It really helps one of mine when he regularly uses it. The other it doesn't seem to help at all--and we've tried it for extended periods (6 months) at least a couple times with him.

I did 30 minutes on my exercise bike, then quite a bit of back strengthening focus this evening. After my son goes to bed, I hope it's not too late and I can do a relaxation based movement session before bed.

I did 30 minutes on my exercise bike and then a relaxation focused pilates.

I did my boosted Walk at Home for cardio, then a pilates focused on back muscles, and then some works with weights (arms, squats). I'm planning to do some relaxation focused movement later tonight.

It was hard to make myself stay on track with my movement goals today. I've got so much to do and I'm stressed. The getting started was the hard part, and I used this thread to help motivate. I did 30 minutes on my bike. Then I tried a new pilates today-it was a challenge for me. I'll do some type of relaxing movement to try to lower stress before bed.

I'm shopping every two weeks, so I'm buying a lot. I just noticed a bag with a pack of raw chicken breast I didn't notice when putting all the many things away. It sat in the basement at maybe 65 degrees. I'm not sure when I got home--but I'd say around 4 hours ago. If it doesn't smell, do you think it would be safe to cook in the pressure cooker tonight and then maybe freeze? I hate to waste it, but I'd rather waste it than be sick.

I did the Walk at Home boosted walk, then a couple of pilates (back focus, lower body focus). I hope to get some form of relaxation focused movement in later tonight.

Yay-that's so great! I'm sorry! I hope you find a good rhythm w/the schedule change and start to feel good again. --- The kids spent hours in the snow again today, so I had extra time. I did 30 minutes on my exercise bike, then a couple of pilates youtubes (arms and upper body) and got in some work with weights. I'll do a relaxation based pilates tonight. A 30 minutes a day cardio goal seems to fit me well. But I've been doing more pilates and weights work lately. I'm getting stronger-which is really motivating.

I saw a study that showed 5-6 was effective, just like 10 if I recall. So if that's too much, less is also good (I eat them daily--yum and, I hope, good for my bones).

I was hoping someone would reply with some great ideas--I'd implement them myself! But I'll offer what information I have. I'll add that, because of my mom, I'm doing the following things now, myself, to try to strengthen my bones pre-menopause. My mom has osteoperosis and did do the bone drugs. She also: added supplements vitamin D3, K2/mk-7, magnesium, calcium increased weight bearing exercise to 30 minutes a day (walking in her case, but your mom is quite a bit younger than mine--heavier bone impact--think stomping/jumping/jogging etc--exercise is better if your mom can). (And I would look into actual work with weights if she can-I am sure I saw some information about heavy squats in older women being helpful. ) She eats 6 prunes a day and tries to get other stone fruits in the diet. Generally, produce is good for bones. She needs adquate protein for bone health. She should cut caffeine entirely if she can and limit alcohol. I don't know if the natural things would be enough to increase bone density after menopause, but I do think there is evidence to indicate they can help reduce additional loss and make breaks less likely.

I did the Walk at Home boosted walk this morning. I had some extra time this evening (kids playing in the snow), so was able to get in a few different pilates youtubes--back focus, leg focus, and relaxation focus. Feels great!

I did 30 minutes on my stationary bike. I'm in a spot where my current resistance level feels a bit too easy now and the next step up feels way too hard. So today I spent a little time in that "next step" resistance level. Later I did pilates with an abs focus. I plan to do some type of relaxation focused movement later tonight.

100 days!--fantastic Katie ((ktgrok))! -- I did the Walk at Home boosted walk, pilates (back muscles), and some work with weights. I plan to do a relaxation focused something (pilates, tai chi or flow yoga) before bed tonight.

Tough day/tough week-end. I'm so tense. I went on a walk with my parents and son this afternoon. I did a relaxing pilates this evening before I head to bed. Hopefully tomorrow is brighter. --- I'm sorry about your heat ((Melissa Louise)). I'm glad you're being gentle with yourself.

I decided I need a light, stress relief focused, day today. I went on a walk with my parents and kids after lunch. I did a relaxation and calming focused pilates this evening. It felt really good. I think I'll do that one again, or a simlar one, later tonight.

I did 30 minutes on my exercise bike this morning, then pilates this afternoon--one youtube w/ a back focus and then a stretch focused one). I plan to do a relaxation focused yoga, tai chi, or pilates this evening.

Praying

I don't think I've ever been the first "share" post! My morning blood pressures have been good. But I happened to take my blood pressure just before bed a couple of times this week and my pressures were not so good. It surprised/disappointed me. I made an effort to get all of my activity done early today so I can check again tonight away from activity. I did: the Walk at Home boosted walk, pilates (lower body), some weights work, and I tried a relaxation focused flow yoga just now (it would be a nice way to end a day I think).

I don't have the lack of air conditioning to deal with. Is there a time of day that might be manageably cool enough? Is there an indoor, air conditioned place you could walk or get your movement (whether designated for that purpose or not)? I know you said it's really making a difference for you--I hope some experienced with heat and lack of air conditioning have good ideas. ----- I did 30 minutes on my exercise bike, pilates (upper body), and tai chi today. I may try yoga flow tomorrow, ((Melissa Louise)), I've never heard of it until your post.

I did a boosted walk at home--I got interrupted twice and so I did some rewinding and re-doing. I did pilates (legs) and then tried 30 minutes of yoga today, then 15 or so minutes of tai chi.

Thank you--each of you--for your replies. I am already trying some of the suggestions and will try more. I'm hopeful I can find a way to manage better. -- ((ScoutTN)) I'm so sorry you're in a similar place. I do have a friend who knows it all, listens, and supports. It does help.

Some things I've learned (we struggle here too--have done lots of work with adolescent sleep medicine): Teens/kids in that age range have a sleep phase shift naturally. School start times are not healthy or ideal. That shouldn't be your goal in my opinion. That said, even a more reasonable schedule may require some sleep shifting for him--which is hard for a night owl. I'll put information on how to try to do that below. If he is going to sleep at midnight, waking him at 8:30 at that age is too early I suspect. I don't know how much sleep your son needs, everyone varies, but I'm pretty sure that's under it--he's not getting enough sleep.But it seems reasonable to hope for a 11 to 12 bedtime and to start school by 9-10. To shift sleep: get 1/2 (.5 mg) melatonin if you can and 3 mg melatonin. I'd aim for a 11 pm sleep time for him to start--no earlier than 10:30 I don't think. That doesn't mean he can't be in his room settling at 9 pm if the family needs that, but he's not wired to fall asleep at 9 I don't think. And laying in bed awake is a great way to develop insomnia that sticks. You can maybe adjust him back a little more at a gradual pace. There are two ways to use melatonin to adjust sleep--give a small dose of melatonin (.5, 1/2 mg) 5 hours before your hoped sleep time OR give a larger dose (3 mg) 7 hours prior to your hoped sleep time. I'd also give a 3 mg dose 1/2 hour before I hope he would go to sleep. I would wake him 10 hours after I hoped he would go to sleep (so if 11 pm at 9 am) unless/until you know how much sleep he needs, expose him to sunlight if possible, get some protein in him. Try to make sure gets some really good physical exercise in his day. You're looking for tire him out completely kind of activity. My son listens to Sleep with Me podcasts to help his busy/thinking mind get out of his way so he can fall asleep. I don't know if you son is just not tired at that time or also has the busy mind problem. Random, may not apply: Someone mentioned ADHD medications. If that is part of the picture--my son is greatly affected by long acting ADHD medications. They make it impossible for him to fall asleep in a reasonable time frame. My son has heavy anxiety and that really complicates sleep. If that's an issue, you'll need to address it to make progress. One of mine, not my problem sleeper, is a slow starter. In his case, I do think he's just slow to get moving in the morning but it's also that he really has issues getting started on things he isn't thrilled to be doing. So incentivizing (heavily) a start time x minutes after he gets up is the only thing I can think of. (It's a battle here--but I'm so overwhelmed with his brother's current issues, that I have no energy to work on this teen's failure to start work in the morning right now). I'd focus on sleep with your son and, once rested, see if you need to work on the getting started piece behaviorally.

There is a lot of "stuff" going on in my immediate family (kids particularly) right now. It's very stressful. I feel tense. I'm exercising every day, trying to do breathing based mindfulness (I'm open to suggestions/don't have a favorite way to do this), prayer. Any calm I get doesn't last long at all. Is there anything I can do?

Wow! You are doing so great--and the flexibility increase amazing!

I did 30 minutes on my exercise bike. I just now finished a pilates focused on the back (it is so hard for me, but I think I'm progressing). I'll probably do a stretch/wind down pilates later tonight.