Supposed to cut the grass today, but doubt if I'll get to it. It's not growing anymore, thank goodness, so I'm safe for another week. I've been walking all day every day at work, so I take my days off to relax, sort of, although I am doing housework, and that's enough exercise for one day. I do have one tip, though. While you're sitting in your recliner watching t.v., do leg lifts and bicycles (don't have to stick your feet up in the air) and throw in a few scissors. You'll feel that tush tightening quicker than you would imagine, and the tummy flattening too. I started out doing about 20, and ended up doing 500, and it helped me a lot. Of course, I'm not doing it now, but I'm going to start back. I just don't watch too much t.v. anymore.

"Cattle car waits "   How odd.  A Canadian friend and I were visiting Sydney a while back. My friend became ill on a Friday night. I was able to get on line and book an appointment with her at a local clinic near our hotel for the following morning. No line up at all.  And I don't know Sydney particularly well.And it was a busy family clinic in the center of the city. There are clinics which only "bulk bill" (ie charge Medicare rates) and there are clinics which charge higher fees(except to people who are on government pensions or disability).  Medicare pays the base fee and the individual pays the "gap."   Many people, with or without insurance, are quite happy to pay the gap fee and get quick service. The gap fee runs around $30 - $60 for a GP visit depending on the length of the visit. Bulk billing, walk in clinics in major cities may well have line ups (I daresay there are similar lineups in inner city New York or Philadelphia), but the clinics I've used, in 3 states and 4 cities, operate  by appointment, even the ones that do bulk bill.    This notion of cattle car service is about as accurate as the notion that every American has full insurance coverage and immediate access to top flight health care.  And in fact, in the studies I've cited in the past, while countries like Australia and Canada do have waiting lists for public health care, access in general is still better than in the US. I am about done with Elmer and his"Australian friends". I didn't intend this to become another personal debate coloured by inaccuracy and animus. I raised the subject of the bowel screening program as an example of what I think is an effective public health measure that extends screening for colorectal cancer to a broader range of people.  Nothing more. I don't dispute that colonoscopies are the gold standard, but they are simply not accessible to everyone for a whole lot of reasons. Not here, not in the US. Bowel screening is much more accessible and picks up a significant number of cases, often early enough for treatment.  Never forget that the pursuit of excellence is often the enemy of the good.  That adage applies here.

I follow BodyFit by Amy, Fitness with PJ (she is a little obnoxious and not for everyone, but I like the workouts), Keep the Adventure Alive with Alyssa Kuhn, and just started Forever Yoga with Susannah. I work out every morning with one or more of them. I'm trying to use heavier weights and more impact to try to help my bones. I'll be watching this thread for more ideas.

The reason all you see are black mats and mirror ? Generally, folks want weights. A yoga mat. rubber bands. etc in addition to any cardio equipment. A full mirror brightens any gym but plays an equally important role in allowing the users to check their form when doing ANY exercise from free weights to Pilates to yoga. I've nothing against Peleton, or any other cardio such as elipticals or treadmill. But if you want the much improved "body" and the long term weight control, and strength and agility ? You want more in your workout and more space. You also don't want to ruin the flooring in the closet. The hard rubber mat in a gym is over a concrete slab. ......and a kids play mat won't do the trick. If the guests are infrequent? Take the entire room ! Yes, to giving your heart a workout - but add free weights and bands and be astounded. Think six days a week , three for the Peleton and three for strength and agility - you will look in a mirror at yourself in six months and your day will most definitely start........bright : ) and you'll FEEL it too. If you've ever wondered why folks are able to "drag" themselves to a gym daily? It's the spirit of others, the vast variety of ways to exercise every muscle and a lot of it is the big one in your head. That's the one that counts in the end and makes you stick with it for a life time.