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My featured Merit Badge Awardee of the Week is … Barb Keefe!!!

Barb Keefe (#5355) has received a certificate of achievement in Make it Easy for earning a Beginner & Intermediate Level Let’s Get Physical Merit Badge!

“My goal for this badge was to get in some exercise 4 days a week, starting gradually and progressing. Daily exercise would not be realistic. I purchased a calendar book to document what I did.

My routine started out with a total body range-of-motion exercise program since I had not been active for a long time. I did each body part for 7 repetitions.

For strengthening, I did the following exercises targeting uppers one day and legs a different day. For the most part, I did 2 sets of 12 repetitions and if I felt real good, I did 3 sets.

Upper exercises:

-Bicep curls, starting with 3 pounds and progressing to 8.

-Triceps, starting with 3 pounds and progressing to 8.

-Press, starting with 3 pounds and progressing to 8.

-Bent over row with scapula retraction, starting with 3 pounds progressing to 8.

Lower exercises:

-Straight leg raises, starting without weight and progressing to 7 pounds.

-Hip abduction, starting without weight and progressing to 5 pounds.

-Hip abduction, starting without weight and progressing to 5 pounds.

-Hamstrings, starting with 5 pounds and progressing to 7.

-Bridges, starting without weight and low reps, progressing to 10 pounds 3 sets of 25.

-Abdominals, variety of curl ups, “100’s”, bicycle, planks

After 2 months of this, I needed a change and started yoga at home. I bought a couple of books and watched some programs on TV. It is much harder than it looks! It was very motivating to get me to do something, and I am still at it.

I continued with my exercises as described in the beginner level and started really paying closer attention to what we are eating. I did some Googling around on GMOs, all natural make-up, organic fruits. I subscribed to VeriaLiving channel on DISH for $5 a month. This has really increased my knowledge about many areas of health that are more holistic. I have started a home yoga routine. My groceries are changing to more organic, such as apples, spices, bulk tea, and herbs. I bought a ¼ beef from a local farmer that does not use hormones or antibiotics and I buy my eggs from a friend or get the organic-fed, cage-free variety even though they are more costly. I have yet to find any local chicken, however. In the long run, it evens out because I am not purchasing a lot of junk food.

While shopping at a second-hand store, I was able to “upcycle” a food dehydrator and am trying that now. Normally, I do not cook with beans very much and have tried a couple bean dishes and am planning on starting meatless Mondays. Moving forward, I want to drink more water and have started to drink a glass when I get up, at lunch, and when I get home from work. From now on when something needs refilling or replacing, I am going to do it with the most healthy natural choice.

This has changed a lot more than I thought once I was writing it all down to report. One thing at a time will make it easy and it does add up. It has increased my awareness and will make me healthier.”

Way to go Barb, keep up the good work!