Damage Control

Book club went well! My house was presentable and everyone liked the book. Next month is Neil Gaiman's book, The Ocean at the End of the Lane. I haven't started it yet because my BIL sent me a book about Egyptian myths which I'm now skimming in an attempt to finish. There is very little plot and all the characters are god-like. Even the setting is multi-universe. He feels that since I like Neil Gaiman that I'll like this book. Not happening, but I'll read it to talk to him about it.

We had the smoke clouds again from Canada so I did not get as much walking in last week. I'm still doing 4 days a week of weights and feeling good.

DS1 is going to have a colonoscopy to rule out cancer. He's taking care of it and I'm hoping he tells us the results. DS2 seems very happy with his girlfriend and I think they will get married! She really likes the dog and seems very compatible.

I am just relaxing this weekend-amongst workouts and chores. I started a puzzle of San Francisco so have been working on that.

Hope you had a good visit with your brother. My DH was 70 this year-how time flies.

Beth
 
Lets see, I did glute work on Sun, Chest & Biceps on Mon, Rest on Tues, and 45 min peloton workout this morning. It feels good to get back into my regularly scheduled workouts. I only have a standing appt on Thursdays, so that is helping with the workout routine.

Next week they will I be having the pellet insertion again. It has been 4 months and the hot flashes and night sweats are back. It's so annoying. When will it end? I was told the pellets usually last between 3-5 months or when symptoms return.

I took Monday off so I had a nice long weekend! It was so nice to just be off work for several days. I actually didn't get to see my brother. He called me today and will be back some time next month. We are going to our Condo so I hope its not during that time.

Hope everything is okay with DS1. That is exciting news about DS2.

ttyl
 
Glad you got some down time from work last week and got some great workouts in. I think for stress exercise is so beneficial. Glad the pellets are working out. Do you get your period on them?

I've been doing my regular stuff. DS2 is updating his Linked in page, so we're helping him edit his intro. Next will probably be his resume. I am hoping he's planning a move. Maybe he's getting tired of paying such high rent every month. His GF is pretty down to earth so maybe she's pointing that out.

Beth
 
My exercise schedule is back on track! Although we didn't do anything, it was nice to be able to sleep in a few days.

The pellet insertion is scheduled for Thursday morning. I had a hysterectomy years ago. No periods for me. The estrogen is just enough to minimize or eliminate the symptoms of menopause. They will not cause you to start your cycle.

All the transplants from California have caused the Colorado housing market to increase prices. Here's an interesting article from last year. https://kdvr.com/news/data/californians-colorado-unaffordable-migration/

I know DS2 pays as much for rent as we do our mortgage. It's so expensive. He just lives about 5 miles from us.

It's meeting Monday for me.

ttyl
 
This has been a weird week for me. I had to work Saturday from 7-1, so was given flex time from 3-5 the 3 days I work. I was able to get in an upper and a lower body on two of the days. But then Saturday only walked-worked until all the patient's were seen and got home around 2:30 and was tired. Also, the heat doesn't help. Maybe I should get back in the pool/gym? I don't know-we'll see how this week goes. I'm planning on upper body today and lower on Monday. One day at a time, right!

Wow-home buying prices are outrageous! Between what our kids have to pay for school and then houses is terrible.

It looks like it's going to rain here-again-so I better get my walk in. Have a great week!

Beth
 
I had a crazy week too. The Taylor Swift concert was Saturday night and it was awesome. We all had a wonderful time. I had the girls mom, aunt, grandma and my MIL over for brunch on Sunday. We got a chance to visit for a bit longer. It was a great weekend.

Last week I got in 5 workouts. I didn't workout Sun/Mon or today. Trying to get back on track. It is so hot here too. It's been in the 90's and just too hot to walk. I have my workouts on the calendar for the rest of the week.

ttyl
 
How was your week? I got an extra cardio workout in on Wednesday before cards which was good. I'm back to upper and lower splits for weights-at least that was the last week. I end up doing whatever I feel like anyway. It threw me off a bit working last Saturday.

I've been having a lot of trouble with my vision. I went to the eye doctor last Thursday and my nearsightedness has gotten better somehow and my right eye is now 20/20 for distance. My left is close, but not 20/20. On the other side, the farsightedness in my left eye is 20/20, and my right is not. Then to see the computer I had to take my glasses off. The eye doctor advised me to try not wearing any glasses for two weeks to see how it goes. It's been an interesting time. I can pretty much do everything except read the fine print on the small bottles at work. I have not driven yet so we'll see how that goes. I am going to give it the full two weeks. My left eye is tired and watering at the end of the day-doesn't see as well far away. Maybe it'll keep getting better? It's definitely weird. I've never had an eye doctor not try to sell me a pair of glasses.

Have a good weekend! Not much planned here.

Beth
 
Glad it is the weekend. DH and I have been watching Suits on Netflix. We never saw it before and really like it. I'm guessing you were watching the World Cup today? I saw the US is going for a three-peat!

Tonight we are going to my sisters for my neice's college graduation party. Of course I remembered last night that my niece asked me to bring this ice cream dessert. This morning was an unplanned grocery store run to get what I need and then to get it made and in the freezer.

After all that, I finally got my workout in. I did a heavy leg workout from the other platform. This week I did STS 2.0 UB1, Cardio/legs, STS UB2, and today was heavy legs. I'm going to keep with the upper and lower body splits also for a bit. At least once or twice a week a 30 min bike and ab workout would be good. I also purchased a yoga streaming service-it $35 for a year. Some of them are short-20 minutes which is nice.

The girls are both babysitting tonight in the neighborhood, but for different people. They are excited about earning some money. They leave on Monday for Oregon with their Mom, her boyfriend and his 3 kids. They will be spending time at the beach in Seaside and then visiting their family for a few days. They will return on Aug 3rd. It will be quiet without them.

Be back tomorrow!
 
What great workouts you got in this week! I'm glad you're foot is healed. I like upper and lower splits because you can really do chest and back and get a lot of the arm muscles involved so you don't really need as many bi's and tri's exercises. I did a unilateral leg workout yesterday and am feeling it! Today will be upper body after our walk. I'm trying to get my step average up to 8K a day.

Yes, we've been watching the World Cup. The US looked terrible against Vietnam-but will hopefully pull it together for the more challenging matches. We have to watch them in Spanish and are trying to figure out the word for offsides at the moment.

Beth
 
Sunday was UB1 and 2 of the ab workouts. Yesterday was Asswk-from the other platform. It had curtsy lunges, sumo squats, goblet squats, step ups and hip thrusts. She uses 100KG=220 lbs. I used 85lbs. Yeah, I have a long way to go to get to that weight. Adding in additional glute work is helping to minimize the piriformis flares. The other platform has 1 leg day and 1 asswk each week. I like them because they are much heavier than what Cathe uses.

Today is my annual physical. It will be my rest day. Wednesday I will pick up with UB2. As far as my foot, it's about 80 to 90 percent. I still have minimal dorsiflexion on the left foot and pain on the top of the foot when trying to dorsiflex. I may make an appt to have my foot dr look at that. Its just below the crease of the foot when dorsiflexing on the top. There is some kind impingement there.

Hope you have a good week.
 
Wednesday was UB2, Thursday LB1, today I did a circuit. It was only 45 minutes but had a lot of cardio in it. Pushup/burpee/row/dragon press really gets the heart rate up as does kettlebell swings and weighted step ups.

I've been doing mostly weight training to raise my resting metabolic rate (rmr). That will help me burn more calories overall. My dr. still recommends getting in a few days of cardio each week for heart health.

Today is my off Friday and I have a massage scheduled. I'm so looking forward to it. I really need some time off work. My vacation is in 2 weeks so I'm trying to hold out. I took a couple hours off yesterday to run some errands and clean up my office. I had the boxes from my new work and personal computer plus tons of bags from ordering some clothes online for the girls and myself. It feels so much better to clear the clutter.

It's quiet without the girls here. They are on vacation with their mom. They come back at the end of next week. I'm washing the girls bedding while they are gone. That is something they do not stay on top of. They go to bed with sunscreen, makeup etc,. It definitely needs done.

How was your week? Do you have any weekend plans?
 
I've had a good week. I started a book called Outlive by Dr. Peter Attia. His goal is to prevent the start of the four horsemen of disease: metabolic syndrome, cancer, cardiovascular disease, and alzheimer's. I'm only 10 percent in and some of the material is already known, but I like his goal and want to keep reading. He talks about genetics and environmental factors. He said that hormone replacement therapy got a bad rap after just one study but is very helpful and a good tool in managing menopause.

Besides reading and the usual we're just trying to stay cool without air conditioning here! I have book club on Sunday to discuss Neil Gaimen's The Ocean at the End of the Lane. Should be fun.

I'm still just walking for cardio and my 6 month daily average is at 7800. I'm aiming for 8K a day so am almost there! Days I did weights was upper and lowers this week.

Today we are going to State College to shop and have a late lunch/early dinner. We like to stock up on Trader Joe items. I wish there was a store closer. But we'll be in air condition for a while anyway.

I am slowly cleaning my house. Yesterday was the coffee pot, microwave, and fridge. DH does maintenance which is great and allows me to go a little deeper.

Glad to hear you are not working ALL the time!

Beth
 
Your book sounds very interesting. I do follow an OBGYN that now focuses her practice on menopause care. She provides the science behind her recommendations.

The heat has been awful here too. Thankful we have air conditioning. We've also been getting some evening rains that has been nice. It has been a strange year here weather wise. We had a wet spring which is pretty unusual here.

The girls got back around 1:45am this morning. I came out and gave them and their mom hugs and visited for a few minutes. It was tough getting back to sleep so it will be a tough workday for sure.

I'm in a training class this week and today is the last day. I'm finding it much more difficult to retain all this new information. It made for some very long days. Glad today is the last day.

Monday-mow lawn, Tuesday was a 30 min tabata ride and yesterday was a full body circuit. My Dr. suggested adding in a bit more cardio to meet the american heart association recommendations. Those are 75 minutes of vigorous exercise or 150 minutes of moderate exercise each week. Today will be a lower body weight day. I try to exercise at least 5 days a week. Sometimes I get 6 or 7 but sometimes I only get 4.

How has your week been?
 
This week has been pretty good. The weather cooled and I had to wear a jacket on Tuesday and Wednesday to walk to work. It's been much better sleeping weather too.

I feel that way about learning new information. There is only so much you can remember and retain and feel good about. The computer at work has lots of updates and they keep changing things.

My eyesight is a mess. I tried it without my glasses for 2 weeks. Then, last weekend I read quite a bit and I started not being able to see close up. Distance was perpetually blurry as well. My eyes were tired and weeping by the end of the day. So, I started back wearing my glasses for distance and close up and taking them off for the computer. It's hard adjusting all day, but I'm just going to have to deal with it. I talked to some older people and I guess a lot of people have issues. I really don't want to get 3 pair of glasses and be changing them all the time. I might go for a different eye exam for a second opinion.

DH has been having hernia issues. He had a hernia surgery in Feb. last year. He's had some bulging and a day where it felt like a marble was at the hernia site. He goes for a Cat Scan next Monday in Corning and we're going to make a day of it in the Finger Lakes.

I could probably use more cardio as well. My torso is quite thick and I'm probably not putting much muscle on with my hand weights. I did up the weights in my walk vest to 12 pounds so that should help! I like counting minutes for my goal. I try to get 40 minutes of walking 7 days a week and then 4, 40 minute weight sessions. My walking is not real intense-I hope it's moderate intensity.

I went and saw Barbie on Monday with a gal from book club. Have you seen it? It is quite a feminist/girl power movie. I think it'd be good for young women to see.

Beth

Beth
 
It seems like the weekends fly by and the work week is so slow. I really need a break and am looking forward to having next week off. We'll be up in the mountains and out of these 80 and 90 degree temps.

Yesterday I had my mammogram Today is leg day and I'm looking for a workout. I'm starting to be able to do rear lunges with some weight now. It has taken forever. I've been able to increase from no weights, and up to 15lbs now. My left foot has been so swollen lately it is hard to wear a show on it. Not sure why though. I still have some kind of impingement just below the tibia on the top of my foot. The only other issue I seem to have going on is hip pain. Somedays there is none, and other days it hurts really bad. The only thing that seems to help is walking, or a lot of tylenol.

DH and I met with our retirement rep and he reviewed all our accounts etc. It turns out I can retire at 63 if I want. That would leave us using the marketplace for insurance. Considering I was planning on working until 67, it was a nice surprise. Not sure I will actually retire then, but it was nice to see it is a possibility.

Sorry to hear about your eyesight troubles. That is awful. I pretty much need to wear glasses on the computer and cell phone. My distance vision is good. My MIL wears glasses, but takes them off to read her books or be on the computer. Ugh, I hope the hernia issue is nothing serious.

Your workouts sounds perfect. Walking with a 12# vest is great for bone health as is weight training. I've been increasing the weights when I can. I'm using 40's for back or the barbell up to 74#. Chest I can go pretty heavy on also. My weakest link is biceps.

TTYL
 
Summer is flying by! Are you in the mountains this week? 63 will be here before we know it. I recommend part time-with a fixed schedule. Then your other part time job can be working out! The marketplace is tricky-especially now that Covid is "over".

Spent some time with my parents and DH playing cards last weekend at their house. It went fine-they just pretend they haven't hurt my feelings and I pretend they didn't. It will never be the same though. At least we're sort of connecting.

I've been reading my book club book a lot-Women Who Run With the Wolves. I feel like I'm taking a course in Women's Studies. Each chapter could be a discussion. It's ok, though, I am enjoying it. Each chapter starts with a fairy tale and then breaks it down into how it relates to women. The Ugly Duckling was the latest and it was all about mothering and finding your "pack".

Premiere League started this past weekend! So watched a lot of that, cleaned, worked out, and read. I feel like I've lost interest in cooking so we've been eating a lot of salads. It's just too hot to turn the oven on and DH is not a griller. He had a CT scan last week and we go see the surgeon this Thursday to see what she recommends. Per the results, he looks fine except for a small hernia on the right side. Maybe it's radiating pain and that's why his left side hurts? We'll see.

Off to walk-have a great week!

Beth
 
Yes, I'm in the mountains and on vacation. We came up Saturday morning. The traffic wasn't too bad. Yesterday DS1 and walked through all the shops on Main St. of a nearby mountain town. It was fun. I picked up a few stocking stuffers for the girls and a birthday gift for my MIL. I also bought a shirt for myself and some cbd lotion for my hips. This morning I went for a 5 mile walk along the marina and the reservoir. I will never tire of the view. I am definitely enjoying my time off.

This afternoon DS1 and I spent part of the day walking around town. Neither one of us bought anything. I think tomorrow we'll head further west to Vail and spend the day there. He brought his mountain bike and has been going for 10-15 miles each day on top of walking through town with me.

DH and I are watching Suits each night on Netflix. Last night we started watching Painkillers. It is very interesting and is about how the opiate crisis came to be. Very eye opening what people will do for money.
Glad you spent time with your parents. It doesn't sound like things will ever be the same between you but at least you are spending time with them. I hope Dan is okay and that he doesn't need another surgery.

ttyl
 
We made it home this afternoon. We've already unloaded, unpacked, and started laundry. I walked a minimum of 5 miles every day. The weather was beautiful, in the 70's. We soaked in the hot tub several nights. It was a great vacation. I don't go back to work until Monday.

The girls started school today. Sophomores already, hard to believe. The time sure is flying for them!

How was your week?

bbl
 
What a nice vacation! Wouldn't a home hot tub be nice to have. DH uses the one at the gym, but it's with a motel and can get pretty dirty.

We went up and saw the the surgeon yesterday. She is ruling out a groin strain/sprain in a muscle for a month. If no improvement on prescription anti-inflammatory then get an MRI to see what's going on. At least it's not surgery right now!

Not much else is new-but boring is better than drama!

Beth
 
I'm still struggling with hip pain. I'm beginning to wonder if the hip pain, si joint & piriformis pain, and hip flexor/groin pain and even my knee issue is all related. It's all on the right side. There doesn't seem to be any rhyme or reason to when the pain occurs. Sometime I get that zinger in the si joint down to the piriforms when sitting or walking. It's so frustrating. I am going to make dr. appt for the hip pain though. I really need to get to the bottom of that.

Today was a single weight workout-full body. I used a 25# db or 30lb barbell. It started with clean/press, clean/press/squat press, squat press etc. Lots of lunges too. I finished with my own ab work. It was a great workout. Tomorrow will be a heavy leg day.

I really need to get to the grocery story. It's just so stinking hot that I do not want to leave the house. It is in the mid 90's through Thursday this week. On Friday we drop to 88.

Later today I need to take care of some filing and pay the bills. Other than that, nothing much going on here.

ttyl
 

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