WOMEN AGES 50+ FOR AUGUST

Yep Barb it is hot up here. I am about 40 miles north and a little east of Seattle. I was out on Camano Island (north and west of us) today and it was beautiful but it is warm and we have no AC. I think this is going to be great weather for our camping trip. We are right on a Lake so cooling down should be easy. No logging food for the next 5 days so I will try to be good but I do plan on enjoying myself. The wine I have been drinking has taken some of the sting out of not being with Holly. It will all be fine. Have a great night all.

:flowerforyou: Hello ladies

Was talking to my mom today and she mentioned she didn't eat her eggs this morning so I told her I expected her to eat all her lunch and dinner. Called her to check on her and she ate everything. She sounded more energized too! I think she just is at that point where some seniors just think its too much work to eat. She said she was too full, so i told her not to eat the cake or pudding she had today. She said "But that's the best part!" At any rate she sounded stronger and was able to hold the phone longer. She is talking non stop about coming to California. That was part of the reason she ate her food today. I told her if she wasn't strong enough she wouldn't be able to get on the plane and come and she's have to stay at a home there. it obviously worked. Tonight she was talking about when she gets here we need to get a car. Boy is she planning.

Oh and my brother and sil have been back since Wednesday and no sign at all of them according to my mom. Wonder why???

Suzzzque
I would love the recipe for your coconut pie. Did you put it on the recipe thingy here on the site to figure out calories per slice? Coconut cream is my favorite pie and even healthed up it sounds delicious!

I saw you said you have an old Coke crate. How old are you talking about. You know a lot of the Coke stuff is worth money. My son collects Coke things and has the old glass bottles with the orignal coke still in them given to him from his grandma. He even has an original coke machine that dispensed the glass bottles back then, working. He's a collector.

You remind me with all your stuff you are going through of me when I had to sell my house when my ex left me. Twenty years of stuff collecting around the house, what a chore it was to go through. I was leaving a home that had 3 bedrooms, 2 baths, den, living room dining room, laundry room, and a brand new kitchen with all new appliances built from the floor on up. (Only got to use my kitchen for a month) to go to a 1 bedroom, tiny kitchen, tiny eating area and living room with one bath. I sold the house but it was raining 3 weekends in a row before the move so I never was able to have a yard sale to make some money off of the items I could not keep. So on the day of the move I made a huge trip to the salvation army and gave practically everything to them. A lot of items were brand new, never used. I had bought them for the house that we had just finished remodeling. Furniture, full size air hockey table, oak entertainment center, new TV, brand new lawn mower, barbecue pots and pans for our new patio we had done, brand new sofa bed for one of the bedrooms that I had converted to a study with built in bookcases. All that stuff given away. (I had sold my bedroom set and curio cabinets, and patio furniture and a 10 X 10 patio cover on craigslist .) To make matters worse it was raining on the day we moved (pouring) so we had filled the largest U-haul truck we could drive, with everything I couldn't keep and was just shoving the stuff out to the guys at the SA. I figure I lost a few thousand dollars worth of stuff and I forgot to get a receipt for the donation. Who was thinking of a receipt in the pouring rain and everyone I had helping me move drenched and in a lousy mood! So I couldn't claim it on my taxes either. When I read about you cleaning things out, I'm thinking smart girl, because on moving day a lot of what you think you cant do without just becomes junk and you think, " How did I get so much stuff?" Looking at my apartment now it is so downsized and has the most cherished things l had. When i think about whether I will be able to afford to stay here another month, I wonder what do I have to give up now? A guy friend of mine, told me to sell things off, like my stove???? so that I could keep staying where I am, using the money I make off of the things. But I'm like down to the last possible things I have now. How does one go without a stove? I don't even have a bed. I think I have given up a lot already!

Sorry just ranting and raving!:explode:

Barbie (cat)
Thank you for the very nice words. I do try to pay attention to the nice things that happened on the day I went to the doctor, but my ex knows what buttons to push and let me tell you, I will celebrate the day when I no longer need to rely on him for anything! I liked the things you said that I could bring up to Phillip. I think I might be able to do those. But what do you think about the other lady he talks to that I mentioned? Is it kind of like I am moving in on her territory even though she says she's not interested in dating? Would that be awkward?

Chiclet

Hi Everyone

:flowerforyou: Barb Good news on the job front I’m so pleased for you. It’s a good job you are a get up and go person rather than waiting for the other guy to get in touch with you, you went out and found something yourself.

:flowerforyou: Welcome all newbies.

:frown: Robin, so sorry your daughter is not visiting you now, couldn‘t you meet up half way somewhere to spend a few hours together and go for a coffee or something? Not sure how practical or easy this is for you but it is just a thought.

Just a quick post this morning as time is flying by while I have been entering my calories and reading posts. Barbiecat I'll have to get a couple of tins to use as weights and use them whilest reading - my arms could certainly use a tone up (as with the rest of my body :bigsmile: ) we call them bingowings over here in UK.

:flowerforyou: Chiclet your mum sounds much happier now, and Barb has a good point about your mums personal bits and bobs, is there any way you can check on them for her?

I really must make a move and get dinner started, why does time go so quckly when you are doing something like catching up with everyone and yet takes so long with less enjoyable things?

I'll try and catch up again later this evening.

BFN
Viv

Good morning ladies

I've had a busy day already! Did an hour in my gym and then went off to take dad to church, then off to visit mum-in-law. She was completely off the wall today and didn't have a clue what was happening or where she was. By the time I had fed her lunch, I was exhausted.

Then I picked Aussie up (he'd been for a walk down by the river) and we went home where I made brunch. DH and Aussie had a full English cooked and I had pumpkin and oat crispbeads with marmite and laughing cow extra light blue cheese. Followed by more coffee! I think I'm drinking too much of it over the last few days, but at least I drink it without anything added and I always make sure that I drink extra water to make up for it.

We are 'enjoying' rubbish weather at present. Rain and wind - perfect English summer!

This afternoon I intend to have another clear out of clothes. I can't believe how big some of them have become (hmm, shouldn't that be how small I've become?) One item that I may hang onto, is a beautiful black taffeta opera coat with a ruffled collar. It is too big for me already, but I may wait until I'm at the weight I want to be and then try to get it altered. It is a one off and I've only had the chance to wear it a couple of times.

Since Aussie has been staying with us, I've done hardly any knitting as we have been playing cards or backgammon in the evenings. Tonight I am going to take a back seat and knit whilst they play. My grandtwins will need plenty of warm clothes when they are born. I've got a gorgeous pattern for some sleeping bags for them which I can't wait to get started on.

Tonight I'm cooking prawn curry for the guys. I'm going to have a bowl of lightly curried veggies with a little tofu and lemon grass stirred in and maybe a dollop of low fat natural greek yoghurt on top. Yummy.

I hope everyone is enjoying their weekend.

Catch up with you all later.

Amanda x

Michelle

I'm not sure about any one else, but I actually like my aspargus thin vs thick. I have been told by the produce manager that the thins ones are more tender when coooked and the larger ones are tougher (maybe because they are older in order to get so big), I don't know maybe its preference. But I BBQ them and they are fine.

Well have a nice day everyone. I think I am going to take it easy today.

Chiclet

Michelle

I'm not sure about any one else, but I actually like my aspargus thin vs thick. I have been told by the produce manager that the thins ones are more tender when coooked and the larger ones are tougher (maybe because they are older in order to get so big), I don't know maybe its preference. But I BBQ them and they are fine.

Well have a nice day everyone. I think I am going to take it easy today.

Chiclet

In reading my post, I realized that I wasn't very clear. I prefer them thin, I was more disappointed that so many were crushed and it was a product of Peru not the US. Sorry for the error. You're right, the thin ones ARE more tender. I was watching Emeril Green once and he peeled the tough outer skin of the part that he broke off and also used that. Do you? I've never done that, I wonder if it's tender inside????? Anyone know?

Michele

I just realized I now weigh what it says on my Driver’s License. Funny thing, I look a whole lot thinner in person than I do in my picture! :laugh: The other day, the clerk at the store scrutinized my license for a long time. Later, I realized it was probably because I don’t look much like my picture.

The "Ones" are on the horizon! Just a few weeks away. I haven’t weighed in the Ones since, oh, about 32 years ago!!! I’ll have to be careful on my trip at the end of the month or the Ones will take longer than a few weeks. I splurged last night on an authentic, home-prepared Mexican meal, complete with homemade tortillas and lamb roasted over an open fire pit. Oh, and a tequila shooter! The first (and maybe the last) in my life! I felt like a college kid. The scale was up a half pound this morning. :sad:

Michelle, Your friend sounds like she’ll take everything you’re willing to give and then some. I hope you will practice saying, “No.” It takes practice when you’re not used to it. You might even want to practice in front of a mirror! No kidding. I can be too accommodating too. You can say “no” with a smile, but be ready to say it. I’m betting you’ll feel empowered in a good way.

You are one movin’ mama! Always a new class or new activity. Your life sounds interesting.

Erica, I was interested in your post. You said, “I have never been able to give up anything I love for any great length of time.” I was exactly like that a year ago. The difference for me was not in giving things up but in adding good things. I’ve learned to love healthy foods and the cravings for junk have gone away.

Trust me, I was a junk food junky. I would sit in the car and eat a whole bag of cheddar cheese-flavored chips (crisps), a half carton of sour cream, some roasted almonds, and a Haagen Daz ice cream bar or three. (Actually four – that’s how many came in the package.) That’s how I got to weigh 324 pounds 9 years ago (still 300 pounds 5 years ago).

It’s not about gritting your teeth and saying “I love healthy foods.” That’s what I would have thought before. Now I feel indulged and pampered – downright spoiled - by the flavors and textures in my diet. I’m not good about denial at all. To me, diets where you have to deny yourself and are a little bit hungry, while they make you feel virtuous for a while, never work in the long run. The trick is to eat the healthy foods first. Vegetables, if you fix them right, are especially good. Fruit’s good too. When you eat those first, it’s funny how the cravings for the other stuff disappear.

Amanda, you are doing so well. I admire you tremendously. It sounds like you’re having some lovely family times. They’re the best times.

Your anecdote about your previously flat-chested daughter made me laugh. I’d give anything to be flat-chested. Some friends and I were shopping in San Francisco many years back, in my size G bra days (that’s triple D with a few extra D’s thrown in). A derelict on the street lurched toward us and said, “Nice tits lady.” My friends have never let me live that down. Now that I’m getting much smaller, I can laugh with them!

Aren’t “normal” size clothes great?! I was looking online for tops with ¾ length sleeves (because the upper arms are never going to look good bare – a small price to pay for losing the weight). Almost every time a top caught my eye, I’d see that it came only in Women’s (large) sizes. I’m going to have to retrain my eyes! Although, barring a tummy tuck, I never will look good in tops that cling. That limits the selection. What to do, what to do. :ohwell:

Yay, Susan, for the scale budging!!! :flowerforyou: I’m amazed by all the creative things you do with garage-sale items, etc. I wish you lived closer!

Kerry, you’re a girl after my own heart when it comes to veggies. “Fresh out of your garden” sounds wonderful. :happy: We’re hoping to have a garden next year after we get the final grading done (just finished building the house a little over a year ago…in fact, my apartment is not yet done (I can hardly wait)).

Welcome to everyone new. This is an AWESOME bunch of women! Friendly, positive, encouraging. I never imagined I’d find a group like this when I started out. It’s made a huge difference in keeping me going when I get waver-y.

I love seeing the tickers for those of you who are so close to goal (and those that have reached it). You’ve done an amazing job. Congrats.:flowerforyou: :flowerforyou: :flowerforyou:

Robin, My heart broke for you when I read about your daughter not coming. You were so excited about it. I hope you’ll get a chance to see her another time soon. I know you are on vacation and may not be reading this, but I’m thinking about you. I hope you’re having fun on your camping trip anyway. You’ve earned it!

Chiclet, you have done so well! Keep up the good work. :flowerforyou: Think of that bottle of wine as 4-5 glasses of wine. Then you can spread it out, and just have a glass now and then. That makes it a treat and not a commitment! The ex is a jerk for sure. That’s why he’s the ex! And that extra 20 minutes of waiting, umm, what a shame! :laugh:

Barb, the new job sounds good. Now that you’re going to be such a busy bee, I hope you’ll still have time to get together when I’m up there at the end of the month.

Jackie, you don’t need to give up, just make sure you get plenty of healthy foods in before you go the other stuff. Honestly, I think you’ll find that you eat less of the other stuff. The stress of dealing with your mom has got to be a factor. I can’t imagine how hard that must be. You keep your sense of humor though. I don’t know how you do it! :flowerforyou:

Annitin, lucky you, having your son who’s a personal trainer help you with working out. Wow! You and Elizabeth both have such good, built-in support.

Bec, you crack me up with your lyrics. We have a whole bunch of veggie queens on here. The more the better! I think I’m the only Sister though! I don’t know why, but being Sister Queen always made me happy. Being Sister Veggie Queen is even better. :happy:

Wow. So many posts, so little time. Even if I haven’t had a chance to say “Hey” personally, I read all the posts and think about all of you. Each of you is dear to me.

I saw this article on whether sugar is considered an addiction and do you go through withdrawels like you would cocaine? The answer...yes. Here is the link to the article if you are interested.

http://health.yahoo.net/rodale/PVN/10-tactics-for-overcoming-sugar-addiction

Chiclet

I have been logging onto mfp for one week now and am very excited to have found this thread! It's wonderful to see that women over 50 are successful at losing weight. I have been thinking that because of my age (63) I may have a hard time with this but from all the posts I have been reading I see that I have been quite wrong...and happily so! I need to lose 81 pounds and have lost 3 this week so I am pretty happy with that! You ladies have been an inspiration to me!!!

:flowerforyou: Tis Monday Morning....

annitin- Welcome:flowerforyou: this is a great place to get encouragment....you are so fortunate to have your own personal trainer:drinker: I'm sure he really wants the best for you and that means being in shape.

SuzyQ- Thanks for the receipe, I will give it a try it does sound good I could probably use this and make 1/2 coconut for hubby and 1/2 banana for me

Cathleenr- :flowerforyou: Welcome to the best thread on MFP!

Jackie- be not discouraged, you can do it, get plenty of water in and look out for the sodium:huh: Of course there is always the exercise room on the ship too...since #2 Son & DIL just got back from a cruise I know that there is plenty of equipment and not very many people using it

Chiclet-:flowerforyou: You have had so much to put up (out) with and my heart goes out to you If I could I'd give you a hug, but this is all I can send right now {{hug}} Glad that your Mom is responding to the rehab place...can't even begin to figure out what is wrong with your brother and SIL:huh:

Amanda- you are so good to your MIL:flowerforyou: Mine is now in a locked down dementia place as she keeps thinking she should be able to go home, but like my Mom she is in Oregon and we don't see her very often, hubbys brother is the one that is overseeing her care. Sounds like you are doing a pretty good job of yourself busy even with your Aussie visitor. So when we were in London last year and I saw all those girls with the cute shoes..I wondered how in the world they walked to the tube :huh: now I know they must have carried extra shoes in their bags

Barb - :drinker: Good job on fighting off those carbs trying to sneek in on you!

Bec- I will now be singing that song all day:laugh: :laugh: in my head of course....Thanks to the Veggie Queen:laugh: :laugh:

Mimi-:laugh: just picturing the person checking out your license:laugh:

Cindy- I understand not wanting to have to go through the house:ohwell: having just done that for my Mom back in Oregon. it's a task that is no fun, for my Hubby and myself we wound up doing it in 6 days because that was how long we were going to be in Oregon on our last trip and I just wanted it over and done with. But now I have the house on the market and the realtor says it looks brand new

Seawillow7 - congrats on those 3 lbs:flowerforyou:

******

Yesterday for lunch when #2 son & DIL came over we had BBQ steak and veggies with the Banana Split Pie and it was all yummy but by the time I got to logging it all in and we didn't make it out for our bike ride I realized that dinner had to be a salad, but that was okay since I wasn't all that hungry because our lunch was after 2pm. So tonight back to the plan and am already back at it with drinking my green tea.

:drinker: Everyone have a good day and continue to drink your water:drinker: , exercise and have some fresh veggies...now let's all sing along...Here's to the Veggie Queen

Laura

Happy Monday, All and WELCOME to all of our new members. You have found a special group of very helpful ladies. I wish each of you great success on this journey!

I arrived back home last night in a downpour from MT. Will be home for 10 days to "take care of home stuff" then head back to MT for another 3 weeks. Ahhhh...the amount of JUNK mail that comes is such a waste. I have looked at about half and will deal with the other half later. And...confession: I HAVE NOT WEIGHED IN FOR 3 WEEKS!!:frown: :frown: :frown: I am afraid!!! I got plenty of exercise while gone but didn't get all of my food logged in every day and certainly had a bit more wine and extras than usual. So...I'll find out in the morning! I am trying to make myself put in an exercise video but am dragging. So I am writing to you all instead of exercising...but also instead of snacking! I am irritated at myself that I can get off track so easily with the least little change of routine.

I have enjoyed catching up with everyone by reading posts...I have missed being in touch more often and look forward to chatting more with you all later. Have a great week everyone! Take care, Kackie

A late Good Evening Folks ....

And a quick visit too. A very dippy day again today and we're off to wheel mum along to the doc's tomorrow. Wheezy and a swollen foot ...best nip things in the bud before she goes off to respite. She WILL go!!!!

Only a week to go now .We have two ...not just one...tables up in our bedroom. It resembles something from a rummage sale with two suitcases for clothes, one holdall for the shoesand toiletries etc, two bags to carry on the ship and a suit carrier.
One thing we forgot ...the kitchen sink!! Well almost...I have packed J.cloths and Sanitiser spray to combat those nasty bugs that can cause noro virus etc. Be prepared is my motto. The first aid bag is also quite comprehensive. If you have it you don't usually need it ...another motto. DH and i are walking around with our heads leaning to one side ...a side effect of manouvering around all the "Gear" in the bedroom ...we have loft conversion !!!

We've had two lovely sunny days here .....don't think it's forecast to stay. I spent all day yesterday thinking it was Monday ...I haven't quite got used to the day centre for mum being on a Sunday. I've just seen the weather forecast for tomorrow and we should be dry on our walk to the doctors. It would have been a black bin bag job to cover the wheelchair otherwise ...imagine the sight !!

So ...goodnight from me ....fingers crossed for a lighter me tomorrow!! LOL!!
BFN
Jackie

Well, I did it today (Sun). I tried having sardines for lunch. I had them right out of the can. I was surprised, they were pretty good. So now I'll need to buy more. Very handy, high in protein but only one serving/can. Works well. I guess the worst part was that I was having trouble opening the can. But once I got it opened, the sardines were pretty good.

mimi - I know one of my big problems, Vince always tells me this and he's so right. I have a very hard time saying "no". When the kids were small, people would ask me to do things, I had such a hard time saying "no". I still do. Well, the gal invited me to a dinner/theater. I told her I would go but PERHAPS at the last minute Jessica will just have told me that she's going to go to Charlotte for a concert and she expects dinner. Reality is -- I know this today but somehow I don't feel the necessity of saying anything just yet.

You???? In the 300's - that I find REAL hard to believe, real hard. I, too, get so frustrated sometimes looking for clothes. There are so many medium, large, x-large, but small? You're lucky to find one or two! And they're usually gone by the time the sales roll around. And there are even fewer petites. So I have to grab it when I can.

SuzyQ - when you say "shortening" in the crust for your pie, do you mean Crisco-type shortening or butter? Unfortunately, I can't try the recipe. Jessica is SEVERLY allergic to coconut, even if it's just airborn. It doesn't have to necessarily be ingested. Wait -- I've just eliminated the coconut from a lot of the recipes that I've made. How would this work without the coconut?

Yes, sugar is an addiction, especially when combined with fat. So is sodium. Interesting, huh?

chicklet - I agree, talk to Philip. You might be pleasantly surprised!

Had the Food for Thought group here today (Mon). I was pretty good, just had veggies and fruit. However....I did have one of these mini eclairs that one lady brought. Actually, she brought them because she didn't want them in her house. I'm just going to donate the rest...but I didn't tell her that. Another lady brought a carrot cake. I'm not big on carrot cake so that'll be donated, too. Another lady brought popcorn (because she brought her granddaughter, so that was something that the gd could help make), one lady brought a plate of fruit which I ate. Actually, I'd gotten some fruit but I didn't even put that out since I didn't want her to feel like I was overstepping her. The other lady brought this veggie/pizza thing. Basically, it was a dough (kind of thin) with an onion dip and on top of that were red & yellow peppers. I only had one bite of that. Funny, when I had that mini eclair, I really didn't care for it. I'd made some unsweetened green tea so I had that. Snacked on veggies.

Peggy - sounds like you had a great time. Good for you! And you even drank your water. That's great! df will definitely work, sometimes dh can also stand for d*** husband, depending on how one feels at the time....lol That df of yours is definitely a keeper, telling you that you needed to get something that fits. I don't think Vince has EVER said something like that to me.

Yesterday I had a veggie burger and I was really surprised at how much sodium it has in it. Does anyone know of any others that are maybe low in sodium?

I was planning to do spinning tomorrow after my board meeting at the Y, but Bryan has a problem with the window of his car & he has to order the part. He'll need to leave here about 10 for work (he'll need to borrow my car). So after the meeting, I'll come home and do a walking tape.

Everyone, have a great evening!

Michele