Yes JulieGo, I do girl push-ups, for now. I'm working toward "real" ones. I too enjoy your gym stories. Did Satan help you out with the machines as he promised he would? Good for you that you keep going.

Slziner, I understand how hard vacations without your spouse can be. The first one is the hardest, so you have that one behind you. It will get better and more relaxing each time. The first time I went to see my husbands family after he died I literally kept counting how many people were there because I felt like someone was missing. It took me a while to realize it was John. But it was such a strong feeling. That first trip was more stressful than fun, but they have gotten a lot better since then. Hang in there. I commend you for going.

I had a bad eating weekend. My birthday was Saturday. Need I say more? I'll get back with it today. I'm supposed to play tennis this evening, but it looks like it will probably be rained out. I have meetings today, so will not run until tomorrow morning. I still have my 4 runs scheduled into my week. It'll all work out one way or the other.

Hope you all have a great week! :flowerforyou:

Wow. I'm gone a few days and missed a lot!
Beckster - a date. Wow. That's not even on my radar, but good for you!
Susan — I haven't had a vacation since my Bill died, but then it's only been 10 months and I've been working. I don't see a vacation on my radar either! Maybe after my home loan is modified I can start thinking about that.
Quilter — Happy Birthday. I think we all get a pass on our birthdays. Unfortunately, I feel like we all should get a pass on everyone's birthday! Every day. But good for you for running 4 days a week.
I'm still going to the gym and walking. I'm discouraged because I don't see much weight loss. Seems like the same couple of pounds over and over. But I'm sticking with it because it makes me feel better and also sleep better. I'm sure the weight will start coming off. I've just been at a plateau for a long, long time.
Ladies - have a good Wednesday evening. I'll check in tomorrow.
Julie

beckster - sounds like you are doing great! Keep up the good work. Good for you for getting that first date over with. Me, I'm not dating yet and really don't feel the need. But, if the right guy dropped out of the sky, I might reconsider.

JulieGo- try to not get discouraged. With all of that gym work, I bet you are losing inches. Have you measured yourself to see? Or are you close fitting looser? And, just keep reminding yourself how much better you feel when exercising. That will keep you going. I know you can do it. If not, :devil: will get you. LOL

Thanks for the birthday wishes. I did not do anything except eat things I shouldn't have. I watched TV and read some. I like to go somewhere I've never been before or do something new on my birthday. I just didn't plan ahead this year. So, no balloon ride, Susan. Maybe I'll plan better next year.

I get to see one of my grand-daughter's on Monday. She is coming up from FL with her grand - parents (my husband's ex and her husband) to his mom's house about an hour away. I have been invited to come up so I can see her. I know, it sounds weird to most people, but his ex and I are friends. She's a very nice lady and, if they had never gotten a divorce, I would never have gotten to be married to him. There's no reason for me to not like her. She and John got along well, so there's no reason we shouldn't either. Anyway, I am really looking forward to seeing Zoe. She's 3 and I've only gotten to see her five times in her life, I think. She sure is a cutie pie.

Well, I'd better get off of here, get dressed, and head out for my morning run. I'm planning another easy run today with a long one tomorrow, since the temperature is supposed to be lower all day tomorrow! Have a great day everyone.

Hi Dinah. Welcome.
I'm Julie and I lost my husband last October 1. We were married for 26 years and I was 31 when we took the plunge. So I'm 58 now. I started Fitness Pal about a hundred years ago and have periodically logged on. I'm trying to be more committed because I still have so much to lose.
I joined a gym about a month ago and already have started skipping days. My knee have gotten really bad since I sprained one last January (it was a very tough winter for me!). So I need motivation.
I'm so sorry for the loss of your husband. Keep checking back with us because these are wonderful ladies who have all been through it.
Julie

Welcome Dinah! I lost my husband New Years Day 2009 also from Cancer. We were married for 24 years. 6 months from diagnosis to death, so yes I agree, it's a horrible illness.

I have been doing MFP since July 4th of this year and have found it very helpful and it forces accountability for me. I enjoy this group and it has helped me make some online-friends to help keep us going and progressing through our journey. I so agree with Quilter, life, grief and living is so much a journey. I don't think you ever get to the destination. . . . . .

Dinah - I'm so sorry for your loss. As far away as we seem, this group does encourage and help get through some of the many issues we share with losing a spouse.

Until next time,
Susan

Dinah - Husband chores, it's never ending and every one I do or have someone do make me miss him more. I run a business (automotive related) that my husband and I opened over 20 years ago, and everyday there is something. I have learned that everyday is a new day and everyday you will get through it. I have to make a conscious decision to keep going. People say I'm a strong woman, but it's strength out of desperation, but they don't see that. Keep depending on people and accept their help. It's hard to ask and then accept the help, but they wouldn't make themselves available to you if they didn't care for you. One day at a time!

Until next time!
Susan

Dinah,

Sounds like you are doing well with the weight. You do need to continue to make sure you eat enough calories to fuel your body and try to eat back some of your exercise calories. I know that is hard. Cooking for myself was one of the hardest things for me to do after my husband died. I would cook breakfast, but nothing else. It's been 6 years and I am just now beginning to cook more meals. You are trying to take care of yourself and get your exercise in, so you are doing great!

I also know about the husband chores...sure we all do. I do accept help, and ask for it, for things I can't do myself. It is still frustrating though that those things have to be done when the person who is helping can come and not when I want them to be done. It sure is different.

Everyone keep up the good work. Hope you have a great day.

Julie,

Good job on plodding along in the gym. You don't have to like it, just do it! Oh no, am I sounding like :devil: ?! :laugh:

Like I have said, eating well has been the absolute hardest thing for me to do after my husband died. Looking back, I had the same bad habits when I was single before I got married. I had never learned how to cook for just myself and be healthy. (I didn't get married until I was 35 and had been in the Air Force for 12 years.) I would just grab fast food on the way home from work and don't even want to tell you how bad I was when I traveled for meetings. If I hadn't been forced to stay below a certain weight, I would have been huge when I got out, I'm sure. So, I am having to learn that new skill....cooking well for one. Any of you have ideas on foods. I've thought that I need to get a bunch of quick, healthy recipes for one and make a cookbook for all of those single people out there....never married or widows/widowers. There are some books out there, but the recipes aren't very simple and require lots of ingredients I don't have on hand. Oh well, that's for a different time.

Right now, I'm trying to decide which husband job to tackle today. I need to work on filling cracks in the driveway, edge all along the .25 miles of my driveway (I usually just edge near the house and do all of it once or twice a year), and cut the trees back from the edge of the yard and driveway. That's just 3 of the jobs I haven't tackled yet this summer that need to be done before it gets cold. There are others. Well, sounds like I need to get off of the computer and get my butt up and get busy.

Hope you all have a great Friday and weekend! Keep exercising and tracking foods!

Have you tried the Blue Bunny frozen yogurt. The homemade vanilla and the vanilla bean are really good. The fat free is 90 cal for 1/2 cup and the lowfat is 120 for 1/2 cup. Both are excellent. They did not have them at the store the other day so I got the caramel praline crunch it too is 120 cal for 1/2 cup. Really good. They have the probiotics like the regular.

I drink 2 protein shakes for two meals so the other meal is the only one I have to worry about. I am remodeling and without a kitchen so I am confined to a grill and a microwave so I have grilled alot of veggies and meat and microwave popcorn. I have not had a diet meal in months which I used to live on. Grilling is so much better plus I was told you do not lose weight on them because they are processed food no matter the calorie count. Who knows?

I went out for lunch and dinner both yesterday and stayed on track! I went to Applebee's and had the Weight Watchers Shrimp which was 300 calories and my grandson wanted to go to Dairy Queen for supper and I had the grilled chicken salad which I think was 385 and then of course I had popcorn at the movies but still kept on track.

So I guess it can be done.

Have a good weekend everybody
Dinah

Dinah - good for you on the grilling. I love grilling. I never though I would open the barbecue after Bill died, but it's my favorite way to cook right now. And about those processed diet meals!! I lived on those for a few months after Bill died. I lost some weight - but that was probably the grief diet kicking in.
I just didn't feel good eating that food. I can't stand the taste of that frozen stuff any more. I'm becoming a whole food eater and I love it. My weight is stuck though.
So, instead of Vanilla Bean ice cream, I just had some Yoplait Light Orange Creme yogurt. Yummy and healthy.
I've been being a little bit bad though. And I don't blame myself. Here's what happened. My neighbor across the street lost her mother recently and I sent over a beautiful peace lily. These are very kind and generous people who were very good to me when Bill died. They sent me food and stuff.
So, I send them a plant and the next thing I know, she shows up with a whole bucket of these Madeleines fro Costco. They are SO light and delicious. My first thought was to bring them to work or save them for the barbecue I'm having on Sunday for my family. But no. I opened it up and started having 2 or 3 each day. OMG They're yummy!!! \
So ... I solemnly promise that after Labor Day weekend I 'll get back on track and begin tracking my food and exercise again. I'm counting on you ladies to keep me honest because Lord knows I can't do this alone!!!
Have a great Thursday.
Julie

A Madeliene is a yummy morsel of flaky, cakey goodness. They're also very beautiful. We eat with our eyes first, you know!!!

I fully intend to be back here on Tuesday logging. In fact, I'm logging today. I'll be interrupted by two barbecues this weekend, but I'm pretty motivated right now. I have not idea why.
I'm just gonna go with it.
But!!! Full disclosure ... I officially quit my gym today. I realized that if I'm already making excuses to not go, I'm wasting my money. I'm going to develop a strength training regimen at home and increase my walking time.
I can do this.
Have a lovely Labor Day weekend everyone! See you Tuesday!
Julie

Hi ladies! JulieGo I am getting there. Today is the 1 year anniversary of my husband's death. With fighting cancer for 3 1/2 years, this was a very bittersweet moment. I didn't want to lose him, but I didn't want him to be in pain and not be able to live life. And he hadn't really been living life for 6 months or so. I had looked back at some pictures from a few weeks before he passed away and I could not believe what I saw. I don't remember him looking that bad. Crazy mind will do anything to survive the moment.

I hope you all are doing well. I took my boys camping with family and friends. I was going to come home Sunday but stopped to see some friends and ended up staying until Monday. I was having a mind argument about should I stay or should I go and I finally decided to stay because I didn't have anything to go home to. Laundry and cleaning will still be there. The fact that we stayed meant that my oldest son tried tubing behind a boat and I even got out there with him. We had so much fun. Then I stayed up until 3 am and visited with one of my best friends. Perfect ending to a wonderful weekend.

Talk care everyone!
Becky

Hi ladies.
Becky ... it sounds like you handled your one-year very well. Mine is coming up. October 1 will be one year and my Bill passed very suddenly. I have no idea how I'm going to handle it. I've been getting kind of emotional lately and if that's any indication, I might just plan to take the day off work and just let my feelings happen.
That said ... I'm back on track with my eating (finally). It seems like summer was one long excuse!!! Barbecue here, drinks with friends there, something. I've become more motivated because I don't want to slip back into old habits and I see it happening. The scale is also creeping. (I haven't recorded it here. Can't bear to move that number the wrong way).
So ... let's make fall a good one. The weather is changing and it's not too hot to get outside. (Except it's really good sleeping-in weather!!!).
Happy Thursday.
Julie

JulieGo, The first anniversary is hard. Do whatever you have to do to make it through that time. If taking off work and letting the emotions flow is what you want to do, I say, go for it. I was very emotional leading up to the day and then the actual day wasn't as "bad" as I expected it to be. I planted a tree in his honor and had a little private ceremony, talked to him, and cried all I wanted! I just needed to be alone. Others need to be around people and try to occupy themselves so they don't think about it too much. We are all different. So do what is right for you.

Glad to hear you are getting back in gear watching your food intake. I'm like you....not putting weight gains on the ticker. I did before I put it out for everyone to see because I liked to see the general trend, even if there were some bumps in there. But I feel if I do now and then MFP tells everyone I've lost a pound and I get kuddos for it that they are undeserved, since it's the same pound over and over.

Dinah, How did you do with the weed trimming? I still sometimes make a mess and I've been doing it for years. I have a hard time judging how far I am from the ground and then when the string hits the ground at full power, it goes wherever it wants to go. It just takes practice to get used to it. I think it is a good sign that you are trying to take over these jobs. Good luck with that.

Hope everyone is doing well, getting some exercise, and eating well!!! Have a great rest of the weekend.

Hello all,
I am a 55 year old widow. I lost my husband of 28 years in Aug. 2011, to cancer. He was diagnosed in Feb. and died in Aug. We always just said "It is was it is" and kept trying for normal as long as we could.
The worst time for me is in the evening. We talked and laughed and shared a lot. I find I have no one to share that joke with or that interesting piece of information or what's going on with the presidential election and such. That is also when I am likely to eat everything in the refrigerator.
I wouldn't say I am as lonely as I am alone. I have no children but have 2 four-legged ones. I am so lucky to still have my 88 year old mother close by. I am a 'stay at home' girl and do a lot of church and community work. Since January I have lost 58 lbs. and need to lose another 75-85.
I work with a trainer 5 days a week and of course, diet.
When my husband was in treatment, we had to eat clean and chemical-free. So I got used to it and still try for the organic and healthy choices.
I listened to all the experts and didn't make many changes this year.
Well, almost no changes. Getting fit was long over due and I'm glad I started.

Hope to get to know ya'll.