Wednesday 12 September 2018

Wellness Wednesday September 12


Greetings! Welcome to our 9th Wellness Wednesday link up in 2018! Today I'm providing updates on my August wellness goals, setting goals for September, and linking up with a group of terrific bloggers who are also on the wellness adventure.

First, August wellness goal updates:
  1. Meditate 15 minutes daily - This is one activity that takes little of my time and keeps me centred so I make sure I do it daily. Combining it with deep abdominal breathing at night helps me fall asleep easily, too.
  2. Exercise one hour daily - I got all my exercises in while at home for the first three weeks of August. The last ten days of August I was in Paris without access to a gym. So I walked every day, took stairs (which were in every Metro station), ran in a nearby park, and did strengthening exercises using my body weight. The weather was great throughout my stay, except one afternoon with heavy rain. I was determined to keep up my fitness routine throughout August because I did not want to feel sluggish when I came home, and somehow the calories gained from enjoying French fresh baked goods, wine, champagne, and cheeses got to be deducted!
  3. Smile or laugh daily - This was easily achieved since August in a nutshell was a very social and happy month for me. I had a fun-filled time in Paris with my family.
Second, I'm setting seven September wellness goals:
  1. Meditate 15 minutes daily.
  2. Smile or laugh daily.
  3. Walk 45 minutes or more daily.
  4. Work out in the gym three times a week, one hour each time (Mon/Wed/Fri).
  5. Practice yoga twice a week, one hour each time (Tues/Thurs).
  6. Swim one hour weekly (Saturday).
  7. Run 5K and do stretches one hour weekly (Sunday).
The community pool that I use is re-opened after having been closed since the end of January so I was excited to resume my swimming starting on September 8.

Finally, the optional Wellness prompt for this month is Favourite strengthening exercises:

I like core strengthening exercises using my body weight such as planks, side planks, or superman. The planks look deceivingly easy but are challenging for me to do, and they are effective to build strong core muscles. My one-hour workouts at the gym typically include warm up, aerobic exercises to increase the heart rate, weight exercises, balance exercises, core strengthening exercises, and cool down.

Your turn...How are you doing with your wellness goals? What is your favourite strengthening exercise? I'd love to hear your comments.


26 comments:

  1. I love your September wellness goals, Natalie especially #2 - smile or laugh daily. We sometimes get so caught up that we forget about laughter and it really is wonderful for our mental health. #Lovin'Life
    Sue from Sizzling Towards 60 & Beyond

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    1. Laughter is the best medicine :) Thanks, Sue, for stopping by. Have a great week!

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  2. I've been focusing on my core too. And doing much of it incorrectly for my body type according to my physio. So I've been given new exercises and starting from the beginning with actually using my abs rather than recruiting my leg muscles. Wish me luck!

    SSG xxx

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    1. It's great that you got the new exercises for your abs. Abdominal exercises are challenging to do but they certainly strengthen our backs.

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  3. I really must get back to my weekly Wellness Wednesday posts. I was doing so well at it for the last two years but time (or lack of it) has gotten in the way. Will put at the top of my to-do list (with all the other things on the top of my to-do list - LOL).
    Love your wellness goals.
    #teamlovinlife

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    1. I enjoy reading your WW posts, Leanne, so I hope you'll continue writing them. Have a great week!

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  4. I love your wellness goals! I must admit that my meditation practice has slipped and sadly I've been sick in bed since last Friday afternoon so haven't even been able to get to pilates. Onward and upwards from here though, right?! :-) #TeamLovinLife

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    1. Hope you get well soon, Min. I know you'll return to pilates when you can. Take care.

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  5. Hi Natalie - I just wrote a nice long comment and my internet crashed - grrrr! Anyway I just wanted to say how much I admire you (and Sue) with how you are so proactive in your fitness and how inspiring that is for the rest of us. I also love that you added a smile into your list - the world needs more smilers!

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    1. Sorry to hear about your internet crash, Leanne, and thank you for rewriting your kind comment after the crash. Taking care of my wellness is one of my focus areas so I set aside time to do it. I agree with you that the world needs more smilers :)

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  6. Hi, Natalie - I always find your wellness updates to be incredibly inspiring. I agree that Plank Pose can look deceptively easy -- when it is VERY far from that!

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    1. Hi Donna - I find your plan to hike in Italy inspiring. My daily exercises keep me fit to enjoy life, and hopefully one day to do one of the long distance hikes.

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  7. I'm back in the swing of daily walks. It's getting lighter earlier so it's easier to get up. I'm aiming at 10,000 - 12,000 steps a day & am now hitting it regularly again.

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    1. That's awesome, Jo. It looks like you're close to the beach and that must be so nice for daily walks.

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  8. It reminds me that I have to get back on my wellness routine soon.
    Although I am a fitness instructor I struggle to keep up with my routine sometimes when many things are happening in my life....

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    1. Thank you, Ellie, for your visit and comment. I just visited your blog. Andalusia is a beautiful area. I hope you find time for your wellness routine, and feel free to join our Wellness Wednesday monthly link up. The next link up is on October 10.

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  9. You are an incredibly active and energetic person, Natalie. That’s amazing and kudos to you, although it sounds like you don’t have to do much effort to achieve your goals. I’m sweating and out of breath, just reading your wellness achievements and goals.

    Since I’m not house sitting anymore, there isn’t really a way to do my ground exercises. But, we go on a lot of hikes every week and on bike rides, when the weather is alright. The rain in BC is preventing some of the outdoor activities we’d like to do every day.

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    1. Hiking and bike riding are very good exercises, Liesbet. I hope there are more drier days ahead for you to enjoy more outdoor activities in BC. Have a great week!

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  10. Nice progress and great goals ahead. I especially like "smile or laugh daily." I have to admit that, unlike you, I've been a bit of a slacker lately... I need to get motivated again!

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    1. Thanks, Janis, for your kind comment. 'Smile or laugh daily' probably takes the least effort and is so good for our well-being so I keep it on my list.

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  11. You have set yourself some very impressive wellness goals for September. Time has been my enemy lately, having moved house, but I'm slowly getting back into an exercise regime. This week I've been walking each morning and I'm hoping to get back into studio pilates classes next week. I do need to look my best for my son's wedding next Saturday! #TeamLovinLife

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    1. Moving is a big undertaking, Kathy, so be kind to yourself. My congrats on your son's upcoming wedding. Have a great weekend!

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  12. I love that you set goals that are challenging but can be accomplished. I've recently started some new strength building workouts including using a resistance band for the first time. The older I get, the more effort it takes to stay in shape!

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    1. Good on you, Candi, for starting new strength building workouts. I'm committed to regular fitness activities as I feel the same way like what you wrote in your last sentence :)

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  13. Great job finding ways to exercise and laugh and smile in France! Just being in France would be reason enough to smile, I'd think. Glad your pool is open again. I need to get some swimming in this week as our days are numbered before the water gets too cold.

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    1. Thank you, Leslie, for stopping by. I enjoy using the pool again this morning. Have a great week!

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