Red Dirt Ramblings®

Firmly rooted in the Oklahoma soil

  • Home
  • About Me
  • Gardening
  • Garden Coaching
  • Travel
  • Contact
  • My Gardens
    • The Back Garden
    • The Potager
  • Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar
  • Skip to footer

Red Dirt Ramblings®

Firmly rooted in the Oklahoma soil

  • Home
  • About Me
  • Gardening
  • Garden Coaching
  • Travel
  • Contact
  • My Gardens
    • The Back Garden
    • The Potager

Exercise: Staying Strong for Spring

2 December, 2007 By Dee Nash

by Dee Nash
2 December, 200724 August, 2020Filed under:
  • Spring

New GardensI will finally admit it, although it pains me to write this. I am middle aged, and that’s if I live to be 90. I could be older than I think.

Last year, after we added four new garden beds, and I’d shoveled manure mix into all of them by hand with HH’s help, I came in from the garden every night and thought I was going to die. My body ached from my hair to my toenails. It frightened me enough that I made myself a promise. My days of hibernating before the fireplace all winter were over. If I wanted to continue my gardening passion into old age, I was going to need to get off my duff and get moving.

Being a member of several garden societies, I knew lots of people in their golden years, and most of my friends didn’t reside in rest homes either. Which begs the question: Is how we spend our later years more determined by genetics and illness, or by lifestyle choices we now make?

All summer, I studied two of my dear friends, who in spite of being in their late 60s and early 70s maintained gardens larger than mine. Of course, they complained about muscle aches and being tired while warning me not to enlarge my garden anymore. But, all of this was said with a smile on their faces and a twinkle in their eyes. Because of their passion and interest in something besides aging, they remained fascinating women.

I examined what they did, and here is what I discovered.

  • They exercised. They took long, fast walks. When Wanda moved to Washington, she gave me many beautiful plants from her garden. One fine summer day, we spent most of it digging plants from her fabulous soil and carrying large containers to my car. It took all of my energy to keep up with her.
  • They lifted weights. All of that stuff about weight training keeping our muscles and bones strong isn’t fiction. It’s true.
  • They ate small meals. They didn’t overtax their digestive systems.
  • They didn’t eat a lot of sugar. They ate protein and fresh vegetables and fruit.

I’ll be honest. I didn’t immediately put their ideas into practice. I love bread and cheese and sweets, and when I was diagnosed with gluten and casein intolerance last year, I wasn’t happy. I had to relearn how to cook and then, I ate a lot of it because I was feeling sorry for myself. I also figured that I was getting enough exercise walking and working in the garden. I wasn’t. The weight began to creep up, and it landed on my middle where it stubbornly stayed.

When the wee ones returned to school last fall, I joined the YMCA, and I’m really glad I did. The cardiovascular exercise on the arc trainers was pretty intense, but easy on my joints, and I love, love, love the FitLinxx weight training. The system keeps track of my cardio and weight training in charts, and I just love charts and graphs. It also reminds me of which machine to use, so that’s good too. When you do twelve machines, it is hard to remember which weights you use on each one. I go to the “Y” two or three times a week along with walking in between. We have some lovely parks in central Oklahoma that have trails. I use those even on cold days. I like that crisp air. I even walked in the snow and ice one time last year. It was slippery, but fun.

I’ve also gone back on the South Beach diet. HH is doing Atkins, so it was join him or make several evening meals. Atkins is too greasy for me, and I’ve modified South Beach to leave out the cheese, which is a bummer, but . . . .

I’m not preaching that my methods are the best ones, but they are some things I can stick to, and the muffin top around my jeans is growing smaller, so I must be doing something right.

Again, is it mostly genetics, or do our habits make or break our autumnal years? What do you think?

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • More
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)

Related

Tagged:
  • Exercise
  • Strength
  • Winter survival

Post navigation

Previous Post My Christmas Garden Gift List
Next Post Light One Candle

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Dee says

    27 December, 2007 at 2:56 pm

    Well, I had no idea that this post had so many comments. It must have been when my internet was down.
    Aimee, Best Girl, keep on exercising. It keeps us young.
    Curtiss Ann, you are one strong cookies even when you don’t feel like it.
    Lynde Cous, I’m so glad you’re visiting. Start that New Year’s exercise plan now, and after two weeks of exhaustion, you will feel better.
    Lydia, all of your advice is really good. So glad you lost weight. Would love to see your garden.
    Robin, you haven’t been posting on your blog as much, so it must be all that exercise you do in your regimen. You go, girl!
    Nan, thank you for the compliment on my garden. Wait til you see it this spring. I like your blog too.

  2. nancypants says

    27 December, 2007 at 12:19 pm

    My Mom could outgarden me any day. And she is 37 years older than me! LOL

    Your place is beautiful!!

  3. Robin (Bumblebee) says

    18 December, 2007 at 7:05 am

    Well good grief. It seems to be the thing to be thinking about exercise!

    I find it interesting that you observed energetic older gardeners for lessons learned. I don’t have any such role models, but I certainly believe your conclusions.

    Since I am very goal-oriented I keep thinking that I need to be training for some “event.” A trainer told me one time that the “event” was my life. I try to keep that in perspective and think that all the hard work I’m putting in at the gym is to help me enjoy all the other parts of my life all the more.

    Thanks so much for pointing out that you wrote about fitness too. It helps to know I’m not alone out here!

    –Robin (Bumblebee)

  4. Lydia says

    8 December, 2007 at 10:39 pm

    I have gardened enthusiastically for all my adult life. I haven’t always been in good shape. In fact, I allowed myself to get FAT. These numbers may not be exact with each event- but they are real close.

    Three years ago I looked at myself and asked, “Are you happy looking this way?” Nope.

    So I cut out eating late at night, every time I was frustrated and dropped 10 pounds immediately. By the end of two months, I had lost an other 15.

    I worked with a local nutritionist, who advised me on a toxic cleansing vitamin regimen specific to my needs. Dropped an other 10 pounds.
    I took up golf. Good bye to another 10 pounds.

    And then I started working out. Fitness Advantage is the best gym where I live. They are careful to hire people who know what they’re doing. So that’s where I joined. About once a year I get in a regimen with a personal trainer. I would trust anyone on staff to keep me safe. the rest of the time I work out on my own.

    My blood pressure went out of the danger zone to perfectly normal.

    And my garden looks great.

  5. Lynde says

    8 December, 2007 at 3:47 pm

    I know that I absolutely cannot keep up with my mother. She can out dig, out plant, and outlast me ANY day in the garden! So let’s hope those genetics hurry and kick in! (Otherwise I will have to start exercising.)

  6. Curtis says

    7 December, 2007 at 4:09 am

    I know I have be good little boy and watch what I eat If I want to maintain my weight. It is difficult at times to eat right and not eat to much or the wrong things, which I have done on thanksgiving. We won’t mention the pies.

  7. CurtissAnn says

    4 December, 2007 at 12:39 pm

    I think it is both genetics and lifestyle. Thanks for the encouragement to healthy living. You help me believe I can do more than I think I can– and help me see all the good stuff I’m already doing! Except not the green tea, ewwew! I do love the roobios, though!

    Hugs,
    CurtissAnn

  8. Aimee says

    3 December, 2007 at 8:11 pm

    I hate, hate, hate the idea of exercise at the beginning of the Christmas season. But, even more than that, I will hate having to work off the additional 10 lbs. I’ll gain during the next 4 weeks of sweets, eats and treats. What I have a hard time with is skipping food rewards during stressful times. You know, like when you have a deadline that you sleep, breathe and eat (and eat and eat). This summer I became very attached to my morning Frappacino at Star Bucks, Even when I said the magic justifier, “Light”, I knew it would creep up on me later. So, now I have to start back on the treadmill and go back to green tea…I am not fond of the muffin top look.

Primary Sidebar

About Dee

Hi, I’m Dee, a professional garden writer and speaker born and raised in Oklahoma. Here you’ll find all my best dirt on gardening and travel. Welcome!

Read More

Share this:

  • Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window)
  • Click to share on Pinterest (Opens in new window)
  • Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window)
  • More
  • Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window)

Subscribe Here To RDR Updates.


* indicates required
Email News
Email Format

Garden Coaching

Garden Coaching

Grow a beautiful and manageable garden with personalized pointers from Dee!

Learn More

Give my podcast a listen!

Our podcast logo! The Gardenangelists.

Search me baby!

Travel

It's time to get the leaves off of the pansies.

It’s time to plan for next year’s garden

9 November, 2022 By Dee Nash

Yes, I know we're all exhausted from the summer from hell in Oklahoma and Texas--or is that just me? But it's time to start planning for next year's dream garden. Trust me, it's time, and who knows? Maybe next Read More

Fun days at the daylily national convention

16 July, 2022 By Dee Nash

For July's Garden Bloggers' Bloom Day, I want to share my visit to the daylily national convention. A region of the American Daylily Society puts on the AHS National Convention each year. Region 15 put on this Read More

Road trip to Yellowstone National Park

28 October, 2019 By Dee Nash

Bill and I traveled all summer. I'm not gonna lie. It was tons of fun, but after getting back from our road trip to Yellowstone National Park last month, I am tired and will be staying home for a while. I Read More

GOW Footer Widget Header

Ask me a question!

Please feel free to ask me a question here or at my email addy: dee@deenash.com.
I’ll try to answer every question and get back to you as quickly as possible.

Contact Us

Footer

Blogs I Dig

  • Clay and Limestone–TN
  • Cold Climate Gardening–NY
  • Dirt Therapy–PNW
  • Each Little World
  • Faire Garden–TN
  • Greenbow–IN
  • Growing With Plants
  • Joanne's Cottage Garden
  • May Dreams Gardens–IN
  • Redeem Your Ground
  • Rock Rose–TX
  • Toronto Gardens–Canada

Red Dirt Sisters

  • Curtiss Ann Matlock
  • The Not Always Lazy W

Follow Us!

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest

Let’s bring back the Monarchs

Let’s bring back the Monarchs
For more info about speaking and other work, visit my other website!

Dear Friend and Gardener

Join our virtual garden club and share all summer

Join our virtual #garden club and share all #summer

Disclosure Notice

Red Dirt Ramblings participates in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by linking to Amazon.com and its affiliates.

Occasionally, I also accept some garden items for review. If I review one of these items, I will let you know in the post. Thank you.

© Copyright 2023 Reddirtramblings.com · All Rights Reserved · Privacy Policy · Sitemap

We use cookies on our website to give you the most relevant experience by remembering your preferences and repeat visits. By clicking “Accept”, you consent to the use of ALL the cookies.
Do not sell my personal information.
Cookie SettingsAccept
Manage consent

Privacy Overview

This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. Out of these, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. We also use third-party cookies that help us analyze and understand how you use this website. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. But opting out of some of these cookies may affect your browsing experience.
Necessary
Always Enabled
Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. These cookies ensure basic functionalities and security features of the website, anonymously.
CookieDurationDescription
cookielawinfo-checkbox-analytics11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Analytics".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-functional11 monthsThe cookie is set by GDPR cookie consent to record the user consent for the cookies in the category "Functional".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-necessary11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookies is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Necessary".
cookielawinfo-checkbox-others11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Other.
cookielawinfo-checkbox-performance11 monthsThis cookie is set by GDPR Cookie Consent plugin. The cookie is used to store the user consent for the cookies in the category "Performance".
viewed_cookie_policy11 monthsThe cookie is set by the GDPR Cookie Consent plugin and is used to store whether or not user has consented to the use of cookies. It does not store any personal data.
Functional
Functional cookies help to perform certain functionalities like sharing the content of the website on social media platforms, collect feedbacks, and other third-party features.
Performance
Performance cookies are used to understand and analyze the key performance indexes of the website which helps in delivering a better user experience for the visitors.
Analytics
Analytical cookies are used to understand how visitors interact with the website. These cookies help provide information on metrics the number of visitors, bounce rate, traffic source, etc.
Advertisement
Advertisement cookies are used to provide visitors with relevant ads and marketing campaigns. These cookies track visitors across websites and collect information to provide customized ads.
Others
Other uncategorized cookies are those that are being analyzed and have not been classified into a category as yet.
SAVE & ACCEPT
 

Loading Comments...