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Archive through January 19, 2004

The TVClubHouse: General Discussions: 2004 Aug - Oct: TVCH's Home & Life Organization (ARCHIVES): Archive through January 19, 2004 users admin

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Lumbele

Tuesday, January 13, 2004 - 1:19 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Ok, I started my flylady routine again yesterday. Last August I started decluttering, but then came the holiday preps and weeeeeeeell you know how it goes. However, I have discovered that doing the 15 min. thingy in my zone now is getting me through a heck of a lot faster than when I first started. So sloughing off didn't get me into nearly as much trouble as I thought.LOL
Lkunkel, DH bought me a pedometer the other day. How the heck do you manage 10,000 steps a day? Yesterday I was chasing all over the house, up the stairs, down the stairs, blessing this house, doing laundry etc. etc. By bedtime I was pooped and expected to find oodles of steps on my hip counter. Imagine my disappointment when it showed only about 2,600. How much running around does a girl have to do to get to that goal? YIKES!!!!!!!!!
P.S. Yesterday, DH came home with a box of SpecialK which included a pedometer. Could've saved himself a few bucks had he gone to the grocery store the other day instead. Just thought I'd mention it in case anyone else is eyeing one.

Lkunkel

Tuesday, January 13, 2004 - 3:22 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Lumbele: Aren't you thrilled about your routine paying off like that? Every bit helps.

Check your pedometer to make sure it is set right. It took me a couple of days to get it accurate.

Hmmm. The downside of the free pedometer is eating the Special K.

Lumbele

Tuesday, January 13, 2004 - 6:19 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Lkunkel, you bet it helps and is encouraging. Another 15 mins tomorrow and my closet should be back up to snuff.
You mean you got close to 10,000 steps right off? Wow! I knew I was out of shape, but didn't realise just how much. Today I went for a little walk to the store to get some more "steps". Didn't seem to make that much of a difference. Ah well, babysteps here too.LOL
It's the SpecialK with the dried strawberries. Cereal is not my cup o' but this stuff really isn't that bad and it's a small box.

Lkunkel

Tuesday, January 13, 2004 - 6:37 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Lumbele: What did your stride break down to? Mine is 2.2 feet, and that allows me to get my 10,000 steps pretty quickly.

Lumbele

Tuesday, January 13, 2004 - 6:40 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
They said to measure from toe to toe which made it 18 inches.

Lkunkel

Tuesday, January 13, 2004 - 8:33 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Lumbele: There's your problem. Measure out a 10' path and then count your steps from one end to the other. You then have to do some number manipulation.

HOWEVER, my guess, since my toe to toe was 18 inches, is that your stride is also 2.2. Set your pedometer for that stride tomorrow, and see how you do.

Also, check where you are wearing it and practice in the bedroom--it may not be reading you accurately. I had to hook mine onto a pocket to get a correct reading--not my waist.

Lumbele

Wednesday, January 14, 2004 - 8:55 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Lkunkel, the bedroom, eh? What exactly did you have in mind I practice with that pedometer?

Actually, does it really matter how long your stride is, since the pedometer counts steps not distance?
The whole problem is more likely to be the fact of my not moving enough. Though I'd be interested how many steps others take a day without going for a walk.

Lkunkel

Wednesday, January 14, 2004 - 9:41 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Lumbele: I said the bedroom because, in my case, it is the least cluttered and most opened floor space, so I can walk and look at the pedometer at the same time without walking into a wall or boxes or whatever.

The stride does matter for the setting process so that it accurately counts the number of steps.

On an average day of standard housework, I hit about 6K steps.

Catfat

Wednesday, January 14, 2004 - 9:51 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Six thousand steps? What in Gawd's name are you cleaning? Buckingham Palace or something?

Lkunkel

Wednesday, January 14, 2004 - 10:00 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Cat: I take a lot of extra steps to put things away or to walk down to the dumpsters, or whatever so I can get in 10,000 steps.

Sherrie

Wednesday, January 14, 2004 - 10:26 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Thought I would chime in about the pedometer. The first few days I had a hard time hitting 10,000. I have figured out that you have to put it on in the morning and not sit down again until you hit the 10,000. The first few days I was "step collecting" until 10:00 at night. Now I am hitting the number by 4:00 or 5:00 and am averaging 15,000 steps a day.

I got my first reward for all the hard work lately. I had a friend come to pick me up at 7:00 for dinner last night. In the past, if someone was coming to pick me up I would be cleaning all day and be running late to boot. Well they got here an hour early and I was almost ready. When I first answered the door and let him in I had a panic attack and quickly started doing a walk through of the house only to find it was spotless. That was a wonderful feeling!

I am going to reward myself when it is all done with a professional carpet and couch cleaner.

I have also found that you really can get so much done when you set a 15 minute timer. It really works for me.

Lumbele

Wednesday, January 14, 2004 - 12:01 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
LOL Cat.
Congratulations, Sherrie. Isn't it great to be surprised by the effect this system has. Normally I am not one to get sucked into things easily, but I am glad I at least decided to give flylady a shot, and she reeled me in.LOL
That 15 mins works great for me, too. Working against the clock eggs me on to get as much done as possible, and nobody likes to be beaten, least of all by some little time keeper with an irritating bell.LOL
Lk, I measured the 10 steps (in my hallway) and my stride actually is 25".

Lkunkel

Wednesday, January 14, 2004 - 1:03 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Lumbele: So set the stride configurator to 2.1, and then start measuring your steps.

I love playing beat the clock....I get a lot more done.

I agree with putting the pedometer on first thing--makes it easier to get a more accurate count.

Sherrie: Congratulations!!!

Sherrie

Wednesday, January 14, 2004 - 8:30 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Thanks to everyone for the support! Though I am eating humble pie right now. I think I may have patted myself on the back a little too hard this morning.

In keeping with my theme of being well rounded and balanced this year, I took a break from all of the cleaning and walking today to have lunch with a friend. After chatting for four hours I headed home and decided to continue my happiness by sitting down and really catching up here at TVCH. I just glanced at my pedometer to see how many more steps I need to get in today and am only at 4,500. I am going to chant that "humility is always attractive" as I step through the evening!

Maybe I will set my timer for 15 minutes and see how many steps I can get in.....15 min on TVCH, 15 minutes stepping and 15 minutes decluttering.....now if I can just stick to it!

Lkunkel

Wednesday, January 14, 2004 - 9:50 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Sherrie: Remember to trot off and put one thing in the declutter piles, and then walk back to the area you're decluttering. That always gets me an extra dozen steps or so.

Also, remember balance is important. Go for an AVERAGE of 70,000 steps a week. Some days will be more, some days will be less, but regardless, you are moving.

Sherrie

Wednesday, January 14, 2004 - 11:02 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Thanks Laurie......I am fighting my tendency of all or nothing and trying to establish a simple balance in my life.

I have been doing the same thing - carrying one thing at a time with as many steps as possible.
I have also been parking the car as far away from front doors as is safe.

How are you doing on your boxes?

Lumbele - did you notice a difference changing your stride?

Lumbele

Thursday, January 15, 2004 - 9:44 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Sherrie, stop beating up on yourself. You've been doing good and yesterday you treated yourself, so who's gonna sue ya? Just pick up again where you left off and "fling" that guilty conscience (that alone should count for several pounds ;)) One thing I learned from flylady is perfectionism (that all or nothing tendency) is a downer and will make you fall off the declutter horse faster than taking a day off here and there.
Your 4,500 missing steps didn't even get walked all day around here. But I did improve to 3,870. (The dull sounds you hear is lumbele patting herself on the back). Changing the stride didn't do it, but consciously making detours during the chores and braving the prairie wind for 20 mins did. Still can't see me doing 10,000 a day, but hey babysteps (maybe then I'll accumulate more).LOL Don't ask how leaden my legs feel though. Lawd, I am so outta shape it's embarrassing.
Lk, you should start a 10,000 steps thread. Should be interesting to see if anyone else counts and how many steps they manage to walk during their day.
Ok, breaktime over. I'm off for my stroll. BBL

Sherrie

Saturday, January 17, 2004 - 5:54 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Just checking to see how everyone is....I am wiped out from cleaning up and pruning my yard. Whew I need to get in better shape before Spring if I want flowers!!!

Lumbele - thank you so much.......I needed to hear that because I was getting caught up with the "all or nothing" mindset.

Catfat

Saturday, January 17, 2004 - 7:48 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I got distracted from my 15 minutes of cleaning routines this week because DH and I both had medical stuff to deal with. When you get old, it is patch, patch, patch.
Trying to get my focus back. But I am sticking successfully to keeping my sink shining and doing my morning and evening routines as directed.
The rest of you sound like you are doing so well.

Sherrie

Saturday, January 17, 2004 - 8:30 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Cat - I hope it is not too serious and that both you and your DH feel better soon!! You have me beat by getting the evening routines done. When I don't, I am sorry I did not. I am not as productive in the morning BUT it is a struggle for me. Again, FEEL BETTER!

Lkunkel

Monday, January 19, 2004 - 11:57 am   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Bad news: Opening the balcony closet door (the location of the water heater, fuse box, STUFF) and seeing a wet floor.

Good news: I had the STUFF (decorations, mostly) in plastic containers and the containers were on blocks. The balcony itself was crowded, but manageable--part of today's tasks were to clean off the balcony and start getting ready for Spring. Lots of STUFF to throw away/donate, and a small greenhouse to assemble and have out there instead. Only the non-folding patio chairs had to be removed to the front porch.

Now, of course, these tasks are waiting, as I have a man and two water heaters on the balcony.

We have no damage to anything. But it does reinforce the need to finish decluttering and to get renter's insurance.

I'm plugging away here and getting rid of a lot. And I have Deseret Industries coming tomorrow to pick up STUFF (Roughly 6 boxes of STUFF and a bike so far).

Lumbele

Monday, January 19, 2004 - 4:25 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Cat, I hope you and DH are all "patched" up again. Keeping up with those 2 routines is half the battle. Getting back into the groove when you are feeling better won't seem like such a big deal then.
Lkunkel, sorry about your bad news, but glad for the good news part.
Sounds like you got it all under control and that renter's insurance is definitely a good idea.
For the last few days I have taken a page out of Sherrie's book and done diddly. If I had done that pre-flylady, my house would have been a disaster. Now it just looked a little "lived-in" but nothing I would have gotten embarrassed about in case of unexpected company.
Do you all use Monday, too to do your weekly cleaning? Even before I signed up I used to mainly do it then, but I have arranged my zones according to what is convenient for me and am always revising, or maybe it's called stalling.?.wink

Lkunkel

Monday, January 19, 2004 - 4:39 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Lumbele: I do my weekly cleaning on Friday. I want a clean home in which to enjoy the weekend.

Lumbele

Monday, January 19, 2004 - 4:46 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
Lkunkel, I can appreciated that thought. On Thursday or Friday I swing that duster around the place to make it look "fresh" again. But I usually just laze around on the weekend, ditto for the rest of the family, so by Monday the place is "ripe".LOL

Lkunkel

Monday, January 19, 2004 - 5:39 pm   Edit Post Move Post Delete Post View Post    
I'm just thrilled that I didn't have to PAY for a new water heater. What was funny: I had the plastic containers on two cinderblocks. When I went to start putting stuff away, and discovered that my blocks are now holding up the water heater.

But, with 5 L-brackets and a Yaffa block, I have a plastic base for the plastic drawers to live on.

I tossed out 6 BBBs just from the balcony stuff, and that doesn't include the stuff that was set aside for tomorrow's pick-up.

All that is left to do outside is to clean up the chairs, sweep, and garden. All things that will wait for another day.

So, I continue on the inside and look out the sliding glass doors for inspiration!