt his chest tighten as he left the castle grounds. He needed to remember where the stables were, and he knew they were tucked away near the market, but he just couldn’t remember where. He looked down every alley and breathed a sigh of relief when he noticed the horses down the path in front of him. As he walked through the abandoned section of the market; he heard insufferable, arrogant laughter, which could only belong to one person.

Roman.

He tried to walk past as quickly as he could and he kept his head down. Unfortunately, Virgil glanced up and made eye contact with one of his little group, that knight then patted Roman on the shoulder before pointing at him.

“How’s that knee-walking coming along?” Virgil took a deep breath and kept repeating the same words in his head.

‘Just walk away, Virgil. There are much bigger things to be dealing with.’ He was stopped in his tracks by the patronising tone of Roman.

“Aww… don’t run away!” He raised his arms up before turning back to the entourage as they all sniggered at how Virgil tensed up in response.

Virgil bit his tongue. ‘Don’t say anything, don’t do anything.’

“From you?” He retorted with significant venom and sarcasm in his voice. Shit. Now he’s done it.

Roman faked a sigh of relief, and wiped his forehead in a comical fashion. A crowd began to gather around as they watched the scenes unfurl. Many people wondering who was the fool that dared to speak back to Prince Roman.

“Oh thank God. I thought you were deaf as well as dumb.” Roman accentuated his words carefully, judging the reactions of those in the crowd. You would think he was performing comedy at the local tavern. As some of the locals sniggered, Virgil turned and watched as Roman took in their laughter, just like fuel for the fire.

“Look, I told you that you were an ass. I just didn’t realise that you were a royal one.” Virgil bowed deeply, ensuring that it was in a mocking fashion and the locals gasped at the audacity. The other knights stared at him in disbelief and surprisingly, even Roman’s eyes widened slightly at the statement. Virgil could feel the confidence surging through him.

“Aww what are you gonna do? You’ve got daddy’s men to protect you after all.” Virgil felt unusually smug, he shouldn’t be considering who he was talking to, and the fact that he already been in the dungeons once thanks to Prince Roman. He could feel the confidence surge through him, he should have quit while he was ahead… but he was having far too much fun.

Roman started laughing loudly, completely unintimidated by Virgil’s words and that feeling of confidence drained immediately, and dread once again crept through him. He should have just listened to Logan’s advice and stayed low. He was here once again though and he couldn’t back down, even if he wanted to.

“I could take you apart in one measly blow!” Roman commented with an obnoxious level of confidence.

“I could take you apart in less than that.” Virgil retorted without missing a beat. Roman raised an eyebrow incredulously. Virgil bit the inside of his cheek before taking off his jacket in an uncharacteristically confident fashion. All the knights look surprised, especially Roman. Almost an impressed look graced his face before he turned around to one knight who smirked at Virgil while handing over a mace. All colour drained from Virgil’s face as Roman stepped forward swinging the mace viciously above his head.

��I should warn you… I have been trained to kill since birth.” As he continued to swing the mace building up momentum. Virgil started looking around to find any he could use to his advantage, he saw an empty market stall and slowly backed towards it. He needed Roman to follow him, and it’s not as if he could really put a dent in that incredibly inflated ego.

“And… how long have you been training to be a prat?” He darted backwards as Roman sent the mace plunging towards him, he ducked left and right missing the mace by millimetres. Roman snarled and somehow managed to swing continuously at a far quicker pace, as the mace struck the wall of the market stall, both of them looked surprised. It gave Virgil the advantage as Roman tried to pry the mace out of the tough wood, he saw some rope by Roman’s feet so made sure no one was looking before his eyes glowed purple, and the rope tentatively slid its way out.

The wood finally cracked and the mace was free. Virgil moved backwards, and Roman glared at him with rage in his eyes before lunging forward. The rope pulled taut and he plummeted towards the ground giving Virgil more time to find other things that he could use to his advantage.

Roman immediately got up off the ground and charged at Virgil. He swung the mace wildly, coming dangerously close to his body. He managed to duck and dodge as the mace crushed fruit and other items abandoned on various market stalls. Virgil grunted as his back hit a pillar before he leapt behind the wooden table propping the roof of the market stall up. Roman wasn’t going to let him get away easily from now on, and he immediately leapt over the wooden table too. He began to chuckle as Virgil had no choice but to run backwards, he was constantly dodging attacks but was stopped in his tracks by a thick bale of hay that caused him to tumble backwards… and be completely vulnerable. ‘At least I’ve found the stables’, he thought to himself bitterly.

Roman placed himself directly over Virgil, and just smirked at him while letting the mace spin narrowly close to his head.

“You’re in trouble now.” Roman snarled, and the crowd formed once again surrounding the two of them, gasping and cheering as Virgil began to frantically search once again for anything he could use to save his skin. He breathed a sigh of relief as he saw the chains propping the stable doors open. He just had to wait for the right moment.

As the mace spun backwards, Virgil’s eyes glowed and the chains gripped together allowing the mace to wrap around them, getting tangled up in the process. Roman was pulled backwards and he stuck once again. The crowd began to laugh and point at Roman as he struggled to free the mace, it didn’t take very long this time for to launch an attack once again, much to Virgil’s disappointment. Roman’s eyes were almost red as there was nothing meticulous this time, he just dealt blow after blow in a fit of anger. Virgil was starting to run out of stamina, he wasn’t sure how much longer he could handle this.

‘Quick, Virgil, think! Buy yourself some time!’ He ducked down and noticed a broken wooden box. His eyes glowed as the box slowly dragged itself in front of Roman’s legs, and as Roman stepped on the edge, the box hit his shin causing a cry of agony. The crowd continued to laugh like this was a well planned performance. In his moment of pain, the mace flew out of Roman’s hands and landed squarely at Virgil’s feet. He couldn’t believe his luck as he grabbed it and stepped towards Roman, swinging it as much as he could. Despite the situation, there was a glimmer of excitement in Roman’s eyes, Virgil continued to step forward trying to be intimidating.

“Do you give up?” Virgil called out over the raucous caused by the crowd.

“Not a chance.” Roman retorted before unceremoniously falling backwards, causing the crowd to begin cheering for Virgil. He couldn’t help but be swept up in the appreciation and positive energy surrounding him, it was almost intoxicating… until he saw a familiar face in the crowd…

Logan. The look of disappointment on his face was almost unbearable. Virgil promised he would lay low, and he had once again broken that promise to the man who had taken him in and treated him like a son. The guilt began to consume him and he dropped the mace to the ground with a heavy thud.

In that lapse of concentration, Roman had found a sturdy broom on the floor by his head and knew how to regain control of the situation. All of a sudden, Virgil felt a sharp punch to his knees which caused them to buckle and fall to the floor.  He then felt the broom dig into his back and he held his arms up in surrender as Roman sighed and twirled the broom in his hand. Roman then held a hand out for Virgil to take, and after he got up and the crowd finished cheering for their Prince, the guards rushed in to take him back to the dungeon. Virgil looked at Logan apologetically, and Logan smiled back in a way that was reassuring.

“No. Let him go.” Roman pushed the guards away, and Virgil couldn’t help but look surprised at his response. Why was he letting him go? He picked a fight with royalty after all, and damaged property… and caused a disturbance. Even the guards looked a bit bewildered by Roman’s insistence.

“He may be an idiot, but he’s a brave one.” Virgil searched his face for sarcasm, but his tone was genuine, and Roman actually looked a little impressed now that the whole fight was over. Virgil supposed that not many villagers had picked a fight with the Prince and lived to tell the tale.

Roman looked Virgil up and down, before shaking his head softly.

“There’s something about you, Virgil… I can’t quite put my finger on it.” Virgil nodded, and Roman nodded back with a small smirk before walking away with the guards. The crowd dissipated and Virgil looked around but Logan had vanished with them, all he saw was his jacket delicately placed to the side with a hastily scribbled note on top.

‘I will see you at home, whenever you have finished whatever you rushed out this morning to do. L.’

Virgil knew that Virgil knew that despite the reassuring smile after it was all over, Logan was furious with him, which is why he wasn’t waiting for him... but he didn’t have time to think about that right now. He needed to find where the voice was coming from, and as he looked at the now obvious secret door sticking out from under a hay bale in the stables… he knew that he needed to do it now.

[butterflyagelessbeauty]

Why Women 50 and Older Need to Lift Weights

Only 18 percent of women between the ages of 40 and 59 get enough exercise, reports government statistics. (1) And when women hit age 60, this number drops to just 12 percent. Why are so many women avoiding exercise, and specifically avoiding weight lifting? The reasons for skipping the weights (and the health benefits that come with lifting weights) just might surprise you.

The #1 Reason Many Women Avoid Weight Training

“But I don’t want to get big!” According to many personal trainers, this is one of the top reasons that women give for not wanting to lift weights. (1) Women are worried they’ll develop those bulky, veiny muscles they see in the media and in ads. But here’s the thing: Those “big guys” you see on fitness magazine covers and in TV shows have quite literally devoted their every waking moment to getting there. Unless you spend 8+ hours in the gym every day like they do, you won’t get too big. And this unfounded worry — along with other demotivating factors, such as finding the gym intimidating or not knowing what exercises to try — could be depriving you of valuable health benefits as you get older! Let’s explore the benefits of exercise training for women your age, and how you can get started right in the comfort and privacy of your own home.

The Benefits of Weight Training for Women: Improved Metabolism

As you get older, you start to lose muscle. Researchers estimate that women lose approximately 1/4 pound of muscle every year after they hit age 50. (1) Meanwhile, muscle endurance and strength drops by up to 14 percent every 10 years after you hit age 40. The immediate result of muscle loss is a slower metabolism. This is why many women find themselves unexpectedly gaining weight as they age. But this weight gain isn’t inevitable. It’s simply because muscle tissue burns more calories per minute than fat tissue, and as your muscle-to-fat ratio changes as you get older, you start to see noticeable weight fluctuations. Maintaining your lean muscle tissue as you get older, and even adding to your lean muscle mass, can keep your metabolism burning hot and help you to maintain your youthful figure. But that’s not all…

The Benefits of Weight Training for Women: Reduced Risk of Osteoporosis

Besides toning your body and improving your silhouette as you get older, lifting weights also slashes your risks of osteoporosis. According to the International Osteoporosis Foundation, the disease affects 200 million women around the world. A tenth of women age 60, a fifth of women age 70, and by the time women hit age 90, a shocking 2/3rds of women have it. (3) Lifting weights is one of the best ways to avoid this disease, and the fractures, broken hips and falls that come with osteoporosis. Regularly lifting weights and putting strain on your bones helps to increase your bone strength and your bone mineral density, and slows the loss of bone that comes with aging.

The Benefits of Weight Training for Women: Additional Perks to Exercise

While the two previously discussed benefits are what draws many women to weight training, lifting weights and enjoying regular exercise brings even more benefits. This includes: A reduced risk of some forms of cancer Improved mental health and happier moods Reduced symptoms of menopause, including fewer and less severe hot flashes Better hormone balance, including the hormones linked with your sex drive And much more! If you’re feeling the drive to pick up a dumbbell or two, but the idea of hitting the gym intimidates you, try at-home weight training. The following exercises hit every important area of your body, helping you to build muscle, burn fat and start to reap the benefits of regular exercise.   Exercises For Your Arms As you get older, your arms tend to grow weaker because you don’t use them as much as you used to for lifting, household chores, etc. And when you do arm exercises, you’re not just working your arms. You’re also strengthening, toning and building the endurance of your shoulders, rotator cuffs, core muscles (i.e. your abs) and your chest. The push-up is an oldie-but-goldie. Kneel on the floor (use an exercise mat or a cushion to make it easier on your knees if you need) and place your palms flat on the floor underneath your shoulders. Extend your legs behind you, resting your toes on the floor so that your body is supported just by your hands and feet. Your buttocks, back and the back of your head should form a straight line - no slumping or arching your back. While keeping the rest of your body firm, bend your elbows until they form 90-degree angles while lowering your chest to the floor. Pause, then push yourself back up. Aim to do five push-ups in a row, then take a rest. Another great weight lifting exercise for women over 50 include tricep dips. Your triceps run on the back of your arms and are essential to mobility. Sit down in a chair or use the edge of your sofa. From the seated position, place your hands on the chair or sofa and lower your buttocks toward the ground. Pause, then press up using the strength of your arms and not your legs.   Exercises For Your Hamstrings and Legs As you get older, you need additional strength and support for the joints in your knees, hips and legs. These areas become more fragile as you age, and strengthening your hamstrings and legs helps support your continued mobility and happiness. Try a single-leg bridge with tricep pullover. Get into the bridge position, which is lying on your back with your arms at your side, and your upper body pressed into the air. Hold a dumbbell in each of your hands. If you don’t have a light dumbbell, try holding a book or a full water bottle. Squeeze your buttocks and lift your right leg off the floor. While staying in this position, bend your arms and move the dumbbells up and over your head. Pause, then return to the starting position and repeat with your other leg. Aim to do up to 10 of these moves per leg.   Exercises For Your Core Exercising your core isn’t just about having a six pack. Your core is far more important than you may realize. It supports twisting and turning and lifting, so you can keep doing all the things you love in life even as you get older. It also protects your back from injury. A weak core can lead to back pain, strain and injuries that can sideline you for days or even months. One of the best ways to strengthen your core muscles, including your deep abdominals and your obliques (the muscles that run along the side of your ribcage) is by doing a crunch. However, most women (and people in general) don’t know how to do a proper sit-up or crunch that protects them from injury. Lie down facing up with your feet flat on the floor. Bend your knees and bring your heels approximately 12 inches from your tailbone. Put your hands behind your head, exhale and squeeze your core muscles while curling upward toward your thighs. Continue upward until your upper back is off the ground, then pause and while inhaling slowly, lower yourself back to the starting position. Avoid jerking, lifting your legs or lower back off the floor, or holding your breath for too long.

Aging Doesn’t Have to Hold You Back!

By regularly training your upper body, lower body and core, you can start to experience the benefits of weight training for women over 50. This will serve you over the years and you’ll continue to be able to enjoy all the things in life that require movement, with fewer fears and reservations about mobility, flexibility and strength. References: https://www.alive.com/fitness/age-defying-athletes/ https://www.t-nation.com/training/10-mistakes-women-make-in-the-gym https://www.iofbonehealth.org/facts-statistics https://www.acefitness.org/education-and-resources/lifestyle/blog/6593/top-25-at-home-exercises Read the full article