fitness – Beautiful Remade

Introducing My Fitness Partner

By: Just myself December 11, 2022December 11, 2022

Blog#animal behavior, #building the life you want, #dogs, fitnessLeave a Comment

When setting fitness goals, it is always more fun and motivating with a friend.

This is my partner. 7.5 months old Coonhound/Sheppard mix.

Although it is nice to spend time with my young friend, it is not necessarily the dream dog relationship I had in mind.

Finnigan has anxiety. He panics at new things, new people, and other dogs

My dreams of a hiking partner that I could throw in the car and take anywhere. Nope, not Fin. Fin takes thought, planning, patience, and hard work.

Finnigan is a very good boy he knows his obedience commands, but going through the “teenage stage” doesn’t always do them.

We are working closely with a veterinarian behaviorist to show him the world is not such a scary place.

Life is full of moments and things that you have to meet where they are, not where you wish them to be.

Will Finnigan ever be “my dream dog”? Maybe, maybe not. Finnigan is real. He is not a dream.

Meeting my young pup where he is still gets me out to exercise. The advantage is exercising with Fin not only trains my body but my mind, patience, and reflexes as well.

Embracing a healthy lifestyle: letting go of the “diet mentality”

By: Just myself May 7, 2022

Blog#battles of the mind, #building the life you want, #healthy living, #living your best life, #motivation, fitness, gardening1 Comment

I was disappointed with myself at the end of the day yesterday. I had reinstalled another “step counter” on my phone to track my activity and I was no-where close to my goal of steps taken when I went to bed. Crazy thing was my body was screaming at me. Why?

I started cleaning up my gardens yesterday and my two hours I had alloted before I chained myself to my desk for a few hours, turned into five hours of joyous work in the sunshine. Doing hundreds of squats, digging, pulling and activating muscles that have laid dormant since last year.

I worked HARD, so why was I so disappointed about a stupid number on my phone?

The conversation my mind was having with my soul, was not very nice! Instead of saying good job today, it was talking down telling me, “I would never reveal the skinny (healthy)person inside that is disguised in an excess layer of fluff(fat).”

The problem with a mindset of diet is it is equal to scarcity and want vs a mindset of health and well-being which is a mindset of delicious fresh abundance and ability.

Ironically like many other lessons in my life, the most impactful person to give me this lesson about diet vs lifestyle, was my daughter Stephanie. One day I was talking about preparing lunch and said the word “diet”. She spoke up and said,”no mom, not a diet, it’s your lifestyle now.”

A lifestyle is about daily sustained choices for the long-run, as apposed to a short term denial for “quick, unlasting results”.

A lifestyle is about making choices and taking action on a daily bases to bring self closer to your own type of beautiful and joy.

Maybe I should have slipped away yesterday for a power walk, to boost some calorie burning. That would only have worked on one area of my lifestyle dream.

I chose instead, muscle building, weight-lifting, beautifying, garden building, weeding: with the hope that someday soon, my body will be fit AND my gardens will be beautiful. Not to mention the fresh, healthy, local abundance of home-grown food. Payoff for this lifestyle choice!

Where in your life do you need to make a mental shift from lack (diet) to abundance (lifestyle)? What can you do today to level-up the impact of your actions?

Surprised!!!

By: Just myself January 20, 2022

Blog#building the life you want, #having a full life, #healthy living, fitness, hiking, photographyLeave a Comment

*Only pic I got because my glasses fogged!*

-21°C with a -31 wind chill, who in their right mind goes out in this weather!

I bundled myself up, layer by layer. Thinking with every item I put on there must be an easier way, space material or something. Maybe I could test out extreme winter clothing, find a sponsor, to 0pgive me motivation? But for the moment layer by layer I continued.

As I am sure I have told you before; I am Canadian (that’s what my mom told me anyway), but I hate the cold! Which is why there is always a little doubt about my nationality lol.

I could have asked someone to drive me down to the corner, or Doug probably would have drove my van up and I could have returned him. No I need to move my body. My life depends on it!

Out the door I went, pausing to snap a photo, saying a tiny prayer that I would not get frost bite on my cheeks.

I could hear the wind through the pines. It was loud enough to leave me questioning whether it really was wind or a vehicle, it sounds so similar to a car. A quick glance back assured me of my safety. On I trod.

Sharon’s wind chimes clanged loudly as the wind tried to intimidate me with it’s fierceness. When I got around the corner into the sun I was immediately thankful the wind was to my back. The threats were empty, my layers prevailed. The sun beat onto my face and black coat, I was actually hot!

I could not see through my fogged up glasses to enjoy the sights or snap a photo. The joy of the heat of the sun warming from the outside in, while the wind was stopped by the layers upon layers of clothing is my reward today.

That and the fact I have one more kilometer under my belt. A kilometer closer to my fitness/health goal. A kilometer closer to ‘living my best life’. And hey my foot is not bothering me too much today.

The van is fixed. I will have to find a new motivator to thrust me outside into the cold clean air. For now I will sip my tea, and dream of sunny, warm, spring days.

Charles the great distractor!

By: Just myself January 12, 2022

Blog#building the life you want, #learning to set goals, #pets, #small victories, fitness1 Comment

This is Charles. Charles belongs to and is loved by my youngest daughter. He looks innocent enough, right?

My plan was to work in the office for a couple hours, then slip outside for a nice little walking adventure, snap some pics, breathe in the fresh air.

But Charles through a wrench in my beautiful plan of Day 3 Victory. He isn’t feeling well, needs some meds. Couldn’t fail him.

Off to town I went. Short shopping list for needed supplies. Well Sir Charles you may have jammed up my plans, but I found a way to get in my stroll.

The air wasn’t as fresh, the parking lot was slushie, the isles were conveniently empty. I sped up one, down another, around the outer isles, through the healthy grocery parts, poking at veggies that might tantalize my taste buds. Over to the pet department, back to the checkout, and out to the edge of the not busy parking lot.

Today was a day, to make adjustments that work while getting the job done. Charles’ habitat has been treated. My daughter is hopeful. My legs have a little burn to.

Victory doesn’t always have to look exactly the way we had imagined it to.

Small victory, day two

By: Just myself January 11, 2022

Blog#building the life you want, #having a full life, #health, #life in full colour, #small victories, #truly you #self-help, fitnessLeave a Comment

The temperature was bitter today, and my foot and ankle were screaming. I have been feeling muscle fatigue and aches and pains from the after Christmas junk food hangover!

I had been dreaming of a hot, Epsom salt, baking soda, and eucalyptus bubble bath for a week. Of course I never did have one, because my list of tasks were long and important, and “later” hadn’t come. Until now!

I took my time to super heat some water, gather my most comfortable clothing, find a relaxing spa music playlist, get my favourite magazine, a face cloth for cold splashes, a Mason jar of ice cold water to drink, filling the tub to the overflow with tonnes of fragrant bubbles. Then I moved my daughters tree and used the stand as a spot I could comfortably reach my treasures. There, oops, dimmed the lights. Ahhh.

At last the moment when I could step over the side of the bath, and slowly melt into the water, pulling the bubbles up around my chin to smell the refreshing aroma.

I was able to lay there in comfort, feeling the aches slowly dissolve from my body, along with the stress and strain.

For more than an hour, total healing peace as I turned through the magazine I have been longing to enjoy.

My mind absorbed the photos, and stories and quotes. As I turned the luxuriously thick pages, I was transported to whimsical places many miles away, in many different times and situations. Joy stirred in the rekindling of my imagination.

For a time I was away. What beauty is thrust on the world, when a soul decides to let their stories and perspectives flow out through a pen. What treasures await for the soul that picks up the writings and allows themselves to be transported away to joyous, or sad, or exotic places.

As duty started sneaking in to my consciousness, I finished the list I was reading and turned my mind onto a cleansing sugar scrub, and a thorough rinse. Enjoying just a few more minutes of spa life.

Warm fluffy towels then comfy, slouch clothes. Facing the door, to open it would find me back in reality, my children awaiting my return. I was thankful and ready.

Stepping back into my beautiful, colourful life, I felt renewed again. Another victory!

Small victory, but a victory none the less.

By: Just myself January 10, 2022January 10, 2022

Blog#building the life you want, #small victories, fitness, hiking, nature1 Comment

This morning I woke up determined. It did not matter that the high for today was -14°C, that my foot pain has been well, still there, and I have fallen more out of shape,while not so patiently waiting for healing. I was going to conquer the cold, break from my desk, and go out in the rays of sunshine.

Luckily I was able to borrow some snow pants, and get my orthotics into my boots. I bundled up the best I could, set a timer, and off I went.

The snow crunched loudly under my feet, a sign of the winter cold. The air was so clear and fresh, I breathed deeply enjoying the burn on my lungs. There were birds flirting around, singing in delight at the bright sun. Beautiful, exhilarating day. But that sneaky wind, would come from no where and bite my cheeks, threatening to force me back inside.

No way! Not fast, not far, but 15 minutes out I did go.

I was not the only one out and about today, but at least for me I could go back to my fire at last.

The deer were certainly more advanced than me, this hill they climbed is nearly straight up from the river below me.

I stopped to observe the beauty on way back home. The sunshine streaming, made the red glow above the snow.

Not a long walk, but at least I followed through, and boldly crunched along outside in the snow.

Enemies and rewards

By: Just myself May 22, 2021May 22, 2021

Blogfamily, fitness, nature, starting outLeave a Comment

THE ENEMIES!

There are so many reasons to NOT get up early, lace up the sneakers, and head out the front door.

The mosquitoes are crazy right now, the pollen is thick in the air, and face it who wants to roll out of bed in the morning to hit the road and get the heart pumping.

Funny with the exception of feeding the mosquitoes, two of the enemies are part of the motivation to go.

More reasons to suck it up, time spent with my handsome son who unlike other 15 year olds still wants to spend time with his mom.

The quiet of the morning or the riveting sound of the motivators voice on the podcasts we listen to. Trying to encourage him to strive for greatness, whatever that looks like for him.

Then there is just the joy of being in nature, the beautiful surprises we find.

We may not make it every morning, I have to accept my limits for now, but every time we go is one step closer to the goal. And there is always the precious treasures we find.

REWARDS

*Pathways to far-far-away, in my dreams*

Morning Light

By: Just myself May 18, 2021May 18, 2021

Blogfamily, fitness, natureLeave a Comment

There is something magical about the early morning light, the air crisp, smells magnified, naturally noisy with bird songs floating to my ears.

Pushing, pounding heart, lungs filling with the freshest of air.

This early morning training session with my son Fred, this felt like living.

Simple, didn’t cost anything, a memory, time well spent, an investment in the future.

Magically wonderful!

Morning stroll

By: Just myself May 17, 2021May 17, 2021

Blogfitness, meditationLeave a Comment

I passed it on!

By: Just myself May 2, 2021May 2, 2021

Blogfitness, fungi, hiking, nature, parentingLeave a Comment

I have a mess of kids whom I love very much, but I don’t always see clearly the lessons I have tried to teach them reflected back. Probably more so from my own self doubt than it actually not being absorbed.

Well it has become abundantly clear, I have successfully passed on my love for “fungi” to my second oldest daughter. I love to hike and I love to photograph nature especially mushrooms and such.

After a few sedatary hibernation months, my fitness level has taken a huge hit. (A post for another time.) Yesterday I had my kids take me and our old beagle for a hike. I enjoyed taking pictures along the way of little spring treasures in nature. After about three kilometers I figured the old beagle and I needed to turn around. The older kids decided to continue, I let Zoa take my phone on with her to continue snapping photos.