WOMEN AGES 50+ FOR JANUARY 2017

1525355575885

Replies

  • margaretturk
    margaretturk Posts: 5,261 Member
    :heart:
  • klanders30
    klanders30 Posts: 2,569 Member
    beth have fun with your coffee catch up! That is so frustrating that you can't find a great aide, I'll bet the turn over is really challenging.

    I Have a work colleague who is struggling with work/life balance on top of peri-menopause-- boy do I remember how incredibly difficult this time was for me. I listened, I hugged, I told her she really should go and talk to her MD, and last I remembered that old Winston Churchill quote: "when you're going through hell...keep going". I think it applies. Aging ain't for sissies!! But better than the alternative :s
    NYKAREN
  • KetoneKaren
    KetoneKaren Posts: 6,412 Member
    edited January 2017
    Vit D is fat soluble, so gelcaps, drops, and gummies are much more bioavailable than tablets (which are water soluble). Also, taking Vit D supplements with a fatty meal, or with fish oil supplements, increases absorption. People take anywhere from 1000 units/day to 50,000 units/week or more (the latter being a prescribed supplement). Because Vit D is fat soluble, there is the potential for it to build up in adipose tissue and cause toxicity, which leads to severe joint pain and some other problems, but this usually occurs only at very high doses or in people with certain pre-existing conditions. Vit D levels can be monitored by your doctor, but it usually isn't necessary unless you are on a high dose. Vit D is naturally occurring in wild caught fatty fish and cod liver oil, and is in fortified milk, OJ, & cereals. Sunshine exposure causes our skin to produce Vit D. Probably half the world's population is Vit D deficient, and it is an independent risk factor for mortality in certain populations (people who have had hip fractures, people with end stage renal failure, etc.)

    The reason I am going on & on is not to bore you to tears, but to say this: Vit D is important, many of us are deficient, and taking 2000 units/day in gelcap, drop, or gummy form would certainly be considered a safe dose by almost all experts. It cured my severe knee pain several years ago.

    Karen in Virginia
  • GRITSandSLUTSandWINOS
    GRITSandSLUTSandWINOS Posts: 2,573 Member
    Carey – Driving and listening to an audio book (at least here in GA [USA] would be considered ‘distracted driving’), especially if you had both ears plugged in. I can’t pat my head and rub my belly at the same time. I don’t pick up my left foot as high as I should, so stumbling – especially before I lost some weight – was common place. When I chew gum biting my lip, tongue, or inside my cheek is what I usually do.

    Allie – You go, girl!!!!! I hope the bag you are packing is actually your ‘purse’ or ‘pocketbook’. Good to do things under the ‘radar’ … as to ‘surprise the daylights out of him’. LOL! Good news about the real estate agent loving your house. That should give you an idea of what you could be awarded 50% once it is ‘liquidated’. Then you can take your share and ‘invest’ with some financial company with an officer who will be able to show you all the things that you can get and still protect your investment … you can either roll over the interest by buying more stocks, bonds, or mutual funds or have the interest paid to you either quarterly or monthly. You’d be surprised at how much interest you can earn with the ‘cash’ … could not do that with a ‘paid for’ house. I’d much rather not be worried about paying insurance, property taxes, upkeep, repairs, and you could ‘end up with a Money Pit’. Same with his retirement account, the house and lot in Florida 50/50 … show him you are not the ‘meek little mild woman who will take him at his word’ any longer.

    Glo – Spring is when the pecan trees start to ‘leaf out’. Here, at least (SW GA). You don’t plant a garden until AFTER Easter and you don’t put your houseplants and ferns outside before the pecan trees do their job. We always have a ‘plant killing freeze’ before that. Some trees, such as peach trees do need a period of ‘cold’ weather, at the right time so the blooms will come out and make fruit. Yummy!!!! Like bananas, I like my peaches on a slightly green side; and, best of all, the ‘cling free’ ones. I like the just 'ripe enough to be sweet; but, not mushy. They usually come in later in the summer. Ft. Valley and Byron (on the Interstate - I-75) is about the best place to buy them … the exit with the big peach (which has been ‘lost’ from time-to-time from big winds). Peach County, Crawford County, Macon County, and places around there is really “Peach Country” … for those of you traveling up-and-down as “Snow Birds.’

    Re I can’t wait until the late Spring so I can get back in the pool, exercise is so much better in the water. I start off slowly, then by the end of the summer I am walking in it for 2 hours or more.

    Carol in GA – We never had a ‘loaded’ gun in our house until we moved out here; but, thankfully, I have a clear view of our long driveway and I can go into my bedroom and lock the door (after I have put the deadbolt on the back door). If I don’t recognize the vehicle, I am not going to the door. I do recognize the Jehovah Witnesses’ car (white Suburban). If they change, they’ll just have to leave their pamphlets.

    The last time the woman that normally comes, had a man with her. When I tell them we’re Catholic, they leave the materials anyway but leave. This last time, the man turned around and walked back and said he had a question. I knew where it was going … “No, we do not pray to Mary. We revere her; but, we pray to the same God/Jesus that you do, we just happen to call him a different name.” He smiled and said, 'we’ve just always wondered'.

    Lisa That’s great about you doing everything you can do to quit smoking. Lots worse than overeating and, from what I have heard, harder to stop. I’ve never been a smoker; but, I told DH when we were building the house we’re in … it was going to be a ‘smoke-free home’. No problem; but, he now has the nasty habit of ‘chewing’ … which to me is worse (for him); but, I don’t have to inhale it. Great NSV … keep it up! DYS has 'quit' smoking and lost 15lbs; but, he did so because he had such a bad cold and later a cough that made him sick. He was not use to coughing up phlegm. DDnL#2 said he was pitiful. She had had it, he got it from her, now she has it again. Says the 'coughing' is the worst thing about it.

    Katla My DDnL#2 just bought a Volvo – they are supposed to be about the safest vehicle on the road; because it has a steel bar that goes all around it. The first time I sat in hers, felt like the bottom of the window sill was above my shoulders. Felt like I was in a ‘cocoon’.

    Janetr okc – One of my HS friends (retired General) is going to be up for the Inauguration, going to one of the balls; which I hear are only 3. He was so excited to be able to be a part.

    Michele – Got the tape in the mail today – check will be probably put in the mail in a day or two. Thanks.

    Lenora
  • GRITSandSLUTSandWINOS
    GRITSandSLUTSandWINOS Posts: 2,573 Member
    <3
  • fanncy0626
    fanncy0626 Posts: 7,152 Member
    Everybody is talking about vitamin D deficiency. One thing that I found interesting is that if you have dark circles underneath your eyes that is a symptom of vitamin D deficiency!
  • ljdw99
    ljdw99 Posts: 360 Member
    <3
  • sherryminchagain
    sherryminchagain Posts: 86 Member
    Hey now....

    No such luck getting any additional sleep this morning, but had nice long talk with the advocate who checked me in here the day I arrived. I explained to her that I've gotten only about 5 hours of sleep each night since I've been here because kids are allowed to run rampant screaming and yelling at all hours and reminded her that even though we sign a contract saying we agree to follow the rules blah blah blah that these mothers are not supervising their children at all, including the twin babies down the hall from me who are allowed to crawl around in unsafe places with no supervision, and gently reminded her that contract states quiet hours are 8pm to 7am and it's not being followed or enforced by staff and that now the kids have gotten into my injection pens I have to keep in the fridge for my diabetes (no needles attached to them, just plastic pen type things that I have stored in the highest place in the fridge as far out of reach as possible) and that this can't happen as I risk infection if others handle my pens and I absolutely cannot have kids breaking open my pens, plus the kids are getting into my food in the fridge (I keep all my dry goods in my room) and that I only get so much in food stamps and can't afford to feed others kids or have them leave my food out to spoil. She took my complaints seriously as she is afraid I will complain to the state which is where they get most of their funding from even though it's not state run or affiliated. She then went through the resident area and spoke with each mom and all the kids so shouldn't have any further problems but she said she will hook me up with a mini fridge for my room so I have a safe place for my food and pens. I also had to warn her that they need to take care of the ice on the sidewalks around the outside of the shelter because I already slipped and fell once today and got hurt. I didn't come right out and say it but I hinted that if I fall again because of their negligence I would not have a problem suing. I hate to be like that but they are not taking care of their responsibilities in running this place. It's almost like they just want to sit at their desks behind locked doors and not do anything, and some of you know I absolutely hate purposeful incompetence or neglect in doing a job. If you can't do your job and do your best at it, then step aside and let someone else do it. OK, enough venting. We will see how things go tonight, lol. So far the kids have been fairly quiet and have had supervision today, let's see if it sticks! I understand it's hard when kids are stuck inside due to weather, but c'mon, at least keep your eye on your kids for their own safety!

    Joyce - oh honey, no need to thank me for being your friend. I just wish you weren't in so much pain with your back and having your other medical problems, I hate to see people in pain. I struggle through my own back problems and medical issues so I feel ya! I'm right there with you, hand in hand girlfriend! And I'm glad to be an inspiration to at least one person. The best gift we can give others is to try to inspire and be a good example. I know I have my faults, too many in fact lol, but I try not to have them affect others in a negative way. And I just try to persevere in life, sometimes I fail miserably, but hey, I'm only human.

    I made the mistake of putting in my email address on a site I was doing research on and boy howdy, my email inbox has been overflowing with junk!!! Don't think I will be doing that again, lol! It's taking two forevers to delete it all! Seems like as soon as I get it emptied it overflows again with even more junk! So much for spam filters, lol!

    Sorry about not responding to each of you individually, my brain is still in a fog from lack of sleep! But I do want you all to know that I HAVE read your posts and greatly appreciate all the love and support from you all. It does my heart good to know there are people out there who do worry and care about me. I will do my best to make you all proud. And thanks to those who put up with my ups and downs, and my craziness. I do know one thing for sure, it is time to put any man I might get involved with from now on through a rigorous background check! This violence that is a constant presence most of my life has got to stop! I do still hold hope that there is the right guy for me out there somewhere, I'm just not gonna go looking anymore. He'll come to me when the time is right. At least that is what I believe, of course I may just be a daft old broad too!

    Well, this post is turning out to be a long one too, lol! I gotta get out of that habit! I told myself when I came back that I wasn't going to do that anymore, but it looks like I can't seem to control it, lol. Oh well, those of you who don't mind reading my ramblings won't care about it that much, but others, all I can say is just don't read it, lol! It's just an old broad babbling anyway, lol. OK, I'm off to try and eat something appropriate for dinner. I'll babble at you all again later. Found some good minions memes so will share a few later. Love you all!!

    Sherry in "jeez, you'd think I was writing a book!"
  • csofled
    csofled Posts: 3,022 Member
    Today was our last day at Disney. We enjoyed our morning together and we were sad to leave. Plans are in place to go again of course. My travel plans were disrupted as my 1st plane was delayed longer than my connection in Dallas. So here I sit for 3 hours having made a flight from Orlando on a different airline. Hubs wouldn't agree to come get me here :neutral: as the wait is long enough to come to Houston and return home. I dislike air travel sooo much. I'll be home late tonight. Will post pics tomorrow!
    Cheri
    in Houston anxious to get home to her own bed in College Station
  • exermom
    exermom Posts: 6,532 Member
    Sherry - at the bottom of those junk emails is usually (sometimes in very small print) a place you can click to "unsubscribe". I tell you, that link is not going to be very easy to find, but I am pretty sure that most places are required to have something like that.

    Lenora - glad you got the DVD. Enjoy!!

    Went to the Green Room, they aren't having a volunteer meeting or IDR (invitational dress rehearsal) for this show, so I had to buy a ticket for Feb. 3. I really wanted to go next Friday but it's sold out. I'm really not all that interested in seeing "All Shook Up" so Vince can go see that one. Came home, took a shower, now going to watch some TV and hopefully empty out some of my DVR so that it has room to record programs while I'm away.

    Michele in NC
  • suebdew
    suebdew Posts: 1,298 Member
    Good evening friends. Played golf today and the course was really muddy. The discussion on Vit D caught my attention. I play golf two or three times a week in the TX sun ( I do wear sunscreen) so assumed I didn't need Vit D supplements. Have my yearly with my internist so I will ask him about it.
    Marni-so sorry about your pain. Take care of yourself.
    Lenora - thanks for your encouragement. You are so right about the pecan trees budding out. We don't plant anything until the pecan trees say it's time. Lol
    Sarah - thanks for the congrats.
    Lisa- so proud of you for not smoking. You can do this.
    Mary- so glad you are feeling better. Don't overdo.
    Sue in WA- you are so right about water exercise making you thirsty. Last summer I went to water aerobics with a bottle of water which I didn't drink. Then I went to yoga and the room was very warm. About half way through I "swooned" and hit the floor. Dehydrated. So I am much more careful now.
    Cat- thanks a lot. It really means a lot for you to comment.
    Got to find something for dinner.
    SueBDew in TX



  • pipcd34
    pipcd34 Posts: 17,281 Member
    Tomorrow is the Amazon party! Gonna take the train to Seattle after wrk, she will take me home then I'll pick up the bike tomorrow
  • GRITSandSLUTSandWINOS
    GRITSandSLUTSandWINOS Posts: 2,573 Member
    :D
  • fanncy0626
    fanncy0626 Posts: 7,152 Member
    Kettlebell Workout
    Goblet squats-3X5X 30
    Russian kettle bell swing-21X5X 30

    Sitting in a hotel room waiting for my DH's meeting to get over. I got bored! Still not feeling up to par, but I thought I would swing a little :D

    <3

    Mary from Minnesota
  • AKcanookie
    AKcanookie Posts: 230 Member
    gotu52 wrote: »

    Marni – love your goals and I dream of visiting Alaska some day!

    Thank you to all of you who are so strong, powerful and amazing!

    Have a great day - Sarah from Ontario, Canada

    Hello fellow Ontarian! great to meet you :) This is a terrific group of ladies I have already learned so much from. Best of luck to you with your weight loss goals - I'm working hard on it too. We need to keep focused, and keep moving!!!

    Marni/Alaska
  • oceanmelody
    oceanmelody Posts: 480 Member
    3000 mg of D3 in the winter, drop it by 1000 in the summer.
    Bett
  • jmkmomm
    jmkmomm Posts: 3,247 Member
    Sherry, you just ramble all you need to. For me it is like going to a counselor or a best friend.

    Tonight after baking supper I had to tape the oven door to an adjoining drawer! I also talked to a prior bid for gutters that is a construction company. I was hoping they did exterior painting but they don't. But I did call another construction company that hd given us a big last year for the guttering. Life happened and we weren't able to go through with it. So I called them. I want to get the outside of this house done! After this comes windows and landscaping. That part is what I have no idea of what I want or need for the house. I just want one of those TV designers to take over. I would tell them I want low maintenence but beautiful and let them take over.

    Joyce, Indiana
  • pipcd34
    pipcd34 Posts: 17,281 Member
    total stats for the day:
    ride hm 2 gym- 12.50min, 13.7amph, 144mhr, 2.9mi= 129c
    applie iwatch- 100
    LATERAL MACHINE 36min, lvl7, lat10, 125ahr, 144mhr, 4324str, 72fl, 4.41mi = 297c
    apple iwatch- 278c
    ride gym 2 dome- 6.45min, 143mhr, 12.7amph, 1.4mi = 75c
    apple iwatch- 48c
    jog station 2 wk- 5.02min, 10.15ap, 145mhr, .4mi = 50c
    apple iwatch- 52c
    jog wk 2 sta- 5.31min, 10.33ap, .5mi = 64c
    apple iwatch - 73c
    ride dome 2 hm- 18.46min, 7.8amph, 2.4mi = 149c iwatch only, wahoo didn't record

    total cal 764
  • AKcanookie
    AKcanookie Posts: 230 Member
    exermom wrote: »
    Yesterday did an hour of yoga and then an hour of deep water. Today dad an advanced strength training DVD. The plan for tomorrow is to do a DVD on the rebounder.

    Went to ceramics last night. Put another coat of paint on the head of the dolphin -- it was too streaky. Hope it fires OK. Today I volunteered at the Green Room after taking a donation to the soup kitchen, went to the bank (ATM), got my hair cut, back to the ATM, then to WalMart. Tomorrow we're leaving to go to PA -- Denise wants to go wedding dress shopping. We just realized that tomorrow we'll be on the beltway the day of the inauguration. Well, the beltway is ALWAYS crowded. Back to the Green Room to see a rehearsal of "Wait Unitl Dark". I really wanted to see this show and by the time I could sign up to usher, all the slots had been filled! Went to Krispy Kreme because Denise likes their donuts and yesterday the road in front of them was closed. Since I didn't know if it would be closed today, I just went early before the workers started

    Marni - be careful. Hope there isn't too much damage from that fall. Sometimes it takes a while for it to show up. My bathing suit for water aerobics is chlorine resistant. The lining is starting to disintegrate, but the suit is just fine. Yes, they are a bit more expensive. But in the long run they are worth it. I got mine from Hanes Place or One Hanes, something like that, with "Hanes" in the name

    Michele in NC

    Thanks Michele - Yoga and pool work sounds terrific. I'm checking out our local pools this weekend. Happy wedding dress shopping.. sounds like it could be really fun! Those suits are the best - picked up a couple before heading to Hawaii a couple of years ago and wear them snorkeling. They are thicker and more bulky than cheap bathing suits but they wear very well and hold up, as well as being attractive. I keep an eye on their Sale section and pick up pieces occasionally to mix and match. Still babying my back but its coming along ;) It's funny how you can become used to being in a lot of pain, all day every day, and still manage to cope on a lot of levels.

    Marni/Alaska
  • IremiaRe
    IremiaRe Posts: 801 Member
    Hello Magnificent Maids!

    Well, I got a voice mail from my Doc’s office – but so far, no love on getting back with them to find out what their “suggestions” are for my knee pain. If they tell me to take an ibuprofen, I will probably go postal on them – so, I really hope it’s a little more deep than that. I was trying to walk normally, earlier – and it feels like something is catching inside – so... it definitely needs more than an anti-inflammatory.

    I went to the dentist for my quarterly cleaning today... everyone was very complimentary – and my Dentist said she actually had to go look at the chart to see who I was, since she didn’t recognize me. I got a similar response in the office, today... The gal who first interviewed me at the bank for a position on her team had to ask if it was me.

    After my cleaning, I stopped in at the gym to do some abdominals – and I weighed myself on that stupid digital scale... Not surprisingly – my weight read a whole lot differently today... I KNEW there was a reason why I never change my weight until I get the same number (or lower) two times running. Today – instead of 211 and change, I got 214 and change. Because I never really believed 212, anyway, I went ahead and changed my ticker upward... something I seldom do. I just think 215 is a way more accurate number than 212 was... *sigh* Of course, I put my starting weight down at 212 for the Summer Challenge... so, I am starting out three pounds behind. :/ Oh well... I guess I will just have to work harder.

    I certainly hope I have as much success with swimming here, as I did while I was at my Mom’s this fall. If I do, it should be a snap to dump those three ghost pounds during the next 24 weeks – in addition to the originally scheduled 24. Can’t wait for my new cover-up suit to get here!

    I have had a busy day, so, I am not able to speak to all of you... sorry ladies. I will try to do better, tomorrow. Darn that pesky employer – expecting me to actually Work!

    !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Nancy – Be nice to your knees... trust me on this. :/

    Marni
    – Hope your back relaxes, soon.

    Lois
    – Fingers crossed! I know it helps burn those pesky calories... Gratz on the suit fitting!

    Beth
    – I am with you – greatly reduced PROCESSED carb intake... but eating plant-based carbs. I feel no guilt about my potato soup. Sorry about the Personal Care Aid situation. ((Hugs!))

    Lenora – hope you have better luck not finding yours than I had with mine... *grumbles* Stupid digital scale!

    Sherry – (Hugs!) You do whatever you need to do. I couldn’t have a gun – cause I am such a klutz I would shoot my own foot off... lol. Glad to hear you are a pro. Hope you find a great little dog AND that he gets to play with Missy!

    NYKaren
    – Thanks! I know that once I get into the groove, it will all be fine. I am just not a huge fan of change. And speaking of change... I think I may be experiencing that, myself. No visits from the Aunt since October and some suspiciously warm moments in the evenings... hmmm.

    Lisa
    – AWESOME! Smoking is so bad for you. I quit (after several aborted attempts) some years ago... I decided that being morbidly obese, being on birth control AND smoking was just skirting a little too close to suicide for me. Stay Strong!

    Sarah
    – Potatoes, Cauliflower, mild green chilis, bacon, ham and sharp cheddar cheese... what’s not to love? Of course – it’s 400 calories for a 2 cup serving – but I can live with that. It’s awesome. I love the Intermittent Fasting, too. It’s greatness.

    Kelly – Where in TX will you be? I am sure I am not the only Texas gal who would love to meet you!

    Barbie – I take 6000 IU – mostly just so I can process the calcium I am taking.... so I can process the protein I am eating... LOL. It seems to be working, though. I know some folks are taking a lot more.

    Kate – Weird for loving the treadmill? No. Weird for listening to Meatloaf? Maybe... LOL. Seriously – I like some of his stuff – but not all.

    Allie – Glad to hear the place is saleable. If you are going to live with your Dad, then go for it!

    Rita – ((HUGS!!))

    Katla – I always drive ‘em til they die... A paid off car is a beautiful thing.

    Sue – Thanks for the tip on hydrating!

    Janet – Awesome nails! And how exciting for your niece.

    Heather – No offense taken... I have had my share of travelling with loud Americans... LOL.

    Michele
    – Our city parks and recs dept offers all sorts of classes – but the times and days don’t work – so I will just be doing laps, to start. The suit I ordered is chlorine resistant, too. Figured I had better – since I only ever swim in chlorinated pools.

    !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Well, Ladies - another broadcast day has come to a close.... Leftover potato soup, tonight. It was delicious! Can’t wait to eat more for dinner.

    See y’all tomorrow!

    Hugs for Everybody!

    Re in TX
  • cityjaneLondon
    cityjaneLondon Posts: 12,718 Member
    edited January 2017
    Hi all! Internet too slow to post my pic. :(

    Had a great swim in the pool in my cover-all costume. I'm going to wear it tomorrow when we go to the biosphere reserve as we get to have a chance to swim through the water channels. Feel better being all covered up. Should see some wildlife.

    We got a taxi into town for our meal at a real, old fashioned Mexican place. A real institution. Great food! But HUGE portions! We shared a plate of nepales - cactus leaves - with avocado. I had fish with masses of garlic, yummy, and DH had veal steak, guacamole, refried beans, fajitas etc etc. Poof! Then we wandered around town until my hip protested and got a taxi home. There was live Cuban music at the restaurant. :D

    Love to all, Heather UK xxxxxxx
  • barbiecat
    barbiecat Posts: 17,209 Member
    IremiaRe wrote: »
    I went to the dentist for my quarterly cleaning today... everyone was very complimentary – and my Dentist said she actually had to go look at the chart to see who I was, since she didn’t recognize me. I got a similar response in the office, today... The gal who first interviewed me at the bank for a position on her team had to ask if it was me.

    Re in TX

    469367makfzcur9b.gif The responses from others to the "new you" are infinitely more significant than modest fluctuations on the scale...you are making amazing progress on your journey.

  • AKcanookie
    AKcanookie Posts: 230 Member
    edited January 2017
    Busy group = good group! Evening from Alaska ladies.

    -20F this morning. My 4 weenie dogs just looked at me when I opened the door for them to do their business like “You have got to be kidding me?!” Luckily everyone is wee-wee pad trained. Their paws are freezing as soon as they hit the snow/ice and they come in walking like doggie-drunks (tried booties, it was a total failure).

    Vit D
    - taking 2000 units daily + calcium. After breaking my left foot tripping over the weenies on a walk last summer I found out I had osteoarthritis. A hysterectomy in late 2009 to remove 3 baseball sized fibroid tumors, after bleeding for 300 days and very anemic, threw me into instant menopause despite them leaving me one (non functioning) ovary. Looks like I’ve had bone loss occurring since then. Never offered HRT or recommendations for supplements. I’ve tried to talk to my doc about a bone scan but she ignores me - I’m actively looking for a new GP. She’s not much help regarding my type2 diabetes either - just keeps upping my insulin. At this rate I’ll be dead in 2 yrs. The nearest appt with the local endocrinologist is a year out - I work for one but she won’t see me. There are only 2 of them in State. So I’m looking into visiting a friend in Seattle and seeing an endo there instead. Currently taking Wellbutin for clinical depression for the winter but I’m often left feeling hopeless and on the verge of giving up.

    Mini Bio
    Grief
    - having a hard time recently, missing my mum who passed away Sept 30 2014. Many days I go into work, still, and go to pick up the phone to call her first thing in the morning only to set it back in the cradle knowing she’s not there at the other end. She was not just my mom, but my best friend, and hero. She had me promise to scatter her ashes on a mountainside/stream here in Alaska after she passed, which DH and I will do this summer. I went back and forth from Alaska to Canada for 8 years caring for her as she slowly slipped away from complications of diabetes; heart attacks, multiple strokes, heart surgeries, leg amputation, stage 4 heart and kidney disease, and finally vascular dementia. The dementia saw her lose all of her friends in the end, and she became very argumentative, beligerant and abusive verbally. But that was not my mom, it was the disease, I know too well. At the time, it didn’t lessen the heartache to know that. I neglected my own health care during those years to put all of my focus on her. Despite doing all that I could, I still carry a lot of guilt. Primarily because I did finally have to place her in a nursing care home (the best I could find) because she abused and fired every nurse we had coming into the house and I couldn’t care for her on my own anymore. She passed away 4 months later from a final massive stroke. I know time will heal - but I really miss her. She was always a bright light in my life, and rescued us from a miserable life with a physically-verbally-mentally abusive father when I was 6 yrs old. It was just us two girls until I was 35, when I moved away to Alaska to get married.

    Before caring for mum, I had helped to care for her sister Doreen for 4 years. She died from acute myaloid leukemia and went from 300 lbs to 93 lbs. When it travelled to her brain I cared for her nearly 24 hrs a day for 6 months. Prior to that I cared for my elderly grandparents. Grandma lived to be 84 and my granddad went on to live to be 99. I loved their stories about growing up in England. All of my relatives are gone now with the exception of my estranged brother who disowned me when I was 25 yrs old. When mum and I no longer had any money left to lend him (we were very poor for many years after mum left my father) he told us he was ashamed of us for being poor white trash, and he turned his back on us forever.

    Luckily, I have 3.very close life-long friends in Canada I stay in touch with - who keep me sane (well sort of sane). I am so grateful for them especially because I had very little social life - working 8-10 hours a day, and then caring for ailing family members every evening - with a day off being few and far between. My friends were very patient and kind! As I get older, I find it much more difficult to make friends - especially here in Alaska. The friends I’ve made through work, have all moved away. Its a very transient place with people coming and going all of the time, and so you are often left feeling very alone in a very big, and very beautiful place.

    I rarely let any/many know much about me - I don't open up much - probably thinking it helps protect me from being hurt. Hopefully opening up a little I will maybe gain a little confidence .. and help along the way to losing the excess weight, and getting healthier.

    NYKaren - aging is - definitely NOT - for sissies!

    Sherry - my heart goes out to you. You're struggle is heartening. I too take long and short acting insulin for type2 diabetes and no one must mess with your meds! - they are so important for your health and well being.


    Healthy eating everyone!

    My word for 2017 is “Mindfulness” .. age 51, -28 lbs, 50 to go! 1200 cal/day
    Canadian/Niagara Falls (36 yrs), now Alaska (16 yrs) + DH + 4Dachshunds + 1parrot

    Goals for 2017
    Drop 50 lbs by 2018
    Declutter my life, my closets, my mind and my house
    Exercise in a variety of ways and enjoy it
    Get outdoors and see more of my State - Alaska
    Develop the best wiener dog mushing team in the state of Alaska
    Be a better friend to my friends, including my best friend - my DH Scott

    OSWxN2h.jpgOSWxm9.pngMarn/Alaska

  • barbiecat
    barbiecat Posts: 17,209 Member
    1056287i3zmwzup2m.gifStats for today:
    19,000 steps
    158 minutes walking Sasha
    66 minutes riding the exercise bike
    20 minutes doing physical therapy exercises
    line dance class
    more progress finding our new dog

  • Hello from NC! Looking forward to being a part of this thread. 52 year old single mom of two boys, oldest is high-functioning autistic. My boys are awesome, my job is stressful, and I've put myself last for decades. The results of my last checkup has made me (finally) give my health priority. (Pre-diabetes, cholesterol and triglycerides very high.) I'm spending more time with God and His word, and of course that helps with the stress. Trying to really make lifestyle changes. It's hard! Change is hard, but "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." Adulting in general is hard for me because on the outside I'm a hard-working responsible adult, but on the inside I'm a teenage nerd who wants to eat cheeseburgers and fries and drink beer and binge-watch Firefly on Netflix.
  • sherryminchagain
    sherryminchagain Posts: 86 Member
    Here's some minion memes as promised...as long as the battery in my tablet will last long enough to load and post them....

    iby3c70lox7p.jpg
    rvpbadg64piz.jpg
    z91lzj8mwxiz.jpg
    a18s9ieck2uf.jpg

    Ta da!!! Thanks battery, I love you, lol! Happy giggles everyone!! Am off to watch a movie I've already seen like, ummm, 12 times, lol! Have a great night!

    Sherry in "Minionsville"



  • GloworminWA
    GloworminWA Posts: 704 Member
    Men lose weight faster because they have more muscle mass than women. weight-lifting-smiley-emoticon.gif

    For anyone who needs a cheering up dont-be-sad-smiley-emoticon.gif
  • ljdw99
    ljdw99 Posts: 360 Member
    Beth, I'm sorry your husband & you suffered so long, I can't imagine it. My DH's meds include oxycodone, tramadol, Gabapentin, Baclofen plus ibuprofen & acetaminophen. I had no idea how life altering back pain can be.
    Hope you get your care aids sorted but it sounds like an ongoing issue. My father who lived near Albany was so lucky he had a great young women who cleaned, shopped took him to appointments, did his banking etc until he went into nursing home care. Wish you could find someone like Teresa!

    Sarah, up until last summer I had flower & veggie gardens then decided We needed a pool, that wiped out the vegetables. We have two acres but lots of trees & the south side of the house only had so much room. I have shade gardens as well as sunny. I have to protect all my hostas because of the deer. What are you growing?

    Yvonne, no scientific data on swimming & flabby skin reduction but it's been working for me. When I swam at the Y I always brought a dried fruit snack to eat on my way home.

    MicheleI'm with you on water aerobics in the deep end, a great work out & so kind to my bad knee.

    Marni, my DH is impressed, an Alaskan & wife of a real fisherman is a part of this forum. I hear you on the tankinis I like them because of my long torso.

    Allie, I imagine your RE market is similar to ours in Ma. Which means low inventory, multiple offers & frequently selling over list price. Glad your getting a CMA by a local realtor, Zillow is fine on sold info but not very accurate & sometimes way off on current values.

    Lisa, good for you! I stopped smoking my 5-8 cigs a day a year ago, when I stopped my nightly wine....they kind of went together. Sure saves money not to mention the health benefits. Yes we can!

    Checked vitamin D in my Centrum Silver Women 50+, 1000 IU. Then I checked out the NIH site since I never think about vitamins other than I take one every day. Too low isn't good but too high, without any obvious symptoms, can cause pancreatic cancer & cardiovascular events.

    Garden Club meeting in the AM, leaving Wayne alone for longer than I have in a while. Hope he doesn't try to do some chore to help me!

    Lois, thankful, on the North Shore of Ma.
This discussion has been closed.