My Least Favorite Exercises - And Why I Do Them

It's only been within the last few months that I have become compliant with exercising. During the pandemic, exercise has become even more important for my physical and emotional health. I try to do a variety of exercises every day:

1) ten to fifteen minutes of walking outside

2) a mix of sitting and standing balance, leg, and hip exercises

3) bed exercises (some with one pound weights) that work my legs and hips

4) climbing stairs

5) walking in place (indoors and outdoors)

6) arm exercises with one pound weights

7) using a pedal exerciser

I don't do all of this every day.

But occasionally I actually do all seven.

I try to get at least 3,000 steps in daily, with a mixture of walking inside and outside, pedaling, and sometimes stairs.

Plus I do the bed exercises every day, and a set of standing balance, hip, and leg

exercises.

I have become very compliant with the balance and leg exercises, and the walking/pedaling.

But I am struggling with the arm exercises.

I have not been doing them every day, and I think because of that, they are difficult, and it has been too easy for me to say, "Oh, I'll try them tomorrow."

I'm working to change that mentality.

My test results show that exercise IS helping my bones.

I had a Reclast infusion three years ago.

Since then, I have regrown bone in my hips every year.

But I lost a little bone in my arms last year.

I believe that could change if I did my exercises every day.

I need to keep trying.

I did my arm exercises yesterday and today.

Yesterday I did ten reps of each type.

Today I did twenty of each.

I want to do twenty every day.

I want it to get easier.

But even if it doesn't, I need to keep doing it.

When it comes to my other exercises, my least favorite ones are bridges and squats (at least my version of a squat).

They're not easy.

But I firmly believe they are good for me.

So I keep doing them.

Listening to music or an audio book, or watching television is very helpful when I am exercising.

It makes the time go by faster, and keeps me from focusing on any discomfort that I'm experiencing.

Even though I struggle some days, I am very grateful for my ability to do any form of exercise.

librarianintx

Cheat Foods Taste So Good!

I've mentioned before that I'm dealing with high potassium of unknown origin.

My kidneys and adrenal glands seem to be working fine, which is great news.

But I have been unable to eat many foods in my diet for months: potatoes, tomatoes, tomato sauce, bananas, avocado, beans, milk, chocolate, etc. It has been a difficult situation.

But now my doctor is allowing me one cheat food per day.

Hooray!

It has been so nice to add some foods back in.

One would think that chocolate would be the first food I would return to, but I haven't.

I've been adding healthier options - usually 1/3 of a cup of beans, or a medium banana, or a dish with mushrooms in it. Occasionally a few bites of avocado.

I'm eating a snack that has cocoa in it, which has enough of a chocolate taste to satisfy my cravings but doesn't have potassium.

When you haven't been able to eat a certain food - and then you can - missing that taste makes it so wonderful to have it again! There is something called mindful eating - when you just focus on the food you are ingesting, and not doing other activities while you eat, like reading or watching television or scrolling through social media. I have been practicing mindful eating lately, and that has felt really good. The food tastes better when you practice mindful eating, and it is a more enjoyable experience than just shoveling food in while you're focused on another activity.

Last night I ate refried beans with shredded cheese. I used to eat beans with cheese, tomatoes, AND avocados - potassium city! I miss the tomatoes and avocado, but the beans are so creamy and tasty - YUM! Because I can only eat about a 1/3 of a cup, one can lasts for three meals.

Try mindful eating. It is a very pleasant experience, and good for your digestion too.

librarianintx   

ATX TV Festival - Shows featured / mentioned

Here are the shows that were featured / mentioned during the festival.
Because the weekend was virtual, we couldn't see any screenings.

Current shows:
New Amsterdam - NBC / Hulu
Unbelievable - Netflix (limited series)
The Chi - Showtime
Nancy Drew - CW
Stargirl - DC Universe
Vida - Starz (ended)
You - Netflix
Mandelorian - Disney+
Search Party - HBO Max
Sherman's Showcase - AMC
David Makes Man - OWN
Grownish - Freeform
Snowfall - FX
Diary of a Future President - Disney+
Bold Type - Freeform and Hulu
Room 104 - HBO
Psych - USA (ended)
Black Lady Sketch Show - HBO
Dave - Hulu

New / Upcoming shows:
Call Me Kat - Fox - premiere date?
Taste the Nation - Hulu - June 18
Perry Mason - HBO - June 21
The Good Lord Bird - Showtime - August 9 (limited series)
I'll Be Gone in the Dark - HBO- June 28 (limited series)
I May Destroy You - HBO - (available now)
P-Valley - Starz - July 12
Outcry - Showtime - July 5 (limited series)
Legendary - HBO Max (available now)
Little Fires Everywhere - Hulu (available now, limited series)
Barkskins - National Geographic (available now)
Dads - Apple TV+ - June 21 (documentary)

librarianintx

ATX TV Festival

My person is super excited.

"ATX TV...from the Couch!" starts tomorrow!

ATX TV is an annual event, similar to SXSW, but on a much smaller scale, and all about tv. There are screenings, premieres, and panels with writers, producers, stars, and others in the TV industry. Last year Lou Diamond Phillips, Phylicia Rashad, Eric Dane, Zendaya, and Kevin Bacon were some of the stars in attendance.

My person attended for the first time last year, and she loved it! She was thrilled to be part of a conference, to be downtown wearing a badge, meeting new people, seeing new shows before their tv premieres. She reveled in the fact that she was able to walk a few blocks and eat yummy grilled cheese sandwiches and fries at the Alamo Drafthouse theatre. She had the rare opportunity (for her) of being downtown at night.

She had been nervous beforehand, wondering if she could handle it.

She not only survived.

She thrived.

So this year the festival is all virtual.

She will miss the electricity of the in-person events.

She has learned how fulfilling it can be to feel the anxiety and walk through it.

But she is still looking forward to it.

And best of all - this year it is free!

She'll be busy, so I'll be in my usual spot in her room all weekend. 

It's okay. 

Me and the other stuffies will have our own party.

She still hasn't noticed when some of her snacks are gone.

Little Bow

New Shirt

My person wore a new shirt today. Land's End. Baby blue. Nice color, but pink would have been better. Soft, comfy shirt. 

No one saw her except her roommate and me. But she wore it anyway. Because she wasn't wearing it for anyone. She was wearing it for herself. Wearing new clothes feels good. It made her happy. It's a summer shirt, and today was a warm, summery day. Now is the time to wear a shirt like this.

She even wore a dress yesterday! Simply because she wanted to.

She could have saved the shirt until the pandemic is over and she is back in the community - going to work and being social with friends and family. But who knows when that will be? Probably not this season. 

So she decided not to let the shirt sit in the closet. 

She chose to wear it, to enjoy it, to feel good in it.

I just want her to be happy.

Little Bow