Doggy Photo Shoot Day #51

“What are you doing, Sir Thomas?” I ask him as I watch him bend in all shapes. Squinting through his half-pressed eyes he tries to bring me into focus…”Try this,” he tells me, “It beats any yoga poses you plan on doing.” He knows I practice Body Flow to teach at a gym. He puts up with my continuous practice all the time. I suddenly become aware of his thoughts…he is now telling me, “Can you just let go and bend your body like me…and breath – in through your nose and out through your nose.” I now know what he is telling me – “JUST RELAX!”

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Numbers: keeping Up With Them!

I am hooked on Fitbit! Fitbit numbers quietly push me hard; loudly keep me on my toes; and lovingly keep me healthy. I love reaching and beating my own numbers.

Numbers

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Bliss: Undoubtedly, Sir Thomas!

“Did I hear you right? Did you say I bring you perfect happiness?” Sir Thomas knows all that he means to me. Bliss is Sir Thomas.

Photo 101, 4th day

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Every Morning I say…

“I will have a good day, today! Today, if something bad happens; I want to be able to process the bad in my mind; and I certainly want to find the good in it to move my life forward!”…This is my tip to me.  My mornings begin with this short phrase.  A short phrase, which, for sure, has an enormous impact on my day.  I’ve been doing this for a few years now.  This short phrase has now developed into a healthy habit in my life.

A bad thing happened here. All parties involved, thankfully, were fine. My daughter was shaken up. She was one of the parties involved. The accident happened four months ago. She still thinks about it and has become a more conscious driver. The bad in this has been processed. And, the good in this is that we are able to move forward in our lives. Lesson learned.

What do you say to yourself each morning before starting your day?

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Doggy Photo Shoot Day #31

Sir Thomas TOOK ME FOR A WALK TODAY 🙂 . After two days of bad weather, he said he had enough! With the Sun shining today, he was in some mood…he kept going and going…and going, for a good 3-miles. In this photo, Sir Thomas taking a short break from walking to sniff nature 🙂 .   

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My Perfect Green Smoothie!

I love this smoothie!  It’s light and has so much good nutrients.  I love to make it for myself and my husband.  Kids totally freak out with the green color.  They don’t know this, but I do add a little bit of green stuff in their smoothie, just enough so it does not turn green on them :).  Crazy mom!

I add strawberry, banana and water into the smoothie tumbler.  We recently bought the Ninja (blender/smoothie-maker/food-processor).  I’m loving the fierce speed of this machine – 1500 watts, and the box says, “Total Crushing Technology.” 🙂  

I add the GREENS!

I use my fingers to push the greens below that -MAX FILL- mark on the tumbler.  The blade-lid unit does not screw in otherwise.

I close the top with the blade-lid.  This top will be the bottom on the Ninja machine.

And, here it goes…the “Total Crushing Technology” at work!    

I take two deep breaths and voila!  The smoothie is ready for my husband.  He drinks it right out of the tumbler.  I love this part too; no extra cups or drinking glass to be washed.  I’m all set to make mine, now. 🙂  I love this drink!  

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Direction:

(1 – serving; Prep time: less than 5-minutes; total time: less than 5-minutes)

1/2 of  6″ Banana

1/2 Cup Frozen Strawberries

2 Cups Olivia’s Organic mix (can use any other spring mix, spinach or kale)

1 Cup water (more if the smoothie is too thick)

Place all four ingredients in the tumbler.  Close with blade-lid.  Blend.  Blend for 10 seconds and it’s done!  Enjoy.

Nutritional Information:

Calories: 80 gram;  Carbohydrate: 21 gram;  Fiber: 4.8 gram;  Protein: 2.55 gram;  Sugar: 10.7 gram;  Fat: 0.17 gram;  Cholesterol: 0 gram;  Potassium: 281 gram

The salad gives me – Vitamin A 110%; Vitamin C 50%; Calcium 6%; Iron 20%.  The Strawberries give me – Vitamin C 45%, Iron 2% and Calcium 2%.  Banana and Strawberries are high in potassium.

(I eat lean meat/fish for my protein to balance my meal.  Sometimes I add protein powder in this smoothie and get protein that way).

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No Pain, No Gain. Oh, Not This Pain!

Workout finished.  Not exactly the way I wanted it to.  I hurt my lower back.  Excruciating pain.  No idea how it started.  It did not happen during my workout, but right after.  Maybe while I was putting away weights, steps or risers…who knows.  (I heard that)…it has nothing to do with my getting older! 🙂

Having low threshold for pain, I immediately hit the websites –  read, and read on lower back pain. Started treatment.  Iced the affected area, then used heat.  Alternated that for a good couple of days.  Took ibuprofen as well.  Consulted my dear websites, again.  Next step – added some stretch exercises.   (I heard that, too)…I’m not going to the doctor!  And, stop telling me what to do!

After two days, I felt well enough to try my Body Pump class.  Using my body weight for squats and lunges; and low weight (about 5 lbs) for the rest of the class; I finished the one hour class.  For the rest of the week – I kept low weight and focused on my form.  The week ended well. Pain level, in control!  (Heard that)…Awe, that’s sweet!  Thank you for believing in my research and treatment. 🙂

Source of my back pain – who knows!  But I do know that nursing that pain, helped.  I’m happy now –  that much I definitely know.

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Weight(less)

My friend and I were nearing the end of our moderate rated (on scale of difficulty), 4-mile trail, on a nice cool day.   These rock steps were the last hike.  Climbing against gravity to conclude our trail was a heavily weighted challenge.  Here, my friend is reaching the end.  Keep going friend, few more to go … you can do it!  (She did do it.)

I’ll go for a walk… with who?

When I crossed our main street to get to the sidewalk, Thomas, my beagle, pulled me to the left, a path we rarely take, as I, automatically, turned to the right, a path we usually take.  I decided to follow his lead.  He seemed happy.  His tail wagging, he took his time walking.

Nice cool breeze on a warm wintry day kept embracing us. And, the mostly cloudy day felt more like spring, not winter.  I felt my mind happily hopping.  I heard a complex symphony of sounds in the background – The chirping of the birds flying over us; the humming of the cars whizzing by us; the soft bark of a dog coming from nearby distance; the rustling of  leaves on trees around us.

As Thomas and I sauntered, I couldn’t help but chuckle remembering an encounter with an acquaintance – I had asked her about why she preferred walking alone.  She had blatantly answered, “Sweetie, because I can fart freely!”

I, too, realize walking by myself is immensely satisfying!  An accurate definition of myself would be  – me and my dog!  These walks are exclusive –  My conversations with myself remain private; my quiet times remain absolutely and phenomenally soothing; my silly but unavoidable burps, spits, and farts become one with the nature :).  Thomas and I walk completely immersed in our own worlds.  I walk leisurely at my own pace.  Actually, leisurely at Thomas’ pace :).  But, both walking, joyfully.

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Doggy Photo Shoot #29

“Folks, have a great year. Make 2016 a year to nap! The best year to dream! Dream big! And, may all your dreams come true in 2016,” Sir Thomas wishing you the best in his best way – set to take his first 2016 nap😀.

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