Tag: strength and stamina

143 Days ago I began my mindful eating practice by tracking and posting my Daily Food Diary.   3 years and 3 months ago I began my current Health & Fitness Journey.

By far, the most gratifying result of this journey  is realizing the incredible difference it has made to my overall strength and stamina.   My best days, are those in which I complete a household or yard task that I know would have been difficult, to impossible,  for me three years ago.

Yesterday was NOT one of my best days. 

Yesterday, it was still too wet outside to have grandson Rory come over to work up our garden planters.   But, it was nice out so I went out to start setting up a few planters that I have around the yard.

I started by planting the portulaca that I grow in the planter on the garage wall. (Portulaca is the only thing that survives here.)

I also started cucumbers in two large planters that Dan bought me this week. (They are larger than they look, and mobile enough to be moved around should they need more, or less, sun.

Dan worked up this one planter – around his Bleeding Heart, so I planted strawberries and a couple of little flowers.  (Molly, stood by ready to help).

Finally, I decided that I wanted to try some ‘planting bags’ alongside the house.   I didn’t want them right on the ground, so I figured the sections of tree trunk that were stacked at the back fence, would make ideal bases for them. 

Since Dan has been having painful issues with his shoulders, this was to be a ME project.  I do not want him to make the pain in his shoulders worse!   The antibiotics and prednisone from my recent bronchitis should be out of my system by now, so I felt GOOD to GO!

I went into the garage to get the furniture dolly.  It was at the back of the garage – behind the new planters that Dan has been assembling.   I managed to lift it, roll it, and stumble my way through the first planter.  When I got to the second planter, Dan took it  from me, stopped at the compressor to top up the tires, and handed it back over.

I rolled off into the back yard.  There was one section of tree trunk that was sitting on the ground.  After a few unsuccessful attempts, I managed to get it on the dolly.   I pulled it between the two tables, around the wheel barrow, and off the back yard into the side yard. (There is drop there the height of a railway tie.  In fact there is a railway tie there to hold the backyard in place.) With one mighty tug, I got the dolly over the tie.  A small bounce knocked the tree trunk off the dolly, but I got it back on, and headed around the corner to the side of the house where Dan helped me to set it in place.

Dan went to the back fence to set the next section of tree trunk on the ground and I repeated the process of getting it to its destination. 

The third section was notably heavier.  Dan got it to the ground, I picked it up with the dolly and moved it to the railroad tie.  I gave one mighty tug and it sat there  –  up on the  backyard level.  I was at the  side yard level.  I got a death grip on that dolly and gave a mightier tug.  It bounced down – and bounced right back up to the back yard.  I went with it.  In an elegant move that only another Martel could relate to, I stumbled around until I was back on my feet.  My third attempt was successful.

I got the fourth section across the backyard and over the tie without incident.  I didn’t even pretend to help Dan set it in place.  By that point, I was just ready to accept defeat.

To add insult to injury, I noticed that between all the recent rain and the returning sunshine, the lawn I worked so hard to mow last weekend needs to be redone. 😢🤦

Daily Food Diary – Day 143

Breakfast:

(1) coffee (2)

(2) classic Eggos (180)

(2) tsp butter (69) (4.7 grams)

(1) tbsp Maple Syrup (55)

(2) sl. Low Sodium ham (104) (1)

Snacks:

(48) oz water

(1) pear (103)

(1) peach (51)

Supper:  

(12) air fried chicken wing flats (397) (5.8 grams)

(2) egg rolls (380) (2 grams)

(6) Gyoza (200) (2.5 grams)

(2) tbsp Frank’s extra hot sauce (0)

(1) tbsp  Gyoza dipping sauce (15)

Total net calories: 1319

Net calorie goal: 1243 – 1319 = 75 over 👎

Total saturated fats: 13.75 grams

Saturated fats goal: <13.75 grams 👎

That’s it for today.  Take care and have a great day. 💞🌞