WOMEN AGES 50+ FOR SEPTEMBER 2012

Hello Lovelies,
Finally caught up reading all the posts but now I'm too tired to reply.
Tomorrow I have my 2nd session with the new trainer who nearly killed me. Today was the first day I could climb the stairs without being in pain so we'll be having a little chat about that.
Tomorrow is also my weigh-in day. I don't feel like I've lost anything, and that would make 2 weeks without a loss.
I've been good about packing lunches and making sure I eat breakfast. I changed my activity level in my MFP settings when school started since I"m on my feet so much. Maybe I should dial it back to the lower level?

More to come. Have a happy Friday everyone.

Polly

Got up earlier than usual this morning (could be because I fell asleep on the sofa last night so got a couple of extra ZZZs more than usual.

DeeDee – my choice was “Who Killed Mom”. I heard a review of it and a discussion with the author and it's supposed to be very a very touching and realistic account of dealing with an aging parent. I lost my parents very young so I think sometimes I read things about older people to have the vicarious experience of older parents.

Gail – neat trick with the chequebook, doesn’t work when you do online only though. I don’t think I’ve written a cheque in 6 or 7 years now.

Nancy – you catching yourself on accountability was hilarious. I ski Whitewater too, but it’s really about the food – I have all the Whitewater cookbooks and absolutely love them. Haven’t cracked them since I’ve been on the diet. Maybe I’ll calculate some of the recipes this weekend, hopefully the vegetarian ones will be not too bad. I’m trying to be a moderator on the wine/alcohol too, but I think it’s what triggers weight gain. Everytime I have a glass of wine, I seem to go up .2 pound.
The opossum is so cute….when I lived in the Fraser Valley there was a mother and babies that used to come up to my patio doors and all line up with their little paws on the window waiting for snacks.

Janehadji – fou fou drinks really does describe them well!

Kathy – so sorry you are down today. Take care of yourself and be kind to yourself.
With the salmon, just put it in tinfoil with a little lemon and about 15 minutes per inch at 350F. You can open it up and check with a fork just to see if it is cooked in the middle. I like my quite moist but you may want it cooked more. Oh I just read you don’t like lemon, how about dill and a little Greek youghurt mixed up together?

Meg – thank heaven this isn’t a thread where people get nasty, we’d probably not have anyone after a couple of days. Did you really mean tobacco or Tabasco? I was going to ask how you put tobacco in the sauce (after all my daughter has Tom Ford perfume that is Vanille Tabac). Congratulations on the book contract!

Lin – hope your pillow works. I’ve never seen one for side sleepers – how about face sleepers which is how I wake up. Thx for the virtual hug – much appreciated.

Cathy – my daughter did the South Beach diet and did lose weight, but was she every cranky!!

Michele – you are a master baker. Wow, working at your place must be a treat. They probably line up or draw straws for the chance to do your job. Thanks for the info about ginger – I use it a lot and I’m glad it’s good for me. I just love the flavor.

Today I logged all my food in advance and then forgot to eat most of the lunch. Oh well, it’s there for tomorrow. I forgot to weigh myself this morning so I don’t know if the salmon was magic or not this time. I had the second steak tonight so maybe I’ll remember to weigh tomorrow and see if I get double magic – one can only dream.

It’s super busy at work, I’ve got 2 of my 3.2 people away from work on extended sick leave. I think we might need to actually hire a temp this time. The training sometimes takes more time than just working extra and doing it ourselves. Still, if this is going to keep up, it’s probably better to have the extra person available. I can hardly wait for Friday night (2 favourite shows on CBC and heaven knows there’s not much onTV usually).

Oh my gosh, it’s 11:15 already and I was going to go to bed early tonight. By the time I downloaded the updates (which took FOREVER) and then caught up on all the posts, time just flew by. Really enjoy reading all of your posts everyone.

Good night, sleep tight, I think I’ll leave the rest of that little ditty alone.

Have a good night (and hopefully you’re not up all night again Liz).

Lila

Very happy Friday to all!!! I have been so busy at school that the week just flew by! I really need to settle into a routine soon.

Last weekend I planned all my meals for the week, shopped for the food, prepared and froze the meals. It made this week so much easier. I am going to make that my weekend routine.

Several ladies have been talking about shopping in their closets. I love doing that and need to add that task to this weekend also. Cool weather is heading here quickly and I am not sure how much if any of last year's winter clothes will fit. I may need to go on a real shopping spree at the outlet stores! I am within just a few pounds of my goal, but have been stuck for about 4 months. I saw the doctor yesterday, was up 2 pounds , but she says I am down 4.5 pounds of fat:happy: ,(up in muscle:flowerforyou: , up in water:grumble: ), so I am in a healthy %fat zone. Clothes are fitting differently, but I am between sizes in pants. Need to lose a few or gain a few:frown: . I WILL few lose a few:bigsmile: More gym time is in my future. I think I need to start working with Bob the Body Builder again. (Yes, that is what he has on his business card:laugh: )

The posts here are so motivating. Thanks to all of you. It really keeps me grounded. Diets were always hard to stick to, but this healthy lifestyle change has actually been easy for me. The support from this group makes it fun!:flowerforyou: :flowerforyou:

Deb A

Good morning everyone and I am also saying hello to the 160's on the scale today! Hooray!

My day started with a text to my phone at 5:20am. Really? I wouldn't text anyone at 5a unless it was an emergency. To boot, it is from a number I don't recognize. It woke me up, so now I'm showered, dressed and ready for the day.

@ Lila - I do bank online, but also still keep the check register in paper format. It is easy enough and is a great reference at various times throughout the year. Guess I've got one foot in the technology and one in the past. It works for us.

Hope everyone has a wonderful day.
Gail

Happy Friday!

Well the BioFreeze relief was very short lived. I'm waiting for my script to be ready, if that doesn't help I may bust down and get a cortisone shot. Enough about me, I have a few minutes to comment on a few posts before I have to get my day started.

Lin-Hope your new pillow helped last night! I was looking on Sears website and saw a few interesting ones there but haven't decided yet.

Cindy - That was funny the way you told it too!:laugh:

Cathy- Sorry your brace isn't working right yet! Believe me I understand about getting down in the dumps when you are hurting and frustrated! Hang in there, hopefully it'll be right soon/:flowerforyou:

Tigress-Before my knee flared up so bad I tried water Zumba and had a lot of fun with it! It's easier to hide if you get the moves wrong when you're in the water.

Gail-Thanks for the salmon tip!

Janehadji-Thanks for the good thoughts!

Janemartin02-Have a great time with your granddaughter!

Michele-Thanks for the tip and link about ginger. I will certainly check it out. I do use fresh ginger in a few recipes already so it sounds interesting.

Liz-Enjoy the 3K!

Barbie-This is why this thread is so great compared to the belittling on other threads because of how you run it!:bigsmile:

Lila=Thanks for the tip for salmon too!

DebA-That's great news from your doc! You are doing great! I feel the same way-the support here makes it fun!

DeeDee-Sounds like you had a lot of fun shopping! Enjoy your new wardrobe!

Sue for MA- Welcome! I too was a lurker for awhile before I joined in and I'm so glad that I finally jumped in here! This is a fantastic thread with wonderful, kind, supportive people!!! I can't say enough good things about this group!

Have been on here wayyyy to long. Sorry if I didn't comment more individually, but if you posted I read it!

Kathy :drinker:

It's a drippy, drizzly Portland morning, but TGIF just the same. :flowerforyou: Track or not to track, that is the question. I've gone every day this week and why on earth would I not go just because I'd get all wet? Yuck, I don't wanna, lol. I could always go upstairs and do Yoga this morning instead, and start up again with aerobics. Let the indoor fun begin!

Deb A, I'm right there with you, inbetween pant sizes. :grumble: I'm having a hard time getting the last few pounds off, but by gosh and by golly, I'm going to do it before the end of the year. We're running pretty close together, you and I, I want to lose 75. Hopefully the remaining 6 lbs will all come off my very stubborn saddle bags. :ohwell: Thanks for the note about shopping in your closet, I need to follow suit. I've been wearing the same old things and could use a change of scenery. :bigsmile:

Nancy, you can't put your canner away yet, the fun has only just begun! If I lived next door to you I'd be giving you canning projects like crazy. For instance, I'll be picking apples soon and you'd have to make apple butter or sauce. Then there are the concord grapes from a friend's vines that will need to be turned into jelly. And for goodness sake, there are scads of sweet red peppers to roast for canning, plus plain tomato sauce and pickled hot peppers including Escabeche, which consists of jalapenos, carrots and onions pickled in vinegar & water with a tiny bit of olive oil. Oh, and I have the recipe for traditional Salsa Verde if you're interested. You'd need to pick up some tomatillos, cilantro and serrano chilies. I've never canned it, but I roast extra tomatillos and serranos which I freeze in batches for making the salsa later on. I hope you find the ingredients for canning some salsa this weekend. Hang tough in regards to your scale. I've had the same problem lately, it's frustrating! :explode: But I know it's my own darn fault. I've just been eating too much, period. And do you think I could give up having a glass of wine or two at night? :noway: Singing the "sigh" song here, too.

Barbie, you set such a wonderful example in everything you do. :flowerforyou:

Michele, lazy?? :noway: Hardly!

Clock says time to get moving here. If I wait too long I get busy with everything else and my exercise time takes a back seat.
Eat less, move more. That's my motto for today.

jb who might soon be soggy.

JB - OK, OK. My cold room shelves are only half full. And I love the product, and even the process of "putting food by". I shall purchase another dozen jars (or so) and get busy with the tomatoes and peppers this weekend. You're inspiring me.

Good morning, everyone, and happy weekend!

Ok, trying something new today: keeping a page next to the posts and typing comments as I read them .

CathyB, I’m sorry the brace isn’t working out, but hopefully they’ll figure it out and get it working. I know what it’s like to be down in the dumps when your health isn’t keeping up with your goals. Try not to let it hold you back everywhere though – there’s no point in throwing out the baby with the bathwater, right?

As to the Southbeach diet, I can tell you my mother has lived on it for years (and my MIL on a modified form) and it works great for her. She lost a great deal of weigh including her belly and has maintained for some time. I don’t know that age has anything to do with it other than forcing yourself to break the carb addiction – my mom started in her 60s and still does it now in her 70s. I can tell you it’s amazing what happens when you see how carbs have fogged your mind. I personally don’t watch carbs that closely, but it’s only because most veggie proteins are carb-based (beans primarily); however, I still don’t eat a lot of breads or pasta just by dint of having been low-carb for a long time. If you’re borderline diabetic, you won’t really have any choice, you’ll have to start watching carbs. So, having said all that, I would say SB is pretty easy to follow, has a lot of simple modifications, and has allowances so it’s not completely restrictive. It’s a good way of life.

Lin, I updated my iphone and ipod yesterday – it was really slow. When it started it showed it was going to take hours! Fortunately, it didn’t .

Cindy, I got the humor 

Jane, yay for seeing your granddaughter! Mine is my joy. I told my daughter to wrap her in duct tape to keep her from growing too much before Christmas.

Michele, nice one on the sneaky brownies! I can’t (or won’t) keep secrets, so I always let the family in on anything I do, but last night I had the kiddos try the choco-chip cookie dough dip first before telling them about the “secret” ingredient – they were amazed – and loved it anyway! And my in-laws love garlic bread that way, only they take “lazy” one step further and buy the bread from the store that comes frozen and pre-cut . Good job on keeping up with the exercise too.

Liz, bad news about the air quality . Hopefully a breeze will start pushing that smoke on out. Isn’t it amazing how time flies?!

Micki, hang tight with your existing pants – it won’t be long before you’ll be in the ones that go with your tops. I can tell you from my own experience I’m moving into and out of sizes right now almost faster than I can keep up! It’s a good think I refuse to throw away my clothes .

I can relate to the waking up and not being able to get back to sleep. My husband and I have rotating sleep schedules – one of us will come to bed late, wake the other up, the other will then move to the couch, then the cat will wake up and want to go out, . . . it’s amazing we get any sleep at all . I find it really hard to get back to sleep if I’ve woken up after two or more hours of sleep – too many years of little sleep. Usually I just give up and log onto the internet .

Hi, Polly – Don’t you love having someone (new) who will push you a little? It’s good to get out of your comfort zone – before you know it, you’ll be amazed at how much more you can do! Anyway, good luck getting off that plateau.

Lila, I can’t really relate to forgetting to eat . Seriously, though, I’m right now swaying back and forth between wanting comfort foods (soups!) and to not eat at all. I’m not doing very well at storing up for winter . Good luck with work.

Deb, I’m trying to get my daughter to do the shop and cook on the weekends thing – I think it will help her have food on hand, but so far with a young baby they really are just hanging in there. Good for you though – it really helps if you don’t have time to plan a meal each day.

I love that your trainer is Bob! We love, love, love Elizabethtown, and in the movie the Bob the Builder movies play a crucial role . Good luck with the shopping, wherever it is.

DeeDee, they have one of those stores in Annapolis – my sister was pleasantly surprised when she tried on some clothes there and they were too big! They cut them very well. It’s supposed to be one of Michelle Obama’s favorite places too.

Gail, CONGRATULATIONS!!! I’m expecting to drop into the 170s this week – I’m jealous, but also right behind you . The text might have been one of those spam ones. It’s a reason I don’t allow phones in our bedroom. My husband’s friends text all.night.long. Grr.

Sue, Welcome!

Kathy, sorry the BioFreeze didn’t work. Knees are hard – they do most of the grunt work so don’t get a break even when they need one. Good luck with finding some relief.

Lin, I hope the pillow continues to work out. I can tell you, I carry all of my stress in my shoulders and neck AND I’m a side sleeper like you. I had a chair massage last time I was at my hair salon (why yes, they ARE full-service!) and she told me to a) do the stretches (neck rolls, etc.) and try some sort of heat compress around my neck whenever I’m relaxing. We have one that is filled with corn – I pop it in the microwave for a minute or so, then wrap it around my neck and shoulders – it really helps!

Good luck with your calls today. This time of year I would say it’s pretty normal for the furnace people to be booked up, but I’ve never had any problems with ours cancelling if I don’t answer – that’s just rude!

Whew! That’s a crazy way to respond to everyone, but I feel accomplished now! I’m done with resistance training this morning, another lovely day on the East Coast so another walk today at lunch, and then a nice weekend with my husband and his kiddos. I hope you all enjoy yours as well.

Cheers,

M.

Happy Friday to my Gal Pals,

Its early weigh-in today as I go see the doctor for the results of all my tests, I’m almost afraid to step on the scales… I want to close my eyes and have someone else peek for me…

196lbs!!! That means 4 lbs lost this week!! Yippppeeeee!!!! I got on the scales three times because I thought it was broken!! I have been so very good this week, it’s amazing what the threat of my doctor’s glare will do! I will double check at the doctor’s office to make sure.

Wahooooooooo!! I smashed though my 200lb brick wall after years of leaning up hard against it with my little pick axe in hand chipping away at it BUT I did it!!! I am doing cart wheels in my mind right now (far too dangerous in real life!) Thank you to all you ladies who helped me with your virtual pick axes and support! Yippeee!!! Heeheehee…. Okay, deep breath…… heeheehee

One rule I try to always follow is to eat all the food groups together even in a snack, so I would never eat a whole apple but eat ½ and have a couple crackers with cheese alongside as the protein, starch and complex carbohydrate all feed your blood sugar at a different rate (learned that from a nutritionist when I was diagnosed with hypocycemia) and it seems to be working!

The frost only hit the roof-tops and not down to ground level so my garden is still intact and this last official week is summer is lovely and warm. I will listen to the radio a little closer to hopefully avoid any more midnight pajama dancing in the greenery.

Cousin is coming along as well as can be expected, (he never took real good care of himself), and without a voice box all he can do is lay back and listen … good for any man.

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Carojrrn– I have been using a water pillow for years since my whiplash injury, I love it. You put as little or as much water in the inner bladder as is comfortable and it has a comfortable poly surround.

Deedee- I love Halloween, its costumes and decorations. My decorations this year are still behind flood boxes so it will be skimpy at best if my son decides to decorate but I will be away.

Glendalight- good for you taking along your own fish dish, you have to look after yourself first. Soon you will be joining me in the 20lb. dance!

Barbie – love your pictures, great motivation! Love your knitting too, that takes a great deal of work.

Lila – if book club is only one night a month and these ladies have done their best baking for you, you must at least have one!! Just one and have a big salad for supper before your meeting.

Auntiebk- good for you on having an exercise area! I have tried putting a rebounder and a stationary bike in here but unfortunately it is a small house and my non-exercising hubby poo-pooed them and after the flood they now reside in the overcrowded garage and consequently are not in use.

Lizmil79 – Krispy Kreme twice in one day? Your boss is a torturer! Congrats on only one!!

Nancy – I didn’t think of counting my late night garden venture as calories burned!! I am slipping!

Kathy – a Vogue model who is plus-size at a 12??? Augghhh!!! This world has gone squirrely with its vanity sizing and they have size 0 and double 00, who are they kidding. I see size 0 and I wonder if the person is invisible! I am in the 1X, 2X camp and have no idea what size I will be really be when I hit my ideal weight. What was wrong with the original sizing when patterns were first invented? It worked for over 150 years, it was universal!

Mwheatcraft – scheduling your walk on the calendar is a good idea! I am like you, I sleep so much better and deeper when my room is cool but I have never gone to bed early to avoid temptation!

Meg- good for you with all your exercising, I have been rather lax on my walking but trying to make up with gardening and housework.

Yardtigress- good tip about the bean sprouts in place of pasta, I will have to keep that on my radar the next time the guys want spaghetti.

Barbie – I am a moderator, if it is something I truly love that is not so good for me, chocolate being the main one, I get the tastiest (won’t waste my calories on any old thing) and have one square as a reward if I have been good. Two of my favourites are the Lindt Excellence dark chocolate with mint or chilli. Yummm.

Walker54- isn’t it lovely when someone else notices. I have now lost 20 and my hubby hasn’t noticed at all but that doesn’t concern me. After all, it took him 3 days to notice I had the cast removed from my leg and that was only after someone else pointed it out! Lol! Head in the clouds, that man!

Michelle – cousin had his voice box removed due to throat cancer. He was a lifelong smoker.

Lila – I am still pushing my luck with the tomatoes, I have two large trays filled with semi to really ripe tomatoes but I want to give the last ones outside all the sunlight they can get!

Sundance – glad your headache is gone, they can be crippling when they get a good hold.

Wessecg – a possum in your house? Are they docile little creature or more the destructive type? They don’t live this far north so have never seen one.

Gardengail – so sorry to hear about your husband’s cancer that is really worrying. Lucky you that your mother was so forward thinking! I had what was called an energy burn from the ultra violet rays on a cloudy day when I was 15 and for years could not go out in the sun at all. Emergency doctors thought I was an accident victim as my face was swollen so badly it split! Painful!

Amanda – so sorry to hear about your cousin, it’s too bad he didn’t lose the weight, perhaps he will now.

Laura80111- glad to hear your hubby’s job is going well. I love the bike rides too and exercising indoors just isn’t the same but I guess that is what we must deal with
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Janehadji – That’s wonderful that your daughter got such a good job! It’s always hard when they move away though, so true. We have gone to Mexico on several occasions in late winter, usually about the time it hits -35c and colder. It’s not mystery why your neighbours are from Alberta!!

Kathy – ohh, take it easy with that knee! Ouch. Be kind to it. My son just started a new job and twisted his kneecap so that it pinched the cartilage and he was off work for a few days. We got him a knee brace and tonight he tries it out back at the job. I am hoping it goes okay otherwise he will be looking for a new job!

Kackie - a bear in the house!! Wow! That would be a little too much for me!!


All this talk about winter coats, I just realized that after almost 12 years of the same winter coat (wasn’t going to spend money on a new one until I lost the weight… haha) , last winter I broke down and bought two on sale, a knee length and an ankle length. While I am certain I won’t have faded away to nothing before this winter so they should still be good… but next year…. Shopping!! Coats are very necessary in this part of the world… very necessary!!

Just got a call from my son to pick him up, he has had everything stolen from his locker at work, glasses, knee brace, keys, everything!! It was a co-worker! Hope it was caught on video!!

Well I am off to work in an hour with a big smile on my face; I wonder who will be today’s surprise employee?

Hugs to any that I have missed and to all you new people, hugs to all of you!
Have a wonderful day♥!!

Kate

Yipppeeee!!!!!!!! heeeheeheee

Good Morning,

Popped in here a few times to catch up and read all the inspiring posts, never have time to post. Such an active thread!

Lin, I think I need new pillows also. Always end up with two skinny ones, they flatten so quickly. Not sure what I would get though. I need to be on my stomach to fall asleep (usually happens within 30 seconds);:yawn: I wake up on my back and go back to sleep on my side curled up.:ohwell:

Jb, reading all about your canning and gardening is making me hungry.:bigsmile: I would love to have a garden when I move. Right now all my free time & money is spent on making the landscaping look beautiful for my neighbors to see. Would much rather see that time & money go to something useful.:flowerforyou:

M, I had the same idea this morning, just got to your post.:laugh: There is no other way to keep track of everything. I too have my word document open alongside MFP. Just have to be careful and keep them separate from work items.:happy:

Kate, WOW, I can hear the Yipees all the way here, congrats! :flowerforyou: What a great way to start the weekend.

Yay, I made it to the end of the posts!:bigsmile:


Weather here in New England has finally changed, feels more like fall. It has been such a hot summer. I just hope winter doesn’t happen too soon, I really love the fall! The perfect time for riding, especially after the first frost when all bugs are gone.

I need to go shopping in my closet this weekend, maybe donate a few items to Goodwill next week. I’ve got to get anything baggy out of the house. I will be taking measurements Sunday, first time since the day I started 4 weeks ago. I know I will see big changes. It’s amazing what happens when you eat less than you burn, so simple, yet so difficult because I love to eat.:happy: I think I am definitely going to succeed this time!:drinker:


Lynn

September goals
Lose 1 lb / week (first week was a bigger loss, don’t expect that again)
Continue to log in my food choices the night before, such a great help
Get back in the saddle at least once this month (literally – haven’t ridden in a while)
Have at least 2 bedrooms painted by the end of the month (selling house this fall)