Recently retired

tattdgma

Hello:

I've just retired and don't want to gain weight. I watch my granddaughter a few hours a day and like to work in the yard.

I broke my wrist a year ago and only gained three pounds at my yearly checkup. However, all I want to do is eat. 🤣🤣 How do you manage the constant munchies?

cmriverside

You'll have to figure that one out yourself.

For me, it comes down to staying busy, planning my meals, sticking to a plan, not buying snack foods, and logging food. Exercise is important too.

springlering62

Stay busy.

My husband and I are both on MFP and both retired.

On his six month anniversary of retirement, I walked in, turned off the TV, and told him to get off his *kitten*, he’d had enough R&R. I wasn’t going to see him decline like our parents had.

I’ve hardly seen him since then.

We both volunteer, we walk our very walkable community a lot, he’s on the board of several state parks, runs social media for several groups, and has gotten heavily involved in historical reenactment, demonstrating old-school skills to school field trips and weekend family events. He even volunteers at the Sheriff’s department, doing data stuff for them. There’s always something crazy going on in our house (plus I get a good helping of courthouse gossip).

The other day I wrinkled my nose and told him “we must have a plumbing problem. I swear I smell sulphur.” He sheepishly admitted to having brought home some gunpowder making supplies to make cannon charges. I put my foot down on that one and told him “it goes out of the house. Today!!!”

For me, keeping my hands busy is critical to not eating. So when I sit down for the evening, I always have something handy: crochet, needlepoint, beadwork. My mantra: “idle hands are the devil’s dessert spoon”.

Yesterday, an older man came into the museum where I volunteer and just wanted someone to talk to. He had moved into a senior community and said all his neighbors were decrepit and bringing him down. He was new to the area so I suggested my gym, which tends towards a senior clientele,and told him about several volunteer opportunities nearby, including my own museum. He left feeling brighter. Said he hadn’t thought about any of it and had just been sitting in his apartment, depressed,
wondering “is this all there is?”


Don’t be that guy.

springlering62

You like gardening. What about a gardening club? We have Treekeepers, which plant donated saplings around the city four times a year.

We also have several garden clubs. Some “adopt” planters and keep them fresh and seasonal and make sure they’re watered. (The Parks and Rec guys water the accessible ones using a tank on a truck, the clubs either water or arrange with local business to water the ones not on the main streets). Our planters are gorgeous. .

annliz23

I agree keep bust and don't buy in junk food if isn't not there you can't eat it. Good luck

ddsb1111

I volunteer for Big Brothers Big Sisters and it’s probably more rewarding for me than the 2 kids I see 3 times a week. There’s kids as old as 18, maybe even older, so you don’t necessarily need to run after little ones. There’s also foster homes and group homes that have events that could use volunteers. Saint Joseph’s hospital is another option. Not only is this valuable work but so fulfilling.

If that’s not your thing I +1 for Art Museum docent or volunteer as they’re always giving tours and having events.

Staying involved and finding fulfillment in life outside of myself is a big part of what keeps me from thinking about food and putting on the lbs.

AnnPT77

I agree with the general thrust: Snacking isn't even a very interesting way to spend time, when I think about it. It's just "there", when I don't focus on finding things that are more fun.

There are lots of things more interesting, including some that are not all that socially valuable like things people above are advocating. Exercise and volunteering are great, plus health-promoting, altruistic or prosocial. Good stuff.

There are also computer/VR games, learning a musical instrument, journaling, sketching, gardening, carpentry, crafts projects and lots more - things that are engaging and enjoyable (if we pick the right ones), but a little more self-centered. That's OK, too, especially if they distract us from behavior (like excessive snacking) that's counter to our personal goals.

I'm 67, have been retired since age 51. (No, not wealthy: Major cancer scare made me retire as early as I could possibly swing it, so I didn't miss out altogether on retiring.)

I row (on water 4 days a week in season, plus am a class assistant in our learn-to-row classes), and that's social since it's all done in groups. I go out for coffee with my rowing buddies (plain skim latte in my case, so no foul in snack terms). I ride my bike in season on the paved trails. I do various crafts, chiefly jewelry making and visual journaling these days. I grow plants, indoor and outdoor. I try to teach myself to play bluegrass banjo. I read and post on MFP. I go for walks or bike rides with friends. I play some computer games. Etc.

I also snack within my calorie goal.

ETA P.S.: For maybe the first 3 months after I retired, I flailed for a while, finding a new routine. The first couple of weeks or so didn't feel that much different from being on vacation . . . but eventually it did. I did a bunch of dumb stuff long enough to realize it was boring, dysfunctional, or otherwise problematic. Eventually I got into a new routine that made more sense. I still think it's OK to give yourself a little time and grace to adapt and find your new routine. But my advice would be to start looking for that new routine more intelligently than I did.