60 yrs and up

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  • ridiculous59
    ridiculous59 Posts: 2,906 Member
    edited October 2022
    @michaeljoleksak I rarely buy fresh fruit. My husband likes apples and I like the small oranges around Christmas. The rest of the time I'm a frozen berry person, which I have pretty much every day in oatmeal, smoothies, yoghurt, or on pancakes and waffles. I also buy a case of peaches in the summer and can them. I always manage to have apples given to me in the Fall which I make into applesauce and freeze, or slice and freeze for apple crisps. So that's my basic fruits taken care of.

    My local Walmart has a $2 section. The contents always change but at various times I've scored bags containing two large cauliflowers, huge bags of bananas, big bags of onions, big bags of broccoli, fresh berries (two or three clamshell containers in a bag), 2 x bags of pre-packaged salads, etc, etc. That's how I get most of my veggies these days and I make my meals based on what's in the $2 section haha. If I don't think I can eat it before it goes bad (because they are usually just on the cusp), then I make a big pot of soup if it's veggies (and freeze it in serving size containers), or freeze it if it's fruit. I also pickle beets in the summer. I drive past the Walmart several times a week so it's not an inconvenience to run in and check what's available . So that's my basic veggies taken care of.

    As for protein on a budget, I have a "beef guy" that I get 25 pounds of ground beef from a couple of times a year. I have several chickens in my freezer from a family member who does them in the summer. Pork tenderloin is usually a good buy at Costco. Another grocery store where I sometimes shop marks their meat down 30% when it reaches its sell-by date. I'll buy several packages of stewing beef, sausages, or whatever and throw them in the freezer. We eat a lot of eggs. I love legumes but my husband doesn't so I'll often have hummus or dahl with my lunch (we don't usually eat breakfast or lunch together).

    I'm not a fan of running from one store to another for the best buy, but if I'm in the neighbourhood anyway, then I'll definitely take the time to stop for a deal. The way things are going right now we have to find every trick to eat healthy without emptying the bank account! Also, everyone has different things that they are willing to spend their money on. For example, I'll buy discount veggies, but I always buy higher end coffee beans. I know .....it doesn't make sense haha
  • BCLadybug888
    BCLadybug888 Posts: 1,693 Member
    edited October 2022
    Hey @Yoolypr, great to have you aboard! I have been on MFP just over 1 year and totally love this tool - like you, obese for many years and off/on serial dieter. I retired last year and finally feel like I have no reason not to be able to focus on my weight/health and many reasons to get on with it! I have lost 45 lbs but been stuck mostly this year - positive is maintaining my loss - but have another 90 to go...it is very encouraging for me to know that you lost yours over 4 years.

    Food/budget: like several others, I really am dependent on my freezer for keeping costs down as you can freeze almost any excess produce either fresh frozen or cooked into soup, stews etc + can take advantage of any meat sales, including buying larger cuts (like pork loin) and then breaking down and freezing in smaller portions. I have an upright freezer about the same size as a fridge.

    Eggs are still relatively cheap, so eating lots of those. Had a small vegetable garden for the 1st time this year, and will definitely do that again next year but a bit more selectively focussing on what grows easily and nice to have on hand (like various greens and tomatoes).

    Pricier items like canned fish and nut butters I only buy on sale and have it on hand. Same with toilet paper lol. I am always looking for a good deal on protein foods.

    I find dairy lasts well beyond the 'best before' date, so I am not so quick to toss those without a little taste...
  • Yoolypr
    Yoolypr Posts: 3,280 Member
    edited October 2022
    A little info on those expiry dates -

    BEST BY date indicates optimal period for taste and freshness but not spoilage. You can eat the product well past the date but it might not be as fresh.

    USE BY date indicates the food is spoiled or should no longer be consumed.

    Some things have both dates. But sometimes the nose👃 or tongue 👅 is your best friend!
  • Pdc654
    Pdc654 Posts: 317 Member
    Aloha everyone! Writing this from Hawaii, the big island. Hope everyone has been well. We've been busy with different activities and just enjoying this tropical paradise. This is our 7th trip in the last 21 years to the Hawaiian Islands. As you can probably tell we really like vacationing in Hawaii. We have been to each of the 4 main Hawaiian islands at least twice, and we have been to Maui 3 times. If your saying that's 9, not 7, well that's because we went to 3 of the islands on one trip.

    My husband completed a major bucket list item on this trip of biking all 4 of the islands. This started in 2015 with Kauai, then 2017 he did Oahu, 2019 Maui, and finished with Hawaii in 2022. It started out he wanted to bike completely around each of the islands with he did for Kauai and Oahu but we found out that was not feasible for Maui and Hawaii. So he choose a couple of major routes to complete on each of those. He'll be 73 in December and it was a major accomplishment for him. I provided his SAG support with stops for snacks and water.

    We have also been shopping the little shops in Kona. They are within walking distance from our condo about a mile to mile and a half down the road. We rented a paddle board to try out. Hanging out some at the pool at our condo. Our condo has a beautiful ocean view and 2 cruise ships and a navel vessel were docked out there for a while during this past week. We have breakfast on our lanai daily and watch the activity out on the water. My husband has been diving and we both went snorkeling. Last night we went to a wonderful lu'au which was less than a mile from our condo so again we walked to and from. Sat next to 2 young couples who were both there on their honeymoon. Tonight we are going to a manta ray night dive and snorkel. We did this last time we were here as well. The divers go to the bottom while the snorkelers stay on top. We get in a big circle with lights to attract the plankton which attracts the manta rays. They are huge and will stay in the circle of light moving around between the divers and snorkelers. They get so close you could reach out and touch them! Amazing. So looking forward to that.

    Tomorrow we go home. We must check out by 11am and our flight doesn't leave until 10:50 pm. So we have a day to just mess around. Will probably do a little more shopping. Maybe catch a movie. We were planning to go to the octopus farm but we called too late to get reservations so not this trip.

    I have been logging the best I can, but many of the places we have been to are small and don't have calorie counts so I estimate using entries that look close. I estimate I have probably been eating over maintenance but not too bad, maybe 100 or 150 calories a day. So less than a half pound for the 10 days... of real fat gain. I know I will be up because of airline travel but that should be water retention that should go away in about a week. It's happened before.

    Anyway, love love being here in Hawaii! Be back in the real world on Saturday afternoon ( overnight flight and 5 hour time difference).

    Check in with you all later.
  • Yoolypr
    Yoolypr Posts: 3,280 Member
    Oooh - I love Hawaii. I’ve been there twice in the last 15 years so not exactly a frequent flyer. We’re hoping we might get back next year. The last three covid years put all our retirement travel plans on hold. Hoping we can make up for lost time soon!
    I hear that the Mauna Loa volcano is rumbling on the Big Island. So maybe getting home soon is a good thing.
  • BCLadybug888
    BCLadybug888 Posts: 1,693 Member
    Aloha! As most of you know, I just got back from Oahu & Maui, but I would happily return tomorrow to that tropical paradise 🥰

    The Manta ray experience sounds intriguing, I will have to look into that for next time. We might check out the big island next trip - I have visited it briefly once but my daughter (aka my regular travelling companion) has never been - we love Kauai so much it's hard to go somewhere else but truly any of the Hawaiian islands are absolutely lovely. USA was lucky to nab it 😉, us Canadians are jealous, but happy to go there and everything is in English lol.

    We have driven everywhere your husband has biked on the other 3 - that is quite an achievement 👏 (at any age!) - some of those roads are quite windy, hilly & narrow, please pass on my awed appreciation for this feat!! We felt accomplished just driving everywhere...

    Sounds like you found a way to really enjoy yourself and yet monitor/modulate your food intake, brava 💐
  • spinnerdell
    spinnerdell Posts: 233 Member
    I confess to envy over all the awesome Hawaiian adventures. I was born there when it was still a territory, but only made it back once in my adult life. Kudos for maintaining a healthy vacation.
  • Pdc654
    Pdc654 Posts: 317 Member
    BCLadybug888 wrote: »
    Aloha! As most of you know, I just got back from Oahu & Maui, but I would happily return tomorrow to that tropical paradise 🥰

    The Manta ray experience sounds intriguing, I will have to look into that for next time. We might check out the big island next trip - I have visited it briefly once but my daughter (aka my regular travelling companion) has never been - we love Kauai so much it's hard to go somewhere else but truly any of the Hawaiian islands are absolutely lovely. USA was lucky to nab it 😉, us Canadians are jealous, but happy to go there and everything is in English lol.

    We have driven everywhere your husband has biked on the other 3 - that is quite an achievement 👏 (at any age!) - some of those roads are quite windy, hilly & narrow, please pass on my awed appreciation for this feat!! We felt accomplished just driving everywhere...

    Sounds like you found a way to really enjoy yourself and yet monitor/modulate your food intake, brava 💐

    The Manta Ray experience was AMAZING! They are doing it a little different than they were in 2006. I think its because there are so many people wanting to do it now and all the boats go yo the same area. Now the snorkelers hang onto loops attached to a paddleboard and each paddleboard can handle up to 10 people plus the tour guide. The divers go down about 40 feet to an area called the Campfire where they have lights set up along the way. We all have a light on our snorkel or dive tank. We immediately had mantas come visit us. Several passed me within inches. You are not allowed to touch them but sometimes they touch you. My husband said one lightly brushed the top of his head. They are called gentle giants because they aren't aggressive at all and can be as large as 15 feet. One of our best experiences here. I highly recommend it to anyone coming to the Big Island. The outfit we went with was Big Island Divers and they are the only ones that do both snorkel and dive on the same trip.

    I told my husband what you said about his biking. He says thank you! Like I said the original intent was to bike completely around each of the islands which he did with the smaller twi islands. When it came to Maui, it took me a while to convince him he absolutely could not bike the Road to Hana. If you've driven it, you know how treacherous that would have been. He still biked the western loop.

    I don't really know how accurate my food estimates are but I am trying to track it. It does help to keep me from going overboard while still enjoying the food here. I have had more desserts here in the last 10 days than I've probably had it the last 10 months though. Decided I needed to stop that after logging a few. Lol.
  • Pdc654
    Pdc654 Posts: 317 Member
    @Yoolypr Hope you get to come back soon. I understand what you mean about Covid. This is our first trip anywhere in the last 3 years.

    @spinnerdell You should definitely plan a trip to Hawaii especially to see where you were born

    I'll check in later. Gotta check out now.

    Aloha everyone.
  • Yoolypr
    Yoolypr Posts: 3,280 Member
    I’ve been cutting back on calories for a couple of weeks in preparation for our trip to Santa Fe where all good foods will be enjoyed. We have plenty of Tex-Mex here in Austin but the cultural mix in New Mexico offers some wonderful variety. And those biscochito cookies!
    I’m not looking forward to the airline hassles. Weather seems to be cooperating, it’s a direct flight. I guess I more anxious about possible craziness from a fellow passenger. People just can’t seem to behave themselves in public settings anymore. You just never know when someone “loses it” for no good reason.
  • BCLadybug888
    BCLadybug888 Posts: 1,693 Member
    edited October 2022
    Yooly, I didn't have any flying issues but you're right about people potentially not behaving in public anymore - at the Elton John concert, a couple rows back, a brouhaha developed that involved several people in 2 rows, security staff and a lot of shouting over what we gathered was someone's jacket on someone's chair...and subsequent treatment of said jacket...and interactions between seat holder side & jacket owner side...my goodness 😳
  • BCLadybug888
    BCLadybug888 Posts: 1,693 Member
    It's a dark, gloomy, rainy fall afternoon here - exactly as it should be, which is such a relief after our prolonged Summer weather. When you live in a rain forest, prolonged dry spells are unnerving 😯 ...not to mention extended forest fire season and farmer's concerns. All is well folks now 😜!
  • Yoolypr
    Yoolypr Posts: 3,280 Member
    I know RAIN! We went for 46 days without a drop and temps of 100+. Texas is in a serious drought. We’re not having fall (which is not pretty here anyway) as much as the trees and plants just turning brown and shriveled.

    My pet theory on the loss of civility is that it’s a pent up result of the lockdowns and isolation during Covid. People didn’t interact with others and masking further hid the necessary facial clues people need to empathize with fellow humans. Some people just became feral and will need time to resocialize. Kind of like when animals are isolated for extended periods of time?

    None of this is based on sound science- just the thoughts of an old lady. But in my previous life as a teacher, I found kids who were isolated, lonely, ignored tended to have real problems interacting with others. Couldn’t read facial clues. They often had wild, unpredictable outbursts and an inappropriate reaction to simple social norms.

  • trekkie123
    trekkie123 Posts: 251 Member
    Exactly! If your mindset is in it, you can do it!
  • BCLadybug888
    BCLadybug888 Posts: 1,693 Member
    Yup, resonates with me too!

    After I retired, I had to destress first and then when I felt mentally stronger, that's when I started this weight-loss chapter in my life - the penultimate chapter - to be followed by the final chapter titled 'Lifelong Weight Management'! Not ever shipping all the way back, ever again.
  • BCLadybug888
    BCLadybug888 Posts: 1,693 Member
    Shout out to @swimmom_1 - how's it going Mary? Still working and working out on your elliptical?? Thinking of you 👋
  • designer91056
    designer91056 Posts: 15 Member
    @ ridiculous59 I love the quote you posted. Very insightful.
  • trekkie123
    trekkie123 Posts: 251 Member
    Welcome Designer! Best of luck on your journey!
  • designer91056
    designer91056 Posts: 15 Member
    Thank you trekkie123!
  • sandramarshall200
    sandramarshall200 Posts: 108 Member
    Hello all. Love reading about vacations, and hi to new people.. I’m waiting for hip replacement surgery with no date, so I can’t really book anything and life is pretty dull. we’ve had 2 weeks of family visiting which makes it so much harder to keep on track. I gained the first week, so decided to just try to maintain the second week.I will weigh tomorrow. It’s firework night here in England so we are trying to keep our pets calm.
  • designer91056
    designer91056 Posts: 15 Member
    Yoolypr you are truly inspiring. I have 40-50 lbs to lose which feels so overwhelming. I give you a lot of credit for your dedication you had to staying the course to losing 130lbs. You should be so proud of your self.

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