Welcome to Wellness Wednesday 11.2019!
It’s the second Wednesday of the month, so it must be time for Wellness Wednesday 11.2019. Reviewing my progress on the wellness goals I established waaaay back in January. Then offering a few healthy holiday tips. That holiday stress can take a toll on our health!
WELLNESS WEDNESDAY 11.2019
Shooting for perfect scores in every area. But with time running out, I still have some work to do.
PHYSICAL HEALTH 5.0 (Up .5)
We are back to riding bikes, hiking, walking and working out quite a bit. Going to up this at 5.0.
- Work back to running 5K (want to run more regularly again) – Registered for the YMCA Thanksgiving Turkey Trot to be held on 11.28.2019. Ordered my tutu from Amazon Prime today. Hope my waist looks as little and my stomach as flat in it as the mannequin’s! But I prefer my own belly button, thank you.
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- Lift weights (at least 4x a week) – Every time we hit the gym. On average about 4X a week. Along with stretching, an abs routine and some kind of aerobic activity.
- Walk 7,200 steps a day and 3 stories (build walks back into my daily routine) – We have enjoyed several great hikes and a couple of treks up McKelligon Canyon Road. The photo below was from a recent hike to Cottonwood Springs in the Franklin Mountains. Round-trip the walk earned me 37 stories or floors on my fitness tracker. It was steep!
NUTRITIONAL HEALTH – 5.0 (HOLDING STEADY)
Keeping this goal a perfect 5.0. My lifetime WW weight is 138 and I am keeping my weight at that or a little lower.
- Eat more veggies and fruit (and cook meals at home 4x a week) – While we aren’t tracking like we were we are still pretty vigilant about eating well. I am not wanting to lose any more weight but do want to continue to eat well. Have lots of home cooked meals planned, and soup-chili-stew. Have you tried my maple bourbon chili? Oh, my goodness – so good, if I do say so myself. And about 7 Freestyle Weight Watcher points.
- Drink 75 ounces of water a day (pretty good at this already) – Always.
- Alcohol and sweets on weekends – Ice cream is my downfall but now that it is colder, it doesn’t seem as appetizing. Keeping the alcohol down to one or two somethings a week. And a sip of bourbon when I made my chili!!
MENTAL HEALTH – 4.0 (Holding steady)
For fall I turned a new leaf…and am actually completing things. Who am I? Books, art projects. Knowing the end of the year is fast approaching, and I still have plenty of loose ends to wrap up.
- Work puzzles and play word games, practice Spanish (Wordscapes, Word Classic, jigsaw puzzles, Brainscape/Duolingo) – Started the month well but back slid. Will get back at it.
- Weekly art date (do something creative or attend something artsy) – Scrapbooked and have more rocks in the works. That counts, right? Doing more Bible journaling again with my great gratitude journal from Shalana Frisby, 25 Days of Bible Verses for Praise & Thankfulness: A Christian Devotional & Coloring Journal.
- Read 3 books a month (in order to meet my Goodreads goal) – Continuing to make my best progress in this category with my reading. Finished Whisper Me This by Kerry Anne King on my Kindle. And our virtual book club just finished reading The Girls at 17 Swann Street by Yara Zgheib. What a walk down Memory Lane as I read and remembered my bout with an eating disorder. Read my review, here, please. Our virtual book club just began reading Christmas Shopaholic by Sophie Kinsella. Ho-ho-ho!! Have set aside Embraced: 100 Devotions to Know God Is Holding You Close by Lisa Terkeurst for my morning quiet time to use the 25 Days of Bible Verses for Praise & Thankfulness for this season of thankfulness. Would love to have you join our virtual book club group! Holler, if you are interested! We have over 70 members, now!!
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SPIRITUAL HEALTH – 5.0 (Up .5)
Bumping myself up a half point in this category. May not get my quiet time done first thing in the morning every day but I am fitting it in. We have become faithful church-goers. Several times we have overslept but have hurried around to make it in time for the second service.
- Quiet time 5x a week (M-F, bonus points for the weekend) – Packing my Bible, devotional and journaling materials to-go with me on the days I can’t get to it first thing in the morning.
- Attend church more regularly (at least once a month) – Yes and would like to join a connect group.
- Gratitude journal before bed – Incorporating this in my quiet time for now.
RELATIONSHIP HEALTH – 4.5 (Up .5)
This is a tough time for us and we are both on edge and nervous about the job situation. But we are being kind and patient with one another.
- Unplug at 9:00 pm – Beginning to be more conscious of this again. Trying to get on top of blog posts so I am not always doing them the night before!!
- Date night 2x a month (bucket list activities) – Have enjoyed a number of activities from my autumn bucket list, here but we are going to have to nix a few things because of the job(less) situation. Hikes can count as (free) dates, though, me thinks!
- Skype with Brennyn/Cady & Lauren/Lucia (read books to my babies) – We have enjoyed several outings with Lucia, most recently dinner and then a trip to the park. But I have missed time with my Cadence. Brennyn has been working a lot and Cady has been with her dad more. Hard for me to connect with her there. Although we did read together a night or two while she was at his house. Need to get back at it. We do communicate on FB Messenger and phone calls. I miss that angel and my Brennyn so much. The photo below is from our convo on Halloween.
MAINTAINING HEALTH – 4.5 (Holding steady)
- Use sunscreen on my face daily (moisturizer with SPF) – Still using sunscreen even though it is now fall and the sun isn’t as strong. I know we can still get sun damage.
- Floss – We’ve had the Turewell Cordless Water Flosser for 2 months. And I am flossing the old fashioned way, too.
- Take vitamins and minerals daily (multi, vitamin B, C, D – LMNOP – flaxseed oil, biotin, magnesium, probiotics) – Yes.
FINANCIAL HEALTH – 4.5 (HOLDING STEADY)
- Save money for Christmas – Have saved some and best of all, haven’t touched what I’ve saved.
- Pay off Amazon card – Done. Good progress on the Loft card, too. My credit score is smiling.
- Have money in my checking account at the end of the month – Yes, pennies. But a penny is a penny, right?
- Looking for a part-time job. Still helping with Lucia for a little extra money several days a month. Have applied for several jobs (Target, Hallmark cards, American Airlines) only to be turned down. Been subbing and have 3 upcoming jobs. Holding off on VIPKids until after the holidays.
Wellness Wednesday 11.2019 Healthy Holidays Tips
The holidays can be wonderful but they are almost always a little bit stressful, too. For our family, this time of year is very stressful because my mom and PC really do not like the holidays. So it is important to not only guard your physical health but your mental and emotional health as well.
My golden rule for the holidays would be ‘everything in moderation.’ That covers eating, drinking, spending and even staying up late! But here are some additional suggestions that I discovered from more official sources, True Health Diagnostics and Real Simple.
- Make plans for January. Have something to look forward to on the other side of the holidays.
- Give yourself some grace from exercising. Not to say ‘give it up for six weeks’ but just allow yourself to cut back a bit.
- Weigh yourself regularly but also realize the average person only gains a pound over the holidays. [source]
- Take a few moments every day for yourself. Keep up with your devotional or quiet time. Read. Meditate. Journal.
- Remember the reasons for the seasons. Keep the meaning of Thanksgiving and Christmas or Hanukkah in your heart.
Your Turn
How are you progressing on your goals on this second-to-last Wellness Wednesday 11.2019? Won’t you share something you are most proud of in your efforts toward a healthier you? And if you have a wellness related blog post, how ’bout linking it up with us? Then take a few moments to stop by the blogs of some of the others.
Thank you for being here today for Wellness Wednesday 11.2019, for cheering me on with your kind comments. Here’s to a bright, healthy, happy holiday season for all of us!
Hugs and kisses,
Merel
So many great tips! Thanks for sharing 🙂
x Merel
https://www.andathousandwords.com
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Thank you so much for coming by!! Nice to meet you. What a lovely blog you have. Glad you found something helpful in my Wellness Wednesday post. Thank you for saying hi and leaving a comment.
Joanne Tracey
I know I’ve said it before but I love how you score yourself against your goals. 37 floors is super steep! My quads are aching just thinking about it!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Our 37 floor hike was straight up. And the ‘path’ was all rocks about the size of a Cornish hen. We were pretty tired afterward. Hoping for all 5s on my goals next month. Need to step away from the beer I just opened!!
Laurie
Sounds like you are doing great this month! I love that tutu. Good luck with your Thanksgiving 5K! I think I would be interested in joining your virtual book club. I see it is a FB club. Do I just click “join” to request to join?
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Hey Laurie!! Yes, please come join our book club. I will send you an invite in just a sec. We just started Christmas Shopaholic which is lighter fare than what we’ve read lately. A nice change.
Wearing the tutus makes doing the 5Ks more fun. Now to find some brown leggings!!
Juhli
The tutu is great – have fun! You are doing so well with you goals and I bet you can increase the subbing to almost full time if you want to. Word will get around – tell everyone you know!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
You know what, I am subbing more and getting calls from folks I have sub for asking me to return. Going to make up some little business cards with my info and share them at the schools where I go. Thank you for the encouragement.
ShootingStarsMag
Love the tutu! And you’re doing awesome on all of your wellness goals. I definitely need to do better with eating well/moving more. I’m trying, but it’s definitely a work in progress and it can be tough to see if anything is changing, you know? Oh well, keep on keeping on. lol Nice tips for surviving the holidays!
-Lauren
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Hey cutie pie, baby steps. Get through the holidays without much difference to your weight and start fresh in JANUARY!
Natalie
You’re doing fantastic with all your wellness goals, Leslie. Thank you for linking up with me on Wellness Wednesday all through this year. One more to go for 2019. I bet you can come up with really beautiful business cards for your subbing. Have fun at the 5K race and tell us all about it after!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Thank you, Natalie. Hope to get a fire set under me in the next few weeks and be able to report all 5s on our last post. Are we still doing this in 2020?
Natalie
I plan to continue in 2020 with a couple of changes. Still thinking…
Bri
You are doing great! I love all these goals you have set, and here we are at the end of the year and you are sticking to so many. You should be proud, Leslie!!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Thank you, Bri! I am trying. The hard part comes now that it is getting cold. We have to keep up the good work! We will start a new round of Wellness Wednesday in January, come join us!!
Dara
You are doing wonderfully and I love reading these posts!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Why thank you, sweet friend.
Janet
I am 66 and was in Pier One on Sunday and the lady working there tried to recruit me to work (so you might try there if you have a local store) – I have a full time job as a legal secretary but if I didn’t have small grandchildren I would love to work retail for the Holidays. I went through three years of my husband not being able to find a job – he finally signed up with a temporary agency and took a two day assingment. The company ended up making a postion for him so a temporary agency might be an option for your husband. My husbands not such a christmas lover either but you know what – I love all the holiday things so I just grab my grandkids or girlfriends to do all the things I want to do holiday light tours, gingerbread contest. lighted boat parade – I don’t let Mr. Grinch steal my joy! He’s perfectly to stay home and read or play on the computer – to each or own and doing what makes us happy.
I am not sure why but reading your fitness goals has me actually thinking about working out again – maybe after the holidays
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Hey Janet, so glad you stopped by and left me the newsy, helpful comment. That is good to know about Pier One…how fabulous it would be to work there!! And the suggestion of looking into temporary work. Thank you for the suggestions!
Glad you are able to enjoy Christmas with your friends and grandchildren. I think having Lucia here will help PC be more ‘into’ Christmas this year. But if not, you are right, I can’t let him steal my joy. Usually put a light scavenger hunt on my bucket list. And this year I really want to make a gingerbread something – man, woman, house!! Where do you live that you have a lighted boat parade? What fun!
Hope you will come back and share your progress on the Christmas activities you have planned.
Thanks so much for the sweet words of encouragement.
Nancy Dobbins
Hi Leslie,
My goal is 10000 steps a day, but due to some ankle issues I’m only averaging around 5-6K. Just got a new, better pair of walking shoes so hoping this will help.
Still tweaking our meals…trying to really reduce oil and salt in our cooking to help reduce inflamation and moderate bp.
Can’t wait to see you in the tutu. (PS – I HATE running!)
Leslie Roberts Clingan
My goal was 10K steps when I was working but just can’t seem to get that many when I am not working. In fact, I subbed today and felt like I walked my legs off and only got 5K steps. Grateful that we have low bp over here. All in all, we have very few health issues to work around, thank goodness. Just need to keep up the exercise and watching our Weight Watcher’s points.
Donna Connolly
Very admirable goals! Ice-cream is my weakness as well. Thank goodness for winter! 😀
Leslie Roberts Clingan
You are so right, thank goodness for winter!!
Daenel T.
How fun is that tutu?
Ummm, so bourbon and chili? Does it go in the chili?
I need to start going to the gym again. I used to go at least twice a week, but I haven’t been in months and I’m still paying a monthly fee. Such a waist, but we’ve had so much going on. Although I think working out would help with the stress.
Leslie Roberts Clingan
You know what, the hardest part for us is getting into the gym. Once we get there, we are ‘golden’. I have told PC if we just go and do nothing more than walk a little on the treadmill, we are ahead of the game. And we always do more than that. And then we lie on the hydro massage beds and it’s all worthwhile.
Julie | This Main Line Life
You’re an inspiration. I still don’t know how you pack so much into your days, but it sounds like you live a really fun and active life. I just signed up for the facebook book club. I run a neighborhood book club which is so much fun. Creating a virtual one on facebook was such a great idea.
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Ha, I don’t think of myself as inspirational at all but I sure appreciate the very sweet sentiment. Thank you so much for joining our virtual book club! I put it together a little over a year ago and have been thrilled and very surprised about how many gals have joined me. For the most part, the gals don’t ‘discuss’ much, although I always have a discussion thread, in hopes they will!! How fun to have a neighborhood book club. I wish I had neighbor friends!! Thank you so much for the sweet message and for being my bud!
Rebecca Jo Vincent
OH MY GOSH – I never even thought to look on Amazon for tutu’s – that one for your turkey trot is PERFECT!! Cant wait to see pics of you in it!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
This will be my second Amazon tutu to run in. Makes it much more fun. And because I am not spending a fortune on it, I can have one for Thanksgiving and maybe one for a spring 5K. Thank you, love.
Laura Bambrick
Wow Leslie! You’ve been so regimented in getting those goals in! Way to go! I’m very impressed! I’ve heard good things about VIP Kids. If you go that route I hope you like it too!
Leslie Roberts Clingan
Thank you, Laura. Going to see what happens with PC’s job between now and the first of the year, and then decide about VIPKids.