Tag Archives: health

Filed under getting the lard off

Tagged as diet, eating two meals a day, exercise, fitness, health, hearing aids, losing my lard, losing weight monthly progress report, nutrition, portion control, regaining balance, Weight Loss

November 16, 2025 · 11:07 pm

It’s Monday, Nov. 17, 2025

Newest painted sketch.

This pampered lady took her clothes (the largest part of it) to the laundry. It will be ready to pick up tomorrow a little after 9:00. Can you believe that? I have never been able to take advantage of a service like this before and I am loving it! 😊

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The repair men are due here around 1:30 to 2:00 this afternoon to see if they can fix my door. I sure hope they can do something so I can just walk out of my condo and back in again any time I would like without having to text my son…

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I lost another bit of weight, and now am 7 lbs from my goal. I may adjust that once I get there, but it seems like a good weight for maintenance purposes. It’s in the healthy range for my height on the BMI chart. More importantly, I am FEELING better now than I have felt in a long time. The combination of eating twice a day, watching my portions, not eating between meals, and then exercising are finally coming together.

I’m walking on the treadmill, doing online balance exercises, old lady yoga stretches alternating with exercises with water bottles for my arms so I do each every other day. I’m dancing to wonderful music on my computer, just to be moving around and grinning like an idiot.

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I am getting started on sketching and hand painting Christmas cards for the locals here. This will take me some time, so I’m trying to work on the project a bit each day so I won’t feel rushed toward the deadline. I will be giving them to people as I see them, so the distribution will take some time, as well. What a happy way to spend time between now and Christmas!

I did a little research on Christmas in Chiang Mai, and discovered though most people here are Buddhist, they like the idea of giving and receiving gifts, Christmas decorations, music, and festivals, so there are several ways to celebrate. I’ll be sharing some of that with you in the coming month.

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I hope that this is the beginning of a really nice week for you.

3 Comments

Filed under Thoughts on a ________

Tagged as exercises, family, fitness, health, life, writing, It's Monday 11-17-2025, newest painted sketch, the luxury of taking my stuff to the laundry, repair men coming to try to fix my door, lost a bit of weight, sketching and painting Christmas cards, Christmas in Chiang Mai

October 26, 2025 · 2:40 am

Sunday, October 26, 2025

This is my latest painted sketch.

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We went to visit my husband at the nursing home today. He didn’t say much. He has a nasal tube and a catheter, plus he had big plastic gloves on today to keep him from pulling out tubes. The nursing home sent us two videos yesterday. One was him trying to peel a hard boiled egg. I cried when I saw how hard it was for him, and I’m not at all sure he knew what to do with it once the shell was off. The other showed him eating very small bites of fruit with a chop stick-looking implement. He was slow, but he WAS eating by himself, and REAL food.

He actually thanked Brian for coming to see him when I was in the bathroom just before we left. We had taken the gloves off his hands so we could each hold a hand while we “talked.” He said very little, but he squeezed our hands.

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I’m making progress on my jigsaw puzzle. I’ve taken a picture of it to show you I might actually live long enough to finish it! I’ve also started gathering pictures of puzzles I might order when I finish this one. I LOVE being able to have a “puzzle” table where I can leave it out as long as it takes for me to finish it – and then enjoy looking at the finished puzzle before dismantling it and giving it away. Brian will take a picture of it and we’ll have a glass print made.

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I’m reading “The Last Happy Summer: A Jake Moriarity Prequel” by RG Ryan on my Kindle. My only problem with it is that I don’t want to put it down! I’m having to be an adult and get the other things I need to do done before allowing myself the luxury of sprawling on my couch and diving into it once again…

I hope that your day is full of grins.

Filed under Thoughts on a ________

Tagged as family, health, life, love, My last painted sketch, puzzles, reading the prequel by RG Ryan, thoughts on a Sunday - 10-26-2025, visit to my husband in the nursing home, working on my jigsaw puzzle.

October 26, 2025 · 2:17 am

“Take Less of Me….”

“Give your all to me
I’ll give my all to you
You’re my end and my beginning
Even when I lose, I’m winning
‘Cause I give you all of me
And you give me all of you, oh-oh”~ “All of Me” by John Legend

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This is a selfie taken just a few minutes ago. I’m going ahead and providing a progress report on my efforts to lose my lard for the end of October 2025.

This is my husband and me at “Lunch Bunch” at The Pizza Barn in Arkansas about a year and a half ago. At my heaviest (two years or more ago) I weighed 205.

As of today, I’ve lost 80 pounds and 85 inches. I still have about 10 lbs or so to go, but I can finally see the end goal and believe I can actually reach it.

I feel better now, since I’m finally in the normal, healthy range of the BMI chart for my height. I’ll make the final decision on where I want to maintain and concentrate more on fitness after I lose the next 10 lbs.

I don’t know if you can tell a difference or not. I can tell you I’ve had to alter the waist in my jeans 4 times now since I moved to Thailand in April. I will celebrate, getting two pairs of jeans that FIT when I reach my goal weight.

It’s funny. Although I’m pleased about the weight and inches loss, I’m wondering from time to time whether it’s better to have smooth skin filled out by fat or to be thinner with lots of excess skin and lots of wrinkles. I think of myself now as a Shar-Pei type of person…

I will just concentrate on meeting my weight goal while continuing to exercise to increase my strength and stamina, plus regain my sense of balance since I lost it after being in the hospital in February. I’m walking a mile each day on the treadmill at the gym. I also do a session of yoga stretches one day and dance to really bouncy music with water bottles in my hands as weights with which I do exercises for my arms on the next day. My son, Brian, and I also try to walk to places that are close to the condo to get more exercise in.

It would be nice to meet my goal by the end of 2025. I’m not in any huge hurry. I’m trying to eat healthy things, enjoying trying Thai cuisine as well as eating “Western style” low carb meals. We’re eating breakfast and dinner each day, and I have an iced coffee mid afternoon. No snacks. I’m drinking lots and lots of water until I feel my eyeballs are floating. All this is working together to undo some of the damage I had before I moved here. I want to be healthy to be able to enjoy exploring this fascinating country!

4 Comments

Filed under getting the lard off

Tagged as diet, down 80 lbs and 85 inches, eating right, exercise, fitness, health, healthy, meeting my goal, nutrition, Shar Pei, Weight Loss, weight loss report

October 20, 2025 · 10:11 pm

Why Chia Seeds?

Organic Bazar

“Chia seeds are tiny, nutrient-dense seeds from the Salvia hispanica plant that offer numerous health benefits. You should take them because they are packed with fiber, omega-3 fatty acids, protein, and antioxidants, which support heart health, digestion, bone health, and can help with weight management. They can be easily added to your diet by sprinkling them on yogurt, adding them to smoothies, or making chia pudding.” ~ Google

Brian introduced us to chia seeds when we arrived in Thailand at the beginning of April. We were having digestion and elimination problems, and Brian suggested we try drinking a glass of water with 1 tsp of chia seeds dissolved in it. Harvey immediately said he wouldn’t drink any more.

Since then, I’ve increased it to 1 tablespoon in a large glass of water each morning, along with a tablespoon of olive oil. I also take a pro-biotic pill in the evenings before bed. I drink lots of water all day and into the evening.

RESULT? Only two problems in 7 months – one of which was a definite reaction to food we ate, because Brian had trouble, too. This is a record for me. I consider chia seeds a miracle for this alone.

“Add chia seeds to your diet because they are a nutritional powerhouse packed with fiber, omega-3 fatty acids, protein, and antioxidants that support heart health, improve digestion, and can help with weight management and blood sugar control. They are also rich in minerals like calcium, magnesium, and phosphorus, which are vital for bone health.”

Improved Digestion
Boosted Energy Level
Heart Health Support
Weight Management
Stronger Hair & Skin
Better Mental Clarity
Overall Wellness Boost

I know I may sound like a commercial, but I have rarely been so strongly sold on one thing I can do for my health everyday – drink the large glass of water with 1 tablespoon of chia seeds. I stir it up, then use a timer to let the seeds soak for 10 minutes. I stir again before drinking it down. At first, the texture of it bothered me. Now I just think about all the good it’s doing for me and drink it down.

Filed under Healthy Eating

Tagged as better mental clarity, bone health, chia seeds for your health, food, health, heart heath support, nutrition, overall wellness boost, regularity, stronger hair and skin, weight management, wellness, why take chia seeds

October 17, 2025 · 9:21 pm

Saturday, Oct. 18 – 2025

Just one example of beauty you see everywhere in Thailand.

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After a super busy day yesterday, Brian and I are enjoying a couple of recoup days. I will do my normal stuff, enjoying the fact that I can move from one activity to another at the time of my choosing, not feeling rushed or obligated, and maybe even sneaking in a nap or two if I feel like it.

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I did well at the gym this morning. I’m trying to retrain my brain to improve my sense of balance since my surgery in February. My loss of hearing at that time also certainly affected my sense of balance.

I now wear hearing aids that are absolutely wonderful. They are so comfortable that I sometimes forget I’m wearing them. I do take them out when I’m alone, just to rest the inside of my ears a bit. So – if you come to see me and I’m not wearing them – and I don’t put them in while you watch – it’s definitely a message to you…. 🤣😂

Now that my hearing is corrected, it remains up to me to retrain my brain and body to keep my balance, whether I’m walking on rough terrain, bumpy streets and sidewalks, or on the treadmill.

When I started going to the gym every morning in May, I held on to the handlebars of the treadmill tightly. I was STILL swaying, listing to the right or left, having to slow my speed, etc., really concentrating on keeping my balance and not falling on my head.

My retraining has slowly worked! Now I am walking on the treadmill without holding on to the handlebars at all. I feel much more steady, able to look around at what is beside the path on the video without losing my balance. I can even check what’s going on outside a bit. Occasionally the video will turn abruptly and cause me to have to recorrect, or I’ll lose concentration and finding myself ‘listing’ to one side or the other, but the daily practice is definitely helping.

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Ah, the life of a retired, spoiled lady! Now that my wash is on my drying rack on my balcony outside, my biggest decision is whether to work on my jigsaw puzzle or start painting a sketch after I finish my blog posts. 😁

Make this a great day!

Filed under Thoughts on a ________

Tagged as balance retraining - hearing aids and treadmill practice, beautiful flowers in Thailand, exercise, fitness, health, life, recoup days, retired lady choices, thoughts on Sat. Oct 18 - 2025

October 15, 2025 · 9:41 pm

Thursday, October 16th

We had some of this as part of our breakfast the past two days. This Thai fruit is called a Pomelo. It’s much like a grapefruit, except it’s sweeter and the sections are huge compared to any grapefruit I’ve eaten in the States.

“The biggest citrus is really an improved grapefruit; a pomelo is at once both sweeter and easier to eat. For convenience, buy one that’s already been cut up (stand back and watch Thai supermarket employees wield immense cleavers).”

How to try pomelo?

The Kohsamui Guide

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Thankfully, it only sprinkled this morning, so my laundry is now out on my balcony drying on my drying rack. I’ll still keep a close eye on the weather, ready to leap up and bring my rack inside, plus put a sheet under it to catch any drips. 😊

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This is my latest painted sketch.

I go for a massage tomorrow. As you age, your bones become more brittle, your muscles more prone to injury; so it’s super important to me to have a massage therapist I can trust. (I was really upset to have to leave Lynn, my wonderful therapist in the States.) I feel as if I’ve won the lottery to have had TWO experts tend to this old body, making me feel loose and wonderful again for a time. It’s beyond price to be able to put yourself in someone’s hands you KNOW won’t hurt you, knows exactly how hard to pull, push, kneed, or twist to get all the knots and sore spots to recede, if not leave altogether.

Because I’m so delighted to have found my second terrific therapist, I’m going to try to paint a thank you card for her. She speaks very little English. I speak even less Thai, but a card, my mangled attempt to say, “Thank you” in Thai, plus a huge smile and saying “yes” to another massage NEXT Friday should get my feelings across. 🙏🏻

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I have done the prep work, mostly, for Khun Nong, my housekeeper coming tomorrow. I’ve changed the sheets on my bed, I’ve gathered trash to take out, I’ve straightened things so that she will find it easy to clean.

We will go to visit Harvey at the nursing home tomorrow. Because Friday is my busiest day, when I go to breakfast at my son’s place in the morning, I’ll take my sheets and towels he washes for me, plus my sketchbook, drawing supplies, my Kindle, and my sweatshirt so that we won’t have to disturb my housekeeper while she’s working. We’ll go to Bri’s when we get back from the nursing home, grab our stuff and head for the cafe where we stay until Khun Nong is finished.

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I hope you are having a great day or evening, and that you are aware and grateful for all you have.

4 Comments

Filed under Thoughts on a ________

Tagged as busy Friday logistics, food, health, life, massage tomorrow, pomelo - Thai fruit, prepping for my housekeeper, Thursday Oct 16th, trying to paint a thank you card

October 10, 2025 · 9:48 pm

Treadmill Travels

Daily Paws

As I walk on the treadmill each morning, I’m in awe of the videos on the treadmill screen. Someone I guess has a business of traveling to different locations and filming paths one can walk in each location. They do it with great expertise. You feel as if you are actually there, walking on the path, turning when they turn, walking up steps, over rocks, down slopes, across bridges – even off the edge of cliffs when the camera plays with your mind, giving you a gorgeous view before changing to another path.

I’m enjoying virtual vacations as I try to improve my balance, my steadiness, and my stamina.

There is a nice video about Hawaii. I usually have to research, using my memory of what I’ve seen, to figure out the location because it isn’t given on the video. Certain places like Hawaii are easy to figure out, though I can’t tell you where each location was.

This image was taken by Tasha Marie of Unsplash. (I’m trying to give you the FLAVOR of the images on the video, since I can’t give credit to the actual image makers.)

There is a gorgeous stretch of sandy beach, where you walk along, admiring the nice waves coming in on your left. The video moves you closer to the water as you walk, getting your feet wet, then finally walking in the waves a bit. It’s glorious. The only thing missing for me is sandpipers skittering across the sand on their long, long legs, making me laugh.

Mike Sirotin Photography

There is a lava field in one part of the video similar to this one. There are white markers along a ‘path’ considered safe to hike on. The lava field covers part of a road in one area of the video. It’s awe-inspiring to see what power nature has to change the landscape of our world.

This image is similar to a section of the video where you hike through heavily wooded jungle-type areas with sometimes very narrow paths. You can almost hear the call of birds as you walk.

Photo by 1234Kidswilltravel

Waterfalls large and small spill into creeks rushing beside your path as you walk, or off in the distance a bit, making you goggle at the majesty of nature.

I hope I’ve given you an idea of the expertise of the people who create and sell videos to gyms – and I guess they are available if you purchase your own treadmill to use at home.

They provide a distraction from the fact you’re exercising, if you’re a lazy person like me; they provide focus so that I can let go of the handlebars and concentrate on changing my balance as needed to stay on the paths; they show you places in the world you probably won’t ever get the chance to actual visit – led by someone who won’t let you get lost!

Filed under exercise, Videos

Tagged as excellent addition to the treadmill, exercise, fitness, Hawaii, health, hiking, travel, treadmill travels, videos on treadmills, virtual vacation

October 7, 2025 · 8:39 pm

Difficult Day

A. A. Milne – Winnie the Pooh

Yesterday we met my husband and his nurse at the hospital for his appointment with the doctor. Harvey was not having a good day. He hadn’t slept well, his nurse said. She had brought little bitty sandwich squares for him to eat because he had to have lab tests before he ate or drank anything. Our son and the nurse took turns trying to get my husband to eat.

He choked often, and the nurse gave him water with a syringe so that he would have an easier time swallowing the little bite of sandwich.

To make the story shorter, the doctor wants Harvey to have surgery again to put in a permanent stomach tube. This would allow him to receive his nutrients directly into his stomach, rather than having to eat.

We are researching the pros and cons of this. My husband and I have talked about death, dying, and hospital procedures over the years and we are in agreement. We both had DNR’s in the states, and we didn’t want ANY invasive permanent procedures to prolong our lives. We didn’t want to be in a lot of pain, but otherwise wanted to let nature take its course.

My husband’s quality of life now just isn’t there. I think he enjoys seeing what they’ll bring him to eat, enjoys rides in the wheelchair out into the fresh air where he might find a doggie or two to pet, and enjoys staring at the TV. I say ‘staring’ because the sound is in Thai and the subtitles are in Chinese, neither of which my husband speaks. I think he likes it when we come visit, but most of the time it’s hard to tell.

This will be a very hard decision. The tube won’t prolong his life. The surgery itself is risky for him, because of blood thinners and being slow to heal, plus anesthesia, and being antsy in bed, rather than lying quietly. Infection is a common problem. Pneumonia is a common problem. Aspiration of even saliva is a definite possibility.

We will see what his nurse thinks, plus keep researching. We want him to be comfortable as possible. A sad, difficult decision.

6 Comments

Filed under Family

Tagged as difficult decision, end of life, family, health, life, love, stomach tube, surgery

October 4, 2025 · 1:13 am

Mind Games

Be Well

You already know I’m weird; but, as Elizabeth Barrett Browning said, “Let me count the ways….”

I’ve been trying to re-train my brain and body on the treadmill in an effort to improve my sense of balance that was impaired when I was in the hospital in February.

I can walk without holding on to the bars now – a big difference from when I started in June (I think) walking every morning for half an hour. I’ve increased my speed and I’m starting to tweak the incline %. The reason I say I’m weird is that I feel like I’m playing Mind Games.

Someone has gone to a great deal of trouble, time, and expense to provide videos on the treadmill screen you watch I guess to make the time pass more quickly or distract you from the fact you’re exercising. The videos are beautiful, shot in all different locations, made so you feel as if they are walking right there with you.

I’m probably more prone to react to the videos than others. I’m trying to figure out where the video was shot, trying to absorb the glorious views they provide, and more. They are leading me down various paths – some on city sidewalks, some deep in the woods, some on the beach…

Since I am walking without holding on to the bars, my brain reacts each time the location changes, or the path winds and turns, goes up stairways or hills. I find myself trying to mentally and physically avoid the rocks in the paths so I won’t fall on my head. I’m trying not to lose my balance as we go through a squeakily narrow place or are plunged into the darkness, or twist and turn. My brain and body react when the camera approaches a place where there is clearly no place to go, and THEN THEY KEEP GOING OFF THE EDGE WITH THE CAMERA!

The really good thing is I never get bored, even when the video is a repeat of one I’ve done before. I’m improving on looking ahead, rather than down at the path all the time, taking in what is BESIDE the path now. I’m learning not to panic when the camera angle changes, straightening out the path in my mind rather than grabbing the bar in knee-jerk fashion.

You would THINK I would be intelligent enough to remember that I am in a gym, walking on a treadmill, NOT in a forest, or walking off a cliff – but INSIDE this weird brain, I’m experiencing the places they’re taking me, holding my breath as I negotiate yet another several sets of steps built into the path, step over debris, around people, make another abrupt turn in the path that runs over a creek…

So, I admit I’m weird. And I’ll try to use that to my ADVANTAGE as I try to regain my stamina and my balance.

“Losing the Lard” Progress Report

Noemar – @noemardau.bsky.social

I absolutely LOVE this mug. No words are needed. One look and you react.

The progress report for September 2025 is encouraging, though slow, as usual. My “Losing the Lard” project started a couple of years ago. I have hit every snag, bump in the road, pothole, plateau and stagnation possible during that time. I have become a master of making excuses for what went wrong.

Dying twice February 11th in the hospital in Arkansas, having to have a temporary, then permanent pacemaker installed, then moving to Thailand and having a baseline assessment doctor totally concerned about my sky-high blood pressure – with orders to take a medication, lose weight and exercise – finally ended that. No more excuses. I needed to quit opening my mouth, start seriously moving my body, and embrace the fact that I have been given a second chance.

Since Thai food has LOTS and LOTS of carbs, my low-carb plan has been a challenge. “Western food” as it’s known here, is much more what I would like to eat, but it’s a lot more expensive. So I have changed to eating two meals daily – breakfast and dinner – with an iced coffee or chocolate in the afternoons, and sharing dinner with my son – with him eating 2/3 of whatever we get an me eating 1/3. We are eating chicken, pork, rarely beef, bacon, salad stuff, fruit, eggs, nuts, and some veggies. We are drinking mushroom tea with some beef bone broth mixed in each morning.

I moved to Thailand in April. Since the assessment by the doctor, I have lost 23 pounds. I am walking on the treadmill daily at the gym, doing yoga stretches, and dancing to music with water bottles for weights daily, plus regular walking.

PROGRESS TO DATE – I’ve lost 78 pounds total since my heaviest, and there are 74-3/4 inches less of me than at my heaviest. I’m undecided whether I want to lose 10 or 15 pounds at this point. I want to be in the middle of the ‘healthy weight’ section of the chart. I want to feel stronger, more flexible, and handle the uneven streets and sidewalks here in Thailand with more agility. I need to improve the balance issue I’ve had since being in the hospital. I’m working on that at the gym by not holding on to the handlebars of the treadmill, forcing my brain and my body to keep correcting to not fall on my head. It’s amazing to me how much more trouble I have staying balanced when the video on the screen in front of me is following a really curvy path and going in and out of dark places…

It’s good to be able to finally see reaching my goal in the relatively near future. Working toward my goal makes me feel that I am doing something good for myself.

10 Comments

Filed under getting the lard off

Tagged as diet, down 78 lbs and 74-3/4", fitness, health, I can now finally see my way to my goal, Losing the Lard progress report, nutrition, Weight Loss

September 26, 2025 · 10:33 pm

I am a Work-in-Progress

Unknown

I am in the process of doing a lot of changing since we moved to Thailand.

Some of them are health-related:

I used to drink coffee by the pot full. I would start a pot in the morning. My husband and I would drink a cup and then I would finish the pot. If dinnertime came and the pot was empty, I would make another pot and drink most of it, if not all. Coffee didn’t keep me awake. It was like drinking water to me. – now we drink mushroom teas (various) with bone broth mixed in. This is a very healthful drink. It’s supposed to do all kind of wonderful things for us. The bone broth is supposed to help with hair and fingernails. We drink one cup with breakfast. Now many times I have an iced mocha in the afternoon as a pick-me-up. I never liked iced coffee, but the ones I’ve tried here are all wonderful, and the ‘iced’ helps me ‘weather’ the weather better…
Exercise – I used to do yoga stretches and various exercise videos on my computer at various times when we lived in the states. I THOUGHT about them more than actually DOING them. – Now Brian and I go to the gym every morning at 0-dark-thirty to use the treadmills for half an hour. Brian says he can tell I’m healthier. I also make it a point to do at least half an hour of yoga stretches daily. I also dance with water bottles in each hand at least every other day, trying to work on my arms and back, as well as have fun moving more.
Eating – I used to eat what I liked and too much of that. I belonged to the “clean plate club”, practically licking the plate before I finished stuffing my face. Sometimes I went back for seconds. We always had high carb, salty snacks on hand. Now I eat breakfast and dinner. Brian and I share whatever we get. He eats 2/3 and I eat 1/3. I try to drink LOTS more water than I did before. If I get hungry, I chew some sugarless gum.
Using my day – In the states I was trying to handle more and more of what my husband used to do, but couldn’t do anymore. I was overwhelmed by to-do lists that only grew. I felt guilty when I went up to my art room, even though I sold much of what I made up there. By the time I had handled enough of the list to do a little bit of something fun, I had run out of time or was simply too exhausted to do it. Now I can put myself at the top of the list mentally. I still have ‘to-do’ lists and a list of errands we need to run, calls I need to make, etc., but I make a conscious effort to include something FUN in my day while I still have energy and actually ENJOY the doing. Now that I’m officially ‘retired,’ I am moving from one fun thing to another any time I’m not needed elsewhere. My attitude is one of improving my quality of life. Getting a second chance at life changed me forever. I am worth doing something fun now. 👍

Filed under Attitude

Tagged as changes since I moved to Thailand, coffee, food, health, I am a work-in-progress, life, new habits, writing

September 19, 2025 · 10:14 pm

Happy Milestone

Harvey is behind the couch. The fat lady on the right end of the couch is me in May of 2013, according to the date stamp.

This was taken about a year ago when we still lived in Arkansas. I had lost weight; but as you can see, I needed to close my mouth and move a LOT to get things more under control.

I don’t know if you can tell any difference here. It’s hard for me to take a selfie.

Here’s a view from the side.

And here I am, looking at you.

The milestone is that I’m under 130 pounds today for the first time in years. When I saw the scales, I measured twice to make sure, then decided to go ahead and do measurements for the month, since I won’t change that much in 10 days.

I’m down 73 pounds from my heaviest weight and there is 74-1/2 inches less of me now than at that time.

I’m still trying to watch my carbs, but we are limited here because of several factors –

Brian is trying to work full time plus take care of his dad in the nursing home plus take care of his mom. He likes ordering food and having it delivered rather than our cooking together or me cooking at his place.
Choices for delivery are limited as to how far away they are and whether they participate in Grab Delivery. Also, Thai food is not low carb. We can GET low carb, but it’s more expensive and usually the food here is spicy.

I have decided not to worry so much about how many carbs I’m eating, but limiting my meals and my portions. We eat breakfast and dinner. Sometimes I get an iced coffee mid-afternoon. We share our order for meals, with me eating 1/3 and Brian eating 2/3.

I’m walking at the gym most every morning. I’m concentrating on balance by not holding on to the bars of the treadmill, but the main thing is the moving every day. I’m doing long sessions of old lady yoga stretches, breathing into the stretches so I feel really loose by the end of my practice. I’m putting on headphones and bopping to dance music on my computer while holding a water bottle in each hand, doing exercises for my arms and back.

I am finally able to see a new beginning sometime soon where I stop the concentrating on losing weight and start concentrating maintenance and on getting more fit. I figure that 10 or 15 more pounds will get me where I will feel the healthiest.

I am having difficulty REALIZING that my weight is down, even though I just had to take in my jeans again. I want to wait and get jeans that FIT when I reach my final goal. I got some sweatshirts recently, and Brian had to insist I not get the one I had in my hand. I was used to having to go really large to cover my bulk. I went down two sizes and they are still quite roomy over another shirt!

I am trying to make the most of my second chance at life by listening to my body, trying to get as fit as I can, and showing discipline in my eating. 😜

Filed under getting the lard off

Tagged as diet, down 73 pounds, down 74-1/2 inches, eating discipline, exercising, fitness, health, making the most of my 2nd chance at life, no awards for speed, nutrition, reached a weight loss milestone, Weight Loss

September 9, 2025 · 1:50 am

Drama

While Brian and I were walking yesterday, I suddenly felt woozy. I held onto a pole by the side of the street and slid down to sit on the curb. When I felt better, I stood up, and Brian insisted I stand for several minutes and breathe. Turns out he was right because I got woozy again and sat back down. After a minute or two I tried it again and suddenly Brian was telling me to sit down carefully. Apparently, he saw something wonky was going on and caught me as I fainted! I wasn’t hurt and was able to continue the walk after another minute or two.

When we got over the immediate emergency of my husband’s stroke, hospital stay, and placement in the nursing home, we made an appointment for me to get a baseline on my health. It showed SUPER high blood pressure, to the point that the doctor prescribed a combination drug on the spot and got me right on it. Happily, it did the trick and my numbers have come down out of the stroke range.

Lately though, my numbers have been a bit TOO low, getting our attention. With this episode, Brian has written the doctor and included the name and dosage of my medication, plus a screen shot of my last several days of BP readings for her to look at. With my 20 lb weight loss and my daily exercising, it’s possible that we need to lessen the dose. Meanwhile, I didn’t take the med yesterday and only took a half pill today. We’re waiting to see what she advises.

Also, meanwhile, my friend Cathy suggested I get an oximeter to read and monitor the level of oxygen in my blood – also a good suggestion, since low blood oxygen was the reason the doctor in Arkansas insisted I go to the ER the day I saw him. This resulted in my ‘dying’ twice in one night and the installation of a temporary and then permanent pacemaker. Brian has just ordered an oximeter for me so I can keep track of that for the doc, too.

So, a bit of drama on the street, getting our attention. I’m fine today, not feeling woozy at all, BP in the normal range. Hopefully, this is a one-time incident.

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Filed under Health Alert

Tagged as BP medication, drama, exercising daily, fainting on the street, health, life, low blood pressure, oximeter, Weight Loss

September 5, 2025 · 12:55 am

Quiet

SweetSequels.com

I value my quiet time more and more.

Time to ourselves is a luxury few can manage for most of our lives. We have SO many demands on our time – chores to do, people to see, a house to run, children to supervise and love, spouses asking for our help and companionship, have to’s, and more. The time just whizzes past our heads and we just try to keep our heads above water, doing the best we can.

I never thought I would ‘retire.’ My lifestyle was such that even when I managed to work from home, I was so busy just doing the basics that my hair was blowing in the wind of time whizzing past again. We had a good life, but we couldn’t afford to have someone come and help with cleaning or yard work, workmen to repair things, etc. I saw myself just continuing swimming as fast as I could until I dropped. I wasn’t unhappy, just kind of resigned to my reality.

When my husband and I both got so ill we couldn’t manage, our son came from Thailand, cared for us, helped us make the decision to sell what we owned and move to Thailand to be with him, then helped us get set up here. When my husband had a stroke, we managed to find a caring nursing home so we can visit him several times each week. I’m living by myself in the condo that we thought we would share.

I have to tell you that retirement is great. I have so many wonderful things I want to do that are only limited by time and my energy. Each day I wake up, actually looking forward to going to the gym. Our son and I go interesting places or take care of errands, share meals. I now have a person who not only comes weekly to keep my place spotless, she also brings me flowers now and then! I get a massage weekly, too, and that is a luxury beyond price.

I have found a man who does a great job of keeping my hair looking civilized, and I go every couple of months to get a mani/pedi. I had never had this luxury, either, and I just love figuring out what color I’ll have each time. 😀

I have the time and quiet to read. I am downloading books onto my Kindle and can take that anywhere we’ll have to wait a long time, or just enjoy sprawling on my couch and enjoying someone else’s world for a while.

I love finding and sharing things with my friends who find my blog interesting.

I’m enjoying trying to learn to draw. The challenge of trying to draw what I see and then the fun of painting the sketches grounds me. I’m challenged and having fun like a kid at the same time.

I’m working on a jigsaw puzzle that is the best kind of frustration. 😜 I have headphones so I can listen to music, or even take an afternoon and watch a movie! I’m gearing up to start taking walks in my neighborhood.

I can choose to do whatever I would like (within reason – I AM in a new country and am learning every day about how things are done here.)

I relish having time to myself – whether it’s an afternoon, or most of a day and evening. I just grin like a nut and choose what I want to do next…

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Filed under RETIREMENT IN THAILAND

Tagged as blog, choosing what I want to do, going with the flow, health, jigsaw puzzle, life, listening to music, mental-health, quiet time, Reading, retirement joy, trying to draw, writing, writing my blog

August 28, 2025 · 3:42 am

Thursday Thoughts 8-28-2025

Freepik

We went to see my husband at the nursing home this morning after deciding that we PROBABLY wouldn’t be hit by the awful thunderstorms that have been causing windows leaking in our condos. We didn’t want to leave our places any more vulnerable than possible, and we were ready with buckets and towels to sop up the water. Happily, we only had a regular rain this morning and none since – yet.

The good news is that Harvey greeted me with, “I missed you,” almost causing a meltdown in me. The nasal tube had been removed, and he was able to eat regular food. The owner of the nursing home said she had a doctor look at him before removing the tube, and that he ate a LOT when it was gone. He looked better, though he was really sleepy – probably from eating so well. We left after just a short visit, because he really needed the rest.

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The Telegraph

PROGRESS REPORT: I’ve lost 73+ pounds an 68+ inches from my heaviest now. I’m finally about 15 pounds away from my goal weight. At the gym, I’m concentrating on NOT holding onto the handlebars when I’m walking. This is causing my brain to really work hard, first concentrating on what I’m doing rather than holding on and rather mindlessly putting one foot in front of the other. Secondly, my brain is constantly having to adjust so I don’t lose my balance and fall on my head. I’m watching a video as I walk, and the paths twist and turn, making ME react to stay on the path. I can FEEL that I’m standing straighter and my weight is shifting differently than when I’m slightly bent over holding onto the bars. I’m hoping to retrain my brain and body to improve my balance over time.

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Brian contacted the handyman for the building, sending him pictures of the leaks in Brian’s place and mine during the last big storm. The man said he would contact Brian, but it looks like we might have crews doing some resealing next week! It may be that this is a temporary fix to be shorn up later, but I’ll be very grateful for anything they can do to make our problem less intense. Help may be on the way!!!!

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Today I used my phone for the first time to adjust my hearing aids. When we were in a Grab, being driven to see Harvey, the driver was on the phone with several phone calls. His voice was so loud he made my ears hurt! This is a first since I got my new hearing aids. I got my phone out, accessed the app, and was able to turn the volume down to a level that didn’t hurt! How neat is that!!! (What I didn’t figure out until later was that I inadvertently fat-fingered a toggle icon at the bottom of the screen, turning off the ‘voice boost’ setting that I like and need. When we got home, I found that I needed to turn the volume up again to hear Brian well, and we figured out that I hit the icon, too. We toggle it back on, adjusted the volume, and I’m fixed again. I’m delighted that I can adjust these the way I need (assuming I’m smart enough to use the app correctly….) 🤣

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Tagged as balance issues, buckets and towels, family, health, hearing aid adjustment, life, mental-health, retraining my brain, seeing husband in nursing home, thunderstorms, Thursday thoughts, treadmill workout tweaking, weight loss progress, windows leaking, writing

August 24, 2025 · 9:16 pm

A New Week

Tina Ann

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Today I did 28 minutes at an incline of 12% at a speed of 3mph on the treadmill. Hooray!

At breakfast this morning, though, Brian brought up a great idea. I’ve told you that after my surgeries in February, I had a hearing loss that eventually required hearing aids. I also read that anesthesia for old ladies like me also has a possible side effect of balance issues.

Brian suggested that I slow the speed even more, NOT have any incline, and just rest my fingertips on the handle bars of the treadmill, rather than gripping them as I do. This would force my body – my legs, hips, back, and brain – to work together on balancing without having to grip anything. The bars would be right there if I needed them, but this practice might help resolve my problem. I’m going to try it!

This is a new toy Brian got for my husband at the nursing home.

It’s a squishy ball where the ‘bubbles’ come out through the mesh when you squeeze the ball. It’s super soft, very colorful, and mesmerizing.

The bubbles are different each time. It’s fun – much like popping the bubbles on bubble wrap, but doesn’t make any noise. We’re hoping he likes it. Brian, who knows me well, got TWO of them – one for Harvey and the other for ME! 😁

Other than visiting Harvey at the nursing home, it should be a quiet day. My laundry is out on the balcony drying – even though my phone weather app said it should be cloudy all day, the sun is shining brightly. I’m hoping that if my clothes aren’t dry by the time we leave to see my husband, they’ll be ready to bring in by the time we come home.

Have a wonderful day!

Filed under Thoughts on a ________

Tagged as A new week, family, health, hearing loss and balance issues from anesthesia during surgery, life, love, new idea on treadmill, new toy for my husband at the nursing home, squeeze-bubble ball, Tina Ann art

August 22, 2025 · 3:11 am

Updates – Friday, 8-22-2025

@DavidJSalter on X. – isn’t this a wonderful drawing?

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My husband Harvey was transported by ambulance to the Intensive Care Unit at Bangkok Hospital in Chiang Mai two days ago for fever, cough, pneumonia and low blood oxygen. Thankfully, they were able to get him on antibiotics for the pneumonia, and clearing that up will take care of the fever, cough, and low blood oxygen. He was released to go back to the nursing home last night.

We went to see him in the hospital the two days, and then in the nursing home this morning, so we could see for ourselves that he is better. He was more alert. He wasn’t talking much, but he was nodding at the things we were telling him, explaining what had happened to him, reassuring him that the antibiotics would make him feel better, plus filling him in on news about the family, etc.

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I got the results of my labwork from the doctor via email yesterday. When I first saw her in May, the BIG concern was my sky high blood pressure – into the stroke zone. They took my blood pressure so many times I lost count, and she put me on a strong combination medicine to try to bring my pressure down as quickly as possible. She told me I needed to lose weight, exercise, and was also bit concerned about some of the numbers on my lab work.

When I went in follow up this week, she was SO pleased with my weight loss, blood pressure under good control, and my lab work, she said I didn’t need to come back in follow up for six months! The only suggestion she had for me was to drink more water. THAT I can handle! 😛

My goals between now and my follow up are –

to get to my goal weight and start maintenance habits on eating that will keep me there.
to continue to exercise to get stronger and improve my balance. (I’m working on getting to the “12-3-30 method” on the treadmill where I walk on a 12% incline at a speed of 3mph for 30 minutes. This morning I used the 1st 5 minutes to get the incline up to 12%, then walked for 10 minutes, then took it down to 11% for the rest of the time. Hopefully, I’ll be with the program completely tomorrow morning. I’m watching my heartbeats-per-minute carefully to make sure I don’t overdo.) I’m also doing a session of yoga stretches daily, plus exercises with water bottle weights.
to get into the habit of drinking enough water daily so that my uric acid number next time will be in the normal range.

All in all, though my husband’s adventures for the week were pretty scary, the results on both of us are good, and for that I am very thankful.

Filed under Health Alert

Tagged as family, health, health updates, husband in intensive care for pneumonia and low blood oxygen, life, my 2 month follow up, thankful for good results

August 19, 2025 · 2:13 am

Tuesday Thoughts 8-19-2025

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As I type this, I am wearing my new hearing aids! I lost a significant amount of my hearing when I underwent surgery twice (temporary and then permanent) when they installed my pacemaker last February after my heart stopped. I could hear, but everything was super muffled, like someone had wrapped my head in a bubble. I particularly had trouble hearing Harvey and Brian, the two most important people in my life. (They both speak softly and weren’t about to change.) They had to repeat almost everything they said, even when they got my attention first and I was looking at them plus trying to read their lips.

Now I’m in the process of trying to adapt to everything, including my own voice, being so LOUD! These hearing aids discriminate between voices and background noise, like traffic. There is a phone app that Brian has already installed for me that allows me to control a bunch of things from my phone, rather than trying to push a button on the back of the hearing aid, or having to go to the hearing aid place – after getting an appointment – for the lady to adjust things for me.

They use rechargeable batteries, so I just put them in the charger overnight and they’re good for the whole next day, plus.

Right now I’m feeling overwhelmed. For example, I didn’t know my keyboard on this computer makes noise as you tap the keys! I’ll have to learn not to be distracted by that.

My plan for right now is to put them in after I shower and dress after we’re back from the gym and then take them out after dinner when I’m back at my place for the night. I think my poor brain will adapt more quickly, and I’ll get a routine going on recharging, cleaning, taking them in and out, etc. Later I may change to just wearing them when I’m out.

On one hand, it’s a relief to be able to hear again, whether I’m looking at the person or not. This will add to my safety when I venture out for walks, too, as I’ll be more aware of traffic around me. On the other hand, it’s a bit stressful to be newly aware of all the NOISE around me when I’m used to everything being muffled.

I’m an extremely lucky lady. We don’t have insurance to cover these, and we had to pay up front, and a lot of people have to wait a lot longer or just have to do without. I am SO, SO thankful.

Filed under quality of life

Tagged as adapting to being able to hear again, health, hearing aids, hearing loss, I am so lucky., life, muffled hearing due to surgery, phone app for hearing aid adjustment

August 16, 2025 · 9:57 pm

The Rain is No Joke

“Torrential Downpour” – Vincent Chen – Medium

The “Rainy Season” is really living up to its name here lately.

My umbrella is open, drying on the floor by my door, from when we were out.

Yesterday I sopped up water from my center window leaking. Today I noticed wet footprints on the rug under my dining table next to the window. I now have used a bath towel to sop up water that leaked down the wall and under the rug. I have a fan pointed directly toward the area with the floor cleaned up the best I can and the bottom of the rug drying. I also had some leakage in my art alcove.

We will have to wait until November, when the rainy season is over, to get the windows resealed. At another time, when we have saved up enough money, we will look into getting the floor repaired. The most damage was done when the previous tenants had my place. I’m just trying to keep things at the level they are now, rather than allowing them to get worse.

“Joke” – eatingthaifood – Mark Wiens

We had a really nice breakfast. I told you about this dish before, but we hadn’t eaten it since the first time, so I had to have Brian remind me what it’s called. “Joke,” or rice porridge, is kind of like a breakfast stew here. Rice porridge is the base, but then whatever you have handy goes into the pot. We had sliced sausage in ours this morning. Brian says it usually has a bunch of ginger in it, sometimes making it ‘too spicy or hot’ for a lot of people (including me.) Today it was nicely flavored. I loved it – and only drank my water as a drink – not a lifesaver. 😃

I found another article about using my treadmill workout more efficiently. I’ve already told you about the Japanese Walking Method which I’ve been doing, consisting of 3 minutes ‘slow’ walking followed by 3 minutes ‘fast’ walking for 30 minutes. (except I do 2 slow and 3 fast so that I have a couple of minutes to cool down at the end of my workout.)

Yesterday I read about the 12-3-30 Method which consists of walking 30 minutes at a speed of 3mph at a 12% incline. (Since I’m old and WORKING on getting more fit, I did a modified version of that.) I did my Japanese method for the first 15 minutes, increasing the incline 1% at 5 minute intervals. The second 15 minutes I set the speed at 4mph and just kept bumping up the incline 1% each 5 minutes. I ended up at 6% incline before I started my cool down.) We’ll see if I’m stiff and sore tomorrow. 😜

Chuckles – Pinterest

I finally broke through my plateau on losing my lard. This morning my BMI chart is smiling at me getting well into the healthy range. (I have been in the morbidly obese, then obese range for about 5 years now.) My BMI is 22 now.

I have lost 73 pounds since my heaviest now. (Almost 19 pounds since my initial doctor visit here.) I’m hoping she will see that I’m serious about trying to take care of myself, lose the lard, and get in better shape.

I hope that your day is a good one, giving you a big smile at least once.

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Tagged as "Joke" or rice porridge, fitness, health, increasing effectiveness of exercise, leaky windows, losing my lard, new treadmill methods, the rainy season in Chiang Mai

August 3, 2025 · 11:37 pm

Thoughts on a Monday 8-4

This is my new haircut. It feels good and is super easy to care for, with my just having to blow it dry when I shower each morning.

I’m having a quiet day today. I walked a little over a mile on the treadmill using my new ‘slow-then-fast-for-me’ walking method. (Japanese Walking). I’ve been doing this for a couple of weeks now. The video says that this method is much more effective for health than the ‘set-the-speed-and-walk-for-30-minutes’ method I was using before. It sure keeps me more ‘engaged’. I’m walking for a slow speed for 2 minutes, then fast-for-me for 3 minutes in 5 minute increments over and over for the 30 minutes, so I have a slow speed to warm up and one to cool down at the end.

Today is a quiet day for us, with nothing we HAVE to do, so Brian and I ate breakfast and talked a bit, and will meet again for dinner this evening. Otherwise, we are free to do what we want. Brian will work and I will play. I feel a bit guilty about that – but, having worked all my life starting with summer jobs at 14, I feel I that embracing my fun and sloth is a wonderful thing.

I’m working on painting some sketches I started recently. I’m also making progress (in fits and starts) on my owls puzzle. Sometimes I think I won’t live long enough to finish this one, which is truly challenging. You can’t tell what part you’re working on, even after studying the picture. I’m looking forward to the day when I can display the finished puzzle for you!😋

I’m exercising with Mike, from More Life Health on my computer. He gears his workouts on various parts of the body so that you can choose what you feel you’re missing from your other exercising, geared to seniors. I do one of his workouts several times each week. No special equipment needed and the site is free.

I’m reading a good book on my Kindle; enjoying finding things I think are great on the computer; writing blog posts I hope you’ll enjoy; doing my yoga stretches and other new exercises; and more. The biggest problem is deciding what I want to do when!

I hope you are finding things that give you joy in your day.

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Tagged as blog writing, exercise, exercising, fitness, health, Japanese Walking, Kindle, life, Mike - More Life Health, painting, thoughts on a Monday, workout, yoga

July 19, 2025 · 8:57 pm

Sunday, July 20, 2025

This is one of the ‘robots’ Harvey and I made when we lived on top of the ridge line in Arkansas. His body was a former propane tank. The rest was scrap metal. We decided what parts to use together. Harvey did the welding and I did the painting, plus added work gloves, fireplace tools, and his bow tie.

I was a bit ill yesterday morning, and we had to rush our walk home from the gym. By mid afternoon, though, I was fine again. I was a bit worried I might have a relapse this morning, and so got up early, but all was well. I walked my mile with no problems and feel fine today.

We will leave at 2pm to go to our appointment with one of Harvey’s doctors to get the paperwork needed to extend Harvey’s medical visa. Brian was on the phone much of the day with them yesterday, making sure they knew what we needed from this appointment. They wrote back, saying Harvey would have to be at the appointment. After several back and forths, Brian contacted the nursing home, asking for Harvey and a traveling nurse to be transported to the hospital in an ambulance to meet us and the doctor. After several MORE back and forths, the hospital wrote that Brian could act in Harvey’s behalf and that he didn’t need to be at the appointment. THEN Brian spent the rest of the evening trying to reach the nursing home to call OFF Harvey’s trip to the hospital….

I think that big corporations of one type or another are trying to drive Brian and me crazy. It all may be for the best of reasons, but it sure stacks everything against us in our efforts to get important things done. Hopefully we can get what we need for Harvey’s medical visa extension today. We will also try to see if there is a way around all this ‘stuff’ for the NEXT 90 days…

We’re having a really nice morning here in Chiang Mai. It actually felt refreshingly COOL this morning as we walked to the gym! The humidity is coming up fast and the ‘feels like’ temperature will be in the 90s this afternoon, with a thunderstorm predicted for around 6pm, but we can enjoy it now. Hopefully my laundry will get dry before any storms hit. 😛

I’m planning to tackle my owls jigsaw puzzle today, plus enjoy time in my art alcove.

I hope that your Sunday is a very pleasant one.

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Tagged as corporations driving us crazy, doctor appointment regarding extended medical visa, family, health, illness and time at the gym, jigsaw puzzle and art alcove, laundry, life, thoughts on a Sunday in Chiang Mai

July 16, 2025 · 12:51 am

Thoughts on Wednesday, July 16, 2025

This is a gazing ball that I covered in mosaic style to sit on in the middle of our birdbath in our yard in Arkansas. I loved the process, and it gave us joy for many years.

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I spent an hour on the phone with our insurance company last night. We hope that we are sending what they want today and that things will be approved soon.

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At dinner last night, Brian and I were discussing exercising – what we wanted to get from it. A few years ago, Brian did a bunch of weight lifting and exercising with a trainer and beefed up his muscles significantly. He gradually decided that he wanted to emphasize being healthy rather than concentrating on the muscles. When I told him I wanted to improve my stamina, particularly for walking here in Thailand; improve my flexibility, balance, etc., he showed me a couple of things he does every morning –

He just stands in the middle of the room and moves his head back as far as he can, looking at the ceiling. (I will try this, but will be standing next to something for balance, as that will make me dizzy.)
Another move is to reach up over his head with both arms, pointing them to the ceiling. He stretches up, up, and up again, breathing into it, then stands up on his toes, stretching even farther. He hears a pop or two. (I’m not sure what I’LL hear, but, again, I’ll probably stand beside a wall or my couch.)
A third move is to stand with legs spread, balanced. Put arms over head, then bend to the left as far as you can. Straighten, then bend to the right. Repeat several times, breathing into it.
Finally, stand with plenty of room around you. Straighten your arms out to the sides. Then turn one direction as far as you can, wrapping your arms around your body to increase the stretch as much as you can. Repeat on the other side.

I’m going to add these to my yoga practice each day, where I’ve already added the strengthening-my-back exercises my doctor showed me. Hopefully, these – along with my walking a mile on the treadmill at the gym each morning – will work together to help me meet my goals.

Filed under Thoughts on a ________

Tagged as exercise, fitness, health, insurance, mosaic gazing ball, new exercises, newest painting, thoughts on a Wednesday, wellness, yoga

July 13, 2025 · 10:45 pm

Thoughts on a Monday

Freepik

We had beautiful weather here in Chiang Mai this morning. I did my 30 minutes on the treadmill with no problem, doing two minutes at a slower speed and then 3 minutes on a fast one for me, then back again, over and over until my time was up. I’m am finding this keeps my interest more than simply setting a speed and mindlessly watching the hiking videos on the screen. I don’t know if it’s really more effective at getting me more fit or not. I’ll see if I’ve lost anything more when I measure at the end of July.

I’m finally getting to the place where I can see I might actually reach my losing the lard goal set so long ago. My motivation to eat smaller portions, MANY fewer carbs, no added salt, and drink plenty of water during the day has increased as I move closer to my goal.

This is a photo of me when we were still in Arkansas. I had already lost some of my lard here, but obviously needed to get more serious.

Brian took this photo this morning after we finished breakfast. I’m wearing some new shorts and a tee that I can use for workout or lazing around in my condo. You may not be able to tell any difference, but I FEEL better now.

I’m down 68 pounds from my heaviest. I still want to lose 20 to 25 or so pounds and see how I feel then. I’m happy that I can do the workout on the treadmill so much more easily. Brian notices that I’m more agile, less apt to stumble on the uneven sidewalks and walkways than I was and I’m walking faster. I’m still having a problem with the humidity here, but I’m going to get better at that, too.

We still have a pretty large to-do list from the move to do, but we’ve had to space some things out for various reasons. Having fewer ‘have-to’s’ is bringing up our spirits. Today is a day that we can’t do anything on our list, so Brian is at work and I have the day to play in my condo.

My laundry is drying on the drying rack on my balcony. I’ve straightened the condo so all is in the right place. I’m planning to enjoy writing a couple of blog posts, spend some time trying to make progress on my puzzle. I’m into a wonderful new book by Lee Child and his younger brother Andrew Child, called, “Sentinel.”

I’m having a blast choosing drawings I find on the net and trying to reproduce them in my sketchbook. Drawing is still one of my weak spots in trying to create art, but I’m improving a bit.

Have a wonderful day or evening! Find something that brings you joy!

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Tagged as art alcove, exercise, fitness, getting stronger, health, jigsaw puzzle, life, lost weight, mental-health, new drawings, new week in, Reading, Thailand, workout at the gym

July 5, 2025 · 3:28 am

Evolving Exercise?

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Since I’m not EVER going to be an ‘exercise afficionado,’ – particularly since it’s a bit late to start at 78 – I’m trying to make the exercise I AM doing do the most for me.

I read an article recently (actually, my friend Marsha pointed it out to me) that the Japanese had done a study that showed that, instead of just getting on the treadmill, setting the speed, and walking for 30 minutes (1 mile) as I have been doing for about a month and a half now, it’s more effective if you start with a warm-up of a couple of minutes, then increase your speed as if you were going to miss a bus, be late for work, etc. for a few minutes, and then go back to slow, repeating over and over for the same 30 minute session.

I don’t really know if it’s really doing me much more good than what I was mindlessly slogging through before, but it keeps my interest and makes me FEEL like I’m doing myself more good.

I’ve been doing what I call, “Old lady yoga stretches” for quite a while now, hoping to keep myself as flexible as possible, improve my balance, loosen stiff muscles, etc. The problem is that I’ve been planning to do my session in the evening after dinner.

I’ve finally recognized a tendency to either shorten my session or just put it off altogether due to my innate laziness. SO – now I’ve changed to doing my session in the afternoon, when I’m still relatively fresh, not sleepy, and more likely to do a full length session, slowly, with intention. (Like as soon as I finish writing this post!)

Last, my doctor here in Thailand recommended three exercises for me to do to strengthen my back when I told her about my ‘mystery debilitating back spasms’ from which I suffered for about a week.

I don’t have weights, but I DO have 1 liter bottles of water. I’m doing two of the exercises using one of the bottles. I’ll increase that to two when this gets easier.

The first exercise is to stand holding the bottle close to your body with both hands in front of you. You twist as far as you can to the left, then back to the front, then twist as far as you can to the right and back again. I’m doing 20 reps.

The second exercise starts with you standing holding the bottle in front of you legs spread for balance. You reach as far as you can up and to the left, hold, then bring it back. Then reach as far as you can up and to the right, hold, then bring it back. I’m doing 20 reps of this one, too.

The third exercise is really a challenge for me. I’m combining it with my yoga stretches. I’m flat on my stomach on my mat, arms in front of me on the floor in a ‘V’ shape. Then I’m supposed to lift up my arms and my head and as much of me as possible from the waist up off the floor and hold.

Yeah, right.

I’m doing the best I can, but I’m barely able to lift anything from my waist up off the floor now. I’m looking at this as the same theory as the lady who created the yoga video for seniors. She said that it doesn’t matter if you can’t touch your toes. If you are TRYING to touch your toes, bend over as far as you can and breathe into it, you are doing the same good for your body as if you DID touch your toes. Your body is stretching toward your goal and will give a bit more each day. I’m HOPING that – if I keep lifting up as much as I can each day – gradually I’ll do better and better. The lifting and stretching will hopefully strengthen my back a bit at a time.

Filed under exercise

Tagged as afternoon instead of evening, back strengthening exercises, exercise, exercising smarter, fitness, health, intervals on the treadmill, workout, yoga, yoga stretching

July 1, 2025 · 12:23 am

A Trip to the 7-11 in Thailand

Having a 7-11 in your neighborhood is a huge thing in Chiang Mai. They are very popular and a lot of them are open 24 hours. We actually have one just outside the lobby of our condo building. This is very convenient to lots and lots of folks in the building and in the area.

I’m still finding it a bit of a challenge, though, because of my own limitations. The 7-11 in our building is divided into halves – one on each side of the outer lobby. One part is mainly food and drink and the other is more geared toward medical and general supplies.

You would think you could walk into a 7-11 anywhere in the world and easily find what you’re looking for. It’s a bit more challenging here.

The photo above shows some of the everyday things we have bought downstairs. Sometimes the picture on the product helps you with what it is. Sometimes a brand name can give you an idea what it is. Most things require some study, as – you guessed it – almost every word is in Thai! Imagine that! 🤪

Since I don’t have a payment app on my phone tied to a bank account yet, I have to try to make sure I have enough cash for what I need. That means I look at the bahts listed and then either do math quickly in my head to get a rough idea (35 bahts to a U.S. dollar) or get out my phone and find a conversion on Google. (142 bahts = $4.37 USD)

I asked Brian if he would pick up some toothpaste for me recently. He filled my request very quickly, handing it to me as we came in from other errands. For some reason he was grinning at me. I finally asked what the deal was. He wanted to me look at the toothpaste. I couldn’t tell anything, so went into the bathroom to squeeze a bit out.

At that point, Brian let out a belly laugh – something he almost never does – at the horrified look on my face. It WAS toothpaste, but it was BROWN. It has been marketed as a joke here as something to the equivalent of ‘turd paste.’ It’s a test to see if you’re ‘manly’ enough to handle toothpaste that looks like it came out of the other end of someone.

He laughed even harder – telling me I was ‘cool’ – when I stood there and brushed my teeth with it… (It’s the tube on the right of the photo above.)

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Filed under Wonderful Things about Thailand

Tagged as 7-11, a foreigner trying to buy things in Thailand, bahts vs usd, costs, difficulties figuring out what things are, funny son, health, life, Thailand, travel, writing

June 28, 2025 · 9:31 pm

“Take Less of Me…”

Willie Nelson – *“Take All of Me…”* – Wikipedia

“All of me
Why not take all of me?”

I love this song by Willie Nelson. I immediately started humming it when I was weighing and measuring for my end of the month reporting on my efforts to lose the lard – except I sang, “Less of me – Why not take less of me?”

I’m finally entering a phase where I can actually see what might be the end of my efforts to LOSE and the beginning of maintenance. I’ve been at this a LONG time and I had honestly begun to doubt my ability to actually achieve my goal.

As of today, I’ve lost almost 67 pounds and 60 inches since my heaviest. Even though Lynn, my much appreciated and much missed massage therapist did what she could to make me taller, it didn’t work. So I’ve continued to eat low carb and exercise more. I’m now finally within sight of my goal to be in the middle to lower end of the healthy range on a BMI chart and to continue my efforts to get more fit and flexible.

I talked to Brian this morning at breakfast. He has been helping and supporting me, but has lately been getting further and further from strict low carb, trying to introduce me to nice food here, plus just pamper me. We have agreed to be stricter about the low carb, and that instead of each of us getting half of whatever we order, I’ll get one-third and he’ll get two-thirds. I would LIKE to get to my goal weight by my next visit to the doctor – in about two months. Brian and I have agreed that I’ll aim to lose 1 kilo a week (or 2.2 pounds.)

I’m walking a mile on the treadmill at the gym each morning and I’m doing yoga stretches (now in the afternoon) as well as 3 new exercises to strengthen my back.

I hope there will be ‘less of me’ at the end of July!

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Filed under getting the lard off

Tagged as 67 lbs down and 60 inches down, bmi chart, diet, efforts to lose the lard, exercise, fitness, health, June weight loss report, low carb, nutrition, Weight Loss

June 23, 2025 · 4:42 am

Relief

Today was my follow up at the clinic. A month ago we were concerned that I would blow a gasket before blood pressure meds could get my numbers down. The doctor was concerned about that more than any other thing and immediately prescribed a combination of two medicines in one pill. I was to take half a pill for the first six days (to see if I had a bad reaction to THOSE) and then take a full pill until the follow up appointment today.

I was to lose more of my lard (surprise!), exercise more, eat low carb, and record my blood pressure before breakfast and then again sometime in the evening.

She confirmed today that I’m down a bit over 11 lbs since I saw her last (5 kilos). She LISTENED when I told her about the week of mysterious harsh relentless back spasms I had and my continued short waves of light-headedness.

Instead of prescribing muscle relaxants, or some such, she showed me three exercises I can add to my yoga stretching routine that will strengthen my back. She applauded my weight loss and my blood pressure recording.

She recommended that I –

1) continue the low carb meals;
2) continue exercising with the added exercises for my back;
3) continue to lose my lard; and
4) continue with the same dosage of blood pressure medicine.
Follow up in 2 months. My appointment was for 1:30. We actually had some of the things done before that! We were out of there by 2pm and the cost for the whole thing was less than the meds alone would have been in the states.

She LISTENS to my concerns. She recommends – and isn’t pushy. She is on top of all my other issues, so I don’t feel I am going to a new doctor each time. I feel extremely lucky we found this doctor and feel confident I am under good care. Whew!

Filed under Health Alert

Tagged as clinic follow up, health, high blood pressure, mental-health, nutrition, Weight Loss, wellness

June 22, 2025 · 3:36 am

More Decisions

Ben White – Unsplash

We have been in the position of having to accept hospital appointments for tests, prescriptions for new medicines, etc., and being presented with yet another bill without our being contacted, having our acceptance, etc.

This is not sustainable. We didn’t expect the stroke my husband suffered or the month in the hospital. We have found a caring nursing home who is now taking care of him (he is basically bedridden) and, though he is able to talk now (with our reading his lips), he makes very little sense. Sometimes he knows who we are, sometimes not. Each visit is challenging.

Our basic goal is to make him as comfortable and content as we can. This is challenging, as well. He says conflicting things, often at the same visit. He is delusional, unhappy with some stuff. We pay attention to all he says, check out what is possible, and try to substitute as many things we know he likes for things he actively doesn’t.

He has been receiving physical therapy. He is really unhappy about that. This has been going on for two months now at the nursing home, and – to our eyes – is going in the wrong direction. He seems to be weaker now that before, and is actively fighting efforts to try to get him mobile – into a wheelchair, up and walking, things that would make him stronger and able to do a few things on his own. This is one of the things he is continuing to be adamant about. He wants the physical therapy to stop. He DOES like to get into the wheelchair and be wheeled onto the front porch or out in the yard, so we are asking that they substitute what he wants to do for something he is not cooperating with and actively dislikes.

Other decisions, such as cutting off the un-agreed-to appointments at the hospital, new meds – very few of which are important to keep him alive – etc. are being discussed. These added costs to what is already expensive are unsustainable.

SO – we will continue to visit him and try to provide things he seems to like, both when we are there and when we aren’t, that will hopefully make things more pleasant for him. Attitude is all – but his isn’t very positive so far.