encouraging each other
to care well
for the bodies God has given us
Welcome to the Health and Fitness Check-In column of The Christian Home Carnival, posted weekly. For encouragement and accountability, you can check in using the linky at the bottom of this post. Please feel free to join any time, and at whatever level of fitness and health you currently have.
It’s becoming a refrain, and here it is again: this week I was busy harvesting. Mind you, not all of the work was physical, but it was demanding in a different way. I learned how to dry our butternuts, planned what needed to be done before the frost, decided (finally) that we would butcher our chickens ourselves, and found people to take our surplus tomatoes.
As usual, raspberry picking was my gentle flexibility exercise as I bent and reached in all directions gathering the luscious berries.
For weightlifting, I helped set the pumpkins and butternut squashes out in the sun to cure. That was a bit too much work. After that I could not pick many tomatoes myself, but I did freeze a huge amount.
As for my formal fitness goals, here’s how I did:
Do my eye exercises 3x a day … No, but I did go outside to rest my eyes when they felt strained. That’s an expanded version of one of the exercises.
Go for a walk at least once a day … Not quite, but one day I went for two walks. And, following up on Jenn’s suggestion, I have located my pedometer. Now I just have to use it!
Do calisthenics at least 3 times a week … Well, I did them two times. That’s not good enough, but once the harvest is finished I will be able to manage my schedule better.
Avoid sugar six days a week … Almost. I had those yummy Breton Style Apples again. And I was so hungry on Sunday that I ate two sweet gluten-free nutbars. Instead I probably should have had a tomato and a boiled egg, or a two rice cakes with peanut butter. When hungry, I often cannot remember the simple, healthy gluten-free alternatives.
Eat lots of vegetables and yoghurt … We had lots of yoghurt but it tasted funny. Usually I can reuse a starter for well over a week, but that didn’t work this time. We also enjoyed lots of bruschetta with ripe, ripe tomatoes and many cloves of garlic. Some of the children have been tired and sniffly, and garlic is supposed to help for these things.
Rest daily, and do more fun things with the kids … I’m doing a sit-down project for my husband, so that and blogging is my physical rest. Walking with the kids, reading aloud, laughing, harvesting, eating, and watching fascinating DVD’s are some of the good times we’ve had together this week.
How about you? Did you exercise, eat well, and relax happily this week? Let’s encourage each other to care well for the bodies God has given us.
Please link up your health and fitness post in the comments below. (I’ve been having trouble with the linky and others have too, so I’ll skip it this week and try again next week.)
Loved reading your gardening “exercises” today. It was so much fun. It’s good to remember that so much of the work we do around the house is exercise too! Have a great weekend.
Yes, everyday life can be our best exercise.
In fact once there was a study that showed that older women who had done their own housework were healthier in various ways than women who had hired someone to do the work for them!
Annie Kate
Oh, when I saw this post up, I was immediately encouraged! In the busyness of trying to get us packed to camp this weekend, I had forgotten all about my check in. Shame on me! I’ll write it right now. One other thought, how about making a list of good snacks and hanging it someplace you can find it when you are too hungry to think? I do this for my kids. I tell them they can have whatever is on that list whenever they are hungry between meals. I can’t wait to hear how you do this coming week when you remember your pedometer! 🙂
Oops, I forgot the pedometer again today.
But I did remember about ‘allowed snacks’ although I didn’t write the list down. You’re always so full of good ideas! Thanks. 🙂
And enjoy your camping!
Annie Kate
Great week! I’ve had the same problem with yogurt and now just use new starter each time. It’s a pain but I don’t waste gallons of milk.
I want to get a pedometer and am hoping to get out for a few walks this week.
http://briana-icantdecide.blogspot.com/2011/09/fit-mommy-friday-recovery-is-going-well.html
Yes, that’s what I think I’ll do. And we need to avoid the milk from the convenience store. It’s often just a bit off.
Annie Kate
Hi! I’m so glad you stopped by my blog and left a comment! I didn’t do a “Fit Mommy” post on my blog, but I did want to leave a comment on your post. Just 3 weeks ago I decided to begin exercising regularly. In the past I’ve exercised off and on, but I’ve never really had a good routine or set certain goals. For the last 3 weeks, I’ve gotten up every weekday and done 30 minutes of aerobics or a workout which combines strength/cardio/abs. I’ve played tennis two times for an hour each. I’ve also jogged/walked for a mile twice each week. I have a hard making myself exercise, so I just decided that I AM going to exercise at least 30 minutes EVERY day when I get up before starting my day. Now I’ll have to stay motivated to keep it up!!
Wow, that’s a great job! Once the harvest is in, I hope to follow your good example. 🙂
Keep that up, and you’ll soon be very fit!
Annie Kate
Sounds like things are going great. I am slowly working up to my workouts again, but taking it slow. I’m still dealing with allergies, and I don’t want to pull my hip again. My biggest issue is my portion sizes (as usual). Ugh, wish I could get those under control. 🙂
Slow is good when you’ve just hurt yourself. Physio might work, if you have insurance. I get up to 6 visits a year, and they make a world of difference, because the physiotherapist knows so much about muscles, exercises, and how to get strong again!
One way to control portion sizes is to have a big helping of veggies before seconds of anything else…. And then stop when you’re full. 🙂
But it can be a huge struggle!
Blessings,
Annie Kate
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[…] Columnist -Annie Kate presents Fit Mommy Friday: Health and Fitness Check-In posted at Tea Time with Annie Kate. Head over to Annie Kate’s blog to share your fitness […]