WOMEN AGES 50+ FOR MARCH

Well, I finished my first week and lost one pound. I was hoping for two, but I did eat too much one or two days....

Thanks Barbie, you are a constant inspiration.

Happy birthday to me! Its the Big Six Oh!

Actually I haven't struggled with a bday like this since 30. Any suggestions on how to cope with humor-if-not-grace?

Did ok on Feb goals: journaled daily, averaged more exercise (wii, Scottish dance class, Texas line dancing) even though a few days didn't meet the minimum, only watched tripleD a few times, averaged a pound a week which for me is a miracle.

BUT have learned that to make that pound a week, there has to be NO BEER:drinker: at least 4 days a week. It's not just the calories in a glass of beer, but the damage I do AFTER:sad: , "Oh now I want something salty... oh now something sweet" in no time at all, 150 calories turns into 500.

So for the remainder of Lent, new NO BEER Mon-Thurs goal, and up the exercise another 5 mins/day.

Thanks and hugs to everyone.

:drinker: Good afternoon ladies ... from a lovely, sunny N.Wales.
Great to be in March ... we've loads of lovely crocus's in the garden. :flowerforyou: :flowerforyou: :flowerforyou: Such a pretty sight after all the snow etc.

:happy: My March Goal was...To not cheat with the calories!! Here goes.......

:huh: Continuing story of our plumbing problem.....
The original plumber (That said the loo was broken a few weeks ago) called to see if the part was in.:noway: Peter had great pleasure in telling him that it wasn't actually broken in the first place ,that we had fixed it ourselves, paid him for the tap washer he fitted and sent him on his way!! I think he was thinking he could have charged us the earth for doing nothing!! So ...we went and got the new part anyway and have taken out the "makeshift " repair and....:frown: Peter is TRYING to fix the new one. I'll let you know if all goes well ...:explode: at the moment there are quite a few expletives eminating from the shower room!!! I'm keeping out of it!!

And.....:glasses: we're still stripping off and complaining of heat exhaustion The Gas Heating Engineer ...hasn't phoned yet. But...we live in Hope!!!...... Actually we live in Mynydd Isa . Hope is a village 8 miles from here!

I've worked a few hours this morning but I'm not going to use the calories. That hasn't worked for me up until now. So hopefully.....
I know I should be exercising more but do feel very lethargic and achey at the moment. Right shoulder and wrist still playing up.
I'm looking forward to that sunshine in a few weeks!!! The care home have rung today and confirmed the dates mum is booked in for ... so it's going to be OK ..Yippee.

:ohwell: Still no "Eureka" moment from upstairs but I suppose I should be grateful that there isn't water running down the walls ...yet!!

Bye for now

:drinker: :drinker: :drinker: Lets work "Miracles For March" ladies!!
Jackie

Good morning everyone!

I was down .5 lb this morning at my weigh in. I really wasn't looking for that since the weekend was really busy and I made a few not so good choices. I am hoping to have a good week. Just keep plodding on.

Kathy: I do understand what you are going through. We very rarely get a break either. Thankfully our children help out with Granny when we need them to. It is frustrating to see everyone else just going about their lives, tra la la la, seemingly oblivious and uncaring. (My brother-in-law and his wife never help and the last couple of times we asked them something came up at the last minute and they backed out). My saving grace is that I know this is what God wants me to do and therefore I am able to live with myself.

Well, I'll check back later,

Cindy

I found this site toward the end of February & was moved seeing all the encouragment everyone had to give. My scale was fluctuating between 215.5 & 216 this morning, so I just chalked it up as staying the same. This happened to me 2 weeks ago & then the following week I lost 3 lbs so maybe that will happen to me again Hope all of you have a wonderful day.

God Bless,

JoAnn :drinker:

Morning Lakies

Happy March

Tagging for later

Heather

February goals:
Keep things positive -- actions, thoughts, words.
Define and truly practice abstinence
Use my "tools" faithfully
Lose 5 pounds

Happy March, Happy Monday and HAPPY BIRTHDAY Barbara -- 6-0 Congrats!! I turn double nickels on Thursday!

How did I do on February goals??? Pretty good some days, not so on others. Did manage to lose 3 pounds. Not 5--but it was a short month and actually in looking back in my Monday weigh-in log I was actually way up on Feb 1 but in my stubbornness did not change my ticker but rode it out...so the actual loss from 2/1 to 3/1 is more like 7 pounds. My March goals are posted below and remain pretty much the same.

:flowerforyou: Kathy -- hang in there because you know you can do this. I am always struggling with "emotional" eating and stress is a huge factor in this kind of eating. Pray, journal, meditate, exercise, post, read postings...whatever it takes to "take you away" (besides eating) is all good!!

To everyone else. Hope you all have a great day and a wonderfully successful weight loss month in March! Cheers:drinker:

Terri

:flowerforyou: :flowerforyou: :flowerforyou: Welcome, Rose, Weezy and JoAnn! You have found the best thread on the web!

Tami--You LOST a pound! :happy: That's great! I didn't lose this past week but I'll take not gaining!

Happy Birthday, Barbara! Hope it's a good one!:flowerforyou: :flowerforyou:

Kathy(plantlady)--You have so much you have to do right now! I will keep you and your parents in my prayers. Try to find some time to take care of yourself. You deserve it!

Jackie--I hope your plumbing problems are solved! And I love the "Miracles for March"! (Sounds like you recovered well from your 'finishing everything you start' binge! I'm still smiling just thinking of that post!:laugh: )

Zaza--I hope you can get your hand taken care of soon! It is SO dibilitating to have a hand that hurts and won't work right!

Hang in there, Cindy--You are a strong woman and can do this!

That's beautiful, Alice! How did you do that?

I will be training a helper at work today! I hope he works out, as it is getting more difficult to get things finished as the season kicks in! I need the help!

Happy March, everyone!:flowerforyou: And thanks, Barbiecat, for making this so easy to find!

A Good Welcome to Ms Juicyplum!

You sound just like me. I have found that if I keep a food diary and measure, measure , measure everything then losing and maintaining works. We hope you will use this site often and will find lots of encouragement here.

Off to the grocery for me!

BBL

Cindy

Happy Monday & Welcome March:flowerforyou:

I just spent the last 45 min catching up on everyone since Friday night (it's really tough not having a working computer at home:grumble: )

To those of you that had a less than successful Febuary...this is a new month for new beginnings and you can do it:bigsmile:

Welcome to the new ones, this is a great place to be and lots of encouragement here.

Rebel, hope your daughter's knee heals quickly.

Cindy, how was that Laughing your way to a better marriage? I'd really like to know, although my husband can always make me laugh.

Barbie, a trip to LA, fun, family or work?

I was so afraid that the final weekend was going to do me in...but it didn't:bigsmile: Friday night we went to dinner with friends and I really struggled with the menu, there was so much that I wanted but managed to keep it under control. Gerald has been so encouraging that I was a bit put out with him when he told me go ahead and have a glass of wine (those empty calories:grumble: ) and so I did, but managed to still keep those calories in check.

February was a success for me down 5.6 lbs last month and inches off everywhere. Gerald is starting to notice and is being a real encourager...but the biggest is that I now have three pairs of jeans that fit, it's a slow but steady process:bigsmile: Of course I'm telling everyone about this site, cause it's being the accountability I've needed.

Saturday we went and bought a new elliptical, our old one died a year ago:grumble: got the new one home, down the stairs, put together...plugged it in NOTHING took it apart yesterday, still nothing...it works but no calculating or changes of any settings, very frustrating:grumble: .Tomorrow Gerald has his steriod shot in his hip and so I'm hoping he can call tech support tomorrow afternoon while he's home.

I'd best get to the paper piles, every one have a great day:drinker:

Laura

Does anyone have any advice on how much protein we should be including ? I could live on fruits and veggies, do love lentils, and egg white omelets, but have a difficult time getting enough protein included....is there an amount that is best for getting the weight off ? I know there are food combos that work better than others.....thanks for sharing.

Hi my name is Rose and I am from Michigan. My weight is way out of hand and causing me health problems. I have vowed to do something about it because if something does not happen by summer I am having bariatric surgery. My doctor has started treating me for low thyroid which is fine, but something has to change with the weight I am carrying right now. It has depressed me every day for months and the weight just gets worse. My diet has already changed some what but it seems the harder I try the more weight I gain. My daughter even said I did better when I lived on Doritos and pizza. I do not know how. But I am determined to change this. I think this site will help me greatly in keeping better track of things cos I think that may be part of the problem.

:flowerforyou: Me again ....Dr. Neil proclaimed the way to achieve inner peace...:ohwell: is to finish all the things you have started.......

So..... I looked around my house to see things I'd started and hadn't finished; and, before we begin March's challenges tomorrow....this evening ..... I finished off a bottle of Merlot, a bottle of Chardonay , a bole of Baileys, a butle of Kehuha,
a pockage of biscuits , the mainder of bot Prozic and Valum scriptins, the res of the Chesescke, some saltins an a bax a cholates..

Yu haf no idr who gud I fel.

xxxx
who am I???:glasses:

Jackie--

My position as the resident comedienne around here is being challenged--Totally hilarious!!!:laugh: :laugh: :laugh: I think at the end of the post, if you really did all that stuff the question would be "WHERE am I?:smokin:

February was not a successful month for me in the weight loss department. After making it through both Thanksgiving and Christmas without gaining a trip, my 50th birthday and Valentines day all within 2 weeks had devastating results. I gained 5 pounds and an inch in my abdomen. So far I have whittled 3 pounds of it back off and still have 2 more to go plus 3/4" around my belly to go to get back to where I started on Feb 1st.

Good news is ?I'm back on track now.:drinker:

Suzie--

I feel your pain. I broke down and adjusted my ticker backwards this morning. In a month I went back up 7 lbs. from my lowest weight. I just couldn't bear to go back THAT far, so I split the difference and added back 4.:mad:

I had a bad February. I think it may have something to do with the aftereffects of my head injury. Just can't put things together in a logical fashion without a great effort. Much more affected by stress than before. Seems like it takes twice as long to get anything accomplished, so I seem to have less time for exercise. Have backslid into the "May'swell Syndrome" that plagued me all my life. As in, I "may as well" have one since they are here; as in a piece of cake, or two; a Girl Scout cookie, or three; a late night snack due to boredom.

EDIT: Re read the above, and realize also, there is another point in here about eating that way "mayswell" you, for real.:laugh: :laugh:

So March is here, and I have about 5 weeks to my birthday, so I HAVE to get back in the wagon. I would really like to be down 60 for my birthday--definitely NOT where I wanted to be. My goal when I started last April was down 100 lbs. by my birthday, but 60 is still better than a poke in the eye with a sharp stick.

I guess my goals for March would be to get back on track at what made me successful to this point. Put the debacle of February behind me. Commit to 30 minutes on my Gazelle 6 days a week, plus regular strength training at least 3 times per week. (I would LOVE to be in my size 12 jeans by my birthday, but realistically, that probably will take til the beginning of May.)

I've got the water drinking thing down--second nature now. Just have to focus on eating the right amount of the right foods. There are some transgressions in my kitchen that I am going to remove. If they are in the garage, they are too much trouble to go and find. (I hope).

Now, to answer some posts...

Weezy8150--

You asked about protein needs. MFP calculates this when you fill out your profile info, but googling the question will get you a boatload of answers, but here is an excerpt from an answer to that question from the website exercise.about.com. Here is a link to the complete article: http://exercise.about.com/cs/nutrition/a/protein_2.htm

"....In essence, the more you exercise, the greater your protein needs will be. However, taking it too far, for example more than doubling your protein intake, won't necessarily help you build more muscle.

How to Calculate Your Protein Needs:

1. Weight in pounds divided by 2.2 = weight in kg
2. Weight in kg x 0.8-1.8 gm/kg = protein gm.

Use a lower number if you are in good health and are sedentary (i.e., 0.8). Use a higher number (between 1 and 1.8) if you are under stress, are pregnant, are recovering from an illness, or if you are involved in consistent and intense weight or endurance training.

Example: 154 lb male who is a regular exerciser and lifts weights
154 lbs/2.2 = 70kg
70kg x 1.5 = 105 gm protein/day

Calculating Protein as a Percentage of Total Calories

Another way to calculate how much protein you need is by using daily calorie intake and the percentage of calories that will come from protein. To do this, you'll need to know how many calories your body needs each day.

First, find out what your Basal Metabolic Rate is by using a BMR calculator.

Next, figure out how many calories you burn through daily activity and add that number to your BMR. This gives you an estimate of how many calories you need to maintain your current weight.

After you've figured out your maintenance calories, next figure out what percentage of your diet will come from protein. The percentage you choose will be based on your goals, fitness level, age, body type and metabolic rate. Most experts recommend that your protein intake be somewhere between 15 and 30%. When you've determined your desired percentage of protein, multiply that percentage by the total number of calories for the day.

Example:
For a 140lb female, calorie intake=1800 calories, protein=20%:
1800 x .20 = 360 calories from protein. Since 1 gram of protein = 4 calories, divide protein calories by four:
360/4 = 90 grams of protein per day.

No matter what your calculations are, remember that there are no magic foods or supplements that can replace the right training and the right diet. The foundation of any program, whether your goal is to lose weight or gain muscle, is a combination of strength training and a healthy diet that includes carbs, with a balance of protein and fat. ...."

Kathy, plantlady--

Hang in there. After reading about what you are going through, I realize I don't have it so bad where my parents are concerned. The little scare I had w/my mom a couple of weeks ago hasn't produced any long term effects.
I am tired today because I drove roundtrip for about an hour and a half, twice yesterday to pick up my mom's cousin who lives in another town. I brought her back to my parents' place.

I made dinner -- a spinach salad with campari tomatoes and sugar free, fat free basalmic vinegrette dressing;baked dover sole w/lemon; french green beans; parmesan and garlic french bread; (to keep my dad happy since we weren't having potatoes :bigsmile: ) organic brown rice and couscous pilaf (made myself so NO added sodium:drinker: ) We also had fresh strawberries for dessert. For those not following my eating plan, I added two "Just Desserts Brownie Bites" for a foundation, and ice cream and chocolate sauce. My mom makes her own with melted hershey kisses and a dab of water--better than anything you can buy. I did have a little of the sauce on my berries, but only ONE brownie bite for me.

I stayed within 150 calories of where I should have been for the day, which is a major improvement over where I have been hanging out lately. My food diary for February looked like a train wreck.:grumble: Ooops, forgot, no dwelling on the past.

Happy Birthday, Auntie BK--Barbara. I fear I will have more difficulty putting "6" as the first number in my age, when the time comes, than I did putting a "1" as the first number in my weight.

Juicyplum--welcome!! You have come to the right place.

To the Newbies--

Just to thoroughly confuse you, there are 3 Barbara's on the site. There is our fearless leader, Barbie/AKA Barbiecat; there is me--Barb/AKA weaklink109 and Barbara/AKA Auntiebk.

I can't recall Auntiebk's status as far as pets, but between us, Barbiecat and I have FIVE dogs. She has Brandy and Sasha, two standard poodles, AKA "The Naughties." (She also has a cat named Haifa--but I am only counting dogs right now--that is enough!!) I have Mai Li (avatar photo), Pepper, and Bradley--in order--a Lhasa Apso with a DivaGirl attittude; a Shih tzu who loves EVERYBODY, and cats too; and a Yorkshire Terror. (My mom calls him the "Yorkshire terrorist") Thanks to Bradley's propensity for finding food that does not belong to him, and sharing with the other two, they are known, collectively, as "The Three Little Pigs":laugh: --Barbiecat calls them my "Naughty Piggies":bigsmile:

Happy March!!!

Barb

Arborsong.....I am also a Louise, and my first goal is april 15, trip to see my son's new place in southern CA, from Maine.....is that also a goal of yours ? you mentioned that date. I like the idea of smaller goals that members are listing, working up to the larger ones a bit at a time. Happy Birthday to all the birthday ladies, enjoy your special day !

Hi, I read your message and decided to join the group. I started a week ago and did well during the day, struggle at night. I set a goal for this month of 10 pounds, I think it might be a little more than is realistic at my age. I also plan to weigh in on Tuesdays and will do my measurements to keep an eye on that. Any suggestions about curbing that eating after 9pm habit?