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Thursday, February 26, 2015

Snow Beauty






I love the beauty of a new fallen snow.  Trees shimmer in the sunrise, everything looks fresh and clean, there is a feeling of renewal and energy.  The local birds and critters know our front yard is an open 24/7 buffet.  There is always feed available along with suet blocks when it is cold and the sometimes even fresh fruit.  It makes me feel useful keeping the buffet open, knowing many of God's creatures depend on me to get through the long cold winter months.  When we are going to be gone, I have a neighbor who takes care of the feedings for me.  Papa Bear might think I am a bit obsessive about this (gentle grin).

I love winter and snow, it is my favorite season of the year. By the end of February, most people are ready for it to be over and for Spring to make its arrival...not me.  I work from home so I suppose that gives me an advantage over those who have to go out in the cold every day.  I get to sit in my comfy chair with a nice hot cup of tea and marvel at the wintery beauty outside my big front window.  From this vantage point I have the joy of watching children come and go from school, and when it's warm enough, see them playing on the playground.  I see the horses across the way getting frisky and running around.  Snow gently blows across the field, the plows  are busy on the roads and of course the birds and critters are feasting in the front yard.

About mid-March I will be ready for snow to leave and be replaced with the warm sunshine of Spring, but for just a few more weeks, I'm going to sip my hot tea and enjoy all the beauty of this wonderful time of year.


Wednesday, February 25, 2015

Healthy Beginnings






Today marks exactly two months until I officially turn old (yikes...50!).  For probably the last 20 years I have been on a get healthy yo-yo.  I work at it, then I don't, then I work at it, then I don't even care...you get the picture.  A little background: I am 6' tall and except when I was with child, I have never weighed over 125 pounds.  When there is a good wind, if you listen closely you can actually hear my bones rattling around in my skin (grin).  We used to have a Black Lab that when he was a puppy would actually try to use my arms and ankles for chew toys!  Yep, I'm that skinny.  However, even with how skinny I am, each time I gain the tiniest bit of weight, it appears in my gut. Tall and skinny with a protruding belly, not all that attractive, I can guarantee you that.


Today I am going to commit to intentionally working on my health for two months.  I'll be tracking my food and water intake as well as my physical activity.  I don't think I will be changing my eating habits much except to try and eat three meals a day instead of skipping meals because I am busy. I also have started on Plexus Slim to work on getting my insides healthy too.  In the 'working on it times' of my healthy yo-yo, I have enjoyed various 30-Day Challenges.  These will be making appearance again.

March:
*Planks (ugh) at the end of the month I should be able to hold a 5 minute plank!! 
*Shoulders (trying to build up the muscles and ward off that yucky bursitis) will have me doing upright rows, side lateral raises, shoulder presses and shoulder rotations.
*Guns, Buns and Abs (my favorite) at the end of the month I should be doing 250 squats, 40 push ups and 100 leg lifts.  I have used this challenge before but have to modify for my back. 

April:
* Arms-push ups, dips, bicep curls and punches
*Glute and Legs (I'm already dreading this one)
*Burpees (groan) Start with just 1 singe burpee on day one and increase by 1 each day so at the end it will be 30 of those dreaded things.  Nope, I don't like burpees, I don't care how good they are for me, they are not my friend and I don't foresee me ever inviting them into my inner circle.

So dear friends, come along with me on my Healthier Me Journey.  Follow along or even join me!