Body by Marie, Though I Do Most of the Work

New Yay Update

Last December I ordered a Body Gym from QVC, promoted by Marie Osmond, that was intended for Daddy and me to both use.

It was delivered the week Daddy was in the hospital. Unopened, I set it aside. It made it back to Colorado with me, and I took it to my mountain retreat with the intention of opening it up and starting to exercise up there.

I began using using the band system the on second day there. Marie suggests doing upper body three days, lower body three days, and resting on Sunday. During the six weeks I was away, there were only a few of days that I didn’t do the exercises, usually because of my emotional state. Though some days that is exactly why I motivated to put stretchy clothes on and follow the program. Because I know exercise can help get through sadness sometimes. And there was one Sunday I did work out because I had put off the previous day. So all-in-all, I was pretty consistent.

I found the simple piece of equipment fairly easy to use, especially when following the DVD with Marie leading the exercises along with a personal trainer, gym owner, and dancer going to different elevated levels of difficulty.

There was another DVD in the package too, with a different instructor, but the exercises on it are either more complicated, or I just couldn’t understand them very well. Using the Body Gym with the movements they were doing felt awkward.

On the DVD with Marie, you have the choice to use the part with her guiding through the exercises or where you just follow by watching. At first I thought this would make the time longer and tried the latter. And perhaps the one with chatter does go a little longer, but I think it is more helpful because she and Mindy, a personal trainer, are constantly providing important reminders, like tightening your core, putting the weight on the back of your heels, and to get water if you need it.

I knew I wouldn’t lose weight because I wasn’t doing cardio, (there is some cardio in the advanced options, I haven’t worked up to them yet) and I wasn’t dieting.

As far as results I was hoping for, I can definitely feel an increase in my level of body strength. And I can see some toning in my back.

My favorite part of working out though was when my lovely host, and now friend, chose to join me. Not having her own Body Gym, she made great use of her grandfather’s cane and an exercise band her husband had. It was a good motivator for each of us to do the exercises every morning. A fun way to get our blood pumping and our day off to a healthy start.

When I left, I left her the Body Gym I had up there. Though the cane and band she had worked okay for most of the exercises, having the actual apparatus is likely to be easier to use for even better results. Especially as she moves up to the advanced levels.  And I wanted her to have it.  I promised I’d order another one for myself.

Then after returning home, I did just that. My location is more conducive to long walks for some cardio than my friend’s home, so I’m doing that in the meantime until the Body Gym arrives, as well as some exercises with 5-lb. hand weights.

And of course, I’m still doing my 110 crunches every morning.

But in addition to those, I look forward to returning to using the Body Gym when it comes in the mail. Especially knowing I have a friend doing them too, even if she is at a higher elevation, and just about four hours away.

No Weighting–I’m With the Band!

Being with Daddy every day from morning until night, and as much as I did to encourage him to go to his exercise class, I knew it was important for me to take better care of my own body by losing weight, getting tone, and eating right.

Doesn’t mean I did it though. Here and there I would make better eating choices.  Fruit for dessert instead of a pastry. Taking the steps to his third floor apartment as well as doing my 110 crunches in the morning. But I knew I needed to do better.

It isn’t about looking good, though that is a motivator. But, particularly as I physically age, it’s really important to build core strength to keep myself as limber and agile as possible. Being around Assisted Living, and seeing the lack of mobility many of the residents had, showed me how necessary it is.

I think that is one reason why Daddy enjoyed going to his classes. It enabled him to feel stronger and more confident even in his walking. And I’m sure it helped his circulation which affects everything, including brain power.

In December, as I mentioned in Yay! Surprise!, I ordered a ‘BodyGym Deluxe Portable Resistance Band Home Gym’ on QVC that Marie Osmond was promoting. It was a piece of equipment Dad and I could both use right there in his apartment.

The package containing the bands arrived while Daddy was in the hospital. Obviously, with more important priorities, I set it aside unopened. It wasn’t until weeks later, when I was packing things to ship to Colorado, that I came across the box and opened it. And even then, only to put it in a bigger box with other belongings to head west.

My boxes arrived by Fedex yesterday, and going through them, I came across the bands and accompanying materials. I considered whether to keep it all in a box to tend to when I come home next or to put it in my home office space, so at least I stood a chance of tripping over it and making myself try using it upon my return.

It occurred to me that a month-long writing retreat would be a good opportunity to dive into other endeavors that I’ve been intending to incorporate into my life. So, as I set out on this part of my journey and spend time nurturing the writer in me, I am going to also tend to the just as important, physical.

And as I also mentioned in the previous post, exercise equipment can only help if you actually use it. I’m committing to a month.

I guess it’s not really a new ‘Yay’, but now I’m putting the ‘Yay’ into action. Tomorrow I will be on the road all day. So, on Sunday, I will review the DVD and reading materials that came with the band program. Based on the information included, I will schedule specific time to exercise during the next 30 days starting Monday, February 15.

If you’ve thought about doing something similar for yourself–walking, exercise class, running, whatever, but put it off, if it would be easier to do if you had to be accountable to someone,  start exercising on Monday with me. I will share my progress here, and you could post your updates as well. And remember to drink your water!

Yay!

 

Yay! Surprise!

First, let me wish you an amazing 2016.

And let me thank everyone who has sent beautiful, supportive New Year greetings to Dad and me directly on the blog, on social media, via text, email and voicemail.

Last night I received a message from one of my dearest friends and an invaluable mentor.

“Hope 2016 holds wonder and surprise for you!”

I love it! It felt personal and special.

And particularly with the direction 2015 took, it is an exciting notion to realize there is no telling what each day will bring in this next year.

But little did I realize that was exactly how my year would begin.

As he does sometimes, after breakfast this morning, Dad laid back down on his bed. And that is where I found him when I arrived after getting up early to take my sweetheart to the airport.

Slowly I stepped up to his bed and reached out to gently wake him.

“Boo!”

He had laid there quietly until I was an inch away from him, then popped his eyes open and burst out.

He pranked me!

We stayed there laughing for a good five minutes.

Him, still laying down, chuckling, nestled into his pillow.

Me, after getting a hug, kneeling on the bed next to him as he scratched my back.

He got up for about an hour, but was just way too tired and laid back down.

I did some cleaning around his apartment, read some, and flipped channels on the TV.

Talk about surprises. I would never have thought I’d be watching TV on New Year’s Day and stop on QVC to watch Marie Osmond promote a piece of fitness equipment.

And what’s more, I ordered one!

Yup, I actually went online and ordered my own personal ‘BodyGym Deluxe Portable Resistance Band Home Gym’.

The whole shopping at home on television has been a foreign world to me. But I went for it.

Primarily because I think it might be something good for Dad to use to get some exercise on days he doesn’t want to leave his apartment.  Plus, there are times, like holidays, where the class isn’t offered at his Assisted Living community and we need an optional activity.

A woman called in during the promotion and confessed to having ordered one of these BodyGyms last year that she never used. She eventually gave it to a friend who never used it either, so she took it back and it sat under her bed collecting dust.

Then she finally pulled it out and tried it again, and was motivated to continue using it.  As an elderly, obese woman with arthritis, she says it has been extremely helpful in helping her with her condition as well as to lose weight.

Some fitness systems work, just as some diets help. And some are jokes.

Regardless, the best exercise programs and diets presented to us won’t work unless we are in a place where we are ready to make a choice for ourselves to incorporate them into our lives.

Yes, I know, there are cheaper and easier ways to exercise than ‘Acting Now’ and ordering this particular piece of equipment. And I’ve tried more expensive ones in the past that were dust collectors for me, too.

Part of the appeal is the simplicity and that it doesn’t take up space. I can use it to help my circulation and agility while sitting next to Dad in his living room. And I read more and more how important it is as you are aging to build and maintain muscle and core tone.

This seems like it could be smart for Dad, too.

But we will only know if it works if we give it the chance by using it.

Which brings us to New Yay’s Resolution number six–

Give our new BodyGym Deluxe Portable Resistance Band Home Gym a genuine opportunity to help Dad and me by using it as suggested.

Never know, might be surprised.

Yay!