2023: Envision where you want to be: Focus on health, energy, vitality!
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Ha ha! Actually that's kind of reassuring as I don't eat massive amounts of those at the moment. At least I do eat mainly good food, although I can think of a couple of things in my diet at the moment that aren't ideal. (Have been buying precooked poppadoms, because they're 36 calories each, and I can have them as something crispy with some cottage cheese or hummus). And I've certainly eaten my share of crisps/chips and sweets over the years!
I think they are missing out alcohol, even though a little bit is fine!0 -
i confess i had to google "poppadoms" cause i had no idea what it could be lol.. i see it's a thin crispy wafer type thing lol.. we have things like WASA thins but i think they are wheat based and yours are made from chick peas. anyway i learned something new lol! and yes i did laugh too at the acronym.. who knew "crap" had an actual definition!0
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I have a grandson!! He’s adorable and healthy and I’m over the moon! My daughter is doing good tonight. There was a scary moment or two when they thought they may have to intubate and they ended up putting her completely under to speed up the c-section so they could care for mom. Very scary but she’s fine now.1
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Oh, Suzy! Congratulations! I had been just wondering if there was any news! How terrifying for you, though. And scary and disorientating for your daughter. I'm glad that it all worked for the best and that she's recovering well, but must have been quite a shock to the system in all sorts of ways. Enjoy your new grandson! And your grandaughter who will no doubt be wanting more of your attention. I'm so pleased for you!1
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CONGRATULATIONS SUZY !!! WOOOOOOOOO to the hoo!!
so glad everyone is fine after scary moments... welcome to the world little one!
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Vail - i JUST heard on the news HERE who won the Eurovision LOL.. im not saying who in case u havent seen it yet LOL.. BUT i thought it was so funny.. never heard of it til u mentioned it and now i hear on our local news who won it...
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I’ve got to go google it!0
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That's funny that you heard it on the news, Snoozie! I wonder if it's getting more coverage this year because the rest of the world can vote? I watched it live, round at my son and daughter-in-law's. We had a mini-party with food from some of the different countries. I don't know if they mentioned on the news that there was a lot of drama (there's always some drama) because the act from Finland was very, very popular, here in the UK and everywhere, and he won the televote by a large margin, but Sweden won the jury vote. As the results were being announced the arena were chanting his name and his song. I loved both of them, but do think he deserved to win as it was something so unique and so loved by the public.1
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LOL yes actually they did talk about the drama with Finland and Sweden even here.. i was just really surprised when i saw it covered on the news.. i was like "hey i know what that is!!" LOL
Way cool on the party.. friends of mine always have an "Oscars" party similar to yours.. and they have great fun so im so glad you were able to watch it live with your family and have some fun!1 -
What a fun idea having different foods from the countries. I do remember quite a bit of excitement over the contest way back when.
I’ve ordered all the supplements that my doctor recommended and will start those soon. Question: should I start one at a time and wait a week before starting the next one? What would you two do?
Grandson is doing well. Just sleeping, eating and you know whating all day/night. His daddy is home for two weeks so I’ll probably be helping more once he goes back to work.
My volunteer activities have slowed down considerably now that I’ve finished my projects. I have a very long list of things that I want to do at home so I need to get started on that!
Snoozie are you still volunteering? Did you start your veggie garden yet? Vail, how is your yard work going?
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Thank you for the update on your grandson! I was forgetting that his daddy would have time off, so you won't be quite so busy yet. I'm glad he's doing well, doing what babies do.
Oh, I don't know what I'd do with the supplements, Suzy! I'd probably take them all at once, but now you mention it, I can see the point in taking them one at a time so that you can pinpoint what's working. The only trouble is it then might take a month for something to show a difference. Thinking about it, I would still probably take them all at once. Then if there was something I suspected wasn't doing anything and I wanted to stop it, I'd maybe try a trial without it one at a time. But if they are things that won't do any harm, then I'd just keep taking them all.
My yard work is going OK. The weather hasn't always been great, and I'm also getting hay fever symptoms now which is what puts me off working out there! I am just so bad at it. Some of the things I've planted have already died. And slugs/snails have eaten some of them (I planted strawberries in tall pots thinking they wouldn't be able to reach, but of course they can climb. And the local cats love using my newly dug earth as a giant litter tray, thank you very much. I have a host of anti-cat stuff which I put down, various granules and sprays that are suppose to put them off. I have two of those solar power cat scarers which make a high-pitched noise if the cat goes in their path, but the cats do their business right in front of them. I love cats, but it's kind of frustrating, especially as mine is a house cat so not responsible for any of it! I'm still in the process of digging out some sort of shrub which has sent runners everywhere, which is great exercise, so I'm carrying on.
I am still losing weight. I'm getting used to eating less, and I think I'm accepting that I can't really have bread in the house, never mind treats. I'm a bit frustrated with myself now for settling so long at a higher weight, because I really do feel better now that I've lost more. More energy and vitality! I have just done yoga crow pose properly for the first time in many years! I think that is purely due to being lighter and I was just too heavy to do it before. I have just been making life harder for myself for all these years lugging that extra fat around. I'm trying not to get too annoyed at myself as it doesn't help, though, and I can only move forward from where I am now. I think I'm going to aim for about the middle of a healthy BMI range and see how it feels.
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LOL Suzy at your grandson... as Vail said.. he's doing what he's supposed to be doing.. and honestly i say yay on dad being home because you know once he goes back to work, Grandma is gonna get busy!
I can't remember what supplements you were given or how many? im guessing they are to be taken daily so my only suggestion would be to split em up during the day (depending on what the instructions are)
i take 2 supplements, an omega (1 a day) and a coenzyme Q10 (2 a day).. i take one Q10 in the morning with the omega, and the other Q10 after dinner (or sometimes after dinner) jsut to spread it out thru the day rather than taking them all together.
If there's an iron supplement in yours tho... a word of warning... make sure you are going to be home the day AFTER you start it lol.. and start slow like every 3 days or something .. it can have some side effects similar to your grandson's 3rd activity!!
yes im still on deployment with the RC (locally).. at the same site; right now it's til the end of May but will likely get extended - but im only doing 2-3 shifts a week. I worked 5 days a week all last year and thru the summer as a volunteer so this site works as i can schedule my own shifts rather than being given a sched. i'm still busy with the retirees group they are a lively bunch lol.. but omg all these restaurant and coffee meets.. i am gaining weight i got on the scales today and almost fainted.. even tho i knew because i can feel it in my clothes. So i am back on the wagon so to speak.. proteins and veg and as Vail said.. smaller amounts rather than filling the plate!
Thankfully spring is finally starting to arrive here so i will be able to get out and walk more and hopefully get some pickleball in .. altho i know it's the fork not feet that will be the deciding factor to dropping these extra pounds!
I haven't been able to get anything into my garden yet because its been too cold.. my poor tomato seedlings are like 2 feet tall now in the sunroom.. one actually sprouted a flower this morning.. i have to get them into the ground soon but we're still getting frost ..i think im going to have to chance it by monday and put em in the garden tho ... even tho it's still showing temps dropping to 6C (44F?) that night..
Vail i am so happy for you that you are feeling more energetic with the weight loss and adjusting to eating less... i know when i was recovering from that gut bug and was able to eat again, it was very small amounts to start.. but it appears i am now making up for lost time and over eating - not out of hunger just out of old habits coming back.. so thanks for that reminder that its just a matter of getting used to less.. i will go back to things like only eating 1/2 sandwich for lunch and the other half around 3 so im not starving at dinner or mid afternoon blah blah... i remember all the little steps i took at the start i just need to actually implement them.. as my doc would say.. stop talking the talk and do the damn walk!
it sounds like that root extraction with the bush is a major workout!! my arms were sore the day after i dug up the garden before adding the top soil.. its not that big about 8 feet by 4 feet plot but boy.. digging down a foot in the whole thing was def a workout lol.
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Vail, I am so happy for you and proud of you for achieving your weight loss. It’s so inspiring to me that it can still be done at our age. I just hear so many older women giving up and saying that it’s impossible after menopause. I really hope to one day be in your shoes but I’ve got some work to do to get there. The two of you are an inspiration! I need to tattoo it on my hand…”smaller portions!!!” Maybe as I lift that fork to my mouth I’ll see it and stop eating. Lol.
I absolutely hate yard work of any kind so kudos to you both for doing it. I have some English Ivy I need to get rid of and just some general “clean up” to be done. I keep putting it off which just makes it worse. I would like to have some tomatoes this year though.
I’m going to be taking fish oil, Berberine, dhea and turmeric. I think I’ll keep taking my multivitamin with extra calcium, as well. I hope I got the right fish oil supplement. It’s actually EPA/DHA. The Berberine is to help lower my A1C. The dhea is for my fatigue. Turmeric is for inflammation and joint pain. I’ll be sure to stay home for a day or two after I start them, just in case. Lol. I’m putting together an eating plan with meal examples and will meet with the nutritionist to go over it. I’m planning to walk in the mornings after breakfast. I just have to make myself do it. I have a friend who will go with me twice a week so that helps.
They’re adding two pickleball courts at the park where I walk. Some of the women in the volunteer club I’m in get together and play. It always makes me think of you, Snoozie.0 -
OMG, Vail!!!!! I just googled “crow pose” and I am so impressed by you! Wow!!!! You did that? You are a ROCK STAR!0
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Thank you both! The crow pose has been yet another wake up call. I don't think I could do your pickleball, Snoozie, or your hiking, Suzy (both of which I am in awe of you for!), but I do have some strength and flexibility, and have realised that what was holding me back on things like this is that I was just too heavy! I do know that heavier people can do this exercise and I admire them, but I just couldn't. I honestly think this and the bent arm hangs are not so much to do with strength (although I'm working on that) but purely it's easier for me to lift my bodyweight now.
How are things going now, Suzy, with the supplements? I have never taken the middle two, so don't know much about them. You are maybe too caught up in grandma duties to answer! I hope all is going well with the wee one.
You sound busy too, Snoozie, with the volunteer work and the meetups and the gardening and hopefully pickleball!0 -
Following Snoozie’s advice on when to start my supplements, I started them yesterday because I would be home all day for three days. So, I’ve finished day two and I don’t think there’s any negative side effects yet. Based on what I’ve read, it can be thirty days before I get any positive effects from them. We’ll see what happens.
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That's great that you aren't getting side effects. Just a shame that you have to wait so long for the positive effects! I hope it works for you. I'm really curious about those middle two! I looked them up, and it will be so interesting to see what happens. Actually, I haven't taken turmeric as a supplement but used to eat a lot in cooking, not so much now. I think it was one that was recommended on the podcast I follow.0
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I know you are all busy, but I just had to pop in here quickly to say I've crossed another ten pound barrier and I am now in the 120s! I never thought I would actually see that again! My goal weight is around 120 so I'm actually in the same bracket! The reason I have to post this today is I'm 129.5 lb and just know it will be up again tomorrow, so need to take this little celebration while I can!
(One advantage of being short is your weight tends to sound less than it is - I'm still close to an overweight BMI, but 120s sounds good!)
I got into the kg bracket I'm aiming for a little while back, and then next step will be when I get into the stone bracket (if I get that far, still not sure if I'll ever make my goal weight).2 -
VAIL!!! huge huge huge congrats thats fabulous and such a huge accomplishment!!!! WOWSA!! you must be so proud of yourself you have worked so hard - and along with that fab achievement you are also so much stronger with all your yoga poses and hanging ... itsbeen a crazy busy week so sorry i havent been around but i'll have time toorrow to post but for NOW
CONGRATULATIONSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS
Im doing the happy dance for youuuuuuuuuuuu0 -
Vail!!!!!!! Oh my gosh!!!! That’s fantastic news! What an accomplishment. All your hard work has really paid off. You are such an inspiration and I’m so happy for you! You need to go look at yourself in the closest mirror and tell yourself, “YOU ARE A ROCKSTAR!” Way to go!1
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Thank you both! I honestly did not expect to ever get this far. I have really been in denial about how much the excess weight was affecting me, and I do think being able to do these things like the hangs is purely down to having less bodyweight to lift (and some work of course, but I did work on strength before). I still have a lot of spare fat hanging about. I say loose skin, but mostly it's loose skin still filled with fat, ha ha! Especially on my legs and hips. But health-wise, at least it's down there and not around my middle. I still have some round my waist, but not nearly as much as before.
It's warmer weather here now, so have been eating a LOT of salads. Living mainly off salad vegetables, some chicken and humous! So no cooking! I buy some pre-prepared salad too. The supermarket has something called "coleslaw mix" which is the vegetables with the mayo separate to make at home, so I just buy it for the veg and do my own dressing. Kind of lazy, but I've been finding having pre-prepared stuff really stops me snacking when I'm making a meal, or giving in because I can't wait for it to cook!0 -
They sell something here called “broccoli slaw” that I’ve used in a quick stir fry with chicken. I’m all for the quick prep for cooking. I get so tired of planning meals, cooking, cleaning up. I swear I could just eat salad every night but I don’t think my husband would go for that. He’s a meat and potatoes guy. Although, I claimed a victory when he actually ate grilled zucchini the other night. Grilled in my ninja cooker!!! Love that thing!
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I turned 62 yesterday. Still not even close to my health and weight goals. I’m so disappointed in myself.2
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Awww Suzy..... first off i'm sorry i missed your birthday - i hope you were able to spend some time with your family and friends for it?
I can honestly say i have had many a birthday where i wasnt even close either with either area.. and god knows i still have a long way to go to get to mine (which also won't be close by my birthday either)..
I know it can be rough realizing you aren't where you want to be for yourself.. lord knows i've eaten my misery many many times over the years so please know we can empathize with how you're feeling right now..
But i don't want you to forget the things you HAVE accomplished for yourself this year - in spite of some major huge life stresses like moving, surgery on your hand, foot injury, new grandbaby etc etc.. in spite of all that, you have challenged yourself to join some clubs, made new friends, tried new things, got all your bloodwork and tests done for a baseline even though you really didnt want to you overcame that fear and did it.. you have been a lifeline for others including your niece and your daughter and grandchildren and your parents.. and I would be you have made some better food choices while dealing with all that.. and you bought your ninja cooker to help with that.. We are far more than a number on the scale and its so easy for us to forget that when we're feeling discouraged...
you have had very little time to devote to you this past year . you have had to give to everyone else (and yes its all very well to say we have to make ourselves a priority.. and i do believe that.. but the truth is for women.. it can't always be that way... it's just what we do and how we are wired.. so i just would like you to take a few minutes and acknowledge to yourself all the wonderful and positive things you HAVE accomplished since your last birthday... and how much you have helped others with everything you give.
And so for this year... my birthday wish for you ... is that you may find you finally have some time to step back a bit for a little while and allow yourself to look after you. I realize that's not always in our control as I said above. but that's my wish for you - that things settle enough so that you can take care of you. Hugs Snooozie2 -
suzyqholland wrote: »I turned 62 yesterday. Still not even close to my health and weight goals. I’m so disappointed in myself.
Aww, I'm just off to bed but just saw this. Happy Birthday! You have achieved so much! I look up to you in all sorts of ways ... please don't be disappointed in yourself. I agree with everything Snoozie said. Yes, look after you * hugs*1 -
I hope you're getting a different slant on things now, Suzy. And no doubt busy with grandchildren and stuff! You are amazing. The way you've dealth with various injuries and pain, parents, house moves, grandchildren, hiking, all the activities you do, there is no way I could keep up with you! And you say about not achieving your goals, but maybe the goals are wrong? I know you do cook and eat healthily, and exercise, and maybe the goal could be just doing that, 90% of the time? It must be much more difficult with somebody else to cook for, and your busy lifestyle. I really do look up to you.
I've been posting here about my achievements, just because I want to be positive and motivated. But I have questioned myself a lot too. It's all about health for me, and I know that, but if I'm honest, I'm really a bit upset about my loose skin, and I hate that it feels self-inflicted. I'm really annoyed at myself that I ever let myself get to to morbidly obese (or even overweight, to be honest). None of my friends have ever been close to the size I was and they look great at my age or older. Meanwhile, it's summer and I have to cover up because I don't want to inflict my body on anyone else! My thighs are pretty horrific. I'm not going to have surgery so will have to live with it. And it's not just putting the weight on, it's the fact that I have been on MFP all these years and it's taken me this long to lose it.
But anyway, saying all that to say that, like you, I feel so disappointed with myself for letting that happen. But, there were reasons, and I think we've got to have some compassion for ourselves. And look at what we have achieved, even if it can feel a bit ephemeral.1 -
Why are we so hard on ourselves? We’re so critical of our own bodies but don’t see those same things in others. I think Snoozie said once that we should talk to ourselves the same way we would talk to a good friend. That’s so true. I’m still disappointed in myself but I know that it’s up to me to change things and that I CAN do it. Vail, I often wonder what I’ll look like once I lose all my weight. How much loose skin will I have and will it prevent me from wearing the clothes I hope to wear or do the things I hope to do. I guess I’ll just have to lose the weight and find out. I bet the surgery to remove it is painful and expensive but the positive health effects from losing the weight aren’t affected by the loose skin. I’m betting that you look fabulous, Vail and feeling better is so worth it.
I’ve been so busy. My brother, his wife and my sister all flew into town for my parent’s 73rd anniversary this past weekend. I dropped them at the airport this afternoon and I’m exhausted. It was a very busy weekend. Tomorrow is MY day. I told my husband that I’m not even leaving the house. I’m sleeping in, watching some tv and taking it easy.
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It sounds like you really need an easy day. You are supposed to be retired! I remember one thing that stuck with me from when I was doing heavy lifting was a talk saying that as you get older you need more and more rest and recovery. And I think that applies all over. Getting the rest is not an indulgence, it's part of looking after your health. And just the fact that you are having to schedule in a day to watch a bit of TV and stay at home shows how busy you have been!
I agree, Snoozie is absolutely right about thinking about it as if we were our own friend. We need to have compassion for ourselves. I think there are always reasons behind what we see as our failings.
I don't want to risk surgery (and couldn't afford it anyway), so I'm stuck with my results. It's really not very noticeable with clothes on. I couldn't wear a bikini or swimming costume which is a pain, because my thighs are the worst. But I was carrying a lot of weight on my thighs and I'm sure I remember in photos of you that you had much slimmer legs than me. I did accidently flash my tummy in public the other day. I was tucking in a shirt or something! I don't actually mind it too much myself, but just don't want it on public view! I'm kind of morbidly fascinated by the changes and I tell myself that the more change and loose skin, the more successful I've been.
So now I have reached another couple of milestones. Into a new stone category (weight in stones and pounds), which is the category my goal/original weight is in. And down another dress size. I have been spending a fortune on clothes!
I went to see the Eurovision band that I talked about, Lord of the Lost. I can't even describe the experience. It feels like it has changed my life! I have seen lots of live music over the years, but nothing anywhere close to that. The people waiting with me in the queue to get in have all tracked each other down on social media and we are feeling the same. Can't sleep, in turmoil. It was truly incredible!
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Suzy I hope you are still in your pajamas as i write this (i am in mine!) I definitely have my "me" days.. and I def think we need to schedule in that time for ourselves to rest and recharge when life gets hectic! That was so cool they all came in for your parents anniversary but sounds exhausting just listening to it!
Vail - i can totally relate to the skin thing.. its SO weird.. i am more self conscious about what i call the "weight wrinkles" than i ever figured i would be! its most especially noticeable on my tummy and thighs and upper arms ... and to be honest i hate it.. go figure eh... but also have turkey wobble thing too now under my chin.. lol... this is gonna sound weird and prolly tmi.. but with all the .. i dunno.. folds?? skin sagging? whatever u call it... even shaving my armpits now i have to hold the skin taut with one hand and shave with the other cause otherwise all the excess skin gets in the way.. i know kinda gross.. but its a weird thing i noticed with the skin sags happening everywhere.
But it is what it is.. and i've never worn a bikini in my life so im not worried about that lol.. i do however.. wear longer bermuda shorts out in public now.. i didnt used to care when i was overweight cause things were big but firm... so to speak... so i would wear any shorts for my walks. That said tho.. i've never been comfortable in sleeveless shirts at any time... and now with all the sagging skin on my upper arms its worse but ya know what.. i truly dont care about that anymore.. i really dont... i have worn sleeveless now to patios and get togethers with friends when its really hot and i will continue to do so.. its taken a few months to kinda accept that the saggies are there to stay.. but other than the longer shorts, i've accepted it lol.. i kinda like being this age in some ways cause i have found one benefit is i don't really care any more about what others might think... and i have stopped asking myself "are they looking at my saggy arms" that kind of thing.. cause i just dont care lol. so i do like the freedom in that i must say!
I'm going to post a couple of pics from our latest retiree group outings.. we do a weekly walk during this nice weather along with our other restaurant and coffee meet ups.. and i snapped a couple of cute pics at the last one so i'll throw them up later just for a laugh..0 -
Vail that is SO cool about the eurovision concert!! SO glad you went and what an amazing once in a lifetime experience!!! awesome!0
