WOMEN AGES 50+ FOR NOVEMBER 2022
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Annie ... I'll add my two cents to the "diet" talk. I started MFP in 2012 and I saw a personal trainer a the same time. I was 50 at the time and I lost about 80 pounds and still needed to lose 40-50 more. I counted calories, weighed everything, ate well. But I couldn't sustain it and I put weight back on. Absolutely, adherence to CICO "works." About 3 years ago I read about "Fast-5" and intermittent fasting lifestyle touted by Dr. Bert Herring and others. I think Mary explained the concept well. Nineteen hours of not eating and a 5 hour window of opportunity to eat are the basics. It does take discipline. Dr. Herring and many others debunk the myths of breakfast, metabolism slow-down, etc. Eating within a 5 hour window, whatever I choose (although now I am a food snob) has been incredibly freeing for me. Today, I am on a losing trajectory and just about back to where I was with calorie counting and a personal trainer. My family understands it's what I do. Medically speaking, my doctor is thrilled because all of my blood labs have improved, I rarely get sick, I have a lot of energy and I'm losing weight. Slowly. At an average of a half pound a week. Can I sabotage this lifestyle? Sure. There is no foolproof plan if we are intent to ignore good sense. Five hours of chocolate will make me sick and cause weight gain. Whatever you decide works for you, is easy to maintain, becomes a lifestyle and not a diet will give you success. Well, that was a little more than 2 cents worth!
Beth near Buffalo
6 -
Grateful for...
27-*small thing I use daily-my coffee cup
Love and Blessings, Carla, in MN2 -
Hi all. Taking another easy day today. Had a long lie-in. I did work on a spreadsheet while I was there though 😝 I’m now relaxing after a nice lunch, and at 4pm will be Skyping with my family.
Flea I’m so sorry to that. He sounds like he was well loved and will be missed. So heartening to hear that he crammed in a lot of memories lately.
Food/Diet: My strategies
I had a system for meals etc when I was working and operated a 4 week meal cycle. It made prep and shopping super simple, especially when DH was made redundant and took over the domestic side of things. I always had a tick list for shopping which was set out according to the layout of our grocery store. We kept it on the kitchen counter and automatically ticked anything which we need to replace as we went along.
We just continued with that when I retired, and I have adjusted the system to reflected the changing lifestyle choices of both of us.
Breakfast/lunch
• We both eat the same similar breakfasts most mornings. Fresh fruit, grains, yogurt
• We have a lunch tray in the fridge which has cheeses, cold cuts, butter etc.
• We buy artisan bread twice a week, and we keep sandwich loaves in our freezer for other days. We often have soup and/or salad with lunch
Dinners
• We have a roast each Sunday which gives enough meat for Mon, Tues, and Wed. We have favourite recipes that we use for the various meats. Currently we have a 3 week rotation for beef, pork, and chicken.
• Thursday is salad night.
• Friday is fish night
• Saturday we have venison or beef burgers or sausages. DH’s choice.
• We have a selection of appropriate veg with each meal, and occasionally eat vegetarian.
None of it is set in stone, but it is convenient most of the time to know what is available.
I am a great believer in the saying that knowledge is power, so I track all my CI/CO and weigh myself every morning. I have no forbidden foods, but choosing to eat within my calorie budget means I limit myself to small portions. A little of what you fancy does you good. It’s a no brainier for me if I want to stay fit and healthy.
I’m currently working on dropping a couple of lbs as a hedge against the festive frenzy which is December.
November Gratitude:1. smell. Vanilla ice cream24. challenge. I relish the opportunity to play it forward by volunteering to lead groups for our local U3A, a lifelong learning charity. However , it can be a challenge to get other people to do their bit in the groups I lead. So many are happy to take, but find excuses when asked to reciprocate.
2. technology. Internet - access to y’all
3. colour. Golden tones of autumn
4. food. Mussels in white wine
5. sound. The sound of DH in the kitchen making morning tea
6. nature. Woodland and mountains
7. memory. Holding my 11 day old DGD on Christmas morning 1994
8. book. All books 😝
9. place. My garden
10. taste. Chocolate
11. holiday. Cruise to Norway to see the Northern lights. We did so many things on that cruise.
12. texture. There are so many textures, but I love the sleek silkiness of my hair when it is newly washed.
13. abilities. I find it invaluable to be able to concentrate and focus on the positive, and use my analytical acumen. I can bring it to bear in finding the positive in unhelpful events. Learn from experience, so to speak.
14. sight. Literally grateful for my sight. I only have good sight in one eye due to a birth defect in the optical nerve in my left eye. I don’t miss what I never had, but am super aware of the importance of my one good eye.
15. season. Spring is my fav season. It’s a symbol of renewal.
16. about your body. My sturdy strength, and the ability to heal quickly.
17. knowledge. My happiness is entirely up to me. Happiness isn’t something that you have to put off until x, y, or z, or some event which may or may not happen. I look for happiness in simple things, a beautiful sky, birds singing, raindrops running down the window pane, autumn leaves. Also, it’s not my responsibility to make other people happy.
18. piece of art. Too many to list 😂
19. touch. The feeling of clean linen on the bed
20. who. My DH. He looks after me so well.
21. song. Cyndi Lauper: Girls just wanna have fun: anything by Cliff Richard, Tina Turner, Queen, ShaniaTwain …. etc etc etc
22. story. Jesus of Nazareth
23. tradition. Christmas
25. moment this week. I thoroughly enjoyed listening to our singing group, who were giving a short concert at the Christmas party on Thursday afternoon.
26. form of expression. Writing poetry, and watercolour painting.
27. daily use item. My iPhone. I use it as a calender and have many reminders set on it.
28. what happen today.
29. friend/family member.
30. talent or skill.
Virtual (((hugs))) and 🙏🏻🙏🏻🙏🏻 for those who need them.
🙋♀️ Miele failte to the newbies.
💕💖💕 to all
☘️ Terri
3 -
I walked thirty minutes Yay!
Annie in Delaware4 -
(((Flea)))
Beth[/b I liked what you wrote about IF. Intermittent fasting is part of the way to mindful eating for me. I've used food food as a comfort tool and with IF I find resolution more through problem solving and not through calories in.
This week has been special spending time with kids and grands. Today my oldest son will leave to get ready for the work week. We'll miss him and his quiet presence.
Sometimes discussions here begin inner dialogues for me. This month the conversations about caregiving and the impacts of caregiving are thoughts close to my heart. I'll ramble, so will put thoughts in a spoiler.
I'm recognizing I've been a caregiver most of my life. As a middle child in a multigenerational home, expectations of my elders had me taking care of younger children at an early age. We lived without indoor plumbing and expectations were that we all pitched in and made life work. Our life was pretty bare bones but it was a good loving home (with exceptions). When my younger siblings and cousins were of the age to fend for themselves, my duties slowly switched to helping the very aged of the family. This pretty much continued through most of my adult life, especially into the last years.
For the first time in my life, since Jack died last March, my days are all about me.... not about my grandfather who was blind and physically unable to get around the last 3 years of his life, or my grandmother who had dementia for her last 5 years, or my Mom who depended on my husband and I during her last 12 years.. with physical and then mental challenges... or my husband who had heart and spinal complications since 2006. My sister with lung cancer is independent and requires support but needs no caregiving at this time.
Widows of my acquaintance have different hopes for their future. One's husband died about six months before mine and she wants to remarry. She pointed out a man swimming in the pool and said she was interested in a relationship with him. I asked her if she was ready to be his caregiver when that time came. I only meant that we are both 72 and he is 84 and not active. She was very upset by my question. I am sorry I spoke my thoughts so bluntly. I don't regret my past caregiving, and if necessary I will step up when my sister needs me but it is so freeing to be able to make my decisions of shaping my days. I don't want to set myself to be a caregiver and further I want to not set up the next generation to need to take care of me.
Betsy in Alaska til 12/087 -
(((Flea)))
Beth[/b I liked what you wrote about IF. Intermittent fasting is part of the way to mindful eating for me. I've used food food as a comfort tool and with IF I find resolution more through problem solving and not through calories in.
This week has been special spending time with kids and grands. Today my oldest son will leave to get ready for the work week. We'll miss him and his quiet presence.
Sometimes discussions here begin inner dialogues for me. This month the conversations about caregiving and the impacts of caregiving are thoughts close to my heart. I'll ramble, so will put thoughts in a spoiler.
I'm recognizing I've been a caregiver most of my life. As a middle child in a multigenerational home, expectations of my elders had me taking care of younger children at an early age. We lived without indoor plumbing and expectations were that we all pitched in and made life work. Our life was pretty bare bones but it was a good loving home (with exceptions). When my younger siblings and cousins were of the age to fend for themselves, my duties slowly switched to helping the very aged of the family. This pretty much continued through most of my adult life, especially into the last years.
For the first time in my life, since Jack died last March, my days are all about me.... not about my grandfather who was blind and physically unable to get around the last 3 years of his life, or my grandmother who had dementia for her last 5 years, or my Mom who depended on my husband and I during her last 12 years.. with physical and then mental challenges... or my husband who had heart and spinal complications since 2006. My sister with lung cancer is independent and requires support but needs no caregiving at this time.
Widows of my acquaintance have different hopes for their future. One's husband died about six months before mine and she wants to remarry. She pointed out a man swimming in the pool and said she was interested in a relationship with him. I asked her if she was ready to be his caregiver when that time came. I only meant that we are both 72 and he is 84 and not active. She was very upset by my question. I am sorry I spoke my thoughts so bluntly. I don't regret my past caregiving, and if necessary I will step up when my sister needs me but it is so freeing to be able to make my decisions of shaping my days. I don't want to set myself to be a caregiver and further I want to not set up the next generation to need to take care of me.
Betsy in Alaska til 12/08
Betsy, your question to your friend is valid. My father had health issues, and the last couple years of his life, he took a lot of attention from my mom, which she gave freely. After he died, she went on one date (she was about 68). She figured out right away that the guy was looking for someone to take care of him. She said no thank you, to herself. She told me that she'd had enough of that and wasn't interested in doing that again.
Thank you all for your words of comfort on the loss of my colleague. I'm still a little in shock at how quickly he went at the end. He stopped treatment and went on hospice barely two weeks ago. I guess that's a blessing, but it is still shocking. His last written message to all of us was on the 21st.
Flea
Willamette Valley OR6 -
OregonMother so sorry to hear. Thoughts are with you0
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Hi Gals,
Love the grateful list but knew I had to make it easier than going back and forth…
Grateful:1 smell. Damp redwoods24 challenge. Having my Dad pass when I was 19 has affected my whole life. It is hard but has made me stronger and more aware of the shortness of life. He would smoke a pipe only when we were on vacation, and it was a distinctive tobacco smell and every once in a while I catch a whiff of it. It has been around for the last month quite a bit.
2 technology. electricity
3 color. Yellow – the sun
4 food. Soup
5 sound. Birds
6 nature. Ilove it all, gardening, walking, feeling far enough away from the hurry hurry of the city
7 memory. My dad, he died in 1977 and he had a huge impact on me
8 book. Poems by Robert Service
9 place. Gualala, CA I love camping there
10 taste. Sweet – especially ice cream on warm berry pie
11 holiday. Christmas but sometimes my birthday - I can be in charge of my B-day and Christmas includes potential for too much drama
12 texture. Cashmere – soft fuzzy
13 abilities. I am thankful I am resourceful and persistent
14 sight. My vision has improved as I have aged and I am very grateful
15 season. Fall is my favorite followed by spring, then winter and last is summer
16 about your body. I like my hair, it is thick, and is pretty easy to manage.
17 knowledge. I love that I am mechanical and can figure out lots of things
18 piece of art. Monet’s water lilys
19 touch. Levi laying his head on my shoulder (Levi is my dog)
20 who. My group of friends who make sure I have a place to go for the holidays
21 song. Take me home, Country Roads by John Denver
22 story. I love books of all sorts.
23 tradition. Cracked crab dinner for Christmas eve
25 moment this week. I was at my Best friends house for Thanksgiving, she and DH had to say goodbye to 2 elderly dogs in the last month and we had a memorial service for the dogs. 12 of us with great memories to share.
26 form of expression. Physical touch
27 daily use item. Electricity – it helps me make coffee, call friends, charge devices, light the darkness28 what happen today.
29 friend/family member.
30 talent or skill
Flea - sending good thoughts
Allie – hope you feel better soon and get the answers you need.
Ok so I thought I had a sentence or two to say about eating.... sorry for being on a soap box!
Eating - While I have not made my goal, I do know for me that is because, I got to a plateau and CHOOSE to stay there. I am getting close to changing that and reviewing my eating habits and making changes.
There are folks in this group that have made their personal goals and their advice comes from a different place in the process than mine does. But I would say that it is worth trying different options CICO- IF- gourmet-simple and regimented… even Keto-Paelo-Vegan to find what works with your body and your lifestyle.
Folks who have found one and love it will make it sound like the best but if it is not good for your body and your lifestyle it is not the best for you. For an example IF is not for my body, I have trouble at some point between 13-15 hours of fasting and have hallucinations (the doc says it is low blood sugar) so not for me. But I know and respect the gals on this forum who make it work with great success.
I also think we are all here because weight loss has not been easy for us in the past, and keeping it off has/was a challenge, so what ever you choose for your body and lifestyle has to be something you can make your lifestyle so you can continue it for maybe the rest of your life, maybe just for a few years; bodies change and at some point you may find that you have to change to accommodate change.
I remember when Barbie had a back injury and had to limit exercise and then made changes in her eating habits to accommodate that until she was back up and exercising again.
But if the way you choose to change your eating habits is a way that has you counting the days until you can “cheat” that is not the right choice - The answer is a true lifestyle change-eating habit change so you can continue to sustain it even when it is less easy. Heather goes on cruises that have tons of wonderful food choices (that are free, no cooking, no cleanup) and yet she continues to make good choices and incorporates exercise, so she comes home up a pound maybe, but not up an amount that means she will spend a year working to get it off – She has a successful lifestyle change.
Smiles Kim in N. California
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Grateful:
24. challenge. I am grateful for the challenges I face every day. They make me stronger.
25. moment this week. All the contact from family and friends for Thanksgiving. Could see everyone, but heard from everyone!
26. form of expression. Writing. I express myself better writing than speaking.
27. daily use item. My coffee cup and my iPhone, can’t decide on one! Lol
28. what happen today.
29. friend/family member.
30. talent or skill
DH made a great turkey salad yesterday with leftover ham, turkey, green onions, celery and French onion dip for dressing! All leftovers! Lol I put it in a low carb wrap, yummy!!
Sunny day yesterday and today, high 50’s low 60’s and no clouds. Love the break!
Flea so sorry about your friend.
Today’s picture for a smile;
A Peregrine Falcon a camper has as a pet and uses for hunting. Beautiful scary big bird close up. I love just watching it.
RvRita5 -
Well up a lb since Thanksgiving. It was to be expected. Today I am going to make some sort of chicken stock soup, with onions, mushrooms, chi ken and rice or pasta. Maybe some shredded cabbage or potatoes. I don't know.
I am getting anxious about my surgery on Tuesday. But I am trying to distract myself. Made peanut brittle for my middle son for his Christmas package. We are going to buy them a WA parks yearly pass, so hopefully they can use it, maybe an Oregon one too. Then we still need to buy some sort of Gardening assistant stuff for Athena. A shift apron, shovels, label sticks, or cute things to stick into plants. Home Depot, or the nursery, or our farm store here might have it.
We had quite a storm last night. Really windy! Some rain. Lee is out picking up sticks and branches. I am sipping my coffee. 😜💖
Have a goid day all!
Rebecca
Whidbey
Wa4 -
OregonMother wrote: »
Betsy, your question to your friend is valid. My father had health issues, and the last couple years of his life, he took a lot of attention from my mom, which she gave freely. After he died, she went on one date (she was about 68). She figured out right away that the guy was looking for someone to take care of him. She said no thank you, to herself. She told me that she'd had enough of that and wasn't interested in doing that again.
Flea
Willamette Valley OR
My mom has said the same thing. She was married to dad for just months shy of 65 yrs. She is 79 and on her own for the very first time. She gets to make all the decisions for herself now. Not interested in dating someone new.
Debbie
2 -
I usually start eating about eight in the morning and stop about four in the afternoon so that's an eight hour window. When I'm being good. I end up sitting and watching my parents eat, which is good socializing, but hard on my diet.
I have gained ten pounds since August, so something has to change. Most likely the cookies and chocolate. And too many "special" meals. I really think a mango smoothie will help my routine, and then I can vary from that framework. I prefer to eat by routine. I can't imagine managing inventory of thirty kinds of plants. I'm still working on five servings of fruit and veggies a day!
Annie in Delaware
2 -
Hey all. Good conversations!
Weight loss/healthy choices- Making healthy choices like planning meals, meal times, exercise takes work. I think that is why my weight and habits fluctuate up and down, up and down, over and over. Months ago, Barbie shared how she figured out exactly how much "free" time she had each day/week, by writing down everything she did. I found out that I have 32 hours of free time each week (sleeping time is not free time). I have days and weeks where I can use that time efficiently and get things done or just relax. Some days/weeks that time is eaten away by caring for my DH. Some days/weeks that time is spent caring for myself. I know the weight that I have to lose will come off, as soon as I have the energy and heart to put into it. Some days I am there; some days I am not. I am hoping my upcoming trip will keep me on the better choices path and using my "free" time wisely.
caregiving- If my DH goes before me, I will not remarry. I might date. I might have a relationship. I might gift myself a toy and some alone time. BUT, I will not remarry. I have never had time to myself. I really think I need that. I have cared for many lifetimes worth of people. I just want time to care for myself. It feels selfish to think and as I read it, it looks selfish to see in print; but I think every one needs some point in their life to think about themselves and put themselves first. I was just going to say, "I'm not Mother Teresa". But even Mother Teresa did what she WANTED and was where she WANTED to be. Her choices. Mine aren't as noble, but if I don't take care of me, who will?
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Kim - It was easier on the cruise than it is in 'real' life. Someone else was chopping, grating, washing, slicing, delicious salads and with it I could have fish, no potatoes, extra vegetables, for lunch.
I could eat the tops off the canapés and leave the base with a clear conscience.
Having said that, many people had dessert every day, plus scones and cakes for afternoon tea. Ice cream.
I had none. I did not miss it because there was so much other delicious food to eat!
I am very lucky that I don't have a sweet tooth. One candy a day is enough for me.
Annie - it's very easy to eat 30 different plants a week. Spices, herbs, all count. Every tiny bit can get counted. Coffee. Plain chocolate. Which have the added advantage of being fermented, which he highly recommends. The important thing is variety, to encourage the microbiome.
Variety is the spice of life!
Love Heather UK xxxxxxxx2 -
1
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I agree. It is very different to contemplate being a caregiver for someone you have lived with and loved for decades compared to someone who comes into your life when you are 70+ years old.
Also, the best eating plan is the one you'll stick to. I prefer scheduling, predictability, and repetition. Others prefer novelty and creativity
I walk for more than two hours a day and ride my exercise bike for 2-3 hours. On Fridays I dance for more than an hour in the morning. If I don't eat some of those exercise calories, I wouldn't have the needed energy.
Barbie in NW WA3 -
Heather - Sugar is the toughest thing for me, but I have learned that the first bite and maybe the second are the best, any thing after that are not as amazing. So it is helpful to share; as throwing out food is very hard for me. Although I can cut a cake or pie into the skinnyist of pieces.... anyone who says it can't be done, isn't trying hard enough.
Kim3 -
Kim ~ I have found when I take a bite of something sweet I can cut down on further temptation by eating a dill pickle or a couple of olives.
Carol in GA4 -
LOL Carol! A dill pickle or olive is enough to get me off food for ever!!!! I do not care for much pickled my silly taste buds, just hate it. Now a sweet gherkin maybe - but back to my love of sugar.
smiles Kim1 -
Our refrigerator was delivered today. That would be good news. However when they were putting the doors on, they were not careful and they have five scratches on the doors where they attach them. So disappointing! They left it because we need a refrigerator and said that the company would call us when they will bring a replacement. Hopefully they will bring a new person that knows how to attach doors without scratching them!
💕 Mary from Arizona/Minnesota7
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