What will 2021 bring us?

 So it is 2021 and we are still in the COVID 19 pandemic. Many things happen between my last post and today's post. I have a few dear friends passed away this year. It was not from the virus. My biggest regret is that I never got to spent time or went to see them before the pandemic hit its worst.

I wanted to go my friend's wife, but be too afraid because of this pandemic. Now, some of us are in paranoia mode. Washing and washing again, clorox wipes, don't trust the grocery store people handling things. My husband told me not to get sushi and i told him they are wearing gloves and mask and should be safe. He probably was going through some issues of his own, then everything scares him, everyone is against him. Those who know him will know what I mean.

Perhaps I am very concerned with this virus because I am in high risk category with asthma on top of that. The beginning of this year, I went on the Wake County site, waiting list, Duke Health, waiting list, UNC Health where i am a patient, everything full. Some of my friends who were 65 and older went to Cumberland County or Rocky Mount to get their vaccine. I guess I was not going to travel further away and not know these places, how good are they with keeping safe. So I wait and stop trying.

 Fortunately, some of the pharmacies opened to do vaccination. I went online to Walgreens, choose a time and date for both dose 1 and dose 2. I did not have to be on a waiting list or registered and then go look for a place. So I am waiting my turn now!

I considered myself very fortunate because I still have a job and I am able to work from home and it is work I enjoy doing. At some point I will retired, first make sure I can survive with what I got and go from there.

My husband kept wanting to move elsewhere where it is more quiet and he was really bothered by the protests, the looting and damaging of stores. Agreed, protests is OK, but why go around breaking and looting? And not only that, now there are Asian Americans getting beat up and for what? Because they can and they know the Asians never fight back. Whoever they are, I lose respect for them. 

At some point, I may think about moving to somewhere more quiet and more land around us. We lived in upstate New York where we had 1 acre of land, though not all used, but we had breathing room.

I am hoping everyone will be get vaccinated and feel safe. I do not think all things will go back to normal, it will be a new normal for all of us.

What do I miss the most? Going to our favorite restaurant, Rasa Malaysia in Chapel Hill, the best Malaysian, Singaporean, Chinese food I ever had. 

Going to see a movie! Going to visit friends! Going to the gym without fear of getting sick. I know my gym are great at keeping everything sanitized and clean. Going to see my doctors! Oh sure, I am sure they will follow the rules of precautions and all. It is other people who don't want to follow the rules. 

That's all  I have today!

Enjoy!

Sue

 

The year 2020 has taught me about life, the things you love, the people you love and what is important

Last year 2019, I turned 65 and most people at that age are taking retirement or making plans to. They tell me they have been traveling here and there and went places that they have not gone to. They spend a lot of time together with their significant other. This was 2019 when we can travel and get together with family, friends.

The start of 2020 was yet to change. Wuhan, China people were infected with the covid 19 virus. It is more deadly than SARS and it is not something you can take a vaccine. There was none. The world did not know about it until February or March but China knew January. So some of the countries that were struck bad were Korea, Japan, Italy, Spain , England. Did it affect USA, yes, of course, but I truly believe that people thought it was a hoax and people downplay the virus. Pretty soon, those numbers started to increase, there was not enough testing and states had to do a lockdown, where all businesses, schools, airlines closed. Only businesses to remain opened are pharmacies, grocery stories, post office , hospitals, doctors which are considered essential business. Many people lost their jobs, many businesses had to close for good.

I am fortunate! I was able to work from home starting in March , 2020 and we may go back to physical location 1/2021, if the numbers go down and in control. Right now , they seem numbers are increasing so who knows!

I start thinking of things and life in general. My sister had a lump in her breasts. She was so scared and I was too. But fortunately, she did what she can to get a biopsy and do radiation treatment and go for mammogram every 6 months and on medication. My sister is my best friend and I love her. I want her to be here forever. Though I don't go down to NYC that much to see family, I always try to keep in touch via email or texting now more so, because they live in NYC, lots more infected.

Since I am home, I see my husband face to face a lot more. It is not that we just sit there and talk but we now have more time to have a good meal and eat together. Before, it was I work late and we did not eat together. 

I wish I can contact some of my friends I met in Hong Kong when I went there to watch my idol of the sixties in concert and opera. First time I went was with 2 friends and us. Second time I went I got to go to see the old movies of Chan Bo Chu at the Hong Kong Film Archive and went to concerts and operas of hers.

Both my sister and I count our blessings that we outlive our mother who passed away at age 59 with cancer over 30 years. Our father passed away from lung cancer over 38 years ago. We were quite young to lose our parents. So I remember my mother would always tell me Life is too short , eat dessert first. My father would tell me Live your life the fullest as if each day is your last. It sounds morbid but it is reality. At times I forget that. And with this pandemic, I am reflecting on life.

The pandemic got me concerned , not scared of going to other places except to the grocery stores. I would like to go to the eye doctor but I can wait. I have to go see my regular doctor for annual and refill on meds and that I need to do soon. I am considered in the high risk category before over 65 with asthma. Some have gone to restaurants but we are not comfortable yet. We are not even comfortable with take outs or pick ups.

Where I lived North Carolina went into lockdown in March, 2020. The governor did a 3 phase of what to open. We are only up to phase 2.5 and it has extended for another 3 weeks because numbers are still high and increasing. 

So the gym I go to finally was able to open September 14, 2020. They understand some of us are not ready to come back to gym environment so they still have FB LIVE vids of classes to do later. That has been a tremendous help to keep us healthy as best as possible. Nothing is better than going to the class itself. I only went to one time on a Saturday.

My husband keeps telling me he wants to move and that I need to clean the rooms of stuff, so this is what I have been doing on weekends. I work during the week so too tired afterwards.  And on Sundays, we go food shopping for the week.

So the best we can do for the remainder of 2020, is do your best to stay safe, stay healthy, eat healthy which I need to start doing and be happy or at least feel fortunate that we are still here and that we have jobs or we have a family to talk to.

This will pass eventually and it will be the new normal. I still think the vaccine will not be here in 2020 and it maybe not be here 2021, so we need to take our own precautions.

I just wish others understand this and not be against wearing a mask because their rights are taken away from them.

I truly hope all my friends and family take care of themselves, give hugs and smile!

Always,

Sue 

It is now 2019 what are my goals?

It has been a great while since I wrote on my blog. When today I try to log on, it was giving me an error. The horror in my face! All my writings gone! But I manage to figure it out. I think it got something to do with google+ going away. Nevertheless, here I am!

In my recent post, I indicated I had hurt my knee, the one that was operated on. What suppose to be 45 mins went for 90 mins. The orthopedist surgeon said there was a lot of fragments and knee joint was like shredded wheat! Yuck! He told me I cannot do any high impact exercise, no this and that.
I was a couch potato in the 90's but I was not going to sit out the rest of my life.

My physical therapist at the time, recommend that I continue doing things to strengthen the surrounding muscles. I guess I did what I knew. It was still not strong enough when I try to do
Crossfit, doing those squats but I was OK with running since it was a run/walk Galloway program.

I had a series of injuries in which I had to stop running and doing Crossfit. and other gym classes.

Finally, it was karma, the yoga teacher/owner had a challenge for people to participate in taking yin class for 21 days. Yin is not fast movements, and actually no movement. Whatever pose she has you go into, you stay in it for 2-5 mins. Yes, it was excruciating since focus, concentration is not my forte. Her stories helped. I did feel a lot better after that so I continue with Raleigh Yoga Company.

At first it was just Bikram and Yin, but slowly, Laura added Twisted 26 which is a combination of Bikram poses with flow and poses all on one leg, holding. It was very hard for me,  but I feel I am making progress. At times you feel like it is not working. Don't ever give up! Baby Steps! It will happen. And then Laura created a class called Grind and Unwind. She sees people doing their exercises and never stretch. She feels doing Yin poses after a HIIT series will help you recover faster and not be sore. Her classes are killer and kick butt. I had 3 of my crossfit friends come and they even said it was good. The class is fast moving and in the heat.

And now yesterday I went to a 90 min bikram class taught by Stephanie Poke, from Broadway, a long time Bikram practitioner  and will be cast in Mama Mia.

I always tell myself, with a new teacher, it is a different perspective how she looks at things and how you interpret. I learn a lot and I have a lot to practice.

My goal for 2019 is to continue going to classes and slowly get stronger and feeling better.

Right now, I have forgo my membership at arrichion and also the YMCA. Going back to swim classes may happen in the summer.

I will continue coming up with vegan gluten free recipes. I already cannot have dairy or gluten so now little by little just eat less meat. Maybe the LDL cholesterol levels will finally go down!

Until then, enjoy reading! I will start putting in my recipes.

So stay tuned

More Updates on me and recipies

My last post was that I tried Yin yoga at Raleigh Yoga Company and that my shoulder, hips and glutes were starting to loosen up that my quality of life is feeling much , much better. After the 21 day challenge, I made a commitment to join the studio to continue my Yin practice. I even told some bikram classes. Yes, it is hot yoga. With bikram rules, it has to be a certain temperature and percentage humidity.

Slowly, the  studio has added different classes such as Twisted 26 which is bikram, some flow, added twist of doing 3 poses on one leg without touch the floor, variations of bikram poses , second set. It's a hard class. Each time I go, I am making progress. Kat is a wonderful teacher! I have a bad knee and she would give me modification to strengthen the knee. 

Also, new is the Grind and Unwind class that Laura , studio owner and yoga teacher. it is 30 minutes of many sets of 3 exercises in a group, 10 reps each, plus the cardio version and then we do yin to loosen the fascia where we worked those muscle groups.
Of course, it is hard but I keep going back. It was exactly what I was looking for. 

In April , i had hurt my knee real bad where I could not bend, stand on it. The doctors said my knee is bone on bone and that I should not be doing any high impact. This means I cannot enjoy the sparta, cardio sparta, warrior and tiger's eye classes at Arrichion which i was a little bummed out. 

But with the new Grind and Unwind, Twisted 26, and Hot 26 class and oh yes, the yin and hot yin classes. I can get fitter and healthier here at Raleigh Yoga Company.  

For those of you are looking for yin to help you feel better, go to Raleigh Yoga Company!

OK, now recipes! Laura is vegan and it is always a challenge for me to come up with recipes that she can eat. I am not able to have gluten or dairy so now the challenge is make something vegan and gluten free.

I bring these snacks for after class consumption especially for the Grind and unwind on Thurs 6pm and/or Sun 8am classes. Many have been asking for it. Where else can i put them but on my blog and plus you can read up about me. 

So here they are, Enjoy

I did make chocolate chip cookies but i want to modify it and see what happens. The last time they did not keep shape but was really yummy.  I will write out what i did, below

 Energy balls


I use Bob Mill's Gluten Free old fashioned rolled oats
chia seeds, flax seeds, hemp seeds or more oats - total 2 TBSP
For the sweetener , you can use agave nectar or honey (if you are not vegan)
For the 1/2 c of mix in - it can be chocolate chips, chopped nuts, mixed fruit,cranberries, coconut, etc.

1 1/4 c oats -
1/2 c peanut butter
1/3 maple syrup
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla
2 TBSP of some super food - I did 1 tbsp each of hemp and flaxseed meal
1/2 c total of whatever you like to add - I add can add dried fruit, coconut, cocoa powder , choc chips

Stir and combine - if too wet, add more oats, if too dry , add more nut butter, I just go and melt some cocoa powder with
coconut oil

It should look like sticky dough
I usually make a big ball out of it or just put the whole thing in the fridge maybe 30 mins so it will be easier to roll out
Form the little balls by hand or use a cookie spoon

Ta Da , you are done



 Sun butter muddy buddies

These are what Z calls pellets and Susan calls them pellets and say it taste like figs

6 c cereal - rice chex, cheerios are gluten free- I used rice chex
1 c sun butter
1 c dark chocolate chips
1 tsp vanilla
1 c powdered sugar - I used coconut flour - just to be healthy

Melt the chocolate chips with sun butter
stir in vanilla extract

Large mixing bowl - stir and coat the sun butter/choc mixture with the cereal
( will be kinda sticky and messy)

Put in a plastic bag - add the powdered sugar or coconut flour - shake to coat

My last batch did not coat all the way since i was trying some powdered sugar and then
I said "nope, Laura wants it healthy" and I don't eat a lot of sugar except for fruits
so i scrounge around and find the coconut flour - yes it requires that 1 c because the coconut flour is very fine
and also very absorbent


 Crispy Chocolate chip cookies - vegan and gluten free

1 c almond butter
1/2 c coconut sugar
1/4 c tapioca starch
1/4 c I used almond milk
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp sea salt - I use Himalayan pink salt 
1/3 c mini chocolate chips

Preheat over to 350

Whisk together almond butter, coconut sugar, almond milk, vanilla
Add tapioca starch, baking soda, and salt - stir to combine

scoop spoonful on cookie sheet - space them out because they will spread - 
Well, i put everything on one pan so it attached to one another

Bake for 12-14 mins at 350 F

2018 What's up?

So I started 2017 year end, renewing my membership at Arrichion, saving monies for my personal training with Danielle. My hopes with Arrichion and Danielle I can do things to become stronger.

But I started to realize that I could not do back squats or squats of any kind. My hips, my back and my glutes were so tight no matter how much I stretch. I can squat a little bit but it was painful coming back up. And for the number of years at the gym, I was still not able to do pull ups because of the shoulder injury, the back muscles don't activate. I also realize that my left leg especially the quads are really weak. And what else, talk about balance, there was none.

I was very frustrated but I knew I had to look for something to deal with this tightness. Was it more yoga? Was it more of the same so it gets better? So perhaps it's karma!

Laura , owner of the Raleigh Yoga Company put out of Facebook that she was looking for 5 people who have tightness, in the hips, shoulders, back that she feels she can help us and her remedy was Yin Yoga. You stay in a pose for 2-3 minutes minimum which stretches the fascia to make one more supple and areas feeling more mobile. I sent an email with all my injuries and issues. For the next 21 days, take 3 Yin classes a week and it was all free. How can I not go and try! I try all else.

Initially, the poses are quite difficult. I felt like a wooden doll or the tin man, can hardly move and not able to relax into the pose. I was not able to get to 3 classes a week, and the only two yin classes was on a Sat and Sun morning. Sat and Sun I usually go to Arrichion to take Warrior and Sparta classes. I was willing to give that up to do Yin.

After the 21 days, my shoulders, my hips, my back felt looser. My glutes it was hard to tell but I can tell I was less unbalanced.

I just felt I need to continue doing Yin yoga and fit in some bikram yoga, Bikram poses are hard for me but I am going to do it to get and feel better. Because of that, I am not at Arrichion as often. I just feel at this age of my life, this is more important.

When my trainer was having me do back exercises, she ask if I feel it, I said " yes" and then last week , we work on legs and this was the biggest challenge for me and her. No matter what I do, I can never feel my left glute activate. But this time I said "I feel it on both sides" She remarked on Facebook that all of Sue's pistons are working on the engine.

And this weekend I went to see my massage therapist Tim Hackett whose specialty is neuromuscular reprogramming and he always does muscle testing and he said " this is good, both glutes firing today"

I am so excited about this that Yin is working. I told Laura.

Now I need to go on Facebook and let people know what I have been doing and let people know about Raleigh Yoga Company.

So perhaps those squats and sitting on my knees will happen some day!

Wish me luck!

2017 updates

Towards the middle of last year my trainer left. I was left with sessions so I sought another trainer. Russ was good but with long work hours I was not able to keep going buying sessions. I stopped my training after finishing up my sessions.

I starting back swim classes at Gypsy Divers. I had relearn everything. I guess trying to learn to swim when you are older is much harder because you have a lot more fears. But I was willing to try again.
My first teacher was a young lady named Jessica and I liked the way she taught with progression. At times, we would do one technique for the whole class and for a couple of weeks. Each part was done such as kicking, then the hand movements then the breathing. Let me tell you the breathing was the toughest and learning to put all 3 together was even harder.  I would not say I got the techniques. I was frantic of the thought of going to the deep end. My god, it is 13 feet deep! I guess the fear of drowning goes back to the time when a group of us went to Dorchester Park, a huge park with a huge lake in Endicott, NY. We went canoeing and it tip over. I hell on to my breath and I thought I was going to die and it turns out I could stand up. From that day on, I was very afraid of drowning. No matter what the teachers said, I still find it scary going down there.

I got to the point I can swim freestyle from the shallow to deep and back, of course, I had to take a rest down the deep end before coming back. I was in the midst of learning other strokes but because it was on Tuesday night, I was missing going to Yoga class at the YMCA and other activities. So I am taking a break.

I had had to take a break from going to Arrichion because of work schedules. I don't do Crossfit anymore. I wind up with more pain and injuries. Perhaps for me it was not for me. Also, my calves would tighten up and it was determine I have something called exertional compartment syndrome so I had to give up running. I was bummed out but like Crossfit I realize it's not for me.

I try to get with my trainer, Danielle Forgetti twice a week. I told her that I have some issues with my glute not activating and shoulder and hip and back injury. So her workouts for me is help me get better through proper functional exercises.


For a while I saw the Physical Therapist at Run Raleigh PT but I really feel I need to do something about the injuries and tightness by doing more than just dry needling.

The year 2017 with other issues of personal life just made me very frustrated. But I am going to do better for 2018.

My old trainer after many months did contact me, to let me know why she left and that she hopes things can mend. Yes, I was upset with her for not say nothing and just left abruptly but I let it go and wish her the best of luck. Since I do not go to Fitness Connection anymore and she no longer works there, the chances of us getting together is probably pretty slim. I do wish her well.

I have been very lax about writing in the blog. There should be no excuses.  I guess I just felt  life is just not very interesting. But I am changing that thinking.

Enjoy!

Reflections of 2016, remembering the old, and adding the new - goals for 2017 - new trainer

I have a different trainer since Jackie left but I have a new trainer who will change me and make me suffer and smile,  keep reading....


Work is always busy where I am on new projects, learning new technologies, new stuff for the website which I rather be doing. I love learning new things, well, especially ones that interest me, and I would hyper-focus on it. There were times we had to work late and weekends as well. So my workouts were missed. But that is how industry and my job as a test person is like. So I'm OK with it!

For 2016 I have been concentrating on keeping myself injury free. I have been seeing my chiropractor, Dr. Linda Foglia steadily every 3 weeks for preventative maintenance. I still see my physical therapist Kari Smith for dry needling; my massage therapist Tim Hackett for neuromuscular muscle testing and working with me to get things activated. I see Shery at HeartPrints Massage for overall goodness and wellness. I will start seeing Dr. Campbell, another physical therapist who will work with me with exercises to help me. It sure looks like I got a lot of doctors, huh? I do! 

With work, long hours, and weekends, going to classes, personal training and even hot yoga was not happening. I had to take a hiatus from all of it. Once work subsided. Arrichion welcome me back with open arms and hugs. I reflected back when I first started with Arrichion in 2010, when my massage therapist suggested that I go to hot yoga so to get into deeper stretch in the heat and I chose Arrichion which had open up not too long ago. I support small business and it is another reason. There were only a few classes but the few were of quality and caring and encouraging the students. Today their business has flourished with  3 studios: Raleigh, Durham and Charlotte and class times starting as early as 6:15am, 9:30am, 12 noon, 4:30, 5:45, 7pm. 

I love Arrichion because the coaches there cares, encourages and helps you to be the better you. The people who goes, are amazing, they don't judge , they don't look down at you, they are there for you. It is my second family and I keep going back. This year, I sign up for another year with them. This is my happy place and plus it keeps me honest :-)

As far as my personal training, I indicated that my trainer Jackie, has left. I did go to a different trainer and he is good but I miss the type of training with Jackie, perhaps I've been with her for a long time. 

But I go in contact with Danielle who used to worked at Fitness Connection and now has her own business. We went through an assessment, talk about my injuries and my goals and fears. I met with her again and it was a HIIT workout, perfect, it is what my doctor ordered and not only that, she had me do box jumps- my fear and squats - my yuckiness. She rather me do it with good form than not with more weights. I am sure her workouts will varied for me which I like. I also like her positive attitude and encouragement. Her workouts that she puts together is for me only, others are different and she created a notebook for each one of us so we know how we are progressing. With that being said, I joined her BOOM squat as she calls it and she is my new personal trainer. I am so looking forward to getting back into shape with her.

Also Danielle looks doing group outings. We went to take yoga at Element Yoga and it was fantastic not only because I am in class with people I know, the teacher was great. I may need to get a class pass package to continue.

So my goals for 2017 is continue with Arrichion going to yoga, power sparta , sparta, train with Danielle and of course spend time with my husband and going to yoga classes together at the YMCA.

Some of what I did in 2016 I will need to give up. There are only so many days in the week and there is only so much money I have which is not much. But for me, my health and well being is important. I am willing to dish out monies for organic foods , exercise.

I know this is very long, but lots of things happening in 2016 

Happy reading!

Sue