Refreshed from Vacation and another birthday

Just spent a delightful week in Holden Beach, N.C. with my daughters their boyfriends, my husband, his sister and her daughters family. I really dreaded the long drive with my back and hip but I chose to stretch out in the back seat with my legs up in the air periodically, and it was great. Due to my lack of sleeping lately, I didn't have to drive on the way down at all. My husband and dear sister-in-law, Marla took on that task for 8 long hours. The beaches of NC were lovely, remining me of Ocean City Md. about 40 years ago...very laid back, quiet and no high rises! Our house was perfect, one block from the ocean, a pool right in our back yard, and a huge house with 4 BR an, 3 bathrooms, jacuzzi, 3 decks and a huge living room and kitchen.
I really gave my hip and back a rest from my hard core DVD workouts....boy did it pay off. Each day I either rode my bike for 45-60 minutes (flat terrain everywhere) and/or did a aqua workout in the pool with my noodles and weights. No pain at all till I finished that brutal ride home as I am really trying to adjust to staying in shape in a gentler, low impact fashion.
Well yesterday Cal Ripken turned 50 and I turned 56, and began my 57th year---somehow as I eek closer to 60, old age seems like something real instead of some far-off notion. At dinner last night with my daughters (27 & 29 and obsessed with youth and all the marketing that goes with it) I told them to prepare themselves over the upcoming years as my body changes...because we are supposed to age! They were speechless! Aging is natural and inevitable, but not license to default to the rocking chair and wait to die! Last night while I couldn't sleep I thought of the things that I'm doing and want to do these next 50 fifty years. These things came to mind, in no particular order--just brainstorming:
I just acted a small role in my step-son's indie movie this past Sunday (aging biker chick was my role-YIKES!); get my research study published; get a second Master's or my PhD.; visit Asia, Australia and complete my visit to all 50 states (only 11 more to go); cruise the Mediterranean; join a research travel group; hone my technological skills; join a drama company and act; be a grandmother; retire in my current occupation but continue to promote vibrant aging through all my movement therapy classes; design and execute an aquatic tai chi class; continue my tai chi studies and do a triathalon or whatever the 5k run/walk, 10-mile bike ride and 1 mile swim is called. Whew--maybe this is why I can't sleep, too much to think about. Anyway--I off on another vacation to my beloved little condo in OC from Sept 2-10...will check in later

NYC Daytripping...WOW Experience

Had a long, but very fun daytrip this past Wednesday in NYC. I love New York, but never enjoy the "pushy people" and attitudes of the New Yorkers. Boy was I ever surprised by this trip. My husband and I went with another couple from our church who are from NY so they really knew the ropes... so we let them plan the whole day. Of all the things to do, we chose this time to see a Yankee game, nice dinner and squeeze in a broadway play...and of course my first time on the Megabus. The Megabus experience was really great...esp. the price...$37.00 round trip for my husband and I. Comfortable, clean BR, perfect temperature...not one negative thing at all. Even the people on the subway, smiled, offered up there seats and actually made eye contact!
My first trip to the new stadium is where the WOWS continued. People walking up asking"How may I help you",..."Hello Welcome to Yankee Stadium...at every level. Our seats ($75.0o ea) were totally shaded, under cover and very comfortable. Good thing for that price! Arriving early so my husband and I could see the museum and Hall of Fame...we rushed to get in what we could before gametime. As we approached the line for the Hall, one usher said , "sorry line is closed", but another female usher said "Are you from out of town....then go ahead". While I was looking at all of the signed baseballs, I was asked if I needed help finding a ball. An usher greeted us and pulled the seat out for us. A young man in the 7th inning just stopped by to ask if we needed anything and how our day was!!! At that point I had to check what city I was in and pinch myself. The only bad part was the girl who sold me my lelmonade (rude, curt and no eye contact), and witnessing Alex Rodriquez (whom I loathe) hit his 600th HR! Only the 7th player in MLB to do so...the good news is that the lemonade was fresh squeezed ($5.00) and I got to be part of MLB history. I am so impressed by the fans...they love their Yankees, and let them know every opportunity from singing songs to each player upon introduction to, applauding every strike, out or hit! And the stadium is sold out every game!
We had a lovely Mexican dinner at Tolouache's, tequila shots and dessert on the house, then a wonderful time at the Kerr Theatre for "A Little Night Music"...which we had to leave 10 minutes fbefore the ending to catch the Megabus Home. Even the bus facillitator allowed us to board way before any one else, because my friend was older and walked with a cane. The crown in line (from D.C.) bboed and hissed, and the facillitator said "I don't know what you all do in D. C. but here on the NY Megabus we let handicapped people and seniors board first. I was very proud of him!
So...I've turned the corner on dissing NYC people...they were lovely and I can't wait till next trip so I can see if they keep up the good work!

Sleepless in Baltimore...

Pardon the unoriginal title of this post but it so appropriate! I am, I guess, finally in the throws of menopause (it's about time don't you thing at 56), and the worst symptom is not sleeping. I take melatonin and it works sometimes, and sleeping pills very judiciously, but when you wake up at 2:30 in the morning and stay up for the remainder of that day, its the pits. This has been going on for about a month now and the cumulative effect is really getting to me. I don't even feel safe driving. I can't even form complete sentences and my memory is mush. Performing at peak level during the week is out of the question and forget exercise....that has really diminished, but I am trying to do a little something each day. So- anyone out there want to offer up any solutions so I can get some sleep!

Summer Workouts!

Ahhh! first day of summer, the summer solstice...longest day of the year...whew! its hot as blazes out there and wish the sun would go down. Its really hard to workout when its this hot but I'm not willing to get out of shape so it looks like I'll need to make some changes. My motto is to break a sweat each day with exercise...well, these dog hot days leave you dripping with sweat without even lifting a finger, but you still have to get moving, work the heart, and strength train to keep your metabolism working in your favor. Remember, at rest muscle, burns more calories than fat, so even while your sleeping that beautiful muscle you've been developing is burning your metabolism very efficiently. For a really cool, stress-less workout get moving in the pool, lake or whever you swim. Jogging, skipping, jump rope arms, 50 degree turnabouts, side shuffles, whatever can be done in the water with no stress on the knees, hips or weight bearing joints. Use a noodle to biclycle, cross country ski, back stroke and reverse bicycle to get a great workout. Do bicep curls and tricep kickbacks while standing on one foot. Yes--you can lift weights in the water and its alot easier on your joints but still quite effective. And if keeping your hair dry, and/or not being able to swim is an issue...no worries, you can do all the suggested moves in water up to your chest! Just be a little creative and try whatever moves you do on land in the water ...you'll be surprise how easlily they convert.
If the pool is not an option, or to keep things interesting with your workouts then small burst of aerobic intervals mixed with strenth training(weights, or squats, lunges, plies, etc) are just perfect for your body! Say 5 minutes of jumping rope, or jumping jacks, then 2-3 minutes of strenth training on your back and shoulders; then repeat 5-minute of some kind of aerobics with 2-3mins. of strengthening another part of your body--say lower body(lunges, squats), then move to arms, etc. Three or four circuits of this will get it done!
This way you won't get too worn out doing 30-45 minutes of straight cardio on these hot days, but still get a great workout doing intervals. I actually like interval better and so does my body! Anyway--keep plugging away at it--DRINK WATER LIKE A CAMEL...and I'd love to hear any more fitness tips from anyone out there. Stay fit this summer!

Back From Alaska and Getting Back to Myself!

My Alaskan cruise was pure heaven and highly recommend to any and everyone who enjoys grand, majestic landscapes, wildlife and lots of daylight hours (only in summer of course) should visit this gorgeous state. The helicopter ride onto a glacier was spectacular, and the highlight of the trip was spending time with an old nurse friend who moved to Ketchikan 8 yrs. ago (how lucky is she?) It was great to see you Deb! It was great to see the whales, bald eagles, orca babies, sea lions, bears and mooses.
I'm happy to report just a 2-lbs. weight gain,( which I already lost) mostly because I went to the gym at the hotel and ship mostly everyday. Kayaking was great fun and my legs did well steering and being cramped up in the kayak for 2 hours. My hip held up very well. I was humbled from this sport; rowing that kayak is not small feat and either is getting in and out of the vessel. I am looking forward to trying it again.
I am very aware, since the bursitis, of not overdoing anything. I just got released from Physical therapy today and gained about 8 degrees of stretch in my hamstrings. Boy--its really important to keep those hamstrings flexible to prevent back pain and just to be able to take a full stride.
Would love to hear how my hip replacement friends are doing and also from anyone who wants to share their Alaskan memories!

Aging Wisdom and Ahhh Alaska!!

Well the rehab is helping, and won't last much longer... my therapist says I'm too high level and functioning very well...but I am sick and tired of the whimpy workouts. However, I know this is a very teachable moment. I can still work out but must adjust them accordingly. I can no longer do all that repetitive motion, at a fast pace. Not just because of my hip replacement but moreover because of the bursitis and other soft tissue arthritis in my hip; and most importantly because I AM NOT YOUNG ANYMORE!!! This aging process really commands respect--don't mess with MOTHER NATURE! You can be in shape but slow it down, mix it up and get creative with your work outs! Lift weights while sitting in a chair to take the load off the back, hips and knees. Do 10 minutes on an elliptical, then lift weights or do a resistance machine, then ride the recombant bike for 10 minutes then 5 minute back to strength training. These circuits really burn the calories and rev up your metabolism. Beside the more you mix it up the more the muscles are being fooled and working more efficiently. All great stuff! So my team is in 2nd place with the in house fitness contest, but we are still on the extreme level and charting our exercise points very honestly! And I still feel very much in shape.
This weekend I'm off to my nursing conference in Seattle, then an Alaskan cruise for the following week! New frontiers and adventures. Plan on trying some new sports....fishing, kayaking, and float planeing, whale watching and seeing the glaciers from atop a helicopter. Should have lots of stories when I return. Anything Alaskan cruise stories out there you want to share?????

Over did it...Now Paying the Price!

Oh well! They say that a good thing doesn't last forever and I guess it's true. In my last post I bragged about the 3.5mile walk in under 55 minutes and how great I felt. I also touted how this was the longest power walk I had done since way before the hip surgery...3 years ago! Well, that little walk, a couple weeks later, along with all the other exercise proved to be my undoing. Let me explain. First of all, here at Good Samaritan Hospital we have this wonderful wellness program every spring called "Strides for Life". Basically its a contest, where teams of 3 compete for the most points accumulated in exercise and weight loss. New this year is an EXTREME level where each person much complete a minimun of 375 minutes of exercies per week or they lose points. The contest started in March and runs until Memorial Day. Well that night of the walk, my aquatics class was cancelled due to the water main break Towson area was experiencing so I panicked wondering how I was going to get my needed 60 minutes of fitness in...so I grabbed my husband ans told him we were taking a power walk for an hour. That walk was absolutely too much on my hip bursa with all of that repetitive motion, for an hour along with all the the other exercise stress I was putting on myself so now I have bursitis, tendonitis and my I-T band (ileotibial band) is all inflammed. The pain is quite intense, so I am back on celebrex, had a cortisone shot in my bursa last friday and am scheduling some Physical Therapy sessions for pain and to learn what exercises I can/cannot do. So, suffice it to say my glorious bionic hip replacement bubble has been busted (only temporary though), and I have to scale back a bit. I am still exercising but at a more mild/moderate level and will continue to do so unless medically contraindicated. I want to stay in shape and of course, stay in the Strides competition. Oh...did I mention MY TEAM IS IN FIRST PLACE!!!!!