tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27662400.post6606422839724756713..comments2024-03-17T02:20:03.772-05:00Comments on Riding With The Top Down: Guest: Susan LyonsKathleen Eaglehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13561028604927993773noreply@blogger.comBlogger45125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27662400.post-45044258439652103522010-06-27T21:22:23.157-05:002010-06-27T21:22:23.157-05:00mbreakfield - yes, swimming is wonderful, especial...mbreakfield - yes, swimming is wonderful, especially if you can do it in a lake or the ocean rather than a chlorinated pool.<br /><br />RobynL - That's an interesting one. I'll have to try it. Thanks!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27662400.post-33639403900985826882010-06-27T21:14:56.958-05:002010-06-27T21:14:56.958-05:00my physio therapist told me to take a break at the...my physio therapist told me to take a break at the computer by:<br />sit straight with shoulders back and down; head straight over the shoulders; tuck in chin and sit like this for 20-30 sec.<br /><br />I sometimes stretch each leg and rotate the ankle clockwise and counter clockwise.robynlhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/03250071917966470701noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27662400.post-2812249752768611752010-06-25T14:44:13.874-05:002010-06-25T14:44:13.874-05:00Swimming is a great exercise, especially in the ho...Swimming is a great exercise, especially in the hot summer months.Anonymoushttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08441858897061655629noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27662400.post-16437381916722924562010-06-25T08:26:43.913-05:002010-06-25T08:26:43.913-05:00Thanks, kh. Good tips.Thanks, kh. Good tips.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27662400.post-52349367019362190412010-06-25T00:45:34.054-05:002010-06-25T00:45:34.054-05:00get wireless mouse
and a type computer cushion
st...get wireless mouse<br />and a type computer cushion<br /><br />strecth feet ankles and arms<br />stand up regularry and rotate your head<br /><br />congrats on the book<br /><br />khAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27662400.post-35134549912835453552010-06-24T11:04:21.435-05:002010-06-24T11:04:21.435-05:00So that's why walking so often seems to "...So that's why walking so often seems to "jog" my muse into action. Thanks, Rachel. And kudos to Alice for teaching something useful and memorable.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27662400.post-83340686067392033972010-06-24T10:40:45.899-05:002010-06-24T10:40:45.899-05:00Such an interesting, practical post, Susan!
Alic...Such an interesting, practical post, Susan! <br /><br />Alice Valdal (www.alicevaldal.com) gave a workshop to the Vancouver Island Chapter of RWA about how normal walking (one foot forward as the other-side arm is forward) not only is good for muscles and cardio, but also for your brain.<br />The movement of alternate arms and legs apparently stimulates and connects both sides of the brain.<br /><br />So we never have to think about exercise taking time away from work or writing – it is part of our work! I love that.Rachelhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/05675627800139471971noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27662400.post-7844716831166205742010-06-24T08:21:06.051-05:002010-06-24T08:21:06.051-05:00Jennifer, you're so right. If you can find som...Jennifer, you're so right. If you can find something you love that's also healthy, you'll find a way to fit it into your days. For those who think they aren't at all athletically inclined, how about dancing? Even if it's just at home in your living room to your favorite music.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27662400.post-75610353695271072162010-06-24T07:55:55.269-05:002010-06-24T07:55:55.269-05:00Great advice, Susan!
I've found the secret to...Great advice, Susan!<br /><br />I've found the secret to my increasingly busy exercise program is simple: do what I love doing. I started swimming every day because I love the sensation of floating & flying underwater, plus, no sweat and I can do it lying down. (mmmmm) I started riding horses because I'd been horse crazy from a child, and that led to doing situps and back excercises so that I didn't hurt myself or the horse. I started roller derby because I have a screw loose, and when I got booted out for being too old--well, I was 54--I moved over to competitive speed roller skating, which is almost as fun. Not quite. But close. I still swim every day, too, and if my thumb ever heals I'll go back to riding.<br /><br />Do an exercise that you love love love doing and you won't have to hate yourself for not exercising.Jennifer Stevensonhttp://www.bookviewcafe.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27662400.post-26813010070951849312010-06-23T21:59:12.063-05:002010-06-23T21:59:12.063-05:00Armenia, I've been trying standing as well, an...Armenia, I've been trying standing as well, and trying to remember to not lock my knees but keep moving my legs. And the ball is great for ab twists and so on. I haven't tried it for leg lifts. Will have to do that. I love slowly leaning back over it and letting my spine stretch out as far as it will go, then slowly rolling up again.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27662400.post-76648024630787485292010-06-23T21:57:31.364-05:002010-06-23T21:57:31.364-05:00Anna, that's another great one. My desk chair ...Anna, that's another great one. My desk chair doesn't have arms but I tried it just gripping the edge of the desk instead, and I think it worked. Thanks.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27662400.post-59684697475683376922010-06-23T21:08:07.313-05:002010-06-23T21:08:07.313-05:00Hi Susan. Lots of good tips. I often stand when ...Hi Susan. Lots of good tips. I often stand when working on the computer to work on my circulation. And add leg lifts to work my lower body.<br /><br />I've also brought in the kids huge bounce ball and use it like a pilates ball where I can do low impact sit ups, and side ab twists and leg lifts.Armeniahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/01834412672218114166noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27662400.post-56000303360938114232010-06-23T18:42:52.955-05:002010-06-23T18:42:52.955-05:00Oh that's good...I just tried it... will defin...Oh that's good...I just tried it... will definitely be doing that from now on...<br /><br />You know what's another great one... Grab one arm of chair and twist your body to the other side...it's sorta like wringing your body. Releases all the tension in your back and just re-aligns everything. A couple of times is good enough.s7annahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09315567395060561106noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27662400.post-46667190591790620952010-06-23T18:19:40.368-05:002010-06-23T18:19:40.368-05:00Good one, Anna. I just tried it. Resistance exerci...Good one, Anna. I just tried it. Resistance exercises are good. That reminds me of another I like. Arms in front of me at shoulder height, elbows bent, palms together, fingers interwoven. Press hard (equally on both sides) on your palms. Hold for 20 seconds or so, then release. I'm not sure about the science of resistance exercises, but it seems to me that when you exert concentrated energy like that, then release, you really feel the muscles relax.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27662400.post-5360015377833606142010-06-23T17:57:22.527-05:002010-06-23T17:57:22.527-05:00Stretching out your legs and doing mild exercise i...Stretching out your legs and doing mild exercise i.e. lift your legs straight up and repeat - they're pseudo leg presses using your own body weight. It feels awesome and you get a bit of resistance exercise. <br /><br />*hugs*<br />Anna<br />s7anna@yahoo.cas7annahttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09315567395060561106noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27662400.post-62456840153185309392010-06-23T17:49:13.146-05:002010-06-23T17:49:13.146-05:00Thanks, Cindy. It's such a pleasure being here...Thanks, Cindy. It's such a pleasure being here. Okay, as for guilt... Yeah, it's a motivator, but when we start saying, "I should do this, I should do that," and feeling guilty when we don't, that's a rather negative energy. How about trying, "I want to..." instead? For example, "I want to feel better, I want to increase my productivity and creativity, I want to look even more fabulous, I want to get out in the world and smell the roses." Try creating some positive energy.<br /><br />You know what else is good? (Well, of course you all do. Rhetorical question.) Goals. Like Opal with the goal of 10,000 steps, and working up to it. I've been dipping into Eric Maisel's "A Writer's Space" and (I'm totally paraphrasing here and probably don't have it entirely right), he said something like, each morning try thinking about what you WANT to do for your writing, for your promo efforts etc. So I now have a post-it stuck to my day-timer with "Write, Market, Health, Me" on it. Each morning I think about what I want to do for each of those things today, and those become my goals. (The "Me" things are ones like having lunch on the balcony in the sun, going to buy fancy shampoo, seeing a friend, having a glass of wine with lunch (no, definitely not every day!), allowing myself an extra half hour's reading break, having a bubble bath before bed, etc. See, I could do a blog on "Me" tips even mor easily than doing one on fitness tips!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27662400.post-33652888659377866932010-06-23T17:41:08.994-05:002010-06-23T17:41:08.994-05:00Karyn, I'm glad you're taking some suggest...Karyn, I'm glad you're taking some suggestions to heart. Your heart will thank you - along with your legs, butt, back, neck, shoulders, arms... LOLAnonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27662400.post-91657057548601044892010-06-23T17:40:04.947-05:002010-06-23T17:40:04.947-05:00Hi Opal. I've heard the thing about walking 10...Hi Opal. I've heard the thing about walking 10,000 steps a day and at one time even used a pedometer (hmm, wonder where that thing went?). It's great that you and your husband are having outings together (though I don't know how you can resist the donuts at Tim's!). And it's fabulous that you're finding your writing is coming along even better. We're all so paranoid about cutting into our writing time - and yet some exercise or R&R, or a combo of the two as you're doing - can actually improve our productivity as well as our health. Thanks for the inspiration!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27662400.post-66113461637450104702010-06-23T17:37:11.310-05:002010-06-23T17:37:11.310-05:00Hi Susan
Thank you, thank you, thank you for layin...Hi Susan<br />Thank you, thank you, thank you for laying it out for all to see. it's so important that we take better care of ourselves and I'm one of the worst offenders of all. I am going to print your list and hang it where I HAVE to look at it and hope it will guilt me into being better about taking care of my body!<br /><br />Great book cover BTW. And thanks for visiting with us today!Cindy Gerardhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13311224531297908704noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27662400.post-28898701124477511172010-06-23T17:01:49.200-05:002010-06-23T17:01:49.200-05:00Susan, you always do such great and useful blogs! ...Susan, you always do such great and useful blogs! THere have been so many wonderful suggestions.<br /><br />I've tried various things to get my exercise level up, but in the past few weeks started the simplest of all and am having great success. I decided to walk everyday. I used a pedometer to track how many steps.<br /><br />My doctor recommended I up my number of steps to 10,000 in 3 weeks (I was starting at about 4000). I'm now 2 weeks in and am doint 8500!<br /><br />For me, the key is to go somewhere. I like goals, destinations, something to aim for. My husband and I walk to the local Timmy's (Tim Horton's donuts--we don't eat any, just have a tea), but we play cards, then go home again, so it's a fun outing. An added benefit is, we keep running into people we know and they often join us for cards!<br /><br />It is time away from writing, but the other amazing thing is, I'm writing more than usual, and more often. This book is going more smoothly than any one before.<br /><br />Congratulations on all your new books! I love the cover for LOVE, UNEXPECTEDLY, and SEX ON THE BEACH is really sexy!<br /><br />OpalOpal Carewhttp://www.OpalCarew.comnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27662400.post-48989545093504948222010-06-23T15:27:19.295-05:002010-06-23T15:27:19.295-05:00Congrats, catslady, you've found ways to incor...Congrats, catslady, you've found ways to incorporate exercise throughout the day, doing things that are fun. (Well, except for the housework...)Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27662400.post-44982859728756860112010-06-23T14:55:57.442-05:002010-06-23T14:55:57.442-05:00With summer finally here, I make a point of going ...With summer finally here, I make a point of going outside during the day. I water my plants, etc. I have one cat that cries and cries unless I let her outside so at various times in the day I go out with her for 5 or 10 min. (she's really an inside cat who disagrees with me lol). I will also give my other cats attention - playing catch the string can be good exercise for all of us. Then of course there's always housework (yuk). Playing bocce is also a fun way to get a little exercise.catsladyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/06375770995988927860noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27662400.post-37588993374388197282010-06-23T13:31:53.508-05:002010-06-23T13:31:53.508-05:00Kathleen, thanks for the nostalgia trip back to th...Kathleen, thanks for the nostalgia trip back to the days of typewriters. Being blessed with a computer, I always think how amazing it is that people managed to write fabulous books on typewriters. And I'm sure the first people who used typewriters thought how amazing it was that people managed to write fabulous books by longhand. I wonder what's coming in the future that will make us think our computers are archaic?Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27662400.post-18143166157601062662010-06-23T13:03:02.060-05:002010-06-23T13:03:02.060-05:00Welcome, Susan!
My sister is a massage therapist,...Welcome, Susan!<br /><br />My sister is a massage therapist, deals with knotted up human beings on a daily basis. I wish she didn't live half a continent away. There's nothing like a good massage, but I rarely treat myself to one.<br /><br />I struggle with some of your suggestions, which I know to be valid because I've been doing this forever, and these are tried and true recommendations. It's just that getting up every half hour breaks my hard-won concentration. When I'm getting up often, that's usually when the writing isn't going well.<br /><br />I haven't had any major physical problems caused by writing since I typed my first couple of books. Pounded those babies out on a typewriter, an primitive device that looks a little bit like a computer keyboard, but you put the paper right into the device itself, and there's no delete, and some people used to stiffen up because they hated making mistakes, so by the time they finished their ms their necks were frozen, so they had to have somebody unscrew their heads like the cap to a pickle jar. (Yeah, I know that was a bad sentence. I was a bad typist.) <br /><br />But that was in the olden days, my children, before your ergonomic chair and your gel wrist rest, and your wireless mouse, and your giant display screen. Everything's different now. Oh, except for the neck bone. It's still connected to the shoulder bone. Which is still connected to the back bone ...<br /><br />Enough silliness. Gotta get my head bone connected to the writing zone. But first I'll stand up and touch my finger bones to my toe bones. <br /><br />Thanks for hanging out with us today, Susan!Kathleen Eaglehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13561028604927993773noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-27662400.post-90770291060372368582010-06-23T12:27:02.735-05:002010-06-23T12:27:02.735-05:00Patricia, great tips. You're right that there ...Patricia, great tips. You're right that there are things we can do with our computer screens to make it easier on our eyes.<br /><br />And now, I'm getting up and heading off to the chiropractor. I managed to misalign my back (gardening, not typing) and he's getting me readjusted. After a week of pain (I was out of town so couldn't visit him), it was a huge relief to get that first adjustment on Monday. Now I'm healing but figure one follow-up visit is in order.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.com