Update on Healthy Aging

One of my first posts was about healthy aging, I decided it was time to do an update. Since I've retired I've continued to exercise and try to eat healthy....most of the time. Results? By the end of last summer I was off one of my high blood pressure medicines! Woo hoo, that's a huge victory for me. The accountability groups I join, that use Beachbody on Demand workouts, have continued. Last fall I completed my first entire workout-Lifft-4. Then the holidays came and things got way off track. Exercise went way down, healthy eating went out the door and five extra pounds mysteriously or not so mysteriously appeared. So, in January I started to revert back to healthier habits and began a new workout and group. This time it's Shaun T and a 20 min workout 6 times a week. I'm just beginning week 4. That holiday weight is gone and every workout has been done to the best of my ability. He does a lot of jumping and since I'm trying to avoid a hip replacement I do a lot of modifying. But...it's still working. For the first time I'm doing the meal planning that goes with a workout. I love the container app, it really helps me focus on good eating. I go off a bit on the weekends and nights like tonight when I'm craving my favorite soup-Cheesy Chicken Tortilla-but all in all it's an improvement. And the best news? I'm working my way off the other high blood pressure medicine! I'm trying a half pill a day to see how that goes. That's my motivation to keep moving!

I'm trying to work hard because I have big biking goals for this summer. Here's what I have so far:

My whole family participated in The Ride for Missing Children last year. 

All five Ride for Missing Children Rides! I've done them all except for Albany. It doesn't happen often that you can do them all in one year.  I need to raise $750 for these charity rides. If you'd like to support me click here. This ride is nearest and dearest to my heart. I've been involved as a rider or volunteer or both for 10 years.

5 Boro Ride in NYC with a bunch of friends.

Ride for Roswell-this will be a first and I'm looking forward to it. Many years ago my husband went to Roswell for his cancer treatments. Now he goes to a place which is closer to us. I've wanted to do this ride for years but it used to be the same weekend as our Ride for Missing Children. But our date has changed and the opportunity has come up to do this ride with a friend.

My son believes in my ability to do long distance rides. 

Saranac to Saranac-This is more of a private ride. We start in Saranac Lake NY and ride to the Saranac Brewery in Utica NY. Last year I did the half pint and started in Inlet. This year I plan on doing the whole ride.

Peak to Brew-Gears to Beers- This will be a brand new ride for teams of four. Registration hasn't opened yet but I have a team of four women crazy enough to ride from Whiteface Mountain in Lake Placid to Saranac Brewery in Utica with me. This is a two day event and I really only have to do half the ride so I think ??? it will be easier than Saranac to Saranac. I'll try to remember to give an update lol.

Save our Roads- I did this ride last fall. It's in a small town and was a beautiful and hilly ride. I'd love to do it again.

Lobster/Lighthouse Ride in Maine-I need to look up details on this one. I was going to do it with a friend last summer but life got in the way. We're hoping to do it this summer. It will either be the lobster ride or a lighthouse ride. Either sounds perfect.

So... that should keep me busy through September. I'm looking forward to the challenge. I want to age healthy and I also want to be a good role model for my grown  children.

In other news...I try to drink at least 80 oz of water a day, one of my new skills is doing a daily (well almost daily) haiku which floods this site. I'm also checking out books from the library on how to sketch/draw and trying to learn to draw more than a stick figure. I need to work on reading more and less social media....sigh...such a struggle-any tips for that?

Thanks for stopping by.