December “This & That” Discussion
MadisonMolly2017
Posts: 11,152 Member
Post your habits, questions about habits, requests for suggestions in the I Will Discussion - our MAIN discussion, focused on Building Healthy Habits.
This discussion is for all those fun, interesting hobbies, things you’re doing, photos of pets, nature, dancing, etc!
If you only have time to follow one, choose the one you need the most!
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Maddie
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@MadisonMolly2017
LOVE the photo This sounds great! I'm sure we'll continue the declutter page as well, right? I admire people who work and make time to post on MFP. Having an extra page is sometimes too much for me and my time is flexible, so I think this you wrote an excellent description for this page. Post here if you want, or just stick to the main page...great idea. 2 -
@MadisonMolly2017 LOVE the photo This sounds great! I'm sure we'll continue the declutter page as well, right? I admire people who work and make time to post on MFP. Having an extra page is sometimes too much for me and my time is flexible, so I think this you wrote an excellent description for this page. Post here if you want, or just stick to the main page...great idea.
Thank you @nebslp! Photo is royalty free from Unsplash!
This group is flexible & each member gets to choose what they need/want!! It’s about empowerment!!
And yes The “Decluttering with a Twist” is continuous discussion
... as is decluttering ROFL 🤣
Thank you for being such a supportive member of this group!
💞Maddie1 -
Thank you, Maddie! I love this, and I really appreciate all you do for us. 😊2
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Thank you @PKM0515 ❣️ Means a lot.. I’m SO glad you are finding success & joined our happy family!!1
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Got this from Harvard newsletter today. Thought it might be of interest. Ideas for future habits... 🤣😂🤣🤣😂
5 of the best exercises you can ever do
best exercises
If you're not an athlete or serious exerciser — and you just want to work out for your health or to fit in your clothes better — the gym scene can be intimidating and overwhelming. What are the best exercises for me? How will I find the time?
Just having to walk by treadmills, stationary bikes, and weight machines can be enough to make you head straight back home to the couch.
Yet some of the best physical activities for your body don't require the gym or ask you to get fit enough to run a marathon. These "workouts" can do wonders for your health. They'll help keep your weight under control, improve your balance and range of motion, strengthen your bones, protect your joints, prevent bladder control problems, and even ward off memory loss.
No matter your age or fitness level, these activities are some of the best exercises you can do and will help you get in shape and lower your risk for disease:
1. Swimming
You might call swimming the perfect workout. The buoyancy of the water supports your body and takes the strain off painful joints so you can move them more fluidly. "Swimming is good for individuals with arthritis because it's less weight-bearing," explains Dr. I-Min Lee, professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School.
Research has found that swimming can also improve your mental state and put you in a better mood. Water aerobics is another option. These classes help you burn calories and tone up.
2. Tai chi
This Chinese martial art that combines movement and relaxation is good for both body and mind. In fact, it's been called "meditation in motion." Tai chi is made up of a series of graceful movements, one transitioning smoothly into the next. Because the classes are offered at various levels, tai chi is accessible — and valuable — for people of all ages and fitness levels. "It's particularly good for older people because balance is an important component of fitness, and balance is something we lose as we get older," Dr. Lee says.
Take a class to help you get started and learn the proper form. You can find tai chi programs at your local YMCA, health club, community center, or senior center.
3. Strength training
If you believe that strength training is a macho, brawny activity, think again. Lifting light weights won't bulk up your muscles, but it will keep them strong. "If you don't use muscles, they will lose their strength over time," Dr. Lee says.
Muscle also helps burn calories. "The more muscle you have, the more calories you burn, so it's easier to maintain your weight," says Dr. Lee. Similar to other exercise, strength training may also help preserve brain function in later years.
Before starting a weight training program, be sure to learn the proper form. Start light, with just one or two pounds. You should be able to lift the weights 10 times with ease. After a couple of weeks, increase that by a pound or two. If you can easily lift the weights through the entire range of motion more than 12 times, move up to slightly heavier weight.
4. Walking
Walking is simple, yet powerful. It can help you stay trim, improve cholesterol levels, strengthen bones, keep blood pressure in check, lift your mood, and lower your risk for a number of diseases (diabetes and heart disease, for example). A number of studies have shown that walking and other physical activities can even improve memory and resist age-related memory loss.
All you need is a well-fitting and supportive pair of shoes. Start with walking for about 10 to15 minutes at a time. Over time, you can start to walk farther and faster, until you're walking for 30 to 60 minutes on most days of the week.
5. Kegel exercises
These exercises won't help you look better, but they do something just as important — strengthen the pelvic floor muscles that support the bladder. Strong pelvic floor muscles can go a long way toward preventing incontinence. While many women are familiar with Kegels, these exercises can benefit men too.
To do a Kegel exercise correctly, squeeze the muscles you would use to prevent yourself from passing urine or gas. Hold the contraction for two or three seconds, then release. Make sure to completely relax your pelvic floor muscles after the contraction. Repeat 10 times. Try to do four to five sets a day.
Many of the things we do for fun (and work) count as exercise. Raking the yard counts as physical activity. So does ballroom dancing and playing with your kids or grandkids. As long as you're doing some form of aerobic exercise for at least 30 minutes a day, and you include two days of strength training a week, you can consider yourself an "active" person
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@MadisonMolly2017 Great info! Thank you😊 I can do all but the swimming. Fear of water + lack of knowing how to keep my head above water eliminates that one.
Here’s what I’ve been working on.
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I’m glad you found the article helpful @nebslp !
Oooh are these gifts or for your Etsy shop? You do lovely work!!
I’ve got to say ... you are in a roll with boxing, sewing, and decluttering!!!!’😄0 -
@MadisonMolly2017 You're welcome and Thank you. I made the monkey pillow with a leftover quilt block and that and the fabric scrap pillow will be for the shop. I still need to make 3 1/2 more bags for Christmas presents. I'm only making things for the shop that I wouldn't mind having or giving to someone some day, so if they don't sell, it's fine. The shop's purpose is to inspire my kids and grandkids to try new things even if they're totally clueless about the process. Never stop learning! I will also put some of their things in my shop, so it's all good even if I don't make any sales of my own. It's probably the second scariest thing I've ever done in my adult life so I'm working up to it
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@nebslp What a great role model you are & what a fun project to do with your grandkids❣️0
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@MadisonMolly2017 Thank you. I want to be a positive role model with the shop, but progress has been incredibly slow for a variety of reasons. My lack of clarity is one, too many other projects is another, lack of organization, the list goes on and on... but some day I will surprise myself and hit "open". Thanks for the support.2
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@MadisonMolly2017 Thank you. I want to be a positive role model with the shop, but progress has been incredibly slow for a variety of reasons. My lack of clarity is one, too many other projects is another, lack of organization, the list goes on and on... but some day I will surprise myself and hit "open". Thanks for the support.
@nebslp You’re welcome!
Funny, I decided I had too much going on today. Time for me to make a list for my artmaking & one for the tasks/projects.2 -
I've started my annual obsession over what calendar, planner, notebook, etc., to use for the upcoming year. I'd love to go to Staples and browse, but I'm not really inclined to do so right now.2
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Well last year I had several different ones and I ended up using the 3 month at a time one the most = probably because of working from home but decided to do the same for this year and forget all the other month at a time ones as I just was flipping pages and not really using them. As far as a planner, I am still using the sticky note type pad my friend sent me as a gift which has the week days printed on it.
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@PKM0515 Good luck on your planner search. It's a real struggle to decide on just one when there are so many cool choices out there. I went to Staples the other day because I needed printer ink and couldn't believe how much fun it was! There were 3-4 employees and about 2-3 shoppers so I felt very safe. I wandered up and down all of the office supply aisles and had SO much fun looking at the envelopes and different colored papers! I walked out thinking that it was pretty crazy that I got so much pleasure from shopping for printer ink! Sign of the times, I guess.
I kept revising any planner I had ever bought so awhile back I decided to make my own daily/monthly pages based on Chalene Johnson's Push Goal Planner. I use one side for two days to save on paper and print on both sides. Besides most of my projects take at least two days or it takes me two days to get around to doing them! It takes a little work up front but once I have the new one made up for the month, I only have to print out 7-8 blanks printed on both sides and then I 3-hole punch them. I have a stand on my lamp next to my table and the current page is right in front of me all day. It's a great reminder of my habits and projects, too, and a reward when I check things off. When I'm done with it I put it in a binder. I'll send a pic later.
Sticky notes are also important. I haven't seen the ones with week days printed on them. How cool is that!!! I told my 12 year old granddaughter once I loved sticky notes and she got all excited and said she loves them, too. So both girls are getting a big multi-size pack of sticky notes for Christmas to go with other creative items. Sometimes it's the little things that are most thrilling!!
Enough of the ramble. It is a great way of procrastinating though! Onward. Hope everyone is having a peaceful Sunday wherever your are and whatever you are doing.1 -
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Hi there @nebslp I love sticky notes! And did you know there is an APP for that also? I use it all the time for work stuff on my work computer. I think these came as part of a larger pet type gift a friend sent last year or the year before. They are a whole pad. And yeah how pathetic are we that we enjoy shopping when the stores are empty and we can just wander around.
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apparently I really REALLY know how to shut down a conversation LOL.. PKM0515 did you decide on a planner? I have 1 big 2021 calendar which I put up so I could see the whole year and then I have a 3 month rolling one which I love using. I have gotten away from daily tasking the past few weeks. Mostly because I have been having palpitations which are from my MVP. I know they are caused by overeating a few weeks ago one evening. My heart does NOT appreciate me doing that. Hopefully this time I have learned. The chest pains when I had them evaluated are frightening but they are the extra PVCs which when the valve is unhappy it sets off. My rhythm is completely normal and altho my resting HR is higher than my normal, running and other exercise seems to help. Which of course matches what the cardiologist told me when I was first diagnosed. ANyway, it seems a Xmas miracle but yesterday I felt things return to normal and so perhaps I have learned my lesson?2
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@SummerSkier 😂 I disappear here whenever I start doing poorly with my goal which is crazy because that’s when I need more interaction! I learned my lesson on the food/heart connection when I emptied the candy dish every night for a week or so. My heart pounded every time I went to bed and my resting rate was up as much as 5 beats faster than usual and stayed up all night long. Once I swore off the sugar my heart returned to its normal pace and I feel so much less stressed. I’m glad you’re feeling back to normal again. Hopefully we’ve both learned our lesson. Sugar is the enemy!1
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@nebslp I think it's very normal to disappear and try to close our eyes when things start to go sideways.
Well add sugar or too many calories (carbs etc) to a MVP condition and wow. I have not had that happen before but I definitely do NOT want it to happen again. My RHR is STILL not back to normal after almost 18 days but at least the chest pains have almost completely gone and it IS on it's way back down.
My elderly neighbor who has COPD badly is having a outdoor Xmas brunch today I think with one of her kids and their family. I saw them taking a lot of chairs and food into her backyard. I hope the weather holds off. They are wearing masks and staying outside I believe. If she were to get sick, she would NOT recover..... She was very sick 2 years ago and in the hospital and rehab a long long time.0 -
@SummerSkier I'm not familiar with MVP (except in sports ), but I'm glad you have had it diagnosed and know how to deal with it. My RHR didn't go down to normal even after I quit the candy binging until I spent some real downtime watching a little Netflix and just relaxing for a few hours a day. I had felt so stressed and jittery, so I guess that was my way of "peacing out". Even knitting and working on my computer raised it some. And at night it my heart rate was above my RHR most of the night. Crazy!! So get some real R&R time whenever you can. Pet those kitties
This covid stuff is so strange. There are lots of people that I know that have had it and were just a little sick. And then last week a man I used to work with went on a ventilator after a week or more in the hospital. You just never know, so I think your neighbor's family was wise to stay outside wearing masks to protect their neighbor. We're staying home and so is my daughter and kids since they got out of school a week ago so they can come visit for a few days later this week.
BTW I hope Bandit is doing well. Good horsey vibes going out for a good xray on Wed.
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@nebslp you are so right. It has taken me almost a month to get back down to 61 rhr and my normal is 59 or below. The calculations are based a lot on your sleep and it was really bothering me that my heart was working so hard while it was supposed to be resting!
I don't understand Covid either. 0 -
Make that 3 of us re: COVID. I’m
In serious quarantine.
@nebslp & @SummerSkier Sorry you have both gone through this w your hearts & that all is back to normal ASAP!2 -
Hi, Everyone!
Thank you for all your planner comments. Also, I'm so sorry to hear about the health issues people are experiencing. I seriously hope 2021 is a MUCH better year for all of us!
Since paper "hoarding" is a big issue with me, I decided to use my town calendar (has tax payment dates, recycling days, etc.) as my main calendar for appointments, etc. I'm then going to use one of my many, partially-used notebooks to list everything I think of that I need to do. On a daily basis, I'll use one of my existing steno pads to list the things to be done that day. The hope is that I'll be successful transferring from the "big" notebook to the steno pad and that I'll actually get things done. (Things do get done; but I'm definitely a procrastinator, and the stress/clutter really get to me.)
I really want a daily planner, but I decided I really don't need one. Half the time I would wind up not looking at my planner or using it sporadically throughout the year. I may buy myself a pretty wall calendar if I see one I really like (hoping to get to Staples and/or Barnes and Noble in the next few days).
Hope everyone is doing well today!1 -
@PKM0515 what is it about paper that makes it SO special😂🤣😂. I discovered I have a problem with 3 ring binders, too. I found about a dozen in a drawer when I was cleaning the spare room yesterday, and I found another box of them under the bed today🙄 @texasgardnr is the Queen of paper purging and @mollymadison runs a close second, I believe😍 I hope you find a calendar/planner that works for you. Hobby Lobby has good-sized, pretty calendars, too.1
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Hi, Everyone!
Thank you for all your planner comments. Also, I'm so sorry to hear about the health issues people are experiencing. I seriously hope 2021 is a MUCH better year for all of us!
Since paper "hoarding" is a big issue with me, I decided to use my town calendar (has tax payment dates, recycling days, etc.) as my main calendar for appointments, etc. I'm then going to use one of my many, partially-used notebooks to list everything I think of that I need to do. On a daily basis, I'll use one of my existing steno pads to list the things to be done that day. The hope is that I'll be successful transferring from the "big" notebook to the steno pad and that I'll actually get things done. (Things do get done; but I'm definitely a procrastinator, and the stress/clutter really get to me.)
I really want a daily planner, but I decided I really don't need one. Half the time I would wind up not looking at my planner or using it sporadically throughout the year. I may buy myself a pretty wall calendar if I see one I really like (hoping to get to Staples and/or Barnes and Noble in the next few days).
Hope everyone is doing well today!
@PKM0515
I don’t use a paper calendar or a planner! I’m
Very phone-based for calendar items. I love I can set up a reminder & see what I have coming up on my Apple Watch!
I have a Master List of Very Important Tasks on a clipboard. As I crunch through them, I cross them off. When most are gone, I begin a new page with unfinished items.
For day to day small tasks I use a freebie notepad (real estate agents send them etc) or sticky notes & recycle thrift after I finish them.
Thank you @nebslp! Yep, my papers (except for sentimental photos) are significantly whacked back & organized. Gives great piece of mind.
Best,
Maddie1 -
Oh & @nebslp We also had a lot of binders. I gave a lot away before I realized how expensive they are these days. I keep the empty ones in one location & go there if I need one. I’m
Also good about emptying binders when no longer needed actively into a hanging folder or recycling bin- and returning the empty binder to that one location. So far, have not had to purchase a binder!!
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Maddie1 -
Hey Maddie, would you start a new Move it Monday for 2021. @themedalist
has various graphics, links and posts from the last three January (2018-2020) restarts of the Move it Monday threads, if you want to re-use any of them for this year.
The yearly Move it Monday threads officially started January 2018. It was an off shoot from our Stand More Sit Less campaigns so that anyone who wanted to could continue their quest for additional activity/ exercise with the Move it Monday thread.
We have had people come in and out of it over years. The idea behind having a Move it Monday is that it can be used as a reset, as well as a bit of extra encouragement, at the start of each new week. Especially if the past week(s) had their difficulties. And it was always a reminder to Stand More Sit Less.
Of course the restart of the thread for 2021 may also encourage any of our members, or new members, who want to start exercising more as a healthy habit 👍🏃♀️🤸♀️💪.
Thank you!
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texasgardnr wrote: »Hey Maddie, would you start a new Move it Monday for 2021. @themedalist
has various graphics, links and posts from the last three January (2018-2020) restarts of the Move it Monday threads, if you want to re-use any of them for this year.
The yearly Move it Monday threads officially started January 2018. It was an off shoot from our Stand More Sit Less campaigns so that anyone who wanted to could continue their quest for additional activity/ exercise with the Move it Monday thread.
We have had people come in and out of it over years. The idea behind having a Move it Monday is that it can be used as a reset, as well as a bit of extra encouragement, at the start of each new week. Especially if the past week(s) had their difficulties. And it was always a reminder to Stand More Sit Less.
Of course the restart of the thread for 2021 may also encourage any of our members, or new members, who want to start exercising more as a healthy habit 👍🏃♀️🤸♀️💪.
Thank you!
🤠🌺
DONE - I don’t have link to newsletter...
Thanks @texasgardnr ❣️0
