Monday, December 21, 2020
Let's Talk About Health, Baby!
Photo by Bruno Nascimento on Unsplash
Winter is officially here, right? Happy Birthday, fictional character, Feyre Alcheron! Welcome, winter solstice. I wish I were into rituals and had something symbolic and meaningful planned, but alas! I am not big on the preparation that ritualistic symbolism requires. I do admire the romanticism, however.
Do you ever just feel Amy Marchy? Like clearly you were intended to have a staff? Can you guys imagine what life would be like with a housekeeper and maybe a part-time nanny? What could be accomplished? Or a personal assistant who just does all those details? I can. And it looks pretty nice from right here.
My Simple Weight Loss Plan
So health. I am gaining weight! I can see it in my face, and feel it around my waist and suffer with it with my ongoing heartburn/acid reflux, and esophagus narrowing problems. The thing is, I don't know what I am doing differently. I don't feel like I am eating that much. But number don't lie, and I must be. My old standby-the only weight loss trick that works consistently for me-is counting calories. And there is no trick there, just hard work and discipline. And friends, I think that is the threshold I stand upon now. So back to MyFitnessPal, back to counting candy calories, back to just saying no to that bowl of chips and salsa after dinner.
Have you tried MyFitnessPal? You must! I use the free version and it is perfect.
I can lose weight on 1500 calories, and lose it faster on 1200. Somewhere in between those will be my target. I can do this.
My Simple Exercise Plan
So my new plan:
- Renew the exercises. I may have to get strict with myself (no getting dressed for work until they are done).
- Continue/amp up the squats I do while waiting for my coffee to brew. I thought my 20-30 squats were great, then my coworker (who is 10 years older!) told me she did 400 squats one day. Umm, Okay. I can do better.
- Go back to walking/jogging. I happen to know my son is getting a new scooter for Christmas, so I can still jog and with a new scooter, he can keep up (and get some exercise time).
Friday, April 10, 2020
THE 50 WALK CHALLENGE
I needed a goal to get myself moving on a regular basis. The idea for a 50 Walk Challenge came into my head, and wheels were set in motion.
As soon as I returned home from the walk, I downloaded an app to keep track of
my walk. I set a deadline of May 31st. I absolutely counted today's walk 😀. I decided the walk had to be a minimum of 15 minutes long to count.
Accountability is a hard one for me, so please feel free to ask me how the challenge is going. My current plan is to report back every Friday night until this goal is met!
I downloaded an app called Goal Tracker to my Android phone. I can just check off my daily walk.
Here is a pic of what the chart looks like.
Sunday, April 5, 2020
8 things I Do To Make Myself Happier
This post contains affiliate links.
I've got to get this happy cup!
Go crazy and consider this coffee:
If the Simple Habit app isn't for you, here are links to several other similar sites you can try!
Photo by Toomas Tartes on Unsplash
While not my picture, and apparently that photo was taken in Chile, I love hiking. I don't do it nearly as often as I should, because the hump I have to get over to pack enough for the kids and get all the stuff ready seems to outweigh my perceived benefit of pushing through, but when I do push through I always am delighted I did. I love the outdoors, the scenery, the exercise, and even the confidence I feel when I manage rocky terrain surefootedly. Nothing as of yet has compared with our short family hikes in Rocky Mountain National Park, however, I have explored Ozark hills, quiet wooded paths, emerald green paths atop the Cliffs of Moher in Ireland, and I plan to see how the Alps compare to the Rockies as soon as fate allows!
While not technically hiking boots, these were my go-to boots on rainy walks in Ireland:
I swear I love these things. I get so excited on work days when it is wet and rainy. A perfect excuse to wear my two-year-old boots!
A little media can be good for the soul. Watching a tear-wrenching film is often the carthartic release I need to look at the world through new eyes. Most of us are getting more than enough screen time. Let's just make sure it is something worth our time which enriches our lives. For you it might be a silly comedy, an action film, or a light-bright rom-com. You do you. You deserve it.
Or watch something fun, like the movie we got my youngest child, Alec's name from (I am totally the dorky blonde girl)
I'll be posting on my current reading soon.
I have recently been inspired by my reading of How to do Everything and Be Happy, by Peter Jones. It's a simple book to help you feel brave enough to take back some time and has practical hints on how to organize the things you want to do and get them done.
This is one of the books that is cheaper in paperback than kindle...
I am sorry. My good-girl-ness doesn't usually like bad words, but is just so right on. A good short affirmation for yourself!
As you can see, these are simple ideas. Not a one of them is too crazy-hard to implement to increase your daily happiness. While you would obviously want to switch out the ones which don't work for you and put in things that make you, personally, happy, the key is to add a little joy to your life Every. Single. Day.