Margaret Richard & Friends 2022

[donnamp]

Hi Everyone,

I was MIA this weekend - we had a houseguest and I worked a bit, unfortunately. The weather was nice though!

Saturday - CS 610 - needed a quick all-standing routine.

Sunday -Ellen's Gentle Barre and an easy dog walk

Monday - Jessica's new Total Body Circuit 48 - I was dreading this one - the length of it, the sound of a "circuit" - pretty much all of it! But it turned out to be a really good workout. I really like this series very much. The warm-ups are very thorough and focus on mobility and range of motion. The pacing of the workouts themselves are controlled - I am still a rep or two slower than Jessica, but that is fine. She also focuses a bit on the under-utilized muscles of the body - particularly in the upper back. I can see how doing these workouts could really help w/ posture. So, overall - a winner.

Hope everyone is doing well!

Donna

[Pat58]

Good morning and Happy Moan Day. I can't moan too much because it's a stellar day here. Yesterday featured:

~ My own PT/stretch
~ Walk at university campus
~ Walk at beach
~ 7,379 steps

I had a really good time walking outdoors, it was one of our "Ten Perfect Days of the Year." If only the dry air lasted all summer.

Donna, good to hear the circuit routine worked out.

Summer Breeze the bridal shower and dinner sound so nice. It's good to be able to have parties like that in person again.

Enjoy the beautiful day, Diane!

[summer breeze]

Good morning!

Yesterday:

47 minute outdoor walk

I have to agree with all of you, the weather has been heavenly. I'm hoping to get out there shortly for another delightful walk today.

PAT, I like those trail walks you've been doing. Maybe I'll try for my trail walk today.
It's a long rambling trail that goes through many local towns but there's a small stretch of it that goes through the park about a mile away from me. I've walked it many times in the past but haven't lately since I've come back from my sciatica layoff. I almost went yesterday so I'm getting close.
ETA -- It is nice to be going out to parties again but I'm still cautiously optimistic. 2 friends of mine came down with covid a couple of week ago. Both fully vaccinated.

DIANE, I may be visiting my friend in Chatham for a few days in July. She has some fun sights for us to see. I think she mentioned we should visit the Berkshires too.

DONNA, I'm glad to see your positive reviews for Jessica's new set. I am only contemplating the total body strength and circuit one and I see they are winners with you!

Hi PAM.

Have a wonderful day everyone!

[amoodygirl]

Hi everyone!

I did my workout early and had Angel the dog to care for then headed to the Berkshires for shopping in Pittsfield. If the weather weren’t so similar, we would move there – we still may but now we’re looking at Delaware. Delaware is a fabulous state for retirees. I haven’t delved into it too deeply yet but it’s on our radar. Anyway….

Today’s workout:

• Treadlift Rotation – Back focus – 30 minute treadmill run with intervals of pushup with rows, renegade rows, and standard rows
• 14 day ab challenge – last day! Plank, v-ups, sit-ups
• Essentrics Quad Stretch – loved this 10 minute stretch!
• Afternoon: Bad Yogi Checkpoint practice – short

Donna: Hope you enjoyed your house guest! Sounds like Jessica’s new set is overall a winner! Hmmmm…..

Pat: I said to my husband yesterday was like a San Diego day – dry, warm breeze – just perfect! I love being outside on days like this!

Summer Breeze: You must go to the Berkshires – absolutely bucolic little New England towns. We’re always in either Stockbridge, Great Barrington, Lenox, or Pittsfield. Pittsfield has one of our favorite natural/organic grocery stores, Guido’s. Great hummus and their organic fruit is to die for! It’s truly a beautiful area and you won’t regret it!

Hi Pam!

Hope everyone had a great "Moan-day"!

[summer breeze]

Good morning!!

Yesterday:

47 minute outdoor walk

I had to mail a wedding rsvp card otherwise I rarely use the mail anymore. Anyway it was a good opportunity for me to walk to the p.o. and back yesterday. I'm dragging today because I was up late finishing a book and then my rude neighbor (not the nice snow removal neighbor) had a guy leaf blowing his yard right outside my bedroom window before 7:30 am this morning. I think there are noise ordinances but common courtesy should have you holding off on that type of activity until at least 8 or 9 am. So I hope I can rally and walk in a bit. More coffee.

DIANE, good workouts. Yay on the completed ab challenge. Definitely San Diego weather the last few days but of course that's changing with some clouds and rain coming in. Yes I know some people who have retired to Delaware. Definitely something to look into. I am looking forward to my trip north next month. I made a note of Guido's in Pittsfield

Waves to PAT, DONNA & PAM.

Have a wonderful day!!

[Pat58]

Good morning everyone. Spent most of my exercise time taking a nap (again) then finishing up the heavy work in my garden. So yesterday featured:

~ Gardening
~ Winsor Back Workout
~ 4,705 steps

I moved some plants, weeded and mulched. It's done now, but I might pot up some annuals to move around.

Uck, Summer Breeze that is so rude about the neighbor! Good idea to do some functional fitness and walk to the PO.

Hmm, Diane I hadn't thought about Delaware. Where you live sounds so nice though, but I can see how the taxes would be sky high.

Good morning to Donna and Pam!

[donnamp]

Hi Everyone,

Sorry in advance, posting on the fly....

Jessica Smith - Fusion Flow & Glow - Full Body Flow - this one uses both gliders and it felt awkward to me, so I did the entire workout w/out the gliders and it worked just fine. There are a fair # of planks in this workout - Jessica demonstrates them using a chair and I followed along w/ that version as well (minus the gliders). I enjoyed the workout but I wouldn't say anything was a particular stand out - similar to her other fusion workouts out there. I guess the stand out is the lovely setting! There is also a calm vibe to this whole set of workouts.

Jessica Smith - Stretch & Relax - Release Segment - I did the Rise segment last week but I don't think I mentioned it. I didn't love it - I found that it included some of my least favorite stretches from Jessica - including that one where you lay on the floor and twist around to get a shoulder stretch - that one is not a favorite of mine. The Release Segment, however, was a good one - it pretty much hit everything a little bit from the neck to the toes. But, so far, this DVD doesn't present anything different from Jessica's other stretch/yoga workouts - but that is not a bad thing either.

Random comments - Delaware - DH and are I thinking about it as well - the weather is similar to what we are used to here and it is tax friendly for retirees. we are also thinking about PA - south eastern/south central. I do like where we live now - but it is expensive and not retiree friendly, although there is a lot to do and there is good medical care.

Anyway - must rush off!

I hope to post more personals later!

Donna

[amoodygirl]

Hi there,

I'm tired today so I'm surprised at all I managed to do.

Today’s workouts:

• New 14 Day Ab challenge – Oblique focus (Another BodyRock challenge)
• Bad Yogi yoga for feet and ankles using foam roller
• Bike Ride: 11.08 miles
• Afternoon: Kathy Smith Basics – Abs
• Yoga with Joelle – Gentle Seated Stretch

Summer Breeze: I’m really finding I’m much better at consistency when I stick to a rotation or challenge. I should have figured that out by now – duh! So glad to see your walks getting longer. Guido’s can be pricey but so worth it. I buy their organic fruits and they are absolutely amazing and have never been disappointed. I guess it’s like the old saying you get what you pay for. They have a cute café with all kinds of yummy stuff! I so despise noisy neighbors!!!! I always try to be considerate but not everyone subscribes to that!

Pat: People complain about taxes ALL the time up here but it’s all relative. When we lived in San Diego, our property and school taxes were about $3k a year. A bargain! When we lived in Westchester, our taxes were about $10k and rising; Connecticut in a townhouse wasn’t too bad – if I remember correctly, they were about $5k. Here in Upstate NY, our property and school taxes are about 7k but we have something called the Star Program and get about 1k back each year, mainly because one of us is 65. Now, in Long Island where my husband’s brothers live, one brother pays $25k in school and property taxes and the other pays about $20k. Of course, they work in NYC, where salaries are higher but no way would I ever consider living down there! Delaware is a great tax state for retirees. I just have to do more research on towns, areas, demographics (crime stats) and weather. I cannot deal with too much humidity so this is something I need to look at. I also want good healthcare. Upstate NY’s healthcare system is sorely lacking.

Donna: I’ll keep you posted on what I find out on Delaware! A friend of mine’s parents retired there so I will contact them and ask them questions.

Hi to Pam! Hope everyone had a great Tuesday!

[Pat58]

Good morning everyone. Shocker for me last night - the oil delivery on Monday caused our empty tank to spring a leak when the pressure of the oil hit it. Evidently it was very corroded on the bottom - which DH never told me about despite knowing for years. So now I have to pay for a new tank at global recession price gouging costs. Not to mention the additional fee of them siphoning the $800 worth of oil in there into a temporary holding tank. If I knew about the corrosion I would have let it run dry and replaced it at pre-COVID prices. Needless to say I'm so aggravated!

Anyway:

~ Quick lunch walk
~ LWR Feel Amazing Challenge W3 Days 1 and 2
~ Kassandra Yin Yoga for Back Flexibility
~ 7,661 steps

The Kassandra was wonderful for back pain and anger both.

Waves to all! Make it a great day!

[donnamp]

Hi Everyone,

last night I squeezed in a CS 603 - I'm working my way through Season 6 - I think I will suspend my subscription for now and work on my DVDs.

This morning was Jessica's 5K DVD - I did the fast walk again and I think I liked it better this time, although I still don't really see the pattern in the workout and I still miss the countdown timer (although this time I had my phone nearby so I could check to see approx how much time I had left, LOL!) and backgrounders. But it is growing on me and the scenery is very nice.

A core workout is also on the schedule for today - I may not do one of Jessica's though I may pick a short Pilates workout to do instead.

Pat - that is awful about the oil!! I am looking at Lucy's new challenge, I really like her and need to get back into a rotation w/ her.

Hope everyone has a nice day!

Donna