WOMEN AGES 50+ FOR APRIL 2013

okay, I really need to get serious and get back to it. I have just been wallowing and floating by with modified bad habits. I need to get back to the dreadmill that I haven't touched for a couple of months. I think I am being motivated by St Maarten. I need to look less like a beached whale while sitting on the deck of the yacht.:noway: If I really get my act together I could lose 20 pounds by Christmas.

GOOOOO ROBIN!!!!!!!! YOU CAN DO IT! :bigsmile: :bigsmile: :bigsmile: :bigsmile: :bigsmile: :bigsmile:

Sorry I just had to convince myself:laugh:

Dreadmill here I come

Robin, Bodi and Ritter
PNW

MELANIE:
WHERE in Saudi do you work? I live in Egypt. Came to Saudi once for a visit when my daughter was there a few years ago.
Do you live on a compound?
Phyllis in Egypt

Hi Phyllis, I'm working in King Faisal Specialist Hostpital and Research Center in Jeddah. Yes, I am living in Amoudia compound and thats were I'm running/walking around and around to get my exercise, I don't have to wear an Abaya in the compound, although there are a few ladies out doing just that..... way too hot for me . Where was your daughter?

I am in my mid 50s too and struggling with the scale. No metabolic issues yet but a recent knee surgery that the weight is NOT HELPING! I am determined and would love the support too. Feel free to add me as a friend and we can cheer each other on.

Melanie,
My daughter was in Riyahd and not in a compound so it was really hard for her. We had to wear an abaya every time we stepped out side. it was the craziest country I have ever been in with all the WOMEN or FAMILY MALLS or only MEN MALLS or restaurants. we did go to some fun Women only parties where the ladies came all covered up but once inside the party they stripped off all the black and become completely different gals! They danced and had a grand ole time! It was a hoot!. She worked at a ALL GIRLS school. SPOILED girls didn't give a minutes care about their work since they all had money and pretty much could just get anything they wanted in life just from being born rich.Now she is in Abu Dhabi and it is much more civilized and she likes it a lot.
Phyllis

Melanie,
My daughter was in Riyahd and not in a compound so it was really hard for her. We had to wear an abaya every time we stepped out side. it was the craziest country I have ever been in with all the WOMEN or FAMILY MALLS or only MEN MALLS or restaurants. we did go to some fun Women only parties where the ladies came all covered up but once inside the party they stripped off all the black and become completely different gals! They danced and had a grand ole time! It was a hoot!. She worked at a ALL GIRLS school. SPOILED girls didn't give a minutes care about their work since they all had money and pretty much could just get anything they wanted in life just from being born rich.Now she is in Abu Dhabi and it is much more civilized and she likes it a lot.
Phyllis

Yes, I have to agree, the differences/rules here are pretty crazy, especially when compared to the west. Jeddah is a wee bit more relaxed than Riyadh, minimally. I don't have to cover my hair unless told to by a passing Motawa (religious police, for those not familiar), but personally have not been asked. But the family sections and men's sections do exist here in the restaurants too, so if you are just a bunch of females, you have to eat in the family section. I used to try to get some walking in on cooler days and walk to do my groceries and catch the hospital shopping bus back to the compound, but first, wearing the abaya is pretty hot and second, don't like the way I was looked at, there are never (almost 99.9% of the time) saudi women walking out of doors by themselves of with friends, so I pretty much stick to the compound for any exercise now.

But, except for the fact that I really miss being able to just jump in my car and go do groceries whenever the mood strikes, it's okay here, I'm pretty much a homebody, so the restrictions aren't too bad for me.

But regular things like going to do groceries are an experience in exercise anyway, as today, run down three flights of stairs, catch the bus, do groceries, lug said groceries onto the bus without tripping on your abaya and breaking your neck , lug the groceries off of the bus, trying not to hit anyone as you inch down the bus isle, get back into your building, put down groceries, unsnap abaya and grab bottom corners, pick up shopping bags and drag them back up three flights of stairs. Then after putting my groceries away today, I grabbed up my dirty laundry and down three flights of stairs to put it in the washer, back up to collect my garbage, back down to dispose of garbage, back up to have some lunch, back down to change laundry to dryer, back uppp.....

After all that, do you think I could, without guilt, log 10 minutes of stair running today?

I would love to join a gym, I think that there are some Gold's Gyms here with female sections, but its kinda a hassle to get to them, besides, my intention when coming here was to save money for my retirement, so am trying to be frugal.

I don't spend too much money here, I would say that my biggest expendature here is food, as I eat nothing refined, no sugar (honey if I want really sweet), so that means, meat, fish, eggs, lots of milk for homade yogurt and lots and lots of veggies and fruit which by the way, are pretty darn heavy groceries to lug on and off a bus and up three flights, hee, hee.

Renny: I absolutely love your profile picture It makes my mouth water ((HOPE she doesn't change it in the next little bit to some "person picture" or this statement could look bad for me:blushing:

Hope you all have a fantastic day! I did some running and walking this morning, but am trying to talk myself into a walk this evening, maybe not, I think I have been on the computer too long

Lucy- I have had days like that! I rarely get a good night's sleep- have tried just about everything- but have learned to deal with it. It does make for a bad day now and then. Hope yours gets better!!
Deb in CNY

Warning - whining ahead. This has been a tough week for me. Met with my dad's estate lawyers and doing the final clear out of my parents condo has drained me and I feel like an emotional wreak. Work is also hectic. I feel like all I've done is deal with the estate and work. I've managed to get back into exercising again. I've really been pushing it and feel very sore. Jackie Warner and Jillian Michaels are killing me :laugh: The problem has been my eating. I put on the weight after my mom's death - using food for comfort. This week haven't had time to cook so going out a lot and feeling like throwing all my great effort to the wind and eating to feel better. Of course when I got on the scale this morning and saw I'm back over my threshold again I was not feeling better. I'm trying to add in more yoga at the ends of my workouts to help me deal with all this stress. I've got to get back under control!!!!!

Thanks for letting me post my rant. Hopefully I can find a bit of time this weekend to unwind and relax. that should help

No time to post individually (again), but I'm trying to keep up with all you wonderful ladies and know I'm thinking of you, congratulating you for your accomplishments and routing for those seeking comfort and help (like me right now). No more time. Have a great evening. Jodios

My MS can be so frustrating yesterday my walk was wonderful. Walked a mile before I found my gait to be quite unsteady. Today after .3 mile I realized it wasn't going to be a good day. My arms are so heavy they pull me down, no energy to talk. And it is up to me to keep a pleasant conversation going with my husband. Today he was upset that this failing mall was having a baseball card show. It messes up his walking space. Well to bad Charlie, they are paying to be here. The mall is trying to stay open so that it can benefit every one. Right now it is mostly doctors offices, CPA, antique stores and three retail stores. So he wasn't pleasant to walk with. So we stopped walking together and I got in .6 miles. .5 miles is my goal that I can't go below

Geez I haven't been posting much lately but didn't expect a new thread and one already on page 6!!! I don't even recognize half the people posting. I guess I've been gone so much because I'm following my diseased grandmother's advice, "If you don't have something nice to say, don't say anything." Well I've not been being good at anything lately except for logging how bad I've been. And I think I even skipped logging a couple of dinners because I couldn't bare to see the ugly total.

Monday I have a colonoscopy so I am going to weigh myself that morning and make that my official weight :laugh:

Jodios - sorry to hear things are stressfull - rant away :flowerforyou:

Robin – Yes You Can Do It!!!!!!!! You’ve got St. Maarten dangling like a delicious carrot in front of you :happy:

Kdenker – Welcome, join us and read/post often. You’ll get loads of great information and support.

Meg – Virtual hugs to you while you are sooooo busy! Hope you are feeling much better and not maximally medicated any more and that there is a light at the end of your tunnel (feel sure it is NOT an oncoming train) :ohwell:

Lucy – So sorry you’re dealing with a case of “the funkies” today. Hoping it is gone in a flash and you’re feeling back to your usual upbeat self.:drinker:

Jodios – Hopefully the estate process is coming to a close so you can put that part behind you. It’s understandable that you’re feeling so stressed. Be kind to yourself, it sounds as though you are exercising as much as you are able to fit in. Count that as a victory :flowerforyou:

Tari – Good luck tomorrow, I agree with you about not eliminating any foods but trying to moderate their quantity/frequency if they are “low nutrition”

Jmkmomm – good for you for surpassing your walking goal despite DH being a sourpuss and your MS acting up. Kudos to you for sticking with your health plan

Jo in Wales – Enjoy your holiday, glad you were able to cook at least one meal for yourself. Take advantage of your HRT :happy:

Wessecg – Don’t beat yourself up, the fact you’re still logging is what you should focus on. Monday you will kill two birds with one stone - - get the colonoscopy off your list and renew your determination!

Lin – Good luck, I’m sure your preparation will pay off (both in tax savings and peace of mind)



Brooke from Colorado

“Life is better when you’re laughing.”

well here it is 20 after 7 at night and im just sitting down.what a day.. im tired and I have to work tomorrow,but the DH will be home tomorrow afternoon..
I did go a tad over my 1200 cal today,but wont worry to much.. I have been on my feet alot today and my heel is killing me...
So I am sitting resting the foot, and waiting for the dryer to finish..
Hoping everyone has a wonderful weekend...:flowerforyou:

NSV......10,000 steps yesterday AND today!!! This is a first.

Out the door by 5:30am today; picked up a friend and drove a couple hours to help set up an expo of running gear and clothes that's attached to a half marathon; visited some of that town's stores, spent way too much and ate out breakfast and lunch........so once again estimates are rough. Storms in the area but we only hit one on the drive back.......and it was short-lived.

Barbie: Alcohol? Who has calories for alcohol???? I'd much rather have my hot chocolate (dark, of course) every night even if it puts me over...and the occ. Magnum Carmel Bar. Actually, except for the every night hot chocolate, I think I eat prety healthy.

Viv: hope you made that birthday party

jmkmomm: it's GOOD to keep our drs. happy!!! I'd say that's an nsv

Michele in NC: I'm sure you could do some of the k-bell moves with free weights; not all, but quite a few.........so sorry you are having such ongoing stress with the upcoming wedding, no answers here, but wish you peace with it

Lucy: I've had days when an oldie on the radio will bring on the waterworks.........

Dead tired.......hot chocolate time.....g,nite all

yanniejannie

My dear mom went to her heavenly home today. We are grateful since she was in so much pain for the last couple of weeks...No more pain for her. I am also SO glad I went to Wisconsin to see her last week. She was in good spirits when I was there and still smiling when I left as you can see in my status picture. It's hard, but was not unexpected.

Eileen near San Diego