Dancing With Fruitcake

Tag: water aerobics

  • Off to a Great Start

    A plate featuring cooked chicken, black-eyed peas, green beans, and a variety of roasted vegetables including zucchini, cherry tomatoes, and colorful bell peppers.

    Yesterday, I started the New Year off with a water aerobics class. It was nice, yet tough. Three-fourths of the way through the class, I started to wonder if I’d be able to climb the steps to get out of the pool with my bad knees. I made it, but it was awkward and there were people looking. I came home and iced my knees to try to offset any major arthritic flare-up. I’m not nearly as sore today as I expected to be, although I did take the exercises easy to prevent pain later.

    This week, I’m planning to eat the same meals each day to minimize uncertainty that would enhance the risk of cheating. For breakfast, I had plain oatmeal with nothing in it, for lunch two eggs on Dave’s Killer Bread, and for dinner see the picture above. I cooked the chicken in the air fryer and the veggies in the oven. Since it was New Year’s Day, I threw in a half cup of black-eyed peas. A banana was my only snack.

    I did a WW workshop. My plan is to do 90 workshops in 90 days to stay connected with the plan and to get new ideas for meals. Some of them are exercise workshops.

    I like to weigh every day. It may not be the recommended way, but it keeps me on top of what’s going on – and sometimes depressed if it’s not going my way. I’m down 1.2 pounds since yesterday. It may be water weight, but whatever. I did drink a good bit of water as well.

    A month or so ago, I bought a vibration plate to use for my knees. I’ve heard they are good for weight loss. If that’s true then it will be a plus. I’m using it twice a day for 15 minutes. It does help to lessen the knee pain. I’m moving around and going out more since using it. I had stopped leaving the house much because of the pain, but I’m out and about again, so the vibration plate and ice have helped my quality of life.

    All in all, yesterday was quite successful.

  • One of Those People

    A group of older women exercising in a pool, using dumbbells for water aerobics, smiling and enjoying the workout.

    In the past, I’ve made fun of those people who start a new diet on January 1st and start going to the gym. They overrun the gyms and annoy the regulars just by being there. Well, guess what…I’ve decided to be on those people this year. That’s right. I made a plan and everything.

    Starting January 1, 2026, I’m going to the AquaFit class at the gym. I’m already a member, but my attendance has long remained dormant. I’m going to do AquaFit four times a week and weights three times a week. I’m also starting back on Weight Watchers. I have my menu made up and everything.

    I did WW last year and lost 30 lbs. I’ve kept most of it off. The thing is, I’ve only been a half-hearted participant. I dial into the virtual workshops, leave my camera off, and fail to participate. I don’t participate in the Connect Community or listen to the audio coaching. I don’t journal. I cheat, and I don’t exercise. There has been no real commitment.

    I’ve decided that this year I’m going to put on my camera and participate in the workshops. I’m going to post in the Community and exercise. I even have a journal. My son gave me The Hero’s Journal, and I’ve already started filling it in.

    The WW coaches ask us to define what is our why? I never really had a why. This time I do. My knees hurt, and that keeps me from living my best life. I bought a vibration plate and started icing my knees, and that has helped a lot.

    I retired this year and have the time to commit and focus on myself and getting healthier. There are no excuses. Of course I’m sitting here right now eating my last-ish chocolate toffee bar…but Thursday is a new day!!