Just a chair & your arms - Starting upper body workouts again

I was able to weigh myself finally six weeks after foot surgery and as expected I’ve lost a couple of pounds. Unfortunately it is most likely muscle loss both in my legs and arms so here I go with rebuilding strength yet again.

Walking is still awkward and I will start PT in a week or so thus decided to work on arm strength. A seated workout seemed wise and I found this one by a physical therapist which clearly showed I need to do this! No weights needed and no awkward moves.

It takes you through two rounds of a few exercises and the first time I only did one round. Obviously quite needed. We’ll see at the end of August how many times I did the routine. Goal is 2 times a week and being able to do the entire workout easily.

Seated Upper Body Workout

Upping my arts time

One of my dreams for my 70’s that has been put on hold because of the pandemic is getting a new lease on life as I find alternative means to pursue it.

In the past I had been privileged to live on locations that gave me fabulous access to visual and theatre arts. Now I live in an area where that is less accessible or less easily accessible I should say.

So right now I am finding ways to increase my arts experiences within the constraints of where I live currently.

I watched to movie The Dig which led me me to a treasure trove of YouTube videos about the Sutton Hoo finds and fabulous virtual curator tours of amazing Angol-Saxon artifacts and artistry as well as the true story and history.

I happened upon a NPR story about the New Women and Photography which led met to the Metropolitan Art Museum YouTube on the exhibit. Also is the history of amazing and enterprising women. Both sides of my family had men who were early professional photographers but no women. I did have a great grandmother who earned her living as a hat maker and seamstress but no longer desire to sew. Check out the exhibit tour by the curator - The New Woman Behind the Camera

Then I made a personal commitment to spending more time in the right side of my brain (being a heavily left brain dominant person it is a relief and restorative to switch sides). I pulled out and made accessible my drawing supplies and started in on a page of this book that appealed to me at the moment.

My Dad was a very talented artist and took over my grandparents photography studio in Champaign, IL and in retirement did portraits with pastels. I don’t have his talent or patience but it is enjoyable.

I’ve decided to pay the membership fee for the local artist collective gallery so I can access member benefits and get notices about exhibits and lectures. We did that when we first moved here but the pandemic turned me inward and it is time to change that.

Next time we go to Berkeley to visit family I’m going to see if there is any exhibit of some sort that will appeal to my granddaughter. I do art projects with her and would like to take her to a gallery.

Almost August and some goals for the month

WHAT ARE YOUR GOALS OR AREA OF FOCUS FOR AUGUST?

Here are mine. Have a laugh at the goals sheet laying on a towel please. I had the ottoman I have been resting my foot on covered with a towel so the cast & boot wouldn't damage the fabric!

The mention of heat is quite relative as August here is typically in the low to mid-80's with occasional hotter days. Our really hot days seem to arrive in September at least based on the 4 years we have lived here. 

Now a bit further inland is a whole different story and I hope we will be trekking over to Pasadena to visit our son and DIL soon but not until I can enjoy walking around Pasadena.

EXERCISE: On August 9th I should get the go ahead to lose the walking boot and start wearing a very adjustable pair of sandals. 

I will be continuing with improving my walking through PT but also want increase time on chair and bed stretches. Upper body chair exercises need to be added this month too. Eventually I'll be able to get back to mat exercises and stretching but not until I can get up and down correctly without it hurting!

DATE NIGHT: I still don't anticipate going anywhere for fun except to the Ventura Pier for lunch or the brewery again for pizza and beer served outside. So Date Night activities will probably be at home but doing something deliberately together for fun is the plan. 

HEALTHY ME: I think this is pretty self explanatory. Doing it is the challenge.

CLUBBING: Sounds more like what the 20 somethings are looking forward too! My version is part of engaging with others and strengthening friendships.

My club activities and friends have been a lifeline through the pandemic and I am hopeful that the virus will not shut down in person meetings since we are all vaccinated. However, we will continue one way or another and get our property management, charity and social activities done.

CREATIVITY: I wrote about haiku but I may instead work through some of this book 

or make bookmarks to give away or do some doodling art like these that I found on Pinterest.

 

I recently sat on the couch with my feet up and did this sketch using fine tip markers and following a drawing from Pinterest and it was fun to do. 

The point is to spend more time on creative activity rather than just thinking about it.

How long might I live and how to increase odds of life quality?

When we consulted a financial planner while still working, we asked her to assume we would live to at least 100. Does that seem optimistic to you?

My dad lived to almost 89 and my mom to 93. Both had serious health problems well before 70 (multiple serious heart problems and cancer with heavy chemo respectively) that I haven’t had. Hubby’s dad also lived to 93 despite being a heavy smoker to the end. So we think past 100 might be a possibility and have known people who lived to 107 with their mind and most of their body in good health.

How does this all relate to the idea of embracing my 70’s?

I remember clearly my Dad’s 75th surprise birthday party and how vital and active he was. Ten years later that was not the case although his mind was still good. Same for my Mom but add 5 years as she was still doing pretty well at 85. I also remember that at some point they simply stopped moving and getting much physical activity. Understandable but not good for them. 

Our modern lifestyle (internet browsing, texting) plus my inherited love of reading makes me at risk for the same fate.

They also both stopped reaching out to friends or planning activities that would take them out of their home. This was partly due to living in a rural area in a northern climate with long winters and eventually the inability to drive. However I saw the effect of social isolation on my mom once my dad died. She was lonely and craved some friendly social and physical contact but didn’t want to “bother” anyone to give her a ride so they stopped asking. She also wouldn’t move to assisted living or closer to my my brother or myself. 

My tendency to not reach out to initiate social activity puts me at the same risk especially since we were not successful at moving really close to either of our sons so far.

That leads to the first things I really need to develop strong habits for during the remainder of my 70’s.

- An exercise habit that I enjoy and that keeps up strength and flexibility 

- A social network where I can reciprocate well and stay engaged with people I truly care about

- Regular activities that get me out in the larger world and feed my interests and keep me interesting 

I’m starting this thought process at nearly 72 because - well, the pandemic. Better late than never.

Embracing MY 70’s

The 1970’s were long ago and carry with them the birth of my older son, the end of my first marriage, moving to new places, finishing college and grad school, meeting my current husband and of cours all the geo political cultural changes the world went through. 

I don’t know that my personal 70’s will be that filled with changes but as I approach turning 72 on September 1st I realize that it is time to contemplate what has already happened in this decade of my life and what I hope and plan to have happen the rest of the decade of my 70’s.

So I have added a tag line to this blog’s title and will be trying to add some relevant posts. 

If you have any questions you would like me to answer, post topics or would like to guest post on something related please let me know.