LAST DAY OF JUNE!!

It was a fast week last week and a busy one!  I did not have a chance to post on Saturday because I went to the grocery to avoid the crowds.  That's the time I usually blog.  Anyway, I hope you find my exercise tips useful.  I have been trying to stretch more in the mornings.  It does help make you feel less achy!


So with the holiday week here, don't forget to exercise!  I just took a short walk up to the store with my hubby to get a coffee and a newspaper.  It's always nice to get out early and enjoy the quiet.  Maybe you have grandkids visiting like me, and you can
take a bike ride or walk on the beach.  The trampolines are fun too!


Whatever you do have fun this week and enjoy!  Be kind to yourself and your neighbors!

SIMPLE STRETCHES AND BALANCE EXERCISES

In the morning when you wake up while you are still lying in bed, reach your arms over your head and stretch as far as you can.  Do the same with your legs and feet.  Hold this stretch and all stretches for 12-15 seconds.  While sitting on the side of your bed stretch down to your toes.  These are good spinal stretches and will actually help you feel taller!  You are taller in the morning because gravity has not weighed you down yet!

After breakfast, stand at your kitchen counter and do heel drops.  Make sure your fingertips are lightly placed on the counter to help with balance.  Rise up on your toes and drop down for ten repetitions.  Performing 50 heel drops per day for 6 months will improve your bone density 3-4%.  Try standing on one leg for 20 seconds and switch to the other leg.  These simple exercises will strengthen your legs and help improve your balance.

By:Mary Ann DeMello

TOUGH WEEK!!

It's been a tough week here in Dennisport.  Tuesday we got the news that my stepdaughter was very sick and had to be taken to the emergency room.  Her red blood cell count was 8 and her iron level was at 1.  My husband and I did  a lot of praying and visited the chapel together on Wednesday.  We heard from her husband later on Wednesday and he told us she was on bed rest for two days and her red blood cell level had increased after being pumped with fluids in the hospital!  Thank God!  The one really positive thing about this experience is that my husband has increased his faith and belief in the power of prayer.  When we were at the chapel, it came to me that
Daryl would call us, and that is indeed what happened!  God is listening.


So Caryn is taking super-iron and will be starting her trip to us next week!  So all is well at the moment and we will continue to pray.  Have a great weekend and enjoy the sunshine!

COMPUTER GREMLINS, FULL MOON IN RETROGRADE

On Saturday June 14th(Flag Day) I wrote this great blog about not so random acts of kindness, and then hit a button and lost it!  So I'm blaming the computer gremlins and the full moon, rather than my stupidity.  I just figured out I have an undo button in the shape of a curved arrow pointing backwards.  Silly me, I was looking for the actual words!  Anyway this past Friday, I witnessed many not so random acts of kindness.
At "Maryann's  Beauty Saloon many of the clients are elderly women with walkers who require assistance when getting up and sitting down.  One lady needed a pillow.
It was raining and the beauticians all made sure the ladies had rain hats so they wouldn't mess up their hair-dos!  All of this was done as a matter of course.  It happens every day, so it's not random.  These women are naturally kind and nurturing!


Another kindness occurred at "The Sand-dollar" in Dennisport, the owner Terry O'Donnell received a beautiful patriotic blanket for all his help to the Veterans.
He donates his time, food, and entertainment and his establishment for their fundraisers.  One of the boys the Vets. support is a veteran himself who was brain
injured during one of those awful wars!  Vincent came in this Friday after yet another surgery, this time to relieve some liquid in his brain.  Everyone stood up to applaud him and many people(including myself and my husband) hugged him and told Vincent
that they were praying for him and his parents.  It was a beautiful outpouring of love and support.  So maybe that's why I lost this blog on Saturday, I needed to say it again
on Monday.  Have a good week, and thank a Veteran today.

GOOD TUESDAY MORNING!

I hope you took advantage of the gorgeous weather this weekend!  We got back on Sunday and after unpacking, headed for the beach.  I didn't go in the water, but my hubby did and it was cold!  It was still nice to sit on the beach and read.  I have to wear a hat, sunscreen and be under an umbrella, but it was still nice and relaxing.


I actually didn't exercise on Sunday and my hips felt better on Monday.  Sometimes even I have to rest! Monday was a busy day.  I had two clients and a free balance demo at the Dennis Senior Center.  I had six people show up which was great!  Maybe we can figure out a group personal training program at the senior center.


I came home and worked for another hour on e-mails and took a walk.  I started to do some fast walking with arm swinging.  It really is a good workout and easy to do.  I can really feel it in my thighs, a place that I really need to work on!  Today I'll do some
resistance training with squats and lunges, not fun but oh so necessary!


Have a great week and be kind to yourself and one another!

FRIDAY!!

It's been a fast week, lots of exciting things happening.  Today we are playing music at Epoch of Harwich from 2:30- 3:30 which will be fun!  We have friends coming down this weekend that we haven't seen for  quite a while, so it will be good to catch up!


As for exercise, I rode my bike on Tuesday, did a mile on the elyptical machine on Wednesday, only had a small walk on Thursday because of rain, but will get on my bike this morning because it is so beautiful out!


We are off to my brother's this weekend for a memorial mass for my Dad and a cookout later.  I just boiled five pounds of potatoes for potato salad.  I must monitor myself carefully and watch the food intake!  I will be down one more pound this week and only have one more to go.  I don't want to sabotage myself, but I'll still have a good time!


Get out there and have some fun this weekend!

WEEKEND AND MONDAY/TUESDAY REFLECTIONS.

It was a really great weekend!  Saturday I did pilates and yoga as usual.
In the afternoon, we stopped by Pirates Cove to play some tunes and help out with a fund raiser.  It was really windy, but fun!  I got a chance to catch up with some old friends and collect on hugs! 


Sunday was church day.  Time for God first, and be thankful for all that we are given.
Then , we took a bike ride to Epoch of Brewster.  One of my clients is there.  Joan was thankful for the visit, and I hope she goes home soon.  We got back from our ride and relaxed.  That was about 30 miles round trip!  The next time we want to go a little further, maybe Nickerson State Park!  Our goal is Orleans and lunch at the "Land-Ho!"


Monday I had a client, and then we got cleaned up and went to a funeral for one of my husband's tennis friends.  His name was Dave Lambert, and it was a lovely tribute to him.  It really makes you think about how precious life is and how we must be thankful for our loved ones.


Have a great week and be kind to yourself and one another.