Well, now I have this pedometer. Each evening I checked it and was astounded at how many steps it displayed. Over 10,000 almost every day! One night, in fact, it said 14,500, and I was not very tired! What joy! The next morning, however, the pedometer said 16,500. I vaguely wondered if we had another earthquake over night, and dove into the day without giving it a second thought.
Yesterday morning, when I was finishing up our curriculum plans, I sat at the computer for over an hour, first thing in the morning. After that ‘strenuous’ workout, the pedometer said 5800 steps! Perhaps it was measuring my breathing or my typing? In any case, there was no earthquake.
So I took my old pedometer, which doesn’t seem to measure all the steps, and put it on as well, just to see what would happen. Imagine, last night one pedometer said 12,200 and the other was at 7700. Hmmm! I will return the new one, which is only a week old and obviously defective, and will probably invest in an expensive one. But perhaps I’ll call the company first.
The bottom line, of course, is that I was active. Besides gardening and every day life, the Little Misses and I went for a river walk. You, know, the kind that involves clambering over huge rocks and along tree skeletons to avoid the knee-deep mud. On the way home, I stayed on the banks as much as possible, since it just took too much energy to wade through the water. Besides, I wanted to avoid both the mud and the clambering. Sitting on a rock every time the girls played gave me the rest I needed to walk the next section, but it was a long haul. That evening I spent on the couch, but the next day was fine.
I did the physiotherapist’s upper body exercises a few times, but the last two days, I’ve been weeding, picking beans, and doing other practical exercises. Not wanting to overdo it—and not feeling very motivated after all that work—I just ignored the exercises. Today promises to be easier, so I probably will do them tonight. It’s tricky knowing when to do what and trying to avoid both under-exercising and over-exercising.
As for food, we ate a lot of garden produce: beans, snap peas, sugar peas, various summer squashes, summer raspberries, carrots, onions, basil, chives, and broccoli. We also ate lots of peaches, watermelon, and delicious peanut butter cookies, so I’ve had more than my share of sweet things. My joints have been aching, so it’s time to cut back on the sweets. Perhaps a walk to the garden to nibble on some arugula and fresh broccoli will help.
Twice I didn’t get a adequate afternoon rest, and that did affect my productivity and mood the rest of the day. Those naps are so important to me. I’m well enough now to start feeling guilty about them, but I must be self-controlled and wise and lie down every day.
Goals for next week: get a better pedometer, understand how to fit the physiotherapist’s exercise into my life, eat no sweets, and keep on enjoying an afternoon nap.
To read the adventures of other Fit Mommies, please visit Got Chai?
That is awesome about the “steps”! Way to go!!!!! I find the pedometer to be such a helpful motivator. You are doing amazing.
It is very encouraging to hear of your journey towards greater strength and health. I also appreciate your frequent comments about needing to rest when necessary. I’m reading a book called “The Overload Syndrome” about how American culture (and perhaps Canadian culture as well) encourage people to push themselves to and beyond their limits in many areas, including the physical arena. He talks about how a century ago, people slept on averge 9.5 hours a night and now it is down to 7 hours or so.
I’m in that stage in the pregnancy where I need to be very careful not to overdo it…not easy in a household of 6 young children with homeschooling starting. It takes a wisdom beyond what I have, but we have a great Father who promises us the wisdom we need.
You are so right that we tend to push ourselves. And I think that conscientious homeschooling moms are especially guilty of this. I wonder why.
I wish you strength in taking it easy when you need to. Lots of little lie-downs may be more practical for you than a long rest.
Annie Kate