It always happens - as soon as we cross the OR-WA border I can feel the change coming; by the time we reached Cowlitz County I can literally watch a change come over him.
It's a spiritual thing … and it's not a good shift. I refer to it now, as the redmill demon: the redmills are spread out over the region, and it gets a real grip on him. The snarkiness ramps up. The snide, belittling remarks pick up speed. The mean streak sharpens. The hurling accusations find their mark, and sting like hell fire. Any time spent in Lana's smoke-filled kitchen, only deepens the spiritual talons, & hones those poisonous darts. He idolizes her until she reaches the saint madonna status in his eyes. I can't stand her. He goes … I stay home.
All of our marital issues begin & end with Lana's influence in his life: I say his life, because when she started interfering in our life, I shut that down.
Nobody runs me, but Elohim.
So, when he jumped back on the redmill hamster wheel a few days ago - I separated myself from the craziness. He came home in a mood: I went upstairs. When he started a convo, last night, "She's a widow like you …" I quickly stopped that line of thinking; "No. No, she is not. I loved Bob. Bob will always have a special place in my heart; I am a better person because Bob was in my life most of my life. Lana doesn't love anyone but Lana … maybe you - she has certainly called on you enough to come to her rescue; despite the fact that she has a bachelor son & 2 bachelor grandsons already at her beck & call, and daughter living with her. But, from what I could see, hear, & observe when we visited before Scott died; she verbally belittled him in front of me, a newcomer to the family. She bitches nonstop while chain smoking - any cancer treatments she is rushed to, are useless if she's suicidal: but, you're right there by her side, holding her hand and commiserating with her. She ruined her children's lives, and destroyed her husband's confidence as head of his family: I watched in shocked surprise last summer, when she jerked away from Scott, claiming he was hurting her - and he hadn't even touched her yet; I doubt she is crying over Scott's death. She's a bitchy drama queen & I don't like being around her. And every time you are around her, you become a bitchy drama queen, too. Lana is not - in any way, shape, or form, "a widow like" me; there is no comparison at all. I will thank you to keep her name and my name together, out of your mouth. And you don't get to talk assumptive shit about Bob or my relationships with my kids, either. You've never met Bob, & weren't there when things went south with the kids: you don't know what happened, or how I feel, because I don't talk about that period of my life & you've never taken the time to know anything about me - you make demands, assumptions, and accusations, but you don't know anything at all about ME. I do not allow you to make snarky assumptions about things you know nothing about just to dig the redmill demon spurs deeper into me until I bleed. NO. I don't like your "family" - and right now, I don't like you, either; so, I'm going upstairs and I'm going to stay away from you for a good long time. This behavior may be what you are familiar with - with your family, but it is not acceptable with me."
So, that's where we are.
Again.
E.v.e.r.y.t.i.m.e. the redmills make in-roads in his thoughts, or we get back in the vicinity of the redmill demon influence.
It's hard to live with.
Bob had brain trauma too - but he wasn't deliberately mean; he didn't go out of his way to hurt me or make me feel worthless. In most ways both men are similar - but Holland is truly a new experience. And when he gets moody, I'm not liking it. I've never had cruel people in my life - and I don't keep hurtful people around me … but marriage is different; you gotta work through the hard stuff. So, right now (and for quite a while) I'm gonna be upstairs. Alone. I'm weary of the redmill hamster wheel craziness.
I can only stay "golden" if I do not have any interaction with him, right now. The redmill family is toxic & I can't allow that life-sucking depressing spirit to wreck havoc on my Life. It's a constant uphill battle & it's going to be a long stay, here in WA
My self-care exercise plan is going much smoother … and will be a success with the recent distancing - just sayin'. For some reason, the men in my life, like to fatten me up after marrying me - but my small frame groans with the added weight. My knees and ankles are screaming in angry rebellion, and my overall well-being is in full-out revolt. Holland's fat-laden meals and smoothies have caused the weight I lost with Bob's passing - to come back. It really, REALLY needs to GO, so my petite body can enjoy to continue "going" forward healthily: this is the goal. And I'm thinking that if the weekly 2-3 day drives to Kelso continue for the entire time we are here - dropping the added weight will be a snap; he won't be around to be fatten me up. I tend to eat light when going solo lobo. In that regard, I suppose I should thank Holland's SIL Lana.
The Darebee Mave Workout is designed to enhance your upper body strength, improve muscle control, and boost bone density, which contributes to *cognitive health. It involves various exercises that will force you to work your upper body, activating the adaptive response and helping you become stronger.
*{{Cognitive Health: Bone Strength and Brain Health - How To Improve Both
https://darebee.com/fitness/bone-strength-and-brain-health.html
Suppose we were to tell you that your bones will determine how well your memory works, whether you are going to get depressed or not, how overweight you will end up being and even if you will suffer from dementia as you get older?
Yet, this is exactly what some new studies are suggesting. The new scientific evidence that’s been accumulating through 30 years’ of research, is overturning the traditional view of bones as the mostly inert scaffolding upon which muscles attach and it is forcing a rethink of the traditional view of the mind/body connection.
It is a lot to unpack so we need to start from the very basics. Bone is living tissue that is a lot more active than previously thought. For example, it acts as storage for calcium and other minerals which are released into the body when needed, and it constantly remodels itself according to environmental stress factors such as diet and physical activity.
The complex chain of chemical processes that enable bone to respond to the body’s neurochemical needs and also adapt to external stimuli and become denser and stronger takes place through the direct biomechanical connection between bone and muscle. Simply put, every time we exercise our muscles send signals to our bones which then respond by releasing complex neurochemicals that affect the performance of the body.
As a result of this constant dialogue we know that weight-bearing exercise such as running, aerobics HIIT, help the bones get stronger and denser and fight osteoporosis which is an age-related disease that weakens the bones. Lifting weights and engaging in other resistance activity also delivers similar results. All of which means that exercises that force the body to experience physical load activate the bones’ adaptive response, reduce the probability of injury and help maintain stronger bones as we get older.
The activity of bones however is not limited on their effect on the body’s skeletal muscle. It expands to also include the brain.
The Mind/Body Connection Of Our Skeleton
Fresh studies show that cells deep in the brain, communicate with skeletal bones through hormonal messaging. This places our skeletal framework at the very heart of the body/mind connection with hormonal messengers secreted by the bones playing a key role in age-related cognitive decline. In addition, this hormonal messaging by the bones affects other physiological factors such as fertility, anxiety and depression.
Building on these findings scientists have also been able to show that the health of our bones plays a role in our ability to learn new things and the quality of our memory. Hormones secreted by the bones that affect us at such deep operational level also affect our appetite and metabolism which means that our ability to be active is governed by them.
At an intuitive level all this makes perfect sense. Physical activity trains the muscles to be stronger. Stronger muscles require stronger bones to support them. Exercise reverses ageing and ageing, in its traditional definition, is the body’s and brain’s gradual, functional decline.
There Is No “Mind” and “Body”
The picture that is emerging is that the traditional divide between “mind” that referred to activities performed by the brain and “body” that meant physical health and strength is an illusion. The entire body is also mind. The brain and the body communicate through the complex network of the central nervous system. Because it is expensive (from an energy point of view) to build, keep and maintain any organ in the body, every organ in the body participates in the dialogue between external stimuli gathered from the environment and internal adaptations that are a response to that stimuli.
In this latest example bones ‘talk’ to the brain and the brain seems to ‘talk’ to bones. What we eat (and when), how we breathe, and even how we think affect what happens to us and are affected, in turn, by the lifestyle choices we make.
Our fascial fitness depends upon the quality and strength of the skeletal bones.
In our body everything is connected. Everything is just body.
Workouts To Help Improve Bone Strength and Health
In general, HIIT workouts with their fast-paced, high-impact exercises are perfect for improving and developing bone strength. Because the body responds to muscles, strengthening the muscles themselves results in stronger bones.
Generally you are looking at anything that has resistance work, is high-impact, works the fascia and is fast-paced.
Summary
The body’s and mind’s ageing processes are interconnected. Inactivity in one organ leads to inactivity in the other. Ageing involves a slowing down of interrelated processes that affect a wide variety of functions and involve neurochemical and hormonal messengers that affect a variety of organs.
Reversing the ageing process in the body reverses the ageing process in the brain. Physical activity is key to both. Physical activity is also key to remaining healthy and capable for as long as possible, even as we age. Again, there is no “one thing” we can do to achieve that. It is the result of a network of things working together for us. Ultimately we are the ones responsible for making that happen.}}
#Wall Push-ups are safe for a 69-year-old woman to do. They are a low-impact exercise that targets the chest, shoulders, and triceps, building foundational strength without the strain of floor-based push-ups. Proper form and a sturdy wall are essential for safety. Wall push-ups can be adjusted in difficulty by changing the distance from the wall, making them suitable for a wide range of fitness levels.
They also help improve balance, posture, and functional movement, which are crucial for maintaining independence and reducing the risk of falls.
Dumbbell Cross Punches are generally safe for a 69-year-old woman to perform as part of a balanced and structured strength training program. However, it is crucial to consider the individual's fitness level, health conditions, and any limitations that may arise. Here are some key points to keep in mind - Start Light: Begin with lighter weights (1-, 2-, or 3-lb weights) and gradually increase (5-lb weight) to avoid injury.
Focus on Form: Ensure proper form and technique to minimize the risk of injury. Gradual Progression: Increase the weight and number of repetitions slowly to allow for adequate recovery and muscle repair.
Dumbbell Cross Punch~Aim for 8-10 reps x2
#If mobility is an issue, consider the chair-based exercise:
Dumbbell Alternating Hammer Curls are safe for a 69-year-old woman to do. This exercise is designed for muscle growth and strength gains while ensuring safety and proper form. It targets the biceps brachii, brachialis, and brachioradialis muscles, providing functional strength for daily activities. The exercise is performed with a neutral grip, which reduces strain on the wrists and elbows, and emphasizes keeping the elbows pinned to the sides to avoid using momentum.
It is important to listen to your body and adjust the number of repetitions and sets as needed to avoid overexertion or injury. Here are some key points to keep in mind - Start Light: Begin with lighter weights (2-, or 3-lb weights) and gradually increase (5-lb weight) to avoid injury.
#If mobility is an issue, consider the chair-based exercise:
Following my workout, I did a little internet surfing … and settled on Tony's podcast because the title grabbed my attention; so, I gave it a listen. iran is continuing to issue threats, announcing new "strategic martyrdom" moves to fight the United States, Israel, and surrounding muslim countries that have stood down - and have sided with the United States & Israel - basically to save their own skins; they have no love towards us, or towards Jews. Democrat leaders from California to New York are begging former residents to move back to blue states, while simultaneously promising even higher taxes - not gonna happen. gavin newsom, tim walz, kathy hochul, zohran mamdani are systematic destroyers, their terrible political world-view & disastrous state torpedoing is not going to get better, as more people flee to red states daily. The Senate gets into the dumbest arguments over Voter ID - nothing new there; there isn't enough brain power in the mulish party to jump start a single brain cell.
