The Hit List - To Peloton and Back

A few months ago, I got a Peloton. Yeah, I know…a lot of folks make fun of the Peloton thing and I did too. But my ankle injury had left me with all sorts of new issues – including a couple of extra pounds on top of my pandemic 15.

My friends Susan and Debra were talking about it all the time and they look great. Maybe a stationary bike could help me?

I wrestled with this notion for a bit. Frankly, I don’t like bikes and I hate exercising, even though I do it. Soon excuses started coming in. “Susan and Debra are younger and fitter than me. Maybe this won’t work. It’ll probably become a glorified clothes hanger in a week. I might not like the instructors…blah blah blah.”

But the biggest excuse: my ankle injury created new issues in my body, including a knee that hurt when I walked and chronic hip pain that kinda scared me. Maybe I shouldn’t be on a bike.

Yet I knew I couldn’t go on the way I was. So off I went to check out the bike after getting a bit of additional feedback from my friends. It was comfortable enough and quiet, which was appealing. My husband test-drove it too – and liked the way it felt. We thought this might be good for his breathing issues.

So we bought it. It was an investment (you can pay in installments) but I thought if I don’t invest in my health, I’m going to be spending a lot more money later on. Specifically in a hip replacement.

The first few rides SUCKED. I wondered what the hell I got myself into. But I kept going once I started to notice how good I felt mentally after each ride. What the heck? Maybe this will be for my brain instead of my body, I thought. So for nine weeks I got on that sucker and cursed and sweated and watched the clock while gritting my teeth. I told the perky instructors to “go to Hellaton” under my breath…yet there I was almost every day.

A few days ago, I noticed I had lost a bunch of weight. My knee wasn’t acting up any longer. And most importantly, my chronic hip pain was GONE completely. WHOA.

It’s funny, but a while ago I started to accept “the fact” that extra weight and pain were part of getting older. I thought this was going to be my life and there wasn’t much I could do about it. Until I did something about it.

I’ll be on that sucker tonight and (almost) every night because I realize my health depends on it – and I’m worth investing in too.

So what are you doing for yourself this weekend? How are you putting self-care at the top of your list?

(Psst…who are your favorite Peloton instructors? Mine: Hannah F, Tunde, Bradley, and Cody.)

Made in the shade.

Other stuff:

I loved talking with Kelly-Ann Maddox over at her YouTube channel! Yay!

Interesting post over at Stereogum: The Number Ones: Lauryn Hill’s “Doo Wop (That Thing).”

Wisdom from Bust: 6 Strategies We Can Take From Latin American Abortion Rights Activists During Our Fight for Reproductive Justice.

From Teen Vogue: How to Get an Abortion if You’re a Teen After Roe v. Wade Was Overturned.

Why I won’t fly: Air Travel Is a Disaster Right Now. Here’s Why.

Scary times: Post-Roe, Pregnant People Will Become Suspects.

Learn about Venus transits through the signs in the latest Astrology Bytes podcast.

I believe them: Can Strippers Really Forecast a Financial Crisis?

From Input: The dark side of TikTok Tarot.

I’m sharing my thoughts about Fire Sign compatibility over at Bustle: Your Guide To Fire Signs.

Donna Ferrato’s Camera Is a Weapon for Women.

I love Lisa Stardust: The Astrology Of Roe V. Wade May Predict The Future Of Abortion Rights In The US, An Astrologer Explains.

This is such bullshit: Ballot drop boxes are not allowed in Wisconsin, state Supreme Court rules.

I LOVE this “glitter jar.”

Cancer season always finds me looking at home decor like this evil eye rug and this “leaf” cooking spoon.

Interested in this: Crazy Joy: Finding Wild Happiness in a World That’s Upside Down.

Why am I drawn to Cottagecore: The Cottage Fairy Companion: A Cottagecore Guide to Slow Living, Connecting to Nature, and Becoming Enchanted Again (Mindful living, Home Design for Cottages)?

On my Wish List: Do the Work!: An Antiracist Activity Book.

Adding this too: Heal Your Way Forward: The Co-Conspirator’s Guide to an Antiracist Future by myisha t hill.

A 12-hour walk? Hmmm…The 12-Hour Walk: Invest One Day, Conquer Your Mind, and Unlock Your Best Life.

This is right up my alley: The Awake Dreamer: A Guide to Lucid Dreaming, Astral Travel, and Mastering the Dreamscape.

Intriguing: How to Live a Happily Ever Afterlife: Stories of Trapped Souls and How Not to Become One.

Defo want this: Ossman & Steel’s Classic Household Guide to Appalachian Folk Healing: A Collection of Old-Time Remedies, Charms, and Spells.

I love this idea: The Tarot Spellbook: 78 Witchy Ways to Use Your Tarot Deck for Magick and Manifestation.

Do me a solid and preorder Twist Your Fate: Manifest Success with Astrology and Tarot. Preorders are SO important for authors! If you preorder, you can get a thank you gift! Learn more here.

Learn how to make your own personalized tarot deck with Create Your Own Tarot Cards: A step-by-step guide to designing a unique and personalized tarot deck. <-Cards are included!

Long summer days mean the kids are home and driving you batty. Give ’em a copy of Tarot For Kids. Serenity now!

If you’re curious about tarot or looking to level up your skills, here’s your book: Tarot: No Questions Asked: Mastering the Art of Intuitive Reading.

Prefer to listen to your tarot lessons? Check this out: Tarot: No Questions Asked: Mastering the Art of Intuitive Reading is available as an audiobook.

So many folks love Astrology for Real Life: A Workbook for Beginners (A No B.S. Guide for the Astro-Curious). It’s an easy-breezy book for total astro-newbies.

There is an audio version if you prefer: Astrology For Real Life.

Need a new deck? Check out this one: The Uncommon Tarot: A Contemporary Reimagining of an Ancient Oracle.

Looking for an experiential way to learn tarot? I got you: The Tarot Coloring Book.

Shaheen Miro and I wrote Tarot For Troubled Times a few years ago. Little did we know how needed it would be today.

Classes and Events

Book Signing at Copper Dog Books. 272 Cabot Street, Beverly, MA 01915. When: Friday, August 5th at 6 PM. Join me for a short talk and get your books signed! Yay!

Book Signing at Barnes and Noble at Fox Run Crossings in Newington, New Hampshire. I hope to see you there! When: Saturday, August 6th at 2 PM. Address: 45 Gosling Road The Crossings at Fox, Newington, New Hampshire, 03801. Be there and don’t be square!

Book Signing at Free Spirit Crystals. Get your copy of Twist Your Fate signed by yours truly. When: Friday, August 19th at Free Spirit Crystals. I’ll be there from 7 PM – 9 PM.

How to Use Tarot For Decision Making and Problem Solving. Change is inevitable. You will go through many cycles and personal transformations in your life. You might feel lost or unsure of your true purpose or next move. It’s how you respond to change and its inherent challenges that matter. Tarot can connect you with your intuition to help illuminate the path forward. In this class, I’ll walk you through the basics of tarot reading and I’ll teach you my four favorite spreads for making decisions. (Psst…I’m a horribly indecisive person – tarot is my go-to when I’m stuck in analysis paralysis!). This is an evergreen course. Sign up any time, and go through the lessons at your own pace. Learn more and sign up here.

Astrology for Beginners. Want to learn how to do Astrology? Want to walk into a dinner party… pull up someone’s Natal Chart… point to their Sun, Moon, and Rising signs… and explain what those mean? If you’re like “Heck yeah, I wanna know how to do that!”… then this class is for you: Astrology for Beginners. This is a LIVE online class. 5 weeks. Thursday evenings from 7 PM CT/ 8 PM ET starting September 15th. Early bird special pricing ends June 15th!

Join my Patreon Community! I am serving up extended card of the day interpretations, astrological tidbits, community tarot practice, political astrology, early sneak peeks to horoscopes….and more. Higher tiers get access to live classes, replays of previous classes, mentoring, and more.