Midlife Issues But I'm Determined to Get Healthier

momcindy

I'm dealing with lots of midlife weight gain and borderline health issues mostly caused by metabolic syndrome/insulin resistance. I joined this site to be more accountable with my meals with the food diary. It helps to see what I'm really eating and how it all breaks down with calories, carbs, fats, etc. Exercise is my biggest challenge because I don't like doing it so it's one of those things I have to force myself to do. I'm not naturally athletic and I don't like to sweat.

Married 33 years with three grown daughters who have left the nest and one teenage son at home. Not sure what God was thinking combining a menopausal mom with a teenager but I do now understand why some species eat their young or abandon them at birth. He really is a delightful child, just wants to be the alpha male and that doesn't always set well with the mama wolf! lol

PJilly

Not sure what God was thinking combining a menopausal mom with a teenager but I do now understand why some species eat their young or abandon them at birth.

I nearly spit my coffee all over when I got to that part of your post. :laugh: :laugh: :laugh: I'm a 50-year-old mom with hot flashes and two teens (19 and 16). I totally relate.

Welcome to MFP. The Food Diary has been an invaluable tool to me. I hope it helps you too! Eating is my biggest challenge. I've pretty much always worked out but only halfway paid attention to my eating until a couple of years ago. It's made all the difference in the world for me.

dls06

I'm 55 and mother of 4 who are all out of the house and are all doing great. I thought it would end when they left but it doesn't. I want to spike the ball and be done. I wish I could stop the worry. I think once a mom you are always a mom. But a teenager? At my age? I don't know if either on of us would get out of this one alive. LOL

SparkyJS65

Welcome!!! Well I can relate. I am 45, have 2 daughters (one grown and one teen). I am now a grandma too! My oldest just had a baby boy in May. And I went through surgical menopause 6 years ago. I have Fibromyalgia which can really interfere with excercising, but I feel so much better on the days that I do. I am now working out 4-5 times a week at the YMCA. Once you get used to doing it as a habit, you won't mind it at all. It's weird, but once you start getting fit, it actually feels good to sweat! I know sounds very goofy, but I swear by this! Just start out slow, and build up to a good cardio program. I love the cross trainer at the Y, and I am now doing 30 minutes on it. Good luck, and again welcome!

Dunkirk

He must increase, I must decrease :-).
One 'special' moment I had with my teenage son was at the supermarket checkout and I was paying for the groceries. "I'm glad I live at home and don't have to pay for all the food I eat". Another was talking to one of his friends, who asked seriously, "How can you afford to feed Jono?". Ok, my son is athletic and over 6'4" so he does need to eat a lot, but please Lord, make him stop growing soon.
Blessings on your health transformation.

momcindy

Dunkirk, I can totally relate to the feeding a teenage boy issue. What we save in water bills with the girls out of the house we are more than making up for on our grocery bill!

momcindy

I'm 55 and mother of 4 who are all out of the house and are all doing great. I thought it would end when they left but it doesn't. I want to spike the ball and be done. I wish I could stop the worry. I think once a mom you are always a mom. But a teenager? At my age? I don't know if either on of us would get out of this one alive. LOL

Yep! I know that feeling!

tiggr62

Welcome to MFP

I think a lot of us can relate. I am a 49 year old mom of 3 girls, all grown and on their own. Step mom to 1 girl and 3 boys all on their own. I am also grandma to 17 and great grandma to 2 soon to be 4 Wow thats a mouthful. I hear ya about the weight gain and the menopause stuff, though the menopause hasn't been too bad. ( lucky for husband who at this moment is still breathing. Can menopause be used as a defense in say a murder trial ?) Just kidding! ( I think ) I also quit smoking a little over a year ago so I'm fighting the weight gain from that also. But I am determined to do it. I have about 15 lbs to lose. If I don't lose it, my oldest daughter said she is going to lose some weight and take all my cute clothes. I can not let that happen. Any way I know it doesn't sound like much but to me it is. It seems everytime I get close to my weight goal my alter ego (known as the bad Food Fairy) comes out and says oh you can have that licorice. Then the next day ( as I step on the scale) she puts it all back on me saying "I told you to have a piece of licorice not 20". I need to banish the Bad Food Fairy by getting some will power. So here I am.

Again welcome to MFP. There are so many great people on here that will help keep you reaching for your goal. Friend me if you want.

tobybear

Hi and welcome. I started menopause in my 40s, not having a period was great but then those dreaded HOT FLASHES and NIGHT SWEATS happened. I am now 57 and FINALLY got rid of them, but losing weight is a nightmare. I have 50 pounds to lose to get where they say I should be. My first goal is to get under 200 pounds and that will REALLY excite me. Feel free to add me as a friend if you would like. I would love to have some BOOMERs as friends.

Again Welcome and good luck.

PositivePower

You guys are GREAT!!! I am part of the group!!! Just turned the Big 5 0 :grumble: Always had a flat stomach( big butt and thighs but flat stomach) now I feel about 4 months along! What's that all about :noway:

I have always struggled with the weight! just got really into MFP and am addicted. Lost 2 # this week!!! It is helping me to stay accountable. I love going to the gym....different classes help me from getting board, also it's an appointment for me to stick to.

The teenagers and worry are not my favorite thing I have a 20yr old daughter...drama....and a 17 yr old son...oh wants to be an alfa too!! He is playing football for the first time and working out alot....now he runs around in sleeveless shirts to show off his guns. He had knee surgery in March... when I get back from vacation I'm going to make him go with me to spin class!!! I told him he can laugh at me...but I want someone to go with :laugh:

To add to the mix I help take care of my Dad - I think I need a support group working mentopause caregivers with teenagers. No wonder I like wine :drinker:

Have a Great Day

olso123

Not sure what God was thinking combining a menopausal mom with a teenager but I do now understand why some species eat their young or abandon them at birth. He really is a delightful child, just wants to be the alpha male and that doesn't always set well with the mama wolf!

Welcome, Can relate to all your issues, midlife weight gain, dealing with some new health issues and been there with the teenage son while going through menopause. Love your description regarding your son...too funny!

I have been on this site for 3 weeks and I have found the food diary very helpful...it has definitely opened my eyes to some of my bad eating habits and has made me aware of what foods I need to incorporate into my meals for a better balanced diet.

Congrats....you are taking the right step by signing on board and taking charge of bettering your health. Since we are in a similar situation, I would love to add you to my list of friends so we could motivate each other during our midlife goal of getting healthier. I am hoping to hook up with people with a similar situation as myself so that we can motivate each other to keep on track during the journey to getting and staying healthy. If you would like to add me to your list of friends please send me a request.

olso123

Can totally relate to you. I too take care of my elderly parents....bless them they are both 89 and doing pretty well. One of my most motivating reason to take care of my health is I want to be and look as good as they do at 89.

Between menopause and taking care of my parents I have been fluctuating between an extra 10 -18 lbs. I too carry most my weight in the lower body and for the first time in my life I have been dealing with this little pouch that keeps popping up in what use to be a flat as a pancake stomach! I have been fortunate in the past that I never had a weight problem and I have always been very active however, due to my crazy schedule these days with work, family and care giving, I have developed a bad habit of grabbing any food while on the go and not watching what is going in the mouth....of course going through menopause and the metabolism slowing down doesn't help the situation.

By the way, I am a dancer and when my son was in his late teens (he is now 23 ) we took a Salsa class together. My son was an athlete throughout high school and college and I was shocked that he wanted to take this class (it was to impress a girl he was dating at the time).....We had a ball and I didn't embarrass him too much . Enjoy spinning with your son....you will have some good laughs together! :laugh:

momcindy

You guys are GREAT!!! I am part of the group!!! Just turned the Big 5 0 :grumble: Always had a flat stomach( big butt and thighs but flat stomach) now I feel about 4 months along! What's that all about :noway:

I have always struggled with the weight! just got really into MFP and am addicted. Lost 2 # this week!!! It is helping me to stay accountable. I love going to the gym....different classes help me from getting board, also it's an appointment for me to stick to.

The teenagers and worry are not my favorite thing I have a 20yr old daughter...drama....and a 17 yr old son...oh wants to be an alfa too!! He is playing football for the first time and working out alot....now he runs around in sleeveless shirts to show off his guns. He had knee surgery in March... when I get back from vacation I'm going to make him go with me to spin class!!! I told him he can laugh at me...but I want someone to go with :laugh:

To add to the mix I help take care of my Dad - I think I need a support group working mentopause caregivers with teenagers. No wonder I like wine :drinker:

Have a Great Day

You've got a lot going on! My son played football too but now is doing marching band and enjoys weight training in P.E. and at home.