Before and After

A year ago, we left Waukee IA

with everything we owned
packed in the back of our truck...














 

And now we are packing up our truck once again and leaving Rockaway Beach, OR...It seems we really didn't need everything ... and we donated or sold things along our way...













And of course we also purchased new things...like a 24' camper.

Who's Minutes?

When my son was four, I told him. “Five more minutes.”

“Who’s minutes?” He asked.

As I stood at the kitchen sink, with warm suds dripping from my fingertips, I explained. “Everyone’s minutes are the same. They all have 60 seconds…”

“No,” he muttered. “They are not the same.”

“Time is the same. Everyone has twenty-four hours in a day--”

His head shook his little tow head. “No. They’re not. When you say, ‘five minutes before bed.’ Those are my minutes and they’re fast. And when you say, ‘I’ll be there in five minutes.’ Those are your slow minutes. Who’s minutes mine or yours’s?”

When I look back, I am beginning to think he was right. The only way I could have possible managed to raise two children, work full-time, maintain a house, attend numerous activities and write was I had slow minutes. 

Now I’m 56 and retired,  people say, "what do you do all day?"

"I walk the dog, do up a few dishes, sometimes write."

They look at me like my son did at four.

I shake my head. They don't understand. Now, I have fast minutes and before I get anything done, the day's over. 

Climate and Gravitational Pull

I silently chanted, ears over hips, hips over heels, shoulders down and back as I walked the beach with the sun shinning and the temperatures nearing 50. 

As the sand crunched beneath my hiking boots, my body elongated and I stood taller with each step. 

Which could only mean my poor posture is a result of a colder climate (MN & WI) wind (IA) and lack of sun.

When the temperatures dip below 40 degrees (with or without a wind chill factors) my shoulders hike high enough to keep my earlobes warm.

After 50 plus years of living in Minnesota and trying to acclimate my body to cold/frigid temperatures, my body caved in, literally.  My shoulders, back and neck are rounded. 

This was survival and my body's way to protect my heart from freezing.

I know there are Minnesotans who drive with their convertible tops down year round, wear shorts and sun bath when temperatures rise above freezing. 

But, I was never one of them. I didn’t discard my jacket or turn off my heated front seats until August. 

This is my first winter out of the midwest and I smile and wave at fellow beach walkers who walk past barefoot and wearing shorts. 

There’s hope.

Someday, I too may thaw out, my butt will be warm and I will stand tall without having to chant, ears over hips, hips over heels, shoulders down and back.

As Forgiving As…

As forgiving as a woman in love - is the attitude I have adopted for losing 20 pounds and writing a NYT Best Seller.

A woman in love only sees what she wants to see, which means, I had a very successful week. 

One night instead of microwave popcorn, I made a large bowl of air popped popcorn and used a packet of TrueLime for seasoning. Am I awesome, or what.

Besides demonstrating self control, I showed I am capable of change. I also did two sets of arm exercises with an 8 pound bar. 

Bring out the balloons and the party horns, things are getting better every day. I already forgot about the free samples of candy at Costco,  the two glasses of IPA at the bar, and the Pinot Noir.

Never mind the naysayers. I know this time will be different. I will be in the 20 percent of people who manage to lose weight and keep it off.

And this week I will also add bladder control exercises because when I get to the nursing home, I don’t want to wear absorbent undergarments. 

The following exercises were provided to me from my daughter the Occupational Therapist.

1) Sitting in a chair squeeze pillow/ball between your knees and hold for 5 seconds, repeat 10 times.

2) Still seated in a chair wrap thera-band around legs and spread knees apart. Hold 5 seconds, repeat 10 times.

3) Stand up and complete 10 mini squats

4) Suck in your stomach - hold 5 seconds, complete 10 times.

5) Squeeze your bottom/butt muscles and suck in your stomach - hold 5 seconds, complete 10 times.

6) hold in your muscles like you REALLY have to go to the bathroom & you try holding it in -  hold 5 secs, complete 10 times.

I lost my diet muse..

My fitbit app recorded 109,000 steps, my fitness pal app congratulated me for recording my food intake,  my vision board greeted me every time I opened my refrigerator door, I used positive affirmations, worked on posture with a posture zone app and I gained 4/10 of a pound.  

I am now up 1.4 lbs since January 1, 2016. 

Which would be great, if my goal was to gain weight. 

In the past, PTTF, (prior to turning fifty) dieting and exercise were easy.  All I had to do was eat less and exercise and I'd lose weight. 

PTTF, I had a Diet Muse.  She presided over my spoon and fork stopping my forward progress, 'you're full. You don't crave or want any more to eat  or drink.' 

How I feel looking at the scale.

She'd whisper in my ear in the wee hours of the morning,  'get up so you have time to exercise before work.'

Why, oh why, did my Diet Muse desert me now? 

Maybe this week I will look for an app to find my missing Diet Muse along with an

app to rid myself of the BIM (Bad Influence Muse) who's words are dipped in sugar coating. 'It's only microwave popcorn. Everyone watches TV. One quick look on Facebook won't hurt. It's a light beer. You walked 10,000 steps you don't need to lift weights.’

So, this week I will look less towards external motivation and more towards finding my inner voice of reason.  

5 Nice Things…

When my children were young and fighting I would step in and required them to say 5 nice things about their sibling. 

I decided to apply this same principle to myself. When I start to criticize myself for consuming too many calories, giving in to late night craving, not getting enough exercise or failing to write daily instead of telling myself I lack willpower, motivation, I’m lazy, not driven, etc.,

I am going to force myself to say 5 nice things about myself.

Balance. I’ve been standing on one foot while I brushing my teeth.   this increases balance and engages my core muscles. (The therapists in skilled nursing facilities give balance tests to residents to determine their level of independence - and I plan to ace the test.)

Re-boot, when walking, I’ve been self correcting my posture. When I start to lead with my forehead, I pull my head back and pull my shoulders away from my ear lobs, I tighten my butt and tummy so no longer look like a chubby toddler or a man with a beer belly.

Walk, I average 10,000 steps a day. 

I write, I am re-writing my novel and I have Feb. 14th for my deadline to complete edits.

I am not static. I am meeting new people and learning new skills a painting class at Tillamook Community 

Untitled 1 

A few months ago my adult daughter told me - she hated the ‘5 nice things’ punishment. “You cannot image how difficult is to come up with nice things to say when you’re mad.”

Yes, I can. I am not mad at myself, only mildly disappointed and I find this activity difficult.

I can alway take a page from their book.

"Nice, smart, kind, good at sports (walking), helpful."

No Reason Why

"There is no reason why...You can't be safe," my mom would say to my children as they climbed on tables and the back of the sofa.

So, this year I am saying to myself. There is no reason why.. I can't be fit and healthy.

Of course, I can come up with a lot of excuses for giving into late night cravings:

Hormones - this worked when I was younger, too many hormones and now that I'm older, not enough hormones.

Cravings - I have no willpower.

Metabolism - My metabolism has slowed down. I  don't eat half as much as I use to and I am gaining weight.

Emotional Support - I am bored, tired, anxious, happy, sad, etc.

The good thing is I am in the majority. In 2011-2012  the Center for Disease and Control stated the percentage of overweight adults, including obesity is 69%.

So, the first week of having my vision board has not cured my cravings, increased my willpower or sped up my metabolism.

But, what has changed is I am working on posture, balance and breathing.

I am going to build a good foundation for my fit and healthy body.

My vision for the future does not include me as a rounded old woman who can not hold her head up,  a woman with increased hip, knee and neck pain, or a person at increased risk for falling.

This week I will continue to correct my posture when I walk and incorporate some floor/wall exercises to correct my poor posture.

And of course I will continue to walk because with a Jack Russell and a beach there is no reason why I can't walk 10,000 steps a day.