Category: Exercise

Jun 05

Mary or Martha?

The first Monday of every month is my CWF meeting.  That acronym stand for Christian Women’s Fellowship.  We have a visitation portion while everyone gets settled, a short business section, including an offering, then a lesson.  The lessons vary greatly.  For several previous years we used a Bible study guide called Just Women (embracing life).  It was interesting, but we frequently found it difficult to apply the lessons to our own daily life.  This year our Leader, Mary Haylee Hancock, suggested we find our own way.  She began the year with an extensive dig into Esther that culminated, after several weeks of study, in a Purim celebration.  Encouraged by the success of this, we have continued to find our own way. 

This month, she turned the lesson over to Mary Zimmer.  Mary brought us to consideration of the difference between Mary and Martha in the book of Luke 10:38-42.  Martha is the doer, she worries about cooking, cleanup, all the preparations for guests.  Mary is the worshiper who sits at Jesus’ feet listening and learning His ways.  She then asked who, in our own lives, were examples for us of Mary and Martha, of the two different attitudes toward life.  Everyone had good examples and the discussion flowed well.  Finally, Mary Zimmer suggested we think about starting a Women’s Retreat to turn our thoughts more toward a Mary type of situation.

Next month, we will assemble in the church library to learn more about what books are available and choose one to report to the group about in August.  It sounds like another good discussion lesson.

I forgot to do my daily exercise by walking while I was in town, so I walked around the yard a couple of times when I got home and plan to do a Yoga session this afternoon.  I’m trying really hard to keep up the exercise routines I’ve scheduled.  I need to develop more stamina if I’m going to be able to indulge in hiking during our vacation.  Less than two weeks to go.  I am very excited.

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Posted in Church, Exercise, For Your Consideration, Inspiration, Meditations

May 29

Seven Ways from Sunday

I guess I’ll address Meditations first.  I have run into a strange section of Discovering Fire.  Apparently, there is a resurgence of Psychedelics in various parts of the country.  Out of curiosity, I searched for psychedelic drugs in Google and found many references, including one from Harvard Health Publishing  that agree, somewhat, with the book.  From what I read, I don’t think it will be something that affects me any time soon.

Next up is Memoirs, I guess.  Jim is trying to rope me into his Ancestry researches.  Apparently, he needs help badly.  Since he’s been concentrating on the Pearson side, I looked at the Moore side first.  It was a mess.  Before I can look backward on Mama, I find that I need to straighten out her generation.  I’m still trying to sort out the fact that he forgot Uncle Willard was married twice and three of his children were from the first marriage.  He had them all listed under Aunt Theda, in spite of the fact that she was only 7 years old when the oldest one was born.  I’m trying to find more information on his first wife and get his record straightened out.  Jim says it’s addictive.  We’ll see.  So far, it just seems frustrating to me.

Finally, Health and Exercise.  I’m going to try to follow my workout schedule this week.  I’m still refining it, but the skeleton is there.  Since this is the first full week of no school pickups, today is the first day of my current lifestyle.  Today, is Yoga and I’ve set it up for an afternoon session with some of my videos.  Tomorrow will be walking since I’ll be going into town for the photo club lunch.

It’s kind of strange that we still call it that although the photo club was disbanded before that pandemic and topics of discussion at the luncheon are more about trains, sports, and general gossip than photography nowadays.  As for photography, I watched a video that Jim shared on the old photo club Facebook page today.  It’s a link to a Youtube video.  I’ve done a lot of the things all along, but it’s a good reminder as I get ready for our June trip to Washington State.

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Posted in Current Events, Exercise, For Your Consideration, Health, Meditations, Memoirs, News

Apr 05

Working It

I have backed off my plans once again.  Considering my stiffness, aches, and lack of stamina or strength, I have decided I need a couple of weeks of my Pain Free therapy before starting anything more strenuous.  All the experts say to start slow on any new exercise routine.  I have taken a realistic look at my capabilities and considering the fact that, without a strain, I can only do 5 minutes on the bike it doesn’t seem likely I’d be able to handle the Pilates much less the Crunchless Abs or Metabolic Aftershock workouts.  So, two weeks of concentrating on the Pain Free routines while adding in the stationary bike and some Yoga as time and energy permit.  

I feel as though I’ve been procrastinating for the past week, but making a realistic plan is the foundation of success.  The Forward Head Posture Fix doesn’t require much in the way of strength and stamina so I’ll see if I can work that in before bed every night.  Lying on my back on the floor has fully demonstrated the necessity of that.  Hopefully, it will be enough to get me ready for the Pennyrile Spring Photography weekend on the 15th.

I have planned a series of “workouts” based on realigning and strengthening the hips, back, and shoulders.  Since the “core” is accepted as being the most important area for strength,  I’ve included the back positions in both routines.  Like regular athletes, I’ll alternate lower and upper body.  Monday, Wednesday, Friday for lower body and Tuesday, Thursday, Friday for upper.  I intended to start yesterday, but circumstances didn’t align.  I’ve set a new alarm for 6:30 am so that I’ll have time to go through the routine before the kids are up.  So far, that hasn’t happened.  

After yesterday’s short calorie count, I woke up hungry this morning so I ate breakfast, then went to lunch with the photography club.  Knowing it will be a heavy calorie day, I found time after lunch today to do a generalized quick run through with concentration on the back and shoulders.  I plan to work the bike this evening as well.  Hopefully, it will help to offset the pizza Davie wants to fix for supper.  Tomorrow is a new day and I’ll be setting that alarm again.

An inch at a time.  Keep starting over as needed.  My mantra used to be “You haven’t failed until you stop trying.”  I’m reinstating that.  Our fall trip will involve hiking around such places as Philadelphia, New York, and Boston.  At the moment, I do well to make it through our monthly grocery shopping trips.  I am determined to regain my ability to walk all day as needed.

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Posted in Diet, Exercise, Health, Random Thoughts

Mar 31

Planning the Workouts

Adjusting the Menu: 
 
According to My Plate, for my age, height, and weight, my base recommendation to lose 1 pound a week is 1330 calories. Of course, the more active I am, the more calories I can add. I’ve always found that I lose more by increasing activity than by reducing calories anyway.  In any case, my goal is 1/2 pound a week, so I can go over the recommendation.
 

On Thursday, I had Wheaties with a small banana, a spoonful of sugar, and just enough milk to cover for breakfast. Leftover ham and deviled eggs with tea for lunch. Then ate the last piece of cherry pie to remove temptation for later in the week when I’m really working on the plan.  For dinner, I tried to compensate for the earlier indulgence with a salad, but I was still over my daily goal by about 200 calories.  So, that will have to be my cheat day for this week.  On Friday, I managed to stay 148 calories under the goal.  This is my normal methodology.  My hope is to come out under the goal by the end of the week.

 
I spent the afternoon watching workout videos to choose which ones I can successfully do now and which will need to wait for a gain in strength. I’m thinking I may switch up the crunchless abs for pilates for a week or so. It looks more doable at my present level.
 
I also discovered a David Carradine’s Tai Chi DVD that I don’t remember having. It looks like it’s very old, the girls doing the routine have “big hair” and a couple of the guys have Tom Selleck mustaches. They’re all wearing white “gogo” type boots and Star Trek looking outfits. I’m thinking watching it will be amusing. It starts out with about 30 minutes of Yoga/Pilates type exercises. Some of them look challenging, but they all give me the urge to move, so I may need to revamp my workout schedule to include it.
 
So, I am presently thinking I’ll do the Pilates on Tuesday/Thursday instead of the Critical Bench workouts until I build some strength, then work on the Tai Chi routines on Saturday.  Somewhere, I still have a DVD from Doc’s Tai Chi class too. Once I’ve gotten bored with the Carradine period piece, I’ll dig it out and try to remember the forms he uses.  I will, then, add the other routines back into the schedule as I get stronger.

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Posted in Diet, Exercise, Health

Mar 30

Workout Plans

After reviewing the first Aftershock video, I’ve come to the conclusion I’m not quite ready for their routine.  I like the concept: Do sets of 4, 4 times.  Go as hard as you can until you can’t, then rest until you can.  Unfortunately, I don’t think I have the strength needed to get through the whole routine no matter how much I rest.  Those will have to wait a few weeks.  I’ll start off with their concept and use other workout routines until I am able to do the harder stuff.  

So, the present plan for the month of April is as follows:

Daily  

The Aftershock warmup – 4 squats, 4 waist twists, 4 pushups.  Do a total of 4 sets, resting as needed.

Forward Head Posture Fix routine – This consists mainly of sitting or standing with correct posture while doing belly breaths, massaging neck muscles, and stretching shoulders in various configurations.  It’s something I feel a real need for though.

Monday-Wednesday-Friday

30 day Yoga Camp Videos with Adrienne – Check them out on You Tube.

Stationary Bike – Go until you can’t, rest until you can…..starting at 5 minutes, aiming for 30 by the end of April

Tuesday 

Pain Free Routine by Pete Egoscue 

Body Transformation Mini Circuit from Critical Bench with Chris Wilson

Thursday

Pain Free Routine 

Crunchless Abs from Critical Bench with Chris Wilson

Saturday

Pain Free Routine

Pilates – I have several DVDs….I’m not sure yet which one I’ll wind up using. They’re all stacked on a shelf in my bedroom.  I plan on dusting them off and looking through them while Damion and Elaina are napping today and making a decision.

I know it doesn’t seem like much, I’m aiming for about 20 minutes a day of structured workouts, but it’s a start.  Along the way, I’ll also be doing a lot of bend, stretch, up and down stairs, and lift in my regular routine of taking care of toddlers and cleaning up after them.  My big problem is that I can’t set a certain time of day to do anything on a regular basis because my toddler schedule changes all the time.  It is a real challenge to find myself with a few free minutes and use it to workout instead of resting.  But resting doesn’t increase my strength and stamina or reduce flab. 

To help build my will power, I am still working on my Made to Crave Devotional book and I’ve ordered a new one called Have A New You by Friday by Dr. Kevin Leman.  Both of these are actual paper books that I can highlight and make notes in easily.  

Making a commitment to post my progress here regularly should also help maintain my determination.

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Posted in Diet, Exercise, Health

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