Category Archives: exercise

November 12, 2016 · 4:08 pm

Folding Myself Into a Paper Airplane – Take 5

Design Swan

Design Swan

Though my yoga time got lost in the shuffle yesterday, I finally did the last section on the 2nd DVD today called, “Overall Flow.” Like it sounds, it’s a mix of poses that, if you only have time for one thing a day, you should do.

Now that I’ve done all the sections, I’m even more impressed with the set. It’s called, “Gentle Yoga”.

The teacher is excellent. Even my husband said she wasn’t annoying. :0) The poses are chosen specifically for people 60 and older, people who have never done yoga before, people who may have issues where they’ve had surgery, people who are particularly stiff with arthritis, and those who are probably a little intimidated by trying this at all.  (My biggest problem is in getting down on the floor and then getting up again.) :0)

Some things seem pretty easy, until you ‘breathe into’ the pose. That’s when the real stretch comes. When you finish each section, you’re on your back, breathing well, and relaxing while you listen to mesmerizing music, or listening and watching a screen with beautiful water or palm trees. (The teacher is in Bali.)

The whole feeling is acceptance and that they’re pleased you’re there and trying. Whatever you can do is fine. You’ll improve with practice. They give you several alternatives if you are unable to do what they ask. Just do what you can do.

I like this SO much that I’m going to do one section for a particular area of the body, plus the overall section, each day. I can cover all the sections each week. They have sections for

  • Joint Mobility
  • Neck and Shoulders
  • Lower Back
  • Spinal Health
  • Hips
  • Legs
  • Balance
  • Overall Flow

I need ALL of these. I’m happy when I’ve done my yoga for the day. After only two weeks I’m feeling a bit ‘looser,’ and less stiff. I have a long way to go, but this is the perfect way for me to improve my flexibility, balance, and strength, plus my ability to totally relax for 5 minutes, not thinking of anything else, planning what I’ll do next, or feeling guilty. AHHHHHHH!

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November 11, 2016 · 12:55 pm

Happy Friday

The Quirky Pineapple

The Quirky Pineapple

We went to Lunch Bunch today and everyone was doing fine. We got caught up with what’s happening with everyone, then ran a couple of errands.

Now my husband is reloading ammo in the shop while I work in the yard.

I have six planters left to clean out today, and then I’ll add mulch to all.  Thankfully, we have another perfect day for working in the yard.

 

Flickr.org

Flickr.org

When I finish, I’m hoping to do the last section in my DVD set of yoga for old folks (they call it “Gentle Yoga”, a much more tactful name.). I’m really grateful I found this set of 2 DVDs. It’s focus is on people who have never done yoga before, are 60 and older, and who might have flexibility issues, have had surgery for joint replacements and more, or who might be intimidated. I’ve been trying new sections for the past two weeks and I’m always glad I did some poses with the really nice instructor.

My plan, now, is to do at least one section each day. There are 7 sections, so I’ll be able to get around to all parts of my body in the week.

The weather is perfect for my being more active, so I plan to take advantage of it as much as possible.

I hope the weather is nice where you are, and that you’re enjoying the day.

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November 9, 2016 · 12:34 pm

Getting the Lard Off – November 9, 2016

Pinterest.com

Pinterest.com

I’m still trying to curb my after dinner eating. I’m getting better, though the problem is not yet completely solved.  For some reason, it’s almost as if I had a tapeworm. I feel hungry soon after eating dinner, though our dinner is low carb. That’s some kind of emotional hang-up that I’m determined to stop.

Yesterday I cooked up a storm.

  • I hard-boiled a bunch of eggs for my breakfast and our snacks
  • I made a batch of sausage balls for lunches and snacks
  • I made sugar-free banana pudding for my husband (He loved it!)
  • I made a low carb meatloaf that my husband raved about (I’ll share the recipe later today)

In-between I was cleaning up and running the dishwasher again, plus washing clothes, stripping our bed and working in the flower beds. I had a really full, satisfying day.

Today I tried two new sections of my 2-DVD-set of “Gentle Yoga.”

Bajiroo.com

Bajiroo.com

The first was for “Legs” and the second was for “Balance.” I’m feeling a lot more relaxed now and I’m happy I bought the set. Tomorrow I’ll try the “Overall Flow” section, the last in the set. My goal is to do some yoga each day. My body is feeling looser and more relaxed and this will improve as I practice. I really like and trust the teacher of these poses, and I feel that I’m getting in touch with my body in a way I have never done before. It’s wonderful.

Doctor appointments for both me and my husband tomorrow afternoon. We’ll see how we’re doing, discuss where we’re trying to go and ways to get there, and keep on keepin’ on.

taolife.com

taolife.com

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November 2, 2016 · 11:08 am

Getting the Lard Off Progress (?) Report – November 2, 2016

Amy Adenoro Terrell-www.keyword-suggestions.com

Amy Adenoro Terrell-www.keyword-suggestions.com

I’ve been on a roller-coaster since about the middle of October. At that time my husband finally got serious about trying to avoid sugar. That might sound easy, but it’s been pretty traumatic around here. He LOVES sugar and was in denial about his problem and its inevitable consequences. I’ve been scrambling to figure out what we’re eating while trying to find something he can drink instead of soda, something to eat besides candy, and then some kind of dessert for him to look forward to.

I’ve also found, in my research so far, that simply trying to get sugar-free everything isn’t the answer. First my husband is REALLY sensitive to any alternative for sugar aftertaste. This week we’ve finally settled on Arizona Peach Sugar Free Tea, after buying and trying at least six other things. We found sugar-free hard candy easily enough, but he’s finding out the hard way that eating too much sugar-free candy has its consequences. He’s cutting that back on his own now. We’ve found ‘no added sugar’ pies that are good, and he likes a kind of cobbler that my wonderful cousin-in-law/friend Murray gave me.

I also discovered in my reading that, even if you cut out all the sugar you can, your body uses carbs to manufacture its own sugar! He tried giving up his cold cereal, but was unhappy, so we’ve done the next best thing – Special K is the best one for diabetics, since it’s not made from wheat.

Since low carb eating is also good for diabetics, I found a low carb for diabetics cook book. This is an ongoing process, but it took my attention and motivation away from my own challenges. In the past week I’ve gotten serious again, trying desperately not to eat after dinner, except for my orange dream bar as I used to do. This has been remarkably hard to do, since I’m staying up until at least midnight because my husband’s restless leg problem is better if he goes right to sleep, rather than our reading in bed as we’ve done for a hundred years or so. I found that delaying our dessert until 10:30 or so helps with my eating anything in sight…

________________

I’m finished with the excuses now. I’m back on my “low carb and exercising” horse again. With all the flailing around for almost a month, my weight loss is now 41 pounds. My inches loss is now 18.25″.

I started yoga (for old broads, 60+) about a week ago and I have to say I enjoy it. I’m not in any danger of becoming a gym rat, but I don’t dread doing yoga and really do feel relaxed afterward. Today I’m planning to do the last two sections on the 2nd DVD: “Legs” and “Overall Flow” (I think it’s called.)  The DVD series is called, “Gentle Yoga.”

We’re supposed to get rain late tonight and into tomorrow morning, so I’m planning to do weed eating across the back yard where we have to clean up a bit after wonderful Shane cut down a bunch of stuff to open up our view again and create a fire break. I also plan to create a lot more leaf mulch while the leaves are dry, harvest lettuce, etc.

I’m disgusted with myself that I allowed myself to be thrown for a loop over the changes needed in our lifestyle. I excuse myself a bit because I’m very fond of my husband and want him to live – feeling better and better – for a good, long time. That involves finding replacements for the important luxuries in his life. He seems to be adjusting pretty well now after some depression. He still threatens to stop all the good efforts if his sugar numbers don’t get lower as fast as he would like. That’s an ongoing discussion as well…

I feel good that I’ve stayed on my low carb plan really well the past two or three days now, and some of the regained lard is coming off. The yoga is making me feel looser and stronger, though I did have a bit of leg aching last night. I think I’ll feel better and better as I continue my practice.  The last two sections today, plus my day doing yard work, will be a really good amount of exercise for me today.

I hope that you, also, will try to

taolife.com

taolife.com

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November 1, 2016 · 4:19 pm

Folding Myself into a Paper Airplane, and … – Take 4

funny-yoga-pics.co

funny-yoga-pics.co

Today I started on DVD # 2!  I did two sections: one on “spinal health” and the second on “hips.”

I’m delighted that, for the most part, I can still keep up with what the teacher is asking me to do.

Exceptions are –

  • when she asks me to sit on the floor with my legs straight and spread out as far from each other as possible, and then to bend the top of my body from my hips toward the floor in front of me. OOOH! Do I feel THAT stretch!  She tells me, though, that as long as I’m making the attempt – and breathing into the stretch – eventually I’ll “open up.”  I just hope I don’t crack and break first…
  • the other position giving me some trouble is starting on your hands and knees. Move one leg forward as far as possible while stretching out the other leg behind you…
  • lying on my back and relaxing. It takes me a minute or two, pushing my low back down to the floor over and over, before I can do this.
  • I feel a tightness across my back right beneath my shoulder blades that complains when I’m doing some of the poses.

Tomorrow I’ll try the “legs” section and the last one, which is called, “overall flow.”

My eventual goal will be to do DVD # 1 one day, and DVD # 2 the next.

So far, even though I’m trying all this for the first time EVER – my body is feeling ‘looser.’  It’s a vague feeling at this point, but I feel less tight in my hips and back, and I’m feeling my hip bones when I walk, separate from my torso, if that makes any sense. I’m more aware of different parts of my body and am consciously pulling my shoulders down away from my ears.

I’m not kidding myself. I’m doing a lot of really good stretching and deep breathing that are really good for me, but I’m not doing anything like standing on my head against the wall or folding myself up into a pretzel shape. I may never get to that, but what I’m doing is really good for me and I’m grateful that I found this 2-DVD set called “Gentle Yoga” (for people 60 years old and up).

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October 30, 2016 · 5:57 pm

Fold Myself into a Paper Airplane and — Take 3

Bajiroo.com

Bajiroo.com

I just finished my “Gentle Yoga” for the day. I managed to do the new section for Lower Back today, followed by the sections on Head, Neck and Shoulders (and jaw); and then “Joints.”

I am very relaxed right now. I particularly need the section on lower back because mine is stiff and tense. The most trouble I have with the whole DVD so far is trying to relax at the end of each section on my back. I spend a long time trying to push my lower back down to the floor, trying to get the tension to ease up so that I can fully relax. It really shows I need what I’m doing.

The other difficult thing is getting UP after each section! :0)

I’m very happy I bought this 2 DVD set called, “Gentle Yoga.” It is meant for people just like me – over 60, sedentary, and have never done any yoga before. The teacher is quite pleasant, explains what she’s doing and why, and gives you time to follow. She’s pleasant without being effusively pert and violently happy – a thing I really like.

Tomorrow I’ll try to do the first section on the 2nd DVD. My goal will to be to do at least one section a day, building to doing one DVD one day and the other DVD the next.

 

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October 29, 2016 · 2:32 pm

Folding Myself into a Paper Airplane – Take 2

AskIdeas.com

AskIdeas.com

I told you that I recently received my set of 2 DVDs called, “Gentle Yoga”, especially geared toward people 6o and above. I was still wondering if this would work for me when I listened to the introduction and then tried the section for “Head, Neck, and Shoulders” a couple of days ago. I found that I was able to do everything the teacher asked, realizing that as I practice, I should be able to stretch better and better, breathing into each movement.

I had to miss yesterday because I wanted to finish my purging/reorganizing/and deep cleaning our master bathroom project.

I tried the section on “Joints” today. This concentrated on ankles, knees, hips, wrists, shoulders, neck, and spine. Although I could hear parts of my body snap, crackle and popping like the proverbial cereal, I was again able to keep up with the teacher. We always end up lying on our backs, trying to fully relax.

Today I had some trouble relaxing after doing all the exercises. My back was tight and painful, and I had to concentrate on relaxing enough to lie flat. After a couple of minutes I was able to lie perfectly flat with no pain and was able to relax fully. This time I knew I could trust her to start talking again at the end of the relaxing time or play some music or something, so I was able to relax even more than I did the last time, once my back allowed.

I had more trouble getting up off the floor after the practice than I did doing any of the exercises. :0)

I am really encouraged by the DVDs and the teacher so far. She emphasizes that this is all an ongoing process, not something to be accomplished. No one cares if you can touch your toes or not (thank goodness!) or how far you can bend or stretch. As long as you do what you can, you benefit. You end up feeling more relaxed and in touch with parts of your body – some of which you didn’t realize you had!

I’m planning to try the next section – for the lower back – tomorrow.  I – who am probably the most sedentary old lady on the planet – am actually looking forward to it!

cliparting.com

cliparting.com

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October 27, 2016 · 6:34 pm

Fold Yourself into a Paper Airplane and…

AskIdeas.com

AskIdeas.com

A few weeks ago I ordered a 2-DVD set called, “Gentle Yoga.” I received it in the mail yesterday and thought I would listen to part of the first one today to get an idea of what I would be trying to do ‘soon.’

An hour later, I had listened to the introduction, which stressed that this yoga exercise was for people 60 and older, who had ‘issues’ of various types or had had surgery, sedentary folks, and those who had never done this before. That was encouraging!  I also TRIED one section of the 1st DVD called “Neck and Shoulders.”

I have to admit I’m amazed. Although I’m not as flexible as I would like to be by a long shot, I was able to do everything the teacher asked. I just ‘did what I could do’ as she suggested on each of the poses, concentrating on BREATHING while in the poses and trying to relax into each stretch. We did things for the neck, shoulders and jaw. We ended the session stretched out, completely relaxed, for as long as we wanted.

I also have to admit that I guess I don’t really relax much. During the ending relaxing session, I kept opening my eyes to see if the session were over, and there was a beautiful moving picture of a nice stream in the middle of a beautiful green landscape with lots of trees. I did this three times before the session was actually over. A lesson in itself!

My neck and shoulders don’t feel as relaxed as they would if I had had a massage, but they definitely feel more relaxed, looser, and BETTER than they did when I started. AND, as I learn to do what she’s asking better and better, my results are supposed to improve.

My goal will be to do the first DVD, concentrating on neck and shoulders, joint mobility, and lower back one day, and then the 2nd DVD, concentrating on spinal health, hips/legs/balance, and overall flow the next day.

I feel excited about this. I know I need it, and that it can do me a lot of good. The teacher is very good, emphasizing that you just try each thing, doing the best you can each time, and not worry about anything. Even learn to take yourself less seriously.

My mantra of ‘be better than you were yesterday’ fits right in here!

 

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October 23, 2016 · 12:29 pm

Cats Play Pounce

ex-askthetrainer-com

AsktheTrainer.com

I’m not the only one using my new exercise ball.

The dogs laborious walk around it, or nudge it carefully out of the way of their bed, which is beneath the entertainment center. They’re pretty leery of it, mostly.

The cats, however, used it as a play opportunity yesterday, and had my husband and me laughing out loud. :0)

My husband noticed it first. Abby, our older tortoiseshell cat, was on ‘our’ side of the ball. She was looking at the ball funny for some reason. All of a sudden Smoke, our short-haired gray cat, suddenly leaped from behind the ball onto Abby. They rolled for a second, then split up, opting to try it again. Abby didn’t leap, but was totally engaged in the game. Smoke leaped a couple more times until Abby hissed at her. The next time, the ball suddenly came at Abby, running right into her, causing her to leave the area.

I swear I heard Smoke giggle…

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October 18, 2016 · 12:33 pm

Move it!

ellipticalmachine-yourellipticals-com

yourellipticals.com

Yesterday I did pretty well on getting my body moving.  I started with 15 minutes on the elliptical trainer in the garage. (I took it easy because I had sore muscles from helping my husband put up another raised bed planter in the garden the day before. ) This low impact exercise is good for me because it’s easy on my joints and encourages range of motion.

 

 

ex-askthetrainer-com

AskTheTrainer.com

I had my first session with my exercise ball. It was pretty pathetic. I kept trying – but failed – to quit picturing myself trying to use this new tool. I had as much or more trouble getting ON the ball in the right position without falling off as I did trying to do whatever the exercise was. I wallowed a lot, but persevered.  The biggest problem was when my husband came in, took one look at me and laughed. (GRRRR!) I then offered to share my workout with him and he left. :0)

I have a few sore muscles this morning, having used different ones that I apparently do doing ANYTHING else. I figure, though, that my TRYING to do each of the exercises will result – eventually – in improvement. To say I have a long way to go is a vast understatement, but I AM moving.

The combination of the elliptical and the exercise ball seems to be a good one. I’ll try to do this a couple of times per week. The alternate days I’ll try to concentrate on my strength exercises with weights and stretching.

I’m trying to take breaks from whatever else I’m doing and MOVE – either exercising or walking out to the garden, or….

Wish me luck. I’m lucky enough to continue to get older each day so far. I’d LIKE to think I’m getting better than I’ve been in a long time.

 

taolife.com

taolife.com

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October 17, 2016 · 11:49 am

Exercise Ball – First Day

popsugar

popsugar

I’ve just now done two exercises on my new exercise ball. There are many more than that, but I would like to live to see tomorrow, so I stopped at that, breathing very heavily. I did 15 crunches, and 15 stretches to the side (kind of side crunches) on each side.

My main feeling is that I REALLY NEED THIS.

I have as much trouble getting into position on the ball without falling off as I do trying to do the exercise. I’m not even sure I have ANY core muscles, as hard as this was for me, and I really have to work to maintain my balance. Happily, if I DO fall off the ball, it’s only about 16 inches…

I breathed hard for several minutes, realizing that – for me – this is an aerobic exercise, too.

I left the ball on my mat in the middle of the living room, intending to try to do a couple more of the exercises in a few minutes.

My husband describes what I’m trying to do in a vulgar way – “It’s like a monkey trying to ____ a football.” It’s his Marine Corps training. He was laughing like a hyena when he said it… :0(   He can’t help it.

SO – so far I’m

  • sitting on the ball while watching TV, bouncing around and trying to keep my balance. This is supposed to strengthen my core.
  • Lying on my back on the ball, doing abdominal crunches
  • Balancing on the floor with one leg bent behind me and the other out straight to one side, balancing on the ball with my hands behind my head, my side on the ball, stretching up toward the ceiling and down again, 15 on one side and then 15 on the other.

There are about 6 or 8 more exercises, but I’m not sure how many of them I’ll be able to do. I’ll try another couple later today and report back to you. I have a feeling I will have good, sore muscles tomorrow.

The first day is the hardest.

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October 12, 2016 · 11:51 am

Getting the Lard Off Progress (?) Report – 10/12/2016

On our vacation last week, we stopped at fast food places while we were on the road to get something to eat. We ate quickly, went to the bathroom, and got on the road again. While we were in Thibodaux, we ate well, and Murray and John were really good about showing my husband and me how he could stay away from sugar, and any carbs I ate were my own choice. After coming home, we decided to finish out the week eating things we had missed while we were being good; i.e., spaghetti casserole and Texas toast; KFC meal with mashed potatoes, cole slaw, and the glorious biscuit; etc.

The result is that my husband LOST weight while I gained. His sugar count was up and my scale yelled at me, pleading for mercy.

scale-reddit

Monday morning we got serious again about controlling our eating. We have agreed that our one-scoop-of-ice-cream-in-a-cup at Braum’s after bowling on Monday nights is the only dessert we will have, other than an occasional OUTSHINE fruit bar if we really need it. I’m trying to go back to the basics on my low carb lifestyle, concentrating on eating beef, poultry, fish and low carb veggies. I’m also trying to get back to my exercising, though so far, only my intentions have been good.

Today I’ve found the exercise instruction sheet that came with my new exercise ball. There are 9 different exercises listed:

  • abdominal crunches while lying on your back on the ball
  • oblique crunches, where you lie on your side on the ball, then use your core muscles (assuming you HAVE some) to straighten up, doing it 8 to 12 times on each side.
  • push ups, with your feet up on the ball and your hands on the floor
  • push ups, with your feet on the floor behind you and your elbows or hands on the ball
  • overhead squat with twist
  • Leg lunge – leg behind you on the ball, then bending the opposite knee and coming back up
  • bridge leg lifts – feet on ball while lying on your back. Lift body off the floor while extending one leg up toward the ceiling.
  • Leg raises – Standing up while holding the ball. Lean forward while lifting one leg as far up behind yourself as possible.
  • Fold yourself into a paper airplane and fly across the room
dumpaday.com

dumpaday.com

 

So far – I’m intimidated. I think I’ll go do my elliptical (hoping for 30 minutes) and then try ONE of the exercises with the ball.  I can tell I need these exercises, but I’ll work into them slowly so I don’t fall on my head.

SO –

I’m determined to get the weight off that I gained last week plus get started again with my exercises. Hopefully, I’ll can report good progress next week.

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September 25, 2016 · 10:24 am

Tapeworm?

unknown photography credit via emily davis, trendingly.com

unknown photography credit via emily davis, trendingly.com

I’m trying to cook with no sugar for my husband. Since he’s having a tough time making the conversion, I’ve been trying to cook some of his favorite non-sugar meals. That means rice and pasta. I have little self-control, so I’ve been indulging in eating starches with him. This has resulted in non-stop hunger for me. My husband is losing weight, but I’m gaining. :0(

Every morning this week I’ve tried to get back on my low carb eating plan. Every evening I’m angry with myself because I’ve stuffed my face – again. I feel I have a tapeworm. I haven’t experienced this non-stop hunger for over a year – since I started eating low carb.  My energy level is down. I don’t like this!

TODAY I’m trying to make it be different. I’ve started out with a good low carb breakfast. I have a water bottle beside me. I’ve just finished making some hard-boiled eggs for meals and snacks. We’ll be eating leftovers for dinner, so there is no reason for me not to do my usual thing, getting back on track. Today I’ll get on the elliptical trainer and also use the exercise ball.

I’ll get out a low carb book and start reading. Maybe I can find my motivation again. I’m about half way to my goal and I want to start making progress again!

 

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September 21, 2016 · 11:02 am

Progress Report – Getting the Lard Off – 9/21/2016

taolife.com

taolife.com

I’m still on the ‘Plateau from Hell,’ as far as weight and inches go, (46 pounds and 23-1/2 inches off) but I freely admit that I’ve been eating more carbs than I should for the past week. My husband was really hungry for a few things, and I had put him off because they weren’t on my low-carb foods. I finally decided to indulge, since I didn’t want to prepare two separate meals for us. I think we’re now at the end of his really strong requests. He’s happy and so am I. :0)

He’s cutting WAAAAY back on sugar. This is a really good thing and I’m trying to encourage him every way I can. There are a lot of good recipes that are low carb AND low sugar, so we should be good for the near future.

 

I’ve been made newly aware, lately, of my age. This is mainly due to my trying to do two miles walking with annoying Leslie every day PLUS either upper or lower body strength exercises. I messed myself up, paying the price with several days where I felt 90+ years old. I decided to try a different approach.

I’m now doing the elliptical trainer for 30 minutes Monday, Wednesday, and Friday.

yourellipticals.com

yourellipticals.com

 

On Tuesdays and Thursdays I’m doing both upper and lower body strength exercises with 5 lb. weights. (several different exercises, 3 sets of 8 reps each)

 

 

I also got an exercise ball that is now aired up and ready for me.

One of my good friends has one. She says she’s sitting on it while watching TV, bouncing. Isn’t that a wonderful mental picture? It makes me smile. She has to keep her balance in order to do this, so that involves lots of muscles.

The ball also comes with a chart of exercises I can add things as I want. I’m planning to do the ball stuff a little at a time on days I’m doing the strength exercises.  I can really use the emphasis on balance. This plan, along with just being aware that I need to keep moving (I carry a pedometer in my pocket),  hopefully will prove a good combination for me.

 

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September 7, 2016 · 4:57 pm

Getting the Lard Off – Progress Report – 9/7/2016

www-acuteaday.com

www-acuteaday.com

“Progress Report” is a misnomer in that I don’t have any changes to report today. I’m still at 46 lbs off and 22 inches off. I’m on DAY 8 of my new exercise regimen (2 miles with walking with annoying Leslie DVD and then either upper or lower body strength exercises.) It’s almost 5:00 now, and we spent most of the day going to Poteau and back with the auctions my husband wanted to attend, so I’ll have to scramble to get my exercises done today.

I CAN report that I feel “looser’ when I walk and can feel my meager stomach muscles working as I do – a new thing for me. I’m hopeful that in the coming weeks  I can look at this and call it my new base of exercising and add more to it. For now, I’m gritting my teeth and making myself get in the living room and move my lard.

I also can report that with the walking we did today – all over two large industrial manufacturing businesses, my hips and knees did not hurt! Hooraaaaaay!

One day at a time. Slow and steady.

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September 4, 2016 · 3:18 pm

I’m Trying to Remind Myself…

Peaceful Daily via Marianna Bellantoni

http://www.marcandangel.com via Peaceful Daily via Marianna Bellantoni

I’m half-finished with “DAY 5” of my new exercise regimen of

  • Walking 2 Miles (or as far as I can each day) with the Annoying Leslie Fat Womans’ Walk DVD, and
  • Either UPPER or LOWER body strength exercises with weights. (I’m using 5 lb weights and doing three groups of eight repetitions each of about 5 or 6 different exercises.

I’ve tried to do this and failed before. I’ve told myself that I’m busy enough working in the garden and the yard that I don’t need the formal exercises. I’ve proven to myself once again that the movements I do in the yard, no matter how strenuous DO NOT equal the DVD and the exercises with weights.

Once again I have worked up to two miles – rather than one – on the DVD, and I’m then doing the strength stuff later in the afternoon.

I’m counting the days, both in my head and on paper, because I know you have to do things over and over every day for a length of time before something becomes a habit. Right now I’m having to push myself hard enough to do this I can’t even FEATURE it becoming a habit or something I would miss, but stranger things have happened.

A year ago I really didn’t believe that I could lose 45 pounds and 22 inches and change to eating a low carb diet. I didn’t believe that I could actually make a difference on my quarterly blood tests, or not have to take cholesterol medication anymore. I didn’t believe that I might actually be able to completely avoid having knee or hip replacement. I didn’t believe that I could work in the yard for over half an hour a day.

It’s one year later and I’ve done some real good for myself. I’m about half way to my goal now. I’m hoping that I can make the above exercise my daily HABIT and that then I can build on that, getting stronger and healthier as I lose the lard.

I’ve printed this reminder and put it up on the side of my filing cabinet beside my computer. “No matter how many mistakes you make or how slow you progress, you are still way ahead of everyone who isn’t trying.”

 

taolife.com

taolife.com

 

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August 31, 2016 · 12:17 pm

Getting the Lard Off – Progress Report?

I didn’t gain any ground this week, but I didn’t lose any ground, either. I’m still at 46 lbs and 22″ off.

Some happy things happened –

  • When I got my teeth cleaned yesterday, the ladies in the office, my hygienist, and even the dentist made much of my weight loss since they saw me last, PLUS oohed and ahhed about my ‘sassy’ haircut. They said it really made me look younger and made my eyes show up a lot. Who could have this happen without walking around 3 inches off the ground? :0)
  • I have two new low carb cookbooks that sound good. I downloaded both onto my Kindle Fire. My husband actually figured out a way to print one so that it’s easier to use now. I haven’t decided whether the other one is good enough for that or not.

Changes –

  • I’m trying to get a new exercise regimen started – today I’ll do walking with annoying Leslie as far as I can go (maybe I’ll get through mile 2) and then I’ll also do upper body strength exercises with weights. Tomorrow I’ll do Leslie (if you’ll pardon the expression) and add LOWER body strength exercises.
  • I’m looking forward to doing some slow cooker recipes for dinners. Lately, my life has been so busy that cooking dinner at the end of the day makes me hostile. I’ll work on getting something good going in the crock pot while I’m fresh.

Hopefully, I can quit gaining and losing the same 3 lbs and STAY into a new ‘decade’ on my scales!

 

taolife.com

taolife.com

Wish me luck?

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August 29, 2016 · 12:43 pm

Reach Up! Reach Up!

I just finished doing about a mile and a half with the “Women of Poundage” DVD with Leslie. (That’s not actually the name of the video, but I call it that, “Walking with Annoying Leslie,” or other less kind names, depending on how hard it is for me to keep up.)

I have proved to myself over the past year that using this video regularly seems to do me a lot of good, once my hips stop screaming so much. I seem to use different muscles doing this than anything else I do.

My husband was in his recliner reading when I went in to exercise. He’s good about letting me put in the DVD and exercise, saying it doesn’t bother him. He usually tries to be supportive, too, saying, “Good on You!” when I leave the office, announcing I’m going to walk with Leslie, annoying or otherwise.

Today he spoke up to say, when I had made it to the Mile 2 part of the DVD, that I wasn’t moving my foot out enough on the taps. I answered him tersely, saying that I was doing well to just be moving at this point. I lasted another 10 minutes or so, but then stopped.

He then repeated his opinion about the tapping. I told him that next time, he could stand in front of the TV and I would stand behind him. We would then do the DVD together, and I would try to match his steps.

I got no answer…

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