When we arrived home from our few days away, and after I caught up on all the washing, re-stocked the pantry and fridge, and went through hundreds and hundreds of emails...I turned the downstairs spare room into my very own workout room.
Now before you get visions of an exercise bike and treadmill, let me assure you I am a no-frills girl and my 'gym' is without any of that equipment.
But it does have carpet on the floor (the rest of the house has hardwood), a television, DVD/VCR player, air conditioner and pedestal fan, a nice stack of toning, walking and aerobic DVDs, and one treasured exercise video I loved working out to fifteen years ago that has lost a bit of visual clarity but is still usable enough for my needs.
Since we moved to Townsville just over five years ago I have gained 14 kg (31 pounds) and I feel it ever so much on my 5'1" frame, especially as I was 8 kg overweight before that. My clothes are three sizes larger and being short they look ridiculous with shoulder seams dropping down my arms, necklines wider than my chest and ever so long hemlines. I may be exaggerating slightly, but it feels like I'm wearing a tent....
As I am an apple shape the weight is predominantly around my tummy and upper body, so my knees and ankles take a hammering in this 'lots of stairs' house and I get breathless easily, especially when I'm bending over and trying to paint my toenails. And I love having painted toenails.
I'm also post menopausal and have Hashimoto's Disease, both contributing to weight gain but more importantly they make it very difficult to lose the weight. However, the real villain has been my sedentary life and lack of planning with regards to daily exercise. It's way too hot here to go out walking in daylight for about 8 months of the year and I used that as an excuse...but not any more.
I've spring cleaned my mind, spring cleaned the spare room, and as of today (Friday) I have done five wonderful workout sessions in my 'gym', pushing myself a little further each day - and loving it.
I did have a rest day on Sunday and today because my body was very clear about needing it, so I am learning to listen to my body and plan on being wise, not reckless, with this new routine.
One very wonderful result we noticed after my first two workout days was the lifting of depression - swoosh, out the door, out of my brain, gone. My daughter told me, "Mum, you're flooding your body with endorphins now and it's already making a positive impact! I'm so happy for you!" Isn't that lovely? Two of my girls are urging me on and cheering from the sidelines, exactly what I needed from them.
SO...I'm a work in progress, just like the next block in my free BOM, "The Love of Home".
Today I drew up the design, chose linen and fabric, threads and embellishments, prepared everything for stitching, and sat down to watch season 1 of The Great British Sewing Bee again.
I chose this precious little doily for the stitchery background, and some beautiful Paperie fabric (by Amy Sinibaldi) to fuse behind the doily...
The May block is sweet and simple, and will be quick to stitch because we all need a few patterns in our stash that can be completed in an afternoon or evening...
My little doily is very old and has a generous amount of fraying, but I'll be framing the design when it's finished so that should preserve it for a long time to come...
Satin stitch...
Chain stitch....
Lazy daisies and Colonial Knots...
Little cross stitches and a touch of beading to come...
...but that's all I can show you until May 1st when you'll be able to download the free pattern and stitch your own version.
Back to my other work in progress.
Here's my starting photo, the one I emailed my daughters when I dressed for Tuesday's workout.
Just keeping it real...
I'll update in a month because this is a long term goal, a habit I'm returning to, not a quick fix.
It's about health, quality of life, and CHERISHING the woman, wife, mother and Nana this Jenny is.
It's about scheduling time for myself, doing this for me and no-one else, and honoring this body God gave me with the help it needs.
Do you know what I mean? Are you on a similar journey?
Have a wonderful weekend, sweet friend, and try to do something positive for yourself as well as for others. Everyone benefits when you do. xx
hugs
