Ages 70+

145791026

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  • jan110144
    jan110144 Posts: 1,281 Member
    Hope everyone is ok with my daily posts. I REALLY need to be accountable and acknowledge my slips as well as successes. For thus month my three goals are to make healthy food choices, exercise daily and get a good night's sleep

    Day 1 ...
    Eating ... stayed within calorie goal, although that is not my main focus. Most important ... ALL of my food choices were excellent. Looking at nutrients, I suspect I am consistently short on iron and calcium so will supplement.

    Exercise ... 4+ miles with dog over 2 walks. Need to add some strength exercises at home this mo. Hopefully add gym next month.

    Sleep ... my goal is to have a sleep score of 80 or greater (using Fitbit). Last night ...85 😀

    Off to a good start for April.

    Hope everyone has a GREAT day. Very rainy day here in Indiana, so getting dog walks in may be challenging.
  • jonni82014
    jonni82014 Posts: 1,534 Member
    edited April 2
    @jan110144 Excellent start for the month!
    I like to read everyone's posts. They keep me on track + I learn from others what might work for me.
    It's great to hang around like minded people; whether in this community or our neighbour community. For the month of April I am committed to NO late night snacking. This means no snacking after 6:00pm. Having stated this I will have to be mindful of my intake of healthy foods during the day.
    Today is a run around day doing errands; good way to get the steps in.

    @nsk1951 Congratulations, sorry for not acknowledging you sooner; to help you celebrate your 6MO post surgical mammogram. I for one really understand the ups and downs of BC. This year will be my 33YR of being a BC survivor. You are not alone. My second life is much better than the first; and yours will be as well. The disease brought out the warrior in me. I became quite fearless. Keep calm. Carry on. <3
  • BarbMessimer
    BarbMessimer Posts: 362 Member
    @jan110144 ... You definitely are starting out strong. Congrats! Sometimes I eat over my calorie limit, but it doesn't bother me as long as the food was whole, healthy foods. As far as sleep, that's a huge issue. Trying not to take a sleeping pill but then it's sometimes 5 in the morning before I start to get sleepy. I can only exercise a little so I admire your 4 mile walk!

    Keep up the good work!
  • anthol1740
    anthol1740 Posts: 3 Member
    I turned 70 a couple of months ago, and am recovered from AFIB. I decided that I'm not too old to be concerned about my health and mortality. In the past few months, I've lost some of the weight I gained in the COVID/post COVID times. I weigh my food and count my calories. I'm even going to the gym, doing some cardio and weights.

    I think the trick is finding something that motivates you. It helps me to hear others' success stories, their difficulties, and learn about strategies and techniques to stay motivated.
  • nsk1951
    nsk1951 Posts: 1,304 Member
    Today is off to being a good day. I slept well last night, saw the surgeon for my post surgery mammogram and exam office visit and did grocery shopping. It was chilly and raining outside, but I didn't mind. The surgeon said my surgery area is healing as expected and that my mammogram showed no active cancer at this time. Then she reminded me that I need to be monitored for 5 years at 6-mo intervals and we set up the appointments for late September mammogram and early October office visit. ... So I was outwardly calm and serene, but inwardly tense. And thus I ate ice cream as my meal today. A pint of pistachio/almond, and a cup of vanilla with 2 Tbsp of peanut butter. ... That took all the calories that I had available for today. Hope it was worth it. I think, right now, that it was.
  • BarbMessimer
    BarbMessimer Posts: 362 Member
    @anthol1740 ... Absolutely NOT TOO LATE! So happy you've decided to focus on your health. There's so much we can do even at our age. I've been working on my plan for 3 years and am sure I've added many more years to my life plus the past 3 years have been good ones, getting rid of kidney disease and diabetes. The doctors couldn't believe it!
  • jan110144
    jan110144 Posts: 1,281 Member
    Good morning! Day 2 went well. Healthy eating choices, good sleep. Made my 10,000 step goal, but it was a bit challenging. Rainy most of the day, so pretty much did the 10,000 in one long walk (in gale force winds😟) Today will be challenging as the lousy weather continues and ibam going out for dinner and theater tonight). Will try to make good choices.

    @BarbMessimer Yes, never too late! I think one of the tricks to successful aging is to NOT use age as an excuse to stop trying new things ... to focus on what can ibdo and not on what I can't. BTW ... have you tried Melatonin for sleep? I find it very helpful, once I figured out the right dosage for me. I also find that the nights I struggle are almost always when I have had very little exercise during the day.

    @anthol1740 Motivation is such a challenge for me at times.I can wake up feeling very motivated in the morning only to see it totally disappear by evening! I am really trying to build good habits to see if I can substitute some discipline for motivation. I am also trying to figure out the things that undermine my efforts. (For example, I know that poor sleep is a major factor). One of the reasons I am so excited about joining this group is that it will help keep me focused and, through this daily posting, perhaps I can discover what is going on when my motivation crashes.

    @nsk1951 great news on your check-up. I can only imagine how stressful those check-ups are at this point. Wishing you the best going forward.

    Have a good day everone!
  • BarbMessimer
    BarbMessimer Posts: 362 Member
    @jan110144 ... I'm really happy to see you posting every day. Sounds like you're doing everything right. Keep up the good work!

    I've tried melatonin and it didn't faze me. I've got in the habit of staying up late, watching old black and white movies and sleeping in, but I manage to get 7-8 hours of sleep in the end. Most nights I don't take a sleeping pill but might take Nyquil to get me drowsy and help my sinuses. I guess as long as I'm getting adequate sleep then it doesn't really matter.
  • jonni82014
    jonni82014 Posts: 1,534 Member
    I'm reading a book; on the benefits of bone broth by Dr. Kellyanne Petrucci.
    I thought I would share what she wrote:

    "We are so much more than bodies. We are also spiritual and energetic beings. And our health and weight are directly related to the environment we are in"

    I am guilty of spending a lot of time; concentrating on my physical body.
    I would like to balance my thoughts on being more spiritual and commit to spending more time expending my energies into my community.

    Just for today off to the Seniors Centre 45minutes treadmill and 45 minutes stretch and light weights.
    Have a great day B)
  • BarbMessimer
    BarbMessimer Posts: 362 Member
    @jonni82014 ... "We are so much more than bodies. We are also spiritual and energetic beings. And our health and weight are directly related to the environment we are in"

    Thank you for that quote. I've written it down to remind me. I agree. For good health, it's necessary to balance the physical, mental and spiritual. When that's off balance, we often lose control and find ourselves over-eating and gaining weight.
  • jan110144
    jan110144 Posts: 1,281 Member
    edited April 4
    Day 3

    Rain, rain and more rain yesterday. Tried 3 times to walk the dog, but only made it a block or so before having to come home. So, way under step goal.

    Out to dinner and theater last night. Had a really nice time and made good choices at the restaurant. Excellent sleep.

    Will be a grey day here, but should be enough hours between rain drops to get walks in. Hope to see the sun again soon. Su shine is a wonderful mood elevator!

    Have a great day.

  • jonni82014
    jonni82014 Posts: 1,534 Member
    Dr Kellyanne : Just for today: We need to choose our inner circle wisely. People who carry our vision.The people who understand us and our life goals and will support and believe in us. People who will not undermine or sabotage us. People who will celebrate our successes.
    All people are important; however I know just a few in my inner circle, that I can count on to put me first and likewise. My cheering section.

    Today I'm off to the Recreation Centre 50minutes stretch and light weight. 45minutes walk.
    Have a wonderful day!
  • BarbMessimer
    BarbMessimer Posts: 362 Member
    @jonni82014 ... Thanks for that quote from Dr. Kellyanne.
  • jan110144
    jan110144 Posts: 1,281 Member
    Day 4 ... good food choices, loooong walk with Abby, fair sleep. No real reason for poorer sleep that I can figure out.

    One of my motivations for changing my eating habits has been to address inflammation. I have been focusing on an anti-inflammatory diet. While it is way to early to really know the effects, I think this is helping to reduce arthritis pain. Hope this not all in my head!

    Have a good day!
  • jonni82014
    jonni82014 Posts: 1,534 Member
    @jan110144 I hope the anti-inflammatory diet works for you. It worked for me. I was on the diet prior to my hip replacement. My hip got replaced (2019) and no osteoarthritis evident now.


    Snowing here - no comment :/ I want spring

    Today is my rest day.

  • jan110144
    jan110144 Posts: 1,281 Member
    Day 5 - slightly better weather let me split my steps into 2 walks instead of one, which was nice. We are even supposed to have SUN today!! (It has really been grey here for the past couple of weeks.)

    Food choices good, sleep ok but mot great.

    Hope everyone has a great weekend
  • jonni82014
    jonni82014 Posts: 1,534 Member
    Just for today. Are the words I have being using quite frequently over the last few days. They keep me on track.
    So "Just for today" I am going to the Rec. Centre 50-60 stretch, light weights. 45minutes walk on track.

    Have a great day everyone. B)
  • jan110144
    jan110144 Posts: 1,281 Member
    Day 6 - was a BEAUTIFUL day here yesterday. Amazing how sunshine energizes. Got a lot done in the house, logged 15 000 steps, made good food choices, had a good time with friends watching Purdue win, and slept like a log. Pretty close to a perfect day!
  • BarbMessimer
    BarbMessimer Posts: 362 Member
    @jan110144 ... Very good! It's beautiful today too in Central Florida. I injured my knee so am using a cane and walker for a while. I want to do so much more than Ican right now. I hope and prsy it heals soon.

    Sounds like Day 6 was as near perfect as it gets. Keep up the good work!
  • jan110144
    jan110144 Posts: 1,281 Member
    edited April 8
    End of first week. Results...
    SW 172.5. EW 168.2

    Food - Good choices every day

    Steps - over 10,000 6 of 7 days. 7 day average - 11835/day

    Sleep - Using Fitbit scoring) in the mid 80s 5 of 7 days. 78 other two days

    Pleased with the progress.

    One of the problems I encounter when I make an effort to make me good food choices is boredom. Seems like I always doing a piece of baked/broiled protein and steamed veggies. New goal ... make at least one new healthy recipe a week. Last night ... spicy shrimp tacos. Definitely a winner🙂

    On to week 2. For those in the eclipse path, wishing you good weather. We are about 45 min from totality, so taking a little drive. Weather is a bit iffy in terms of cloud cover.

    Have a great day everyone.
  • jonni82014
    jonni82014 Posts: 1,534 Member
    Good Day
    @BarbMessimer wishing you a speedy recovery and good health
    @jan110144 Congratulations on your good progress. Have you tried a smoothie for a meal I am having one for dinner. DH and I discussed yesterday what we are going to have for dinner. All suggestions were the same, same and more of the same. So we decided on a blueberry, spinach smoothie. Protein nutrient packed full meal.

    I am still battling a plateau. It is so annoying. on the other hand I am very proud that I did not get caught up in some sibling drama and did not emotional eat. I was not physically in the scenario; made it so much easier to say " Gotta go, I have a call waiting." Ha Ha

    Just for today off to the Senior Centre 50 minutes stretch and light weights. 45 minutes treadmill.
    Stay safe we are on a partial eclipse path.

  • BarbMessimer
    BarbMessimer Posts: 362 Member
    I weigh everyday and, like we've all experienced, I get a little down if my weight seems to be stagnating and/or not dropping like I'd like. A lot of times it's even up. So now I've begun subtracting the lowest from the highest over the past month and that's how many pounds I've lost and that makes me feel a lot better. With all that being said, I've lost 4.6 pounds since March 8th.
  • BarbMessimer
    BarbMessimer Posts: 362 Member
    @jan110144 ... Congrats on that tremendous weight loss and I bet you feel a lot better too. Tell us later about the eclipse!
  • Mspkmk
    Mspkmk Posts: 7 Member
    We are in the path of the total eclipse, not far from Niagara Falls, Ontario. Although a little cloudy at the beginning, we got to see the full eclipse. It was really something to see. A little cold out on the back deck, we sat in our winter coats on our lawn chairs. We all had been given the appropriate glasses to protect our eyes so we were all set. There were viewing parties and gatherings in all of the local parks, but most people did so on their own properties to avoid the traffic and parking issues going to the big parks. A once in a lifetime experience.
  • BarbMessimer
    BarbMessimer Posts: 362 Member
    @Mspkmk ... That must have really been spectacular! Glad you got to see it. I saw pictures but it's sure not the same thing as actually being there.
  • jan110144
    jan110144 Posts: 1,281 Member
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    Long day yesterday. Eclipse was fascinating. Trip down was great. A bit more traffic coming home, but not bad. Purdue gamy, not so good. Finally gave up and went to bed about 5 min in to second half. Good decision.

    On target with food, sleep and steps.
  • jonni82014
    jonni82014 Posts: 1,534 Member
    Spectacular picture.
    @BarbMessimer Great results - your weight release.
    Just for today going to the Rec Centre 60 minutes walk (instructed walk fit class) 50-60 minutes stretch and weights.
    Have a safe healthy day everyone. B)
  • BarbMessimer
    BarbMessimer Posts: 362 Member
    @jonni82014 ... Thanks for that fabulous picture! It must have been an awesome sight to witness in person!
  • jan110144
    jan110144 Posts: 1,281 Member
    Day 9 ...

    All went well. On target with sleep, dmfood and steps.

    @Mspkmk glad you were able to enjoy the eclipse too. We were both lucky to live in the oath (although I had to drive about 45 min to get to totality)

    @jonni82014 I like your 'just for today". I am trying to live "one day at a time" and enjoy the present more. Plateaus are frustrating. Hope yours end soon.

    @BarbMessimer I vaccinated between weighing daily and weighing weekly. Right now it is weekly and I am trying to focus eachvm day on what I need to do to be healthy. I would like this process to be more than just a number on the scale.

    Have a good day everyone!
  • jonni82014
    jonni82014 Posts: 1,534 Member
    I just read an amazing story on the community forum all I can say is unbelievable! Check it out!
    All is possible:

    https://community.myfitnesspal.com/en/discussion/10094498/off-the-meds-inc-lots-of-pics

    Just for today - I am off to the Senior Centre 45minutes treadmill and 50minutes stretch and weights.
    Have a wonderful day B)