October’s Harvest of Healthy Habits
Replies
-
@77tes thanks for that lovely Thanksgiving poems. Actually I am reading all of them. It’s interesting how it slows everything down and creates an atmosphere.
Also, you could do a kids book on Lucy, I swear.
I am on a unique family visit with my x husband and his wife, and our three adult kids. Three kids and three parents. We all flew to the west coast as our two daughters are in an improvised play on Saturday. It has been wonderful.I learned I could place a Costco order for delivery to our Airbnb from the plane using Uber Eats. The flight had wifi. This was incredibly empowering on the snack front and generally speaking for our meals. I bought many healthy meals and snacks. I am very proud of myself for figuring it all out as it means I can order groceries and meals for my elderly mom when I away for extended periods.
Here is the lake we hiked around and my daughter holding a maple 🍁 leaf - I love how accessible epic nature is to the city over in this part of the country!
2 -
I think with the updates maybe they keep logging us out? My bougainvillia entry. Altho the focus is not where I would have liked the colors were striking to me.
Flu shot this week but no reactions so glad to get that one done. 1 significant virus illness is enough for me for a few more years.
I am here and feel like taking it slowly and getting back to all my normal activities without overdoing it has been a good lesson for me. My stamina for longer runs is not there yet but I am working to gather the base up again and I think finish the year strong.
and my fAVORITES. Of course blooming high up in the dogwood tree. LOL
3 -
@Wiseinwellness - sounds like a wonderful trip! Gorgeous photos of the stunning lake and large fall colored leaf! I too love the convenience of ordering healthy food through grocery apps, especially for my elderly mom when she has a need.
@SummerSkier - Beautiful shots of brilliantly colored flowers - Bougainvillea and Morning Glories. My DH and I will also be getting our Flu shots this weekend sometime. Maybe it could be considered a healthy lifestyle habit too.
@77tes - I love the poem I recall hearing from my childhood, Come Little Leaves! Thank you for sharing! 🍁 and, so great that you’ve walked over 60 miles this month! Crushing your healthy habit!
@hcoleman232 - hoping your arm injury has resolved for you. Those can be tricky.
@Learningmoments - sometimes life just gets a little wonky and distractions begin to take up space, even when we have good intentions to get back to the (insert habit). Hoping things settle down soon.
@TerriRichardson112 - Your Daily Solid Habits are inspiring! You are doing so well.
2 -
Friday 10/18: Twice this week, I tried weight training at my gym that is located right down the street. I enjoyed testing out 4 machines. It’s nice that we have a ladies only wing with all the equipment so body building types are in another section! Will meet my 3 x a week goal by Sunday.
💪 Hand weights for toning/strengthening upper body 3- 4 x a week
Modified / continuing habits:👣 Walking for exercise 6 x a week - 8,500-10k steps preferably outdoors — this has been a bit challenging with a changing schedule and colder weather. I did the treadmill at the gym twice however! And walked twice outdoors - weather is beautiful today so no excuses.
🧘♀️ Yoga/stretch sessions 3-6 x a week - Bodybalance and yoga gym class and/ or YWA at home - 2 down, 1 to go.
🍲 Fresh nutritious foods 6 x a week - Mediterranean way of eating - it’s going! Baby steps.
2 -
It should have read “Male body builders!”
Just retuned from a two-mile walk in my neighborhood. Here are some shots of liquid ambers or which are many in my community. I love all the redwoods, too.
3 -
🦩🍄🟫🍂🦩🐿️🍁🐿️🦩🍂🍄🟫🦩
🦩🍄🟫🍁October 2025🍁🍄🟫🦩
🦩🍄🟫🍂🦩🐿️🌺🐿️🦩🍂🍄🟫🦩
I am a person who values the health and fitness of mind, body, and spirit.October Focus:ConsolidationI have a very busy month ahead, so I am concentrating on staying on track with my Solid Habits.Solid Habits: 🫶🫶🫶🫶Wk1:🫶Wk2: 🫶Wk3: Wk4 Wk5:
📍
Daily Solid Habits:I like to frame my aims in positive terms.♦️Foodlog All food and drink; stay under goal;
balance macros/micros;
Hydrate adequately; limit ‘empty’ snacks
♦️Exercise:
5,500+ Steps daily
50 + minutes intentional exercise
♦️Mind/Body/Soul/Spirit
Daily Mindfulness Practice/Meditation
Practice Self-care
Positively reframe thoughts
Learn something new
Communicate
Create/adapt positive habits
Puzzles/Art/Craft/Write/Read
15 mins Daily Declutter session
Volunteer group leader for Lifelong learning charity, U3A (University for the Third Age)
Terri 🍂🍁
3 -
@Michieb125 I love those trees!!!!
1 -
@Wiseinwellness , your unique Thanksgiving sounds like it was really nice. Full of connection and activity and beautiful nature! I too love the delivery opportunities. Many of our recent gifts of food came from Whole Foods by way of Amazon! Lots of veggie and salad options, so that helped us eat healthy. I didn’t know you could order from an airplane, though. Wow!
@SummerSkier , I love your flower photos, so beautiful. Bougainvillea is a favorite since the front of our house used to be covered in it. Trimming it back around the front door was a bit of a pain, but we sure miss it since it blew down in a big windstorm. It shade us from the afternoon sun, keeping the whole house about 10° cooler and shading the kitchen window. I’m glad to hear that you’re gently getting back to running.
@Michieb125 , beautiful fall color and redwoods! And your habits are looking balanced and so, so healthy. How great that theres a gym down the block from your house! And that it has a women’s section, that’s just more comfortable. I’m sure there are many nice male bodybuilders, but unfortunately there are many jerks.
@TerriRichardson112 , thanks for checking in and inspiring us with your wonderful solid habits.
October 17 - Sunrise walk with my daughter and Lucy.
Autumn
John Clare
I love the fitfull gusts that shakes
The casement all the day
And from the mossy elm tree takes
The faded leaf away
Twirling it by the window-pane
With thousand others down the laneI love to see the shaking twig
Dance till the shut of eve
The sparrow on the cottage rig
Whose chirp would make believe
That spring was just now flirting by
In summers lap with flowers to lieI love to see the cottage smoke
Curl upwards through the naked trees
The pigeons nestled round the coat
On dull November days like these
The *kitten* upon the dung-hill crowing
The mill sails on the heath a-goingThe feather from the ravens breast
Falls on the stubble lea
The acorns near the old crows nest
Fall pattering down the tree
The grunting pigs that wait for all
Scramble and hurry where they fall3 -
October 18 - Later walk after the Farmers Market.
Here’s an insect of some sort on a pretty flower of some sort. (My seek app let me down in identifying them).
Whim Wood
By Katherine Towers
into the coppery halls
of beech and intricate oak,
to be close to the trees
as they whisper together
let fall their leaves,
and we die for the winter0 -
Oh @77tes my phone says that is a FAIRY IRIS! so pretty. The insect must be a fairy of course?😂
1 -
@SummerSkier , haha 😆, I like your phone’s identification. I need more fairies in my life. Maybe I just need to be aware of the fairies that are all around.
October 19 - Nice slow walk. Here are some fall colors! Pyracantha berries.
PlumsBy Gillian Clarke
When their time comes they fall
without wind, without rain.
They seep through the trees’ muslin
in a slow fermentation.Daily the low sun warms them
in a late love that is sweeter
than summer. In bed at night
we hear heartbeat of fruitfall.The secretive slugs crawl home
to the burst honeys, are found
in the morning mouth on mouth,
inseparable.We spread patchwork counterpanes
for a clean catch. Baskets fill,
never before such harvest,
such a hunters’ moon burningthe hawthorns, drunk on syrups
that are richer by night
when spiders pitch
tents in the wet grass.This morning the red sun
is opening like a rose
on our white wall, prints there
the fishbone shadow of a fern.The early blackbirds fly
guilty from a dawn haul
of fallen fruit. We too
breakfast on sweetnesses.Soon plum trees will be bone,
grown delicate with frost’s
formalities. Their black
angles will tear the snow.2 -
a unique Bougainville today.
3 -
Thanks @SummerSkier, Pretty golden bougainvillea!
October 20 - Later walk because the puppy slept in. Good sleeping weather right now. After the walk, I was doing my lifting routine in the backyard when a huge flock of parrots flew over. By the time I dropped my weights and got my phone, they had settled in a tree, and the phone picture just looks like a tree.
So here’s a picture of our last rose of summer. I didn’t deadhead my roses this year, so I have a crop of rose hips, but few flowers.
And a poem from childhood.Autumn Fires
Robert Louis Stevenson
In the other gardens
And all up in the vale,
From the autumn bonfires
See the smoke trail!
Pleasant summer over,
And all the summer flowers,
The red fire blazes,
The grey smoke towers.
Sing a song of seasons!
Something bright in all!
Flowers in the summer,
Fires in the fall!2 -
October 21 - Park day with my Curves friends. I had to shorten my walk afterwards a bit because I had an appointment to get Covid Boosters for DH and myself.
During the first 3 full weeks of October, I have totaled almost 225,000 steps and 90 miles in my Walktober challenge. I have even purchased myself a T-shirt to commemorate this challenge I’ve done with myself. 😍
Beautiful afternoon!
Spring and Fall
BY Gerard Manley Hopkins
to a young child
Márgarét, áre you gríeving
Over Goldengrove unleaving?
Leáves like the things of man, you
With your fresh thoughts care for, can you?
Ah! ás the heart grows older
It will come to such sights colder
By and by, nor spare a sigh
Though worlds of wanwood leafmeal lie;
And yet you wíll weep and know why.
Now no matter, child, the name:
Sórrow’s spríngs áre the same.
Nor mouth had, no nor mind, expressed
What heart heard of, ghost guessed:
It ís the blight man was born for,
It is Margaret you mourn for.
1 -
Hi everyone!
@SummerSkier Your unique Bougainville looks like potato chips!! 😂🤣
@77tes Great job on your Walktober challenge! 👏🏻👏🏻
I’m still active, just not on MFP. I joined a 5k training group to gain running knowledge and help me stay motivated. It’s also nice to meet new people and have a group to run with. I’ve signed up for the local 5k reindeer run in December and this year I hope to run the entire race.
5 -
Week #1, Week #2, Week #3 done. October is flying by! Glad I’m here to help keep me accountable as I feel things are going to be even busier in November. I am satisfied how I have been able to become more consistent with my exercise and want to build on that.
I attended a Pilates class this morning and knocked out my “yoga/stretch” routine then walked during my grandsons baseball practice. Wow, my endorphins were powered up all day.Updates:
💪 Hand weights for toning/strengthening upper body 3 - 4 x a week - 2 down, 1 to go.
Modified / continuing habits:👣 Walking for exercise 6 x a week - 8,500-10k steps preferably outdoors - accomplished 4 days thus far this week; a sore throat kept me down a couple of days.
🧘♀️ Yoga/stretch sessions 3-6 x a week - 3 down, I’m sure I can do one more!
🍲 Fresh nutritious foods 6 x a week - Mediterranean way of eating - I’ve incorporated a lot more fresh vegetables in my cooking this month.
1 -
A huge congrats to you @77tes on your very successful Walktober challenge!
0 -
@hcoleman232 , woot! Training for a race is awesome! 🤩 cool that you’ve got a group to train with.
@Michieb125 , what a great program you’ve got going! How’d you like the Pilates?
October 22- Morning walk with DD#2 and Lucy.
Interesting harvest in a neighborhood yard.
The Autumn
By Elizabeth Barrett Browning
Go, sit upon the lofty hill,
And turn your eyes around,
Where waving woods and waters wild
Do hymn an autumn sound.
The summer sun is faint on them —
The summer flowers depart —
Sit still — as all transform'd to stone,
Except your musing heart.
How there you sat in summer-time,
May yet be in your mind;
And how you heard the green woods sing
Beneath the freshening wind.
Though the same wind now blows around,
You would its blast recall;
For every breath that stirs the trees,
Doth cause a leaf to fall.
Oh! like that wind, is all the mirth
That flesh and dust impart:
We cannot bear its visitings,
When change is on the heart.
Gay words and jests may make us smile,
When Sorrow is asleep;
But other things must make us smile,
When Sorrow bids us weep!
The dearest hands that clasp our hands, —
Their presence may be o'er;
The dearest voice that meets our ear,
That tone may come no more!
Youth fades; and then, the joys of youth,
Which once refresh'd our mind,
Shall come — as, on those sighing woods,
The chilling autumn wind.
Hear not the wind — view not the woods;
Look out o'er vale and hill-
In spring, the sky encircled them —
The sky is round them still.
Come autumn's scathe — come winter's cold —
Come change — and human fate!
Whatever prospect Heaven doth bound,
Can ne'er be desolate.
2 -
🦩🍄🟫🍂🐿️🍂🐿️🍂🍄🟫🦩
🍄🟫🍁October 2025🍁🍄🟫
🦩🍄🟫🍂🐿️🌺🐿️🍂🍄🟫🦩
I am a person who values the health and fitness of mind, body, and spirit.October Focus:ConsolidationI have a very busy month ahead, so I am concentrating on staying on track with my Solid Habits.Solid Habits: 🫶🫶🫶Wk1:🫶Wk2: 🫶Wk3: 🫶🏻 Wk4 Wk5:
📍
Daily Solid Habits:I like to frame my aims in positive terms.Daily Habits Update - October 2025[/b][/color](Things I aspire to, but don't always achieve)
1. Log ALL CI/CO (Daily)
2. Stay under goal (Daily)
3. Balance macros/micros (Daily)
4. Hydrate adequately (Daily)
5. Choose healthy options (Daily)
6. Steps > 5500 (Daily)
7. Stretch before/after workouts
8. 15+ minutes Cardio > 5 days a week
9. 15+ mins Strength > 5 days a week
10. 15+ mins Flexibility > 5 days a week
11. Active hours > 6
12. Practice self-care (Daily)
13. Stay up to date with accounts (monthly)
14. Mindfulness Practice/meditation ((Daily - morning/evening)
15. 1 > 15 mins Declutter sessions (Daily)
16. Be creative
17. Purchase essential items only
18. Read > 1 book from 'to read' pile
19. Work on art/craft projects (monthly)
20. Learn something new (daily)
21. Actively Build Healthy Habits
22. Be proactive re Celebrations
Terri 🦄
3 -
Hi everyone. I think this month HAS been a success altho I haven't kept a clean track I feel like I am taking more time to mention compliments to others that I notice than previously so I will work on this continuing the rest of the month. At work it is pretty easy as so many folks take the time to have nice outfits.
3 -
@77tes nice work not sure how far I have walked this month it would easy enough to figure out.
Vaca day today a few morning errands and then not sure at least it’s the weekend.Guitar still coming out, pages turning in the book interesting it’s about a young boy and his family dynamics that leave him in a foster home more to come.
2 -
Such great solid habits! @TerriRichardson112 👏
@SummerSkier , that’s so nice! It feels so wonderful to get a compliment! 😁😁
@snowshoe072 , I just let my Fitbit do my tracking. Yay for pulling out the guitar and enjoying your fun reading.
October 23 - DD#1 sent us treats from Starbucks, so our walk got delayed. (I only like Starbucks in Pumpkin Spice time). It set a nice mood for the day and we still got in a full walk.
Neighbors in October
By David Baker
All afternoon his tractor pulls a flat wagon
with bales to the barn, then back to the waiting
chopped field. It trails a feather of smoke.
Down the block we bend with the season:
shoes to polish for a big game,
storm windows to batten or patch.
And how like a field is the whole sky now
that the maples have shed their leaves, too.
It makes us believers—stationed in groups,
leaning on rakes, looking into space. We rub blisters
over billows of leaf smoke. Or stand alone,
bagging gold for the cold days to come.
3 -
October 24 - Dancing counts. I usually skip the walk on a dancing day, but I plan to call more than half the dances this week , and that means less dancing. So I took my morning walk. It was our Halloween party, so I went as Underdog.
When the Frost is on the Punkin
By James Whitcomb Riley
When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder’s in the shock,
And you hear the kyouck and gobble of the struttin’ turkey-*kitten*,
And the clackin’ of the guineys, and the cluckin’ of the hens,
And the rooster’s hallylooyer as he tiptoes on the fence;
O, it’s then’s the times a feller is a-feelin’ at his best,
With the risin’ sun to greet him from a night of peaceful rest,
As he leaves the house, bareheaded, and goes out to feed the stock,
When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder’s in the shock.
They’s something kindo’ harty-like about the atmusfere
When the heat of summer’s over and the coolin’ fall is here—
Of course we miss the flowers, and the blossums on the trees,
And the mumble of the hummin’-birds and buzzin’ of the bees;
But the air’s so appetizin’; and the landscape through the haze
Of a crisp and sunny morning of the airly autumn days
Is a pictur’ that no painter has the colorin’ to mock—
When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder’s in the shock.
The husky, rusty russel of the tossels of the corn,
And the raspin’ of the tangled leaves, as golden as the morn;
The stubble in the furries—kindo’ lonesome-like, but still
A-preachin’ sermuns to us of the barns they growed to fill;
The strawstack in the medder, and the reaper in the shed;
The hosses in theyr stalls below—the clover over-head!—
O, it sets my hart a-clickin’ like the tickin’ of a clock,
When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder’s in the shock!
Then your apples all is gethered, and the ones a feller keeps
Is poured around the celler-floor in red and yeller heaps;
And your cider-makin’ ’s over, and your wimmern-folks is through
With their mince and apple-butter, and theyr souse and saussage, too! ...
I don’t know how to tell it—but ef sich a thing could be
As the Angels wantin’ boardin’, and they’d call around on me—
I’d want to ’commodate ’em—all the whole-indurin’ flock—
When the frost is on the punkin and the fodder’s in the shock!
4 -
Love the poems and underdog costume @77tes — not to mention dancing is such great exercise!
We had our grandson spend the night on Thursday and it was a joy filled treat.
After he returned home yesterday, I walked 9,100 steps. I will definitely make time to do my hand weights and yoga today. It’s pretty gloomy out so I will just have to clean the house a bit!1 -
A good weekend busy lots of walking actually even found time to spin and start a new book a bit controversial but I think it will be a good educational read.
Walking continues along with meditation and some strength work.
0 -
Hi everyone. This next week will be a lighter schedule, but stress still high. I hope to take some TLC time for myself. I am meal prepping tomorrow. I have done better on meal planning and trying to keep my good habits going. I have missed enjoying all your posts.
Everyone is doing GREAT! I love the pictures and poems. @77tes Super job on your walk-tober challenge. You are adorable as Under Dog.
@SummerSkier I love the bougainvillea. It does look like potato chips. lol. Love the other pictures, too. You are bringing so much sunshine to the world around you with your compliments.
@hcoleman232 That is great you found a training running group and signed up for a 5k. I am sure the group helps with motivation. Time flies when you run with others.
@Michieb125 Great job on following your workout schedule! Grandkids are so much fun!
@TerriRichardson112 Great idea shining up your solid habits before a busy month. Do you list your habits on a paper or post it on frig or how do you keep up with them?
@snowshoe072 Great job with your guitar playing and reading. I love you are fitting your passions into your day.
0 -
@Learningmoments I have them on my phone and iPad. I used to keep a habit tracker, but it got boring just ticking them every day. I’m not so obsessed about them now. I just do them. They are part of my daily routine. The habits have turned into behaviours! 😂 Nowadays, I just record my progress on the habit I’m focusing on on the BHH monthly page.
1 -
@TerriRichardson112 You and @77tes have inspired me so much. I want to be able to really care for myself during a crisis or busy times instead of dumping it all and just hoping that it doesn't do too much damage. I had time to rest yesterday and clean house. Today I took my routines and really thought about how to just do the minimum I can so it becomes a habit. Somewhere I think I read there is no better time to put yourself first than a crisis. I always want things to be perfect for starting something or know exactly what the plan is. So I have my list of routines and I will do my best. This morning & tonight, I did yoga. It helped a lot, but I still see my shoulders creeping up into my ears. Hopefully with practice, I can get them where they belong. Lol. Thank you all my habit seeking friends. You all are so inspiring.
2 -
@Michieb125 , grandkids are great for being active! Sounds like your weekend was full of solid habits 🙌
@snowshoe072 , good walking, spinning, meditation, and reading! Bravo 👏
@Learningmoments , hooray for success in the meal planning! 🥘 It’s a hard habit to master, but the payoff is worth the effort ! I hope that TLC happens. Try to pamper yourself a bit every day this coming week. 🫂. So glad your schedule got lighter ! I liked your quote about there being “no better time to put yourself first than a crisis.” It’s true because otherwise you get frazzled and no use to anyone.
October 25 - Our walk was later - after the farmers market, but got it done. I was Very tired after dancing Friday night.
Lucy played a bit in a neighbor’s front yard with his pup named Zoey. It was very cute.
Here’s a picture of the neighborhood Red Bud tree. The first to bloom in spring and then a golden cloud in the fall.
Fall
the black oaks fling
their bronze fruit
into all the pockets of the earth
pock pockthey knock against the thresholds
the roof the sidewalk
fill the eaves
the bottom lineof the old gold song
of the almost finished year
what is spring all that tender
green stuffcompared to this
falling of tiny oak trees
out of the oak trees
then the cloudsgathering thick along the west
then advancing
then closing over
breaking openthe silence
then the rain
dashing its silver seeds
against the houseMary Oliver (1935 – 2019)
3 -
Gosh hard to believe here we are in the final stretch of Oct. I have managed to pretty much increase my activity back up and watched my VO2max and resting HR improve over time which is all I really wanted. I was hoping to avoid any binging but did have one last week. But right back to it the next day altho the siren song of restrict always calls to me I know that is a dangerous rollercoaster and chose to avoid it.
I had the most crazy appt yesterday with my lash lady. I have been going to her for almost 10 years now every few weeks for my lashes and she is pretty much really nice and does a great job. But lately she is having some financial and health issues and yesterday she was literally falling asleep and unable really to do the work. I was actually trying to talk to her most of the appt to keep her awake and she kept losing the train of the conversation. I am sure it was medication. She spent 90 minutes working on me (and from the result it was about 15 minutes) for a pretty awful job. I did not want to say anything but she knew because she texted me several times offering a free fix this week etc… I told her honestly that my eyes were hurting (she was awful with the glue) and that I would see but I don't understand. If you are too ill to work, you really should not try to. It took all my will power not to just try to get up and leave after she started and in hindsight I probably should have. I am torn as to what to do as it has been getting worse over the past months and I am not sure I can continue.
1
