Tag Archives: exercise

April 19, 2022 · 3:04 pm

A Real Gem of a Tool

ebaum’sworld.com

I consider MyFitnessPal.com an indispensable tool in my efforts to lose the lard. I’m trying to eat 20 carbs or less per day and stay under a certain calorie count. I’m also trying to watch my salt, sugar, the percentages of my carbs/proteins/fats and more.

I basically eat the same lunch every day except Fridays, when we go to Lunch Bunch, so the only thing I’m having to ‘figure out’ is dinner and snacks.

I still have no real concept of how many carbs things have. For dinner tonight, I was planning in my head to eat a bacon-wrapped hamburger patty, steamed asparagus, and a low-carb biscuit from the bunch I made a couple of days ago. When I typed these in, the asparagus was 7 carbs for a cup, throwing me over my carbs for the day. I substituted spinach, and all smoothed out.

I’ll have the steamed asparagus another evening, but it’s taking me awhile to learn what combinations of food are meeting my goals right now. The MyFitnessPal website is saving me.

I’ve been feeling a bit blah the past two days – not sick, just very little energy. Instead of my list of exercises yesterday, I only managed planting tomatoes and my half hour session of yoga. Today I’m fighting with myself about how much I’ll do.

I’m TRYING to just put my head down and plow through it, but I don’t know if I’ll be successful. I know I’ll do my yoga, but the other things on the list – elliptical trainer and 3 video exercise programs of warm ups, stretches, and weights, are still on the iffy list….

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April 18, 2022 · 9:20 am

Hello, Monday

Patrick L. Lee-on Twitter

It’s only 50 degrees F. here in Arkansas this morning, but the sun is shining brightly.

Amazon.com

If it warms up some more, I’m planning to go buy and then plant tomato plants today. I’m eager to get them in the ground because sliced ripe tomatoes are one of our very favorite things. I’m researching how to prune the plants because it would be nice if we had more tomatoes and less greenery. Usually they get to the point where they spill over the planters and I’m afraid to do anything except enjoy the tomatoes we get.

Giphy

Today I start WEEK 4 on my low-carb eating and exercise regimen. I’m making “Low-carb Keto Chili” by Suzanne Ryan of Simply Keto. Last week I tried a new recipe, “Tender and Fluffy Keto Almond Flour Biscuits” by heathyrecipesblogs.com. I made a double recipe, so I have plenty for the coming week. My husband is still eating one deli dinner roll per day until he finishes them before switching to low-carb on bread. I’m enjoying these biscuits.

Exercise for today: 1) exercise videos by Mike of MoreLifeHealthSeniors – ‘warm-up,’ ‘stretches,’ ‘weights,’ and exercise workout 2a. Then I’m doing half an hour of yoga and planting tomatoes.

Meanwhile –

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Happy Monday!

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April 16, 2022 · 1:32 pm

Thoughts on a Saturday 4-16-2022

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I’m having a busy day and about half of it is already gone!

The sun came out about 10:30 this morning and the rain stopped (for awhile) so I went out and uncovered my veggie plants. They seem to have come through the trauma of the storms, hail, and heavy, wet sheets fine. I wheel-barrowed the wet sheets back to the house and am washing and drying them, 2 at a time. One more load to go in the washer. Then I’ll fold and put them in the trash bag and take them out to the shop for next time.

I just took a new (double) recipe for “Tender and Fluffy Keto Almond Flour Biscuits” out of the oven to serve with dinner later. The recipe is from Healthy Recipes Blog. The author is Vered DeLeeuw. They are gluten free. The serving size is 2 biscuits, but I’m going to try to be happy with one. My husband will weigh in, also. I’ll check out more of the recipes there. Next up will be a recipe for low carb bagels from my friend, Susy.

I’m about to start my exercising for the day – 3 short exercise videos and yoga.

Hope you’re having a nice Saturday.

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April 16, 2022 · 9:51 am

Accuracy

The Arbors

A couple of weeks ago at Lunch Bunch, we were having a discussion about habits. I was saying I wanted to build a habit of exercising every day. Bud, Kay’s husband, said he thought that I should be saying “regimen” instead of ‘habit’ because habit could be good or bad and could be broken, while regimen suggested concentration and motivation.

I went home and looked up the words and have to agree. I want to build a REGIMEN on exercising that becomes so ingrained that it’s automatic in my day. I told him yesterday that he was right, and he was pleased. :0)

My REGIMEN is now made up of –

  • A monthly exercise planner provided by Mike of MoreLifeHealth.com consisting of 4 different ‘workouts’ during the month (1a, 1b, 2a, and 2b) warm-ups, stretches, physical activity (I’m doing 10 minutes on my elliptical trainer) etc. in a pattern.
  • Added to this, I’m doing two different videos of his with weights.
  • And then I’m doing half an hour of ‘senior’ (I hate that word) yoga stretches.
  • When the weather is cooperative, I’m doing some work in the yard and in my garden.

I’m eating low-carb, mainly using recipes from Suzanne Ryan’s Simply Keto. These are delicious recipes not requiring weird or hard-to-find ingredients, and don’t take a lot of preparation. I can make double recipes, freezing the leftovers into individual portions. I’m also experimenting with trying to find some recipes for low carb dinner rolls. (I’m trying a new one today.)

My goals are –

  • to make the REGIMEN and low-carb eating NOT diet and exercise programs, since that sounds temporary, but a lifestyle change. I want it to become my way of life to try to stick to 20 carbs or less daily, watch my macros and calories using MyFitnessPal.com
  • I want to get as healthy as possible for my age (advanced, but not in the ground yet :0) ) . I know that getting the lard off and exercising may help me avoid lots of pitfalls, diseases, and more. I want to increase my strength, flexibility, and balance.

I will finish Week 3 tomorrow. Onward and downward!

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April 14, 2022 · 11:27 am

ALMOST to Pre-Pandemic…

IndiaMART

I have .8 lbs to lose before I reach my pre-pandemic weight! I’m eager to crash through that, and break ‘new territory’ in my efforts to lose the lard.

My low-carb eating plan seems to be getting the attention of the scales. This is WEEK 3 of my serious efforts to eat right and exercise more. I’ve lost almost 6 lbs. (5.8) since I began the latest push, so I’m really pleased that I am making progress finally. I’m planning what I’m going to eat, logging everything on MyFitnessPal.com in the morning, making SURE I’m meeting my carbs, macros, and calories goals for the day. There is also a place to log in how much water I’m drinking, make notes on food, plus add my exercise for the day. If what I’m planning has problems, I can tweak it BEFORE I mess up – a really nice thing, building confidence.

I’m working on WEEK 1 on a month-long online video exercise program by MoreLifeHealthSeniors.com. The instructor is Mike from Australia. He’s very encouraging. The videos are short so I can work them in throughout the day, if I can’t do them all at once. Today’s schedule is a warm-up video and a stretching video, plus 10 minutes of my choice of activity. (Mine will be 10 minutes on my elliptical trainer.) I will also add one of the weights videos, plus a half hour of yoga stretching to the schedule.

I was beginning to despair on ever getting back to my pre-pandemic weight, OR actually breaking through that and moving to my SECOND weight goal, OR getting into a routine I can keep up on exercises, since I truly don’t enjoy exercising. The fact that I’m almost there on two of the three already is really encouraging. My husband is also cooperating. He eats his no-no’s when I’m in the other room, doesn’t bring me ice cream before bed now, or popcorn, or encourage me to eat other things or COOK other things I shouldn’t. That helps a LOT. :0)

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April 12, 2022 · 9:28 am

Thoughts on a Tuesday 4-12-2022

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It’s due to be rainy again today. I’m still breathing a sigh of relief that the warning, with tornadoes imminent and on the ground went JUST to the north of Greenwood. I was watching the experts on our local weather station monitor the tornado warning and the line of the bad stuff was JUST above our town on their map. Hopefully, we’ll have the same luck today.

Allure

Lynn, my massage miracle worker, contacted me to change my massage from Thursday this week to today. I’m delighted that I didn’t have to just miss my massage this month, so my body is already singing in anticipation of her good work. I’ll put the trash out and get our mail when I go.

Other than that, I’m planning for DAY 2 of the month-long program by my ‘weights for seniors’ video guy. He has a stretching video, and then ‘physical activity’ (of my choice) for 10 minutes. I’m going to do my elliptical trainer in the garage. In addition, I’ll do one of the weights videos, and then my normal half hour of yoga stretches. These will be spread out throughout the day.

My husband is still trying to get his computer working as he would like. I’m helping only when he asks – with this exception. He and our son were trying to use the conference call program so they could actually SEE each other and talk real time. Lately my husband hasn’t shown any interest in wanting to do that, so I was delighted that he was trying to talk. They were having trouble getting things set up right on our end so that our son could hear my husband. I went over, looked at things, and saw that his microphone button was off. I pushed it, waiting to hear him yell at me for interfering, but was pleased to see it worked! Instead of yelling, my husband told our son, “She fixes stuff for me all the time now.” I was relieved and melted into my computer chair on the other side of the room.

When they were finished, our son wrote ME, asking if I wanted to talk, so we each had a wonderful catch up time with him. Absolutely beyond price. :0)

I hope your Tuesday is a good one.

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April 11, 2022 · 12:16 pm

‘Seniors’ Exercise

I find I’m developing hostility at the word ‘seniors.’ When they say ‘seniors exercises’ they mean exercises for people over 60. Since I’m 75, I guess I qualify, but I DON’T HAVE TO LIKE IT. :0(

Skimble

Somebody also said, “You’re as old as you feel.” Well, today I’m about 95+ after hauling SIX 40-pound bags of potting soil yesterday from the palettes on which we keep it, wheel-barrowing it over the back yard and up again to the other side of the house where our two brick tomato planters are, and distributing it. I would rather focus on the fact that I got the job done, and before we have three stormy days ahead.

This morning I tried the “1a warm-up and workout videos” from Mike from Australia from his Monthly Exercise Planner. His whole series of videos is for seniors (there’s that word again), but they’re good. “1a” was a nice, short warm up and then a workout geared toward moving most of the body from a seated position, using simple exercises and isometrics. I think both videos together were about 10 minutes or so. I opted to do the ‘seated position’ stuff for this month’s stuff, and will move to the ‘standing’ stuff when I start the routine again. If you’re interested in looking at the program or starting the month-long plan, it’s free, requires little, if any equipment. His website is MoreLifeHealth. You can sign up and he’ll email you the plan.

Since I overdid yesterday and my back and legs are really talking to me, I’m going to forego the yard work today (though I could probably get some work done between storms) and will do one of his weights videos and my yoga session today.

I’m trying to build a routine or regimen where I do the weights/workouts videos in the morning, yard work after lunch, and yoga stretches in the late afternoon.

After lunch today sometime, I’ll use leftover rotisserie chicken to try a new recipe, “Chicken and Broccoli Alfredo Bowl” from Suzanne Ryan’s Simply Keto book. Our Low Carb eating is going well so far.

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April 7, 2022 · 11:43 am

A.M. Weights – P.M. Yoga

Medical News Today

A.M. – I’m doing weights exercises daily now, using a video created for seniors. He is recommending 1 lb weights, but I’m using my 3 lb weights at this point. It’s a short video – about 10 minutes or less – and is easy to follow. At some point, I’ll switch to 5 lbs weights.

crazybonezskeleton.com

P.M. – I’m doing about half an hour or so of senior yoga stretching every day now. After doing the weights in the morning and yard work in the afternoon, the yoga really helps me relax and stretch things out again.

I won’t say I’m looking FORWARD to exercising. I’m a died-in-the-wool sloth. But, I will say I feel better now that I’ve been doing this every day. I think it takes 3 weeks or so to build a ‘habit.’ I’m on week 2…

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April 5, 2022 · 1:50 pm

Thoughts on a Tuesday 4-5-2022

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After rain overnight – after it rained off and on all day – we’re having a truly lovely spring day today. It started out chilly, but now it’s 72 degrees F. and sunny. Just beautiful.

We got back a bit ago from errands, ate lunch, and I’ve just gotten a double batch of keto chili in the crock pot. My husband was upset we only got one extra meal from the last batch, so I’m trying to remedy that today.

I got a replacement phone, since when we were at AT&T arranging for my husband’s phone to be added to our account, we noticed that MY phone top was gapping and trying to be blown off the front of my phone. Not a good thing! I ordered another one and we took that one in yesterday to have it registered, the information transferred from the old phone to the new, and to wipe the old phone. We did all but the last because I didn’t have an Apple password that worked.

This morning I arranged for a new password to be used on the new phone. I was going to take the old one back to AT&T to be wiped, but my husband said he could handle that. He took it out to the shop and thoroughly smashed it and the SIM card, so a kind of brutal method accomplished what I needed.

I will try a different recipe for keto rolls this afternoon. I’ll probably try several before I find one that both of us like. If I can’t find one my husband likes, HE can continue to eat the rolls from the bakery.

I didn’t get to start my weight exercise yesterday with the video I found, to it taking so long to upgrade my phone at AT&T. (And they had to wait until that finished before they could transfer my data.) So today I’ll try to schedule 1) cooking the rolls, 2) yoga, and 3) weights video.

I’ll probably wait until tomorrow to get into the yard again. My back will probably thank me… :0)

I hope that you are enjoying gorgeous weather, too.

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April 1, 2022 · 9:37 am

No Dancing for me Today

Clinical Back Pain Advisor

I spent two hours yesterday weeding our rock beds that run along the front and back of the house. I finished, and even my husband was impressed, saying they look, “Great.”

The only problem is that my back is NOT so pleased with my efforts, even though I sat on my garden stool part of the time, used a padded knee pad part of the time, and stood part of the time, trying to vary my position often to avoid problems.

NEXT time I’ll only do the front OR the back, not both in one day.

Maybe I can do TWO sessions of yoga stretching today….

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March 31, 2022 · 10:34 am

Keep Moving!

My SIL has this at the bottom of her emails, and I’m trying to embrace it as my mantra.

Popsugar

Since the weather has warmed up, I’m having an easier time of getting myself moving. Yesterday was rainy, so all I did was my afternoon yoga stretching session. Today, though, the sun is shining. I’m planning to weed our rock beds that run all the way along the front and back sides of the house. All that moving, bending, etc, plus the yoga will be a good amount of motion today.

I’ll also walk out to check on our veggie garden. We had quite a bit of rain a couple of nights ago, with rain most of the day yesterday, so I’m HOPING things are good out there. Fingers crossed.

YourTango

I’ve become a master at making excuses, but this week I’ve done a good job of balancing sedentary activities with getting up and moving. I’m hoping that I can get into the HABIT of including exercise in my day EVERY day. I won’t worry about specific exercises, though. At this point, concentrating on stretching, flexibility, balance, and relaxation is my goal. The research I’ve done says that it takes 66 days to build a habit. Today is Day 4 for me. One day at a time…

sent via email by a dear friend

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March 30, 2022 · 11:45 am

Wet Wednesday

Giphy

The rain started early this morning. We avoided the possible severe weather, though, thank goodness. It’s still rainy, though we’re due for a break in the rain until ‘downpours’ this afternoon. An inside day, for sure.

Happily, I pushed myself yesterday, doing three sessions of weed whacking to clean up the edges from my husband’s good lawn mowing. We almost look like someone cares!

Since we have a cool front along with the cloudy, rainy weather, I’m cooking Keto Chili tonight from Suzanne Ryan’s Simply Keto recipe book. I feel I have a good start now on my renewed effort to lose the lard. My scales are noticing my efforts this week. :0) Today, since I can’t work in the yard, I’ll try to add some time on my elliptical trainer in the garage along with my afternoon yoga stretching session.

VectorStock

A good thing: my husband agreed to try using a cell phone again, mainly because he wants to be able to receive verification codes on HIS phone rather than mine. We went to AT&T yesterday, and the two nice people there got the new phone added. The guy showed my husband how to get rid of the stuff he doesn’t want on the phone, so now he’ll quit bothering me about the stuff on mine… PLUS, the lady helped me make it so I can again take pics with my phone and email them to my computer for use on the blog again. (I haven’t been able to make it work since I had to change my email address.) The final great thing was the guy suggested I call ‘611’ on my cell to ask them if they would waive the extra fees associated with adding another phone. I was to ask for the Loyalty Dept. I did and they DID give us a credit toward our next bill. Yea!

Another good thing: I spent a long time on the phone this morning, trying to get the status on some wire transfers we did lately. The nice lady was able to confirm one was ‘good,’ and is researching the other to find out what’s what. It’s good to find competent, polite help when you need it.

My husband is trying to make his new computer work. It’s together physically now, but he’s having trouble adding software. My contribution is to keep my mouth firmly shut. Some access to things we share aren’t working yet, so I’m modifying my activities until they do again.

Stay dry and warm wherever you are.

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March 21, 2022 · 11:00 am

“Oh, Happy Day…”

I guess you can tell by my posts that I’ve been enjoying listening to a lot of music lately. Music is magic, in my opinion, transporting us to another place, either taking us back to where we were when we first heard it, making aches, pains, concerns simply drop away, or take us to the place the singer takes us in a new song, or their take on a classic that makes us hear the words in a different way.

I’m lucky because I have a lot of coping mechanisms that give me some relief from the hostility and frustration and helplessness I feel about what is going on in our beautiful world or to keep me calm in the face of any unpleasantness or concerns I feel about what is going on in my personal world.

  • Music – if I’m outside by myself, I sing. Inside, I watch music videos with my headphones on, or listen to songs on my MP3 player
  • Reading – I’m in the middle of “Forgotten in Death” by J.D. Robb, “Life Force” by Tony Robbins, and listening to a video on Cryptocurrency.
  • Art – finding it on the net and sharing it with you, or playing in my art room
  • Animals – playing with our dog, Amber, and our cat, Abby.
  • Exercise – yoga stretching
  • Gardening – getting my veggie garden going and working in my flower planters
curiousdoodle.com

What coping mechanisms help you?

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March 2, 2022 · 11:46 am

Exercise – CleanUp

Alamy

We just returned from doing errands. Almost all the ice is gone now from our driveway – just a few patches remaining.

The trash HAD been picked up, thank goodness, so we concentrated on using a hoe and a rake to pull as much of the trash out of the ice-water-filled ditch as we could. That’s really good exercise for two old people, with a lot of pulling, bending, picking up, and then dragging the HEAVY trash bag to the back of the truck.

When we returned, we drove slowly up the driveway, stopping to try to clear three patches of packed leaves that were impeding the flow of run off water on one side of the driveway. In the past, we’ve learned the hard way that if we don’t keep the water flowing, it flows OVER the driveway, washing gravel with it and causing deep crevices. So THAT was another good bit of exercise for us. We think we have things clear enough now.

I ordered and just received a new dog food to try. It’s freeze dried. The name is Dr. Marty’s Nature’s Blend. I looked on a website called, DogFoodAdvisor that rates dog food, finding that the Pure Balance grain-free that we’re feeding Amber now rates at 4.5, and the new food rates at 5. So both are good, with no recalls. The reason I’m trying Dr. Marty’s is that it is advertised to “support your dog’s youthful energy, easy digestion, healthy teeth and skin, mobility, and healthy lifespan. Each batch is made from premium meats, veggies, fruit and seeds — and contains zero artificial preservatives, additives, fillers, or synthetic ingredients.” You can test trial it by sprinkling some over your dog’s regular food, both to ease any change of food problem and to see if you can tell a difference. I like that idea, too. I’ll let you know what we think when we finish the small bag of food I bought.

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February 19, 2022 · 9:43 am

Ah, Sunshine!

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It’s chilly now, but it’s supposed to get into the 50s this afternoon. Ahhhhh. Nice weekend ahead for us and I’ll take it. I’m afraid I’ll have to reschedule my happily-anticipated massage on Thursday of next week – if the weather people are right – due to forecast ‘wintry mix,’ (especially ice), on Wednesday and maybe Thursday, as well. Did I tell you I’m ready for spring?

I’m feeling good today, having lost a bit more poundage – almost 4.5 lbs this week – and I did my yoga practice again yesterday. I’ve decided I will try to do my yoga each afternoon. I’m feeling less stiff and sore and hope to improve my practice each day.

I thanked my lucky stars when I discovered Cat Kabira a couple of years ago. I found her on a website called Sixty and Me. I bought the DVD they were selling to get seniors into yoga. I didn’t want to wind myself into a pretzel shape or fold myself into a paper airplane, but I did like the idea of getting and staying more flexible, alleviating pain, and improving my balance.

I now do my own thing on yoga stretches, but the thing that Cat stressed was that no one gives you awards for putting your hands flat on the floor after touching your toes, or bending forward while sitting and putting your face on the floor in front of you. (Good thing!) :0)

The thing that is important is that you stretch yourself in that DIRECTION and then breathe into it. You will improve as you learn to relax into the positions and you will get the same benefit as if you HAD touched the floor. THAT freed me from feeling defeated before I started.

As I’ve told you, I’m a champion hard-head, so I have to keep reminding myself that the benefits don’t continue if you don’t practice. So now I’m almost starting at square one, stretching TOWARD where I would like to go, trying to get my poor, sore and stiff body to relax into it once again. I AM starting to feel a difference, and my husband noticed I was doing better yesterday.

I’m on a roll with my determination to ‘shut my mouth and practice yoga daily.’ Hopefully, I can keep this going.

BoredPanda.com

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February 15, 2022 · 10:45 am

Hopeful Tuesday

I just came back in from driving our trash down to the bottom of our driveway and getting our mail. When I started to go down the driveway I caught a glimpse of yellow out of the corner of my eye. When I got back, I got my camera and went out in the yard to find two groups of daffodils budding and blooming in the middle of February! Talk about something that really lifted my spirits. I wanted to share them with you. I KNOW that they don’t realize that it’s still the middle of winter here and that they’ll get frozen one day soon, but their determination to bloom in the middle of whatever is happening around them is motivation for me to try to do the same.

My “Find-and-Re-Organize My Desk” project is going slowly, but I’m definitely making progress. Instead of just stuffing things away somewhere else this time, I’m really trying to re-think where it makes the most sense for things to live – rather than piled on my desk. This takes more time, but will be helpful in the long run. I’ve already cleaned out my tax records file drawer in the desk, caught up with January 2022 records on new spreadsheets on my computer, and filed January’s stuff in old-plus-added folders. It won’t look like I’ve done anything on the project until it’s finished, but I’m plugging away at it with several sessions during the day, with walking out to the shop and back between sessions to enjoy the weather and get my body moving more.

Giphy

I actually did a session of yoga yesterday afternoon. It felt so good I’m going to do another today, rather than waiting until Wednesday.

I hope that you enjoyed your Valentine’s Day yesterday and that you’re having a hopeful Tuesday, too.

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February 9, 2022 · 9:54 am

Shut My Mouth

Crushpixel

Lots of excuses – so little time!

Due to –

  • being snowed in for about a week
  • still celebrating a good result from a scary health examination
  • having a husband who craves foods not on the list a LOT
  • having very little personal willpower and being a sloth by nature

my weight is up and my disgust with myself is up, as well.

Thankfully, although our driveway is probably the last snow-covered place in Greenwood, the snow IS melting and our snow tires are equal to the task of getting down the driveway (changing from ‘drive’ to ‘first’ before starting down) and hurrying a bit to get past the steepest part of the driveway to the melted places on the way back up. We are no longer snowed in and our weather is really nice now. Maybe Mother Nature has decided to give us a bit of a break after slamming us with a thick layer of ice before the snow.

I AM trying to do a session of yoga each day, although I’m having to shame myself into it, rather than doing it as habit as I was doing awhile back. There is something about winter that encourages me to do things that are sedentary – reading, working or playing on the computer, listening to music, taking naps – all nice things, as long as they are spread out between more mobile activities. Even starting to get our tax stuff together is sedentary!

My new meme will be, ‘SHUT MY MOUTH AND MOVE MY REAR!’

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January 31, 2022 · 11:19 am

Grateful

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myqualitytime.net

Excuses abound. THIS TIME it’s a combination: possibly getting snowed in and my husband wanting chili mac…

If there were a contest on best excuses for NOT staying on your diet, I would win hands down. No contest. I’ve brought it to an art form. I haven’t yet gotten to the point where I’m proud of my abilities here – I would MUCH rather be boasting about the poundage or inches I’ve lost.

It would also be good if I could brag about the fact that I can make things for my husband, and eat healthy stuff myself, but that’s probably for another lifetime –

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January 26, 2022 · 1:53 pm

Temptation

Here’s Looking At You Kid-fineartamerica.com

As I’m feeling better, my appetite increases. I keep thinking of things that ‘sound good’ to eat – a SURE sign I shouldn’t have them.

I’ve always envied – though never understood – people who ‘forget’ to eat. They simply don’t seem to get hungry. If I were a violent person, these people should fear me. Or, at least they should be willing to GIVE me whatever genes they have that result in this attitude!

I can’t remember a time when I ‘forgot’ to eat. I fondly remember some of my mother’s cooking. She would serve our plates, heaping my dad’s HIGH with a mountain of spaghetti and sauce. He would eat it ALL, plus sometimes a second helping, plus garlic toast, plus dessert, and never gain an ounce. He was 6’2″ and weighed 165 at his heaviest.

I took after my mom, who had to watch her weight. She was quite sedentary, considering walking to the car and back at the store as exercise. She really hated the idea. She did have willpower, though. I wish first that I inherited my dad’s metabolism, or second, my mom’s willpower. Sadly, I’m on my own.

I’m still down the same 30 lbs that I lost awhile back. I’m still trying to exercise daily (thought I’ve taken time off getting ready for the health test recently and my fear of that, plus, now with the bad cold/Omicron/whatever I’m having now).

I’m trying to get to the place mentally and emotionally where I’m ready to redouble my efforts to lose the lard – getting to a new, healthier place. It’ll have to wait until I can bend over without having to leap for the kleenex box, but hopefully, that will be in another day or two…

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January 16, 2022 · 9:47 am

Diet Wagon

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I lost several pounds getting ready for my exam Friday. Since then, I’ve been able to eat and drink more normally. That’s bad news because apparently I walk around ‘full of it,’ already gaining back the poundage I had shed. Oh, well.

Each day is a new day. Each day I try to watch WHAT I am eating, and HOW MUCH. I am trying to exercise, now doing yoga stretches MWF. If I’m successful with the yoga in the coming week, I’ll try to add back a session or two a week on my elliptical trainer the following week.

One day – one meal – at a time.

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January 10, 2022 · 9:29 am

Is It New?

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I’ve lost around 3 lbs lately. Nothing to write home about, but enough to be encouraging in my efforts to lose the lard. I figure that I’ll ‘keep on keepin’ on’ and see if this trend continues. :0)

My efforts to do my yoga stretches MWF are a bit spotty yet. Things keep coming up, and then the opportunity passes. It’s a reasonable excuse and I’m going to use it – at least for now. This afternoon is my next opportunity.

My goal for this year is for there to be significantly less of me, and what is left healthier and more fit, more flexible with better balance and more stamina.

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January 9, 2022 · 10:05 am

Fitness

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January 5, 2022 · 9:25 am

Did You Know?

Unknown

Yesterday I did a session of old lady yoga stretches for the first time in quite awhile. Life and sloth have been in my way. My back was complaining, so I FINALLY took the time to try to help myself. Although it was very slow and I felt VERY stiff, it felt good to try to stretch.

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I will do yoga stretches again today. (Yesterday was a make-up for what I had planned to do Monday.) Getting up off the floor at the end of the session is again the most difficult part. I have to laugh, picturing myself having to call for a crane. I’m determined to get back into this.

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January 4, 2022 · 11:29 am

Wish for 2022

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With all of our labors in trying to take an old fluorescent light fixture down and install a new one yesterday, I didn’t do my yoga stretching. I’m trying to get back into exercise again, doing yoga MWF, so I’ll do a session this afternoon to make up for yesterday.

While I was at the post office this morning, I saw my friend, Hieu, a beautiful little lady from Vietnam who heads up the post office. We have visited here and there, in quick spurts of conversation as she processes whatever I have brought. It’s amazing how you can get to know people like this, care about them, considering them friends. She never fails to ask about our son. I ask about her mom, who was sick with Covid, but made it through.

Hieu was sick this past week and today was her first day back. She said she lost weight while she was sick, and is now down to 87 pounds. My left LEG probably weighs that much! I graciously offered to donate some of MY fat to her cause. Maybe we can figure something out.

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January 3, 2022 · 10:23 am

Monday Yoga Stretches

Tenor

Actually, this sweet dog is doing a better job right now than I.

Today I’m restarting my exercise program – my effort to move more, get more flexible, improve my balance, ease some back pain.

I’m starting my yoga stretches again slowly – just Monday, Wednesday, and Friday afternoons, and will see how that goes. It’s mystifying that I have to keep MAKING myself exercise – proving to myself over and over how much better I feel when I do.

Exercise is just above house cleaning on my priorities – I guess I’m a slug.

Maybe a NICE slug, though. :0)

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January 3, 2022 · 9:34 am

Thoughts on a Monday 1-3-2022

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I’m feeling a bit frazzled this morning – not sure why.

Our son left us a URL to a video featuring Peter Green. He was playing a really soulful guitar and singing, “Fool No More.” I don’t remember ever hearing him before. I think he’s amazing.

Our day is pretty today – lots of sunshine and plenty of cold temperatures. It’s 24 right now. I haven’t switched gears to having winter yet. When we’re home and relaxing in our recliners, I’ve turned on my heat pad to warm my bones. :0) We have several errands to run, and a pretty day to run them in.

We have no evidence yet of more raccoons, but I don’t think we have EVER had just one…

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On my list of ‘things-to-do” today is exercise. I will do my yoga stretches this afternoon and see if I can actually build a habit this time.

Have a nice Monday.

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January 2, 2022 · 11:02 am

Thoughts on a Sunday 1-2-2022

Unknown

Good morning! I hope 2022 will be a great year for you!

Although my husband scoffs, the weather people were absolutely right about what the weather would do yesterday. Temperatures fell all during the day and it was 17 degrees F. this morning. We didn’t get any snow flurries yet, but I don’t think you’ll hear any complaints. It is COLD and gray outside, with some stiff breezes.

I got the ingredients for beef stew into the crock pot first thing this morning, so we’ll have a nice comfort meal this evening. I also got a comfort gift – having a chat with our son. He’s in Thailand and has almost forgotten how cold it can get in Arkansas. He considers wearing a hoodie and shoes other than sandals “cold” there. :0) He fondly remembered my fixing beef stew in the crock pot while he was growing up. Although crock pots aren’t big in Thailand, he’s thinking about trying to order one online so he can fix his own stew. It was a wonderful way to start the morning, talking with him before he goes to sleep. (He’s 13 hours ahead of us this time of year.)

This is a great day to have a warm, dry home. My heart goes out to the people in Colorado who are now suffering through such awful devastation of hurricane force winds driving wildfire. I hope help comes soon.

I’ve become a slug. I’m not exercising as I should. I’m trying to “get back on the horse” exercising three times per week and see if I can actually keep that going. It is said that you can build a habit in three weeks. I guess it takes longer for me. I’m not really kicking myself, having learned that that isn’t productive, but I HAVE written it on my calendar, and hoping to check it off. Fingers crossed and trying to build determination. I’ve also gotten back into cronometer.com an online program for tracking your food, drink, and exercise. Things CREEP in insidiously. You THINK you’re only fudging a bit, and one bit is added here and then there, and…. OUCH. As my friend Maria encouraged me to do, I’m breaking my goal into “doable chunks ” and I plan to reward myself with stars, time to play in my art room, etc. to encourage success.

I hope you have a warm, quiet Sunday, doing something that brings a big smile to your face.

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December 22, 2021 · 10:23 am

Fitness

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I’m still doing my old lady yoga stretching, but I’m finding it harder to do my elliptical trainer now. It is in the garage, the only place with a hard, bare floor. It’s 38 degrees F. outside right now. I’m TRYING to do my elliptical in the afternoon, when it warms up a bit, but am not having much luck convincing myself yet. I’ll keep trying.

Right now my ‘moving more’ efforts are concentrated on cleaning up planters in the yard before winter settles in. I’m going to try to do one planter each day. (We have 14 brick planters around the yard, plus pots on the deck.) Once these are done, “I’ll get more serious about the ellipitical,” – (she said…. :0))

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October 24, 2021 · 9:08 am

Shoot

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Despite what my scales say this morning, I’ve been a ‘good girl’. So, bah, humbug. Just keepin’ on keepin’ on.

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October 21, 2021 · 9:20 am

Arnica

Sent by a friend

I had a good session on the elliptical trainer in the garage yesterday and put a gold star on my calendar. Today, however, my right knee is complaining. I chose to get the elliptical trainer several years ago because it is NOT hard on your joints while allowing you to –

  • Can Aid Weight Loss. An elliptical machine or trainer is great for weight loss. …
  • Low-Impact Exercise. …
  • Targets The Lower Body. …
  • Tones The Entire Body. …
  • Boosts Cardiovascular Health. …
  • Improves Cardio Stamina. …
  • Reduces High Blood Pressure. …
  • Improves Balance And Mobility.

So, I slathered my knee with Hyland’s Muscle Therapy Gel with Arnica and just ordered more. I read that Arnica is from the sunflower family. It was recommended to me by my SIL, and it works for me on easing pain. I will take it easy today, just doing my yoga stretches.

Earlier in the week I told you I felt I had an answer for my efforts to try to lose the lard. I was tweaking what I’m eating, plus exercising, and had lost 5 lbs last week. Well, The weight gods heard me and definitely smirked at my audacity, slapping 2 pounds back on. Shoot.

Between that, and now my right knee rebellion, I’m feeling a bit down this morning. I will keep on keepin’ on mainly because I’m stubborn. :0)

Happy Thursday!

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October 17, 2021 · 9:52 am

Wish

WoodlandManufacturing.com

I am continuing to tweak my eating habits in my determination to lose the lard. This has become a “character-building exercise” and SHOULD be listed on the list of exercises you can log each day on cronometer.com.

I had already switched my mid afternoon snack to raw veggies and a bit of dip. Now I’ll try cutting back the AMOUNT of that. I’ve been eating some no-added-sugar ice cream (a small amount while my husband has more with strawberries.) I’ll try to not have that.

Now that the weather is cooler, I’ll try to get started again on my elliptical trainer in the garage, doing a session before lunch.

Hopefully, the tweaking and moving more will get my body’s attention…

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