Painting by Audrey Mabee
I have long hoped that the amount of energy we apply to every endeavor would reward us with the same amount we spent. I should have known better. After all, we don’t receive the same amount of money back after blowing a week’s salary on a frivolous purchase. However, suppose we donated that money to a worthy charity, or helped someone achieve a goal which had been illusive? That “energy” would come flowing back.
It’s a known fact that you “use it, or lose it,” and I seem to have misplaced my muscles in the past couple of years. We like to blame other things for our shortcomings, and I have been happy to blame other things on my lack of endeavor in the exercise department. Like Audrey Mabee’s painting, I have been floating and having a great time.
There is a new book out about the value of “tidying up”, so I thought I would give it a try.
Is scrubbing the kitchen floor considered exercise? After all, it does entail energy.
Pachofa-Unfinished 
Everything counts, Kayti. Every time we find a way to expend a little more energy, use a little more muscle, or keep a few more calories out of our mouths, we’re on the way. When my mom found she had a hard time getting up off the floor — like, she couldn’t, at least by herself — she started sitting on a small footstool rather than in a chair. That meant she had to use her leg muscles as well as her arm muscles to get up, and over time, it made a difference.
It’s too danged hot to do much of anything outdoors, and I’m too tired to use our gym when I get home at night, but for the time being, I’m doing things like parking twice as far from the grocery store, to increase my walking. It may sound silly, but it’s another example of everything counting.
And yes — floor scrubbing counts!
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It becomes harder and harder the older we get but I can’t let you and Cheri get ahead of me! I’ve been arguing with family about getting someone to clean for me. I’m winning though. I have developed my own method since I have limited mobility. Takes longer, but what the heck, I’m not going anywhere.
Yes, hot weather makes a difference. Takes all the energy out of you. It’s good that you are walking longer. I miss that I can no longer do that. I have been a life long advocate of exercise. Once you stop it only takes a short time to get out of shape, but a long time to recapture those muscles. I lost 20 pounds 4 years ago when I had a shoulder replacement and also lost all my teeth the same year, going down to 86 pounds. In 4 years I am back up to 100# even with trying to gain weight. The trick is don’t stop for too long!
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Loved the tidying up book. It motivated me to clean out the closet. Am working hard in that. You would like the book love you Sent from my iPhone
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Thanks Linda, I have it on my list. Love you too.
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I make my housework count, Kayti. I put on my heart monitor band which is synched to my tracker. Yes, scrubbing floors certainly counts, the longer the better, as does anything which gets the heart pumping a little faster. And just living always counts! Take care, though.
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Since I have limited mobility I make housework and some gardening into exercise. I have done a tremendous amount of exercise all my life. Just because one part of our bodies stops becoming agreeable is no need to stop everything. Every part of our body needs movement. It is great to see so many people realizing that. My mother and grandmother’s generation really did nothing as far as exercise. This is why people are living longer and better.
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