Margaret Richard & Friends 2023

[amoodygirl]

Hey everyone!

Yesterday was my last day with Angel. One of Angel’s dads, my friend Scott, has had a time of it. He tore tendons in his foot and had to have surgery – 8 weeks at home with an elevated foot but was able to work remotely. Fast forward – this past week he was not feeling great and yesterday when I came in, he asked me if he looked jaundiced. He did but when we stepped outside, I could see how jaundiced he was. It seems he has not only kidney stones but gallstones as well. Last night, he rushed to the emergency room as he was feeling awful. His partner said he was the color of turmeric! He was admitted and, after tests, finds out a gallstone is blocking a duct, which is the cause of the jaundice. So, after many tests, he will hopefully have his gall bladder removed and somehow they will get the kidney stones to pass as well. His pain was so bad he was given fentanyl then a morphine drip. This is just a reminder of what our body does on a daily basis when we're healthy. Eesh…..

Today, we did some rearranging. Since we only have Cooper, I decided to change up the litter box room and use the second bedroom as a yoga room. Been up and down stairs all afternoon, carrying mats, tvs, dvd players – that was a workout!

Today’s workout:

• XY Flex #3 (this was an off shoot of Buti Yoga and I love these workouts. Short but really get the job done.
• Pushups

Debbie: I speak four languages but unfortunately, Portuguese is not one of them. However, I can understand it and, if we decided to visit Portugal, there’s always someone who can speak Spanish, French or English. My other language is Russian and I’m not counting on that being so easy to find another person who speaks it! I hear you about outdoor riding – I refuse to ride on roads and only ride on trails and bike paths. For me, I find it is just too scary and too dangerous. I’m not a fan of singing or whooping instructors! Probably why I enjoy Cathe’s workouts.

Donna: I’m going to check out Jessica’s paid site! I’ve enjoyed her YouTube workouts.

Beth: Glad you had an uneventful business trip to Denver without any weather-related problems.

Pat: I really like Kassandra so I’ve bookmarked this new yoga practice! I love that furry cat – she has that Maine Coon tail that is just beautiful. One another of her practices, both cats were present and then there was a lot of clattering noises as well! Cats get into so much! Long Island is overcrowded, ridiculously expensive (property and school taxes) so I cannot see us going back there. I can’t even get my husband to visit! However, now that CT will no longer be taxing social security, I would definitely consider living back in CT. The UConn health system is very good and I had a gynecologist that I loved. I lived in Rocky Hill, outside of Hartford, and loved the restaurants and, with the casinos an easy drive away, lots of concerts!

Hi Summer Breeze!

Well, that’s all folks! I’m a bit pooped right now so off to just veg out! See you all tomorrow

[dlb]

GM everyone,
It’s a very snowy weekend here. I’m sure we were “gifted” 6+ inches. Wouldn’t you know the snowblower conked out earlier this week. I “gently” suggested that my DH just go out & get a new one yesterday morning before this latest hit. Fortunately he listened. He can fix the other one if it is fixable & give to one of the kids.

Yesterday morning I did one of the SeniorShape workouts that was HIIt walking, much better. I also shoveled part of the “dog yard” Yes, I am that dog Mom. 2 of my dogs are small, so I clear out some of it so they can at least do their thing.

Donna – My BIL is a retired vet. There is such a shortage of vets right now. A couple of years ago, one of my other beloved dogs, started having seizures & she needed to see a neurologist, I was on multiple wait lists to get her in. Unfortunately we had to make that decision before she could get in. It was one of my saddest days ever.

Diane – 4 languages – that is amazing.

Hi - Pat, SB, Beth

Have a great day!!

Debbie

[donnamp]

Hi Everyone,

I'm going to pop in for just a quick workout check in and will catch up on personals later.

I just wanted to write my impressions while fresh in my mind.

I tried out one of Improved Health's workouts on You Tube -

All in One Exercise Workout for Seniors & Beginners - 51 min

Overall, I really liked it.

It was set up as a circuit with 2 min cardio 1 min of strength. I believe you go through 10 cycles so you end up with 20 min of cardio.

There was a complete warmu-up and cooldown included. Abs and Balance work were done after the cardio/strength cool down and a chair stretch followed the abs.

The music was decent - pop-ish tunes - stuff you hear in other workouts on You Tube these days.

Jules did cue in this workout but it was very simple so she didn't talk much.

The cardio was not a choreographed routine. The cardio was set up where you do one move for 60 seconds, then move on to another cardio move for 60 seconds. TBH, I found that a bit too long. I would have been happier if she did 4 cardio moves in those 2 minutes - at 30 seconds each. BUT the good new is - b/c you are going for time and at your own pace, you can do that on your own -and make up your own cardio moves to do if you get tired of the moves she is doing. Some were ok for 60 seconds, but i don't like to do 60 seconds of knee lifts, for instance, as that can stress the hip flexors. You can also modify this workout up - go faster, use larger range of motion, use some light hand or wrist weights or even use a step for some of the cardio. So, it does provide lots of options and room to grow.

The strength stuff was one min of basic exercises, squats, bicep curls, triceps, etc. There was one move where she did chest press on a chair - my set up wouldn't work for that so I went to the floor. She mentioned you could also do push ups there.

Anyway, I really enjoyed this and would do more from her channel in the future. I think I previously did one of her walks but this is my first time trying one of these workouts.

She definitely seems to hit all the important parts of exercising for older people - cardio, strength, balance, mobility, etc. And these are important elements for all people!

And, it seems you can modify her stuff up or down as needed, which is also nice.

Be back later!

Donna

[amoodygirl]

Good morning, everyone!

So today was just a yoga practice but I did it in my new yoga room! I set it up with the Cathe yoga mat, my Buddha, 2 battery operated candles (pet-safe!), and a tv with a Bluetooth enabled blu-ray player. It was so wonderful I didn’t want to leave the room!

Today’s workout:

• Adrienne Reed Power Yoga – Twists
• Pushups
• Body Electric Sculpture Upper Body – Abs

Debbie: Thankful that DH listened! Mine is such a procrastinator. Can you believe we lived in our house in Upstate NY for 6 years BEFORE getting a snowblower???? We shoveled and I had enough but I think he did as well. It was the best purchase we made and I LOVE clearing the snow. Heck, I’ve cleared neighbors’ driveways and walkways too – it’s so much fun. Languages are my gift but, looking back, I would have chosen to be a veterinarian rather than a linguist. I was a fairly well-behaved kid and my parents saw that I had an easy time with languages so they pushed me into that. I quit the corporate world in 2000 to start a pet sitting business and my mom freaked out! “All that education – have you lost your mind???” No regrets and never looked back. Plus, I still dabble in some interpreting and translation work for friends’ businesses, just to keep me on my toes.

Donna: I hope your daughter does become a vet and, yes Debbie – there is such a shortage. When we were going through all our animal issues, one of the closest emergency clinics had very staggered hours – basically on the weekends only – because of staff shortages. I don’t get it! The workout looks good!

Good morning Beth, Pat & Summer Breeze!!!! See you all tomorrow!

[summer breeze]

Good morning!!

Yesterday:

47 minute outdoor walk

I've been trying to incorporate a route with some hills for some added oomph. I kind of had a little blah spell towards the end of the week but hopefully I get back on track this week. I'm kind of over winter already and we've had a pretty tame one so far. LOL

DIANE, your new yoga room sounds lovely.
Enjoy. I hope your friend is doing ok. I remember about 10 years ago my mom had to have surgery because a gallstone got stuck in a duct. She didn't have her gallbladder removed though. She was 92 at the time. I guess they didn't want to do more surgery at that point. She lived to be 98 in fairly good health after that.

DONNA, nice to see you enjoyed that Improved Health workout. I don't think I could do a 51 minute indoor workout all at once. I get distracted after about 25 or 30 minutes. LOL. That's great your DD wants to go to vet school.

PAT, nice workouts. Hope you enjoyed your sunny day. It was fairly decent here too for a change.

DEBBIE, I'm not sure where you live but glad DH got the snowblower. So sweet to clean space for your little dogs. ETA -- Oh I see Wisconsin. Yeah definitely need a good working snowblower there. LOL.

Waves to BETH.

Have a great day everyone!

[ealakey]

Hi everyone, I spent the day unpacking and trying to get ready for work tomorrow, Lol. I will try to catch up on your fun!

[dlb]

GM - Happy Monday....
Not much to report for workouts.

Shoveled a bit more in the dog yard, to give them more space.

Cooked some chili & baked brownies. I started watching a Netflix movie called "Blonde". It was about Marilyn Monroe. Such a sad life, I ended up turning it off because it bothered me. Perhaps I'll finish watching it later.

Other than that, house stuff & laid around. Honestly, I start thinking about the long work days ahead & the brain just goes into blah mode.

Anyways, till tomorrow..

Debbie

[donnamp]

Hi Everyone

Today, so far:

Improved Health - Workout to ABBA - this was just fun w/ the music. Low impact aerobics, pretty basic, no talking. It was about 30 min.

Improved Health - One Month to a Stronger You -Day # 1- this was back, biceps and a little bit of shoulders. I liked the way she did this one - it was slower paced so you can work on good form and really feel the weights. I used 8's, 5's and 3's. She ended w/ a 15 second plank - I have the feeling that by the end of this series you will be holding a plank for 60 seconds.

Yoga w/ Kassandra - 10 Min Morning Stretch - I think this was from last week. She does tend to name her workouts similarly so it is hard to figure out from the name which one is which.

I think for February I'm going to to do Improved Health's strength program -it is 10-15 min of strength training 5 days a week. Strength training is my least favorite and this seems like an easy and painless way of getting it done - and, who knows, I may enjoy it eventually.

So, the goal for this month (February) is 5 days of strength and 5 days of cardio a week. Will do other add ins as well.

I like the shorter strength workouts and the 5 day a week plan - b/c if I get off track it is easy enough to double up one day or use the weekend to make up workouts.

Anyway...it is a Monday...

Debbie - I feel the same way about work. The dread....

Diane - I forgot to comment about your friend, Angel's dad - I hope he is ok now. A friend of DH's had the same thing happen to him.

Waves, everyone!

Donna

[amoodygirl]

Good morning, everyone!

Hope everyone enjoyed the weekend. Today we start Hello Fresh food delivery. I find with just two of us, I waste too much food. If I need 1 or 2 carrots or celery for a recipe, I end up wasting the rest of the package. Hoping this will work well! We did the vegetarian plan so fingers crossed!

Today’s workout:

• Jari Love Extremely Ripped & Chiseled - Upper Body Only
• Pushups
• Gymbox Abs – 2 segments
• Piriformis Stretch

Summer Breeze: I’m loving my yoga room. Very quiet, very peaceful, door is kept closed so an animal-free space. My friend Scott is having the stone removed from his gall bladder today and in two weeks, will have the entire thing removed. Your mom lived to 98!!! That’s amazing in and of itself and to be in good health is really such a bonus. I’m glad you’re getting outside. It’s a bit too cold up here just yet.

Debbie: We all have those “blah” days so allow yourself down time. Sundays are notoriously hard days for people still in the workforce. My husband now wants a dog so I’ve explained that he will have to shovel out the yard a bit during the winter when we have snow, etc. but I’m just not ready to adopt any more cats or dogs. I’m enjoying having my Cooper-Cat to ourselves and visa versa. He’s never been one to love the other animals, just tolerated them, so I’m letting my old guy enjoy the “solitude” so to speak. Yum chili & brownies!!! I watched “Blonde” and I found it so, so sad. I vividly remember when Marilyn passed away - my mom told me and it was such a shock. Right now I’m watching “Shetland” on Britbox – a crime series based on the Shetland Islands of Scotland. I’m in LOVE with Scotland and now want to go!

Donna: I love the idea of working out to ABBA! I’m sure it was a lot of fun! Improved Health? Gotta check Improved Health out too! Thank you about Angel’s dad – having the gallstone removed today and in about two weeks, will have the gall bladder removed. They can’t do it until the inflammation and infection are eliminated. Sheesh – he’s such a good, kind man and it breaks my heart he’s going through this. I’m so hoping this will be the end of everything and the start of great health!

Hi Beth and Pat! Enjoy the day everyone!

[Pat58]

Happy Moan Day! I have some catching up to do:

Saturday:
~ GYM for 30 minutes recumbent bike, pec flyes and rear flyes, leg press, seated rows and outers
~ My own yoga poses for stretching
~ 7,322 steps

Sunday:
~ GYM for 20 minutes arc trainer, lat pulldowns, hamstring curls, triceps presses, leg extensions, dumbbell curls, inners, shoulder presses and lateral raises
~ My own NFL playoffs yin yoga with a bolster
~ 4,402 steps

The Chiefs/Bengals game was exciting last night! I'm super happy the Eagles and Chiefs made it through the playoffs. I sure hope Patrick Mahone's ankle is feeling better by then. If only we all got the health care and medical attention pro athletes get.

Donna, thanks for the review of Improved Health. I have not tried that channel yet. I'm sorta kinda feeling like retiring but not yet, even though technically I could in less than two years. I don't have any kids in college but my house needs a lot of repairs and my car just turned 100,000 miles old Friday so car payments at today's prices are going to be reality, hopefully later than sooner.

Diane, I love the Sculpture routines. The whole DVD has a nice flow to it. Your new yoga room sounds wonderful!

Debbie, thanks for mentioning that movie. DH is a big Marilyn fan and we both need a little break from nature programs. It sounds like you needed a good lay around.

Good morning to Summer Breeze and Beth!