Clearly, you’ve never head my DIL’s pecan bourbon balls. Chocolate-covered crack.
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I’ve been reading Peter Attila’s book Outlive on how to extend your health span (not just your years of life).
Been lifting heavier weights at the gym (finally doing those squats that have been discussed here for quite some time!). And - based on the book- I’m adding some exhausting cardio to the mix (vs just the leisurely 4 mile walks w/friends I’ve been doing for a while!). It’s a lot to be conscious of (stability, nutrition, strength, flexibility, balance…!). But good to have a plan!
So far I can only bench press the bar itself 
(and guys have to help me unload the heavy plates others have left lol). But it’s a start!
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That sounds interesting. I just put the audio book on hold at the library.
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Colorado_mom - to be honest it’s a lot of science-y stuff in the beginning - about 1/3 of the way through he starts giving some concrete take-aways. So don’t be put off at the outset! 
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Colorado_kid (visiting with his wife from Boston) has borrowed my minivan. And it was winnnndy today. So I decided to run over to the lake trail on the sidewalks rather than driving, which is my usual winter plan when too cool for the bike. Then I ran out/back at the lake trail to avoid the windiest area. Meandered home on the neighborhood streets. Distance was the usual 5k plus another 4k (been working it higher at each run recently).
Step count avg (includes walking, running)
2023: 5277
2022: 4855
I’m happy with that because I’ve been making an effort to also add more cycling and stretching etc.
Next year pickleball? Ya never know….
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Tuesday was fun. We went to Mount Vernon and got a private tour from my SiL. I played soccer that evening (scored a goal and made 2 crazy saves in goal). Ended day with 15k of steps
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Today, with about a month +/- out from the meet, I tested my near 1 rep maxes (95% ish) for the squat, bench press and deadlift for meet planning purposes. My total for the three lifts today was within 4% of my total from 2021.
I was hoping to beat my 2021 meet total this meet (2024), but that may not happen. I believe I’ll open (the 1st of three lifts) at my final or closing (the last of 3 lifts) squat # from 2021. I know I’ll easily break my squat # from 2021. However, I believe my bench and deadlift will be lower. We’ll see how much adrenaline and the crowds affect the outcome.
The HIIT today was 1-2-3-4-5-6-7-8-9-10 of dumbbell front squats and over-the-bar burpees in 12 minutes and, with any time left, a clean one rep max. I was able to get just one clean in before the 12 minutes were up. 
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Reflecting on 2023, it’s been a good exercise year.
I completed my “500 days in a row of 500 calories” on my watch, and got some kind of exercise almost every day. We took our first bike trip in Europe, which was fun, and biked near home a fair amount. I played pickleball 3 - 4 times a week when we were home, and I walked on most days I didn’t bike or play pickleball.
My husband’s brother had bypass surgery a couple of months ago (6 bypasses), which made my husband decide to have some tests done.
Since this thread is about nutrition too - One of my (our) goals for 2024 is to eat more heart healthy meals.
We have bike trips planned for New Zealand and Bryce/Zion National Parks area. We will do a fair amount of hiking on those trips too. We continue to get a fair amount of exercise, so we can continue to get a fair amount of exercise (hopefully that makes sense to this crowd).
I’m hoping we all stay healthy and fit through 2024.
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FYI, there’s a thread on the book.
Did our last hike of the year yesterday. It was just under 4 miles. It was at “mountain” (it is only 826 feet above the surrounding area) near my daughters house. The 1st 1.5 miles are a pretty steady uphill climb
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Holiday season is over, and the damage – 4.5 pounds. I’ll take it! I hurt my back before Christmas so haven’t exercised in at least 10 days plus all the food plus the stress of taking care of my 91yo mom with dementia for five days. Excited to get home yesterday and back on the wagon with exercise and good eating today.
Wishing everyone a happy and fit and healthy new year!
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I am only posting this here because it’s a F/N/H thread. We often love our year end stats don’t we?!!!
While I am not “die hard” in any one activity, I eat plenty of stuff not the best for me, I am never the fastest or the sweaty-est (well maybe, I DO sweat a lot!) I do feel I am dedicated and consistent. I think this graph of my 2023 steps on my feet (a lot of walking, dog walking, pet walking, some running, lots of house activity and activity at work) shows my consistency and routine. Am I bit of a slave to it? Sure. But honestly it’s my North Star and is the best way for me to start my day, with exercise right off the bat and then throughout the day as able (I do still work full time).
Hoping that 2024 is a good year of similar activity and the good health to do it. I don’t take it for granted.
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2023 was not a good year for me fitness wise.
Starting now, I am working on getting my fitness back. Some things I will be working on are:
Cutting down on alcohol
Drinking more water
More strength training
Walking and running on my treadmill (I have even compiled a TV watch list to help with this)
Trying a barre class
Eating fewer processed foods (I did this in 2020 and was successful in losing weight, feeling better and improving my fitness)
I know that every day will not be a “win” day for me or it might be in some ways but not others. But I am resolving to at least trying and not beating myself up if (when) I slip.
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I
Super proactive list and strategy!
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Today I’m climbing back on the food wagon. I’ve had the last 2 weeks off and not much better the 3 weeks before that. I feel it and it shows.
Tomorrow starts the official new program. I’m excited. I’ve downloaded the first month of programs. It’s the same week for 4 weeks, then you get a new set, etc. so I am trying hard not to dwell on how I feel now. In a month I’ll be much better.
I did go to the gym today for a short stairmonster session and an easy bike. But my main workout was putting up the Xmas decorations. I did most yesterday. Today I had to take off the top 8 strands of lights to remove the bad too. Then I restrung most of them. I did a much better job o not cross cross the lights over the sections. I left the top blank, because one strand won’t fit just on the top piece. It should be much easier next year to set up. But yesterday I was flat out exhausted from hauling everything two flights up to the attic - after a run/bike/ab session. Today wasn’t fun, but not horrible. Tomorrow is just vacuuming and minor cleaning.
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Glad you are back home now. You can concentrate on getting back in the groove, as I start to plan a TBD length trip back to NY to help with my Dad (96 year old, hip fracture - recovering nicely, a literal walking ad for the importance of good walking habits. His fall was getting up from a too-low swivel chair, argh… but in general his active lifestyle has kept him in decent shape.)
My recent runs have been adding incrementally longer extra session to my normal 5k runs. Today was 10k! (and two lake loops, instead of out/back for 2nd part). 5k@38:50 and then after a short break another 5k@41:05. For me, those are decent times. In warmer summer weather I rarely break 40 min anymore.
Best wishes to all as the sun sets on 2023.
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GREAT runs!! Beautiful photo!
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Started the year with a 7-8 mile run around the hilly neighborhood behind me, followed by my first workout of my new program. I liked it a lot. And now I’m trying to psyche myself up to begin vacuuming and bathroom cleaning. Happy new year lol.
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Started the New Year with my Apple Watch telling me that my movement activity had changed (lowered) the last 2 weeks - THANKS APPLE!!! 
Started the new year off with a 2.5 mile run and 1.5 mile peppy pup walk. It’s dreary and damp and cold but the show must go on. 
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Got my first weight workout of the year in yesterday, and today I will run/walk my three miles whle watching football and pregame stuff.
I woke up soooo hungry. Of course, I hadn’t eaten since about 5 yesterday, but I’m sure it’s also that my body was saying, “Wait, where is all that food you’ve been feeding me from sun up to sun down?”
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