Exercise Update - Moving Right Along

   My activity level is nearly back to normal four months after surgery and I'm kicking my exercise program into high gear.  It was very surprising to find that it takes a lot longer to regain strength after surgery than I had supposed it would.

    It is just this past week that I have felt as though I could pick up a bit of speed in my walking.  I have been lifting (light) weights for  about three weeks now and I can feel the difference already!

WEIGHTLIFTING - IT"S NOT JUST FOR MEN ANYMORE!!!!!!!

    My regimen is fairly simple. I started with 2 pound hand weights and I do six exercises with the hand weights 10 reps x 2. Next I do three exercises with ankle weights (4 pounds on each ankle) Then I do 20 chair stands and 20 toe raises.  I follow this with a few simple yoga poses for balance and flexibility.

  I learned weightlifting technique from three books by the same author. I highly recommend them to anyone interested in weight training for strengthening or weight loss. The main difference between getting strong and losing weight is the number of days you devote to weightlifting.  Twice a week is fine for strengthening. For weight loss - it is three times a week.

   The books are 'Strong Women Stay Slim,' Strong Women Stay Young,' and 'Strong Women and Men Beat Arthritis,' written by Miriam E Nelson Ph.D.

The woods where I do most of my walking 

  I have been walking pretty consistently since the week I got home from the hospital and it was a shock to me that it took several months for the feeling of weakness to go away. I am up to three miles now and have just begun to pick up some speed.  My walking pace has been a modest stroll until a few days ago. (I think the weight-lifting has helped me in this.)  My plan is to walk  60 minutes a day five or six days a week, walking a bit faster each week. At this point I would rather count minutes than miles!

I felt like my regimen needed a theme song so I chose "Movin' Right Along' from the original Muppet Movie. Although Kermit and Fozzie are in a car the song just makes me happy enough to lace up my sneakers and get moving! 

Things I learned after surgery: 

         Be kind and gentle to yourself.

         Be patient  - the weakness does go away.

         Start walking immediately - even if it is only a few laps around the house.

         

        

Embracing and Letting Go

This has been a long summer for me, a summer of  letting go of what  no longer  is and embracing what, very much is!  I have been recovering from abdominal surgery....had to let go of a large chunk of my insides which was putting me constantly under the weather. Thankfully, I don't have any diagnosis which would necessitate further treatment or worry!

 I learned, first hand, from the patient's point of view, about what it means to be kind to yourself and allow the healing to take place, slowly, in its own time.  I learned to let others care for me and I learned to trust in God that I was right where I should be. 

And I also learned that walking really IS the best exercise no matter what your pace or distance.  It brings strength and lifts the spirits. I am still not back to my daily four miles but I am slowly getting there.  My legs have lost a lot of strength and regaining it, at my age, IS HARD WORK!

I've had lots of time to think, to meditate, pray and write.  My book of poetry is coming along and most of my poems still hide out on my other blog (so far, my secret blog.)

A Walk in the Woods - Altered Photo and Text ©2013 BK

 I am experimenting with a new art form, altering my photos with a program Daughter Artist shared with me, called PicMonkey.  I have never fancied myself an artist, but I am having fun creating or rather recreating my photos.  The camera goes everywhere with me. (One advantage of a slower pace - I notice more of the Creation.)

At the same time this summer brought me the singular joy of grand-parenthood- a second grandson.  This is where all the embracing comes in.  Michael arrived three weeks early (on July 11) surprising his parents and everyone else too! I am, of course, in love again. After the stress of the NICU for eight days, his Mom and Dad brought him home. He was a tiny one but his mother put her mind to nursing him and he quickly caught up and now looks like the healthy two month old he is! 

Every morning, I thank God for him, for his wonderful parents,  and for all of my blessings.  



Thought for Today : My cup runneth over!