September 6, 2016
Thought for the day
Decades ago when I first began simplifying my life, I made the decision that plants belong outside. It was the right choice then. Today my life is simpler and less cluttered—the perfect setting for my new friendship cactus. I can’t wait to re-pot it tomorrow!
September 5, 2016
Thought for the day
Today’s a holiday. The gym is more packed than normal. It’s great to see that people in my community don’t take a holiday from working out!
I can’t do squat!
I can’t do squat! And I mean that literally. The older I get, the less cooperative my knees are and the lower I can squat. This is probably the biggest reason my backside is flat as a pancake. Well, maybe not literally but pretty close. And every year, especially now that I’m closer to 70 than 60, what little rear end I have droops lower and lower. It’s been years since anyone told me that I squat “ass to the grass.”
When I ask a potential female client what her goals are, nine times out of ten, it involves her booty. For many women, working out is all about the butt. Harder, firmer, higher, rounder, smaller, less jiggly, ad infinitum. And the squat, of which there are hundreds of variations, is the all-time glute day favorite.
There are some girls (and by that I mean women under 40) who do glute work every day. I call them the “Queens of Squat,” and they love it when I bestow the title upon them. When I see one of the queens working out, I can’t help it, my mind starts reciting my pet gym mantra, “we must, we must, we must improve our butt.”
While my caboose may not be high and tight, it’s not too flabby either. And I owe my somewhat fit, tiny hiney to an exercise I lovingly call the “side walk” or “penguin walk.” My clients call it the walk from hell. There are several variations. If you are suffering with knee pain, choose a style that doesn’t require you to bend your knees. Remember, if there’s pain, you must abstain.
I like using a resistance band, but the “side walk” can be just as effective with your body weight, sans equipment. If you tightly squeeze your gluteus muscles during this exercise, you will feel the burn. When a client tells me she thought of me every time she went to the potty, I know I’m doing my best work.
Here are the basics.
- Position your feel shoulder width apart. The band should be taunt but not stretched. You can place the band above your knees or closer to your ankles. If you have a resistance tube, step on the tube and hold the handles to create resistance.
- Bend your knees slightly and move into a half-squat position to activate the gluteus muscles.
- Keeping your feet in line with your shoulders, step sideways to the right keeping the band tensed. Without releasing the band’s tension, continuing side stepping for 10 reps.
- Repeat to the left for ten reps.
Trust me, you’ll be thinking about me tomorrow.
I “like” your post
Remember those little squares of paper we folded up to flip out with questions like, “do you like me?” You move your fingers to flip the squares to get the answer. Ideally a “yes.” I need one of those little things for blogging.
When I like what you have to say, hey, that’s easy. Just click “like.” If I’m lucky, a link will show up and ask for my comment. Most of the time, that doesn’t happen and then I’m searching all over the site to find where I can make a comment on what you said. I really like you and want to say something to you. Geeze, it’s like standing on your front porch and banging on your door. Where are you? I know you’re there somewhere. Open the darn door.
Don’t you want to talk to me? Or the worst question, don’t you like me? It took me a while to find the little “star” on, I think it’s the WP Admin, I’m not sure, but whatever. But I found it, and now I can find your comments to me without scrolling through every post on my blog to see if anybody liked me or wanted to say something to me. It was just a little tedious. I’m rolling my eyes now.
Here’s the point of this post, sorry it took me so long to get here. I’m going to select one blog that I follow or want to follow and read it all, or least a month or two if you’ve been blogging all your life, of your blog. Isn’t that a super idea. Okay. It’s not my idea. I stole it from Sele Moir.
I’m only giving him a little of the credit though. Some credit belongs to Kids and Life After 40
She told me (commented) that we must be related because we had so much in common. I was a little embarrassed because I wasn’t “following” her and she must have been following me, or at least finding me wandering out there somewhere. Well, what if we were related. I always thought I was adopted, so somewhere out there is my real family. Naturally, I had to check it out, so I read her whole blog. Fortunately, for me she’s only been blogging for three months.
I couldn’t believe it! We might be sisters! Well, sister, I’m following you now. It will be easy because we have a best friend in common, sugar. The three of us should probably set up a date for shopping, especially if there are coupons or “two-for-ones” and we can squeeze in a stop at the food court. Both our minds tend to be a little busy and jump around a lot, but hopefully, we’ll be a good influence on each other because we want to write and blog better.
You’ll like my friends. Hopefully, I’ve pinged or linked or hooked or whatever so you can meet them.
https://kidsandlifeafter40.wordpress.com/
https://selemoir.wordpress.com/
Thought for the day
An unexpected benefit of blogging–I redecorated “My Space.” That’s the name I’ve given the room where I read, meditate, write, watch tv–and now blog. It’s almost finished. As soon as I go in the room I feel relaxed and take a deep, contented breath of satisfaction and contentment.
I can pick my friends
Discover Challenge: Open-minded
Hold your tongue. Let her finish talking. I inhale deeply, trying not to make it sound like a sigh. She might have a valid point.
Now I am a strong, educated woman. A woman of achievement. Years ago I probably would not have said that about myself, but my friends and colleagues have convinced me that I need to acknowledge and be proud of my accomplishments. That being said, why oh why, do I attract female friends who are domineering, have personalities bigger than life and think they know more than I do?
Of course, these women are not totally to blame. They may be the one to make the initial overture, but their powerful personalities draw me in like the proverbial moth to the flame. Usually what seals the deal and solidifies our friendship is the moment when my soon to be nemesis stands up for me in a difficult situation—an unpleasant salesperson or an unkind co-worker.
I want to be open-minded. What if my friend is right? What if I’m too close to the situation and can benefit from their objectivity? What if walking away from the interaction or turning the other cheek is not in my best interest? Maybe I need to hear them out. Maybe they are right.
Really, I don’t pick these women. I am a magnet. They see me coming and say, “There she is. She’s the one. I can tell her how to run her life. I can solve all her problems.” In their defense, they are not bad women. They are not evil or have malicious intentions. It’s just their nature.
But I’m done! You might think I’m close-minded. I don’t care. No more! Slowly weaning these women out of my life hasn’t been easy, but I’m more at peace.
I’ve been chatting for over a month with a member of the book club I attend. No surprise—she’s ebullient, out-going, opinionated. I love her humor and her intensity. She knows how to stand up for herself.
“That’s interesting,” I say aloud as she offers me some advice. “I’ll definitely think about that.”
“How about lunch tomorrow?”
I pull out my calendar. Listen to your gut. “Oh, wow. I can’t believe how crazy my schedule is. I’ll call you, okay.”
I inhale deeply and sigh. Thatta girl.
Thought for the day
September 1, 2016
One of my clients gave me a “no occasion” gift yesterday. I’m sure she happened upon it while shopping and thought of me, which thrills me no end. I will never use it. I feel guilty as I debate which would be the better/worse choice: re-gift, goodwill, store in a box in the closet, toss. Ugh!
Thought for the day
In my small town situated on the Mexican border, Mexican food is to die for. However, there are not many healthy food options. Last week a juice bar opened next to my work—well, there are no words to express my excitement. I can’t afford to go everyday, but I am praying that they generate enough business to stay open.
Thought for the day
My back hurt and all I wanted to do was lie down on the couch. My first inclination was to blame my fatigue on my age.
But instead I added up how much weight I lifted in my job as a personal trainer–over 3,000 pounds. I’m entitled to be tired; I lifted three tons today. Not bad for a 68-year-old woman.
An Extraordinary Ordinary Life 