Going Back to the Gym

 

Well, I’m back to the gym.  Now that Patrick is working from 11-1 pm Monday through Friday, I have a reason to go back into town.  I hate driving in and out of town repeatedly and I just couldn’t make myself do it anymore just for myself. 

My mom has a membership to the same gym now, loves the pool, so she and I went together for the first time today.  I did water aerobics, swam a lap, water walked, did some resistance water training (weight training in the water), and sat in the hot tub.

It was great. 

I met a woman who came into the water to do her own thing too.  She brings her water-proof
i-Pod wrist set up, gets her space in the pool, closes her eyes and dances her heart out, singing all the way with a passion. She’s lost 140 lbs so far.  Has 70 to go, she said.  Hoo-Rah

• Kudos for going back to the gym
• watch out for your mom
• she’s threatened to hose you with the noodle
• try not to beat her over the head with your own noodle
• what is up with Hormel?  They’ve stopped making their regular-sized Turkey Pepperoni and have replaced it with minis.  It’s like eating slices of rubber tubing with a slight flavor.  I must write to them.

Row, row, row your dream boat

Many years ago, I had a friend who moved to the Hawaiian Islands with the family she was Nanny for.  She lived on the small island of Kauai.  Both parents were home by 4:00 in the afternoon, which left her free to choose which beach she wanted to relax on.

The day came when she discovered rowing teams. 

They raced between the islands  through Shark infested waters.  Her momma, who lived in Maryland, was not pleased, but my friend loved it.  She also got a firm and tight upper body. 

Being one who HATES stationary exercise, I mentioned before that, with the knee injury I’m battling, I CAN use Mary’s rowing machine that she bought at a Flea Market for $20.  I plug into my MP3 player, turn on the fan, close my eyes and dream of rowing with my old friend. Between the Islands. In Shark infested waters.  There’s a nice breeze.

Note to self

• good job
• dream on
• maybe a package of Hormel Turkey Pepperoni will float by.

I Have Something to Say

 Katie on the Rowing Machine

Mary bought a rowing machine from Saint Joe the other day and it is going over very well.  Even I, with my knee injury, can use it. Yippie!!

Yes, I am still nibbling on a couple pieces of

at a time. 

My knee injury has been getting better over time, as I can walk through Wal Mart instead of ride the little driving cart.  I have not replenished the chocolate at my headboard. I sleep better when I take a Reishi Mushroom capsule at night,  but I still dream weird dreams.

note to self

• great news that you can use the rowing machine
• yippie that your knee injury is getting better
• kudos for sleeping better
• liking the weird dreams
• kudos for not replenishing the chocolate and
• only nibbling on the Hormel Turkey Pepperoni

…but there was no mention of Hormel Turkey Pepperoni

I read an interesting article in the May 2010 issue of Yoga Journal about the healing power of yoga and mediation.   

Neuroscientist Sat Bir Khalsa, of Harvard University, has received a grant to study the effects and health benefits of yoga, seeking a cure for what ails America (also seeking it to be insurance reimbursable and as a prescription on a doctor’s pad).  He has practiced yoga for 35 years and is convinced that early practice of yoga, starting as children or teens, prevents disease later in life.

He is currently conducting a study about teens, believing that if 40-50 year olds who struggle with insomnia had started practicing yoga and meditation in their youth, they wouldn’t be suffering sleepless nights.  If people with type 2 diabetes and obesity had learned yoga in high school, their health outcomes might have been different. 

“A recent study at the Fred Hutchinson Cancer Research Center in Seattle found that people who practiced yoga were more likely to eat mindfully—that is, to be aware of why they ate and to stop eating when full.  In fact, the increased body awareness learned through yoga had a greater effect on the participants’ weight than did the exercise aspect of the exercise.”

Khalsa did a 12-week study with high schoolers, offering yoga in place of regular P.E., with the regular PE class being the control group.  One of the things they taught along with the postures was “witness consciousness”, or nonjudgmental awareness, and encouraged bringing the mind back to the present.  The Yoga group reported less anger, less fatigue and more resilience than the control group.  They used the yoga strategies to combat stress.  They used the breathing patterns to go to sleep, used them on the athletic field (but not to sleep on the athletic field) and before a test.

Yoga beat gym class when it came to staying fit and beating stress, Khalsa notes.  “As yoga focuses on the integration of breathing, the development of mindfulness, and concentration, it far exceeds regular exercise as a full experience and a way to reduce the stress response.  The effect is immediate, and the capacity to generate the feeling of relaxation on a regular basis increases after weeks and months of practice.  That can’t help but benefit us as we face the challenges and health conditions that crop up in later years.”

Note to self

• He mentions nothing of the benefit of Hormel Turkey Pepperoni on the mind and body. I must contact him.
• Kudos for getting into Yoga.
• Follow the advice of bringing the mind back to the present when it wanders to places it really doesn’t need to be going.
• Yippie, this will help me become more body aware when eating.  Excellent.
• You could berate yourself for not doing it regularly over the past 12 years when you quit teaching aerobics due to sports injuries.
• Don’t.  Bring your mind to the present.

I want to dance

Have you considered dancing for exercise?  Just turn on the music and dance like no one is watching?

I think I shall find a dance partner

Blue Footed Boobys

My internet access is down

 I live in a high lighting strike area and it did us in despite having a surge protector plugged into a grounded outlet. 
Was I supposed to have the computer and phone line plugged into it?
 Just kidding.
no posts until I get things fixed.  I know you are terribly disappointed. so sorry.

Easing up on the Grinchly Grouch

Bright, sunny days are great for relieving my grinchly grouch that has taken over. 

I am planting seeds and transplanting the ones that are getting too big for their britches.  All the while soaking up some sun.  Forgetting the Sun block tho. Darnit, Garnet!

This is what makes me happy

Square foot garden full of Sugar Snap Peas growing, some Romaine Lettuce and Kale.  The Lettuce and Kale are absolutely wonderful!  They, um, don’t make it into the house, (urp) but I don’t mind so much not sharing my greens.

 Kale

 

Transplanted cucumbers and melons because they were too big for their britches!  I have  Dragon’s Egg cucumbers, Poona Keeras (Indian Cucumber) Space Saver Cucumbers, and Armenian Cucumbers.  I have Ginger’s Pride Cantaloupes.  My French ones didn’t make it. Have to re-plant.

Tomato seedlings!!  What you see are Big Rainbow, Black Cherry tomatoes and Tomatillos.  I also have Lemon Boy tomatoes, Mr. Stripey tomatoes, a couple of pink tomatoes, one red tomato plant and 3 types of grape tomato. 

This also makes me happy

Today, I think I shall do Yoga with Rodney Yee and weights for legs and back. Definitely abs.

I am starting to learn about bee keeping.  I am concerned with the pollination of my gardens and interested in honey production. We’ll see where it goes.

I am having Missionaries for dinner tonight so I will serve up some Italian beef, I think, and… something.  We’ll see.

Note to self

• Kudos for less-grouching the grinch
• Kudos for eating your greens, even if it is while in the garden.
• Kudos for planting
• Kudos for the yoga and weights
• enjoy the Missionaries
• watch the fudge