November review and Goals for December

I did pretty good sticking to my fitness goals last month.  Overall, I completed more than 93 total miles on my recumbent bike.  I also did pretty good with the strengthening work.  I did skip a few days.  I’ve been tracking my workouts on Daily Mile and that has helped me a ton.  I can better track my efforts and I’m more motivated to keep on track so I don’t have empty days, haha.  Days skipped for November? 

Nov 1 – Migraine

Nov 20 – Don’t recall why – probably fatigue

Nov 24 – Also probably due to fatigue

Nov 28 – Bad Migraine

Nov 29 – Bad Migraine

Nov 30- Extreme Fatigue

So I skipped 6 days.  Not all of the days I did work out on were aerobic either.  Some of those days were strenghtening work only.  Week one was 5 aerobic wo, week 2 was 4 aerobic wo and week 3 and 4 were 3 aerobic wo each.  Overall, I am pretty pleased with my efforts.  I think I did my best considering what I’m up against. 

So that brings me to this month’s goals.  Currently, stress is high and fatigue is extreme.  Despite my work outs, strength in my limbs is very low right now.  Like everything has been sapped out of them.  I think it’s temporary but I’m going to listen to my body and take it a bit slow this month – or at least until I spring back. 

Goal for this month is daily exercise.  No mile limit, no time limit.  Just some sort of strengthening or aerobic effort each day.  I’m going for all green on the Daily Mile 😉  I think I’ll stick to the 100 marker on days I feel good.  That means at least 100 push ups (or weight lifts when my arms won’t support my body due to weakness), at least 100 reps of some sort of ab work and to try to burn at least 100 calories aerobically each day.  And on the tough days, whatever I can manage.  Even if it’s just 1 mile.  Or 10 pushups.  Or whatever I can manage 🙂  I’ve already missed Wednesday because I was completely wiped out.  I actually had to nap twice just to get through that day :p  Hopefully that will be the only skip this month.  So, we’ll see how it goes 😉

Wishing you all a healthy and happy holiday season!

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10 for Me and a little something fun and free!

I have decided to add a little bit of healthy into my daily routine.  I am calling this new addition “10 for Me”.  The idea is that I am worth at least 10 minutes of healthy movement.  Even the busiest of days can be squeezed for 10 minutes to do something good for yourself.  And if you can just get started, it is really easy to just keep going ;D  So, I start off with at least 10 push ups, 10 ab crunches, 10 curls, 10 thigh lifts (for each leg, including the inner thigh lifts too), and 10 pelvic tilts.  We also have been trying to go on a walk every evening.  I chose 8 pm because we can go out for about 15 minutes and then come home and get ready for bed by 9 pm.  And I am drinking more water too.  I have increased my water intake to about 12 cups each day.

Now, on to the fun stuff!  🙂  I have a free miniature pattern to share!

Spoolie Spores

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

You will need:  The Knifty Knitter Spool Knitter, a loom pick, a crochet hook, a tapestry needle, worsted weight yarn in the color(s) of your choice, and a very small amount of fiberfill to stuff the cap.

Abbreviations:  MC = Main color; CC = Contrasting color

Pattern notes:  We will be working with two strands through out this project.  I prefer to use the U-wrap version of the Flat Stitch for this project.  The mushroom cap is stuffed but the stem is not.  This pattern can also be easily adapted to make miniature cupcakes.  Have fun!

Creating the cap:

Using the Knifty Knitter Spool Knitter, with your MC complete a double stranded chain cast-on for the 8 peg side and join in the round. 

Round 1:  Knit all pegs with MC

Round 2:  Knit odd pegs with CC and Knit even pegs with MC

Round 3:  Knit all pegs with MC

Round 4:  Knit odd pegs with MC and Knit even pegs with CC

Round 5:  Knit all pegs with MC

Round 6:  Knit odd pegs with CC and Knit even pegs with MC.

Using the gather removal method, take the cap from the loom.  Secure and weave in all ends and set aside. 

Creating the stem:

Using the Knifty Knitter Spool Knitter, with your CC complete a double stranded E-wrap cast-on and join in the round.  Knit in the round for 4 rows.  (For a longer stem, knit in the round for 6 rows)  Cut the yarn, leaving a 10″ tail.  Using the gather removal method, remove the stem from the loom but do not gather.  Weave in the yarn tails at the cast-on edge and set aside.   

Putting it together:

Lightly stuff the mushroom cap with a tiny bit of fiber fill.  Using the long yarn tails, whipstitch the stem to the underside of the mushroom cap.  Finito! 

This is how it might look in the cupcake form.  I think the longer stem is a better option for cupcakes.  Or ommiting the ruffle cast on.  The cake top is very large in proportion to the cake.  But my cute little gal still likes it, so all is well 😀 

I hope you enjoy this little pattern.  My kids were so excited when I gave them their very own ‘Mario’ mushrooms.  Have a great day!

 

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