WOMEN AGES 50+ FOR MAY 2018

janetr7476

barbiecat wrote: »

Machka, thanks for the update on your husband and the inspiring article "Eating an Elephant" That's a principle for all of in many different life challenges.

Heather, I like staying home more than anything so treating myself to comforts at home has been a good choice. I continue to be so delighted to hear about your running.

Jake has been cleared to go back to his regular life following his surgery in March. He is in good spirits. His back is so much better and most of the pain is gone. His heart is still weak and he gets out of breath easily but we can go for walks together which is something we haven't been able to do for about a year. This morning he went out and cut the grass in our tiny back yard.

Barbie

Does this mean Jake has been "released" to do dishes? Sorry, couldn't resist be ornery

Janetr OKC

coastalgosgal

Poerava14 wrote: »

Machka: Hearing about your DH's progress made my day. Thanks for sharing. Yes, one bite at a time...Sending big hugs to you both.

My DB continues to binge drink. He's interested in coming to Colorado for a break from his toxic home scene, but right now he's not answering his phone or returning my texts. All I can do is repeat the serenity prayer all day today.

Stay well friends.

Rori
Colorado Foothills

Hugs my dear Rori! My sister is just a daily beer and tequila drinker. When she was at our apartment she drank a bottle of tequila in a day and a half. I almost got her to understand her problem, and seek help, but then she just put it on the back burner. The sad thing is I worry more about her, than she worries about herself. The same could be said about your dear brother. I say that prayer too!
Hugs
Rebecca

fanncy0626

Michele - great job on the protein today! Your pool looks fantastic! I agree that we would like to see your ceramics.

auntiebk

only through page 11 and skimming to try for a short-short instead of War and Peace...

Heather "was destined for a crippled and immobile old age. I could barely walk 200 yards without getting out of breath. I was in pain all the time, especially in bed. 7 years later I am 20 years younger. "
" and running. Truly inspiring. Your " calm but frank discussion as to how you appreciate his returning vigour, but not his criticism" advice to Katla was so VERY well said!
Rye ditto and thanks for the "one never regrets a workout afterward..." and "May the 4th be with you" made me snort my tea
Cheri thanks for the beautiful pics of your niece and her family. It helps to have faces to focus on when sending healing thoughts.
Rita my DH is happy living with no near neighbors, not bored at all, so I go into town for my social interaction at T'ai Chi, Line Dancing and church
Machka Hope your insomnia goes away NOW. Thanks for telling us about what your good friend does that helps, especially the "no pressure to spend the whole day with her..." (((hugs)))

Loved the "read your T-shirt . . ." thanks to whoever posted

Welcome 88_days, Lisas, Pam,

Time to meditate and zzzzzz

Barbara, the Southern Oregon Coastie AHMOD.

Friday
Daily: Meditate, protein, walk, rx, supplements,log/100% YAY!
Weekly:
Tumble walk 4 times: 2
AF days 3
SWSY 2 times: 0
T'ai Chi 2 times: 2
line dance 2 times: 2
Monthly: Hang up or purge the art 0

wildhorsewendy

Pool Party at Michele's

ryenday

wildhorsewendy wrote: »

Pool Party at Michele's

I wish! If I had that pool, I might never leave my yard unless weather drove me inside. I’m green with envy, Michelle! How wonderful it is!

spikeyhair

MACHKA wonderful to read about DHs improvement, small steps but getting better all the time

We have glorious weather today and it is a Bank Holiday tomorrow, although every day is a holiday when you're retired LOL

DH shocked himself the other day when he realised that in 3 more years he will be 80, he is quite healthy, takes medication for enlarged prostate and acid reflux but BP etc fine. He doesn't do a great deal of exercise except walking, I think he drinks too much but to be fair he has cut down considerably. He is the extrovert sociable one so likes to be out and about. I enjoy going out couple of times a week but happy pottering about the house.

Hugs for all who need them

Kate UK (with suitcases waiting to be filled for trip to Greece)

Lagopus

Machka - Lovely to read about your husband's progress. You mentioned that the caregiving staff had said his recovery rate would pick up after the trach came out, and it appears they knew what they were talking about.

I'd never heard of Zwift, so I looked it up online. Wow! I was reminded a friend's strategy for keeping active indoors. He loved long-distance biking but that isn't really an option here in Longyearbyen. The whole of Svalbard only has about 45 km of road, and most of it requires that you carry a rifle against polar bears. Definitely not an option in the dark season. So he set up a big screen in front of his stationary bike and showed videos of roads he'd taken on various trips around the world. This was a decade ago, mind you. Things have advanced considerably since then, and Zwift looks cutting-edge!

Dana - I've become familiar with the view from your deck - the cyclone fence and the trees - but in your most recent picture I noticed for the first time that you appear to be on a hillside. Is there a view out beyond those trees, or am I just imagining things?

Right after I got home to Svalbard after two weeks in Stockholm, my husband left for two weeks in Nepal. On the bright side, I'm making use of his absence to log my food just as strictly as I want. (He's learned not to say anything about it, but I can still sense that considers such behavior obsessive-compulsive.) I'm also on a modified 16:8 schedule, eating only between 9 am and 6 pm - hard to do when I have to take his chaotic working life into consideration.

For my pains, I've logged exactly the same weight five mornings in in row. That's essentially unheard of, as my weight usually bounces around a lot. I'm hoping it's a good sign.

While I was away, my husband had a birthday and his colleagues at work bought a cake to celebrate. Half of it was left over, so he took it home and put it in the freezer. He was also given two boxes of chocolates. All that stuff was lying in wait for me when I got back after my two-week teaching jaunt. I had a piece of the cake (which is edible right out of the freezer) but it was within my calorie allotment so that's okay. I've managed to keep my fingers off the rest.
/Penny, persevering at the

cityjaneLondon

Kate - I have never been to Greece. DH has, many times, to the islands, where he used to bake on the rocks for six weeks at a time in his teaching days. I think he still pines for it as he loves the sun. I want to go at a more temperate time of year to visit the classical sites.
I'm going to have two small glasses of white wine tonight (3 units) to celebrate our 15th meeting anniversary. We met through Internet dating. I walked into the pub 15 years ago to meet him at around 5.35 pm, so I will raise a small glass, 125 mls, then and have another with Dover Sole and asparagus for dinner. These have been the happiest years of my life.
Unfortunately the fleece he was buying me as a present won't arrive until Thursday. Grrrr! I'm not buying from them again. Hope I don't have to send it back! I bought him a great Underarmour vest for his gymming, as well as chocolate truffles and his favourite stem ginger biscuits.

Today is also Max's 7th birthday. I sent his dad a text message in Spanish. For Max : FELIZ CUMPLEAÑOS! Que te vaya bien! He goes to a bilingual school. To our surprise he rang us on the home phone! First time ever! He thanked us for our presents - a game for his new Nintendo and a How to Tame your Dragon t shirt. He had the t shirt on. They are going to an acrobatic theatre this afternoon.

Weather glorious! Might go for a walk with DH.

Love Heather UK xxxxxxx

grandmallie

Good Morning sweetie's
Slept pretty well and it's a bit chiller with a chance of some rain today..but we have plans...
We really have been enjoying ourselves..I don't think I have ever just been out for a weekend with a group of ladies,and what a blast we are having..now all of them are related cept me,but I'm right in the fold...
Alfie is fine with Tom and I will be staying at his place from Tues through Saturday as he is going to Florida..I will be watching the 3 dogs
Even with it being overcast it's still beautiful.
Hope everything is wonderful..

KJLaMore

Good morning all! Happy Sunday! Well, I have been taking advantage of the good weather and no kids in my care (yet) by getting my yard in order. Yesterday, I got out and raked up all of the twigs and branches. There were quite a few as it has been a pretty windy spring. I trimmed the birch tree of low hanging branches. Wrong time of year, but it had to be done. I also weeded the flower beds around the west and part of the south side of the house, and pruned the rose bushes. SO...I have a lot of yard waste to either haul or burn. We have been under a burn ban for the past week or two; but I am thinking it may be over due to the amount of rain we got earlier this week?? I will have to check. Today, I finish the weeding and get rid of the yard waste. I will also get the mower out and mow the front lawn. Inside the house, I need to clean and do food prep. Tonight, I am having an online Usborne book party/fundraiser for my daycare. Once book sales reach $250; I will be able to pick out half of the total in free books for my daycare! Yea! New books!
Friday night I got in a second walk with DH. (first walk was with the kids) He is walking very slowly compared to where he was at a year ago. I am as well, but definitely not as slow as he is. I feel so bad for him. He is really having a hard time managing the RA pain.
Ugh! Just realized that somewhere in today's business, I need to find time to write out a communication to my daycare families, finish planning the May/June calendar (already late, as it is May 6!!) AND submit my April meals for repayment from the state.
Oh! Just found out that I have another chance for more grant money in June! The stipulation for this one is that each provider must be participating in the STARS program. It is a statewide rating system for licensed providers. It is being used as a tool to get providers investing more of their time and passion and getting more training etc. to get a higher star rating. I would say, less than half of the providers in Michigan are using the STARS program. So...chances are good that I will get a bit more grant money. Next weekend, I will be going and buying paint and some wood to build a couple of storage/seat structures in the living room! So excited!

Heather- Yea! Very excited to hear about your "accidental" booking of another trip! I live vicariously through you, so travel away! Max is getting so big! It looks like his bowling party was a great success! Happy 15th!
Barbie - Meant to tell you that your fence is wonderful! Your backyard looks so peaceful with that little (is it Buddha?) statue. AND that trail look fantastic! Sometimes it feels so good to walk into a wooded area like that and just stop and breathe in the quiet and the sounds/feel of nature. Mmmmm!
Beth - Yea! A loss! Yes! Definitely take that and do a victory dance! I am dancing with you!
Dana- Dolly is so cute! Looks like she is smelling a "purdy" flower! lol
Michele- Count me in on vacationing at Club Michele!! Maybe we can all come down, hang out at the pool, and talk your DH into being the pool boy who brings us cool beverages? Truly, though, your little oasis is lovely! I bet you spend a lot of time there.
Penny- It must be a universal thing that people show their love with food. Glad to hear you have more time to log and plan meals/activity. Sending wishes for safe travel to your hubby!

Ugh! DH just came into the kitchen questioning as to "why is the lawn mower in the garage?" (we usually keep it in the shed) When I told him I was going to mow, he went ballistic. He likes the grass long; I told him that I will mow it on the highest setting, but it needs to be done because the weeds are taller than the grass. Then he says "I will do it. If you ruin your ankles and can't work, I don't know what we will do." yeah. I'm feeling the love There is no way in H-E-*-* that I am letting him mow. He will be in pain and I will NEVER hear the end of it. Hoping he falls asleep (he is a night owl, so midday is when he sleeps). What a pill! I like to mow. It is way more fun than cleaning inside the house. PLUS we just got the power drive fixed on the mower. I can't wait to try it out!

Anyway, I better get busy! Love to all ttfn xoxoxo KJ (Kelly)

klanders30

Barbie that hiking trail looks fantastic.

Pip that is my kind of snow, love it.

Happy to have a day off to regroup, I just may break my no clothes shopping ban today and buy a skirt, we'll see.

NYKAREN

cityjaneLondon

Rori - Just want to say I feel for you about your brother. The serenity prayer is right. We cannot do it for them. I think my younger son was lucky in a way that he got such a huge shock when he was suspended from work and the police were involved. He hasn't had a drink since. Long may it last!

Love Heather UK xxxxxxx

barbiecat

For those of you fretting about loved ones and their drinking, it has been said that "alcoholism is a disease that tells you that you don't have it". They will be the last one to see that it is a problem because drinking for them is the solution to the problems in their lives. Sending hugs to all of you.

Janetr, yes, Jake has been cleared to do the dishes (and a whole lot more) but he finally told me that he hates to do the dishes but will return to doing the laundry. He also cuts the grass, clears the patio, walks, driveway etc with a broom or the leaf blower, and is the one who put together the umbrella and stand that we are enjoying on the patio.

Michele, your pool looks great. I'll be at the pool party, too, but probably wearing long pants and long sleeves and walking laps around the pool.

Barbie

margaretturk

Loving all the pictures.

Machka thanks for sharing DH progress. Having a loved one go through a major health crisis is never easy. Take time for you when you can. A friend reminds me it is the same as what they tell you in an airplane you put your oxygen mask on first before you help some one else.

Your trouble with sleeping reminds me of my own. I also remind myself my brain is traumatized and that I need to treat it according so it can heal. Remembering this reminds me not to be so hard on myself or others.

I did sleep well for me last night. 7 and a half with only waking up once.

Dana interesting about the science behind recent earth activities.

Rori I am so sorry about DB. I can see why they tried to ban alcohol with the devastating effects it has on some. I tell my son yes it is not fair that others can drink and not have the destructive results that alcohol has for him. I told him if it helps think as you see a drink it has the poison sticker like we put on things that were poisonous when he was young. For him alcohol is a poison, and it contributed to destroying his life.

I understand how difficult it is to watch your loved one suffer because of this awful addiction.

Margaret

OregonMother

What a beautiful pool, Michelle. Where does your son Bryan live? We spell my oldest son's name the same way.

Felicia
Willamette Valley, Oregon

jl81765

Hi there,

I have some goals for May:
5.5 lbs to lose
Start and maintain a yoga practice
Do self care every day (varies depending on day)

Happy to be part of this group of ladies, happy May!

Jen in texas

cityjaneLondon

Just got back from my anniversary walk with DH. The lanes were beautiful with bluebells and celandine. It was gloriously sunny, if a bit hot for me, but I kept going. Four stiles to get over and DH took me through a bluebell wood and across pastures. Probably about four miles. Good bonus calories!
We had blinis, creme fraiche and faux caviar for lunch - our favourite thing.
Now to relax. I did send off one more pitch to a radio programme this morning. Not bad for a Sunday.

Love Heather UK xxxxxxx

SophieRosieMom

Kelly - I too would rather mow and do things outside than clean house and cook. It was a source of friction between my DH and me for many years. Luckily, his RA went into remission when we took the leap and moved to the farm - not sure if the extra activity helped him lubricate his joints or if he had so many other things to think about that there wasn't room to think about his pain. His pain has now returned and walking for fun doesn't happen anymore - and I think it's due to some major medical emergencies which restricted his walking for months at a time in the past few years. We all have to constantly use it or lose it, especially when we get older.

Does your DH have ways to be physically active like walking every day, even if it is slowly?

I need advice/info about fasting. I dug out my "Daniel Fast" book and will reread it today. I don't think I want to do a week long (or more) fast, but one day per weekend sounds good right now just to give my overworked digestive system a break. Perhaps just skipping breakfast and lunch and doing a 16 hour fast would work. So I'm looking for suggestions!

Kelly, I believe you fast one day a week - do you just drink water? juices? coffee/teas? I know you wrote a lot of good detail about it a while back and darned if I can find it.

Cheri - I think fasting is incorporated into the Jewish beliefs?

Mary and Wendy and Rye (and you other gals) - do you also fast on a regular basis - differently than the 16/8 or 12/12? And if so - what are you drinking when not eating?

Mary - thank you so much for that carb information. There was a little part of my brain saying "uh-oh" when I'd go over 100 carbs a day. Now I see I can relax about it. Like Cheri, I too have a hard time getting enough protein in - but too much protein is hard on the kidneys. I've learned to be satisfied with 45 gm or over.

Thank you in advance!

Going to be a sunny day. Got my walk in and now heading out to shovel some dirt around and stick onions in the ground. Many of my tomatoes are getting itsy blossoms so will need to be planted in the next week unless the weather report shows freezing nights - in which case I reckon I can shroud them with row cover.

Have a wonderful day ladies! Wanted to comment on Michele's pool, Dana's back yard, Barbie's trail, Machka's rides, and so many more but running out of time. So waving at you all and sending hugs

Lanette
SW WA State

ryenday

Lanette I follow the 5:2 fast diet (put together by Dr Michael Moseley, the Brit doctor who does some wonderfully sensible programs about health, exercise, fasting and aging. (I also 16:8 fast).

More info in 5/2 is available at the site thefastdiet.co.uk and there is an awesome video Dr Mosely did for the BBC on fasting in general. Eat, Fast and live longer. it should be available on YouTube.

But, in a nutshell it is calorie reduction to 500 calories two times a week to try to get some of the benefits of full day fasting. And for maintenance he recommends a 6:1 routine.

Also I do a Fast Mimicking diet 4-5 times a year. My third time this year is upcoming in May. That is 5 days of approximately 700 calories. BUT those 700 calories are with VERY strictly controlled macronutrients ratios. This is based upon research of a Victor Longo. He wrote a book called the Longevity Diet - all about eating and aging/sickness. His bottom line is eat a ‘Mediterranean “ Diet and fast (or Fast Mimic) a couple of times a year for a long, and healthy life.

I did not put links in because I’m not sure they wouldn’t get ‘flagged’ by MFP, and I’m very short on time.

Please feel free to ask any questions you might have. The 5:2 diet is the basic way I lost and manage my weight loss. And, given my pitifully low calorie allotment, 5:2 is the only thing that keeps me from constant hangry unpleasantness!

Rye

Regarding drinking: I freely drink coffee and herbal teas (my personal favourite is a licorice tea) and sparkling water, and regular water when I’m fasting. No cream or sugar in the coffee or tea, tho.