WOMEN AGES 50+ FOR NOVEMBER

Like Jeannie, we had a 2nd thanksgiving Saturday. Joe works Thanksgivings so I spent it with my inlaws, neices, nephews, grand-ns etc. Then yesterday made a turkey and STUFFING for Joe and me. We LOVE Stuffing. It was a tremendously relaxing day. I got to play in the kitchen, taking my time, no stress, just fun, almost meditative. We had turkey, gravy, STUFFING (from scratch with sausage and sourdough bread), mashed sweet potatoes, coleslaw, some of my MILs $1,000,000 salad, and my MILs cream cheese pumpkin rolls. Alas SMVQ there was so much that I didn't roast the brussels sprouts. O well, will do it today and take them with me to work for lunch next week. Lots of food, not all of it the healthiest, BUT, managed portion size (a tablespoon of this, a quarter cup of that), savored the flavor, and thanks to the second food prep marathon in 3 days did not go over calories.

Oops see I never set November goals. Will keep Oct thru Nov, then review/revise for Dec.

CHANGES4ME , you have come to the right place to vent and get encouragement! Down from 303 to 224? WOW! Sure understand about how gaining a little back can make you feel low. :brokenheart: Right there with you too on how much harder the cold makes it to be active. Skipped line dance class Wednesday night because I just couldn't face the bitter cold afterwards. Lots of the gals here use dvds, some play on the wii, when the weather makes us want to not go out. When you do go back to the gym, is there a bulletin board where you could put a note offering to partner with another on this journey? In any case, pat yourself on the back for being a gymgoer (I can't drag myself into one of those places for anything:noway: ), AND for being smoke free for over 6 years. Well Done! :flowerforyou: I've been smoke-free 11.5 yrs and gained too. But it was worth it never to smoke again. As our leader BarbieCat says, Never, never NEVER give up!

Priskar Con VERY gratulations on being 52 days smoke free! :drinker: That is the MOST important thing you can do for yourself! Not much benchsitting here:laugh: but we'll gladly scooch over in the line dance to make room for you! One of our gals (Amanda?) made one of her goals not to sit for more than half an hour and its a good one!.

Amanda, last year you were almost double what you are today? WOW, you HAVE come a long way indeed! What is "wet the babies heads" tradition? :drinker:

Jeannie, you are the kindest hearted gal in the world. Not only do you take in every stray, but you make your old friend, his younger 2nd wife and new baby a warm happy holiday, even when you're facing tough financial times. They'll love you forever, as we do.

Robin, Birdie and Mimi said it right! WOW! Hotcha CHA!

Kathy how are you going to tie up the tree? Can u share a pic? Preferably with baby and kitten too

Rebel what a great gift to spoil your sister so. Know those 5 pounds will fly off.:laugh:

SMVQ you and Robin are Right Right RIGHT. Deprivation does NOT:noway: work for me either. Planning does. AND reading everyone else's stories, struggles, suggestions and encouragements. This is the best group, period.

Warmest hugs to all!

gutt'n'butt try 11 day zer0... still!:grumble:

Made it all the way through yesterday under my calories. Feels SO good. Another day and I'll be safely back on track. Those off-track times are scary but less so as I'm learning how easy it is to get back on track. 2 days of effort, then in the groove, ma'am.

I'm thinking about grandkids and how cute they are...yesterday, I took Kate (4 year old) shopping. She was playing with a little video game. She told me there was this "pig dude" and went on to explain the game. Pig dude? Olivia (6 year old) got in trouble Thanksgiving night for hurting her sister. At first she was all about, "John threw Kate on top of me (Olivia was hiding) and I got hurt and nobody cared." She was very sad. Eventually, she admitted, "I kind of fell on Kate but I didn't mean to." Hmm. Sounds like retaliation to me!

I'll need your prayers and good thoughts this next week. I'll be watching the girls all day, every day, while their mom goes to L.A. to help her DH's sister who just had twins. I hope to still be the doting grandma by the time Sooz gets back!

Barbara, you are amazing...all that tempting food and staying under your calories. I'm in awe! I hope to get there some day. Let us know how the brussels sprouts go. I like them when they're not bitter. I saw a special on PBS once where they said there are 3 kinds of bitter-tasters. Some can eat brussels sprouts and not taste any bitter, some taste a little bitterness, and some gag! I'm in the middle group. It's interesting that even our taste buds vary. Actually, that figures as we are each unique. Kind of a miracle when you think about it.

Jeannie, I echo AuntieBK's sentiments about your kindness in taking in your old friend. You are a good friend to have.

xxx

Amanda - I've made coconut chicken and it taste real good. I didn't have a recipe. I just googled it. DD was doing a report on Madagascar and it said they used coconut a lot in their cooking. We had to cook a Madagascan dinner and take a picture of it for her report.

Mimi - Good luck watching all the grand kiddos. Remember to tire them out so that you can get plenty of sleep.

I'm a little over on calories again today, but it still says I should loose weight in 5 weeks, so I won't fret over it.

Keep warm and be safe everyone,

Jeannie

Just so you know...I am lurking.:laugh:
Welcome to all newbies (I suppose that makes me a graduate?!:bigsmile: )
Hope all that are sick feel better soon!
Amanda that is amaziing- Some of you like Michelle,Robin,Mimi, Birdie, jeannie, Barbiecat and all you Oldies:bigsmile: that have lost all these pounds are a great influence to all of us and what we can look forward to just by being consistant.!:flowerforyou:
Laura's, Robin's, Mimi's, newer pics are fantastic....Barbiecats too:bigsmile: How much have the dogs lost?? All that walking they do with Barbie, there shouldn't be an ounce of fat on them...don't they look sleek?/
I like to tease you guys, if you can't tell.
It's the Christmas season...so it's a time to be more jolly and playful. I really enjoy this time of year...sick or well.
You go from being thankful on Thanksgiving...and really every day but that is a day, set aside, to acknowledge all good things in our lives, to the Christmas Season, which is about giving and receiving. It takes grace to receive. Sometimes, that is hard for me to let people do or give me things. I like to be the giver and the doer. I had to learn that a simple "thank you" was all you had to say.
I have been very busy, so I can't post a lot of individual posts. I am enjoying getting out all my collections. My tree is traditonal red and green with other colors mixed in because I have a 9 foot tree and it is filled with ornaments that I have collected and been given over 37 years. It takes 4 hours to put it up. My dIL#2 and my mom helped. Some of my favorites are pretzel and ribbon ornaments made at school by my sons in 1983 and 1987. They are mixed in with ornaments made in the Holy Lands and designer glass. It doesn't matter to me how cheap or expensive none ot them are retired. They eadh have a special memory and that's part of the joy I have when I decorate this tree every year. Some years, I put up 3 or 4 but this year it's 2 trees.

Enough, I am cold and need to go to bed.

I'll post more later.

Mimi -just one thing, prepare yourself when you keep your grandchildren next week. When I keep mine, they want me to cook and special things and I usually eat more. They think about food or a snack a lot so that keeps your mind on it. They love my frozen, steamed veggies. I use some butter, salt and stevia. Not bad calorie-wise. When I know I have that job, I plan fruit, veggies, I buy myself an organic fozen veggie pizza if I know they are going to want one...etc...Good LucK and enjoy...it doesn't last long and it doesn't happen very many times in your life or theirs.


'til next time,

Hello All.

I finally waded through all the posts from the last time I posted until now. It took me a while. I would still be at it, but we have all been busy so not as many posts to read.

Thank you to everyone for your messages of condolence for my great aunt. The piggies were very glad to see me when I got home. They had been alone for 10 hours. I left at 8a (an hour later than I should have), drove like I should have had a pilot's license (LOL) and made the funeral Mass about 15 minutes after it started. I read the words my second cousin had emailed to me. Her son was getting married the same day as the funeral, so she couldn't be there.

At one point, her words included a reference to Aunt Nellie entertaining her and other nieces and nephews by driving over a road with lots of dips that made it seem like they were on a roller coaster. It was a memory that made us all smile. I couldn't resist an ad lib--"Gee--that's kinda the way I felt this morning on the way over Satus Pass on Hwy 97!!" It was a tribute to Aunt Nellie that we could share a laugh as we remembered her life. She had a wonderful laugh.

By 2:30p the after service socializing was over with most everyone having left. I said my good byes, filled up the car with gas, and hit the road. The friend I had thought about stopping to visit on my way back (She is the one with the dog kennel, who gave me Pepper the Shih tzu a couple of years ago.) was not feeling well, so we just talked on the phone as I drove instead. I called my doggie sitter and intercepted her from making a trip to check on the piglets in the late afternoon, and I was home by 6p. I completed a 385 mile round trip, plus the time there, in ten hours. The next day it snowed where I live and the pass I had no trouble crossing on Saturday was a mess. I am glad I didn't decide to stay over.

Thanksgiving dinner was a success. I had my parents and the friend who lives near me that was so sick last year. She is doing much better. The turkey turned out well, and I made gravy for the first time. I know that sounds funny, but I am not big on gravy, and gravy has always been my mom's department. This year I didn't want her having to stand and avoid doggies underfoot in the kitchen. I have seen her do it often enough, so I just did it. It was delicious!!! ( No, I am not partial to my own cooking or anything like that.)

On Saturday, I had a dinner party for my dad's 84th birthday. Rib Eye steaks, baked potatoes, steamed broccoli, green salad, and a chocolate mousse cake from Safeway for dessert. I got many compliments on my menu. I woke up at 3 a on Sunday and after tossing for an hour, I got up and unloaded the dishwasher and had the party aftermath completely cleaned, except vacuuming, which might have disturbed my condo neighbors at that hour. At 5:30a, I went back to bed and didn't get up until 11!!

I didn't gain after my Thanksgiving meal, and amazingly, I was DOWN 1/2 a lb. when I weighed this morning, after my party.

I have had a problem with a pinched nerve in my back, and it finally has abated--thanks to multiple chiropractic adjustments.

There is no way I can make individual comments to everyone...but here are a few:

Welcome Newbies. You have found the most supportive and informative thread on MFP. BTW,
the "piggies" referred to are my three doggies, a Lhasa Apso, a Shih tzu and a Yorkshire "Terror," who are known, collectively, as "The Three Little Pigs."

Amanda, glad the kiddos and your daughter are getting along okay, and that you are maintaining.

Laura, sorry you have been dealing with the loss of your mom. I am glad you had a chanced to talk to her one last time. Thank goodness for telephones.

Robin, great pic!!

Rebel, welcome back. Sounds like you have been keeping busy.

Jeannie, a few days back when you asked for help at 8a one morning with preparing your menu, had I been available, I would have gladly volunteered to be your "taste tester!!"

Barbiecat, sorry you have had an overabundance of snow and freezing weather up north of me. Thank you for passing on my message during my "MIA phase."

Someone, I think it might have been Mimi, mentioned lamb and rice as a food for dogs with allergies. I gotta disagree!! My vet said lamb is responsible for many dogs developing food allergies. There is an excellent limited ingredient food available without a prescription at Petco. The allergy formula by Natural Balance. There are two flavors: duck and potato, and sweet potato and salmon. My Lhasa is "Ms. Allergy" and she does well on this food. Yeast infection are often a result of food allergies. If one doesn't have the money for allergy testing, try the food for 6 weeks and look for lessening of symptoms. This may give you a clue that you have a dog with food allergies.

Michelle, (I think) said something about eating a trout, complete with the head on, and having trouble with it "looking" at her. Made me think of a famous line from an old movie..."Here's looking at you kid!!!" LOL Also made me think about one of the decorator plaques in my kitchen. A pic of a guy with a bib and a knife and fork in hand, and the caption, "Beware of food that is still moving!!"

Well, it is later than it should be, and I need to call it a night. I have another busy week.

Barb

Glad to have found this thread and I am hoping to join you for "Women Ages 50+ for December". Today MFP tells me I have signed in for 45 days in a row. However, despite following parameters system set up for me I am down only ~>4 pounds. Being 50+ accounting for this??? My hope is to be down 5 pounds more by the end of December by increasing water, exercising 5X week, tracking caloric in as per MFP and motivation by checking in with you on your 50+ thread. Does this work with the group??

Hello, Dear Ladies,

I have been popping in and reading to keep up with everyone the past week but not posting. Everyone left yesterday mid-day and I hardly did another thing all last night. I just made myself do the 30 day shred workout video...and, of course, I feel better. We went for walks during the holiday week but with a baby, they were mostly strolls. And I certainly didn't sit down very often, but it wasn't my usual exercise schedule. Still...I loved having my house full to the brim...It becomes more difficult as the "children" have their own families, so I really cherish the time they can be here.

The weather was so beautiful and warm. We all ended up going over to my parents by boat on Thursday...the ocean was as calm as a pond. How great is that?

Barbie: I appreciate your feedback about how you were able to make this journey so successful. I find something helpful in how each person finds their way. And your comments today about "perfection" hit a nerve with me. I don't like to do things half-way, but this is a life long journey, after all!

Those of us with skinny husbands who can eat and drink most anything without gaining weight have an interesting challenge I think. It has taken me a long time to realize that I CANNOT eat what he eats without gaining weight and I certainly can't drink beer or wine except in small amounts and not every night ...without gaining. When he was working & traveling and out of town, those became my "diet" times and it all worked out. Now I am having to learn to eat the way I should each day without the up and down. Well...I haven't gotten there yet, but I am still working at it.

Welcome to our new members and I am so glad to have heard from some of you who have been away, busy or dealing with losses. I miss hearing from you when you aren't able to post. Take care, all, and I hope this is a good week for each of you!

Kackie

Jessica and her bf are coming this weekend. We're going to the TSO concert, I'm SOOOO stoked. Anyway, I think I'm going to try making the triple chocolate cheesecake again, only this time I won't put it in the water. I'll do everything else. Yup, Barb, when I made the cake the first time, I had to let it sit in the oven for an hour and then overnight in the refrigerator. It's just so hard not to snack on the cookie dough at this time of year. Normally, I try to make cookies that I'm not real crazy about (like the double chocolate cookies) but Vince likes. But at this time of year, it's almost impossible NOT to make any. Made the red velvet cake again. Last time it didn't get eaten -- get this -- "because it was smooshed", like your stomach cares what the cake looks like. If he doesn't try it this time, I'm not going to make another one because evidentally red velvet isn't really his favorite, although that's what he told Jessica so, of course, that's what she told me.

Did an hour of the extreme pump today. Tomorrow, I think I'll do work on the Stair Master.

Amanda - just reading about your ipetus to stop smoking makes me so very proud to call you my friend.

edmon....Losing in Dec. is so very hard, at least it is for me. I'm happy to just be maintaining. 5 lbs isn't outrageous, but don't beat yourself up if you arent' able to reach that goal. Those holiday parties/cookies/cakes/pies/more parties will do it to you every time. What types of exercising will you be doing?

Kathy - will there be much difference if I don't use the water bath? If it cracks on top, well, that's ok, I guess. The first one I made cracked. It's just that no matter how hard I tried, some of the water seeped into the pan.

Here's hoping everyone has a great evening.

Michele

Just weighed in with a 2# loss this week , even with the holiday!!!

Good Morning!

Barb: I did get a chuckle out of your camel story! How resourceful that young man is!

Lynn: It does take grace to receive a gift or a compliment...something to remember this time of the year for sure!

Maeadair: Way to go on your 2 lb. loss....especially during a holiday week!

I had a great, healthy day yesterday. Have my plan made for today too, so hope to continue to focus one day at a time! I think that is the best plan for the coming month too!

I read a great quote yesterday: (more or less...) "The only people who succeed are the ones who really want to."

Have a good one! Kackie

Thanks for the welcoming words. Next challenge for me will be to follow the switch of thread for December. I think I can do it but still learning techy tricks.

Michelle, I am encouraged by your exercise posts: wow, I hope I can stick to it like I can see you have done in November. I have not exercised much in the last decade. In my 20s and 30s I was a daily running devotee, but, illness pulled me out of that habit. Right now I am restarting exercising again but don't see running in the picture. I have just started a 2X a week registered "yoga 101 class". So far, I am enjoying this. The other exercise I have started is the wii: I have a balance board and the "starter" fit program. I like working with the wii and hope to do this for a 1/2 hour a few times a week through December.

Karlene

Sorry for the post earlier Photobucket locked up and I had to shut it all down to get out did not know it posted the photo.
It goes with Barb's camel ride story.

This is my son standing on the backs of Biggs and Herbie two of his ride camels



This is Matthew introducing his camel to a young man.


They really are the most amazing animals. We have been working with them since 1989. Matthew works with them now.
He is very good with them, and trains his own. You can ride them free rein just like a horse, but the ride is very rocking and it is a loooooooong way to the ground.

Night all, Alice