It is always such a chore to begin them. Even thinking about them sometimes makes one come up with excuses and reasons for not doing them. Sometimes they don't even seem to be working - especially when the scale works against you too. But afterwards, after the routine has been completed - it feels really good. And when you move around during the day - the limbs don't feel quite as "heavy" or "sluggish" as they used to. You find yourself sitting straighter - not slouching. And bending over is even easier. For all these positives, that really make you feel so good, why does is seem like such a chore to begin them?
I should have just ignored the need to know. I had been diligently exercising for a week. I had been watching what I eat. But that stupid scale said I put on three pounds. In just one weeks time. It totally ruined my day to see that first thing in the morning. But it made the resolve to get rid of them even stronger. Next week that scale had better give me better results - I am certainly working for it.
The best relief I have found for aching joints and bones is moist heat. It seeps into the muscles, right down to the bones, providing comfort and warmth to those sore joints. And the best thing that offers this relief is a simple homemade bag that gets heated up in the microwave. I make a bag out of fleece - any size you want. Fill it about 3/4 of the way with white rice and completely stitch the whole thing closed to keep the rice in. Heat it up in the microwave and you have an instant heat pack. It will conform to any shape comfortably. And the most amazing thing about this rice bag - no matter how many times it gets warmed up, it never looses it moistness. I'm not sure how it does that, but it works everytime.
It's inexpensive and it works - what more can one ask for!
Over the last few weeks, we all have watched the prices at the gas pump rising way too quickly. Many of us are combining several errands on our trips into town. But there is still shock at the pump when filling up. What used to take thirty dollars when the gauge read 1/4 of tank, now takes almost fifty dollars. So, we have been trying to get around that shock by keeping our tank full. We don't let it get past the 3/4 mark now on the gauge. Reality: we are using less as we are traveling less, but we are putting in about forty dollars a week now instead of the thirty. It just feels a little better by putting it in a little at a time. And when I sat at a stop light, and watched one station raise the price .11 cents in that quick time, I was pretty happy to look at my full gauge knowing they didn't get me for this one.
Since the beginning of this year, I haven't given too much thought to counting my steps and tracking the mileage they add up to each day. Last year I logged them each day, even if they didn't add up to very many. My emails today contained a newsletter from the website that I usually log the miles on. It was a good reminder for me to get motivating again with the walking and exercising. And for each mile that I log, they donate .10 cents towards the fight against breast cancer. This will be the third year I have done this on the Beewell for Life website. Certainly that is a great motivation in itself!
