Category Archives: exercise

Yoga with Amber

unknown – boredpanda.com

This isn’t Amber but it could be. She ‘helped’ me do my yoga yesterday. She watches me practice every day, lying on her living room bed while I stretch on my pad, but she usually doesn’t participate.

For some reason yesterday she kept walking over me to talk to my husband, who was in his chair. She stepped right on my stomach, which, to say the least, broke my concentration. When I doubled up and laughed, she decided it was an invitation to play. She rolled around on me (and, at 95 pounds +- really gets my attention). As I continued to laugh helplessly, she would try to get as close to me as possible, stepping on me over and over. I finally controlled my laughing enough to tell her “PLACE” and she complied, going back to her bed, stepping on me one more time, of course.

I finished my practice, but she tried to join me a couple more times. I was watching, though, and caught her before she got up. She managed to ooze off the bed, as close to me as she could get, licking me or nuzzling me.

When I finished my practice, I sat down next to HER and gave her a good loving.

I’m still not sure what triggered all this. We play and love every day, mostly several times a day. Maybe it’s a test to see if I can keep my concentration with a 95 pound dog walking on me. If so, I have dismally failed. :0)

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“Yesterday…”

Ben Hood – Getty Images

Yesterday I did a bunch (for me). I –

  • gathered trash and drove it down when we left for errands. I dragged the can down to the bottom of the driveway and put the trash IN it.
  • We got our mail
  • We drove to Ft. Smith to sign our tax returns and get our copies of everything
  • We stopped at the Co-op on the way home and I bought leaf lettuce, head lettuce, and spinach plants

Best of all, we went in the TRUCK instead of the Vette. I don’t enjoy riding in the Vette anymore. My husband drives like he is 20, zipping in and around everyone on the road, stepping on the gas when I would step on the brakes. The fact that he is 80 and is still recovering from a broken collarbone from falling on the ice just wouldn’t make a difference. SO – I was very grateful that we took the truck. :0)

When we got home I gathered the planting stuff and took it out to the east end of the house where we have the three brick planters we converted to square foot planters a year or so ago. I got all the plants in (16 of each), fertilized and watered them. I rested a bit, then, since I would be fixing dinner soon, I took king-sized sheets and clothespins out and covered the plants. It was due to – and DID – freeze last night. (I have an alarm set now for an hour to go out and UNcover the plants before we need to leave for some errands this morning.) I think I’ll give the garden a day to see if these plants look like they’re going to make it before buying more.

I did my yoga like a good girl, although I had quite a talk with myself. At first I thought, okay – I spent about 45 minutes out in the yard, bending, digging, planting, watering, then covering things with sheets. I have had my exercise for the day and don’t need to do my yoga today. On the other hand, I have committed to trying to do it EVERY day, building a habit, hopefully giving my body the gift of better balance, more strength and flexibility. My responsible side won.

The end result was that I was pooped. I made our dinner, then cleaned up the kitchen. I took my shower early and went to bed early. My husband woke me up this morning or I would have overslept!

So, I hope the plants are looking happy later today and tomorrow. If they are, I’ll get the second load of plants and see if I can finish. I want to plant tomatoes, and I’m not sure what other veggies I’ll get. :0)

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Checking In

sent to me by my friend, Marsha

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Well, Shut My Mouth!

Asier_Relampago – Freepik.com

I’m down 21.6 pounds since my heaviest. One day at a time.

I’m going to get a spaghetti squash today to bake so that I can make the third in my trifecta of substitutes for the ‘white stuff’ I love to serve under sauces – “cauli-rice,” “zoodles,” and “spaghetti squash.” When I finish the prep today, I’ll have a supply of each frozen in individual portions so that I can follow my low carb eating plan while my husband eats whatever pasta and white rice. He has looked quite appalled at my idea that he join me in the change, so this way we can both eat “spaghetti,” for example, with smiles on our faces.

I’ve also discovered Mission Zero Carb Tortillas. They actually have 7 carbs per tortilla, but 7 grams of fiber, so “0” net carbs. I can enjoy one each evening in place of the dinner roll I’ve been eating. Tonight I’m making a large tuna fish salad for our dinner.

I’m happy with progress with my yoga practice. Today is Day 21 of every-afternoon practice. I’m up to 20 reps on my abdominal exercise (started at 5), and 7 reps on each side of my leg lifts (bird dog pose) (started with 3). I’m feeling looser. I won’t say I look forward to my exercise session, but I’m getting ‘used-to-it.’ :0)

I’m hoping I can keep my head on straight with my mouth shut regarding eating or drinking what I shouldn’t so I can continue losing the lard and getting stronger, more flexible, with better balance.

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Sunday 2-25-2024

Daniel J Greenwood-@DigitalDanielG on X

Isn’t this glorious?

I really wanted to sleep later this morning, but my bladder insisted I get up. I’m still feeling a bit bleery-eyed, drinking coffee to try to wake up my system.

I’m feeling hopeful this morning, bleery-eyed or not, that the emphasis on lowering my carbs is getting the attention of my scales. I’ve lost 3-1/2 pounds since I started my new regimen. (No handsprings or anything, since I have a gazillion more to go, but it’s NICE to have the scales laughing a bit less several mornings now. )

I’m going through my Simply Keto recipe book, finding new recipes I plan to try, adding to my grocery list. I really like the fact that Suzanne Ryan doesn’t glory in spending time in the kitchen. Her recipes are simple, using ingredients you can readily find in regular grocery stores, and they don’t take a lot of prep or time. Just perfect for me.

Recently I used my spiralizer to make ‘zoodles,’ or pasta noodle type stuff from zucchini. The one zucchini yielded enough for three 1-cup servings. I ate one with my spaghetti sauce and froze the other two.

Love and Lemons

Today I’m going to make ‘cauli-rice,’ a rice substitute from cauliflower. I’m hoping that my efforts will yield enough for several meals. I’m going to cook some stew meat in my slow cooker, starting at lunch time, then combine that with Paul Newman’s Alfredo Sauce (3 carbs per serving.) I’ll serve that over regular rice for my husband and over the cauli-rice for me.

I have also discovered a way to work with the MyFitnessPal program better for ME – when I’m eating the number of calories I CAN eat, it tells me that, if I keep eating the same way, I’ll weigh “X” in 5 weeks. (The actual results of this is that I don’t lose weight.) If I eat fewer calories, it tells me, “You’re not eating enough.” I used to go find some foods to add to get the calories up. Now I list what I’m comfortable eating for the day, plus my exercises. If it says I’m not eating enough, it means that there is a chance the scales will show a bit less the next morning. :0)

I will earn my 7th star on my calendar this afternoon for daily yoga stretches. That feels good. My calendar is sparkly with the stars, feeding my spirits emotionally, and the yoga practice is making my body stronger and more flexible. Win/win.

So, feeling positive – even though still a bit bleery-eyed – on a beautiful Sunday. Hope YOUR Sunday is a good one, too.

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Saturday Thoughts 2-24-2024

Unsplash

I’m seeing a bit of progress in my efforts to get my act together. In my yoga yesterday, I was able to do 10 reps of my abdominal exercise (started with 5), and will earn star #6 on my week’s calendar on daily practice. (It felt really good just now to replace the words, “try for” with “EARN”.)

Second, I’m getting a good start on limiting my carbs. I’ve lost 2 lbs since I got serious, using MyFitnessPal.com to work out what I’ll eat for the day. I really like this website. I can type in the name of a frozen dinner, for example, such as Lean Cuisine Herb Roasted Chicken, and it has an extensive data base of foods, added to by their membership, so it’s easy to list and find out where it fits in my plan for the day. They have a place where you can list your own recipes and store them. I can ‘play’ with options for each meal, plus snacks, and see before I screw up how it will work, or if I need to choose something else. Really helpful website if you’re trying to lose weight or just make sure that you’re eating the right foods for a health condition, etc.

I made ‘zoodles’ yesterday. This is a staple for low carb foodies, zucchini taking the place of spaghetti and other pastas.

This is my spiralizer. You cut off one end of the zucchini, put it in the “thick” or “thin” end of the spiralizer, then twist the zucchini. Long ‘ribbons’ of zucchini are formed. The end you see to the right is used when the zucchini is too short to hold, but still has some good ribbons left to make.

I can make my own low carb spaghetti sauce, for example, make some spaghetti for my husband, and heat up a serving of zoodles for me, making both of us happy. One zucchini made three 1-cup servings for me. I froze two of them, eating one last night. Today I’ll make some cauli-rice, a substitute for regular rice. These two things are wonderful for me. They taste fine (although I do miss the real things), allowing my husband and me to eat basically the same dinner, making him happy and taking any guilt away from me, allowing me to stay on my low-carb regimen.

SO – feeling as if I’m making a bit of progress, I will continue ‘onward and downward’ hopefully, with more flexibility and a stronger, flatter abdomen. :0)

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It’s Friday 2-23-2024

Boo – @333too3 on X

I can’t believe the creativity and talent of this. I love it.

(Group Hug is an improv team in North Carolina.)

One of our Lunch Bunch people texted me yesterday, asking if my husband and I wanted to meet today! It will be wonderful to see them, hug their necks, and catch up. We haven’t seen them since we met before Christmas.

Freepik

I was messing around in the house when something drew me to the back door. I opened it to find it was RAINING – fairly hard! I don’t know how long it lasted, and my husband didn’t even realize it happened. Our weather is wonderful today. I’m a little worried talking about it, because this is SOOO unusual. I’ll try to be quiet and just enjoy it. :0)

Pinterest

My yoga is going well. I will earn my 5th star for the week on my calendar, and I was able to add one more rep to my abdominal exercises yesterday, now totaling 7. Slow and steady.

I keep INTENDING to work outside or to get up to my art room. Somehow, the day gets away from me. I hope that you are finding fun things to do, too.

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Exercise

johndrysdale.com-boredpanda.com

I have added an abdominal exercise to my yoga stretching practice.

It’s similar to this, but my arms are straight toward my feet. I hold it a second and then stretch out both arms and legs, making my body straight, feet NOT touching the floor. Then pull up and do it again. At first it was all I could do to do 5 repetitions, and my stomach muscles voiced their strenuous displeasure for about three days. I continued to do the 5 reps daily. On day 4 (yesterday) the soreness had eased quite a bit, so I did 6 reps. I’ll continue with this until I feel I can add another….

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Relaaaaxxxxxing Jaw…

beelzeboobs-boredpanda.com

“Relaxing jaw. Relaxing face….” I’m making some progress, finally, getting back into my yoga. My husband is doing well enough now that I can take half an hour to stretch and try to relax.

I still sound like Rice Krispies, crackling and popping my way into stretches, but I’m able to stretch a bit farther, or hold the pose a bit longer now. I still find myself listening for unfamiliar sounds, or being aware if my husband is in his recliner and shifts position, but it’s getting better.

I’ll also get even more help because my massage was rescheduled to Monday. I’m really looking forward to that. My therapist, Lynn, is a miracle-worker, finding and loosening whatever knots I’ve brought in, whether I knew about them or not.

Being a hard-head, having to learn things the hard way over and over, I’ve had to LEARN that practicing yoga for half an hour or more a day is a really good thing to do for myself. It makes me move easier, makes me hurt less, makes me looser, steadier on my feet, etc.

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Sugar Pops

imgur-Skirmante – boredpanda.com

When I do my yoga practice in the afternoons, I’m constantly reminded of one of the cereals I ate in childhood, Sugar Pops. The ad talked about the ‘snap, crackle, and pop’ the cereal made after you poured milk on it in the bowl – even adding the sound effect to the ad. I loved the cereal, put EXTRA sugar on it, devouring it with gusto. They had prizes in the bottom of the box ( as did several other cereals for kids back then) and my mom had a firm rule we had to eat our way down to the prize. Interesting memories with what we’ve learned about nutrition since then.

My body is the cereal. No milk needed for the snapping, crackling, and popping to begin. Even my husband remarks about it as HE sits in his chair watching me…

I CAN feel some improvement in my stretching, though. I remind myself that Cat Kabira – the wonderful lady who made the Old Lady Stretching Videos (actually called “Gentle Yoga for Seniors”) to which I refer – says that stretching TOWARD your goal – and breathing into it – is as good for your body as actually reaching the goal. The stretching and relaxation is what is important.

I may be noisy, but I’m doing something good for myself. :0)

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A Bit Less of Me

Fam Veld-istock photo-Getty Images

As of today there is almost 19 pounds less of me. (18.8) I’m hoping I can get to 20 off soon, as that will motivate me to put less in my mouth and move more. :0)

I was under the weather yesterday, so didn’t do my yoga. Happily, that doesn’t happen often, so I should be on track for a good bunch of stretches this afternoon. I’m also doing laundry, vacuuming, cooking, and general cleaning up, so that may help, too.

I’m using MyFitnessPal.com again, as well, trying to be accountable for all ‘going in’ so I can tweak things, if needed. My husband is happy with our eating plan, so that is very helpful.

Onward and downward!

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I Earned Half a Bear!

I’m not sure which of these pictures (or either of them) clearly shows you that I’m half way to an old Nutrisystem reward bear that says, “20”. I have officially lost 15 pounds this morning.

I know I told you a couple of days ago that I had lost 14.4, but 15 is much more satisfying as a number. :0)

I have a long way to go on my journey, but I’m starting to feel I may have a handle on what works for me, if I can just keep my act together.

The basics for an older-than-dirt lady like me are –

  • Intermittent fasting from after dinner at night until lunch the following day.
  • I eat mostly protein and share an apple with my husband for lunch
  • For dinner we eat either portion-controlled leftovers from my cooking or occasionally a commercial frozen dinner (Healthy Choice/Atkins), sometimes a side veggie, plus one dinner roll with butter.
  • I’m trying to drink lots more water during the day
  • I’m trying to move more – walking out to the shop, working out in the yard, plus doing a session of old lady yoga stretches each afternoon with some extra exercises thrown in.

This is what is finally working for me, and I have all appendages crossed that I will earn the 2nd side of the ’20’ bear soon.

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Feeling Old and Creaky

Rivercity Pilates

Yesterday I went out and did about 20 minutes of pulling up small “weed trees” beside the shop. I’m trying to get these pulled by hand because they are too much for the wire in the weed whacker. Even though I only did that one session, my back hurt so badly when I was cooking dinner I had to ask my husband to come stir the chicken I was browning.

I’m going to redouble my efforts today on my yoga. It’s taken a back seat to my yard work, and my body is apparently telling me that is a mistake. I need to make time for both. I have to learn this lesson over and over – being a bit slow-witted – learning that the stretching and relaxation is essential to my well-being. :0(

@Britton65Sam on X

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Sunday’s Accomplishment

8 foot tomato planter before

NOW

Square tomato planter before

NOW

And that’s it for my outside work (and exercise) for the day.

Tomorrow (weather permitting) I have 4 planters – two really small concrete planters on either side of the garage door – and then two regular-sized brick planters that are on either side of the garage pad.

Here they are –

Hopefully, I can get something significant accomplished each day until I have things under control once again.

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Knowing Myself

Sent to me by Carol.

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Best Intentions

Sent by my good friend, Carol.

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Squelch the Snark!

Daily Motion

The effort to shed my lard is showing a bit of progress.

I decided that what I’ve been doing obviously isn’t working, so decided to change things up a bit and see if this helps.

I had been skipping breakfast, calling it “intermittent fasting,” but the result of that was a LOT of hunger for lunch – so I’m now eating some of my husband’s Cheerios with milk for breakfast.

I’m consciously trying to consider each thing I’m including on my plate for lunch, NOT including something that is less important to me in an effort to keep my metabolism working but not load myself down.

Dinners are 1) an individual frozen portion of something I have cooked (like spaghetti, a casserole, hamburger patty); 2) an individual portion frozen entree (I’m eating Atkins Chicken and Broccoli Alfredo tonight); or 3) a new entree I’ve cooked. I make a side veggie and we have a dinner roll.

The MyFitnessPal.com calorie counter thinks I’m ‘not eating enough’ (based on 1200 calories per day) until I add a snack. I’m waffling on this one, since I know I’m eating healthy and mainly wanted to make sure I wasn’t shooting myself in the foot inadvertently.

I’m trying to make SURE I’m either working in the yard, doing my yoga, or both, daily, plus I’m trying to drink more water.

____________

IndiaMART

So far, I’ve lost 3.2 lbs. Suffice to say I have a LONG way to go before I get to my goal, but I have started. I’m happy that my scales have finally noticed, and are registering a difference, but they continue to be quite snarky. I’m hoping to squelch the snark with my continued efforts.

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Yo Yo

Pinterest

I was doing well on my ‘no-eating-between-meals‘, ‘no-extra-salt,’ plus ‘yoga-every-afternoon‘, but had a bad day yesterday. I felt like I was starving to death. I fell off and gained back two of the five I lost. UGH.

Today is a new day, though, so I’ll give myself a break and do better today. I’ve never been a runner, and these days my hips start yelling at me if I walk a lot, so I’ve been redoubling my efforts to practice my yoga each afternoon, doing lots of slow, careful stretches, breathing into each pose, relaxing as much as I can. This, combined with working in the yard, should make a reasonable amount of exercise.

Motivation Monday – Pinterest

Hopefully, by the end of the weekend, my scales will stop laughing so loudly.

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Creeeeeeeak!

Minions

Animal Comedy – Cheezburger

You can almost HEAR all the cracks and pops as I move slowly and carefully through my yoga poses. I have to move carefully because AGAIN I’ve been lazy and using excuses, rather than practicing, so I’m stiff and sore.

I’ve been doing the practice daily again for about 4 days now. I’m feeling a bit better, but I still have to MINDFULLY get myself into the living room and get my mat each afternoon.

Yesterday my dog, Amber (yellow lab) and cat, Abby, BOTH joined me when I got down on the floor. My husband finally started to laugh and then encouraged the animals to give me a break, rather than keep trying to lie down beside or ON me.

I’ve lost a lot of ground with all the excuses, so I’m trying to be patient with myself and just keep breathing into the stretches, waiting for my body to finally ‘give’ a bit in the right direction.

taolife.com

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It’s In the Stars

Clipart Library

I’m going back to an ‘old faithful’ for me – rewarding myself with a sparkly star on my desk calendar when I achieve one of my goals.

  • I’ve been stress eating and I’m really trying to stop that.
  • I’ve been liberally sprinkling salt on everything, plus eating salty snacks
  • I’ve been making excuses for not doing my daily yoga session

Otherwise, I’m a reasonably nice person… :0)

SO

I started yesterday (DAY 1) in a serious effort to mend my ways. I got one star for not eating in-between meals and not putting any extra salt on anything. I made an excuse for not doing my yoga, so I only got one star yesterday, but put that silver sparkly star on my calendar a couple of minutes ago.

Today I’m trying for 2.

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Today’s Exercise

This gives you an idea of what the threat of hail does around here. My first exercise of the morning was gathering the sheets I had spread on our two tomato planters on one side of the house plus the garden veggie boxes on the other side of our property. The sheets are really a challenge to spread over the plants when the wind is gusting. This morning I used the wheelbarrow to gather the heavy, wet sheets and clothespins.

Six loads of wash, folding the sheets into a trash bag, and then storing them with the clothespins for next time will be my next exercise for the day.

BoredPanda.com – “Dorky Dogs” – Liucija Adomaite and Justinas Keturka

Lastly, I’ll do a session of yoga this afternoon. Since I didn’t get my massage yesterday, my poor old body is telling me I really need to spread out, stretch, and relax into several poses so I don’t creak when I move. :0)

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Cookies

Forwarded by my friend Marsha

She and I are trying to encourage each other in our efforts to lose the lard and exercise.

She has lost a pound or two already recently and purchased a peddler that she can use several times a day, rain or shine, to try to build muscle and stamina. Huge kudos!

I, on the other hand, am a dismal failure. I do pretty well, and then my husband, trying to be nice, brings me a dish of ice cream with chocolate syrup. Or, failing that excuse, I decide I’m starving to death mid afternoon and have some pretzels, even after drinking a bottle of water first and waiting to try to curb my hunger. I’ve also been using my meager yard work as a substitute for my yoga practice. Bah. Humbug.

I’m trying to do one day at a time – even one morning at a time. I’ll try to get my act together VERY SOON – if not TODAY…

taolife.com

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Therapeutic Yoga

Tenor.com

Running out of excuses for not doing my yoga sessions lately, I did a session of careful stretches yesterday, trying to straighten out, stretch, relax into old lady poses, and generally give myself a chance to heal.

Why I need to convince myself from time to time that it really HELPS me to do this practice remains a mystery. General laziness, I guess.

I had been feeling creaky, sore, stiff, etc. from yard work, helping my husband change the tires on our truck and more, and I was basically doing the minimum movement needed.

Being dumb is not something I cultivate, so now that I’ve proven it to myself once again, I’ll try to do at least half an hour daily, no matter what else I’m doing.

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Eating Lead?

Wall Here

I’m not throwing in the towel, but my weight loss efforts seem to be a joke lately. Lunch and dinner remain as usual, but ‘somehow’ I’m eating pretzels in the afternoon and ice cream with chocolate syrup before bed.

I have no one to blame but myself. I had a birthday recently (a wonderfully happy one, even though the numbers are beginning to get pretty impressive) and I have been on this binge ever since.

I’m still doing my yoga practice most afternoons, but I was planning to be active outside, getting my veggie garden set up, and the weather has not been cooperative yet.

Those are my excuses and they’re pretty weak, but they’re the only ones I have right now.

Each day I’m trying to say that “today will be different. “ Hahahahahahah

I’m going to continue to tell myself this and ONE DAY I’ll believe it and hopefully begin to make some improvement. Until then, my scales will be snarky.

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Thoughts on a Cloudy Saturday 3-11-2023

Oscar Ivan Esquivel Arteaga – Unsplash

The forecast here is for showers this morning and storms this evening – cloudy in-between.

freixenet.com

As I sit here, happily typing on my computer, warm, dry, with coffee beside me, I DO realize how fortunate I am to be able to quietly gripe that my weather isn’t ‘pretty’ today.

2Unstoppable

My friend Marsha and I are happily encouraging each other to get off our duffs and exercise, each putting another star on our individual calendars. Marsha bought a pedaler she can use inside and is also trying to walk to the post office when the weather permits. She is encouraging me to at least do my session of yoga each afternoon, if not also to try an exercise video, do some time on my elliptical trainer in the garage, or get out and work in the yard. It’s nice to be able to compare notes with a good friend, knowing that we’ll each be stronger, more flexible, and healthier together.

The Mercury News

I heard there was yet another bill in Congress to do away with Daylight Savings Time. I couldn’t be more in favor of this. It is my understanding that we started this in order to “help the farmers. ” I think farmers and ranchers are strong, independent people who don’t need everyone to change their clocks . They get up when they feel they need to in order to do what needs to be done each day. If I’m wrong, I would really appreciate it if someone would set me straight so that I can stop resenting it twice a year.

I hope your Saturday is a happy one.

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Friends

Clarity Clinic

A shout-out this morning to my good friend Marsha.

She lives across the country from me, but in my heart all the time.

We are helping each other be the healthiest we can be by each motivating the other to exercise every day.

She is walking to the post office daily and also using a new pedaler in her home so she doesn’t have to depend on the weather being good.

I am doing yoga practice daily and then ‘something else,’ including, but not limited to, at least one of the following –

  • elliptical trainer in the garage
  • online walking and/or weights videos
  • yard work
  • walking around the yard

We KNOW that exercise is good for us, but each of us is a master at making excuses for NOT doing it. We care about each other, though, and are now comparing notes daily.

If we have done what we promised each other (and ourselves) we would do, we put a star on our calendar. If not, we tell them we love them and encourage them to do better the next day.

Yesterday we both got a star! We’ll try to do it again today. :0)

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Trying to Eat Healthy

Sent to me by my friend, Marsha

Two days ago I pulled a couple of salmon fillets out of the freezer. When I thawed them, I discovered I had FOUR, instead of the TWO I had expected. I went ahead and cooked them, serving them with some steamed veggies. I had never had salmon leftovers, so I looked on the net to find suggestions for using them. I hadn’t thought about making a salmon salad, like tuna salad, but I decided to try it. My husband was pleased with both dinners, and I got some other ideas of what can be done with the leftovers, so I’ll probably do it again – on purpose next time. :0)

My husband’s request is for spaghetti tonight. We used to enjoy a large pasta bowl of it with garlic toast. Now we eat in a much more careful manner, trying for moderation, rather than eating what probably amounts to 3 or 4 servings each at one sitting. Now I serve it in small bowls, with a salad on the side and maybe a dinner roll. I divide the leftovers into individual portion freezer containers, ready for us to heat and eat at other times.

I’m building a portion of cashews into my daily calorie count, particularly when MyFitnessPal.com concludes “I’m probably not eating enough” after I list my eating plan for the day.

We’re enjoying our lunches, comprised of fresh fruit, potato salad, a slice of ham or turkey, and maybe some cheese. It’s colorful and delicious.

I’ll get back to my exercising, warm-up and weights exercises online one day and my elliptical trainer on alternate days, plus my session of yoga in the afternoons – once my arm quits complaining.

I’m cooking more, but carefully, and am enjoying the ‘cooking once’ getting several meals out of each session.

And I’m hoping this, along with trying to drink more water, will result in a healthier, sassier me for 2023.

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“Diet” vs “Lifestyle”

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I KNOW this, and yet, seeing this in writing really caught my attention. Since I’m a ‘sparkly-stars-on-my-desk-calendar’ type of gal, I DO tend to feel like a failure and lose momentum when I ‘mess up.’ It takes me a bit to get going again.

I also have to admit that I have been TRYING to change my thinking for a long time. If I had a gravestone, I guess it would be the truth if it said, “All or nothing.” My house is either ready for House Beautiful to come photograph it for their magazine, or looks like an explosion (or six) has occurred. I’ve either cleared out my garden and covered it neatly or it’s completely overflowing with weeds. I’m either eating exactly what I ‘should’ or have gone off the rails and am enjoying a bacon cheeseburger. I’m still on my ‘first husband’ after almost 54 years. Do you see a pattern here? :0)

A resolution I’m trying to keep this year is giving myself a break. Not only realizing that I’m not perfect, but ALSO realizing that it’s what I do MOST of the time that will make the difference I want. If I mess up, or I’m not feeling well, no one else CARES whether I did my yoga for the day, or ate more comfort food than I should have. What MATTERS is that each meal is a chance to eat in a healthy manner. Each day is an opportunity to be good to my body, giving it what it NEEDS, rather than what my mind might be craving at the time. Each day is an opportunity to keep my body moving, making my future full of what I would like to do, rather than only what I CAN do, given my limitations.

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DAY 170

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Today is DAY 170 of my trying to make doing a session of yoga daily a HABIT. Since it’s a definite part of my afternoon now, I’ll TRY not to bore you with how many days it has been anymore. We’ll just call it a ‘determined effort’ and leave it at that.

To this I’ve added warm-up and weights videos on one day and a session on the elliptical the next throughout the week. I’ll never be old enough that sparkly stars on my desk calendar aren’t motivating, so I’ll continue that. :0)

My meals are such that MyFitnessPal usually says, “It looks like you’re not eating enough.” when I tally what I’m eating. Right now that seems to be a mental ‘go-ahead-and-stuff-your-face’ light, resulting in my scales being even more snarky than usual.

What I need here is a transformation to “exercise nut” who has to REMIND herself to eat, and then prefers nutritious, low-calorie foods that only build muscle and encourage the fat to fade away, never to be seen again. If wishes were fishes….

The only New Year’s Resolution I’m going to make for 2023 is to take ONE DAY AT A TIME. That will be my meme, my mantra. To spend each day well, as fully in the moment as possible, enjoying all the good stuff around me, handling whatever happens as best I can. BREATHING a lot. Taking the time to look around and SMILE. And try to give that smile to others.

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1st Star of the Day 12-31-2022

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I’m patting myself – and my husband – on our heads right now. THAT -while typing this – is quite a feat! :0)

Because my husband found a new MP3 player and loaded some of my favorite music on it for me last night, allowing me to charge it overnight and have it ready for my elliptical trainer session today, I just finished 30 minutes of good exercise.

It had been quite awhile since I had been on the elliptical regularly, and the last two sessions I had to do it in complete silence, except for a squeak on my machine, making it just awful time. It seemed as if I had been on there forever, and it had only been a few minutes when I gave up each time. Just too boring and tedious. This old broad doesn’t need many excuses not to exercise…

So today, listening to songs I hadn’t heard for quite awhile playing on my MP3 player I had clipped to my shirt, was truly a pleasure. Doing my elliptical practice with my eyes shut, keeping time to the music, felt good almost all the way to the end. (Remember, I’m NOT an exercise nut and it had been quite awhile since I had done any real time on the machine.) I started peaking at the timer between the last three songs and then breathed a sigh of relief when I finished.

I thanked my husband again and put a sparkly gold star on my desk calendar. I giving myself one for the ellliptical trainer session or the warm-up and weights videos I’m doing in the mornings on alternate days, and a second star, this one silver sparkly, for my yoga session in the afternoons. Any other exercise I manage will be gravy.

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Mirror, Mirror…

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Can you say, “yo yo” three times fast?

All the goodies are finally gone. My scales are not only smirking – they are guffawing.

guf·faw

/ɡəˈfô/

Learn to pronounce

noun

noun: guffaw; plural noun: guffaws

  1. a loud and boisterous laugh. :0(

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_______

This generates hostility and frustration, obviously. Since we’re not planning any more holiday stuff, I can hopefully get back on track. (I know. You’ve heard this before. Whine.)

SO –

today is a new day. I have not eaten breakfast yet, since I’ve been trying to reach a tech to work on our dishwasher. I also haven’t gotten out in the garage to do my elliptical trainer session for the day.

I’ll go do both NOW.

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