Baby Boomer Lifestyle » Exercises

Boomer Retirement – budgeting what?

tikki — Thu, 22 Dec 2011 22:24:40 +0000

When planning for your retirement, how do you reconcile your wants with your needs and then realizing you are now on a fixed income. how does this affect not only your bottom line every month but also your life style. Do you have a process in place for this or will you fly by the seat of your pants? Perhaps punting is the way to go? And perhaps now is the time when you panic because you realize you have not prepared properly. Perhaps you will decide you will keep working as long as possible.

Looking at one’s budget is most likely the best place to start looking at where you can prune and cut back on expenses. Not driving to work and not having to eat out at lunch will certainly save you some money.

Money

Are there other places you can save money as well. What about looking around you and identifying those things where you can save some money. Here are a few things from www.vibrantnation.com.

The Bare Bones Budget Mantra – Everyday do something for:

1. the business

2. the house

3. yourself

4. your spouse

1. The business: this could include looking for work, polishing your resume, volunteering for an organization where you can learn skills and mingle with those who might know of jobs in your area of interest. You might look at re-arranging expenses, such as cutting cable TV and the gym (temporarily?) out of your budget and replacing them with biking to errands, and going to the library to check out books and DVD’s for entertainment. Investing in something for your home that will replace the gym may be OK here. Check out www.resistancechairsystem.com, especially if you have to sit to exercise. ‘Business’ can include making money as well as saving money and educating yourself. Learn a new skill. Educate yourself.

2. The house: If you have a house or apartment this would include clearing out a little clutter each day, or vacuuming, or doing something to maintain and upkeep your home. If you’re not sure where to start, check out online clutter advice sites such as flylady.net. If you are living with family or friends, this means helping with cleaning, cooking, or in some way to support the home environment. If you are in a shelter or car camping, this means maintaining your environment by cleaning your area and making sure your belongings are clean and organized so you can get to them easily. It also means – in whatever place you call home – that you find something to appreciate about it each day. Develop an

Giving Thanks

To help provide some of your own fresh food, consider starting an edible garden. Although it takes some planning and time, putting in a rain garden will also do a lot to conserve water and grow things at the same time. Check your local nursery or farmers market for herb starts that can grow in window pots, or edible landscaping plants for urban as well as rural use. You can ask at your church or community bulletin board, or on www.freecycle.org. for starts from those looking to re-home their excess plants. If you need help getting started, check out your local extension office.

3. Yourself: This is the area that those under stress often forget about, but it’s very important. Every day do something you love. Something that makes you smile. If it makes you happy and it is important to YOU – you should indulge. Take a walk, read a magazine, pick herbs from your garden and put them in a stew or make tea. Take that stretched and pilled sweater that’s too small and make a scarf for yourself. Snuggle with your puppy, take a bubble bath, eat a bonbon. Do something creative, or something that makes you feel pampered. Treat yourself.

4. Your Spouse: If you are married or in a special relationship, do something kind for your special someone – rub their shoulders, do a chore for them that they hate, make their favorite snack and deliver it to them with a smile. If you aren’t married, do something kind for a friend, family member, co-worker, neighbor, or person you don’t know that could use some cheering up – like saying a kind word to that overtaxed store checker, or holding the door open for the young mom with a fussy baby. Your kindness will make the world a better place.

Budgeting your life, money, time, emotional and social resources and more, are all a part of living a healthy and happy life.

What ideas can you add to these 4 tips? Share what you know.

Boomer Fitness

tikki — Sat, 19 Nov 2011 21:58:05 +0000

Just what is fitness anyway? The definition is more or less relative to the person who is asking the question!

How to get "not" fit?

Most would agree that it means having a body that is healthy and is maintained by good eating habits, regular exercise and beneficial sleep. You might also add a balanced personality with well functioning mental health. Staying healthy during Thanksgiving Seasoncan sometimes be daunting, with all the food on the table.

Thanksgiving Dinner for the Family

One method to measure the physical aspects of fitness is with the use of a BMI (Body Mass Indicator) calculator. You can find one at the Mayo Clinic’s website. Once you have this information, it is a place to start developing a plan for fitness. Designing a workout routine can be a daunting experience for a newbie but there is help for this. A workout builder tool may be what you are looking for. If you can afford it, you may want to engage a Personal Trainer but how do you know if they are qualified. There are many things to consider when making this decision.

Choosing a Personal Trainer

One thing that is becoming more popular, because they are effective, is the use of Resistance Bands. When choosing these bands it is important to get the right level of resistance. Using resistance bands improves the quality of your exercise routine, strengthens your muscles and builds endurance. What is you need to sit while exercising? You may want to check out my website, www.resistancechairsystem.com. This particular product uses resistance bands and has a bike attachment that can be set to different levels of resistance, according to one’s ability. If you have issues with your shoulder, then the Freedom Flex Shoulder Stretcher attachment is something to consider. Check back for end of the year sales on this website.

No matter what your level of readiness for exercise, the best place to start is in your head. It really doesn’t matter what kind of equipment you have or where you have a membership, you need to take that first step – out the door or onto your equipment before any of this will work for you.

Personal Trainer Humor

So – what motivates you to exercise? What do you use for equipment? Do you find it easier if you have a gym membership? What do you tell yourself relative to having an exercise routine? Share with us, please.

A What??? What is a Routine???

tikki — Fri, 16 Jul 2010 19:13:08 +0000

A routine? Webster’s Compact Dictionary gives the following definition: A regular procedure; customary or prescribed; like or using a routine – routinely. But here is what is interesting – there is also Routinize – in the dictionary. It means: to make routine; reduce to a routine. So there are a few ways to look at the word – routine. When you are talking about exercise, which one does the best job of describing what you, yourself, are doing. Me – I think routine meets what I am trying to do. A regular procedure, either walking or using my Resistance Chair Exercise System, is good and fits. Customary – doing it every day no matter what – well I am probably falling a bit short in that arena. Prescribed – now that fits me to a tee. I have been “prescribed” by my surgeon to either walk or use the Resistance Chair System every day. So what about “routinize”? Is that the same as “routinely”? Well – you might be surprised to learn they are actually two different things. Routinize actually means what I quoted above – To make a routine or “reduce” (pardon the pun) to a routine. So you might set up a routine like I have done, to either walk or use the Resistance Chair System everyday. But there is no specific time of day given? That might be the piece I am missing??? Perhaps if I do that, then I have routinized my efforts??? OK – All of this aside – just “doing it” every day is the point of exercising. Making it a part of your daily schedule is necessary if you are dieting? Why? Because exercising daily is something we all need to do to keep in shape and to maintain good health and a good quality of life. Just ask someone eho has lost excess weight and kept it off – they will tell you exercise is important. They will tell you all of things they “fixed” about their health when they lost the weight – things like lowering blood pressure, having better blood sugars or even going into remission with diabetes, less/fewer aches and pains in joints etc. etc. etc. So – now you know about routines and “routinize” and the difference? Set up your routine, what ever it is and “routinize” it :0)! Karen/Tikki