Exercise indoors - on hold

 

The YMCA at Cheshire, Black Mountain NC. The round windows are in the pool area. Since it's heated it does entice me, but not when COVID-19 requires masks. Ugh, a wet paper mask is not a good idea.

A bit more jazzed up tread-mill machine, and I did my usual 20 minutes but did a "slow down" in order to sip some water, and it lost my tally of minutes walked. I'll have to do it differently next time.

I'm on my own, but told one of the trainers that I want to lose 10% of my weight...which had been my final goal at the Heart Path pulmonary rehab. Of course setting that goal the week before I finished their rehab meant it was pretty unrealistic there. But hey, it's my goal, not theirs.

After finishing my 20 minutes pedaling on the New Balance stepper, I was pretty tired. There's only one of these machines in the area where masks are mandatory.  The other two are in a small area where exercisers have a "mask optional" rule. No thanks! We did much the same routines as the Heart Path gym, cleaning the equipment with disinfectant wipes both before and after our workouts.

I was pleasantly surprised to only have a half dozen people working on the machines, and that they only allow every other one to be used to keep the social distance of 6 feet between people. There had been a class going in another area that I might join later, "sit and be fit" I think. They only allow 11 people to reserve space in that classroom, and reservations must be made within the 24 hours before the class, and then everyone in a class mut be masked.

It seems like they're doing the right things to stay safe. I will be back...when?

And on another note, my diet, low-fat, plant-based eating. If you haven't watched Forks over Knives yet, let me say this is the most important video that anyone thinking about their health, and the health of the planet should consider. The link above just takes you to the trailer. I was able to check it out from inter-library loans in North Carolina. It's unfortunately not available (yet) on Netflix.

And I must update this (as a few days have passed since my visit) and say I'm walking around the lake or in my neighborhood, but not going to any gym at this time of higher incidence of COVID-19. Fortunately the Y explained that they don't bill my insurance if I'm not coming in and using the electronic sign-in. It's all automated.

Stay safe, y'all!

 

Catching up on my plants...and a lecture by Dr. Fauci

 

Taken after my tour of the YMCA last week. I'll have more up to date shots as I get used to exercising there! But I'm not sure how much I'll go there with the upsurge of COVID-19. 

So here's an interesting Sept. 2020 lecture from Dr. Anthony Fauci. In case you don't have the facts about this virus situation, here are lots of graphs!

The orchid that I expected to have a bloom or two soon, keeps swooping with it's stalk. Who knows where it will end up!

The other one of my orchid plants has decided to send up two flower stalks, as well as to try to climb out of the pot...but I know orchids like to stretch their feet.

From the window

 At the Rehab gym at Mission Cardiac Center...third floor. I've been working out there for 3 months now, doing first cardio rehab for 9 weeks, and now my 8 weeks of pulmonary rehab is almost over.

This view is noteworthy, that the mountains in the distance actually include Mt. Mitchell. That's the highest mountain in the eastern US...though of course my little phone camera doesn't indicate which one it is. Probably a bit of zoom might help...

The mountain with a big radio tower on it is right next to Mt. Mitchell, and some with very good eyes can see that. I just only "kinda" saw it.

The last time I had my photo taken 2018...at Mt. Mitchell. And you can see some of the weight I've happily lost! Down 25 pounds from there!

I'm going to be joining a YMCA here in Black Mountain in order to keep exercising during the winter months. I do feel better, and have lost some of the extra weight my bad eating habits helped put on. Now I eat low-fat plant based foods. And meditate daily again. And make efforts to stay in touch with friends so we can support one another with fun and shoulders to cry on as needed.

Hope you have a good day.  Yesterday the rain from Hurricane Zeta arrived before dawn...though we won't feel as much of the storm as those on the Gulf coast will. 

Today's Quote:

The irony of hiding the dark side of our humanness is that our
secret is not really a secret at all.  How can it be when we're all
safeguarding the very same story?  That's why Rumi calls it an
Open Secret.  It's almost a joke - a laughable admission that each
one of us has a shadow self - a bumbling, bad-tempered twin.

Big surprise!  Just like you, I can be a jerk sometimes.  I do unkind,
cowardly things, harbor unmerciful thoughts, and mope around
when I should be doing something constructive.  Just like you,
I wonder if life has meaning;  I worry and fret over things that I
can't control; and I often feel overcome with a longing for
something that I cannot even name.  For all of my strengths and

gifts, I am also a vulnerable and insecure person, in need of
connection and reassurance.  This is the secret I try to keep from
you, and you from me, and in doing so, we do each other a grave
disservice.

Rumi tells us that the moment we accept what troubles we've been
given, the door will open.  Sounds easy, sounds attractive, but it is
difficult, and most of us pound on the door to freedom and happiness
with every manipulative ploy save the one that actually works.  If

you're interested in the door to the heavens opening, start with the
door to your own secret self.  See what happens when you offer to
another a glimpse of who you really are.  Start slowly.  Without
getting dramatic, share the simple dignity of yourself in each moment -
your triumphs and your failures, your satisfaction and your sorrow.

Face your embarrassment at being human, and you'll uncover a deep
well of passion and compassion.  It's a great power, your Open Secret.

When you heart is undefended you make it safe for whomever you
meet to put down his/her burden of hiding, and then you both can
walk through the open door.

Elizabeth Lesser
from: Broken Open